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Glossary
of Terms
A
- Accompanying
Dependant:
- A spouse or child
of the principal applicant who intends to immigrate to Canada.
Adjudicator:- A member of the
Adjudication Division of the Immigration and Refugee Board, with the
power of a Commissioner under Part 1 of the Inquiries Act. Adjudicators
preside over immigration inquiries, hearings and detention reviews.
Admissible:- The conditions
you must meet to be considered admissible are as follows:
- your health
is good;
- you do not
have a criminal record;
- you are not
a security risk to Canada; and
- you have not
been charged with a criminal offence in Canada or abroad.
Admission:- Permission to
come into Canada as an immigrant or as a visitor (see entry and landing).
Application for Approval of Rehabilitation:- This is a request
to assess your criminal conviction(s), act(s) or omission(s) in light
of your overall behaviour in the five-year period since you completed
the sentence for your conviction or since you committed the act or omission.
If your rehabilitation application is successful, an immigration or
visa officer can set aside your conviction(s), act(s) or omission(s)
when deciding if you are admissible to Canada as a visitor or permanent
resident.
Approved Educational Institution:- A university,
college or other educational institution that operates according to
the educational standards or practices of the province in which it operates.
Arranged Employment:- Arranged employment
is a guaranteed job offer by a Canadian employer that has been validated
by a Human Resources Canada Centre that no suitably qualified Canadian
or permanent resident is available to fill the position.
Assisted Relatives:- Immigrants, other
than members of the family class, with close relatives in Canada.
Asylum Country Class:- Those selected
under this class must be outside their country of citizenship or habitual
residence and outside Canada. This class includes those who are seriously
and personally affected by civil war or armed conflict where there is
no possibility, in a reasonable time, of a durable solution. It also
covers those suffering massive violations of human rights.
Authorization:- See employment
authorization or student authorization.
B
- Background
Check:
- Checks conducted
by Immigration Canada in all countries in which you and your dependants
have lived to determine if you have any arrests or convictions or are
a security risk to Canada.
Business Immigrants:- Entrepreneurs,
investors and self-employed persons who will make a significant economic
contribution by establishing, purchasing or investing in a business
or commercial venture in Canada, with their spouses and children.
C
- Canadian Citizen:
- A person who was
born in Canada or who has applied through Citizenship and Immigration
Canada and has received a citizenship certificate.
Care:- Food, clothing,
local transportation and other basic necessities of life. This includes
dental and eye care and other basic health needs not provided by public
health services to all Canadian citizens and permanent residents.
Case Processing Centre (CPC):- This is an immigration
office that handles applications by mail.
Close Relative:- The brother, sister,
mother, father, grandparent, aunt, uncle, niece, or nephew of the applicant
or of the applicant's spouse. You must provide documents proving the
relationship.
Constituent Group:- A group authorized
in writing by the Sponsorship Agreement Holder to act on its behalf
in sponsoring refugees.
Convention Refugee:- Someone who has
been found to fear persecution in his or her country or origin because
of race, religion, nationality, membership in a social group, or political
opinion. In Canada, the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) Convention
Refugee Determination Division (CRDD) decides who is a Convention refugee.
Convention Refugee Seeking Resettlement:- Someone who has
a well founded fear of persecution in his or her country of origin because
of race, religion, nationality, membership in a social group or political
opinion. The visa officer abroad determines who is a Convention refugee
seeking resettlement.
Co-signer:- The sponsor's
spouse who co-signs the sponsorship forms. By co-signing, the spouse
becomes equally responsible for providing for the essential needs of
the sponsored relatives and equally liable if the commitment is not
fulfilled. A co-signer must be married to the sponsor OR be a person
of the opposite sex who has lived with the sponsor in a conjugal relationship
for a continuous period of at least one year before the undertaking
is signed. (Co-signers must meet the same eligibility requirements as
the sponsor.)
D
- Default (Family
Class Sponsorship):
- You are in default
if the relative(s) you have sponsored receive welfare during the validity
period of your undertaking. You continue to be in default until you
have repaid in full the amount of the benefits received or have made
arrangements for repayment that are satisfactory to the relevant provincial
or municipal social assistance authorities. If you are in default, you
will not be able to sponsor again, not even your spouse or minor children.
You may also be taken to court if you do not repay.
Default (Private Sponsorship of Refugees):- You are in default
if a person you previously sponsored under the Private Sponsorship of
Refugees Program received social assistance during the 12 to 24 month
period for which you are responsible for them. You continue to be in
default until you have repaid in full the amount of benefits received
or have made arrangements for repayment that are satisfactory to the
appropriate social assistance authorities.
Departure Order:- An order issued
to a person who has violated the Immigration Act. It requires
that person to leave Canada within a prescribed period and permits re-application
for admission. A departure order will be deemed to be a deportation
order if the person does not leave Canada within the prescribed time
and obtain a certificate of departure. If a certificate of departure
is not obtained, re-application for admission will not be possible without
Ministerial consent and reimbursement of removal costs.
Dependent Children:- Are either under
19 years of age and unmarried on the date the application is received
at the visa office (and if they plan to immigrate, are still unmarried
when they arrive in Canada). Children of any age or marital status are
also considered dependent if they are financially dependent upon their
parents for either of the following reasons:
- they are continuously
enrolled and in attendance as full-time students in an educational
institution and financially dependent upon their parents since reaching
the age of 19 (or from the date of their marriage, if married before
19). Students who interrupt their full-time studies continue to
be considered dependants as long as they are not away from their
program of study for a total of more than one year and continue
to be financially dependent upon their parents during that time;
or
- they cannot
support themselves due to a physical or mental disability and are
financially dependent upon their parents. (Note: Some disabilities
may result in refusal for medical reasons).
Dependents:- The spouse of
a perspective immigrant and the children of that immigrant who are:
- unmarried
and under 19 years of age, or
- continuously
enrolled as full-time students in an educational institution and
financially supported by their parents since reaching age 19 (or
from the date of their marriage, if married before age 19), and
unable to support themselves, or
- due to a medical
condition, unable to support themselves and are dependent on their
parents for financial support.
- Deportation
Order:
- A removal order
issued to someone who is inadmissible to Canada on serious grounds or
who has committed a serious violation of Canadian law. Deportation permanently
bars future admission to Canada unless Ministerial consent is granted.
Designated Occupation:- An occupation
in a locality or area in Canada designated by the Minister, after consultation
with the relevant provincial authority, as a locality or area in which
workers in that occupation are in short supply.
E
- Education/Training
Factor (ETF):
- The level of education/training
for average performance in the occupation in which you are qualified
to work in Canada.
Employment:- "Any activity
for which a person receives or might reasonably be expected to receive
valuable consideration" (as defined in the Immigration Act).
Some activities might be considered to be work even if the person doing
them is not being paid for his/her services.
Employment Authorization:- A legal document
which entitles a foreign worker to work in Canada. Usually, it is valid
only for the specified job and length of time.
Employment Authorization (Open):- An authorization
which allows a foreign worker to work for any employer and in any occupation.
The document will clearly indicate the word open or any employer
in the employer section. Without an open Employment Authorization, a
foreign worker may only work for the employer whose name appears on
the Employment Authorization.
Employment Authorization (Open/Restricted):- An authorization
which allows a foreign worker to work for any employer but restricts
the worker in other ways, for example, from taking jobs where the protection
of public health is important. The document will outline the restrictions.
Entrepreneur:- An immigrant who
intends and has the ability to establish, purchase or make a substantial
investment in a business or commercial venture in Canada that will:
make a significant contribution to the economy; and create or continue
employment opportunities in Canada for one or more Canadian citizens
or permanent residents, other than the entrepreneur and his or her dependants.
(And who intends and has the ability to provide active and on-going
participation in the management of the business or commercial venture.)
Entry:- Lawful permission
to come into Canada as a visitor.
Essential Needs:- The sponsor and
co-signer must provide the sponsored family members with food, clothing,
shelter and other basic requirements for everyday living for 10 years.
This includes dental and eye care and other health needs not provided
by public health services to all Canadian citizens and permanent residents.
Excessive Demand:- Refers to the
significant burden placed on Canada's health or social services due
to ongoing hospitalization or medical, social or institutional care
for physical or mental illnesses, or special education or training.
Individuals may be denied admittance to Canada due to the high costs
of their care.
Exclusion Order:- A removal order
issued to someone at the port of entry for a minor offence, such as
incomplete documentation, barring admission for one year.
F
- Family Class:
- The class of immigrants
made up of close relatives of a sponsor in Canada.
Foreign Worker: - A person working
legally in Canada, who is neither a Canadian citizen nor a permanent
resident of Canada.
Full-time Student:- This is defined
by an approved educational institution or is a person whose course of
study is at least six months in duration and involve at least twenty-four
hours of instruction per week.
Funds Required to Settle in Canada (Business Applicants):- You will be required
to demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to meet the definition
of an entrepreneur/investor or self-employed person. You also require
enough additional money to support yourself and your family when you
first arrive in Canada.
G
- General Interest
Courses:
- Terms which describe
courses that are characterized by the absence of a formal curriculum,
a formal examination and an official credit towards a degree or diploma.
Such courses may be offered by local school boards or as "hobby courses"
or "life skills" and can vary from flower arranging to language studies.
General Occupations List:- The list of occupations
in Canada which are open for independent immigrants and in which there
are reasonable levels of labour mobility.
Government-assisted Refugees:- People who are
selected for resettlement as Convention refugees under the Immigration
Act or as members of a class designated pursuant to section 6.3
of the Act, whose settlement will be assisted by the federal government.
Group of Five:- A group of not
fewer than five individuals, each of whom is a Canadian citizen or permanent
resident, has attained at least 19 years of age and resides in the expected
community of settlement.
H
- Human Resources
Canada Centre:
- (formerly known
as Canada Employment Centres) Local office of Human Resources Development
Canada (HRDC) which provides advice on local labour market conditions
and mobility.
I
- Immigrant:
- A person who comes
to settle in Canada as a permanent resident.
Immigrant Visa:- A document given
to an immigrant who has applied at a Canadian Embassy, High Commission
or Consulate outside of Canada and who has met all the requirements
for being an immigrant.
Immigration Office:- This is the local
office which deals with immigration matters. The office is listed in
the telephone directory under "Government of Canada - Citizenship and
Immigration Canada."
Independent Immigrant:- A person with
specific occupational skills, experience and personal qualifications
who meets Canada's selection criteria and is accepted to immigrate to
Canada.
Inquiry:- An official hearing
to decide if a non-Canadian has violated a section of the Immigration
Act or Regulations and should be removed from Canada.
Investor:- An immigrant who
- has
successfully operated, controlled or directed a business,
- indicates
to the Minister, in writing, that they intend to make an investment
or have an investment, and
- has a net
worth, accumulated by their own endeavours, of at least $800,000.
J
- Job Offer Validation:
- The process by
which a Human Resources Canada Centre determines that hiring a foreign
worker does not affect employment opportunities for Canadians.
K
L
- Landing:
- The permission
given to a person to live in Canada as a permanent resident. An immigrant
who has been "landed" is a permanent resident.
Lodging:- Suitable accommodation,
basic furniture and other household essentials.
M
- Matching Centre:
- The coordinating
centre for all unnamed sponsorships where an inventory of profiles of
refugees or persons in refugee-like situations in need of sponsors is
kept.
Minister's Permit:- A document which
allows a person who does not meet immigration requirements to enter
or remain in Canada.
N
- Named Sponsorship:
- An undertaking
to sponsor a person(s) identified by the sponsoring group.
O
P
- Permanent Resident:
- A person lawfully
in Canada as a landed immigrant but who is not yet a Canadian citizen.
Principal Applicant:- The person who
completes the application for landing for him/herself and dependants.
Principal Applicant (Business Applicants):- The person who
best meets the definition for one or more of the types of business immigrants
should apply as the principal applicant. If that person is married,
his/her spouse should apply as a dependant.
Principal Applicant (Independent Applicants):- You, or if you
are married, the spouse who earns the most points in the self-assessment
should apply as the applicant. The other spouse should be included as
a dependant.
Privately Sponsored Refugees:- Assisted refugees
and designated classes receiving aid from private sources.
Q
R
- Refugee:
- See Convention
refugee.
Refugee Claimant:- A refugee claimant
is a person who has arrived in Canada and who requests refugee status.
If a refugee claimant receives a final determination that he or she
has been determined to be a Convention refugee, he or she may then apply
for permanent residence.
Refugees Landed in Canada:- People who have
been determined to be Convention refugees by the Immigration and Refugee
Board in Canada, and who have been granted permanent residence as a
result.
Removal Order:- An exclusion or
deportation order requiring someone to leave Canada.
S
- Self-employed
Person:
- An immigrant who
intends and has the ability to establish or purchase a business in Canada
that will create employment opportunity for that person, and will make
a significant contribution to the economy or the cultural or artistic
life of Canada.
Settlement Assistance and Support:- Helping the refugees
to learn an official language and to seek employment, extending ongoing
friendship, encouragement and assistance to facilitate their adjustment
to Canadian society, teaching the rights and responsibilities of permanent
residents and assisting the refugees to participate in everyday life.
Skilled Workers:- Immigrants selected
for their suitability for the Canadian labour force, with their spouses
and children.
Sponsor:- A person who sponsors
an immigration application made by a member of the family class.
Sponsorship Agreement:- A signed contract
between the sponsor (as well as the co-signer, if applicable) and the
family members being sponsored. The sponsor (and co-signer) promise(s)
to provide for the essential needs of the relative(s) for 10 years and
the relative(s) agree(s) to make every reasonable effort to provide
for his/her own needs and those of his/her dependents (spouse and children)
who immigrate to Canada with them. As a sponsor (and co-signer), you
must also declare that your debts will not prevent you from supporting
your relatives.
Sponsorship Agreement Holder:- Any corporation
which enters into a Sponsorship Agreement with the Minister.
Spouse:- A person of the
opposite sex to whom the applicant is legally married. If your spouse
is not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and you wish to sponsor
your spouse to immigrate to Canada, you must be legally married. You
cannot sponsor a common-law spouse.
Source Country Class:- Those selected
under this class must be in their country of citizenship or habitual
residence. This class includes those who are seriously and personally
affected by civil war or armed conflict where there is no possibility,
in a reasonable time, or a durable solution. It also includes people
who have suffered serious deprivation of their civil rights and have
been detained or imprisoned as a consequence. This class applies only
to the following countries: Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia, Sudan, El Salvador
and Guatemala.
Student Authorization:- The official document
issued by an immigration officer which allows the person to study at
an educational institution in Canada.
T
- Terms and Conditions:
- The restrictions
that an immigration officer places on a person's stay in Canada. Examples
are: how long you may stay in Canada, whether you may work, or whether
you may study. The terms and conditions that apply to you are written
on your immigration document.
U
- Undertaking
to Sponsor (Family Class):
- The promise made
by the sponsor (as well as the co-signer, if applicable) to the Canadian
government to provide for the essential needs of the relatives being
sponsored and to ensure that the relatives do not receive welfare for
at least 10 years after their arrival.
Undertaking to Sponsor (Refugees):- The promise made
by the sponsors to the Canadian government to make provisions for lodging,
care, settlement assistance and support for the refugee and his/her
accompanying dependents for a period of one year (longer, if agreed
to by the sponsoring group), or until the refugee becomes self-supporting,
whichever is less.
Unnamed Sponsorship:- An undertaking
to sponsor a person(s) referred by the Canadian visa officer overseas
and unknown to the sponsoring group.
V
- Visa Office:
- A Canadian immigration
office outside Canada at a Canadian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate.
Visitor:- Someone who has
been lawfully admitted to Canada and who is in Canada as a tourist,
student, or worker.
Visitor Record:- The official document
which allows a tourist to extend his/her stay in Canada. It is only
issued by an immigration officer in Canada and is only valid for the
specified length of time.
Visitor Status:- This is also called
"valid status." It refers to the period of time that a visitor has permission
to be in Canada temporarily.
Visitor Status (Loss of):- It is possible
to lose your visitor status in any of the following ways:
- failing to
comply with any term or condition stated on your visitor document,
or
- staying beyond
the date authorized by an immigration officer, or
- working without
written permission to do so from an immigration officer, or
- attending
school without permission to do so from an immigration officer.
Visitor Status (Re-instatement of):- If you have lost
your visitor status as indicated in the section "Loss of Visitor Status,"
you may be able to apply for re-instatement of legal visitor status.
There is no guarantee that your status will be re-instated. An immigration
officer must consider all the facts which resulted in the loss of status.
In order to be considered for re-instatement of status, an additional
processing fee must be paid.
Visitor Visa:- A document issued
by a visa officer and placed in the passport of an authorized visitor
to Canada. It is an official way of showing that the person has met
the requirements for admission to Canada as a visitor.
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