Frequently Asked Questions

If you are independent or freelance, the following are examples and alternatives that you can present:

• Company registration or alternatively,
• Registration as independent or alternatively,
• Service contracts with customers or alternatively,
• Letters from customers 2 or 3 attesting that you have rendered services to them.

Any of the above documents will allow us to attest to your self-employed occupations. In a complementary, but not main way, you can optionally add any of the following, to strengthen the genuineness of your business: 

• Self-employed business cards -this document alone does not carry much weight for the officer, ideally it should be accompanied by one of the documents mentioned above.

Web presence: website, facebook -this document alone does not carry much weight for the officer, ideally it should be accompanied by one of those mentioned above-.

Translations for immigration purposes in Canada must be done by a qualified professional. The translator must have experience in both the source and target language (usually English or French). Some recognized authorities that can perform sworn translations are:

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• Sworn translators accredited by a Canadian provincial or territorial regulatory body.
• Membership in a recognized translation association, such as the Association of Translators and Interpreters of Ontario (ATIO) or the Canadian Council of Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters (CTTIC).
• Translation services authorized by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
• Translators from outside Canada who are accredited (officially recognized or authorized) in the country where the translation is being done. An affidavit must be included stating that the translation is an accurate version of the original text. The translator does so before a commissioner authorized to administer oaths in the country where he/she resides. The commissioner or notary public must be fluent in English or French in order to administer the oath.
• Notary publics or attorneys authorized to certify translations.

The co-op is a professional internship (work experience while you are still a student), it does not affect your residency nor does it count towards your residency (with very specific exceptions in Quebec). Your benefit is that you gain work experience in the professional area of study, which will benefit you in the future when you graduate to find your first job.

The minimum score varies according to each draw, but is usually between 470 and 510 points. Having more than 500 points generally puts you in a good position, although this may change over time and depending on the type of draw (general or category specific).

Yes, documents that are not in English or French must be translated by a certified translator.

A certified translator is an accredited member whose certification can be confirmed by a stamp or seal showing the translator's membership number of a professional translation association in Canada or abroad (for visa processing).

Note: A translator who has not yet received certification or accreditation, but is in the process of receiving it, is not considered a certified translator for IRCC purposes.

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