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5/31/2022 Topic: IMPROPER EVALUATION BY WES Moderator	Hello There, Thank you for sharing your situation and question with us. We appreciate that you would be interested in this type of information. We understand that the outcome of your report may cause concern. It is best that you contact WES directly for information specific to your case. Be prepared with your WES reference number and call the (+1) 800-361-6106 or use their contact form. For information about contacting WES, you may find the Settlement.Org discussion thread Problem With My WES Evaluation Report useful. Here is an excerpt: Submitting Application for Evaluations If you still have questions about the WES evaluation application submission, submit your questions at www.wes.or/ca/contact https://www.wes.org/ca/contact-us/ The fees are based on the two types of evaluations WES provides: basic Document-by-Document and detailed Course-by-Course. For the distinction between the two reports, visit WES website http://www.wes.org/ca/fees/evaltypes.asp https://www.wes.org/ca/evaluations-and-fees/other/ ICAP service, which stores your verified academic transcripts, and send them to institutions at your request, costs an additional fee per application. Submission of incomplete or incorrect documentation is the main reason your evaluation report might be delayed; we urge you to review Required Documents for your country of education (http://www.wes.org/ca/required/index.asp) and submit all the required documents. For more information, visit Settlement.Org for articles on credential evaluation. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to post them here. We hope this information is helpful. Please let us know if you have further questions and if there is any follow up to your question/situation. Sincerely, Your Settlement.Org Team
5/31/2022 Topic: WES evaluation report Moderator	Hello There, Thank you for sharing your situation and question with us. We appreciate that you would be interested in this type of information. It is best that you follow the steps above and contact WES directly for information specific to your case. Be prepared with your WES reference number and call the (+1) 800-361-6106 or use their contact form. Their customer service team should be able to help update your case file, please let us know if you have further questions and if there is any follow up to your question/situation. We hope this information is helpful! Sincerely, Your Settlement.Org Team
5/31/2022 Topic: WES evaluation report Moderator	Hello There, Thank you for sharing your situation and question with us. We appreciate that you would be interested in this type of information. It is best that you follow the steps above and contact WES directly for information specific to your case. Be prepared with your WES reference number and call the (+1) 800-361-6106 or use their contact form. Their customer service team should be able to help update your case file, please let us know if you have further questions and if there is any follow up to your question/situation. We hope this information is helpful! Sincerely, Your Settlement.Org Team
5/31/2022 Topic: last month rent reimbursment Moderator	Hi there, Thank you for reaching out to us about this situation, we appreciate your interest in this information. It is best that you contact a community legal clinic for some advice regarding your situation. You may also wish to call the Landlord and Tenant Board at 1-888-332-3234 or 416-645-8080 (in the GTA) for information specific to your situation. The landlord and tenant board resolves disputes between residential landlords and tenants. It may also help to connect with a community resource navigator at 211 to narrow your search. 211 Ontario is a free, confidential service. Their phone service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Here is a link to their live chat if you prefer to communicate online. Their live chat service is available Monday to Friday from 7am-9pm ET. We hope this information is helpful. Sincerely, Your Settlement.Org team
5/31/2022 Topic: Online Citizenship Application Asked to Resubmit Moderator	Hi there, Thank you for sharing your question and situation with us. If the error prompt is asking you to submit the application with the eligibility end date, and you have done so, you may want to contact IRCC directly for support with your application. You can contact them here: 1-888-242-2100 (In Canada Only) Or by webform: https://www.cic.gc.ca/english/contacts/web-form.asp We hope that other users will be able to share their experiences with you in the meantime. We hope this information is helpful. If you have any follow-up questions, please feel free to post them to the discussion forum here. Sincerely, Your Settlement.Org team
5/31/2022 Topic: Issue about PR extension after stay outside for 3 Moderator	Hi there, Thank you for sharing your question and situation with us. It is best that you seek the advice of a reputable and registered immigration consultant or an immigration lawyer familiar with immigration law for advice regarding your situation. IRCC may take humanitarian and compassionate reasons into consideration for your extended stay outside Canada if you are not able to meet your residency requirements. However, this is up to IRCC and it would be best for you to contact the local visa office or IRCC via web form to get more details about their specific application and what kind of supporting documents you may require. Based on the dates between your planned return and your PR card expiration, it sounds like you might still meet your residency obligation to be physically present in Canada for at least 730 days (2 years) in every 5-year period. The 5-year period is assessed on a rolling basis. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will look back at your time in Canada over the previous 5 years. You may also find helpful information on this matter in the previous discussion forum thread, When does the 5-year period begin? Still, it is best that you seek the advice a reputable and registered immigration consultant or an immigration lawyer for information specific to your situation. We hope this information is helpful. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to post them here. Sincerely, Your Settlement.Org Team
6/8/2022 Topic: Spousal sponsor application from outside Canada Moderator	Hi there, Thank you for sharing your question and situation with us. You may want to speak to a reputable and registered immigration consultant or an immigration lawyer who is familiar with Canadian immigration regarding your situation before starting any application process. You can find information about sponsorship and PR pathways here on Settlement.Org. The article, How do I sponsor a spouse, common-law, or conjugal partner or dependent child while living outside of Canada, might be particularly helpful in your case. You can apply for sponsorship while living abroad as long as you meet the eligibility criteria outlined in the article. There are a number of ways one can prove their intent to live in Canada, things like a property rental agreement, job offer in intended location or proof of looking for employment, will function as proof you intend to live in Canada with your spouse. As a sponsor, you sign an undertaking promising to provide for the basic requirements of the person being sponsored and, if applicable, their dependent children. Follow the checklist here for information about the supporting documents you will need to accompany your application. I hope this information is helpful. Sincerely, Your Settlement.Org team
6/8/2022 Topic: Am I eligible for free ESL classes? Moderator	Hi there, Thank you for reaching out and sharing your question with us, I highly suggest that you reach out and dial 211 on a phone for free and speak to an information and referral specialist for a referral to free or low cost ESL services in your area as a visitor to Ontario. Different schools have different eligibility criteria, it is possible that you will find one that serves people in your situation for free. 211 is a free, confidential service that is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You may be able to find some helpful information in our Settlement.Org article here, Where can I take ESL classes? We hope this information is helpful. Please reach out to us if you have any further questions. Sincerely, Your Settlement.Org team
6/20/2022 Topic: Landing in Canada Moderator	Hi there, Thank you for sharing your question and situation with us. You may choose to book a flight ticket to Montreal and take a connecting flight to Toronto. If a customs officer at the airport has questions about your intentions to honour the commitment you made to live in Ontario as a provincial nominee, you may want to bring documentation that supports you have plans to reside in Ontario. Documentation about your connecting flight, where you intend to live, where you have been applying for jobs, etc. may help you in making this clear. We hope that this general information is helpful and we recommend that you seek legal help from a lawyer or a licensed consultant familiar with Canadian immigration to obtain assistance about your particular circumstances. Please let us know if you have further questions. Sincerely, Your Settlement.Org team
6/20/2022 Topic: Enrolling 5.5 year old in school or kindergarten? Moderator	Hello There, Thank you for sharing your situation and question with us. Children aged 4-5 years old are typically enrolled in Kindergarten. If your child is turning 6 this year, he may be enrolled in first grade instead since Ontario does not hold children back for having late birthdays. Which means if he is 5 and a 1/2 years old, and born in December he can enter first grade in September at 5 and 1/2 years old and celebrate his 6th birthday that December in first grade with his classmates. Your second child would also be welcome in a Kindergarten classroom the year he turns 4 as well. You may want to connect with your local school board for information about enrolling your kids in school, and might find the following article helpful: How do I enrol my child in school? You may also find some great resources in The Newcomer's Guide to Elementary School in Ontario. I hope this information is helpful. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to post them here. Sincerely, Your Settlement.Org Team
6/30/2022 Topic: looking for accommodation with a child Moderator	Hello, Bonjour, Добридень, Здравствуйте, Thank you for reaching out to us! If you need housing in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) please contact COSTI’s Housing Services, you can email them at [email protected]. We would recommend that you visit our Information for Ukraine Nationals Coming to Canada article. Information from the Canadian Government can be found on their website, and you can find support in your area with a local settlement agency (including access to English classes, or employment help). If you are looking for help or would like information about services near you, you may want to dial 211 on a phone and speak to an Information and Referral Specialist to see if they can provide some information regarding services and options in your area. For 211 service in languages other than French and English, please call the 211 telephone service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Online chat is available in English and French at https://211ontario.ca/chat/ from Monday to Friday from 7am to 9pm. We hope this information is helpful. Sincerely, Your Settlement.Org Team
6/30/2022 Topic: Dorm for School students Moderator	Hi there, You may want to speak with your school's Student Services office about dorm availability on campus. If you are a school-aged student (6-18) various private schools in Ontario offer room and board, public schools in Ontario do not typically have dormitories. If you are a college or university student, you'll be able to find general contact information about dorms and student services on their website. You could also reach out to the nearest Housing Help centre for some assistance with finding housing that is suitable for you. We hope this information is helpful. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to post them here. Sincerely, Your Settlement.Org Team
6/30/2022 Topic: housing Moderator	Hello There, Thank you for sharing your situation and question with us. It may be best that you connect with housing assistance services near you. Community agencies that provide housing assistance services will be able to support you in finding suitable accommodation for the short-term and long-term. It may also help to connect with a community resource navigator at 211 to narrow your search. 211 Ontario is a free, confidential service. Their phone service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Here is a link to their live chat if you prefer to communicate online. Their live chat service is available Monday to Friday from 7am-9pm ET. You may also find helpful information on housing in the Settlement.Org articles, How can I look for rental housing? and How can I apply for subsidized housing?. Settlement.Org also has a Financial Assistance section, where you can find information on various government programs and financial supports you may be eligible for. Specifically, the articles What financial assistance is available for seniors? and What help can seniors get to continue living at home? may be of relevance. A number of settlement services are providing intake appointments online and over the phone to support clients remotely. You may want to connect with a settlement agency that provides employment services using our Services Near Me section or contact 211 again. Settlement agencies can also help you find financial assistance options. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to post them here. We hope this information is helpful. Sincerely, Settlement.Org Team
6/30/2022 Topic: Initial PR Card query Moderator	Hi there, Thank you for sharing your question and situation with us. It may be best to contact the IRCC Call Centre or use their web form about pre-emptively correcting the same mistake on your wife's form. For reference IRCC identifies all photo specifications for PR on their website, here is an excerpt: Your photos must be: Taken by a commercial photographer. 50 mm wide X 70 mm high (2 inches wide x 2- 3/4 inches long) and sized so the height of the face measures between 31 mm (1- 1/4 inches) and 36 mm (1- 7/16 inches) from chin to crown of head (natural top of head). Clear, sharp and in focus. Taken with a neutral facial expression (eyes open and clearly visible, mouth closed, no smiling). Taken with uniform lighting and not show shadows, glare or flash reflections. Taken straight on, with face and shoulders centred and squared to the camera (i.e. the photographs must show the full front view of the person’s head and shoulders, showing full face centred in the middle of the photograph). Taken in front of a plain white background with a clear difference between your face and the background. Photos must reflect/represent natural skin tones. Original photos that are not altered in any way or taken from an existing photo.What is an altered photo? Reflect your current appearance (taken within the last six months) Professionally printed on plain, high quality photographic paper (photos printed at home and photos printed on heavy weight paper are not acceptable) The back of one photo must include: the subject’s name and date of birth the name and complete address of the photography studio the date the photograph was taken The photographer may use a stamp or handwrite this information. Stick-on labels are unacceptable. It is important that you read the instruction guide to find out where to submit your application or additional documents. You can find the mailing information here on their website. It would appear that the PO Box number and Postal Code differs from what is stated above. I hope this information is helpful, please reach out to us if you have any further questions. Sincerely, Your Settlement.Org team
6/30/2022 Topic: PR card renewal 110+ days Moderator	Hi there, Thank you for sharing your question and situation with us. Without a valid PR Card, if you need to urgently travel, you can apply for a Permanent Resident Travel Document to return to Canada. Usually, a Travel Document can only be used once. You may want to read more about travelling without a PR card in this Settlement.Org article, I need to leave Canada but do not have my PR card yet. What should I do? and the responses on the discussion forum thread, PR card renewal on hold. Here is an excerpt: The only official documents that permanent residents of Canada can use to travel back to Canada on a commercial carrier (by air, land or sea) are the PR card or a Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD), also known as a Travel Document (Permanent Resident Abroad) issued by a Canadian visa office abroad. If you are entering Canada in a private vehicle, such as your own car, and you do not present your PR card, you may be able to show other immigration documents. If you are outside of Canada or plan to leave Canada and have immigration questions, you may want to contact the IRCC Call Centre or use their web form for advice and to confirm this information. You may also want to contact a Lawyer or a reputable, registered Immigration Consultant for some advice and assistance with this process. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to post them here. We hope this information is helpful. Sincerely, Your Settlement.Org Team