Visitor

Visitor Visa

If you are not from a visa-exempt country, most likely you would need a visitor visa to enter Canada. A visitor cannot study or work in Canada, unless they also have a study permit or work permit.

You can submit your visitor visa application online here.

The key to a successful visitor visa application is a strong, convincing application, from which the processing officer believes that the applicant would leave upon the end of their visit in Canada. You must prove to the officer that there is something back home for you to return to and that why you would not overstay your visa.

Common Refusal Reasons

Visa Refusal based on Travel History

• I am not satisfied that you will leave Canada at the end of your stay as a temporary resident as stipulated in paragraph 179(b) of the IRPR based on your travel history.

The officer may refuse the application because the applicant has not been outside their home country previously or has travelled outside but not very often. Lack of travel history can be overcome in a new application.

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Visa Refusal based on Purpose of Visit

• I am not satisfied that you will leave Canada at the end of your stay as a temporary resident as stipulated in paragraph 179(b) of the IRPR based on the purpose of your visit.

This type of refusal is often given because there was not enough details in the application regarding why specifically the applicant was coming to Canada. For example, an applicant said that they were coming to Canada to visit friend. This is very vague. Another example, an applicant said they were coming to Canada because their friends are getting married in the Blue Mountain and included a copy of the wedding invitation. This later example sounds more convincing.

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Visa Refusal based on Family Ties

• I am not satisfied that you will leave Canada at the end of your stay as a temporary resident as stipulated in paragraph 179(b) of the IRPR because of your family ties in Canada and country of residence.

The applicant's tie in Canada often time raise concerns for the processing officer, who may believe that the applicant may not want to leave at the end of their stay. This requires a detailed explanation on the nature of the ties the applicant has in both Canada and in home country.

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Visa Refusal based on Immigration Status

• I am not satisfied that you will leave Canada at the end of your stay as a temporary resident as stipulated in paragraph 179(b) of the IRPR because of your immigration status in your country of residence.

This usually happens when the applicant is outside of his country of nationality when they submit their visitor visa application and did not provide sufficient proof that they have legal status in their country of residence.

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Visa Refusal based on Personal Assets and Financial Status

• I am not satisfied that you will leave Canada at the end of your stay as a temporary resident as stipulated in paragraph 179(b) of the IRPR because of your personal assets and financial status.

Visitor to Canada must prove that they have sufficient money to finance their trip to and your stay in Canada. These includes, you have money to pay for your ticket to Canada, you have enough money to pay for the costs during your visit, and you have money to pay for your ticket to return back to your country of residence.

You must prove to the immigration officer that you have those fund ready and accessible.

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Visa Refusal based on Current Employment Situation

• I am not satisfied that you will leave Canada at the end of your stay as a temporary resident as stipulated in paragraph 179(b) of the IRPR because of your current employment situation.

In addition to proving you have sufficient money, you also need to prove that the source of those funds are legible. One of the most convincing way is through proof of employment status, that is, the funds come from you working. Applicants who are unemployed at the time they submit their application are considered, by immigration officers, of high risk to break immigration law and visa conditions and terms, overstaying their visa and perhaps, working illegally in Canada.

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Visa Refusal based on Length of Proposed Stay

• I am not satisfied that you will leave Canada at the end of your stay as a temporary resident as stipulated in paragraph 179(b) of the IRPR because of your length of proposed stay in Canada.

A visitor to Canada can stay up to 6 months from the date of entry, unless otherwise specified. When asked how long you plan to stay in Canada, if you put the maximum time of 6 months, it may become suspicious.

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Visa Refusal based on Misrepresentation

• You have submitted documentation which lacks authenticity as part of your application. This has diminished the overall credibility of your submission.

When the immigration officer does not believe the documents or information you provided are genuine, they may refuse your application under section 40 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for misrepresentation. A person found inadmissible on the grounds of misrepresentation is banned from entering Canada for five years.

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