Interview Preparation
Interviews are generally used to address a specific concern of an officer, but they also be subject to random audits for system integrity purposes and training.
While an interview with an immigration officer is increasingly rare (officers prefer to reject/deny an application outright than bother inviting an applicant for an hour interview), they are certainly comprehensive.
The interview experience can also be intimidating as there’s no impartial judge during an immigration interview. In most cases, an officer won’t allow the presence of an immigration practitioner (although he may allow it if the practitioner promises to keep quiet!).
Similarly, the standard of proof during an interview session is infinitely less than the judicial standard of “without a reasonable doubt”. An officer can deny an application on the mere basis of “balance of probabilities”.
When a notice for an interview is sent to an applicant, it is critical that we be very prepared for the session. It is the firm’s practice to include a very detailed Q&A session addressing the specific area of concern of the officer, backed with relevant and pertinent supporting and supplemental documentation. If the applicant has submitted his visa without any legal advice or representation, our firm will be happy to review the entire packet to obtain the required background to address the specific concerns of the interview.
Deliverables as it pertains to Interview Preparation:
- Review (or re-review) of all prior government submissions to assess what the area of concern is on the part of CIC and to seek clarification on the reasons for the interview if none are apparent in reviewing the case file
- Obtaining of relevant supporting documentation to support or supplement the interview session (to hopefully clear any concerns expressed by the officer)
- Detailed Q&A session on a one-to-one basis
- Post interview follow-up such as obtaining additional documents per CIC instructions as applicable
- Representation before CIC on behalf of the Client at all times prior and after the interview. It is the officer’s discretion in allowing a practitioner attend the interview
