Canadian Immigration Questions and Answers with Attorney David Cohen

Every month, Attorney David Cohen will answer a few general Canadian immigration questions submitted by our readers. These questions cover immigration programs, eligibility, processing, language requirements, investing in Canada, landing, admissibility, studying in Canada, working in Canada, and much more.

Here are this month’s questions and answers.

1. Hi, I am planning to sponsor my boyfriend for Canadian permanent residence. I will be going back to school to upgrade my education. I want to file for unemployment assistance while am back to school, but I want know if that will affect my sponsorship application.

Under the spouse, common-law or conjugal partner category of the Family Class for Canadian immigration, the fact that the sponsor is benefiting from unemployment insurance should not affect the application, so long as the person being sponsored and the sponsor continue to meet the requirements of the category.

2. I have presented my document to Quebec immigration. After that, they sent me a letter saying that I must submit ‘Proof of your social security contributions or proof of exemption from payment of social security premiums. If you cannot provide proof of social security contributions or proof of exemption from payment of social security premiums, you must provide proof of payment of income tax.’

I am living in UAE and in this country I cannot have this proof, because we do not pay such taxes here. What should I do?

Candidates for Canadian immigration may be unable to provide proof of income tax records for the very reason you have outlined. Please note, however, that the letter from the government of Quebec first asks for proof of social security contributions or proof of exemption from payment of social security premiums. Only if a candidate cannot provide one or the other is he or she asked to provide proof of payment of income tax. As such, candidates in this situation should first try to provide either proof of or exemption from such contributions. Proof of exemption should be issued by a government authority, such as an Embassy.

3. Sir, can I apply for a study visa for Canada if I have already entered the Express Entry pool and wish to immigrate permanently?

If you have gained admission to a designated education institution in Canada and wish to apply for a study permit while also remaining in the Express Entry pool, this may be possible.

Admission to the Express Entry pool is not an application for Canadian permanent residence; it is an Expression of Interest. That said, the immigration officer assessing your study permit application may have concerns about your intention to leave Canada at the conclusion of your temporary stay in Canada.