There are over 840,000 Filipinos currently living in Canada, which is 2.3% of the country’s population. According to the Department of Labour and Employment, many Canadian employers prefer working with Filipinos to other foreign workers because they are loyal and have strong work ethics. There is currently a high demand for Filipino skilled workers in different parts of Canada. Yet thousands of people are denied entry to Canada, including Filipinos. Here are the top reasons you are denied entry in Canada.
- You have no visa
Filipinos that intend to come to Canada to work must first secure a work permit from your employer and a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) before going to Canada. They will not be denied entry if they have these documents. On the other hand, if you arrived in Canada to visit a sick relative or attend a wedding, you may be able to apply for a Visitor’s Visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) in Canada itself provided you have the proper documents. These may include:
- Proof of financial support while in Canada (i.e. invitation from a relative taking responsibility for your board and lodging)
- Copy of travel itinerary, including return ticket
- Certificate of permanent employment in the Philippines
- Financial statements
- Copies of title deeds for real property, if any
- Sworn affidavits of existing connections in the Philippines (i.e. caring for aged parents)
These documents are evidence that you will return to your country when your visa expires. A visa officer will study these documents before granting you a visitor’s visa or ETA. You may be denied a visa if your documents are incomplete or not convincing enough.
- You have a criminal conviction
Canada takes an applicant’s criminal record very seriously, and may deny you entry even for past minor criminal convictions in another county. The litmus test is if the crime had been committed in Canada, it would have warranted 10 years or more in prison. These include convictions for resisting arrest, reckless driving, intoxicated driving, drug crimes (including marijuana), assault, theft, and manslaughter. This is the most common reason for being denied entry into Canada.
- You have a medical condition
You can also fail to secure a visitor’s visa into Canada simply by having the measles, the flu, hepatitis, and other infectious diseases. If you have bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or other mental disorder associated with violent and uncontrollable behavior, you may also be denied a visa.
Medical inadmissibility is also grounds for denying entry to a foreign worker or a family member under Subsection 38(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA). The reasoning behind this is that some medical condition of the applicant or a family member can put excessive demands on public health and social services. One case in point is that of a Filipina caregiver who was denied permanent residency because her daughter was deaf.
- You lied in your visa application
The visa application is a government document. Any misrepresentation, false information or withheld information on it is grounds for denial of a visitor’s visa or ETA.
If you wish to go to Canada as a visitor, it is important to find out what you need to gain entry to the country and avoid wasting your resources. You can visit Canada’s official website for information.