More on Canadian Immigration

Since our special feature (in NO. 5) on emmigrating to Canada, we've received two letters telling us that getting across the border as a landed immigrant is absolutely the easiest thing in the world and that there's no mystery at all to the new point system of judging applicants.

We are pleased to receive and pass along this information . . . although we still wonder why the Canadian Consulates we contacted refused to answer our queries and—in fact—also refused to explain the point system to an official representative of the Canadian Tourist Bureau (and whom we happen to know).

Be that as it may, a most complete and noteworthy guide to Canadian immigration INCLUDING AN IN-DEPTH EXPLANATION OF THE POINT EVALUATION SYSTEM is available from Montreal Council to Aid War Resisters, Case Postale 5, Succ. WSMT., Montreal 251, Quebec, Canada for a nickle. The following is taken from that guide and the second paragraph under MISCELLANEOUS may explain the trouble we—and others—have had.

SCREENING PROCESS

The Immigration Department determines whether or not an applicant for landed immigrant status is in a prohibited class through information in the application forms and, sometimes, through a check with American authorities.

There is now sufficient delay during the processing of all applications for the Immigration Department to do fairly thorough screening to determine whether an applicant falls in a prohibited class and whether information on the application is accurate and complete.

PROCEDURE

The success of your application for Landed Immigrant status depends on many factors: Age, job experience or skill in performing a marketable service (teaching, tool and die making, etc.), educational level, financial situation, personal appearance and attitude.

One makes application for landed immigrant status either by mail with forms picked up at a Canadian consulate, by applying at the border upon entering, or from within Canada. At the present moment the best procedure for applications made in the Montreal area is at the border, specifically at Montreal International Airport. Applications made by mail have taken anywhere from 3 to 6 months to process. If you apply at a land border (by car, never by bus) you will wait for a medical appointment, and wait an additional period of up to 8 weeks for your immigrant card to come by mail, but you can get settled and start work while waiting. If you fly into Montreal your application will be accepted, you will be interviewed, and given your medical in a maximum of two hours. You will then be given a letter authorizing you to work, and will be called to return to the immigration office in approximately 6-8 weeks to receive your immigrant's card. You must get a direct flight to Montreal, with no Canadian stop-overs, as you are required to apply for Landed Immigrant status at your first point of entry into Canada. A flight from New York costs about $25. Note that Air Canada has a youth half-fare plan which can be used for travel between Canada and the United States. Montreal International Airport handles 71% of all immigrants entering Canada. Therefore they are prepared to handle large numbers of people in a fairly efficient manner and with the least amount of trouble.