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I was given a B1 Visa to go into the US for some meetings. I want to visit my friend in Toronto after my meetings. I didn’t have time in Manila to apply for a Canadian Visa so I decided to apply for a Canadian Visa here in the US.
Here are some differences I noticed between applying for a Canadian Visa in Manila and in New York
In Manila:
1. They have more requirements if you apply for a Visa in the Philippines. For instance, they would want to know if you have taken any Caregiving course. They also require a letter of invitation of you are not on package tour. Plus the person inviting you must also submit proof of his/her Canadian citizenship or residency. They also require 6 months worth of bank statements in the Philippines.
2. You have to call the Call Center and schedule an appointment or have your documents sent to the Canadian embassy via courier.
In New York:
1. You can apply for a Canadian V1 Visa in New York or other Canadian Consulate in the US if you are in the US on a B1 or B2 Visa.
2. The people in the Canadian Embassy call center in the Philippines told me that if I apply in New York I would have one week waiting period before I get my Canadian Visa. Well in my case, not true. I went to the Canadian consulate in the city without an appointment. I applied for my visa there, had my interview and received my visa in one day with no waiting period.
3. They (the call center in Manila) also told me that I have to send my application docs via courier to the Canadian Consulate. Well, I didn’t have to. I just went to their Visa Office in Midtown East (51st and 5th) with my docs and they processed my application right there and then.
Tips:
1. They only accept applications for Canadian Visitor visa between 8AM to 10:30AM.
2. Don’t use the Canadian Supplemental Application form from the Philippines. Use the Forms they give you in the New York Office.
3. Have the application fee ready. I paid $130 for multiple entry visa. Oh Btw, they don’t accept $100 bills. Prepare $50s and $20s.
4. They will give you a checklist of docs you have to have in your application. From what I remember, they ask the following:
- Forms (Application and Supplemental)
- I-94, Current and Old Passports
- Proof of Income (Certificate of Employment) or if a student (Certificate of Enrollment)
- Invitation Letter
- Itinerary
- Proof of Funds (Bank statements)
You can ask for a checklist of the required docs in the Consulate.
5. I tried calling the Consulate to ask questions regarding my visa application. It was useless. They don’t entertain questions over the phone. They will just refer you to their website -> see this link.
I was surprised that I got a lot of questions regarding my post: Tips on Getting a US Tourist (Non-Immigrant) Visa. I have a friend who applied for a US Visa last week and she got denied. She spent and additional $30 for the Visa Processing fee that some travel agencies offer their customers. I think that you don’t need to pay that $30 to travel agencies. That is too much. For $30, the travel agency, a)downloads the forms b)gets you a checklist of the docs you need c)schedules your appointment. All these can be done by you. The hardest part of getting supporting documents will be done by you anyway and you have to go to the embassy for the interview so might as well do the whole thing. I mean, I am willing to pay the Visa Assistance Fee (that’s how they call it) if the travel agency will be the one to submit my docs for me and I don’t have to go to the embassy for a personal appearance (like for China and Japan- for packaged tours). If not, then might as well do it myself. That’s my take on it.
Here are some lessons I learned from my friend’s falied application:
1. Valid reasons to travel
-> Vacation – Show your itinerary, hotel reservations and list of places and people to visit.
-> Visiting family and friends – Give their names, contact number and addresses
-> Business meetings and conferences – Show your invitation letter and some conference or company info (website printout or brochure)
2. Funding your travel
The first question is: Who is going to pay for your travel?
If you are paying for your travel:
I suggest that you make a costing of your total travel expenses, form the airline ticket to the hotel expenses to your pocket money. If you are staying with friends and family, your travel costs will be reduced. Just make sure that you have at the very least 3x times that amount of your total travel cost saved up in your bank account.
If your total travel cost is $2500, make sure you have at least $7500 in you bank account. It might not make sense if you plan a vacation with ticket cost of at least $1500 and you just have $3000 in your bank. Spending one half of your savings on a trip will probably raise eyebrows. There is no hard and fast rule for this. It depends I think on the totality of your circumstances. But to be safe, especially if its your first time to apply for your VISA, make sure you show to the interviewer that you can afford your vacation.
If other people are funding your trip:
Bring proof that the person funding your trip has enough funds. If your parents are funding your trip (lucky you), then bring a bank certification of your parents’ savings. If your company is funding your trip, get an invitation letter for the event you are attending and an authorization letter from you superior stating that the company is funding your trip and that you are expected to go back to the Philippines after your US trip. Also bring docs showing company information (such as website printout) and yeah, bring your company calling card.
3. Significant reason to come back
Do you have a good job? Are you a student? Do you have a business?
Job/Business
- How much are you making?
- Are you happy with your job, career or business?
- Bring your certificate of employment, business registration and ITR.
Student
- Bring a certificate of enrollment from your school.
- Bring a proof that you are a student: school ID, copy of the current semester’s grades
Do you have people you have to go back for? Do you have to take care of your parents, younger brothers or sisters?
This doesn’t mean that having kids or younger brother and sisters will give you that visa. They will also consider if your kids are well taken cared of if you will stay in the States for a long period of time. If the kids’ granparents are taking care of your kids or brothers and sisters, then your interviewer might think its okay for you to stay in the US for a long time because somebody is taking care of your kids.
Make sure that you make it clear that you have to come back to the Philippines because you are needed back here.
Remember that a B1 visa is for business purposes and a B2 visa is for vacation purposes. The reason why the US embassy is sometimes strict in granting Visas is because people who were previously granted Visas abused that privilege and either overstayed or used their Visas for purposes other than what the Visa was intended for. Again, be open and transparent. Bring supporting documents. Most importantly — always stay honest and tell the truth.
Relaxing at home is difficult for me because I work at home. I associate home with work. Although I have the office in a separate room, but I bring work with me in the bedroom, kitchen and living room.
So I said to myself, I must make an effort to do things other than working when I am at home. So here are my other-then-work relaxing home activities:
1. Home Service Massage and other Spa Services
With so many massage parlors sprouting all over the metro I ddn’t know who to call. I want a massage service that is “stricly massage” only. I don’t want to have pretty girls and boys giving me a “pleasurable time” as one massage ad phrased it.
So I went to the Internet and found Asian Massage. Their service is good. I especially love their Reflexology. It relaxes and energizes you at the same ime (if that makes sense). And the nice thing is, they are open 24 hours!
2. A glass of wine or a can of beer
Yep. They say that a glass of red everyday is good for you. So as I am writing this post, I am enjoying my glass of fave red for the moment, a Shiraz Cabernet. I love its fruity taste when it first touches your mouth, then that spicy taste when the wine goes down.
My beers, for the moment are Thai (Singha) and Japanese (Asahi) Beers.
3. Magic Sing
I have to borrow Magic Sing from my friend. Singing relaxes me – need I say more?
4. Cooking
I love to cook for other people. I am especially encouraging my son to try different kinds of food. I like entertaining at home. Eating with friends makes for a relaxing evening of good conversation and laughter.
5. TV and Books
I have to make an effort to stay away from my laptop during my off hours. It is so easy to get sucked in the Internet even after work. There are news, blogs, games, online books and magazines and movies
But when I stayed away from my laptop, and went to my living room and watch TV from a television and read a a real paperback book, I felt more relaxed.
I am reading Thomas Friedman’s “The World is Flat” and I am addicted to CSI (Vegas, NY, Miami). Oh, and there is the pleasure of reading coffee table travel and art books as well.
As they say, all work and no play makes you irritable and less productive. So make the effort of putting a little play in your schedule - AND especially for us home-workers.. let’s try not to feel too guilty about indulging ourselves and nah-uh.. let us NOT open that inbox!
I don’t claim to be an expert, but I got myself 3 single entry visas and 1 mutiple entry VISA. I got my friend a multiple entry VISA after she had been denied twice the past 2 years. I got my dad and my son their first US Visas. And I got a bunch of people their VISAs under a group appointment. I am not a travel agent but I would like to share to you what I learned after all these experiences:
1. Young females, especially single young females automatically have a disadvantage.
2. Once you were already issued a US Visa (Single Entry) and you have used it, there is a good chance they will grant you another one (probably another single-entry if they still do not trust you).
3. Time your trip to coincide with a conference that is related to your field or your interest. For instance, if you are a real estate agent here, google real estate conferences or shows in the US and go to the US in time for these events.
4. It always helps if you are a student at the time of your VISA application. Although it is not a guarantee that you will get a US Visa.
5. During the interview, do not look nervous. Put it in your mind that it is not a life or death situation. Relax.
6. Organize your supporting documents well. I divided my documents in these categories:
A. Basic Documents
- Passport, Application Fee Receipt, DS156, DS157, Photo, Birth certificate, Consent to Trave (for minors), Marriage Certificate
See US Embassy Guidelines.
B. Documents showing Reason to Travel
- Invitation Letter for Conferences or meeting
- Very Detailed (if possible, daily) itinerary, Hotel Bookings, List of Places to Visit
- Printout of the conference or meeting webpage and conference schedule
- Membership of local clubs related to the conference you are attending. For instance, if you are attending a Rotary International Conference, you must show that you have been a Rotarian for at least several months.
C. Documents showing ties to the Philippines
a. Financial Ties - Bank records, documents showing your assets, ITR
b. School/Career Ties- Certificate of employment or certificate from the school you are attending.
These certificates should show how long you have been studying or working. If you have good salary and if you have a high position, indicate it in your certificate of employment.
If you are an enterpreneur or businessman, bring all the important corporate documents (SEC Registration, ITR, etc) to prove that you have a legitimate, thriving business and that you have a big responsibility in your company.
c. Family Ties - Marriage certificate or birth certificate of your children
This should show that you need to come back to the Philippines right after your trip because nobody can take care of your children while you are away. This will assuage the fears of the consul that you will be a TNT since there is nobody at home left to take care of your family.
There is no guarantee in getting a US Visa. The interviewers are just people and documents can only tell so much. I will advise that you present yourself and your purpose the best and most-organized way possible. And most importantly. be as honest and transparent as you can be.
Good luck and I hope this post helps.
Here is the follow-up post: Tips on Getting a US Tourist Non-Immigrant Visa – B1 and B2
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