SECU – SECU 116.1 – Visa Refusal – September 19, 2024

IRCC’s response to a request for information made by the Standing Committee on Public Safety on August 28, 2024

Question

Mr. Frank Caputo: The information we have is that, in December 2017, he was initially refused a visitor visa. Is that correct?

Dr. Harpreet S. Kochhar: That is correct, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Frank Caputo: Do we know why he was refused that?

Dr. Harpreet S. Kochhar: I don't have the details, but the folks who are actually… The visa is rejected due to multiple reasons, whether there is incomplete documentation or whether there is missing information, but the person who is evaluating is not satisfied with what is provided, so there are multiple reasons for that.

Mr. Frank Caputo: Do we know if he was rejected based on security reasons?

Dr. Harpreet S. Kochhar: To my knowledge, that was not the case because when he applied again in 2018 as a visitor visa, he was approved.

Mr. Frank Caputo: Okay. Sir, are you able to confirm to this committee, in writing in follow-up to this meeting, that this rejection wasn't for a security reason?

Dr. Harpreet S. Kochhar: I'll have to actually confirm those things in terms of that. Yes.

Response

The initial temporary resident visa (TRV) application was refused for being a potential non-genuine visitor. An applicant is considered a non-genuine visitor when there are concerns that the applicant will not leave Canada at the end of their authorized stay. The refusal was not made based on security reasons.