Top 5 Questions People ask about Canadian Immigration

There are numerous questions one would have regarding Immigration. Whether it is how to fill out an application or how long their application process would take.

Here is a list of the top 5 questions we often get:

1. Why Immigrate to Canada?

Out of all the countries, why immigrate to Canada?

• Canada has been rated the best place to live. It has been voted number one by the UN for seven consecutive years.
• Excellent, free education
• Government loans and grants to continue post-secondary education no matter what your age is
• Individual rights and freedoms are protected by law by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom
• Great social services
  • Unemployment Insurance
  • Child Tax Benefits
  • Old Age Security
  • Workers Compensation
  • One of the best universal health care systems in the world
  • Canadian passport (after three years of residency and applying for permanent residency)

 2. How long does the application processes take?

Processing times can rage. There is no set processing time. Each case is different and will be processed by each Citizenship and Immigration Canada visa office according to their resources and the number of applications being processed.

Processing times depend on:

• The Canadian visa post through with you are applying;
• Whether an Immigration interview is deemed necessary;
• Complexity of the case;
• How well the case is presented; and
• The caseload at the Canadian visa post at the given time.

3.    How can I become a permanent resident of Canada?

A permanent resident is someone who has acquired permanent resident status by immigration to Canada, but is not a Canadian citizen.

To be eligible to immigrate to Canada, you must meet standard requirements of one of the three classes of Immigration to apply for Permanent Residence.

The three classes are:

• Family
• Independent/Skilled Worker
• Business Class

You can apply for permanent resident card (PR Card) if you:

• Have permanent resident status
• Are in Canada
• Have not been asked by the Government of Canada to leave the country,  are not a Canadian citizen, or a registered Indian under the Indian Act

4.    What is the difference between a Permanent Canadian Resident and a Canadian Citizen?

A permanent resident has the right to live in Canada forever. Every 5 years, you must live in Canada for at least 2 years to maintain your Permanent Residency status if you wish to travel as a PR.  You benefit from most of the rights and freedoms guaranteed under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom. However, you do not have the right to vote and hold a Canadian passport.

A Canadian citizen does not have any residence rules. With being a Canadian Citizen, you get the addition of the right to vote, to participate in political activities, and to run for political office. You may also apply for a Canadian Passport.

5.    What are the requirements of becoming a Canadian Citizen?

In order to become a citizen of Canada, you must fulfill these requirements: (there are many others but these are the basics)

• Be a permanent resident of Canada;
• Have lived in Canada for at least 1,095 days of physical presence in Canada in the four years before the date you sign your application;
• Have an adequate knowledge of either English or French;
• Not be under a removal order;
• Not be criminally prohibited; and
• Attend a ceremony and take the oath of citizenship.

There are many other questions we get but these are some of the most common.

Have questions about immigration to Canada?

We are here to help. You can contact us using the online form at the right or book a consultation right online at www.visaplace.com/bookonline

President & CEO

Michael Niren

Mr. Niren is CEO of VisaPlace LLC and the President and Managing Partner of VisaPlace Legal Canada, an immigration law firm based in Toronto, and VisaPlace Legal US a law firm registered in The District of Columbia, USA. Mr. Niren is a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Canadian Bar Association’s Citizenship and Immigration Section, American Lawyers Association, and an Associate Member of the American Bar Association.