FAQs for new Federal Skilled Worker processing

I want to apply for Canadian permanent residence in the Provincial Nominee or Quebec Skilled Worker category. Where should I send my application?

You may submit your application to the Canadian Visa Office serving your country of nationality OR, if you have been lawfully admitted to Canada or the United States for at least one year and are still residing here, you may submit your application to the Buffalo Visa Office.

I want to apply for Canadian permanent residence in the Canada Experience category. Where should I send my application?

If you are still residing in Canada or the United States, you should submit your application to the Buffalo Visa Office.

If you are no longer residing in Canada or the United States, you should submit your application to the Canadian Visa Office serving your country of nationality. That Visa Office will transfer your file to the Buffalo Visa Office for processing.

I want to apply for Canadian permanent residence in the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) category. Where should I send my application?

All applicants in the Federal Skilled Worker Class must submit their initial application to the Centralized Intake Office (CIO) in Canada as of April 1, 2009

Should I send the fee to the CIO as well?

Send your processing fee to the CIO, but do not submit the Right of Permanent Residence fee until it has been requested by the Visa Office.

I live in the USA and want to apply in the FSW category. How can I pay my application fees in Canadian dollars, as the instructions require?

Most private currency exchange businesses will issue money orders in Canadian dollars.

You may also wish to check with the bank in the USA with whom you have an account. Some banks in the USA will issue Canadian dollar certified cheques or bank drafts for their clients.

Should I send all my supporting documents to the CIO too?

Send only the documents listed on the CIO checklist: PDF^* (87 KB)

Will the CIO issue my permanent resident visa?

No, the CIO simply examines your application to see if you appear eligible to apply in the FSW category. If you do, you will be advised to submit your full application to the Visa Office. Before processing begins, the Visa Office will review your application to ensure you meet the residency requirements to have it processed there.

What if I don't meet those requirements?

Your application will be transferred to the office that services your country of citizenship.

I got a letter from the CIO which said I have 120 days to submit my full application with all supporting documents to the Buffalo Visa Office. Can this amount of time be extended?

Visa offices are strictly enforcing the 120 day rule and will not provide extensions.

I sent my full application to Buffalo and they sent me an acknowledgement letter. The file number on this letter is different from the file number on the letter I got from the CIO.

That is normal. The Visa Office file number is now and will remain your official file number.

Am I eligible for a refund of my processing fees if my application is rejected or refused? Who will be responsible for the refund?

If You Submitted Your Application After the Opening of the CIO on 28 November 2008:

You will get a refund of your processing fees only if:

the CIO determines that you are not eligible to apply in the Skilled Worker category

OR

you fail to meet the deadline for submission of your complete application package to the Visa Office.

In both situations, it is the CIO that will issue you the refund cheque. Any queries on refunds should therefore be sent directly to the CIO.

If You Submitted the Application to the Visa Office Between 27 February and 28 November 2008:

You will receive a refund of the processing fees if it is clear upon initial review of your application that you do not meet the definition of a Skilled Worker.

The refund cheque will be issued by the Visa Office. Due to heavy volumes, it may be up to 10 months before you receive your cheque. We would ask you not to make further enquiries within this time frame, and thank you for your patience.

You will NOT receive a refund of the processing fees if a detailed examination of your application (for example, verification of information and/or detailed review by a Visa Officer and/or interview) was necessary to determine whether or not you meet Skilled Worker selection criteria. This is so even if the final decision was to refuse your application.

---