Glossary

Accompanying Dependent: The applicant's spouse and any child of the applicant or spouse. Dependent children and normally less than 19 years of age.

Approved Education Institution: A university, college or other educational institutions that operates according to the educational standards or practices of the province in which it operates.

Canadian Citizen: A Canadian Citizen is: (a) someone born in Canada; (b) someone born outside of Canada to a parent who is a Canadian citizen; or (c) someone who has applied for citizenship, met the legal requirements, and has been granted Canadian citizenship

Entry: entry means being allowed to come into Canada as a visitor

Full-time Student: This is defined by an approved educational institution or is a person whose course of study is at least six months in duration and involve at least twenty-four hours of instruction per week

General Interest Courses: Terms which describe courses that are characterized by the absence of a formal curriculum, a formal examination and an official credit towards a degree or diploma. Such courses may be offered by local school boards or as "hobby courses" or "life skills" and can vary from flower arranging to arts and crafts.

Humanitarian and Compassionate Application: In general, someone wishing to immigrate to Canada must apply for and receive an immigrant visa before coming to Canada. The law does allow people already in Canada to apply for permanent residence, but most applications are turned down unless Immigration is satisfied that there are humanitarian or compassionate reasons for processing the application. For example, a visitor who marries a permanent resident or Canadian citizen may be allowed to stay if the marriage is considered genuine.

Immigrant: Immigrants come to Canada intending to make their home in Canada and to live here permanently. They become "permanent residents" ("landed immigrants") if they are granted landing in Canada.

Landed Immigrant: Immigrant or convention refugee who has received "a record of landing" after applying to live in Canada permanently. Landed immigrants have permanent resident status and can eventually apply to become a Canadian citizen.

Permanent Resident: A permanent resident has been granted "landing," the right to live permanently in Canada

Refugee Claimant: A refugee claimant is someone who makes a claim to be a convention refugee. A convention refugee is a person with a well-founded fear of persecution in their home country because of race, religion, political opinion, nationality, or membership in a particular social group. Canada's Women at Risk Program (AWR) is for refugee women who are vulnerable and need protection, but who often do no have family or friends for support. Visitor women may make a refugee claim; if so, they hold both visitor and refugee claimant status as long as their visitor's visa is valid.

Social Assistance: Also called welfare, income assistance, or financial assistance benefits. The money you get from the Ministry for food, shelter, clothing and basic needs, when you are unable to support yourself.

Sponsor: A sponsor must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who is at least 19 years of age and living in Canada. He or she must meet immigration requirements to sign an Undertaking of Assistance to provide for someone who plans to immigrate to Canada. An Undertaking of Assistance is a statement signed by Canadian citizens or permanent residents who want to help a relative or relatives immigrate to Canada. By signing this statement, they agree to provide their relatives with financial help in Canada. This statement is only requested when the person in Canada sponsors his or her relatives as a member of their family.

Sponsorship Breakdown: Sponsorship breakdown is when your sponsor cannot or will not provide some or all of your basic needs, such as food, housing, clothing or medical care, and you are unable to support yourself and/or your dependents. Some examples of sponsorship breakdown are when your sponsor allows you to stay in his or her home, but does not pay for your food, clothing or medical needs; has a serious disagreement with you and says you must leave the house; divorces or separates from you and no longer wants you in the house; makes unreasonable demands, such as forcing you to work for no money; or hurts you, or forces you to have sex.

Student Authorization: A student authorization allows a non-resident to register for a course of study in Canada. Normally, students have to get this authorization before coming to Canada.

Visitor: A visitor is someone in Canada temporarily and for a specific reason. Visitors include tourists, students, and temporary workers. They must hold a valid visitor's visa.

Visa: A document or stamps on a document, usually a passport, issued by a visa officer. It is an official way of showing that the person has met the requirements for admission to Canada as a visitor. There are two main types:
+ Immigrant Visa: These are issued to people coming to Canada to become permanent residents
+ Visitor's Visa: Visitor's visas are issued to people coming to Canada for limited and specific reasons

Welfare: Also called social assistance, income assistance, or financial assistance benefits. The money you get from the Ministry for food, shelter, clothing and basic needs, when you are unable to support yourself.