Bringing my Thai wife to Canada

[bri13]

Greetings all! this looks like a cool forum, just found it. Firstly, my overview. I met my girlfriend online in Jan 07. Our first meeting was in Bangkok Feb 08. Since that time we have been spending time together in Thailand about 2 months a year when i can visit( 08, 09, and 2010). We planned to get married next year in Thailand, but I first wanted her to experience Canada on a Temporary Resident Visa. She is a graduate of Sripatum University in Computer Science and has held a full time job for 10 years(3 years as a Computer Programming Teacher, 1 year as an Office Adminstrator for King Power, and 6 years as a Document Controller for ISO 9001/14001 at a factory north of Bangkok). We were turned down for her Temporary Resident Visa with no reason given. I had my local MP contact the Embassy in Bangkok to get some reasons. The Embassy stated low income and low family ties in Thailand(although 120 family and friends came to our wedding). She is by no means poor. She is making house payments and has roughly 80000 baht in bank(about 2500 cdn).

Since we hit this roadblock, we decided to marry sooner. We were legally married on March 5,2010 and held our traditional Thai wedding ceremony on March 8,2010. We are in the process of translating marriage documents from Thai to English. She has already updated her Thai ID card with her new surname(mine , and will be changing her Thai passport to new surname also.

Now my questions. What are the chances of being issued a Temporary Resident Visa now that we are married? We plan to apply for Permanent Resident Visa also. Can both applications be made at the same time? We would not rather be apart until I return to Thailand next year. Does anyone think our updated relationship status will improve her chances for Temp Resident Visa? We don't want to break Cdn law, just want to spend some time together as newlyweds. How can we convince Embassy here she will return to Thailand before Visa expires?

I will be returning to Canada in 2 weeks and will be mailing her my most recent tax returns as proof of income to support her.

I won't make my first post too long and bore you. Any thoughts from anyone would be appreciated. Thanks. BRI

 

[thai/peg]

From my understanding your chances of being granted a TRV alone are even fewer now that you are married. You would have to first apply for a PRV and then while that is in process you can apply for a TRV and this increases your chances.
With TRVs you have to show enough proof that you will return to Thailand, if you are married to a man who lives in Canada, this is a huge red flag showing that you do not have plans to return.
My husband is Thai and he recieved his first TRV before we were married (he has recieved 4 in total), however I lived and worked in Thailand and could prove this. I belive this plus his interview helped him to be sucessful. He came from a poor family and his income was very average and we only had a couple thousand in the bank. However we proved that I had to return and during his interview he told the truth about how he could not leave his mom and he has very strong family ties. At the time he was scared to go to Canada and didnt know how he could eat the food etc. He told all of this in his interview as well.
I think your best chances would be to apply for the PRV and then the TRV. I am not sure how you go about doing this, as in, when you can apply for the TRV, do you have to wait for you to only file the PRV papers or wait until you have been approved as a sponsor or...?
We have gone through 4 TRV applications and are now waiting on his PRV. It is all a very frusterating process and forums like this are the most useful.
Good luck!

 

[alisa]

Hi,

From what I've seen people talked in Thai web board. It's likely that you and her should start PR application first. Once sponsorship is approved, there is more chance that your wife will get TRV. Many Thai women got it and they came to Canada to wait for their PR. However this is not 100% though.

 

[annieann13]

Hi Bri,

I would suggest that your wife may have to show her ties and convinces the embassy that she would return to Thailand. I have heard a lot of having difficult times when applying for TRV in SE-Asia.

Since you guys have been married, so that may be helpful. You should attach the certificate of marriage translated and certified by Thai Foreign of Ministry(as your status has been changed). I have a friend who has done this before, and she told me this. Thus, I would suggest you what you should submit along with your wife's TRV application as following;

1. TRV fee (the period of stays, I would suggest you should not ask more than 1-2 months as most people can take vacation for a month as maximum when they still have jobs. If you ask more, it is likely to be rejected as your wife has been previously rejected. Ask for minimal days, then the embassy might give you more days. My friend wrote 1 month for multiple entry, but she got 1 year visa with multiple entry without interview)

2. Certificates of Marriage (Khor ror 2 & Khor ror 3) translated and certified by Thai Foreign of Ministry. Once you have them, just make photocopies and submit them along with your wife's application. Other documents should be attached along such as ID card, changed names/family names,etc.

3. Photocopies of immigration stamps on your passport showing your entry from Canada-Thailand from Feb 08 to the present.

4. Photocopies of immigration stamps on your wife's passport (if she has ever been to any countries, that would be helpful as the embassy would think/consider she has been out and her returns to Thailand).

5. The letter from your wife's company stating when she has started the job to the present, position held, salary, passport #, name/family name, DOB, the period of leaving and returning to work.

6. The invitation letter from you, stating your name, position, annual income, address, your wife's name, position, address, the purpose of her visit, period of leaving and returning, who will be responsible of her expenses during the stays (if it is you, mention that with the estimated costs during her stays, including flights, meals, hotels,etc), your business card (if any, staple on this invitation letter as the embassy will keep them for thier own reference).

7. Photocopies of your bank statement in the recent 6 months.

To apply for PRV, you can do it, but I would suggest you to have her come to Canada as TRV firstly.Once she is back then you could consider to apply for PRV later. The process through Singapore office for PRV is 5-14 months, and most people receive PRV by 4-8 months which is not bad to wait for. Waiting is torture, but this process is only once when done.


Hope this helps & Good luck

 

[bri13]

Hi again. Thx for the input. I'm still not sure if we should apply for PRV first or try for TRV again. Most suggestions says PRV first and then apply for a TRV while PRV is being processed, but I just read in another thread that someone else's TRV was refused because they already applied for a PRV and Embassy said there was no need to visit until PRV is approved. Still seems like luck of the draw.

Would there be any harm in applying for TRV again with our updated status(married)? Maybe apply for 4 week visit to start?

Thx again,,,,,,Bri

 

[annieann13]

Hi again. Thx for the input. I'm still not sure if we should apply for PRV first or try for TRV again. Most suggestions says PRV first and then apply for a TRV while PRV is being processed, but I just read in another thread that someone else's TRV was refused because they already applied for a PRV and Embassy said there was no need to visit until PRV is approved. Still seems like luck of the draw.

Would there be any harm in applying for TRV again with our updated status(married)? Maybe apply for 4 week visit to start?

Thx again,,,,,,Bri

Hi Bri,

Everyone's suggestion is correct, but everything depends on the CIC's consideration. From my point of view, as she has been refused TRV before, so she would probably get a visa this time as her status has been changed from single to married. As long as you compile all documents as people's suggestion and what you have in your hands that make a resonabable decision for CIC then that is fine.

I heard that if the applicant was rejected for TRV before, he/she should wait for another 6 months to reapply for TRV. That is what some people told me when applying TRV with Canadian embassy in Bangkok. However, there is no harm to reapply before those 6 months after being rejected if the documents in your hands are enough to reapply,and your wife is in different situations and provide enough/more supporting documents from the previous TRV submission. If you think to reapply for her TRV firstly again, do what my suggestion is. If your wife has lease, house, car, job, study, make those photocopies attached along with the application.

Good luck

 

[bri13]

Hi everyone. I have another question. On Application for Permanent Residence in Canada(IMM0008) there is a box close to the top asking- Visa Office requested for the process of your application- Does my wife put in Bangkok or Singapore?

 

[annieann13]

Hi everyone. I have another question. On Application for Permanent Residence in Canada(IMM0008) there is a box close to the top asking- Visa Office requested for the process of your application- Does my wife put in Bangkok or Singapore?

Singapore

 

[bri13]

Sorry, a couple more questions. On backside of same form IMM0008(10-2008) E, they ask for details of family members. The form says you must provide details about each family member, whether they will be accompanying you to Canada or not. Who are they asking about? Just me as her husband? She has no children. They aren't asking about dad and sisters are they?

Also, on ADDITIONAL FAMILY INFORMATION- IMM5406(04-2008)E, they ask for info about her mother. Her mom died last year but they only ask for date of birth, marital status, and present address. Should she just write DECEASED?

USE OF A REPRESENTATIVE- She will not be using a rep. Should she just write NOT APPLICABLE and still send it in? What if that page is missing? Will all paperwork be sent back to me if it's not included?

Thx again,,,,,Bri

 

[annieann13]

Sorry, a couple more questions. On backside of same form IMM0008(10-2008) E, they ask for details of family members. The form says you must provide details about each family member, whether they will be accompanying you to Canada or not. Who are they asking about? Just me as her husband? She has no children. They aren't asking about dad and sisters are they?
-Put "N/A" if you are already Canadian citizen, and you said no children, so leave it "N/A" (Go back and read the guide, cleary stated).

Also, on ADDITIONAL FAMILY INFORMATION- IMM5406(04-2008)E, they ask for info about her mother. Her mom died last year but they only ask for date of birth, marital status, and present address. Should she just write DECEASED?
- Put "deceased".

USE OF A REPRESENTATIVE- She will not be using a rep. Should she just write NOT APPLICABLE and still send it in? What if that page is missing? Will all paperwork be sent back to me if it's not included?
- I read many threads about that. Some said it should be sent, some said it should not (most case did), In my case, I'd send it and put "N/A" in all sections as I do not know who is going to review my application, I just want to play on the safe side. Nothing to lose, and no risk for IO who may return application. Thus, it is your own decision if you want to send it or not.

 

[bri13]

Sorry, a couple more questions. On backside of same form IMM0008(10-2008) E, they ask for details of family members. The form says you must provide details about each family member, whether they will be accompanying you to Canada or not. Who are they asking about? Just me as her husband? She has no children. They aren't asking about dad and sisters are they?
-Put "N/A" if you are already Canadian citizen, and you said no children, so leave it "N/A" (Go back and read the guide, cleary stated).

Just for clarification, She should not put me(sponsor and spouse) in details of family members?

 

[annieann13]

Sorry, a couple more questions. On backside of same form IMM0008(10-2008) E, they ask for details of family members. The form says you must provide details about each family member, whether they will be accompanying you to Canada or not. Who are they asking about? Just me as her husband? She has no children. They aren't asking about dad and sisters are they?
-Put "N/A" if you are already Canadian citizen, and you said no children, so leave it "N/A" (Go back and read the guide, cleary stated).

Just for clarification, She should not put me(sponsor and spouse) in details of family members?

I said leave it "N/A" in your case.

 

[bri13]

Hi. Bri here with a few more questions. When my wife finishes her part of PRV, she mails everything to me before I mail everything to Missisauga. Correct? Does she mail her passport to me also? If she does mail her passport, when will it be returned to her? By reading here, I'm led to believe she can apply for TRV again after sponsorship approval, but how can she get visa stamp if her passport is in Canada?

Thx for all your help so far,,,,,,,BRI

 

[alisa]

Hi Bri,

You wife won't send passport to you. She will be requested to send passport once Singapore office make decision to issue PR for her and she will send it to Singapore directly.

 

[alisa]

But she will have to send photocopy of her passport included in the application and supporting document to you and then you combine with yours and send to CPC-M.