Avoid the Biggest Mistakes When Applying for Canadian Immigration

Invalid Employment Offer: 

Most immigration programs require you to have a pre-arranged job offer from an employer in Canada. This job offer letter has the following information to be considered valid:

• Your position in the organization
• Working hours of your job
• Offered salary and working conditions
• Description of the job role
• Employer’s signature
• Company letterhead
• Address and contact information of the employer

Always make sure that your job offer has the above-mentioned information to avoid any problems. It is also helpful to provide your employer with a basic template outlining these requirements.

Having an Unauthorized Representative: 

You can minimize the risk of making all the above-mentioned mistakes by hiring a representative to assist with your application. Most paid representatives are either immigration lawyers or consultants authorized by the government to assist immigration applicants.

Unfortunately, many imposters and fraudsters may try to take advantage of you by promising a “guaranteed” visa. Always beware of any such scams and never hesitate to ask for their professional credentials. You can also verify their credentials as an immigration lawyer must be registered with the law society in their province. An immigration consultant is registered with the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulation Council (ICCRC).

Translation Issues: 

Canada has an immigration rate from countries like the Philippines, India, and China. Since English is not the official language in these countries, most documents need to be translated. Canada accepts documents in English or French language. To avoid any problems, if your documents are in a third language, it is always best to get them translated and submit them with the original documents. The translation must be certified and have an affidavit of the translator.

Remember the Deadlines: 

IRCC receives thousands of applications every year, so they have tight deadlines. You are required to apply and all the required documents within the set deadline. Documents such as biometric proof, financial information, medical and personal history, etc should be submitted on time to avoid any delays in your application. You must also keep track of your renewal dates. Even your permanent residence will be renewed every 5 years.

Understand the Rules: 

Canada has over 80 immigration programs with their requirements and criteria. It can become very overwhelming to navigate all the requirements and one can easily make a mistake. You can always talk to an immigration consultant to discuss the various immigration programs and select the one best for your situation. Some common mix-ups your should avoid:

• Keep track of different departments and their inquiry phone numbers
• Make sure that your language scores are up to the requirements of your program
• Mailing your application to the wrong office for processing