FAQ | Frequently Asked Questions

There are over 60 different visas and programs offered by Canada that vary in the qualifications needed to apply. Certain visas and programs are also available to certain provinces and territories within Canada, such as the Quebec Skilled Worker Program.

There are a few different Canadian visas that our team specialize in:

• Express Entry – The new Canadian immigration system is designed to select skilled workers for immigration to Canada. It includes the following programs:
• Federal Skilled Worker Visa (FSW) – The most sought after program, as the Canadian government is hoping to attract qualified foreign workers;
• Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) – A program for those who want to become permanent residents based on being qualified in a skilled trade; and
• Canadian Experience Class Visa (CEC) – Temporary workers or students of foreign nationality who have lived and worked in Canada for some time, who have a good understanding of English or French, who have the required occupational skills and knowledge of Canadian society, may apply for a permanent resident visa through this program;
• Provincial Nomination Programs (PNP) – To promote workers in required occupations across all of the Canadian provinces in Canada;
• Student Visa – This allows you to study and work in Canada legally, and in some cases, to be able to stay and work for up to three additional years after graduation;
• Quebec Skilled Workers Program – Conducted through the Quebec province, hoping to attract as many qualified foreign workers;
• Quebec Entrepreneur Program – This Visa allows you to establish your own business in the province of Quebec; and
• Caregiver Visa – Through this visa, you can be sponsored as a live-in caregiver

The Canadian government charges different fees for the submission of applications. This is not unique to the Canadian government, as many countries require application fees to be paid to the governing authority. The prices can range from being only a few hundred to thousands of dollars, depending on which visa program you are applying for, your family size and age (fees for children are lower than for adults). Payment is usually made when you send in your application and documents, but it depends on the specific visa or program. You can pay the fee by credit card, bank draft, check or money order in Canadian dollars.
An important point to note is that government fees are nonrefundable. This is why it is so vitally important to ensure your application is submitted correctly, with accurate information and at the correct time. Failure to do so will likely result in your application being denied, meaning you will lose any fees paid to the Canadian government. Our consultants do their best to ensure that our client’s applications are submitted correctly, increasing the chances of a successful application.

There are currently 2 Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants working with Mahil Immigration: 

• Rajvinder Mahil – License No: R705521
• Chahat Sharma – License No: R705621

Would you feel safe flying with an unlicensed pilot? Probably not. The same thing applies to your immigration process. You want to feel safe and secure knowing your Visa application is in the right hands.

Immigrating to a different country is an intricate process with a lot of paperwork, form submissions and tight deadlines. An RCIC takes care of these on your behalf and makes your Visa application a lot easier than attempting it alone. Authorized consultants can get your application submitted the first time correctly around, ensuring that your application is fully optimized so that you stand a greater chance at success. Each RCIC has experience dealing with the Canadian immigration process. They handle immigration matters both ethically and professionally and will explain everything regarding your application process.

With more than 60 Visa options available, an RCIC can give you personalized assistance by mapping out the best immigration option for you based on your personal objectives. Once an RCIC has submitted your application, you will be updated on your application status by your consultant, who will be there throughout the whole process.
If your first language is not English, it will be beneficial to hire an RCIC to help you understand specific clauses and policies. An RCIC can assist you with information about language tests, employment applications and submission of all the correct documents needed for your application.

We have skilled and qualified RCICs with years of experience in Canadian immigration, but other Immigration companies claim the same thing.

Here is how you can prove it. Each consultant has their own personal RCIC code. This code can verify whether the consultant is recognized and qualified to give you immigration advice to handle your application on your behalf.

Check their credentials by clicking on the website link below.

Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council

Typically, a temporary resident visa is issued for up to 6 months. There are circumstances where visitors stay for longer than a 6-month period which is discussed below.

Obtaining a visitor’s visa

Some of the most critical factors a visa officer will consider in assessing your application are the connections to your home country.

One of the main tests in issuing a temporary resident visa (or visitor visa) is this: Will the applicant return to his or her country once his or her status expires? 

In trying to answer this question, the visa officer will first look at your connections to your home country.

• Employment

If you are employed, this is a powerful connection to your home country. If you can, be sure to include a letter of employment and confirmation in that letter that your absence to visit Canada has been approved.

• Family

If you have family in your country of residence, that is an important connection. If you can, provide copies of the bio-data sections of their passports, along with copies of birth certificates to show relationships.

An affidavit is a good idea if you have no documents to prove the relationship. Your family member can swear an affidavit and state their relationship with you.

• Property

Owning property in your country of residence is another powerful connection to your country. If you can, provide copies of titles or other documents that show you own the property and where the property is located.

• Obligations

Do you have obligations in your home country? Perhaps you care for an elderly parent or another relative? Or maybe you are a leader of a community or volunteer group?

Showing evidence of obligations at home will certainly help you indicate that you will return to your home country after your visit.

Another critical factor you must address in your application is how you will support yourself in Canada. You must think about how you can provide evidence of this.

• Available finances

How much money do you have available while in Canada? IRCC will do a rough calculation of food and accommodation costs to determine if you have enough funds to support yourself.

Provide evidence of cash in your bank, and have traveller’s cheques while crossing the border, don’t rely solely on credit cards, or a visa officer might suspect you don’t have the funds for your trip.

Are there currency restrictions in your home country? Take this into account and find a way to address it.

• Staying with family or friends

If you will be staying with friends or family, you won’t need as much cash for your trip. You will, however, require proof that your host will provide lodging and food.

Be sure to have your host in Canada sign a letter stating that you will be staying with them and that they will provide food and lodging.

The letter should state the amount of time you will be staying with them and have an address and contact phone number where they can be reached.

• Ability to leave Canada

The visa officer has to determine if you have the ability to leave Canada after your stay. Be sure to have booked a return travel ticket to your home country and that your passport is valid for your entire visit and return trip.

If you don’t have a return ticket because you are unsure when you want to return to your home country, be sure to have enough money to purchase a return ticket to your home country.

A temporary Canadian Visa is an official document that proves you have met the requirements for admission to Canada as either a visitor or a temporary resident. If you want to live in Canada for a limited amount of time, then a Temporary Visa is ideal for you. People usually get a Temporary Visa to visit a country as a tourist, study at one of the many universities and colleges, or temporarily foreign work.

If a specified time has not been indicated on your passport on arrival, the general rule is that Temporary Visas are valid for a period of 6 months. However, you can apply for an extension. Students and workers can stay for a varying amount of time depending on their reasons. Note: you should apply 3 months before your Temporary Visa expires.

It depends on which country you are from. You may need a Temporary Visa or just a valid passport to travel through Canada. Click on the link below to find out which option you qualify for at: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp

Obtaining a Temporary Visa does not confirm your entry into Canada. You need to prove to the Immigration officer situated at the Canadian Entry Point that you will leave Canada at the end of your stay. You must also:

• Prove that you have enough finances to maintain yourself during your stay, and any family members who come with you;
• Prove you have enough money to return home (for example, your returning flight cost);
• Have no ulterior motives to work, or study in Canada, unless you have been authorized to do so;
• Prove you do not have a criminal record;
• Prove you are not a threat to the security of Canada;
• Provide any documents requested by the officer to establish your validity; and
• Prove you are in good health (you may need to complete a medical examination)

You are considered a business visitor if you wish to:

• Invest in Canadian businesses;
• Grow your own business; and/or
• Improve your business relations

Depending on your documents, you may need either an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) or a Visa. If you are a:

• Dual Canadian citizens need a valid Canadian passport;
• Permanent resident (PR) you need a legal PR card to travel; or
• Non-Canadian citizens/residents will need to have either an eTA or a visa, depending on which country you apply to.

For an eTA, you should never:

• Plan your trip for the last minute. Getting the correct documents can take time, as well as the processing time for your application to go through
• Travel without your passport you applied for the eTA with

For a visitor visa, the following are needed to apply:

• Letter of invitation from your business partner; and
• Contact details for that person should be available 24/7.

You must prove that you will not:

• Stay longer than 6 months in Canada;
• Work in the Canadian labour market; and
• Conduct most of your business in Canada

You meet Canada’s basic entry requirements if you:

• Have a valid travel document, such as a passport;
• Have enough funds for your stay and return home;
• Plan to leave Canada at the end of your visit; and
• Do not pose criminal, security or health risks to Canadians

Yes, you can study in Canada with a Temporary Visa. If your education program is less than six months, you do not need a study permit. However, if you decide to continue your studies, it would be easier to apply for a study permit. If you have children, having a Temporary Resident Visa could mean your children might attend Canadian schools (secondary and elementary level).

No, you generally cannot work in Canada with a Temporary Visa. If you come to Canada as a temporary foreign worker, you need to apply for a work permit. However, certain types of work-related duties are exempt from this rule. Check the link below to see if you qualify:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/apply-who-nopermit.asp

Suppose you are a first-time Canadian Visa applicant or have not travelled to Canada in the past 10 years. In that case, your temporary Canadian visa application can take anywhere from 2-4 weeks to process. If you have visited Canada in the past 10 years, and your country has strong ties with Canada, it can take 2-5 days to process your temporary visa. 

Note: Normal Processing times are still being affected by COVID-19. Kindly expect delays.

To get permanent residency after you have finished studying, you can apply for the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWPP).
This program is for students who have passed a Canadian tertiary institution. It is also a helpful way to gain extra work experience to help you apply for permanent residency through Express Entry.
The PGWPP work permit can last up to three years during your study periods. The study program you apply for must last a minimum of eight months. For example, if you apply for a four-year course, you can only work for three years. If you apply for an eight-month course, you can only work for those eight months. This applies across all courses that are longer than eight months.

A permanent resident is a person who has permanent resident status. They are not a Canadian citizen. A permanent resident is considered a citizen of another country other than Canada.

Refugees can become permanent residents through the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program or the Government-Assisted Refugee Program. Note: you do not get permanent residency if you just claim refugee status. Your claim must be approved by the Immigration and Refugee Board. Then you may apply for permanent resident status. A student or foreign worker is not considered a permanent resident.

If you are a permanent resident, you may:

• Have access to the social benefits, for example, healthcare;
• Have access to work, live or study anywhere in Canada;
• Have access to the protection offered by Canadian law;
• Have access to the protection of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms; and
• Have access to apply for Canadian citizenship

If you are a permanent resident, you may not:

• Vote or run for a position in office; or
• Have a job that has high-security level clearance

If you do marry a Canadian, you do not immediately become a Canadian citizen. There are several things you must qualify for in order to apply as a citizen, these are:

• Language skills;
• Income tax filing;
• Permanent resident status;
• How long you have lived in Canada;
• Your knowledge of Canada; and
• Prohibitions

Language Skills

There are two languages that you need to know in Canada, French and English. You must be able to:

• Understand basic grammar, structure and tenses;
• Use common words and phrases to communicate with others;
• Talk to others about everyday topics; and
• Understand basic instructions, directions and questions

These language skills apply if you are between the ages of 18 and 55.

Income Tax Filing

If you want to become a Canadian citizen, you must follow the Income Tax Act by law. If this applies to you, you must meet your duties of income tax filing in four years, normally 6 years before you apply for citizenship.

Permanent Resident Status

If you wish to apply for citizenship, you must first have permanent resident status. This Permanent Resident (PR) status must not:

• Be under suspicion of immigration fraud;
• Have unfulfilled conditions under your Permanent Resident status;
• Have a removal order (this means that you have been asked to leave Canada by Canadian officials)

How Long You Have Lived In Canada

You must be a permanent resident of Canada for at least 1,460 days, 6 years before you first apply for citizenship. Note:

• time lived in Canada when you are not a permanent resident does not count towards these 1,460; and
• you do not need to worry about the 1,460 periods if you are under the age of 18

How Well You Know Canada

To apply for Canadian citizenship, you must know about Canadian:

• Symbols;
• Institution;
• History;
• Values;
• Citizen:
• Rights;
• Responsibilities; and
• Privileges
• These tests require that you:
• Answer in French or English
• Answer questions from the Discover Canada study guide
• Answer using written words, unless you take the test orally with a citizenship officer
• Answer these questions if you are between the age of 19 and 55 years old

Note: anyone who does not fit into these age groups does not have to take these tests.

Prohibitions

You may not be able to apply for Canadian citizenship for a given amount of time if you:

• Have committed a crime either in or out of Canada;
• Are serving a sentence outside of Canada;
• Are charged with an indictable offence by Canada;
• Are charged with an offence in another country that is not Canada; or
• Have been convicted within four years of applying for citizenship

Note: Any time spent on parole, probation or imprisonment does not count towards time spent in Canada.

Depending on the province/territory you apply to, you may have to wait for up to three months for medical insurance in Canada if you meet all the necessary requirements.

During this period, you should have another medical insurance company cover you while you wait to see if your application for Canadian health insurance is accepted.

If you qualify for Canada’s public healthcare, your taxes go towards the healthcare system. If Canada’s public healthcare covers you, you receive the basic cover and generally are not required to pay for certain medical services. Unless these services are not covered under the basic healthcare plan of the province or territory.