Business applications at London CHC
 

Is there a special section at the London CHC for dealing with entrepreneur and investor class applications?

It would seem that the category is specialised and hence would need consular officials who are specially trained to understand business and understand the visa requirements.

Or are all the applications pooled and the officials just pick up what they pick up?

How does the process work? :confused:

Thanks guys

Re: Business applications at London CHC
 

Hi Ben

Usually apportioned out in most visa offices.

PMM

Re: Business applications at London CHC
 

so how come it takes some people 6 months, some 12 months and some 18 months+ to get through the system on the business category?

Luck or what?

Re: Business applications at London CHC
 

Hi Ben

I doubt muchly if Business class makes it in 6 months, see:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/departm...-business.html for the average processing times. Business class is not a priority. The preparation of the application usually should be done by a professional that leaves no question unanswered and proves beyond a doubt the skills and previous experience of the applicant, if not the applicant goes into "interview hell", where the wait can be forever.

PMM

Re: Business applications at London CHC
 

Each case is unique and is being processed at it's own pace, so comparing processing times leads only to despair.

And I totally agree with PMM - preparation, preparation and once again preparation are 3 key words when it comes to differences in processing time for applications in the same visa post submitted in the same class. Well prepared application may be processed anywhere between several months to couple years or so faster than poorly prepared one.

If you read reports from many posters here you can see differences in visa posts - for example many Buffalo applicants in skilled workers class who submitted their applications in February or March 2004 already reported receipt of interview waiver, while at the same time a number of applicants who submitted their cases in 2002 are still waiting for interview. Same with London - there are this year cases already assessed and there are early 2003 cases still waiting for assessment and/or interview.

As for Business class - in the past interview was required for all business applicants and it was rare to get interview waiver. Now rules clearly allow for interview waiver in business class, but only in perfectly prepared cases where nothing is left to doubts and questions, where all matters that may raise questions are fully addressed and conclusively documented in the application package. Many officers still are very reluctant (or let's say careful) in granting interview waiver in business class - thus making sure that package is perfect is the key.

And again I totally agree with PMM - business applicants shouldn't apply on their own. If they financially qualify for business class then they can afford hiring authorized immigration practitioner. And being in business they should know that time means money - long delays and possible refusals will cost them several times more than fee they would have to pay to the expert.

Re: Business applications at London CHC
 

You see this is what I don't understand. The people I know who got through in six months prepared their own case.

Yet many people I know using professionals seem to take much longer, yet there is no discernable difference in the presentation of information.

I used a professional by the way.

Re: Business applications at London CHC
 

Yes, some at certain period may have been lucky and been approved in 6 months, but it is more than rare - I would ask to verify and prove their stories if I were you.

Re: Business applications at London CHC
 

Probably most business applicants use professional help.Having had a "qualified business" for more than 5 years implies that most of those applicants had to have help of an accountant and needed a good bank relationship. So, what more could one do than bring in the help of those professionals to profe that one qualified in all criteria that are asked for.
The other alternative is to have an audit by an internationally recognised accountant firm and I don't think lot of businesses do that , not even the big ones.

Re: Business applications at London CHC
 

I'm sorry but you seem confused. Accontants have no idea about immigration process and can't help in such - they only can (and must be asked for) provide properly prepared financial statements.

Proving qualified business experience doesn't guarantee anything - qualified business experience and net worth are regulatory requirements necessary to be met in order for application to pass paper screening only and to be put into queue for further processing. There is much more to business class application than proving meeting regulatory requirements (pre-requisites).

Unfortunately many believe that it is all what needs to be done ... :mad: