Looking for basic recommendations in completing TRV application

[JohnnyToronto]

I'm assisting my girlfriend in filling out the application for a visitor visa to come to Canada from Colombia.

Looking to get the approval on our first try as I understand there are many declines on the first try. Our ultimate plan is to get her here for the 6 months maximum and apply for an extension and try for a PRV after either getting married or using the common law status.

I'm looking for any tips or suggestions on the first try on what to say/not to say considering she's 24, never been out of the country (other than a trip to Cuba this coming March).

I'll be including an invitation letter stating my ability to support her for the full 6 months. I assume it's better not to admit to the long term plans for her to use the system to get her to stay?

Also, is it more advantageous to have a flight booked with a return flight scheduled as proof of intention to return? They ask for the dates for the visit but we don't know until the visa is approved.

Any advice is helpful. Thanks in advance.
John

 

[Buletruck]

Don’t book flights until you get the TRV. It doesn’t help with the application. Don’t ask for more than a couple of weeks. Anything more than 3will likely result in a rejection. Including an invitation and stating you will provide accommodation is ok, but if you indicate you are covering all expenses, it will likely cast doubt on her ability to pay for the trip. She will need to prove SHE can afford it. and don’t mention 6 months in the invitation. Be generic. Does she have previous travel history to other countries requiring a visa. That would be very helpful to establish travel history. CBSA at the point of entry will determine how long she can stay based on the entry interview. Don’t show up with all your worldly possessions.....that will end up in a refused entry most likely. She will also need a return ticket and you should seriously consider medical insurance for emergencies. Regular medical costs will be out of pocket.

 

[Bryanna]

To add to Buletruck's suggestions:
Is she studying or employed? If yes, what documents would she include to prove it?

Does she have some finances of her own? Or maybe her parents can support her visit financially?

 

[JohnnyToronto]

Don’t book flights until you get the TRV. It doesn’t help with the application. Don’t ask for more than a couple of weeks. Anything more than 3will likely result in a rejection. Including an invitation and stating you will provide accommodation is ok, but if you indicate you are covering all expenses, it will likely cast doubt on her ability to pay for the trip. She will need to prove SHE can afford it. and don’t mention 6 months in the invitation. Be generic. Does she have previous travel history to other countries requiring a visa. That would be very helpful to establish travel history. CBSA at the point of entry will determine how long she can stay based on the entry interview. Don’t show up with all your worldly possessions.....that will end up in a refused entry most likely. She will also need a return ticket and you should seriously consider medical insurance for emergencies. Regular medical costs will be out of pocket.

Thanks so much for the speedy reply.
If she requests 2-3 weeks on the application, does this influence the decision of the CBSA officer during the entry interview? Meaning, does the request for time to stay on the application make a difference once approved on paper when you tell the officer she'd like to stay as long as legally possible standing in Customs? I imagine that if you tell them she's here 2-3 weeks but would like to stay longer if she enjoys her stay may help if she arrives with a decent amount of money of her own?

Great idea on the insurance. Thanks!!

She'll be arriving with a new passport and only a stamp from a visit to Cuba (no visitor visa required). Plus, I assume showing up with a return flight might limit the time CBSA allows her to stay?? We really want her here as long as possible and she would like to plan for that and would be devastating we apply for 3 weeks, buy a return ticket for 3 weeks and they only allow her 3 weeks when we'd like to plan for 6 months. Am I overthinking this??

 

[JohnnyToronto]

To add to Buletruck's suggestions:
Is she studying or employed? If yes, what documents would she include to prove it?

Does she have some finances of her own? Or maybe her parents can support her visit financially?

Hi Bryanna,

She has a job and she would have her boss write a letter stating she has a job when she returns......3 weeks or 6 months later. She would come with a sufficient amount of her own money and I would state that on her invitation letter with my stating she would be staying with me the entire time.

 

[Buletruck]

If you ask for a 6 month visit when you apply, that doesn’t look like she has very strong ties to her home country (and a 6 month leave from work doesn’t help either) and IRCC will assume it’s easy for her to overstay. The decision on how long she can stay is CBSA’s.It’s important to have a return ticket and the funds to convince CBSA she is financially capable of supporting herself (remember there is no obligation for you to support her and no means for IRCC to force you to do so). Generally, CBSA seems to give 6 months as the default visa (unless you give them suspicion to do otherwise) and after entry it is perfectly acceptable that plans can change.

The return ticket will likely be mandatory just to board the plane. Airlines don’t like to have to foot the bill if you are denied entry (which they have to do if you are denied). CBSA’s major concern at entry is you have the ways and means to support yourself, and you have the means to leave.

 

[Bryanna]

Hi Bryanna,

She has a job and she would have her boss write a letter stating she has a job when she returns......3 weeks or 6 months later. She would come with a sufficient amount of her own money

She must submit her employment letter + a leave approval letter from the employer + 3-4 salary slips + bank statement to confirm the salary deposits.

Its a huge No to include a leave approval letter that is ambiguous about her return (3 weeks or 6 months later) + the letter should specifically state the dates for her leave (from XX to XX dates, can be changed if required).

A visit/leave approval longer than 2-3 weeks indicates weak employment ties/ someone else can handle her work responsibilities = Potential to overstay her stated visit.

and I would state that on her invitation letter with my stating she would be staying with me the entire time.

Your finances are supplementary. She's the one who must prove she can pay for the visit + airfare + have surplus funds.

Your invitation letter can state that you will take care of her accommodation, local travel and living expenses.

She must also include a well-thought out day-by-day itinerary.... like a typical tourist and to meet you/friends and family.... with expense estimates. Her liquid finances must cover this itinerary.

She can include:
1. Provisional flight bookings with a statement that confirmed tickets would be purchased after she is issued a TRV

2. Invitation letter + her cover letter + the leave approval letter from the employer + her day-by-day itinerary must all state the same visit dates + no longer than 2-3 weeks max.

3. If she rents a place then do include a copy of the rent agreement + 2-3 rent receipts + state that as a reason to return home

4. She must also include 1-2 reasons (work or family or personal) to return to Colombia by a specific date just after her intended visit.... with evidence

 

[JohnnyToronto]

She must submit her employment letter + a leave approval letter from the employer + 3-4 salary slips + bank statement to confirm the salary deposits.

Its a huge No to include a leave approval letter that is ambiguous about her return (3 weeks or 6 months later) + the letter should specifically state the dates for her leave (from XX to XX dates, can be changed if required).

A visit/leave approval longer than 2-3 weeks indicates weak employment ties/ someone else can handle her work responsibilities = Potential to overstay her stated visit.



Your finances are supplementary. She's the one who must prove she can pay for the visit + airfare + have surplus funds.

Your invitation letter can state that you will take care of her accommodation, local travel and living expenses.

She must also include a well-thought out day-by-day itinerary.... like a typical tourist and to meet you/friends and family.... with expense estimates. Her liquid finances must cover this itinerary.

She can include:
1. Provisional flight bookings with a statement that confirmed tickets would be purchased after she is issued a TRV

2. Invitation letter + her cover letter + the leave approval letter from the employer + her day-by-day itinerary must all state the same visit dates + no longer than 2-3 weeks max.

3. If she rents a place then do include a copy of the rent agreement + 2-3 rent receipts + state that as a reason to return home

4. She must also include 1-2 reasons (work or family or personal) to return to Colombia by a specific date just after her intended visit.... with evidence

Wow! All great info! Thank you Bryanna & Buletruck!

This is an intimidating process. I understand why so many get refused if they don't take all of these things into consideration. I'll absorb this and take it into account as we progress through filling out all of the rest of the application.

I'm still worried that we supply all of the details and back up for a 3 week stay and they only allow her 3 weeks in the entry interview when she shows up after so much planning and stress.

 

[Buletruck]

If they do only allow 3 weeks (which imo, they won’t) apply for an extension. Ask for 12 months and, if I am not mistaken, including you are planning to apply common law or marry and apply for a PR for her then is reasonable justification. Others can correct me if I’m wrong. And she’ll have implied status until it’s decided (about 3 months currently).

 

[Bryanna]

Wow! All great info!

I'm still worried that we supply all of the details and back up for a 3 week stay and they only allow her 3 weeks in the entry interview when she shows up after so much planning and stress.

You're welcome.

She must bring evidence of her ties to Colombia + finances to cover the visit + a return ticket (that allows for a date change/refund). If she is confident when she answers the officer at the POE/not volunteer any information, she would get the 6 months entry stamp. It's only if she's fidgety/not confident that her visit could be limited.

But, first things first. Her TRV application must not state a visit of longer than 2-3 weeks (maybe plan it around national holidays in Colombia and state that's how she's able to visit for a bit longer.... again, not as long as 6 months).


And, another important point:
While it is always best to be honest, don't overdo your relationship in the invitation letter/cover letter + don't overdo evidence for your relationship. That's because the visa officer who will assess her TRV application will likely believe your girlfriend will overstay her visit.

So if you guys are not too sure where your relationship is headed and how long you need to figure it out, then just mention that you are friends.

Also, it's not wise to use words/phrases like "we want to spend time together", or "we miss each other", etc

 

[Bryanna]

If they do only allow 3 weeks (which imo, they won’t) apply for an extension. Ask for 12 months and, if I am not mistaken, including you are planning to apply common law or marry and apply for a PR for her then is reasonable justification. Others can correct me if I’m wrong. And she’ll have implied status until it’s decided (about 3 months currently).

Absolutely right

 

[Buletruck]

This is an intimidating process

It’s important to understand the intent of the TRV. Once you read up and understand the intent, it becomes significantly less intimidating. It’s simply understanding what does and does not work and why.

If she is confident when she answers the officer at the POE/not volunteer any information, she would get the 6 months entry stamp. It's only if she's fidgety/not confident that her visit could be limited.

This is the key to success. And always be honest when asked a question, but never volunteer information they don’t ask for. Feel free to practice with each other. No harm in rehearsing and preparing.

 

[JohnnyToronto]

It’s important to understand the intent of the TRV. Once you read up and understand the intent, it becomes significantly less intimidating. It’s simply understanding what does and does not work and why.



This is the key to success. And always be honest when asked a question, but never volunteer information they don’t ask for. Feel free to practice with each other. No harm in rehearsing and preparing.

Thanks Buletruck! One of the reasons I looked for a great resource like this site was to get an inside track instead of winging it and getting denied over and over. You have helped immensely already. I'll be back with more inquiries as I absorb your advice.

Practice is a great idea. The CBSA isn't exactly a welcoming entity and not being scared of the process helps. Thanks!!

 

[Buletruck]

If you are looking to inform yourself, you can start here:

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/temporary-residents/visitors.html

Or here:

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals.html

 

[Buletruck]

And this one:

https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/ircc/migration/ircc/english/resources/manuals/enf/enf04-eng.pdf