Canadian Opportunities, Inc.

Who qualifies as an independent immigrant? (back to top)
A person with specific occupational skills and experience may qualify as an independent immigrant. These skills must be readily transferable to the Canadian labour market.

Does it help to have a relative in Canada? (back to top)
Yes. Having a close relative living in Canada increases your point score under the selection system. The relative must be a permanent resident or Canadian citizen aged 19 or over, and he/she must be a "close relative" as defined in the section Important Words to Know. You must provide documentation to prove the relationship.

What fees must I pay? (back to top)
You must pay a Cost Recovery (CR) fee to pay for the processing of your application. The CR fee is non-refundable, even if your application is refused. The Right of Landing Fee (ROLF) is required of every adult aged 19 or over in your family but, unlike the CR fee, is refundable if an Immigrant Visa is not issued, or if you withdraw your application or if your application is refused. The ROLF can be paid at any time during the application process, but must be paid before the Immigrant Visa can be issued. The ROLF must be paid to the same office where you paid your CR fee. You will also have to pay other fees such as those related to obtaining a medical examination and a police certificate. (NOTE: CR and ROLF are not applicable to non-accompanying family members, or to family members who are already permanent residents of Canada).

Who is included in my application? (back to top)
If you're married, your spouse should be included as a dependent. You must also include on your application all dependent children whether they are accompanying you to Canada or not. (See Important Words to Know for a definition of "dependent children"). Your dependents must undergo and pass background checks and medical examinations. All dependents 18 years of age or over must complete their own individual application form.

If I have children from a previous relationship, must I list them on my application form if they do not live with me? (back to top)
Yes. You should list these children on your application form even if they will not accompanying you. You must also use the Additional Family Information Form (IMM 5406) to provide the details of all your sons and daughters, including adopted children and step children. Where custody arrangements have been made, you should provide copies of the custody documents.

What about my dependents who will not accompany me to Canada? (back to top)
All your dependents, whether they will accompany you to Canada or not, must be included in Part A - Personal Details of your Immigrant Application Form (IMM 0008). In addition, each dependent 18 or over must complete his/her own application form. All of your dependents, whether they will accompany you to Canada or not, must pass the medical examinations and background checks.

What happens if I cannot fit all the information on the application form? (back to top)
You should complete the form by typing or printing clearly and you must sign your application form. If you need more space to answer any questions, attach separate pages. When you have signed the form, it become a legal document and the information you provided must be truthful, complete and correct. It is an offense under the Immigration Act knowingly to make a false or misleading statement. If any information changes before you arrive in Canada, you must inform in writing the visa office to which you applied. This is true even if your visa has already been issued.

Do I need a passport or travel document? (back to top)
You and your dependents must have valid passports or travel documents. If any of the documents are to expire soon, you should renew them. Diplomatic, official, service or public affairs passports cannot be used to immigrate to Canada. You must have a valid regular or private passport when you arrive. The validity of your visa may be affected by the validity of your passport.

Must I or other members of my family attend an interview? (back to top)
A visa officer will review your application and decide if an interview is necessary. If so, you will be informed of the time and place. Your spouse and dependent children aged 18 or over may be asked to accompany you to the interview. The visa officer may ask about your job, work experience, education, reasons for migrating, plans and preparations. The officer may also ask about your family, spouse and/or dependents, or about your health, financial situation, or difficulties with the law. There may also be questions to determine your ability to settle successfully in Canada.

Do professionals need registration and licensing to work in Canada? (back to top)
In Canda, approximately 20 percent of occupations are regulated the health and safety of Canadians (e.g., nurses, engineers, teachers, electricians). people who want to work in regulated occupations need to obtain a license from a provincial regulatory board. Licensing requirements often include education from a recognized school, Canadian work experience and completion of a technical exam. Fees for exams can be costly and are the responsibility of the applicant. Final assesment by the provincial authority can only be made once you are in Canada with permanent resident status.

For how long is my Immigrant Visa valid? (back to top)
The validity date is based upon the earlier of: your or your dependents' passport validity date(s); or the medical validity date(s). Medical Examination results are valid for 12 months after the initial medical examination. Immigrant visas cannot be extended once isseued. If applicants do not use the visas within their validity, they must reapply for immigration to Canada.

Is there a medical requirement for immigrating to Canada? (back to top)
Yes. You and your dependents, whether accompanying or not, must undergo and pass a medical examination. To pass the medical examination you and your dependents must not have a condition that is a danger to public health or safety or would cause excessive demand on health or social services in Canada.

Will I receive a copy of the medical report and the result of the medical examination? (back to top)
All medical reports and X-rays for the Immigration Medical Examination become the property of the Canadian Immigration Medical Authorities and cannot be returned to the applicant. The designated medical practitioner (DMP) will not advice of the results of the medical. However, he/she will advise you if you have a health-related problem. The visa officer and not the DMP makes the final decision on whether or not a medical examination has been passed for immigration purposes. The visa officer will inform you in writing should there be a problem with your medical examination.

For how long is the medical examination valid? (back to top)
The medical examination is valid for 12 months from the date of the first medical examination. If your visa is not processed in this time, you must undergo another complete medical examination.

Must everyone in my family have a medical examination? (back to top)
Yes. All of your dependents who are not already permanent residents or Canadian citizens, whether they will accompany you to Canada or not, must undergo a medical examination.

Can my own doctor do the medical examination? (back to top)
No. A physician on Canada's list of DMPs must do the examination.

My children are studying abroad and cannot return home for their immigration medical examination for another six months. I do not want to delay my application. What should I do? (back to top)
Whenever possible, the same DMP should perform the medical examination of all family members. If not possible, advise the visa office that your dependents are abroad and the visa office will arrange to have their medical examinations done by a DMP closer to their place of study. The visa office will forward a copy of the Medical Report: Section A, Client Identification Summary (IMM1017) to them, with the address of their nearest DMP. &bnsp The visa office will fill in the tombstone data and affix a photograph of your dependent to the form.
The Visa Office & number section of this form (IMM1017) must have the name of the visa office where your application is being processed. The DMP doing the medical examination of your dependents must forward their complete medical reports to the same Canadian medical office that received your report. Your dependents' medical examination reports will matched with your file, as the Medical Report form will carry your file number.
Note: Medical instructions will normally be sent to you after you submit your application to the visa office.

I do not understand "excessive demand" or whether my ailment would place an excessive demand on Canada's health or social services. Can you tell me more? (back to top)
The term refers to the significant burden palced on Canada's health or social services due to ongoing hospitalization or medical, social or institutional care for physical or mental illnesses, or special education or training. nbsp Individuals may be denied admittance to Canada due to the high cost of their care. The factors considered during the medical assesment include whether or not hospitalization or medical, social or institutional care are requireed and whether potential employability or productivity could be affected. For example, a person with a serious disease or psychiatric disorder requiring ongoing care or hospitalization may be inadmissable because their requirements would place "excessive demand" on the Canadian health-care system. Individuals with developmental delay or congenital disorders who require special education or training to lead an independent life may also be inadmissible. Other conditions which could place a significant financial burden on Canada's health or social services would also render an applicant medically inadmissible.

Can the DMP advise me regarding my application? (back to top)
No. The DMP is only responsible for conductiong a medical examination in accordance with Canada's immigration requirements. The DMP cannot provide any advise on the immigration process.

What happens when I arrive in Canada? (back to top)
When you arrive in Canada, you must present your Immigrant Visa to a Canadian customs or immigration officer at your first port of entry. The officer will check your visa and travel documents and ask you questions similar to those on the Immigrant Application Form (IMM 008) to verify that you are of good character and in good health. You may also be required to show proof of your funds. If there are no difficulties, the officer will authorize your admission to Canada as a permanent resident.

What settlement services are available? (back to top)
Canada's settlement services are limited. You can learn about them from Canada Immirgration Centres, Human Resources Canada Centres and private organizations.

Can you help me find a job? (back to top)
We can assist you in finding a job. Before you leave the country, once your visa appliaction is approved we can send your updated resumé to recruitement agencies in Canada for possible placement. But it still up to you to personally apply and take the necessary employement tests and interviews once landed in Canada.

After obtaining permanent resident status in Canada, what if I return to my country to settle my affairs? (back to top)
Permanent residents may leave and re-enter Canada as often as they wish as long as they spend less than six months in any 12-month period outside Canada. If permanent residents are out of Canada for more than six months in any 12-month period, they will require a Returning Resident Permit to re-enter Canada. While such permits can be applied for either in Canada or overseas, they can only be applied for ater you have become a permanent resident.

Frequently Asked Questions about Canada