Independent Applicant
By far the largest number of immigrants qualify under this category. Anyone with the right skills, background and a certain level of savings can apply in the independent class.

As with the Business category, the points system is used to determine eligibility.

Refugee/Humanitarian Class

Those who wish to apply under this category should meet the internationally recognised definition of ‘refugee’, and will be assessed on the basis of their need and ability to resettle in Canada.

Two other types of people who don’t meet the definition of ‘refugee’ can currently apply under this category – political prisoners/oppressed persons and those who come under the Indochinese Designated Class.

Some refugees are eligible for financial assistance from the Canadian government.

Students

If you wish to study in Canada, you must first be accepted as a student by an approved educational institution in the country. Students may be given a visitors visa rather than a residence visa. In the directory section of this book, you will find a list of Canadian missions which process student applications. Contact the one nearest you for a list of institutions offering subjects you are interested in and for application procedures.

The selection process

As mentioned above, independent applicants and those applying under the business immigrant category are assessed on the basis of a points system. Only those who meet a certain mark can expect to be called for an interview. (The interviews are waived in a minority of cases if the assessing officer decides that the applicant meets all the requirements).

Once you are confident of your chances, you should send in your application to a Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate. You can download an official form from the Citizenship and Immigration Department website.

For immigration to Quebec, visit the Quebec Provincial Government's French language website.

You can use the forms at these sites if you wish to get your application rolling as quickly as possible. If time is not a major factor, however, we strongly advise you to obtain a form by writing to the Canadian diplomatic mission at which you wish to apply (see the directory section of this book for a complete list of addresses). Each immigration office has slightly different procedures for handling applications and may also require you to fill up supplementary forms that are region-specific. These will all be provided as part of the Immigration Kit that will be sent to you.

Papers you may be required to provide include birth and marriage certificates, education/training documents and police clearance certificates from each country you have lived in over the past 10 years.

An aside here on police clearance certificates. Some countries -- primarily in the Middle East where there is a large immigrant worker population -- insist that requests for these certificates be channelled through the company you work for. If you’d rather not have your employer know about your plans to emigrate, send in your other documents to the visa office anyway, with a letter stating that the police clearance certificate will follow. Officials are pretty understanding of the concerns of would-be immigrants; submitting the certificate even as late as the interview stage would be considered acceptable).

Once you have sent in your application with the fees (more on that below) and required documents, it will be assessed and you may or may not be called for an interview. If the result of the interview is positive, or you get an interview waiver, you and your family will be required to undergo a medical exam. The immigration office will provide you with a list of doctors on their panel for your region. The test results are sent directly by the doctor to the assessing office.

If the medical result is positive, you and your dependants will receive immigrant visas for Canada. A deadline is set for you to make your entry into the country. This is usually 12 months from the time of your medicals. If there are compelling reasons which make it impossible for you to meet this deadline, you can write to the immigration office requesting an extension.

How much will it cost?

For your application to be considered, you must include the prescribed fees when you send in your form.

Currently, the amount is C$550 for the principal applicant (C$1,050 for business applicants), plus C$550 for each accompanying dependent over the age of 22 and C$150 for each dependent under 22. These are processing fees and will not be refunded even if the application is unsuccessful.

Additionally, there is a Right of Permanent Residence Fee, which is C$975 per adult applicant. This amount will be refunded if the application is turned down or if you choose not to move to Canada.

Many visa offices will accept US dollars or local currency, provided it is freely convertible. The exact amount will depend on the exchange rate prevailing at the time, so check with the immigration office before sending in your application.

Payment can be made in cash, by money order, traveller's cheque, certified cheque, or by credit card (Visa or MasterCard only).

In Canada, contact one of Citizenship and Immigration's Call Centres.

In Vancouver, call: 1-604-666-2171

In Toronto, call: 1-416-973-4444

In Montreal, call: 1-514-496-1010

Rest of Canada, call: 1-888-242-2100

Outside Canada, contact the nearest Canadian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate.