Immigration Questions

HOW CAN I IMMIGRATE TO CANADA?

There are different ways to obtain Canadian residency. There are numerous categories and types of applications, and each person's case is different. Immigration consultants and lawyers can help you figure out the best way to apply.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?

There is no guarantee of how long CIC will take to review the application. This varies based upon how busy each Consulate is and the type of application. After the first interview with a client, PNIC will provide an estimate of how long we expect their process to take. For up-to-date waiting periods at different consulates around the world, please visit

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/index.asp

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A CANADIAN PERMANENT RESIDENT?

A Permanent Resident has most of the rights and responsibilities of a Canadian citizen, and has permission to live and work in Canada for as long as they please. Permanent residents cannot vote in Canadian elections, run for elected office, hold Canadian passports, or work in certain government jobs.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A CANADIAN CITIZEN?

Canadian citizens have certain rights that permanent residents do not have, such as: the right to vote in Canadian elections, to work at certain government jobs, to have a Canadian passport and the right to leave Canada for as long as they want without losing the right of residency.

HOW CAN I OBTAIN CANADIAN CITIZENSHIP?

After you get your permanent residency, you will need to have lived in Canada for at least three years before applying for Canadian citizenship. There are certain rules that must be obeyed before submitting this application. Contact your Canadian immigration consultant before you start your application to make sure that you qualify for this process.

DURING MY PERMANENT RESIDENCY APPLICATION, HOW CAN I PROVE MY FLUENCY IN BOTH OFFICIAL CANADIAN LANGUAGES?

For the English language, you have to take the IELTS or CELPIP exams (CELPIP's can only be done if you are physically in the Province of BC). For the French language, you have to take the TEF exam.

DURING MY PERMANENT RESIDENCY APPLICATION, DO I NEED TO OBTAIN POLICE CLEARANCES AND DO MEDICAL EXAMS?

Yes. Medical exams are necessary for all applicants. Police clearances are necessary for people who are over 18 years of age.

DURING MY PERMANENT RESIDENCY APPLICATION, DO I NEED TO DO AN INTERVIEW?

An interview at the nearest Canadian consulate may be required. A list of Canadian Consulates is available here –

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/offices/missions.asp

WHO ARE MY DEPENDENTS?

Your dependents are your spouses or common-law partners and children who are under 22 years of age. There are a few cases in which children over 22 years of age are also considered dependents. For more information on this, contact your Canadian immigration consultant.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR AN APPLICATION FOR PERMANENT RESIDENCY TO BE FINALIZED?

The processing of your application will depend on the type of your application (some applications are considered to be a priority) and the backlog at the consulate responsible for your case. Citizenship and Immigration Canada provides clients with statistics in regards to its processing times, however, those statistics do not guarantee that your case will be processed in that specific period of time.

HOW CAN I GET MY APPLICATION PROCESSED ON AN EXPEDITED BASIS?

In some cases, the residency application can be processed on a priority basis. In order for you to know if this is your case, please contact your immigration consultant.

CAN I COME TO CANADA TO STUDY, AND WORK AT THE SAME TIME?

If you are in Canada studying English or French you can not have a work permit at the same time. However, if you are enrolled in a College or University program for a period longer than 6 months, you may be able to apply for a part-time work permit.

Our Portuguese-reading clients may also like to visit –

http://www.canadaparabrasileiros.com/centraldevistos

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