Hey folks!
So I am Canadian born and raised, female, I make good money with very low overhead expenses. I spent 1.5 months in Costa Rica this past winter to do yoga teacher training, and made heaps of friends while I was there.
I went back for another 2 weeks to surf, and stayed with a good friend I made at a yoga/spiritual event on the previous trip. He and his roommate opened their door for me and took care of everything and I spent next to no money the entire trip. My friend used to race downhill longboard (and I used to race downhill mountain bikes) and has travelled all over for this reason. He has never been to Canada, but everyone in the skate world always talks about skating specific hills in places like Whistler, Summerland, North Vancouver, Van Island etc. He wants to come to skate, it is the main reason.
I am helping him with his application... and boy is this process ever complicated! SO as I read more and more I realize there are several things he may get denied for. I will try to be as concise as possible here:
- He was born and raised in Venezuela, and has lived in Costa Rica as a refugee claimant for 5, nearly 6 years.
- He has absolutely no desire to stay in Canada longer than the month that is planned. Trust me, I don't want to be here either! (There is something about surfing everyday in that clean warm water that is a call to the soul unlike anything I have ever experienced my whole life!) Plus, I already have plans to go stay with them again, for 3 months this winter to surf.
- He has a little over $1000US ($1300 CAD) in tips from his work he has saved, that he deposited to the bank and has the bank statement showing this. I have written a letter of invitation stating that I will be covering all costs and that this money is reserved for miscellaneous purchases.
- He has an amazing job he LOVES as an adventure guide/photographer (he went to school for photography)
-He lives simply, takes the bus and has an apartment with 2 roomates, and a cat (he calls his son haha) to go home to. He also juggles at fairs and events for extra money. (He has no physical assets other than his surf and skate boards)
-His parents and family are scattered because they are all refugees, his mom is a dentist and father a retired doctor. All he really has in Costa Rica are his best friends "family" from Venezuela that he skates and surfs with.
- He has 3 passports but lost a 4th one years ago that had some of his racing travel stamps
After reading this forum for weeks, and working with him to fill out the forms and write the letters, I feel like I still have so many questions and worry he will get denied entry.. How should he apply? Tourist? Visiting friends? Will they even believe that we are just friends and not romantically involved? Even if our relationship does eventually evolve that direction, neither of us want to live in Canada!
Another option, which we would prefer as a last resort, is that my boss has offered him a job and to do up a formal job offer/go through the process for him. We are desperate for workers, and it is hard to find anyone.. We normally end up hiring people on temporary work visas, as the bulk of the work is seasonal (landscaping) He does not want or need to work here. He just wants to skate. However, if he has to work to come here, then so be it?
So what is the best route to take? I had zero idea it was this hard for people to come visit here. I see people getting refused for so many reasons. I
was told by my friends who have both visited and immigrated here that as long as we are honest, it will be fine, but I see people being honest and getting refused- then having to lie to fit into the governments box. So baffled.
Thank you so much in advance for any and all advice. x
So I am Canadian born and raised, female, I make good money with very low overhead expenses. I spent 1.5 months in Costa Rica this past winter to do yoga teacher training, and made heaps of friends while I was there.
I went back for another 2 weeks to surf, and stayed with a good friend I made at a yoga/spiritual event on the previous trip. He and his roommate opened their door for me and took care of everything and I spent next to no money the entire trip. My friend used to race downhill longboard (and I used to race downhill mountain bikes) and has travelled all over for this reason. He has never been to Canada, but everyone in the skate world always talks about skating specific hills in places like Whistler, Summerland, North Vancouver, Van Island etc. He wants to come to skate, it is the main reason.
I am helping him with his application... and boy is this process ever complicated! SO as I read more and more I realize there are several things he may get denied for. I will try to be as concise as possible here:
- He was born and raised in Venezuela, and has lived in Costa Rica as a refugee claimant for 5, nearly 6 years.
- He has absolutely no desire to stay in Canada longer than the month that is planned. Trust me, I don't want to be here either! (There is something about surfing everyday in that clean warm water that is a call to the soul unlike anything I have ever experienced my whole life!) Plus, I already have plans to go stay with them again, for 3 months this winter to surf.
- He has a little over $1000US ($1300 CAD) in tips from his work he has saved, that he deposited to the bank and has the bank statement showing this. I have written a letter of invitation stating that I will be covering all costs and that this money is reserved for miscellaneous purchases.
- He has an amazing job he LOVES as an adventure guide/photographer (he went to school for photography)
-He lives simply, takes the bus and has an apartment with 2 roomates, and a cat (he calls his son haha) to go home to. He also juggles at fairs and events for extra money. (He has no physical assets other than his surf and skate boards)
-His parents and family are scattered because they are all refugees, his mom is a dentist and father a retired doctor. All he really has in Costa Rica are his best friends "family" from Venezuela that he skates and surfs with.
- He has 3 passports but lost a 4th one years ago that had some of his racing travel stamps
After reading this forum for weeks, and working with him to fill out the forms and write the letters, I feel like I still have so many questions and worry he will get denied entry.. How should he apply? Tourist? Visiting friends? Will they even believe that we are just friends and not romantically involved? Even if our relationship does eventually evolve that direction, neither of us want to live in Canada!
Another option, which we would prefer as a last resort, is that my boss has offered him a job and to do up a formal job offer/go through the process for him. We are desperate for workers, and it is hard to find anyone.. We normally end up hiring people on temporary work visas, as the bulk of the work is seasonal (landscaping) He does not want or need to work here. He just wants to skate. However, if he has to work to come here, then so be it?
So what is the best route to take? I had zero idea it was this hard for people to come visit here. I see people getting refused for so many reasons. I
was told by my friends who have both visited and immigrated here that as long as we are honest, it will be fine, but I see people being honest and getting refused- then having to lie to fit into the governments box. So baffled.
Thank you so much in advance for any and all advice. x
