The following general notes may well be applicable to a wide variety of situations. It is strongly suggested that you peruse them all to get a flavour of the overall immigration process. If you have any additional information that you would like posted in this section, please contact us.

1. The requirements (qualifications) that are outlined in the CIC documentation that both a sponsor and an applicant (sponsored partner) must meet are many and they can be onerous. ALL the requirements must be fulfilled in order to successfully complete the Visa process. Any one requirement in which you are non-compliant is more than sufficient to have your Visa application rejected. The CIC Dept officers will be scutinizing your application, and elsewhere, trying to find one or more non-complicance to the requirements.
   
2. Government Speak. Do not let the lingo/jargon used by the Department fool or confuse you. Their frequest use of the word 'may' should always be interpreted as 'will'. For example, when the Dept. states that "if you do not supply all the required documentation your application may be delayed", this is should be read as "if you do not supply all the required documentation your application will be delayed".
   
3. Should a second application for the same person be sent to the Dept. at the same time as another application exists, one or more of the applications will be ignored or rejected. For example, if an Independent (economic) application is in process and another application is sent in for the Special I.T. Worker Program (that allows rapid processing), the I.T. application will be ignored - regarded as "queue" jumping and is not well regarded by the Dept.
   
4. Prior to June 2002, the CIC web site, www.cic.gc.ca, the "e-services" link provided a very cursory status of Independent and Family Class applications. Since June, 2002 the system has not provided any status on Family Class Applications made outside Canada. The local Canada CIC office confirmed this. (May 2003). Please advise LEGIT Hamilton if you have experienced wider case reporting at this link.
   
5. Powers Of Attorney (POA) include "Continuing Power of Attorney for Property" and "Power of Attorney for Personal Care". These documents from the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General, The Public Guardian and Trustee, 595 Bay St, Suite 800, Toronto, Ontario, M5G-2M6 are available by phone (1-800-366-0335) or online in pdf format. They are also available from your local MPP's office and at LEGIT Hamilton Support Meetings. Forms are available in English and French (separately). These documents, when signed, give a POA from you to your partner should you become unable to take care of your own affairs. Complete two sets to make the POA reciprocal such that both of you are capable of acting in the best interests of the other in times of crisis. These documents, signed by each partner, can be used in supporting your Family Class Application.