General Visa Information

1. What is a Canadian permanent resident visa?

   A Canadian permanent resident visa allows the holder to live, work, and study in Canada legally. It has no fixed expiration as long as the holder otherwise adheres to the laws of Canada, and allows an applicant to apply for Canadian citizenship and a Canadian passport.

   At present, Canada admits approximately 200,000 to 250,000 immigrants as permanent residents on an annual basis.

   
   

2. What is the Skilled Worker Program?

   There are several programs which allow for immigration to Canada as a permanent resident. The Skilled Worker program allows individuals and their immediate family members to apply for permanent resident status on the basis of their scoring on 6 factors: Age, Education, Language Ability, Work Experience, Arranged Employment, and Adaptability.

   
   

3. Does Canada's immigration department encourage the use of representatives to apply for permanent resident status?

   Citizenship and Immigration Canada does not encourage applicants to use representatives to apply for permanent resident status. The system has been devised such that the type of individual who would qualify can reasonably assess themselves, and submit an application for immigration on their own.

   
   

4. Does use of a representative speed up the application process?

   No, the use of a lawyer or consultant will not speed up the process. Current application processing times are governed primarily by backlogs at the various visa offices. No one can bypass these backlogs and somehow move ahead of the line. Applications are processed strictly on a first-come-first-serve basis.

   Submission of an incomplete or unclear application can result in delays to a case, however. Ensuring that your application is thorough and well documented is the best way to ensure that your case is processed more quickly. Diycanadaimmigration.com provides its members with the tools by which they can prepare and submit thorough and well documented applications without the high costs of representation.

   
   

5. What are the advantages of submitting the application myself?

   Only you know all the aspects of your personal history, and only you have a vested interest in ensuring that your application is handled properly from beginning to end. By dedicating a small amount of time to preparing your own case, you will ensure that all the information is accurate, that your qualifications are clear, and that the case is handled in a manner befitting the task of moving to a new country.

   
   

6. Won't using a representative make the process of applying simpler?

   No, you will be required to undertake the same tasks as applying on your own. You will need to complete the forms yourself; you will need to accumulate the documentation yourself; you will need to obtain clearances and references yourself; and you will need to attend interviews on your own. Since you are the only one who knows your case thoroughly, you may need to thoroughly review the work of your representative in order to ensure that there are no mistakes. You will save no time, and you will lose control of the processing of your case.

   
   

7. What do I need to submit an application myself?

   You need to obtain the application materials and instructions from Citizenship and Immigration Canada, either from their web site, or from a Canadian Consulate, Embassy, or High Commission in your jurisdiction. Emigrant.ca provides all application materials, as well as thorough instructions, access to National Occupational Classification definitions, expert insight into submission of your case, and all the tools necessary to ensure that your case is processed in a timely manner by the visa office.