Does Canada's immigration department encourage the use of representatives to apply for permanent resident status?

Citizenship and Immigration Canada does not encourage applicants to use representatives to apply for permanent resident status. The system has been devised such that the type of individual who would qualify can reasonably assess themselves, and submit an application for immigration on their own.

Does use of a representative speed up the application process?

No, the use of a lawyer or consultant will not speed up the process. Current application processing times are governed primarily by backlogs at the various visa offices. No one can bypass these backlogs and somehow move ahead of the line. Applications are processed strictly on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Submission of an incomplete or unclear application can result in delays to a case, however. Ensuring that your application is thorough and well documented is the best way to ensure that your case is processed more quickly. Diycanadaimmigration.com provides its members with the tools by which they can prepare and submit thorough and well documented applications without the high costs of representation.

What are the advantages of submitting the application myself?

Only you know all the aspects of your personal history, and only you have a vested interest in ensuring that your application is handled properly from beginning to end. By dedicating a small amount of time to preparing your own case, you will ensure that all the information is accurate, that your qualifications are clear, and that the case is handled in a manner befitting the task of moving to a new country.

Won't using a representative make the process of applying simpler?

No, you will be required to undertake the same tasks as applying on your own. You will need to complete the forms yourself; you will need to accumulate the documentation yourself; you will need to obtain clearances and references yourself; and you will need to attend interviews on your own. Since you are the only one who knows your case thoroughly, you may need to thoroughly review the work of your representative in order to ensure that there are no mistakes. You will save no time, and you will lose control of the processing of your case.

What do I need to submit an application myself?

You need to obtain the application materials and instructions from Citizenship and Immigration Canada, either from their web site, or from a Canadian Consulate, Embassy, or High Commission in your jurisdiction. Diycanadaimmigration.com provides all application materials, as well as thorough instructions, access to National Occupational Classification definitions, expert insight into submission of your case, and all the tools necessary to ensure that your case is processed in a timely manner by the visa office.

Where can I find more information about immigration to Canada?

Please feel free to fisit our Canadian immigration links page.

Do I qualify for Canadian permanent resident status?

In order to find out if you qualify, refer to our guide on the current Canadian immigration Selection Criteria, or complete a free eligibility report which will tell you your score, and will give you the opportunity to obtain a detailed scoring report at no charge.

Does my spouse or partner and children have to qualify independently?

No, immediate family members such as a spouse, common-law partner, and dependent children can be included in your application. Such family members will not be required to separately qualify as long as the principal applicant meets the 67 point pass mark.

What is the best way of ensuring success of my case?

The best way to make sure that you submit a successful application is to ensure that your estimated score is accurate, and to document all aspects of your application thoroughly. Diycanadaimmigration.com provides its members with a detailed report prior to the submission of their case, verifying that the application information supports a score which will enable them to succeed in the Canada immigration process. In addition, members are provided with personalized documentation reports which advise them on the complete application materials that they should submit to support the information being submitted.

What is the National Occupational Classification (NOC)?

The National Occupational Classification provides definitions of all occupations which are eligible, as well as those occupations which are considered ineligible for immigration to Canada in the skilled worker program as a principal applicant. When you complete your free instant assessment, Diycanadaimmigration.com provides you with the opportunity to obtain a detailed assessment report which contains the NOC codes and definitions for the occupation or occupations that you have referred to having experience in. Knowing these NOC codes and definitions can be critical to submitting an accurate Personal History, and for drafting of appropriate letters of reference which can optimize your chance of getting a selection interview waived.

What do I have to submit to apply for Canada immigration?

An application for immigration requires that you submit, at a minimum, the applicable government processing fees, and completed application forms for the principal applicant and all dependents (spouse or common-law partner, and dependent children), accompanying or not. Visa offices generally request that documentation of your case is also provided at the time of the submission of your application. Members of Diycanadaimmigration.com receive personalized documentation reports advising them what documents should be submitted along with their applications, and hints and tips on accumulating these documents.

If I do not have a certain document, am I prohibited from applying for immigration to Canada?

If a specific document is not available at the time of submission of your application, then two options generally exist: (1) submit a suitable substitute document which would take the place of the missing document; or (2) submit the outstanding document later in the application process. The documentation report provided to Diycanadaimmigration.com members includes substitution recommendations for those documents which are commonly problematic.

What happens if I do not submit the correct documentation?

Submission of incorrect or incomplete documentation can either result in (1) return of your application; or (2) delay of your application while the documentation is corrected. Ensuring that you submit thorough and accurate documentation of your case is an important step in ensuring that the case is processed more quickly. The documentation report provided to Diycanadaimmigration.com members will allow you to better understand what documents are required for your particular case.

Is it better if someone else prepares my case for me?

No, not necessarily. Only you understand your case well enough to prepare it thoroughly and accurately. Relying on others for assistance may create an additional unnecessary step in the process which may delay your application, and could result in inaccuracies in the presentation of your case and qualifications. Such inaccuracies could result in delay or even refusal of your case.

Are language tests necessary?

Evidence of language ability is a requirement of the present Regulations. If objective documentation of English or French language ability, other than a test score, is available, then this may suffice. Such evidence may include evidence of education or employment in an English or French language environment, evidence of training at a language school, or other credible evidence of language abilities claimed in your application. If you doubt the validity of the documents that you possess for evidence of language ability, submit an IELTS (English) or TEF (French) test score initially, or during the application process.