Becoming a permanent resident of Canada is a dream for many people. Not only does the country offer people a chance to have a better standard of living, but it is also lauded for its dynamic culture that is most welcoming to immigrants.
If you’re among those who wish to apply for permanent residency in this country, you must make sure that you’re well informed on how to apply for immigration. Aside from knowing the different requirements for Canada immigration, there are several things that you must avoid doing to increase your chances of getting approved.
The immigration process has been streamlined according to the varying programs the country offers. While this was meant to make the process easier, it may have confused some of the applicants into incurring errors in their application.
Below are six of the most common mistakes you should avoid when filing for your Canada immigration application:
1. Sending your application to the wrong address
There are many ways to apply for permanent residency in Canada. But with this comes the confusing part of the process: where and how to send your application.
Below are some of the options potential migrants can choose from when applying to Canada:
- For applicants aged 14 to 79 years old, going through biometrics scanning is necessary during the visa application. For this reason, applicants must submit their documents in person at Visa Application Centers (VAC).
- Those applying under the Federal Skilled Trades (FST), Federal Skilled Worker (FSW), or the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) streams must sign up for an online profile first. This can be done via the Express Entry portal. If qualified, applicants will receive an invitation to apply before obtaining a work permit and a visa and a work permit at a VAC.
- For those who apply for immigration to join family members already residing in Canada, the application should be sent by mail to Case Processing Centers (CPC). Keep in mind that there may be different mailing addresses for each case (i.e., spouse, dependent children, or dependent parents), so be sure to check first before sending.
2. Forgetting to submit supplemental documents
In some cases, citizens from specific countries are required to accomplish additional forms or provide supplementary information during the application process.
For example, aspiring migrants wanting to move from Abu Dhabi, UAE to Canada through the skilled worker program are required to answer a Residency Questionnaire. Similarly, those who will be coming from Islamabad, Pakistan will also need to fill up the Education and Work Experience Questionnaire and submit it with other documents in their application.
If you are a citizen in one of these countries, you should never forget to fill up the additional forms to avoid delaying your application. Failing to do this may also result in the return of your application documents.
3. Submitting hand-written immigration application forms
While some applicants may opt to complete Canada immigration application forms by hand, doing so is not recommended. This is because hand-written forms may not be assessed thoroughly due to illegible writing. When this happens, the immigration officer reviewing the documents will most likely return the application forms.
On top of that, hand-written forms cannot be verified using Adobe Reader. This can delay the entire process since it means that officers would have to transfer the information manually. This is so the IRCC code could be generated, which could have been easily done via the computer software.
Because of these reasons, it is vital that you complete all application forms either online or via the Adobe Reader software on your computer. Aside from expediting the process, it can also ensure that you have copies of your application, which you can reproduce if necessary.
4. Not attaching a cover letter
While this may not be a fatal mistake, not attaching a cover letter may also cause a delay in the processing of your immigration application.
The cover letter lets the immigration department know what stream you’re applying for and the reason behind your intention to move to Canada. This makes the process much faster since the officer in charge of reviewing it would immediately know the most important details of your application. On top of that, a cover letter can also help you reiterate why you should be approved for immigration.
5. Providing inconsistent personal and education data
Whether you’re applying for temporary or permanent residency, you must make sure that your personal and education details are consistent. This means you must list down details of your travel, education, and other personal histories without leaving any gaps in between.
In this case, not missing even a single week of your historical data is crucial. Be sure to include even your short vacations. Review your answers twice or thrice to be sure that the dates align.
6. Not having sufficient in the language test scores
Canada is an English- and French-speaking nation, and as such, they also require immigration applicants to be proficient in the said languages.
To prove that you’re at par with their standards in terms of language, you must pass the Canadian Level Benchmark (CLB) system. This system sets specific scores for speaking, reading, listening, and writing.
Of course, you may also take language testing systems like the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
Keep in mind that the CLB has a different scoring system compared to the IELTS. This means you must first determine the equivalent benchmark score for your IELTS results based on the immigration class you’re applying for. Here is a list you can use as a guide:
- Federal Skilled Worker class – CLB 7 is equivalent to 6.0 for Reading, Speaking, Writing; and 6.0-7.0 for Listening in the IELTS
- Canadian Experience Class NOC A – CLB 7 is equal to 6.0 for Reading, Speaking, Writing; and 6.0-7.0 for Listening in the IELTS
- Canadian Experience Class NOC B – CLB 5 is equivalent to 5.0 for Writing, Listening, and Speaking; and 4.0 for Reading in the IELTS
- Federal Skilled Trades – CLB 5 for Speaking and Listening and CLB 4 Reading and Writing translates to 5.0 for Listening and Speaking, 3.5 for Reading, and 4.0 for Writing in IELTS
Avoid Mistakes to Avoid Immigration Application Rejection
Once you’ve decided to apply for permanent residence in Canada, you should start researching the intricacies of the process. Aside from getting expert help from immigration agencies, you should also make sure that you know the potential challenges you might face. Avoiding such mistakes will reduce the chances of delay and rejection.
This article was written by Bevan Berning, an immigration professional and owner of Pathway Visas, an Immigration Agency dealing mostly with skilled immigration to Canada and Australia. Bevan’s enthusiasm for the industry has kept in the Immigration field for the past seven years. Bevan is South African by birth and has been residing in Dubai for the past eight years.
