FAQ

1. Why should I choose Canada?

There are thousands of reasons to choose Canada rather than any other place in the world; it all depends on what you are looking for in your new life. Among the reasons why to choose Canada are: security and peacefulness, human rights, equality, freedom of speech, affordability of goods, higher salaries, lower unemployment rate, wide spaces and landscape, climate and winter sports, low pollution, education, pensions, free public health care, higher quality of life, culture, gastronomy, etc. The real question is: what’s your reason not to choose Canada?

2. Which Canadian province or territory should I choose?

It really depends on several factors. For instance, are you looking to speak English or French? Do you want to settle in a city or in the countryside? You prefer skiing on the Rocky Mountains or fly-fishing in the great lakes? You prefer to be closer to Tokyo and Los Angeles or Rome and New-York? You prefer cold or warm weather? Are you a video game designer or a uranium miner?

All Canadian provinces and territories have their own unique charms and benefits; some of them also have specific programs and requirements. In the end, it really all depends on what you and your family are looking for. As a side note, both Quebec and Montreal have an astounding promotional video portraying very accurately their respective vibe, climate, architecture and enchanting landscape. We invite you to have a look at both videos; you will savour each second of them!

3. Do I need a lawyer to prepare or submit my application?

In most cases, not really. Lawyers are only required for very complex cases implying legal representation. 95% of the time, you will not need a lawyer to represent you.

4. Why do I need a Canadian Immigration Consultancy (CIC) firm to assist me with my application?

Simply because the visa, immigration and citizenship processes have become more complex over the last years. With well over 50 different immigration programs available, simply being aware of all the possibilities is a challenge, let alone qualifying for any of them. Statistically, your chances of obtaining the desired visa, permit or status are much greater if you rely on a competent Canadian consultancy firm to prepare your file. This is probably the best investment you will have ever made as you will end-up saving time, energy and even money by submitting only one immaculate application.

5. Is it true that some consultancy firms are cheating and scamming applicants?

Crooks without values and principles will always be trying to take advantage of innocent people; the immigration field is unfortunately not different from any other field. Your best protection against such infamous people is to do business strictly with a consultancy firm fully registered in Canada because Canadian laws will protect you. In doubt, ask for a proof. Second, do not choose a firm that sends junk emails and do not reply to any such junk email. Spam often results in scams. Serious and professional firms will always respect your privacy and will never send you unsolicited commercial email. Finally, the application process takes time and its results cannot be guaranteed in any way. Always trust your instincts: if an offer is too good to be true, it’s probably because it is not true!

6. Why should I choose VisaPro.ca?

Because we are a Canadian company established and fully registered in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Because we are a genuine family business and not an obscure and distant law firm. Because we have a unique vision of how our valuable clients should be treated, and we commit to offer you specialised, personalised and affordable services at all time. Because we offer fixed flat fees anywhere between 25% and 90% cheaper than those of our main competitors. And finally because we have a competent and dedicated team that will strive for you.

With over 5000 visa and immigration interviews performed and more than 20 000 visas emitted on behalf of the Government of Canada, we clearly are the reference in the domain. You still have a doubt? Have a look at our success stories and discover what our previous clients said about our services!

7. What is a Sitemap?

A sitemap is simply an efficient tool providing visitors with an overview of a Web site's content at a single glance. We are particularly proud of our sitemap and we invite you to have a look at it because it will give you instant access in a logical manner to all our Web site pages including all our programs and categories of services.

8. What is a Program?

Each year, Canada grants close to 1 Million temporary resident visas, receives about 250 000 permanent residents and bestow Canadian citizenship to almost 200 000 people. For each category of applicant corresponds a specific type of official document, which makes the visa/immigration world vast and intricate.

VisaPro.ca offers a wide range of professional services corresponding to each of these categories. With the aim of reducing the level of complexity, we organised these numerous professional services into 5 main programs: Temporary resident visas, Temporary resident services, Permanent resident visas, Permanent resident services and Canadian citizenship. All existing categories of visa/immigration and citizenship services fall under one of these 5 programs.

9. What is the difference between temporary residence and permanent residence?

The difference is quite simple: temporary residence status allows a foreign person to enter and remain in Canada for a limited period of time. It might allow that person to study or work in Canada, or strictly to visit. Once such status has expired, the foreign person must leave the country unless that status is extended or renewed, or a different status is granted.

On the contrary, permanent residence status allows a foreign person to enter, live and work anywhere in Canada for an undetermined period of time. Moreover, permanent residence status grants most of the rights that Canadian citizenship confers under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. For instance, both permanent residents of Canada and Canadian citizens can sponsor their family members. Finally, a foreign person may apply for Canadian citizenship three years after having received permanent resident status.

It is however important to understand that temporary residence status does not automatically lead to permanent residence status, and permanent residence status does not automatically lead to Canadian citizenship.

10. What is the difference between a permit, a visa and a status?

Really, they all mean the same thing: that a foreign person is authorised to do something. Such authorisation is usually granted based on a specific status obtained by the person following the submission of an application. For instance, temporary residence status authorises a foreign person to enter Canada. After granting a status to a foreign person, Canadian authorities will usually issue a document as a proof that such status has been obtained, so the holder can prove his status if required. Such documents are sometimes called a visa, sometimes called a permit. What is important is not the type of document received (visa or permit), but what it allows its holder to do. A study permit will allow its holder to study in Canada while a transit visa or a work permit will have totally different implications.

11. How do I know if I need a visa/permit to enter or transit Canada?

While the citizens of some countries are not required to obtain a visa before entering or transiting Canada, the vast majority of people do need to obtain a valid visa before entering or transiting Canada. You should be aware that the list of countries whose citizens are required to obtain a visa is constantly changing. If you are not sure about your case, we strongly recommend you to contact us prior to any booking in order to avoid serious complications down the road. You can alternatively contact the Canadian Embassy in your country to inquire.

12. Can I apply for both temporary residence and permanent residence at the same time?

Yes, it is possible to apply for both temporary residence and permanent residence at the same time because the Canadian immigration authorities recognise the notion of dual intent. You will simply need to submit two separate applications.

13. What is a Category of services?

Each year, Canada grants close to 1 Million temporary resident visas, receives about 250 000 permanent residents and bestow Canadian citizenship to almost 200 000 people. There are different ways to obtain temporary residence status, permanent residence status or Canadian citizenship. Each of these ways simply corresponds to a very specific  category of services with its own requirements, rights and obligations.

For instance, a foreign person might be granted temporary residence status by obtaining a tourist visa, a study permit, a work permit, a transit visa or a temporary resident permit. Additional temporary residence services and documentation such as a certificat d’acceptation du Québec (CAQ – Quebec acceptance certificate) or a labour market opinion (LMO) might also be required. Finally, after having obtained a visa or permit, that person might want to extend, renew or amend it. All these documents and professional services constitute a distinct category of services with its own unique characteristics and implications.

14. How do I know under which Category of services I need to apply?

Some applicants will already know under which category of services to apply. Others will simply have no clue. Randomly completing and submitting applications to the Canadian authorities might not only be time and energy consuming, but it might also get very pricey. If you choose VisaPro.ca, it is not required to know in advance under which category of services to apply. In case you do not know at this time, our assessment form will help us identify the category the most suitable to your case.

15. What is the difference between eligibility criteria and admissibility criteria?

The difference is quite simple: eligibility criteria are specific to a category of services and vary greatly from a category to another one, while admissibility criteria are in theory generically applicable to all categories of services.

Canadian immigration authorities retain exclusive powers and rights to make the final decision on any application using existing admissibility criteria, including security, criminal, medical and financial factors.

On the other hand, eligibility criteria are the responsibility of the authority in charge of the category of services, be it the Government of Canada or any provincial or territorial government. It may include any requirements or selection factors such as education, language proficiency, work experience, age, arranged employment or adaptability.

16. Are the eligibility and admissibility criteria the same for all visas, permits and status?

Definitely not! Eligibility criteria vary greatly from a category of services to another one, and they vary even more from a program to another one. However, admissibility criteria are in theory generically applicable to all categories of services.

17. Are the eligibility and admissibility criteria the same for all provinces and territories?

It depends. The admissibility criteria are in theory generically applicable to all applicants destined to any province or territory. On the other hand, eligibility criteria usually vary from a province/territory to another one. For instance, Alberta might have totally different experience requirements compared with the other provinces/territories while Quebec might have different language criteria.

18. Will I need to attend a medical examination?

It mainly depends under which program you wish to apply and more importantly, under which category of services you wish to apply. Usually, all categories of services under the permanent resident visas program require the main applicant and all his accompanying family members to attend a medical examination.

19. Will I need to attend a language test?

It mainly depends under which program you wish to apply and more importantly, under which category of services you wish to apply. Usually, all categories of services under the permanent resident visas program require the main applicant to attend a language test.

20. Will I need to attend an interview?

It mainly depends under which program you wish to apply and more importantly, under which category of services you wish to apply. Usually, all categories of services under the permanent resident visas program require the main applicant and his spouse to attend an interview. In some circumstances, accompanying dependant children over 22 years of age might also be required to attend a selection interview. Finally, an interview might also be required in order to obtain Canadian citizenship.

21. Does it help to have relatives in Canada?

It usually does help. It might help to obtain a temporary resident visa because it gives you a stronger genuine purpose to visit Canada. It might also help to obtain a permanent resident visa as additional points are usually granted when close relatives who are either Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada reside on a permanent basis in Canada.

22. What language can I use through my interactions with the Government of Canada?

Aside from very few exceptions such as selection interviews, all interactions with the Government of Canada must be performed in one of the two official languages: English or French.

23. What supporting documentation do I need to send for my application to be processed?

It mainly depends under which program you wish to apply and more importantly, under which category of services you wish to apply. You might be required to submit along with your application form copies of your passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate or graduation diplomas. You might also be required to submit copy of an invitation letter from your host in Canada, of a parent consent letter, of a letter of acceptance from an educational institution in Canada, or of a letter from your prospective employer in Canada. Finally, you might be required to submit additional supporting documentation such as photographs, police certificates, medical certificates and proofs of settlement funds.

We are available to assist you. If you choose VisaPro.ca, we will make sure that your file is complete before submission.

24. Do I need to send originals, certified photocopies or plain photocopies?

It depends. Sometimes, copies of your supporting documentation need to be certified before a commissioner for oaths; other times, simple plain photocopies are accepted. In few instances, you might be required to send originals. But hey, don’t worry: we, at VisaPro.ca, are fully registered commissioner for oaths, so in any case, you shouldn’t have any problem regardless of the type of supporting documentation required.

25. In what language must my supporting documentation be submitted?

Aside from very few exceptions, all supporting documentation in a language other than English or French must be accompanied by an official English or French translation, as translated by a certified translator.

26. Where should I submit my application?

It mainly depends under which program you wish to apply and more importantly, under which category of services you wish to apply. In some cases, applications must be sent to the closest Canadian embassy. In other cases, applications must be sent to a specific federal office either in Canada or elsewhere in the world. Finally, in some instances, applications must be sent to a provincial or territorial government.

27. What is the average application processing time?

That is a real tricky question as there are so many factors that can influence processing times. Among these factors are: the program and category of services under which you applied, your country of origin, your province or territory of destination, the particular office processing your application, the way your application forms were completed and your file prepared, whether or not you must attend an interview and specific tests must be performed, etc.

Moreover, additional factors can impact normal processing times, such as: ratification of new international treaties, amendments to current laws and treaties, modification to quotas, the period of the year, whether or not your case is considered urgent by the authorities, etc. Roughly, temporary resident visas and permits takes few days to few weeks to process, while permanent resident visas and related services takes anywhere between few months and few years. Really, there is no way we can be more specific without first knowing few elements about your case. Contact us and we will give you a more accurate processing time estimation.

28. What is a Solution package?

A solution package is a perfectly designed solution to your needs, specifying exactly what is included and what is not. Once you’ve chosen the category of services under which you wish to apply, your next step is to select one of our 4 different flat fee solution packages; depending on what combination of professional service and solution package you need, the flat fee will vary accordingly. Regardless if you prefer flexibility over all-inclusive turnkey solutions or vice versa, we certainly have a package with your name on it.

29. What means “flat fee”?

Flat fee means complete peace of mind! Really, it means that regardless how many hours we work on your file, the price will not vary unless you specifically chose hourly billing instead of a  solution package. Isn’t it refreshing? No more stress caused by unknown ever-growing final bills; that also means hundreds or even thousands of dollars in savings for you and your family.

30. How can I know if VisaPro.ca price list is competitive?

It’s really simple: you will have a hard time comparing because most of our competitors simply do not have flat fees, but rather charge their clients on an hourly billing basis, which doesn’t work at all in favour of their clients! And when some of them do have flat fees, they most of the time do not make them easily accessible.

Our flat fees are usually anywhere between 25% and 90% cheaper than those of our main competitors. As a matter of fact, we literally challenge you to find a firm that will provide the same standards of quality and personalised service as ours, but at a cheaper price. We thoroughly screened the market and we know there aren’t any, and that’s why unlike 99% of our competitors we are not afraid of posting our price list on our Web site.

31. Do I get a discount if I have a large family?

Yes, you do. We, at VisaPro.ca, award discounts of roughly 50% of the regular price for your first dependent and about 67% of the regular price for all your subsequent dependents. The bigger the family, the bigger the savings!

32. My case is urgent; can I pay an emergency tax to speed up the processing of my file?

Yes, it is possible for most combinations of professional service and solution package to opt for our emergency service. For a little extra, you make sure your file sits first on our “to-do” list, so we can speed up the process by 300% on average, sometimes even more.

33. How is my investment protected?

Your best protection is to do business strictly with a consultancy firm fully registered in Canada because Canadian laws will protect you. VisaPro.ca being established and fully registered in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, your investment is therefore fully protected by Canadian laws.

Besides, we have a unique vision of how our valuable clients should be treated, and our dedicated team commit to offer you specialised, personalised and affordable services at all time. This vision is undoubtedly reflected not only throughout the professional build-up of your file, but also through all our legal forms and policies including our service contract which clearly define our commitments towards you. You still have a doubt? Have a look at our success stories and discover what our previous clients said about our services!

34. Is online payment secure?

Yes, online payment is perfectly safe and secure on top of being usually instantaneous and incredibly efficient compared to any traditional method of payment. Moreover, it is easier to track previous transactions in case of any complication, which provides an additional protection. That is why we recommend our clients, specifically those living outside Canada, to use electronic payment.

35. Does the Government of Canada charge any fee for submitting an application?

Yes, there are generally fees charged by the Government of Canada, but these fees vary greatly depending under which program and category of services you apply. They can range from few dozens of dollars for temporary resident status to few hundreds or even over a thousand dollars for permanent residence. Really, there is no way we can be more specific without first knowing few elements about your case. Contact us and we will give you a more accurate estimation of the various fees charged by the Government of Canada.

36. Will I have to pay any additional fees?

It mainly depends under which program you wish to apply and more importantly, under which category of services you wish to apply. For instance, in order to obtain a permanent resident visa, you might have to pay to third parties additional fees such as medical examination fees, language test expenses and fees, shipping fees, or translation fees. You might also have to pay additional supporting documentation fees to a specific province or territory. Really, there is no way we can be more specific without first knowing few elements about your case. Contact us and we will give you a more accurate estimation of any additional fees to be paid to third parties.

37. Does VisaPro.ca guarantee I will get my visa/permit/status?

No, unfortunately. We, at VisaPro.ca, can guarantee only what we have total control on: our specialised, personalised, affordable and honest service. Although we guarantee that no case is ever given further treatment unless we, ourselves, are fully convinced of its imminent success, the decision to grant visas/permits/status or citizenship belongs solely to the Government of Canada after a thorough examination of each case. VisaPro.ca cannot and does not promise that you and/or your family dependents will receive a visa, a permit, a status or Canadian citizenship at the end of the application process. We, however, guarantee the professional quality work we do and the careful and accurate approach we give to every prospective client.

38. I am convinced! Now, how should I proceed?

It’s really simple, all you have to do is visit our Prices and instructions Web page and follow the instructions. You will have among other things to confirm the solution package chosen, mention whether or not you opt for our emergency service, choose a method of payment, read and sign our service contract form and finally complete the assessment form relevant to your case.

39. How do I know which application forms I need to complete?

To submit all by yourself an application to the Canadian authorities can rapidly become dreadful for several reasons, in particular the identification of all the required forms to be completed. By choosing VisaPro.ca, that bureaucratic nightmare is over! We only have 3 assessment forms: the first one leading to temporary residence, the second one leading to permanent residence, and the last one leading to Canadian citizenship. It is as simple as that! You can learn more on the subject by visiting our assessment forms section.

40. Why VisaPro.ca doesn’t have an office in my country/city?

VisaPro.ca is in the first place a genuine family business: we provide outstanding personalised services. Our clients are not just bar codes or merely a paper file in the archives; each case is unique and special, and we are perfectly aware that to some extent, our clients’ future lies in our hands. Having offices all around the world would certainly compromise this genuine personal approach.

Besides, to maintain several offices in each corner of the globe would not give us the financial flexibility required to offer the best rates on the market. We prefer to give you major discounts rather than pay several rents. We currently have offices in Montreal, Canada, and in Bucharest, Romania. We are furthermore open to the possibility of travelling to meet with our clients. But what is really critical is to maintain our unique family business model; this is what defines us.

41. How will I communicate with my advisor?

Nowadays with the Internet, there are basically no limits to instant communication. We can exchange emails or set-up a video conference within minutes and talk for hours. We keep our clients constantly updated through the various social networks on which we maintain a presence. We can discuss your case over the phone or even meet in person. Regardless where you are at this very moment or will be in a little while, we can connect and communicate.

42. Once I arrive in Canada, are there any services to support my family?

All Canadian provinces, territories and cities have multiple services and associations dedicated to the welcoming and integration of newcomers. Besides, by registering your kids in school, you will get instant access to even more resources. Please note that school year runs from September through June in Canada. Moreover, all permanent residents can take advantage of the public health care network to cover medical needs few months upon their arrival. You should register to public health care as soon as you arrive in Canada.

Finally, by looking at our external links Web page, you will find inestimable resources sorted by categories: real estate agents, private medical clinics, public notaries, etc. What your warm and welcoming Canadian fellows and neighbours will not have provided you with, you will most probably find in our external links Web page.

43. I would like to advertise my own products and services on VisaPro.ca; is it possible?

Of course it is possible; we do offer professional online advertising space on our Web site. Different packages are offered depending on the extent and duration of the advertisement desired and the field of expertise of the potential advertiser. All you have to do is to contact us and give us some information about your advertisement plans, or learn more about the different advertisement possibilities we offer.

44. I really appreciated the service I received from VisaPro.ca; how can I thank you?

We are thrilled to learn happy stories from our clients and friends, and we are even happier to learn that you are fully satisfied with the services you received. The best way to communicate your gratitude is to post your own success story on our Web site. Don’t be shy; contact us without delay and let us know how we made a difference in your life.

N.B.Got lost? Check our Sitemap to find your way back!