Re: Questions about my Dominican friend's visa application/Not a Happy Ending
Hi Everyone...well, I'm totally dismayed :'( that after all the work we did and money spent, with all the crossing of the t's and dotting of the i's, they would not give my friend Carol a visa to visit us in Canada. I would at least want an explanation. I can't see any reason for it. She's only 22, not someone to go traipsing off to try to stay in a strange countryon her own, if that is their worry. My only thought was that perhaps the itinerary I wrote up wasn't specific enough...partly because there wasn't that much to tell. This was what was on the intinerary:
<<Departing Puerto Plata (POP) – 2:00pm on Westjet flight #2617
Arrive in Toronto (YYZ) – 6:15pm
Departing Toronto (YYZ) – 9:30pm on Westjet flight #569
Arrive in Thunder Bay – 11:11pm
Carol will be vacationing for approximately one week with us at ** Ray Blvd. Thunder Bay, Ontario until Saturday August 6th - at which time Carol will accompany Raymond and Arlette on a car trip to Toronto while visiting relatives in Barrie and Whitby along the way. We plan to spend several days with Carol visiting some sights around southern Ontario before accompanying her to Toronto Pearson airport for her flight home on August 12th, 2011.
Departing Toronto (YYZ) – 9:30am on Westjet flight #2616
Arrive in Puerto Plata (POP) – 12:58pm>>
Perhaps I should have mentioned that we were staying in hotels on the trip...and that the relatives were Ray's. I just didn't think that precisely. I hope it wasn't my fault. Carol is of course VERY upset, as am I. I am going to call my Member of Parliament tomorrow...I at least want an explanation, that is only fair. If they are going to cull people on the basis of gut feeling or "profiling", then they should make it clear on their website who they won't give a visa to and spare all the unnecessary waste of time, money and heart ache. I think what they are doing to people in DR is very cruel. If they operated that way with Canadians applying for a passport, we'd be outraged. They should at least give the person a chance to rectify any missing or less than perfect documents. I assume they keep everything and send you packing. I've not had a chance to talk to Carol as she had to catch the late bus back to POP.
Sorry, I think I'm angry
more than anything. Ok, if you have any advice for future recourse, that would be good...if not, thanks again!
Very puzzled in Canada, Arlette
PS, that is the Aruban flag...I love that place and the flag is pretty...lol