A Port of Entry Letter, which is also more known as POE Letter in short, is known as an important document for everyone who is looking for entry into Canada, either for study, work, or to stay in the country. If you are someone from the outside of Canada who wants to study, work, or become an immigrant, it is a must for you to obtain a Port of Entry Letter or POE Letter. In this post, you will be able to find the guide to obtain such a thing.
Definition of Port of Entry (POE) Letter
Port of Entry (POE) Letter or Correspondence Letter or Letter of Introduction or Introductory Letter, is the name of the document that confirms the identity of someone who are about to enter Canada. Aside from that, it also establishes their relationship with the individual they are introducing. When traveling, it serves as a proof of identification. When entering the country to study or work, it is the one that confirms their credibility as well as the one that confirms their skills and experience. Basically, a Port of Entry (POE) Letter is counted as an official letter given by an embassy or consulate that confirms someone’s identity, allowing them to visit Canada.
Apparently, the Port of Entry (POE) Letter has a validity date. It means it is a must for the applicant to apply again if it is no longer valid. For those who are curious on how long its validity date is, it is for twelve months. Make sure to come to Canada before the validity date. If you come to Canada after the validity date has run out, you will not get a permit to either study or work. Talking about the validity date, it can be found easily in the Port of Entry (POE) Letter. It is written in the “For office use” box where it states “Must enter Canada by (YYYY/MM/DD)”.
Port of Entry (POE) Letter can be in the form of a Word document, PDF, or a physical letter. The top part of the letter reads “Your application to study/work in Canada has been initially approved by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.” When you arrive in this country, you should let the officer at the port entry know about your application that has been approved. In case you do not have a printed version of the letter, just show an electronic version or the visitor visa in your passport if there is one.
In addition to a Port of Entry (POE) Letter or Letter or Introduction, you must also prepare some other documents when traveling to Canada, such as:
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- A valid passport
- A valid Visitor Visa or eTA
- Biometrics validity letter
- Proof of financial support for yourself or anyone that may come to the country with you. This can be a statement of your bank account issued by your bank less than one week before entering the country. The number in the document should be equivalent to CAD 2,500.
- Police certificates
- A valid insurance policy for the entire length of your stay in the country
- Other required documents
Getting a Port of Entry (POE) Letter
Usually, a Port of Entry (POE) Letter is given to you once your study or work permit application has been approved. However, it is worth noting that it is not your study or work permit. Instead, this letter can be used to get a study or work permit by showing this letter to the immigration officials once you arrive in Canada.
There are a few ways to get Port of Entry (POE) Letter, including:
Method 1: By asking family members and friends
The first method to get a Port of Entry (POE) Letter is to ask for family members or friends who currently live in Canada. Apart from that, you can also be more specific. For example, if you want to study, work, or come to Quebec, you can ask the ones that have previously worked or lived in Quebec. In case there is no one to help, you are recommended to try finding local chambers of commerce or professional organizations in the place that you are interested in. When you manage to find them, ask them if they offer any introductions.
Method 2: By online
In case you do not have anyone that can give you a Port of Entry (POE) Letter, try to check out online services, the ones where you can find professionals in certain fields. If you have no idea what to do, open Google or LinkedIn to find recommendations of people who may help you with this letter. Or you can download the sample in PDF from Coast Mountain College.
Method 3: By meeting people at events
For anyone who is searching for an individual who can help you with a Port of Entry (POE) Letter, one of the best ways that you can do is to participate in events, such as conferences, expos, or networking workshops where you will be able to have a chance to meet a lot of people. During the event, there is a chance for you to meet someone who could help you with the letter. Not only that, you also have a chance to get door prizes or other benefits.
Requesting a Port of Entry (POE) Letter
Regardless the method that you prefer to obtain a Port of Entry (POE) Letter, you can follow the following instructions to request one:
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- The first thing that you need to do is to find and gather the information about the person that you want to ask for a letter. The information that you have to find include their name, their job, and any other relevant information.
- Once you have found someone that you think is the best to get a Port of Entry letter from and have collected information about that individual, it is time for you to contact that person. When contacting them, tell them your intention. Just be honest and ask them if they would like to write you the letter of introduction.
- After finding that person who is willing to help you with the Port of Entry (POE) Letter, the next thing that you have to do is to create your document. When creating one, please remember to make it brief. Besides, the document should also mention the reasons why the individual that wants to introduce you is the perfect one that can introduce you to others.
- Once you have successfully created your document, the last thing that you need to do is to send it to the person granted permission for you to write the letter. Do not forget to also include your resume and your contact information.
Bottom Line
In conclusion, a Port of Entry or POE letter that serves as a proof of your identity and shows your skills, experience, and so on. For those who want to enter Canada, you must get this kind of document first. There are several methods to try to obtain such a thing, including by asking family members and friends, by online, and by meeting people at events. Feel free to try any method that you think is easy and can get you the letter. Make sure to earn this document before entering Canada if you want to study or work in this country. If you fail to do it, you will be put into the tourist visa category. If you manage to get this while you are already in Canada, you will be asked to go back to your country and re-enter the port.
A bookworm and researcher especially related to law and citizenship education. I spend time every day in front of the internet and the campus library.
