Help needed to interpret GCMS case notes for rejected TRV

[Bryanna]

Hi Bryanna. Thank you for your response. I'm afraid I didn't explain myself clearly last time. My question was more about how to present the purpose of visit rather than what the purpose of visit should be. Of course my parents want to visit to spend time with me and that is what I will mention in the application as well.

Host documents:
- Invitation letter stating that parents will be staying with me but paying for everything else themselves [Don't put it this way. It wouldn't seem like the real situation]
- Picture of PR card
- Birth certificate
- My CRA Notices for the past 3 years
- My pay slips for the past 3 months
- My bank statements for the past 3 months (I don't have a lot of savings. Just around 5000 CAD over the last few months. I hope this won't go against us. I do have a steady job and bi-weekly payroll deposits shown in the bank statements.) [It is quite low. Maybe include your wife's bank statements? Or else I would strongly recommend that your parents should apply after a few months when you have saved up some more]

Guest documents
- Marriage certificate of my parents
- Bank statements for the past 3 months of both applicants showing about 26000 CAD in total for the trip [Their bank accounts to which salaries are transferred + any other bank accounts + any other financial investments that your parents have]
- Employer letters (stating employment history and granting leave for the visit) and pay slips for past 3 months for the principal applicant
- ITR for the past year for the principal applicant
- Property papers for property owned in Pakistan for both applicants [Property valuation + market realty reports to support the indicative market value + property tax receipts..... do your parents have any other strong ties to Pakistan?]
- Proof of financial investments in Pakistan for both applicants (these are in the form of insurance policies)
- Purpose of visit letter explaining that they want to visit to spend time with me, along with a day-to-day itinerary and estimate of expenses [Visit for how long?]
- A letter of explanation highlighting all the important information and countering the previous reason for rejection (we are including my 2017 CRA Notice which just became available and reflects my employment income. The previous notices were based on my income as a student, which was much less. In addition we are highlighting that my parents have sufficient funds for their visit as shown in their bank statements.) [What matters are the liquid finances/your bank balance which IMO, is very low..... I would not explain about the 2017 CRA notice etc..... instead the cover letter should have separate sections/point-format details.... different cover letters for each applicant.... for their previous TRV refusal + Applicant and Host details + Individual strong ties (employment, property, financial, family in Pakistan, including extended family, etc) + Purpose of visit (short, 1-2 lines) + Why they must return to Pakistan by XX date, etc) ]

Additional
- A letter of support from an aunt of mine who is a Canadian citizen stating that my parents will be visiting her when they come, with her scanned passport. [How is she related to your parents? How long will your parents visit her? Does she live in the same city as you?]
- An affidavit of support for my widowed grandmother who lives back in Pakistan and depends on my parents. [An affidavit won't work..... you must include evidence that your grandmom lives at the same address as your parents + any proof of relationship and age + any medical/doctor's note + 1-2 lines on who will take care of her temporarily]


You would also want to include:
1. Overseas travel medical insurance (not mandatory, not super visa insurance)

2. Some critical work-related reason to return to Pakistan by a specific date (with evidence)

3. Maybe 1-2 other reasons to return by a specific date (wedding in the immediate family, scheduled surgery, etc)

4. Does your dad get pension? If yes, does he have to return by a specific date to renew it each year?

 

[cap23]

Thanks for your reply Bryanna. I had some follow-up questions:

- Invitation letter stating that parents will be staying with me but paying for everything else themselves [Don't put it this way. It wouldn't seem like the real situation]
To be honest, that is the truth. My parents are financially capable of paying for their own trip and that's what they are planning to do. They can even afford to rent a hotel for their visit but want to stay with me so they can spend more time with me. Any specific reason why this might not seem genuine?

- My bank statements for the past 3 months (I don't have a lot of savings. Just around 5000 CAD over the last few months. I hope this won't go against us. I do have a steady job and bi-weekly payroll deposits shown in the bank statements.) [It is quite low. Maybe include your wife's bank statements? Or else I would strongly recommend that your parents should apply after a few months when you have saved up some more]
Once again, I am not claiming to support them financially. Neither do they need me to support them since they have enough funds for the visit. Do we really need to bring in my financial situation into the matter?

- Property papers for property owned in Pakistan for both applicants [Property valuation + market realty reports to support the indicative market value + property tax receipts..... do your parents have any other strong ties to Pakistan?]
Do you know where I might be able to get market realty reports for Pakistan? My parents have their careers and other close relatives (siblings and my grand mother) in Pakistan.

- Purpose of visit letter explaining that they want to visit to spend time with me, along with a day-to-day itinerary and estimate of expenses [Visit for how long?]
Visit for 3 weeks

- A letter of explanation highlighting all the important information and countering the previous reason for rejection (we are including my 2017 CRA Notice which just became available and reflects my employment income. The previous notices were based on my income as a student, which was much less. In addition we are highlighting that my parents have sufficient funds for their visit as shown in their bank statements.) [What matters are the liquid finances/your bank balance which IMO, is very low..... I would not explain about the 2017 CRA notice etc..... instead the cover letter should have separate sections/point-format details.... different cover letters for each applicant.... for their previous TRV refusal + Applicant and Host details + Individual strong ties (employment, property, financial, family in Pakistan, including extended family, etc) + Purpose of visit (short, 1-2 lines) + Why they must return to Pakistan by XX date, etc) ]
I didn't think I would need to show a lot of money since my parents plan to pay for themselves. I do have some cash saved up which I can add to my savings account before sending in the application. This amount should be sufficient I believe. But again it will be a large one time deposit since I have it in the form of cash. Will that work?

- A letter of support from an aunt of mine who is a Canadian citizen stating that my parents will be visiting her when they come, with her scanned passport. [How is she related to your parents? How long will your parents visit her? Does she live in the same city as you?]
She is my mother's cousin. And yes she is in the same city. I have mentioned that my parents will be spending a day at her home.

 

[Bryanna]

Thanks for your reply Bryanna. I had some follow-up questions:

- Invitation letter stating that parents will be staying with me but paying for everything else themselves [Don't put it this way. It wouldn't seem like the real situation]
To be honest, that is the truth. My parents are financially capable of paying for their own trip and that's what they are planning to do. They can even afford to rent a hotel for their visit but want to stay with me so they can spend more time with me. Any specific reason why this might not seem genuine?
[Normally when parents/siblings visit, they are not expected to pay for their travel and living expenses. That's why if you mention that your parents will pay for everything - even if they stay with you - then it does not come across as a genuine situation

A hotel stay again won't seem genuine

Your parents have been refused specifically for this reason i.e. you were unable to financially support the basic costs when they visit. I would not risk applying again if you do not have at least CAD 10-15,000 in your bank account, not cash deposits and not borrowed]


- My bank statements for the past 3 months (I don't have a lot of savings. Just around 5000 CAD over the last few months. I hope this won't go against us. I do have a steady job and bi-weekly payroll deposits shown in the bank statements.) [It is quite low. Maybe include your wife's bank statements? Or else I would strongly recommend that your parents should apply after a few months when you have saved up some more]
Once again, I am not claiming to support them financially. Neither do they need me to support them since they have enough funds for the visit. Do we really need to bring in my financial situation into the matter?

- Property papers for property owned in Pakistan for both applicants [Property valuation + market realty reports to support the indicative market value + property tax receipts..... do your parents have any other strong ties to Pakistan?]
Do you know where I might be able to get market realty reports for Pakistan? [I'm not familiar with the property/realty market in Pakistan. You may want to check if Citibank, Cushman & Wakefield, Frank Knight, etc have annual reports/forecasts for the city where your parents live. These reports are free-of-cost but one needs to be on the mailing list/or maybe you can Google if these reports are available online.

Alternatively, you can also include/look up property prices posted on property portals. You must mention these are indicative market rates just to support the rates cited for the property valuation)]


My parents have their careers and other close relatives (siblings and my grand mother) in Pakistan. [You can prepare an Explanation XX: My Family ties to Pakistan.... two sections..... Immediate family (names, dates of birth, address, relationship (proof not required) + Extended family (generic, for example, two married siblings living in XX city with their families + a maternal cousin who lives in XX, etc etc.... names and details are not required)

- Purpose of visit letter explaining that they want to visit to spend time with me, along with a day-to-day itinerary and estimate of expenses [Visit for how long?]
Visit for 3 weeks

- A letter of explanation highlighting all the important information and countering the previous reason for rejection (we are including my 2017 CRA Notice which just became available and reflects my employment income. The previous notices were based on my income as a student, which was much less. In addition we are highlighting that my parents have sufficient funds for their visit as shown in their bank statements.) [What matters are the liquid finances/your bank balance which IMO, is very low..... I would not explain about the 2017 CRA notice etc..... instead the cover letter should have separate sections/point-format details.... different cover letters for each applicant.... for their previous TRV refusal + Applicant and Host details + Individual strong ties (employment, property, financial, family in Pakistan, including extended family, etc) + Purpose of visit (short, 1-2 lines) + Why they must return to Pakistan by XX date, etc) ]
I didn't think I would need to show a lot of money since my parents plan to pay for themselves. I do have some cash saved up which I can add to my savings account before sending in the application. This amount should be sufficient I believe. But again it will be a large one time deposit since I have it in the form of cash. Will that work? [Have you paid taxes for it? Can you include evidence for the source of that cash]

- A letter of support from an aunt of mine who is a Canadian citizen stating that my parents will be visiting her when they come, with her scanned passport. [How is she related to your parents? How long will your parents visit her? Does she live in the same city as you?]
She is my mother's cousin. And yes she is in the same city. I have mentioned that my parents will be spending a day at her home.
[Her invitation doesn't really matter to be honest.... and it should be an invitation letter, not a letter of support]

 

[cap23]

Got it. Just one last question. According to the new documents checklist from the Abu Dhabi visa office, if the applicants have traveled to Canada in the last 10 years then they don't need to provide proof of funds. Would this apply to my parents? Both visited Canada as PRs in 2011 and my mother visited again in 2014.

 

[Bryanna]

Got it. Just one last question. According to the new documents checklist from the Abu Dhabi visa office, if the applicants have traveled to Canada in the last 10 years then they don't need to provide proof of funds. Would this apply to my parents? Both visited Canada as PRs in 2011 and my mother visited again in 2014.

That's right. Having said that, their previous 'visit' was as PRs, not visitors.

I would recommend they include evidence of their finances/financial situation to be on the safe side

 

[cap23]

Thanks Bryanna. This is all really valuable advice!

I am also considering mentioning about my parents' pet dog as a tie in Pakistan. I wasn't really thinking about her to begin with but some of the other posts on this forum made me realize that I could mention her as an important obligation as well. What kind of proof should I include if I am to make that case?

Also my parents have a financial obligation towards my younger brother who is still a student and depends on them for his tuition and living expenses. He is going to school here in Canada, but I can show his tuition payments being paid through my parents' bank accounts. Do you think that would also make for a strong reason for them to return to their current jobs in Pakistan?

 

[Bryanna]

I am also considering mentioning about my parents' pet dog as a tie in Pakistan. I wasn't really thinking about her to begin with but some of the other posts on this forum made me realize that I could mention her as an important obligation as well. What kind of proof should I include if I am to make that case?

Who will take care of the dog when they're away? SPCA?

Also my parents have a financial obligation towards my younger brother who is still a student and depends on them for his tuition and living expenses. He is going to school here in Canada, but I can show his tuition payments being paid through my parents' bank accounts. Do you think that would also make for a strong reason for them to return to their current jobs in Pakistan?

I wouldn't suggest mentioning this for three reasons:
1. It puts the focus on your parents' family ties which are stronger to Canada than to your home country

2. You can pay for your brother's tuition (if you wish to, instead of your parents)

3. Your dad is retired = No employment reasons to return to Pakistan = No source of income to support your brother's education per se

 

[cap23]

Who will take care of the dog when they're away? SPCA?
My uncle (mother's sibling) will be looking after her. He has pet dogs of his own, so he has the experience to care for her. He details are already mentioned in the family information form.

I wouldn't suggest mentioning this for three reasons:
1. It puts the focus on your parents' family ties which are stronger to Canada than to your home country
- Yes, that is the reason why I initially didn't want to include this bit of information

2. You can pay for your brother's tuition (if you wish to, instead of your parents)
- I currently don't have the income to pay for his tuition. Is it possible to explain that in the application?

3. Your dad is retired = No employment reasons to return to Pakistan = No source of income to support your brother's education per se
- My mother is employed and the tuition payment for my brother is through her bank account. My father is earning pension. Would this still be problematic?

 

[Bryanna]

Who will take care of the dog when they're away? SPCA?
My uncle (mother's sibling) will be looking after her. He has pet dogs of his own, so he has the experience to care for her. He details are already mentioned in the family information form.

It doesn't help. In a hypothetical situation, your uncle could continue to take care of your dog even if your parents don't go back to Pakistan.

IMO, the dog as a tie doesn't seem to work in this case. It would have helped if your parents were leaving it at the SPCA or similar kind of animal place for a short, definite time.

I wouldn't suggest mentioning this for three reasons:
1. It puts the focus on your parents' family ties which are stronger to Canada than to your home country

- Yes, that is the reason why I initially didn't want to include this bit of information

2. You can pay for your brother's tuition (if you wish to, instead of your parents)
- I currently don't have the income to pay for his tuition. Is it possible to explain that in the application?

3. Your dad is retired = No employment reasons to return to Pakistan = No source of income to support your brother's education per se
- My mother is employed and the tuition payment for my brother is through her bank account. My father is earning pension. Would this still be problematic?

I suggest: Drop this point. Instead focus on other Pakistan-related reasons to return

 

[gsdevgun1]

Did you re-apply? and what's the status i.e. did you get the visa or not?