Reasons for refusal?

[hoping75]

Hi everyone,

I was just wondering what are the main reasons given for refusal. I know many cases they say they don't believe the relationship is genuine. But I was wondering what factors they use to determine that.
Do they give a more detailed reason than that for the refusal?

I know people who have been married 20, 30, even 40 years who would have a difficult time proving their love foreach other. LOL

Thanks for any info?

Good luck to everyone.

[ThirstyDeer]

A common reason for refusal is misrepresentation.  Lying or hiding any facts or twisting the truth can all be seen as "misrepresentation" and is grounds for refusal... even if it is a minor thing, to them it questions your integrity.

Another reason for refusal can be your background, namely any criminal background, or association with some form of extremist groups that are considered to be a threat.

[Gotchaa]

For me, the most discomforting reason they explore to base their refusal is difference in culture of the couple and their backgrounds. If they belong to very different societies, then factor for "marriage of convenience" comes into play very strongly, in their assessment.

[maroraza]

For me, the most discomforting reason they explore to base their refusal is difference in culture of the couple and their backgrounds. If they belong to very different societies, then factor for "marriage of convenience" comes into play very strongly, in their assessment.

with all respect i dont agree with difference in culture of couples they refuse cases as many people meet each other through internet and later get marry and they accept every thing,

[Gotchaa]

With all due respect search the cases which have been refused due to difference in culture and you might change your opinion.

[Gotchaa]

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2007/10/15/bc-muslimwife.html

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-blog/2006_07_01_archive.html

READ THE ABOVE LINKS PLEASE

[Bluff Master]

This is really a shocking article.

Who gave the right to the visa officer to decide whio should attend the marriage?
I am really disappointed.

[ThirstyDeer]

It's sickening that everything that has to do with human rights, burden of proof, that Canada is supposed to be built on is completely ignored when it comes to immigration.  OK, I understand there has to be some process for screening out "threats" to the country, and I appreciate that, but to simply have it where an IO can arbitrarily inflict his/her beliefs and use that to destroy a family??  That says something about this country.

[thaiguy]

TD and BM..

Remember that Canadian immigration officers are human, too.  They can make decisions based on emotion even though they shouldn't.

All things considered, Canada and Canadians show an amazing amount of tolerance for immigration and immigrants.  Try immigrating to some country in the Mid-East, SE Asia, etc. and see what kind of reception you get.

Keep all things in perspective.

[shamindo]

 i agree it is shocking, on the bright side, the first article did say that 53 percent of the overseas cases were overturned in canadian court. its kind of a sticky situation, (and i'm not defending what they are doing in anyway) but how can the immigration office bbe sure they are letting people in that really are in a "genuine" marriage, or are marrying their way into the country.  It is such a huge problem, its scary that they haven't found a better way of dealing with it. People are marrying their way in canada left, right and center while Genuine couples are getting their personal lives investigated.  Honestly, when i was filling out the application on how we met and places we went i felt like i was writing in my diary! Why can't they have a system where spouses are aloud in but maybe after a period of five years you have to prove that your marriage is still up and running.

[Gotchaa]

It is understandable from CIC's point of view to be cocerned about marriage of convenience since it is a major way of abusing the immigration system to enter Canada , I can safely say that atleast for Pakistan, that men have been and are still doing that. In my opinion CIC should also get a bond signed by the migrating spouse that he/she cannot sponsor someone as spouse from anywhere atleast till sponsor's liability of three years in not over. What happens is that usually men divorce the sponsors after reaching Canada and marry the actual one's they want to marry from their own country and bring them in as spouse. The sponsor is stuck with the bond while sponsored person is free to do whatever he/she wants. The most hardest brunt of this is felt by genuine couples who go through the risk of their applications being refused as evident from some cases in the media. The irony is that those who got ill intensions are able to dodge CIC, while the honest, truthful and  law abiding applicants go through severe checks from CIC at the cost of abusers and probably get a refusal in the end as well. CIC should not deepfry the ones who get stuck in their fishnet because of their honest declarations and providing all genuine information, but rather make their system more tougher so that abusers must realise its not worth going to Canada this way and any couple wishing to reunite must think twice carefully what kind of commitment it is for BOTH persons.

[BlueDimple]

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2007/10/15/bc-muslimwife.html

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-blog/2006_07_01_archive.html

READ THE ABOVE LINKS PLEASE

Those were some interesting articles.. thanks.

[Pearlp]

In my opanion an immgration officer can not know which is a genuine relationship and which is not. When someone hounest goes to an interview they make them so unwelcome that they become nerves and they make some  mistakes so they beleive that this person is false and just married for papers.

I wonder a lot of times if immigration officers know so much that who is the one who married for papers only then why is that that we still have so many people come in with lies and use us canadians to get in here?

May be immigration should have a different way to judge the true and the false because what ever they doing now is not working.

Pearlp

[chelidio]

Hello all,

Reading the articles provided, I am very concerned about how my immigration application will result. It is very discomforting to know that the genuinity of your relations is checked by an officer who doesn't know anything about your relation. Globalization and access to worldwide media has created many different types of people and cultural norms in the countries worlwide. Generalising people under what they call cultural norms sounds so weird to me. I am officially a Muslim but never practiced any type of religion in my entire life as my wife is being officially Christian who hasn't been to a church since Jesus only knows when... So are they questioning our cultural differences or the differences in religions ? In addition there are so many different types of doctrines in all the religions and they all have their own customs. So shall we assume a CIC officer knows all of these doctrines and their unique customs?

My wife is 9 years older than me. and She was previously married and divorced. So let's put all these together. We officially differ in culture. In Turkey a man marrying a woman older than him and on top of it all a previously married woman is not the traditional norm.  So what???

Does this eliminate the fact that we are happily married for 7 years? Does this eliminate the fact that we have a 4 year old daughter? Does this mean asking a better future for our daughter (who is both Canadian and Turkish) wrong? Does this change my wife's solid decision on parting with Canada and leaving her passport behind if they don't approve my application?

I don't know... Perhaps they all do because the know it all CIC Officer might think so...

[thaiguy]

chelido,

If you don't mind my western-biased opinion, this is what I think based on limited information..

1.  It's well known that Muslim practice of religion in Turkey is far different from, for instance, Saudi Arabia.  It's kind of like the difference between Christianity in San Francisco, CA and Kansas City, MO.  There's a difference in what I'll call "fervency."  No insult intended, please..
2.  The fact that your wife has continued to be a Christian despite being married to a Muslim will be taken into account.  But I think it's a positive thing that will complement your age difference.

Personally, I think your story makes a lot of sense.  It doesn't match the stereotype of a Muslim man marrying a western woman, but it does make sense if you consider where you come from and the relatively progressive relationship you have.  So just be truthful in all answers to the immigration officer and I think you won't have any problems.  Good luck!

[chelidio]

Hello Thaiguy,

I think I was a bit shocked with the articles and acted a bit hot tempered about it. I feel I won't have any problem answering officers questions. I got nothing to hide about my relation. I was admitted to Canada several times to visit my wife's family before. I guess if they thought our relation was a fake one or I would try to overstay my visa in Canada they wouldn't have issued me a visa.

However one event got me very critical about all these. I was flying to Vancouver from Seoul with my wife. I remember a Air Canada flight attended questioning me at the Inchon Airport why I was going to Canada. It made very uneasy because she wasn't even trying to be polite. She looked at my passport and just saw a middle eastern man. Ofcourse being a frequent flyer I didn't lose control. Didn't want to give her the chance to refuse my boarding, claiming I have air rage :) My wife lost it though. I had a visa stamp from Canadian embassy on my passport and had nothing threatening. But the fact is the flight attended could easily refuse me to board and ruin my day. She had that power.

My point is; the power given to the people should be limited. It's the limitless power given to the officers I am against.

Thanks for the moralising comment

Best wishes.

[thaiguy]

A last comment .. I am an American citizen from birth, and I was really given the 3rd degree by an American immigration officer at the border when I tried to drive into the U.S.  And that's my country!

I think they pelt you with question after question in order to trip you up, so that anything you say that's dishonest will cause you to stumble.  As long as you're telling the truth, you can answer quickly.  Unfortunately, it ends up being an unpleasant experience.

TG

[Gotchaa]

Truth is not enough as from my own experience. We both have been truthful since the begining but it didnt help. Locally hired visa officers are biased and start an interview with preconceived opinion about the applicant and the relationship. Rest of the application process since they send a letter for interview is a waste of time as they already make their mind as cases are flagged with different colors. For those who are interviewed and given the visa later on is just to make sure that the applicant behind the papers is the same person and meet the discription in the forms i.e. education, experience, appearance etc. They do not change their stance of refusing the application after the interview. They only change their stance on preapproved applications if the interviewee makes a real stupid mistake.

[kingmaker]

Gotchaa,
Ask your wife to hire a lawyer..Could u please tell details about ur case???I was reading ur old posts u mentioned the reason that different culture and background of yr wife..wat did u mean by that??is she Pakistani origin ??

King Maker

[hoping75]

Gotchaa,

Doesn't the Caips notes give you more specific information about the refusal?
I know you have known your wife for a long time, I don't understand the refusal.
I wish you the best of luck. I can't imagine how difficult this must be for both of you.

God bless

[arjun yadav]

don't think any thing just apply for caips note you find it in cic.gc.ca , they take $5 and give information why they refuse, its take 5 to 6 weeks for it

[Gotchaa]

we have hired a lawyer and she told us that once she will receive the file from CIC it will contain the CAIPS as well. I have already written a letter to CHC Islamabad to provide me in writing the reasons for refusal. Lets see if they write me back of not.

[Rahimi]

Dear Gotchaa,

Its really difficult if once CIC, local Office decided for refusal/reject an application. then you need to go for appealing after that it will take around 1-2 years.

If you make it a little bit clear why local office refused your application.

I think local offices refuse applications with discussion of higher authorities not only athroized IOs an Immigration Officer can't refuse an application of spousal without any reason behind.

Just think where you made a mistake in your application or in documents then write letter to cic local offices for reason of refusal. Its my idea lets see what others saying....

Thanks
Rahimi

[Help Me]

I was reading through the above biased links and wanted to share my situation and ask for help. I've been married for almost two years now, i wasnt muslim before marriage, but converted after getting married. I married an Egyptian Muslim. I am Half Egyptian, half Canadian. I was born in Canada to a Canadian Mother, but Egyptian Muslim Father, but had nothing to do with my father and barely see or speak to him since my parents got divorced when i was very young. I became muslim only after getting married. Does that affect my chances of proving my relationship is Genuine. I recieved my University Degree from Egypt, does that help my case?? I'm confused. Do immigration officers not like culture changes, or believe they are possible?

[Gotchaa]

if you two have no passed record of ex marriages or sponsorships then the cultural difference is not too much of a problem. The cultural difference problem aggravates when a couple seems incompatible from the eyes and mind of the CIC officer. They have been given unjustified power to say to a couple that you two are not compatible. In your case, your education from Egypt will help strengthen your case and your conversion to islam will not be taken in any adverse way. Dont worry just have faith and you will be through. Good Luck!