Frequently Asked Questions
Before taking you on as a client, we always conduct a comprehensive assessment of your specific situation. This involves listening to you, understanding your background, history and objectives. Only after getting a clear idea of your unique issues, can we provide you with solutions that will work. And we will tell you whether we can help, what steps must be taken, how long and at what cost.
Yes you can. We prefer meeting you in person in our Edmonton immigration consultant office, but we often help individuals who do not live in Edmonton or are still in their country of origin. Depending on the country, we can meet by phone or a teleconferencing application such as Google Meets, Zoom, Skype, Microsoft Teams.
It is important that we have a thorough understanding of the client before quoting a price. Obtaining a price over the phone is like calling a mechanic and trying to get a quote on fixing your car before they look at it. If you get a immigration quote before the consultant has taken the time to learn about you and your situation, there is a good chance that either the services quoted aren’t going to be right for you, or there is a good chance that you are going to be hit with extra fees later.
After the initial consultation, we will schedule a time to meet with you to begin working on your immigration application. Your immigration consultant will provide you with a list of information to bring to the meeting. Personal identification, work history, education and other supporting documents are common. Each situation has its own unique requirements.
After conducting your immigration assessment, all our clients are asked to sign a “Retainer Agreement” that clearly outlines the nature of the case, the legal fees and other costs as well as our role as your representative and what we expect from you as our client.
We will then send you a detailed list of documentation by email guiding you on what is required for your file. We will also begin gathering the necessary information in order to complete any application forms, legal submissions or other paperwork necessary. After your file is complete and ready, we send it to you for review and signature. We will then send your application to the immigration authorities on your behalf, ensuring that your file gets into the correct hands and is processed in a timely manner.
Of course, during the application process, we will keep you informed on what’s going on and you can always contact us any time with your questions and concerns. Once your Visa or permit is ready to be issued, we will make sure it’s delivered to you so things go smoothly when you are ready to make the move.
A foreign national does NOT pay for the LMIA. Our fee and the government fee associated with an LMIA are paid entirely by the employer.
There are many programs available to you that offer the opportunity to apply to Canada. Whether to visit, study or work, it is recommended that we discuss your options during a consultation.
No one can guarantee you an approval and you should be very concerned if someone DOES give you a guarantee. Only a visa officer with Canada Immigration can render a final decision on any individual’s application. You will not know what the outcome is until you receive in writing a decision from the visa officer.
Canada has two official languages: English and French. You may need to provide proof of your language skills in either language depending on the program requirements. Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) is the nationally recognized standard for assessing the English language proficiency of adults. Please note your test results must be less than two years old when you submit your application for permanent residence, and you can take only one of the approved language tests:
CELPIP: Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program
IELTS: International English Language Testing System
TEF: Test d’évaluation de français
TCF: Test de connaissance du français
There are many factors involved to determine if someone can apply for permanent residency. If you are inside or outside Canada, the process of determining your options begins with an assessment of your education, work experience and level of English.
Depending on what your status currently is, and when exactly it expires, will help us determine which extension is the most effective to retain your legal status in Canada. Every case is different however, extending your status prior to its expiry remains a must in order to avoid issues in the future.
You may be able to remain in Canada if you submitted an extension before your status expired. The conditions of your status before it expired may allow you to continue visiting, working or studying, until a decision is made on your extension.
There are very few programs that allow a person to obtain an open work permit. Depending on your situation, you may be eligible.
No. You must comply with the conditions of your study permit. However, students who find themselves unable to for reasons beyond their control, pay for their studies, may be eligible to apply for an open work permit.
A student studying at a DLI on a full-time basis may work part-time during studies, and full-time during scheduled breaks. You can only start working when your program of study beings.
Depending on the country you are from, you would require a valid ETA or TRV. Your study or work permit does NOT on its own, grant you entry into Canada.
Every application is different. Processing times can be viewed here: IRCC processing times.
A visitor in Canada may study in a program that is 6 months or less without the requirement of a study permit.
Ensure that your institution is eligible for PGWP’s. You must study and graduate from a program that is a minimum of 8 months in length and apply within a specified time for your open work permit after you graduate.
Depending on which application was refused and your current status, will help us determine what is your best options going forward.