Canadian Immigration Step by Step Guide - Nigerian Applicants

Have you tried to immigrate to Canada through the Federal Skilled workers and professional category? Were you at a loss as to where to find out relevant information? Would you like to process the application yourself without employing the services of an expensive immigration lawyer? If your answer is yes then this guide is for you.

We have discovered that it is very possible to process the Canada Immigration personally without employing the services of an immigration lawyer. The only difficulty in processing the application personally is how to find and gather the relevant information necessary to begin the process.

The first places to look for information is at the CIC website. Unfortunately, all the relevant information are scattered everywhere on the website. You will have to search for hours before you can find all necessary information.

This is where we come in. We have done all that research, gathered and simplified the steps just to assist guys like you. Hope you will find this guide useful.

Before you begin filling in the forms you are strongly advised to have an up-to-date curriculum vitae. You will need it along the line because this makes filling the forms easier and much quicker.

Before thinking of applying to immigrate to Canada under the skilled workers category you must first have to establish your eligibility to apply. If you meet the following criteria then you are eligible:

1. According to the eligibility criteria, your application is eligible for processing if:
    •    You have an offer of arranged employment, OR
    •    You are a foreign national who has been living legally in Canada for one year as a temporary foreign    worker or an international student, OR
    •    You are a skilled worker who has at least one year of experience* in one or more of the occupations listed here.
    •    you have at least one year of continuous full-time paid work experience or the equivalent in part-time continuous employment, AND
    •    your work experience must be Skill Type 0 (managerial occupations) or Skill Level A (professional occupations) or B (technical occupations and skilled trades) on the Canadian National Occupational Classification list, AND
    •    You must have had this experience within the last 10 years.

2. If you meet these minimum requirements, your application will then be processed according to the six selection factors in the skilled worker points’ grid. The six selection factors are:
    •    Your education
    •    Your abilities in English and/or French, Canada’s two official languages
    •    Your work experience
    •    Your age
    •    whether you have arranged employment in Canada, and
    •    Your adaptability.

You must also show that you have enough money to support yourself and your dependants after you arrive in Canada. The amount of money needed is stated in this guide.

 Further you need to determine your eligibility to immigrate and take the self assessment test to ascertain your minimum pass mark. The minimum pass mark currently is 67. If you score 67 or more then it is all good.

•    Find out if you are eligible here
•    Take the self assessment test here
•    Eligibility for Federal Skilled Workers

In order to fully assist you we have decided to tailor this guide to someone who is applying from a particular country – Nigeria. For a Nigerian national who wants to immigrate to Canada the processing takes place in Accra Ghana.

Canada Immigration - Step One

Proficiency in English

1.    Establish your proficiency levels through a written explanation and supporting documentation through;
a.    Degree certificates
b.    Letters from previous employers
 •    Also state on letter of employment the number of hours that you have worked...minimum of 35hrs weekly is advised.
 •    Your work experience must be in the NOC Management Occupation List Skill Type 0 or Professional occupations Skill Level A, or technical occupations and skilled trades Skill Level B.

You can download the occupation list from here. For a complete list including sub-categories visit the NOC website.

Document Check-List

To assist you in gathering information use the Document Checklist form (IMM 5612).

Sufficient funds

•    Must show you have enough funds to support yourself and your family members for a minimum of 6 months: See exact amount.

You should send form to Visa office in Accra Ghana - get address here
You must undergo a medical examination. See addresses in Nigeria for appointments.
Visa Office Specific Requirement/Instruction forms Accra Ghana. Please download.

Police Certificates

You and all of your family members who are 18 years of age and older and who are not permanent residents or Canadian citizens will have to provide:

•    A valid police certificate, or
•    Police clearance, or
•    Record of no information.

Download Police Certificate Form

Apply to:

Central Criminal Registry
Force C.I.D. Annex
Alagbon Close Ikoyi
Lagos, Nigeria

Certificates will be released directly to Canadian Visa Office upon request.

Certified copies or notarized documents

To have a photocopy of a document certified, an authorized person must compare the original document to the photocopy and must print the following on the photocopy:

•    “I certify that this is a true copy of the original document”
•    the name of the original document
•    the date of the certification
•    his or her name
•    his or her official position or title
•    his or her signature

Authorised Persons who can certify a document
•    a judge
•    a magistrate
•    a notary public
•    an officer of a court of justice
•    a commissioner authorized to administer oaths in the country in which the person is living

Canada Immigration - Step Two

Complete the application

•    Make two copies of the original forms and then,
•    Sign the original forms and send them to CIO (not the copies)
•    Photocopy 1 – Please refer to the information below.

If the CIO…    Then…
advises you to send a complete application to a visa office submit your first set of photocopied documents with your original signature to the visa office.

Note: If applicable, make sure to include a letter explaining any changes in your application since your initial submission.

•    Photocopy 2 – Keep the second set of photocopies for your personal records.

Photo Preparation

Prepare your photo in the following format
•    Supply six photos for each of you, i.e. 6 x 4 = 24 photos in total
Step Action
1.     Take the Photo Specification sheet (found in Appendix B of the Visa Office specific instructions) to a photographer.
2.     Ask the photographer to provide you with the number of photos required in Appendix A of the Visa Office specific instructions for yourself and each family member.
3.     On the back of one photo of each person, write the name of the person in the photo and his or her height and eye colour.
4.     Enclose the photos of each person in an envelope and seal the envelope.
5.     Write your name and date of birth on the outside of the envelope.
6.     If the CIO advises you to submit your application to a visa office for further assessment, staple the envelope to your application form. Be careful not to staple or bend the photos.



Mail your Application to the following address:

Regular mail:

(Your Name)
(Your Address)
(Your Postal Code)

Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Federal Skilled Worker
Centralized Intake Office
PO BOX 7500
Sydney, NS
B1P 0A9
Canada

Or by courier:
(Your Name)
(Your Address)
(Your Postal Code)

Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Federal Skilled Worker
Centralized Intake Office
196 George Street
Sydney, NS
B1P 1J3
Canada

The following are the forms that must be filled out and submitted for all applicants:
•    Application for Permanent Residence in Canada (IMM 0008-Generic)
•    Schedule 1: Background / Declaration (IMM 0008 – Schedule 1)
•    Schedule 3: Economic Classes – Federal Skilled Worker (IMM 0008 – Schedule 3)
•    Additional Family Information (IMM 5406)
•    Use of a Representative (IMM 5476)
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Example of an Application using the Guide above

This is an example of an application of a Nigerian national to immigrate to Canada under the Federal Skilled worker category

APPLICATION FOR PERMANENT RESIDENCE: FEDERAL SKILLED WORKER CLASS (IMM 7000)

Job Category - Prepare an update CV or Resume {Important}

You could split your occupation and work experience into two:

Firstly, let us say you obtained your work experience while working as a Hotel Manager (Part-time) {Skill Type 0}, and Barrister {Skill Level A} (Full-Time).
That is, after Law School and call-to-bar you worked as a Hotel Manager and at the same time practised law full-time.
Currently you are working as a Barrister {Full-Time} and lets say you are working as a Hotel Manager {Part-Time}.
You will then need to prepare/obtain a contract of employment as being employed as a Hotel Manager. The date should begin, maybe, from the date you obtained your Barrister at Law Certificate {BL}.
You will also need to prepare a contract of employment as a Barrister relating to the Chambers you worked in after obtaining your professional Law Certificate.
You will also need to obtain introductory letters from the Director/Owner of the Hotel and from the offices that you have worked in as a Barrister.
The contract of employment and letters should be worded in certain ways. Please, see below for examples:

JOB CATEGORY

Hotel Manager – Contract and Letter Content (on company letter-head) - Skill Type 0 - 0632

Job Description:

As a Hotel Manager you were involved with the forecasting, organizing, directing, managing and assessing the operations of the company.
You could have worked nights. And your hours of work could have been from Friday to Sunday, 6am-6pm which is equivalent to 36 Hours a week.
And you could have work as a Barrister on Monday to Thursday 8am-6pm which is equivalent to 40hours a week.

Hotel Manager Main Duties:

•    Build up, execute and assess strategy and company procedure for the smooth operation of the hotel
•    Set up financial plans and keep an eye on returns and expenditures
•    Partake in the development of pricing and advertising policies
•    Negotiate with suppliers to replenish stocks
•    Negotiate with customers or future customers for use of the establishment for other activities like marriages and receptions.
•    Involve in the recruitment of employees, in-house training and prepare work rota

Barrister – Contract and Letter Content (on company letter-head)-Skill Level A - 4112

Job Description:

Barristers advise clients on legal matters, represent clients before administration boards and draw up legal documents such as contracts and wills.
Barristers also plead cases, represent clients before tribunals and conduct prosecutions in courts of law. Barristers are employed in law firms and prosecutor's offices.

Main Duties:

•    Advise clients of their legal rights and all matters related to law
•    Research legal precedents and gather evidence
•    Plead clients' cases before courts of law, tribunals and boards (lawyers only)
•    Draw up legal documents such as real estate transactions, wills, divorces and contracts, and prepare statements of legal opinions
•    Negotiate settlements of civil disputes (lawyers only)
•    Perform administrative and management functions related to the practice of law
•    May act as mediator, conciliator or arbitrator
•    May act as executor, trustee or guardian in estate and family law matters.


FINANCIAL SUPPORT

You must show that you have enough money to support yourself and your family members after you arrive in Canada. If you are travelling you must have at least:

• 2 Million Naira in your account as proof
Refer to the following table for more details relating to amount of money that you should have in your bank account as proof of sufficient funds:

Family Members    Funds Required (in Canadian dollars)

1                               $11,086
2                               $13,801
3                               $16,967
4                               $20,599
5                               $23,364
6                               $26,350
7+                             $29,337

PROFICIENCY IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE

You need to provide a written submission stating that you can speak, write, listen and read in English Language. Your written statement should detail:

•    Your education and training in English
•    Your work experience in English
•    And any other information that may be relevant as proof of proficiency in English Language.
1.    Evidence to back your written Submissions {to be submitted with immigration application}
•    Degrees, diplomas, certificates, transcripts of all education completed in English.
•    Documentation that supports your work experience in English, such as letters from employers, pay slips, samples of your work or project at school.
•    Any other evidence that proves that you have spent considerable time speaking, listening, reading and writing in English.

MEDICAL EXAM REQUIREMENTS FOR PERMANENT RESIDENTS

You and your family need to pass a medical examination before travelling to Canada. The designated Doctors’ address you will need to go when the time arrives is one of the following:

City       Name                         Address    Telephone                Spoken Languages

Abuja    Lovett Lawson        Zankli Medical Centre,
                                                 Plot 1021, B5 Shehu Yaradua
                                                 Way PO Box 7745,
                                                 (234 09) 670 7273 4                       English

Lagos    Olufemi Akinyanju Asaju Medical Clinic,
                                                 2 Olosa Street,
                                                 Victoria Island,
                                                 PO Box 70470,
                                                 (234-1) 2700040

                                                 (234-1) 2700654                            English

Lagos    Maria Esin               Marien Clinic,
                                                7 Montgomery Rd,
                                                Yaba,
                                                (234-1) 3425034                             English


POLICE CERTIFICATE CLEARANCE

You and your wife or any other family member over 18 years that is included in the application must submit police certificate clearance. You and members of your family will be required to submit the police certificates along with the full application to the Canadian Visa Office. You and members of your family should submit either the following:

•    A valid police certificate, or
•    Police clearance, or
•    Record of no information.

The address you will have to go to request for the police certificate is:

Central Criminal Registry
Force C.I.D. Annex
Alagbon Close Ikoyi
Lagos, Nigeria

CERTIFIED COPIES

All copies of original documents must be certified. An authorized person must compare the original document to the photocopy and must print the following on the photocopy:

•    “I certify that this is a true copy of the original document”
•    the name of the original document
•    the date of the certification
•    his or her name
•    his or her official position or title
•    his or her signature

People authorised to certify photocopies include the following:

•    a judge
•    a magistrate
•    a notary public
•    an officer of a court of justice
•    a commissioner authorized to administer oaths in the country in which the person is living


PHOTOGRAPHS PREPARATION

Notes to the Photographer

Prepare the photo-passport in the following format:

The photos must:

•    Show a full front view of the person’s head and shoulders showing full face centred in the middle of the photograph;
•    Have a plain white background;
•    Be identical (black and white or colour) produced from the same untouched negative, or exposed simultaneously by a split-image or multi-lens camera.

The photos must:

•    Measure between 25 mm and 30 mm (1” and 1 1/5”) from chin to crown;
•    Have a 35 mm x 45 mm (1 3/8” x 1 3/4”) finished size.


Further Action to take

1.     Take the Photo Specification sheet above to a photographer.
2.     Ask the photographer to provide you with 6 photos of each person, that is, 24 photos in total if 4 persons
3.     On the back of one photo of each person, write the name of the person in the photo and his or her height and eye colour.
4.     Enclose the photos of each person in an envelope and seal the envelope.
5.     Write your name and date of birth on the outside of the envelope, and send to the Visa Office.
6.     If the CIO advises us to submit your application to a visa office for further assessment, you will staple the envelope to your application form.

You must be careful not to staple or bend the photos.

COMPLETING THE APPLICATION

•    Fill in the forms below (just fill in the forms. And do not sign it yet)
•    Make two copies of each of the forms.
•    And then sign the original form and one of the copies that you have made.

LIST OF FORMS TO BE COMPLETED

•    Application for Permanent Residence in Canada (IMM 0008-Generic)
•    Schedule 1: Background / Declaration (IMM 0008 – Schedule 1)
•    Schedule 3: Economic Classes – Federal Skilled Worker (IMM 0008 – Schedule 3)
•    Additional Family Information (IMM 5406)
•    Use of a Representative (IMM 5476)


RIGHT OF PERMANENT RESIDENCE FEE

The Right of Permanent Residence Fee, which will be requested by the Visa Office at a later stage when your application is approved is as follows:

Right of Permanent Residence Fee     Number of persons     Amount    Amount Due   

Principal applicant                                   1                                 x $490         $490

Spouse or partner                                                                       x $490   


These fees cover issuance of your Permanent Resident Card
Note: Dependent children are exempt from paying the right of Permanent Residence fee. It is free for your children.
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Good Luck.