4 What Happens After You Make An Application

10:4 WHAT HAPPENS AFTER YOU MAKE AN APPLICATION

In general, visa offices have their own processes and time frames for processing applications. that you have included the required fees, information and supporting documents). If your application is not complete, the package will be returned to you.

Begin processing your application if the application is complete. You will receive a letter confirming that your application has been received and is being processed and giving you the number of your file, some basic instructions for contact with the visa office and an outline as to future processing steps.

During the decision-making process, the office may contact you if further documentation is required and if a personal interview is required.

The decision of whether or not you will be called for an interview before you are issued a visa for coming to Canada rests with the immigration officer processing your file. Your spouse or common-law partner and dependent children age 18 or over may also be asked to come to the interview.

At the interview, you may be questioned about your job, experience, education, reasons for migrating, plans and preparations, family, health, financial situation or past difficulties with the law. If you are making an application for permanent residence, there may also be questions to determine your ability to settle successfully in Canada. The questions you will be asked at the interview will often be largely clarification or verification of information on the forms. In terms of the documents that you should bring with you to the interview, check with the visa office beforehand and make sure that you obtain a list. You should make sure that you have with you the originals of the documents, the copies of which you included in the application.

Last, it would be to your advantage if you:

make it to the interview on time;

are polite and courteous to the people you interact with at the visa office;

dress professionally;

organise the documents you have with you as well as possible, so that if asked for an item, you can provide it without difficulty.

It is also a good idea to make a note, to the best of your ability, of what was asked and answered at the interview and keep it. It may be useful to have it at a later time.

10:6.1 Applications for permanent residence

If your application is successful, you will be asked to submit your passports to the visa office where you applied. You will receive permanent visas for Canada. Please note that the validity of your visa cannot exceed the validity of your passport. The Canadian visa office may request that your passport be renewed prior to submission.

The validity date of your permanent resident visa is based on the earlier of:

your passport validity dates or your family members passport validity dates; or

the medical validity dates; medical examination results are valid for 12 months after the initial medical examination.

You will also be issued a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) form that will contain all of your identification information, as well as a photo and your signature.

If your application is refused, you will be informed of that in writing.

10:6.2 Applications for temporary residence

If your application is refused, you will be informed in writing. If your application is approved, the following will happen.

If you applied for a work permit, you will receive a letter confirming the approval; when you arrive in Canada, you must show this letter to an officer at the port of entry who will issue you the work permit.

If you applied for a study permit, you will receive a letter of introduction confirming the approval. Please note that this letter is not your study permit; when you arrive in Canada, you will have to show this letter to the immigration officials who will issue you a study permit at that time.

You will also be issued a Temporary Resident Visa for coming to Canada.

If your application for coming to Canada is refused, your documents will be returned to you with an explanation of why your application was refused. Any documents found to be fraudulent will not be returned to you.

In some circumstances, you have the right either to appeal or seek judicial review of the decision of the immigration officer to reject your application. This includes the case where you have applied for permanent resident status and your application was denied. If you wish to challenge a decision to reject your application, you should consult competent counsel.