The following is collected and archived by CND-Canada. If you have any questions regarding the following information/message, please contact the original sender(s) listed below. Thank You. China News Digest - Canadian Regional Services (Bo Xiong) --------------- Date: Thu, 19 Jan 1995 09:29:58 -0500 Reply-To: Xinan TANG Sender: FCSSCD-L is a list for the open discussion and info exchange >From: Xinan TANG Subject: Tips for Immigration To: Multiple recipients of list FCSSCD-L Status: R Hi Folks, I just finished my P.R application and received the visa after going through an interview at Buffalo consulate. Since I benefited tremendously from this list, I would like to contribute my experience back to it and hope to help other P.R applicants. First, if your major is computer science, it's better for you to say that your intented occupation is SYSTEM ANALYST instead of programmer. You will get high points by declaring that. It's no necessary to ask a lawyer to help you if your major is computer science. I know a person whose' major is computer science but is registering in a Diploma programme(Not MS or PH.D) received his P.R visa in nor more than five months. I submitted my application by my own last September and received my visa this January. I also know another guy in my department had the same successful story(getting P.R Visa in four month). So, the chance to become a P.R of Canada is still very high and I would encourage everybody action really "independently" to save your money. Second, if you receive an interview notice, don't be panic. It usually means that something in your application can't be dealt with by the lower ranked immigration officials who usually working in immigration processing center. For my case, my third country non-criminal certificate was incomplete and I was called to go to Buffalo to clarify this. In some other cases, the typing errors in your application form may cause you hundreds of bucks to go Buffalo. Be carefully when filling your application. Even through, you are called to have an interview, the chance to pass is really 99%. On my day of interview, I saw five applicants from mainland and everyone was got in. Two of us received our visa on the spot because our medical check-up had been arrived in Buffalo. Third, the interview was not tough as I thought. If you insist me to list some "mild" questions, here they go: 1). What' s about Canada? 2). What's your income? How do you pay your university fees? 3). Since all of your previous jobs were related to the academic, how can you prove that you can jump into commercial job market easily? 4). Were you in China in 1989? ( very strange question) 5). What will your wife do after landing? etc. Fourth, be carefully about your American visa if you are asked to go through face-in-face interview. I had some difficulty to get a visa and the only visa I got is attached a very strong condition. You guess what? I have to report the vice consul of the USA Montreal consulate the result of my immigration interview. It's so strange that American officials put their noses too deeply into the canadian P.R issue. Fifth, it's better to know where you will live before you leave for Buffalo. The american board immigration official asked me to show those stuff when I was crossing board. So, have some hotel names in your mind and be prepared to spell them clearly. Sixth, the subway above ground is FREE in Buffalo. This part is along the MAIN street and it's very convenient to take subway if you live some hotels which are not in downtown. I only knew this at the last minute and still regretted that I didn't make full use of advantage because the price difference may be twice between living in downtown and a little bit far a way. Seventh, no matter whether you receive your P.R visa in the same day or not, try to arrange a trip to the Niagara fall, which is just an half hour away from Buffalo. It's the best place to relax after the intensive interview and the price in this season is quite good in terms of hotel. Eighth, public passport doesn't matter on your application. I am holding a public passport and prepared to change it if required. I was very luck that the official did ask me any question on this. Ninth, if you have been to the third country, it's better for you to be very carefull on your non-criminal certificate. The consulte has its own standard for each western country and it's nice that your file is compatible with it. Don't ask me what's that because I only saw a big book lying on the immigration officail table for this but had no chance to read it in details. Last but the most important, read this list often. During my whole appliocation, I NEVER contact any lawer because I knew that they won't provide me VERY useful information without paying them fees. So, I relied on this list and luckly I digged out everything I need from this list. We should be very appreciated the FCSSC establishing this list because as far as I know no other foreign student association did the same thing. Now, international students from other countries often come up to me and want to know why chinese students can get their P.R visa so quickly. Much thanks for all of vonluteers in this net and wish every applicant has a good luck. Cheers --Tang