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Correct way to invite spouse to Canada for inland application?

lxybean

Member
Apr 23, 2015
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Hello everyone! After reading all the info on the website, I figured I really need some help

I'm a Canadian citizen, I'm currently doing a masters degree in Canada and I will graduate in Oct 2017.
I'm in a long distance relationship with my fiancee, she's in China and has a job, we plan to get married soon and live in Canada after I graduate.

My question is, if she'd like to come to Canada and visit me once during my study, how should I write the invitation letter to maximize her chance of getting the visa?
From what I understand, she cannot just apply for a tourist visa and hide the fact that she has a fiance in Canada, right?
I find it a little bit confusing because if I do write the invitation letter, doesn't it also increase the likelihood of her getting rejected for the visa?

so what is the proper way to get her a visa to Canada? Thank you in advance for helping me! =)
 

gigalu

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Oct 23, 2014
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In my opinion, just be honest when you file for the tourist visa. What matters is can you prove that she has enough ties to China. For e.g if she is working, a letter from her boss saying he is approving her holidays for 2 weeks and she has to return to work on this date, a general letter of employment indicating her salary , tax slips for the lasy 2-3 years etc.
If she is not working, documents showing that she owns property/car in china, letter from her parents saying that she will return on such n such date etc.
The more evidence you have that she will return to china the better. If she can do that, then her being engaged to you or even married to you will not make a difference.
Hope this helps.
 

screech339

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gigalu said:
In my opinion, just be honest when you file for the tourist visa. What matters is can you prove that she has enough ties to China. For e.g if she is working, a letter from her boss saying he is approving her holidays for 2 weeks and she has to return to work on this date, a general letter of employment indicating her salary , tax slips for the lasy 2-3 years etc.
If she is not working, documents showing that she owns property/car in china, letter from her parents saying that she will return on such n such date etc.
The more evidence you have that she will return to china the better. If she can do that, then her being engaged to you or even married to you will not make a difference.
Hope this helps.
Being engaged doesn't matter much as there is a still strong tie back to native country. However being married makes a huge difference. Now the ties is more stronger to Canada than to native country, no matter how much ties you have to native country. It is a natural assumption that the spouse will not want to leave Canada once they spend time with spouse. It is why majority of the time, married spouses end up not getting TRV.
 

lxybean

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Apr 23, 2015
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Hey thanks you guys for helping me out!

Just one more question, does it make a difference if I should call her my girlfriend or fiancee in the invitation letter?
In the post I said she is my fiancee because we are both very mentally ready to get married, but we did not officially "engage"
so in that case, I would assume calling her my girlfriend would imply even less of a tie to Canada, thus higher chance of getting the visa, right?

Thanks again!
 

screech339

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Apr 2, 2013
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Interview........
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lxybean said:
Hey thanks you guys for helping me out!

Just one more question, does it make a difference if I should call her my girlfriend or fiancee in the invitation letter?
In the post I said she is my fiancee because we are both very mentally ready to get married, but we did not officially "engage"
so in that case, I would assume calling her my girlfriend would imply even less of a tie to Canada, thus higher chance of getting the visa, right?

Thanks again!
There is no issue in stating that she is your fiancé. I did the same for my wife. I wrote up an invitation letter for my then fiance and she was able to get hers.
 

lxybean

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Apr 23, 2015
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screech339 said:
There is no issue in stating that she is your fiancé. I did the same for my wife. I wrote up an invitation letter for my then fiance and she was able to get hers.
Ok thanks so much! Do you happen to know if she needs a certain amount of money saved in the bank? I have read mixed messages regarding this topic on the websites..some say it's necessary but others say it is not necessary, so I'm confused
(My fiancee has a steady job and bought a small apartment with mortgage, will it be enough to prove she will return to China after visiting me?)
 

screech339

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lxybean said:
Ok thanks so much! Do you happen to know if she needs a certain amount of money saved in the bank? I have read mixed messages regarding this topic on the websites..some say it's necessary but others say it is not necessary, so I'm confused
(My fiancee has a steady job and bought a small apartment with mortgage, will it be enough to prove she will return to China after visiting me?)
The letter of employment and mortgage documentation will help it in her favour. As for showing how much money? Hard to tell. My wife showed her bank statement detailing how much she has available for her stay along with my bank statement as well. I don't think it hurts to show how much money you have available for trip.
 

lxybean

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Apr 23, 2015
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screech339 said:
The letter of employment and mortgage documentation will help it in her favour. As for showing how much money? Hard to tell. My wife showed her bank statement detailing how much she has available for her stay along with my bank statement as well. I don't think it hurts to show how much money you have available for trip.
Ok thanks! I'm sorry I just have all these questions popping up in my head...
so, let's say after she visited me in Canada once during my study and returned to China, now she needs to come a second time after I graduate, in which we plan to get married and apply for sponsorship inland.
How does she get in Canada the second time? I mean, this time we do intend to stay in Canada right? so how can we make our intentions clear without her getting rejected to come to Canada again?

Thanks so much! =D
 

gigalu

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Oct 23, 2014
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Med's Done....
July 2014
lxybean said:
Ok thanks! I'm sorry I just have all these questions popping up in my head...
so, let's say after she visited me in Canada once during my study and returned to China, now she needs to come a second time after I graduate, in which we plan to get married and apply for sponsorship inland.
How does she get in Canada the second time? I mean, this time we do intend to stay in Canada right? so how can we make our intentions clear without her getting rejected to come to Canada again?

Thanks so much! =D
can she even do that? how can she apply inland if she has to leave Canada after a certain period of time on a tourist visa?
Also, usually outland applications are way faster than inland. Is there a specific reason you guys are thinking of doing it this way?
 

screech339

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Apr 2, 2013
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AOR Received.
20-11-2012
Med's Done....
18-07-2012
Interview........
17-06-2013
LANDED..........
17-06-2013
lxybean said:
Ok thanks! I'm sorry I just have all these questions popping up in my head...
so, let's say after she visited me in Canada once during my study and returned to China, now she needs to come a second time after I graduate, in which we plan to get married and apply for sponsorship inland.
How does she get in Canada the second time? I mean, this time we do intend to stay in Canada right? so how can we make our intentions clear without her getting rejected to come to Canada again?

Thanks so much! =D
Once she gets the visa, it is a multiple entry visa for 10 year or 1 month before her passport expires. Whichever is earlier. She can come back again a second time. She still need to convince the border agent to allow her to come back in. But it is easier the second time since she followed immigration rules by leaving the first time.
 

lxybean

Member
Apr 23, 2015
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gigalu said:
can she even do that? how can she apply inland if she has to leave Canada after a certain period of time on a tourist visa?
Also, usually outland applications are way faster than inland. Is there a specific reason you guys are thinking of doing it this way?
Thanks for the reply!
Sorry if I wasn't clear, what I mean is, she plans to visit me once during my 2-year masters program, and then after I graduate, we will get married and apply for sponsorship. As for inland or outland, I'm still considering, as so many pros and cons are involved.

The outland process seems pretty clear to me.
My question regarding inland is this: to get a TRV and come to Canada, she needs to prove that she will return to China, right? But since I will sponsor her to immigrate to Canada, isn't it contradictory? How can she both intend to leave and intend to stay at the same time?

Thanks again!
 

screech339

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Apr 2, 2013
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Interview........
17-06-2013
LANDED..........
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lxybean said:
Thanks for the reply!
Sorry if I wasn't clear, what I mean is, she plans to visit me once during my 2-year masters program, and then after I graduate, we will get married and apply for sponsorship. As for inland or outland, I'm still considering, as so many pros and cons are involved.

The outland process seems pretty clear to me.
My question regarding inland is this: to get a TRV and come to Canada, she needs to prove that she will return to China, right? But since I will sponsor her to immigrate to Canada, isn't it contradictory? How can she both intend to leave and intend to stay at the same time?

Thanks again!
Make no mention of intending to sponsor her for PR. That will destroy her chances of getting TRV. The purpose of TRV is to visit Canada temporarily, not permanently. You are basically telling CIC that her ties is stronger to Canada than to China once you mention PR sponsorship.

Once she comes back the second time, she still need to convince border that she is staying temporary. Once she is in Canada, you can then submit an outland or inland application.
 

lxybean

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Apr 23, 2015
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screech339 said:
Make no mention of intending to sponsor her for PR. That will destroy her chances of getting TRV. The purpose of TRV is to visit Canada temporarily, not permanently. Once she comes back the second time, she still need to convince border that she is staying temporary. Once she is in Canada, you can then submit an outland or inland application.
Ohhhhh ok! I finally get it! I knew something is not clicking...this makes so much sense
But one more question though, is this the proper way to do it? Aren't we being dishonest to the border?
 

Regina

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Once she comes back the second time, she still need to convince border that she is staying temporary. Once she is in Canada, you can then submit an outland or inland application.
Once she is in Canada you must marry first and only then "sponssor her". Such a sudden wedding in Canada (without her parents and siblings and friends present, right?) will definitely arise A LOT OF suspicions and questions at CIC.
 

screech339

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Apr 2, 2013
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Category........
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Job Offer........
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App. Filed.......
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Med's Done....
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Interview........
17-06-2013
LANDED..........
17-06-2013
lxybean said:
Ohhhhh ok! I finally get it! I knew something is not clicking...this makes so much sense
But one more question though, is this the proper way to do it? Aren't we being dishonest to the border?
In a sense you are if you are intending to sponsor her. But look at it this another way. You are engaged. There is no legal commitment to each other. You can still break off engagement at any time with no serious ramifications. So technically there is no set in stone commitment between the two of you, unlike a marriage certificate. It is not a nice way to say this but that is the reality. PR sponsorship should not be an issue or topic brought up with CIC until you are officially married or common law.