- Misrepresentation
Misrepresentation is a false or misleading statement of fact made when filling out your Express Entry Application.
Misrepresentation is a severe immigration offence. It can lead to your Express Entry application being refused and you could be barred from applying for Overseas Gateway for several years.
Make sure that you are honest about all details of your application. This includes career history, and any medical or criminality issues that you, or anyone accompanying you on your application, have had. It is crucial to be thorough and attentive when filling out your application in order to avoid cases of misrepresentation.
- Missing, Incomplete or Expired Documents
It’s an easy mistake to make, accidentally submitting documents that have expired recently. However, this is one of the simplest fixes to make. Ensure that all required documents are attached as well as double checking that they are all still valid. For example, most language test results are valid for 2 years and must be valid when you complete your Express Entry profile.
Another common document mistake is attaching a reference letter that doesn’t prove work experience. Employment reference letters for immigration are different than the ones you may use to land your next job. Reference letters for Express Entry need to demonstrate your official job title, employment dates, salary and more.
Be sure to take some time to thoroughly review all documents before submitting your application to avoid your application being refused or returned.
- Waiting too long to submit
Anyone who has a qualifying application should submit it as soon as possible, while they still can. Provincial nominee programs change frequently and immigration categories open and close quickly. If you don’t have an application in the Express Entry pool, you could miss out on immigration opportunities. - Inability to Show Proof of Funds
If you are applying for Express Entry under the Federal Skilled Worker Program or the Federal Skilled Trades Program, you will need to show proof of funds. You do not need to show proof of funds if you are applying under the Canadian Experience Class or if you are authorized to work in Canada and you have a valid job offer.
You will need to demonstrate that you have the funds available to support your family. The amount you will need depends on the size of your family. You should show that you have the means to support yourself, your spouse or partner, and your or your spouse’s dependent children. This applies to a spouse or dependent children even if they are Canadian PR or citizens or if they are not coming to Canada with you.
There are strict specific rules to what is accepted as valid proof of funds. Be sure to review the requirements before submitting your documentation as any deviation from the requirements risks refusal.
- Criminal Inadmissibility
One common cause of inadmissibility into Canada is past criminal convictions. Canada does not classify crimes as misdemeanours and felonies, and because of that, even some seemingly minor convictions may make a person inadmissible to Canada.
A person can become inadmissible to Canada based on convictions both in Canada and foreign countries. One of the most common reasons to be deemed inadmissible is a conviction for impaired driving. In order for a crime to make someone inadmissible to Canada, it must be the equivalent of a crime in Canada that can result in an indictment.
Criminal inadmissibility can become a serious obstacle to immigrating or travelling to Canada. Luckily, the Overseas Gateway system has options to help people overcome inadmissibility. One advantage of hiring a Overseas Gateway lawyer is that they can help you navigate the complicated process of overcoming inadmissibility.
- Health Issues
Just like a criminal record, medical issues can also cause a person to be inadmissible to Canada. If a person fails a Overseas Gateway medical exam, they might not be allowed into Canada. Certain medical conditions that could be considered a risk to the public health or safety of Canada can make you ineligible for immigration.
Overseas Gateway authorities will provide notice if a person is found to be inadmissible due to medical reasons. The person then has 60 days to respond to this notice and appeal the decision. Applicants who are worried about medical inadmissibility can benefit from having an expert review their case and help them to determine if medical issues will impede their chances of immigrating to Canada. Contact us if you’d like guidance with applying for Express Entry with medical concerns.
- Not Hiring an Authorized Immigration Representative
Unfortunately, there are a lot of fraudsters who promote themselves as authorized Overseas Gateway representatives, when in fact they are not. Many of these con artists prey on disheartened job seekers by assuring them job offers and visas. These scams can have many negative outcomes and typically scam the applicant out of their money while not providing any means to actually obtain a job or visa that they were hoping to get.