Frequently Asked Canada Immigration Selection Interview Questions (FAQ)

Selection Interview

5.1  What is a Selection Interview?

An interview is scheduled by an immigration officer to ensure that an applicant has favorable personal qualities such as motivation, initiative, resourcefulness; that the information in an application is accurate; to confirm that an applicant possesses the necessary assets to settle successfully in Canada; to verify that an applicants intents to establish permanently in Canada; to understand what is the motivation behind the application. 

Usually there will be only one immigration officer. Some officers are quite friendly, but others are overbearing. In no case should you lose your temper. It is important to present yourself in professional and calm manner. This is necessary, because an immigration officer very often has discretion to make his/her decision based on his/her opinion. 

Under the Business Class (Entrepreneur and Investor), applicants are interviewed to ensure conformance with the statutory definitions and to review the general parameters of the business proposal in Canada. Applicants are advised to bring to the interview all original documentation supporting the application, certificates of non criminal conviction, evidence of settlement funds.

5.2  Must other members of my family attend a Selection Interview?

Your spouse and dependent children aged 18 or over may be asked to accompany you to the interview. 

5.3  What is an Interview Waiver?

An applicant who meets one of the following criteria would not normally be interviewed:

• if the information provided on the application and accompanying documents clearly shows that an applicant will accumulate sufficient points of assessment to meet the mark for their particular immigration group;

• if an applicant fails to accumulate sufficient points of assessment and have no chance of accumulating sufficient additional points during an interview.

The likelihood of an interview waiver varies from one visa post to another and is highly discretionary matter, which based on qualifications of a particular applicant, the quality of the supporting documents, and overall applicant's credibility.