Land 2 Air

Canada Visitor Visa Refusal Reasons That You Should Avoid

In comparison to other visa categories, the Canada visitor visa has one of the simplest requirements. There is no requirement to demonstrate proficiency in English or French.

Furthermore, the IRCC processing fee is only $100 + $85 for biometrics.

However, the refusal rate for visitor visas is also higher for a variety of reasons. These reasons may appear unfair or illogical at times.

However, it is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that their application addresses these reasons in a genuine manner.

Visa denial is at the discretion of the visa officer and how they view your application.

So, if you are applying or reapplying for a visitor visa, make sure that your visa application does not address any of the common refusal reasons listed below.

Top reasons for rejection of a visitor visa:

Inadequate paperwork: If applicants fail to provide the necessary paperwork or fill out applications completely, they may be denied a visa.

  • Travel history
  • Letter of invitation
  • Proof of relationship
  • Family information
  • Itinerary
  • Account Statement

Missing information in letter of invitation: A letter of invitation must include certain piece of information as per IRCC. If applicant does not provide or miss some of that information, then they may face a refusal.

Inadmissibility: Applicants with medical conditions that endanger public health and safety, as well as those with criminal convictions, may be denied entry into Canada and have their visa requests denied.

Failure to satisfy eligibility requirements: Those who apply for a visiting visa without providing the required documentation, such as financial proof of support, risk having their application denied.

Information that is incomplete or inconsistent: Any inconsistencies or discrepancies in the information provided on the application form or in supporting documents may result in a denial. As a result, all of the information in your application should be consistent with one another.

Absence of prior travel experience: Those with little or no prior travel experience may be viewed as flight risks, and their visa applications may be denied. This becomes a reason for refusal, especially for young people.
However, if you are the parent or grandparent of a Canadian resident, the visa officer may overlook this.

Absence of strong ties to home country: If the applicant does not have strong enough ties to their country of origin and risks overstaying their visa, the visa officer may reject the application. Again, this is mostly considered for young visa applicants these days.

In February 2023, Prime Minister Trudeau stated that it does not make sense for parents/grandparents to NOT stay longer with their children in Canada, but rather the opposite.

Inadequate funds: Applicants for visitor visas must demonstrate that they have sufficient funds to cover expenses such as air tickets and the cost of their stay in Canada. If they cannot demonstrate that they have enough money to support their stay in Canada, their application may be denied.

Insufficient reason for travel: Applicants must have a good cause for travelling to Canada; otherwise, their visa request may be turned down. A visitor visa is usually granted if the applicant is travelling to attend a ceremony in Canada and has been formally invited to do so.

Past visa denials: If applicants who have previously had a visa to Canada denied do not address the reasons for the rejection, their application may be rejected again. To improve your chances of approval, address the previous refusal reason in your new visa application.

Rajdeep Kaur
Author: Rajdeep Kaur

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