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All immigration applications require payments of proscribed fees to accompany the applications on submission. Be sure to follow the payment instructions for the type of application that you are making as set out in the Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s (CIC) website. It does not accept personal cheques and, in many cases, does not yet accept credit card payments. Make sure you include the correct fees for you and your dependants with your application.

Note:If you fail to include the correct fee payment, your application will be considered incomplete and returned to you.

The immigration process has many expenses, some that are expected such as application and processing fees, while others are optional or unanticipated, such as hiring a representative or being required to attend an interview. The reality is that immigrating to Canada is expensive. There are considerable expenses that you need to be prepared for in the process of preparing your application. Here are some of the expenses:

• CIC application fees: These are the application-processing fees that the CIC charges for your application for permanent residence (or visitor, or student, or work permit). It is very important that you include the correct application fees when you submit your application. If you fail to include the appropriate fees with your application, it will be considered incomplete and returned to you. Under some classes of applications, fees can be paid online; in others they must be mailed with your application. Look for the addition of online filing options in the future.

• Right of Permanent Resident fee: CIC charges a fee for the permanent resident visa for you and your dependants. Generally, CIC asks for the fee payment at the end of the process when it is ready to issue your visas. However, it can be paid at any stage of the application process — at the time of submission or anytime thereafter. Paying the Right of Permanent Resident Fee at the outset of your application can save a few weeks or months of processing time. In the event that your application is refused, the fee is refunded to you.

• Hiring an immigration lawyer, consultant, or paralegal: You may wish to have a professional assist you with your application. This can cost several thousands of dollars. Many representatives charge flat-rate fees and others charge by the hour. Be sure that you have a clear idea of what this will cost and that it is set out in writing. (See Chapter 4.)

• Supporting documentation: The cost of obtaining the supporting documents to your application can be expensive as well. You will need to include a wide variety of supporting documents including transcripts, educational certificates or records, bank or financial documents, tax returns and financial statements, phone records, and photographs. There may be a cost to obtain this material in addition to the cost of photocopying.

• Medical examinations: You and your family members will need to undergo a medical exam by a designated medical practitioner (DMP). It costs a few hundred dollars. If your application takes several years to process, you may be required to undergo and pay for a second set of medical examinations.

• Criminal record checks: Every person included in your application that is 18 years of age or older will need to include a criminal record check or police clearance for each country that they have lived in for more than six months since they were 18 years of age. You may have to provide updated clearances if your case takes longer than a year to process.

• Interview costs: In some instances, CIC will want to interview you or your family members. You may be required to travel to the visa office responsible for your geographic region. This may require significant transportation costs as well as hotel expenses. You will also need to obtain a qualified independent interpreter if you are not able to communicate effectively in English or French.

• Moving expenses: Understandably the cost of moving to Canada is significant. You not only need to arrange for travel to Canada for yourself and your accompanying family members, but also for the transportation of your personal belongings and household effects. Be prepared for this significant expense!

Caution: Keep in mind that permanent resident visas cannot be extended. If you fail to enter Canada before the visa expires, you will have to begin again with the whole application process and pay the fees again! If you don’t have enough time to settle all your affairs in your country of origin before the expiration of your visa, you can always come to Canada and become a permanent resident and then go back to your country of origin to settle everything and then return to Canada later.