Please review the top 10 most frequently asked questions we encounter in the course of our practice.
Does immigration to Canada actually work?
Yes, many people are successful in immigrating to Canada. Canada has one of the highest per capita rates of permanent immigration in the world, and has welcomed over 3.5 million immigrants in the last 15 years. About a quarter of a million new permanent residents come to Canada annually. A positive outcome of your application will be based on the consideration and verification of information provided by you and on checks made to ensure that you and your accompanying family members meet the immigration program criteria and that you do not pose a security or health risk to Canada
We have developed a specialized practice to help you immigrate to Canada successfully. We have helped many other immigrants and will provide references on request.
How long does the process take?
The length of time it takes to process an immigration application will depend on the nature of the application and where it was filed. Citizenship & Immigration Canada publishes processing times on its website at: www.cic.gc.ca.
To determine the processing times for your application, you will need to check the information against the type of application you submitted as well as the office responsible for processing it.
Processing of your application will be delayed if the visa office has to take extra steps to assess your case. You can expedite the process and avoid unnecessary delays by adequate preparation and follow up.
You should ensure that you send the application to the correct visa office according to your situation. You must also make sure that your application is complete, and includes all the necessary information and required supporting documentation.
You should also anticipate and address any potential problems proactively, follow all instructions from the visa office in a timely manner, and inform the visa office promptly of any changes to personal information on your application
What will it cost for you to represent me in my immigration application?
Our fees vary, depending on the nature and complexity of your application. We will always discuss our fees with you in advance and give you a reasonable estimate. We also offer comprehensive package plans depending on the nature of the application. In any event, our fees are competitive and well worth the benefit. The cost of failure is much higher.
Our fees are payable in installments as your case progresses. For your convenience; we offer a monthly payment plan to qualifying clients.
What difference will you make to my application?
Canadian Immigration takes careful preparation, persistence & patience. Immigration law is complex and often confusing. The policies and programs are in a constant state of flux in line with new priorities and initiatives, and it is often difficult to keep up. These changes may impact your application both directly and indirectly. In addition, people have been known to make costly and often irreversible mistakes.
We have developed a specialized practice to simplify the process, address these challenges and help you immigrate successfully. We have extensive knowledge and experience, and our team leader, Abiola, is a trained foreign lawyer and a Certified Canadian Immigration Consultant. She is authorized by the Canadian government to represent you with Citizenship & Immigration Canada, the Canadian Border Services Agency and the Immigration and Refugee Board.
What we will do:
- We will review your personal circumstances in line with the current immigration law, policy, programs and initiatives.
- We will cut through the red tape to recommend the course of action that is most likely to promote a successful outcome for you.
- We will prepare, assemble and review your documentation and prepare detailed submissions.
- We will monitor changes and developments, and keep you apprised of the status of your application.
- We will anticipate and address problems in a proactive manner so as to avoid processing delays and/or a denial of your application.
How does my application affect my family members? Can they be included in it?
Your Canadian immigration application will generally include you as the principal applicant as well as your family members as your accompanying dependants. Family members for this purpose are your spouse, a common-law partner, dependent children, and the dependent children of a dependent child.
Your spouse is the person to whom you are legally married. Your common-law partner is someone with whom you are living and whom you have been continuously living with in a committed and genuine relationship for at least one year.
Your dependent child is your child or that of your spouse or common-law partner. The child must generally be under the age of 22 and not have a spouse or common-law partner. If the child is over the age of 22 years or has a spouse or common-law partner, he may still qualify as a dependent child in certain prescribed circumstances.
What happens if my application is approved?
A Canadian visa officer will make a final decision on your application, based on the selection factors for your class of immigration, the assessment and verification of the information you submit, and on the results of your medical examination and the criminal and security checks.
If your application is approved, you will be asked to submit your passport to the Canadian visa office to receive your Confirmation of Permanent Residence and your entry visa for Canada. You must arrive in Canada by the expiry date specified.
On arrival in Canada, the officer will confirm that you still meet the requirements for admission and will authorize you to enter Canada as a permanent resident. The officer will also confirm your Canadian mailing address so that your permanent resident card can be mailed to you.
What are the employment prospects like in Canada?
Finding work in Canada takes careful preparation and tenacity. You should research the prospects and opportunities for your occupation and how to apply for jobs before you arrive. Most professionals do not automatically have the right to practice and work, and will need to be licensed in Canada to work in a regulated profession or trade.
Where you choose to live will impact your occupational prospects, job opportunities and salary. There are immigrant-serving organizations that help newcomers prepare to enter the Canadian work force or to gain access to their profession or trade in Canada, and you should take advantage of this once you arrive in Canada.
The Canadian government also manages employment centers where trained counselors can give you free advice and information about job and language training and work creation programs for newcomers. They can help you prepare a résumé of your education and experience and plan an effective job search.
How long does it take to before I can become a Canadian citizen?
If you are at least 18 years old, you may apply to become a Canadian citizen. You must be a permanent resident of Canada and have lived in Canada for at least three out of the four years preceding your application. Unless you are exempt, you must take and pass the Citizenship test and demonstrate a working knowledge of at least one of Canada’s official languages. Different criteria apply to children, whose citizenship will often be tied to their parent status.
Once I become a permanent resident, do I have to live in Canada all the time?
Your permanent resident status allows you to live in Canada, but does not require you to live there all the time. There is however a time limit on how long you can live outside the country if you wish to retain your permanent residence status. To keep your status, you must live in Canada for at least two years within a five-year period. This does not have to be a continuous period of time and you can come to Canada and leave during this period.
You may count the days spent outside of Canada as days for which you satisfy the residency obligation in certain circumstances. Depending on other factors, these may include days when you accompanied your Canadian permanent resident or Canadian citizen spouse, common-law partner or parent outside Canada, or days when you worked outside Canada for a Canadian business or the public service of Canada or of a province.
Where you are unable to meet the residency obligation, you may be able to retain your permanent resident status if there are compelling humanitarian and compassionate factors that justify this.
What is the weather like in Canada? I hear that the climate is very cold.
Canada has four distinct seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter. The temperatures and weather in each season are different from in one part of the country to another. The spring season is the rainy season in most parts of Canada, with average daytime temperatures at about 12°C in March, April and early May.
The summer months are very warm in most parts of the country. The daytime temperatures are normally above 20°C and often rise above 30°C. In autumn, the weather cools and in some parts of Canada, especially northern or mountain regions, snow may begin to fall by late October. Average daytime temperatures are about 12°C in most of the country.
During the winter months, the temperature may drop to below 0°C. In some parts of Canada, snow will be on the ground from mid-December to the middle of March. However, along the West Coast, the temperature is much warmer, making it attractive to immigrants from warmer countries.
