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Frequently Asked Questions
Permanent Resident
WHO MAY SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FOR PERMANENT RESIDENCE (IMMIGRATION) TO THE VISA OFFICE IN DAMASCUS?
Since May 1, 2003, applications for permanent residence must be made to the immigration office that serves:
- either the applicant's country of nationality or, if stateless, the country of habitual residence,
- or the country where the applicant is residing and has been lawfully admitted for at least one year.
The office in Damascus is responsible for applications for permanent residence from the following countries: Cyprus, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.
Residents of Iran, Lebanon and Jordan may submit their applications at the Canadian Embassy in their country of residence. These applications will then be forwarded to the Canadian Embassy in Damascus. There are different acceptable methods of payment for each country; please refer to Fees and Methods of Payment section of this Web site before submitting an application.
For the list of Canadian immigration offices around the world, along with the countries which they serve, click here.
For the list of countries with the corresponding immigration offices, click here.
APPLICATION FOR PERMANENT RESIDENCE
If I wish to immigrate to the province of Quebec, why do I have to apply to the Quebec government as well as to the Canadian government?
The province of Quebec is responsible for the selection of applicants for immigration who wish to establish in that province and who are economic applicants (skilled workers or business applicants). The selection process is based on criteria established by the Quebec authorities and which reflect the province's needs. Selected applicants receive a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ).
The Canadian government is responsible for the admission to Canada of all successful immigration applicants, including those who plan to establish in Quebec. Once they have obtained a CSQ, applicants must submit an application for permanent residence to the Canadian Embassy. Once the medical examinations and background checks have been completed, it is the Embassy which issues the permanent resident (immigrant) visas.
Further information is available on the following Web sites: http://www.immigration-quebec.gouv.qc.ca/anglais/index.html and http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/index.html.
Who must I include in my application for permanent residence (immigration) submitted to the Embassy?
According to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations, an officer can issue a permanent resident visa only if it has been established that the applicant and his family members, whether accompanying or not, are not inadmissible on medical, criminal or security grounds. That means that you must include all your family members and submit the required documents. (If your destination is Quebec, you must include all your family members whether or not CSQs have been issued for them.) Processing fees, however, are only required for yourself and those family members who will accompany you.
Who is considered to be a family member?
Under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, a family member in respect of a person means the spouse or common-law partner of the person; a dependent child of the person or of the person's spouse or common-law partner; and a dependent child of a dependent child.
Who is considered to be a common-law spouse?
A “common-law spouse” means, in relation to the principal applicant, an individual who is cohabiting with this principal applicant in a conjugal relationship, having so cohabited for a period of at least one year.
Who is considered to be a dependent child?
A “dependent child”, in respect of a parent, means a child who is the biological child or the adopted child of the parent; and
- is less than 22 years of age and not a spouse or common-law partner, or
- has depended substantially on the financial support of the parent since before the age of 22
- or if the child became a spouse or common-law partner before the age of 22, since becoming a spouse or common-law partner and, since before the age of 22 or since becoming a spouse or common-law partner, as the case may be, has been a student continuously enrolled in and attending a post-secondary institution that is accredited by the relevant government authority, and actively pursuing a course of academic, professional or vocational training on a full-time basis, or
- is 22 years of age or older and has depended substantially on the financial support of the parent since before the age of 22 and is unable to be financially self-supporting due to a physical or mental condition.
Can the Embassy help me find a job, for instance by telling me what types of occupations are in demand, in what sectors, and by giving me advice about looking for work before I submit an application?
It is not in the Embassy's mandate to provide assistance in finding a job; it is up to you to obtain information by your own means. For information on credentials for employment in Canada, and whether your occupation is regulated in Canada, the names and addresses of the bodies to contact, please visit this Web site.
Can you confirm when you receive my application in your office?
If your file is complete, we will send you a letter confirming that we have received your application within 3 months of the date of reception. You will be informed of the file number which has been assigned to your application. If you need to communicate with our service, please always indicate this file number.
If your file is incomplete (including the payment of the processing fee), your application will be returned to you with a list of the elements missing. No record of your application will be kept at our office.
This applies if you have submitted your application to the Immigration Section of the Canadian Embassy in Damascus. If you have submitted your application to another visa office, you must communicate with that office directly.
If I reside outside Canada, can I sponsor a relative or family member?
If you are not a Canadian citizen, you cannot sponsor if you live outside Canada. You must live in Canada at the time you submit a sponsorship, and when the family member you sponsor becomes a permanent resident.
If you are a Canadian citizen, you may sponsor a spouse, a common-law partner or dependent children who have no dependent children of their own from outside Canada. You must reside in Canada when the family member you sponsor becomes a permanent resident. More information ...
Who is considered to be a common-law partner in the context of a sponsorship?
You may submit a sponsorship as a common-law partner for a person of the same or opposite sex if you have cohabited with that person in a conjugal relationship for a period of at least one year and if the relationship is ongoing, even if you are temporarily separated.
I am a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident and I am unemployed. Am I allowed to sponsor a family member?
If the person you are sponsoring is your spouse, common-law or conjugal partner who has no dependent children, or your spouse, common-law or conjugal partner whose dependent children have no children of their own, or your dependent child who has no children of his own, then you are not obliged to prove that you have an income that is at least equal to the minimum necessary income as published yearly by the Canadian government. However, if you are receiving social assistance for a reason other than disability you are not eligible to sponsor. Unemployment insurance benefits are not considered social assistance.
When you sponsor a close relative or a family member for permanent residence in Canada, you promise that you will support that person and any dependents accompanying him or her to Canada for a period of three to ten years, depending on the relationship to you and the age of the person, so that they will not need to apply for social assistance. That means providing for their basic requirements: food, clothing, shelter and other goods and services required in daily life. Any dental and eye care as well as other medical services not provided by the public health system are also included.
RETIREMENT
I am retired and receive a pension. I have enough money to cover my needs. I would like to live in Canada. What type of application should I submit?
The “retiree” category for immigration to Canada was abolished many years ago. If you want to know whether you qualify in one of the existing categories, you can consult this Web site. The fact of owning property in Canada does not give the right to enter or to reside in Canada.
TRANSLATIONS
I am gathering the documents required for an application to immigrate to Canada. None of my documents are in English or French. What should I do to get them translated?
All documents in a language other than English or French must be translated into one or the other of these languages. The translation should be attached to a photocopy of the original document. Translations must be done by a professional translator who is not related to you and who does not work for your consultant or representative. The translations do not need to be certified. The translator may attach his or her business card.
INTERVIEW
Are my spouse and children obliged to come to the interview?
In general, only the principal applicant is obliged to attend the interview. Your spouse or common-law partner may come with you but is not obliged to do so. At any time during the processing of your application, however, a visa officer may decide that an interview is required with your spouse or common-law partner or with your children. If that is the case, you will be informed.
Where will my interview be held?
All applicants who apply to our office can request that their interview be held at the Canadian Embassy in Damascus.
Applicants residing in Iran may request that their interview be held in Tehran. Depending on local circumstances, we may or may not be able to accommodate these requests.
Applicants residing in any other country will be interviewed at the Canadian Embassy in Damascus.
Must I hire an interpreter for the interview?
For those who cannot speak French or English with ease, the Embassy will provide interpretation services in Arabic and Farsi. People applying in the Economic Classes will be expected to be able to conduct their interview in either English or French. The information you provide to us during the interview plays an important role in determining your ability to qualify to immigrate to Canada. If you cannot communicate easily in either English, French, Arabic or Farsi, you must attend the interview with a professional interpreter (who will have to provide us with proof of his/her qualifications) capable of reading, writing and speaking either English, French or Arabic. The interpreter must not be related to you or work for your consultant or representative, if you have one. It is YOUR responsibility to hire an interpreter, make all the necessary arrangements and pay the related fees.
MEDICAL EXAMINATION
Do the principal applicant and his family members have to be examined by the same doctor?
As far as possible, yes. If this is not possible, they can be examined by any of the designated medical practitioners on this list.
Why do my family members have to be examined by a doctor if they are not immigrating to Canada?
According to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations, an officer can issue a permanent resident visa only if it has been established that the applicant and his family members, whether accompanying or not, are not inadmissible on medical, criminal or security grounds. For this reason, they must be examined even if they are not accompanying you to Canada. The fact that a family member has undergone a medical examination does not mean that a visa will be issued for that person. No visa will be issued to a minor child without either the written authorization, duly notarized, of the parent who is not immigrating to Canada and who exercises parental authority over the child or the express authorization of a court of law.
Is a pregnant woman obliged to have any X-rays done or can she be exempted?
A chest x-ray is an obligatory part of the medical results. Pregnant women may submit a chest x-ray taken within the 6 months preceding the start of the pregnancy so long as the applicant's identity and the date of the x-ray are printed on the image itself. If such x-ray is not available, there are two options: you may decide to have the x-ray done with a protective apron or wait until after the child is born. If you chose the second option, please let us know, mentioning the expected due date. Do not forget to inform us of the birth of the baby by sending us a copy of the birth certificate.
What tests are required during the medical examination?
All immigrants and certain temporary residents must undergo a medical examination in order to determine if they may be a danger to public health or public safety, or if they have a medical condition which will place excessive demand on Canadian health or social services. The medical examination can include all or some of the following: physical examination, psychological evaluation, medical history, laboratory tests. The examination for permanent residence includes at least the following: urinalysis for all applicants 5 years of age or over; chest x-ray for applicants 11 years of age or over; serology (VDRL or equivalent) for applicants 15 years of age and over; HIV testing for all applicants 15 years of age and over, as well as for those children who have received blood or blood products, have a known HIV positive mother, or are being adopted.
Once the medical forms have been received, what are the delays to undergo the examination?
You must undergo the medical examination with one of the designated medical practitioners within three months.
Where is it possible to get the medical forms to do the medical examination?
For applications in the Family Class, but only as the spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner or dependent child of a sponsor, the Canadian Embassy does not provide medical forms. Your sponsor should provide you with the form found in Appendix D of the sponsorship kit. You can then make an appointment with one of the designated medical practitioners. The doctor will take the information from the Appendix D form and fill out the IMM1017 IMU form which he will send to our office with the medical results.
For all other applications, the Canadian Embassy in Damascus will send you the medical forms once your application is being processed. You must wait to receive the form before making an appointment and undergoing the medical examination.
CONSULTANT
I wish to apply for permanent residence. Must I hire a consultant to represent me?
It is not necessary to hire a consultant or lawyer to help you complete your application. Every effort has been made to make the process simple and straightforward. You will find all the forms and instructions on our Web site. The Government of Canada treats everyone equally, whether they use the services of a representative or not
CHANGES DURING THE PROCESSING OF AN APPLICATION
I just got married. How can I add my spouse to my application?
You must inform us immediately, in writing, of your new matrimonial status. If your spouse is not a citizen or permanent resident of Canada, he or she must be examined in the context of your application, whether or not he or she will accompany you to Canada. We will send you the forms which your spouse must complete as well as a list of documents required. He or she will have to undergo a medical examination. If your spouse is accompanying you to Canada, you will also have to pay the required fees, submit a copy of his or her passport and obtain a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ) to his or her name if your province of destination is Quebec.
My spouse just had a baby. Do I have to add the child to my application? Does the baby need a passport? What should I do?
If your child was born in Canada or if one of its parents is a Canadian citizen, the child is therefore a Canadian citizen. If that is the case, you do not need to add the child to your application, no medical examination or fee is required. You must, however, send us a copy of his or her birth certificate. The child must have a Canadian passport to enter Canada. If this is not the case, you must add the child to your application by sending us a copy of the birth certificate along with 4 identity photos. Your child will have to undergo a medical examination. If the child is accompanying you to Canada, you will also have to pay the required fees, submit a copy of the child's passport and obtain a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ) in his or her name if your province of destination is Quebec.
Is it possible to change the principal applicant in an application already in process for permanent residence in the economic class (Skilled Worker or Business applicant)?
No, it is not possible to change the principal applicant. If your spouse wishes to submit an application as principal applicant, a new application must be submitted, with new processing fees.
Is it possible to change category for example , from Skilled Worker to Business?
No, it is not possible to change category. If you wish to be examined in a different category, you must submit a new application with new processing fees. Please note however that if you are selected in the Skilled Worker category, once you are in Canada you may purchase or create your own business.
PROCESSING TIME
I have sent all the required documents to the Embassy and have done the medical examination. I have received a letter from the Embassy saying the background check is underway. What does that mean? How much longer will I have to wait for my visa?
That means that we are verifying the information you have submitted in order to determine whether you are admissible to Canada. All applicants for permanent residence in Canada are subject to background checks. It is not possible to give you a time frame as the time required for these checks can vary considerably. We will inform you if any further information or action is required on your part.
I have sent all the required documents to the Embassy and have done the medical examination. I have received a letter from the Embassy saying the background check is underway. What does that mean? How much longer will I have to wait for my visa?
That means that we are verifying the information you have submitted in order to determine whether you are admissible to Canada. All applicants for permanent residence in Canada are subject to background checks. It is not possible to give you a time frame as the time required for these checks can vary considerably. We will inform you if any further information or action is required on your part.
I recently sent you a fax or an email. Can you confirm that you have received it?
Unfortunately the Embassy cannot acknowledge correspondence, given the high volume of messages received each day. We do, however, update the files and contact the applicants when any further action is required.
FILE TRANSFER
I submitted my application for permanent residence (immigration) to another Canadian visa office. I will now be studying or working in one of countries for which your office is responsible. Can my file be transferred to Damascus?
You should contact the visa office where your application was submitted. The officer responsible for your file will determine if a file transfer would enhance the integrity of the immigration program and if the file can be transferred to our office.
To help the officer in that decision, you should clearly state the reasons for the file transfer, indicate how long you will be residing in one of the countries for which Damascus is responsible (Cyprus, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria) and include documents showing your status there.
BEFORE THE VISA IS ISSUED
My application is currently being processed at the Embassy. I plan to go to Canada as a tourist and wait for my permanent resident visa there. Is that possible?
We strongly advise against making any definitive arrangements for your establishment in Canada until you have received your permanent resident visa. Do not sell or ship your belongings, leave your job or buy your plane tickets until then.
My permanent resident visa mentions the province of destination. Am I obliged to establish there?
A permanent resident visa is valid for all of Canada. However, if you plan to settle in the province of Quebec as soon as you arrive, you must have a Certificat de Sélection du Québec (CSQ) issued by the authorities of that province.
ARRIVAL IN CANADA
How should I prepare to go to Canada?
You will find a wealth of useful information to help plan your move to Canada, including information on such topics as customs and duties, income tax, health, education and employment, on the following Web sites: http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/ci/main_menu-en.aspx and www.cic.gc.ca/english/newcomer/guide/section%2D01.html.
I have received my permanent resident visa. Am I obliged to travel directly to my province of destination or can I go through another province if the plane tickets are less expensive?
You can present your permanent resident visa upon arrival from abroad at any Canadian border crossing or international airport. Please allow a few hours before any connecting flight or other travel to your final destination, as the immigration procedures are done at your initial place of arrival in Canada. Click here for more information for newcomers to Canada.
Can I land in Canada before the rest of my family?
If you are the principal applicant, you may obtain your permanent resident status in Canada before the other members of your family. The members of your family included in your application may enter Canada with you or after you, within the validity indicated on the visa, but cannot enter Canada before the principal applicant.
AFTER THE VISA IS ISSUED
When I applied for permanent residence I was single. I have received my visa, but now I am married. Can I go to Canada and sponsor my spouse later?
No, your visa is not valid if it does not accurately reflect your legal status and you will not be permitted to enter Canada. You must inform us immediately, in writing, of your new matrimonial status. If your spouse is not a citizen or permanent resident of Canada, he or she must be examined in the context of your application, whether or not he or she will accompany you to Canada. We will send you the forms which your spouse must complete as well as a list of documents required. He or she will have to undergo a medical examination. If your spouse is is accompanying you to Canada, you will also have to pay the required fees and submit a copy of his or her passport. If your destination is in the province of Quebec, your spouse must also obtain a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ).
You MUST return your visa and Confirmation of Permanent Residence forms to our office for cancellation. Once your spouse has been examined, unless he or she is inadmissible, we will issue the visa(s).
Any current family member not examined in this application can NEVER be sponsored by you in the future. Misrepresenting or withholding information would render you inadmissible to Canada.
Since I received my permanent residence visa, my spouse has had a baby. Can I go to Canada and sponsor my child later?
No, unless your child is a Canadian citizen, your visa is invalid because you have a new family member who has not been examined and you will not be permitted to enter Canada. If your child was born in Canada or if one of its parents is a Canadian citizen, the child is therefore a Canadian citizen. If that is not the case, you must add the child to your application by sending us a copy of the birth certificate along with 4 identity photos. Your child will have to undergo a medical examination. If the child is accompanying you to Canada, you will also have to pay the required fees and submit a copy of the passport used for the child. If your destination is in the province of Quebec, you must also obtain a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ) for your child.
You MUST also return your visas and Confirmation of Permanent Residence forms to our office for cancellation. Once your child has been examined, unless he or she is inadmissible, we will issue the visa(s).
Any current family member not examined now can NEVER be sponsored by you in the future. Misrepresenting or withholding information would render you inadmissible to Canada.
Can the validity of the permanent resident visa and the Confirmation of Permanent Residence form (IMM5292) be extended?
Visas are given the maximum validity. It cannot be extended. If you do not use your visa before it expires, you must return it to us and reapply for immigration to Canada.
I have received my permanent resident visa and the Confirmation of Permanent Residence form (IMM5292). How soon after I enter Canada am I legally authorized to work?
You will be allowed to work as soon as the officer at the port of entry to Canada grants you admission as a permanent resident. You do not have to wait until you have received your Permanent Resident Card or Social Insurance Number.
After arriving in Canada, what happens if I have to return to my country to settle some business?
Permanent residence status gives a non-Canadian the right to live in Canada. Permanent residents must comply with certain residency obligations to maintain their status.
Permanent residents comply with the residency obligation if, for at least 730 days in every five-year period,
- they are physically present in Canada or,
- they are outside Canada accompanying a Canadian citizen who is their spouse or common-law partner or, in the case of a child, their parent or,
- they are outside Canada employed on a full-time basis by a Canadian business or in the public service of Canada or of a province or,
- they are outside Canada accompanying a permanent resident who is their spouse or common-law partner or,
- in the case of a child, their parent, and who is employed on a full-time basis by a Canadian business or in the public service of Canada or of a province.
At the time you obtain the status of permanent resident, the process to issue your Permanent Resident Card is initiated. The PR Card can only be delivered in Canada. If you have to leave Canada before receiving the PR card, you will have to contact the nearest Canadian visa office to obtain a limited use travel document to re-enter Canada. A processing fee will be required. On arrival in Canada, permanent residents will have to demonstrate to the immigration officer at examination at the point-of-entry that they have met the residency obligation in respect of the five-year period immediately before the examination or that they will be able to meet the residency obligation in respect to the five-year period from the date at which they became permanent residents.
FEES
When do I have to pay the Right of Permanent Residence fee?
The Right of Permanent Residence fee can be paid at the same time as the processing fee when you submit your application or at any time during the processing of your application. Once the processing of your application has been completed, we will ask you to pay the Right of Permanent Residence fee if you have not already done so. Family Class applicants must pay their fees in Canada, please click on the following link for sponsorship guidelines, which include information on paying these fees. Your visa will be issued only when you have paid the Right of Permanent Residence fee.
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