About Canadian Immigration and visa information required

[bill.harry7]

Hi 2 All, I am looking information about Canadian immigration. Please guide me where from I can collect proper information about Canadian immigration and Canadian higher studies. I have found one website i.e. Canadian Visa and immigration Guide this website have detail for all about Canadian immigration process but I am looking best source for Canadian immigration. Please share your experience

[dramanda]

The official website is Immigration Canada (gov't website). I've linked to the "Study in Canada" section below. If the information you need is not available online, please call the 1-800 number. You can also check out the Canadian consulate or embassy in your home country, if you live close enough.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/index.asp

Generally though, the school takes care of much of the paperwork for you. You should contact the international student centre at your potential university to find out what you need to do vs. what the school will do.

Welcome to my beautiful country!

[abc123xtc]

I wish my school was doing more of this stuff for me. I have a couple of questions for anyone who might have answers (the Canadian embassy here is really unhelpful with immigration questions -- they don't take phone calls about it!). First, I was wondering, do I pay the application fee in CAN or USD? And when I estimate my total expenses, do I do that year by year or by the total amount of time I'll be there (2 years)? Any help would be really appreciated! I'm stressing out.

[turtles]

Oh my goodness, yes. It's been driving me crazy that it is impossible to communicate with the Canadian consulates because they don't take phone calls, you can't talk to them in person, and they only respond to emails by telling you to check their website, even when your question is about how the website contradicts itself!

If by estimating your total expenses you mean how much money you have to prove you have access to in order to get a study permit, I think they only care about the first year (so $10,000 + tuition, at least in Ontario). I'm also pretty sure the application fee is in CAN.

[abc123xtc]

Well, there's a section that asks you to estimate your expenses and another for how much money you have to live on. I wasn't sure if the fee would be in CAN or USD because the application has to go through an American office, even though it's a Canadian embassy. :/

It's so stupid they won't take phone calls. I emailed them last week and still haven't heard back.

Have you tried seeing them in person? Is it completely fruitless?

[turtles]

I haven't tried seeing them in person, but the websites for the two I could conceivably get to both say they don't take in-person inquiries. I did get an email response within 24 hours, but it didn't actually answer my questions.

[antecedent]

Is it not possible to call the CIC directly? I called their 1-800 number several times in the last few weeks as I've prepared to leave Canada for grad school in September, and once you get to a human they're pretty helpful.

[DustSNK]

Calling CIC is nuts, not the most helpful. I JUST got my study permit 3 days ago... and they gave me 3 1/2 years too for an MA program because I needed to move quicker. I'm American though, and a very very unknown lil secret about Americans getting the permit is that you can do it at the boarder. Only Americans, Greenlanders and someone else can do this. It is SOOOOOO much easier to do this than the regular process. Let me tell you what I did.

Went to boarder

Showed 4 months of bank statements,acceptance letter,passport,paid 125$.

30 mins later I had my permit, no joke!

As an American you don't have to even fill out an application if you do it at the boarder. Also, my max program length was written as 3 years. I told them I want to move in early because I really want to get out of NY, my lease is ending here this month, and I want to settle in/ save money because the place in Canada I'm going to is cheaper than here. They were very nice to me, and gave my a 1/2 year addition to the permit to do this. All in 30 mins! They told me I actually over prepared. I didn't even need to fill out a declared goods form, or the form to give them all my auto info like insurance/registration/license. Literally banks statements,passport,letter,money....30 mins later permit. Do the boarder way if you are American it is worth it. You can go there, apply,then go back to your place. You don't have to move in that day or whatever. If you have any questions PM me. I've been researching this the past year, and called everyone,so if you are an American I can help out alot since I just did this.

[DustSNK]

About the calls....

You can;t call directly because you need to be in Canada for this. It is a toll free number, but they block calls from outside Canada. So you have to deal with e-mail,consulate, whatever. There is a way around this. There is a number you can call, then you get transferred to CIC officials from within that call menu. I did this. But really if you are American the process is so disgustingly easy you don't need to do ANYTHING. Telling you all, got my permit 3 days ago, and I just got back last night getting all the paperwork from the apartment I'm moving to/ seeing the apt in person. Of course I am right next to the boarder right now so it is very easy. If you are near a boarder, moving is literally as easy as going to another state. And they answer questions in person at point of entry. I have been asking questions to them in person the past year. And a week before I got my permit I stopped in and went over what I needed before I brought all my paper work.

[turtles]

That's very useful! I'd been planning to apply at the border anyway, but hadn't figured out if I needed to fill out an application or just bring my acceptance letter and proof of funding. Thanks!

[DustSNK]

That's very useful! I'd been planning to apply at the border anyway, but hadn't figured out if I needed to fill out an application or just bring my acceptance letter and proof of funding. Thanks!

I forgot to say that while you don't need to declare your goods, I was hinted by the CIC that it is still a good idea to have in hand just for image. I'm moving a 2bdr amount worth of things so that makes sense, showing them I have everything in order. Hopefully less box gutting and broken items :/

[abc123xtc]

Wow, it's really that easy? I am kind of shocked.

[DustSNK]

There area a number of factors that go into the process for Americans being unbelievably easy.

Incredible inter-governmental relationship between CAN & USA. Trade, defense.. right down to records and insurance.

When I was getting my permit, there was this band who was waiting to get into CAN but one of their members was having issues with getting in.

Apparently he had a police record in the USA (he was American) and was denied entry before into CAN because of it. When I went up to get my physical permit during the whole process. The guy who was talking care of his case came out also and was talking to another officer about the guys history. The officer had basically the guys entire life printed out. From the most minor local police issues, to parole records, everything. Their record system is basically about as integrated into the USA's as much as state records are integrated between each other.

Also car insurance is North American wide. Moving to Canada for an American is basically moving to another state in terms of ease.

[TakeruK]

If you are moving to Ontario, it should be really easy to get an Ontario Driver's License as well -- you basically just give them your US one and they will give you an Ontario one!

Unfortunately, while it's easier for us Canadians to move to the US than other countries, it's still a little harder than going from US to Canada. For example, California DMV will require me to redo both their written exam and road test

Note: I've also been told by both Canadians living in the US and Americans living in Canada that one issue that could come up is that your credit history/ratings in your own country doesn't seem to transfer to the other. So some people I know had a few problems getting a credit card in the other country right away. Some people tried to buy homes and it was really hard to get a mortgage -- they ended up just getting it through a bank from their own country!

Edited April 6, 2012 by TakeruK

[kyjin]

Note: I've also been told by both Canadians living in the US and Americans living in Canada that one issue that could come up is that your credit history/ratings in your own country doesn't seem to transfer to the other. So some people I know had a few problems getting a credit card in the other country right away. Some people tried to buy homes and it was really hard to get a mortgage -- they ended up just getting it through a bank from their own country!

It's true that your credit history doesn't carry over, but you can usually get a student credit card from a bank while you're here. I don't know the exact details, but most banks will set up some sort of credit card for you if you also have an account at that bank. A number of my international friends here from all over the world have done it. However, I've just stuck to my US credit card for emergencies. Just be sure to pay attention to foreign transaction fees; some cards are higher than others.

[DustSNK]

It's true that your credit history doesn't carry over, but you can usually get a student credit card from a bank while you're here. I don't know the exact details, but most banks will set up some sort of credit card for you if you also have an account at that bank. A number of my international friends here from all over the world have done it. However, I've just stuck to my US credit card for emergencies. Just be sure to pay attention to foreign transaction fees; some cards are higher than others.

Yea I just dealt with this the past few days. I have perfect American credit, didn't tie over. You are basically a credit baby once you come into Canada. You will not get a "credit" card as you are used to it in the USA or anywhere, your credit doesn't exist here. BUT that doesn't mean you can't get a card. Canadian banks call them "secured" credit cards. You put down a deposit, then have a credit line. They keep the deposit for x amount of years until you build a history, get your deposit back, and are left with an "unsecured" credit card like most normal citizens have. Works out like this, you deposit 1000$ as a security.You get 1000$ credit. But it is NOT a prepaid card. It is normal credit, but just that you have a deposit in the banks holding until you are deemed "safe" as an immigrant. People who shot their credit in Canada do this too to build it up. I recommend you go through the major banks like TD if you plan on staying in Canada for good, agencies like credit from the big guys. If you have no plans for a future in Canada and only school, go get a capital one card they are easy but such a predatory company. In the end you get your deposit back, and the ease of credit cards. I did this wholeheartedly because the foreign transaction fees and conversion rates add up, and it is a pain in the ass to have to always walk into the gas station with my American card and not be able to scan at the pump (you have to scan in person for non-can credit cards). Also CAN cards all use the chip on the card and don't slide (but have a magnetic slider).

Edited April 6, 2012 by DustSNK