Do you currently, or have you ever held immigration status in a country or territory other than Canada?

[Aspiring Canadian]

Hello fellow members,

Regarding this question on the application: "Do you currently, or have you ever held immigration status in a country or territory other than Canada?"

I had a residence visa in the United Arab Emirates as a student while in high school. I then had a work visa through my fathers company and was listed as a "Sales manager", this was also a residence visa while i was in Canada for university. The reason for this was so I could continue to visit my parents back in the UAE while on vacation. Should I just list these visas as "residence visa" for this question or should I specify "student visa" "work visa". I don't want IRCC to get confused as to why I had a UAE work visa while I was studying in Canada. It was through my fathers company just so i could continue to visit back home for break. Please feel free to share your thoughts and ask any clarifying questions.

 

[armoured]

Hello fellow members,

Regarding this question on the application: "Do you currently, or have you ever held immigration status in a country or territory other than Canada?"

I had a residence visa in the United Arab Emirates as a student while in high school. I then had a work visa through my fathers company and was listed as a "Sales manager", this was also a residence visa while i was in Canada for university. The reason for this was so I could continue to visit my parents back in the UAE while on vacation. Should I just list these visas as "residence visa" for this question or should I specify "student visa" "work visa". I don't want IRCC to get confused as to why I had a UAE work visa while I was studying in Canada. It was through my fathers company just so i could continue to visit back home for break. Please feel free to share your thoughts and ask any clarifying questions.

Disclose them by the most appropriate name (residence or work visa). Include a short explanation letter that you held that status for the reasons you describe. Keep it short and factual. Don't see any particular reason to worry, you'll be showing the dates you travelled there anyway.

And I don't think this will confuse IRCC, it's not that strange.

(A separate point I know little about: if you had income from this putative employment, I believe you should have included in Canadian tax filings.).

 

[Aspiring Canadian]

Thank you for your reply.

It states “Residence” as the main title and on the occupation field it states “sales manager” and the companies name.
This was purely for the purpose of my entry to the uae so I could continue to visit my parents while I studied in Canada. I didn’t list it under occupation when applying for PR because I was a full time student doing my undergrad in Canada. I’m wondering will they probe further or raise concerns as to why this was. I’m wondering shall I just list it as “Residence” and include a brief explanation. Or no need to even explain?

 

[armoured]

Thank you for your reply.

It states “Residence” as the main title and on the occupation field it states “sales manager” and the companies name.
This was purely for the purpose of my entry to the uae so I could continue to visit my parents while I studied in Canada. I didn’t list it under occupation when applying for PR because I was a full time student doing my undergrad in Canada. I’m wondering will they probe further or raise concerns as to why this was. I’m wondering shall I just list it as “Residence” and include a brief explanation. Or no need to even explain?

If the document says residence and not work visa, put that.

I haven't experience with the specific form you are completing, like whether it requires more detail or copies of the original. No need to go into detail that's not asked for. If you feel necessary, short explanation as above (that residency was mainly to see parents). Don't think you have to worry so much about this point.

But opinions from others welcome.

 

[BOYX]

Hello fellow members,

Regarding this question on the application: "Do you currently, or have you ever held immigration status in a country or territory other than Canada?"

I had a residence visa in the United Arab Emirates as a student while in high school. I then had a work visa through my fathers company and was listed as a "Sales manager", this was also a residence visa while i was in Canada for university. The reason for this was so I could continue to visit my parents back in the UAE while on vacation. Should I just list these visas as "residence visa" for this question or should I specify "student visa" "work visa". I don't want IRCC to get confused as to why I had a UAE work visa while I was studying in Canada. It was through my fathers company just so i could continue to visit back home for break. Please feel free to share your thoughts and ask any clarifying questions.

Hey same situation as you - high school in the UAE (where did you go by the way?) and interned at my dad's company.

I just put student visa in both situations. The reason for that was because my residence visa lists occupation as student. Therefore, I believe either residence visa or student visa should be fine. I personally put student visa to avoid confusion since Canada does not have something like a residence visa. However, putting two different names for the same visa would not be advisable since it will just cause confusion.

If you stick to one name, I honestly doubt it should make a difference in the overall scheme of your application. An explanation letter is also not warranted and would just complicate things.

EDIT: Nevermind, it seems you had two separate visas issued. In that case, list them separately as student & work visa respectively.

 

[Aspiring Canadian]

Hey same situation as you - high school in the UAE (where did you go by the way?) and interned at my dad's company.

I just put student visa in both situations. The reason for that was because my residence visa lists occupation as student. Therefore, I believe either residence visa or student visa should be fine. I personally put student visa to avoid confusion since Canada does not have something like a residence visa. However, putting two different names for the same visa would not be advisable since it will just cause confusion.

If you stick to one name, I honestly doubt it should make a difference in the overall scheme of your application. An explanation letter is also not warranted and would just complicate things.

EDIT: Nevermind, it seems you had two separate visas issued. In that case, list them separately as student & work visa respectively.

Thank you for taking the time to reply.

I went to UAS!

So that’s my plan I’ll state student visa, list the issue and expiry dates. Then work visa and list the issue and expiry dates.


Or should I state: Residence visa(student)
Residence visa(worker)

But the thing about the work visa is that it was just issued by my dads company so I could continue to visit my parents during breaks from studying while in Canada. Technically it doesn’t even say “work visa” it says residence and under occupation it says sales manager and states my dads company name. Would IRCC care that I had that visa while studying in Canada, I didn’t mention that visa in my PR app.(there was no spot to explicitly state immigration visas as there is in the citizenship app)

 

[EUK]

Thank you for taking the time to reply.

I went to UAS!

So that’s my plan I’ll state student visa, list the issue and expiry dates. Then work visa and list the issue and expiry dates.


Or should I state: Residence visa(student)
Residence visa(worker)

But the thing about the work visa is that it was just issued by my dads company so I could continue to visit my parents during breaks from studying while in Canada. Technically it doesn’t even say “work visa” it says residence and under occupation it says sales manager and states my dads company name. Would IRCC care that I had that visa while studying in Canada, I didn’t mention that visa in my PR app.(there was no spot to explicitly state immigration visas as there is in the citizenship app)

All visas other than visit or transit

 

[armoured]

Thank you for taking the time to reply.

I went to UAS!

So that’s my plan I’ll state student visa, list the issue and expiry dates. Then work visa and list the issue and expiry dates.


Or should I state: Residence visa(student)
Residence visa(worker)

But the thing about the work visa is that it was just issued by my dads company so I could continue to visit my parents during breaks from studying while in Canada. Technically it doesn’t even say “work visa” it says residence and under occupation it says sales manager and states my dads company name. Would IRCC care that I had that visa while studying in Canada, I didn’t mention that visa in my PR app.(there was no spot to explicitly state immigration visas as there is in the citizenship app)

I don't see why you would complicate. List the official name of the document - residence visa or permit. If you have to state residence visa (worker) - i.e. you have to choose from a list - of course do that. But I don't think this is an issue in terms of the citizenship app anyway.

 

[Aspiring Canadian]

I don't see why you would complicate. List the official name of the document - residence visa or permit. If you have to state residence visa (worker) - i.e. you have to choose from a list - of course do that. But I don't think this is an issue in terms of the citizenship app anyway.

The form simply asks to list any immigration statuses i ever held in detail. Then it goes on to state please indicate the type of status you held i.e work permit, student visa, etc. It doesn't restrict me to a dropdown list fortunately.

So now the decision i have to make is should I elect to go into detail as to what type of visa it was i.e worker, student or just state what is on the title of the document which is "Residence". The document doesn't explicitly state its a work visa rather it lists the occupation and company name. Similarly in the case of a student visa it doesn't explicitly state that its a student visa it just says "residence" and then "student" under occupation. Thats just how the United Arab Emirates does its residence visas.

 

[armoured]

The form simply asks to list any immigration statuses i ever held in detail. Then it goes on to state please indicate the type of status you held i.e work permit, student visa, etc. It doesn't restrict me to a dropdown list fortunately.

So now the decision i have to make is should I elect to go into detail as to what type of visa it was i.e worker, student or just state what is on the title of the document which is "Residence". The document doesn't explicitly state its a work visa rather it lists the occupation and company name. Similarly in the case of a student visa it doesn't explicitly state that its a student visa it just says "residence" and then "student" under occupation. Thats just how the United Arab Emirates does its residence visas.

I have no special knowledge, I would use the name of the document issued (esp if in English). Hence should be fine to write "residence permit" or whatever.

Again, if you feel the need to explain, short letter of explanation, just brief and factual.