Couple visitor visa for Canada refused for attending Vaisakhi parade. Didn't understand the reason.

[Mschopra]

Hi.
I'm Manjeet Singh Chopra bearing Indian passport. I and my wife wanted to attend Vaisakhi Parade programs in Vancouver and Surrey in Canada which was going to be held on 14 April and 21 April respectively. Being a Sikh, it matters a lot for me to be a part of this religious program this year. Thats why I applied for a couple visitor visa for Canada on 8th Feb 2018. I got reply on 15th of March 2018 that my visa application had been rejected. And CIC gave the reason of refusal "Other Reasons"
In my case, I applied online and attached my and my wife's income tax returns, bank statements having funding of about 11,600 CAD (INR 6,43,000) and my tour plan was from 13 Apr to 22 Apr 2018. Also I attached To and Fro Air tickets reservations. Hotel booking was not mandatory, so I mentioned Hotel name and asked to book the hotel after visa approval.
I have strong ties in my home country as my whole family, my parents, bro sister, my two son masters, my in laws, all are in India. Me and my wife, both of us have our settled Businesses in India.
After all these, I am so confused that why CIC not granted the visa.
Still I want to attend that vaisakhi parade. Can you please guide me for this.
If I reapply now, it will take about 5 weeks to respond, till then the vaisakhi parade program would be passed out.
Please help me what to do?

 

[Bryanna]

Hi.
I'm Manjeet Singh Chopra bearing Indian passport. I and my wife wanted to attend Vaisakhi Parade programs in Vancouver and Surrey in Canada which was going to be held on 14 April and 21 April respectively. Being a Sikh, it matters a lot for me to be a part of this religious program this year.

Sorry for the ignorance. Why would it be imperative for you to attend these Vaisakhi Parades in Surrey and Vancouver? Have you considered attending the Vaisakhi festivities in Trafalgar Square or maybe you could visit the gurudwara in Southall, UK instead.... or even in India (for example)?

Have you attended similar religious festivities abroad? If yes, have you traveled to other visa-required countries for short visits (2-3 weeks max)?

 

[Mschopra]

Sorry for the ignorance. Why would it be imperative for you to attend these Vaisakhi Parades in Surrey and Vancouver? Have you considered attending the Vaisakhi festivities in Trafalgar Square or maybe you could visit the gurudwara in Southall, UK instead.... or even in India (for example)?

Have you attended similar religious festivities abroad? If yes, have you traveled to other visa-required countries for short visits (2-3 weeks max)?

Hello Bryanna, thanks for your valuable response.
To your question, I want to tell you that in India, there are a lot of Gurudwara Sahibs, but 5 are main Takhat Gurudwaras in India. I have visited those 5 Gurudwaras and 23 more historical Gurudwaras in across India. I love to be a part of the Vaisakhi parade programs as well as Gurpurab Nagar Kirtans.
I have watched many videos on YouTube, of vaisakhi parade in surrey and Vancouver. Around 3.5 Lac people, which we call them "Sangat"from all over the world come there to attend that.

 

[Bryanna]

Hello Bryanna, thanks for your valuable response.
To your question, I want to tell you that in India, there are a lot of Gurudwara Sahibs, but 5 are main Takhat Gurudwaras in India. I have visited those 5 Gurudwaras and 23 more historical Gurudwaras in across India. I love to be a part of the Vaisakhi parade programs as well as Gurpurab Nagar Kirtans.
I have watched many videos on YouTube, of vaisakhi parade in surrey and Vancouver. Around 3.5 Lac people, which we call them "Sangat"from all over the world come there to attend that.

I'm sure Vaisakhi/the religious celebrations means a lot to you. You have attended/visited the main Gurudwaras in India. But this does not help for a Canada TRV. The visa officer would like to see similar travel history or similar purpose of visits to other countries..... to be convinced that you are a genuine visitor who will return home at the end of a short visit.


1. What were the list of documents you submitted for yourself and your wife?
2. Have you visited other countries like the US, UK, Schengen, Australia, NZ?
3. Do you own property or land in your name.... not owned by a family member?
4. Do your parents live with you? Are your sons married?
5. Are you members of a charity/volunteer/religious organization?
6. Do you have evidence of visiting the 5 main gurudwaras in India? Maybe this could help to present why you would like to visit the celebrations in Canada from a religious point of view

 

[Mschopra]

1. What were the list of documents you submitted for yourself and your wife?
Ans. 1. Income tax Return of both of us which tells our total Income is INR 7.5 Lac per annum.
2. My business registration certificate.
3. Business visiting cards of both of us.
4. 6 months running bank statements of both of our saving accounts. Funds available in my account were INR 6,43,000 + a Fixed Deposit of INR 1,10,000/- was attached.
5. Property evaluation report prepared by CA, who tells total evaluation of INR 34 Lacs including all movable and immovable, liquid properties.
6. To and Fro air reservations.
7. Hotel name in which I would like to stay if my visa got granted.
2. Have you visited other countries like the US, UK, Schengen, Australia, NZ?
Ans. No I didn't visit. Once we applied for a couple visitor visa in USA, but it was refused in interview stating the reason code is 214-B.
3. Do you own property or land in your name.... not owned by a family member?
Ans. Yes, I owned a residential plot of name of myself, which was attached in the application.
4. Do your parents live with you? Are your sons married?
Ans. Yes, my parents live with me. My elder son is 9 years old and younger one is 4 years. They are unmarried and both are students.
5. Are you members of a charity/volunteer/religious organization?
Ans. Not
6. Do you have evidence of visiting the 5 main gurudwaras in India? Maybe this could help to present why you would like to visit the celebrations in Canada from a religious point of view.
Ans. Yes, I have photographs in my computer of varois Gurudwara Sahibs in all over India Where I have been visited.

 

[Bryanna]

1. What were the list of documents you submitted for yourself and your wife?
Ans. 1. Income tax Return of both of us which tells our total Income is INR 7.5 Lac per annum.

Does this ITR match the bank balance? To me, it seems that the bank balance is not consistent with your income i.e. it is much higher compared to your pre-tax income. You would have expenses too. So it does not add up.

Have you borrowed any money or transferred money between your bank accounts? Or have you had this bank balance since the last couple of years or so? Either way, you must include an explanation if you transferred money between accounts + ITRs for the last two years. Your bank balance must not have any money borrowed from someone.

2. My business registration certificate.
3. Business visiting cards of both of us.

This is not good enough to demonstrate your employment ties.

You must include 6 months' business bank statements (on bank stationery, signed and stamped) + 2-3 purchase orders/works contracts + list of customers and their contact information + company balance sheet + company tax returns + evidence of renting business/office space (rent agreement + 2-3 rent receipts + bank statement should show rent withdrawals) + evidence of hiring any employees (Profession Tax + salaries paid, etc) + a small explanation why you must return to your business by a specific date (with evidence)

5. Property evaluation report prepared by CA, who tells total evaluation of INR 34 Lacs including all movable and immovable, liquid properties.

You must include copies of the property ownership documents + latest property tax receipts + supporting documents from a portal to reconfirm the property valuation rates for the area where your property is located (MagicBricks, or similar website) + evidence of ownership of other assets

6. To and Fro air reservations.

It does not help for TRV approvals + it is not a good idea to book tickets in advance. You must include provisional flight bookings + provisional hotel reservations.

You must also prepare a detailed day-by-day itinerary of your plans when you visit.... with expense estimates.... for sightseeing, attending the religious functions, etc. Your expense estimates must include hotel + meals and local travel + travel insurance + airfare.

2. Have you visited other countries like the US, UK, Schengen, Australia, NZ?

It would have helped your application if you had visited these countries.

The visa officer will question why you want to spend considerable money to visit the religious festivities in Canada + why you want to visit Canada for your first visit abroad.

Quite honestly, and sorry to say this, your applications for this purpose of visit don't seem convincing considering your financial situation + no previous travel history.

Ans. No I didn't visit. Once we applied for a couple visitor visa in USA, but it was refused in interview stating the reason code is 214-B.

Hope you declared this US visa refusal in your TRV application.

Your US 214(b) refusal seems to be for the same reasons as your Canada TRV refusal. You should apply for GCMS notes to get the complete notes of why your Canada visa was refused. These case notes would take one month to obtain.

4. Do your parents live with you? Are your sons married?
Ans. Yes, my parents live with me. My elder son is 9 years old and younger one is 4 years. They are unmarried and both are students.

You must include proofs that your parents + sons live at the same address as yourself. You must include evidence that your parents are dependent on you (financially or for their well-being, if that's the case + if your parents don't work). For example, you pay the rent/utility bills/insurance, etc.

For your sons, do include their birth certificates + school admission and tuition fee receipts + school brochure + a small statement that they are not accompanying you and will be cared for by your parents in your temporary absence.

6. Do you have evidence of visiting the 5 main gurudwaras in India? Maybe this could help to present why you would like to visit the celebrations in Canada from a religious point of view.
Ans. Yes, I have photographs in my computer of varois Gurudwara Sahibs in all over India Where I have been visited.

Are you in these photographs? If the photographs have dates that coincide with any religious ceremonies then it would help. You must make a small explanation why you want to attend the parades + how it matters to you at a religious level + prints of the website for the parades and the events scheduled.


IMO, you have a 50:50 percent chance of TRV approval if you reapply depending on the quality of documents/evidence which you will submit.... but don't pin your hopes too much on TRV approvals given your present circumstances (financial, assets, no previous travel history, no Canadian host/relative, etc)

 

[Mschopra]

Does this ITR match the bank balance? To me, it seems that the bank balance is not consistent with your income i.e. it is much higher compared to your pre-tax income. You would have expenses too. So it does not add up.

Have you borrowed any money or transferred money between your bank accounts? Or have you had this bank balance since the last couple of years or so? Either way, you must include an explanation if you transferred money between accounts + ITRs for the last two years. Your bank balance must not have any money borrowed from someone.



This is not good enough to demonstrate your employment ties.

You must include 6 months' business bank statements (on bank stationery, signed and stamped) + 2-3 purchase orders/works contracts + list of customers and their contact information + company balance sheet + company tax returns + evidence of renting business/office space (rent agreement + 2-3 rent receipts + bank statement should show rent withdrawals) + evidence of hiring any employees (Profession Tax + salaries paid, etc) + a small explanation why you must return to your business by a specific date (with evidence)



You must include copies of the property ownership documents + latest property tax receipts + supporting documents from a portal to reconfirm the property valuation rates for the area where your property is located (MagicBricks, or similar website) + evidence of ownership of other assets



It does not help for TRV approvals + it is not a good idea to book tickets in advance. You must include provisional flight bookings + provisional hotel reservations.

You must also prepare a detailed day-by-day itinerary of your plans when you visit.... with expense estimates.... for sightseeing, attending the religious functions, etc. Your expense estimates must include hotel + meals and local travel + travel insurance + airfare.



It would have helped your application if you had visited these countries.

The visa officer will question why you want to spend considerable money to visit the religious festivities in Canada + why you want to visit Canada for your first visit abroad.

Quite honestly, and sorry to say this, your applications for this purpose of visit don't seem convincing considering your financial situation + no previous travel history.



Hope you declared this US visa refusal in your TRV application.

Your US 214(b) refusal seems to be for the same reasons as your Canada TRV refusal. You should apply for GCMS notes to get the complete notes of why your Canada visa was refused. These case notes would take one month to obtain.



You must include proofs that your parents + sons live at the same address as yourself. You must include evidence that your parents are dependent on you (financially or for their well-being, if that's the case + if your parents don't work). For example, you pay the rent/utility bills/insurance, etc.

For your sons, do include their birth certificates + school admission and tuition fee receipts + school brochure + a small statement that they are not accompanying you and will be cared for by your parents in your temporary absence.



Are you in these photographs? If the photographs have dates that coincide with any religious ceremonies then it would help. You must make a small explanation why you want to attend the parades + how it matters to you at a religious level + prints of the website for the parades and the events scheduled.


IMO, you have a 50:50 percent chance of TRV approval if you reapply depending on the quality of documents/evidence which you will submit.... but don't pin your hopes too much on TRV approvals given your present circumstances (financial, assets, no previous travel history, no Canadian host/relative, etc)

Thanks for your prompt response.

 

[Mschopra]

Does this ITR match the bank balance? To me, it seems that the bank balance is not consistent with your income i.e. it is much higher compared to your pre-tax income. You would have expenses too. So it does not add up.

Have you borrowed any money or transferred money between your bank accounts? Or have you had this bank balance since the last couple of years or so? Either way, you must include an explanation if you transferred money between accounts + ITRs for the last two years. Your bank balance must not have any money borrowed from someone.



This is not good enough to demonstrate your employment ties.

You must include 6 months' business bank statements (on bank stationery, signed and stamped) + 2-3 purchase orders/works contracts + list of customers and their contact information + company balance sheet + company tax returns + evidence of renting business/office space (rent agreement + 2-3 rent receipts + bank statement should show rent withdrawals) + evidence of hiring any employees (Profession Tax + salaries paid, etc) + a small explanation why you must return to your business by a specific date (with evidence)



You must include copies of the property ownership documents + latest property tax receipts + supporting documents from a portal to reconfirm the property valuation rates for the area where your property is located (MagicBricks, or similar website) + evidence of ownership of other assets



It does not help for TRV approvals + it is not a good idea to book tickets in advance. You must include provisional flight bookings + provisional hotel reservations.

You must also prepare a detailed day-by-day itinerary of your plans when you visit.... with expense estimates.... for sightseeing, attending the religious functions, etc. Your expense estimates must include hotel + meals and local travel + travel insurance + airfare.



It would have helped your application if you had visited these countries.

The visa officer will question why you want to spend considerable money to visit the religious festivities in Canada + why you want to visit Canada for your first visit abroad.

Quite honestly, and sorry to say this, your applications for this purpose of visit don't seem convincing considering your financial situation + no previous travel history.



Hope you declared this US visa refusal in your TRV application.

Your US 214(b) refusal seems to be for the same reasons as your Canada TRV refusal. You should apply for GCMS notes to get the complete notes of why your Canada visa was refused. These case notes would take one month to obtain.



You must include proofs that your parents + sons live at the same address as yourself. You must include evidence that your parents are dependent on you (financially or for their well-being, if that's the case + if your parents don't work). For example, you pay the rent/utility bills/insurance, etc.

For your sons, do include their birth certificates + school admission and tuition fee receipts + school brochure + a small statement that they are not accompanying you and will be cared for by your parents in your temporary absence.



Are you in these photographs? If the photographs have dates that coincide with any religious ceremonies then it would help. You must make a small explanation why you want to attend the parades + how it matters to you at a religious level + prints of the website for the parades and the events scheduled.


IMO, you have a 50:50 percent chance of TRV approval if you reapply depending on the quality of documents/evidence which you will submit.... but don't pin your hopes too much on TRV approvals given your present circumstances (financial, assets, no previous travel history, no Canadian host/relative, etc)

When should I reapply for TRV.?

 

[Jay1011]

Bro you need to think about purpose of visit, ppl go to canada for tourism purposes or family functions not for pilgrimage. Punjab celebrate vaisakhi way more than surrey. VO won’t be convinced for ur particularly visiting canada just to see parade. You know everything, VOs are smart.

 

[Bryanna]

Bro you need to think about purpose of visit, ppl go to canada for tourism purposes or family functions not for pilgrimage. Punjab celebrate vaisakhi way more than surrey. VO won’t be convinced for ur particularly visiting canada just to see parade. You know everything, VOs are smart.

Agree 110% with your views