Frequently Asked Questions about Independent Immigration To Canada

Part One: General Information & Application Procedure

  1. Q: What is independent immigration?
    A: Canada is a multicultural country, and a high percentage of her population are immigrants from other countries. Every year, Canadian government receives a certain amount of qualified scientists, engineers or technicians according to the nation's own development scale.
  2. Q: What are the characteristics of independent immigration?
    A: It has the following characteristics:
  3. Q: What prerequisites are needed for independent immigration?
    A: The prerequisites are as follows:
  4. Q: What professions are suited for independent immigration?
    A: Currently, Canada needs people in the following fields: computer industry, various types of engineering, scientific, medical and social researches, secretarial, editorial, investment and financial analyst, accounting, business management, translation, various types of technicians, artisans, repairers, cooks, caterers, and over a hundred of other professions.
  5. Q: What is the process for independent immigration?
    A: The whole process has the following steps:
    1. You send us your resume, or a preliminary application questionnaire, by fax or email. (The questionnaire is also available on our Web site.) Doing so will greatly accelerates the application process. Our lawyers, consultants and Canadian Immigration will make an evaluation of your application. This evaluation is free of charge.
    2. After you pass the evaluation, you are ready to start the formal application. At this stage, you'd need to sign an agreement with us. This agreement is protected by the Canadian immigration law.
    3. At the guidance of our lawyer, you make a formal application and submit it with other required documents. These documents will be looked at and compiled by our lawyer and be submitted to the Canadian Immigration Centre.
    4. After the approval from Canadian Immigration Centre, you will be notified for a physical examination and an interview. (In some cases, the physical examination takes place after the interview.) Before the interview, our lawyer will provide interview training. Our lawyer will also accompany you to the interview.
    5. At the end of the interview, you are usually told whether you have passed the interview.
    6. Once you pass the interview and your application is approved, we are responsible for forwarding the immigration certificate to you and your family.

    This is the general procedure. In fact, most of our applicants receive the interview notification shortly after all documents are submitted. The interview success rate is well above 90%.

  6. Q: After I become a Canadian immigrant, what if I wish to continue to study or work in the U.S.? Am I eligible to apply for the U.S. green card?
    A: You may stay in the U.S. for ten months after you receive your Canadian immigrant status. After you land in Canada, you may return to the U.S. and stay for half a year. According to the Canadian immigration law, you must stay in Canada for half a year every year to retain your status. However, if you need to complete your education or contract, you may apply to waive the requirement of this half a year stay in Canada. You may become a Canadian citizen after you stay in Canada for three years.
    You can apply for the U.S. green card any time. This is not affected by your application to immigrate to Canada.
  7. Q: Where do I make the application? Where does the interview take place?
    A: You can make the application anywhere in the world. The interview takes place outside Canada. If you live in the U.S., Europe or Japan, you may choose to have the interview in a Canadian embassy. Moreover, if you apply through us and you live in the U.S., there is good chance (99% of the time) that you will not be asked to go through an interview.
  8. Q: How do I apply if I live in the People's Republic of China?
    A: We accept your application as usual, and you will go through the same procedure as described above. Interview can be arrange in Beijing, or Hongkong (or a third country) in order to accelerate the process.
  9. Q: How long does the immigration process take?
    A: The application processes from the U.S. usually takes anywhere between three months to a year. Applications from other countries (including PR China) takes longer, depending on the immigration officer and the amount of applicants.
  10. Q: What does it mean: "the approval of one person's immigration application applies to his or her whole family"?
    A: Let's say you study or work in the U.S. and your spouse and children live in your country. If your application is approved, they will receive the immigration certificate as well. Your family will reunite in Canada.
  11. Q: What if some domestic problem happened after I left my country, but I have not divorced, may I apply only for myself?
    A: Yes. In this case, you'd need to indicate in your application that your spouse will not accompany you to Canada. Your spouse will not pay service fee, and will not receive the immigration certificate. However, if you are not divorced, your spouse is required to fill in the application and go through the physical examination, because there is still a possibility that you and your spouse may restore good relationship.
  12. Q: What are the fees like?
    A: There are three types of fees:
    1. Application fee to Canadian government. This fee increases as time goes. Currently this fee is $US 360.00 for the principle applicant, his or her spouse and each child 19 years old and above, and $US 72.00 for each child under 19 years old. If your child is already married, he or she is not included in your application.
    2. Landing fee. This is paid to Canadian government upon your arrival in Canada. This is because you are entitled to take advantage of all the benefits Canada provides. Landing fee is $US 700 for each individual 19 years old and above. All persons under 19 years old do not have to pay this fee. Since March 1995, Canadian government has stipulated that both the application fee and the landing fee must be paid when you submit your application. However, should your application be refused, the landing fee will be reimbursed to you.
    3. Service fee to the immigration service firm. Our service charge is: 1) No service fee for the preliminary evaluation. 2) For the formal application, we charge $US 2,500.00 per person if he or she is single, or $2,100.00 if he or she has a family (regardless whether the applicant has a spouse, or whether his or her children apply with the applicant). We charge a deposit of $US 500.00, and the rest is paid by installments. When you receive the notification for physical examination, which means that your application is basically approved, we charge a small amount of service fee. You pay the balance when the immigration certificate is issued.

Part Two: Overview Of Canada

  1. Q: What is Canada like?
    A: Canada possesses a vast land area of more than 9,900,000 km2, and a population of 26 million people. Canada is a democratic society headed by a federal government. Canada's political situation is very stable. Canada is one of the seven most advanced nations in the world, with strong industrial and agricultural background.

    2. Like many countries in Northern Europe, Canada has high social benefits, such as free education and free medication. The national living standard is on top of the world. Canada's senior and child care system surpasses that of the U.S. by far. Canada is a multicultural country and multiculturalism is strongly encouraged by the government. In general, racism is less a problem than the U.S. The province of Québec has a particular situation. The majority of this province is French speaking, who has continued the independence and sovereignty movement for many years without any success. But in general this does not affect Chinese settlers.

    In terms of population ratio, there are more Chinese immigrants in Canada than the U.S. The China towns in Vancouver and Toronto are large and well renowned. Since Canada's safety standard is higher than the U.S., and her living standard is number one in the world, recently people from Taiwan, Hongkong and China (PRC) have made Canada their first choice for immigration.

  2. Q: What is the business opportunity like in Canada?
    A: The Canadian industry and agriculture are very well developed. There are many opportunities for Chinese immigrants, including: industrial processing, cloth manufacturing, import and export, hotels, real estate, printing and publishing, food industry, plantation, and various supermarket retail sales. Moreover, Chinese immigrants also stand out in the fields of medicine, science and education etc. Recently many Chinese immigrants have earned employment in the government, and this has greatly raised our status in the political domain. The family income for Chinese settlers is higher than the national average.

  3. Q: If I meet all conditions when should I apply?
    A: The sooner the better. This is because that the Canadian immigration policy changes frequently, it is loose at times but tight at other times. Also, Canada only accepts a certain number of immigrants every year. Once this number is reached, there will be no acceptance for that year. Canadian government has suggested that you should apply as soon as possible once you meet all conditions, and do not delay at all. Canadian Immigration also warns that Canada forbids non-Canadian citizens to represent applicants in the immigration process. Therefore, when you choose an immigration service you should choose one that is located inside Canada, to avoid any possible problems. Directly authoring Canadian lawyers is an even better way to ensure your immigration success.

How to Contact Us

12720 4th Ave. W, Suite F316, Everett, WA 98204 U.S.A.
Tel. 886-2-702-5437 (Taiwan Office)
Tel. 86-21-642-80468 (China Office)
Tel. 425-348-5589 (U.S.A. Office)
E-Mail: wciusa@geocities.com