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: IRCC’s visitor visa refusal guidance and the Federal Court decisions cited checked that day.
The reason: “your assets and financial situation are insufficient to support the stated purpose of travel”
The fix: judicial review if the officer ignored the funds or the host’s support, or a new application that shows where the money came from.
The deadline: 60 days from notice of the refusal if you’re outside Canada, 15 days if you’re in Canada (IRPA s. 72). Reconsideration doesn’t stop the clock.
Why a lawyer: only a lawyer can take this to the Federal Court, and the officer’s notes decide whether court or a new application is right. Why a lawyer
The lawyers who review these refusals
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.
Financial refusals are among the most common, and the most fixable. The letter usually says your assets and financial situation are insufficient for the trip. Behind it is often one of three things: a balance with no history, large deposits shortly before applying, or a host offering to pay whose finances the officer didn’t accept. The Federal Court has set aside refusals where the officer didn’t explain why substantial funds weren’t enough, or didn’t deal with a parent’s evidence of paying for the visit. It has upheld them where large deposits went unexplained. The officer’s notes tell you which side of that line your file falls on.
Lawgical Law Corporation, an immigration law firm in Surrey, Abbotsford and Vancouver, BC, challenges visitor visa refusals over finances in the Federal Court; this guide is by Sundeep S. Grewal.
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What the Federal Court has said
| Situation | Result | Case |
|---|---|---|
| Over $187,000 for a 15-day trip; officer didn’t explain why it wasn’t enough | Refusal set aside | Armani Far v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2025 FC 1955 |
| A parent in Canada offered to pay; officer didn’t explain why that fell short | Refusal set aside | Barikder v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2026 FC 475 |
| Large lump-sum deposits just before applying, unexplained | Refusal upheld | Khani v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2026 FC 285 |
| Established applicant; deposits doubted, ties at home ignored | Refusal set aside | Daneshmand v. Canada (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship), 2026 FC 1311 |
Showing the money properly
- Several months of statements, not a balance certificate.
- An explanation and proof for any large deposit: a sale, a loan repaid, a gift with the giver’s records.
- If a host is paying: the host’s income, bank records, status in Canada, and a signed undertaking.
Why this needs a lawyer
One lawyer, one file, every step:
- getting the officer’s decision notes and reading them against what you filed;
- deciding whether the refusal belongs in court or in a better application;
- filing judicial review in the Federal Court within the deadline;
- if reapplying is better, building the new file around the officer’s exact concern.
The choice between court and reapplying is a legal judgment about whether the officer made a reviewable error. Getting it wrong costs either the court deadline or a second refusal on file.
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
- Moving money into the account the week before applying.
- A host’s letter with no proof of the host’s own finances.
- A balance certificate with no transactions.
Frequently asked questions
Is a big balance enough?
Not on its own. Officers look at where it came from and whether it’s really available.
Can my son in Canada pay for my trip?
Yes, with proof of his income, savings and status, and the officer must deal with that evidence.
What should I do right now?
Note the refusal date, request the officer’s notes, and gather six months of statements with an explanation for every large deposit.
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Sources (official)
- Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, s. 179
- Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, s. 72
- 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
- Barikder v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2026 FC 475
- Khani v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2026 FC 285
- Daneshmand v. Canada (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship), 2026 FC 1311
This article is general information, not legal advice. Every case depends on its own facts.