Skilled workers and professionals:
Who can apply
Skilled workers are people who can become permanent residents because they are able to become economically established in Canada.
Your application to come to Canada as a skilled worker will be assessed on six selection factors and a point system. The six selection factors are:
- the education, age and experience
- the abilities in English and/or French, Canada’s two official languages
- whether you have arranged employment in Canada
- the adaptability.
It is very important to have enough money to support yourself and your family after you arrive in Canada, and pass a medical examination and a security and criminal checks.
- the simplified application process
- the regular application process.
- You must use the regular process if:
- you have been lawfully admitted to Canada for a period of at least one year and you are submitting your application at the Canadian visa office in Buffalo or
- you have been lawfully admitted into the United States for a period of at least one year and you are submitting your application at the Canadian visa office in Buffalo
- you are a provincial nominee
- you have been selected by Quebec
- you are eligible for points for arranged employment.
If none of the situations described above applies to you, use the simplified application process.
After having applied :
Your application will be processed at the visa office where you applied.
The process may vary depending on the visa office. However, some processing steps are common to all offices.
The application assesment process :
After you submit your application, a Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) officer will verify that you have submitted all the required documentation with your application. The officer will make sure that you have:
- completed your application form correctly and signed it
- paid your processing fee
- included the required supporting documentation if you used the regular application process.
If you applied using the simplified application process, the visa office will contact you and ask you to provide the required documentation about four months before your application is to be processed.
If your application is not complete, the visa office will return it to you without any processing.
The visa office where you applied will send you a letter when they receive your completed application and they had verifiedthat it is completed properly. The letter will tell you what you need to do and what happens next.
Processing time
The time that it takes to process applications varies depending on where you applied.
You may be able to avoid unnecessary delays by:
- making sure all the necessary information is included with your application
- notifying the visa office of any changes to personal information on your application, such as your address, phone and fax numbers or a change in the makeup of your family
- avoiding repeated inquiries to the visa office
- ensuring that the photocopies and documents you provide are clear and legible
- providing certified English or French translations of original documents that you submit in other languages
- applying from a country where you are a citizen or permanent resident.
Your application will be delayed if the visa office has to take extra steps to assess your case. Your application will be longer if:
- there are criminal or security problems related to your application
- your family situation is not clear because of a situation, such as a divorce or an adoption that is not yet complete or child custody issues that have not been resolved
- the visa office that processes your application has to consult with other CIC offices in Canada or abroad.
Medical examinations
You have to pass a medical examination before coming to Canada. Your dependants must also pass a medical examination even if they are not coming to Canada with you.
Applications for permanent residence will not be accepted if an applicant’s health:
- is a danger to public health or safety
- would cause excessive demand on health or social services in Canada.
Instructions on how to take the medical examination will normally be sent to you after you submit your application to the visa office. .
Criminal and security checks
If you have a criminal record, you may not be allowed to enter in Canada. People who represent a risk to Canada’s security are not allowed to come to Canada either.
If you want to immigrate to Canada, you and any family members over the age of 18 who come to Canada with you must provide police certificates to the visa office.
If you apply using the regular application process, you must submit the police certificates with your application. If you apply using the simplified application process, the visa office will contact you and ask you to provide the required documentation at a later date.
The decision on your application
A CIC officer will make a final decision on your application based on the current requirements for immigration to Canada. The decision will be based on several factors, including the results of your medical examination, and the criminal and security checks.
The officer will also assess the proof of funds you have provided, to ensure that you will be able to support yourself and your family when you arrive in Canada.
The visa office will contact you if it needs more documentation or if you are required to attend an interview.
If your 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.
Change of address
If you move or change your address, telephone number or any other contact information after you submit your application, you have to contact the visa office where you submitted your application.
Confirmation of permanent residence
If your application is approved, the visa office will issue a permanent resident visa to you. Your permanent resident visa includes your Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) and your entry visa. Your COPR will include identification information as well as your photograph. Please check the information on your COPR to make sure it is correct. It should be the same as the information on your passport. If there is a mistake on your COPR, contact your visa office.
You must have your COPR and your visa with you when you arrive in Canada.
Arriving
When you arrive in Canada, you will be greeted by an officer from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). The CBSA is responsible for border and point of entries in Canada.
The officer will ask you to see your passport and other travel documents. Make sure they are not packed in your luggage, and you have them with you. This will help speed up your entry to Canada.
You must present the following documents upon your arrival:
- Your valid passport and/or travel documents. Your passport must be a regular, private passport. You cannot immigrate to Canada with a diplomatic, government service or public affairs passport.
- Your valid permanent resident visa, and your Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR). The officer will make sure you are entering Canada before or on the expiry date shown on your permanent resident visa. Please note that this document cannot be extended. Make sure you use it before it expires.
- Proof that you have sufficient funds to support yourself and your family after you arrive in Canada.
The officer will ask you a few questions to make sure you still meet the requirements to immigrate to Canada. The questions will be similar to the ones you answered on your Application for Permanent Residence in Canada. The officer will confirm that you still meet the requirements for admission to Canada. This should only take a few minutes.
You will not be allowed into Canada if you give false or incomplete information, or if you do not satisfy the officer that you meet the requirements for entry into Canada.
If there are no problems at the point of entry, the officer will authorize you to enter Canada as a permanent resident. The officer will also confirm your Canadian mailing address. Your permanent resident card will be mailed to you at this address.
Disclosure of funds
If you arrive in Canada with more than C$10,000, you must disclose this information to the CBSA officer. If you do not disclose this information, you could be fined or put in prison. These funds could be in the form of:
- cash
- securities in bearer form (for example, stocks, bonds, debentures, treasury bills) or
- negotiable instruments in bearer form, such as bankers’ drafts, cheques, travellers’ cheques or money orders.
for more informations:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/index.asp