The Application Process

Where do I submit my application for a Canadian Immigrant Visa?

You submit your application for a Canadian Immigrant Visa to a Canadian visa office. Every geographic region in the world has a Canadian visa office to which your application forms and supporting documents, along with all applicable fees, can be submitted. Each visa office specializes in the examination of documents from its region.

Even if there is no Canadian visa office located in your country of residence, nonetheless your area is the responsibility of a particular Canadian visa office. For example, the Canadian visa office in London, England, is not only responsible for applications from the United Kingdom, but is also responsible for applications from other countries such as Finland and Saudi Arabia.

Applicants under the Business Immigration Program must submit their applications to one of nine designated Visa Offices, which specialize in the evaluation of these files. 

If your destination is the Province of Quebec, you must submit an application for a Canadian Immigrant Visa and an application for a Quebec Certificate of Selection to a Quebec Delegation in your region. This procedure is required because Quebec has exclusive jurisdiction to select immigrants who intend to reside in that Province.

Can I apply to a Canadian visa office which is not responsible for the area in which I reside?

You may submit your application to the Canadian visa office of your choice. However, applications from outside the visa office's area of responsibility may take longer to process than applications from within its territory. These delays are often a result of the visa office's lack of familiarity with documents or issues which are particular to a country outside the visa office's territory.

What documents should be submitted in support of my application for permanent residence?

Supporting documents usually include evidence of employment, education, assets, civil status, and an absence of criminal convictions. Each visa office has specific requirements regarding the submission of supporting documentation. It is advisable to seek expert guidance or instructions from your visa office regarding the submission of supporting documentation.

When must I submit the supporting documentation?

Each visa office has specific timing requirements, but usually, supporting documents are submitted at the same time as your completed application forms and processing fees. Some Visa Offices insist that the entire file be submitted at once, and may even return incomplete files without acknowledging receipt.

In what language must my supporting documentation be submitted?

All supporting documentation in a language other than English or French must be accompanied by an English or French translation, as translated by a certified translator.

Can I transfer my application to a different visa office after it has been submitted?

You can transfer your application to a different visa office after it has been submitted. The transfer of an application to a different visa office takes 6-8 weeks to occur. Processing of the file will start again from the beginning at the new visa office. The fee for transferring an application is presently CAD$100.

How long does the immigration process take?

The average processing time of all world-wide visa offices is approximately 18 months for applications where a selection interview is required. Depending on the circumstances of the case, and the office at which the application is submitted, processing time may be as short as 6 months or as long as 42 months.

What is a lock in date?

A lock-in date is the date on which a visa office receives a completed application form, with full payment of the processing fees. The Canadian Courts have deemed the lock-in date to be the date on which factors such as age must be assessed. Thus, no points will be lost if the applicant's age changes during the processing of the application

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