Calgary Immigration Consultant

As of the date this article is written, candidates need a CRS Score higher than 480 to be invited to apply for Permanent Residence through Express Entry. It is possible to monitor the CRS score required to receive an invitation on the IRCC website.

IRCC is planning to move to an Express Entry system that targets certain occupations instead of simply issuing invitations to apply based on the highest overall CRS.

Many types of Canadian work permit can be renewed or extended before the expiry date, in order that you can continue to work in Canada until either your work project is finished or you qualify as a permanent resident. In most cases, you can apply online to extend your work permit while you are inside Canada, and you will benefit from maintained status that allows you to remain legally working until you receive a decision on your new work permit application from IRCC. The legalities of where to apply for which type of work permit and who receives maintained status can be complicated, so we recommend that you consult with an expert to ensure that you get it right according to your specific situation.

Studying in Canada is a great opportunity for anyone seeking a world class education. A Canadian credential is recognized around the globe and guaranteed to open professional opportunities that otherwise might not be realized. The cost of a Canadian post secondary education is often lower than in other countries, living standards are high and Canada is one of the safest countries in the world in which to live.

Yes, you can leave Canada after applying for Canadian Citizenship, as long as you maintain your Permanent Resident status and you can return to Canada to take the Oath of Citizenship when it’s time to do so. Although you can obtain special permission to take the Canadian Citizenship test from outside Canada, you must be physically present in Canada when you take the Oath of Citizenship.

When a foreign national is applying for a temporary resident status (visitor visa) in Canada, the visitor visa officer is compelled to assess whether they have the intention to live in Canada on a temporary or a permanent basis. When a foreign national has a partner who is a citizen or Canadian permanent resident, that demonstrates a strong tie to Canada and raises the question of whether the foreign national may have an intent to stay permanently in Canada without having been approved for a permanent resident visa yet (and passed the criminal and medical checks that are part of the permanent application). Their partner’s immigration status as a citizen or Canadian permanent resident thus becomes a drawback, as officers tend to err on the side of caution and give applicants the message that you must wait for your Canadian spousal sponsorship to be approved first.  Because of this, any application for a visitor visa must demonstrate strong reasons why the foreign national is planning to travel to Canada for a time-limited basis only, and submit documents that support why the foreign national will be returning to their country of residence to await the PR process. For example, job responsibilities or prior short visits to Canada may help (the partner’s passport proof can show that). Without strong evidence, the officer will be likely to refuse a temporary visitor visa application when a Canadian partner is part of the equation.