Visitor Visa Denied for Partner Applying from the UAE

[Msw89]

Hello,

My boyfriend applied for a visitor visa for Canada in the UAE where we both currently live and was denied. I am a Canadian citizen working in the UAE and my mother wrote a letter of invitation to support the application. I have provided letters from our employers to prove we will return to our jobs in the UAE, as well as round trip flight tickets. We will travel from July 7th- August 21st as we work in a school and have a long vacation. The rejection was as follows:

1. Not satisfied you have sufficient funds, including income or assets, to carry out stated purpose of going to Canada or to maintain yourself while in Canada and to effect your departure.

2. Your Travel history

3. Your immigration Status

Here is what documentation was provided for the above three points:

1. Funds: Bank statements from myself and my boyfriend with a combined savings of 11,000 CAD . A letter stating his salary and my salary from our employer. and a letter of invitation(notarized by a Canadian lawyer) from my mum stating she will be providing us with accommodation for the duration of our stay (July 7th-August 21st) and that together we will cover all other costs of the trip. In terms of funds does it help or hurt the application if I also include my bank statements? Does it look susupious if money is transferred into the account ? Would it be better for the person who is inviting him (my mother) to provide bank statements and say she will cover all costs of the trip?

2. Travel History: My boyfriend has currently only travelled to the UAE from his home country Ghana to work. This one is obvious on how to improve. If the other two areas are presented strongly will an application be denied solely on travel history?

3. Immigration Staus: a copy of his residency visa from the United Arab Emirates as there is no way to gain any other citizenship in this country. What other documents can be provided in orde r to improve this section of the application?

Any guidance on how to make the application stronger would be greatly appreciated!

Cassandra

 

[Msw89]

@Bryanna your guidance would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Bryanna]

Hi,

Based on your post, your bf's only strong tie is his employment. This sole strong tie does not do much to prove that he will return to the UAE because you're a Canadian so he might overstay his visit.

1. Funds:

The visa officer would like to see that your bf is financially well established in the UAE + his country of origin. He needs to prove he can afford the visit on his own without borrowing from anyone/financially depending on anyone.

Bank statements from myself and my boyfriend with a combined savings of 11,000 CAD .

Can he afford the visit without your bank statement/financial support?

and a letter of invitation(notarized by a Canadian lawyer) from my mum stating she will be providing us with accommodation for the duration of our stay (July 7th-August 21st)

Notarization was probably not necessary. But, do check with the VAC if it is necessary for Ghana passport holders.

and that together we will cover all other costs of the trip. In terms of funds does it help or hurt the application if I also include my bank statements?

It would be detrimental to his application as it indicates he cannot pay for the visit/airfare, other expenses.

Does it look susupious if money is transferred into the account ?

Bank balances and transactions must match the income earned/declared.

Would it be better for the person who is inviting him (my mother) to provide bank statements and say she will cover all costs of the trip?

Again, your bf needs to prove his financial situation.

2. Travel History: My boyfriend has currently only travelled to the UAE from his home country Ghana to work. This one is obvious on how to improve. If the other two areas are presented strongly will an application be denied solely on travel history?

The visa officer would like to see short visits to visa-required countries like the US, UK, EU, Australia, NZ, Japan, etc.

Applications are not denied solely on travel history. Many first time travelers are granted TRVs if they can prove they have strong social-economic ties in their country of residence.

3. Immigration Staus: a copy of his residency visa from the United Arab Emirates as there is no way to gain any other citizenship in this country. What other documents can be provided in orde r to improve this section of the application?

He is a temporary resident in the UAE regardless of the resident permit that he has. This makes his ties to the UAE as temporary

Any guidance on how to make the application stronger would be greatly appreciated!

1. When does his UAE work contract expire?

2. A UAE lease in his name?

3. Any loans? Mortgage or down payment for a property/land ownership in any country?

4. Is his family dependent on him financially or for their well being?

5. How long has he been employed at his current workplace?

6. Did you declare your relationship in the previous application? And if you did, what and how much evidence did you include?

7. Has he been issued credit cards?


Cheers

 

[Msw89]

Thank you very much for your reply. Please see below my reply to your questions.


1. When does his UAE work contract expire?
His Work contract will expire in two years.

2. A UAE lease in his name?
We both have accommodation provided by our employer, so no leases in our names.

3. Any loans? Mortgage or down payment for a property/land ownership in any country?
Property in his home Country of Ghana, but not in the UAE.

4. Is his family dependent on him financially or for their well being?
His family are not dependent on him and he only sends money to his mother in Ghana every so often not

5. How long has he been employed at his current workplace?
He has been working at his current work place for almost 4 years.

6. Did you declare your relationship in the previous application? And if you did, what and how much evidence did you include?
I mentioned it but did not include evidence as I thought this would be more relevant in a spousal visa. Does it make any difference if we are married? What evidence can I provide for this. We do not live together as we can't reside together in the UAE until we are married.

7. Has he been issued credit cards?
No credit cards issued to him. If he is able to save enough money and have it in his account do they still base funds on his monthly income as it is on the lower end, however he would be able save money.

The only way he will be able to prove ties to the UAE is with employment, is there any way to make this aspect stronger besides providing a letter from our employer?

Would a letter from the head of the school speaking about his contributions to the school community and good character be sufficient in helping with this, because like myself we do not have strong ties to the UAE other than a job. Could we provide social ties such as friends? How could this be presented?

Thank you for your reply as this process can be very daunting without support!

Cassandra

 

[Msw89]

@Bryanna would it help to apply for a shorter length of time to cut the amount of funds we would need? Right now we have booked flights from July 7th-August 21st, as we work in a school and have a long vacation. If we reduced this to two weeks would this help at all?

 

[ubfx]

@Bryanna would it help to apply for a shorter length of time to cut the amount of funds we would need? Right now we have booked flights from July 7th-August 21st, as we work in a school and have a long vacation. If we reduced this to two weeks would this help at all?

his ties are still same nothing change reducing days will not grant visa officer check everything and before approve they want to be make sure a person will back or not when he is living in UAE since past 4 years so why never traveled any other part of the world why Canada Only?

 

[Bryanna]

Thank you very much for your reply. Please see below my reply to your questions.

IMO, he must defer his visit for some months until maybe Christmas. This would help him to build stronger ties and a better financial situation before he reapplies.

In the meanwhile, he could try to build some travel history to the UK or the EU before he reapplies. This would prove he has a history of short visits abroad + the financial means to afford these visits. Just my two cents.

3. Any loans? Mortgage or down payment for a property/land ownership in any country?
Property in his home Country of Ghana, but not in the UAE.

Is the property rented and he earns rental income?
If it is rented, does he need to return to Ghana to renew the contract or someone else has the authority to do so?

5. How long has he been employed at his current workplace?
He has been working at his current work place for almost 4 years.

Is he entitled to any employment benefits?
Likely to be promoted? Salary raise?

6. Did you declare your relationship in the previous application? And if you did, what and how much evidence did you include?
I mentioned it but did not include evidence as I thought this would be more relevant in a spousal visa.

Quite often this is the key reason for a TRV refusal for similar circumstances. With a Canadian partner, it is assumed the visitor won't return to his/her home country at the end of a short visit.

Does it make any difference if we are married? What evidence can I provide for this. We do not live together as we can't reside together in the UAE until we are married.

Marrying would only increase the chances of a TRV refusal even more. In that case, it would be assumed that you would file for his PR via the inland route.

It's best not to include any evidence/or else just 1-2 proofs to prove your relationship when he reapplies.

7. Has he been issued credit cards?
No credit cards issued to him.

Credit cards would indicate he is credit worthy. Do check if he can get one.

If he is able to save enough money and have it in his account do they still base funds on his monthly income as it is on the lower end, however he would be able save money.

His salary would be considered as the base funds for his visit, unless he has other sources of income (not yours) and he can access those funds in the UAE.

Would a letter from the head of the school speaking about his contributions to the school community and good character be sufficient in helping with this, because like myself we do not have strong ties to the UAE other than a job.

Yes, the letter could help to some extent. Other than that, does he have an event scheduled after his return to the UAE?
Does he also volunteer for any other cause?

Could we provide social ties such as friends? How could this be presented?

I would not include letters from friends. That would work for a spousal PR

 

[Msw89]

IMO, he must defer his visit for some months until maybe Christmas. This would help him to build stronger ties and a better financial situation before he reapplies.

I agree, we will not be applying for at least 6 months to a year. I don't want to have too many rejections against us, and I should of done some research as it seems we are in a situation with a very hard case to prove, if not impossible.

In the meanwhile, he could try to build some travel history to the UK or the EU before he reapplies. This would prove he has a history of short visits abroad + the financial means to afford these visits. Just my two cents.

Travel history is one aspect we will be able to work on to improve the chances of obtaining the visa. If travel history and funds are improved will they still deny the visa solely based on immigrant status in resident country, as it is very hard to provide evidence of ties to the UAE?

Is the property rented and he earns rental income?
If it is rented, does he need to return to Ghana to renew the contract or someone else has the authority to do so?

It is not rented, his mum lives in the house that he paid to build. His name is on the property.

Is he entitled to any employment benefits?
Likely to be promoted? Salary raise?

Recently received a promotion, a salary raise may take time to come.

Quite often this is the key reason for a TRV refusal for similar circumstances. With a Canadian partner, it is assumed the visitor won't return to his/her home country at the end of a short visit.

Would it be suspicious if the visa was applied for in a year or so, but the invitation letter came from a Canadian family member of his instead of my family. He has a cousin living in Canada, but in a different province. So eventually we would have to take a flight within Canada to visit my family.

Marrying would only increase the chances of a TRV refusal even more. In that case, it would be assumed that you would file for his PR via the inland route.

It's best not to include any evidence/or else just 1-2 proofs to prove your relationship when he reapplies.

Do the chances of getting a visitor visa decrease if a spousal visa is opened. At the moment it unfortunately seems that a spousal visa would be easier to obtain in a few years (although processing time is longer) . It is very important to me that he meets my family, hence why I will work very hard to get the visit visa, and my parents being older are unlikely to take such a long flight to visit us in the UAE.

Credit cards would indicate he is credit worthy. Do check if he can get one.

Thank you. I am looking into this. Is it evidence for ties to your country of residence? or Funds?


His salary would be considered as the base funds for his visit, unless he has other sources of income (not yours) and he can access those funds in the UAE.

I have read the requirements on Temporary residents and here is what it said regarding funds:

• cash, certified cheque, bank draft or money order in an amount large enough to cover all reasonable expenses to be incurred during the stay in Canada
• verbal or written statements, which can be confirmed, that satisfy an officer that sufficient financial support from friends and/or family is available and has been arranged to adequately cover all reasonable expenses to be incurred during the stay in Canada.

• bank statement(s) or deposit book(s) of applicant (and spouse) that show accumulated savings
• applicant's (and spouse's) letter of employment or employment book, providing name of employer, applicant's position/occupation, date employment commenced and annual earnings
• host's or family member in Canada (and spouse's) evidence of income: such as previous year Revenue Canada Notice of Assessment indicating annual income; or alternately, letter from employer(s) showing position, date employment commenced and annual earnings
• evidence of size of family for host or family member in Canada (to equate earnings with size of family to ensure ability to support long-term visit)

I understand that it says you must support yourself, however are these requirements not also implying that friends and family can also provide financial assistance to the applicant?

Yes, the letter could help to some extent. Other than that, does he have an event scheduled after his return to the UAE?
Does he also volunteer for any other cause?

The only option it seems to be able to prove ties to this country would be to enroll in some sort of course/ schooling and prove a return date for the course, or buy a car in his name. Would this count as an asset? We would be able to provide a lease, potentially with both names on it, however the money for the lease would be credited to my account from my employer as I qualify for the accommodation allowance.


I would not include letters from friends. That would work for a spousal

@Bryanna thank you!

 

[Msw89]

his ties are still same nothing change reducing days will not grant visa officer check everything and before approve they want to be make sure a person will back or not when he is living in UAE since past 4 years so why never traveled any other part of the world why Canada Only?

Thank you for your reply. Would the question 'Why Canada' not apply more to the purpose of the visit. As people who are from countries who require visas to enter other countries would find it very difficult to build a travel history on the basis that the only countries that are counted towards that history are Western nations. You have to have family in these countries in order to receive a letter of invitation to strengthen your application. The answer to the question I think was provided in the purpose of visit, he would come to visit and meet my family who provided him with the invitation.

 

[ubfx]

Thank you for your reply. Would the question 'Why Canada' not apply more to the purpose of the visit. As people who are from countries who require visas to enter other countries would find it very difficult to build a travel history on the basis that the only countries that are counted towards that history are Western nations. You have to have family in these countries in order to receive a letter of invitation to strengthen your application. The answer to the question I think was provided in the purpose of visit, he would come to visit and meet my family who provided him with the invitation.

invitation is nothing to do with visas for any country and it is not much difficult to build traveling history if you are based in dubai because in my experience if you are in DUBAI so their requirements are less they just check your salary your saving and issue you a visa and that is how easily build travel history and regarding invitation and relatives means it confirms embassy that a person will go and chances are less to come because when a person never tried to spend single penny before on traveling so how they can afford Canada as a visitor when canada is expensive then dubai that is a reason they want everything to be clear and straight. travel history proofs that person went in other countries and came back on time and never had any intentions to stay more then given period. other visas are easier from UAE i got in 3 to 5 days only with noc covering letter and bank statement however in my home country they want everything including property and all other documents in UAE requirements are 0 trust me on it but your travel history and bank balance matters if you are in Dubai it is common sense. a person who came Dubai 4 years ago and never traveled other places so what is a grantee that he will come back after that trip.. on that sort of profile even Europe can't give visa many countries are on arrival on Dubai residence like Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, etc i hope it clears your doubt you can ask me anything about Dubai so i can guide you better in that case good luck again. best advice first clear the previous refusal mistakes and then re apply.