If you’ve recently applied for a Canadian visa and received a refusal letter stating, “I am not satisfied that you will leave Canada at the end of your stay,” it is very common.
When I applied for my first Canadian visa, I received the same response.
At the time, it felt vague, simply because; the reply can stem from several reasons.
And until you understand the specific reason behind it, addressing the issue will be tricky.
Here’s a breakdown of what it means, why it happens, and how you can resolve it.
What does it mean to get ” I am not satisfied that you will leave Canada at the end of your stay”?
When an immigration officer says they are not satisfied that you’ll leave Canada at the end of your stay, it means the immigration officer has doubts about whether you’ll return to your home country once your visa expires.
It’s like saying “Okay, you have every requirement to enter Canada but the reasons or evidence showing that you’ll leave after your approved stay isn’t enough”.
You need to know this; whether you’re applying for a temporary visa like a visitor visa, student visa, or work permit, the officer needs to be convinced that you’ll leave Canada after your stay before they approve your visa.
They need you to show strong ties to your home country and that you plan to return once your visa has expired.
Until this is done, your visa application won’t get approval.
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Before arriving at this decision, the immigration officer looks at your entire application.
They consider your proof of funds, whether or not you’re employed, family ties, and overall reason for visiting Canada.
If they see any red flags, you’ll receive this refusal message.
Your job is to convince the officer (with evidence) that you can’t afford to stay in Canada beyond your approved time, because you have something very important at home, that you must return to.
Now, look at all the information you submitted, do you think you have presented enough evidence that you’ll leave Canada at the end of your stay?
When I got this response during my visa application, I noticed it was all about whether or not you’ve shown enough compelling reasons to return home.
Read also: As a foreign student can I return home or travel outside Canada while studying?
If you haven’t, all hope isn’t lost – you can make some changes to your application and improve your chances of success.
Why did you receive the “I am not satisfied that you will leave Canada at the end of your stay”?
Immigration officers will have doubts about your intentions to leave Canada at the end of your stay if you show:
- Weak ties to your home country: It’s your job to convince the visa officers that you’ll leave Canada at the end of your stay.
And, you can do this by showing strong connections to your home country.
You can use your ongoing employment, family, or property as evidence of your ties to your home country.
Include anything genuine to convince the officer of your intention to leave Canada on time.
- Insufficient proof of funds: To get a Canadian visa, you “must”show proof that you can support yourself throughout your stay in the country.
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If your proof of funds suggests that you’ll struggle to support yourself in Canada or be tempted to overstay to work illegally, you’ll get the response.
- Previous immigration history: If you want to have a stress-free visa application, keep a clean immigration record.
If you’ve overstayed a visa or violated immigration rules in the past, it’ll raise doubts about whether you’ll leave on time.
- Vague or unclear purpose of travel: Before your visa application is approved, the visa officer must be convinced that you have a genuine reason to travel.
If your reason for visiting Canada is not clear, the officer will think you’re likely to stay in the country longer than intended.
In my case, my application lacked strong ties to my home country.
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What I did was to provide more evidence that I had a well-paying job to return to.
Guess what? My application was approved.
How to convince an immigration officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your visit
To convince an immigration officer that you’ll leave at the end of your visit:
a. Show strong ties to your home country
You need to show that you have strong ties to your home country – an obligation that’ll make you return home.
It can be:
- Employment: Include a letter from your employer showing that you have a job to return to after your stay in Canada.
- Property ownership: If you show proof that you own a property like land or house, it can make your case stronger.
- Family ties: If you have close family members (especially dependents or elderly parents you care for) in your country, show proof of your relationship with them.
b. Show clearer proof of funds
Show that you have enough funds to sponsor yourself throughout your stay in Canada.
Include:
- Your bank statements.
- Proof of any sponsorship.
- Or, proof of your financial commitments in your home country.
c. Show a clearer purpose of travel
If you want your visa approved, your application must state why you’re travelling and how long you’ll stay.
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You can travel for study, tourism, or work.
- For tourists: Include a detailed itinerary of your trip, hotel reservations, and return flight tickets.
- For students: Include your acceptance letter and proof that you’ve paid your first-year tuition.
- For workers: Submit a letter from your employer that confirms your job offer and your role.
The more evidence you include – showing that you’ll return after your stay, the higher your chances of getting approval when you reapply.
Can you appeal the “I am not satisfied that you will leave Canada at the end of your stay” decision?
If your visa application was refused because the immigration officer was not satisfied you’d leave Canada at the end of your stay, an appeal is not the best option.
Therefore, your best option is to address the concern raised and reapply.
Read also: Giving birth in Canada as an international student
However, if you don’t understand the particular reason for the refusal, you can request a GCMS (Global Case Management System) note.
These notes will help you know exactly why the officer suspects you won’t leave Canada at the end of your stay.
When you know the specific reason, address it and reapply, you’ll likely get approval.
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