Travel History?

[Steph C]

My friend has been denied twice now for a visitors visa. Most of the story is in the post below:

(not allowed to post links so you can figure the below out)
canadavisa dot com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/updated-topics/-t28863.0.html;topicseen

Both times, money/assets were the problem, even with me putting a couple thousand dollars in their bank account and my friend declaring assets that they didn't declare before. However this time there was a new reason added to the denial letter. My friend's travel history. I don't understand how this could be a problem. My friend has worked on a cruise ship for the past 10 years, with lots of stamps in the passport, including old transit visas to fly into countries to join the ship, as well as a C1/D, just proving they are reliable to return home as they always have. I thought this was a good travel history. How could this be a black mark?

 

[Karlshammar]

Since the decision was made by the visa office, I recommend contacting the visa office for clarification.

 

[Steph C]

And how exactly would that be possible? I have never heard of a visa office being able to explain their decision. We are always just told to apply again. We are using the visa office in Manila, by the way.

 

[job_seeker]

My friend has been denied twice now for a visitors visa. Most of the story is in the post below:

(not allowed to post links so you can figure the below out)
http://canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/updated-topics/-t28863.0.html

Both times, money/assets were the problem, even with me putting a couple thousand dollars in their bank account and my friend declaring assets that they didn't declare before. However this time there was a new reason added to the denial letter. My friend's travel history. I don't understand how this could be a problem. My friend has worked on a cruise ship for the past 10 years, with lots of stamps in the passport, including old transit visas to fly into countries to join the ship, as well as a C1/D, just proving they are reliable to return home as they always have. I thought this was a good travel history. How could this be a black mark?

The visa officer probably was thinking the trips of your friend were work related and not done for pleasure, not something done for leisure, not something s/he spent for.

 

[Steph C]

However the visa office in Manila should know, given the volume of Philpppine OFW's (overseas foreign workers) in the country and the amount of Filipinos who do work on cruise lines, that this isn't the case. I should think they would have seen it many times before at the Manila visa office - plus the facts were supported in our accompanying documentation. I thought that having a travel history was a good thing - proving how reliable you are not to 'jump ship'

 

[Steph C]

I can only think that maybe they just messed up. ;D

Question: before my friend's visa was denied they received a phone call from the embassy, and because of spotty reception he couldn't hear them very well. They said they would email him and they never did. The next thing we got was the rejection letter #2. Do you think this means we were close?

 

[job_seeker]

I can only think that maybe they just messed up. ;D

Question: before my friend's visa was denied they received a phone call from the embassy, and because of spotty reception he couldn't hear them very well. They said they would email him and they never did. The next thing we got was the rejection letter #2. Do you think this means we were close?

It is sad that the reception was not clear. We don't know how the visa officers think. In my opinion, your friend applied too soon after the first rejection, submitted assets/money not submitted with the first application. You addressed the second rejection point but not the first rejection point which was "leaving Canada" once allowed entry because of the indicated factors:

a)any history of having contravened the conditions of entry on a previous stay in Canada
b)your travel history
c)your immigration status
d)your family ties in Canada and your country of residence
e)length of proposed stay in Canada
f)purpose of visit
g)limited employment prospects in your country of residence
h)your current employment situation
i)your personal assets and financial status"

Am just wondering why c) immigration status is included or were these just the choices and you forgot to indicate which was ticked?

 

[Steph C]

It is sad that the reception was not clear. We don't know how the visa officers think. In my opinion, your friend applied too soon after the first rejection, submitted assets/money not submitted with the first application. You addressed the second rejection point but not the first rejection point which was "leaving Canada" once allowed entry because of the indicated factors:

a)any history of having contravened the conditions of entry on a previous stay in Canada
b)your travel history
c)your immigration status
d)your family ties in Canada and your country of residence
e)length of proposed stay in Canada
f)purpose of visit
g)limited employment prospects in your country of residence
h)your current employment situation
i)your personal assets and financial status"

Am just wondering why c) immigration status is included or were these just the choices and you forgot to indicate which was ticked?

In the first rejection letter, none of the above were specifically ticked - just the category stating they weren't satisfied he would leave Canada because of consideration of some of the below factors, none of which were ticked.. The second denial had b)travel history and i)personal assets checked off and other then that it was identical (with the other section about funds, income, assets checked as well) and signed by different visa officers of course.

I think the visa officer mentioned the (roundtrip) plane ticket on the phone although we are not sure. It would have been due to expire in a few days and I wonder if it was still valid could that have tipped the scales in our favour. Also a strange fact to note is the visa officer sounded very Canadian and spoke only English, asking him if he spoke English. How could this be, from the visa office in Manila?

 

[Karlshammar]

That's probably because people come here for random speculation rather than actually contacting the visa office, for whatever reason.

And how exactly would that be possible? I have never heard of a visa office being able to explain their decision. We are always just told to apply again. We are using the visa office in Manila, by the way.

 

[job_seeker]

In the first rejection letter, none of the above were specifically ticked - just the category stating they weren't satisfied he would leave Canada because of consideration of some of the below factors, none of which were ticked.. The second denial had b)travel history and i)personal assets checked off and other then that it was identical (with the other section about funds, income, assets checked as well) and signed by different visa officers of course.

I think the visa officer mentioned the (roundtrip) plane ticket on the phone although we are not sure. It would have been due to expire in a few days and I wonder if it was still valid could that have tipped the scales in our favour. Also a strange fact to note is the visa officer sounded very Canadian and spoke only English, asking him if he spoke English. How could this be, from the visa office in Manila?

Oh okay. So the officer just said s/he's not satisfied your friend would leave Canada period, not specifying any of the factors. And in the second rejection letter, s/he specified travel history, and the same second rejection point. With the bank account, it should be in his name (not a joint account) and must have been in place (opened for at least 6 months, meaning he built his account and was not opened just for the purpose of having the "show money"). So with his assets, it should also show the assets are his not his family's. As to the Canadian Embassy staff, I am not sure if there would be non-Canadian visa officers. The support staff would probably be non-Canadians. Just my opinion though. Your friend could submit an application without a round trip plane ticket.

 

[Steph C]

Thanks Job Seeker you are very helpful.

Karlshammer, why don't you explain exactly how to contact the visa office. We have contacted the help line but they can't do much more then offer small advice and tell you to re-apply. Don't doubt for a minute that I would be contacting them if it were possible.

 

[Karlshammar]

I don't know the exact website, but there is a list of the different visa offices on the gov't website. You can also do a search directly for the visa office. Usually they are www.<location of office>.gc.ca or something similar.

Karlshammer, why don't you explain exactly how to contact the visa office. We have contacted the help line but they can't do much more then offer small advice and tell you to re-apply. Don't doubt for a minute that I would be contacting them if it were possible.

 

[Steph C]

Believe me, I have seen the website, we have phoned the numbers. Have you ever heard of anyone from a non visa-exempt country getting a follow-up on a visitor's denial? I don't think they have accountability for this kind of visa denial.

 

[Karlshammar]

I'm not sure what you mean by accountability. Are you telling me that you called them, and they said "We are not held accountable. We refuse to give you any further information. Have a good day! *click*" or what?

Believe me, I have seen the website, we have phoned the numbers. Have you ever heard of anyone from a non visa-exempt country getting a follow-up on a visitor's denial? I don't think they have accountability for this kind of visa denial.

 

[Steph C]

Yeah, pretty much, they said read the denial letter, and apply again. The website also states that in their FAQ your only course of action is to apply again.