Visa to Canada

[CanadaMan]

I would like to tap into the collective brainpower of RWD and see if I can get some help.

Americans are lucky that Russian women can still obtain fiancee visas to enter the U.S.
Canada used to issue fiancee visas but stopped the practice in the first half of this decade.

Currently one can enter Canada with a Temporary Resident Visa, a Work permit, a Study permit or as a Skilled Workers or Professional.
Unfortunately my 40 something GF would have a difficult time fitting into any of these categories.

Her best option is to apply for a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) but the biggest problem there is convincing the immigration officer that she will leave Canada at the end of her  intended stay. He will be looking for strong ties to her country that would convince him she will return home.

So..... can anyone here come up with a list of possible strong ties that would convince
most Canadian immigration officers that she will return home at the end of her stay?

I know the standard ones (lots of money, dependent children, sizable real estate, solid good-paying job, etc.) but I'm looking for something else, novel, who knows?
They say two heads are better than one. 

TIA

[Vaughn]

CanadaMan,

  Has she traveled out of country before? A history of having returned on time is a plus.

  And what about ties to any civic/professional organizations?

  Don't neglect the existence of any siblings she may have - those are considered familial
ties by US standards, perhaps Canada's as well...

Good luck!

[docetae]

I would like to tap into the collective brainpower of RWD and see if I can get some help.

Americans are lucky that Russian women can still obtain fiancee visas to enter the U.S.
Canada used to issue fiancee visas but stopped the practice in the first half of this decade.

Currently one can enter Canada with a Temporary Resident Visa, a Work permit, a Study permit or as a Skilled Workers or Professional.
Unfortunately my 40 something GF would have a difficult time fitting into any of these categories.

Her best option is to apply for a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) but the biggest problem there is convincing the immigration officer that she will leave Canada at the end of her  intended stay. He will be looking for strong ties to her country that would convince him she will return home.

So..... can anyone here come up with a list of possible strong ties that would convince
most Canadian immigration officers that she will return home at the end of her stay?

I know the standard ones (lots of money, dependent children, sizable real estate, solid good-paying job, etc.) but I'm looking for something else, novel, who knows?
They say two heads are better than one. 

TIA

If this is her first travel abroad, you can forget about it. More stamps in her passport, the better it will be .

[UTRO]

CanadaMan,

It isn't easy.... Sveta and I applied three times.
The First time we were refused, the Second time accepted and the Third time refused. Granted the Third time may have been refused because Immigration was finalizing our Spousal Application and they were trying to save me some Rubbles? lol!
There is no rhyme or reason to how things are decided. I belong to various RW Forums, as does Svetlana and I tell you that what works for one guy doesn't necessarily work for the next
Only thing I can tell you is you have to be Convincing in your Invitation. That is the Key and again is no guarantee.
Unfortunately, if you two aren't married, the probability of her being granted a Visa is Slim to None
PM me and I'll forward you a copy of my Successful Invitation for reference.

Good Luck,
Dave

[RussianWind]

First meet in the third country, than think of the next step. This is what I would do.

[UTRO]

First meet in the third country, than think of the next step. This is what I would do.

EXACTLY!!
RW, do you ever sleep? It isn't even 5am in Moscow yet! 

[CanadaMan]

  Has she traveled out of country before? A history of having returned on time is a plus.

  And what about ties to any civic/professional organizations?

  Don't neglect the existence of any siblings she may have - those are considered familial
ties by US standards, perhaps Canada's as well...

Thanks Vaughn for your help!
Yes she has traveled to the UAE, Tunisia and Bulgaria, so her passport is filling up at a torrid pace! 

Not sure about civic/professional organizations ties. I'll have to check with her. Doubtful.

She has two older brothers and two elderly parents (78 yrs each).
She also has a 19 year old daughter who is living with her and considered a dependent by Canadian law.

[CanadaMan]

The First time we were refused, the Second time accepted and the Third time refused. Granted the Third time may have been refused because Immigration was finalizing our Spousal Application and they were trying to save me some Rubbles? lol!

...Unfortunately, if you two aren't married, the probability of her being granted a Visa is Slim to None

 Just trying to understand your three tries.
I take it Sveta came to Canada when the second try was accepted?
Were you married at that time? I ask because you mention getting a visa when not married is almost impossible.

[CanadaMan]

First meet in the third country, than think of the next step. This is what I would do.

After much thought and consideration, my GF and I decided to take your advice RW. 
We will be meeting in the Dominican Republic from Jan 8 - 17.

My brain doesn't work like yours though. I'm always thinking ahead. That's my nature.
I'm assuming it will go well in the DR. If it does, the next steps will be to try to get a TRV to come to Canada and if that fails, I will be going back to Russia soon after that.

If it doesn't go well in DR you folks will be the first to know, I promise you!

[UTRO]

Just trying to understand your three tries.
I take it Sveta came to Canada when the second try was accepted?
Were you married at that time? I ask because you mention getting a visa when not married is almost impossible.

NP CanadaMan....

Upon Svetlana's return to Russia, after our wedding in Jamaica, she dropped off a Temporary Resident Visa Application to her Sister-in-law in Moscow. FYI, Sveta lives 1000km to the east of Moscow. Her Sister-in-law personally brought the Application to the Canadian Embassy.
When I travelled to Jamaica for our Wedding I brought with me two copies of my Invitation, two copies of Banking Info, two copies of my Employment Letter, two Certified Cheques payable to the Receiver General of Canada, etc... At the Resort we were Married at we made sure we had two copies of our Wedding Certificate made as well!
By duplicating, this allowed us the ability to apply a second time if we were initially refused. By me bringing all duplicated Documentation to Jamaica we saved lots on FEDEX charges! lol
So, with the first attempt in May we were refused.... "Not Enough Evidence Provided that Svetlana would return to Russia". Two weeks later we applied again. The only thing we changed was the Invitation Letter.... just a wee bit!
I wrote and I quote, "We previously applied for and Svetlana was rejected, for a Single Entry Temporary Resident Visa on April 30th 2009. We had failed to satisfy the Visa Officer that Svetlana met the requirements of Regulation 179. We realize that this was our mistake.  We hadn't provided enough evidence that Svetlana would return back to Russia before her Visa Expiration. This time we have been much more specific and accurate in preparing all the papers and evidence. We hope that this will be helpful for the Visa Officer in processing our case".
This was the only thing I wrote differently in my Invitation Letter. In fact, I didn't provide any more detailed information than I had the first attempt I just wrote what Immigration wanted to hear! Was it the deciding factor? Hell knows.... but she got a Visa and we spent a wonderful summer together

[Lily]

Currently one can enter Canada with a Temporary Resident Visa, a Work permit, a Study permit or as a Skilled Workers or Professional.
Unfortunately my 40 something GF would have a difficult time fitting into any of these categories.
 

CanadaMan, perhaps a Student visa would not be that remote for your girlfriend as you think it is? Canada does not discriminate on age, you know. There might be quite a number of option for studying in Canada, including some funded fellowships, like this one for instance: http://www.vanier.gc.ca/hp-pa-eng.shtml

Also, in order to be eligible to immigrate as Skilled Worker, one just needs to prove one year of full time employment in one of 38 qualified occupations, which are determined by doing particular duties only. Only one year is enough! In my application, I demonstrated exactly this, otherwise I'd never be eligible to immigrate.

[CanadaMan]

CanadaMan, perhaps a Student visa would not be that remote for your girlfriend as you think it is? Canada does not discriminate on age, you know. There might be quite a number of option for studying in Canada, including some funded fellowships, like this one for instance: http://www.vanier.gc.ca/hp-pa-eng.shtml

 Thanks Lily I'll look into the Student visa approach. The example you gave probably wouldn't work as she likely isn't a doctoral candidate (I'll have to check if she completed a university degree).

Also, in order to be eligible to immigrate as Skilled Worker, one just needs to prove one year of full time employment in one of 38 qualified occupations, which are determined by doing particular duties only. Only one year is enough! In my application, I demonstrated exactly this, otherwise I'd never be eligible to immigrate.

 The category that she comes closest to meeting would be the Financial Managers or Managers in Health Care category. She works as a fitness club administrator, so there is a possible connection to health and finances. 

Realistically though, it would be quite a stretch to hope she'd qualify as a skilled worker.
Lily I believe that you are a professional?
How long did it take you to receive your visa to Canada from the day you first sent out your application?

TIA

[CanadaMan]

When I travelled to Jamaica for our Wedding I brought with me two copies of my Invitation, two copies of Banking Info, two copies of my Employment Letter, two Certified Cheques payable to the Receiver General of Canada, etc... At the Resort we were Married at we made sure we had two copies of our Wedding Certificate made as well!

So you were thinking ahead at the time, just as I like to do! 

So, with the first attempt in May we were refused.... "Not Enough Evidence Provided that Svetlana would return to Russia". Two weeks later we applied again....
This was the only thing I wrote differently in my Invitation Letter. In fact, I didn't provide any more detailed information than I had the first attempt I just wrote what Immigration wanted to hear! Was it the deciding factor? Hell knows.... but she got a Visa and we spent a wonderful summer together

Thanks Utro!
Now I understand the timing of your apps.
From what I've read on this subject over the last couple of years, you were lucky to have obtained a TRV after you were married.
Most say the Government is reluctant to hand out TRV's to married couples waiting for their Perm. Res. visa.
But I also know there are always exceptions.


 

[UTRO]

I agree CanadaMan, we must have had a very sympathetic Visa Officer on our Case.
Pretty lucky that Sveta was able to avoid an Interview for the Spousal as well. She wasn't looking forward to the prospect!