+1(514) 937-9445 or Toll-free (Canada & US) +1 (888) 947-9445

Canadian Immigration Questions and Answers with Sir David Cohen

Kanamen

Champion Member
Oct 20, 2010
1,662
563
CANADA
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
Every month, Attorney David Cohen will answer a few general Canadian immigration questions submitted by our readers. Here are this month’s questions and answers:

I have applied for Canadian permanent residency in 2006 through the Federal Skilled Worker Program and more than 5 years have passed since it is in process. How many more months will it take before I get my visa?

Unfortunately for you, applications under the Federal Skilled Worker category submitted for processing prior to February 2008 have been pushed to the back of the line in favour of applications that were submitted more recently. Nobody can argue that this is fair but for now it is what it is. Processing times vary depending upon which visa office is handling your file. A complete list of current processing times at each visa office can be found on the Canadavisa’s website.

If you qualify for Canadian permanent residency under the current Federal Skilled Worker category or under one of the other Canadian immigration programs you may want to consider submitting a fresh application as a way to speed up your entry to Canada. New Federal Skilled Worker applications are being processed in less than 12 months at some visa offices. To determine if you qualify for a Canadian permanent resident visa under all of the immigration programs, please complete Canadavisa’s free Canadian immigration assessment.

I am a married man and have applied for immigration through the Federal Skilled Worker Program. Do I need to submit documents for my wife, who is not accompanying me now?

Your spouse will be required to submit certain documents according to the Federal Skilled Worker Document Checklist. For example, identity documents and police clearances are some of the documents included in the list that she will need to provide now. In addition, she will also need to complete medical examinations at the same time as you even if she will not be accompanying you at this time. Keep in mind that you cannot claim points for your wife’s education or relatives in Canada if she is not accompanying you.

I am a Canadian citizen and would like to bring my young brother to Saskatoon. Where do I start?

The Saskatchewan Immigration Nominee Program (SINP) has a Family Members category for immigrants who have a relative who has been living in Saskatchewan for at least one year. You may be eligible to sponsor your brother if he meets the minimum requirements of the program, such as age, language, and financial requirements. The list of requirements for the SINP program can be found on Canadavisa’s website.

If my job is not one on the “eligible occupations” list, is there any way to apply to the Federal Skilled Worker program?

Yes. If you do not have one year of paid work experience in one of the 29 qualifying occupations, you may still qualify for the Federal Skilled Worker Program through Arranged Employment. To qualify for Arranged Employment, you must have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer. In addition, you will still need to meet the minimum 67 points to qualify.

My occupation, Registered Nurse, has just been capped under the Federal Skilled Worker Program. Do I have to wait until July 2012 to apply?

If you want to apply through the Federal Skilled Worker Program as a Registered Nurse, you will have to wait until the caps restart in July 2012 unless you have a valid job offer from a Canadian Employer. However, you may still qualify for Canadian Permanent Residency through other immigration programs, such as the Quebec Skilled Worker Program and the various Provincial Nominee Programs. As Citizenship and Immigration Canada has not released the list of qualifying occupations for July 2012, potential applicants are encouraged to apply through another Canadian immigration program now if they qualify as their occupation may not be listed for the Federal Skilled Worker Program next year.

I was arrested and charged with a DUI in the California. I received 18 months probation and was ordered to pay a $1000 USD fine. I completed the probation over ten years ago, am I inadmissible to Canada?

There are two possibilities in this scenario, depending when the fine was paid. In order to be deemed rehabilitated ten years must have passed from the completion of the sentence, which also includes fines. If the fine was paid promptly and over ten years ago, then you are likely to be considered deemed rehabilitated and admissible to Canada. However, if ten years have not passed from the date of the payment of the fine, then it is likely that you will require an application for Criminal Rehabilitation in order to overcome your inadmissibility to Canada.

I was arrested and charged with Assault. The final outcome of the case was a conditional discharge and I was ordered to attend anger-management classes and perform 100 hours of community service. I successfully completed those conditions over a year ago. Am I still inadmissible to Canada?

If you receive a conditional discharge and successfully complete all the conditions imposed upon you, then you are likely to be admissible to Canada. A Conditional Discharge in the United States may be equivalent to Section 730 of the Canada Criminal Code, “Conditional Discharge” and does not result in a conviction. Therefore, it does not make an applicant inadmissible to Canada. If you are unsure if the conditional discharge is equivalent to a Canadian conditional discharge, we encourage you to contact our Criminality Specialists.



We would like to remind our readers that general questions pertaining to Canadian immigration can be sent to qna@cicnews.com.

If you would like to be assessed for Canadian immigration, please complete Canadavisa’s free Canadian immigration assessment form.





http://www.cicnews.com/2011/09/canadian-immigration-questions-answers-david-cohen-091086.html
 

hmisabpk

Champion Member
Nov 6, 2009
2,035
690
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
Kanamen said:
Every month, Attorney David Cohen will answer a few general Canadian immigration questions submitted by our readers. Here are this month's questions and answers:
We would like to remind our readers that general questions pertaining to Canadian immigration can be sent to qna @ cicnews.com.
If you would like to be assessed for Canadian immigration, please complete Canadavisa's free Canadian immigration assessment form.
http://www.cicnews.com/2011/09/canadian-immigration-questions-answers-david-cohen-091086.html


Thank you

hmisabpk
 

ss1886

Hero Member
Oct 18, 2010
708
28
Category........
Visa Office......
London
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
01-11-2010
Doc's Request.
18-08-2011
AOR Received.
17-02-2011
IELTS Request
Sent with documents
File Transfer...
12-03-2011
Med's Request
22-12-2012
Med's Done....
04-01-2013
Interview........
26-08-2012
Passport Req..
PPR-1 04-02-2013, PPR-2 11-02-2013
VISA ISSUED...
15-02-2013
LANDED..........
15-09-2013

bahadur4u

Full Member
Jun 27, 2011
32
0
Dear Sir,

I have applied from Pakistan under Social Worker. My application reached Sydney Nova Scotia on 25th August 2011 as confirmed by the courier. Kindly guide me on further process as now one month has gone but i have no response from there. I need to know different steps from date of submission and if my application qualify then how long it will take till the final step. Hope you will help me in this regard.

2ndly, i have submitted the bank statment showing all required amount. As i had invested this amount in number of safe opportunities, which i took out and kept in bank for the immigration purpose. For how long i would have to keep the amount there in the bank as it also cost me a lot to keep the money idle in the bank.

Regards,
Bahadur
 
bahadur4u said:
Dear Sir,

I have applied from Pakistan under Social Worker. My application reached Sydney Nova Scotia on 25th August 2011 as confirmed by the courier. Kindly guide me on further process as now one month has gone but i have no response from there. I need to know different steps from date of submission and if my application qualify then how long it will take till the final step. Hope you will help me in this regard.

2ndly, i have submitted the bank statment showing all required amount. As i had invested this amount in number of safe opportunities, which i took out and kept in bank for the immigration purpose. For how long i would have to keep the amount there in the bank as it also cost me a lot to keep the money idle in the bank.

Regards,
Bahadur
Dear Bahadur ! Join on the following thread : http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/july-01-2011-fsw-applicantsmi-3-t74992.4950.html Post ur details like when u sent ur file to nova scotia , when it reached , who received it , what is ur NOC and Visa office, what is ur mode of payment ? Ur details will be added in the tracker and on the thread u will find very valuable information regarding ur next steps of immigration process . Cheers.
 

bahadur4u

Full Member
Jun 27, 2011
32
0
lubob said:
Dear Bahadur ! Join on the following thread : http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/july-01-2011-fsw-applicantsmi-3-t74992.4950.html Post ur details like when u sent ur file to nova scotia , when it reached , who received it , what is ur NOC and Visa office, what is ur mode of payment ? Ur details will be added in the tracker and on the thread u will find very valuable information regarding ur next steps of immigration process . Cheers.
Thank you very much dear.
 

bahadur4u

Full Member
Jun 27, 2011
32
0
lubob said:
Dear Bahadur ! Join on the following thread : http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/july-01-2011-fsw-applicantsmi-3-t74992.4950.html Post ur details like when u sent ur file to nova scotia , when it reached , who received it , what is ur NOC and Visa office, what is ur mode of payment ? Ur details will be added in the tracker and on the thread u will find very valuable information regarding ur next steps of immigration process . Cheers.
I went to the google docs where list of all applied is given, but i could not add my name and details, that file was uneditable, how to add my details?
 

Sajeels

Star Member
Oct 11, 2009
107
4
Category........
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
bahadur4u said:
I went to the google docs where list of all applied is given, but i could not add my name and details, that file was uneditable, how to add my details?
You need to put your details on the same thread and then request the moderators to put you in the spread sheet...

Regards

Sajeel
 

SATDXB

Champion Member
Sep 11, 2010
2,427
133
Category........
Visa Office......
London
NOC Code......
1111
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
12-Aug-09
Doc's Request.
02-Oct-09
File Transfer...
06-Oct-09
Med's Request
18-08-10
Med's Done....
09-09-10
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
19-01-2011 - Passport sent on 22-01-2011
VISA ISSUED...
11-04-2011
LANDED..........
19th May 2011- Thanks to Almighty!
Nice one bro...



Cheers..
 

Kanamen

Champion Member
Oct 20, 2010
1,662
563
CANADA
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
I have work experience in my profession, but my school degree has no relevance to my work experience. Do I need to have work experience that is relevant to my degree to apply for Canadian immigration?

In general, your work experience does not have to be related to your education in order to apply for Canadian immigration. Both the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Quebec Skilled Worker Program will award points for your work experience regardless of whether it is related to your area of study/training or not.
Please note, however, that the Quebec Skilled Worker Program also awards points for Education or Training that is related to in-demand occupations in Quebec. If your degree or certificate is more than five years old, these Area of Training points will only be awarded if you have at least one year of related work experience during the previous five years.

I have done the Academic IELTS. Can I use these to apply for the Federal Skilled Worker Program?

Unfortunately, Academic IELTS will not be accepted for the Federal Skilled Worker Program. All applicants are required to provide results of the General IELTS, regardless whether English is their native language or not. It is important to note that your IELTS results must be included in your application when you submit to the Centralized Intake Office in Sydney, Nova Scotia or your application will be returned.
If you have not taken the IELTS yet or need to improve your scores, Canadavisa.com offers free IELTS practice tests to improve your English reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills.

How long does it take to receive a letter from the Centralized Intake Office (CIO) in Sydney to know if my application has been approved or rejected?

These days, it is taking approximately four months to receive an Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR) from CIO, however processing times may vary in the future. This AOR from CIO indicates that your application has been accepted for processing and is being transferred to a visa office for further processing and a final decision. If your application is not accepted for processing by the CIO, it is usually returned with a letter indicating the reason why it was not accepted.

Under the Federal Skilled Worker Program, will my points be calculated on the total number of years for my work experience or only for the years of work I did for the occupation (NOC) I am applying under?
Under the Federal Skilled Worker Program, you will be awarded points for any work experience regardless of the occupation as long as:
• the work experience did not occur more than 10 years before the date you submitted your application;
• the work experience can be classified as Managerial, Skill Level A, or Skill Level B under the NOC system; and
• you were paid for the work
You can only get a maximum of 21 points for work experience.

For the Federal Skilled Worker Program, are first-degree cousins considered as relatives and can be awarded points?

No points are awarded for cousins in the Adaptability Factor in the Federal Skilled Worker Program. To get points for having a relative living in Canada, the relative must be related to either the principal applicant or the spouse/common law partner. Only the following family members who are Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents living in Canada will give you points: mother or father, daughter or son, sister or brother, niece or nephew, grandmother or grandfather, granddaughter or grandson, biological aunt or uncle (brother or sister of a parent), or spouse/common-law partner.
It is important to note that you may only claim points for one relative, not for multiple relatives.
I was deported from Canada in June 2003 after over staying two months. I was detained for two weeks in an immigration detention centre. Is it considered a criminal offense? Will I be allowed back into Canada?
The fact that a person overstayed on a visitor visa in of itself is not a criminal offence in the Canadian criminal code. However, having been detained and officially deported means you were found to be in violation of a federal statute (IRPA) and therefore this may make you inadmissible to Canada. Furthermore, you may require an authorization to return to Canada, and potentially an application for criminal rehabilitation depending upon the specific circumstances of your removal from Canada.

If you would like your general immigration question to be featured in our newsletter, please email your question to QNA @ CICNEWS.COM
If you would like to be assessed for Canadian immigration, please complete Canadavisa's free Canadian immigration assessment form.
 

omarko

Star Member
Nov 12, 2011
53
0
Sir David Cohen , question this numbers 013 next to Bar code on the AOR letter from the V O in Damascus does it means anything... thanx...
 

Your Highness

Champion Member
Sep 25, 2011
2,379
149
Category........
Visa Office......
New Delhi
NOC Code......
0631
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
15th Sep 2011
AOR Received.
PER rcvd on 14th Dec 2011
IELTS Request
Submitted with Docs
File Transfer...
AOR from NDVO rcvd on 21 Jan 2012
Med's Request
7th Feb 2012
Med's Done....
Med sent on 24th Feb 2012
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
Req rcvd on 7th Feb sent on 24th Feb 2012. RPRF DD encashed on 11th April
VISA ISSUED...
DM on 10th May. PPs rcvd with Visa on 14th May 2012
LANDED..........
Landed in Toronto on 3rd July 2012!
bahadur4u said:
I went to the google docs where list of all applied is given, but i could not add my name and details, that file was uneditable, how to add my details?
Go to the thread Bahadur4u and post your details in the thread. One of the moderators will pick up your details and add you to the list. Its very informative and you will find lot of support there. Join us!
 

Kanamen

Champion Member
Oct 20, 2010
1,662
563
CANADA
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
I completed a Bachelor's in Accounting and have one year of work experience related to my study. Will I get education points for Quebec Skilled Worker?

There are two ways to obtain points for a degree or certificate under the Education selection factor (and also for the Area of Training selection factor):

1. Your degree or certificate was completed within the five years preceding your Quebec Skilled Worker application; or

2. Your degree or certificate was completed more than five years ago, but you have one year of paid work experience related to your degree or certificate within the five years preceding your Quebec Skilled Worker application.

Your degree/certificate will also be assessed according to Quebec's educational system. This means that the number of points awarded for your degree/certificate will depend on how the degree/certificate compares to one obtained in Quebec.

If we have a child in the middle of our Federal Skilled Worker application process, do we have to add him/her to the application and what documents would then be required?

If you have a change in your family composition, such as having a child or getting married, before you receive your visa and land in Canada, you must inform the visa office and add him/her to the application. You should add your child or spouse to the application as soon as possible as it can take time to collect documents. The most commonly requested documents to provide when adding a child to your application include photos, a birth certificate, passport, medical exam, and fees, however your visa office will inform you of the specific documents they require.

Is it necessary to take the DELF or TEF exams for the Quebec Skilled Worker Program?

You are not required to submit language test results when submitting your application under the Quebec Skilled Worker Program. However, a visa officer may compel you to take a language test before calling you to an interview. In general, your language ability will be tested at an interview. If any test scores were previously submitted, they will count for a portion of the overall score, this portion otherwise being allocated from the results of the interview.

Does Canada offer an immigration lottery like the U.S. Green Card lottery?

Canada does not offer an immigration lottery of any sort; however Canada does offer more than 60 different immigration programs for people in many different situations. Canada offers immigration programs for refugees, family members of Canadian citizens and Permanent Residents, immigrants with Canadian and foreign work experience, and more. You can discover which immigration program you qualify for by completing Canadavisa's free immigration assessment.

Can I change the visa office that is processing my Federal Skilled Worker application if the processing time is too long?

Visa offices are not obliged to transfer applications, including if the processing times are too long. In general, visa offices will only transfer applications to maintain program integrity, meaning the visa officer feels he/she is unable to effectively evaluate the supporting documents.

It is very important that you indicate the proper visa office on your application as it is extremely difficult to have your file transferred once it has been submitted. In addition, the application may be returned to you unprocessed if submitted to the wrong office. You can learn more about this topic in our R(11) article.

Can I sponsor my new husband to come to Canada if I have a previous abuse conviction against my ex-husband?

Anyone who was convicted of an offence that resulted in bodily harm to a current or former spouse, common law partner, or conjugal partner is barred from sponsorship.



If you would like your general immigration question to be featured in our newsletter, please email your question to QNA @ CICNEWS.COM