<<<<<A question for LEON >>>>..

[newcomer]

Hi Leon,

I landed in Canada in last Sept. and with God s grace, got a good job within a week.

I have 2 questions for you,though I think they are well ahead of time but I think "be informed is to be in form" and after reading experiences of many applicants who got RQ ,I simply just want to avoid it in future.I am living in Canada from the past six months and do NOT intend to leave it before completing my 1095 days here.Kindly can you plz recommend what is the best way to avoid RQ and prove one s presence in CA.In addition what could be the possible and most significant docs. which should be kept and then presented at the time of interview/test to prove one s presence.If possible kindly mention all the necessary docs.

My next question is about my son who is currently a high school student .He wants to pursue a career in Medicine in future and due to the competitiveness and uncertainty of getting admission in a med school here ,he plans to go to a med school in my home country( or may be in any other country) where its easier,cheaper and less competitive to get admission.So he is thinking of completing his 1095 days requirements here ,submitting his Citizenship application, and then leaving CA to attend his med school .Now my question is if he does so, will he face any difficulty for getting his citizenship?If he will have student visa in his passport , is it going to ignite a RQ?

What docs should be presented by my son at the time of interview/test to prove his presence in CA.Could you please any specific docs which I could start keeping for him ,such as opening a bank account to his name ,getting him a credit card etc?

Your help will be highly appreciated.

 

[Leon]

If you are not planning on travelling much, then you don't really have much to worry about. Keep your pay slips as proof as they should show how many hours you worked so if you were working, you must have been in Canada during that period.

A word of advise for your son, if he wants to live in Canada in the future, he should study in Canada. It is really hard for foreign doctors to get licensed to work in Canada.

For your son, having school records and having had jobs during his school holidays is really the best way to prove residency. I don't think having a student visa somewhere else will pose a problem if he really has enough days and you should not be thinking of exactly 1095. You must have 1095 on the day before you apply but give it a few more just to make sure.

Other than pay slips, if you leave Canada, you should keep your flight tickets and boarding cards, you should keep phone bills and bank records as well. Utility bills can also be helpful but really, if you have pay slips saying you were working and you can even get your employer to give you a letter when you apply stating that you have worked there full time since date x, you really don't need anything else.

 

[newcomer]

If you are not planning on travelling much, then you don't really have much to worry about. Keep your pay slips as proof as they should show how many hours you worked so if you were working, you must have been in Canada during that period.

A word of advise for your son, if he wants to live in Canada in the future, he should study in Canada. It is really hard for foreign doctors to get licensed to work in Canada.

For your son, having school records and having had jobs during his school holidays is really the best way to prove residency. I don't think having a student visa somewhere else will pose a problem if he really has enough days and you should not be thinking of exactly 1095. You must have 1095 on the day before you apply but give it a few more just to make sure.

Other than pay slips, if you leave Canada, you should keep your flight tickets and boarding cards, you should keep phone bills and bank records as well. Utility bills can also be helpful but really, if you have pay slips saying you were working and you can even get your employer to give you a letter when you apply stating that you have worked there full time since date x, you really don't need anything else.

Thanks very much Leon for your input .

Yeah you are right getting a licence here in Canada for an IMG is really a tough task.As compared to CA ,USA is far more welcoming to IMGs.Anyways if my son does not do any job in his holidays do letters issued from his school could do.He has been participating in many events/competitions as well volunteering with some organizations,do you think letters from all of them could be beneficial.

Sure we all will wait for some cushion/extra days after completing 1095 days ,before applying for citizenship.

I have got another question for you.My wife also landed with me but she is not working and is a homemaker.I need to ask what docs could be kept for her to prove her presence.We both of us have got a joint bank account.She has been using her credit and debit cards continuously.I would like to mention here that she also does not intend to leave Canada before completing her 1095 days.But in the absence of any pay slips/T4 etc , what could be other significant docs. for her.

Thanks once again for your help and advice.

 

[Leon]

I have got another question for you.My wife also landed with me but she is not working and is a homemaker.I need to ask what docs could be kept for her to prove her presence.We both of us have got a joint bank account.She has been using her credit and debit cards continuously.I would like to mention here that she also does not intend to leave Canada before completing her 1095 days.But in the absence of any pay slips/T4 etc , what could be other significant docs. for her.

For your wife, bank statements for you both together so they see you are using your card as well, not that you are using her card to make it look like she is there. Her passport with no stamps is naturally the best proof. Her cell phone bill together with yours to show that you both have usage. If she is in any kind of volunteer program, social club, gym or any place she regularly attends, something from there. If she is visiting the dentist and doctor off and on, she could also get their statements on days she visited them.

For your son, if he is not working during the holidays but is volunteering, he should be able to get some statement from them.

 

[russkie]

While I am not Leon, I have had lots of experience with students entering medical schools in north america. I would say it is a little premature getting yourself preoccupied with MD training for a high-school student. Best you can do for now is to help him properly chose his undergraduate track. My advise would be biochemistry, cell bio, mol bio, neurosci or physiology, if he can attain a good grades, get a good track recording in volunteering and show some commitments nothing would stop him from getting to a professional school like medicine, dentistry or optometry. Medical degree here is a graduate one, keep it mind. Pre-med training is an undergraduate training that ensures all proper credits for entrance exams to med schools, but not providing a student with a license to practice medicine. Therefore, one will have to spend 4 years doing undergrads, 3+ years doing MD degree, 2+ for residency and perhaps 2-3+ for fellowship in chosen specialization. This all after high-school.

And yes, Leon is absolutely correct. If he wants to practice in Canada and/or USA, it would be way better to get his undergrads/graduate degrees from Canada. It is cheaper that States, more competitive too. Foreign degree could be more laborious way to his dream without guaranteed success at the very end.

 

[adame]

If you are not planning on travelling much, then you don't really have much to worry about. Keep your pay slips as proof as they should show how many hours you worked so if you were working, you must have been in Canada during that period.

If I may, I have a question here to LEON

Are'nt all this required only if there is a QR? when we fill the Citizenship application we are not required to attach all those evidences, right?
I thought one is only requested to provide those evidences if he will have a QR!!

the main thing is to avoid the QR for the beginning not to solve it

is it at all avoidable?

Thanks in advbance

A

 

[newcomer]

For your wife, bank statements for you both together so they see you are using your card as well, not that you are using her card to make it look like she is there. Her passport with no stamps is naturally the best proof. Her cell phone bill together with yours to show that you both have usage. If she is in any kind of volunteer program, social club, gym or any place she regularly attends, something from there. If she is visiting the dentist and doctor off and on, she could also get their statements on days she visited them.

For your son, if he is not working during the holidays but is volunteering, he should be able to get some statement from them.

Thanks a lot Leon for your suggestions.

 

[newcomer]

While I am not Leon, I have had lots of experience with students entering medical schools in north america. I would say it is a little premature getting yourself preoccupied with MD training for a high-school student. Best you can do for now is to help him properly chose his undergraduate track. My advise would be biochemistry, cell bio, mol bio, neurosci or physiology, if he can attain a good grades, get a good track recording in volunteering and show some commitments nothing would stop him from getting to a professional school like medicine, dentistry or optometry. Medical degree here is a graduate one, keep it mind. Pre-med training is an undergraduate training that ensures all proper credits for entrance exams to med schools, but not providing a student with a license to practice medicine. Therefore, one will have to spend 4 years doing undergrads, 3+ years doing MD degree, 2+ for residency and perhaps 2-3+ for fellowship in chosen specialization. This all after high-school.

And yes, Leon is absolutely correct. If he wants to practice in Canada and/or USA, it would be way better to get his undergrads/graduate degrees from Canada. It is cheaper that States, more competitive too. Foreign degree could be more laborious way to his dream without guaranteed success at the very end.

Thanks a lot russkie for your advice and info.I would advise my son to try to explore all available options here in Medicine before going for an out of Canada med school.

If you do not mind disclosing are you in any way related to Medicine ?

 

[Leon]

Are'nt all this required only if there is a QR? when we fill the Citizenship application we are not required to attach all those evidences, right?

Right. I never actually attached any evidence to my applications and I got my PR renewal with a normal processing time. My citizenship application took 2.5 years though. I have no idea why it was so long. I never asked but I never got an RQ either.

If you want to avoid the RQ, I think the best way to do it is work and file taxes because they can check that. I do not know if people generally send loads of evidence with their applications because it is not actually on any checklist but I suppose you can if you want to.

 

[russkie]

Newcomer,

I was a faculty member at two medical schools in the USA (non-clinical departments). I have moved since then to a different faculty (not medicine), but still involved a lot with faculty of medicine at the university of calgary.

I am a bit puzzled how you reach the conclusion that your son is better off exploring his options in the country of origin. If he is to practice medicine in Canada or USA, he would be better off with degrees from local institution.

 

[newcomer]

Newcomer,

I was a faculty member at two medical schools in the USA (non-clinical departments). I have moved since then to a different faculty (not medicine), but still involved a lot with faculty of medicine at the university of calgary.

I am a bit puzzled how you reach the conclusion that your son is better off exploring his options in the country of origin. If he is to practice medicine in Canada or USA, he would be better off with degrees from local institution.

Thanks a lot Russkie for your valuable inputs.

Its very nice to know that you have been a faculty member at med schools in USA.
Well honestly I do not have any first hand knowledge about path to a med school here .Its just when we meet people here most of them used to tell us that its very very competitive to get into a med school,if not impossible, especially if you do NOT have a GPA of/around 3.6-3.8 or so in your pre med programme of study.In addition you need to have very good MCAT score,many hours of community service,volunteering in some leadership positions etc etc.My son is an above average student ,currently he has been scoring 70+ in his high school ,but I hope he will be able to do better as soon as he is going adjust in this system.The reasons we are interested in sending him to my home country or any other country for meds are that

1.Med school in my home country and some countries of Middle East do not require a bachelor degree for entering into a med school. so a student can get into a med school straight after doing his High School.

2.No MCAT is required though some schools have their own enterance tests.

3.Most schools do not require any extracurricular/volunteering/community service.

4. 5 years of education required for a MBBS degree.

5. Almost 1/3rd tuition fee as compared to med schools in USA and Canada.

6. All schools are listed in FAIMER ,so eligible for taking USMLE & MCEEE etc.

7. Chances are there for getting residencies in USA and Canada after taking all the qualifying exams,especially for USA there are more chances as residency positions are far more as compared to Canada.

Despite all the factore mentioned above my son and mine first preference is to get into a med school here in Canada but as I mentioned above the competitiveness and uncertainty of this whole procedure is making us doubtful about the future.

Infact luckily I am also based at Calgary and my son is looking forward to get admission in University of Calgary next year .You seem very knowledgeable to me regarding this whole process and as I am very concerned about taking this decision for my son and looking for some person who could guide me regarding this issue
I would be very grateful to you if you could provide me with your email address so that me or my son could contact you sometimes in future .

In the mean time I would like to take this opportunity to thank you once again for taking out time to take interest in my son s future studies and replying to my queries.

Regards,
Newcomer

 

[russkie]

Newcomer,

I am sorry, but I have no inclinations to disclose my identity and ,thus, no off-forum consulting. Nothing personal, I just don't do it. I will be glad to answer formal questions posted on the board. Perhaps it could be moved to Education section of this forum.70+ may not be enough to get your son into good and competitive health-science oriented track at the UofC. They are generally over-subscribed. However, in Alberta, the score seen by the University is a composite one with 50 % weighting to actual grades from high school and 50 % from provincial exams. It is very beneficial if he could get himself enrolled into either AP or IB classes in Biology/Chemistry and successfully pass it. They will not only give him credits transferrable to the University, but may help to improve his chances of getting there he wants to be. This is regular, though challenging, way of getting into the school of your choice.

For sure, one can get 5+ years medical degree from abroad, get it evaluated by the appropriate agency, pass NAC-OCSE in Alberta or general licensing steps (step1 and 2) and if they have enough seat to get admitted to residency with either of UofC or UofA.
Check obtaining the license section at:
mcc.ca
You can also see if medical school of your interest is listed there as accredited international med.school. These tests are quite rigorous and structured very much in the same way as USMILE step1/2 in the United States. From what I know it takes between a year to 3 years to get prepared for foreign graduate. Then there is an issue of limited seats in residency programs. It will be up to your son to weight all options.

The bottom line is that medical profession is a tough one. The doctor is taking lots of responsibilities and facing tons of challenges. It might be very disappointing too. Most of MDs I know are exceptionally hard-working folks with little time for personal life. I wouldn't advise to follow this track anyone, who is not prepared for challenges and is not 100 % committed. Money are good, but one can get descent living in other fields as well.

 

[newcomer]

Newcomer,

I am sorry, but I have no inclinations to disclose my identity and ,thus, no off-forum consulting. Nothing personal, I just don't do it. I will be glad to answer formal questions posted on the board. Perhaps it could be moved to Education section of this forum.70+ may not be enough to get your son into good and competitive health-science oriented track at the UofC. They are generally over-subscribed. However, in Alberta, the score seen by the University is a composite one with 50 % weighting to actual grades from high school and 50 % from provincial exams. It is very beneficial if he could get himself enrolled into either AP or IB classes in Biology/Chemistry and successfully pass it. They will not only give him credits transferrable to the University, but may help to improve his chances of getting there he wants to be. This is regular, though challenging, way of getting into the school of your choice.

For sure, one can get 5+ years medical degree from abroad, get it evaluated by the appropriate agency, pass NAC-OCSE in Alberta or general licensing steps (step1 and 2) and if they have enough seat to get admitted to residency with either of UofC or UofA.
Check obtaining the license section at:
mcc.ca
You can also see if medical school of your interest is listed there as accredited international med.school. These tests are quite rigorous and structured very much in the same way as USMILE step1/2 in the United States. From what I know it takes between a year to 3 years to get prepared for foreign graduate. Then there is an issue of limited seats in residency programs. It will be up to your son to weight all options.

The bottom line is that medical profession is a tough one. The doctor is taking lots of responsibilities and facing tons of challenges. It might be very disappointing too. Most of MDs I know are exceptionally hard-working folks with little time for personal life. I wouldn't advise to follow this track anyone, who is not prepared for challenges and is not 100 % committed. Money are good, but one can get descent living in other fields as well.

Thanks once again Russkie for your detailed reply.I highly appreciate that.No issues,I understand that it might be not possible for you to disclose your identity .But I hope, in future as well, we will be able to get benefited by your useful posts at this forum.

Yeah I understand 70+ is not going to fetch my son, admission in a good programme here but he hopes he will be able to stretch his average to 85+ in future and yes thts one of the main reasons I want him to try for out of Canada med schools as well.Infact my son is already enrolled for AP courses in Biology and Chemistry and is going to take his AP Bio exam next month and aiming for a score of 5 or 4.

Do you visit education section of this forum as well as I also think this section might not be the right place for asking questions relating to education.

Thanks once again !

 

[RandomUser514]

Hi Leon,

I landed in Canada in last Sept. and with God s grace, got a good job within a week.

I have 2 questions for you,though I think they are well ahead of time but I think "be informed is to be in form" and after reading experiences of many applicants who got RQ ,I simply just want to avoid it in future.I am living in Canada from the past six months and do NOT intend to leave it before completing my 1095 days here.Kindly can you plz recommend what is the best way to avoid RQ and prove one s presence in CA.In addition what could be the possible and most significant docs. which should be kept and then presented at the time of interview/test to prove one s presence.If possible kindly mention all the necessary docs.

My next question is about my son who is currently a high school student .He wants to pursue a career in Medicine in future and due to the competitiveness and uncertainty of getting admission in a med school here ,he plans to go to a med school in my home country( or may be in any other country) where its easier,cheaper and less competitive to get admission.So he is thinking of completing his 1095 days requirements here ,submitting his Citizenship application, and then leaving CA to attend his med school .Now my question is if he does so, will he face any difficulty for getting his citizenship?If he will have student visa in his passport , is it going to ignite a RQ?

What docs should be presented by my son at the time of interview/test to prove his presence in CA.Could you please any specific docs which I could start keeping for him ,such as opening a bank account to his name ,getting him a credit card etc?

Your help will be highly appreciated.

Don't worry. He will be fine. Cheers