Beginners Guide To The Selection Interview Questions

You’ve submitted your application to immigrate to Canada and then you get a call to appear for a selection interview. But what do they ask you at these interviews? Well to help you prepare we’ve put together a list of possible questions you could face at the immigration interview.

A few things to note before you head for the interview:

• Dress appropriately. Treat this like a very important job interview. No jeans, no casual clothes. Dress formal, or at the very least, dress smart.
• Be on time. Head out early, you never know if traffic is snarled up ahead. The last thing you want is to make a poor first impression by being late.
• Go prepared. Rehearse answers to all potential questions you could face. You will be asked to bring along certain documents with you – carry all these as well as any other papers you think might be relevant. Organize them in a way that they are easy to find. Brush up on basic Canadian facts (name of the Prime Minister, major Canadian provinces and cities etc).

Expect the interview to last anywhere between 15 minutes to an hour. The immigration officer will go through your file and ask for supporting documentation or elaboration on information you have provided. Listen to the questions carefully, and answer honestly and to the point. Get caught out in the smallest lie and you risk your application being rejected right away.

The questions will cover a wide range of topics, from the reasons you want to immigrate, to what you would do if you can’t find a job in Canada. Of course, there is no guarantee that you will only be asked questions from this list – every case is different, and you should expect at least a couple of questions that are very specific to your application for immigration. However these questions have been collated from various sources and people who have been through the process.

To make things easier we’ve divided the questions into categories.

Category 1: About You and Your Family

• Tell us a little about yourself.
• Where do you live?
• Do you own a house, or do you rent?
• (If you have children under 18) Where are your children now? Are they alone at home? (Note: In Canada, it is illegal to leave children under 12 unattended).
• Do your parents live in the same home?
• Do you plan to bring them to Canada if your application is approved?
• If not, who will look after them if you move to Canada?
• What’s your current status – single/married/engaged?
• How long have you been married? OR When do you plan to marry?
• Have you been previously married?
• Do you have other children not listed in this application?
• How would you rate your English language skills? How about French? (Note: Expect to be tested on this if you claim some degree of skills).
• How well do your spouse and children speak English/French?
• Have you ever been in trouble with the law? Were you ever reported/charged/arrested for any crime?
• Do your spouse and children support your plan to move to Canada?
• Do you have family in Canada?
• What would you do if your immigration application is rejected?

Category 2: Job and Qualifications

• Where are you working now?
• What is your title?
• What does your job involve?
• Is this a full time or part time job?
• How long have you worked at this company?
• Have you had the same position since you started?
• What jobs have you had prior to this?
• Can you provide references?
• Tell us about your educational background.
• What qualifications do you have for your present job?
• Were you trained before taking on this role?
• How many people work in your department/company? How many work under you?
• Who do you report to in the company? Could you give us their contact information?
• What are your currently working on?
• Would you say you are doing well in this company?
• Why would you want to quit this job and head for an uncertain future in Canada?
• Do you think you will easily find a similar job in Canada?
• Do you think your qualifications are sufficient to help you find a job?
• Do you plan to study further in Canada?
• Have you had your qualifications assessed in Canada?

Category 3: Financial Position

• How much money do you earn at your present job?
• Do you have any other sources of income? How much do you earn from those?
• How much money do you have in the banks?
• Can you provide bank statements for the last 1/2/3 years?
• What other assets do you have? Property? Stocks and bonds? Gold?
• What are your assets worth, approximately, at today’s market rates? Do you have an assessment report?
• If your immigration application were to be approved, would you sell your assets before moving to Canada?

Category 4: What You Know About Canada

• How much do you know about Canada?
• What exactly have you heard about Canada?
• Who is Canada’s Prime Minister?
• What is the capital of Canada?
• Can you name some Canadian cities?
• How many Canadian provinces can you name?
• What is the name of the premier of the province where you plan to settle?

Category 4: Immigrating to Canada

• Why do you want to leave your country?
• Are you prepared for the challenges that come with a move to a new country?
• Why did you choose Canada? Why not Australia, New Zealand, the US or Britain?
• What do you expect Canada to be like?
• Which city in Canada do you want to go to? Why did you decide on that city?
• Do you have family/friends in Canada? If so, where do they live?
• (If your intended destination is different from the one you have family in) Why did you choose City X rather than City Y if that’s where you have family?
• Will you change your mind and settle in City Y if your application is approved?
• Will your relatives/friends assist you after you move to Canada?
• How do you plan to connect with your relatives/friends in you live in different cities?
• How will you support yourself and your family before you get a job?
• How much money do you plan to take with you to Canada?
• How long do you think your funds will last you if you haven’t found a job?
• Have you found out about the cost of living in your intended destination?
• Explain how you plan to find a job in Canada.
• Will you be using the Internet for your job search?
• What other means would you use to find a job?
• There are so many job-seekers in Canada who are familiar with current industry practices. Why do you believe you can get the job ahead of them?
• Have you been in touch with prospective employers in Canada with regard to your job search?
• Do you know of any associations or licensing bodies related to your profession in Canada?
• Have you attempted to contact them? If yes, what did they say?
• What would you do if you cannot find a job in your field?
• Would you seek government unemployment benefits while you are unemployed?
• Would you return to your home country if you can’t find a job?
• Where do you see yourself five or 10 years from now?