The Thailand expat forum for Travel, Lifestyle and Fun.

slunky

Any Canucks out there who can give me the heads up on bringing a GF back to Canada for a visit? She/we have a small general store as a business in Chaweng, (that will be registered shortly), as proof of income. She has no black marks against her, (no criminal issues, never worked the bars). She has a work history prior to meeting me and has held a Thai passport (which has expired at this point). We are thinking of doing this trip in about 6 months from now.

Jet Gorgon

^ Read this page. Not sure how much flack you'll get, but if it's just for a temporary visit, should not be too painful. Couple of trips to BKK tho. Ensure you are not going on a Thai or Canadian national holiday.

Temporary Resident

slunky

Thanx Jet...anyone actually go through this for Canada?..any hitches with TGF self employed? Bank records needed for how long?

garye

It's basically up to the people at the Canadian Embassy in BKK,often Thai employees,for the tourist visa.She will need a fresh passport,possibly proof of land ownership(or parents ownership) A letter from an employer(not sure how long one must be employed by same employer I think 1 year) indicating she is only going for a holiday and is expected back to work.Being self employed could be a bit of a hitch unless she can show some serious profit.Large business owners have no problem but a little Mom and Pop shop..???
Money needs to be in her bank account but NOT all appearing all at once a month or so before you leave.
The honorary consulate in Chiang Mai used to have very helpful staff for info,however that was a few years ago.
All visa applications must go through BKKand make sure she makes it clear to the Embassy staff that she has a life in Thailand and intends to return,as mentioned before, the Can.embassy hires alot of Thai's for the frontline work and they know all the angles and will interview her in Thai.
After that... if you don't know someone who works there..... cross your fingers and hope for the best !!

pickel

It's not easy to do. I tried it a few years ago and was denied. I thought I had everything in order as well. Reading what you have said in your post I would say your chances are 50/50.
I have since been told that getting a letter of support from your Canadian MP is a big help. They are quite easy to get as well, just tell them you voted for them. Also consulting with an immigration lawyer from Canada would help as well.
Good luck.

Jet Gorgon

These boys know better than I do, Slunky. Start prep now. Do a Bangers trip to the Embassy and see what they want.

slunky

Excellent feedback, thanx...The land titles and Canadian MP are great ideas. I'm in Canada now; is there any thing I can provide from myself, ie, bank statements showing monthly support over the past 5 years?, tax returns for past years? Being that it's just a visitors visa, does this stuuff even come into play?
Pickel...did you eventually succeed?

garye

For a tourist visa it looks better if she were self sufficient,ie employed or rich.
Showing the Canadian Embassy people that she is already supported from abroad is probably not the best game plan.At best you will be her declared reason for going to Canada ie. visit friend. Big money talks loudly I'm afraid ,especially with the present Conservative govt.of Canada.
Options:
Work permit if she has skills such as Thai chef,office skills??
Other options possible Student visa,if her Thai education is high enough
or
go back and marry her there,properly with all forms, translations,etc. after that you will still have to leave her in Thailand for at least a year while you start her landed immigrant papers in Canada.
They do not make it easy for regular folk from SE Asia to get in,but once in ,your in, and then they can start to sponsor family members to come over..our large East Indian communities here can attest to that.

pickel

I suppose you could say I did in one aspect. The lying, cheating bitch is no longer with me.

Dug

Oh dear, what happened? Dumped you as soon as she hit Canadian soil did she?

pickel

Never did get the visa, I just consider not being with her a success.

garye

On the flip side, I married my wife in Chiang Mai 2001,knew her for years as a friend before we got involved.I had to go first(having lived in Thailand for 5 years already I had to re-establish a life in Canada)
Phikun arrived in 2002 as a landed immigrant(lots of paperwork and some costs involved).She has been here for 7 years now,adapted quite well,still eats sticky rice and PaaLaa but also likes steak ,spaghetti,meatloaf,real coffee with real cream etc.Calls my aging mom every night on the phone ,my mom loves her ... pretty much everyone in our little town likes her alot.
You never know..good and bad everywhere...mind you Thailand has it's fair share of beautiful but very "Jai Dam" women.I had my horror stories too!

Best of Luck
Cheers

slunky

Some things work out for the better Pickel...
Heh Garye...any kids involved, either hers or together? How about adapting to our winters? I'm on Van Isle, so it ain't all bad.
Again, thanx for the heads up you guys

garye

Nope ,no kids, I'm 53 now she is 44 so were a bit beyond those days.She had a son(from Thai husband long time ago) who died at 18 yrs old.
Where on Van Island are you?
It so happens we live in Sooke B.C
Cheers

slunky

I'm in Nanaimo Garye...I'm 54 come Nov. and Joy is 34 come Jan. She has a 14 year old daughter from a Thai ex-husband. I would like her to come to Canada so she can experience here first hand, and if we were to decide to stay in Canada for a while she would have an idea of what to expect. She's done some traveling in SEA and is pretty stoked about coming here if we can pull it off

pickel

I've heard there is a fair amount of Thais and Laos in Nanaimo and they tend to adapt to life in Canada much better there than elsewhere. The weather is better than the rest of the country too.
My Mom just bought a house in Langford, so if I'm back there next spring the three of us should try and get together.

DrAndy

I went to Calgary for work with my wife, during the Stampede

she thought it all quite quaint but lacking the cultural interest that Europe has

Canadians were very friendly, the Chinese and Japanese food the best

I presume Calgary is not too typical of Canada

Smug Farang Bore

On one day everything could be fine then shite on the next.

I deal with alot of this and you just never know.

Build a file to let them know you have been together for a long time, don't just put a load of money in her bank or that you can guarantee her coz your loaded.

Good luck..I hope the person that make the decision is a bloke.

Mai pluu - hope shes the right one for you...!

__________________
Do you know what nemesis means?

garye

Canada is geographicaly quite large but in population about half that of Thailand.
Montreal,Vancouver,Toronto would probably be more cosmopolitan in atmosphere,culturaly diverse,thriving music,theatre and art scene etc.
However,being remembered as very friendly isn't so bad either.
Cheers