How to tackle common reasons for denial

1, Travel History:
Most times this is ticked in addition to other 'core' reasons for denial and is mostly for applicants who
have zero travel experience (out of their home country). However, sometimes it is ticked for people who
have travelling experience (why this is so remains unclear though speculatively, the idea is that it is
either an error on the VO's part or the countries the applicant has travelled to is considered
insignificant).
Solution: Travel history is seldom (in my experience, never) a stand-alone reason for visa denial. So,
travelling around the globe after a visa denial shouldn't be seen as the most ideal solution. Rather, one
should explain succinctly to a VO in one's SOP why one has little or no travel history and convince VO
you are not a flight risk (presenting solid home ties can help here). Tell a good story to show without
doubt that you will return home after your studies.

2. Length of proposed stay and purpose of visit:

Most times the two are tied together. This implies that the VO isn't convinced you're going to study or
that you need the degree you're going for. It could also imply inconsistency in your academic/work
background and your chosen course of study. Nine times out of ten an applicant with a First degree
going for a diploma will be denied except such applicant is able to convince the VO of his/her rationale
for choosing the diploma programme. Another reason why the above could be ticked is when your
intended programme of study is not at all related to your background (academic/professional). Length
of proposed stay may imply that the VO isn't convinced you need that much time away from your home
country in pursuit of a degree or that you can obtain the needed experience in the time frame quoted.
(keyword: convinced It is very likely that two different VOs might see things differently i.e where one VO
feels your current job as a junior business analyst is unrelated to your chosen course of study in
International Business [got this from an applicant's GCMS notes], another VO reviewing the same
application may feel otherwise. All one can do is to convince as much as possible and hope/pray one's
VO is eventually convinced)(This part is speculative and not a fact. Further input is needed from other
members of the house)
Solution:
Ensure that you carefully select a programme which ties into your work or academic background or
both. Go for a programme which is considered a step higher than your current degree. If you have been
denied on these counts and you feel it was an oversight, justify your reasons for choosing the
programme in an SOP. If you have to go for a lesser programme, give genuine reasons why. All you need
to do is present your side of the story and hope for the best. VO's are human.

3. Current employment situation and personal assets/financial status:

This applies mostly to applicants who have been working, are mature, unemployed, or have an
unexplained study (or activity) gap.
Solution:
If you have been working and you neglected to prove this to the VO in a prior application, kindly address
this by adding relevant employment documents in your next application eg. letter of introduction from
work, employment letter, pay slips, pension statement, tax payment proof, etc.
Please apply as befit your circumstance(s). There is no use adding a document that will have a VO
confused. For example, an applicant who is an unpaid intern adding pay slips is contradictory and may
backfire on his/her application. Only use documents that tell your story not just imitate someone's
application.
If you have a study/work/activity gap, you definitely need a well-worded SOP (and documents to back
your story if available, these could be pictures, papers, letters etc.). Show the VO you have not been idle
by demonstrating what you have been doing. Any activity which is deemed developmental (paid or
unpaid) can come into play here whether it's in your church, mosque, community etc.
For personal asset/financial status (mostly for mature and employed applicants), boost your account
and show what assets you have in your next attempt. Fixed deposits, property, inheritance, vehicle etc.,
can come into play here. Basically, anything that can serve as an home-tie. Particularly, if you're
unmarried, without kids, and of marriageable age, you need to provide extra solid evidence(s) of home-
ties. Work on presenting evidence of deep family roots in your home country. You will be surprised but
showing you have personal property, fixed assets, stock etc still fail to convince some VOs and may still
result in denial on these grounds of personal assets.

INSUFFICIENT FUNDS....FOR STUDIES AND PERSONAL EXPENSES

In this case, the VO believes you have not shown proof that you have enough money to support yourself
while studying in Canada. This happens to just about any applicant even those with more than sufficient
sums in the account used. Here are some reasons why this section is ticked;
The VO isn't convinced your sponsor will actually sponsor you
The VO distrusts the account presented (This could be due to money lodgement: a situation where huge
sums of money is deposited into an erstwhile inactive account within a short period before visa
application or s/he (VO) believes the account presented is not genuine)
The amount quoted in your 'funds available section' is contradictory to the amount sponsor has declared
for you
Sponsor did not declare any amount for you or state why s/he is sponsoring you (peculiar to applicants
using relatives, extended family, family friends, uncles, aunts, non-relatives etc.
The amount in the account is actually low
(these are the ones I can recall at the moment. House gurus should please add any I have omitted)
Solution:
Fill your forms carefully and accurately especially the funds available section. Do your conversions and
detail everything correctly. Ensure your sponsor declares how much will be available to you for studies,
living expenses, accommodation etc. yearly or for the duration of your studies. Let sponsor's declaration
be in tandem with what you fill as funds available. If you have 2,000cad and sponsor has 60,000cad,
your total funds available should be 62,000cad. Ensure your sponsor (if non-relative or distant relative)
does not declare everything in his/her account for you without a justifiable reason. If your sponsor
(parent in this case) has to declare everything in his/her account, it's better the sponsor isn't retired or
having enormous responsibilities (in this context, it means you having many younger siblings) or the
sponsor has an active and provable source of income.
Ensure you provide clear and genuine documents (statement of account especially). If
applicable/available, add a bank recommendation letter.
For a re-application, pay tuition if applicable as some schools don't accept full payment of any kind until
school commences (a term at least) and show evidence of payment. Boost the account overtime (if the
account was low in previous attempt) until it's sufficient or more than sufficient.