Interview process
Arrive ready for two interviews
When you arrive in Canada, you will have to go through two screening interviews. If all of your documents are available and in order, your interviews should be over quickly.
First interview—official documents
An officer from the Canada Border Service Agency will greet you. The officer will ask to see your visa and travel documents and check to make sure that you and any family members traveling with you have the proper travel documents. The officer will find out about your health and will ask you questions similar to those on the immigrant application form.
Be prepared to answer these questions:
Are you traveling with your family?
Have you been convicted of a serious crime in your home country?
How long do you plan to stay in Canada?
How much money do you have with you?
Are you healthy?
Have you been to Canada before? Were you required to leave?
After you complete your first interview, you will meet with another officer from the Canada Border Services Agency. This officer will check the items you are bringing with you. At some ports of entry you will work with the same officer twice.
Second interview—personal goods
The second interview is for you to declare what you are bringing with you into Canada.
The officer will ask to see your declaration card. You must tell the officer you have arrived in Canada to immigrate. At this point the officer may direct you to another area for the customs procedure.
You must give the officer the list of the items you are bringing with you and a list of the items that will be arriving later. The officer will go through both lists with you and may ask questions about some of the items. The officer may also inspect your luggage.
Be prepared to answer these questions:
What are you bringing with you to Canada?
Do you have any live animals or plants with you?
Do you have any firearms, ammunition or fireworks with you?
Do you have any meat or dairy products with you?
Do you have any fresh fruits or vegetables with you?
Do you have any items from endangered species?
Do not give false answers
You must answer all of the questions truthfully. It is a serious offence to make a false statement. If you make a false statement you may not be allowed to stay in Canada. If you are well prepared and you have no items that are not allowed in Canada, the process will go quickly.
If there are no difficulties, the officer will sign your Confirmation of Permanent Residence and authorize your entry into Canada as a permanent resident.
