Question about visitor visa for a long distance partner

[maximaxi]

Hi everyone, I need some help with my boyfriend’s visitor visa application. We’re in a long-distance relationship and visit each other every few months. He’s planning to come to Montreal this summer and needs to apply for a visa.

The thing is, even though he has a stable monthly salary, he doesn’t have much savings in his bank account. That said, he won’t be spending much since he’ll be staying at my place for three weeks, and he’s already bought his plane tickets.

I understand that his application has a high chance of being rejected, but I still want to do whatever I can to help.

My questions are:

Should I write an invitation letter for his application to IRCC? (I’m a Canadian citizen.)

Should I provide bank statements under my name?

Should he disclose our relationship to IRCC?

Thank you!

 

[canuck78]

Hi everyone, I need some help with my boyfriend’s visitor visa application. We’re in a long-distance relationship and visit each other every few months. He’s planning to come to Montreal this summer and needs to apply for a visa.

The thing is, even though he has a stable monthly salary, he doesn’t have much savings in his bank account. That said, he won’t be spending much since he’ll be staying at my place for three weeks, and he’s already bought his plane tickets.

I understand that his application has a high chance of being rejected, but I still want to do whatever I can to help.

My questions are:

Should I write an invitation letter for his application to IRCC? (I’m a Canadian citizen.)

Should I provide bank statements under my name?

Should he disclose our relationship to IRCC?

Thank you!

You’re in a catch 22. Disclosing your relationship status will likely hurt the TRV application but not having a reason to travel may also hurt his application. How long would he like to visit and what is his citizenship and does he currently live in his home country? How much savings can he show?

 

[maximaxi]

You’re in a catch 22. Disclosing your relationship status will likely hurt the TRV application but not having a reason to travel may also hurt his application. How long would he like to visit and what is his citizenship and does he currently live in his home country? How much savings can he show?

I haven't used that term for so long, but exactly I am indeed in a catch 22.

He wants to visit for 3 weeks. During the whole time he will be in Montreal or towns around Montreal.
He is South African (which explain the application, it's a really weak passport)
He doesn't live in South Africa, in fact, he lives in Hong Kong and that was where we met. I came from Hong Kong.
According to him, he has less than CA$1,000. He had about CA$4,000 in another account, but he has spent it just last week.

 

[canuck78]

I haven't used that term for so long, but exactly I am indeed in a catch 22.

He wants to visit for 3 weeks. During the whole time he will be in Montreal or towns around Montreal.
He is South African (which explain the application, it's a really weak passport)
He doesn't live in South Africa, in fact, he lives in Hong Kong and that was where we met. I came from Hong Kong.
According to him, he has less than CA$1,000. He had about CA$4,000 in another account, but he has spent it just last week.

Chances of approval are incredibly low given level of savings, citizenship and the fact that he doesn’t live in his home country. Unclear what kind of visa he has in HK. Personally I would only suggest applying when he had more savings because applying many times over a short period of time will also hurt his chances of success and personally think he may even struggle to secure a TRV with more savings.

 

[YVR123]

According to him, he has less than CA$1,000. He had about CA$4,000 in another account, but he has spent it just last week.

Did he explain how he spent that money? For someone who only had $5000 to spent $4000 just last week?

BTW he shouldn't have purchase air ticket until he got a visitor visa. Hopefully, his ticket is refundable.

 

[maximaxi]

Chances of approval are incredibly low given level of savings, citizenship and the fact that he doesn’t live in his home country. Unclear what kind of visa he has in HK. Personally I would only suggest applying when he had more savings because applying many times over a short period of time will also hurt his chances of success and personally think he may even struggle to secure a TRV with more savings.

Yeah, I totally understand that. I wish I have interfered with it early, but anyway it won't help to regret. He is on a work permit in HK, and he is only one year away from getting a HK status. After that, he won't even need a visa.
I guess I just really want to see him again, that's why I'm trying to see what I can do.

 

[maximaxi]

Did he explain how he spent that money? For someone who only had $5000 to spent $4000 just last week?

BTW he shouldn't have purchase air ticket until he got a visitor visa. Hopefully, his ticket is refundable.

Yeah… he spent it on another trip. And the trip cost way more than he budgeted.
Tbh he is not poor, he is just not good with money. He has a very high salary in Hong Kong but he just spends them. You know some people are like that and it takes time to be financial literate.

I don't worry too much about the ticket, he should be able to get a refund if the application is rejected.

 

[CanGoldDigger]

-- Should I provide bank statements under my name?

It won't help, he needs to show his own cash.

-- Should I write an invitation letter for his application to IRCC? (I’m a Canadian citizen.)
-- Should he disclose our relationship to IRCC?

This might even hurt as he shows a tie in Canada.

 

[maximaxi]

-- Should I provide bank statements under my name?

It won't help, he needs to show his own cash.

-- Should I write an invitation letter for his application to IRCC? (I’m a Canadian citizen.)
-- Should he disclose our relationship to IRCC?

This might even hurt as he shows a tie in Canada.

I actually thought the same. That's why I'm asking. I got different answers from everyone. Some said not to do that because it shows a tie like you said. Some said it's better to do it or else it's really hard to explain how this trip will be funded and why he is coming here. At this point, I don't know. I think I'll still do the letter, if it's unfavourable, I guess that's ok

 

[YVR123]

I actually thought the same. That's why I'm asking. I got different answers from everyone. Some said not to do that because it shows a tie like you said. Some said it's better to do it or else it's really hard to explain how this trip will be funded and why he is coming here. At this point, I don't know. I think I'll still do the letter, if it's unfavourable, I guess that's ok

You can try to tell IRCC that you will fund his trip. But most cases, IRCC wants the applicant to show his/her own fund.

 

[canuck78]

I actually thought the same. That's why I'm asking. I got different answers from everyone. Some said not to do that because it shows a tie like you said. Some said it's better to do it or else it's really hard to explain how this trip will be funded and why he is coming here. At this point, I don't know. I think I'll still do the letter, if it's unfavourable, I guess that's ok

There isn’t a clear answer which is why you are receiving different responses. As mentioned before it is a catch 22 situation. Indicating that he is your boyfriend will create concern that he may remain in Canada and it increases his ties to Canada. If you list him as a friend and not boyfriend IRCC will also typically assume that he is a romantic partner. Unless he comes from a country with a strong passport, has done extensive traveling, has significant savings and could justify why he is visiting Canada then there could be concern about why he wants to visit Canada if you don’t state that he wants to visit Canada to visit his girlfriend. As a destination Canada is often very far away from where the potential visitor lives and it is an expensive place to visit so often not top travel location especially for young people. Assume he is relatively young and single so if he doesn’t have a clear reason to visit Canada there can also be concerns about whether he is a genuine visitor and that he may be attempting to try to remain in Canada to work for example.

 

[maximaxi]

There isn’t a clear answer which is why you are receiving different responses. As mentioned before it is a catch 22 situation. Indicating that he is your boyfriend will create concern that he may remain in Canada and it increases his ties to Canada. If you list him as a friend and not boyfriend IRCC will also typically assume that he is a romantic partner. Unless he comes from a country with a strong passport, has done extensive traveling, has significant savings and could justify why he is visiting Canada then there could be concern about why he wants to visit Canada if you don’t state that he wants to visit Canada to visit his girlfriend. As a destination Canada is often very far away from where the potential visitor lives and it is an expensive place to visit so often not top travel location especially for young people. Assume he is relatively young and single so if he doesn’t have a clear reason to visit Canada there can also be concerns about whether he is a genuine visitor and that he may be attempting to try to remain in Canada to work for example.

Thanks for all this. He is a little bit inexperienced, like he hasn't been to places like Europe, the states, and here. That's why he underestimated the difficulty. Worse case, he can't come and it's ok. Not the end of the world.
I think I have decided to disclose this to the IRCC. I thought if I don't do it, his chance is probably 0 because his savings won't match a 3-week stay here. If I do it, he might still have a tiny chance. Hopefully next year he gets his Hong Kong passport and we don't have to deal with this anymore.

 

[Estel]

Thanks for all this. He is a little bit inexperienced, like he hasn't been to places like Europe, the states, and here. That's why he underestimated the difficulty. Worse case, he can't come and it's ok. Not the end of the world.
I think I have decided to disclose this to the IRCC. I thought if I don't do it, his chance is probably 0 because his savings won't match a 3-week stay here. If I do it, he might still have a tiny chance. Hopefully next year he gets his Hong Kong passport and we don't have to deal with this anymore.

Hi Maximaxi
I applied for a visitors visa from South Africa but it was back in 2016.
My boyfriend wrote me an in invitation letter and mentioned that I was his girlfriend and did mention that he was going to provide accommodation, food etc for the duration of the stay
He also sent me a letter from his work place showing that he is employed and also sent me his paystubs
However, I did use my own bank statement
When i arrived at Pearson airport I was asked how long I am staying and I said 6 weeks
The officer asked me what i will be doing for that long and I told him we had planned a road trip to British Colombia and he was like okay welcome to Canada
After I left I applied for another visit visa same year and I granted multiple entry until the expiry date of my passport.
Hope this will help you

 

[Copingwithlife]

Hi Maximaxi
I applied for a visitors visa from South Africa but it was back in 2016.
My boyfriend wrote me an in invitation letter and mentioned that I was his girlfriend and did mention that he was going to provide accommodation, food etc for the duration of the stay
He also sent me a letter from his work place showing that he is employed and also sent me his paystubs
However, I did use my own bank statement
When i arrived at Pearson airport I was asked how long I am staying and I said 6 weeks
The officer asked me what i will be doing for that long and I told him we had planned a road trip to British Colombia and he was like okay welcome to Canada
After I left I applied for another visit visa same year and I granted multiple entry until the expiry date of my passport.
Hope this will help you

Lots have changed in visa approvals since 2016