Help: Writing an invite letter for Filipina girlfriend coming to Canada

[devilsofnj]

Hi all,

I am in the beginning stages of writing my invitation letter for my girlfriend to come visit me and my family for the Christmas holidays. She can really only afford to come here for one week.

I have the basic idea of how to structure the letter but I could use some answers on the following ...

1) She's my girlfriend, how much of my relationship to I need to disclose?
2) Do I need to disclose how we met and why we decided to be in a relationship together?
3) How much proof do I need to include? Is more better?
4) We went on vacation together to Hong Kong in May, should I mention this?
5) I'm going back to the Philippines in November, before she plans to come to Canada, should I mention that?

I'm a little worried that immigration is going to think that she's going to come here and marry me and stay here in the country, which is not our intention at all. I'd like her to meet my parents for the first time and spend Christmas with me and my relatives.

Any help is appreciated.

 

[bellaluna]

This is all you need to include in the invitation letter: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/letter.asp

Just my opinion, when writing letters for visa applications, the less frills or noise, the better. Her visitor visa application will be assessed based on the documentation she provides, not the strength or history of your relationship.

I'd like her to meet my parents for the first time and spend Christmas with me and my relatives.

This is a good enough reason to mention in the invitation letter.

 

[devilsofnj]

Thanks.

Basically, what you're saying is less is more.

 

[bellaluna]

Thanks.

Basically, what you're saying is less is more.

Yes, just for invitation letters or letters of explanation. In your case--I think you can include details #4 and 5 in your letter, since it shows your travel histories and visiting patterns.

Documentation of her ties to the Philippines, let her provide everything she reasonably can: employment, bank statements, etc. You can also include your financial statements and employment status, but that's only secondary to the proof she will provide in her name.

 

[nope]

If I were you, I would wait until I was in the Philippines and then go with her to the embassy for her interview. My wife is Thai, and she was refused a visa to the US after we were married, when she applied by herself; many of the same issues will pertain to a Philippine woman, and be even greater if she is submitting the application and going to the interview alone.

Of course, Canada might be a little bit less jerkish.

 

[MommyBear888]

I still think that canada embassy would think she'll go to canada to marry and stay. Thats their initial opinion on your matter. She should be able to provide a lot more info on her ties to her home country. I think if she has work, then she should provide an employment leave of absence signed by her employer for a specific duration. This could be one of the strong ties she could provide. At least they'll think she has work to go back to.

 

[bellaluna]

If I were you, I would wait until I was in the Philippines and then go with her to the embassy for her interview. My wife is Thai, and she was refused a visa to the US after we were married, when she applied by herself; many of the same issues will pertain to a Philippine woman, and be even greater if she is submitting the application and going to the interview alone.

Of course, Canada might be a little bit less jerkish.

I don't think Canada conducts interviews for TRV applications, it's pure document submission. Unlike for a US NIV, which is an interview and they rarely request documents.

 

[MommyBear888]

I don't think Canada conducts interviews for TRV applications, it's pure document submission. Unlike for a US NIV, which is an interview and they rarely request documents.

for real? so there's no need for an interview?

 

[charmainefrances]

for real? so there's no need for an interview?

Yup..there is no interview for Visit Visa application

 

[devilsofnj]

I still think that canada embassy would think she'll go to canada to marry and stay. Thats their initial opinion on your matter. She should be able to provide a lot more info on her ties to her home country. I think if she has work, then she should provide an employment leave of absence signed by her employer for a specific duration. This could be one of the strong ties she could provide. At least they'll think she has work to go back to.

Yeah, I am worried about that. I know that is exactly what they're going to think. I mean, I don't blame them. I am not sure if age is a factor in any of this, but we are both 26 years old. I know there are a plenty of cases where much older men are in relationships with much younger, and often times poorer, Filipinas.

She can provide employment reference, leave of absence letter for the specific duration she's requested for. She also helps run her brother's restaurant in her hometown, so she can provide a letter of leave for that.

I am more or less curious if there is anything I can do in the letter aside from following what immigrations expects in a letter to help solidify our case.

 

[MommyBear888]

Yeah, I am worried about that. I know that is exactly what they're going to think. I mean, I don't blame them. I am not sure if age is a factor in any of this, but we are both 26 years old. I know there are a plenty of cases where much older men are in relationships with much younger, and often times poorer, Filipinas.

She can provide employment reference, leave of absence letter for the specific duration she's requested for. She also helps run her brother's restaurant in her hometown, so she can provide a letter of leave for that.

I am more or less curious if there is anything I can do in the letter aside from following what immigrations expects in a letter to help solidify our case.

Actually, i am 31 and my husband is 34. We're almost the same age. He sponsored me after our marriage. When he was still my fiancee, we thought of getting a tourist visa for me. But i read a lot of denials for our case though we're bought engineers and almost the same age. Im from the philippines too. I heard theyre very strict with singles who are traveling under tourist visa to come visit their boyfriend/girlfriend. So we just waited till we got married. For the meantime, he's the one visiting the philippines. But u can try asking them since you want her to meet your parents there coz your parents cant come to the philippines.

 

[charmainefrances]

Hi all,

I am in the beginning stages of writing my invitation letter for my girlfriend to come visit me and my family for the Christmas holidays. She can really only afford to come here for one week.

I have the basic idea of how to structure the letter but I could use some answers on the following ...

1) She's my girlfriend, how much of my relationship to I need to disclose?
2) Do I need to disclose how we met and why we decided to be in a relationship together?
3) How much proof do I need to include? Is more better?
4) We went on vacation together to Hong Kong in May, should I mention this?
5) I'm going back to the Philippines in November, before she plans to come to Canada, should I mention that?

I'm a little worried that immigration is going to think that she's going to come here and marry me and stay here in the country, which is not our intention at all. I'd like her to meet my parents for the first time and spend Christmas with me and my relatives.

Any help is appreciated.

There was a thread here in the forum that I tried to find to be able to help you but I cannot find it at the moment... What I remember was that the man - a Canadian- invited his Filipino wife to come to Canada-and it was granted. Explained everything and guaranteed that the wife will still go back to the Philippines after the visit. The wife even got a multiple entry visa.

No harm in trying. Just make sure that the documents you'll submit will satisfy the Visa officer that your girlfriend will go back to the Philippines. She needs to show STRONG TIES from the Philippines.

 

[freshaspeppermint]

There was a thread here in the forum that I tried to find to be able to help you but I cannot find it at the moment... What I remember was that the man - a Canadian- invited his Filipino wife to come to Canada-and it was granted. Explained everything and guaranteed that the wife will still go back to the Philippines after the visit. The wife even got a multiple entry visa.

No harm in trying. Just make sure that the documents you'll submit will satisfy the Visa officer that your girlfriend will go back to the Philippines. She needs to show STRONG TIES from the Philippines

I think this is the thread you were looking for. I'm on the same journey, hope it helps!

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/visitor-visa-grantedwife-of-pr-t273759.0.html

 

[devilsofnj]

Actually, i am 31 and my husband is 34. We're almost the same age. He sponsored me after our marriage. When he was still my fiancee, we thought of getting a tourist visa for me. But i read a lot of denials for our case though we're bought engineers and almost the same age. Im from the philippines too. I heard theyre very strict with singles who are traveling under tourist visa to come visit their boyfriend/girlfriend. So we just waited till we got married. For the meantime, he's the one visiting the philippines. But u can try asking them since you want her to meet your parents there coz your parents cant come to the philippines.

Do you think I should get my parents to write letters of invitation as well? Or will that make any difference?

 

[devilsofnj]

I still think that canada embassy would think she'll go to canada to marry and stay. Thats their initial opinion on your matter. She should be able to provide a lot more info on her ties to her home country. I think if she has work, then she should provide an employment leave of absence signed by her employer for a specific duration. This could be one of the strong ties she could provide. At least they'll think she has work to go back to.

This is probably my BIGGEST concern. I am worried that once they read that she's my girlfriend, it's going to be an automatic denial. We don't want to get married in Canada. We'd rather do it in the Philippines, as for one, it's a lot cheaper. She can provide all the ties to her work (accounting professional) thankfully.