Life in Canada

In Part I of our last blog, QICMS provided the first 5 (of 10) essential tips for potential Canadian permanent residency applicants. Today, Part II blog will provide the remaining 5 essential tips related to obtaining Canadian permanent residency as well as common topics and tips regarding immigration applications for Canada in general.




6. Have Someone Review your Forms Before you Submit Them

It’s always good to have a different pair of eyes review your application forms, such as a member of your family or a close friend. Why? Mistakes can happen and even the most obvious ones can be missed. Remember that by now you have been looking at the same forms for weeks or even months on end, so it can be easy to miss the smallest oversight—even signing the application!

7. Don't Submit your Application too Soon

This tip is related to #5, for the skilled-worker class which is pass/fail as mentioned in our last blog. What this means is an applicant is eligible or they’re not—there is no in-between. Once all of the application requirements are met, allow yourself a few days before submitting it to make sure there are no mistakes that have not been caught. Mistakes can occur in calculations and especially with dates, which can lead to your application being penalized. For example, your reference letter must be dated after your work experience requirement is fulfilled. If you are eligible on May 10, your reference letter shouldn’t be dated before this period.

Although this tip certainly applies to the skilled-worker class, it also applies to every application. Always thoroughly review your application and documents one last time to make sure all the information is correct before submission.

8. Life is Unpredictable, so Prepare for the Unexpected

One thing to remember about life is it is unpredictable, so it’s always good to have a back-up plan B, C, or even D. When it comes to immigration matters, there are a number of things an applicant can do to prepare for unexpected situation.

First, prepare yourself for the possibility your application will be returned and you have to reapply. While this is stressful to think about, don’t get discouraged. If you are prepared for this kind of situation, it will only help you in the long run and make the process easier.

Second, processing times for applications can vary for whatever reason and some might take longer than others. So preparing for a longer processing time can be helpful, especially if you might have to renew a Temporary Residence Visa (TRV), extending an open work permit, and so on.

Third, at QICMS we always advise our applicants to Canadian business immigration programs, such as the Quebec Immigrant Investor Program (QIIP) or a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), is not to leave your current place of employment or sell your business or home until your chosen Canadian immigration program application is accepted. As we mentioned in our last blog, nothing is guaranteed when it comes to immigration and Canadian permanent residency so you must always be prepared for all scenarios, which leads us to our next point.

Lastly, there is always a possibility your application will be rejected, whether for medical inadmissibility, ambiguous information, or even misrepresentation. For this reason, applicants should always have a back-up plan for an alternative path to Canadian permanent residency. This is also why it’s very important to research your options thoroughly to see what Canadian immigration programs are best suited for you and your family’s needs.

While you can always hope a back-up plan won’t be needed, having them will help prevent adding more anxiety and stress if your initial plan doesn’t work out the way you expected.

9. Sending too Many Inquiries Should be Avoided

While it’s always great to ask questions when unsure about your immigration status, applicants need to keep in mind that the IRCC offices have many applications to process. In fact, the IRCC website advises applicants against making too many queries regarding their application as it can delay processing times as a result. Remember: these are real humans assessing thousands of applications, not automated systems. For this reason, it’s best to avoid repeatedly sending e-mails and contact the IRCC offices if requested.

If it is necessary to contact the IRCC offices for making changes to an application, applicants can access the IRCC Web Form or utilize the Help Centre to find an answer to common questions. Chances are someone has already asked it!

10. Application Processing Times Vary

Our last essential tip (but certainly not least) is for applicants to understand that all applications are different and vary from person to person. The IRCC website clearly states that application processing are not predictable and can vary depending on the type of application that was submitted, if it was incomplete, the applicant’s history, and how many applications are being processed at that time, among other reasons.

While the IRCC website provides visitors general processing times, applicants have to remember they are still averages at best. Even more, the process of application processing is always changing, such as a processing center changing location or a new one opening. This can affect an application’s processing time, whether by delaying it or speeding it up.

While waiting for the result of your application can be stressful, try to keep in mind that no one application is the same. There are many factors that can influence processing times and it’s done on a case-by-case basis.

Final Thoughts

Now that you have been provided 10 essential tips for Canadian permanent residency (PR), we hope that you can use these blogs as a useful guide when applying for your residence status in Canada. Finally, the most important tip for future and current applicants is to contact an accredited immigration lawyer or immigration consultant to aid you with the application process.

If you’re thinking about applying for Canadian permanent residency through business immigration, contact our office today to discuss options for you and your family.

For more information on Canadian immigration programs, please click here.

For a comparison of Canadian Provincial Nominee Programs, please click here.

Fill out our Free Assessment to see if you qualify for any of the immigration programs offered.