The Canadian Parliament In Ottawa

Welcome to my new series, “How to immigrate to Canada“!

I recently received quite a lot of emails, asking me questions about the immigration process. So I decided to explain the whole process in 10 posts, which will be published every Saturday.

I also encourage you to ask any question you may have. I’m not an immigration consultant, but from experience, I may be able to point you to the right direction!

In the series, we will see the different options you have to come to Canada, as well as your rights and duties as a Permanent Resident, what happens after you arrive etc.

To end this series, I’d like to provide a list of useful links.

Official websites:

• Citizenship & Immigration Canada: this is the official website of the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration, and the place to learn more about the immigration categories, download your applications etc.
• Immigration Quebec: and this is the official website of the province of Quebec for immigration information.
• Going to Canada: this is another government website to help you plan a temporary visit to Canada. It also gives you great info about immigrating to Canada.
• Welcome to Canada: what you should know. This is a very informative series on the CIC website. It covers housing, health care, the tax system, looking for a job etc.

Personal websites

• Los Zieglers in Canada: this Argentinian family, based in Ottawa, is a well of information for Canadian life, news, culture etc. Aquí se habla español… pero se puede comentar en Inglés!
• How To Live In Canada: the author, Gean, is from Brazil and blogs about all things Canadian, from an immigrant’s perspective. The blog is in English (thanks God, my Portuguese sucks!).
• A Canada Immigrant’s Blog: written by a permanent resident in Toronto, it deals with all things Canadian.

General websites about immigration to Canada

• The British Expat Wiki: this Wiki aims at British Expats, but its articles on Canada are quite informative and can benefit every prospective immigrant. It covers education, how to find a job, etiquette in Canada, challenges immigrants may face etc.

Immigration forums

Just a word of advice for forums: immigration forums can be incredibly frustrating. First of all, there are usually more questions than answers. Second, you may get a lot of unwanted emails or private mails if you are shown to be already a permanent resident or a Canadian. And yes, in this case, some people will ask you to marry them to help them immigrate to Canada. Just ignore them…

• Settlement.org: this website is for people who will settle in Ontario. It has great info about immigration but also about local issues, such as housing and the health care system. The forum is busy enough.
• Canada Immigration Forum: this is an immigration lawyer’s forum. The forum is quite busy, with a lot of categories.

More websites about Canada

• Moving Here, Staying Here: a virtual exhibition on immigration to Canada from the early 19th century to the Second World War.
• Canadian Info Collection: this old style website has great information about Canadian culture, history etc.
• Patriotism Canada: has a similar collection of Canadian facts, humour and articles.
• The Toque: Canadian humour.

If you want to suggest other useful links, use the comment form below!

This is the last and 10^th post of the How To…Immigrate To Canada series. Hope you found it useful!

A new series will start soon.

Related articles:

1. The Two Immigration Myths (1/10)
2. How to Avoid… Immigration Fraud
3. 5 Immigration Mistakes To Avoid

The Canadian Parliament In Ottawa

Welcome to my new series, “How to immigrate to Canada“!

I recently received quite a lot of emails, asking me questions about the immigration process. So I decided to explain the whole process in 10 posts, which will be published every Saturday.

I also encourage you to ask any question you may have. I’m not an immigration consultant, but from experience, I may be able to point you to the right direction!

In the series, we will see the different options you have to come to Canada, as well as your rights and duties as a Permanent Resident, what happens after you arrive etc.

After you become a landed immigrant, you must apply for three very important pieces of IDs: a permanent resident card, a SIN card and a health card.

The Permanent Resident Card

This card will be the easiest to obtain, because you don’t need to apply for it! Once you become a landed immigrant, the officer at the entry point will ask you for an address and you will receive the card automatically, free of charge. And that’s it!

The Permanent Residence card is the proof of your status in Canada. It expires every five year.

You SIN Card

A Social Insurance Number (SIN) is a 9 digit number issued by the Canadian government that you need to work in Canada. It is very important that you apply for your Social Insurance Number card as soon as you can.

You may apply for a SIN card at any Service Canada center. Permanent Residents in Canada will need:

• The Permanent Resident Card issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada, or
• The Confirmation of Permanent Residence and visa counterfoil affixed to your passport

You will receive a SIN number right away if you apply in person. You will then receive the card by mail within ten days.

You may also apply by mail, by downloading the application form and sending the supporting documents. It will take about 15 business days.

There is no fee to apply for a SIN number and to get a first SIN card.

Be aware that identity thief is a serious problem, so take care of your SIN number. Only provide you SIN number when it is legally required, for example, by your employer, financial institutions and tax services. You do not have to give your SIN number to complete a job application, or to apply for credit cards. See “who can ask for my SIN and when don’t I have to provide my SIN number?“.

The Health Card

Health Cards are issued by the provincial or territorial government and allow access to insured health care services. Each province or territory manages its own health system, so if you live in Ontario, you must deal with Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, if you live in Manitoba you will deal with Manitoba Health etc. To find out which ministry you need to deal with, check out the list here.

Because this is a provincial matter, regulations and requirement vary. Generally speaking, as a permanent resident, you are entitled to a range of health care services paid for by your provincial health ministry. Typically hospitalizations, surgeries, visits to your general practitioner, emergency visits etc. are covered, which means that you just have to show your health card when using the services, and that you will not pay. Services which are not generally covered are eye exams, dentistry and cosmetic surgery. If you wish to be covered for additional services, you may buy private health insurance.

Everyone must have their own health cards, including babies.

Note that you may not be eligible for health care right after you arrive. Some provinces require a waiting period, during which you will not be covered. For example, in Ontario, coverage normally becomes effective three months after the date you establish residency in the province. New and returning residents are encouraged to purchase private health insurance in case you become ill during the waiting period.

In order to maintain your insurance coverage, most provinces require that you make your primary residence in that province and that you meet physical presence requirements.

These are the most important IDs you should apply for when arriving in Canada. You will need them to work, prove your status, prove that you are entitled to benefits etc. So take a moment to do the paperwork!

Related articles:

1. Newcomers’ First Steps In Canada
2. Arriving In Canada With The Permanent Residence (7/10)
3. I Belong Here… And There Too

The Canadian Parliament In Ottawa

Welcome to my new series, “How to immigrate to Canada“!

I recently received quite a lot of emails, asking me questions about the immigration process. So I decided to explain the whole process in 10 posts, which will be published every Saturday.

I also encourage you to ask any question you may have. I’m not an immigration consultant, but from experience, I may be able to point you to the right direction!

In the series, we will see the different options you have to come to Canada, as well as your rights and duties as a Permanent Resident, what happens after you arrive etc.

Here are the answers to the ten most common immigration questions.

I hate living in my country, I’m desperate to come to Canada

I often receive emails that basically explain that. This is a tough one: as much as I can sympathize with someone living in a country at war, or with a lot of economic problems, there is no perfect answer.

Canada does welcome refugees. However, the situation has to be pretty severe in your home country: the applicant must “have been, and continue to be, seriously and personally affected by civil war or armed conflict, or have suffered massive violations of human rights“. This is not always easy to prove…

If you don’t fit in the refugee category, you may apply in one of the many immigration categories.

I don’t have enough point to immigrate through the skilled worker category

In order to immigrate in the skilled worker category, you must meet the minimum pass mark. You can use the free eligibility tools to see if your application would be eligible to be processed. For those who plan to settle in Quebec, take the test here, for those who plan to settle anywhere else, it’s this test.

If you don’t pass the test, it’s not the end of the world! Don’t send your application, because it won’t be processed. Instead, take some time to see if you can improve your chances of being selected.

The selections factors (education, language abilities, experience, age, arranged employment and adaptability) can usually be improved. Focus on taking some French or English classes, improve your work experience or take a trip to Canada. These can help you get more points! And don’t worry too much about finding a job in Canada before immigrating. This is every immigrants’ dream but it is notoriously difficult and CIC knows it… this is probably why you only get a maximum of ten points for it!

Am I too old to immigrate?

This is a touchy question. To immigrate in the skilled worker category, you get the most points between 21 and 49 years old. This is because Canada needs immigrants who will work, pay taxes, have children… and won’t retire too early. Studies probably showed as well that younger immigrants are more adaptable overall.

Cynical? Not really. Immigration meets a need after all.

If you are over 50, it’s not the end of the world. Some people managed to obtain the permanent residence, albeit with a lot of motivation and a strong plan. It is your job to show that you want to live in Canada, and that you are aware of the problems you may face.

What’s the best way to immigrate in Canada fast?

In short, in you are in a hurry to leave your country for whatever reason, don’t apply for permanent residence. No matter how loud you complain, processing your application will take a while: 6 to 12 months if you are lucky, much longer if you are not. This is just the way it is!

Take a second and think of it: Canada must evaluate whether you fit in the category you applied in, check your background, your medical results etc. in order to grant you the right to live in Canada. This is quite a responsibility!

There are some basic advices to make you your application gets processed as fast as it can, and to avoid any delays. But that is the best you can do!

On a side note, stay clear of any organization that promises a faster process. Nobody has this power.

Is it faster if I immigrate to Quebec?

This is a strong myth among the francophones. Because Quebec is French, a lot of applicants think it can be much faster to go through the Quebec process (which is a slightly different one).

However, be aware that immigrating through Quebec adds an additional step: the CSQ (Certificat de Sélection du Québec). Besides, waiting times are also long for Quebec now… so no, it’s not really faster.

Make your life easier. If you plan to settle in Quebec, apply through Quebec. If you plan to settle anywhere in Canada, don’t bother applying through Quebec and go through the regular process.

If I marry a Canadian citizen, will I be Canadian automatically?

The stronger myth ever…! In short: no, absolutely not. This is a common immigration myth.

First of all, to be eligible to become a Canadian citizen, you must have been a permanent resident first. There are some exceptions, like if you are adopted — but I don’t think this is the most common case!

Second, to be married to a Canadian citizen does not give you the right to come to Canada, much less live, work or study there. You may however be eligible to be sponsored by your spouse (the sponsorship category).

I was told to come for an interview, what it is about?

It is fairly common to be required to meet with a Citizenship and Immigration Canada Officer.

During the interview, the officer will typically check your credentials, test your language abilities and evaluate your chances to establish yourself successfully in Canada. This may be a chance for you to present a strong immigration project, as the officer may possess wide discretionary authority to accept you even if you lack a few points to qualify.

If you applied in the family class (i.e. you are sponsored by a spouse), the officer will focus on evaluating whether the union is genuine or is a marriage or convenience. Questions will be asked about your relationship with your spouse: where did you meet, how did the relationship develop etc.

In any case, make sure you prepare your interview because this could be your chance to be accepted!

How do I apply for citizenship?

To apply for citizenship, you must first be a permanent resident. You are eligible after three years of permanent residence, and 1095 days of physical presence in Canada.

Applying for citizenship is relatively easy compared to applying for permanent residence. However, it involved a little bit of paperwork, a test and a sometimes long processing time!

My application was refused, what do I do now?

If your application is refused, you will be given a reason, such as not enough points because of lack of work experience, work experience not on the Canadian National Occupational Classification, lack of language skills etc. Basically, they give you something to work on, in most cases.

Being refused for security reason or because of a health problem is a much more complex problem, for which you may need specific help.

In the spouse category, the main reason for which applicants are refused is if the immigration officer believes the relationship is not genuine.

If you believe the decision was unfair, in most case, you can appeal the decision at the Immigration Appeal Division. Otherwise, you may improve your chance of being selected (such as getting more work experience) and re-apply for permanent residence.

Will my life be better in Canada?

Don’t we all hope!

Experiences vary greatly. Some immigrants embrace their new life, some have more trouble adapting. Even though everybody can have the occasional frustrating experience, generally speaking, prospective immigrants should do a lot of research before they apply for permanent residence to avoid disappointment.

Typical complaints involve not being able to work in the applicant’s field of choice (medicine, accounting, law are tricky because your experience in your home country may not be recognized), difficulty finding a job, problems adapting… A lot of these problems could be avoided by doing researches beforehand. So, be curious before deciding to come to Canada!

Related articles:

1. Useful Links For Immigration (10/10)
2. The Two Immigration Myths (1/10)
3. Immigration: The Sponsorship Category (3/10)

The Canadian Parliament In Ottawa

Welcome to my new series, “How to immigrate to Canada“!

I recently received quite a lot of emails, asking me questions about the immigration process. So I decided to explain the whole process in 10 posts, which will be published every Saturday.

I also encourage you to ask any question you may have. I’m not an immigration consultant, but from experience, I may be able to point you to the right direction!

In the series, we will see the different options you have to come to Canada, as well as your rights and duties as a Permanent Resident, what happens after you arrive etc.

So, you received the great news: “decision made”, you have just obtained the permanent residence in Canada! What’s next now?

Before you arrive

If your permanent resident application is approved, you will be asked to submit your passport to the Canadian visa office where you applied in order to receive your permanent resident visa.

You will get two important documents:

• The confirmation of permanent residence (with identification information, photograph…)
• An entry visa

The confirmation of permanent residence has an expiry date by which you must arrive in Canada. This doesn’t mean you have to settle in Canada by that date, but it does mean you must travel to Canada and become a landed immigrant before the confirmation of permanent residence expiry date. After that, you may come back to your home country and prepare your actual arrival if you wish.

You must have your Confirmation of Permanent Residence and your visa with you when you arrive in Canada.

When landing in Canada

When you arrive in Canada with the permanent residence, you become a landed immigrant. This is a very important step.

Note that there are two cases here:

• If you received your permanent residence abroad: no problem here, most people will fly to Canada and land in an airport. The busiest the airport, the more likely it is that officers will be familiar with immigration papers, that there will be interpreters available if needed etc. In the East, Montreal and Toronto are good choices.
• If you received your permanent residence while you were already in Canada: this is a bit weird, but you have to exit Canada and re-enter (even if it’s five minutes later!) in order to become a landed immigrant. The French have an expression for it: “faire le tour du poteau” (to go around the flagpole). Most people will go to the U.S.A and re-enter Canada immediately walking or driving (or biking apparently in the case of Priyank, the author of Final Transit!). Officers on both sides of the border are used to it and you shouldn’t have any problem. I did it in 2005 to become a landed immigrant (The Prescott Shuffle Story).

Whether your arrive by air or by land, you will first meet an officer from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).

The officer will ask to see:

• Your passport
• Your valid permanent resident visa
• Your confirmation of permanent residence
• If you immigrate through a category that requires you to prove that you have sufficient funds to support yourself (for example, the skilled worker category), the officer will need to see the supporting documents, such as a recent bank statement.

There are a few routines questions to establish your identity and to make sure you gave correct information that match your application, but this usually only take a few minutes. Make sure you have all your documents with you and everything will be fine!

Be aware that you will be asked to declare items you bring in Canada. Take a moment to check out what you can and cannot bring in Canada, and what you must declare. You may want to check “How to I bring my belongings with me?” as well.

After that, the officer will authorize you to enter Canada as a permanent resident. He will also confirm your Canadian mailing address. Your permanent resident card will be mailed to you at this address.

The permanent resident card

A permanent resident card is a small wallet-sized card and a very valuable document, which allows you to prove your status in Canada or when traveling in and out of the country.

Permanent resident’s cards are not issued on the spot when you arrive in Canada. They are mailed to your Canadian address within a few weeks. If you do not have a Canadian address at the time when you land in Canada, you must supply one to CIC within 180 days (plenty of time!). There is not fee for the permanent resident card applied for at the time of the landing process. It usually takes about 30 days to receive the permanent card after you land in Canada, but it varies (you can check the current processing time here).

The permanent residence card is normally issued for 5 years. It can be renewed if you wish to remain a permanent resident, or you may not need it anymore if you apply for Canadian citizenship after three years of residency!

…And then what?

After landing in Canada, some people decide to go back to their home country for a little while to finalize their move and settle their affairs. Some have houses to sell, some have to finish their work etc. This is perfectly acceptable. Once you become a landed immigrant, you are free to travel in and out of Canada!

However, if you leave Canada before you receive your permanent resident card, you may need to apply for a single-use permanent resident travel document to return to Canada. If you hold a passport from a country that does not need a visitor visa to come to Canada (such as with an American or a U.E passport), you should be able to enter Canada without your permanent resident card. See the list of countries which require visa to visit Canada or read the article I need to leave Canada but I do not have my PR card yet for more information.

Be aware that to keep your status as a permanent resident in Canada, you must meet the residency requirement. This means that you must live in Canada for at least two years within a five-year period. If you don’t, your will lose your permanent residence status (and yes, it does happen a lot).

If you stay in Canada right away after becoming a landed immigrant, you can start applying for Canadian IDs (such as your SIN card), looking for a job, a place to live etc.

About being a permanent residence

As a permanent resident in Canada, you have both responsibilities. You can:

• Live, work or study anywhere in Canada
• Receive most social benefits that Canadian citizens receive, such as health coverage
• Be protected under Canadian law and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Your responsibilities include paying taxes and respecting Canadian laws.

Note that as permanent resident, you cannot vote or hold certain jobs that have a high security clearance.

You may lose your permanent status if you don’t meet the residency requirements or if you are convicted of a serious crime.

After three years in Canada as a permanent resident, you may choose to apply for Canadian citizenship if you meet the requirements.

Related articles:

1. First Steps As A Permanent Resident (9/10)
2. Citizenship Ceremony In Ottawa
3. Newcomers’ First Steps In Canada

The Canadian Parliament In Ottawa

Welcome to my new series, “How to immigrate to Canada“!

I recently received quite a lot of emails, asking me questions about the immigration process. So I decided to explain the whole process in 10 posts, which will be published every Saturday.

I also encourage you to ask any question you may have. I’m not an immigration consultant, but from experience, I may be able to point you to the right direction!

In the series, we will see the different options you have to come to Canada, as well as your rights and duties as a Permanent Resident, what happens after you arrive etc.

Applicants main concern is often on how long the whole process takes. Unfortunately, there is no rule and no one can know for sure. However, there are some tricks to make sure your application is processed as fast as it can be!

How long does the immigration process take… roughly?

• Most permanent resident applications, no matter in which category you apply, take from 6 to 12 months to be processed.
• That said, some applications are processed much faster… I was one of the lucky applicants, I received the permanent resident in only 4 months!
• On the other side, some applicants will wait for a few years.

Citizenship and Immigration provides tables indicating how many months were necessary to approve or refuse application at various visa offices around the world. You can check the processing time for application in Canada, outside Canada, and by categories, such as the skilled worker category or the family class category.

So, what’s taking so long?

Approving or refusing a permanent residence application is a long process. Immigration agents must check all documents and make a life-changing decision!

But many other factors affect the average application processing time:

How busy the local visa office is: some regions of the world receive more applications. For example, visa offices in Africa and the Middle East currently have the longest processing time for skilled worker applications. Not every country has a Canadian visa office and as a result, a central visa office may be responsible for several countries or region. For example, the Paris visa office is responsible for immigration applications for Algeria, Belgium, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and Tunisia! Same goes for the London office which is responsible for Denmark, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Yemen…!

The difficulty of the security check: there is a mandatory security check on all permanent resident applicants to prevent individuals who pose a risk to Canada’s security from entering the country. Its duration can be affected by such factors as military service, foreign trips, membership in political organizations etc. Some foreign countries cooperate better with Canada than others and sometimes, background checks can be quite difficult to conduct.

What you can do to ensure your application is processed as fast as it can be

• Fill up your application properly: it sounds obvious, but a lot of people think “oh, I’m not sure what to say here… they will figure it out”. No, “they” won’t. Your application will be sent back and your will waste time. It may take you a week or two months to complete your application, but do it seriously. It pays out.
• Send all the documents required: it should go without saying. If for some reason, you really can’t provide a document, send a letter explaining why. I did that for our marriage certificate, after learning it would take as long as 6 months to receive it. I send my application and explained why I would send the certificate later and it was no problem.
• Inform your local office or any change: if you move, don’t forget to inform your visa office! Some application take years to be processed and applicants’ lives can change a lot meanwhile: some get married, some have kids. Inform your visa office fast because they will know anyway.
• Choose your immigration category wisely: do the online test to make sure you have enough points to apply in the skilled worker category. If you apply in the sponsorship category, make sure you have enough proof that the relationship is genuine. Basically, make your choice obvious, clear and back it up by sending all the supporting documents needed.
• If you can, choose your visa office: as I mentioned above, some visa offices are much busier than others. If you apply outside Canada, unfortunately, you must apply in the country you live in. But if you are already in Canada, you may apply from within Canada, or from outside Canada. I had the choice for example between applying in Buffalo NY or in Paris. At the time, Buffalo was extremely busy and I was advised to apply in Paris, which paid off since my application was processed really fast!
• Only contact your visa office when you are past the average processing time: whenever CIC communicates with you, it always indicates the average length of a step (for example 3 to 6 months, 5 to 7 months etc.). If you are past the average processing time, you are welcome to contact them. I personally did it twice, once in person at the Canadian embassy in Paris (for my permanent residence application) and once on the phone (for my citizenship application). Both times, my application status was checked and I received news shortly after. On the other side, don’t contact visa office and complain if you are not past the this average processing time: it’s a waste of immigration officers’ time and you won’t get any special treatment, no matter how loud you complain.

Two myths…

Immigrating through Quebec is faster: as I explained in If You Immigrate to Quebec, the process to settle in the province is slightly different. A lot of French-speakers think it is always faster and easier to go through Quebec. The truth is, it really depends. Going through Quebec means an additional step (the CSQ) and there are backlogs. It all depends on when you apply and your personal situation, but it is not necessarily faster, especially that now, immigrating to Quebec is quite popular.

Immigration consultants can speed up my application: no, they can’t. A good and honest immigration representative will always tell you that they cannot speed up the process, so be very careful with those who claim they can. The only thing they can do is make sure your application is filled up properly, that no documents are missing… etc. Basically, things you can do by yourself.

Good luck!

Related articles:

1. 5 Reasons Your Visa Officer Hates You
2. Immigration: The Skilled Worker Category (2/10)
3. Immigration: The Sponsorship Category (3/10)

The Canadian Parliament In Ottawa

Welcome to my new series, “How to immigrate to Canada“!

I recently received quite a lot of emails, asking me questions about the immigration process. So I decided to explain the whole process in 10 posts, which will be published every Saturday.

I also encourage you to ask any question you may have. I’m not an immigration consultant, but from experience, I may be able to point you to the right direction!

In the series, we will see the different options you have to come to Canada, as well as your rights and duties as a Permanent Resident, what happens after you arrive etc.

Are you eligible to immigrate to Canada? Are you filling up the paperwork? Awesome! But wait… do you have enough money?

Sure, you thought of the processing fees. But did you realize there were also a lot of fees associated with immigrating to Canada? In this post, I’m going to try to sum up how much do you really need to pay to immigrate to Canada.

The processing fees

Depending on the category you applied in, you will be charged different fees:

• In the skilled worker category: it’s $550 for the principal applicant, $550 for the spouse, and $150 per children under 22 years old.
• In the sponsorship category: the sponsor application is $75, the person sponsored is charged $475.

Applicants who plan to settle in Quebec must apply for a Certificat de Selection du Quebec (CSQ). It costs $390 for the principal applicant, $150 for a spouse, and $150 for each child.

All landed immigrants in Canada must pay the right of permanent residence fee, which is $490 per person.

Citizenship and Immigration has a handy table to help you calculate your application fees.

Fees associated with the application

• If your documents (such a degrees, work documents etc.) are not in French or English, you must provide a translation of these documents. This has to be done by an authorized translator.
• You must include several photographs and the rules are quite specific (yes, Canadians are weird with passport pictures!). Depending where you live, it adds up. In Canada, it cost about $12 for two pics — not cheap if you immigrate as a family!
• You may need to have your foreign degrees recognized in Canada. This is called a credential evaluation, and it’s done by specific organization, such as World Education Services. A basic official evaluation cost about $115 and up.
• If you are from a country where nor English nor French is the official language, you will have to prove your language abilities. This is one of the 6 selection factors for skilled workers. The language proficiency test must given by an organization that is approved by Citizenship and Immigration, for example IELTS ($265) and CELPIP ($250) for English, or the TEF for French ($250). No cheap!
• A medical exam is compulsory for each applicant and their dependents (spouse, children) and must be made by a physician on Canada’s list of designated medical practitioners. Usually, you paid twice: once for the exam itself, and once for the X-rays that have to be taken. Fees vary by country, and even by geographic location within a country. Doctors’ fees vary, so shop around! I remember paying $100 for the medical exam and another $100 for the X-ray, in 2005, in Ottawa.

Don’t forget to consider miscellaneous fees!

• Traveling expenses: you may have to travel from your city to your local Canadian visa office (typically, in your home country’s capital, with some exceptions). Why would you need to travel? Well, if you need to be interviewed for your application. Sometimes, your city won’t have a designated medical practitioner, so may have to travel to another city for your medical exam.
• Passport application: a lot of people don’t realize they need a passport from their home country to immigrate to Canada. You have to apply for one before you start the immigration process, and chances are, it will cost something, although it varies by country.

Costs that can be avoided

An immigration consultant! As I explained in Two Immigration Myths, you normally do not need an immigration lawyer or an immigration consultant to help you immigrate to Canada.

Immigration representative typically charge from $1000 to $5000 (but the sky is the limit!) for an application. Save money, Google instead. I will give you a list of useful links at the end of this series, and these will all be free!

Don’t forget…

And don’t forget the settlement funds. If you apply in the skilled worker category, you will have to prove that you have enough funds to support yourself and your family for the first few months following your arrival in Canada. For one person, it’s roughly $10,000, and up to almost $23,000 for a family of five.

Related articles:

1. Immigrating to Canada: 6 Years Later, What Changed?
2. The Two Immigration Myths (1/10)
3. If You Immigrate To Quebec (4/10)

The Canadian Parliament In Ottawa

Welcome to my new series, “How to immigrate to Canada“!

I recently received quite a lot of emails, asking me questions about the immigration process. So I decided to explain the whole process in 10 posts, which will be published every Saturday.

I also encourage you to ask any question you may have. I’m not an immigration consultant, but from experience, I may be able to point you to the right direction!

In the series, we will see the different options you have to come to Canada, as well as your rights and duties as a Permanent Resident, what happens after you arrive etc.

In the last two articles, I reviewed the two most common ways to immigrate to Canada: through the skilled worker category, and through the sponsorship category. But what if you want to settle in Quebec? Things are a little bit different.

Quebec is a province of Canada. As such, it shares immigration laws with the federal government of Canada. However, the province signed an immigration accord with Canada. Quebec is responsible for selecting the workers wishing to settle in Quebec, to achieve certain immigration objectives. But the federal government of Canada is still responsible for admitting the immigrants.

So what does it mean for a prospective immigrant who wishes to settle in Quebec?

It means that when your permanent residence application will have to follow two major steps:

• Being selected by the provincial government of Quebec. Your educational and work backgrounds will be assessed, as well as your ability to integrate into Quebec. You will need to apply for and obtain a CSQ.
• Being accepted by the federal government of Canada. It is responsible for your medical examination and your security check. It will grant you permanent residence if you are successful.

If you apply in the skilled worker category and wish to settle in Quebec

The first thing you need to know is that Quebec is different than the other provinces. The most obvious difference is linguistic in nature: the official language in Quebec is French, not English and French. The population is 80% francophone, and even though they are some English communities, the importance given to French is huge.

The government of Quebec emphasizes the fact that the province has a very distinct culture. Indeed, you need to research the specific of Quebec before you consider settling there.

You may want to start with a general idea of Quebec’s core values. Don’t forget to research the job market: Canadian laws may be different in Quebec, where certain professions and trades are regulated, which means your credentials may not be recognized. Finally, get the facts about daily life in Quebec.

The importance of French cannot be stressed enough, as it is both a practical and a political issue. You may need to speak both French and English in some positions, but knowledge of French is almost a pre-requisite. Quebec also has language-laws requiring kids to attend school in French in most cases. Politically speaking, let’s just say it’s a touchy issue…

Like if you were settling in other provinces, you need to be selected as a skilled worker. There are also a certain number of criteria and a pass mark. You can evaluate your chances of being selected online for free, with the Preliminary Evaluation for Immigration.

The most important criteria are:

• Education
• Work experience, especially acquired training and occupational skills
• Knowledge of French, or willingness to learn the language. English is an asset.
• Age: ideally, the younger the better!
• Financial capacity: you must show that you can support yourself for the first few months following your arrival in Quebec
• Your immigration project

If you pass the preliminary test, you can prepare your application.

• Download the application for a CSQ, fill in all the paperwork and pay the fees.
• Your application will be reviewed and assessed by a Bureau du Quebec. An interview is sometime required. The interviewer will check your credentials (education, degrees, work experience…). He may test your knowledge of Quebec, your language skills and ask about your immigration project.
• You can check the processing time for a CSQ, it depends on the countries where the Bureau du Quebec is located.
• If your application is accepted, it will be forwarded to the federal government of Canada, which will assess your medical background and do the security check.

If you apply in the sponsorship category and wish to settle in Quebec

You will have to submit your sponsorship application to the federal government of Canada, as described in this article.

But, since you will settle in Quebec, you must add two extra steps.

• After the federal government approves the sponsorship, you must submit an undertaking application to the Ministère de l’Immigration et des Communautés culturelles. It is a contract that binds the sponsor with the person being sponsored and the provincial government of Québec. It establishes that the sponsor has sufficient financial resources to provide for the person you sponsor.
• Then, the person sponsored must obtain a CSQ.

How much does the CSQ cost?

For the principal applicant, it cost CA$390. For the spouse and each dependent child, it’s CA$150.

Note that if you immigrate as a family, each person must apply for a CSQ, regardless of if you will be working or not (i.e. even kids need their CSQ).

To the cost of the CSQ, you still have to add the cost of applying for permanent residence in Canada.

What if I wanted to settle in Quebec and changed my mind?

Whether you apply to live in Canada or in Quebec, the result is the same: you obtain, if successful, the permanence residence in Canada. Sure, the two processes are a little bit different, but your permanent resident card is the same.

Having the permanence residence in Canada gives you the right to live and work anywhere you like. Therefore, even if you apply for permanent residence in Quebec, no one can force you to stay there.

However, when applying for permanent residence in Quebec, you do declare that you wish to live in Quebec.

What if I applied for permanent residence in Canada and want to settle in Quebec?

Well, that is a bit more difficult… which is kind of weird actually. Permanent residents in Quebec can move wherever they want, but permanent residents in other provinces have to take several steps to live and work in Quebec, even though they have already immigrated.

You must submit an application for a CSQ (even if you are already a permanent resident in Canada) and pay the fees. Then, you will likely have to come back for an interview.

What if you applied for permanent residence in Canada but will land in Quebec?

In a word: don’t. Yes, it may be easier for you for whatever reason, but it’s a big pain.

If you land in Quebec but have proof on onward travel to another province (plane connexion, bus or train ticket), you are fine.

If you don’t, the immigration officials will very likely refuse to validate your landing documents. You will have to submit an application for a CSQ and pay the fees, and have an interview. If successful, you will have to have the documents validated… before that, your travel documents may be confiscated.

So basically, if you apply to live in Quebec, arrive in Quebec, if you apply to live in other provinces, arrive wherever you want but in Quebec.

Related articles:

1. How To Immigrate to Canada (1/10)
2. Useful Links For Immigration (10/10)
3. How Long Does The Immigration Process Take? (6/10)

The Canadian Parliament In Ottawa

Welcome to my new series, “How to immigrate to Canada“!

I recently received quite a lot of emails, asking me questions about the immigration process. So I decided to explain the whole process in 10 posts, which will be published every Saturday.

I also encourage you to ask any question you may have. I’m not an immigration consultant, but from experience, I may be able to point you to the right direction!

In the series, we will see the different options you have to come to Canada, as well as your rights and duties as a Permanent Resident, what happens after you arrive etc.

Canada is committed to reunite families. However, as I wrote in Two Immigration Myths, being married to or being in a relationship with a Canadian citizen does not give you the right to live and work in Canada. However, you may be eligible to apply for permanent residence in Canada thought the sponsorship category. Today, we will focus on spouse or partner’s sponsorship, but other relatives may also be eligible.

Who is eligible to sponsor?

• The sponsor must be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident in Canada, and be at least 18 years old.
• The sponsor must agree to provide financial support for the applicant. As a result, you may not be eligible to you receive government financial assistance for reasons other than a disability, declared bankruptcy and have not been released from it yet etc.

Who can be sponsored?

There are three categories:

• Spouse: you are legally married to your sponsor. Note that same-sex couple are recognized as long as the marriage is legal according to both the law of the place where the marriage occurred and under Canadian law.
• Common-law partner: you have been living together in a conjugal relationship for at least one year in a continuous 12-month period that was not interrupted.
• Conjugal partner: for partners (of the opposite sex or same sex) who, in exceptional circumstances, cannot live together nor can get legally married. For example, you are in a same-sex relationship and same-sex marriage is not permitted where you live. Or if you were refused long-term stays in each other’s country.

How does it work?

Unlike with the skilled worker category, you do not have to go through a point system. All you have to go is to convince Citizenship & Immigration that your relationship with a Canadian citizen or permanent resident is genuine.

Sounds easy? Not so fast!

Imagine that, by default, immigration officers suspect you to be in a relationship with a Canadian only to be able to immigrate to Canada. Now, you have to prove them wrong. Which means displaying your private life… at length.

First, you have to decide in which category to apply: spouse, common-law partners, or conjugal partners. In each category, you will have to prove the relationship is genuine. But let’s be realistic: immigration officials tend to trust spouses or common-law partners over conjugal partners, unless you have a really good reason to not be married or live together.

Then, you have to decide whether you are applying from within Canada, or from outside Canada. If you are already in Canada (on a tourist, a student, a work visa, or even if you lost your legal status), you may apply from within Canada or from outside Canada, it’s up to you. Both have good sides are bad sides:

• Applying from within Canada: you will remain in Canada for the length of the process and may be eligible for a work or study visa. On the other side, if you leave Canada during the immigration process, you may not be able to enter the country again. Besides, the process can be longer since most of the applications are processed in Buffalo (NY), a very busy office. Finally, if your application is turned down, you cannot appeal the decision.
• Applying from outside Canada: you may visit Canada while your application is being processed (usually in your country’s Canadian embassy), as long as you are accepted, but you will not be able to work. If your application is turned down, you may appeal the decision. It’s supposed to be faster.

How to apply

The first thing you need to do is to download the application from Citizenship & Immigration.

Fill in the paperwork. Don’t forget to add as many proofs that your relationship is genuine as you can. This could include:

• Providing marriage certificate (if applicable)
• Proofs that you are living together (joint bank accounts, joint lease receipts, bills and mails received at the same address, joint purchases…)
• Pictures (marriage pictures, pictures in a relaxed setting or for special occasions, pictures taken months apart…)
• Letters of family and friends acknowledging the relationship
• Travel documentation (boarding passes, hotel bookings, passport stamps…) showing travel together

The application provides relatively little space for explanations. Don’t hesitate to type on a separate sheet of paper for more details.

Once your application is complete, you must undergo a medical check-up. The appointment must be made with a Designated Medical Practitioner (list here). You won’t get the results of the medical exam as they will be forwarded directly to the visa office. However, you will get a call if there is a problem (nice, I know).

Then, you must pay the fees and join the receipt to your application. For one person, the total is $1040. The sponsor fee is $75, the applicant fee is $475 and the right of permanent residence fee is $490.

And that’s it! You may mail your application.

What happens next

• First, the case processing center will assess the sponsor eligibility. This is usually pretty quick and straightforward.
• Then, the spouse or partner’s application will be assessed. This is usually the longest step, because that’s when the genuineness of the relationship is studied.
• Is there is any doubt, the applicant will need to go for an interview with a CIC agent. Questions will be about the relationship with the sponsor, reasons for emigrating etc.
• Finally, there is a security check, and the medical results will be reviewed.
• Permanent resident is granted.

The most common reason to refuse a sponsorship application is the belief the relationship is not genuine. So be prepared and provide as many proofs of your relationship as you can.

Sponsoring someone is a serious responsibility and the process is quite draining, for both the applicant and the sponsor. My own advice: if your relationship is new, or if you don’t really know each other, think about it twice. Marriage fraud does exist, and CIC does not like to assess applications where both parts met on the web three months ago and have never seen each other!

Related articles:

1. Immigration: The Skilled Worker Category (2/10)
2. How Long Does The Immigration Process Take? (6/10)
3. 10 Common Immigration Questions (8/10)

The Canadian Parliament In Ottawa

Welcome to my new series, “How to immigrate to Canada“!

I recently received quite a lot of emails, asking me questions about the immigration process. So I decided to explain the whole process in 10 posts, which will be published every Saturday.

I also encourage you to ask any question you may have. I’m not an immigration consultant, but from experience, I may be able to point you to the right direction!

In the series, we will see the different options you have to come to Canada, as well as your rights and duties as a Permanent Resident, what happens after you arrive etc.

If you are considering immigration to Canada and do not know anybody there, chances are you will apply under the skilled worker category.

What is the skilled worker category?

Canada welcomes immigrants, but think of it as a win-win situation. You want to live in Canada — fine. But Canada wants you to integrate well in the country, to work, to pay taxes etc. So “skilled workers are selected as permanent residents based on […] criteria that have been shown to help them become economically established in Canada“.

Who is eligible as a skilled worker?

You can take the free test here. You fit the basic requirements if:

• You have an offer of arranged employment (happens but it’s rare — employers in Canada are usually reluctant to hire people who don’t already have the permanent residence)
• You have been living legally in Canada for one year as a temporary worker or an international student
• You are a skilled worker who has at least one year of experience in one of the occupations listed here (this will likely be your case)

Then, you have to meet the minimum requirement to qualify as a skilled worker:

• At least one year of continuous full-time paid work experience or the equivalent in part-time continuous employment within the past ten years
• The work experience must be on the Canadian National Occupational Classification list.

If you meet these minimum requirements, your application will assessed according to six selection factors. Currently, you need to score at least 67/100 points. Note that the pass mark changes from time to time. You may take Citizenship & Immigration’s free test to see if you qualify (do not ever pay for an online test!).

The 6 selection factors are:

• Education (max. 25 points): just completing high school gives you 5 points, but you can score a comfortable 20 points if you have a basic university degree. The challenge for prospective immigrants is often to have their foreign degrees assessed and recognized.
• Knowledge of English and/or French (max. 24 points): being fluent in English or French gives you 16 points, being bilingual allows you to claim the full 24 points. You have to back up the language proficiency you claim by taking a test.
• Work experience (max. 21 points): you must meet the minimum requirements to be eligible as a skilled worker. The number of points depends on how many years of experience you have: one year will give you 15 points and you get the maximum points with 4 years of experience.
• Age (max. 10 points): you get the most points between 21 and 49 years old. Not surprisingly, Canada wants skilled professional who will work, the longer the better.
• Arranged employment in Canada (max. 10 points): if you are already in Canada and hold a valid temporary work visa, and if your employer wants to keep you, you will get 10 points. If you are outside Canada but have a job offer, you may also get the 10 points. All job offers must be approved by RHDSC… and this is very tricky, since your potential employer will have to prove that, among other, no Canadian can fill up the position.
• Adaptability (max. 10 points) if you have already studied or worked in Canada, if you have arranged employment, or if you have relatives in Canada, you may claim a few more point.

Once you determined whether you have enough points (i.e. currently at least 67/100), you may apply in the skilled worker category.

Note that, if you do not have arranged employment in Canada, you will need to show that you have sufficient funds to support yourself and your family when you arrive in Canada. Basically, the government wants to make sure you won’t apply for social benefits as soon as you set a foot in Canada…

The amount of money you need to show you have if determined by the size of your family. For example, for a single person, it’s about $10,000, for a couple, $13,000, and for a family of four, about $20,000. When you apply, you will have to prove that you have this amount on your bank account!

Sounds like a lot of money? Yes, in a way. But settling in Canada is not cheap, and it may take a few months before you can find a steady job (and a few years before you can find your dream job!). You are starting from zero… so trust me, you will need at least that much.

How to apply?

• Download the skilled worker application package from Citizenship & Immigration
• Complete your application and gather all the documents
• Send your application along with the processing fees
• … Start waiting!

What happens after you mail your application?

Applications are processed on a first come first serve basis. The two first steps are done in Canada (in Sydney, Nova Scotia). Then, your application is send to your local visa office (often the Canadian Embassy located in the country you live in).

• First, CIC will check that your application is complete and that you have paid the fees.
• Then, an officer will assess your eligibility. If you are, you will receive a letter with basic but useful information: a reference number and contact instructions. You will be instructed to send a copy of your application to the Canadian Visa Office without 120 days. Thanks to your reference number, you will be able to check your application’s status on the web (don’t do it too often, it’s depressingly slow to be processed…!).
• Once again, your application will be reviewed and checked for eligibility.
• The real assessment will begin. Number of points, whether you have sufficient funds etc.
• The final check involves your admissibility. A full criminal and security check will be performed. And finally, you will have to take a medical exam (instructions will be sent on where to take the exam). If everything is fine, a decision will be made… and hopefully you will get your permanent residence status!

Next week, we will see how to apply in the sponsorship category. Hope this article helps you clarify the process!

Related articles:

1. 10 Common Immigration Questions (8/10)
2. How Long Does The Immigration Process Take? (6/10)
3. Immigration: The Sponsorship Category (3/10)

The Canadian Parliament In Ottawa

Welcome to my new series, “How to immigrate to Canada“!

I recently received quite a lot of emails, asking me questions about the immigration process. So I decided to explain the whole process in 10 posts, which will be published every Saturday.

I also encourage you to ask any question you may have. I’m not an immigration consultant, but from experience, I may be able to point you to the right direction!

In the series, we will see the different options you have to come to Canada, as well as your rights and duties as a Permanent Resident, what happens after you arrive etc.

The first thing I’d like to tackle today are the two most common “immigration myths”. I used to spend a lot of time in various immigration forums, and the same questions would always pop up.

“Somebody (such as a lawyer) can help me speed up the process“.

To go through the Canadian immigration process, you normally do not need to hire an immigration lawyer or an immigration consultant (both known as immigration representatives). Although the process appears complex at first, if you spend a little bit of time trying to understand it, you can perfectly fill up all the forms by yourself.

Knowing that, many immigration representatives advertise that they can improve your chances of obtaining the permanent residence in Canada. Some even claim that your application will be processed faster if you use their services.

Can they really improve your chance of receiving the permanent residence? Well, I’d say that is a bit exaggerated. Sure, they probably know how to fill up the paperwork. But if you are eligible, you are eligible, if you are not… well, an immigration lawyer or consultant can’t change that!

One thing is for sure, hiring an immigration lawyers will not speed up you claim with Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Nobody has this power… application are treated on a first come first serve basis, with some possible exception due to status (refugee for example).You will not have better chance to be accepted if you go with an immigration representative.

Bottom line: immigrating to Canada is not cheap. Between the application fees, the right of permanent residence fees, the medical exams etc. you already have a lot to pay. Hiring a representative can easily double your budget. That said, if your case is very complicated, you may benefit from professional advice. In this case, choose your representative carefully.

Citizenship & Immigration states that “the only representatives who may charge a fee to represent or advise you on immigration and refugee matters with the Government of Canada are […] lawyers members […] of a Canadian provincial or territorial law society, immigration consultants who are members […] of the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants, and notaries who are members […] of the Chambre des notaires du Québec. The Government of Canada will not deal with non-authorized representatives who charge a fee for their service.“

They are a lot of frauds reported with so-called immigration lawyers:

• To find out if an immigration representative is licensed to represent you or provide immigration advice, check their membership.
• The Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants also provides a list of its members, and a list of the members that were revoked.
• Tips on how to choose an immigration representative, from Citizenship & Immigration
• How to file a complaint about your representative
• FAQ on immigration representatives on the Citizenship & Immigration website
• Do you need to hire an immigration representative?

“I need to be married to a Canadian citizen to immigrate to Canada“. Variant: “It’s much easier to immigrate to Canada when you are married to a Canadian citizen. “

Sign up on any immigration forum, add in your profile that you are “in Canada” and you will soon receive dozens of private emails: “you are so pretty, I love you, let’s get married!“, or “u r sexy pls IM me I want come Canada“.

I have no doubt that you are indeed very sexy, but there is another explanation to your sudden sex-appeal. Indeed, a lot of people think that if you marry a Canadian citizen, you automatically are accepted to immigrate to Canada (some even think you automatically get Canadian citizenship!).

Let me get that straight: it is absolutely not true.

If you are married to a Canadian citizen, you have no special rights. Same thing if you are the common-law partner of a Canadian citizen by the way. Yes, you heard me: no special rights. I think in the U.S.A, you can get a “fiancé visa”… well, not in Canada.

Now, if you want to live with your spouse in Canada, you will have to go through the immigration process like everybody else. You will probably apply in the sponsorship category (more on that in a couple of weeks), and it will take a few months (even sometimes a few years) to obtain the permanent residence. Besides, be aware that Citizenship & Immigration agents are trained to detect “marriage of convenience” and take marriage fraud very seriously…

Now, I’m not telling you to not marry a Canadian (they are very nice, I have one at home!) but it’s by no mean a guaranteed way to immigrate to Canada. You have been warned!

Next week, we will see how to apply for Permanent Residence in the “skilled worker category”. Enjoy your weekend!

Related articles:

1. Useful Links For Immigration (10/10)
2. How to Avoid… Immigration Fraud
3. How Long Does The Immigration Process Take? (6/10)