Help my son please!

[Elenium127]

Help please!
My son is musician - composer, organist, pianist, harpsichordist.
He was selected for the Canadian International Organ Competition in Montreal among the 11 finalists from all the Wrld!
But unfortunately, his chances of winning the competition will not be decided by the jury, but by the staff of the Visitor Centre in Vienna.

The Organizing Committee has already bought tickets for him (Frankfurt-Montreal on October 12.2024). And all expenses for the finalists are covered by the Organizing Committee.

He applied for a Busines Visitor Visa on the website on April 20, received a confirmation of the application and an invitation for biometrics on April 21, passed biometrics on April 25, and the results appeared in my Personal Account on April 26.
And since then it seems like they forgot about him. No more changes, letters or requests appear. And the Timeline is empty.
Since he study and live in Germany, applications are processed in Vienna.
We understand that the Visa Application Center employees have a lot of work due to a difficult situation in the world.
Perhaps they have already begun to study his case, but do not record this fact in the Personal Account. But if his question is resolved positively, he will have to send and receive the passport by mail, and this will also take time.

He contacted the Support Service and they answered that they continue to process his application.

 

[canuck78]

Help please!
My son is musician - composer, organist, pianist, harpsichordist.
He was selected for the Canadian International Organ Competition in Montreal among the 11 finalists from all the Wrld!
But unfortunately, his chances of winning the competition will not be decided by the jury, but by the staff of the Visitor Centre in Vienna.

The Organizing Committee has already bought tickets for him (Frankfurt-Montreal on October 12.2024). And all expenses for the finalists are covered by the Organizing Committee.

He applied for a Busines Visitor Visa on the website on April 20, received a confirmation of the application and an invitation for biometrics on April 21, passed biometrics on April 25, and the results appeared in my Personal Account on April 26.
And since then it seems like they forgot about him. No more changes, letters or requests appear. And the Timeline is empty.
Since he study and live in Germany, applications are processed in Vienna.
We understand that the Visa Application Center employees have a lot of work due to a difficult situation in the world.
Perhaps they have already begun to study his case, but do not record this fact in the Personal Account. But if his question is resolved positively, he will have to send and receive the passport by mail, and this will also take time.

He contacted the Support Service and they answered that they continue to process his application.

What is his citizenship? What is his status in Germany and when does it expire? How much savings has he shown or other ties?

 

[Elenium127]

Russian citizenship, studies and lives in Germany from March 2017.
Residence permit for studies (in Germany). Needs to be extended in November 2024.
He has a confirmation that he is studying in the 2024-2025 semester (Immatrikulation in german).
He will graduate from the university in 2027.
As far as I remember, he wrote 4,000 Canadian dollars to take for his trip.
But the money on his bank statement was more. Maby 7.000 Euro or more.
All travel, lodging and incidental expenses will be covered by the Canadian International Organ Competition CIOC.

He passed the biometrics on April 25 The problem with such a long wait may be different. He applied for a Business Visitor Visa, since this also applies to conferences.

But the in the letter from CIOC for participants in said:

"...Pursuant to the FW 1 Foreign Worker Manual published by Citizenship and Immigration Canada, you do not require a work permit for these engagements.
Under the Temporary Foreign Worker Guidelines contained in the FW 1 manual, you are covered under Section 5.8:
Work without a work permit R186(g)—Performing artists Entry without a work permit
• Musical and theatrical artists and groups working abroad, and also their core team, working outside the bars and restaurants."

It is not clear whether this relates to the type of visa application. Or is this simply an explanation for the Visa Application Centre staff?

 

[canuck78]

Russian citizenship, studies and lives in Germany from March 2017.
Residence permit for studies (in Germany). Needs to be extended in November 2024.
He has a confirmation that he is studying in the 2024-2025 semester (Immatrikulation in german).
He will graduate from the university in 2027.
As far as I remember, he wrote 4,000 Canadian dollars to take for his trip.
But the money on his bank statement was more. Maby 7.000 Euro or more.
All travel, lodging and incidental expenses will be covered by the Canadian International Organ Competition CIOC.

He passed the biometrics on April 25 The problem with such a long wait may be different. He applied for a Business Visitor Visa, since this also applies to conferences.

But the in the letter from CIOC for participants in said:

"...Pursuant to the FW 1 Foreign Worker Manual published by Citizenship and Immigration Canada, you do not require a work permit for these engagements.
Under the Temporary Foreign Worker Guidelines contained in the FW 1 manual, you are covered under Section 5.8:
Work without a work permit R186(g)—Performing artists Entry without a work permit
• Musical and theatrical artists and groups working abroad, and also their core team, working outside the bars and restaurants."

It is not clear whether this relates to the type of visa application. Or is this simply an explanation for the Visa Application Centre staff?

He can apply for a normal tourist visa. The fact that he is Russian, his permit expires soon after the competition date, he has limited savings (he should declare the full amount of his savings), etc. make getting a TRV difficult. He should include proof of his savings, proof of the competition and the they will be covering his costs, proof that he won and attended other competitions, proof that he is scheduled to graduate in many years, proof that he is in the process renewing his study permit, etc. Anything to prove he will return to Germany and Russia.

 

[Elenium127]

Thank you for your reply.
1. The visa application was submitted on April 20, 2024. No one has refused him a visa yet. But his application has not been processed yet. And he is supposed to fly to the competition on October 12.
2. If our son cancels his application and submits a new one, then the new application will definitely not be processed on time. This is not a good option.
3. When he applied for a visa, the bank statement shows the full amount in his account. About 7,000 euros or more. He is not going to Canada for a long time. He is going for about two weeks. Also, new income appeared on the bank statement - fees for concerts, playing at church services and private music lessons. For a student, this is a normal amount.
4. The German residence permit is extended once a year at the beginning of a new semester. This does not depend on him. Such deadlines were set by the Department of Foreigners in his city.
5. A letter from the Organizing Committee of the competition confirming that they will cover the costs of his participation in the competition (October 12-28).
6. The same letter states that the jury selected him to participate in the competition.
Ask yourself. How would he have qualified for the competition if he had not been a highly qualified musician? The jury evaluated the recordings sent to the competition! Only 11 people from all over the world were selected.
7. Along with the visa application, a letter from the Organizing Committee of the competition was uploaded to the personal account, all that remains is to read it to the IRCC employees. But, most likely, they have not read it yet.
8. So far, no one has asked about participation in other competitions. But there are scans of diplomas that can be uploaded. It is impossible to independently upload additional documents to IRCC. No additional information is asked. There is a lot of information about his concert activities on his social networks - Facebook and YouTube. There are 395 videos of his performances or concerts organized by him on his YouTube channel! There are also recordings of his childhood performances on my YouTube channel. Visa officers do not want to watch them? Our son is a member of the Union of Composers of Russia. Where can he upload this? Nowhere?
Why would he illegally stay in Canada? To play in an underpass or on the street??
His YouTube channel contains recordings from good concert halls with an audience. Why would he illegally perform somewhere in a garbage dump? And where in an underpass can you install a church organ?))
Do you seriously think that he will get more for a illegal performance somewhere on the street or in a garbage dump than for his concert in Germany?
9. The new study permit (Immtrikulation) was extended in the summer for the new semester 2024-2025! On its basis, his residence permit in Germany will be extended. As has been regularly extended since 2017. The previous study permit was uploaded on April 20! Tell me how to upload a new one? How to upload diplomas?
On April 20, he uploaded everything that complied with the rules at that time.
10. What proof do you need that he will not drop out of a music university? He did not drop out of any studies, but graduated with honors. Where can he upload diplomas from the conservatory or the Higher School of Music? But musicians have to study a lot to get new experience, a better job, perform at concerts and competitions! Now he is studying at the University of Church Music, because they play at church services there.
11. In Germany, he has studies, concerts, students. In Germany, he has a girlfriend with whom he rents a nice apartment.
In Russia, he has us, i.e. his parents and other relatives.
In Canada, he has nothing but the desire to perform at competitions that will benefit his career.

 

[canuck78]

Thank you for your reply.
1. The visa application was submitted on April 20, 2024. No one has refused him a visa yet. But his application has not been processed yet. And he is supposed to fly to the competition on October 12.
2. If our son cancels his application and submits a new one, then the new application will definitely not be processed on time. This is not a good option.
3. When he applied for a visa, the bank statement shows the full amount in his account. About 7,000 euros or more. He is not going to Canada for a long time. He is going for about two weeks. Also, new income appeared on the bank statement - fees for concerts, playing at church services and private music lessons. For a student, this is a normal amount.
4. The German residence permit is extended once a year at the beginning of a new semester. This does not depend on him. Such deadlines were set by the Department of Foreigners in his city.
5. A letter from the Organizing Committee of the competition confirming that they will cover the costs of his participation in the competition (October 12-28).
6. The same letter states that the jury selected him to participate in the competition.
Ask yourself. How would he have qualified for the competition if he had not been a highly qualified musician? The jury evaluated the recordings sent to the competition! Only 11 people from all over the world were selected.
7. Along with the visa application, a letter from the Organizing Committee of the competition was uploaded to the personal account, all that remains is to read it to the IRCC employees. But, most likely, they have not read it yet.
8. So far, no one has asked about participation in other competitions. But there are scans of diplomas that can be uploaded. It is impossible to independently upload additional documents to IRCC. No additional information is asked. There is a lot of information about his concert activities on his social networks - Facebook and YouTube. There are 395 videos of his performances or concerts organized by him on his YouTube channel! There are also recordings of his childhood performances on my YouTube channel. Visa officers do not want to watch them? Our son is a member of the Union of Composers of Russia. Where can he upload this? Nowhere?
Why would he illegally stay in Canada? To play in an underpass or on the street??
His YouTube channel contains recordings from good concert halls with an audience. Why would he illegally perform somewhere in a garbage dump? And where in an underpass can you install a church organ?))
Do you seriously think that he will get more for a illegal performance somewhere on the street or in a garbage dump than for his concert in Germany?
9. The new study permit (Immtrikulation) was extended in the summer for the new semester 2024-2025! On its basis, his residence permit in Germany will be extended. As has been regularly extended since 2017. The previous study permit was uploaded on April 20! Tell me how to upload a new one? How to upload diplomas?
On April 20, he uploaded everything that complied with the rules at that time.
10. What proof do you need that he will not drop out of a music university? He did not drop out of any studies, but graduated with honors. Where can he upload diplomas from the conservatory or the Higher School of Music? But musicians have to study a lot to get new experience, a better job, perform at concerts and competitions! Now he is studying at the University of Church Music, because they play at church services there.
11. In Germany, he has studies, concerts, students. In Germany, he has a girlfriend with whom he rents a nice apartment.
In Russia, he has us, i.e. his parents and other relatives.
In Canada, he has nothing but the desire to perform at competitions that will benefit his career.

He should send a webform with his updated study permit to IRCC. You can have the competition try to reach out to see if there is anything they can do on their end. Sadly given he is a young man from Russia who does not have permanent status in another country there will be concerns that he will try to remain in Canada and potentially claim asylum because there have been similar situations. All he can do is wait and see if he will be approved. Blame Putin if he gets denied.

 

[Elenium127]

Thank you for your reply.
The new study permit is a pdf file. Is it possible to upload a file via the web form?
My son contacted the Organizing Committee of the competition a long time ago. They told him to wait until the end of the week. If there is no news about his visa by the end of the week, they will think about what to do.
Why should he apply for asylum in Canada if he has been legally in Germany since 2017?

 

[canuck78]

Thank you for your reply.
The new study permit is a pdf file. Is it possible to upload a file via the web form?
My son contacted the Organizing Committee of the competition a long time ago. They told him to wait until the end of the week. If there is no news about his visa by the end of the week, they will think about what to do.
Why should he apply for asylum in Canada if he has been legally in Germany since 2017?

Yes you can upload a file to webform although you may have to convert it to another file or even attach it as a picture. There are various reasons Russians would apply for asylum in Canada even if they have temporary legal status in Germany.

 

[Elenium127]

Thank you for your reply.
He has been living in Germany since 2017!
And since 2022 he has been to several countries (there is a list in the application), and has not asked for asylum anywhere. Why does he need Canada then? He can't upload anything to the Web form, only text. Where it possible to find it? There is only Update for address and personal data.
If you understand the problems of young men from Russia so much, why don't you know that the army drafts people up to 30 years old? And he is 31. And only those who served in the army are subject to mobilization. He studied music and was not in the army.

 

[Copingwithlife]

Thank you for your reply.
The new study permit is a pdf file. Is it possible to upload a file via the web form?
My son contacted the Organizing Committee of the competition a long time ago. They told him to wait until the end of the week. If there is no news about his visa by the end of the week, they will think about what to do.
Why should he apply for asylum in Canada if he has been legally in Germany since 2017?

Why should he apply for asylum in Canada if he has been legally in Germany since 2017?

Because many have done it in the past

 

[Elenium127]

Are you sure you are a lawyer by profession? Is it possible to prohibit a person from participating in an International Competition if a compatriot unknown to him did something illegal? This does not even qualify as case law.

Didn't find how to add a file via a web form. Is there any other way to write someone a letter in case of urgent need? What and how exactly do they check for 4.5 months?

 

[scylla]

Are you sure you are a lawyer by profession? Is it possible to prohibit a person from participating in an International Competition if a compatriot unknown to him did something illegal? This does not even qualify as case law.

Didn't find how to add a file via a web form. Is there any other way to write someone a letter in case of urgent need? What and how exactly do they check for 4.5 months?

No one here is a lawyer. This is an open forum where random people respond. You're not getting legal advice here.

 

[CanGoldDigger]

Here is the form how you can update your application with additional documents https://secure.cic.gc.ca/ClientContact/en/Application/Form/72

 

[canuck78]

Are you sure you are a lawyer by profession? Is it possible to prohibit a person from participating in an International Competition if a compatriot unknown to him did something illegal? This does not even qualify as case law.

Didn't find how to add a file via a web form. Is there any other way to write someone a letter in case of urgent need? What and how exactly do they check for 4.5 months?

Always up to a country who they allow to visit. In general Russian citizens are struggling to get visitor visas to many countries. At the very minimum their applications are processed slowly and very carefully.

 

[Elenium127]

Here is the form how you can update your application with additional documents https://secure.cic.gc.ca/ClientContact/en/Application/Form/72

Many thanks!