Fiance wants to buy plane ticket before applying for visitor visa

[mikeymyke]

After I engage with my girlfriend who lives in vietnam, do you guys think its a good idea if she buys a plane ticket to Canada BEFORE applying for a TRV? She thinks maybe it's a good idea because the ticket will show arrival/departure dates, and thinks maybe it'll convince the CIC officials that she's not at high-risk to refuse to leave the country?

She has lived in US for 2 years before, under a student visa, and didnt overstay.

 

[CharlieD10]

Not that it matters to CIC if you ever had or have other visas and didn't over-stay them. I was also in the US as a student, did not over-stay, and had a 10 year US visa in my passport when I applied for a TRV, it didn't help my case. However, she's right that the ticket will be some proof that she will return. She needs more than that, though. She needs reasons to return, like a job, or a school semester she's already paid for, or an apartment she pays rent for, a business she owns/runs, a home, a car, any of these things.

 

[Steph C]

We had a return ticket and we lost out on that one. Visitors visa was applied for twice and denied. I managed to get part of the $900+ back 6 months later after lodging a complaint to Travelocity through the BBB. (because they had told me I could refund and changed their mind). In their minds they didn't like his financial situation (a few thousand in the bank) and didn't like his travel history (doesn't make sense, because his travel history is quite extensive but all positive). If she was able to be a student in the US then maybe her family is better off and you might have a chance at the TRV.

 

[mikeymyke]

What if she is successful, and then we get married a few months later, would the fact that she came here already, hurt her application?

 

[parker24]

What if she is successful, and then we get married a few months later, would the fact that she came here already, hurt her application?

No, that would actually help your application. You would have proof that she wanted to come and visit you and you would have photos and proof that the relationship IS genuine.