Is there any difference in officer note (GCMS) for the main applicant and other applicants in one application?

[Shaparak1996]

Hi everyone,

I was wondering if you could tell me if there is any difference in GCMS for the main applicant and other applicants who applied together in one application in old portal? I requested officer note for my family (applied for my dad, mom and dependent sister and all of them were rejected) and now I noticed that only my dad information is included. In the note, where officer explained the reasons for rejection, he mentioned about my sister and my mother. However, there is not much information about them. Do I need to request notes for my sister and my mother? OR is the information the same since they were in the same application?
My dad was the main applicant.

Thank you.

 

[Arramezani]

Hi everyone,

I was wondering if you could tell me if there is any difference in GCMS for the main applicant and other applicants who applied together in one application in old portal? I requested officer note for my family (applied for my dad, mom and dependent sister and all of them were rejected) and now I noticed that only my dad information is included. In the note, where officer explained the reasons for rejection, he mentioned about my sister and my mother. However, there is not much information about them. Do I need to request notes for my sister and my mother? OR is the information the same since they were in the same application?
My dad was the main applicant.

Thank you.

As it costs only 5$ don't take a risk and ask for all of them.

 

[Shaparak1996]

As it costs only 5$ don't take a risk and ask for all of them.

It is not about the money, it is about the time. I have a new application ready to be submitted for my mother and sister. If I request now, it will take almost 40 days to receive the notes. I do not want to wait 40 days because their financial documents and all translation will be out of date.

 

[Naturgrl]

What were reasons for refusal? Is this there first refusal? Is sister over 22? What are changing in your next application?

 

[Shaparak1996]

What were reasons for refusal? Is this there first refusal? Is sister over 22? What are changing in your next application?

I applied for my parents and my sister in 2018. I was an international student during that time with 18 K funding.My sister (she was 22.5 years old during that time but she is financially dependent to my parents due to her mental condition (mild intellectual disability)). My parents showed around 23 K CAD for this trip. Both my mother and my father are working full time. However, I was a student with bank letter showing 2500 CAD in my account. Their visitor visa got rejected and I did not apply again for them till now.

Here is the officer note for the previous application (my father was main applicant):

mr, mrs and their adult daughter who is disabled ( as per client's statements and disability card enclosed). To visit daughter/sister who is student in Canada since fall 2017. host/daughter has teaching assistantship of 17K. Host explains that unable to visit family due to her summer research activity. Mr is self employed as ....... and mrs is .......(their jobs). They have savings of approximately 20K. Very limited travel. Concerns: modest income and funds. Daughter's income is modest and insufficient to cover own expenses as students unless supplemented by the family. Having 3 family members visiting her in Canada is not making much sense from the financial point of view, versus her visiting family back in their country during summer vacation and then returning to Canada to resume research and studies. I have noted that the applicants have some travel history and that the applicants have declared that funds are available for this trip. However, the applicant's travel history is insufficient to build a track record of international travel that would count as a positive in my assessment. Furthermore, I am not satisfied that the proposed visit is reasonable, based on the following factors: expenses for their visit to daughter are triple versus expenses for daughter's visit to family, while the family income and assets are modest. IN this view of foregoing reasons, I consider that the incentive to remain in Canada may outweigh the applicants' ties to the country of residence. For this reason, I am not satisfied that the applicants will depart Canada at the end of the period authorized for their stay. Refused"

Changes in the new application:

• I am only applying for my mother and sister. I have not seen them since 2018 ( for 4 years). My dad will not travel with them and I am not applying for him. He will be counted as a tie and not the whole family is applying at the same time.
• I am now a permanent resident. I graduated and I have been working in Canada since 2020.
• I have very good salary and saving around 60K CAD. I am a permanent resident.
• I also would like to have the chance to invite my mother and sister to meet my boyfriend in person ( I explained this that they have only see each other virtually). This is basically a big change in my life.
• For my sister, I got a letter from her psychiatric indicating that she has mild intellectual disorder but she does not have any behavioral and physical problem and she is able to do her daily activity alone. ( in the previous application I did not include any letter specifying this).
• I also mentioned that my grandmother is old and my mother is the only child among her siblings living in the same city where my grandmother lives. My grandmother needs to be visited by her doctor for examination every 3 months. I asked for the letter from her doctor and he wrote that she needs to be visited for the examination.Since my mom is the only child living in that city, she needs to take her and she will be back.
• The amount of money from my mother and my father ( he will financially support them for this trip) is around 30K CAD and their visit duration is 20 days.
• I have bought travel insurance for them and it is covering 150 K for any emergency health coverage. Previously, we did not include travel insurance.
• I also mentioned that my mother is working as a teacher for 28 years and she needs to be back by end of the trip. (this has not changed as it was included in the previous application).
• I will include the title deed (it was also included in the previous application)

Any advise and thought would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Naturgrl]

I applied for my parents and my sister in 2018. I was an international student during that time with 18 K funding.My sister (she was 22.5 years old during that time but she is financially dependent to my parents due to her mental condition (mild intellectual disability)). My parents showed around 23 K CAD for this trip. Both my mother and my father are working full time. However, I was a student with bank letter showing 2500 CAD in my account. Their visitor visa got rejected and I did not apply again for them till now.

Here is the officer note for the previous application (my father was main applicant):

mr, mrs and their adult daughter who is disabled ( as per client's statements and disability card enclosed). To visit daughter/sister who is student in Canada since fall 2017. host/daughter has teaching assistantship of 17K. Host explains that unable to visit family due to her summer research activity. Mr is self employed as ....... and mrs is .......(their jobs). They have savings of approximately 20K. Very limited travel. Concerns: modest income and funds. Daughter's income is modest and insufficient to cover own expenses as students unless supplemented by the family. Having 3 family members visiting her in Canada is not making much sense from the financial point of view, versus her visiting family back in their country during summer vacation and then returning to Canada to resume research and studies. I have noted that the applicants have some travel history and that the applicants have declared that funds are available for this trip. However, the applicant's travel history is insufficient to build a track record of international travel that would count as a positive in my assessment. Furthermore, I am not satisfied that the proposed visit is reasonable, based on the following factors: expenses for their visit to daughter are triple versus expenses for daughter's visit to family, while the family income and assets are modest. IN this view of foregoing reasons, I consider that the incentive to remain in Canada may outweigh the applicants' ties to the country of residence. For this reason, I am not satisfied that the applicants will depart Canada at the end of the period authorized for their stay. Refused"

Changes in the new application:

• I am only applying for my mother and sister. I have not seen them since 2018 ( for 4 years). My dad will not travel with them and I am not applying for him. He will be counted as a tie and not the whole family is applying at the same time.
• I am now a permanent resident. I graduated and I have been working in Canada since 2020.
• I have very good salary and saving around 60K CAD. I am a permanent resident.
• I also would like to have the chance to invite my mother and sister to meet my boyfriend in person ( I explained this that they have only see each other virtually). This is basically a big change in my life.
• For my sister, I got a letter from her psychiatric indicating that she has mild intellectual disorder but she does not have any behavioral and physical problem and she is able to do her daily activity alone. ( in the previous application I did not include any letter specifying this).
• I also mentioned that my grandmother is old and my mother is the only child among her siblings living in the same city where my grandmother lives. My grandmother needs to be visited by her doctor for examination every 3 months. I asked for the letter from her doctor and he wrote that she needs to be visited for the examination.Since my mom is the only child living in that city, she needs to take her and she will be back.
• The amount of money from my mother and my father ( he will financially support them for this trip) is around 30K CAD and their visit duration is 20 days.
• I have bought travel insurance for them and it is covering 150 K for any emergency health coverage. Previously, we did not include travel insurance.
• I also mentioned that my mother is working as a teacher for 28 years and she needs to be back by end of the trip. (this has not changed as it was included in the previous application).
• I will include the title deed (it was also included in the previous application)

Any advise and thought would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

So this is their second application? They aren’t addressing all the reasons for the first refusal.

The biggest issues which you are not addressing is the fact that:

• Your sister is over 21 with a “mild disability” according to doctor reports so she should applying separate from your parents. If she has any income then she is not part of your mother’s application. Not sure the report helps her application. Does she have income? (first refusal)
• No travel history (first refusal)
• Your funds do not need to be considered unless applying for supervisa.
• Your mother taking her mother to a doctor’s appointment every 3 months is not a strong tie. If your father is there can he take her?
• You have not addressed why you can’t visit them? The first refusal states is cheaper for you to go to them. Why can’t you visit them? (First refusal)

Positive

• Father staying behind.
• Funds of $30k cash are good (However this is strong for one person. If you add in airfare for two people then it may be seen as using most of their savings for a visit)
• Job-Does the job letter include that her employer approves the leave? If not, she should have such a letter.
• Travel/health insurance

 

[Shaparak1996]

So this is their second application? They aren’t addressing all the reasons for the first refusal.

The biggest issues which you are not addressing is the fact that:

• Your sister is over 21 with a “mild disability” according to doctor reports so she should applying separate from your parents. If she has any income then she is not part of your mother’s application. Not sure the report helps her application. Does she have income? (first refusal)
• No travel history (first refusal)
• Your funds do not need to be considered unless applying for supervisa.
• Your mother taking her mother to a doctor’s appointment every 3 months is not a strong tie. If your father is there can he take her?
• You have not addressed why you can’t visit them? The first refusal states is cheaper for you to go to them. Why can’t you visit them? (First refusal)

Positive

• Father staying behind.
• Funds of $30k cash are good (However this is strong for one person. If you add in airfare for two people then it may be seen as using most of their savings for a visit)
• Job-Does the job letter include that her employer approves the leave? If not, she should have such a letter.
• Travel/health insurance

Thank you for your time and helping me. Yes, this is the second application.

• My sister does not work considering her situation. She is now going to an art center and create art crafts such as carpet weaving, leather craft and etc. These are art projects and she contributes to this project and then eventually they are going to be sold to local businesses. There is not much income and she is keep going because she likes it and this is only thing she can do. I did not mention that she does not have job. I just wrote that she is attending this art center but she is financially dependent to my mother and father because of her situation. I am not sure if they expect her to have income. do they really? I really cannot provide any more documents for her since she has born with this condition.
• For the travel history, we explained that during the past 3 years they could not travel abroad because their priority was to stay safe but in 2017 and 2018 they traveled to Turkey (it did not need visa but still better than nothing). Now, with lifting the restriction, they are planning to visit me.
• I explained that my father will help her mother in-law during the 20 days of absence of my mom. But, then he cannot do that alone for ever. Also, my father's mom is also over 80 and my grandmother (who needs to be visited by doctor) is also over 80. It is not very easy task to take care of both of them for a long time. Other than that, I mentioned that my mom and my sister are emotionally attached to my grandmother. Not sure if this is helpful.
• Why I am not traveling? In my invitation letter, I explained I cannot travel because I am working full-time and I have not had the chance to visit them all because of COVID and restriction and my job. I was also very busy graduating from university, finding job, starting my job, becoming permanent resident, publishing two papers and etc. I explained all these as reasons why I could not visit them. I also want them to meet my boyfriend. My boyfriend is also interested to meet them. It is not really possible to ask my boyfriend to travel with me a long journey ( more than 23 hours of flight) and stayed with us or in hotel to meet my mother. do you think I provide more information about this?
• Also, my mom will travel during spring break (which is 15 days in my home country( Iran) as we celebrate the new year). and she is only traveling for 20 days with my sister. I mentioned this that the schools are closed during that time and by the end of her trip she will be back.
• About the funding, 30K should be more than enough for 20 days of travel. They have sent me money and I have bought them insurance which was around $150 in total. The roundtrip flight ticket for both of them is $4000 . If each traveler spend $ 300 per day for anything for the total of 20 days it will be 6000 CAD for each person. This will be 12K CAD for two person. So far, it will be around 17K in total. Let's say we factor in some extra expenses around $5000 for this trip. It is still less than the money they showed. I also mentioned that I will provide accommodation and food and transportation for their trip.

Which part do you think I need to explain more to convince the officer?

 

[Arramezani]

I applied for my parents and my sister in 2018. I was an international student during that time with 18 K funding.My sister (she was 22.5 years old during that time but she is financially dependent to my parents due to her mental condition (mild intellectual disability)). My parents showed around 23 K CAD for this trip. Both my mother and my father are working full time. However, I was a student with bank letter showing 2500 CAD in my account. Their visitor visa got rejected and I did not apply again for them till now.

Here is the officer note for the previous application (my father was main applicant):

mr, mrs and their adult daughter who is disabled ( as per client's statements and disability card enclosed). To visit daughter/sister who is student in Canada since fall 2017. host/daughter has teaching assistantship of 17K. Host explains that unable to visit family due to her summer research activity. Mr is self employed as ....... and mrs is .......(their jobs). They have savings of approximately 20K. Very limited travel. Concerns: modest income and funds. Daughter's income is modest and insufficient to cover own expenses as students unless supplemented by the family. Having 3 family members visiting her in Canada is not making much sense from the financial point of view, versus her visiting family back in their country during summer vacation and then returning to Canada to resume research and stu.dies. I have noted that the applicants have some travel history and that the applicants have declared that funds are available for this trip. However, the applicant's travel history is insufficient to build a track record of international travel that would count as a positive in my assessment. Furthermore, I am not satisfied that the proposed visit is reasonable, based on the following factors: expenses for their visit to daughter are triple versus expenses for daughter's visit to family, while the family income and assets are modest. IN this view of foregoing reasons, I consider that the incentive to remain in Canada may outweigh the applicants' ties to the country of residence. For this reason, I am not satisfied that the applicants will depart Canada at the end of the period authorized for their stay. Refused"

Changes in the new application:

• I am only applying for my mother and sister. I have not seen them since 2018 ( for 4 years). My dad will not travel with them and I am not applying for him. He will be counted as a tie and not the whole family is applying at the same time.
• I am now a permanent resident. I graduated and I have been working in Canada since 2020.
• I have very good salary and saving around 60K CAD. I am a permanent resident.
• I also would like to have the chance to invite my mother and sister to meet my boyfriend in person ( I explained this that they have only see each other virtually). This is basically a big change in my life.
• For my sister, I got a letter from her psychiatric indicating that she has mild intellectual disorder but she does not have any behavioral and physical problem and she is able to do her daily activity alone. ( in the previous application I did not include any letter specifying this).
• I also mentioned that my grandmother is old and my mother is the only child among her siblings living in the same city where my grandmother lives. My grandmother needs to be visited by her doctor for examination every 3 months. I asked for the letter from her doctor and he wrote that she needs to be visited for the examination.Since my mom is the only child living in that city, she needs to take her and she will be back.
• The amount of money from my mother and my father ( he will financially support them for this trip) is around 30K CAD and their visit duration is 20 days.
• I have bought travel insurance for them and it is covering 150 K for any emergency health coverage. Previously, we did not include travel insurance.
• I also mentioned that my mother is working as a teacher for 28 years and she needs to be back by end of the trip. (this has not changed as it was included in the previous application).
• I will include the title deed (it was also included in the previous application)

Any advise and thought would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Toi have improved your application and it would be better to apply as the process time in your country reached o 204 days so dont waste the time
In the meanwhile this amount of money have not change so much so the concern still remains as he said 20k is very limited!
Officer might again ask for travel history.
Where is the doc for financial means?

 

[Shaparak1996]

Toi have improved your application and it would be better to apply as the process time in your country reached o 204 days so dont waste the time
In the meanwhile this amount of money have not change so much so the concern still remains as he said 20k is very limited!
Officer might again ask for travel history.
Where is the doc for financial means?

Thank you. Yes I think wasting time is not a good idea since even by waiting for a few more month there won't be significant changes. Although, I think all these changes are significant in my opinion. The only concern is about travel history but honestly I do not see any fair reason to reject someone because of this while all the countries did not want to have tourists in their countries during the past 2.5 years. Needless to mention that many families were supporting their children, specifically international students, during the most difficult years in the century. This leaves no room for traveling abroad. I really hope that they put reuniting family members prior to travel history.

Regarding the 20K that was mentioned limited, I think in officer's point of view 20K for 3 family member is limited. But now, I am applying for 2 family members with 30 K. basically, reducing the number of travelers and increasing the fund. Although in 2018, 20 K for the city that I was living in Canada it was not limited. Renting a one bedroom apartment was something between $800 to $1000. Now, you can tell 20K is not limited but maybe he was concerned that having 3 family member traveling "AND" my financial situation may cause a situation that hey won't be able to leave. SO, he thinks this is limited. Mainly because he considered my situation too. Otherwise, why he should even bother to mention my situation?

Everyone keeps mentioning that the host financial situation does not have any effect (neither positive nor negative). However, in my experience, officer wrote one line specifically about my situation that my income is modest and insufficient to cover own expenses as students unless supplemented by the family. So, this shows that in some cases they consider the host financial situation. The officer reject someone who does not have enough money and is going to rely on the host. however, have a host in a good financial situation is very important. An applicant can easily get rejected even with lots of money but a host in a bad situation.

 

[Naturgrl]

Thank you. Yes I think wasting time is not a good idea since even by waiting for a few more month there won't be significant changes. Although, I think all these changes are significant in my opinion. The only concern is about travel history but honestly I do not see any fair reason to reject someone because of this while all the countries did not want to have tourists in their countries during the past 2.5 years. Needless to mention that many families were supporting their children, specifically international students, during the most difficult years in the century. This leaves no room for traveling abroad. I really hope that they put reuniting family members prior to travel history.

Regarding the 20K that was mentioned limited, I think in officer's point of view 20K for 3 family member is limited. But now, I am applying for 2 family members with 30 K. basically, reducing the number of travelers and increasing the fund. Although in 2018, 20 K for the city that I was living in Canada it was not limited. Renting a one bedroom apartment was something between $800 to $1000. Now, you can tell 20K is not limited but maybe he was concerned that having 3 family member traveling "AND" my financial situation may cause a situation that hey won't be able to leave. SO, he thinks this is limited. Mainly because he considered my situation too. Otherwise, why he should even bother to mention my situation?

Everyone keeps mentioning that the host financial situation does not have any effect (neither positive nor negative). However, in my experience, officer wrote one line specifically about my situation that my income is modest and insufficient to cover own expenses as students unless supplemented by the family. So, this shows that in some cases they consider the host financial situation. The officer reject someone who does not have enough money and is going to rely on the host. however, have a host in a good financial situation is very important. An applicant can easily get rejected even with lots of money but a host in a bad situation.

You are misinterpreting IRCC's focus on travel history. It is not about tourism or seeing family. IRCC wants to see travel history to UK, US, NZ or AUS. With Canada, these four other countries share their information and data. These five countries are called "the Five Eyes." IRCC wants to see that people travelled to these countries and didn't overstay, claim asylum etc. That is why on the application you are asked about previous refusals because IRCC will know if you have been refused to one of those countries. IRCC wants to know that applicants will abide by Canadian immigration laws by having travelled to the countries mentioned and abided by other countries' laws. So FYI - if family members now apply to visit one of these five countries, they must state the refusal and provide the reasons.