Immigration is a complex file, especially for foreigners who do not speak the language or who are unfamiliar with the laws and customs of Canada. It can be overwhelming, stressful, and frustrating for anyone, even natural-born citizens.
Whether you have just started the application process, or you have recently hit a bump in the road, you will likely need some assistance along the way – don’t worry, that’s quite common. There are many options for newcomers to take advantage of, especially the large number of Canadian immigration law firms across the country.
Whatever road you decide to take, you need to be aware of several things that can help you.
Here are five immigration tips to boost your Canadian citizenship application:
1. Make Sure You Know the Latest Laws
Immigration has become a hot button, contentious issue in recent years. All political parties are tabling legislation that either enhances or restricts immigration, including in the Great White North. As the legendary comedian Will Rogers said, “Times, they are a changin’.”
As an immigrant hoping to come to Canada, it would be a great move to stay up to date on the latest news, both on immigration and on politics. You will be equipped and ready to handle any abrupt changes that could happen during the process. You won’t suddenly be blindsided.
You can read newspapers, speak with immigration experts, or get in touch with other immigrants.
2. Get Assistance for Your Application
Like any other bureaucracy, the Ministry of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship is another department filled with red tape and long, slow, and arduous processes. It’s frustrating for anyone.
That said, when you’re filling in paperwork, submitting documentation, and going through the application part of your immigration, you need to garner some assistance, preferably of the legal kind.
A mistake, a typo, a wrong checkmark. These things can and do happen, which will mean your application is sent back and you need to go through the whole thing all over again. By having someone, like a Canadian immigration law firm, to assist you completing an application, you can be confident when you submit it.
3. Know Your Canadian History
Who is the first Canadian prime minister? What was the year of confederation? Is Canada a federalist society? What does a Governor General do? What type of electoral system does Canada have?
You will ultimately get asked these questions. So, what’s wrong with learning about them now?
Knowing your Canadian history, and perhaps being better acquainted with Canadian politics, can be of tremendous help in your quest to become a citizen.
4. Improve Your English or French Skills
Yes, Canada is a multicultural society, but it is still officially a bilingual country: English or French.
Depending on where you plan to reside when you relocate to the Great White North, you should be proficient in one of the two languages. The government does accommodate a wide variety of languages, from Mandarin to German to Punjabi to Spanish. But it is still imperative to be able to speak, write, and understand English or French.
5. Be a Master at Maintaining Records
When you’re dealing with the government, there is one area that you must be a master at: recordkeeping.
From the moment you start the process to the time you receive your citizenship, you will be given a lot of paperwork to sign, read through, and submit. It can be overwhelming and hard to keep up with, but you can’t do anything about it – you just need to accept it.
That said, by keeping everything organised, copying every document, and saving every email. Also, if you’re speaking with someone on the phone, then be sure to get the person’s name and employee number and write down the time and date you spoke with that individual.
It is true that you will be spending a lot of time, money, and energy to come to Canada. But once you arrive in Canada, you will realize that it was a worthwhile investment. If it is too stressful, then you should certainly consider hiring any Canadian immigration law firm. These professionals have the experience helping immigrants get accepted into Canada.
