A Glossary of Common Immigration Terms

Read the following definitions carefully.

Accompanying dependent: A spouse or a dependent child of the principal applicant who intends to obtain permanent resident status in Canada. Accompanying dependents can travel separately from the principal applicant but must not arrive in Canada before the principal applicant.

Background check: Checks conducted by Immigration Canada in all countries in which you and your dependents have lived, to determine if you have any arrests or convictions or are a security risk to Canada.

Business immigrant: A person who meets Canada's selection criteria as an investor, entrepreneur, or self-employed applicant, and is accepted to immigrate to Canada.

Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ): A document issued by the Ministère des Relations avec les citoyens et de l'Immigration (MRCI), indicating that an immigration candidate has been accepted to live in the province of Québec upon arrival in Canada.

Cost Recovery (CR) fees: Processing fees established to enable Immigration Canada to recover a portion of the cost of processing an application. A refund cannot be issued should the application be refused, as the fees apply to the processing of an application and not the issuance of a visa.

Dependent: A spouse or a dependent child of the principal applicant.

Dependent children: Daughter(s) and/or son(s), including a child adopted before the age of 22, who:

• are under the age of 22 and unmarried; or
• have been continuously enrolled and in attendance as full-time students in an educational institution and financially supported by their parents since turning 22 (or from the date of marriage if married before the age of 22); or
• are unable to support themselves due to a medical condition and are financially supported by their parents. (Note: Some disabilities may result in refusal for medical reasons.)

Non-accompanying dependent: A spouse or dependent child of the principal applicant who does not intend to immigrate to Canada.

Permanent resident: A person lawfully in Canada as an immigrant who is not yet eligible for, or has not yet been granted, Canadian citizenship.

Right of Landing Fee (ROLF): A fee paid to obtain permanent residence in Canada. The fee is partial compensation for the many benefits and privileges that permanent resident status confers. It is to be paid by any person 19 years of age or over who is granted permanent residence in Canada.

Spouse: A person of the opposite sex to whom the applicant is legally married. The applicant must be 16 years of age or over.

Visa office: A Canadian immigration office outside Canada, located at a Canadian Embassy, High Commission, or Consulate.