travelling to canada on my own for tourism

[zrizvi2000]

I am from Pakistan. I'm a 19 year old female, and I live with my family in Oman where my father works as a senior expert/developer at a telecommunications company. We've been living here for about 13 years. I have travelled with my parents to the U.S., France, the U.K., Sweden, Malaysia, and China, as well as several trips to the U.A.E and Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan. All these trips (excluding the ones to Pakistan) were not for longer than 2 weeks. However, most of them took place when I was very young. My father has a steady income and will provide complete financial support throughout my trip. I will be including a copy of his employment contract and his past bank statements for 4 months in my application as proof of financial means, as well as a letter signed by him declaring his financial support. I plan on going for about a week. I don't plan on visiting any friends and I don't have any family in Canada. I'm just going there for some sightseeing.

I have a couple of questions regarding my application:

1. Will the fact that I travelled to the U.S. and Schengen countries so long ago and that I haven't been there since have a negative impact on my application? I will be providing copies of my passports that hold the respective visas for those trips.

2. Will the fact that I'm travelling there alone raise any signals or have a negative impact? This is just a fun summer trip I'm taking on my own. I'll only be there for a week. I'll obviously provide copies of my tickets.

3. Do I need to include my entire schedule as to what I'll be doing in Canada in my application? Or will including the hotel reservations be enough?

4. Is there anything else I should include in my application to make it stronger?

Thanks!

 

[scylla]

I am from Pakistan. I'm a 19 year old female, and I live with my family in Oman where my father works as a senior expert/developer at a telecommunications company. We've been living here for about 13 years. I have travelled with my parents to the U.S., France, the U.K., Sweden, Malaysia, and China, as well as several trips to the U.A.E and Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan. All these trips (excluding the ones to Pakistan) were not for longer than 2 weeks. However, most of them took place when I was very young. My father has a steady income and will provide complete financial support throughout my trip. I will be including a copy of his employment contract and his past bank statements for 4 months in my application as proof of financial means, as well as a letter signed by him declaring his financial support. I plan on going for about a week. I don't plan on visiting any friends and I don't have any family in Canada. I'm just going there for some sightseeing.

I have a couple of questions regarding my application:

1. Will the fact that I travelled to the U.S. and Schengen countries so long ago and that I haven't been there since have a negative impact on my application? I will be providing copies of my passports that hold the respective visas for those trips.

2. Will the fact that I'm travelling there alone raise any signals or have a negative impact? This is just a fun summer trip I'm taking on my own. I'll only be there for a week. I'll obviously provide copies of my tickets.

3. Do I need to include my entire schedule as to what I'll be doing in Canada in my application? Or will including the hotel reservations be enough?

4. Is there anything else I should include in my application to make it stronger?

Thanks!

1. The traveling you did as a young child likely won't be counted by IRCC when they evaluate your application. They will most likely be looking for recent travel to countries requiring visas such as the US and UK. I expect they will evaluate your application as having no travel history which is a negative.
2. Yes, that could raise concerns, as well as your age and lack of ties. If you have traveled a number of times on your own (without your parents) this will help your application.
3. You should include an itinerary of what you plan to do while here, not just hotel bookings.
4. You'll need to show that you have sufficient savings to cover your trip. You will also want to demonstrate strong ties to your country of residence to show you have no plans on remaining in Canada long term. Do not book your flight ticket until you have an approved visa.

 

[zrizvi2000]

1. The traveling you did as a young child likely won't be counted by IRCC when they evaluate your application. They will most likely be looking for recent travel to countries requiring visas such as the US and UK. I expect they will evaluate your application as having no travel history which is a negative.
2. Yes, that could raise concerns, as well as your age and lack of ties. If you have traveled a number of times on your own (without your parents) this will help your application.
3. You should include an itinerary of what you plan to do while here, not just hotel bookings.
4. You'll need to show that you have sufficient savings to cover your trip. You will also want to demonstrate strong ties to your country of residence to show you have no plans on remaining in Canada long term. Do not book your flight ticket until you have an approved visa.

Lack of ties? I have my parents and my siblings (in other words, my whole family) living in Oman. What other proof can I possibly provide?

As for sufficient funds, as I mentioned, my dad will be providing a letter confirming that he'll support me financially as well as his bank statements + employment contract. Is there anything else I should include to supplement that?

Also, if I don't book my flight tickets then what will I provide as proof that I intend to leave Canada? The online applications mentions that I should provide copies of flight and hotel bookings.

And not to sound like I'm whining but it seems a bit unreasonable that somebody would be denied entry just because they hadn't travelled in a while (or even at all). Everybody's traveling history starts somewhere, and it seems silly to be forced to travel to other places you don't even wanna go to just so you can establish a traveling history. And for what it's worth, I go to Saudi Arabia almost every year (which does require a visa). But seeing as Middle Eastern countries hardly count in this situation I suppose that wouldn't make much of a difference. Anyway, shouldn't the main deciding factors be sufficient funds and family ties?

 

[Bs65]

you cannot travel in 2020 so there is no point in applying any visa. there is nothing positive in your application your application will be refused. Canada is not a tourist country. inland tourism is different. you are single, living in a third country, do not own any property , no travel history, imagine why would visa officer grant you the visa. if your plans are to move to canada i would recommend go for study visa that too not in 2020.

Just have to pick you up on your statement 'Canada is not a tourist country' so you are saying that the approx 20 billlion or so spent by tourists from outside of Canada makes Canada not tourist destination ? Obviously tourism is suspended for now due to COVID but for sure Canada is 1000 percent a tourist destination..

 

[zrizvi2000]

you cannot travel in 2020 so there is no point in applying any visa. there is nothing positive in your application your application will be refused. Canada is not a tourist country. inland tourism is different. you are single, living in a third country, do not own any property , no travel history, imagine why would visa officer grant you the visa. if your plans are to move to canada i would recommend go for study visa that too not in 2020.

Canada is not a tourist country? I'm pretty sure plenty of people go to visit Canada every year. I happen to know many who have.

Why is being single a disqualifier? And how am I expected to own property at such a young age? Also, I do have travel history, it's just a bit old. The reason I'm traveling after so long is because I've finally graduated from school and am old enough to travel alone, and I have spare time on my hands. Also, I do not plan on moving to Canada. Just wanted to fly out and visit, but maybe I'd be better off going somewhere that wasn't so distrustful of everyone lol. Based on your reply, it seems that the only people who have a chance of getting approved are married middle aged people who've already been all around the world and own property. That's a really narrow criteria.

 

[Bs65]

Lack of ties? I have my parents and my siblings (in other words, my whole family) living in Oman. What other proof can I possibly provide?

As for sufficient funds, as I mentioned, my dad will be providing a letter confirming that he'll support me financially as well as his bank statements + employment contract. Is there anything else I should include to supplement that?

And not to sound like I'm whining but it seems a bit unreasonable that somebody would be denied entry just because they hadn't travelled in a while (or even at all). Everybody's traveling history starts somewhere, and it seems silly to be forced to travel to other places you don't even wanna go to just so you can establish a traveling history. And for what it's worth, I go to Saudi Arabia almost every year (which does require a visa). But seeing as Middle Eastern countries hardly count in this situation I suppose that wouldn't make much of a difference. Anyway, shouldn't the main deciding factors be sufficient funds and family ties?

Unfortunately the reality is that there are a number of countries in the world where the minority tend to ruin everything for the majority of visa applicants by abusing the immigration system making it a challenge to get a visa. What I mean by that is so many people want to immigrate to Canada that they try using any means even visit visas to get to the country so this then creates what could be considered an unfair challenge for anyone who really genuinely wants to only visit as yourself.

This is not to say you should not try applying by following some of the recommendations put forward above, ensuring that you can show a day by day itinerary, that you can finance the trip, hotel bookings help but make sure refundable and only need to show a copy of a flight itinerary should not buy a ticket unless fully refundable plus of course ties to return to your home/resident country.

Not saying anything wrong with a week vacation but generally people would travel for at least a 2 week vacation from such a distance given a week would hardly scratch the surface of Canada as a tourist destination.

With COVID then any visit this summer may not be possible whilst the travel restrictions are in place given tourism for now is considered not essential travel plus there is a mandatory 14 day quarantine for all international arrivals with no formal end in sight for that requirement to be removed although suspect it is always being reviewed . The current restrictions have a legal expiry date of June 30 but are likely in some form to be extended before that date.

 

[canuck78]

As you are now an adult strong family ties would really mean a spouse or children.

 

[zrizvi2000]

As you are now an adult strong family ties would really mean a spouse or children.

dude i'm literally 19 years old. i haven't even started uni yet lmao why am i expected to have a spouse, let alone a bunch of kids??

 

[canuck78]

dude i'm literally 19 years old. i haven't even started uni yet lmao why would a progressive country like canada expect me to have a spouse, let alone a bunch of kids??

I am telling you what Canada defines as family ties for adults. Because you are young there will be a bit of flexibility but your situation isn’t really strong family ties.

 

[zrizvi2000]

I am telling you what Canada defines as family ties for adults. Because you are young there will be a bit of flexibility but your situation isn’t really strong family ties.

fair enough but i really don't see how i can possibly supplement evidence of strong family ties other than by telling them that my mom, dad, and siblings live here and that i (obviously) plan on coming back to them.

 

[bellaluna]

fair enough but i really don't see how i can possibly supplement evidence of strong family ties other than by telling them that my mom, dad, and siblings live here and that i (obviously) plan on coming back to them.

Who knows, maybe your family's travel history might actually help that your family has a tendency to have short stays. I renewed my US visa after over a decade from the last one (I also toured the US as a child) and it actually helped. Although from observation and personal opinion, a Canadian TRV is one of the more difficult tourist visas to get, because it's better to show, not tell.

You may have to show uni acceptance and career plans in Oman to convince them that you won't overstay in Canada.

 

[scylla]

Lack of ties? I have my parents and my siblings (in other words, my whole family) living in Oman. What other proof can I possibly provide?

As for sufficient funds, as I mentioned, my dad will be providing a letter confirming that he'll support me financially as well as his bank statements + employment contract. Is there anything else I should include to supplement that?

Also, if I don't book my flight tickets then what will I provide as proof that I intend to leave Canada? The online applications mentions that I should provide copies of flight and hotel bookings.

And not to sound like I'm whining but it seems a bit unreasonable that somebody would be denied entry just because they hadn't travelled in a while (or even at all). Everybody's traveling history starts somewhere, and it seems silly to be forced to travel to other places you don't even wanna go to just so you can establish a traveling history. And for what it's worth, I go to Saudi Arabia almost every year (which does require a visa). But seeing as Middle Eastern countries hardly count in this situation I suppose that wouldn't make much of a difference. Anyway, shouldn't the main deciding factors be sufficient funds and family ties?

We don't make the decisions. We are trying to provide you with factual and helpful advice on what it takes to be approved based on what we have seen.

The main deciding factors will be funds and proof of ties (not specifically family ties). It's good that you have family ties but you ideally want to show more and just showing your family ties may not be enough. Are you enrolling in university in September? If so, include a letter from the school confirming your admission and also show that you have paid all fo the fees / tuition for the fall semester / term.

For the flight, do not actually book a flight, just provide an itinerary.

Yes, it's generally difficult for someone with your profile to be approved. But always a chance.

Note that Canada currently has a travel ban in place until the end of June which may be extended util July. Keep an eye on that since you will not be able to travel while the trave ban is in place.

Good luck.

 

[canuck78]

Only if you google it. Nowhere in top ten. If it was a tourist country they would not be asking for ties to home countries. Schengen countries dont ask for all that and they provide you visa according to your travel duration not on the basis of passport expiry date. Canada is the only country that practices in giving visa's according to passport validity and only country that allows to convert tourist visa or TRV into work permit leading to PR. hence immigration department itself claims that it is not a tourist country atleast not for people coming from countires like india,pak,china,thailand, etc etc etc. U know what i mean.

You can’t convert a TRV to a WP. You can apply for a WP like everyone else even though you on a TRV.

 

[Demaktjun3792]

fair enough but i really don't see how i can possibly supplement evidence of strong family ties other than by telling them that my mom, dad, and siblings live here and that i (obviously) plan on coming back to them.

Hey
I think you should listen to the advices you get her otherwise you will just out yourself thru unnecessary stress that you can easily avoid ... Am speaking from experience because if I had know this site before my 3 Canada visa rejections I wouldn't have hustled it hard on the 4th attempt. Point is I got it but I would have saved myself time and money and to be honest you don't meet the eligibility and admissibility considerations and if you apply with your current status you will definitely get a rejection .. do your research before you apply and make your application stronger .. we are all here to help each other out. Good luck too! You will need it!