A Glossary Of Essential Canadian Immigration Terms
Every industry has its language and terms. These words and phrases can be confusing to anyone who is not part of the daily operations of a specific sector, and the Canadian immigration industry is no exception.
To help you understand the terms, acronyms, and phrases regularly used when availing of Canadian immigration assistance, Springwind Immigration Consulting Service Inc. has created this handy reference guide. Here you’ll find valuable information allowing you to comprehend and communicate your immigration needs and position effectively.
An accompanying family member and accompanying dependent
An accompanying relative is an immediate family member of someone who immigrated to Canada. The principal applicant’s spouse, common-law partner, dependent child, or dependent child of a dependent child (grandchild) are considered accompanying relatives. Parents that would be accompanying you can be identified as dependents.
Dependent Child
Generally, to qualify as dependents, children must be under twenty-two years old and not have a spouse or common-law partner. Exceptions are made for children at the age limit or older if they had depended on their parents for financial support before they reached the age limit and can’t financially support themselves due to a mental or physical condition.
Inadmissibility
This is when a person is not allowed to enter or stay in Canada. Reasons for this can include security concerns, criminal offenses, human rights violations, health or financial reasons, and a failure to comply with Canada’s immigration laws.
Arranged employment
Arranged employment is when you have a job offer from a NOC classified Canadian employer or job for a continuous period of one year or more. In some cases, this job offer must be approved by Employment and Social Development Canada or Service Canada.
Valid job offer
A job offer is a written offer for Express Entry candidates. The offer must be for continuous, paid, full-time work (at least thirty hours a week) and for work that is not seasonal and for at least one year. The job must also come under skill type 0, or skill levels A or B of the 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC). Additionally, a valid job offer needs to be supported by an LMIA (unless exempt).
National Occupational Classification (NOC)
The National Occupation Classification (NOC) lists all the occupations in the Canadian labour market. It describes each job according to skill type and skill level. The NOC is used to collect and organize job statistics and provide labour market information. It is also used as a basis for certain immigration requirements.
Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is a document that an employer in Canada must usually get before hiring a foreign worker. A positive LMIA will show that there is a need for a foreign worker to fill the job and that no Canadian worker can do the job. A positive LMIA is sometimes called a Confirmation letter. To avail of an LMIA, your employer must send an application to Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).
Authorized representative
There are two types of authorized representatives, compensated and uncompensated.
First are individuals who receive compensation for their services (either directly or indirectly). Compensated authorized representatives must be members in good standing with their accredited regulatory body, such as a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultation (RCIC) regulated by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC).
The second are individuals who provide such services for free. Examples of these individuals include friends, family members, and volunteers or staff members at charitable or non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB)
The Canadian standard is used to describe, measure, and recognize the English language ability of adult immigrants and prospective immigrants who plan to live and work in Canada or apply for citizenship. The Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) is used to assess abilities in the French language.
Unique Client Identifier Number (UCI) or Client Identification Number(CIN)
A client identification number (Client ID), also referred to as a unique client identifier number (UCI), can be found on any official document issued by an Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada office, Case Processing Centre, or a Canadian visa office outside Canada.
A Client ID consists of four numbers, a hyphen (-), and four (4) more numbers. A person who has never dealt with Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada before will not have a Client Identification Number.
Common-law partner
A common-law partner is a person who has been living with another person in a conjugal relationship for at least one year. The term refers to opposite-sex and same-sex relationships.
Conjugal partner
This is a person outside Canada who has had a binding relationship with a sponsor for at least one year but could not live with their partner. Once again, the term refers to both opposite-sex and same-sex relationships.
Express Entry
Express Entry is a system used by the Canadian government to manage Canadian permanent residence applications for filling labour gaps through specific economic immigration programs. These immigration programs include the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, the Canadian Experience Class, or a portion of the provincial nominee program.
Comprehensive ranking system (CRS)
This is a points-based system used to assess and score a candidate’s Express Entry profile to rank them against other candidates in the pool. The CRS will assess the profile information candidates submit, including skills, work experience, language ability, education, and other factors.
Misrepresentation
Misrepresentation is when a person makes false statements, submits incorrect information, submits false or altered documents, or withholds information relevant to their application to IRCC. This is a crime. Lying on an application or in an interview with an IRCC officer is also an offense under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and the Citizenship Act. Misrepresentation bars a person from being granted Canadian citizenship for five years. Suppose misrepresentation is found to have occurred after someone becomes a citizen. In that case, this can result in the revocation of their citizenship, and this individual must wait ten years before they can be granted citizenship again.
If you’re looking for a Canadian immigration consultant, reach out to the experts at Springwind Immigration Consulting Service Inc. We are committed to helping customers study, work, and immigrate to Canada. Our team is committed to providing the most genuine and honest immigration advice.
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