What does “the purpose of your visit to Canada is not consistent” mean?

Read also: My F1 status was terminated, what should I do?

Another example is when someone applies for a study permit but has no letter of acceptance from any Canadian institution.

In the same fate, there’ll be doubts if you claim you’re visiting your family in Canada but cannot prove your relationship with them.

Similarly, saying you want to attend a conference and your application does not include an invitation letter or registration details.

It shows inconsistency and you won’t be trusted by the visa officers.

Read also: What ‘Your online application has been received at the UK decision-making centre” means

In addition, if you’re visiting Canada for medical treatment, you’re supposed to include proof, like a doctor’s referral or hospital appointment.

Without this, your reason will be unclear to the visa officer and your application will be denied.

More examples:

If you’re applying to visit as a tourist but have no travel plans, hotel bookings, or itinerary, it creates confusion.

The visa officer will wonder why.

Also read: How long can an F1 student stay in the U.S. without attending school?

Another example is if you say you’re coming to Canada for tourism, but your bank statements show insufficient funds.

If you’re applying for a business visa, you’re expected to submit evidence showing that you have a background or experience in the field you mentioned.

Someone who says they’ll return to their home country but has no strong ties, like a job, property, or family, will also be questioned.

Inconsistencies can show up in interviews too.

For example, if you say you’re only studying temporarily but mention plans to work or stay in Canada permanently, your visa is getting denied for sure.

Read also: How to change the date of birth on your Nigerian passport

If you apply as a tourist but submit documents suggesting you’ll work, the officer will reject your application.

It’s also an issue if your documents contradict each other, like giving different travel dates or purposes in your application.

If you’re coming for a short vacation, your evidence must not suggest a longer stay else it’ll be problematic.

Furthermore, the officer needs to be sure that your purpose aligns with the type of visa you’re applying for.

When you apply for a visa to attend an event, the officers expect you to submit (along with your application), evidence of the event you want to attend.

A well-prepared application should show a purpose supported by enough evidence.

It should show your travel itinerary, like flight details, accommodation bookings, and proof of sufficient funds.

In summary, when a visa officer is verifying your application, the officer will look for clarity and alignment between the information you submitted and the type of visa you’re applying for.

If your stated purpose, like tourism, study, or work, appears unclear, unsupported, or contradictory, you’ll get the response above.

Therefore, expect this response when your application has:

• Conflicting information: If your application mentions one purpose of travel, but your supporting documents suggest another, it’ll raise concerns.
• Lack of supporting evidence: This happens when you fail to submit documents that show your purpose for the visit like an admission letter if you want to study.
• Wrong visa category: Have you ever applied for a visa under the wrong category? If you do, it will raise doubts about your intention.
• Lack of credibility: If you have a questionable travel history or present a vague purpose of travel, the visa officer will doubt the genuineness of your intentions.

What to do after getting the “The purpose of your visit to Canada is not consistent” response 

When you get this response, here’s what to do:

• Clearly define the purpose of your visit: In simple terms, state why you want to visit Canada.
  • • • For tourism: Submit a detailed itinerary containing places you plan to visit.
      • For study: Submit your letter of admission and proof of tuition payment.
      • For business: Submit invitation letters from Canadian companies and meeting schedules.
• Apply under the right visa category: Make sure your stated purpose of visit aligns with the visa category you’re applying for.
• Maintain consistency: The information in all your documents must align. For example, the purpose of the visit in your application form should match what is in your travel itinerary or invitation letter.
• Submit all required documents: Your documents should leave no room for doubt. Include evidence like:
  • • • Proof of funds.
      • Proof of ties to your home country.
      • Details of the trip’s funding, especially if someone else is sponsoring you.
• Address any past refusals: If your visa has been refused before, you need to submit a letter explaining how you have addressed the reason for the refusal in the new application – it shows diligence and commitment.
• Address contradictions: Look for any form of contradiction in your application like your stated purpose, proof of funds, travel plans, or other details and address it.
• Explain any misunderstanding: If any part of your application is misunderstood by the visa officer, write a letter explaining that part.
• Include a deserving proof of funds: Your proof of funds should show enough funds that match your purpose and planned duration of stay.
• Include proof of ties to home country: Submit strong evidence like a job, property, family obligations, or other commitments showing you’ll return home after your visit.
• Correct travel history issues: If you have limited travel history, explain your reasons for choosing Canada as your destination.
• Update personal details: If there is any change to your information (e.g., travel dates, sponsors, or relationships), update them to reflect the new information.
• Avoid reapplying immediately: Do not rush into submitting a new application until you’ve resolved all issues with the previously refused application.
• Make your application stronger: Your new application must be detailed. You must include all required documents. Plus, the information in each document must be current and consistent.
• Address all concerns: Do everything right to address all the concerns from the first refusal.