Canada Immigration Process - Federal Skilled Worker

Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s Central Intake Unit in Sydney, Nova Scotia will only accept your application if it contains the following:

• Signed and properly completed application forms;
• Correct Canadian Government processing fees;
• A photocopy of your passport’s bio-data pages;
• 2 self-addressed mailing labels

Additional required documents in support of your application differ depending on what type of Federal Skilled Worker applicant you are:

1. Arranged Employment applicant

• Photocopy of your work permit & your employer’s offer to employ you indeterminately once you are a Permanent Resident; OR
• Copy of an Arranged Employment Opinion from Human Resources and Social Development Canada 

2. a) Temporary Foreign Worker applicant

• Copy of your work permit and a letter of employment or other proof of current employment in Canada

   b) International Student applicant

• Copy of your student permit or other proof of current study in Canada, and proof of enrollment for your educational institution

3. Qualyfying Work Experience applicants

• No additional documents

If the above requirements are met, the Central Intake Unit will accept your application and make a preliminary decision as to whether your application will be accepted for processing.

If any of the above requirements are missing, the Central Intake Unit will return the application to the sender.

No other documents should be submitted at this stage.  If any other documents are included with the application, the Central Intake Unit will return them.

OUR SOLUTION:

We Will:  

• Ensure that your Canadian immigration application forms are properly completed and that all essential documentation and correct government processing fees are included in the initial submission of your application.
• Place particular emphasis on the eligibility of your application to be processed.  The Central Intake Unit must be satisfied that you meet the minimum requirements of the standards set out by the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration, and Multiculturalism or else your application will be returned.  We will ensure that your forms adequately list your qualifications in this regard, which is very important because at this stage no other documents may be submitted to support the information contained in your application forms.
• Submit our Campbell Cohen law firm letter with  your application, containing our legal opinion in support of your qualifications for a Canada Immigration Visa and requesting that positive discretion/substituted evaluation be exercised, if for any reason it is determined that you do not have sufficient points to qualify.  Our letter will also advise the Canadian Immigration Visa Office that the information contained in your application form is accurate and correct to the best of your beliefs, but is subject to change without prejudice to your application, upon the presentation of supporting documents at a later date.  This of particular importance because in our experience there are often minor discrepancies between the information contained on application forms, and the documents submitted at a later date.  Your credibility plays a significant part in the Canadian Immigration Visa Officer’s decision-making process.
• Confirm immediately that your application has been actually received by the Central Intake Unit.
• Utilize our Canadian law firm’s mailing address during the entire immigration process so that all written communication from Citizenship and Immigration Canada is received by us and responded to on your behalf.
• Advise you immediately, as soon as we receive an official Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR) from the Central Intake Unit indicated that your application has been preliminarily accepted for processing.
• Communicate with the Central Intake Unit on your behalf if, for any reason, we do not receive an AOR in regard to your application with the expected time-frame.

In approximately one to two months (sometimes less), you will be given 120 days to submit current information regarding your education and work experience as well as all documentation in support of your qualifications.
The Canadian Immigration Visa Office will only accept your full application if it contains the following:

• Signed and completed application forms (again);
• A signed statement indicating that the information provided is complete and accurate;
• Evidence of English and/or French language proficiency, either in the form of the results of an approved language test or a written Statement of Language Proficiency;
• Documents in support of your eligibility to be processed at that particular Canadian Immigration Visa Office. 

If the above requirements are met, the Canadian Immigration Visa Office will accept your full and complete application and make a final decision as to whether your application will be accepted for processing.

If any of the above requirements are missing, the Canadian Immigration Visa Office will return the application to the sender.

OUR SOLUTION:

We Will:

• Ensure that your application forms contain all the information that will permit the Canadian Immigration Officer to make a selection decision in your application and that all essential documentation is included.
• Place particular emphasis on the “work experience” portion of your application forms.  The Canadian Immigration Visa Officer must be satisfied that your work experience meets with Canadian standards, as contained in the National Occupation Classification (NOC) or else you will not receive credit for your work experience and your application will be refused.  We will ensure that your work experience is described in a clear and concise manner.
• Instruct you as to what documents must be submitted in support of your application to ensure that you are awarded the points that you are entitled to.
• Review all of your supporting documents with particular emphasis on your proof of work experience and education.
• Communicate, if required,  with the Canadian Immigration Visa Officer in charge of assessing your application to explain discrepancies between the information contained in your initial application form and the supporting documents submitted at this stage.

A  Canadian Immigration Visa Officer will make a detailed analysis of all the information contained in the application and of all the supporting documents and assess the application against the current selection criteria and passmark.

OUR SOLUTION:

We Will:

• Advise you on how to prove your qualifications to the satisfaction of the Canadian Immigration Visa Officer in charge of your application, even when essential documents are difficult to obtain.
• Make further written submissions on your behalf to address any concerns that the Canadian Immigration Visa Officer may have about your application.
• Advise you on how best to address any concerns expressed or documents requested by the Canadian Immigration Visa Officer.
• Communicate, if required, with the Canadian Immigration Visa Officer in charge of assessing your file if service standards for the processing and assessment of your application are not met.

A personal interview may or may not be required. An interview may be required to:  

• Verify work experience and/or education;
• Clear up inconsistent information and/or documentation;
• Ensure that information and/or documents are truthful and accurate;
• Ensure quality control;
• Assure the security of Canadians.

OUR SOLUTION:

We Will: 

• Prepare your application and submit supporting documents in a clear and concise manner;
• Place particular emphasis on the presentation of your education credentials and work experience. The Canadian Immigration Visa Officer must be satisfied that your work experience meets with Canadian standards as contained in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) or else you will not receive credit for your work experience;
• Obtain a copy of the Canadian Immigration Visa Office’s notes about your application, if a personal interview is required. These notes will explain the reason(s) for the interview. Under the Privacy Laws of Canada, only Canadian citizens and residents can obtain notes from a Canadian Immigration Visa Office;
• Address the issues indicated in the notes from the Canadian Immigration Visa Office with a view to obtaining a reconsideration of the necessity of a personal interview;
• Prepare you for the type of questions you can expect, if a personal interview is unavoidable.

Upon completion of a successful interview or if the interview is waived, medical instructions will be forwarded to you. You and your accompanying family members, if applicable, are required to undergo a medical examination by an approved doctor and submit police clearances to the Canadian Immigration Visa Office.

OUR SOLUTION:

We Will: 

• Ensure that the Canadian Immigration Visa Office issues medical instructions to you immediately upon the notice of an interview waiver or the conclusion of a successful interview;
• Provide you with a list of approved doctors in the area that you reside;
• Instruct you on how to obtain police clearance certificates from each country that you have resided in for more than six months since the age of eighteen;
• Advise you and communicate with the Canadian Immigration Visa Office on your behalf with respect to any medical conditions and/or criminality/security issue that may arise.

After the medical results have been received by the Canadian Immigration Visa Office and security clearances have been completed, the Canadian Immigration Visa Office will request the Right of Permanent Resident Fee (RPRF) payment and your passport for the purpose of issuing a Canada Immigration (Permanent Resident) Visa.

OUR SOLUTION:

We Will: 

• Follow-up with the Canadian Immigration Visa Office to ensure that your medical results have been received and that the security checks have been completed;
• Ensure that the Canadian Immigration Visa Office requests your passport and Right of Permanent Resident Fee payment as soon as your medical results have been received and the security checks have been completed;
• Confirm that the Canadian Immigration Visa Office has received your passport for the purpose of placing your Canada Immigration Visa inside.

Your Canada Immigration Visa will have an expiry date, by which time you and your accompanying family members must enter Canada.

OUR SOLUTION:

We Will: 

• Verify that all of the information contained on your Canada Immigration Visa is accurate;
• Communicate with the Canadian Immigration Visa Office on your behalf to correct any information on your Canada Immigration Visa that is inaccurate;
• Provide instructions to you for your arrival at a Canadian port of entry;
• Advise you on how to obtain a Canadian Permanent Resident Card, Social Insurance Number and Health Insurance Card;
• Advise you as to the residency obligations of Canadian Permanent Residents and how to qualify for Canadian citizenship.