Canada Immigration Visa or Permanent Resident Visa Application Eligibility

What is a Canada immigration visa?

A Canada Immigration Visa also known as Permanent Resident Visa is proof that you currently reside in Canada and that you were given permanent resident status by immigrating to Canada. The Canada immigration visa is a travel document that allows you to re-enter Canada once you have left. It is a multi-entry visa meaning you can exit and re-enter the country more than once. It is usually issued to you once you become a permanent resident. If you are a permanent resident and you wish to travel outside of Canada you will need to apply for a Canada immigration visa if you do not have one.

The permanent resident visa does not grant you citizenship as permanent residents are citizens of other countries. If you have this visa you can live outside of Canada but you must live in Canada for at least two years in a five year period. You will also be required to pay taxes and respect all Canadian laws.

As a Canadian Permanent Resident you have the right to:

• participate in most social benefits including health care
• live, work, or study anywhere in Canada
• apply to become a citizen of Canada
• protection under the Canadian law and the Canadian charter of rights and freedoms

As a Canadian Permanent Resident you are not allowed to:

• vote or run for politic office
• hold some jobs that need a high-level security balance

You can lose your permanent resident status if you stay outside of Canada for too long. You will have to go through an official process to lose or give up your permanent resident status. If you have not gone through the process your permanent resident status still remains even though you may not be eligible to re-enter Canada.

You may lose your status based on the follow reasons:

• If it is determined that you no longer a permanent resident following the inquiry
• If a visa officer determines that you do not meet the requirements
• If you do not live in Canada for at least two year within a 5 year period
• If you become convicted of a serious crime and was told to leave Canada
• When you become a Canadian citizen

If your permanent resident visa expires you will not lose your permanent resident status. Also if you no longer wish to be a permanent resident in Canada you can apply to voluntarily give up your status.

Who qualifies for Canada Immigration Visa?

If you or a family member is a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident then close family members may be able to qualify for a Canada immigration visa. There are various programs under which you or your family member may qualify for Canadian immigration. These programs include:

• Family class
• Economic class
• Humanitarian and compassionate class
• Refugees and persons in need of protection

Canada Family Class Sponsorship:

Under the family class you can sponsor your spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, parents, and any dependent children.

Economic class:

This is where people can be chosen for the skills they have and their ability to contribute to Canada’s economy. These people include federal skilled workers, business immigrants, provincial and territorial nominees, and live-in caregivers.

Humanitarian and Compassionate Class:

These applications are for those who have no legal status but wish stay in Canada for example someone whose visa has expired. You will have to show that you have strong ties to Canada will undergo a life extreme hardship if they send you back to your home country.

Refugees and persons in need of protection:

You can sponsor a refugee where they are in danger in their homeland and/or need to escape from persecution. If the refugee qualifies to come to Canada you will need to provide financial and emotional support for him or her.

Where can I submit my Canada Immigration Visa?

If you are trying to figure out where to send your Canada immigration visa application, it is all depending on which permanent resident program you apply for.

You are required to select the visa office that serves your country of nationality or the country where have been legally admitted for at least one year.

Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) applications and self-employed, start-up visa, Quebec-selected skilled worker applications must be mailed first to the Centralized Intake office which is located in Sydney, Nova Scotia.

Each new Family Class application needs to be mailed to the Case Processing Centre which is located in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

Again, you must select the visa office that your application will be processed at. There is a guided list off visa offices on the Citizenship and immigration website so be careful to choose the right place.

Do I need to submit Biometrics for Canada Immigration Visa?

Temporary resident visas such as study permits and work permits you may be required to give biometrics which is your fingerprints and photographs, but do not mail these in your application if you are applying on paper. You must submit them in person to the visa application centre that is nearest to you.

I am permanent resident of Canada how can I come back to Canada?

Are you a permanent resident who is outside of Canada and you are in need of proof of status in order to re-enter Canada? You can apply at the Canadian visa office that serves the country that you are in. If your application is properly filled out and you meet all the requirements then you will receive your visa in the mail. They also may mail you a letter notifying you of when and where you could pick it up.

Who can I include in my Canada Immigration Visa application?

You can choose to include certain individuals in your application when applying for a Canada immigration visa. These persons must also meet the requirements that are needed to travel to Canada. The individuals that can be included in your application can be your spouse/common law/conjugal partner and also dependent child.

Dependent Child:

Refers to those of a spouse of common law partner must be under the age of 19. The dependent children will also need to obtain a medical and security clearance requirements. If there are any changes in your family status after you have submitted your application, this may affect the processing of your application, you must be sure to inform immigration officers about any changes to your application as soon as possible.

Spouse:

Refers to as either two persons of the (opposite sex or same sex), must be in a marriage that is legally recognized in the country that it took place as well as in Canada.

Common Law Partner:

Refers to a person living in a conjugal relationship with another person (opposite or same sex), and has done so continuously for a period not less than 1 year.

Conjugal:

Refers to a foreign national residing outside of Canada who is in a relationship with the sponsor but could not live together as a couple due to circumstances that are beyond their control.

Can I include my parents in the Canada Immigration Visa?

Parents cannot be included in your package for Canada Immigration Visa. They generally cannot be sponsored by their children/grandchildren for Canadian residency but if parents and grandparents want to apply to Canada, they may do so by applying for the Super Visa. Parents and grandparents must also meet the requirements and cannot be inadmissible to Canada to be eligible for the Super Visa.

What is the Super Visa?

The Super Visa permits parents/grandparents of Canadian citizens to come to Canada, but just as visitors, must be for a period of two consecutive years at a time, without having to renew their status. This visa is valid for 10 years and proof of the letter of invitation from a residing child/grandchild, also the child/grandchild must meet the low income cut off minimum.

What are the requirements for to sponsor a family member to Canada?

There are basic requirements that you must provide to the sponsored individual, these requirements are things such as, food, clothing, utilities, shelter, fuel, and personal requirements, basically anything that you will need to survive in Canada, also health care that is not provided by public health, such as dental and eye care.

The reason why you have to provide these requirements, is so that the person who you are sponsoring will not be dependent on the Canada’s welfare system, you are obligated to provide the necessities to the individual.

This is why you sign a contract as undertaking, because you are making a promise to take care of the individual that you are sponsoring.

You must be aware that failure to provide the necessities for the individual will lead to serious consequences, for example, if the person you sponsored goes on social assistance, you are obligated to pay back the amount that the individual you sponsor have collected.

Contact Akrami & Associates

If you need help obtaining a Canada Immigration Visa or have questions whether you meet the eligibility criteria or another immigration questions you might have, please feel free to contact us at 416-477-2545 or dial our toll free number 1-877-820-7121.