Many Russian-speaking applicants come to an immigration consultation with a difficult mix of documents, timelines, translations and urgent questions. A consultation is much more useful when the facts are organized before the meeting. The goal is to understand the person’s current status, immigration history, family situation and realistic options.
Prepare the basic timeline
Write down when you entered Canada, what status you received, when that status expires, whether you applied for extensions, and whether you had any refusals. If you are outside Canada, prepare a similar timeline of previous visas, travel, refusals and family ties.
Prepare documents and translations
Common documents include passports, permits, refusal letters, marriage or divorce documents, birth certificates, education records, language test results and employment records. Documents not in English or French may need proper translation depending on the application type.
Ask the right questions
- What options are realistic based on my current status?
- What documents are missing before I can apply?
- Do prior refusals or status problems create risk?
- Should I focus on temporary status, family sponsorship, Express Entry, OINP or another pathway?
Abigail Sela, RCIC-IRB R731332, works with clients in English, Russian and Hebrew. For many clients, explaining the full story in a familiar language makes the first consultation clearer and more useful.