PLEASE HELP! US Visa required for Visitor Visa?

[Roxas123]

Hello, I am currently living in Canada as an international student and I invited a friend of mine to visit me. He applied for the temporary resident visa in Mexico (we're both Mexicans) on June 4 and today, they send him an email where the immigration office requires his US Visa in order to proceed with his application. He booked a flight with a stop in USA for only a couple of hours and we both know the USA embassy wants proof that you will leave the country and have permission to enter to the country of your final destination. I should clarify that his plan was to get the transit visa after he got the visitor visa. Also, we both checked the requirements for the visa and we didn't see anything related of having the transit visa before applying for the visitor visa. Is this a mistake? If so, how can he correct it?

This is the email they send him:

Sir,

In order to continue the assessment of the application you submitted to this office, you must provide the following information:

· Copy of US visa

All documents must be sent through the Visa Application Center, or via e-mail.

You have 30 days to submit these documents at which time a decision will be taken on your file. Failure to comply with this request may result in your case being refused.

For future reference, in all correspondence to our office, please refer to the applicant’s full name, date of birth and file number.

 

[Jalex23]

Hello, I am currently living in Canada as an international student and I invited a friend of mine to visit me. He applied for the temporary resident visa in Mexico (we're both Mexicans) on June 4 and today, they send him an email where the immigration office requires his US Visa in order to proceed with his application. He booked a flight with a stop in USA for only a couple of hours and we both know the USA embassy wants proof that you will leave the country and have permission to enter to the country of your final destination. I should clarify that his plan was to get the transit visa after he got the visitor visa. Also, we both checked the requirements for the visa and we didn't see anything related of having the transit visa before applying for the visitor visa. Is this a mistake? If so, how can he correct it?

This is the email they send him:

Sir,

In order to continue the assessment of the application you submitted to this office, you must provide the following information:

· Copy of US visa

All documents must be sent through the Visa Application Center, or via e-mail.

You have 30 days to submit these documents at which time a decision will be taken on your file. Failure to comply with this request may result in your case being refused.

For future reference, in all correspondence to our office, please refer to the applicant's full name, date of birth and file number.

Most probably CIC assumed that in order to book a flight with a connection in the USA you would already have a USA Visa. That would be common sense as the process for getting the USA visa and then the Canadian TRV would take around 4 months. Nothing will state that it is required, but it is expected (in fact it is not advisable to hard book anything until you get all your paperwork in order). It wouldn't make sense that you get the Canadian TRV and then get refused for the USA Visa. It is just odd.

What you can do? You can answer back stating the reasons that made you book a flight with a connection in the USA without their Visa and hope for the best.

For future references you should first get the connections sorted out BEFORE applying for any final destination.

 

[Roxas123]

Thank you for your reply!
I was reading the requirements for the C1 visa and it says that I should have permission of the country I am going first, it's a requirement for the interview, I thought that would be the Canadian Visa as it only takes 10 days to get it and the transit visa only takes 2 days. I already told my friend to go to the embassy so...should he say he didn't knew it was necessarily to have the transit visa first and he didn't read anything about it? He's actually in a hurry, his flight will be on June 29 so I don't know if he can make it...

 

[Roxas123]

Most probably CIC assumed that in order to book a flight with a connection in the USA you would already have a USA Visa. That would be common sense as the process for getting the USA visa and then the Canadian TRV would take around 4 months. Nothing will state that it is required, but it is expected (in fact it is not advisable to hard book anything until you get all your paperwork in order). It wouldn't make sense that you get the Canadian TRV and then get refused for the USA Visa. It is just odd.

What you can do? You can answer back stating the reasons that made you book a flight with a connection in the USA without their Visa and hope for the best.

For future references you should first get the connections sorted out BEFORE applying for any final destination.

Sorry for the double post, so...he can say a good reason for apply for it first it was because of a time issue?
(which is true) My own family did the same process (except they already had a TRV for USA) last year and their TRV was granted after only 7 days.

 

[Jalex23]

Thank you for your reply!
I was reading the requirements for the C1 visa and it says that I should have permission of the country I am going first, it's a requirement for the interview, I thought that would be the Canadian Visa as it only takes 10 days to get it and the transit visa only takes 2 days. I already told my friend to go to the embassy so...should he say he didn't knew it was necessarily to have the transit visa first and he didn't read anything about it? He's actually in a hurry, his flight will be on June 29 so I don't know if he can make it...

Uh?

US Visa 2 days? wow.... then I would assume you have the interview already scheduled.... and even with that and paying priority courier you would be looking at no less than 2 weeks from the interview day to get your passport back.... unless you are not applying at the US embassy.

I would check your timelines.

Why is your friend going to the embassy? There is no point, TRVs are not processed in there, and without an appointment it is useless. You have to send a document with the explanation on why you are not submitting the US Visa to the address indicated in the email you received. If you have the US visa appointment schedule submit evidence of it.

I would not plan for a flight on June 29th making a connection in the US. Change the flight to a direct one to Canada and then a domestic flight to your destination, this can help you meet the deadline and would be easier to sell to CIC.

 

[Roxas123]

Well, he called the USA embassy and they said that for a transit visa you get an interview the day after you submit your application and it only takes 2 days for them to process it so it only would take him around 3 to 4 days to get the c1 visa ??? I know that for a visitor visa is waaaay more complicated and it takes a lot more to get it, but this is the info they gave him, and also in the US immigration website these are the times it takes them to process the transit visa. :'(

 

[Jalex23]

Well, he called the USA embassy and they said that for a transit visa you get an interview the day after you submit your application and it only takes 2 days for them to process it so it only would take him around 3 to 4 days to get the c1 visa ??? I know that for a visitor visa is waaaay more complicated and it takes a lot more to get it, but this is the info they gave him, and also in the US immigration website these are the times it takes them to process the transit visa. :'(

Good luck!

 

[Roxas123]

Uh?

US Visa 2 days? wow.... then I would assume you have the interview already scheduled.... and even with that and paying priority courier you would be looking at no less than 2 weeks from the interview day to get your passport back.... unless you are not applying at the US embassy.

I would check your timelines.

Why is your friend going to the embassy? There is no point, TRVs are not processed in there, and without an appointment it is useless. You have to send a document with the explanation on why you are not submitting the US Visa to the address indicated in the email you received. If you have the US visa appointment schedule submit evidence of it.

I would not plan for a flight on June 29th making a connection in the US. Change the flight to a direct one to Canada and then a domestic flight to your destination, this can help you meet the deadline and would be easier to sell to CIC.

Hi, sorry for bringing this back. Well he send the letter to the CIC about why he didn't have the visa but they didn't replied. However he managed to get a direct flight from Mexico to Vancouver for July 5. Is there any high possibility to send the new itinerary to CIC and get the visa approved? He would send also a letter explaining he got a non stop flight and he even changed dates so he could get the Visa and he also can submit proof that he already canceled the other flight. Will this work?