Subscribe Login
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Videos
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obits
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Videos
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obits
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
  • Home
  • News
    • International News
  • Latest
  • Business
    • Business Bites
  • Cartoon
  • Games
  • Food Awards
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Bookends
  • Regional
  • Sports
    • Sports
    • World Cup
    • World Champs
    • Olympics
  • Videos
  • Career & Education
  • Classifieds
  • All Woman
  • Environment
  • Webinars
  • More
    • Football
    • Elections
    • Letters
    • Advertorial
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Supplements
  • Epaper
  • Design Week
I want to visit my family in Canada
The Canadian High Commission in Kingston.
News
with Antonn Brown  
March 14, 2016

I want to visit my family in Canada

Jamaica To Canada

Dear Mr Brown:

My applications for visas keep getting refused. It is very frustrating. I have been trying to visit my family in Canada for years. The system seems very unfair. They mentioned family ties as the reason. I am not sure why that is relevant. But I do have family in Jamaica and I wish to visit my family in Canada. Please advise.

— KW

Dear KW:

I understand your frustration. Recently, I read about a case in which an international lawyer, specialising in human rights and immigration, suggested that the Canadian immigration system is unfair and discriminatory when granting visitor visas.

More specifically, it has been charged that it is “almost impossible” for a tourist to visit Canada, if that tourist does not meet certain “generic criteria”, as opposed to the circumstances of the individual because Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) wants to make sure that visitors return to their home country, instead of overstaying or filing a refugee claim.

Generic factors

It seems that countries with political or economic instability are most at risk. Generic factors refer to criteria such as wealth, employment, and family status. For example, it may be harder for a single, young woman with less economic stability to obtain a visa, than it would be for an older male with assets in his country of origin.

These observations were articulated after a case involving a man from Saskatchewan, Mr Kongawi, who has been attempting to have his parents from the Democratic Republic of Congo visit him in Canada for 13 years, believes that the refusals are based on the parents’ country of citizenship.

Underfunded system

It has been argued that the Canadian immigration system is underfunded and that visa officers are overloaded. Therefore, visa officers who are overwhelmed, overworked and make decisions quickly based on generic factors, rather than all of the facts of the individual case.

Kongawi moved to Saskatchewan 22 years ago from the Democratic Republic of Congo. He originally entered Canada with a study permit, but claimed refugee status for fear of becoming a child soldier back home. He has since become a Canadian citizen. Apparently, immigration officials were not convinced that his relatives would return to their country after their visas expired.

Refusal rate

From 2004 to 2015, Canada declined on average 18 per cent of applications for visitor visas in all countries. During the same period, the average percentage of visas denied to nationals of the Democratic Republic of Congo was 58 per cent. This is the basis of the criticism that the system is unfair.

The Canadian government does not have data on the number of Congolese nationals who do not return home after their visitor visa expires. Accordingly, it has been suggested that the refusal rate for the Democratic Republic of Congo is inequitable and discriminatory.

In response, IRCC maintains that “requests from around the world are examined uniformly and according to the same criteria, regardless of the applicant’s country of origin.”

Basis of refusal

The point I am trying to make by using that case as an example, is that there is a perception that visa applications are refused for not meeting generic criteria and failing to consider personal circumstances. The IRCC will refuse temporary resident visa applicants for:

• Failing to meet the eligibility criteria.

• The applicant or family member being inadmissible

• The officer not being satisfied that the applicant will leave Canada at the end of the authorised period.

Foremost among the visa officer’s concerns are the determination that an applicant is a genuine visitor, rather than a person who may be seeking to stay permanently in Canada after admission, and the determination that the visitor does not belong to the classes of inadmissibility.

The basis of a visa refusal entails aspects that are extremely subjective. However, economic and social ties of the individual, as well as economic or political instability of the country of origin are relevant factors to consider in evaluating whether one will leave Canada. Moreover, an applicant is not limited to the information or documentation they wish to submit as part of the application to build a case.

I am not sure how many times you were refused. However, I would suggest ordering your immigration file to learn the complete basis and rationale of the refusals, so that the specific concerns of the immigration officer can be addressed.

Please visit jamaica2canada.com for additional information on Canadian Permanent Residence programmes, including Express Entry, the Study and Work progamme, visitor’s visas or appeals, etc.

Antonn Brown, BA, (Hons), LLB, MSc, RCIC, is an immigration counsel and education agent of JAMAICA2CANADA.COM — a Canadian immigration & education firm in Kingston. Send questions/comments to jamaica2canada@gmail.com or devry.jamaica@gmail.com.

{"website":"website"}{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
img img
0 Comments · Make a comment

ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER

PM, Grange join Ghanaian president  for tour of Bob Marley Museum
Latest News, News
PM, Grange join Ghanaian president for tour of Bob Marley Museum
August 3, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Culture Minister Olivia Grange on Monday evening accompanied the President of Ghana, John Mahama...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
From homeless teenager to woman of faith
Latest News, News
From homeless teenager to woman of faith
Latoya Shea's bold vision to build a christ-centred school for Jamaica's most vulnerable children
August 3, 2026
At 13, Latoya Shea had no home. Today, the New York-based US Army veteran and nurse anaesthetist is pursuing a vision she believes was given to her by...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
WATCH: Waves of excitement at Old Harbour Bay Regatta on Emancipation Day
Latest News, News
WATCH: Waves of excitement at Old Harbour Bay Regatta on Emancipation Day
August 3, 2026
Sutania Beckford beamed with joy after her boat crew guided ‘Empress’ to a thrilling victory in the Yamaha Engine Race which brought an exciting close...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Cop found dead at May Pen police station
Latest News, News
Cop found dead at May Pen police station
August 3, 2026
CLARENDON, Jamaica — A police constable assigned to the transport department at the Clarendon Division was found dead with a wound to the neck inside ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Weather disrupts Cuba’s power restoration after latest nationwide blackout
International News, Latest News, Regional
Weather disrupts Cuba’s power restoration after latest nationwide blackout
August 3, 2026
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP) — Cuba on Monday began gradually restoring power after suffering another nationwide blackout, the sixth since the year began, thoug...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Haitian group condemns ‘discriminatory impact’ of US visa bond policy on Caribbean immigrants
International News, Latest News, Regional
Haitian group condemns ‘discriminatory impact’ of US visa bond policy on Caribbean immigrants
August 3, 2026
SAN DIEGO, United States (CMC) – The California-based Haitian Bridge Alliance (HBA) has strongly condemned the expansion of the United States (US) Vis...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Shafique, Babar lead strong Pakistan reply against West Indies
Latest News, Sports
Shafique, Babar lead strong Pakistan reply against West Indies
August 3, 2026
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago (AFP) — Abdullah Shafique struck his sixth Test century, and Babar Azam closed in on a hundred as Pakistan reached ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Holness lauds farmers for embracing technology and research
Latest News
Holness lauds farmers for embracing technology and research
Dana Malcolm | Observer Online Reporter | Malcolmd@jamaicaobserver.com 
August 3, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica —  Prime Minister Andrew Holness has hailed the resilience of Jamaica’s farmers, commending their increasing adoption of technology ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
❮ ❯

Polls

HOUSE RULES

  1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published.
  2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
  3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
  4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
  5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.
  6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.
  7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

Archives

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Tweets

Polls

Recent Posts

Archives

Logo Jamaica Observer
Breaking news from the premier Jamaican newspaper, the Jamaica Observer. Follow Jamaican news online for free and stay informed on what's happening in the Caribbean
Featured Tags
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Health
  • Auto
  • Business
  • Letters
  • Page2
  • Football
Categories
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
Ads
img
Jamaica Observer, © All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feeds
  • Feedback
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Code of Conduct