Published
Sundeep S. Grewal is a lawyer at Lawgical Law Corporation, called to the BC bar in 2018, and a member of the Law Society of British Columbia.
Updated November 12, 2026: the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, IRCC’s refusal guidance and recent Federal Court decisions checked that day.
The test: the officer must be satisfied you’ll leave Canada by the end of your authorized stay (IRPR s. 179(b)).
What’s weighed: ties at home, finances, employment, travel history, the purpose of the visit, and family in Canada.
Why a lawyer: knowing how officers weigh these factors is how strong applications are built and weak refusals are challenged. Why a lawyer
Our immigration lawyers
Sundeep S. GrewalBarrister and Solicitor
Prabhpreet Kaur SanghaBarrister and Solicitor
Pardeep S. GrewalBarrister and SolicitorAbout our lawyers
Sundeep S. Grewal founded Lawgical Law Corporation and argues immigration cases at the Immigration and Refugee Board and the Federal Court of Canada.
Prabhpreet Kaur Sangha focuses on refugee claims, immigration appeals, inadmissibility, detention reviews and Federal Court cases, and has presented at Continuing Legal Education seminars and the National Immigration Conference.
Pardeep S. Grewal is an immigration and estates lawyer known for clear communication and practical strategy.
Almost every visitor visa refusal comes back to one sentence in the regulations: the officer must be satisfied that you will leave Canada by the end of the period authorized for your stay. To decide, officers weigh what pulls you home against what might keep you here: your family, job, property and finances at home, your travel history, the purpose and length of the visit, and your family in Canada. The refusal letter ticks the factors that tipped the balance, and since July 29, 2025, visitor refusals come with the officer’s decision notes. Understanding this test is how you build a file that passes, and how a lawyer spots a refusal that doesn’t hold up in the Federal Court.
Lawgical Law Corporation, an immigration law firm in Surrey, Abbotsford and Vancouver, BC, prepares visitor visa applications and challenges refusals in the Federal Court; this guide is by Sundeep S. Grewal.
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What officers weigh
| Factor | What helps | Our guide if refused |
|---|---|---|
| Family ties | Spouse, children, parents or dependants at home | family ties |
| Purpose of visit | A clear, short, documented reason and plan | purpose of visit |
| Assets and finances | Funds with a history, not sudden deposits | assets and finances |
| Employment | A job, business or pension to return to | employment |
| Travel history | Past trips with on-time returns | travel history |
What the Federal Court expects
Reasons can be short, but they must connect to your evidence. The Court has set aside refusals where the officer didn’t explain why substantial funds weren’t enough (Armani Far v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2025 FC 1955), ignored strong ties at home (Namavari v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2025 FC 1628), or misread who the applicant’s family in Canada was (Aljecera v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2026 FC 583). It has upheld refusals where the file itself was thin, such as unexplained lump-sum deposits (Khani v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2026 FC 285). Under Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) v. Vavilov, 2019 SCC 65, the question is whether the decision is justified in light of the facts and the law.
Wanting to immigrate later
An intention to apply for permanent residence later doesn’t, on its own, mean you won’t leave (IRPA s. 22(2)). The officer must still be satisfied you’ll leave at the end of the visit.
Why hire a lawyer for a visitor visa?
One lawyer, one file, every step:
- building an application around the factors officers actually weigh;
- documenting ties and funds the way officers expect to see them;
- reading a refusal and the officer’s notes against your file;
- taking an unreasonable refusal to the Federal Court.
Most refusals are avoidable with the right evidence, and those that aren’t can often be challenged. A lawyer does both, and only a lawyer can go to the Federal Court.
Immigration lawyers are members of a provincial law society (in our case, the Law Society of British Columbia), and only a lawyer can take a refusal to the Federal Court. An immigration consultant cannot file or argue it there.
Mistakes I have seen
- Sending bank balances without history.
- Leaving the purpose vague: “tourism” with no plan.
- Not addressing an earlier refusal.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a document list that ensures approval?
No. The officer weighs everything together; the aim is to answer each factor with evidence.
Does having family in Canada hurt?
It can be weighed, but the Federal Court has said it’s illogical to hold family in Canada against a parent coming to visit them.
Will I get reasons?
Since July 29, 2025, visitor visa refusals come with the officer’s decision notes.
What should I do right now?
Before applying, list your ties at home, gather bank history for several months, and write down the dates and purpose of the trip.
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Sources (official)
- Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, s. 179
- Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, s. 22(2)
- IRCC: officer’s decision notes
- IRCC: understanding your refusal letter
- Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) v. Vavilov, 2019 SCC 65
- Armani Far v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2025 FC 1955; Namavari v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2025 FC 1628; Aljecera v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2026 FC 583; Khani v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2026 FC 285
This article is general information, not legal advice. Every case depends on its own facts.