Frequently Asked Questions

	How long will it take for my case to be processed? Generally it varies from case to case.It depends on a number of factors, most importantly the number of applications a visa post receives and the difficulty they have in confirming your information. Cases are processed in the order in which they are received, unless the candidate has arranged employment in Canada, in which case it is moved to the front of the line. The average processing time is one and a half years, but depending on the visa post, the time could be much shorter or much longer (through some consulates, it can take up to 3 years). This timeline is not going to get any better. We recommend you apply as soon as possible before the timeline gets worse. We help you decide which visa post is best for you.
	Do you guarantee processing times? Many factors affect processing times. By making sure your case is complete with the correct documentation and translations, and is submitted to the right consulate, we can help the process move as quickly as possible. These steps we take can help reduce or avoid delays, and this allows for faster processing.
	Can I appeal if my case is refused? Yes. If your case is refused, Optimum immigration can appeal on your behalf. Appeals go to the Federal Court of Canada.
	How do I send you money? You can send online through pay pal or by can send by cheque, or wire the funds to our trust account. If you wire the money, please fax us the confirmation report so we can start preparing your case immediately. You can also pay us by credit card. All these options will come to you once you have signed our client contract
	Can I get a Work Permit? In order to get a Work Permit, most people need a job offer. The Canadian employer must have the offer validated by Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC). The employer will have to prove there are no Canadians ready, willing and able to take the job. Employers often must advertise the job and make attempts to find a Canadian worker. This policy exists to protect the Canadian job market and keep job openings for Canadians. For some fields, Canada does not have enough people to fill the job openings. A special government program allows workers to enter Canada quickly to fill these jobs. The confirmation process is much faster and easier. You can go to our free website www.optimumjobbank.ca to find out if there’s a job for you in Canada.
	Can Optimum Immigration arrange a job for me in Canada before I arrive? We are recruiter and will help you in finding work in Canada through our company Global Jobs which deal with the foreign workers only.
	Do I qualify as a business applicant? There are three categories of business applicants: entrepreneur, self-employed, and investor. For each, you have to demonstrate past success related to what you intend to do in Canada. Entrepreneurs must have enough capital to establish or purchase a business in Canada. Self-employed professionals must work independently, and the work they do must be their qualify source of income in Canada. Investors must make a significant investment in government-approved investment funds for a specified time period and should intend to pursue business investment opportunities in Canada.
	Do both my spouse/partner and I need to qualify? Only the principal applicant has to qualify. The person who has the best chance to qualify should apply as the principal applicant
	When are translations necessary? Translations are necessary when your documents are not in English (and do not contain an English version of their contents). We recommend you have translations done by a certified translator or notary in your home country, as this will be cheaper than having us find a translator for you in Canada. However, if this is not possible, we can arrange to have your documents translated in Canada.
	When are police clearances required, and from where? Every applicant (you and your dependents) over the age of 18 must obtain and submit police clearance certificates from every country they have resided in for longer than 6 months since turning 18 years old in the last 10 years. We cannot obtain police clearances on your behalf. Immigration will not accept photocopies of police clearances, so you must provide our office with the originals.
	What is a Human Resources and Skills Development Canada confirmation? The confirmation is a letter from Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) to the employer stating that having a foreign worker do the job you are going to do will not have a negative impact on the labour market in Canada. The HRSDC confirmation is also called a positive labour market opinion. Your employer has to apply to get an HRSDC confirmation. HRSDC looks at several factors, including the availability of Canadians, wages and the economic benefit you as a foreign worker might bring to Canada. Once HRSDC has formed an opinion, it then provides advice to Citizenship and Immigration Canada. The HRSDC confirmation is usually given for a specific period of time. The work permit will be issued for the same period. To extend your work permit beyond the specified period, your employer will usually have to get a new confirmation from HRSDC.
	Can my spouse or common-law partner and dependent children come with me to Canada if I will get work permit ? Your spouse or common-law partner and children can come with you to Canada or visit you in Canada, but they must meet all the requirements for temporary residents to Canada: they must satisfy an officer that they will only stay in Canada temporarily, and they may have to prove that they have no criminal record. If your spouse or common-law partner and children need temporary resident visas, they must also meet all the conditions for obtaining those visas. Important: You may have to provide a marriage certificate and birth certificates for any accompanying family members.
	What is “arranged employment” “Arranged employment” is where a skilled worker applicant has a certain kind of job offer in place before applying to immigrate to Canada.
	Am I allowed to return home for a visit or travel outside Canada during my studies? If you leave Canada and want to return, you must have: • a valid passport or travel documents • a valid study permit if you are returning to study in Canada and • a valid temporary resident visa if you are a citizen of a designated country for which Canada requires a visa.
	I am considering studying in Canada. Can I apply for an off campus work permit at the same time as I apply for my study permit? No, you cannot apply for a study permit and an off-campus work permit at the same time. To qualify for the program, you must already hold a valid study permit, and you must have been a full-time student at a participating institution for at least six of the last 12 months before you apply.
	May I qualify under the Skilled Worker category even if I score less than 67 points? Yes, Canada accepts Skilled worker based upon their ability to become economically established in Canada. If the Canadian Immigration Visa Officer believes that the point total does not accurately reflect your ability to become economically established in Canada, the Canadian Immigration Visa Office may use his or her positive discretion and approve your application even though you score less than 67 points.
	Is there anything I can do to obtain an interview waiver? If your applications is complete with every detail it will increase the chances of an interview waiver. However, interview waivers are granted at the discretion of the Canadian Immigration Visa Officer in charge of your file. It is not possible to apply specifically for a waiver. Even if an interview is waived, the Canadian Immigration Visa Officer reserves the right to call you to an interview at a later date.
	Will I be interviewed by a Canadian Immigration Visa Officer? Applicants under Skilled Worker category may be required to attend a personal interview with a Canadian Immigration Visa Officer. Such interviews are held to ensure the information in the application is accurate, to clear-up any uncertainties and to verify. Immigration Visa Officers may, under all categories of immigration, grant an interview waiver depending on the qualifications of the applicant, the quality of the supporting documentation, and the overall credibility of the applicant. The likelihood of an interview waiver varies from one Canadian Immigration Visa Office to another
	What is the Provincial Nomination Program? The Provincial Nomination Program was established by Citizenship and Immigration Canada to allow Canada's different provinces and territories to select individuals who indicate an interest in settling in a particular province/territory and who will be able to contribute to that province/territories' economic development.
	What is the advantage of obtaining Provincial Nomination? A Provincial Nomination means that your application for a Canada Immigration Visa will be processed quickly and it provides another way of qualifying for a Canada Immigration (Permanent Resident) Visa apart from the Federal Skilled Worker category of Canadian immigration.
	What criteria do most provinces look for in their Nominees? Mostly the provinces are looking for individuals who will contribute to the province's economic growth, and are willing to settle in that province. Criteria that provinces take into consideration may include the following: Job offer in the province • Education • Work experience in critical industries • English and/or French Language skills • Close relations in that province • Ability to adapt to life in that province
	Does receiving a Provincial Nomination guarantee a Canada Immigration Visa? No. Citizenship and Immigration Canada must be satisfied that a Provincial Nominee meets statutory requirements - health, security and authenticity of documents - before issuing a Canada Immigration Visa.
	Under the Business Immigration Program, am I required to live in a particular province? Under the Business Immigration Program ,after becoming a Canadian Permanent Resident, you may live, work and engage in business activities in any Canadian province or territory, regardless of where you initially indicated you intended to reside on your application form. However, as an Entrepreneur intending to reside in the Province of Quebec you will be required to manage a commercial enterprise, which you must establish or acquire a portion of, in that province.
	How can I prove that my net worth has been lawfully obtained? You must demonstrate the origin and accumulation of your wealth through reliable, third-party documentary evidence: tax returns, pay stubs, deeds of purchase/sale, statements from stockbrokers, business/real estate valuations, etc. You must be able to demonstrate that your assets were gained through means, which are considered legal, including gifts or inheritances
	As an Entrepreneur applicant, is an exploratory visit to Canada necessary? As an Entrepreneur applicant, the applicant are encouraged to make an exploratory visit to Canada to properly assess the business environment of the area in which you intend to locate.