Immigration Glossary

The minimum number of points an applicant must get in order to qualify for selection for programs with a points grid. The pass mark is different depending on the program.

An official travel document that identifies the person who holds it and shows their citizenship. A passport gives the holder the right to leave and return to the country that issued it. A passport is the only reliable travel document that all countries accept.

A person who has legally immigrated to Canada but is not yet a Canadian citizen.

A wallet-sized plastic document issued to all new permanent residents (and to existing permanent residents, when requested) to confirm their status in Canada. The card includes identifying details and the signature of the person it was issued to.

The position of a person who has legally immigrated to Canada but is not yet a Canadian citizen.

A document issued by a CIC visa office overseas to a foreign national. It allows that person to travel to Canada to become a permanent resident.

The fair market value of all assets of an applicant and their spouse or common-law partner, minus the fair market value of all their liabilities. Generally, this figure does not include personal assets, such as jewellery and automobiles.

Physical presence in Canada is the amount of time you have lived in Canada within the relevant four-year period, minus time spent serving a sentence, and minus the days you have been physically absent from Canada. If you have fewer than three years (1,095 days) of physical presence but at least three years of basic residence less time served, the citizenship judge will evaluate the nature of your residence in Canada. However, your application will take longer to process and may be refused.

The scoring system used to assess federal skilled workers and Business Class immigrants. Points are assigned for six different factors: education, proficiency in English and/or French, work experience, age, arranged employment in Canada, and adaptability. A person must have a minimum number of points to qualify in each category.

An official copy of a person’s criminal record, or a declaration that they do not have a criminal record. Police authorities or government departments issue such certificates. Authorities use them to confirm whether visa applicants are criminally inadmissible.

A place where a person may seek entry into Canada, such as at an airport, land or marine border crossing.

A document issued by CIC to eligible foreign students who have: · graduated from an approved program of study at an eligible post-secondary institution in Canada that is participating in the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program · applied to CIC within 90 days of completing all degree or program requirements. It allows the bearer to work legally in Canada after completing studies.

A thorough process that evaluates whether a person would face persecution, torture, risk to life or risk of cruel and unusual treatment or punishment, if returned to his or her country of origin.

When a family applies together, one member must be the main or “principal” applicant. For example, a mother applying for permanent residence with her three children would be the principal applicant. When parents are included in an application, dependent children cannot be principal applicants.

his is a process that is used across Canada by schools, colleges, universities, employers and governments to formally recognize a person’s skills that they have acquired outside of formal education settings. This process allows people to have these skills assessed and possibly recognized in the form of academic credits. For more information on prior learning assessment and recognition

A person outside Canada who has been determined to be a Convention refugee or member of the Country of Asylum class and who receives financial and other support from a private sponsor for one year after their arrival in Canada. Private sponsors are Sponsorship Agreement Holders (SAHs), Groups of Five or Community Sponsors.

If you are on probation, you have been convicted of a crime or offence and have been released without having to go to a penitentiary, jail, reformatory or prison. Typically a person on probation must live under certain conditions set by the court, for example, a curfew or not allowed to take alcohol.

Permanent residents who have committed crimes in Canada may not be eligible to become Canadian citizens for a period of time. People may be considered under a prohibition and cannot get citizenship if they: · are currently serving a sentence, · have been convicted of a serious crime in the last three years, · are currently charged with a serious crime, · are under a removal order (been asked by Canadian officials to leave Canada), · are under investigation for, are charged with, or have been convicted of a war crime or a crime against humanity, or · had Canadian citizenship taken away in the last five years.

A document issued by the Government of Canada that confirms a person’s status as a Canadian citizen.

A person who has been determined to be a Convention refugee or person in similar circumstances by a Canadian visa officer outside Canada, a person whom the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada has determined to be a Convention refugee or in need of protection in Canada, or a person who has had a positive pre-removal risk assessment (in most cases).

An official document issued by CIC that confirms a person’s status in Canada as a protected person.

A person admitted to Canada on a temporary resident permit because a Canadian visa officer abroad has determined that they face an immediate threat to their life, liberty or physical safety.

A program that allows provinces and territories to nominate candidates for immigration to Canada.

Someone who is nominated for immigration to Canada by a provincial or territorial government that has a Provincial Nominee Program. Nominees have the skills, education and work experience needed to make an immediate economic contribution to the province or territory that nominates them.