Canada visit visa from Pakistan

[haideriqbal]

Hello! Need advice regarding the following.

Background:

• I am a recently landed PR Holder currently living in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
• Originally a Pakistani National
• My mother is employed for the Government and has been employed for > 20 years
• My mother owns property in Pakistan albeit it is in my deceased fathers name right now however I am working on changing that
• My mother can finance the trip herself and has enough money to support herself.
• My mother is aged > 60
• I am an only child and my father has passed away

Case:

I want to apply for a Visit Visa for my mother. The issue I am facing is that they require an invitation letter from me to her, I could easily issue that however I am currently not a resident of Canada as I am working in Riyadh.

I would like to know the following:

1) If I show that I am not a resident of Canada right now as I have a job in a different country and issue the invitation letter what are the chances of acceptance?

2) I have other relatives who live in Canada, namely my fathers brother and his family as well as people from my wifes family. If I wanted them to write a invitation letter, who would be the strongest relation to do it against?

3) My mother will be financing her stay herself, is there a way the invitation letter requirement could be waived entirely?

Any advice is highly appreciated.

Thank you!

 

[scylla]

An invitation letter is not mandatory to apply for a TRV. Your mother can apply for a TRV without an invitation letter.

If you want to include an invitation letter, it doesn't make sense for this letter to come from you given you are living outside of Canada. It should come from one of the family members who is currently residing in Canada.

 

[Bryanna]

I am a recently landed PR Holder currently living in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

I am an only child and my father has passed away

2) I have other relatives who live in Canada, namely my fathers brother and his family as well as people from my wifes family. If I wanted them to write a invitation letter, who would be the strongest relation to do it against?

A word of caution:
Your mom may want to consider applying some months after you and your wife have landed, otherwise it might seem like she is moving with you long-term.

Your mom's family ties will seem very strong to Canada (regardless of when she applies) as compared to KSA (or is it Pakistan?). She would need to balance this out by proving she has exceptionally strong ties to return home to:
1. When will she be retiring?

2. Has she traveled to other visa-required countries for short stays?

 

[haideriqbal]

A word of caution:
Your mom may want to consider applying some months after you and your wife have landed, otherwise it might seem like she is moving with you long-term.

Your mom's family ties will seem very strong to Canada (regardless of when she applies) as compared to KSA (or is it Pakistan?). She would need to balance this out by proving she has exceptionally strong ties to return home to:
1. When will she be retiring?

2. Has she traveled to other visa-required countries for short stays?

I have already done my first landing so that is not an issue. She is retiring in March 2019 so that is definitely a -ve but she has more than enough to support herself financially and holds assets in Pakistan.

She has traveled to KSA previously twice.

 

[haideriqbal]

An invitation letter is not mandatory to apply for a TRV. Your mother can apply for a TRV without an invitation letter.

If you want to include an invitation letter, it doesn't make sense for this letter to come from you given you are living outside of Canada. It should come from one of the family members who is currently residing in Canada.

I'll look into that, the problem is that they ask whether you have any family in Canada as part of the initial questionnaire. Unless I answer no, the invitation letter becomes a requirement.

 

[scylla]

I have already done my first landing so that is not an issue. She is retiring in March 2019 so that is definitely a -ve but she has more than enough to support herself financially and holds assets in Pakistan.

She has traveled to KSA previously twice.

FYI - the travel to KSA is unfortunately of no help or value. CIC likes to see that someone has previously visited countries requiring visas such as the US, UK, etc. Having this kind of travel increases the chances of approval.

 

[scylla]

I'll look into that, the problem is that they ask whether you have any family in Canada as part of the initial questionnaire. Unless I answer no, the invitation letter becomes a requirement.

In that case, have one of your family members who is living in Canada provide the letter.

 

[haideriqbal]

In that case, have one of your family members who is living in Canada provide the letter.

Thank you Scylla.

They would not however be her direct relatives. i.e. my paternal uncles son or paternal aunts daughter. Do you think that would suffice?

 

[scylla]

Thank you Scylla.

They would not however be her direct relatives. i.e. my paternal uncles son or paternal aunts daughter. Do you think that would suffice?

Sorry - I don't know.

 

[Bryanna]

I have already done my first landing so that is not an issue. She is retiring in March 2019 so that is definitely a -ve but she has more than enough to support herself financially and holds assets in Pakistan.

She has traveled to KSA previously twice.

Your mom's TRV application is not as easy as you might think. She is very close to retirement + most family especially immediate family members in Canada + no travel history.

Financials don't count as reasons for someone to return home. Finances can be managed electronically.

Property is not an active tie to return home either.

You would not want to rush to submit her application. You would want to give considerable thought to her application/presentation of her strong ties before she applies. Else, you could wait until you are eligible to sponsor her for a super visa

 

[haideriqbal]

Your mom's TRV application is not as easy as you might think. She is very close to retirement + most family especially immediate family members in Canada + no travel history.

Financials don't count as reasons for someone to return home. Finances can be managed electronically.

Property is not an active tie to return home either.

You would not want to rush to submit her application. You would want to give considerable thought to her application/presentation of her strong ties before she applies. Else, you could wait until you are eligible to sponsor her for a super visa

One route I was thinking of going down was to apply for her US Visit Visa first. I believe that may be easier as there are fewer close family members present there and she is currently in the process for US Immigration already.

Also with regard to the Super visa my current income is higher than the advised thresholds. The company I work for also has offices in Canada and it would be possible for me to get a salary in Canada if I so wanted (while still working in KSA)

So far I have been avoiding that because I'm not sure if I would be paying tax on it or not but in case I am not liable to pay tax (as I am not a Canadian resident nor is my income derived from sources in Canada) that would solve the problem entirely.

That is a bit complicated but would love to hear any thoughts/advice on it.

 

[canuck78]

You have to be living in Canada and making Canadian dollars to qualify for the supervisa. Just want to clarify that your mother will only be able to visit you in Canada at this point. Given your questions it seems like you are planning on her staying in Canada permanently once you move to Canada.

 

[haideriqbal]

You have to be living in Canada and making Canadian dollars to qualify for the supervisa. Just want to clarify that your mother will only be able to visit you in Canada at this point. Given your questions it seems like you are planning on her staying in Canada permanently once you move to Canada.

That is indeed my intention in the long run once I move to the country permanently and would be doing that through a supervisa.

For now it is just to show her the country on a short visit.

 

[Bryanna]

One route I was thinking of going down was to apply for her US Visit Visa first. I believe that may be easier as there are fewer close family members present there and she is currently in the process for US Immigration already.

Also with regard to the Super visa my current income is higher than the advised thresholds. The company I work for also has offices in Canada and it would be possible for me to get a salary in Canada if I so wanted (while still working in KSA)

So far I have been avoiding that because I'm not sure if I would be paying tax on it or not but in case I am not liable to pay tax (as I am not a Canadian resident nor is my income derived from sources in Canada) that would solve the problem entirely.

That is a bit complicated but would love to hear any thoughts/advice on it.

Agreed with canuck78. You cannot be living outside Canada to sponsor your mom for a super visa + you must prove you have earned your income from Canadian sources.

That is indeed my intention in the long run once I move to the country permanently and would be doing that through a supervisa.

A super visa is not a *permanent* immigrant-type of visa + it does not allow someone to live indefinitely in Canada.

If allowed by the officer at the POE, your mom will be allowed to stay for up to 2 years on the initial entry. She would then need to apply to extend her stay. Sooner or later, she would need to return to Pakistan as IRCC will not grant multiple extensions

 

[haideriqbal]

Agreed with canuck78. You cannot be living outside Canada to sponsor your mom for a super visa + you must prove you have earned your income from Canadian sources.



A super visa is not a *permanent* immigrant-type of visa + it does not allow someone to live indefinitely in Canada.

If allowed by the officer at the POE, your mom will be allowed to stay for up to 2 years on the initial entry. She would then need to apply to extend her stay. Sooner or later, she would need to return to Pakistan as IRCC will not grant multiple extensions

Thanks for the clarification. I am indeed well aware of that. I'm hoping her US immigration would come through by then.

Thank you again for all the guidance!