Can a refugee invite his/her family to Canada?

[SKROR]

Hi all,

My fiancé is currently a refugee claimant and has applied for Permanent Residence (PR) under the refugee category, but his PR application is still pending. His father has passed away, and his mother resides in India. He is the only son, as his sister is married and settled in New Zealand. I am a Permanent Resident of Canada.

We are planning to get married in 2025, but before that, we would like his mother to come to Canada, as he has no immediate family members here. What steps should we take in this situation?

1. Can he apply for a visitor visa for his mother?
2. Would it be possible for us to have a court marriage first, and then apply for a visitor visa for his mother, stating that we intend to have a religious ceremony in Canada and wish for her to attend?

Your guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Hi Nimar,
If you Fiance is a PROTECTED PERSON, then the chances of approval of TRV for his mother's visitor visa application are high. But if he is a refugee claimant then there will be a problem.

I wanna mention my experience of inviting my grandmother. I am a PROTECTED PERSON(2023) and my PR file is in process. My parents had Visitor Visa already. So, I filed my grandmother's Visitor's visa application in August 2024. Included all financial documents from my side as in invitation letter and VISA application forms, I mentioned that I'll take responsibilities of her trip. DOCUMENTS UPLOADED were--
1. Invitation letter(I got a template from a friend, added some more specific details) Got it notarized at " Achev" an organization supporting refugees and PR holder for free services. They would help in all the documentation if you go to them and also assist in filling application. I did it all by my self by gaining all the information on internet.
2. Cover Letter with a good explanation why you want to meet the person and what will be the purpose. In more detailed than invitation letter. You can get this notarized as well if you want. I DIDN'T.
3.Last 4 months of paystubs.
4. Last year CRA tax assessment.
5. My photos with my grandmother and father.
6.My bank balance certificate of $10k.
7. My lease agreement
8. My Ontario Driving license with my current address showing.
9. My IRB notice of decision.
10. And my father's last trip passport stamps.

In your case for ties in INDIA, you can add community support letter where your mother is going everyday. Or her financial documents as well to get more support- like you said she has property, get it quoted by a CA in INDIA. Also, you can add any on going medication or treatment/ surgery scheduled in future for which that she will needs to return to INDIA that would satisfy the officer.
Keep it in mind that I didn't mention that my mother also had Visitor visa but in this application I just didn't mention anything about her. I just mention in the application that my grandmother will be accompanied by my father. Also, wanna mention, I am also from INDIA.

So, the process was smooth for me. Same day of application submission, I received the biometric request for my grandmother. Done the biometrics the same week. After exact 1 month, got 2 emails. 1 was biometric validity. 2nd was passport request. Submitted the passport 2 days after the letter and received in 2-3 weeks via 2 WAY courier.
I hope this would help.

Thanks

 

[Nimarbajwa]

Hi Nimar,
If you Fiance is a PROTECTED PERSON, then the chances of approval of TRV for his mother's visitor visa application are high. But if he is a refugee claimant then there will be a problem.

I wanna mention my experience of inviting my grandmother. I am a PROTECTED PERSON(2023) and my PR file is in process. My parents had Visitor Visa already. So, I filed my grandmother's Visitor's visa application in August 2024. Included all financial documents from my side as in invitation letter and VISA application forms, I mentioned that I'll take responsibilities of her trip. DOCUMENTS UPLOADED were--
1. Invitation letter(I got a template from a friend, added some more specific details) Got it notarized at " Achev" an organization supporting refugees and PR holder for free services. They would help in all the documentation if you go to them and also assist in filling application. I did it all by my self by gaining all the information on internet.
2. Cover Letter with a good explanation why you want to meet the person and what will be the purpose. In more detailed than invitation letter. You can get this notarized as well if you want. I DIDN'T.
3.Last 4 months of paystubs.
4. Last year CRA tax assessment.
5. My photos with my grandmother and father.
6.My bank balance certificate of $10k.
7. My lease agreement
8. My Ontario Driving license with my current address showing.
9. My IRB notice of decision.
10. And my father's last trip passport stamps.

In your case for ties in INDIA, you can add community support letter where your mother is going everyday. Or her financial documents as well to get more support- like you said she has property, get it quoted by a CA in INDIA. Also, you can add any on going medication or treatment/ surgery scheduled in future for which that she will needs to return to INDIA that would satisfy the officer.
Keep it in mind that I didn't mention that my mother also had Visitor visa but in this application I just didn't mention anything about her. I just mention in the application that my grandmother will be accompanied by my father. Also, wanna mention, I am also from INDIA.

So, the process was smooth for me. Same day of application submission, I received the biometric request for my grandmother. Done the biometrics the same week. After exact 1 month, got 2 emails. 1 was biometric validity. 2nd was passport request. Submitted the passport 2 days after the letter and received in 2-3 weeks via 2 WAY courier.
I hope this would help.

Thanks

Wow ..thank you so much for such detailed explanation . I really appreciate this.

Can I ask for your suggestion in 1 thing? Should he apply for visitor visa for his mother now itself stating that we are engaged and going to get married for which we need his mother to be here OR should we go for court marriage now itself and then we both apply for visitor visa for his mother stating that we have to complete the religious ceremonies for which we need his mother to be here?
also Did you apply for visitor visa on your own or did you hire some consultant ?

 

[Nimarbajwa]

Wow ..thank you so much for such detailed explanation . I really appreciate this.

Can I ask for your suggestion in 1 thing? Should he apply for visitor visa for his mother now itself stating that we are engaged and going to get married for which we need his mother to be here OR should we go for court marriage now itself and then we both apply for visitor visa for his mother stating that we have to complete the religious ceremonies for which we need his mother to be here?
also Did you apply for visitor visa on your own or did you hire some consultant ?

Also can you please share the invitation letter template if it’s fine with you - nimarbajwa@yahoo.com

 

[SKROR]

Wow ..thank you so much for such detailed explanation . I really appreciate this.

Can I ask for your suggestion in 1 thing? Should he apply for visitor visa for his mother now itself stating that we are engaged and going to get married for which we need his mother to be here OR should we go for court marriage now itself and then we both apply for visitor visa for his mother stating that we have to complete the religious ceremonies for which we need his mother to be here?
also Did you apply for visitor visa on your own or did you hire some consultant ?

I did the filling by myself.
I would recommend to invite her on a religious event(BAISHAKHI) or like new year coming up. I gave reason as DIWALI was coming and mentioned that it's been 5 years I haven't meet my Grandmother. It was like emotionally attachment thing in that letter and I also included some pictures.

If you wanna invite her for your wedding ceremony than it will be whole lot of documentation you will need to prove. Because in visitor's visa application, there are 2 options. The system asks if there is 1 sponsor or anyone else is also sponsoring(Invite) this person. So, in that section your profile will be mentioned. And in additional document, all relevant document like all the relationship(LEASE AGGREEMENT, UTILITIY BILLS, PHONE BILLS, SAME ADDRESS ON DRIVER LICENSE, PHTOS, WHASTAPP CHAT, AND IF COURT MARRAIGE THEN MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE ETC)

This will take a lot of effort. The 1st option is easiest one. But it will depend if he is accepted as refugee or not.?????

Question- Your fiancé is protected person like has he been accepted to apply PR or he still waiting for the hearing???? The answer will change everything.
Thanks

 

[SKROR]

STATUTORY DECLARATION​

CANADA ) IN THE MATTER OF

PROVINCE OF ONTARIO ) The Canada Evidence Act

) -and-

) IN THE MATTER OF

) The declaration by

) NAME

I NAME (DOB) of the city of ........, in the Province of ...... DO SOLEMNLY DECLARE:

• I am deponent herein and as such have knowledge of the matter hereinafter deponed to.
• I NAME.... am a PROTECTED PERSON as accepted by Refugee Protection Division (RPD) of Canada. I have attached the proof of my status in Canada with the respective Visitor Visa application for my grandmother. I am currentlyworking as......... I am presently residing at ....... My phone number is .......
• I wish to invite my Grandmother NAME..... for whom details are as under:
• 
  
• Name of Grandmother D.O.B. ...... (Bearing Passport # number..). She is presently residing at Indian Full address as per passport
• I wish to invite my Grandmother NAME....I on visitor visa to Canada to spend some quality time together with me. It has been almost 5 years since I came to Canada, and we haven’t met after that. I am very much of attached with my grandmother and really want to see her. My Grandmother also wants to pay me a visit for a period of 1 week commencing approximately in end of October 2024 to 1st week of November 2024 as it is our biggest festival DIWALI on November 01, 2024. I want to celebrate Diwali this year with them. I am very much of emotionally attached with my grandmother from my childhood.
• I (Name of Invitee....) will be fully responsible financially for their boarding, lodging and medical expenses during their stay in Canada. I have sufficient funds to meet their expenses during their temporary stay in Canada.
• I undertake that at no time will they become a burden to the Canadian Government or any other Governmental Support during their temporary stay in Canada. They will be staying with me on the address mentioned above.
• I further undertake the responsibility that they will go back to India before their expiry of the entry granted. I will ensure that they will comply with the conditions of their temporary stay in Canda, consistent with the IRPA/IRPR sections of Immigration Canada.
• I make this declaration solely for the purpose of Visitor’s visa application to Canada and for no improper purpose.

AND I MAKE THIS SOLEMN DECLARATION CONSCIENTIOUSLY BELIEVING IT TO BE TRUE AND KNOWING THAT IT IS OF THE SAME FORCE AND EFFECT AS IF MADE UNDER OATH.



DECLARED before me at the

City of Mississauga, On this 19th

Day of August, 2024

________________________________

Invitee Name

 

[SKROR]

In cover letter, I mentioned most of the things like dates, my relationship with t he applicant , intention of the trip and more to tell the officer to make him give you the visa.

 

[Nimarbajwa]

I did the filling by myself.
I would recommend to invite her on a religious event(BAISHAKHI) or like new year coming up. I gave reason as DIWALI was coming and mentioned that it's been 5 years I haven't meet my Grandmother. It was like emotionally attachment thing in that letter and I also included some pictures.

If you wanna invite her for your wedding ceremony than it will be whole lot of documentation you will need to prove. Because in visitor's visa application, there are 2 options. The system asks if there is 1 sponsor or anyone else is also sponsoring(Invite) this person. So, in that section your profile will be mentioned. And in additional document, all relevant document like all the relationship(LEASE AGGREEMENT, UTILITIY BILLS, PHONE BILLS, SAME ADDRESS ON DRIVER LICENSE, PHTOS, WHASTAPP CHAT, AND IF COURT MARRAIGE THEN MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE ETC)

This will take a lot of effort. The 1st option is easiest one. But it will depend if he is accepted as refugee or not.?????

Question- Your fiancé is protected person like has he been accepted to apply PR or he still waiting for the hearing???? The answer will change everything.
Thanks

Yes he is a protected person and has already applied for PR in Feb 2024

 

[MyWorld100]

Thanks for posting

Just another example of how incompetent the immigration department is

immigration rules, procedures and eligibilities can only be found on ircc website, any other person\organisation giving extra advice can be based on personal or case experience....... Stop acting like you are the COO of the immigration department, you are just an eligible\lucky applicant who has benefited from the immigration process

 

[canuck78]

Hi Nimar,
If you Fiance is a PROTECTED PERSON, then the chances of approval of TRV for his mother's visitor visa application are high. But if he is a refugee claimant then there will be a problem.

I wanna mention my experience of inviting my grandmother. I am a PROTECTED PERSON(2023) and my PR file is in process. My parents had Visitor Visa already. So, I filed my grandmother's Visitor's visa application in August 2024. Included all financial documents from my side as in invitation letter and VISA application forms, I mentioned that I'll take responsibilities of her trip. DOCUMENTS UPLOADED were--
1. Invitation letter(I got a template from a friend, added some more specific details) Got it notarized at " Achev" an organization supporting refugees and PR holder for free services. They would help in all the documentation if you go to them and also assist in filling application. I did it all by my self by gaining all the information on internet.
2. Cover Letter with a good explanation why you want to meet the person and what will be the purpose. In more detailed than invitation letter. You can get this notarized as well if you want. I DIDN'T.
3.Last 4 months of paystubs.
4. Last year CRA tax assessment.
5. My photos with my grandmother and father.
6.My bank balance certificate of $10k.
7. My lease agreement
8. My Ontario Driving license with my current address showing.
9. My IRB notice of decision.
10. And my father's last trip passport stamps.

In your case for ties in INDIA, you can add community support letter where your mother is going everyday. Or her financial documents as well to get more support- like you said she has property, get it quoted by a CA in INDIA. Also, you can add any on going medication or treatment/ surgery scheduled in future for which that she will needs to return to INDIA that would satisfy the officer.
Keep it in mind that I didn't mention that my mother also had Visitor visa but in this application I just didn't mention anything about her. I just mention in the application that my grandmother will be accompanied by my father. Also, wanna mention, I am also from INDIA.

So, the process was smooth for me. Same day of application submission, I received the biometric request for my grandmother. Done the biometrics the same week. After exact 1 month, got 2 emails. 1 was biometric validity. 2nd was passport request. Submitted the passport 2 days after the letter and received in 2-3 weeks via 2 WAY courier.
I hope this would help.

Thanks

Chances of TRV for parents of a protected person are not high. It is not impossible but it depends on profile of the visitor and reasons protected person was awarded protected person status. For example if you claimed asylum because you are part of the LGBTQIA+ then those reasons would not be applicable to other family members applying so less of an asylum claim risk. IRCC was also doing blanket approvals for a while and was also being overly generous with their TRV approvals so may be harder to get TRV now versus a few months ago.