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Visitor Visa Refusal

canuck78

VIP Member
Jun 18, 2017
58,991
14,609
Considering the fact that Canada is quite attractive these days among millions of people as immigrant destination, it looks so obvious that everybody wants to immigrate using one or another way. However, we are not planning to seek PR their, at least not for now. Otherwise, there are many things commonly available in the market, such as study permits and paid LMIA where many of our peers have already immigrated their using them.

We do not have intention to immigrate mainly because of two reasons, our religious attachment with the Saudi and having a lavish source of income which can not be imagined in Canada. On the other hand, Canada's culture is quite far from the values we really have here (and we feel safe with our kids with these values). In addition, our friends who used to work in Saudi and immigrated to Canada are having tight lifestyle there and they contacts me to arrange an employment for them here in Saudi so they would leave their citizenship program and return to the Saudi. Anyhow, its an endless debate.

As regard to my case, after refusal from Canada, we have applied and got the visa of Shenghen. And we are travelling to France, Switzerland and Italy in coming days. But what really haunts me is a REFUSAL. I do not want to keep this refusal for rest of my life and therefore want to apply and get the visa so at least I can response that after initial refusal I got the visa at second attempt.
Would stop obsessing about the refusal. Applying again may lead to another refusal. If you have no desire to travel to Canada and/or by yourself it makes no sense to reapply. The fact that you applied for SINP will always create doubt about your intentions so having a history of travelling but returning to KSA will help. The fact that you live in a 3rd country and you can’t get citizenship in KSA leads many in a similar position to come to Canada. If you want to travel in the future I would only apply once you have completed other international travel to countries especially like US, Western or Northern Europe, Australia, etc. One trip is helpful but 2 would be even better. I would also be upfront and address the concerns that you want to remain in Canada in any future TRV applications. Would indicate that you had considered immigrating to a Canada and therefore had created a profile for SINP but after hearing about your friend’s experience you have realized that your share more conservative views than the majority of Canadians and that your lifestyle is better in KSA than it would likely be in Canada so Canada is not the right place for your family.
 
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sdilm1981

Member
Mar 23, 2023
16
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Saudi
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VISIT
Thanks @canuck78 for all of your help and keep giving positive and helpful responses. Your patience and positive attitude along with portraying the real picture is really appreciable.

Bundle of thanks again for your help.
 

sdilm1981

Member
Mar 23, 2023
16
0
Saudi
Category........
VISIT
A perspective which I have forgot to explain earlier that I am a CPA member of CPA Canada (British Columbia Chapter). And they conduct different short training and educational sessions every year. They provide an invitation letter upon disbursement of fee and this invitation letter is normally submitted normally by the members to obtain and visitor visa.

Do you think it can work in my case?

@canuck78 @Naturgrl Need your advise.
 

Naturgrl

VIP Member
Apr 5, 2020
47,566
10,367
A perspective which I have forgot to explain earlier that I am a CPA member of CPA Canada (British Columbia Chapter). And they conduct different short training and educational sessions every year. They provide an invitation letter upon disbursement of fee and this invitation letter is normally submitted normally by the members to obtain and visitor visa.

Do you think it can work in my case?

@canuck78 @Naturgrl Need your advise.
So you have gone from visiting friends with family to now coming to Canada to take a course. Why are you a member of the CPA BC Chapter? Why do you need to take this short course in BC?
 

sdilm1981

Member
Mar 23, 2023
16
0
Saudi
Category........
VISIT
Apparently it seems that I am desperate to apply for the visitor visa, but it is not. I am just requesting an expert opinion on that angle also. As far as CPABC membership is concern, it is quite old membership and I have been member of it since 2018 if I am not forgetting. And this is not the only international certification I have, I am ACCA and Bsc from Oxford Brookes UK as well apart from CPA. CPABC had MOU with ACCA where both accounting bodies had understanding that they would give membership of each others after few online exams. And I got that after giving two online exams.

As regard to short course of CPABC, its CFO training courses which could boost my career.
 

canuck78

VIP Member
Jun 18, 2017
58,991
14,609
A perspective which I have forgot to explain earlier that I am a CPA member of CPA Canada (British Columbia Chapter). And they conduct different short training and educational sessions every year. They provide an invitation letter upon disbursement of fee and this invitation letter is normally submitted normally by the members to obtain and visitor visa.

Do you think it can work in my case?

@canuck78 @Naturgrl Need your advise.
You keep on saying you have no desire to immigrate to Canada but your actions signal otherwise. Nobody becomes a member of CPA Canada if they don’t have the desire to work or immigrate to Canada. There is no need to take training courses in Canada if you have no desire to work or immigrate to Canada. Including an invitation letter from CPA Canada will likely just add to concerns about you trying to remain in Canada permanently. Not sure why you are so focused on getting a TRV. If you only wanted to visit just move on with your life and visit other countries. If you still want to visits years from now when you have a history of travel to many other countries then you can try and reapply.
 
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canuck78

VIP Member
Jun 18, 2017
58,991
14,609
Apparently it seems that I am desperate to apply for the visitor visa, but it is not. I am just requesting an expert opinion on that angle also. As far as CPABC membership is concern, it is quite old membership and I have been member of it since 2018 if I am not forgetting. And this is not the only international certification I have, I am ACCA and Bsc from Oxford Brookes UK as well apart from CPA. CPABC had MOU with ACCA where both accounting bodies had understanding that they would give membership of each others after few online exams. And I got that after giving two online exams.

As regard to short course of CPABC, its CFO training courses which could boost my career.
You say are you are not desperate but your actions say otherwise. Similar courses are offered throughout the world so there is no need to do short courses in Canada. There is no need to do these courses in Canada especially if not planning on settling in Canada. You need to start thinking as a visa officer and consider how these things appear.
 
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sdilm1981

Member
Mar 23, 2023
16
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Saudi
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You keep on saying you have no desire to immigrate to Canada but your actions signal otherwise. Nobody becomes a member of CPA Canada if they don’t have the desire to work or immigrate to Canada. There is no need to take training courses in Canada if you have no desire to work or immigrate to Canada. Including an invitation letter from CPA Canada will likely just add to concerns about you trying to remain in Canada permanently. Not sure why you are so focused on getting a TRV. If you only wanted to visit just move on with your life and visit other countries. If you still want to visits years from now when you have a history of travel to many other countries then you can try and reapply.
Thanks again for giving your perspective on the case. And it is clear that this kind of invitation letters may even increase the concerns of visa officers.

However, I believe an international qualification does not always meant for the immigrations. Many of our senior directors and managers have international qualifications, such as from US, Australia, Canada and UK. In fact most of us keep a budget on career development every year, which not only help us to keep the pace with the world and new challenges but it also help us to apply for the promotions within organizations and switch a better option in Saudi market. For example, I have a plan to obtain chartered accountancy from ICAEW from the UK this year, which they are offering me through a pathway by submitting a detailed thesis. It does not mean that I am interested in obtaining a residence in the UK.
 

sdilm1981

Member
Mar 23, 2023
16
0
Saudi
Category........
VISIT
You say are you are not desperate but your actions say otherwise. Similar courses are offered throughout the world so there is no need to do short courses in Canada. There is no need to do these courses in Canada especially if not planning on settling in Canada. You need to start thinking as a visa officer and consider how these things appear.
True
 

Legend6892

Hero Member
Jul 31, 2017
254
46
Do you have a valid USA or other visa? and travel history in the last 5 years? My brother's visa was approved recently only because he has a valid US visa.
 
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canuck78

VIP Member
Jun 18, 2017
58,991
14,609
Thanks again for giving your perspective on the case. And it is clear that this kind of invitation letters may even increase the concerns of visa officers.

However, I believe an international qualification does not always meant for the immigrations. Many of our senior directors and managers have international qualifications, such as from US, Australia, Canada and UK. In fact most of us keep a budget on career development every year, which not only help us to keep the pace with the world and new challenges but it also help us to apply for the promotions within organizations and switch a better option in Saudi market. For example, I have a plan to obtain chartered accountancy from ICAEW from the UK this year, which they are offering me through a pathway by submitting a detailed thesis. It does not mean that I am interested in obtaining a residence in the UK.
The short courses you are specified are available everywhere and you can’t compare become a course to become a chartered accountant to short courses offered to those already CPAs. Also can’t compare doing a course in the UK when London is a major finance centre with going to do a course in BC. Also London is not on the opposite side of the world than KSA while BC is. Continuing education or international qualifications are justifiable reasons for travel but that wasn’t the reason for your first TRV application. It may make sense to do a degree in Canada or a course offered specifically in Canada but doesn’t make sense to go to BC (not even Toronto) to take a short continuing ed course for CPA that is probably offered in many locations across the world. It also doesn’t make sense why you would already be registered with CPA of BC which isn’t the same as doing a course abroad.
 
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canuck78

VIP Member
Jun 18, 2017
58,991
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Do you have a valid USA or other visa? and travel history in the last 5 years? My brother's visa was approved recently only because he has a valid US visa.
A valid US visa is usually not enough. Travel to the US is what really counts because it shows proof of travel and returning home.
 
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sdilm1981

Member
Mar 23, 2023
16
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Saudi
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The short courses you are specified are available everywhere and you can’t compare become a course to become a chartered accountant to short courses offered to those already CPAs. Also can’t compare doing a course in the UK when London is a major finance centre with going to do a course in BC. Also London is not on the opposite side of the world than KSA while BC is. Continuing education or international qualifications are justifiable reasons for travel but that wasn’t the reason for your first TRV application. It may make sense to do a degree in Canada or a course offered specifically in Canada but doesn’t make sense to go to BC (not even Toronto) to take a short continuing ed course for CPA that is probably offered in many locations across the world. It also doesn’t make sense why you would already be registered with CPA of BC which isn’t the same as doing a course abroad.

I think we need to understand GCC market before we reach to any conclusion. Saudi and other GCC countries used to be US colony in previous decades. And therefore, US and its colonial country's qualifications are well in demand in Saudi. Therefore, many of the finance/accounts professionals opt for US or Canadian qualifications in addition to their local or European qualifications. Similarly, many of Pakistani/Indian chartered accountants like me having UK's qualifications such as ACCA and Graduation degree, go for CPA from US and Canada. It is more in demand in Saudi market. Since CPABC is the easiest option (due to MOU bw ACCA and CPABC) , most of finance professionals choose it in Saudi.

In addition, if we consider your argument valid for the short courses, it seems two governmental bodies of Canada namely CPA and immigration office are not align with each other. This is because, CPA is launching special courses only for overseas members and not for the local ones. If immigration officer is supposed to disregard this course completely while approving the visa, it seems that both governmental departments are not one page.
 

canuck78

VIP Member
Jun 18, 2017
58,991
14,609
I think we need to understand GCC market before we reach to any conclusion. Saudi and other GCC countries used to be US colony in previous decades. And therefore, US and its colonial country's qualifications are well in demand in Saudi. Therefore, many of the finance/accounts professionals opt for US or Canadian qualifications in addition to their local or European qualifications. Similarly, many of Pakistani/Indian chartered accountants like me having UK's qualifications such as ACCA and Graduation degree, go for CPA from US and Canada. It is more in demand in Saudi market. Since CPABC is the easiest option (due to MOU bw ACCA and CPABC) , most of finance professionals choose it in Saudi.

In addition, if we consider your argument valid for the short courses, it seems two governmental bodies of Canada namely CPA and immigration office are not align with each other. This is because, CPA is launching special courses only for overseas members and not for the local ones. If immigration officer is supposed to disregard this course completely while approving the visa, it seems that both governmental departments are not one page.
Professional bodies and immigration have no links and come up with policies independently. Lots of examples of people being denied entry when wanting to take professional exams in Canada. In general IRCC doesn’t approve everyone accepted to courses, degree programs, etc. Most schools and professional bodies want to make money especially admitting international students while IRCC looks at the much more. The sad part is that IRCC looks at past studies and results to see whether the student is likely to be successfully based on past results while some schools have admitted students who have not passed their previous degrees (or barely), have had huge amount of backlogs, have poor English or French language skills, etc.
 
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sdilm1981

Member
Mar 23, 2023
16
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Saudi
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VISIT
Professional bodies and immigration have no links and come up with policies independently. Lots of examples of people being denied entry when wanting to take professional exams in Canada. In general IRCC doesn’t approve everyone accepted to courses, degree programs, etc. Most schools and professional bodies want to make money especially admitting international students while IRCC looks at the much more. The sad part is that IRCC looks at past studies and results to see whether the student is likely to be successfully based on past results while some schools have admitted students who have not passed their previous degrees (or barely), have had huge amount of backlogs, have poor English or French language skills, etc.
You are right! They all have their own objectives. But their conflicting objectives result in stressful situations for masses.