canada

Getting Ready for Your Canadian Immigration Interview

A proportion of newcomers every year, who apply for permanent residence (PR) will need to attend an interview with an Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) officer in support of their Canadian immigration application. These interviews are often the final step in the application process and can be important in showing the immigration department that an applicant is eligible for PR status in Canada. The following will cover reasons why an interview might be needed, what to expect, and best practices to ensure success.

Requesting an interview from applicants is largely at the discretion of individual IRCC officers. The reasons for such a request are usually to help verify information supporting a PR or citizenship application. Information in need of verification could be details surrounding work experience, personal history, language ability, intent to pursue immigration to Canada, and even simply to verify the identity of applicants. For family sponsorship applications, interviews are often conducted to verify a principal applicant’s and dependents’ relationship or to confirm whether spousal/conjugal/common-law relationships are sincere. Additionally, interviews may focus on missing or incomplete information given as part of an application but do not satisfy the reviewing IRCC officer that such information meets eligibility criteria.

Best Practices for Attending the Interview

Based on information given to IRCC officers on how to conduct interviews, the following are some best practices for interviewees:

1. Review your application thoroughly
2. Communicate clearly
3. Be honest
4. Address concerns calmly
5. Ask questions and follow up if necessary

The best way to get an interview waiver from IRCC is to ensure that all relevant information and supporting documentation is included in an immigration application at the time of submission. The more complete a Canadian immigration application is the likelier it is to receive an application waiver (though this can vary depending on the stream and immigration class that one applies through).

If the interviewer raises concerns or asks challenging questions, interviewees should address them diplomatically and constructively. They should avoid becoming defensive and instead focus on providing clarifications or explanations as needed. Newcomers should keep in mind that their success or failure in their interview will ultimately come down to satisfying the interviewing immigration officer that they truthfully meet all necessary eligibility requirements. As such, it is generally good practice to address concerns they may have in a calm and considerate manner.

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