Myths you have heard about immigration from other people

[Andym]

I often have heard myths about immigration from Canadians who have no experience with the immigration system. Here are a couple I have heard:

1. PR/Citizenship is automatic if you get married to a Canadian citizen. I am surprised how often I hear this myth from friends and family.

2. A lawyer is required to immigrate to Canada even if you are married. This one seems contradictory to #1 but I hear it almost as frequently.

3. Canada lets anyone in. We have a lax immigration system that approves everyone regardless of background.

Are there others myths you have heard about the immigration process?

 

[user828]

- If you have US Visitor visa, you can visit Canada just like that ( its like buy 1 get 1 free )
- If you are a H-1 US worker, you can apply for Canadian PR at the border

 

[McDutch]

Oh god, the "Why don't you just get married?" Myth has pissed me off so many times.

 

[brightredscream]

It's sooooo much faster if you marry an American!

It's soooooooooo much faster if you don hav kids involved! My friend's/cousin's/neighbour's friend got their approval in like 3 months coz there were no kids!

 

[amikety]

1) You get a work permit/permission to work if you're married to a Canadian

2) Americans don't need work permits/PR cards.... like we're from the same country or something.... (I get that from Canadians and Americans.)

3) Having a baby in Canada gives you status/citizenship (my Canadian husband believed this!)

4) People mistake the PR process for citizenship and think they can apply directly for citizenship

5) There is an income required to sponsor your spouse - hear this one a lot!

 

[user828]

5) There is an income required to sponsor your spouse - hear this one a lot!

I knew this salon lady who came to Canada on a 10 day visit visa ( got married on 6th day , as she fell in love on the 4th day - ;D ), she told me her husband is waiting to make the min. income required so her sponsorship is all delayed, she had a bad day when I told her that its incorrect

 

[LeisaP]

I agree the worst one is
"just get married its faster/instant"

Im surprised at how many of my friends and family have told me this and how many times I have had to explain this process over and over!

 

[gsize]

intreresting thread guys !

I dont bother talking about Immigration with people. It is simply too frustrating ! I wrote a letter to a few newspapers a few months back suggesting they do a 3 or 4 or 10 part series on Immigration and how unfair it is and that it is getting worse-not better ! Maybe if more people contacted media, we would see changes -just maybe ! Best of luck to all especially the 20 % or so of cases that have been fighting for several years----so unfair ! :

 

[FireStarteR3]

Not sure if these are completely false or there is some truth. Comments are welcome.

- Having a US visitors visa increases your chances significantly of getting a Canadian Visitors Visa.
- Having a return ticket when applying for a Canadian Visitors Visa increases your chances of getting the Visa approved.
- If you are married for the second time, and you are now getting sponsored to come to Canada, because you have a previous divorce, you get an automatic interview.
- An Arab is very likely to get an interview when sponsored.

 

[Steph C]

A worker at the Immigrant and Refugee center mentioned funds might be available for my partner's re-training and I said that would be really helpful because the process has made us broke. She then said "But I heard Immigration is cheap! Only $1,000" yeah, right!

 

[canadianwoman]

PR is automatic if you marry a Canadian. Since my husband was rejected, people then think he must be a criminal or something.
Not understanding the difference between being legally married and having to prove your marriage is genuine. People often give me advice about how I can show I really got married in a foreign country, but that was never an issue. The genuineness of the relationship is the issue.

 

[sakamath]

The greatest myth is - "80% of the cases were processed in X months" However, in reality, the actual processing time is X times Y where Y is an integer between 2 and infinity, randomly picked by the Hon. Minister of the day.

 

[ready_fi_move_on]

The greatest myth is - "80% of the cases were processed in X months" However, in reality, the actual processing time is X times Y where Y is an integer between 2 and infinity, randomly picked by the Hon. Minister of the day.

lol love it sooo true

 

[messenger]

As with many myths there is also some truth hidden behind them.

Back in the 60's and 70's You got married you stayed. Your baby was born here you stayed and get all privileges!

 

[scos]

The greatest myth is - "80% of the cases were processed in X months" However, in reality, the actual processing time is X times Y where Y is an integer between 2 and infinity, randomly picked by the Hon. Minister of the day.

The scary thing is even after massaging the numbers to make them look good, they still look so BAD!