March 07, 2006
Tips & Tricks for Immigrating to Canada
Following Laura's lead on her blog, I thought I would do a posting about tips and tricks around the process with CIC - here's what I have learned so far (this is by no means legal advice):
1) The e-client on the CIC website is pointless, all it ever says is In-Process, and you will drive yourself crazy if you check it once per week to see if it has changed. Just file it away on your favourties list.
2) You do not need to spend huge amounts of money on an immigration lawyer if you are a skilled worker. Just double check your work and proof-read, proof-read, proof-read. Make a copy of everything you have and send it in.
3) Even though the new applications ask for an FBI clearance, they expire after one year and you have to request new ones (we learned this the hard way through our recent letter.) Once you are getting close to the one year mark on your submitted application you might want to consider getting new fingerprint clearances and have them ready.
4) Even though it might seem like CIC has lost your file, or it ended up propping up the coffee-maker in the break room in Buffalo...have faith in the process. I recommend you use the time to immerse yourself in Canadian culture. I highly recommend buying a subscription to MacLean's, checking CBC or CTV on-line for news and trying to catch The National on TV if you can. Also major cities have some great outlets - we subscribed to Toronto Life which has great little city guides every month on a variety of topics (health, schools, art, etc) and has also let us get to know Toronto better. I also check the Toronto Star every morning along with my local paper - it helps to make you feel like part of the culture.
5) I highly recommend visiting the Canadian city or province that you plan on moving to and go on a fact-finding mission. Talk to people in your field about job prospects; e-mail them in advance to set up appointments if possible. Mason and I have visited Toronto three times since we sent our application in, and one of those times Mason did some informational interviews. Make sure the city/province and you make a good "fit".
That's it for now, I'm sure I'll come up with some more later :-)
