What is a police clearance?

All adult applicants for immigration to Canada should submit a police clearance, a document which certifies that one has no criminal record. A clearance should come from each country one has lived in for six months or more since the age of 18 years. If police in a particular country refuse to issue a clearance, it would be helpful if they provide a written statement confirming that they refused to issue the clearance.

When one should submit the police clearance?

Offices with a ‘one-step’ application procedure may require that this document be submitted at the same time as the application forms, applicable fees and supporting documents. Other offices may allow the document to be submitted later on in the process. For accurate information, one should seek expert advice or get instructions from the visa office where one would submit his application.

Can one omit a police clearance from one or more countries?

If a police clearance is not forthcoming from a particular country, a written statement from the police officials of country confirming their regusal to issue the clearance may be required. An immigration officials may even waive this requirement altogether if a clear obstacle can be demonstrated.

What is a background clearance?

A background clearance detects applicants who are or have been involved in espionage, subversion or terrorism. It is separate from and in addition to a police clearance. The background clearance is conducted by the Canadian government without the participation of the applicant.

What supporting documents should one submit?

Supporting documentation generally encompasses evidence of employment, education, assets, civil status and an absence of criminal convictions.

Each visa office has its own specific requirements for supporting documentation. It is advisable to seek expert guidance or get instructions from the particular visa office which will process ones application.

Is one required to have a certain amount of assets?

Skilled Worker applicants will generally be required to approve that they have CAD $ 10,000 and CAD $ 2000 per accompanying dependent. They are expected to be able to support the landed family (the principal applicant and all accompanying dependents) until employment is obtained.

Is work experience a requirement?

Work experience is a critical requirement for a skilled worker immigrant. Applicants should be able to demonstrate at least one year’s work experience in an occupation appearing on the ‘General Occupations List’. Work experience should be accumulated after the completion of a formal education or apprenticeship in the field of occupation or in a related filed of occupation.

Applicants destined to the Province of Quebec need only demonstrate months of relevant work experience.

Applicants with arranged employment in Canada are exempt from the work experience requirement.

Should the experience been accumulated on a full-time basis? Should it have been accumulated continuously?

Part time work experience is acceptable. It is assessed in proportion to a standard full time working week. For example, a two-year part time position requiring approximately 20 hours of work each week will be counted as one year of full time experience.

Non-consecutive work experience in positions involving the same duties may also be counted if the total work experience meets the minimum experience requirements.