Immigration guide to canada

Immigration Guide to Canada
Québec Skilled Worker Program

Immigration Guide to Canada – Québec Skilled Worker Program Page 2
Index
1. Presentation of the Guide.....................................................................................
3
2. Canada as a destination for immigration..............................................................
4
3. Application for the Permanent Residence through the CSQ................................
11
4. Preparation………….............................................................................................
14
5. Move and settle down…..…………......................................................................
16
6. Social integration..................................................................................................
18
7. Labor market integration…………........................................................................
22
Appendix
A 1. Learning French………......................................................................................
25
A 2. General information in the internet....................................................................
26
A 3. Documentation check list…………....................................................................
27
A 4. Job search resources…………………………...................................................
28
A 5. Labor market culture………...............................................................................
33
A 6. Foreign credentials evaluation…..………….......................................................
39
A 7. Labor market integration services for immigrants………..................................
41
A 8. Housing………...................................................................................................
42
A 9. Average wages in Canada.................................................................................
43
A 10. Resources for entrepreneurs….......................................................................
45
A 11. Expert’s opinion: what do employers look for?…............................................
46
A 12. Why many newcomers are choosing Alberta?................................................
52
A 13. Other information sources………………………………………………………..
54
ATTENTION! This document intends only to provide some orientation and reference data to help you assess the feasibility of your immigration project, or just progress in your immigration and integration process if you are already on the way. Mind that the immigration regulations change quite frequently, for it is advisable to re-check all details in the provided links and to subscribe to some of the newsletters providing updated information about such regulations. Hereby I recommend two: www.canadavisa.com www.canadianimmigrant.ca

1. Presentation of the Guide
Having compiled a vast amount of information for my immigration project to Québec, I have decided to elaborate this Guide for those thinking about immigrating to or on the way to Canada.
The goal of this Guide is just to provide the reader with a general vision over the challenges of immigration to Canada: immigration programs application, social and labor integration, etc. Despite not being the Province offering the best opportunities at the moment, most of my research has been focused in Québec, and so it is most of the information you will find. However, there’s a great deal of information which is also valid for the rest of Canada.
In particular, I explain in detail the procedures to obtain the Permanent Residence through the Québec Skilled Worker Program. However, this is likely to provide you fair guidance for whichever immigration program you decide to apply for.
The Guide presents orientative information and resources about the preparation, the move and settle down, focusing most of the contents on the resources for the job search and the labor market integration, which you will see presents many challenges and peculiarities.
Finally, I will appreciate your comments on whether there is any important missing information or something has changed from when I got it. You may get in touch with me by email at jperase@yahoo.es
Sincerely,
Jordi Pera

2. Canada as a destination for immigration
Economy. Canada is nowadays one of the best performing among the “advanced economies” within the world’s top 10. Despite not having fully recovered from the crisis due to its dependence upon the economy of the United States -its major commercial partner accounting for around 70% of Canadian exports-, it has stabilized the unemployment rate around 7% and is on the way to diversify its economy strengthening commercial partnerships with most emerging economies.
Canada’s main industrial sectors include food & beverage, paper and allied products, primary metals, fabricated metals, petrochemicals and chemicals. The country is also rich in natural resources, which nurture the oil&gas industry, mining, forestry, fishing and agriculture.
Other important sectors are pharmaceutical, aeronautics, information technology, and tourism.
Political system. Canada is a Democratic Federation comprehending 10 provinces and 3 territories, with both Federal and Provincial levels of Government. Federal jurisdictions include International policies, Defense, Immigration, Criminal Law, Customs, and Border control; whereas Provincial jurisdictions include health care, education, welfare and intra-provincial transportation. This political system was initially drafted by the "Fathers of Confederation" that became law in 1867 when the Constitution Act was passed.
Demography and culture. The Canadian population -33.5 million- is concentrated in urban areas (75%), most of which are no further than 160km from the border with the United States. Canada has historically based its demographic growth upon immigration. First were the British and the French, but along the last decades many cultural communities have taken the lead, such as the Asians, northern-africans, and latin-americans. The country is nowadays an example of multicultural integration.
Despite being officially bilingual English-French, Canada is a cultural mosaic emcompassing more than 200 cultural communities, which are encouraged to celebrate their traditions and culture.
Canada offers them a democratic and plural society based upon the primacy of law, where they can access a wide range of services and programs to help them integrate in both their new society and the labor market. The Canadian is a meritocratic society where the effort and competence prevail upon gender, ethnic or cultural origin in the labor contracting, being discrimination object of legal prosecution. Canadians give high importance to freedom, egality and respect of differences.
Welfare system. Unlike in the United States, all Canadians have access to public healthcare and education system, as well as a welfare system that provides unemployment subidies and a pension for retirees. In that respect, Canada has one of the most advanced education systems worldwide, having ranked first in the world human development index. The country offers both private and public education, and many internationally prestigious universities.
Concerning the healthcare system, this provides free critical care to all citizens and permanent residents, except in BC, Alberta and Ontario, which charge health care premiums. In the rest of Canada the health care services are fully subsidized.

Climate. Despite what many people think, Canada is not cold all of time! Canada has a wide range of climates and temperatures and experiences four distinct seasons (winter, spring, summer and fall). Generally speaking, the weather is quite variable and the country gets a fair amount of sun. Overall, the housing and public equipments are well prepared to offer a good quality of life no matter how harsh the weather may be. In that respect, many cities boast huge shopping and leisure malls with a vast variety of entertainment to enjoy during the winter time. The below table provides the average high and low temperatures in major Canadian cities in January (mid-winter) and in July, (mid-summer).
City
January
(Avg. Low)
January
(Avg. High)
July
(Avg. Low)
July
(Avg. High)
Calgary, AB
-15.1 ºC
-2.8 ºC
9.4 ºC
22.9 ºC
Charlottetown, PEI
-12.6 ºC
-3.3 ºC
13.8 ºC
23.2 ºC
Edmonton, AB
-16.0 ºC
-7.3 ºC
12.1 ºC
22.8 ºC
Halifax, NS
-10.7 ºC
-1.2 ºC
13.5 ºC
23.6 ºC
Iqaluit, NU
-30.6 ºC
-22.5 ºC
3.7 ºC
11.6 ºC
Moncton, NB
-14.3 ºC
-3.6 ºC
12.6 ºC
24.5 ºC
Montreal, QC
-14.7 ºC
-5.7 ºC
15.6 ºC
26.2 ºC
Ottawa, ON
-15.3 ºC
-6.1 ºC
15.4 ºC
26.5 ºC
Quebec City, QC
-17.6 ºC
-7.9 ºC
13.4 ºC
25.0 ºC
Regina, SK
-21.6 ºC
-10.7 ºC
11.8 ºC
25.7 ºC
Saskatoon, SK
-22.3 ºC
-11.8 ºC
11.4 ºC
24.9 ºC
St. John's, NL
-8.6 ºC
-0.9 ºC
10.5 ºC
20.3 ºC
Toronto, ON
-7.3 ºC
-1.1 ºC
17.9 ºC
26.4 ºC
Vancouver, BC
0.5 ºC
6.1 ºC
13.2 ºC
21.7 ºC
Winnipeg, MB
-22.8 ºC
-12.7 ºC
13.3 ºC
25.8 ºC
Yellowknife, NT
-32.0 ºC
-24.0 ºC
12.0 ºC
21.0 ºC
Source: www.climate.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca/climate_normals/index_e.html
Further information may be found also at www.theweathernetwork.com
Best performing labor markets. The study Measuring Labour Markets in Canada and the United States (2012 Edition) compares the performance of labour markets in the 10 Canadian provinces and 50 U.S. states based on five indicators: total employment growth; private-sector employment growth; unemployment rates; duration of unemployment; and labour productivity over the years 2007-2011.
Alberta ranked first overall, with Saskatchewan claiming the second spot, according to the think-tank. Manitoba rounded out the strong showing for the Prairies, ranking third in Canada and fifth in North America, while British Columbia placed fourth among the provinces and seventh in North America. Of the remaining provinces, Québec ranked fifth in Canada (11th overall), followed by Newfoundland and Labrador (sixth in Canada, 13th overall), Ontario (seventh among provinces and 16th overall) and Prince Edward Island (eighth in Canada, tied for 19th overall).
Québec
Québec sets itself apart from the rest of the country for being the only predominantly French speaking province, featuring a distinct cultural reality. French is the language of the public institutions and the most used in professional environments, education and media. However, the Montréal metropolitan area concentrates most of the English- speaking population (10% of the Province) thus considering this area rather bilingual.

Québec –popularly known as the Belle Province- has almost 8 million inhabitants, most of whom are concentrated in the metropolitan areas of Montréal –cultural and economic capital, 3.6 million inhabitants- and Québec City –political capital, 700.000 inhabitants-, whereas the rest of the urban areas are located along the St. Lawrence River. The Province is also a unique reality within North-America, not only for its French cultural heritage, but also for being distinctively European compared to its neighboring territories. Further, it is renowned for its forests, rivers, lakes and mountains which altogether offer breathtaking landscapes.
The economy is strongly industrialized and diversified. The industrial sector includes aeronautics, software, hardware, pharmaceutical, telecommunications, machinery for land transportation, food & beverage, and optics. The services sector dominates the economy, mainly outstanding the finance, the healthcare services, university education, entertainment, and tourism. Other relevant sectors are minery, hidroelectric energy and agriculture.
Québec offers also an outstanding quality of life, being especially adequate for families, for the low cost of its public education. Despite the salaries being below the Canadian average, the cost of housing is proportionally lower, which compensates partially for the lesser disposable income. On the other hand, it is the Province with the highest taxes of all Canada, which pays-off for its free or low cost public services such as healthcare, public transportation, education and many cultural services. More info at:
www.immigration-quebec.gouv.qc.ca/fr/avantages/qualite-vie/cout-vie/index.html
In that respect, public healthcare is free for basic services like medical checks, emergencies, hospitalization and dental emergencies. The public education is the cheapest of all Canada and is offered both in English and French. The cost of university education is the cheapest of all North-America, offering programs in both languages at a first class level.
Québec also sets apart for its more open and expansive immigration policy, highly valuing bilingual and multi-skilled profiles, beyond the list of occupations with higher shortages of professionals. Even if Québec is not among the best performing economies, it keeps on being an open door to Canada for many immigrants every year.
Given the low birth rates and the aging population, the province needs skilled immigrants to replace the retired professionals and keep on pushing forward its economy. Along the last years, Québec has been receiving around 45.000 immigrants per year as permanent residents, and foresees a similar rate for the upcoming years.
Québec Skilled Worker Program
The most popular immigration program in Québec is the Skilled Worker Program, which is hereby explained in detail. This program is addressed to qualified professionals with experience in the areas where most demand of workers is foreseen in the upcoming years, usually related to the aforementioned sectors. At present the most demanded profiles are:
 MBA holders specialized in one or many sectors to provide support in the development of its businesses.
 Technical profiles, namely IT engineers and software programmers, without excluding other profiles.
 Healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, dentists, etc.

Nonetheless, it is highly advisable to carry out a deeper research, as such demand may change over time, and there are many more eligible profiles through this Program.
This program assesses the candidates through a points based system, without being necessary to have a job offer to get the sufficient points, unlike in most immigration programs. The points based system assesses:
 Academic education: there’s a list of priviledged degrees according to the foreseen demand of qualified workers in certain professional areas.
 Mastery of English and French
 Working experience in the correspondent professional area in the past 5 years
 Working experience or education in Québec
 Relatives living in Québec
 Age, privileging the youngest professionals
 Holding a job offer to work in Québec
Likewise, it is not mandatory to have a university degree, as the points are given not according to the level of the degree but according to demand of certain skills and qualifications, some of which correspond to professional training fields. In addition, being married and having children may either require or give points, depending on the professional profile of your partner and the age of your children. You may further check the details of the points based system in the following link:
www.immigration-quebec.gouv.qc.ca/publications/fr/divers/Grille-synthese.pdf
You may evaluate your chances of being eligible in the following link:
www.immq.gouv.qc.ca/es/inmigrar-instalarse/trabajadores-permanentes/epi.html
If the result of the online test is positive, this may be assessed as having a 95% of chances of obtaining the Québec Selection Certificate (CSQ, stating for Certificat de Selection du Québec, in French), though the criteria and the list of occupations in demand may change over time, for which you should check it again right before sending the application.
You should mind that in Canada 20% of professions are regulated by provincial bodies, for it is mandatory to have an authorization from the correspondent professional body to work in such profession. Such authorization should be obtained at the same time as you apply for the Permanent residence (PR), minding that the PR does not guarantee its obtention. For further information, check Appendix 6.
In addition to doing the online evaluation test for the CSQ and other programs, you should research the labor market for your profession in many provinces and regions (See section 7). It is also advisable to check www.buildingfuturesincanada.ca where we may find videos of many immigrants explaining their experiences as long as answers to frequently asked questions.
Other immigration programs
The site Come to Canada Wizard orientates prospect immigrants on the federal programs for which they are eligile: www.cic.gc.ca/app/ctcvac/english/index
The portal www.cic.gc.ca introduces all federal immigration programs.
Apart from the Federal Programs, many other Canadian provinces and territories have also created immigration programs, specific to their needs, to recruit workers from abroad who intend to settle as Permanent Residents in a given province or territory. These Provincial Nomination Programs are also worthy of consideration as they offer

expedited processing of foreign workers’ applications. Therefore, it is advisable to check other provincial nominee programs, some of which may offer more chances than the federal programs. Check the following links:
Alberta - www.albertacanada.com/immigration.aspx
British Columbia - www.welcomebc.ca/wbc/index.page?dcrPath=info
Manitoba - www.immigratemanitoba.com
New Brunswick - www.gnb.ca/immigration
New Foundland and Labrador - www.nlimmigration.ca
NWT - www.iti.gov.nt.ca/businesseconomicdevelopment/nwtnomineeprogram.shtml
Nova Scotia - www.novascotiaimmigration.ca
Ontario - www.ontarioimmigration.ca
Prince Edward Island - www.gov.pe.ca/immigration
Saskatchewan - www.saskimmigrationcanada.ca
Yukon - www.immigration.gov.yk.ca
Many of these provinces –namely Alberta (see Appendix 12)- offer good future perspectives, for it is worth carrying out a deep market research on each of them. You may find more information about these provinces in www.settlementroadmap.ca
Any provincial nominee program to obtain the permanent residence would finally allow you to work in any part of Canada, as the Permanent Residence is issued by the Federal Government, and thus is pan-canadian. If you go through a Provincial program you will have to provide an address in that Province to receive the letter of Permanent Resident as a proof of intention to settle down in the Province.
To assess the feasibility of your immigration project or solve further queries, you may also ask for advice to an immigration consultant (I recommend www.canadavisa.com), whom you may easily find in the internet or immigration related linkedin groups. About immigration consultants, you should mind that the applications processed by them are not given any kind of priority over the rest of the applications. In addition, you should make sure that you deal with a Government certified consultant, as there are some operating without certification.
Temporary work permits
The quickest way to begin working in Canada is via a temporary Work Permit. We’re talking weeks, maybe even days, between the time you get the job offer and the time you can be living and working in Canada. As the name implies, these permits are issued for a specific period, but they are often renewable from inside Canada. You have to apply for work in some of the job sites (see Appendix 4) in Canada or register in a job reporting site. Then, if an employer is interested in you, you may have a job offer right a way. A work permit for Canada can only be obtained if you have an offer of employment before applying for your Canadian work visa. Canada seeks to attract temporary skilled workers to fill positions that Canadian employers are currently having difficulty to fill by a Canadian Permanent Resident or Citizen. A Canadian work permit is issued on a temporary basis only and on the condition that you work for the specific employer sponsoring you. You can apply to change your Canada immigration status once in Canada, however the Canada work visa is not transferable and you will not be able to stay and work in Canada on your Canadian Visa upon termination of your employment. Your employer must take the following steps before applying for a Canadian Work Visa:

1) Your employer must first confirm your position is suitable to apply for a Canadian Work Permit by making an application to Human Resources Social Development Canada (HRSDC www.hrsdc.gc.ca )
2) Your employer must then offer you the confirmed position
3) You must then make an application to Citizenship and Immigration Canada for a Work Permit for Canada.
Please be aware that not all employment offers will be considered and HRSDC’s role is to confirm that your position will be of benefit to the Canadian Labor Market and of no threat to Canadian citizens employment opportunities before an application for a Canada Work Permit can be considered.
If you have a temporary job offer in Québec, you may also ask for a temporary work permit, for which you will have to commit to comply with the contract till the end, and in some cases you will also need a permit from the correspondent professional association. Check the following link for further details:
www.immigration-quebec.gouv.qc.ca/fr/immigrer-installer/travailleurs- temporaires/index.html
- You will need to obtain:
 A Certificat d'Acceptation du Québec (CAQ) for temporary work:
www.immigration-quebec.gouv.qc.ca/fr/formulaires/formulaire-titre/dca-travail.html
 A temporary work permit issued by the Federal Government:
www.cic.gc.ca/francais/travailler/demande-comment.asp
In addition, you may find information about the federal temporary work permits in the site www.cic.gc.ca
Study programs
To carry out studies in Canada you will probably need a student visa, especially if the program is more than 6 months long. After the acceptation of the School/College/University there are some procedures to be followed:
 A Certificat d'Acceptation du Québec (CAQ) for those intending to study in Québec
www.immigration-quebec.gouv.qc.ca/fr/formulaires/formulaire-titre/dca-etudes.html
 A student visa from the Federal Government
www.cic.gc.ca/francais/information/demandes/etudiant.asp
University students are allowed to work only inside the campus. Once completed 6 months of full-time study, they may apply for an “hors campus” permit that allows to work up to 20 hours per week during the course and full-time on holidays.
Information for students www.studycanada.ca – Studying in Canada: network of colleges and universities. Orientation about the adecuacy of programs, stating costs, requirements and visa procedures. www.etudieramontreal.info – Information about educational offer in Montreal: working options, study programs, scholarships, accommodation, etc.

Working holiday visa The Federal Government has international agreements with many countries to foster cultural exchange programs for young people between 18 and 35 years old. The Canada International Experience allows you to work up to 12 months in any province or territory. You should check in the Canadian Embassy of your country if this program is also available for your country, and if so, note how many vacancies do they offer and when do they open up for applications. Applicants are required to fill in a series of application forms, an updated resume in English or French, proof of funds for the first 3 months (account balance copy), card photos and the correspondent fees (110€ aprox.). Applicants will receive a notification by email when they are assigned a vacancy. Such email will contain a Letter of introduction, which gives 12 months to enter Canada and obtain the work permit in the immigration office of any border or airport. Once the permit is obtained, it gives freedom to enter the country as many times as you wish and work in non-regulated jobs. However, to take advantage to the fullest of the permit, it is advisable to enter the country before the Letter of introduction’s expiry date, so to have time to find a job, and once you have the job offer, enter the United States and get the work permit in the border when reentering Canada. This permit is not renewable, but you may apply for another kind of permit (temporary work permit, study visa, etc.) before its expiry date. Furthermore, you may use this permit to enter Canada when you have already started the process to obtain the Permanent Residence, calculating to receive the PR before the expiration date of the working holiday visa. In this regard, you should consider that having a job offer will accelerate the processing of your PR, and so the working holiday visa may be useful to start prospecting the job market on the field, speed up your integration in the labor market and PR processing. Other cases
Finally, there are some kinds of jobs that do not require any work permit, for which you may stay as a tourist as long as you are allowed to stay. For further information, check the link www.cic.gc.ca/francais/travailler/demande-qui-permis-non.asp
For businessmen willing to start up a company in Canada, check information in Appendix 10.
In this link www.immq.gouv.qc.ca/en/immigrate-settle/index.html you may check further information for all options about settling down in Québec.

3. Application for the Permanent Residence through the CSQ
 Application for the Certificat de Sélection du Québec (CSQ)
Once the decision is made, you have to download the application forms in the link: http://www.immq.gouv.qc.ca/en/immigrate-settle/permanent-workers/official- immigration-application/index.html and prepare the following documentation:
 CSQ application forms
 Contract respecting financial self-sufficiency
 Card photo
 Resume in French
 Form about the application fees’ payment
 Copy of your birth certificate (translated into English or French)
Add the following academic documentation:
 A copy of all diplomas and certificates, from secondary school to university and beyond, classified in decreasing order (the most recent first, etc.).
 A copy of all academic records for every year of studies (from secondary school to university and beyond), classified in decreasing order like the previous ones.
 If applicable, a copy of the certificate of enrollment in an academic program in course, stating whether it is carried out on a part-time or full-time basis.
Professional documentation:
 A copy of the social security/national health contribution of the last 5 years.
 A copy of the work experience certificates and internship certificates of the last 5 years, including the current job.
The work experience certificates should consist of a letter (with corporate header and footer) from the company with date, seal, signature, name and position of the signatory (managing director, HR director, partner), containing the following informations:
 Beginning and end dates of the contract.
 Social security number.
 Company contact data, including the telephone
 Positions covered, including a description of the duties carried out.
 State whether you have used either English or French as a working language.
If you have worked in any country where you need a visa or a work permit, add:
 A copy of all visas or work permits (including extensions) stapled with the correspondent work experience certificate.
To prove your English & French language mastery you may present the following certificates or results of the following oficial exams:
 French: DELF, DALF, TEF, TCF (including oral expression test), TEFAQ, TCFAQ.
 English: Cambridge exams, TOEFL, IELTS o TOEIC (the simplest).
The equivalences of levels when filling in the application are the following:
A1 (1-2), A2 (3-4), B1 (5-6), B2 (7-8), C1 (9-10) y C2 (11-12).

VERY IMPORTANT:  For the documents in any language other than English or French, there has to be a certified translation validated by the notary. You should attach only the documents validated by the notary in your application, which include the copy of the original document and the certified translation.  About the documents which are originally in French or English, you should send a certified copy.  Keep all orginial documents and a copy of all sent documents.
For the application to be processed, you have to fill in and sign all the forms and pay the fees. The original documents have to be available upon demand or to be presented in case you are appointed for a selection interview.
All the provided information has to be accurate and verifiable. Unaccurate informations might lead to rejection in any of the selection stages. In addition, the points given to the factors and selection criteria will be reviewed in every stage of the process, namely if your civil status changes.
If your application does not include all the required documents, the Québec Immigration Bureau will send you a letter of request. Then you will have 60 days to send them. This deadline is calculated from the date you receive the request from the Immigration Bureau. Whenever they open your application you will receive a letter assigning a file number to your application.
 Once you application is opened, you may send new curricular information (new academic certificates, new language exam results, etc.) to the Immigration Bureau stating your application file number.
 The cost of processing an application for the CSQ is about 400C$ and it should take from 2 up to 7 months.
Candidates arising any doubts in relation to their capacity to integrate, or missing to provide language mastery certificates may be appointed for a selection interview, where they will be asked to bring all the original documents and will be tested about their English and French mastery. The interviewees will try to evaluate the applicant’s capacity to integrate in Québec, checking his/her knowledge of the Province, personal qualities, research carried out, and integration plans.
The selection interview is the right moment to talk about your immigration project and ask questions. The interview is likely to last between 30 and 60 minutes. It is worth preparing some questions like:
 Why do you want to immigrate to Québec?
 Do you think that you are likely to integrate well in your new society?
 How do you pretend to successfully integrate in your new society?
 What kind of job do you intend to look for at the beginning?
 What do you know about Québec?
Once received the CSQ you will be able to subscribe to a job bank to receive offers
(www.placementinternational.gouv.qc.ca) and you will have free access to French courses (www.francisationenligne.gouv.qc.ca).

 Applying for the Permanent Residence to the Federal Government
Once you receive the CSQ you will have 3 years to apply for the Permanent Residence to the Federal Government. To carry out such procedure you will have to send the application forms properly filled in and signed, pay the correspondent fees (1.040C$ aprox.) and present criminal records from all countries where you have lived for more than 6 months being older than 18 years (you should have kept the visas and/or the temporary/permanent residence documents from these countries). These certificates should be obtained within three months prior to sending the application. The following link provides further information about how to get these criminal records in every country. www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/security/police-cert/index.asp
The criminal records in a language other than English or French have to be attached with a certified translation into either English or French. In the following link you may find further details: www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/guides/EQ7TOC.asp
In the following link you may find all the application forms you need to download: www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/quebec-apply-application.asp
Once you have sent the application you will receive a letter from the Federal Government regarding the opening of your file, explaining how to keep track of the process online, and listing a directory of medical centres where you may take the medical check in your country of residence. This part of the process may take between 6 and 9 months.
When the Permanent Residence is approved, you are invited to go to the Federal Immigration Bureau where you have sent your application to receive the PR visa in your passport. From then on, you have 1 year time to enter and settle down in Canada.
When entering Canada and validating the visa, the Federal Government will send you a letter of Permanent Residence within 4-6 weeks (since you provide an address). To know further details, check the link: www.cic.gc.ca/francais/immigrer/demande- apres.asp
To keep the status of Permanent Resident, you need to reside in Canada at least 2 of every 5 years, and you may apply for the Canadian citizenship after 3 years of being a Permanent Resident.

4. Preparation
 Previous research
Before leaving it is advisable to search for accommodation, professional contacts (job prospects), banks, (schools for the kids, if applicable), and contact with organizations providing help and services for newcomers.
 Documents to take
Long before you leave your home country, make sure you begin to gather the following documents:
Personal documentation:
 Certificat de sélection du Québec (or correspondent Provincial Selection Certificate)
 Passport and travel documents
 National Identity card
 Marriage certificates, separation and divorce papers.
 Birth certificates for all family members and adoption papers if applicable.
 Driving license (national or international)
 Certified immunization records for all children under 16, which are required in all school districts before children can be registered to attend school.
 If you have a history of safe driving, ask for a letter of reference or history from your insurance company attesting to your “no claim” status. This could save you money on future car insurance premiums.
 Medical records including X-rays, test results, known allergies and perhaps even a recent history of medication taken by every one in your family. It is also recommended that you bring a good supply of prescription and over-the-counter drugs you use. Make sure you keep these drugs in their original bottles.
 Dental records and optical prescriptions.
Professional documents:
 Academic certificates
 Academic records
 Letter from the last employer, specifying position, functions and hours worked per week
 Reference letters from previous employers, professors, volunteering programs, etc.
 Updated resume
 School diplomas and degrees and/or trade or professional papers and certificates.
 School reports, transfer certificates and college transcripts.
Other documents:
 A criminal record from your country and countries where you’ve lived >6 months
 A military certificate stating whether you are free or not of your military service.
 Social security card from your country of origin (or other proof of social security registration)
 Reference letter from your bank
 Credit records (bank account balance)
 Reference letters from previous landlords.
 Medical insurance for the first 3 months
 List of goods to be imported in duplicate, including full descriptions, serial numbers, makes and models. For jewelry and heirlooms, you might also want to attach

photographs of the items. If you have receipts for the more expensive items, attach them to the list. The list should note which items are being imported at the time of landing and which goods will follow at a later date. Or you can make 2 separate lists.
These documents have to be original or certified copies. If the originals are not in English or French, these have to go attached with a certified translation.
While all the documents above constitute your “official papers,” don’t forget to gather the phone numbers, addresses, fax numbers and emails of all your friends and relatives. It is far easier to put this list together before you leave town than to try to do so afterwards. It is also advisable to carry one copy of this list of documents with you and have a second copy tucked into your luggage somewhere..
 Budget
 Permanent Residence Application fees (CSQ(395C$)+PR(1040C$) aprox.)
 Oficial exams (English and/or French)
 Translation of all documents into English or French + notary certification
 Criminal records from all countries where you have lived more than 6 months
 Flight ticket
 Move transportation
 Cost of living for about 3 months
 Credential evaluation (100C$)
 Medical check
 Canadian driving license (49C$)
 Medical insurance for the first 3 months
 Canadian Immigration Integration Program (CIIP)
Over the years, too many immigrants have landed in Canada with false impressions of how easy it will be to get a job that meets their qualifications, particularly in licensed fields, and this program aims to prevent that misinformation. Basicly, it helps participants better understand the job prospects and challenges they are likely to face, and job-search strategies to help them.
The program operates through offices in China, India, the Philippines and the United Kingdom, and offers services in Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Finland, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Nepal, Norway, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sweden, United Arab Emirates and Yemen upon demand.
CIIP is available only to immigrants in the federal skilled worker or provincial nominee categories who are in the final stages of the immigration approval process. The local CIC office dealing with the immigration application will send the candidate an invitation to participate in CIIP when they send the request for the medical and security checks. There is no waitlist, and participation is entirely free and voluntary.
The program provides labour market information for all the provinces, shows the steps to take and the contacts to help participants prepare before they leave the support of their home country. It also provides them an overview of their particular job areas or licensing requirements, the need for soft and essential skills, along with referrals to partners in Canada they can contact before they leave.
For instance, they are provided with lists of websites concerning licensing, credential assessment, language assessment, and an action plan prepared by an orientation officer that shows them the path to successful labor market integration, especially for those looking for careers in a regulated profession.

5. Move and settle down
 Before leaving
 Prepare boxes with personal items according to priority level to be progressively sent to Canada as you have more space available.
 Search for shipping companies
 Use your contact network to have an address where to receive the letter of the Permanent Residence and other oficial documents. You need an authorisation letter from the friend or relative whose address you’re using to receive such documentation. Alternatively, you may apply for the PR letter once you have your own address.
 Get a medical insurance for the first 3 months.
 Get an international drivers license (in case your license is not valid in Canada)
 For customs issues, check www.cic.gc.ca/english/newcomers/before-border.asp
 Customs forms if you send any packages before departure: www.cra-arc.gc.ca
 Do a list of ítems you carry inflight and the items you ship.
 Upon arrival in Canada
In the airport
 Declaration of personal items shipped (not carried inflight) – Personal Exemption Customs Declaration (form E24).
 Keep the document “Proof of landing”.
 Go to the Immigration office to register for receiving the letter of the Permanent Residence. Ask for information and the application form for the SIN (Social Insurance Number; in French: NAS, numero d’assurance sociale)
First days in Canada
 Bureaucratic issues
 Register in your country’s consulate.
 Applying for a SIN is indispensable for working, opening a bank account and many other things. It is like an identity card. To obtain it, you should go to a Service Canada Office or to a Human Resources Center of Canada. There you need to provide an address to receive it a few weeks later. www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/sc/sin/index.shtml
 Medical insurance
 The medical insurance card in Québec is issued by the Régie de l’Assurance Maladie du Québec (www.ramq.gouv.qc.ca). You will receive it around 90 days after the application, during which you have to pay for any medical expense, which is to be refunded upon reception of the card.
 It is advisable to have a private medical insurance for the first 3 months.
 Personal finance
 Market research to find out the best bank for your needs (least commissions, etc.)
 To open a bank account you may need your passport, your PR visa, SIN, address and contact data of your landlord.
 Information about personal finance - www.getsmarteraboutmoney.ca
 Canada Revenue Agency - www.cra-arc.gc.ca

 Mobility
 You might be able to drive with your national drivers license over a short period of time (3 to 6 months), but you have to apply for a Canadian license to the Société d’assurance automobile du Québec calling by phone to make an appointment. The waiting time is likely to be around 2 months and cost around 49C$. (www.saaq.gouv.qc.ca)
 Covoiturage: sharing car in single trips– www.allostop-quebec.com
 Carsharing: car rental per days or hours at lower cost -www.communauto.com
 Educational services
 Families with kids should do a prospection trip to research about schools for their children. More information in: www.canlearn.ca
 Information about scholarships and grants: www.afe.gouv.qc.ca
 Housing
 About the search for housing, see Appendix 8
 Consider renting a temporary self-storage space for personal ítems while you do not have enough space in your temporary residence.
 Search for a library to have free internet access and check ads in newspapers
 Associations supporting newcomers
It is worth getting in touch with associations that orientate newcomers in their challenges upon landing during the first weeks.
 www.cari.qc.ca
 www.caci-bc.org
 www.ceda22.com
 www.alpaong.com
 www.credil.qc.ca
 www.hirondelle.qc.ca
 www.promis.qc.ca
 www.cfiq.ca
Upon arrival, both the government and many non-profit organizations offer immigrant aid services to guide them on the first steps of their settling down and integration.
Immigrant service portals www.servicesfornewcomers.cic.gc.ca –Federal Government Services for immigrants www.fceeagenda.com – Information about all kinds of issues to deal with by immigrants upon arrival: job search, housing, healthcare, taxation, banking services, schooling, immigrant aid organizations, etc. www.servicecanada.gc.ca – Service portal from the Federal Government: healthcare, education, employment, housing, immigration, pensions, family aid, etc. www.settlement.org – Portal about services and information to settle down in Ontario www.immigrantnet.com – Network of immigrant aid organisations www.settlementroadmap.ca – Immigrant services portal for all Canada
For detailed and updated informations to settle down in Québec:
Settling down Guide in Québec - www.apprendrelequebec.gouv.qc.ca

6. Social integration
 Main values of the Canadian society
The more we understand the deep-seated values that drive our new society, the more likely we will be to connect with it as we try to integrate. Therefore it is important to understand the main values that shape the Canadian society.
Canadians value a unique balance between individual autonomy and collective responsibility. Canadians believe in having the ability to self-determine the way to live, but importantly, also expect and even defend the right of others to have the same privilege. So while one may choose differently from another, Canadians generally believe in each person’s right to make their unique personal choice. In brief, Canadians respect difference.
Canada is a country founded ultimately through cooperation, with a history of accommodation, and this is reflected in the founding principles of “peace, order and good government”. Through these historical roots, the wants and needs of various diverse Canadian groups were acknowledged and accommodated to create a workable collective.
Additionally and importantly, the Canadian system is built with an emphasis on the provision of social support services. Canada features a public education system, a public health-care system, a public welfare system and with that, a corresponding tax system to fund it. This system functionally places responsibility on the community to be supportive of its residents. And thus Canada has bred an orientation to life amongst its residents that believes the collective has a responsibility to the individual, and concurrently, the individual has a responsibility to the collective.
Canadians value an attitude of acceptance and tolerance. Over the course of history, Canadians have embraced a liberal, open attitude, extending goodwill and acceptance to others who might be different. Because of this pervading attitude of acceptance and tolerance, Canada is not just multi-cultural, but multi-everything. Note the diversity of beliefs, lifestyles, opinions, worldviews. Some would go so far as to say that this diversity is one of the country’s greatest strengths.
Diversity and pluralism are celebrated in Canada. Multiculturalism, in particular, has been noted as one of the most distinctive features of its society. More Canadians cite multiculturalism as central to the national identity –more than bilingualism or hockey. Canada’s top source of national pride is multiculturalism, second only to democracy. Canadians are not so unique in living in a diverse society, but are distinctive in the way that they have incorporated Canada’s policy of accommodating diversity into their sense of national identity.
“One difference between Americans and Canadians is that Americans are still waiting to win the lottery. Canadians live as if they have already won the lottery”, said Michael Adams (Fire and Ice, 2003). 20% of Canadians cite Quality of life as a top source of pride in being Canadian. Quality of life, simply put, refers to how good life is.
Among developed countries, certain variables are consistent in defining quality of life – life expectancy, purchasing power, literacy and education, housing, employment, finances. Against these variables, in study after study, Canada has always ranked in the top. For instance, in Mercer Consulting surveys about Quality of Living, cities like

Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Calgary were always among the top within the Americas scope.
Canada is endowed with nature’s majesty, in lakes, mountains, fields in our backyard. The physical closeness to nature likely inspires a more mellow approach to life and living. Since after the Great Depression, Canada instituted policies that would ensure that its people maintained certain standards of living –pensions, health care, protection from unemployment and other social support. Having a secure safety net gives people a certain reassurance that no matter what goes wrong, all will be well; in general, people have less to be anxious and stressed about. Unencumbered, people pursue a certain way of living that is more attuned to relationships, connections, rather than simply getting ahead in a rat race.
For Canadians, there is more to life than work. They place a rewarding career behind freedom, family life, being loved and being Canadian on their list of things that they value the most. Canadians believe that experiences, not things, make one happy. When asked, what is the best thing that happened to you in the past year, milestones such as weddings, births, pregnancies, vacations, and graduations rose to the top of the list. Moving into a new house or getting a new car sat at the bottom of the list of best things.
 The social rules in Québec
In Québec, it is convenient to be politically correct in the social gatherings. Even if it may be sometimes difficult to understand for newcomers, such mix of discretion, simple ideas and smiles will help you in your first conversations with the locals.
Such attitudes should not be taken as hypocrisy or lack of interest towards you, but as a sign of respect to your ideas and your vital space. Only after having gained their confidence you will be able to hold deeper and longer conversations. The “Quebecois” avoid controversy, especially in public.
Québec is a peaceful and well organized society that does not like to deal with sudden changes. They like clarity and explicity in their social relationships.
More information: www.valeurscommunesduquebec.gouv.qc.ca
 Socialization strategies
Canada is a very dynamic society, with a vast network of associations serving all kinds of interests and concerns. Hence, it is advisable to find organizations related to our interests where we can collaborate occasionally or in an ongoing basis. Either in the leisure, social, or professional field, this is the best way to integrate both socially an in the labor market. Hereby I introduce a few ideas to start with.
 Conversation exchanges in either English or French with whoever wants to improve your mother tongue’s language skills, posting ads in the language schools or in the following websites.
Language exchanges  www.conversationexchange.com  www.mylanguageexchange.com  www.ilearnmontreal.com  www.expatriates.org  www.languageexchangecenter.com  www.kijiji.ca

 Volunteering in any kind of non-profit organization (social services, environment protection, cultural associations, etc.).
Search for volunteering opportunities  Community organizations usually post ads in newspapers searching for volunteers.  You may find a volunteering work in the Community services directory in the library or in its website.  It is advisable to call directly the organization where you want to volunteer.  www.charityvillage.com  www.centredesfemmesdemtl.org  www.hirondelle.qc.ca  www.benevolat.gouv.qc.ca  www.benevoles.ca  www.ymca.ca
 Participating in sport or cultural organizations.
Leisure and cultural societies  Junior Chamber International. Worldwide federation of young leaders and entrepreneurs (up to 40 years old) www.jci.cc  Toastmasters are focused on developing public speaking skills, but it is also a good way to build your social network. www.toastmasters.org  Internations. Expats association with local chapters in most cities, organising many kinds of activities www.internations.org
 Language courses or other professional training programs
Key success factors for an immigrant
1) Improve your language skills - Many new immigrants speak English/French but they need to perfect their English/French to be well understood by English/French speaking Canadians and to excel the Canadian workplace. Although one may speak English/French in his/her native country, it may not be at the same level as Canada. Be open to do what you can to improve your English/French Speaking skills - take upgrading courses, join Toastmasters, listen to English/French speaking talk stations including CBC radio and watch English/French news. Make friends with English/French speaking people and try to speak as much as possible. 2) Stay Positive - Coming to Canada and finding work and integrating into a new society can be very challenging. The people who stay positive and look upon their new experiences in a positive light and a new adventure will be in a better situation. You will come across negative people in Canada as there are in every country - for every negative person you have in your life, you need to add a positive person. Surround yourself with positive people - there are many naysayers. These people are not going to help you. The positive people will help your attitude and your outlook. 3) Embrace Canada - You have made a big move to come to Canada - be a part of your new country and know as much as you can about it - whether it be news, sports or politics. This is your country now. Get involved in your community in Canada. Know about your sports teams - whether it is in basketball or hockey or others. Be able to talk at the water cooler about what is going on. 4) Have a Plan B - Everyone has his own skills and experience. One comes to Canada with the goals and hopes of working in a field that is similar to what you have

done. To ensure that you are successful, one needs to have a Plan B and as some of the participants at the symposium said, you need to have a Plan C, D and E. Perhaps you may have another passion - it may be in a different career path or a second or third choice related to what you were originally chosen to do. Be open to the idea of taking another risk after doing your research first. 5) Stay Clear of cultural groups - Immigrants who integrate into the Canadian workplace and Canadian life the best are those who make friends with people from all cultural groups. Canada is a very multi-cultural country. Don't limit yourself to be only with people from your native country or from your own language group. Be open to making friends with people from all religious and cultural groups. 6) Take risks - By deciding to come to Canada, you have take one of the biggest risks in your life. For that you should be congratulated. To continue your road to success, you need to keep an open mind to new ideas and possibilities. This may be a new business venture or a possible job opportunity for you to consider. 7) Volunteer, mentor, network - The way to finding work and succeeding in Canada is being involved in the community, volunteering with different professional associations, charities and causes that are important to you. This will build your network and your friendships/relationships that will help you in ensuring your success in Canada in the present and future time.
Integrating in a new country may mean facing many kinds of challenges at the same time: improving language skills, soft skills, finding a job, etc. Further, to be effective in your progression towards full integration I suggest:
 Set goals to help you keep motivated whenever you have problems. Goals help you establishing and keeping the right direction and controlling your improvement pace. A list of goals may help you remember why you came here, what do you expect to achieve and when do you expect to achieve it.
 When setting goals, make sure that these are SMART: specific, measurable, attainable, rewarding, and time-bounded. It is convenient as well to set intermediate goals to better monitor your progression and establish some kind of reward to celebrate your progression.
 Be resilient. That means focusing on the long term over the short term, never losing the sense of humor and keep up with your enthusiasm no matter how many times you fail.

7. Labor market integration
The Canadian labor market poses many particular challenges to newcomers. Beyond the lack of knowledge of Canadian companies about your diplomas and certificates (see Appendix 6), the main inconvenient to gain your potential employer’s confidence is your lack of Canadian experience or North-American experience (having worked in the United Stated may be valued as much as Canadian experience). However, having international experience in many advanced countries might also be well valued.
No matter how many achievements you have attained in your home country, these are not likely to be taken into account and you will need to acquire Canadian experience to reach a similar position to that you used to have in your home country. Therefore, you will have to acquire such Canadian experience starting from a lower level for a certain time until you prove enough competences to get a promotion. From then on, the Canadian labor market will likely respect your achievements and bring you opportunities according to your merits.
Other formulas to achieve Canadian experience may be internships or professional volunteering, both being valued as professional experience. In the Appendix 5 many traits of the Canadian labor market culture are explained.
Hereby I explain the most usual labor market integration strategies for newcomers:
 First of all, you need to research your target market, its salaries and perspectives in different provinces and regions, need for credential evaluation, related professional associations and bodies, networking events, specialized social networks, companies directory, training programs, etc.
Resources for the market research  www.emploiquebec.net – Labor market foresight reports, occupational centers searcher, occupational fairs, Job search Guide, etc.  www.emploisetc.gc.ca – Labor market trends reports and professional orientation services.  www.hrsdc.gc.ca – Labor market information, training, temporary immigration programs, foreign credential recognition programs, labor market integration programs, labor market legislation, etc.  www.travailleraucanada.gc.ca – Federal Government tool to study the feasibility of career development in Canada.  www.councils.org/en - Sectorial information about labor market trends.  Guide “Réussir le Québec” – Official Guide about the labor market in Québec
 It is also very convenient to receive some kind of orientation about labor market integration (mentoring), about resume formats, advice for the interview, common practices in contracting, and working culture in general. Such knowledge may be acquired in many published Guides, participating in Employment research centres or through the support of immigrant aid non-profit organisations.

Orientation on the labor market integration  Employment research centres in Québec – www.cre.qc.ca  Pan-Canadian network of centers providing service in career planning, training opportunities, internships, professional orientation and self-employment - www.vrcdatabase.com  Labor market integration services in Ontario - www.skillsinternational.ca  Labor market integration services in Ontario - www.skillsforchange.org  Personal plan crafting tool - www.travailimmigrants.com  Job search orientation - www.chouettecarriere.ca
 Language training to attain a professional mastery and grasp the professional slang, as well as training related to your professional field to acquire Canadian certificates and get familiar with the Canadian professional practices.
Educational and training centers Online and face-to-face educational and training courses:  Distance education programs in all Canadian Universities www.cvu-uvc.ca  Regional Centre for distance education in Grand Montréal www.cspi.qc.ca  Répertoire de la formation continue www.formation.jobboom.com  Établissements d’enseignement www.mels.gouv.qc.ca  Télé-université www.teluq.uquebec.ca  Réseau d’enseignement francophone à distance du Canada www.refad.ca  Portail de la formation en ligne (informatique et langues) www.le-formateur.com  Cégep@distance www.cegepdistance.ca  Ciblétudes www.cibletudes.ca / www.boursetudes.com  Société de formation à distance des commissions scolaires www.sofad.qc.ca  Formation professionnelle et technique www.inforoutefpt.org  Québec Universities portal www.crepuq.qc.ca
 Volunteering in professional associations is usually recognised as Canadian professional experience, and highly appreciated by employers.
Volunteering  www.benevoles.ca – Professional volunteering opportunities  www.charityvillage.com – Volunteering portal, with job bank, professional orientation, educational and training programs, volunteering bank, volunteering center network and volunteering events calendar.  www.hirondelle.qc.ca – Volunteering, labor market integration and services for newcomers in Québec.  www.benevolat.gouv.qc.ca – Québec Government volunteering portal
 Around 80% of opportunities in Canada are in the hidden job market, which is accessible only through networking. This consists of making contacts in educational programs, volunteering, linkedin discussions, networking events, occupation fairs, etc. (check previous websites for events)

Main linkedin groups  Linked Quebec  Quebec professionals  Happen (www.happen.ca)  Canada Recruitment  Jobs in Canada  Search for sectorial groups also
 Internships are also a popular way to acquire Canadian experience. Many participants to Government sponsored internships get a job after the 6 months interhship period.
Internship programs  Non profit organization providing support for the labor market integration through many paid internship programs - www.careeredge.ca  Linkedin group “Internship Canada”  Pan-Canadian network of Centers providing support in the search for internship programs - www.vrcdatabase.com  PRIIME program for professional integration in Québec (Appendix 7)  Internships portal – www.theinternagency.com  Federal Internship Program for Newcomers – www.rhdcc.gc.ca
 Unsolicited/Spontaneous job applications are also very well regarded by employers. You have to research about the company and draft a cover letter and a resume tailored for every employer and addressed to a specific person, ideally the Managing Director or the Human Resources Director. You may also send applications to Human Resources recruitment firms.
Business directory and human resources services  Guide “Canadian directory of search firms” available in Canada Employment Weekly (www.mediacorp2.com) or www.acsess.org  Headhunters directory http://headhuntersdirectory.com/canada.htm  Career-transitioning and recruitment - www.selectionstrategy.com  Québec business directory – www.icriq.com
 Career advisors and job search agencies are increasingly popular in North- America, though mostly among executives, it may also be useful for lower profiles.
Labor integration & orientation professional services  www.careerprocanada.ca – Career advisors association  www.canadausemployment.com – Job search agency for immigrants  www.weapplyforyou.com – Personalized job search service  www.grahammanagement.com – Career advisor for executives in Ontario  www.careerjoy.com – Coaching services
Finally, Appendix 4 introduces Job search portals where you may create alerts, be viewed by potential employers, and check job offers. You should also read Appendix 7, where many labor integration programs are presented.

Appendix 1. Learning French
Self-learning resources
 TV in French: www.tv5.ca ; http://tvanouvelles.ca ; www.cbc.ca (radio-TV)
 Business Fr. books: “Le français au bureau”, “La revue d’aménagement linguistique”
 Radio program about immigration to Québec www.rcinet.ca
 Radio Canada http://rss.radio-canada.ca/rci/tamtam.xml
 Self-learning centres in the main urban areas of Québec
The Government of Québec refunds the cost of the courses and the official exams to the new immigrants, so you’d better keep the receipts.
French courses offered by the Government of Québec
The Ministry of Immigration (MICC) offers many kinds of free courses:
 Full-time: 30 hr/week (basic and intermediate). May be subsidized.
 Part-time: 4, 6, 9 o 12 hours per week
 MICC offers oral and written communication courses for intermediate and advanced levels both on a part-time and full-time basis, as well as courses for specific professional areas. Check also Enhanced language training program
 MICC’s online courses for CSQ holders www.francisationenligne.gouv.qc.ca
 MICC’s Exercise bank www.immigration-quebec.gouv.qc.ca/fr/langue- française/apprendre-ligne/autres-services/banque-exercices.html
 Grand dictionnaire terminologique de l’Office québécois de la langue française
www.granddictionnaire.com
 Télé-université www.teluq.uquebec.ca www.formation.jobboom.com
 Portail d’information en ligne www.le-formateur.com
 Du français sans faute www.dfsf.com ; www.refad.ca
 Banque gratuite d’exercices du MICC www.micc-francisation.gouv.qc.ca
Many universities also offer French courses:
 McGill University – www.mcgill.ca/conted/langprg/fulltimefrench
 Université de Montréal – www.fep.umontreal.ca/frances/index.html
 Université du Québec à Montréal – www.langues.uqam.ca/fr2
 Concordia University – http://fcms.concordia.ca
 École internationale de langues du YMCA – www.ymcalangues.com/fr/index.asp
Public libraries are an interesting resource you may use to read newspapers, check information in the internet, and borrow books.
Other french courses:
 www.clickonfrench.com - Online courses
 www.leconjugueur.com – Conjugation exercises
 www.csdm.qc.ca – Courses in the Comission Scolaire de Montréal
 www.oqlf.gouv.qc.ca – Office quebecois de la langue française

Appendix 2. General information in the internet
Resources about immigration
www.immigrer.com – Information about immigration and integration in Canada
http://relocatecanada.com – Information portal about services for immigrants
www.micc.gouv.qc.ca – Québec Ministry of Immigration
www.cnmag.ca – Canadian newcomer magazine. Articles about immigration.
www.ola-quebec.ca – Relocating services
General information
www.canada.com – News portal about Canada
www.statcan.gc.ca - Statistics Canada
www.gouv.qc.ca – Government of Québec
www.buyitcanada.com – Service directory for all Canada
www.yellowpages.ca – Yellow pages for all Canada
www.canada411.ca – Telephone Guide
www.voir.ca – Entertainment portal for Québec
Resources for expats worldwide
www.expatexchange.com – Information and links for expats
www.expatfocus.com – Information and links for expats
www.expat21.com – Worldwide expat forum
www.escapeartist.com – Information and links for expats
Ads portals (buy/sell, rentals, jobs, etc.)
www.craigslist.org
www.kijiji.ca
www.toutmontreal.com
www.vitevitevite.ca
www.lespac.com
www.cherchetrouve.ca
www.ifind.ca
www.toile.com
www.campusmontreal.com
www.voir.ca
Media
www.journaldequebec.com
http://lejournaldemontreal.canoe.ca
www.theglobeandmail.com
www.nationalpost.com
www.lesaffaires.com
www.lapresse.ca
www.ledevoir.com
www.thestar.com
Tourist information
www.canada.travel
www.toronto.ca
www.tourisme-montreal.org
www.tourismvancouver.com
www.canadatourism.travel
www.bonjourquebec.com
www.quebecregion.com
www.beauxvillages.qc.ca
www.tourism-canada.org

Appendix 3. Documentation check list
Personal documentation to take
Reference letter from your bank
Proof of funds (account balance) – Credit record
Reference letters from previous landlords
Military condition certificate
Criminal records of all countries where you have lived >6 months being older>18
Vaccination record, dental and medical record
Proof of social security registration in your home country
Detailed lists of ítems you ship and ítems you carry inflight (for customs control)
National identity card
Birth certificate
Medical insurance (3 months) and travel insurance
Québec Selection Certificate
Car insurance sinister record (optional)
Drivers license (national or international)
Passport with Canadian PR visa
Professional documentation to take
Academic diplomas and certificates
Academic records
Reference letter from the last companies
Reference letters
Updated resume
Reference letter of the last company specifying position and worked hours
For kids: school diplomas&records, transfer certificates and college transcripts
Once in Canada, you should obtain the following documents:
Permanent Residence letter
Social insurance number (SIN) - Numéro d’assurance sociale (NAS)
Medical insurance card
Canadian drivers license
Credential evaluation (optional)

Appendix 4. Job search resources
General Job search websites www.monster.ca www.workopolis.com www.canadajobs.com www.allcanadianjobs.com www.higherbracket.ca www.careerbuilder.ca www.mbajobs.ca www.bestplace.ca www.workdirectory.ca www.jobhunt.org www.job.com www.geebo.com www.jobdig.com http://canada.indeed.com www.job-hunt.org www.nicejob.ca www.jobshark.ca www.wowjobs.ca www.linkup.com www.realmatch.com www.visualcv.com www.standoutjobs.com www.glassdoor.com www.alltop.com www.ontargetjobs.com www.craigslist.ca www.snagajob.com www.careersearch4jobs.com www.vestiigo.com www.eluta.ca www.indeed.com www.canadajobsnew.com www.jibberjobber.com www.jobing.com www.simplyhired.com www.jobs.com www.localcareer.com www.coolworks.com www.linkyou.info www.hotjobscanada.ca www.careerjet.ca www.canadastop100.com www.rileyguide.com www.vault.com www.higherbracket.ca
Job search websites in Québec www.jobboom.com – General Job search website www.working.com/francais - General Job search website www.monemploi.com - General Job search website www.travail.gouv.qc.ca – Ministry of employment www.cnt.gouv.qc.ca - Commission des normes du travail www.emploiscompetences.com – General Job search website www.technogenie.com – Technical Job search website www.mess.gouv.qc.ca – Ministry of labor and social solidarity www.emplois-montreal.ca – General Job search website for Montréal www.1888mevoila.com – General Job search website for Québec City
Job search websites in Ontario & British Columbia www.mazemaster.on.ca/users/jobbank/jobpostings.aspx - Youth employment Ontario www.poss.ca – Toronto’s online employment resource centre www.torontojobs.ca – Toronto Jobs www.gojobs.gov.on.ca – Portal de búsqueda de empleo en Ontario www.bcjobs.ca – Jobs in British Columbia
Other job search websites www.alltypeofjobs.com/workathome - Home jobs Portal www.jobs-emplois.gc.ca – Federal Government Jobs portal www.top-consultant.com – Consulting Jobs Portal www.homeworkers.org – Telework and freelance Jobs portal www.jobbank.gc.ca – Government portal to support job search

Specialized Job Search Sites
Accounting Job Search Sites
CA Source http://www.casource.com/
Certified Management Accountants Society of British Colombia http://www.cmabc.com/
Institute of Chartered Accountants Alberta http://www.albertacas.ca/Home.aspx
Institute of Chartered Accountants B.C. http://www.ica.bc.ca/kb.php3?
Institute of Chartered Accountants Manitoba http://www.icam.mb.ca/
Institute of Chartered Accountants Nova Scotia http://www.icans.ns.ca/
Institute of Chartered Accountants Ontario http://www.icao.on.ca/
Institute of Chartered Accountants Quebec http://ocaq.qc.ca/home.html
Institute of Chartered Accountants Saskatchewan http://www.icas.sk.ca/
Certified Professional Accountants http://www.cma-quebec.org/en.aspx
Society of Management Accountants Canada http://www.cma-canada.org/
Society of Management Accountants Ontario http://www.cma-ontario.org/
Certified General Accountants Association of Manitoba http://www.cga- manitoba.org/home.aspx
Certified General Accountants Association of New Brunswick http://www.cga- nb.org/en/home.aspx
Certified General Accountants of Ontario http://www.cga-ontario.org/
Certified General Accountants Association of Prince Edward Island http://www.cga- pei.org/home.aspx
Certified Professional Accountants of Quebec http://cpa-quebec.com/
Advertising, Marketing & Communications Job Search Sites
Advertising Age http://adage.com/
CallCareers.com http://www.callcareers.com/
Marketing Magazine http://www.marketingmag.ca/
Outdoor Advertising Association of Canada http://www.oaac.com/
Strategy Magazine http://strategyonline.ca/

Biotechnology Job Search Sites
Biotechnology Human Resource Council http://biotalent.ca/default_e.asp
Pharmahorizons http://www.pharmahorizons.com/
Biofair http://www.biofair.com/
Construction/Trades Job Search Sites
Construction Careers http://www.iciconstruction.com/home.cfm
Construction Sector Council http://www.csc-ca.org/
Made with the Trades http://www.madewiththetrades.com/
Toronto Construction Association http://www.tcaconnect.com/Home.html
Education and Teaching Job Search Sites
Apply to Teach Network https://www.applytoeducation.com/AttLogin.aspx
AUCC University Affairs http://www.aucc.ca/about-us/jobs-at-aucc/
Education Canada Network http://www.educationcanada.com/
Jobs in Education http://jobsineducation.com/
The Manitoba Teacher’s Society http://www.mbteach.org/
Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Foundation http://www.osstf.on.ca/
Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation https://www.stf.sk.ca/portal.jsp?Sy3uQUnbK9L2RmSZs02CjVy0w7ZkI/ks6g2u00gzAtsk=F#portal.jsp?Sy3uQUnbK9L0Lfcilya88JRURFprnNPNELjB15IVEHd1bvZkXGCWUw// Qn30jKxKR7Jgf4NliRTxk4UcNP5/peg==F
Teaching Jobs http://www.teachingjobs.com/
Engineering Job Search Sites
Canadian Technical Employment Network http://www.cten.ca/
Engineering Central http://www.engcen.com/engineering.asp
Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists http://www.oacett.org/page.asp?P_ID=98
Environment Job Search Sites
CanadianEnvironmental.com http://www.canadianenvironmental.com/

Health Job Search Sites
Canadian Nursing Index http://www.nursingindex.com/
Canadian Society for Epidemiology and Biostatistics http://www.cseb.ca/
Canadian Society for International Health http://www.csih.org/en/opportunities/jobopps.asp
Jobscience.com http://www.jobscience.com/
Opticians Association of Canada http://www.opticians.ca/
Information Technology Job Search Sites
BC Technology http://www.bctechnology.com/statics/employmt.cfm
Canada Computer Work http://canada.computerwork.com/
Canada IT http://www.canadait.com/
Canada’s Association of Information Technology Professionals http://www.cips.ca/
Head Hunter http://www.headhunter.com/
Hi Tech Career http://www.hitechcareer.com/htc/
International Webmasters Association http://www.iwanet.org/
Information Technology Association of Canada http://www.itac.ca/
ITWorldCanada.com http://www.itworldcanada.com/
NetJobs http://www.netjobs.com/index.php
Position Watch http://www.randstadtechnologies.ca/
Victoria Advanced technology Council www.viatec.ca
Company directory, job board and events calendar www.techvibes.com
Sisystems www.sisystems.com
Webgrrls International http://www.webgrrls.com/
Wired Woman Society http://www.wiredwoman.com/mc/page.do;jsessionid=B2C87E3C53FF1042B943B7155D8CF518.mc0?sitePageId=1718
Insurance Job Search Sites
InsuranceWorks.com http://www.insuranceworks.com/bins/index.asp

Manufacturing Job Search Sites
Careers in Plastics http://www.careersinplastics.ca/pages/
Wood Manufacturing Council http://www.wmc-cfb.ca/
Mathematics and Statistics Job Search Sites
Canadian Mathematical Society http://cms.math.ca/Employment/
Be An Actuary http://www.beanactuary.org/
Society of Actuaries http://www.soa.org/landing.aspx?ID=3849
Statistics Society of Canada http://www.ssc.ca/en/jobs
Oil and Mining Job Search Sites
Petroleum Services Association of Canada http://www.psac.ca/career-resources

Appendix 5. Labor market culture
Nine soft skills no immigrant should be without
Skilled immigrants often focus on improving technical skills after coming to Canada, and they are shocked when they are told they have “no Canadian experience.” I’ve realized that this albatross around immigrants’ necks is actually a vague way of saying: “You lack the soft skills I am looking for in an employee.”I believe there are nine soft skills that no immigrant should be without:
1. Communication skills Communication skills — both spoken and written — are critical for immigrants. I can’t stress enough how important it is for career success to be able to not only speak in English, but also write clearly and persuasively.
2. Local language skills I still smile when I think back to my first job in Canada when I was asked to put my “John Hancock” on a courier document. As I looked at the courier, he said to me, “I mean your signature.” In a corporate environment, your language skills have to evolve to understand local phrases and business jargon. 3. Presentation skills In a recent survey, senior managers rated the ability to make presentations as a top qualification. Now this could mean a formal presentation to clients or a more casual way of presenting yourself in meetings and with colleagues.
4. Small talk Do you sense a theme here? Most of the soft skills I’ve mentioned so far all relate back to communicating. Water cooler chitchat is a part of corporate life. But be careful not to cross the line of what’s taboo.
5. Leadership and initiative Staying invisible is why many immigrants are overlooked when it comes time for promotions. Take some initiative, share your ideas, ask questions and encourage others to collaborate as well!
6. Conflict resolution and negotiation It is important to learn how to disagree with a colleague or even your boss without getting emotional about it! And if things go too far, learn to apologize.
7. Accepting constructive criticism Constructive criticism is part of any learning curve. To accept criticism, understand that we are not perfect and learning is a continuous process, at work and in life.
8. Flexibility Show your employer that you’re willing to learn and adapt. The labour market and economy are changing all the time, and we must change, too.
9. Business etiquette Workplace customs and practices may be different in Canada than your homeland. Something as simple as calling your boss by his or her first name may seem odd to you, but it’s normal practice here.

Negotation culture
 Use of time: time is considered a limited resource that has to be used effectively and profitably. Executives show an attitude of controlled rush. The orientation is focused on the short term. The past and the future are considered irrelevant.
 Personal / Professional relationships: in Québec, personal relationships may affect positively in negotiations and business development. Their initial attitude is more reserved and formal than in the English speaking Canada or the United States. Is very appreciated your effort in speaking French.
 Communication patterns: is rather clear and informal, with loads of slang without taking into account the English mastery of the foreigner. Opinion freedom is highly valued and disagreements are well respected. It is advisable to have a positive attitude and use adjectives that highlight aspects such as quality, guarantee and size. Avoid being modest in your proposals and using emotional arguments, as these might arise suspicion.
 Concessions and agreements: cooperative and sequential negotiation, based upon technical arguments. Few concessions distributed along the process.
 Decision making: individual decisions for responsibility levels within the organisation. The counterpart is expected to have the same decision making power.
Professions’ nomenclature
Any profession may have different names from one country to another. In order to use effectively the information and labor integration services in Québec, it is convenient to know the local nomenclature corresponding to the profession you want to work in. You may find such nomenclature in www.emploiquebec.net in the section “IMT en ligne” clicking in “Métiers et professions”. Put the name of your profession and you will see the complete list of nomenclature corresponding to your profession in Québec.
The number in brackets is the code from the National Profession Classification (CNP). This will allow you to get a precise description of every profession. CNP groups the most usual profesional nomenclature in Canada. If you do not find the name you are looking for, go tho the nearest local ocupation centre.
You may also find it in www.rhdcc.gc.ca. You may also find information about the regulations of the labor market in Québec in the site of the Commission des normes du travail: www.cnt.gouv.qc.ca
Key competences
Professional competences are the aspects that Canadian employers evaluate to chose among all candidates. You should be able to explain your competences through achievements. Hereby we define the main generic competences:
 Adaptation: you adapt your way of working and behavior according to the situation. You manage to integrate in a new team.
 Assertiveness: you are capable of explaining and defending your opinions.
 Autonomy: you are capable of working with little or no supervision.
 Capacity to find out problems: you identify rapidly the problems within a situation. You detect where there is missing information.
 Clarity in communication: you explain and write in a way that everybody understands.
 Cooperation: you are capable of working effectively with other people.
 Intuition: you may predict how others will react to a certain event.

 Listening: you take the time to listen to those around you. You are attentive to other people’s needs.
 Effectiveness: you find the fastest means to solve a duty and achieve the expected results.
 Strategic orientation: you try to achieve your goals developing strategies, prioritizing, and developing methodologies, also showing vision for future challenges beyond the short term goals.
 Reliability: meet deadlines and fulfill expectations.
 Proactivity: you take the initiative without expecting instructions from your superior.
 Leadership: you get the respect and trust from others. You manage to convince others about your ideas and make them follow you.
 Self-control: you control your emotions when you are angry. You reflect and value with judgement before speaking or taking action.
 Persistence: you work hard to overcome obstacles and obtain the information and the necessary help in spite of difficulties.
 Accuracy: you pay attention to details and verify the accuracy of the information.
 Teamwork: you respect the roles and responsibilities of other team members, and cooperate with them to achieve the team’s goals.
 Language command: check www.travailleraucanada.gc.ca to find out about the importance of linguistic competences to work in Canada.
The values of the Canadian labor market
 The dominant values in the Canadian companies are generally the egality, cooperation, flexibility and participation.
 Executives consult frequently with their subordinates, from whom they expect a direct communication and constructive comments.
 In Canada, the value of equal opportunity is very respected.
 A trial period may mean occupying a lesser qualified position, on a part-time basis or with a temporary contract. This is especially common among newcomers without Canadian experience. However, once you have shown your competences the promotion is fast.
 Whatever is written in a contract is more important that the personal relationship you may have with the employer. The associated functions to any position are generally defined with precision, though leaving space for taking initiative to the employees.
 Canadian employers value the respect for schedules and deadlines. Business meetings are prepared with precise minutes, favoring structured exchanges according to the goals of the meeting.
 As a general rule, recruitment and promotions are based on competences and individual achievements.
 It is generally accepted that a young profesional may be competent despite having little experience, and so he or she can lead a group of older professionals.
 Canadian managers usually look for consensus and solve conflicts through negotiation and compromise.
 Punctuality in meetings is highly respected. Interrupting is badly regarded, as it is to speak up.
 The employer looks in the employee for functional solutions that bring results as soon as possible. It is advisable to agree upon a trial period.
 Employers highly value those employees who take the initiative, bring ideas and reflections as a sign of commitment with the project they are involved in.
 Practice active listening: not only listening but also repeating what the other says in your own words so to let the other person know that you have understood him/her.

 Canadians are rather goal oriented: they value those who work hard to achieve a good quality of life.
 Employers value those who work with autonomy and initiative according to the corporate policies, without need for supervision. Likewise, they value flexibility, cooperation, and teamworking capacity.
 Most valued competences: communication, teamworking, time management, problem solving, organisation, learning capacity, listening, creativity, leadership, and goal & priority setting.
 Most valued attitudes: self-control, punctuality, honesty, effort, responsibility, flexibility, initiative, commitment, and self-confidence.
Making yourself value in the workplace
 Have a positive attitude. Accept criticism and retain suggestions to improve your work performance. Recognising that you have to improve in certain aspects is well regarded.
 Be punctual and respect the work schedules.
 Dress according to the company’s codes.
 Accept responsibilities. Make sure that you live up to your duty. Know what the employer expects from you and don’t hesitate to ask questions.
 A good working atmosphere is well appreciated, though without reaching familiarity.
 Take the initiative.
 Be reliable. Acomplish your commitments. If you are not in condition to comply with your commitment, let your boss know as son as posible. Otherwise you will be perceived as someone unreliable.
 Even if personal achievement is very well valued, a good harmony with your peers is valued as necessary.
 Control your emotions. Do not let small missunderstandings lead to conflicts. Try to solve problems keeping calm and trying to be objective.
Main features of the Canadian labor market
 A temporary job may be usually a step to a permanent position, as many employers use this formula as a trial period.
 There is a great potential for homework, especially that related with IT and software.
 Part-time jobs are common in all kinds of sectors and professions.
 A good information source for occupational training for immigrants is The Canada Employment Immigration Union.
 Canadian employers reply positively to candidates who are in process to improve their skills and knowledge taking training courses.
 Canadians are hardworkers, but they work less frenetically tan Americans. However, it is usual that managers get burned out after frequently working overtime.
 Working conditions are regulated by a legislation designed to ensure that workers are treated fairly and equally.
 Salary reviews are done every 6 to 18 months, depending on the employer. Whenever you negotiate your salary take into account that the unemployment subsidies are much lower than in the European countries.
 Entrepreneurs are very respected in Canada, and there is no stigma related to failure, instead it is understood as something normal for someone who takes risk.

 As employers have substituted progressively permanent workers for freelancers, consultants and temporary workers along the last years, self-employment has increased as an alternative to permanent employment.
 HRSDC elaborates a list of business opportunities with forecasted growth throughout the upcoming decade.
 Employers tend to lay off workers when the business does badly, but the system facilitates higher demand of workers when businesses do well.
 The contract should specify the base salary, overtime pay, bonuses, planified increases according to the cost of living and other variables.
 Schedules are usually from 8-9h to 16-17h with a break for lunch.
 When hiring someone, experience and competence are the main criteria to take into account, above origin or academic education.
 Command of English and French determines often the opportunities for professional progression.
How to sell yourself in Canada
 Adapt your resume. The Canadian resume is based on the North-American model. You have to adapt it for the position you are applying for, using the language of the company and the local terminology. You have to highlight your experience and competences above your education and training, avoiding useless details like your age or a photo.
 You may find Canadian resume samples in www.monster.ca and http://emploiquebec.net/guide/index.asp
 Highlight your results and achievements in all your previous positions, explaining how your actions have contributed to the success of the company (revenue increase, cost savings, etc.)
 Talk about your communication skills as long as other skills such as conflict management, change management, and leadership. Your resume should transmit your personality and your values. Newspaper ads and occupation portals are an excellent guide to know the competences searched by employers.
 You should highlight your north-american experiencees. If you don’t have north- american experience, you should try to get it as soon as possible doing either volunteering or some internship.
 Interviews. Arrive 5 to 10 minutes before the appointed time. Interviews are generally more open and less formal than in Europe. They are rather focused on your projects in the company and your profesional and extra-professional experience than in the academic education. You have to answer briefly and accurately, mentioning precise elements, measurable and verifyable. You should propose your competences to the company, as this is what they expect from you. Be prepared to be asked what you would do in a real situation.
 Have a positive and enthusiastic attitude, looking at your interviewer’s eyes, smiling, and shaking hands firmly in the farewell. Prepare at least a couple of questions about the company or the job in particular, as a proof of interest. Ask about the next steps of the process and when are you likely to hear from the company again.
 Once the interview is finished, send an email thanking the interviewers, and call the company if they don’t contact you within the foreseen deadline.
 Some typical questions you may be asked are: 1) Describe your previous job 2) What didn’t you like about this job? 3) Why did you leave? 4) How was your relationship with the team? What do you think that your boss would tell about you, your performance, and your reliability? What would you like to do the most in your next job? Explain how your experience has prepared you for this position.

 Networking! The 80% of the jobs are obtained through networking. It is very convenient to participate in professional events, usually organized by professional associations. The quebecois use the term réseautage.
 Before going to a networking event, think about the goals you pretend to achieve to focus your efforts strategically.
 Prepare a pitch to introduce yourselves in no more than 4 or 5 phrases. Talk in terms of the value added and the solutions that you may bring. Tell others what you expect from them too.
 Offer your help first of all. Think well what you may give, despite being a newcomer (international contacts, translation, specific expertise, market information, etc.). The networking strategy consists basicly in offering and giving to deserve other’s help.
 Once made the contacts you should regularly maintain them. Send a message the day after the first conversation, preparing the next stage of your contact or information exchange, etc.
 Market yourself without losing your humility. Avoid being arrogant but also too humble, just try to be confident. Talk about your skills and strenghts that you may leverage for your client or employer. Show will for integration, open mindset, flexibility and will for learning.
 In the interviews, give an image according to the needs of the employer, and explain with examples your competences and know how. In North-America, the interview is short, and we should take advantage to talk about your skills, more than about the information already explained in the resume.
 Attitude. Are you an enthusiast, motivated and passionate? Show it! Apart from the competences, attitude is essential. If the feeling is positive, they may overlook some weaknesses, assuming that you will be able to overcome them soon.
 You should market your personality, your attitude and your capacity to integrate according to the corporate values within the team. Research the company and so you can identify how your professional experience may match with their needs.
 Take the initiative with the contact. You have to be proactive in following up your application, either by phone or by email. Taking the initiative in calling shows interest and professionality. Whether it be responding to an advert or as a result of a spontaneous application, you always have to follow up with the process to stay in their top of mind.
 Freelancers. Self-employment is increasingly popular and is compatible with having a permanent job.
To learn more about the Canadian working culture check www.canadawise.com

Appendix 6. Foreign credentials evaluation
In Canada there are two kinds of professions: regulated and non-regulated. For the regulated professions, it is necessary to belong to its correspondent professional association, which has to evaluate your overseas diplomas and certificates.
In the case of non-regulated professions, the employer will assess whether your overseas diplomas guarantee a sufficient level of knowledge. Therefore, even working in non-regulated professions, it is advisable to belong to the professional college or association and be certified by them. You will have to assess the convenience of doing a credential evaluation to help Canadian employers fairly assess your diplomas and certificates. Mind that it may take between 6 to 9 months and cost around 100$.
Foreign credential evaluation is a process to measure your level of education to the Canadian system. The credential evaluation service doesn’t assess the quality of the program, course content, or whether or not the subjects you studied will be accepted as comparable to those required for a similar career in Canada. In Canada, there are a few main credential evaluation services, including World Education Services (WES) in Ontario (see wes.org) and International Credential Evaluation Services (ICES) in B.C. (see www.bcit.ca/ices ). For a full list of services across the country (see www.cicic.ca/415/credential-assessment-services.canada). Mind also that credential evaluations may be different in every province, for you should check that in the professional regulatory body.
Different reports explained. There are two types of reports that a credential evaluation service can offer: official and original. Official reports are made when your institution back in your home country sends the transcripts directly to the credential evaluation service. They have to be signed by the right authority (university or ministry) and be sent in a sealed envelope. Original reports, on the other hand, are the ones made with the certificates and transcripts you bring with you.
Both official and original reports can be basic or comprehensive. Basic reports usually have one to two pages and mention your certificates and how they compare in years with the Canadian system. Comprehensive reports may have more pages and they list all the subjects you have taken with their conversion to the credit/grade system applicable to most Canadian institutions.
When and how to get evaluated. If your profession is regulated (i.e., you require a licence from a professional body to work in the field, such as doctors, lawyers, accountants, teachers, engineers, etc.). The best way to make sure you don’t waste your time and money is to check with your professional regulatory body first. Many regulatory bodies have their own systems, or, if they accept reports, they will ask for official and comprehensive reports. Finding out from them first will save you time and money.
If you plan on going to school to upgrade your skills, note that each post-secondary institution and each faculty or program within it may have different requirements regarding credential evaluation. It really depends on the program you want to study and what you need the report for. Perhaps you may want to have some credits transferred toward a Canadian degree or certificate, and you want to demonstrate you have already studied some of the subjects they require. Or you may need to demonstrate that you have a post-secondary degree in a certain field, in order to be accepted for a master’s program or specialization. In any case, as requirements are both program and school specific, check with the institution first.

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