Visitor Visas for Parents and Myself - Need advice

[Bryanna]

Hello,

I would like to apply for TRVs for my parents and myself shortly. I am getting quite concerned about some points before applying and would much appreciate advice on this.


My Dad:
75 years, has both residential property + assets including liquid finances (in excess of CAD 100,000), tax payer, retired professional. He had a 10 year multiple entry USA visa which expired in 2010. He visited the US only once in 2000 for 3 months. Not visited Canada earlier.


My Mom:
70 years, housewife, has prime residential property (joint ownership but she is the major shareholder) + less financial assets (bank balance is negligible, some bank deposits of about CAD 10000). She had a 10 year multiple entry USA visa which expired in 2010. She visited the US only once in 2000 for 3 months. Not visited Canada earlier.


Myself
45 years, divorced (from a Canadian citizen more than 12 years ago - no idea where my ex-husband is), no kids, own company in home country (registered, pay taxes), own two prime properties + I have financial assets (exceeding CAD 40000).

I visited the UK first time in 2005. Then had a UK Visa refusal in 2008 (because the ECO made incorrect statements) which I appealed and I won the appeal. I traveled to the UK (after winning the appeal) in 2010. Subsequently, between 2010-2012, I have been granted UK Visitor Visas in 24 hours under Fast Track Processing. I have not visited Canada ever (not even when I was briefly married)


My brother, a Canadian Permanent Resident, well employed and has his own house, wants my parents and myself to visit Canada for a family holiday for about one month in October this year. We have never considered immigrating to Canada or the US as we live a comfortable life in our home country.

For the Visa Applications: We will provide a detailed itinerary + we have already booked refundable tickets (confirmed dates) + we have travel medical insurance + we will provide detailed explanations along with documents to prove our strong ties to our home country + strong finances, etc


Question A:
Should my parents and I apply together? Would this make the Visa Officer to think that we may not return to our home country? We have only extended family in my home country because my sister is married and lives with her family in New Jersey, USA.

Or should I apply for my parents first and after two weeks later then should I apply for the TRV for myself? If this is the case then how does one handle the 'Family Information' form which clearly asks if parents are traveling with the applicant, when I have to apply for my visa later?


Question B:
What are the chances of my mom getting a visa considering she cannot show considerable finances in her name. My dad/my brother in Canada/myself will take care of my mom's expenses whilst in Canada. Is this good enough?


Question C:
Although I had got my Canadian Permanent Residence (because of my ex-husband) more than 12 years ago, I returned it and I never visited nor ever applied again to visit Canada. In fact, I successfully filed for in the Divorce Courts and proved that my ex-husband had deceived me and committed fraud to marry me. I do not even know my Canadian PR File Number. Do I still have to mention this in my application?


Question D:
Are my parents eligible to apply under the CanPlus category even though their US visas expired four years ago?


Question E:
Does one month look too long for a holiday in Canada or should we say we will be visiting only for 2-3 weeks? What would happen if we actually stay for one month?


Question F:
Will the Visa Officer hold the UK Visa Refusal against me even though I won the appeal and have traveled many times to the UK thereafter?


Any advice will be valued. Thanks so much for reading through and for your time

 

[Bryanna]

Re: URGENT: Visitor Visas for Parents and Myself - Need advice

I'm quite worried about the questions I have stated in my previous post.

Really hoping that the experts on this forum can help me. HELP, PLEASE. Your advice would be much appreciated

 

[Infosec]

Hi Bryanna,

First thing first, Since your brother is in Canada, you would require a letter of invitation from him and specifically addressed to Canadian Immigration and the letter must have the name of the persons whom he is inviting along with their respective passport details, Along with this letter he also needs to send a copy of his immigration status, Bank Statement (should have minimum balance - check CIC for details) and most recent T4 statement.

Question A: Should my parents and I apply together? : It makes more sense to the Visa Officer you being a primary applicant and applying together with your parents.

Question B: Only the Visa Officer can determine, if your documentation is clean, in order and all related documents are attached as part of the documentation.

Question C: Once you have Canadian PR irrespective of the current status, you MUST provide each and every details of your relationship with Canada. Along with this you also need to explain and provide details(legal papers) on your divorce.If you consider you being as primary applicant, then you need hell lot of documentation, All your business related papers, Tax Returns, Property papers, Balance Sheet of couple of years, Basically you need to have sufficient proof that you have very strong relationship with your home country and you intend to return back to your home country upon completion of your visit to Canada.

Question D: CanPlus program is specific category which is open to Indian National who have traveled to Canada or US in last 10 years . Since you have mentioned that your parents traveled to US in 2000, they may not eligible to applying under this category.

Question E: Generally speaking, even if you apply for 2-3 weeks, you may get visa for 6 months or so, However since the invitee is Canadian PR, you may expect to longer visa period.

Question F: Yes, you need to provide your case to them along with the relevant papers from UK. The more you try to hide facts, the less the chances of getting you the visa.

Regarding your parent's income and assets, you got have Tax Returns papers, ensure property documents are certified, PAN Card details ect.

Your case in not complex as it looks, but for sure you need to have lot of documentation, Since your parents had US visa earlier you can leverage the existing relevant documents for the Canadian TRV processing.

I would suggest DONT rush, first get the all the relevant papers in handy as per the TRV requirements and then start filling the TRV application.

Finally the opinion that I provided are of my own views and Canadavisa audience are welcome to provide any comments.

Good luck with your visa application.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Although I had got my Canadian Permanent Residence (because of my ex-husband) more than 12 years ago, I returned it and I never visited nor ever applied again to visit Canada. In fact, I successfully filed for in the Divorce Courts and proved that my ex-husband had deceived me and committed fraud to marry me. I do not even know my Canadian PR File Number. Do I still have to mention this in my application?

When you say you returned your PR, did you formally renounce it and receive documentation that you were no longer a PR?

 

[Bryanna]

@ Canuck_in_uk

Thanks so much for your reply. My Canadian PR matter was quite unusual (in my opinion) including the way in which I ""returned"" it.

Is there a way that I can share the details privately without disclosing it openly so that you and other experts can advise? Thanks

 

[Bryanna]

@ Infosec

Thanks so much for your detailed reply and for clarifying the issues. I truly appreciate it.

I will provide detailed documentation/ explanations/proofs to support my business, properties, finances, my annulment of marriage to my ex-Canadian husband, my UK visa appeal, etc etc.

Further, my parents will submit their Income Tax Returns, Financial investments, PAN Card photocopies, USA visa details, etc


Appreciate if you could please give your views on the following:
Point A
If I am the Primary Applicant for my/my parents TRV applications then will the VO scrutinize my financial situation, in-depth, by assuming that my parents are financially dependent on me? Or will the VO consider the financial situation of each of us individually?

My parents are financially independent but they do share a few minor household expenses. I pay for the rest.


Point B
For my UK Visitor Visas, I usually give a very detailed Personal Statement of Assets and Liabilities including my income, details of bank deposits, properties' valuation based on realty market reports, shares/stocks, vehicle, even jewelry (without any evaluation), etc. It is not prepared/verified by a Chartered Accountant. I back my claims with several proofs.

My personal Statement of Assets and Liabilities is different from my Company Balance Sheet

My question is: Should a Chartered Accountant prepare this Personal Statement of Assets and Liabilities for my Canada Visitor Visa? Or can I prepare this myself like I normally do for the UK? Should I prepare similar Personal Statement of Assets and Liabilities for my dad and my mom?


Point C
You mentioned that documents should be certified. Should this be done by a Notary?


Thanks again for all your kind advice

 

[canuck_in_uk]

@ Canuck_in_uk

Thanks so much for your reply. My Canadian PR matter was quite unusual (in my opinion) including the way in which I ""returned"" it.

Is there a way that I can share the details privately without disclosing it openly so that you and other experts can advise? Thanks

In order to send a private message, you need to have 10 posts. Once you have 10 posts, you can click on my name to bring up my profile. There will be an option near the bottom to "Send this member a personal message."

 

[Infosec]

Hi Bryanna

Point A : In your case, I think its yes reason being that, your sibling is already in Canada and now you along with your parents visiting Canada. From the VO point, they want to ensure that you being as Primary Applicant, will return to your home country provided you have strong evidence of your relation with your home country. So I would say, they will scrutinize your financial situation. I am not sure on your parents, but try to provide as much 'Valid document' as possible.

Point B: Your UK visit situation is different from Canada Visit. I would recommend
- to have your personal A & L statement certified by CA and you carry a copy of your supporting document.
- to have your Company's BS and other related document certified by CA
- All other immovable properties certified by Notary.

The most common reason for visa rejection in spite of having all papers in order is a) No Travel History, b) Insufficient Finance c) Insufficient relationship with your home country.

 

[Bryanna]

Decision in 2 days. TRV for LIFETIME of passports for myself and both parents

Very grateful thanks to:
@ Infosec: Your detailed advice to my previous post helped us tremendously. Thanks so much

@ Mikeymyke: Although you did not reply to my post, the fantastic Invitation Letter which you drafted for your wife helped me to perfect our Invitation Letters. Thanks a lot


Results:
Decision was made in 2 days flat for the TRV applications of myself and both my parents..... we are traveling together as family

Multiple-entry TRV..... until the LIFETIME of the passports..... for all three of us. Yipppeee


The Odds:
a. All three of us traveling together..... absolutely no immediate family being left behind.... only extended family and old friends

b. All of us going together for Four Weeks holiday to Toronto..... I have repeatedly read on this forum that one should not ask for more than 2 weeks

c. My mother had no significant bank savings..... only residential property in joint family names

d. I run a company.... Sole Ownership..... with no direct employees..... operating through a network of suppliers and paid consultants

e. I am single, divorced, no kids back here

f. I had previous history..... I was married to a Canadian citizen..... I had returned my Canadian PR (which I had got in a short Four Months processing, in 2001, with Interview Waived Off)


The Backbreaking Hardwork
Until Infosec advised me to ensure that our paperwork was absolutely strong, truthful and very clear..... I was a bit lost on how to apply.... especially since I was applying for myself and both my parents..... with no one left behind..... for a nearly four weeks holiday.

The paperwork took me nearly one month to prepare..... nothing was left to chance..... no questions left unanswered..... for eg: if I transferred money between my bank accounts, I gave an explanation for doing so

I had to repeat this kind of paperwork for myself and each of my parents.

I also took Infosec's advice of submitting an Audited Company Balance Sheet besides my Personal Balance Sheet..... My Strong Ties to My Home Country..... My Financial Situation.... Why I wish to visit Toronto in November..... Day-by-Day Detailed Itinerary with Expense Estimates..... etc etc..... a set of 23 Explanations..... like I said, I left absolutely NOTHING open to questioning


I also prepared Explanations/Covering Letters showing our Individual Funds Available for the Visit + Our Combined Funds..... BUT on each of our actual TRV Applications THOUGH I mentioned ONLY our individual funds.


I also prepared a synopsis Eight page Covering Letter..... covering Purpose of Visit + Combined/Individual Funds + Individual Strong Ties to Home Country + anything significant, etc..... set out in separate sections

At every stage, I was absolutely honest


The look on the VFS guy's face when we submitted our paper-based applications was not to be missed..... he simply could not believe that the huge pile of neatly sequenced explanations + a separate pile of well-numbered Evidence..... Sponsor documents.... was just one application.... Mine..... I was the Principal Applicant

There were smaller piles each for my parents..... each one separately..... I did request the VFS guy to keep all three bagged applications together so that it went to the same VO for processing

I did not track our applications.... I could not bear the stress..... even though it was done-and-dusted in 2 days flat


Decision was made in 2 days flat..... I got emails for this..... took 4 days for the courier to reach us..... we received our passports today..... Multiple-entry TRVs for each of us.... for the LIFETIME of EACH of our passports ;D ;D


My advice to applicants:
Be honest...... give explanations for every relevant point (even if it is seemingly insignifcant)...... give well-numbered documented evidence..... the VO does not have time to read between the lines/papers..... its your papers which do the talking


All the best to everyone

 

[Sees]

Decision in 2 days. TRV for LIFETIME of passports for myself and both parents

Very grateful thanks to:
@ Infosec: Your detailed advice to my previous post helped us tremendously. Thanks so much

@ Mikeymyke: Although you did not reply to my post, the fantastic Invitation Letter which you drafted for your wife helped me to perfect our Invitation Letters. Thanks a lot


Results:
Decision was made in 2 days flat for the TRV applications of myself and both my parents..... we are traveling together as family

Multiple-entry TRV..... until the LIFETIME of the passports..... for all three of us. Yipppeee


The Odds:
a. All three of us traveling together..... absolutely no immediate family being left behind.... only extended family and old friends

b. All of us going together for Four Weeks holiday to Toronto..... I have repeatedly read on this forum that one should not ask for more than 2 weeks

c. My mother had no significant bank savings..... only residential property in joint family names

d. I run a company.... Sole Ownership..... with no direct employees..... operating through a network of suppliers and paid consultants

e. I am single, divorced, no kids back here

f. I had previous history..... I was married to a Canadian citizen..... I had returned my Canadian PR (which I had got in a short Four Months processing, in 2001, with Interview Waived Off)


The Backbreaking Hardwork
Until Infosec advised me to ensure that our paperwork was absolutely strong, truthful and very clear..... I was a bit lost on how to apply.... especially since I was applying for myself and both my parents..... with no one left behind..... for a nearly four weeks holiday.

The paperwork took me nearly one month to prepare..... nothing was left to chance..... no questions left unanswered..... for eg: if I transferred money between my bank accounts, I gave an explanation for doing so

I had to repeat this kind of paperwork for myself and each of my parents.

I also took Infosec's advice of submitting an Audited Company Balance Sheet besides my Personal Balance Sheet..... My Strong Ties to My Home Country..... My Financial Situation.... Why I wish to visit Toronto in November..... Day-by-Day Detailed Itinerary with Expense Estimates..... etc etc..... a set of 23 Explanations..... like I said, I left absolutely NOTHING open to questioning


I also prepared Explanations/Covering Letters showing our Individual Funds Available for the Visit + Our Combined Funds..... BUT on each of our actual TRV Applications THOUGH I mentioned ONLY our individual funds.


I also prepared a synopsis Eight page Covering Letter..... covering Purpose of Visit + Combined/Individual Funds + Individual Strong Ties to Home Country + anything significant, etc..... set out in separate sections

At every stage, I was absolutely honest


The look on the VFS guy's face when we submitted our paper-based applications was not to be missed..... he simply could not believe that the huge pile of neatly sequenced explanations + a separate pile of well-numbered Evidence..... Sponsor documents.... was just one application.... Mine..... I was the Principal Applicant

There were smaller piles each for my parents..... each one separately..... I did request the VFS guy to keep all three bagged applications together so that it went to the same VO for processing

I did not track our applications.... I could not bear the stress..... even though it was done-and-dusted in 2 days flat


Decision was made in 2 days flat..... I got emails for this..... took 4 days for the courier to reach us..... we received our passports today..... Multiple-entry TRVs for each of us.... for the LIFETIME of EACH of our passports ;D ;D


My advice to applicants:
Be honest...... give explanations for every relevant point (even if it is seemingly insignifcant)...... give well-numbered documented evidence..... the VO does not have time to read between the lines/papers..... its your papers which do the talking


All the best to everyone

Could we have the drafted invitation letter copy?

 

[Bryanna]

Could we have the drafted invitation letter copy?

You can Google for one.... or else do check the IRCC website for the guidelines

 

[Sees]

I am so happy to read your case and I’m hoping to visit my sister for her graduation ceremony. Although, it’s my dad who will be sponsoring my trip but I’m just worried if I would get one. I have provided guarantee letter, dad’s bank statement etc. However, I have lived in Saudi and even born n brought up here and my travel history has been rare like in the past 10 years, I have visited twice home country and Bahrain maybe twice. How likely are my chances? Please help and hoping if you could advise. TIA

 

[Sees]

In order to send a private message, you need to have 10 posts. Once you have 10 posts, you can click on my name to bring up my profile. There will be an option near the bottom to "Send this member a personal message."

I am so happy to read your case and I’m hoping to visit my sister for her graduation ceremony. Although, it’s my dad who will be sponsoring my trip but I’m just worried if I would get one. I have provided guarantee letter, dad’s bank statement etc. However, I have lived in Saudi and even born n brought up here and my travel history has been rare like in the past 10 years, I have visited twice home country and Bahrain maybe twice. How likely are my chances? Please help and hoping if you could advise. TIA

 

[Bryanna]

I am so happy to read your case and I’m hoping to visit my sister for her graduation ceremony. Although, it’s my dad who will be sponsoring my trip but I’m just worried if I would get one. I have provided guarantee letter, dad’s bank statement etc. However, I have lived in Saudi and even born n brought up here and my travel history has been rare like in the past 10 years, I have visited twice home country and Bahrain maybe twice. How likely are my chances? Please help and hoping if you could advise. TIA

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