Helping my girlfriend come visit me in Canada

[Gecko1989]

Hello I am a 24 year old Canadian Citizen and I would like to help my girlfriend from China come and visit me and my family in Canada.

We met online in November of 2012 through eHarmony. After speaking for many months online through QQ and Skype we met in Hong Kong in March 2013 and became officially together. I went again this time to China (Guangzhou and Zhaoqing my girlfriend’s hometown) and met her family and friends. She is legit no ulterior motives on her part and she speaks English very well. She graduated with a degree in Law and is 24 years old; she works a secretary for the president of a manufacturing company. She makes around 2200 RMB a month which is around 400 Canadian a month which isn’t a lot but she is middle class for China.

I would like to know what the best way for her to visit Canada is. I know currently of two options.

1. To apply for visitors visa. The biggest opstical is that she doesn’t make tons of money or own an apartment (her family does but not her). But nowhere does it say how much money she needs in her account or the minimum she needs to be making to get her visa approved. Also I know I can create a letter inviting her hear to visit me and my family, would this help or make it more difficult. Can I send her money? Would that make her application easier or no?

2. To apply for student visa and apply for those international schools where all the Koreans/Brazilians/Japanese people come to study English. I heard you don’t need as much money when apply for those visa's roughly around 1500 a month I think? Again would i be able to send her money to help with the application or would it just hurt it?

I am hoping she can stay for 3 to 6 months but if a shorter stay is more likely to be approved then a week will have to do for now and I hope we can try for longer at a later date.

I have also heard that most applications get rejected simply because the forms are either incomplete or filled out incorrectly.

Is there any chance for her coming her for a visit or is my best bet to keep visiting her for the next 5 to 6 years before we finally figure out if we want to marry?

Any help will be appreciated thank you.

 

[scylla]

Study permits are only issued for courses that are more than six months in duration. If she is taking a course that is six months or less, then she would apply for a visitor visa.

To be approved for a student visa, you must show a bank balance covering tuition, 1 year of living expenses ($10K) and travel expenses. This means that you typically need to show a bank balance of $20K to $30K to be approved.

 

[Gecko1989]

What about for a regular visitor visa, how much money would she need need to save up ruffly?

Could I send her the money in advance to the application of the visa? (I.E. 5 to 6 months)

Would a letter inviting her to visit me and my family hinder or help the process?

 

[sshh13]

Hello,

There are some people who does not agree with me, but in this kind of case I always strongly recommend to obtain only a visitor visa (you inviting her) and let the CIC know that you two are in a relationship.
First of all if you are already in a relationship and you were even considering the possibility of getting married in the future, then you definitely must not misrepresent facts when applying. Because if you will get married in the future, you will have to start a sponsorship process to get your wife in Canada, and that s gonna be the time when all the lie and misrepresentation will reveal. Keep that in mind.
Second, based on the information you gave, I think she will have even more chances with visitor visa, than any other kind.
Based on my own experience, I would recommend you to do the following:
1. Write a correct invitation letter. There is a guide for that letter on CIC website http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/letter.asp Apart from all the stuff mentioned in the guide, explain why you want to see her in Canada and what are you going to do. In my case my boyfriend (now my husband) was writing that he want to introduce me to his family and friends, because he met mine already. That it would be nice to celebrate Christmas and New Year together with his family. That his parents really want to meet me also.... an so on. Mention that you will cover all her expenses during her stay in Canada, including air ticket.
2. Ask you parents to write an invitation letter as well (explaining that they are looking forward to meet your GF)
3. You can also write an additional letter of support stating that you will be covering all her expenses. You will need to provide proofs of sufficient funds for that. If you do that, she doesn't need to show as much money as it would be in case when she's paying for her trip herself.
4. That s a good thing that you were visiting her in her country already and have met her relatives and friends. If you have photos of those events, attach them to the application.
5. If you send money to her in advance, they only way it will work only if she actually gonna use them somehow. I mean, if she have a small salary, she cannot just show the statement that she has for example $10000 on her balance. She will need to show transactions and movement on the account. Otherwise it s useless.
6. As I understood, she has no travel history. That s bad. In this case she will need to make a special effort in showing very strong ties to her home country. Make her to get a reference letter from her company if it's possible. I was writing this letter by myself and just kindly asked my HR to sign it. This letter should contain the information about her position in the company, how long she is employed already, which projects she is holding. Also it should contain the information that she is a very valuable employee, who brought a contribution to the business (something like this depends on her work conditions) and the company expect to come back her shortly to finish her projects. This letter should go along with a regular employment letter.
7. If she has any other ties with her country, or any other proofs that she definitely need to come back, attach them too. For example, my sister is living in another country, she has a baby who is my nephew and my godson. When I was applying for Canadian visa, I was already planning my future trip to visit my sister and to attend a birthday party of my nephew (i had proofs and i mentioned that in the application)
8. Attach as many proofs of your own relationship: photos, email, phone/skype calls and messages. Maybe you were going for vacation somewhere together and you have proofs of that (hotel booking and so on)
9. She will also need to complete the application form carefully and prepare all the documents thoroughly. She will need to write a good cover (motivation letter) explaining the reasons why she need to go to Canada and why she will definitely come back.
10. And the last, be aware that if she will get a visa and if it's her first visit, there might be a situation when she will be allowed to enter Canada only for a duration of her intended stay. For example: I was going to Canada to visit my BF for 3 weeks (had return ticket), but I had 6months valid visa. At the border, after interview with the officer, I was allowed to stay only for one month exactly, because it was my first visit to Canada and I was going to visit Canadian citizen.
11. Don't forget about medical insurance. She might need to show it on the border as well.

I guess that s it. Good luck!

PS: I would also suggest you two (no matter which result after applying you will get) to go on vacation somewhere other that your countries or residence. If you will go to visit her, why don't you go together somewhere else. Trips together will definitely help to show genuine relationship and also improve her travel history.

 

[Gecko1989]

Thank you so much for your answer it was really really apreciated

Yes we definantly do not want to lie on our visa forms because win or loose we want to be together in the end.

For the comming summer we have both decided to travel together to either Thailand or Malaysia because she does not need a visa to go to those places.

thank you again you are awsome

 

[Gecko1989]

When applying for the visa does she need to have the plane ticket with return ticket already booked or can she just have a letter from her work saying they have given her the time off?

 

[sshh13]

You don't have to buy tickets in advance (before you get the visa). I did the following: found the air ticket in online booking system, the one which would be more convenient for me. After i did a screenshot of that flight and inserted this screenshot in the document "Itinerary". Under the picture of the flight i wrote that i do not have air ticket yet, but in case of positive decision I am planning to buy this flight. That s it. It s already the second time I apply for visa without air ticket and both times it was positive.

 

[Adam550]

Hi Gecko, Hope you all doing good. My situation is almost as same as yours. Can you please tell me how did you get over this situation? Applied visitor visa for her? Please explain. Thanks in advance.

 

[Dreamcatcher777]

Hi, I am interesting in inviting my girlfriend to visit me for 3 weeks.
We have together for almost 2 years, I have been visiting and traveled together to other countries. What should I do to get her a visitor's visa?...
Any help will be appreciated thank you

 

[bellaluna]

Hi, I am interesting in inviting my girlfriend to visit me for 3 weeks.
We have together for almost 2 years, I have been visiting and traveled together to other countries. What should I do to get her a visitor's visa?...
Any help will be appreciated thank you

Have you tried reading the past posts in this thread? They are very helpful for you to determine whether your girlfriend has a good chance to get a visa or not.

To get a visitor's visa, you should visit http://www.cic.gc.ca

 

[Love88]

Hello,

This thread is well applied for a gf/bf related. but what if im going to get a tourist visa to canada for visiting a friend there and i dont want to cause any inconvenience to thier family? I dont want to ask them to write letters for me since my friend already offer to pay for my flight ticket and im staying at thier place for a month. So what option do i have so it would be easy for me to get through immigration?

1. Should i tell the immigration that im going to stay at thier house for a month . Giving them details about my friend house address. And submit my reference letter from my work and make a loan of 10k cad?

2. Or i just should tell the immigration that im solely visiting canada and submit a hotel booking itinerary that i havent confirmed book yet and loan 10k?

3. How much do i need to bring to canada if im only staying for a month to make sure that the immigration wont cancel my application?

Or is there any suggestion? Thank you

 

[Jets13]

Hello,

This thread is well applied for a gf/bf related. but what if im going to get a tourist visa to canada for visiting a friend there and i dont want to cause any inconvenience to thier family? I dont want to ask them to write letters for me since my friend already offer to pay for my flight ticket and im staying at thier place for a month. So what option do i have so it would be easy for me to get through immigration?

1. Should i tell the immigration that im going to stay at thier house for a month . Giving them details about my friend house address. And submit my reference letter from my work and make a loan of 10k cad?

2. Or i just should tell the immigration that im solely visiting canada and submit a hotel booking itinerary that i havent confirmed book yet and loan 10k?

3. How much do i need to bring to canada if im only staying for a month to make sure that the immigration wont cancel my application?

Or is there any suggestion? Thank you

What is the real purpose of your visit, you should put that. If it is to visit your friend you should say so, and getting a letter from them wont hold them financially responsible or anything if they give it to you and it would help you.
Do you have any travel history to other visa requiring countries?
Do you have any ties back to your home country like job, house, children, spouse etc?
Could you explain the loan part? Are you taking out a loan of 10k just so you can travel? I have seen people here advising 1000k per week you want to be here.

 

[Love88]

What is the real purpose of your visit, you should put that. If it is to visit your friend you should say so, and getting a letter from them wont hold them financially responsible or anything if they give it to you and it would help you.
Do you have any travel history to other visa requiring countries?
Do you have any ties back to your home country like job, house, children, spouse etc?
Could you explain the loan part? Are you taking out a loan of 10k just so you can travel? I have seen people here advising 1000k per week you want to be here.

first of all, thank you so much for your fast reply. i followed your advice and ask them to write me an invitation letter.
i have been to Phillipines several times before, but it is stamped on my expired passport last year. will it still counts?
im single and i work as a government servant. and i have a car. all my families are here.

about the loan 10k. yes its for travel if its helps my visa approval. i wont be bringing much of it to canada since my friend will support me during my stay there for a month. but if the 10k doenst matter, then i wont make a loan.

1000cad permonth? so im gonna need around 4000 cad? do i need to put it in a bank statement so the interview could see it as a proof? or how? ... sorry im really zero knowledge about this.

and im confuse about the visa approval. The VFS global office are far from my place so i really dont wanna make any mistake and goin back and forth so many times.

 

[Jets13]

@Bryanna can you give them some advice......they are single, no travel history but has a job. Taking out a loan to show as funds

 

[Bryanna]

I don't want to sound discouraging. IMO, you don't have a strong application.

This thread is well applied for a gf/bf related. but what if im going to get a tourist visa to canada for visiting a friend there and i dont want to cause any inconvenience to thier family? I dont want to ask them to write letters for me since my friend already offer to pay for my flight ticket and im staying at thier place for a month.

You must prove you can afford the visit and airfare with your own income. Your friend can offer to support your visit by providing accommodation, take care of your travel/living expenses. This, however, does not eliminate your financials.

An invitation letter (and his/her documents) would help. That said, if you don't have previous travel history to other visa-required countries then visiting a friend might not seem convincing.

So what option do i have so it would be easy for me to get through immigration?

Your first step would be to get the TRV. So, you're not at the port of entry yet.

1. Should i tell the immigration that im going to stay at thier house for a month . Giving them details about my friend house address.

Answered.

And submit my reference letter from my work and make a loan of 10k cad?

2. Or i just should tell the immigration that im solely visiting canada and submit a hotel booking itinerary that i havent confirmed book yet and loan 10k?

Taking a loan to visit is a huge no. It only confirms a weak financial situation + indirectly implies weak employment ties + confirms there are no financial incentives to return to your home country.

3. How much do i need to bring to canada if im only staying for a month to make sure that the immigration wont cancel my application?

Unofficial guide: CAD 1,000 per week of visit + airfare. Earned by you, not borrowed from anyone.

Or is there any suggestion? Thank you

You would want to save up before you apply + you would want to demonstrate you have strong reasons to return to your home country when you apply