It was in 2014 that my former Canadian client told everyone on the team that we were invited to go to Montreal, Canada to meet the whole team. I was shocked by the news and got excited because I’ve never been to Canada. I was the only Filipino on the team, and the rest were Canadian, American, British and Romanian. Meeting time was at 10 AM Canadian. Everyone was so chatty except me because I was the silent one in the group although they encouraged me to speak and talk about my day and the Philippines.
Related Article: South Korea Visa Refusal – It’s Heartbreaking But Time to Move On
The planned travel date was in January 2015. It should have been my first winter trip. Somehow I was hesitant to go alone out of the country, far away from the Philippines. I was also anxious about getting a visa because it is so expensive to get one. I had to prepare $160 for the permit.
It should be an all-expense paid trip. The former client made all the documents needed for getting a visa: letter of invitation, business certificate, income tax, and other legal documents. I was planning to get a tourist visa since I should be there not to work, but to meet all the team spending time in a chateau, skiing, snowboarding, and building a snowman and other activities to do like a team building. I even searched for a flight from the Philippines to Canada, and I found out that it was expensive. The ticket cost like P100, 000 round trip, unbelievable!
On my part, I only provided a bank certificate with P50, 000 and Transcript of Records. That’s all. I wasn’t sure if I would be granted a visa since it was a sponsored trip. Even though I was excited about the winter journey, physically and mentally I wasn’t prepared for that long haul trip to travel solo. I don’t have any winter clothes and shoes.
I submitted all my requirements at VFS Global near Ayala Center Cebu. It was after a month I got a package containing my passport and some papers. No visa on my passport but there was a letter of rejection.
Reason for Canadian Tourist Visa Denied Philippines
I don’t have any strong indication or proof going back to the Philippines because I don’t have any ITR, no business registration, not employed in the Philippines and no affiliation with any organizations. I am single, young and don’t have kids yet.
The good thing was my former client reimbursed the visa fee I paid. I told them that I also needed the money for the medication I had after the surgery.
Related Article: How a Painful and Traumatic Health Threat Forced Me to Travel More
Pursuing Japan
Even though I got denied for a Canada visa, I still had plan B in mind which was to go to Japan – another country which I also needed to get a tourist visa. I learned a lot from the rejection of a Canada visa that’s why I prepared myself by getting a Japan visa. So scrapped Canada in January 2015 and went to Japan in May 2015.
So scrapped Canada in January 2015 and went to Japan in May 2015.
After I had booked a flight to Japan, I came with an idea to travel solo to different countries in 2015. I booked a flight to Malaysia and Singapore for July and September 2015.
Related Article: Getting A Japan Tourist Visa in the Philippines without Income Tax Return
What Really Happened in 2015?
In January 2015, well, I was invited to Camotes Island and Manila. In Manila, we went to ABS-CBN for The Voice Combo Sing Off Season 2 as my friend won the contest. For one week we were treated like VIP. We got interviewed by Robi Domingo and shook hands with Coach Bamboo. I will blog more of this soon so here’s the photo for a sneak preview.
Robi Domingo hugging me <3
with Coach Bamboo
After my Japan trip in May 2015, I unexpectedly flew to Hong Kong in June from Tokyo since my original flight to Cebu left me. I pursued Malaysia in July and traveled to Thailand (only for a few days), I was back in Malaysia, and suddenly I got sad news back home (death of my father) that I had to go back to Cebu. My Southeast Asia solo backpacking trip was cut off short. I decided to fly back in September 2015, went to Penang, Malaysia, and Singapore. Guess what? I was able to go back to Japan to experience the autumn season.
In 2015, I was able to travel to five countries and the best thing was I was able to visit Japan twice in a year because I love Japan.
Yes, I will blog individual travel experiences soon.
Related Article: Travel Summary in 2015
Realizations
I wasn’t bitter when I got my Canada visa application denied because I prepared that it was going to happen knowing that I don’t have any proof to come back to the Philippines although I know for myself that I need not overstay in Canada. Somehow, I wasn’t ready emotionally and physically to travel after my surgery and to go on a long haul flight. I wasn’t willing to go alone because I still had no idea how to fly solo.
My solo travels to five countries in 2015 helped me to face my fear and got out of my comfort zone. Yes, I went solo to those countries that are very near the Philippines. I was able to work on a budget and enjoyed visiting some tourist attractions that are for free. I learned how to find cheap tickets. Through my solo trips, I am ready for new adventures. But first, I need to save money and work hard for it again.
So Canada, I’ll see you next time. 🙂
More from my site
Seven Years of Working as a Virtual Assistant and Counting
A Personal Experience How I Started Travel Blogging
A Stranger Paid for my Surgery to Pursue my Love of Travel to Hong Kong
How a Painful and Traumatic Health Threat Forced Me To Travel More 
How Travel Improves My Life
How I Started Being a Digital Nomad
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Hi Jim,
Thanks for your feedback I really appreciate it. 😀
Hi Roxanne, these are the times when these countries are getting more strict, especially that there is a huge threat on terrorism and the waves of immigrants because of civil unrests in Arab countries. These consuls must be convinced that you have all the reason to come back here, but Ill give you some tips that somehow worked from my end.
1. I already bought a round-trip ticket (this is when I applied for US visa) before applying for the visa. This is somehow a guarantee that I am going back on this date. Though this is also a gamble because what if I get rejected, then I just threw away a ticket worth less than 100k. But it worked for me.
2. Your bank statement that has more or less $1000 is really insufficient – but my question is, in your invitation letter, has your employer indicated that all of the costs that your visit will incur will be shouldered by them? Because that could also work. But keep in mind, as far as I remember, each day of stay in North America, you need at least $200 or more so that should be the equivalent of your money in the bank. If you have credit cards, and investments here, that’s also a good proof of income.
3. The invitation letter from your employer does not need to be a template, hence if you have talked to your boss if he can indicate in the letter that you will not be, in any manner, be stated in that country for more than # of days, and other similar “guarantee” that you are not going to be a TNT there, that should strengthen the fact that you are not going to overstay there.
To be honest, I am hesitant to travel these days especially in that part of the globe now because of the travel policies, the influx of refugees, terrorism threats. Now they have become more strict but you should try again and try some of the tips I mentioned. But take note, it could have worked for me, but it is not still a guarantee that it will work for you or for others, but there’s no harm in trying.
Hi Carlos,
Thanks for the informative comment. This happened in 2014 when I never had investments. It was my employer who invited me to Canada and who would shoulder all the expenses for my trip. Thus, I wasn’t granted for a visa.
When I applied for Japan, I made sure to have a bank account, stock investments, affiliated to a non-profit organization. 🙂
mine is the opposite, i applied Canada and got 5 years multiple while while Japan denied my application eventhough I got previous visa to Japan and still have existing visas to US and Australian + used UK and Schengen visas.
Oh sorry to hear that.