What are my chances of approval

[abdalla1818]

So I wanna visit a friend (whos a Canadian citizen) in December but I wanna find out how good my chances of approval are before wasting money on visa fees and booking tickets.Im a university student in the UK for two years now and I still have two years till graduation. I'm originally a sudanese national though but I've had uk residency for two years now. I've also been to several countries requiring visas before(thailand,turkey etc).Provided I include a letter from my friend,a copy of her passport, a letter from my university and enough financial requirements, how good are my chances of getting approved?

 

[Bryanna]

So I wanna visit a friend (whos a Canadian citizen) in December

Friend or more than a friend?
How long do you intend to visit?

but I wanna find out how good my chances of approval are before wasting money on visa fees and booking tickets.

General advice: Don't book tickets or make travel plans for any country before visas are issued.

Im a university student in the UK for two years now and I still have two years till graduation.

Do you live with dependent family in the UK?
Do you rent an apartment?
Have a good financial situation without depending on your friend?
Do you have a good credit history?

You're midway through your study program which does not really compel you to return to the UK, if you decide to stay back in Canada. If you were graduating in a year then your study ties would have helped.

I'm originally a sudanese national though but I've had uk residency for two years now.

UK residency as in an ILR? Or a student visa?

I've also been to several countries requiring visas before(thailand,turkey etc).

Unfortunately, these two countries do not count as travel history for a TRV. Ideally, you should have visited the US, Schengen countries, Australia and NZ on short visits to prove you have a history of returning to the UK

 

[abdalla1818]

Okay firstly no she's just a friend and I'll be staying with her for a week.In the UK I'm renting a flat with 2 of my friends and I'm still paying rent for it.My financial situation is pretty decent I have about 10K pounds in my account atm though that number might go down to about 3-4k since I'll have to pay tuition fees.I thought me having a good amount of time to graduate would actually help because then I'll have to go back and complete my studies right? Especially considering the fact I've paid tuiton fees for next yr as well and yes it's a student visa.I might also apply for a Schengen visa before applying for the Canadian visa but I don't know if that helps since I wouldn't have used it yet.

 

[Bryanna]

Okay firstly no she's just a friend and I'll be staying with her for a week.In the UK I'm renting a flat with 2 of my friends and I'm still paying rent for it.My financial situation is pretty decent I have about 10K pounds in my account atm though that number might go down to about 3-4k since I'll have to pay tuition fees.I thought me having a good amount of time to graduate would actually help because then I'll have to go back and complete my studies right? Especially considering the fact I've paid tuiton fees for next yr as well and yes it's a student visa.I might also apply for a Schengen visa before applying for the Canadian visa but I don't know if that helps since I wouldn't have used it yet.

IMO, your chances of a TRV approval could be affected by the passport you hold even if you prepare a good application.

If you want to give it a try:
1. A visit of one week could raise the question: Why would you spend money for a visit of just one week? I would keep the visit to more like 10-14 days during the school break + include a detailed day-by-day plan for the visit with expense estimates to prove you can afford the visit.

2. Renting an apartment with your friends does not help as a tie to return to the UK. If you've given instructions for direct debit + the rent agreement has your name on it then you can include it in your application.

3. I recommend applying only after you have paid your tuition fees + you're able to include adequate evidence of your student ties for the next academic year. IMO, it would be best if you when you're at the end of the third year of your study program.

4. You may want to consider building travel history to other visa-required countries before you attempt a TRV

 

[bcgigabyte]

I may add that your school might matter too, if you're attending a privileged school (say Cambridge or Oxford) you will probably have higher chance of approval because not many sane people would leave such education opportunity.

However, if you're studying in a 2nd or 3rd tier university the CIC will consider that as well, as they will look what is at stake for you.