Comments on: The dreaded Canadian visa process http://www.thehumanaught.com/blog/general/the-dreaded-canadian-visa-process/ by Ryan McLaughlin ~ The Humanaught Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:25:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: gorgutz headhunter http://www.thehumanaught.com/blog/general/the-dreaded-canadian-visa-process/#comment-24228 gorgutz headhunter Thu, 01 Nov 2007 06:26:04 +0000 http://www.thehumanaught.com/blog/2007/10/15/the-dreaded-canadian-visa-process/#comment-24228 Is all of this beurocratic hassle necessary. Is all of this beurocratic hassle necessary.

]]> By: Ryan http://www.thehumanaught.com/blog/general/the-dreaded-canadian-visa-process/#comment-24192 Ryan Fri, 26 Oct 2007 10:11:10 +0000 http://www.thehumanaught.com/blog/2007/10/15/the-dreaded-canadian-visa-process/#comment-24192 Haha, yeah that picture size thing I thought was a bit much, but having had about a thousand little passpor-sized photos taken here in China, and seeing the variation in quality, size, positioning - I can understand a need for some sort of consistency across the board/border. I thought ours was a bit small, but it went through - so... meh. Haha, yeah that picture size thing I thought was a bit much, but having had about a thousand little passpor-sized photos taken here in China, and seeing the variation in quality, size, positioning – I can understand a need for some sort of consistency across the board/border.

I thought ours was a bit small, but it went through – so… meh.

]]> By: Feds http://www.thehumanaught.com/blog/general/the-dreaded-canadian-visa-process/#comment-24191 Feds Fri, 26 Oct 2007 09:01:11 +0000 http://www.thehumanaught.com/blog/2007/10/15/the-dreaded-canadian-visa-process/#comment-24191 The letter from (the ex-pat's) work helps, as things in China still seem to hinge on getting vouched for by employers (up until 4 years ago Chinese people needed letters from employers to get married or divorced)... remnants of the old state-run system. The foreign Consulates seem to be all into this vouching apparatus too. So far as finances go, when my wife and I went to Canada we had nothing in the bank but got her parents to deposit a fair sum in her name into a fixed-term deposit (i.e. that we could not access until after we came back). If you don't own property, that's the best way to convince them that you're coming back. Incidently, I was a bit sloppy in doing my wife's last application to go to Canada. I printed a form from the Consulate website (which is hopeless and confusing) that you can use to make sure the pictures you provide are the correct size. Ours were more or less on target, so I took in the application and was told that they weren't up to par. Needless to say I was seething and started to argue, asking their reasons for the nonsense. "So that at the border crossings the person entering is identifiable," I was told. What? Like customs officials are going to have those applications scanned into computers all over the country. Fuck that. So I asked to speak to the Consul General... yep, I rolled the dice. He came out, I explained the situation and he came at me with this: "We're in the process of switching over to biometrics in the coming years and this is one of the steps to get there." I almost laughed. Canada? Biometrics....HAHAHAHAHA, maybe in a decade. I'm sure my wife's picture being 2mm too short is really going to affect that one. Actually both the visa officer and the Consul were very nice and professional but it was obvious they were going to stick to their rules... except they let it slip that they do have discretion!!! So use the damn discretion already. Back in line, the very next morning with re-sized pictures... another trip to the Consulate. Good luck, and check the picture size. The letter from (the ex-pat’s) work helps, as things in China still seem to hinge on getting vouched for by employers (up until 4 years ago Chinese people needed letters from employers to get married or divorced)… remnants of the old state-run system. The foreign Consulates seem to be all into this vouching apparatus too. So far as finances go, when my wife and I went to Canada we had nothing in the bank but got her parents to deposit a fair sum in her name into a fixed-term deposit (i.e. that we could not access until after we came back). If you don’t own property, that’s the best way to convince them that you’re coming back.

Incidently, I was a bit sloppy in doing my wife’s last application to go to Canada. I printed a form from the Consulate website (which is hopeless and confusing) that you can use to make sure the pictures you provide are the correct size. Ours were more or less on target, so I took in the application and was told that they weren’t up to par.

Needless to say I was seething and started to argue, asking their reasons for the nonsense. “So that at the border crossings the person entering is identifiable,” I was told.

What? Like customs officials are going to have those applications scanned into computers all over the country. Fuck that. So I asked to speak to the Consul General… yep, I rolled the dice. He came out, I explained the situation and he came at me with this: “We’re in the process of switching over to biometrics in the coming years and this is one of the steps to get there.”

I almost laughed. Canada? Biometrics….HAHAHAHAHA, maybe in a decade. I’m sure my wife’s picture being 2mm too short is really going to affect that one.

Actually both the visa officer and the Consul were very nice and professional but it was obvious they were going to stick to their rules… except they let it slip that they do have discretion!!! So use the damn discretion already.

Back in line, the very next morning with re-sized pictures… another trip to the Consulate.

Good luck, and check the picture size.

]]> By: Ryan http://www.thehumanaught.com/blog/general/the-dreaded-canadian-visa-process/#comment-24152 Ryan Sat, 20 Oct 2007 12:47:19 +0000 http://www.thehumanaught.com/blog/2007/10/15/the-dreaded-canadian-visa-process/#comment-24152 @Matt: Best of luck to ya man. @Jamieson: You walked to school uphill both ways didn't you. ;-) jk. That sucks though. @Dez: I completely agree and understand why they're doing it. However, there must be ways to tie the security of their return to someone and cut down on some of the bullshit. This what I meant by it making me feel like a criminal. It feels like I need to prove my wife is innocent of something she didn't commit. @Matt: Best of luck to ya man.

@Jamieson: You walked to school uphill both ways didn’t you. ;-) jk. That sucks though.

@Dez: I completely agree and understand why they’re doing it. However, there must be ways to tie the security of their return to someone and cut down on some of the bullshit.

This what I meant by it making me feel like a criminal. It feels like I need to prove my wife is innocent of something she didn’t commit.

]]> By: dezza http://www.thehumanaught.com/blog/general/the-dreaded-canadian-visa-process/#comment-24149 dezza Sat, 20 Oct 2007 00:56:52 +0000 http://www.thehumanaught.com/blog/2007/10/15/the-dreaded-canadian-visa-process/#comment-24149 Good luck with the interview, Ryan and maggie. However, as my hometown of Toronto is now the main destination in Canada for mainland Chinese immigrants/visa students I can tell you that although it is a royal pain in the ass to gather and prepare the paperwork, it is to prevent people from overstaying their visas which I personally know of 3 people in the past who have done so. Young Chinese are THE main candidates for overstaying their visas or migrating illegally. There's an interesting Time magazine article on it here: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1609512,00.html Good luck with the interview, Ryan and maggie. However, as my hometown of Toronto is now the main destination in Canada for mainland Chinese immigrants/visa students I can tell you that although it is a royal pain in the ass to gather and prepare the paperwork, it is to prevent people from overstaying their visas which I personally know of 3 people in the past who have done so. Young Chinese are THE main candidates for overstaying their visas or migrating illegally. There’s an interesting Time magazine article on it here:

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1609512,00.html

]]> By: Jamieson http://www.thehumanaught.com/blog/general/the-dreaded-canadian-visa-process/#comment-24147 Jamieson Fri, 19 Oct 2007 14:47:34 +0000 http://www.thehumanaught.com/blog/2007/10/15/the-dreaded-canadian-visa-process/#comment-24147 You guys got it easy :-) If Mrs. Jamieson wants a tourist visa (not as part of a tour group) then Jamieson may have to post a 50,000 kuai bond with the Australian Consulate in Shanghai. "To cover the cost of tracking her down and deporting her". Sheesh. My list of paperwork is 6 times longer than yours, so there :-) Chinese are sometimes legendary at overstaying visas hence the Mafan...... You guys got it easy :-) If Mrs. Jamieson wants a tourist visa (not as part of a tour group) then Jamieson may have to post a 50,000 kuai bond with the Australian Consulate in Shanghai. “To cover the cost of tracking her down and deporting her”. Sheesh. My list of paperwork is 6 times longer than yours, so there :-) Chinese are sometimes legendary at overstaying visas hence the Mafan……

]]> By: Matt http://www.thehumanaught.com/blog/general/the-dreaded-canadian-visa-process/#comment-24143 Matt Fri, 19 Oct 2007 09:27:24 +0000 http://www.thehumanaught.com/blog/2007/10/15/the-dreaded-canadian-visa-process/#comment-24143 Similar boat here. I'm trying to get my wife to the US for Spring Festival. She has to go for an interview in a few weeks. The paperwork we're putting together is ridiculous. Good thing our friends did this last year and they're giving some useful advice on what to add to the book. Similar boat here. I’m trying to get my wife to the US for Spring Festival. She has to go for an interview in a few weeks. The paperwork we’re putting together is ridiculous. Good thing our friends did this last year and they’re giving some useful advice on what to add to the book.

]]> By: Ryan http://www.thehumanaught.com/blog/general/the-dreaded-canadian-visa-process/#comment-24128 Ryan Wed, 17 Oct 2007 07:54:40 +0000 http://www.thehumanaught.com/blog/2007/10/15/the-dreaded-canadian-visa-process/#comment-24128 I got a call today saying I also need to include proof that I'm registered in a Chinese school (the student visa, that requires just this information, isn't proof enough). Also, they need proof that I'll be returning to school next term, or some letter explaining what I'll be doing. Pain. In. My. Ass. Fortunately (perhaps in part because I sent a rather barbed e-mail in response to their non-descript call to Maggie this morning regarding this) we will not need to make an additional trip to Shanghai, but rather are able to just bring this information with us when we go for Maggie's interview next week. I got a call today saying I also need to include proof that I’m registered in a Chinese school (the student visa, that requires just this information, isn’t proof enough).

Also, they need proof that I’ll be returning to school next term, or some letter explaining what I’ll be doing. Pain. In. My. Ass.

Fortunately (perhaps in part because I sent a rather barbed e-mail in response to their non-descript call to Maggie this morning regarding this) we will not need to make an additional trip to Shanghai, but rather are able to just bring this information with us when we go for Maggie’s interview next week.

]]> By: Another Laowai http://www.thehumanaught.com/blog/general/the-dreaded-canadian-visa-process/#comment-24126 Another Laowai Wed, 17 Oct 2007 06:24:20 +0000 http://www.thehumanaught.com/blog/2007/10/15/the-dreaded-canadian-visa-process/#comment-24126 I'm dreading the application for Sammi to go back to Canada for a visit in August. Because I have no idea what I can write about our finances since I don't pay tax in China. Maybe I will just have to say I'm independently wealthy. Thanks for putting all the steps online in one neat list it'll make it much easier now that we won't have to comb though all the other bullshit online I’m dreading the application for Sammi to go back to Canada for a visit in August. Because I have no idea what I can write about our finances since I don’t pay tax in China. Maybe I will just have to say I’m independently wealthy.

Thanks for putting all the steps online in one neat list it’ll make it much easier now that we won’t have to comb though all the other bullshit online

]]> By: kate http://www.thehumanaught.com/blog/general/the-dreaded-canadian-visa-process/#comment-24115 kate Tue, 16 Oct 2007 15:13:26 +0000 http://www.thehumanaught.com/blog/2007/10/15/the-dreaded-canadian-visa-process/#comment-24115 What a pain this must be. All of these immigration processes have turned into major bureaucratic exercises. The worst of it is, if you make one small mistake in a form, it all gets sent back and you have to go through the long wait again. I recently helped my neighbour with applying for her permanent resident card here and boy, that was no picnic. I wish you luck!! What a pain this must be. All of these immigration processes have turned into major bureaucratic exercises. The worst of it is, if you make one small mistake in a form, it all gets sent back and you have to go through the long wait again. I recently helped my neighbour with applying for her permanent resident card here and boy, that was no picnic. I wish you luck!!

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