Visiting Girlfriend

[tynoxes]

Greetings all!

I have been looking through this forum and a lot of information here has been very helpful! So thanks first of all to the community here.

I am planning to send in my forms in the near future for a visitors visa, but there is one thing that really bothers me.
Here is some background: I am a South African citizen and planning to visit my girlfriend that I have been dating over 4 years now.
We met over the internet (never in person) and since then we have shared pictures of our lives, send gifts, been on webcam a lot and we talk everyday via Skype.
While visiting there, I would be staying with her for the duration of the stay and also at the same time tour a bit to see the area.
We would like to take the relationship even further, but for that, we need to meet in person and see where it goes.

Problem I am having is, do I mention that I am visiting my girlfriend? I have been told different things by a lot of people, some mentioning that I should not mention it at all as it can be seen that I wont leave Canada, other saying I should mention it.

With that comes the fact that I need to proof our relationship as that is one of the documents I am asked for. Now to proof we are in a relationship is no problem, as we have emails dating back when we first started dating, but to proof were friends, well that is not going to be so easy as most of our emails end with "I love you", and I am certain in the way we talk in the emails it is obvious we are more than friends.

Do anyone have advice for this?
This whole thing is a stressful issue at the moment as I keep hearing about visa's being denied over little things and were really trying to get everything setup the best we can.

Thanks in advance!

 

[tynoxes]

Greetings again,
Anyone have advice on this? I haven't really found any information to help on this yet.

 

[Pippin]

Perhaps it would be worthwhile to focus on proof of your ties to SA that will convince the VO that you are a bona fide visitor and will leave Canada. What are you planning to include in your application? This area is probably the biggest challenge to overcome.

 

[tynoxes]

Thanks for the reply Pippin.
Well my biggest proof is probably the letters I have from businesses I work for that states they expect me back to resume my duties with them.
Would that suffice?

Also, what proof do I add? Would emails be enough, and how many emails over how long?

 

[Line.a]

Hi
Yes I would definitely recommend you tell them that you are visiting your girlfriend, they like honesty and being honest that way you don't start to get nervous or make things worse that way.

I met my partner online too, and the 1st time I visited him I got so nervous I firstly stated "visiting" friends and then i got sent into another officer for further questioning, so definitely make sure you say whatever you're intending to do. With that bring a return ticket, and do your best not to "act like you're moving to canada"

With that I would also bring enough money to support yourself during the trip. They are most likely going to ask what your plans are, if you met your girlfriends parents and so on. Out of the 7 times I have travelled to canada I have been questioned what I'm planning to do, so make sure you know how to answer it - just in case.. Or they can just be like "ok welcome to canada"

The fact that you guys have never met I would definitely recommend you write down a letter with her address, her phone number and maybe 2 other contacts she's living with (if she lives with someone else)

Good luck!

 

[Line.a]

I just noticed you need to apply for a visa.. Yes tell the truth - they like that.. Because in case they are asking you further when you arrive to Canada you might get in trouble.. Always tell them whatever you're intending to do

 

[tynoxes]

Hi
Yes I would definitely recommend you tell them that you are visiting your girlfriend, they like honesty and being honest that way you don't start to get nervous or make things worse that way.

I met my partner online too, and the 1st time I visited him I got so nervous I firstly stated "visiting" friends and then i got sent into another officer for further questioning, so definitely make sure you say whatever you're intending to do. With that bring a return ticket, and do your best not to "act like you're moving to canada"

With that I would also bring enough money to support yourself during the trip. They are most likely going to ask what your plans are, if you met your girlfriends parents and so on. Out of the 7 times I have travelled to canada I have been questioned what I'm planning to do, so make sure you know how to answer it - just in case.. Or they can just be like "ok welcome to canada"

The fact that you guys have never met I would definitely recommend you write down a letter with her address, her phone number and maybe 2 other contacts she's living with (if she lives with someone else)

Good luck!

Thanks for the replay Line.a! That is a lot of good info!

Yes, my girlfriend and I talked about this last night again and decided we're going to be totally honest. Were tired of trying to say exactly the right thing in fear that they might deny the visa, so we're going to be honest in all our documents and I will be in the interview and will see what happens.

At the moment I am still not sure about what to add to the "Proof of Relationship" document. Do you or anyone have advice on that? Do I just add a bunch of emails we have from over the years?

 

[SenoritaBella]

For proof of relationship, I would could include emails/chats of the following:
1. the first few emails you exchanged(to show when things started)
2. the key moments e.g. like when you decided to officially become boyfriend/girlfriend, decided to visit parents/friends, any chats/emails you've had with each others' friends/family and the lead up to your visit now.
3. You can do a mix of emails, chats, text msgs, call logs, and some exchanged photos.

She's your girlfriend, so be upfront about it. This way you don't have to worry. If she does sponsor you in the future, the start date of your relationship would match what's in this application. Make a copy of your entire application package and keep for future reference.

Like Pippin said, you need to show strong ties to South Africa. Letters from your employers indicating date of hire, salary, when you are expected back, approved leave of absence, recent payslip, tax documents, bank balance with sufficient funds, proof of ownership of properties, etc and most of your family being back home are helpful.
Your girlfriend should consider sending you an invitation letter(have it notarized) - see this: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/letter.asp

If you will be living with her, her letter should include that and what else she'll be providing for. Always a good idea to have travel insurance valid for the period you will be visiting.

Thanks for the replay Line.a! That is a lot of good info!

Yes, my girlfriend and I talked about this last night again and decided we're going to be totally honest. Were tired of trying to say exactly the right thing in fear that they might deny the visa, so we're going to be honest in all our documents and I will be in the interview and will see what happens.

At the moment I am still not sure about what to add to the "Proof of Relationship" document. Do you or anyone have advice on that? Do I just add a bunch of emails we have from over the years?

 

[Line.a]

Thanks for the replay Line.a! That is a lot of good info!

Yes, my girlfriend and I talked about this last night again and decided we're going to be totally honest. Were tired of trying to say exactly the right thing in fear that they might deny the visa, so we're going to be honest in all our documents and I will be in the interview and will see what happens.

At the moment I am still not sure about what to add to the "Proof of Relationship" document. Do you or anyone have advice on that? Do I just add a bunch of emails we have from over the years?

And I honestly highly doubt they are going to deny you, unless you have a criminal background or had past serious illnesses, so just be honest up front and they will be nice. I found it pretty apprehensive getting to the border because even with your TRV they will still ask you a couple question, bu they are trained to detect liars so best way is to be honest. Well if you guys have sent each other letters, print screen any chat logs with some quality data and if you have exchanged gifts take a picture of it, if you guys have talked over the phone or texted each other then print screen that - emails too! Anything you can think of, there is never too much for them I'd say. Really explain them deeply your whole story where on the web you met and so on.. That's how I had to tell an officer in front of me, while he typed it in to the computer - they log everything you say if you get pulled in for questioning.. But don't worry you will be fine!


Oh and yes definitely bring along proof of you returning to South Africa again, letter from employer, family or friends and maybe bring along extra cash. I would recommend you buy a return flight no matter how long you plan on staying, that is probably something they'd like to see!

 

[tynoxes]

Wow, that is a lot of good information SenoritaBella and Line.a! Thank you so much!

We will be going through all the emails we have and see which ones to attach and so on. Luckily we have a lot of them, so that is good! We have send gifts and letters too, so will for sure take pictures of those too. So I am sure we don't have too little information concerning that

One thing that does worry me is if I have enough proof that I will be returning to SA. I will be getting a return ticket for sure, also I have letters from my employers stating that they expect me back to start working for them after my holiday. I have my own business where I work for several clients frequently, but it is not very big at all. Also I completed the family form that I had to complete, but that only list like my mother and father. I am not sure if all that will be enough.

Also, yes she is sending me an invitation letter.

 

[Line.a]

Well you can only gather as much as you possibly can, right? I feel the same way with our PR application but you can only do so much. If you work with somebody who you get along with well can provide you some kind of statement that you work and have you own business and continuesly have clients then I'm sure they will be satisfied with that. There is only so much you can do. When my partner traveled to England to visit me the first time he didn't even have anything to prove he was visiting me or anything. I'm sure you guys will be fine. If you are denied the TRV for some reasons them I'd recommend to try and get your girlfriend to sponsor you as a conjugal partner, but that's only if you have received a definite rejection of your TRV.

The best you can do is just to gather as much as you possibly can, I'm sure you will be fine!

 

[SenoritaBella]

I don't believe they will qualify for conjugal sponsorship because the girlfriend can travel to South Africa or both of them can go to a neutral third country to marry. Then she can sponsor him after.

 

[tynoxes]

@Line.a & SenoritaBella.

Thank you for all the information. I will be getting everything I can together and we will be going through all our emails and letters and get that organised and send it.
Again, thanks for the information! I will post here if I have additional question!

 

[Line.a]

You're welcome! Hope it works out for you two

 

[tweetybird]

Thanks for the replay Line.a! That is a lot of good info!

Yes, my girlfriend and I talked about this last night again and decided we're going to be totally honest. Were tired of trying to say exactly the right thing in fear that they might deny the visa, so we're going to be honest in all our documents and I will be in the interview and will see what happens.

At the moment I am still not sure about what to add to the "Proof of Relationship" document. Do you or anyone have advice on that? Do I just add a bunch of emails we have from over the years?

I'm in the same situation...boyfriend coming to visit and I need to write the invitation letter. Just curious if you were approved based on stating your relationship?