UK spouse Thai wife refused tourist visa to Canada twice

[makescents]

Hello,

 

I intended to travel with my wife to Toronto this month and applied for a tourist visa for her to accompany myself.

 

Her status in the UK is FLR(M) which entitles her to live and work here in the UK.

 

I submitted a TRV visa online to Canada and they refused the initial visa - I'd left out her UK identity document which proves her immigration status and my own passport. The second submission included these documents as well as a hotel booking and expanded explanation of her travel history - she's previously visited Singapore, Philippines, Korea, Italy, France and the UK.

 

Also submitted:

- Marriage certificate

- Bank statements for a joint account along with 6 months of pay slips

- Evidence of $10,000+ CAD in savings

 

Things to note:

 

- I didn't put her status as permanent resident because FLR(M) isn't - the only option that applied was 'Other' and I entered FURTHER LEAVE TO REMAIN as the status.

- My wife is currently unemployed as she finished university 2 months ago

- I'm a British citizen

 

The visa was rejected the second time and I've attached a screenshot for the reasons why.

 

What baffles me is that they seem to have completely disregarded me in this application, taking only my wife's details into consideration which alone does not make a strong case.

 

Edited August 1, 2014 by makescents

[David48]

 

What baffles me is that they seem to have completely disregarded me in this application, taking only my wife's details into consideration which alone does not make a strong case

 

My initial thoughts were that Visas are applied for on a 'per person' basis.

 

While there is an obvious connection between you and your wife, as you freely admit ... "my wife's details into consideration which alone does not make a strong case".

 

I'm not saying that you shouldn't feel aggrieved ... just MHO

.

[makescents]

So the visa system is effectively setup to exclude housewives from travelling with their husbands.

[7by7]

I know nothing about Canadian immigration rules; but, like the UK and most other countries, I suspect it is the applicant's circumstances which are taken into consideration, no one else.

 

However, part of those circumstances is that she is married to a British national, legally living in the UK with him and travelling with him. From what you have posted they don't seem to have considered that at all..

 

Unless there is something you are not telling us, I think that this refusal is most perverse.

 

Hopefully someone who knows about the Canadian rules will respond.

 

 

[makescents]

I know nothing about Canadian immigration rules; but, like the UK and most other countries, I suspect it is the applicant's circumstances which are taken into consideration, no one else.

 

However, part of those circumstances is that she is married to a British national, legally living in the UK with him and travelling with him. From what you have posted they don't seem to have considered that at all..

 

Unless there is something you are not telling us, I think that this refusal is most perverse.

 

Hopefully someone who knows about the Canadian rules will respond.

 

 

 

I'm writing to the embassy tomorrow. I feel that they are being unfair with my application. I'll post any response here.

[7by7]

Please do; but remember it is not your application; it's your wife's.

[Donutz]

I concur with 7by7. I know nothing about Canadian immigration/visa rules either but:

- Assuming the applicant also included a copy of all travel stamps/visa in the (previous) passports, plus evidence of long term residency in the UK should be sufficient to make it more plausible that she will return in time rather then to stay (or is Canada such a better place to be living illegally rather then legal residency in the UK? ... ).
- Her immigration history: as above. Long term residency in the UK or some other western/rich nation must count for something.
- Having a UK husband who has a stable live there must count for something when it comes to family ties to show one has good reasons of (not) returning.
- Employment? She just finished uni, but I suppose this is just simple box checking: no job, no studies right now, officer does not bother for whatever reason to see why the applicant currently has no employment/education ties. Also, how about housewives, housemen or economical independent people who no longer have to work? Regardless, even if one looks very narrow at it and concludes " no job, check the box" , a single box shouldn't be sufficient to deny a visa if in most other aspects one shows to probably be a genuine applicant with no ill intentions.
- Something must have been wrong with showing affordability I guess: perhaps there were no sufficient funds per person per day? It was not durable enough (long term access to funds, no a quick dumping of the money for the application and moving it back again to who ever lend the money). Or perhaps the money (bank statements) were in his name so the officer concluded " its not your money, you have no money of your own (even when married?!) and thus cannot afford this trip.

Generally for western visas you need to show that the trip is:
- affordable 9sufficient and durable funds which you can access during your stay).
- ties to the country you reside in (more likely to return there opposed to overstaying)
- Your travel intentions are clear and genuine (to filter out people who make up some story but actually have other intentions...).

From what was shared here you'd think you'd meet all 3 requirements or at the most the trip may not have met the financial requirements I the eyes of the officer (??). So you'd expect one could easily appeal this, fill in the gaps to satisfy the officer with whatever was missing and get the visa... What system the Canadians have in place and how to tackle this... No clue, hopefully a member with experience of Canadian visas will know.

[makescents]

• Savings have been there for over 4 months
• My statements also show income of around £2000 per month coming in
• Wife has been resident in the UK since July 2012, completed her masters degree around 2 months ago

[David48]

OP ... I'm an Aussie.

 

From what I understand (I have a good Canadian mate) our Visa systems are fairly similar.

 

Could you expand on your statement of ... "my wife's details into consideration which alone does not make a strong case".

.

[makescents]

OP ... I'm an Aussie.

 

From what I understand (I have a good Canadian mate) our Visa systems are fairly similar.

 

Could you expand on your statement of ... "my wife's details into consideration which alone does not make a strong case".

.

 

Well my wife when considered on her own:

 

- Does not have income

- Does not have assets

- Does not work

- Is travelling alone to Canada without invitation

 

With me as her sponsor

- She has income provided by myself

- She is travelling with someone who can support her

 

 

My confusion still lies with their lack of understand when it comes to Further Leave to Remain and questioning my wife's travel history which is extensive.

[spud67]

The Canadian system is very individual focused. I am Canadian and had tried to get a tourist visa for my former gf. An accredited immigration consultant helped us with the process because my gf case was not strong on her own, although she possessed, what I considered to be, substantial assets. In particular for a single Thai woman in her 40's she had a fair amount of cash in the bank and farmland rented out to others.

 

We felt that with my background that the Visa had a good chance: born a citizen of Canada, former elected official, no criminal record, income well over $100,000/year.

 

The reply we got was similar to your wife's reply, however, underneath was a note saying to not bother trying again unless her circumstances change drastically. I took that to mean that we would need to marry first.

 

There is only one reason that I can think of for Canada's immigration system to be so harsh with visas - including tourist visas. About a decade or more ago, Statistics Canada (a government agency) polled recent immigrants and refugees to Canada. Seventy-five percent of them, under the age of 30, came to Canada because they believed it would help them get into the US (some probably thought it was one in the same). I suspect that the US, in response, told the Cdn government to toughen up its immigration policies or see a less porous border in regards to Canadian vacationers casually crossing the line.

 

And yet, sometimes, when I see some of the people who do make it in...I just shake my head.

 

Good luck sir. I hope you and your wife will one day visit our beautiful country.

Edited August 1, 2014 by spud67

[SantiSuk]

Maybe there is some means of including the sponsor's details (letter and financial evidence) with the wife's application that the OP has overlooked, wrongly assuming that both applications are considered jointly?

[The Man Who Sold the World]

Makescents;

 

I do not know if this will help, however. Many years ago, my wife (Thai National) was refused entry into Malaysia using her Thai passport. We were traveling by train. I (American Citizen), traveling with her was granted entrance.

 

I was able to get her permission by explaining to the Malaysian Immigration official that she was my wife, was traveling with me, and that I personally accepted responsibility for her exit from Malaysia. The immigration official granted my wife permission only after I was able to produce an English Translation copy of our Thai Marriage License.

 

This happened many years ago and I don’t remember the exact details of the conversation or if I had to acknowledge in writing that I accepted responsibility for her exit from Malaysia. It was not an easy five minute event. Many questions and answers to and from me. Nothing was asked of my wife.  

 

I see you are writing the Embassy. Good luck to you. You probably have already posted the letter. If not, detail in the letter that you accept full responsibility for her abiding with the terms of the visa applied for. It worked for me in Malaysia.

 

Good Luck and let us know how you make out.