Preparing to apply for canadian temporary visa

[philhad]

helo, I'm from Ghana. I plan to visit family in Canada with my sister and mother sometime next year. I'll be completing university next year and my sister is currently unemployed. I want help as to what I should show to really prove that we will return to Ghana. Thanks. And also should I start the application process now? I do not also understand the meaning of a provisional airline ticket. Please explain thanks

 

[hogaishaadi]

basically you have to show proof (ties) that will make the visa officer comfortable in saying yes he will return back to Ghana... this can be assets you own, your family, your job, your business, your school, anything that shows you will return...

you will need to have strong bank balance or your sister will have to show strong bank balance, so that in your visit you will be taken care of, and wont turn to the government for aid...

you dont have to but its a good sign to show police clearance certificate, indicating you are crime free...

an upfront medical is also a good thing to provide, although not needed... if you are healthy, that is a bright sign...

be honest and truthful about your situation, and best of luck

 

[hogaishaadi]

arr... forgot about your ticket inquiry... show them either a purchased return ticket receipt, or an itinerary for a return trip... if you show or buy only a one way ticket guess what, you will be rejected, and buying a ticket up-front usually isn't a good idea in case of rejection, unless you will be 100% refunded (which is not likely)...

 

[philhad]

Thank you very much. Can I show my transcript to show that I'll b back to do my national service? If I purchase the ticket and I am rejected that means I'm going to lose lots of money. Also I don't have any travel history at all. Is that really necessary?

 

[zac989]

Thank you very much. Can I show my transcript to show that I'll b back to do my national service? If I purchase the ticket and I am rejected that means I'm going to lose lots of money. Also I don't have any travel history at all. Is that really necessary?

it is not recommended to purchase tickets until you receive your visa.

one of the things i saw here in the forum is that not having any travel history is usually a reason of refusal. i think it's because when you travel, you establish your financial capacity of being able to shoulder the expenses yourself and at the same time show that your intentions to the countries you visit is solely to tour around.

as hogaishaadi said, present strong ties in your home country. you can apply for the visa as early as now as there may be unforeseen events like strikes and the likes. you can use your school documents as one of the proofs that you are indeed going back to Ghana. properties under your name, your sister's and your mom's will be helpful too. it would be best if each of you will be able to provide your own properties (unless both you and your sister are below 22). does your mom still work? how old is your sister?

 

[philhad]

My mother has properties under her name. My sister is 24 and not working but has completed uni and her national service and searching for work. My sis and I have a business name under our names but we haven't started the business. Can we use it? And for the ticket issue....the instruction manual says we must provide a provisional airline booking. Thanks

 

[zac989]

My mother has properties under her name. My sister is 24 and not working but has completed uni and her national service and searching for work. My sis and I have a business name under our names but we haven't started the business. Can we use it? And for the ticket issue....the instruction manual says we must provide a provisional airline booking. Thanks

this is the checklist of items you need to submit for your TRV application and there's nothing that says it's a must to provide provisional airline booking (it just says, if applicable) http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/forms/IMM5484E.pdf

i have applied for TRV several times and i never had to present tickets. the only time i got a TRV refusal was when there were no assets under my name and i was even working then (on the job for less than a year at the time of the application).

i think the business should be up and running for it to be considered as an effective strong tie to go back to your country. i don't know if it's just me, but you will have to prove that the business under your name is not just a "plan". does your sister have properties under her name as well? if she's single and she has no work, even when she has completed university - it is unlikely that she'll be granted visa. remember that the most important thing here is to prove that there are properties and jobs that you all go back to after the visit. for yourself, if you are still enrolled at the university, i suggest that you apply now and use your registration at the university to show that you would still have to come back and finish your studies. if your planned trip is AFTER your graduation, then that would be a different story - you will be in the same situation as your sister's.

 

[philhad]

Thanks! Yes I plan to visit Canada after I finish my last exams but my graduation is later next year so I'll be back before the graduation.since they don't know when exactly I'll leave Ghana for Canada, should I apply now and use my sch documents? And can my sister just use a strong balance as an asset?

 

[zac989]

Thanks! Yes I plan to visit Canada after I finish my last exams but my graduation is later next year so I'll be back before the graduation.since they don't know when exactly I'll leave Ghana for Canada, should I apply now and use my sch documents? And can my sister just use a strong balance as an asset?

there's a section in the application form (IMM5257E) where you are to indicate when you would plan to visit Canada although it still depends on the validity of your visa as to when you intend to use it in reality. if you apply now and show proof that you are going back to Ghana in time for your graduation, then you will have to provide documents to backup this claim.

i am no expert but i don't think a strong balance (i assume you are referring to bank account) will be considered as an asset. what's important to show that there's something that you HAVE TO GO BACK TO (probably car ownership under her name, or land titles under her name). money can easily be transferred to/accessed in Canada.

 

[philhad]

Thank you very much. Why does the visa process have to be so hard huh. I'm not going to stay in someone's country illegally

 

[zac989]

Thank you very much. Why does the visa process have to be so hard huh. I'm not going to stay in someone's country illegally

well, i guess it's just a preventive measure to regulate those that are coming in to their country. while it is true that we don't intend to stay illegally, the fact that there are other people who don't do the same can't just be dismissed/ignored - ergo, the rules to acquiring visas.

 

[philhad]

So I plan to visit the US too. If I get the US visa, can we use it to apply for the Canadian visa,?

 

[zac989]

So I plan to visit the US too. If I get the US visa, can we use it to apply for the Canadian visa,?

it can be an added factor but it will not guarantee an approval to your TRV application. remember, it all boils down to showing the IO that you are going back to Ghana after the visit.

i don't know if it's just me but i think having a US visa and USED it in the past will help you establish a fact that you don't have any plans in staying illegally in another country. if you haven't used the US visa yet, then it wouldn't matter much.

 

[philhad]

Thank you.
Well we haven't used the US visa before. We want to show the fact that we will enter the US first and then visit family in Canada and come back to the US to return home because we are attending an important function(an international convention we have been selected to) in the US. Should we then provide a provisional itinerary for a return ticket to the US? To prove that really we will not stay in Canada?

 

[zac989]

Thank you.
Well we haven't used the US visa before. We want to show the fact that we will enter the US first and then visit family in Canada and come back to the US to return home because we are attending an important function(an international convention we have been selected to) in the US. Should we then provide a provisional itinerary for a return ticket to the US? To prove that really we will not stay in Canada?

so this means your travel will be Ghana - US - Canada - US - Ghana, correct? if this is the case, then it makes more sense. you will have to present the documents backing up your claim that your original itinerary is to go to the US and the visit to Canada is "secondary" to make your trip worth your while - when applying for the TRV. if you already have the US visa and the plane tickets for this trip, then you can include this as well (photocopies of both visas and tickets). if you are still in the stage of applying for a US visa then it's still moot to purchase roundtrip tickets. i hope i am stil making sense to you.