Visit from Jamaica.. Anyone to help?

[RickyDee]

In process of trying to get a visitor visa for my fiance (he's in Jamaica). He had the appointment to hand in application & do biometrics. But it was like a mini interview instead. They sent him away with a list of things he must come back with (application not accepted at that time). My first question is why must he provide financial information for himself if it is me that is paying for the trip (I provided my info).
#2 they asked for copies of his children's birth certificates. Why I'm jot sure .. they arent coming with. First child he hasnt seen since she was a baby.. the mother moved out of country. Cant get that one. Tried(and paid to) but getting the runaround by RGD town office. Has the others though. Will that be a problem.
#3 the woman insisted several times he provide a letter of employment .. even though he told her he is self employed (barber). So I wrote one for him.. from himself as employer.
#4 canada immigration site says clearly that no further fees will be charged beyond the application and biometric fee (have receipt for that), yet once at the visa office he was told that once you are handing in your application there will be another fee charged, but you won't know how much until you get into the office. He found out its approx $2,500 JD and this is for a service fee for the building. It can only be paid by bank card/visa. Is this normal? For a visa office to charge their own fees?

 

[jddd]

1. Since this is a tourist visa, he has to prove he can afford it. Your income is only secondary. If he, on his own, cannot afford travelling to Canada, his chances to get approved are very low. Even if you write an affidavit saying you will sponsor all his costs, it cannot be legally enforced.

2. He has to prove paternity via birth certificates. Leaving children behind is a way to prove strong ties to Jamaica. If he is not close with or has no relationship with his children, his ties are weak.

3. If he is self-employed, he has to prove his business. Is he registered? Show his income from the business as well. The onus is on him to prove that he Is self-employed, a letter made by you is not enough.

4. All visa processing centres charge an amount. They should have a website that outlines these amounts. Alternatively, he can apply online to avoid those fees.

 

[k.h.p.]

The challenge your fiancé has to overcome in applying for a visa is proving that he will return to Jamaica. He also has to prove he is able to pay for his trip.

The way that visa officers look at applications is ties to home country (assets, income, family, business, other obligations) and then ties to Canada (family, opportunity, etc). If the ties to Canada are too strong, the visa will be refused.

You offering to pay for his trip is a tie to Canada. If you have disclosed you are engaged, that is another tie to Canada. The visa officer will assume you are planning to marry your fiancé in Canada and apply for an inland spousal sponsorship, and they will refuse the application.

The fees are normal. VFS charges service fees on top of the visa fees. If you apply online and do biometrics at a VAC and have to submit your passport through the VAC, you will be asked to pay more service fees even though you applies online.

 

[RickyDee]

1. Since this is a tourist visa, he has to prove he can afford it. Your income is only secondary. If he, on his own, cannot afford travelling to Canada, his chances to get approved are very low. Even if you write an affidavit saying you will sponsor all his costs, it cannot be legally enforced.

2. He has to prove paternity via birth certificates. Leaving children behind is a way to prove strong ties to Jamaica. If he is not close with or has no relationship with his children, his ties are weak.

3. If he is self-employed, he has to prove his business. Is he registered? Show his income from the business as well. The onus is on him to prove that he Is self-employed, a letter made by you is not enough.

4. All visa processing centres charge an amount. They should have a website that outlines these amounts. Alternatively, he can apply online to avoid those fees.

Thanks.
Re:#1 it says right in the checklist on the canada immigration website that "if someone else is funding your trip have them provide ..... " If we expect the visitor to pay for themselves, why is this even there?
#2 he has the 2 birth cert for his children that are there in JA. We filled out the form honestly and completely .. even though he has had no contact with the first child. So, in this regard I think he should be ok.
#3 no he's not registered. Its not like that. Its minimal. He had a shop years ago but now just operates from home. I included an area for his regular customers to sign as witness.
#4 we've been advised not to file online. Higher rejection rate.
Thanks again

 

[k.h.p.]

Thanks.
Re:#1 it says right in the checklist on the canada immigration website that "if someone else is funding your trip have them provide ..... " If we expect the visitor to pay for themselves, why is this even there?
#2 he has the 2 birth cert for his children that are there in JA. We filled out the form honestly and completely .. even though he has had no contact with the first child. So, in this regard I think he should be ok.
#3 no he's not registered. Its not like that. Its minimal. He had a shop years ago but now just operates from home. I included an area for his regular customers to sign as witness.
#4 we've been advised not to file online. Higher rejection rate.
Thanks again

The rejection rate online or via paper is a myth, as I understand it.

 

[RickyDee]

The challenge your fiancé has to overcome in applying for a visa is proving that he will return to Jamaica. He also has to prove he is able to pay for his trip.

The way that visa officers look at applications is ties to home country (assets, income, family, business, other obligations) and then ties to Canada (family, opportunity, etc). If the ties to Canada are too strong, the visa will be refused.

You offering to pay for his trip is a tie to Canada. If you have disclosed you are engaged, that is another tie to Canada. The visa officer will assume you are planning to marry your fiancé in Canada and apply for an inland spousal sponsorship, and they will refuse the application.

The fees are normal. VFS charges service fees on top of the visa fees. If you apply online and do biometrics at a VAC and have to submit your passport through the VAC, you will be asked to pay more service fees even though you applies online.

Thanks for reply.
I didn't indicate that we are engaged in my invitation letter.
I said boyfriend/girlfriend.
We have been together over 5 years .. it would just be lovely to have him come here for a change
No plans to have him live here (we are older)(best case is I live there 6 months/6 months home in canada). Have to find a way to convince them of that.
Another tie to JA (in our opinion) is he's fighting for his home. Been in his family for generations. But was never properly passed down. Govt is trying to steal it. Otherwise he'd have that too (home/land). So we are providing copies of anything to do with with that.. which is very little as the lawyer seems to be incompetent saying papers were sent to govt in kingston (no copies .. how is that possible?).

 

[k.h.p.]

Boyfriend and girlfriend will raise the same red flag as fiancé as the visa officer will consider you at risk to marry and overstay. I know it's not what you're planning but enough people do it that it is a concern, especially from Jamaica.

 

[RickyDee]

Boyfriend and girlfriend will raise the same red flag as fiancé as the visa officer will consider you at risk to marry and overstay. I know it's not what you're planning but enough people do it that it is a concern, especially from Jamaica.

So I should have just said friend?
Thats like a lie to me :-(

 

[k.h.p.]

If he had finances to cover his own trip he wouldn't need a letter of invitation. Since he doesn't, and you're covering his expenses, you had to write a letter. Any visa officer would ask why you're paying his expenses, so saying you have a relationship is the correct answer. You haven't done anything wrong.

I'm just highlighting why he needs a strong application on his own to get the visa. I wish you good luck.

 

[RickyDee]

What if the money I have earmarked for this is put into his account instead? Would that matter do you think? They do ask for a bank statement from him so it would show a large deposit (yes I trust him)... so, coming from me it would be the same but under his control.

Feeling very discouraged :'(
Want to show off my country

 

[jddd]

What if the money I have earmarked for this is put into his account instead? Would that matter do you think? They do ask for a bank statement from him so it would show a large deposit (yes I trust him)... so, coming from me it would be the same but under his control.

Feeling very discouraged :'(
Want to show off my country

Unfortunately, that won’t work. They will know the deposit was done only to make it look like he has enough funds.

 

[RickyDee]

Unfortunately, that won’t work. They will know the deposit was done only to make it look like he has enough funds.

So any good/constructive advice then? From you or anyone. Regarding that? He's like most people in JA, living hand to mouth. He only opened a bank account for the visa app. Are we wasting our time? We should just get married and apply for spousal .. and take another 2 years before he can visit here? We're not getting any younger :-/
(I do appreciate any/all advice)

 

[k.h.p.]

Apply for the tourist visa and see what happens. My fiancee (Russian citizen, living in China) has recently been given one, despite all the odds.

If you get rejected a few times - get married.

 

[jddd]

So any good/constructive advice then? From you or anyone. Regarding that? He's like most people in JA, living hand to mouth. He only opened a bank account for the visa app. Are we wasting our time? We should just get married and apply for spousal .. and take another 2 years before he can visit here? We're not getting any younger :-/
(I do appreciate any/all advice)

I know the hand to mouth scenario well being from the Philippines. Before I was sponsored by my spouse, I also applied for a TRV that was approved. As I do not know you or your boyfriend, I cannot comment on what you can do to strengthen your application but I will share with you mine.

1. I have children in the Philippines. I provided not just their birth certificates but proof that I pay their tuition fees for school and proof of important events that I need to be present for (graduation, birthday, etc.)

2. I provided proof of home and car ownership. I had no mortgage nor car loan so I’m not sure how much this part helped.

3. I provided 6 months worth of bank statements so they can see the movement of money. Mind you my income was considered good in the Philippines but not up to par with Canada so we provided my spouse’s income as well as secondary support. The good thing about my account though is that they do not have doubts on whether I make money or not as the deposits and withdrawals are consistent and traceable.

Note that you do not have to wait 2 years for a sponsorship anymore. As long as there are no red flags, you are looking at 1 year or if lucky, less.

 

[RickyDee]

Thanks.
Re:#1 it says right in the checklist on the canada immigration website that "if someone else is funding your trip have them provide ..... " If we expect the visitor to pay for themselves, why is this even there?
#2 he has the 2 birth cert for his children that are there in JA. We filled out the form honestly and completely .. even though he has had no contact with the first child. So, in this regard I think he should be ok.
#3 no he's not registered. Its not like that. Its minimal. He had a shop years ago but now just operates from home. I included an area for his regular customers to sign as witness.
#4 we've been advised not to file online. Higher rejection rate.
Thanks again

Also.. re ties/children... the 2 younger that are still in JA. Very strong. They've lived half their lives with him (on his own I mean .. apart from when he was with their Mothers). He (we) pay for their school fees etc & help out their Mothers with food. He lived with them 4 years straight up until last year when he got a construction job that had him working 14 - 16 hour days, 7 days/week .. for about 2 or 3 months. They went back to their Mothers & have remained there .. for now. They prefer to live with him though.