Canada Tourist Visa For Thai Wife

[tigermonkey]

I’m looking for some advice/input (magic answers ?) about getting a tourist visa for my Thai wife to go to Canada with me for a month. We have been living together in Thailand for several years – I am Canadian on a Retirement visa, and we are married only by Buddhist ceremony.

Formerly, when we lived in Khon Kaen, my wife had twice applied for tourist visas but both times was denied. At that time she work managing a business – the first application was accompanied by documentation from her employer ( permission for leave, tenure, etc) of ten years, and letters from both of us describing our situation, desire to go to Canada when I needed to go and visit my family that she has never met, and my obligation to meet her financial, accommodation, and other needs while in Canada. She was interviewed alone at the Canadian Embassy and declined on the basis of lack of evidence of returning to Thailand and lack of proof of financing.

About one year later, she again applied when I intended to go to Canada again. This time the application included the same documents plus proof of her ownership of property in Lamphun, in which her mother resides and also copies of bank statements.

She was not interviewed – the application was denied on the basis of “lack of travel history” and lack of evidence of returning to Thailand. They seem to randomly check any items on the forms along with the denial. We met another couple at that time who had the same problem – she had been denied for inadequate funds despite bank statements showing her balance in excess of B2.5M.

Shortly after that we moved to Lamphun ( Jan/2009) , and I have since travelled to Canada without bothering to try for a visa for her. Is there some secret formula to being granted a visa for her ? Soon I will go to Canada again, and would love to have her meet all of my family. We discussed this with Canadian consular staff at Chiang Mai, who suggested an education visa to learn English, but I would prefer to be honest.

Her situation – owns property with 4 buildings on it -- two are her businesses ( registered/licensed) - selling convenience items ( similar to 7-11, but more extensive), mobile phone / time sales, gasoline sales, small take-away restaurant ( new) – one building is our home -- one building is her mother’s home where her brother and his family also live. Reasonable and steadily growing bank account ( six figures). Good credit - Visa and Gold Mastercard. She owns late model Honda ( still paying ) and new motorcycle.

How can we convince the Canadian Embassy ? Perhaps I should stay out of the application, since they might feel that she wants to go and live with me in Canada – but the information is probably still on file. Any help would be appreciated.

[David006]

very strange that they seem to be totally against giving the wife a visa some some unknown reason...

a few years back I took my then GF to Vancouver..

When I applied for the visa I first had a long conversation with Canadian Embassy in BKK...the upshot as you note is that they need fairly concrete evidence that she will leave Canada and return to Thailand. They told me supply photos/docs of your/her home letters from local Thais and your rellies in Canada anything and everything to convince 'em...the package I sent was about an inch thick and I even included the wedding invitation..lol

I had pointed out to the embassy that I wanted to be certain of getting the visa..!!

Wife got a call from embassy three weeks later to tell her they had couriered all our application material back! They would not say if approved or not ..strange?? Anyway it all arrived a week later with her passport and shiny new visa for three months extendable upon request...go figure?.

Not a lot of help really ... maybe you should have a long chat with the Canadian embassy again??

[Thanyaburi Mac]

very strange that they seem to be totally against giving the wife a visa some some unknown reason...

a few years back I took my then GF to Vancouver..

When I applied for the visa I first had a long conversation with Canadian Embassy in BKK...the upshot as you note is that they need fairly concrete evidence that she will leave Canada and return to Thailand. They told me supply photos/docs of your/her home letters from local Thais and your rellies in Canada anything and everything to convince 'em...the package I sent was about an inch thick and I even included the wedding invitation..lol

I had pointed out to the embassy that I wanted to be certain of getting the visa..!!

Wife got a call from embassy three weeks later to tell her they had couriered all our application material back! They would not say if approved or not ..strange?? Anyway it all arrived a week later with her passport and shiny new visa for three months extendable upon request...go figure?.

Not a lot of help really ... maybe you should have a long chat with the Canadian embassy again??

Well, a perhaps complicating factor might be that she's not his "wife," the "marriage" doesn't seem to have been registered at their local amphur.

Don't know why this should be a factor, tho, as the Canadian Embassy has been known to issue "girl friend" visas in the past. The girl friend of one American friend of mine had a reject in her passport for a U.S. visa (not really a "reject," just a "seen" stamp and no visa), she later got a Canadian tourist visa, made the trip, and returned. BTW, when they were in Vancouver, she applied again for a U.S. visa at the U.S. Consulate there, and was again "seen" with no visa. She subsequently reapplied in Bangkok and now has a 10-year U.S. visa.

A Q for the OP, did the gal take your passport with her to the interview and show to the interviewer? That should help, I'd think, as it did with my Thai now wife with her first three U.S. visas when she was still G/F. It had several Thai retirement extensions in it. BTW, I'm a Yank, no expert by any means on the Canadian rules.

Mac

[tigermonkey]

very strange that they seem to be totally against giving the wife a visa some some unknown reason...

a few years back I took my then GF to Vancouver..

When I applied for the visa I first had a long conversation with Canadian Embassy in BKK...the upshot as you note is that they need fairly concrete evidence that she will leave Canada and return to Thailand. They told me supply photos/docs of your/her home letters from local Thais and your rellies in Canada anything and everything to convince 'em...the package I sent was about an inch thick and I even included the wedding invitation..lol

I had pointed out to the embassy that I wanted to be certain of getting the visa..!!

Wife got a call from embassy three weeks later to tell her they had couriered all our application material back! They would not say if approved or not ..strange?? Anyway it all arrived a week later with her passport and shiny new visa for three months extendable upon request...go figure?.

Not a lot of help really ... maybe you should have a long chat with the Canadian embassy again??

You say " a few years back " -- don't know how long ago, but all of this nonsense apparently began about 8-10 years ago when they became paranoid about letting visitors into Canda who might not leave -- they had been far too liberal, and there were literally thousands from Asia and Eastern Europe who had gone and never left. Canada Immigraqtion wanted no more part of chasing/locating them and fighting all of the appeals against extradition.

Your idea of a chat is good but how do you do that ? They seem entirely unapprachable -- don't want to make the trek to BKK only to be told that no one will talk to me.

Edited August 28, 2011 by tigermonkey

[tigermonkey]

very strange that they seem to be totally against giving the wife a visa some some unknown reason...

a few years back I took my then GF to Vancouver..

When I applied for the visa I first had a long conversation with Canadian Embassy in BKK...the upshot as you note is that they need fairly concrete evidence that she will leave Canada and return to Thailand. They told me supply photos/docs of your/her home letters from local Thais and your rellies in Canada anything and everything to convince 'em...the package I sent was about an inch thick and I even included the wedding invitation..lol

I had pointed out to the embassy that I wanted to be certain of getting the visa..!!

Wife got a call from embassy three weeks later to tell her they had couriered all our application material back! They would not say if approved or not ..strange?? Anyway it all arrived a week later with her passport and shiny new visa for three months extendable upon request...go figure?.

Not a lot of help really ... maybe you should have a long chat with the Canadian embassy again??

Well, a perhaps complicating factor might be that she's not his "wife," the "marriage" doesn't seem to have been registered at their local amphur.

Don't know why this should be a factor, tho, as the Canadian Embassy has been known to issue "girl friend" visas in the past. The girl friend of one American friend of mine had a reject in her passport for a U.S. visa (not really a "reject," just a "seen" stamp and no visa), she later got a Canadian tourist visa, made the trip, and returned. BTW, when they were in Vancouver, she applied again for a U.S. visa at the U.S. Consulate there, and was again "seen" with no visa. She subsequently reapplied in Bangkok and now has a 10-year U.S. visa.

A Q for the OP, did the gal take your passport with her to the interview and show to the interviewer? That should help, I'd think, as it did with my Thai now wife with her first three U.S. visas when she was still G/F. It had several Thai retirement extensions in it. BTW, I'm a Yank, no expert by any means on the Canadian rules.

Mac

Hi Mac --

Thanks for your input -- in answer to your question -- yes, both times my passport and a detailed letter from me was presented with the application, although at the time I was not on a Retirement Visa, since my stays were 2-3 months at a time, interspersed with time ( usually about 1 month) in Canada to wind down my work there. The first application, the letter and paasport were returned to her with the comment "don't need these". The second time I do not know, since no interview was granted.

Edited August 28, 2011 by tigermonkey

[David006]

very strange that they seem to be totally against giving the wife a visa some some unknown reason...

a few years back I took my then GF to Vancouver..

When I applied for the visa I first had a long conversation with Canadian Embassy in BKK...the upshot as you note is that they need fairly concrete evidence that she will leave Canada and return to Thailand. They told me supply photos/docs of your/her home letters from local Thais and your rellies in Canada anything and everything to convince 'em...the package I sent was about an inch thick and I even included the wedding invitation..lol

I had pointed out to the embassy that I wanted to be certain of getting the visa..!!

Wife got a call from embassy three weeks later to tell her they had couriered all our application material back! They would not say if approved or not ..strange?? Anyway it all arrived a week later with her passport and shiny new visa for three months extendable upon request...go figure?.

Not a lot of help really ... maybe you should have a long chat with the Canadian embassy again??

You say " a few years back " -- don't know how long ago, but all of this nonsense apparently began about 8-10 years ago when they became paranoid about letting visitors into Canda who might not leave -- they had been far too liberal, and there were literally thousands from Asia and Eastern Europe who had gone and never left. Canada Immigraqtion wanted no more part of chasing/locating them and fighting all of the appeals against extradition.

Your idea of a chat is good but how do you do that ? They seem entirely unapproachable -- don't want to make the trek to BKK only to be told that no one will talk to me.

I did not trek to BKK just phoned 'em..my experience has been that they are very approachable..? My application was in 2008...sorry should have indicated..

I am a Canadian/Brit and an Aussie and sent Aussie passport copies only plus Canadian ID..we have a farm and told 'em we had to get back to it..seems one has to convince 'em that you are a genuine tourist only..don't know what else to tell you...

[CDNinKS]

Has your wife never been out of Thailand? If not, take her to Singapore or any Asean country as she does not need a visa for those. That will show that she has left Thailand and returned. I did that prior to applying for an Australian visa for my wife wife and that proof, as well as all the other docs you mention it was a go. Then the next time we applied for a Shengen visa it was easy.

That is my experience, they want to see those exit and reentry stamps in her passport.

Good luck

[meme]

My (Thai) husband got his first tourist visa (2006) on the first try (and yes I know there is a difference between a Thai male applying vs. a Thai female). It is hard to say why he got it, he didn't have any assets and not a ton of money in the bank. I however, was working in Thailand and got a letter from my employer stating that I was going home for a visit and was returning the date that my husband (boyfriend at the time) was due to return. He was interviewed, he was honest about being scared to go abroad as he didn't know what he would eat etc etc. He was given the visa on the spot and after that received 2 more TVs without an interview, although the interviewer did say that if he returned when he was supposed to the next visas would be easy to get. We also had a very thorough package that include lots of evidence of our 2 year relationship, letters from his the head of his village saying his mom was dependent on him and needed him in Thailand. I think it all came down to the interview and the fact that I also had to return...but who knows.

[UKCanuk]

This may not be relevant to the current discussion, but when I applied for a visit visa to Canada for my Thai wife (I'm a dual CAN/UK citizen) she received a "TRV" for the remaining validity of her passport (3.5 years). This was done at the embassy in London, and came as a surprise as I had applied for a single TRV. All we had to show was our marriage certificate and the visa was issued within 3 days. This was about 7 years ago.

[sunspun]

I don't think there is a magic answer - i think it just depends on how the visa officer is feeling that day :/

Your wife seems to have more than enough proof that she wants to return to Thailand, and I'm very surprised she was turned down twice! Speaking with the embassy is a good idea. A few months back my husband's cousin applied for a visa to visit us in Canada, and the first one was outright denied. Made him go all the way to Bkk for the interview, but instead of interviewing him just told him he didn't get it (ties to Thailand not strong enough, apparently). In his second application we wrote a letter stating that he was turned down in the last app and felt the decision was wrong, and explained his situation in Thailand and why he would return (main reason that he has a 3 year old son with no mom) that seemed to do the trick! (We also made mention of the fact that if his intention was to live in Canada indefinately, we would of course sponsor his immigration, rather than staying illegally).

It is sometimes hard to speak to someone at the embassy, but last time I called (for other reasons) I was so annoyed at the unhelpfulness of the Thai staff, as soon as they answered the telephone I said "I want to speak with a Canadian!" and she put me right through That guy was very helpful, and friendly, and solved my issue then and there!

You may also want to consider the option of applying for permanent residence, depending on how much time your wife is planning on spending in Canada (it must be a minimum of 2 years in a 5 year period). It only took a few months for my husband, and we now have the luxury of coming and going as we please. You can legalize your marriage if you wish, but being your common law wife you don't have to.

Good luck!!

Edited September 2, 2011 by sunspun