My wife and I are both on Canadian work permits, not PR. We have a young child. We applied for my father's visit to Canada. He is retired, widower, living in UP India. He has a second son in another Indian state and a daughter in Australia.
Application 1 — Refused Oct 2025
- 4-month visit, two specific events (festival + family occasion) + sightseeing
- Refused: "The purpose of the applicant's visit to Canada is not consistent with a temporary stay given the details provided in the application"
- Fair — 4 months was disproportionate
Application 2 — Refused Apr 24, 2026 What changed:
- Cut to 21 days, day-by-day itinerary provided for every day
- Cover and invitation letter directly addressing the first refusal
- Documents: father's pension PPO + credit slips, 3 property registrations(including translation certificate for Hindi deeds), ECHS card, full identity docs | sponsor docs: employment letters, pay stubs, 2 years NOA
- Financial: father's bank statements, SCSS, FD (more than ~CAD 10K savings + regular pension) | sponsor's: 6 months bank statements (combined liquid > CAD 50K)
- Father visited his daughter in Australia in 2025 and returned to India on schedule (also provided in first application)
- Proper letters of explanation for all document queries.
Purpose (as stated in cover letter): Family visit — first visit to Canada. Activities include local Toronto exploration (Little India, Distillery District), CN Tower, Harbourfront, day trip to Niagara Falls, Toronto Zoo, Toronto Islands.
Itinerary breakdown (21 days, day-by-day):
- Jul 20: Arrival YYZ, transfer, rest
- Jul 21: Rest — jet lag recovery (14-hr flight from India)
- Jul 22: Neighbourhood walk, local orientation
- Jul 23: Little India (Gerrard India Bazaar), Distillery District
- Jul 24: Rest — hosts at work; morning walk in local park
- Jul 25: CN Tower, Ripley's Aquarium, Harbourfront
- Jul 26: Toronto Islands — ferry, outdoor walk, picnic
- Jul 27: Rest — hosts at work; evening neighbourhood walk
- Jul 28: High Park — nature trails, outdoor zoo
- Jul 29: Local mall (hosts at work, senior-friendly, accessible)
- Jul 30: Mount Pleasant Cemetery walk; evening with family
- Jul 31: Rest — hosts prepare for Niagara day trip
- Aug 1: Niagara Falls day trip (Horseshoe Falls, Niagara-on-the-Lake)
- Aug 2: Toronto Zoo (full day, tram accessible)
- Aug 3: Rest — recovery after two consecutive full-day outings
- Aug 4: Morning park walk; afternoon rest (hosts at work)
- Aug 5: Rest — hosts at work; evening family dinner
- Aug 6: Toronto Eaton Centre, gift shopping for family in India
- Aug 7: Departure preparation, final errands
- Aug 8: Farewell dinner with family, final packing
- Aug 9: Departure — Toronto Pearson (YYZ) → India
Rest days explained in cover letter: hosts work on weekdays, applicant is 71 and needs recovery after full-day outings.
Full ODN (Apr 24, 2026): exactly same as first application > "I have reviewed the application. The purpose of the applicant's visit to Canada is not consistent with a temporary stay given the details provided in the application. Weighing the factors in this application, I am not satisfied that the applicant will depart Canada at the end of the period authorized for their stay. For the reasons above, I have refused this application."
Nothing beyond this. No document flagged. No specific concern identified.
Father's ties to India: Regular defence pension + ~ more than CAD $10K savings. Ex-Servicemen healthcare proof non-transferable and India-only. Three registered properties + agricultural land. Second son and grandchildren in India (different state).
Questions:
- Does work permit sponsor (not PR) significantly hurt chances for this profile? Has anyone overcome this?
- Has anyone got approved after two 179(b) refusals for an elderly Indian parent? What specifically changed?
- Father is a widower — is this flagged consistently even with the above ties? How have people addressed it?
- Anything obvious missing from this profile?