March 04, 2023, Ottawa: Canada visitor visa has one of the easiest requirements compared to other visa categories. There is no requirement to prove English or French proficiency.
Furthermore, the IRCC processing fee is just $100 for processing + $85 for biometrics. However, visitor visa refusal rates are also higher for multiple reasons. Sometimes these reasons seem unfair or illogical. But still, the onus is on applicants to make sure that their application addresses these reasons in a genuine manner. Visa rejection depends on the discretion of the visa officer and how they perceive your application. So, if you are applying or reapplying for a visitor visa, always ensure that your visa application is not addressing the below common refusal reasons.
Major reasons for rejection of a visitor visa:
> Inadequate paperwork: Refusal to grant a visa may occur if applicants fail to provide the necessary paperwork or complete applications in full.
> Travel history
> Letter of invitation
> Proof of relationship
> Family information
> Itinerary
> Account Statement
> Missing information in the invitation letter: A letter of invitation must include a certain piece of information as per IRCC. If the applicant does not provide or misses some of that information, then they may face a refusal.
Inadmissibility: Applicants with medical conditions that endanger public health and safety or criminal convictions may be denied entry to Canada and their visa requests denied.
Failure to satisfy eligibility requirements: Those who apply for a visiting visa without providing the necessary documentation, such as proof of support on a financial basis, risk having their application denied.
Information that is incomplete or inconsistent: Any discrepancies or inconsistencies in the information supplied on the application form or in supporting papers may result in a denial. So, all the information in your application should be consistent with each other.
Absence of travel history: Those who have little or no prior travel experience may be seen as flight risks and their visa applications may be rejected. This reason becomes basis of refusal, mostly for youngsters. However, if you are a parent or grandparent of resident in Canada, then this may be overlooked by the visa officer.
Absence of strong ties to home country: If the applicant lacks strong enough ties to their nation of origin and poses a danger of overstaying their visa, the visa officer may reject the application. Again, this is now mostly considered for young visa applicants.
Inadequate funds: Visitor visa applicants must prove they have sufficient funds to cover the expenses such as air ticket and cost of stay in Canada. An application may be turned down if they cannot show that they have enough money to afford their stay in Canada.
Insufficient reason for travel: Applicants must have a good cause for travelling to Canada; otherwise, their visa request may be turned down. Usually, visitor visa is approved if applicant is traveling to attend a ceremony in Canada and is formally invited for it.
Past visa denials: If applicants who have already had a visa to Canada denied in the past do not address the reasons why, their application may be rejected once more. So, it is important to address the previous refusal reason in the new visa application to have a better shot at approval.
