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| Frequently asked questions |
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The following questions are answered on other pages in this site:
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These questions are answered on this page
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| Do I have to be fluent in English or French? |
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Fluency in English or French is highly recommended. The Government places emphasis on the applicant's fluency in English and French, and a person fluent in both languages will receive the maximum number of language points. An individual with no fluency in either language will receive no points, which may place that application in jeopardy. The point system indicates that a maximum of 24 points can be obtained for English and French fluency. Varying points for a lack of fluency in either speaking, writing, or reading will decrease the total number of points.
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| Do I have to secure a job before coming to Canada? |
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In short, the answer to this question is "no", although under the point system there is an additional 15 points granted for "arranged employment". It is possible to achieve the total points required for immigration without having arranged employment. The backbone of immigration policy dictates that if a person has qualified under the point system for one of the over 800 jobs listed as being in demand in Canada, the possibility of establishing successfully will be very good. Any arranged employment to obtain an extra 15 points must be done with the cooperation of Service Canada (formerly Human Resources Development Canada). The confirmation for such employment can only take place after it has been shown that there are no other Canadians available to fulfill such a job opportunity.
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| What documents do I need to assemble for my application? |
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The documents required for your application depend upon the category under which you apply. Generally speaking, for a skilled worker application or a business application the documents which are required include:
- Identity and marriage documents
- Birth certificate
- Travel/passport documents
- Letters of reference
- Bank statements
- Police certificates
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| If I have a criminal record, will my entry to Canada be barred? |
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A criminal record of the principal applicant or dependent can present serious problems in any application for entry to Canada whether on a work permit or for permanent residence. Whether such a record will present a permanent bar or be overlooked depends upon the type of conviction, the date of conviction, and whether adequate rehabilitation has taken place both in the form of active programmes or elapsing of time.
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| What if I have a serious illness? |
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Each individual prior to immigrating to Canada, even having successfully obtained 67 points, will be required to undergo an extensive medical examination. The examination is conducted by government approved doctors who are located throughout various cities through the world. If medical condition is a concern, it is best to review it with our firm prior to making any application to immigrate.
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| How much money do I need to have before immigrating? |
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Although there is no said amount established by the Canadian government with respect to money required for the interim period after landing, it is recommended that individuals have a minimum of CDN$20,000 to manage maintenance for themselves and their dependents during the interim period prior to finding and locating a job. In many cases individuals who immigrate will have much more than that. However, it is best to have clear records both by way of bank statements and by valuations of real property to show net worth in order to convince the immigration officer that you will not be required to seek public assistance once having landed in Canada.
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| Do I have to go to an interview? And if so, where and with whom? |
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Once the paper screening of the application has been concluded and sufficient points for immigration are apparent, the next step is usually an interview before an immigration officer. An appointment for an interview can take upwards to two to twelve months, depending upon the visa office.
In most cases, an interview will be required with the principal applicant and all dependents over the age of 18 years. This will require the applicant and accompanying dependents to travel to the visa office at which the application was submitted.
A good point to note that if the application is submitted at a visa office in a country other than the one in which you reside, then it is imperative that you and your dependents have no difficulty in obtaining a visa to travel to that country for your interview. Although it may seem efficient to submit the application in the country of your residence, there are many reasons to choose posts which are other than the one available in your own country.
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| Where should I apply? |
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Generally you are required to apply in the country of your habitual residency or citizenship or if you are living in another country, if you have been in that country validly for one year. As well, the choice of visa office is also determined by the type of application which is submitted, whether it is a skilled worker or economic class application. The choice of the visa office to which you wish to submit your application is best done by consulting with our firm with regards to the latest immigration news concerning application procedures.
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| What if I only want to work in Canada and not live there permanently? |
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The Immigration Act and Regulation allows the entry of temporary workers into Canada with or without confirmations, or with simple work permits. Currently there are certain occupations within Canada that are in extremely high demand and which require a simple permit without confirmation that there are no other Canadians available for the job. The particular channels under which you can apply for entry into Canada are many and can only be decided upon after a full review of your own skills and the opportunities which are available in Canada.
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| Can my elderly parents come with me? |
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Generally the answer to such a question is "no", unless there are very extenuating circumstances. The normal course for applying for the entry of parents or grandparents is under the family sponsorship route which requires a proof of relationship and meeting the LICO (Low Income Cut Off) standards of income.
This basically means that in order to sponsor your relatives you must show to Immigration Canada that you have, according to the income tables, sufficient income to support a family group of a certain number, depending on the city in which you live in Canada. These LICO figures are adhered to very closely by the immigration officers when assessing whether you will be able to sponsor any family relatives.
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| Do I have to go to a certain region within Canada to settle? |
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No. Canada does not have a policy of insisting that you move to a certain region within Canada to seek opportunities for which you have qualified.
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| Can I apply for permanent residence within Canada? |
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Generally, all applications for permanent residence must be made from outside Canada and applications must be submitted to a visa office outside of Canada. In certain limiting situations, such as marriages taking place within Canada, by visitors, or on special extenuating humanitarian compassionate grounds, Immigration Canada will entertain the receipt of permanent residence applications from within the country.
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| Does it help my application if I have a relative in Canada? |
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If one has a mother, father, son, daughter, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, grandfather or grandmother in Canada, the point system provides an additional five points under the selection process.
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| What if I can't get answers from the government? |
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If Immigration Canada has not responded to your letters and you find it impossible to make contact by telephone, our firm will assist you immediately by obtaining a full copy of your file together with all computer notes which are pertinent to your file.
Often, such a full disclosure of the file will reveal the status of your application with Immigration Canada, why delays are taking place and the points of concern. We have established methods by which we can obtain all such information from Immigration Canada within 30 to 45 days. Please contact us immediately in order to determine why your file is not being processed or the reason for the delay.
We can provide an immediate telephone consultation. [ details ]
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