Things You Absolutely Need To Know When Applying For Canadian Immigration

by Alex Teo

Is every immigration applicant interviewed by the Canadian Authorities? No, all immigration candidates to Canada are not systematically interviewed. Canadian Immigration authorities can decide to waive the interview for an applicant who can prove without a doubt his credentials. This may include waiving interviews for professionals with a good track record, easily verifiable references and solid academic Some Canadian Immigration Lawyers have been successful in removing the need for the interview for their clients. However, if the candidates application is a bit uncertain or his qualifications are in doubt, there will most likely be interviewed at a visa post. Business applicants are often interviewed, because Canadian visa officers must determine their experience in running and managing a business, net worth, source of funds, and ability to meet conditions imposed on Entrepreneurs and Investors.

Why should you work with an immigration attorney? In principle the immigration process to Canada should allow each individual to do their file on their own. In real life, the immigration laws and the process is quite complex so working with real professionals will definitely help you avoid unnecessary delays and costly mistakes. Some lawyers are even able, due to their experience, make you avoid the interview all together if they prepare your file well. Do not trust all the “fly by night” guaranteeing your quick residency, as only the visa officer can make the decision.

Who makes decisions concerning my application for immigration to Canada? All the decisions regarding a candidates immigration file are made by visa Officers in Canadian Consulates, Embassies and High Commissions abroad. Each application is evaluated in accordance with its category. For skilled Workers, a point system is used. This system considers a variety of factors; Entrepreneurs, Investors are assessed in light of their business experience and net worth; self-employed applicants must demonstrate a potential contribution to the artistic, cultural, or scientific life of Canada; and family class applicants receive priority over other applicants in the processing of their applications.

Where are the immigration files processed? It depends on what country you are applying from. You need to check which Canadian Embassy or Consulate has jurisdiction over your region of the world. The candidate for immigration to Canada will need to apply either from this country of origin or the country in which he would have been lawfully been accepted as a resident. If you have a visitor’s visa to Canada that is valid you could even try to apply from within Canada during your next visit.

How soon can I have my immigration file processed? There is no easy way to say for sure how long before you can get processed with your immigration file. We know from experience that in some parts of the world the process for skilled workers can take up to 2 years while normal processing times for Entrepreneurs and Investors will take up to 9 months. It depends on the current pipeline of the different Canadian foreign offices where the files will be processed. Make sure your file is completely in order when you apply in order to avoid having to redo the whole process.

Will my medical status create a problem for the immigration process to Canada? The general idea behind medical status for immigration purposes is that every new comer to Canada should not impose an unfair burden onto the public health care system. For example, people suffering from chronic illness or contagious diseases will be considered as being a burden for the Canadian health care system and will not be granted their permanent residency. It’s better, if you are aware of those conditions not to apply for the permanent residency and avoid wasting the application fee.

Will a criminal conviction be an issue in my immigration to Canada? Definitely. If you have been criminally convicted in your past, it will be pose a serious problem during the evaluation of your file. The law indicates that people who have been convicted are inadmissible to enter Canada. Also different factors do apply such as the nature of the offense and the sentence. Before you are granted access to land into Canada you will need to provide all the necessary police documents proving that you do not have a criminal record in your country of origin or country of residence.

Am I obligated to move to Canada right away? No. After your entry visa is granted you can wait up to one year before doing your landing. Your medical exam results will be valid up to a year so you can enter Canada at any point during this period. If you wish you can even do your landing into Canada and go back to your origin country to finish what you were doing ( work, studies). The only thing you need to take into consideration is the minimum days you need to stay in Canada every year in order to maintain you permanent residency status.