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How to write the perfect cover letter for Canada

Craft a winning cover letter that will help you land your dream job in Canada.

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How do you write a cover letter for Canada? We’re here to provide tips on how to write a focused Canadian cover letter and supply you with cover letter examples.

Being able to write a cover letter for Canada is a must for all professional job applications and is crucial to finding work in the country, so let’s get started.

Write the perfect cover letter for Canada’s job market

One of the most important things to remember when it comes to creating the perfect cover letter for Canada is that there’s a three-pronged approach to success.

First of all, you need to introduce yourself and the job you are applying for.

Secondly, make it patently clear that your skill set matches that requirements listed in the job description.

Finally, articulate the reasons why you would be an ideal candidate for an interview but don’t be too pushy.

OK, so let’s look at these three points in closer detail.

• Always state your relevant skills and reasons why you are right for the role in question as early as possible in your cover letter for Canada. A cover letter in Canada is not all about you. Ensure you spend at least 30 per cent of the document talking about what you know about the company — recent projects, company values, company news. Make the company feel special and they will be more likely to invite you for an interview.
• Do not simply rehash your resume. Instead you should focus on showing why the skills and experience you have would be a fit for the role in question . It makes sense to address each requirement in turn, doing so shows the hiring manager that you understand the role clearly and could be a great fit for the position.
• Do your research on the company and demonstrate this in your cover letter to ensure you make a good first impression. Don’t take it as a given. Highlight what you know, but don’t be brash about it.
• Don’t forget that you will need two documents — a resume and cover letter — for a successful job application in Canada. Keep your resume brief and then craft a cover letter to provide more nuance to the key skills and attributes that you will bring to the role if hired. In brief, make sure that you “tick all the boxes” that are outlined in the job description.
• Our comprehensive resume guide should help you with the accompanying resume, which is also crucial to landing an interview and ultimately your dream job in Canada.
• Also, we have listed some common interview questions and how to answer them.

Want to write the best Canadian cover letter possible?

A cover letter for canada: always needed.

In some instances — such as if you are lucky enough to be referred by an employee of a company — a cover letter may not be completely necessary. However, it is best to write a Canadian cover letter for each job application as it is a means of demonstrating your understanding of the position and how your skills and experience match the requirements. This is particularly true if you want to land that dream career job.

Take the time to understand the company and elaborate concisely about how you can help them. That’s how to make a strong first impression and write a successful cover letter. Generic cover letters for Canada that state “I have always wanted to work for {insert company name} . . .” don’t cut it, so differentiate yourself by showing the company you are genuinely interested in them.

Don’t forget to download the  Moving2Canada Getting Started Guide today. In this free guide you will find detailed templates for a Canadian-style resume and a Canadian cover letter. The guide will give you exclusive access to our proven cover letter techniques and will help you accelerate your job search in your new home.

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Canada Cover Letter Format And Free Samples (2023)

In Canada, a well-written cover letter can be just as important as a strong resume when it comes to landing your dream job.

While cover letters may seem daunting, they are an essential component of the job application process. A well-crafted cover letter can set you apart from other applicants and demonstrate your professionalism, attention to detail, and passion for the position.

In this article, we’ll provide tips and guidelines to help you create a compelling Canada cover letter that will impress employers and increase your chances of landing an interview.

Canada Cover Letter Font

6. signature, researching the company, proofreading and editing, cover letter sample 3 (fresher), canada cover letter basics.

A cover letter is a document that introduces you to potential employers and highlights your qualifications, skills, and experience. It is your chance to make a great first impression and convince hiring managers that you are the right person for the job.

Canada Cover Letter Format

In Canada, a cover letter should follow a standard format that includes your contact information, the date, and the recipient’s contact information. Begin with your name, address, and contact details, followed by the date and the recipient’s name, and address. Use a clear and organized layout to ensure your cover letter is easily readable.

Canada Cover Letter Length

A Canadian cover letter should be concise and limited to one page in length . This allows you to effectively showcase your qualifications and experiences without overwhelming the reader.

It is crucial to choose a professional-looking font for your cover letter. Common font choices include Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri. Be consistent with your font selection throughout the cover letter to maintain a polished appearance.

When it comes to font size, aim for a balance between readability and space efficiency. A font size of 10 to 12 points is generally considered appropriate in a Canadian cover letter. This ensures the text is large enough to be easily readable, but not too large that it takes up excessive space on the page.

Canada Cover Letter Structure

The structure of a Canadian cover letter typically consists of an introduction, body, and conclusion .

• In the introduction , you should introduce yourself and express your interest in the position.
• In the body , focus on your qualifications, relevant skills, and experiences that make you a valuable candidate for the job.
• Conclude by thanking the reader for their time and consideration.

Canadian cover letters typically begin with a header containing the applicant’s name, job title, city and province, phone number, and email address.

It’s also essential to include the current date . The header should be consistent with the one used in the applicant’s resume for a cohesive presentation.

2. Greeting

In the greeting section, address the hiring manager by their full name and title. If the name is not available, use a generic salutation such as “Dear Hiring Manager” or “To Whom It May Concern.”

Personalization is preferred, so make an effort to find the hiring manager’s name when possible.

The opening paragraph serves as an introduction and an opportunity to grab the hiring manager’s attention. Applicants should briefly mention the job title and company they’re applying to, and express enthusiasm for both the position and the organization.

Including keywords from the job posting and aligning personal skills with the employer’s requirements will make the opening more impactful.

In the body of the cover letter, applicants should elaborate on their relevant skills, experiences, and achievements. It’s necessary to make connections between the job requirements and the applicant’s qualifications.

• When discussing experiences, be specific and focus on accomplishments rather than just listing responsibilities.
• Use bullet points or short paragraphs to present the information in a clear and easy-to-read manner.

The body of the letter should effectively convey the applicant’s background and qualifications while demonstrating a genuine interest in the role and the company.

The closing section is the final opportunity to leave a positive impression on the hiring manager. Here, applicants should reiterate their enthusiasm for the position and summarize their qualifications .

It’s also appropriate to politely request an interview and express gratitude for the manager’s time and consideration. End the closing paragraph with a professional and respectful closing such as “Sincerely” or “Best Regards.”

Lastly, include a signature in the cover letter which may consist of the applicant’s full name and any relevant professional designation or certification.

If the cover letter is being sent electronically, either type the full name or use an electronic/digital signature as a more personal touch.

Customizing Your Cover Letter

Tailoring to the job.

When customizing your cover letter, it is essential to tailor it to the specific job you are applying for. Start by carefully reviewing the job description and noting the key requirements, responsibilities, and qualifications mentioned.

Then, in your cover letter, emphasize how your skills and experiences align with these aspects of the job. In doing so, be sure to use relevant keywords and phrases from the job description to demonstrate your understanding of the role.

Split your text into concise paragraphs that focus on different aspects of the job, such as your relevant experience, technical skills, and soft skills. You may also consider using bullet points to highlight specific achievements that directly relate to the position.

In addition to tailoring your cover letter to the job, you should also research the company and demonstrate how your values and goals align with theirs . This shows that you have taken the time to understand the organization’s culture and objectives and that you would be a good fit for the team.

You can find information about a company’s values and goals on its website or through news articles, press releases, and social media accounts.

Remember, customizing your cover letter for each position you apply to and researching the company can make a significant difference in making a positive first impression on a recruiter or hiring manager. By focusing on these aspects, you demonstrate your attention to detail and genuine interest in the job and company, improving your chances of landing an interview.

Writing Tips for a Canadian Cover Letter

Highlighting achievements.

When crafting a Canadian cover letter, it is essential to focus on the tangible accomplishments in your career. Mention specific achievements  that demonstrate your capabilities and experiences relevant to the job you are applying for.

Include quantifiable results, such as increased sales or improved customer satisfaction, to clearly showcase your successes. Use active verbs and concise language to communicate your achievements in a compelling manner.

Focusing on Skills and Qualifications

Employers want to see that you have the necessary skills and qualifications to succeed in the role. Align your skills with the requirements listed in the job description , and provide examples of how you have applied these skills in previous positions. Include both technical and transferable skills that will make you an asset to the company.

Providing specific examples can help create a strong connection between you and the organization, increasing your chances of being invited for an interview.

In addition, mention any relevant education or certifications that demonstrate your qualifications for the position.

Emphasizing Value

An effective cover letter should articulate the  value  you would bring to the company. Explain how your skills, achievements, and experiences will contribute to their success.

Relate your accomplishments to the goals and objectives of the company, and demonstrate your understanding of their priorities and challenges. By doing this, you will show potential employers that you can make a positive impact on their organization.

As a final step before submitting your cover letter, make sure to proofread and edit your work thoroughly. This includes checking for proper grammar, spelling, and formatting.

Ensure that your cover letter is one page long, left-aligned with single spacing , and has one-inch margins .

Use a professional font, such as Arial or Helvetica, at a size between 10 and 12 points. Double-check your work to eliminate any errors, as these may create a negative impression on potential employers.

With a well-written cover letter, applicants can confidently present themselves as an attractive candidate, ultimately improving their chances of career success.

Canada Cover Letter Examples

Cover letter sample 1.

Here’s a sample cover letter for a job in Canada:

Cover Letter Sample 2

Here’s another sample cover letter for a job in Canada:

Here’s another sample cover letter for a job in Canada, more suitable for freshers:

Writing an effective cover letter is a critical component of a successful job search in Canada. A well-written cover letter can demonstrate your interest in the position, showcase your qualifications and skills, and distinguish you from other applicants.

When writing your cover letter, it is essential to customize it for each position, research the company, and carefully proofread it to avoid any errors.

Remember to keep your cover letter concise, relevant, and professional, and highlight your unique skills and experiences that make you the ideal candidate for the position.

With these tips in mind, you can create a compelling cover letter that will capture the attention of potential employers and help you stand out in a competitive job market. Good luck with your job search!

Related Articles

• How To Create ATS Friendly Resume For Canada
• How To Write Work Experience On A Canadian Resume
• Guide To Canadian Resume Format
• How To Tailor Your Canadian Resume To Job Description
• How To Write A Summary Statement For A Canadian Resume

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Written Samples

10 sample cover letters for a canada visitor visa.

Applying for a visitor visa to Canada involves a meticulous process where applicants must convincingly demonstrate their intentions, financial stability, and reasons for returning to their home country after their visit.

A well-crafted cover letter accompanying the visa application can significantly enhance the chances of approval. It provides a platform to explain the purpose of the visit, detail the applicant’s ties to their home country, and present a clear, coherent narrative to the visa officers.

Canada Visitor Visa Sample Cover Letters

The following samples offer varied scenarios and are designed to cater to different profiles of applicants.

Each sample cover letter is structured to highlight key aspects that are essential in a Canadian visitor visa application: the purpose of the visit, duration, accommodation plans, financial means, and strong ties to the home country.

Sample 1: Family Visit

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to apply for a Canadian visitor visa to visit my sister and her family in Toronto, Ontario. My sister, [Sister’s Name], a permanent resident of Canada, has extended an invitation for me to spend time with her family and explore the cultural diversity of Canada.

I am currently employed as [Your Job Title] at [Company Name] in [Your Country], and I intend to return to my job following a three-week visit. During my stay, I will be residing at my sister’s residence at [Address in Canada].

Enclosed with this letter are my employment verification letter, bank statements, and a copy of my sister’s invitation letter. I assure you of my commitment to abide by all Canadian laws during my stay.

Thank you for considering my application.

Sincerely, [Your Name]

Sample 2: Tourism

I am applying for a Canadian visitor visa to explore the scenic beauty and cultural heritage of Canada. As an avid traveler and a professional photographer, I am particularly interested in capturing Canada’s diverse landscapes and cityscapes.

I plan to visit major tourist destinations including Vancouver, Banff National Park, and Montreal over a period of four weeks. I have made arrangements for my accommodation and have a detailed itinerary, which I have enclosed with this application.

I am self-employed, running a successful photography studio in [Your Country]. I have attached documents confirming my business ownership and financial stability. I have strong familial and professional ties in my home country, ensuring my return post my visit to Canada.

Thank you for considering my visa application.

Sample 3: Attending a Business Conference

I am writing to request a Canadian visitor visa to attend the [Name of Conference] in Ottawa, scheduled from [Start Date] to [End Date]. As [Your Job Title] at [Your Company], attending this conference is a significant opportunity for professional growth and networking.

I have been employed with [Your Company] for [Number of Years] and have enclosed a letter from my employer supporting my visit to Canada. Following the conference, I plan to return to my home country to resume my professional duties.

In Canada, I will be staying at [Hotel Name and Address] for the duration of the conference. Enclosed are my hotel booking confirmation, round-trip flight tickets, and financial documents to support my application.

I look forward to the opportunity to represent my company at this international event.

Sample 4: Medical Treatment

I am applying for a Canadian visitor visa for the purpose of receiving medical treatment at [Hospital/Clinic Name] in [City, Province]. After thorough research and consultations, I have chosen Canada for its advanced medical facilities and expertise in treating [Specific Medical Condition].

Enclosed are letters from my local doctor and the Canadian medical facility outlining the proposed treatment plan and the estimated duration of my stay, which is [Duration of Stay]. I have arranged for sufficient funds to cover all medical and living expenses during my stay.

I am currently [Your Job Title/Status] at [Your Company/Institution] in [Your Country]. I have attached documents verifying my employment status and my intention to return after my treatment.

Sample 5: Visiting Friends

I am applying for a Canadian visitor visa to spend time with my close friends residing in [City, Province]. I have known them for several years, and this visit will be a wonderful opportunity to strengthen our friendship and experience Canadian culture firsthand.

I am employed as [Your Job Title] at [Your Company] in [Your Country] and plan to return to my job after a two-week visit. My employer has granted me leave for this period, as evidenced by the enclosed leave approval letter.

I will be staying with my friends at their residence, the address of which is included in the invitation letter provided by them. I have also enclosed my bank statements and other financial documents to support my application.

I appreciate your consideration of my visa application.

Sample 6: Academic Research

I am writing to apply for a Canadian visitor visa for academic research purposes. As a [Your Position, e.g., Researcher, Scholar] at [Your Institution], I am involved in a project that requires me to conduct field research in Canada.

The research is scheduled for [Duration of Stay] and is in collaboration with [Canadian Institution or Organization]. Enclosed are letters from both my home institution and the Canadian organization, outlining the nature and necessity of my visit.

I have secured funding for my research and stay in Canada, as shown in the attached financial statements and grant approval letters. My ties to my home institution and ongoing research commitments ensure my return after the completion of my research.

Thank you for considering my application for a visitor visa.

Sample 7: Participating in a Cultural Event

I am honored to have been invited to participate in [Name of Event] in [City, Province], Canada, as a representative of [Your Country’s Name] culture. This event is a significant platform for cultural exchange and will be held from [Start Date] to [End Date].

As a [Your Profession or Title related to the Event], I am enthusiastic about showcasing our cultural heritage on this international stage. I am currently employed with [Your Company/Organization] in [Your Country], and they fully support my participation in this event, as evidenced by the enclosed letter from my employer.

My travel and accommodation arrangements have been made, and I have enclosed all relevant booking confirmations. I assure you of my commitment to return to my country following the conclusion of the event.

I respectfully request your consideration for a visitor visa to Canada for this purpose.

Sample 8: Exploring Educational Opportunities

I am applying for a Canadian visitor visa to explore educational opportunities for my higher studies. I intend to visit several universities in Canada to meet with admissions representatives and tour the campuses.

As a recent graduate from [Your College/University] in [Your Country], this trip is crucial for making an informed decision about my future academic pursuits. I plan to stay in Canada for [Duration of Stay] and have arranged my accommodation accordingly.

Enclosed are my academic certificates, travel itinerary, accommodation bookings, and financial documents. I have strong family ties in [Your Country], and I intend to return post my visit to Canada to commence my higher education.

Sample 9: Attending a Family Celebration

I am delighted to be applying for a Canadian visitor visa to attend a significant family celebration, specifically my niece’s wedding in [City, Province]. This event is a cherished opportunity for our family to come together, and I am looking forward to being a part of this joyous occasion.

I am a [Your Job Title] at [Your Company] in [Your Country], and I have been granted a leave of absence for the duration of my trip, as indicated in the enclosed letter from my employer. My stay in Canada will be for [Duration of Stay], and I will be residing with my brother’s family at [Their Address].

I have enclosed my bank statements and other supporting documents to confirm my financial ability to cover my expenses during my stay. My professional and family commitments in [Your Country] assure my return following the celebration.

Canadian resume and cover letter: Format, tips, and templates

For many newcomers, finding employment quickly after moving to Canada is a high-priority action item. Whether you’re contemplating a career switch or looking to get back in your field of work, the first step is usually the same – to have a resume and a cover letter that you can share with potential employers or networking contacts.    

In this article, we will explore the Canadian-style resume in detail, highlight some key differences between a resume and a curriculum vitae (CV), and help you identify which resume format might be best suited to your career goal. We will also go over some useful tips to craft an ATS-friendly resume to ensure you stand out from the competition and get noticed by employers, hiring managers, and recruiters.

In this article:

• What is the difference between a resume and a CV?

Understanding the types of resume formats used in Canada

Tips for writing a canadian-style resume, what is the difference between a resume and a curriculum vitae (cv).

Often, there are two ways job seekers can showcase their professional experience to an employer: by using a resume or a CV. In Canada, employers prefer a resume. A CV is mainly used only for academic applications such as academic jobs, grants, research fellowships, etc. 

To provide more clarity, here are some key differences between a resume and a CV:

Many countries use a CV instead of a resume, and some have a combination of both. Some regions use both terms interchangeably: for instance, in most European countries as well as New Zealand, the term CV is used to describe an equivalent of a Canadian resume. In Australia and South Africa, “curriculum vitae” and “resume” are synonyms that can be used interchangeably. In South Asia, the terms CV and resume are used interchangeably and refer to an equivalent of a traditional CV.  

In some parts of the world, it’s common to include personal information such as marital status, nationality, personal interests, hobbies, date of birth, address, and a photograph on a CV. In Canada, however, you shouldn’t include these details on your resume as it is not required under the employment law, and it is also not a part of the resume format.

As a job seeker in Canada, there are three types of resume formats you should be familiar with. Each of these formats includes the same basic information in a different layout. 

1. Reverse chronological resume

This type of resume outlines your professional experience in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent position.

When to use a reverse chronological resume?

If you’re an experienced professional with at least some experience in the workforce, have no major employment gaps , and intend to continue working in the same field.

Tip: The reverse chronological resume is the most popular format in the Canadian job market. Most employers and recruiters are used to and prefer a resume in this format.

2. Functional resume

The functional resume focuses on your overall skills and qualifications instead of specific professional experiences. The employment history is still included, but it is usually listed after skills and education. 

When to use a functional resume?

If you’re looking to switch roles and/or industries and start your career in a new field. It may also be ideal for recent college graduates.  

3. Combination or hybrid resume

A combination resume is a mix of the reverse-chronological layout and the functional layout and is ideal for showcasing transferable skills along with professional experience. In this format, work experience is usually outlined in a reverse chronological format, and the skills section includes a summary of qualifications and technical skills (or core competencies). 

When to use a combination or hybrid resume?

It is commonly used by a variety of job seekers ranging from experienced workers to recent graduates to those with limited experience, multiple short-term work stints, or those having significant work gaps. 

Need more guidance on how to write a Canadian-style resume? For a stepwise approach, check out: How to write a resume for the Canadian job market 10 resume mistakes to avoid when applying for jobs in Canada

Download the free Resume and cover letter templates to craft your Canadian resume

Mastering the art of writing a flawless and impactful Canadian-style resume takes practice and patience. Here are a few tips to help you improve your resume-writing skills. 

1. Adapt your resume to each job listing and keep it relevant

Having a generic resume and sharing it with multiple employers for a variety of positions/roles may not yield the best result for you. It is essential to customize your resume to each position that you’re applying for. Tailor your work experience, skills, and any additional information to the role. Include keywords from the job posting and always start your sentence with relevant action verbs like spearheaded, achieved, managed, trained, etc. Craft a compelling summary for your resume. Avoid including very detailed information for each position you have held; you can share relevant details in the interview instead. 

Job interview resources:  How to prepare for a job interview 10 common job interview questions and how to answer them

2. Optimize for Applicant Tracking System (ATS) but write for humans

Many companies use an ATS to pre-screen resumes and then involve recruiters and hiring managers later in the process. You need to keep both in mind when writing your resume. 

What is an ATS?

An ATS is a software that scans resumes to determine if it is a good match for a specific job listing. Parameters such as work experience, skills, and education are usually considered during the ATS screening process. Resumes that match the pre-defined criteria are forwarded to hiring managers or recruiters, while human eyes never see those rejected by the system. Therefore, even though you may be qualified for the position, if your resume isn’t optimized for an ATS, it may end up being rejected. An ATS is widely used by organizations, recruiters, and job placement agencies in Canada. 

How to optimize a resume for ATS

• Use standard formatting and don’t include images, designs, charts, and tables. 
• Use correct headers and include keywords that match the job description and desired core competencies and skills.
• Send your resume as a Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) document. Most ATS systems tend to process Word files better than PDF. 
• Spell out abbreviations at least once on your resume. 
• Include experience, skills, and qualifications relevant to the position.
• Avoid long paragraphs and font size less than size 10. 
• Convert technical terms, grades, and scores to their Canadian equivalents. 

3. Check spelling, grammar, punctuation, and proofread your resume

It’s always a good idea to proofread your resume and check grammar, spelling, punctuation, and sentence formation, especially if English isn’t your first language or mother tongue. There are many free tools that can help you with proofreading: Grammarly as well as the in-built grammar and spelling tool in Microsoft Word, are good starting points. You can also ask a native English speaker to review your resume for language fluency.  

To help you finesse your English language skills and get more tips and advice from an experienced teacher, Karen Thomson, read How to improve your English and adapt to Canadian culture .

4. Quantify your accomplishments

Many job seekers make the mistake of outlining roles and responsibilities instead of achievements. Recruiters and hiring managers prefer seeing quantified accomplishments on resumes. The ‘CAR’ approach is a good way to help you structure individual sentences: 

C = what was the Challenge , A = what Action did you take, and R = what was the Result .

Some examples to consider:

• “Reached eBay Power Seller status within one year by auctioning over 400 items per month, an exceptional accomplishment reached by only 4 per cent of the 29 million eBay sellers at that time.” 
• “Designed and built statistical analysis models on large data sets (e.g. Aster, Teradata) that helped increase online sales (up to 15 per cent per product) and lowered cart-abandonment rate by 23 per cent.” 

5. Include a cover letter

A cover letter is a formal one-page document that accompanies a resume. It is not a rephrased or concise version of your resume, but it is mainly supposed to talk about how you fit the role you’re applying for and why the organization should hire you. The cover letter is also a good way to justify any gaps in your resume or provide any additional info that your resume can’t.

Note that a cover letter doesn’t have to be a separate document but can also be included in the body of an email when applying for a job. Adding a custom, well-written cover letter to your resume can make you stand out from the crowd, thus improving your chances of being approached for an interview. 

Tips for writing an impressive Canadian-style cover letter

• Limit the length to one page.
• Tailor your cover letter to suit each job application.
• Proofread your cover letter; check for grammar, punctuation, and spelling, especially since it serves as a reflection of your communication skills.
• Use a standard font size (10 or 12 points, in a font style such as Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri). Avoid using special effects (bold/underline/italics, different fonts, and colour).
• Weave in information you know about the company, their recent projects, or organizational culture and values.

Looking for more guidance on cover letters? Read How to write an effective cover letter for advice and insights from recruiters.

6. Show off your skills with unpaid or local volunteer work

This is a good way for newcomers to show Canadian experience on their resume. If your volunteer work requires you to use skills that may also be valued in the position that you are applying for, adding the volunteer experience to your resume may work to your advantage.

Tip: Volunteering can help you build your network and earn Canadian experience. To discover the importance of volunteering in Canada, and learn how to find volunteering opportunities, read The benefits of volunteering as a newcomer in Canada .

Things our lawyers want you to know

This article offers general information only and is not intended as legal, financial or other professional advice. A professional advisor should be consulted regarding your specific situation. While information presented is believed to be factual and current, its accuracy is not guaranteed and it should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. All expressions of opinion reflect the judgment of the author(s) as of the date of publication and are subject to change. No endorsement of any third parties or their advice, opinions, information, products or services is expressly given or implied by Royal Bank of Canada or its affiliates.

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How to write a cover letter for a permanent residence application

A cover letter for a permanent residence application is used to address any doubts or concerns that an immigration officer from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada may have regarding your application.

A cover letter, also known as a letter of explanation, may be useful in assisting officials in determining whether or not you are eligible to immigrate through the program of choice since it is your duty to demonstrate that you are qualified to apply under the chosen immigration program.

Table of contents

Sample cover letter, when to add a cover letter.

All Canadian immigration program applications are human-assessed by immigration officers and not machine-scanned. So when you’re writing your letter of explanation, keep in mind that you must persuade the immigration agent that your case is genuine and meets the criteria, but that you are unable to produce the documents to demonstrate this for whatever reason.

The immigration officers who process applications are busy, analyzing a large number of cases every day. Consequently, it is beneficial to maintain a respectful tone throughout the letter and state your intent early on. Try to avoid giving irrelevant information that won’t aid your cause.

Here are some simple rules to follow to write a successful cover letter:

• Should be short, concise and factual
• Keep it to a maximum of 1-2 pages
• You do not need an index for your papers. IRCC system gives you a document checklist

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Your Full name                                                                   

Your Mailing address

Your Telephone

Your Email address

Re: UCI number XXXX-XXX

Dear Visa Officer,

I am applying for Express Entry under the Canadian Experience Class.

I am attaching this letter to provide an explanation on the following:

Explain the situation.

Insert your request here.

Thank you very much for your consideration.

If you have any questions or concerns about your application, it may be in your best interest to include a properly drafted cover letter to increase your chances of being granted PR status.

If any of the following describes you, among other relevant factors, then adding a cover letter may help with processing your application:

• If the proof you submitted to verify settlement funds does not contain all of the required fields and information
• If your application does not contain all of the required fields and information, such as details about the responsibilities you were obliged to perform during your time in that profession
• If you cannot get a police clearance certificate by the time you need to submit your application
• If you can not obtain a birth certificate if you are from a country with an unstable government

When not to add a cover letter

In some cases, a letter of explanation will not be useful and it cannot fix all the gaps in your application or rectify missing information.

Below are some examples of times when a letter of explanation will not aid your case:

• If your application is missing a key document, such as a passport
• If you have not included the results of a medical examination
• If your documents have not been converted into English or French before submitting your application

It is important to remember that a letter of explanation is simply an explanation. The only thing it can do is explain why a certain document wasn’t submitted. You cannot use it to explain when you don’t meet the eligibility requirements that the PR application process entails.

Is a cover letter for a permanent residence application mandatory?

No, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada does not need or request a cover letter with applications. Although not mandatory, a letter of explanation may be beneficial to your application process.

Do I need to combine the cover letter with each document?

A cover letter is not required to be merged with every additional document you submit along with your application. Address all the issues in a single document and submit it as a Letter of Explanation.

Does the cover letter need to be notarized?

Is the cover letter required to be notarized? No, the cover letter does not have to be notarized. It doesn’t have to be self-attested, either.

Why does the cover letter not appear under additional documents?

Have you submitted your documents online and the cover letter or letter of explanation does not appear under additional documents?

This is a technical issue where the Letter of Explanation tab disappears.

To fix this issue, attempt Clearing your browser cache and logging into your online account using the incognito mode.

A cover letter for a permanent residence application can be helpful when trying to explain gaps or missing information from an application. The cover letter should be concise, factual and respectful. If you have any questions or concerns about your application, get in contact .

Nicola Wightman

Nicola Wightman is a regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) under the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC). Her professional immigration consultant number is R706497.

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Canadian Cover Letter Guide

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A Canadian cover letter is a short document written in response to a specific job prospect and addressed directly to the hiring manager or individual in charge of hiring for the position. It should add to the information contained in your resume and resent you to the employer as a candidate.

Cover letters are essential in the hiring process as they provide candidates with the opportunity to introduce themselves, demonstrate their qualifications, and show enthusiasm for a specific role and company.

They serve as a personalized communication tool, allowing candidates to make a positive first impression, tailor their message to the job, and address potential concerns or unique situations.

A well-written cover letter enhances a candidate’s chances of standing out and securing an interview in Canada .

The following are general guidelines only. You must tailor your cover letter to suit your own experiences, and to suit the specific position you are applying for.

Before You Begin

Once you find a specific job posting that you want to apply for, you can begin to work on your application cover letter. Following these steps before you begin will help you write the best cover letter possible.

1. Do Your Research

Before you begin to write your cover letter, learn everything that you can about the company or organization you are applying to. Check out their website and social media pages, research their top competitors, and read recent industry news articles. Learn the name(s) of the individual(s) who will be in charge of hiring for the position you want, as well as the head(s) of the company.

Also, keep in mind the job description and requirements for the role. it allows you to create a cover letter that showcases your qualifications, aligns with the company’s needs, and demonstrates your genuine interest in the position. This, in turn, increases your chances of being noticed and considered for the role.

Doing this research will help you decide what you should include. Do your research for every cover letter you write. It may take some time, but you have a much better chance of being granted an interview if you have tailored your cover letter to the individual who will be reading it.

2. Check for Instructions

Some employers include instructions in their job postings. They might ask you to include specific information or answer certain questions, in your cover letter. Check whether the employer has left any specific instructions for your cover letter. If they have, follow them carefully.

3. Save time by using a Master Template:

Creating a separate cover letter for every job application can be exhausting. Instead, develop a comprehensive cover letter template that highlights your key qualifications, skills, and experiences.

Keep a library of snippets or bullet points highlighting your achievements, skills, and relevant experiences. You can easily insert these into your cover letter as needed. This template can serve as a foundation for various job applications, making the process more efficient.

Formatting Guidelines

There is a standard cover letter format that most Canadian employers will expect you to follow. However, depending on your industry and the specific job posting you are responding to, you may have to change the formatting of your cover letter.

1. Length  Your cover letter should be no more than one page in total.

2. Font  Your font should be consistent throughout your cover letter, and you should choose a professional-looking font. Your font size should be big enough that it is easy to read when your cover letter is printed.

3. Spacing  Your cover letter should be appropriately spaced. The main body should be single-spaced, with sufficient space left between each new paragraph and section.

What to Include

There are seven sections in a cover letter.

1. Your Information  Your name and contact information should be at the top of your cover letter. Include your:

• First and last name
• Current residential address
• Phone number
• Email address

2. Date  Below your information, write the date that you are sending your cover letter.

3. Employer Information  Below the date, include the contact information of the individual, department, or company you are addressing in the cover letter. If you know the name of the individual, include their:

• Position title
• Company or organization name
• Commercial address of the company or organization

If you do not know the name of the individual, include:

• Department in charge of hiring decisions (if known)
• Commercial address of company or organization

4. Greeting  Use a formal greeting to open your letter. If you know the name of the individual making hiring decisions, address them directly with their prefix and full name. If you don’t know the name of the individual, use a formal, generic greeting like ‘To whom it may concern,’.

5. Main Text:  There are three parts to the main text of your cover letter: the introduction, body, and conclusion.

Introduction  In the first paragraph of your cover letter, you should introduce yourself as a candidate . Include your first name and the position you are applying for. You can also include your post-relevant qualification and how you found the job posting. If you have a contact at the company who referred you to the job, you may want to mention him or her by name and department. Your introduction should be no more than two to three sentences.

Body  In the next couple of paragraphs, you want to convince the employer that you are the best candidate for the job position. Tell them why they should invest in you. If you’re not sure what to include, try to answer these questions:

• What projects have you worked on that are relevant to this position? What did you learn from them? Why does this make you a better candidate?
• What responsibilities have you held that are relevant to this position? What did you learn from them? Why does this make you a better candidate?
• What do you intend to do if you are hired? What benefit does the employer get if he or she hires you instead of someone else?

The body of your cover letter should be one or two paragraphs.

Conclusion  The conclusion is the final paragraph in the main text of your cover letter. It is your opportunity to tell the employer how you feel about potentially working for the company, thank them for the opportunity to apply, and invite them to respond to your application. It should be no more than three or four sentences.

6. Signature  There are two parts to your cover letter signature: the closing line and your full name.

• Closing Line  Your cover letter must include an appropriate closing line. This is the line right before your name.
• Full Name  Your full name follows the closing line. It is not necessary to print and physically sign your cover letter since more job applications are done electronically.

Final Revision

Carefully review your cover letters to make sure you have not made any mistakes.

1. Proofread

Check your cover letter for any spelling or grammar mistakes. If possible, have someone else proofread it for you, or come back to it after a night’s sleep. Be sure that you have not made any mistakes in:

• Your name and contact information
• The employer’s name and contact information
• The name of the company or organization you are applying to

2. Check Instructions

Go over any instructions for your cover letter given by the employer and make sure you have followed them carefully.

Make sure that you have the correct date on your cover letter. The date should be the day that you send your cover letter to the potential employer.

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2021-05-14T09:48:55

2021-05-14T09:48:00

Looking to Land That Dream Job in Canada? It starts with a great cover letter. The rest is semantics! Keep reading to find out more.

• Work in Canada

Land That Dream Job in Canada with the Perfect Cover Letter

Your resume is your first impression, that amazing crisp blue shirt that you wear to the interview for your dream job in Canada.

But before you even get the opportunity to impress your prospective employer with your impeccable interview outfit and perfected resume, how do you put your best foot forward, especially if you’re applying for a job from another country?

The short answer is to attach a great cover letter to improve your Canadian resume that will highlight your best attributes and communicate why you are the best person for the job.

It’s safe to say that the art of writing a great cover letter is often lost on most and could quite easily be something that could make or break your chance of getting a chance to show your prospective employer just how amazing you really are. With these top tips on how to write a cover letter, you’ll have employers and recruiters lining up outside your door!

What Makes a Great Cover Letter?

What is a cover letter?

Cover letters are short letters written to help you respond to an employer’s job advertisement and persuade the employer to hire you for the position. Before you start to list every past employer you’ve ever had, do some research and make sure that you have made a note of all the instructions stated in the job advertisement .

Ready to start writing a cover letter that now HR manager could resist?

1. Research

Before writing your cover letter, we suggest doing as much research as you can about the company. Have a look at their social media presence , find out who their top competitors are, and see if you can find any recent news articles . The key here is to personalize your cover letter . No recruiter is going to jump at selecting your application if it's yet another generic resume. Be Bold. Stand out in a sea of resumes, which your recruiter is most likely trying to sift through if you want to get that job and work in Canada.

2. Follow Instructions

There’s nothing more annoying than receiving a job application from an applicant who clearly did not pay attention to instructions nor the qualifying criteria. Be sure to check that you have noted all requirements and specific instructions for your cover letter no matter how small. It shows that you are able to follow instructions should you be hired for your dream job in Canada. You want to make an impression but also show that you are a team player.

Start off with the standard format required for your particular industry, and more specifically for Canadian employers. Make sure that your cover letter:

• Is a maximum of 1 page in length
• Has consistent use of and a professional choice of font
• Has single spacing with breaks between paragraphs.

What to Include in the Perfect Cover Letter?

Your cover letter is made of six different sections.

• Your information
• Employer information

1. Your Information

This will generally be located somewhere near the top of the cover letter and include the following contact information:

• First and last name
• Current residential address
• Phone number
• Email address

Make sure to include the date on your cover letter just below your information.

3. Employer Information

You will need to include information about the person, department, or company that you are sending the cover letter to. If you have the name of the person make sure that you include their:

• Position title
• Company or organization name
• Commercial address of the company or organization

If you don’t know the name of the person, simply include:

• Department in charge of hiring decisions (if known)
• Commercial address of company or organization

4. Greeting

Be sure to use a formal tone of voice when writing the cover letter. This means you will need to use a strong professional greeting. Try to make it personal, if possible , especially if you know the name of the person you are addressing instead of using the “To Whom It May Concern” generic greeting. Remember, you’re trying to make an impression and stand out from the various applicants applying for that same position.

5. Main Text

Your main text is going to be broken up into three main sections:

• Introduction

Your Introduction will be an introduction of yourself as well as some relevant qualifications. This should not be longer than two or three sentences.

Your body paragraphs should try to convince your prospective employer that you are the best person for the job. For example, you can include past projects you have worked on that you had a significant and positive part in. You could also mention some of your key responsibilities and how you plan to contribute to the company should you be hired. This should be no longer than one or two paragraphs long.

The Conclusion is nothing longer than three or four sentences and is a chance for you to tell your prospective boss about how you feel about the opportunity to work with them, as well as thank them for taking the time to review your application. Be sure to kindly ask them to respond to your application. Sometimes a little behavioural psychology never hurts.

6. Signature

This is basically the closing line of your cover letter followed by your full name.

Top Tip: Always proofread your cover letter and proofread it again before sending it along with your application. Spelling mistakes and typos are a no-no when you’re applying for a job in Canada.

What’s the Next Step

Once you’ve interviewed for and land your dream job in Canada, the next step is to decide which program or visa you're going to apply for. Depending on personal factors such as your age, language ability, the nature of the job offer (ie. if it’s seasonal, permanent, or a short term contract), your qualifications, and work experience you may be able to apply for Canadian permanent residency through programs such as the Provincial Nominee Program or those under the Express Entry System. If you are successful you won't need a Canadian work visa or permit to be able to work in Canada.

What if I don’t qualify for permanent residency?

Not to worry, Canada has over 100 visas and programs to choose from. If you are not a citizen or permanent resident you can apply for a Canadian work visa instead.

Start your job search today for a promising future in Canada.

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How to write a Canadian resume

This is not another article telling you to spell-check your resume—but do spell-check your resume. We're going to cover the not-so-obvious tips for getting your foot in the door to your Canadian dream job.

The resume is only one step to finding a job in Canada—and it is not even the first. Before you sit down to type up your professional background, do some research on Canada's job market, and identify the companies that you would like to apply for. The Canadian government website offers some tools that can help you in your job search.

For this article, we are going to focus on optimizing your resume for Canadian employers. Keep in mind, employers will have their own preferences, and there are different best practices for every industry. We hope to give you a general idea of what you can include on a Canadian resume and what is best left out.

Discover if You’re Eligible for Canadian Immigration

5 don'ts of Canadian resume writing

Don't include a photo

Unlike some countries, in Canada it is not necessary to include a photo with your CV — unless you're an actor or a model. In general, the only information you need on your CV is what is relevant to the job posting.

Don't overshare

You do not need to include most personal information on your CV. At this point, the only personal information the employer needs is your name, and how to contact you. They do not need to know your age, what country you are from, your race, your religion, your marital status, or anything about your family. In fact, if asked these questions in an interview it might be illegal under Canada's human rights laws .

Also, your CV is not the place to disclose your Social Insurance Number (SIN). Employers do not need that until you are already hired for the job. Your SIN card is a sensitive document, and you should only share it when it is legally required .

Again, all you need to include in your CV is your relevant skills, experience, and basic contact information like name, phone number, and email. Mailing address is not always necessary, especially if you are searching for a job in a different city. If you want to demonstrate that you are within a commutable distance from the place of employment, then you may want to include it, but most job seekers find it just takes up precious space on the page.

Don't write too much

In terms of length, one page is ideal but having two is fine.

You want the person reviewing your application to see only your best, most relevant, and recent experience. If you are just starting your career and you do not have a lot of experience, you can include items that may be less relevant to the posting.

In general, just keep your resume short and sweet. You want it to be "skimmable." Recruiters should be able to get an idea of your experience without feeling like they have to read a novel.

Don't include references

If your employer wants references they will ask for them. A good practice is to ensure your reference knows that you are naming them and giving out their contact information. Talking to your reference beforehand also helps you determine if this person really is going to give you a glowing review or not.

Don't use an inappropriate email address

Recruiters do pay attention to these details, and they might judge you based on whatever email address you thought was funny in high school. Using an email address that contains your name does not signal any red flags.

5 dos of Canadian resume writing

Do tailor your application to the job posting

It takes longer, but you will often get better results if you tailor each resume to the position you are looking for rather than the "spray and pray" method where you send out a bunch of generic resumes.

Not sure what order you should present your experience? Which skills to include and which to leave out? Are you between word choices?

Look at the job posting. This is your first clue into exactly what the recruiter is looking for, and the language they want to see in your application.

The posting will list the job qualifications and then the nice-to-haves. Include your necessary skills front and centre on the first page of your resume, then put your "assets" after that.

Do quantify your achievements

Try to quantify your achievements with numbers, if you can. For example, if you were a manager, mention how many people you were responsible for overseeing. If you worked in sales, how many products did you sell? How much profit did you ring in every month?

Listing your specific achievements, in numbers that an employer can understand, will highlight your skills better than a generic statement. Saying you have a "good work ethic" means nothing. Demonstrating that you grew traffic to your company's website by 20% over one year, for example, shows a recruiter that you know what you are doing.

Do write in third person

Write in third-person format, so no "I," "me," or "my." Keep your sentences short and clear.

For your work experience, include the name and location of your company, and list a few of your responsibilities. Include the years you worked at the company, or if you worked for less than a year you can include the number of months. There is no need to explain gaps in employment on the resume. It will come up in the interview if the recruiter even asks.

For your education, list the school, program, credential, and dates. Depending on the position you are applying for, you can include your GPA as well, but it is usually not necessary. You can include your awards here, or in a separate "awards" section.

Do include unpaid work experience

You can include things like your volunteer experience, as long as it prepared you for the duties you will be performing at the job you are applying for.

Do include a cover letter

Even if they do not ask for it, even if they are going to skip it and head straight to your resume, it is always good to include a cover letter.

A cover letter is meant to embellish the resume, and show the recruiter why you are the best fit for their job opening.

We could write a separate article about cover letters— and we probably will. But here we will give you a general idea of how to write a cover letter.

Your cover letter should contain the company's contact information, as well as your contact information. It should be no more than a couple of paragraphs, and it should not take up a whole page.

You can write in the first person here. Your goal is to connect with the recruiter. Use their name only if you are 100% sure you have the correct name of the person who will be reviewing your application. If you do know their name, use it, but note that there is usually no need to include a prefix. These days, starting a letter with "Sir" or "Madame" is usually inappropriate, unless you know for certain that the recruiter reading your letter prefers that.

The first paragraph should introduce who you are and why you want this job. Be sure to name the position you are applying for. In the subsequent paragraphs, you will want to demonstrate why you are the best candidate for the position, referring to your previous relevant experience. You can go above and beyond by showing them how your involvement will solve their problems, and make them a better company.

Conclude by thanking them, and letting them know that you will be following up.

Bonus tips for your Canadian job hunt

You are dealing with more barriers than the average Canadian-born job-searcher, however, there are immigrant support services, and employment services that can help you in your journey. Immigration Canada has a list of free services on their website , but these are by no means an exhaustive list of everything that's out there. You can also check your provincial, or territorial websites, or search for employment services in your city.

As much as possible, try to ask people you know if they have any connections or know of any job openings. LinkedIn estimates at least 85% of jobs are found through networking. If you are in Canada and you do not know a lot of people, try industry networking events in your area, which can be found online through events websites, like Eventbrite , or on social media, like Facebook events or groups.

Also, if you think you are underqualified for a position that interests you, apply anyway. In the best-case scenario, you get the job and learn to become the candidate that they are looking for, or else you just do not get the job. You have nothing to lose, and everything to gain.

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Resume & Cover Letter Writing: Canadian Formats

Grace Wilson

4 Sep 2021, 9:30 am

The Canadian resume format is a bit different when compared to some resumes and cover letters from other countries.

Keep reading to learn how to prepare the resume and the cover letter that will get you the best jobs in Canada . 

What is a CV Like in Canada? 

The key to finding a job in Canada is your Canadian cover letter. The format is quite straightforward, where you mention the main qualities that an employer is looking for while mentioning it in a specific layout that catches their eyes. 

The Canadian resume format includes:

• contact information
• professional skills
• career summary
• work experience

Candidates can also add specific skills including technical experience, volunteering, or community involvement.

Precision is key when finding a job in Canada as an immigrant. Make sure that your skillset is clearly listed and matches the job description. 

Why Would You Think about the CV and Job Hunting Before the Immigration?

A long way of successful immigration may start with a great CV and, thus, a job in Canada.

Later, on your immigration path, if you choose to immigrate through the Express Entry , you will be assessed based on the CRS pointing system . The higher you rank, the more chances you’ll have to be granted a permanent residency.

The great news is, the job offer can give you from 50 to 200 CRS points and that will accelerate the immigration process big time by providing you with almost guaranteed success.

To get an idea of your eligibility for immigration you may use this tool:

Note that this too is used to assess initial eligibility for immigration to Canada in general. However, it gives an idea on the CRS points you may get later.

We explain how the assessment systems work here .

Make Your Resume Canadian-Like

In order to get a job in Canada, follow these tips to have your CV up-to-date in the correct Canadian resume format. 

• Keep your resume precise and to the point. It shouldn’t have unnecessary details, especially if it doesn’t correlate to your current skill levels for a particular job. 
• Keeping the resume interesting is an art. Recruiters skim through most CVs, so make sure that you have highlighted your expertise and achievements. 
• Make use of a professional template and avoid excessive writing or unprofessional font style. 
• Use short and concise sentences, and according to the Canadian resume format, the CV should typically be summarized in two pages. However, for those with 10+ years of experience, three page Canadian cover letter is also acceptable for jobs in Canada for immigrants.
• Mention everything in Canadian equivalent and terms.
• Employers gravitate towards resumes tailored to a specific skill rather than generic interests. 
• Your Canadian resume format shouldn’t include your signature, date or the word ‘CV’ or ‘Resume’ mentioned in it. 

Writing a Cover Letter: Tips for Success

The most important factor when finding a job in Canada as an immigrant [link to the main article] is your cover letter, as it represents your skills and experiences before you are considered for an interview.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind for the perfect Canadian cover letter. 

• First step is introducing yourself in a way that’s concise but catches the eye. This can be done by being specific about your expertise to grab the attention of the recruiter. The Canadian cover letter isn’t all about the candidate. A part of it should cover the information you know about the company, so that they know that you’ve done your homework. 
• Make sure that your skills match the requirements of the job. Instead of mentioning your set of skills, be assertive about how those skills fit the job description well and will benefit the employer in long term. Doing so will assure the recruiter that you understand the demands of the job. 
• Enlist the reasons that make you a well suited candidate for the given position.
• Make sure that you have all the necessary information about the company, including its background and highlights.

How to Use LinkedIn for Job Hunting 

LinkedIn is a powerful online tool for finding a job in Canada as an immigrant. This is because it allows foreigners to look for international jobs and find employers who are looking for the same skill sets and expertise that the applicant has.

LinkedIn also gives you a platform to build contacts and resources that greatly help speed up your career by specifically targeting the companies and people you need. 

Do You Prefer Communication and Creativity to Standard Interviews?

Then you may get the most from LinkedIn. A lot of potential employers use it for networking and could be willing to discuss opportunities for you.

And what makes LinkedIn even more amazing – you can find connections using it beforehand, when you are outside of Canada!

Of course, you don’t want to be too persistent. But trying to reach out to people from the companies in Canada could be worth a try.

Sometimes it takes just one text to catch the attention of someone who can change your life. Just stay polite and be creative!

We’ve created a checklist on how to prepare for a job-hunting with the use of LinkedIn:

• create and maintain a detailed profile
• use the professional profile image
• post relevant articles
• join LinkedIn groups that tailor to your sector, industry, and professional organization
• be positive in your communication and engagement
• when reaching out to people, keep a professional yet friendly tone
• don’t send bulk messages – try to show why you are interested in a specific job opportunity and why you are the one right for i

Finally, we all spend lots of time browsing Social Media. So, why not use it to find opportunities for a job?

Video Resume

Finding a job isn’t easy. It requires patience, commitment, and determination.

However, there are many ways to speed up the process and bring your profile to the top. Video resumes are quite common these days, and it not only reflects on your skills and experience but also your personality and communication skills.

All of these factors can help make your resume stand out and leave a lasting impression. 

Finding a job in Canada could be challenging. We hope that this post has helped you to learn more about how to prepare a CV and cover letter for a Canadian employer.

We have gathered more information about job hunting for immigrants in this article .

To make sure you prepared all documents accordingly we recommend to consult a professional – an RCIC . With consultants, chances for successful job hunting are definitely higher!

Grace was born in Birmingham, England, and moved to Canada with her family when she was five. She graduated from the University of British Columbia in 2015 and since then she has been working as a recruitment consultant for 10+ companies. In her spare time, Grace writes about her professional experience with winning job offers for immigrants. She also shares tips about employment that could be useful for both immigrants and local job seekers.

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Editor’s Note

You can trust the integrity of our balanced, independent immigration advice. We may, however, receive compensation from the issuers of some products mentioned in this article. Opinions are the author's alone. This content has not been provided by, reviewed, approved or endorsed by any advertiser, unless otherwise noted below.

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A Canadian cover letter acts as an introduction to your resume and is tailoured to a particular role you wish to apply in Canada. A cover letter's primary purpose is to introduce you to the Canadian employer and urge them to read your resume. It should demonstrate that you are the ideal candidate for their firm. Your cover letter should highlight your relevant qualifications, experience, and favourable work characteristics. Also, if you don't have a Canadian Resume, you can create one below. FREE Canadian Resume Builder Download your Free Canadian Cover Letter Sample and Template below on your laptop/desktop.

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• Table of Contents
• Preface & Acknowledgements
• Acronyms & Abbreviations
• 1. A Brief History
• 2. Sources of Law
• 3. Elements of Asylum Law
• 4. Precedential LGBTQ/H Asylum Cases
• 5. The One-Year Filing Deadline
• 6. Withholding of Removal
• 7. Relief Under CAT
• 8. Voluntary Departure
• 9. Real ID Act
• 10. Safe Third Country
• 11. Challenging Asylum Cases
• 12. Working with Asylum Seekers
• 13. Working with LGBTQ/H Asylum Seekers
• 14. Elements of an Application
• 15. Preparing the I-589
• 16. Sample I-589
• 17. Preparing the Asylum Declaration
• 18. Declaration Dos and Don’ts
• 19. Annotated Sample Declaration
• 20. Corroborating Client-Specific Documents
• 21. Corroborating Country Conditions
• 22. Indexed Country Conditions Sample

23. Sample Cover Letter

• 24. Assembling Everything
• 25. Affirmative Application Process
• 26. Immigration Court Proceedings
• 27. Board of Immigration Appeals
• 28. Federal Court Review
• 29. Detained Asylum Seekers
• 30. Obtaining an Employment Authorization Document
• 31. Asylee Status
• 32. Withholding Status
• 33. CAT Status
• Important Resources

23.1 Cover Letters for Affirmative Applications

23.1.1 cover letter for “barebones submission”.

If you are submitting an affirmative application, as discussed in Chapter 14, it is advisable to submit the I-589 almost completely by itself, with other documentation to follow later, so as to get your client, as soon as possible, a spot in the long line for an asylum interview. The cover letter for this “barebones” application may look as follows:

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Citizenship and Immigration Services [LOCATION] Service Center [see p. 10 of the I-589 instructions]x [ADDRESS LINE 1]x [ADDRESS LINE 2]x

Re: Joao Doe (DOB 01/01/1901)

Dear Sirs/Madams:

Attached please find the above-referenced individual’s application for Asylum, Withholding of Removal, and relief under the Convention against Torture (Form I-589). The following documents are submitted on Mr. Doe’s behalf:

Enclosed, please find the following documents on Mr. Doe’s behalf:

• An original Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative (Form G-28), plus one copy;
• An original Application for Asylum, and for Withholding of Removal (Form I-589), plus one copy;
• One passport-sized photograph of Mr. Doe attached on page 9 of the original Form I-589;
• Two complete copies of Mr. Doe’s Brazilian passport; and
• Two copies of Mr. Doe’s most recent Form I-94.

[You may also wish to include other documentation immediately pertinent to the claim, such as: documentation supporting an exception to the one-year filing deadline (if applicable); a state court-ordered name change (if the applicant’s passport does not reflect their legal name); a physician’s letter corroborating gender identity (if the applicant’s passport does not reflect their gender identity), etc.]x

Note that additional documents will be submitted at or before the asylum interview.

All documents have been provided in triplicate.  Please do not hesitate to contact me at the number above if you have any questions regarding this matter. Thank you for your consideration.

Clarence Darrow, Esq.

23.1.2 Cover Letter for Supplemental Submissions

After submitting a barebones application, and up to one week before the scheduled asylum interview, you can submit additional documentation in support of the client’s application (see Chapters 14–22). NOTE that these submissions should go directly to the Asylum Office with jurisdiction over the client’s claim, not to the Service Center to which you previously sent the barebones application. The cover letter for these submissions may look as follows:

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Citizenship and Immigration Services [LOCATION] Asylum Office [ADDRESS LINE 1]x [ADDRESS LINE 2]x

Re: Joao Doe (DOB 01/01/1901)

A-Number XXX-XXX-XXX

I represent the above-referenced asylum applicant. In conjunction with [his/her] Form I-589, received by USCIS and pending as of [DATE] (Receipt #XXX0000000000), please find attached the following additional documents:

Tab   |     Document Applicant’s Declaration A       |     Declaration of Applicant, [NAME]x Supporting Documents B       |     Birth Certificate of [NAME]x C       |     Affidavit of [NAME]x …      |      [ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS]x Country Conditions Information U      |      Index to documentation of country conditions regarding persecution against [LGBTQ/H] individuals in [COUNTRY], followed by numerically tabbed source materials

All documents have been submitted in duplicate.

Mr. Doe is a gay man from Brazil. [HERE, YOU CAN PROCEED TO MAKE LEGAL ARGUMENTS AS TO YOUR CLIENT’S ELIGIBILITY FOR ASYLUM, REFERENCING SPECIFIC DOCUMENTS THAT YOU HAVE SUBMITTED]

Please do not hesitate to contact me at the number above if you have any questions regarding this matter.

23.2 Cover Letters for Defensive Applications

23.2.1 cover letter for i-589 filing.

Usually, Form I-589 is submitted in open court at a Master Calendar Hearing (MCH). If, however, your first MCH is scheduled more than a year after your client’s most recent entry to the U.S., you will likely wish to file the I-589 within that first year (or as soon as possible thereafter), by mail or in person. This procedure is described in a 2016 memorandum from the Chief Immigration Judge, available at  http://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/pages/attachments/2016/09/14/oppm_16-01.pdf . If you hand-deliver it, bring an extra copy with you to be date-stamped for your records. If you mail it, include an extra copy and a self-addressed, stamped envelope for return service of a date-stamped version, and a short cover letter (which does not and should not replace the immigration court’s own formatting and filing requirements, described in detail in the Immigration Court Practice Manual at  http://www.justice.gov/eoir/office-chief-immigration-judge-0 . Your cover letter may look as follows:

U.S. Department of Justice Executive Office for Immigration Review [LOCATION] Immigration Court [ADDRESS LINE 1]x [ADDRESS LINE 2]x

Re: Joao Doe (A-Number XXX-XXX-XXX)

Dear Clerk of the Court:

Attached please find the above-referenced individual’s application for Asylum, Withholding of Removal, and relief under the Convention against Torture (Form I-589). Pursuant to OPPM 16-01, I am hereby filing Form I-589 on Mr. Doe’s behalf. Enclosed please find:

• An original Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative (Form EOIR-28);
• An original Application for Asylum, and for Withholding of Removal (Form I-589), plus one copy for return service;

Please confirm receipt of this Form I-589 by returning a date-stamped copy in the enclosed, pre-addressed, stamped envelope.

Please do not hesitate to contact me at the number above if you have any questions regarding this matter. Thank you for your consideration.

23.2.2 Cover Letter for Subsequent Filing

Subsequent filings should also be formatted in accordance with the Immigration Court Practice Manual, and their contents will depend upon the nature and timing of the filing.

This Manual is intended to provide information to attorneys and accredited representatives. It is not intended as legal advice. Asylum seekers should speak with qualified attorneys before applying.

The information contained herein is for reference only and may not be up to date. It does not constitute legal advice. You should always consult an attorney regarding your matter.

This handbook is intended for use by pro bono attorneys and immigration attorneys working on LGBTQ/HIV asylum cases.

Self-help asylum guides for LGBTQ and HIV-positive people without attorneys.

Detention Hotline

If you are in detention, call:

Calls from people outside of detention will not be accepted.

For general inquiries, call:

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• Cover Letter

• Life in canada

Whether you are applying to a job posting in Canada or anywhere in the rest of the world, you must ensure that a cover letter accompanies your resume when you send it out to a potential employer.

A cover letter is that vital first impression. This is the best chance you will get to explain to the reader why you are the best fit for the role.

Before you begin crafting a cover letter, read up all you can about the listed job posting and the employing firm. Including a few relevant details will show your seriousness regarding the job to the reader.

For this, you can check the company’s website to check their policies, vision and mission statements, recent developments, and more.

The header of the letter should have:

• Your name and address
• The employers name and address

If possible, address the letter to a specific person; else, you can just say Sir/Madam and address it to the HR (Human Resources) department of the company.

In the Middle

Moving on to the body of the letter, here is where you explain your interest in the post, your skills apropos the job, and your relevant experience. Remember, you dont have to repeat your resume here as the potential employer will peruse that anyway. Here, you just have to emphasize on your skills and explain how they match the requirements. Towards the end of this, add a short note on your soft skills to show your complete fit for the post.

Bring this to an end by stating your resumes attachment and thanking the reader for their interest in your candidature.

Sign off by saying ‘Sincerely and place your full name after that. For a paper copy, sign the letter. For an online application, you can omit it.

Factors to remember:

• Keep consistency and professionalism in mind while creating the letter. Use the same header for your letter and resume.
• Keep the length of the cover letter short – just one page. You wouldnt want to overwhelm the employer with pages upon pages of text.
• Dont load up your application with text galore. Leave blank or ‘white space so that the reader can pay attention to the important parts. For this, you can use lists and headings.
• Use the same font style and size throughout. For emphasis, use an enlarged size or bold the font. Consistency is key here. Use the same bullet point style throughout so that the reader is not confused unnecessarily at superfluous variety.
• You must remember to use Canadian spelling in your cover letter and resume. For this, you can set a spell-check in Canadian English in your software.
• The entire world prefers online applications these days. In case there is a specific file format the employer prefers, you must use that. If this hasnt been mentioned, just combine your cover letter and resume into a single PDF file and submit that. This is standard practice as it can be easily opened by most programs.
• Name your file in a professional manner. Add your name to your file name.
• Some employers may ask for a hard copy. Print your cover letter and resume out on good-quality paper and submit them in a large envelope without folding them up.

Sending a cover letter is important as it adds weight to your application. If possible, you should write a new cover letter for each position you are applying for. Also, try to customize it for each company. This will help the employer to imagine you in the role and jump-start the process of interviewing.

We are ready to help you with the crafting of a superb cover letter and resume so that you can apply to your dream jobs in Canada. Just get in touch with us and see your career soar.

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Proof of Relationship Letter for Canada Spouse Visa (with Sample)

If you’re a Canadian citizen or permanent resident sponsoring your spouse , we understand that the immigration process can be overwhelming. One crucial aspect is providing enough evidence that your relationship is genuine , including a proof of relationship letter drafted by a close family member or friend.

While the IRCC doesn’t explicitly require this letter, including one can make a massive difference in the outcome of your application. Don’t worry, though! We’ve provided you with a comprehensive guide to help you draft a compelling proof of relationship support letter for the Canadian Spouse Visa .

• Canadian Spouse Visa Application : Providing evidence of a genuine relationship is crucial for Canadian citizens or permanent residents sponsoring their spouses in the immigration process.
• Proof of Relationship Letter : While not explicitly required by the IRCC, a well-drafted proof of relationship letter, usually from a family member or close friend, can significantly impact the application outcome.
• Purpose of the Letter : The Proof of Relationship Support Letter aims to provide additional evidence that the couple’s relationship is authentic and not a marriage of convenience for immigration purposes.
• Importance of the Letter Creator : The person creating the letter should be close to the couple and present during key relationship milestones, such as the first meeting, wedding, and subsequent interactions. Higher-status individuals are viewed more favourably.
• Visa Officer’s Criteria : Officers reviewing the proof of relationship letter look for specific details to determine authenticity. Dates in each letter are cross-checked for consistency.
• Points to Include in the Letter : Include relationship history, introduction to the couple, positive stories, verifiable facts, statement of genuineness, and contact information.

What is the Proof of Relationship Support Letter for Spouse Visa?

The Proof of Relationship Support Letter is drafted by the couple’s family member or close friend. This letter is designed to provide additional evidence that the couple’s relationship is genuine rather than simply a marriage of convenience for immigration purposes.

Does it matter who creates the supporting letter?

Yes, the person who creates the letter should be close to the couple and should also have been present during the key moments in their relationship.

This includes being present when the couple first met each other or began their relationship, attending their wedding, and having met them multiple times since the wedding. The person drafting the proof of relationship spouse Canada letter will also be considered more trustworthy if they have higher status .

For example, IRCC will view a relative who is a University Professor more favourably than a relative who is a fast-food restaurant worker.

How many support letters do you need?

There isn’t a specific number of support letters required for proof of relationship for a Canada spouse visa. However, it’s recommended to include at least one support letter from a close family member or friend who can confirm the authenticity of your relationship.

If the couple has been married for over a decade and has children, they might not need to provide a support letter at all. If they have been married for 3 to 5 years and have one child, they should provide a minimum of two letters. Couples that have been married for 2 to 3 years should provide as many letters as they can feasibly gather.

Ultimately, the goal is to provide sufficient evidence to convince the immigration officer that your relationship is genuine and long-lasting.

What is Visa Officer looking for?

When reviewing a proof of relationship support letter for a Canada spouse visa application, the visa officer is looking for specific information to determine the authenticity of the relationship.

An IRCC officer may assess this themselves, or they may use AI software to determine the letter’s genuineness.

They will also check to see if the dates in each letter line up. For example, they will check to see if the wedding date or the couple’s first meeting date in one letter is the same as the dates listed in the other letter provided.

Need Help to Write a Perfect Proof of Relationship Letter?

Licensed professionals to ensure a high-quality Proof of Relationship letter.

Points to be Included in Your Proof of Relationship Letter for Canada Spouse Visa

The person composing the proof of relationship support letter must include the following details in it:

1. Relationship History

The person must mention what their relationship with the couple is. So if the husband’s brother creates the letter, they should clearly state that they are the sponsor’s sibling. They should also mention how long they have known the couple.

2. Introduction to Applicant Couple and Their Perception of the Relationship

The person must mention how they first met the couple or the husband or wife. If they met either one before they entered a relationship, they should mention when they became aware of the relationship.

3. Positive Emotional Stories

The person should also include some positive emotional stories that highlight the couple’s love for each other. For example, they can mention an extravagant gift the husband put together for their wife or describe how the couple bonded after getting lost in the wilderness on their honeymoon.

4. Authentic Facts

The person should also mention verifiable facts such as the couple’s wedding date, wedding location, and how they traveled to attend the wedding. They should mention this in a straightforward manner that doesn’t sound overly formal or constructed.

5. Statement of Genuineness and Proof of Marriage

The person should explicitly state that they believe the couple’s relationship is genuine and they are happy together. They can include descriptive terms such as “committed”, “soulmates”, “meant for each other”, or “deeply in love” to further describe the relationship.

6. Contact Information

The person should also include their contact information and close out the letter by stating that IRCC can contact them if they require any further information. These contact details include their full name, phone number, email address, and residence address.

Document Checklist for Canada’s Spousal Sponsorship

Proof of relationship letter for canada spouse visa sample.

Check out this sample letter which provides a clear outline and tips on how to demonstrate the authenticity of your relationship with the authorities.

Rahul Pandey 269, Pherozeshah Mehta Rd, Navpada, Vile Parle East, Mumbai, India 400057 +91 6399 825790

March 3rd, 2023

To Whom it may concern,

I am providing this letter to support my brother, Karan Pandey, and his wife, Jhoti Mahaptra.

Karan and I both grew up in Mumbai, India and lived in the same home together before he immigrated to Canada in 2021. The two of us met Jhoti for the first time at a rooftop barbecue event in 2013.

She and her family had just moved into our apartment building and were eager to meet her neighbors. Karan and I befriended her, and we spent lots of time playing outdoor games around our building.

My brother admitted that he and Jhoti had begun dating in 2014, approximately one year after they met. Our families had gotten along well prior to this, so they didn’t mind Karan spending time at Jhoti’s apartment or Jhoti spending time at ours. Karan and Jhoti’s relationship became more serious after both crossed into adulthood. My brother proposed to Jhoti on our apartment’s rooftop, where they first met.

Their wedding was held at the Taj Lands End hotel on December 13th, 2018, and I remember both the bride and groom grinning from ear to ear throughout the ceremony. After being married for two years, Karan received a job offer from TD Bank in Canada. He accepted the offer and left India with the intention of boosting his career.

Being separated from his wife certainly seemed difficult for Karan, and he would come to visit Jhoti in India in December each year. Jhoti also visited Karan in Canada on a visitor visa in June 2021 and the couple went to Banff for their second honeymoon.

Karan and Jhoti’s relationship remains strong as ever, despite the challenges that long-distance poses. My brother recently became a Canadian permanent resident and hopes his wife can also do the same. They hope to settle down in Mississauga and start a family in the near future.

Please contact me if you require any additional information about me, my brother, or his wife.

Sincerely, Rahul Pandey

Expert Guidance for Your Spouse Visa Application

How elaar immigration can help.

As you can see, writing a convincing proof of relationship support letter is crucial to strengthening your Canada Spouse Visa application. We hope the sample letter provided above has given you a clear understanding of what to include in your own letter.

However, we understand that applying for a Canada Spouse Visa can be a complex and daunting process, and you may require additional assistance. That’s where Elaar Immigration comes in.

Our team of Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants is experienced in navigating the spousal sponsorship process and can help you optimize your application. We can provide personalized guidance and support every step of the way, from gathering the necessary documents to preparing for the interview. With our help, you can increase your chances of approval and reuniting with your loved one in Canada.

Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help you with your Canada Spouse Visa application.

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cover letter

• Thread starter rhea_25
• Start date Sep 9, 2016

Star Member

Hi, from reading on internet, many say a cover letter is good idea and so we plan to do one for our common law sponsorship to canada but WHERE do you put it so that the VO sees it first? Inside the QUESTIONNAIRE as first page on top? And would it go in sponsors or applicants form?  

Champion Member

Where have you read that? If it's not on the required document list, I wouldn't waste my time. You need to focus on proving 12 months of continuous co-habitation. You either have it, or you don't. That's where your priority lies.  

I know not required but I read it is good idea to include and does sound good to do see here http://immigrationcanada.pro/immigrate/7-essential-elements-in-a-sponsorship-cover-letter/  

That's a VERY generic statement concerning "applying under ONE of" Canada's many immigration categories. Maybe it applies to other categories. But for "spousal sponsorship", I say "bulls&%t"!  

rhea_25 said: I know not required but I read it is good idea to include and does sound good to do see here http://immigrationcanada.pro/immigrate/7-essential-elements-in-a-sponsorship-cover-letter/ Click to expand...

Hero Member

truesmile said: That's a VERY generic statement concerning "applying under ONE of" Canada's many immigration categories. Maybe it applies to other categories. But for "spousal sponsorship", I say "bulls&%t"! Click to expand...

Still sounds like good idea to us and seems would be better to include than not to include.  

canadianwoman

At the end of the Sponsor Questionnaire and the Sponsored Spouse Partner Questionnaire, there is a statement that asks you to provide a letter giving any further details of your relationship that you think might be helpful. I considered this to be the equivalent of a cover letter, where I gave an overview of the relationship and the evidence provided. You can put a cover letter if you want. You can do as I mentioned above. It won't hurt, though it may not help either.  

canadianwoman said: At the end of the Sponsor Questionnaire and the Sponsored Spouse Partner Questionnaire, there is a statement that asks you to provide a letter giving any further details of your relationship that you think might be helpful. I considered this to be the equivalent of a cover letter, where I gave an overview of the relationship and the evidence provided. You can put a cover letter if you want. You can do as I mentioned above. It won't hurt, though it may not help either. Click to expand...

MelissaJohn

I included a cover letter on mine, I put it in our application after the barcodes and checklist. The cover letter I believe is a good idea because you can explain ahead of time any issues a visa officer may see that may raise questions, That aren't just about your relationship. Here is mine as an example of why I think it is helpful to the officers, and how I wrote it up. Out of Canada Sponsorship Visa Cover Letter Name of Sponsor Birthday & Address of Sponsor Name of Sponsered Spouse Birthday & Address of Sponsored Spouse APPLYING UNDER SPOUSAL SPONSORSHIP To whom it may concern, I _______________ a Canadian Citizen by birth. I am filing these forms in order to sponsor my husband ________________ under the Family Class Sponsorship. Below are some facts that will help verify some questions or concerns you may have withing the application. (1) Names- My husband has a different name on his birth certificate than the name that everyone calls him, so on our chat logs and skype calls his name is John. But on his official documents, it is his birth name. Visa officers might believe the chat logs do not belong to him if I don't explain how he has two names. (2) Financial- I was in my husband's country during this process unemployed, so I let them know I have jobs waiting in Canada to be able to finance him. (This is good to read before they look at my income for the year so they aren't confused about why it is so little because I moved half-way through the year) Relationship Outline Write a brief description on how you met, no need to be detailed in the cover letter because it is another question in the application. Plans up arrival in Canada Write a description of where you will live, work/study etc. Thank you for taking your time to consider our sponsorship. I know it isn't necessary but if you have little issues like I did that weren't just pertaining to the relationship part of the application then a cover letter clears that all up before they get started, and they won't have to write notes on things you already explained that they might have had to read through pages to find out answers too. It wouldn't hurt you to write it out if it makes you feel better about it. I believe the will look at a cover letter seeing as it is the first thing they will view that isn't a generic application page, at least you will have comfort knowing you explained everything that could raise questions. Hope that helps  

Hi guys, so basically what should the order of the package be? For now, I was thinking of doing this: 1. Cover letter to whole app. 2. Sponsor checklist, receipt of paid fees, and then forms (with barcodes on top of the forms?) and documents. 3. Sponsored person's checklist, then forms (with IMM 0008 barcode on top of IMM 0008), then documents. 4. Relationship and cohabitation proof. Is such an arrangement ok? Or am I reading this right from what you say here, that the barcodes for both sponsor and sponsored person should be just under the checklists for sponsored and sponsored spouse, and only then the sponsor's forms and docs, and the sponsored person's forms and docs, and the cover letter somewhere buried in the sponsored spouse's forms?  

Lady_Ashka said: Hi guys, so basically what should the order of the package be? For now, I was thinking of doing this: 1. Cover letter to whole app. 2. Sponsor checklist, receipt of paid fees, and then forms (with barcodes on top of the forms?) and documents. 3. Sponsored person's checklist, then forms (with IMM 0008 barcode on top of IMM 0008), then documents. 4. Relationship and cohabitation proof. Is such an arrangement ok? Or am I reading this right from what you say here, that the barcodes for both sponsor and sponsored person should be just under the checklists for sponsored and sponsored spouse, and only then the sponsor's forms and docs, and the sponsored person's forms and docs, and the cover letter somewhere buried in the sponsored spouse's forms? Click to expand...

MelissaJohn said: I included a cover letter on mine, I put it in our application after the barcodes and checklist. The cover letter I believe is a good idea because you can explain ahead of time any issues a visa officer may see that may raise questions, That aren't just about your relationship. Here is mine as an example of why I think it is helpful to the officers, and how I wrote it up. Out of Canada Sponsorship Visa Cover Letter Name of Sponsor Birthday & Address of Sponsor Name of Sponsered Spouse Birthday & Address of Sponsored Spouse APPLYING UNDER SPOUSAL SPONSORSHIP To whom it may concern, I _______________ a Canadian Citizen by birth. I am filing these forms in order to sponsor my husband ________________ under the Family Class Sponsorship. Below are some facts that will help verify some questions or concerns you may have withing the application. (1) Names- My husband has a different name on his birth certificate than the name that everyone calls him, so on our chat logs and skype calls his name is John. But on his official documents, it is his birth name. Visa officers might believe the chat logs do not belong to him if I don't explain how he has two names. (2) Financial- I was in my husband's country during this process unemployed, so I let them know I have jobs waiting in Canada to be able to finance him. (This is good to read before they look at my income for the year so they aren't confused about why it is so little because I moved half-way through the year) Relationship Outline Write a brief description on how you met, no need to be detailed in the cover letter because it is another question in the application. Plans up arrival in Canada Write a description of where you will live, work/study etc. Thank you for taking your time to consider our sponsorship. I know it isn't necessary but if you have little issues like I did that weren't just pertaining to the relationship part of the application then a cover letter clears that all up before they get started, and they won't have to write notes on things you already explained that they might have had to read through pages to find out answers too. It wouldn't hurt you to write it out if it makes you feel better about it. I believe the will look at a cover letter seeing as it is the first thing they will view that isn't a generic application page, at least you will have comfort knowing you explained everything that could raise questions. Hope that helps This sounds very good. helps much! but i confused about bar codes, where do we put these? i was thinking had to paste or tape them on the envelopes? and was your cover letter in an envelope that contained all the application forms and in sponsor or applicant forms? thank you! Click to expand...

Ok, thanks! So you're saying: In the sponsor's package 1.BOTH barcodes (for sponsor and sponsored person (or is there only a set for sponsored person?)), 2. then checklists for BOTH sponsor and sponsored person? Or just the sponsor? 3. And then cover letter to the whole application, 4. and then the sponsor's package In the sponsored person's package: 1. cover letter to the whole app again? 2. the sponsored person's package? Or like this: 0. Barcodes on the very very top of everything (for both?) 1. Checklist for sponsor only 2. Cover letter to the whole application 3. Sponsor's package 4. (barcodes for the sponsored person again? or nothing) 5. checklist for the sponsored person 6. cover letter for the whole app (same as for sponsor) 7. sponsored person's package Option nr. 2 seems better to me, but I wonder whether the sponsor's and sponsored person's barcodes and checklists should all go to the very top, or whether only the sponsor's should be on top and the sponsored person's after the sponsor package, or maybe all barcodes should be on the top, then the sponsor's checklist and cover letter and docs, and then the sponsored person's checklist, cover letter, and docs?  

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Border Patrol encounters of migrants crossing the northern border are on pace to hit a new record this fiscal year.

Agents recorded 9,460 migrant encounters at the US-Canadian border between October 2023 and April 2024, with five months remaining in the fiscal year, according to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data updated Wednesday.

For comparison, in all of fiscal year 2023, agents recorded 10,021 illegal crossings at the northern border, which marked a new record for the agency.

One of the hardest-hit areas of the northern border is the Swanton sector — which encompasses parts of New York, Vermont and New Hampshire — and had more than 1,400 illegal migrant apprehensions in April, surpassing the totals from fiscal years 2021 and 2022 combined.

Another record-breaking milestone in northern border history!Swanton Sector continues to encounter an unprecedented number of undocumented migrants, with well over 1,400 apprehensions in the month of April, surpassing the total number of apprehensions of FY 21 and FY 22 combined. pic.twitter.com/cBF9P8R4Q9 — Chief Patrol Agent Robert Garcia (@USBPChiefSWB) May 14, 2024

Residents of rural Swanton, Vermont , recently gave The Post an inside look into the migrant smuggling operations unfolding in front of their eyes.

“Now I’ve got the Border Patrol guys on speed dial,” local Chris Feeley, 52, told The Post.

Feeley has observed illegal crossings from his hunting tree stand over the past three years.

He told The Post about one morning he had been up in the vantage point when some startled deer ran by, followed by two men “of Mexican descent” wearing backpacks and carrying walking sticks.

“He stopped right underneath me and was looking at his iPhone and was following a trail, so obviously somebody gave him a route of which way to go,” Feeley said.

“I was just stunned, I didn’t know what to do. I just let them walk off, I gave them 10 minutes before I went back to the barn to call Border Patrol.”

Feeley now carries a firearm for personal protection at the advice of Border Patrol in the area.

Migrants often find the northern border to be an easier trek than the southern border because there is no wall, there’s limited manpower patrolling the area, and it’s geographically more difficult to be quickly removed, according to Border Patrol sources who’ve spoken to The Post.

When southern border crossings have been extremely high, Border Patrol agents from the north have been moved to help out their counterparts dealing with the influxes from Mexico . Some have also had to help virtually by interviewing migrants caught at the southern border via video conferencing to help local agents.

Some of those encountered at the northern border have been from Mexico, which up until recently didn’t require a visa to fly to Canada. The Canadian government still offers some exemptions for Mexicans seeking to fly to Canada.

In one recent example, a legal permanent resident of the US was convicted of smuggling for extra cash after he was found with three Mexican nationals in his vehicle at the northern border in Fort Covington, New York, the Department of Justice said Wednesday.

Omar Mera-Marquez, 46, was promised $1,500 to smuggle the group in his vehicle before he was caught by a Border Patrol agent who saw the three Mexican nationals jump into his car in a parking lot, the DOJ said.

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Canada Post loses $750M and taxpayers could be on the hook as Crown corp. hits 'critical juncture'

OTTAWA – Canada Post is at a tipping point. With letters declining, package delivery going to competitors and the Crown corporation having lost $3 billion in the last six years, something will soon have to change about how Canadians get their mail.

The Crown corporation released its financial reports earlier this month, showing that it lost $748 million before taxes in the last year. In 2006, Canada Post delivered seven letters per week to the average address; it now delivers two. That has reduced overall volumes from 5.5-billion letters in 2006 to 2.2 billion last year.

Losses in recent years have not been covered by taxpayers, but that appears set to change. The corporation’s exclusive monopoly on letter mail has previously allowed it to cover costs and even run surpluses in previous years. But those surpluses have been eroded and, come early next year, the corporation expects its reserves will fall below requirements.

Canada Post’s president and CEO Doug Ettinger, said in his annual report that something has to change.

“Canada Post is now at a critical juncture — modernize and revitalize to serve a rapidly changing country or fall behind and struggle to keep it all going,” he said.

While letter mail has declined, online shopping has exploded. Initially, Canada Post was successful in pivoting to that market. In 2019, Canada Post handled 62 per cent of parcels delivered in this country, but now that’s down to just 23 per cent as new companies enter the market.

Postmedia, which owns National Post, is also in the parcel-delivery business.

Jon Hamilton, the corporation’s vice-president of strategic communication, said new competitors have entered the market that have more flexibility to deliver on evenings and weekends, with lower costs.

“Because Canadians have moved to online shopping and there’s been tremendous growth, that’s obviously attracted a lot of new competitors. And our market share has quickly declined in just the last few years,” he said.

Hamilton said Canada Post is working with the government and with its unions on a path forward. He said the Crown corporation is open to considering any kind of changes that could stabilize their finances.

“We need to look at everything and look at what other countries are doing with their postal systems and understand what’s important. What do we need to maintain and what needs to change?”

Canada Post has government-set mandates it is currently obliged to follow. In addition to providing delivery to Canadians five days a week, it is mandated to deliver letters within set time frames and has to have postal outlets within 15 kilometres of 99 per cent of Canadians.

Canadian Union of Postal Workers President Jan Simpson said the financial problems at Canada Post are a real concern, but she believes the corporation should be considering becoming bigger rather than smaller, having carriers prove check-ins on seniors or moving into postal banking as some other countries’ postal agencies have done.

She said Canada’s big banks don’t serve many rural or remote communities and Canada Post could fill that void.

“We saw that during COVID, many banks have left these communities, and for those that are still within communities the fees are very high. So there’s many people who are underbanked throughout this country,” she said.

CUPW is in negotiations with Canada Post now over contracts that expired late last year and early in 2024. Simpson was also critical of $15 million in bonuses that the corporation awarded to executives.

“You’re saying that you’re having financial hardship, but you’re awarding yourself bonuses. I mean, that’s just shocking to me,” she said.

Canada Post’s financial report doesn’t specifically identify what changes the company is considering, but it could mean changes to how mail is delivered, moving to less frequent deliveries or slower delivery times for letter mail. The corporation could also close post offices and make other changes to save money.

It could also make changes to how parcels are delivered, moving to weekend or evening deliveries, to compete with the service provided by private firms.

Simpson said moving away from regular door-to-door delivery would be a mistake.

“When under the Harper government, we went to community mailboxes, we took away our competitive advantage,” she said. “Canada Post is going to every door, every day.”

During the 2015 election, the Liberals promised to end a Canada Post program, which was then underway, converting addresses from door-to-door home delivery to community mailboxes. When they came to power, the Liberals stopped that program, but didn’t restore door-to-door service to places that had already lost it.

Canada Post’s financial report shows 24 per cent of Canadians currently get their mail delivered to their front door, while 34 per cent receive their mail through a community mailbox and 28 per cent receive it through centralized points like an apartment building lobby.

Door-to-door delivery is by far the most expensive, costing $284 per address per year on average. Community mailboxes cost $162 and apartment lobby delivery cost $130 per household.

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Public Services and Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos was asked about the looming financial problem for Canada Post after the financial statements were released.

He said the government will wait to see what Canada Post comes up with as potential solutions.

“We first need to see what options they’re going to present, what options they’re going to recommend, what options they are going to develop with their workers,” he said. “There is an opportunity to increase revenues, given the significant increase in the need for package delivery across Canada. There is also an opportunity to decrease cost by working with unions and workers.”

Ian Lee, a professor at the Sprott School of Business at Carleton University, said Canada Post should have seen these changes coming sooner.

“You could see this train wreck coming from a decade and a half or more,” he said. “These are economic trends occurring, just like the trend that killed video stores and bankrupted Blockbuster Video.”

He said the trends are all moving in the wrong direction for Canada Post; letter mail will continue to drop and there will continue to be tough competition for parcels.

“We’re not going to go back to writing letters. We’re not going back to the analog age. This is the future,” Lee said.

Lee has written extensively about Canada Post and made recommendations in the past for a complete overhaul. He said he would reduce the frequency of mail delivery and move all addresses to community mailboxes to save costs.

He said the government has to move on this quickly, because it has to prepare for a much smaller Canada Post with many fewer employees.

“A future Canada Post is going to be 10,000 to 15,000, maybe 20,000 employees. It’s not going to be 65,000 because there isn’t enough business,” he said.

National Post

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UVic Law Dean’s Graduate Fellowship 2024-25

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The Faculty invites applications for its Dean’s Graduate Fellowship. The Fellowship will support the research and teaching development of a doctoral student in at least the third year of their program. UVic Law Dean’s Fellows will be working towards completing their dissertation and publishing parts of their graduate work. They will actively participate in the intellectual life of the law school, including the faculty’s speakers series. Fellows are expected to teach a first-year JD or JD/JID course. It is not anticipated that Fellows will carry any administrative responsibilities.

Fellows will be in residence from 1 August 2024 – 31 May 2025, and will receive $50,000 (a sessional teaching appointment and a fellowship stipend).

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More information about the Faculty of Law can be found at http://www.uvic.ca/law .

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Applications, consisting of a cover letter that specifies areas of teaching interest, a curriculum vitae, description of planned research activities, teaching evaluations (if available), the names and email addresses of two academic referees who you have asked to submit letters of reference, and a statement of progress towards completion of doctoral work should be sent by email to [email protected]. Applicants should contact their referees and ask them to send their reference letters directly to [email protected] .

Applications received by 30 May 2024 will receive the fullest consideration.

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Call for papers: Generating stronger evidence to inform policy and practice: natural experiments on built environments, health behaviours and chronic diseases

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https://doi.org/10.24095/hpcdp.44.5.06

Recommended Attribution

This call for papers in the HPCDP Journal licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license

Guest editors: Dr. Stephanie Prince Ware (Public Health Agency of Canada), Dr. Gavin McCormack (University of Calgary)

HPCDP Journal Editors: Robert Geneau and Margaret de Groh (Public Health Agency of Canada)

Where we work, learn, play, eat and live has important implications for health. The built environment has been associated with the development of chronic disease, and with health behaviours often seen as critical pathways for this relationship. Footnote 1 Footnote 2 Built environments refer to components of the physical environment that are human-made or human-modified and include structures and buildings, recreation facilities, green spaces and parks, transportation systems and community design.

Natural experiments are interventions that occur without a researcher’s ability to manipulate the intervention or exposure to the intervention. Footnote 3 Footnote 4 Natural experiments offer the opportunity to evaluate the effects of “naturally occurring” interventions such as changes to the built environment (e.g. creation of a new bike path, park improvements, infrastructure changes to schools or workplaces, construction of a new recreation facility or grocery store) on health behaviours and chronic disease risk. Natural experiments are often more practical for investigating the health impacts of environmental interventions when compared to traditional experimental studies (e.g. randomized controlled trials). Compared to cross-sectional studies, natural experiments provide a means to generate rigorous evidence to better establish causality, as well as to understand the implementation of interventions in “real-world” scenarios.

This special issue answers the 2017 Canadian Public Health Officer annual report’s call to further evaluate the health impacts of community design features in Canada. Footnote 5 This special issue resonates with the expanding scholarly and policy-oriented interest in the utility of natural experiments as a critical tool in advancing the body of evidence and for informing interventions to improve public and population health. Footnote 6 Footnote 7 Specifically, the objective of this special issue on natural experiments is to provide timely evidence to further understand the effectiveness of built environment interventions on health behaviours and chronic disease prevention in a Canadian context.

Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada: Research, Policy and Practice is seeking relevant topical research articles that present new findings or synthesize/review existing evidence on natural experiments of the built environment (or related policies) that influence health behaviours with implications for chronic disease prevention in Canada.

Relevant topic areas include, but are not limited to:

• Built environments, including community or neighbourhoods, workplaces, schools, transportation infrastructure, home environments, recreation environments, parks, playgrounds, green spaces, public open spaces, natural environments and seniors’ residences.
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In About-Face, Wall Street’s Big Donors Warm to Trump

They may “hate the man,” as one put it, but major business players from coast to coast are increasingly on board for a second term after the first one alienated them.

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By Rob Copeland

Rob Copeland, a finance reporter, spoke to political donors across Wall Street and Silicon Valley for this article.

When President Donald J. Trump left office, some of Wall Street’s biggest names, who had taken to him during his first term in the White House, swore they were moving on from him for good. They were fatigued by his leadership style, disappointed by some of his policies and shocked by the U.S. Capitol riot. Some of them even savaged him publicly.

Their stated distaste didn’t last. With Mr. Trump leading in the polls, big financiers on Wall Street, in Silicon Valley and elsewhere are edging into his corner, according to interviews with more than a dozen people who sought anonymity because they didn’t want their personal views to be tied to their employers.

The motivations are manifold. In many instances, it’s less that they’re enthusiastic about Mr. Trump — “I still hate the man,” one hedge fund billionaire said — and more that they’re exasperated with the economic and immigration policies of President Biden. In other cases, the willingness to support a return of Mr. Trump reflects a growing dissatisfaction with what many big Wall Street donors see as the White House’s hardening stance against Israel in its war on Gaza.

A prominent example of the about-face is Kenneth Griffin, a hedge fund magnate and political megadonor who publicly derided Mr. Trump as a “three-time loser” less than two years ago. In recent weeks, the Citadel founder has been in communication with the former president’s campaign about potentially making a major donation, which would amount to millions of dollars.

Asked by The New York Times if he would support Mr. Trump for the first time in 2024, Mr. Griffin said: “It’s a question I’m giving serious consideration to.”

In an interview with Bloomberg News on Tuesday, Mr. Griffin said Mr. Trump “will exude a level of strength” that would help settle foreign policy issues, among others.

Mr. Griffin and his representatives have told the Trump campaign that the billionaire is waiting to see whom the former president selects as his vice-presidential candidate. He is hoping for a pick with close ties to the traditional Republican apparatus, such as Nikki Haley, the former governor of South Carolina. Mr. Griffin donated millions to Ms. Haley’s unsuccessful presidential campaign in the Republican primary race.

More than a dozen bankers, asset managers, hedge fund titans, lawyers and venture capitalists, including attendees of the $25,000-a-head Milken Institute Global Conference this month, said that they were disappointed by Mr. Biden’s economic and border-control policies. They requested that their names and titles be withheld so that they could share their views freely.

Their concerns reflect longstanding gripes about inflation and a rise in illegal immigration that have long dragged on the president’s approval ratings. More recently, however, some have added exhaustion at the various legal proceedings against Mr. Trump (not all of which involve the federal government) and dismay over the Biden administration’s flagging support for Israel in the Gaza conflict.

The potential groundswell of deep-pocketed support for Mr. Trump could be critical for his campaign, given that its fund-raising considerably lags Mr. Biden’s . At the same time, any redirection of funds from the Biden campaign could hurt it further, given the president’s political predicament: Many big donors are put off by his softening support for Israel, even as other voters want him to be far tougher on Israel for its invasion of Gaza.

Polling results released this week by The New York Times, Siena College and The Philadelphia Inquirer showed that young and nonwhite voters were turning away from the incumbent because they saw his policies as too supportive of Israel.

Millionaire and billionaire political donors who are reconsidering Mr. Trump include not just longtime Republican boosters returning to back the party’s presumptive nominee but donors like Mr. Griffin who steered clear of the former president in his two prior runs for the White House.

In some ways, the well-to-do class isn’t so different from the electorate, as polls have shown Mr. Trump leading in the majority of battleground states. Those figures have been largely unchanged since late last year. Also, big-time donors of all political stripes often move to support leading candidates in races.

Big business was hardly part of Mr. Trump’s political base in either 2016 or 2020. Corporate leaders came out vociferously in early 2021 against his attempts to interfere with the transfer of power; the largest bank in America, JPMorgan Chase, responded by pausing all political donations, and its chief executive, Jamie Dimon, said Mr. Trump had been “gassing up a mob.”

Mr. Dimon turned heads across Wall Street in January when he told CNBC from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that Mr. Trump had been “kind of right” about a number of issues, including taking a tougher stance toward China and passing tax cuts. The bank’s political action committee, funded by employees including Mr. Dimon, has since resumed its giving and handed out more this election cycle to Republicans than to Democrats.

In interviews, other senior Wall Street executives and political donors said they felt that Mr. Dimon’s comments had provided cover for them to back Mr. Trump more openly.

Mr. Dimon declined through a spokesman to elaborate. A Trump campaign spokesman did not respond to requests for comment. A Biden campaign spokeswoman pointed to the president’s recent fund-raising trip to the West Coast , which she said had raised $10 million from Silicon Valley founders and executives.

There remains a difference between what some prominent businesspeople will say publicly and privately about Mr. Trump, who has challenged norms by vowing to investigate political rivals if he is returned to the Oval Office.

Last month, a group of technology heavyweights including Elon Musk, the venture capitalist Marc Andreessen and the investor Peter Thiel gathered for a dinner during which they discussed how best to oppose a second Biden term, two people briefed on it said. The dinner was reported earlier by the newsletter Puck.

Mr. Andreessen, who once said Mr. Trump’s immigration plans left him “sick” to his stomach, later told investors from the Middle East that he would not support Mr. Biden, one person who was told of the meeting said. That’s further than what Mr. Andreessen has said publicly.

A spokeswoman for Mr. Andreessen declined to comment on those remarks and said he wouldn’t take sides publicly. “Marc talks about current events in casual settings all the time, like every other normal human being,” said the spokeswoman, Margit Wennmachers.

Mr. Thiel, one of Mr. Trump’s biggest boosters in 2016, has said he does not plan to donate this time around, though he has vented privately about Mr. Biden’s management of the economy, according to three people who have spoken with him about the topic. Yet Mr. Thiel’s data analytics firm, Palantir Technologies, recently met with a representative of the Trump campaign to discuss the candidate’s potential return to the White House, two people briefed on the sit-down said.

The political environment is also creating some odd bedfellows for Mr. Trump. Take Cliff Asness, a billionaire hedge fund manager and self-described libertarian who as recently as this year called the Republican Party a “cult” under the former president.

Last week, after the White House paused an arms shipment to Israel to prevent them from being used in an assault on the tightly populated Gazan city of Rafah, Mr. Asness wrote on X that he was “perilously close to the formerly (and still kind of) unthinkable: #TRUMP2024.”

Rob Copeland is a finance reporter, writing about Wall Street and the banking industry. More about Rob Copeland

Our Coverage of the 2024 Election

Presidential Race

President Biden and Donald Trump have agreed to two debates  on June 27 on CNN and Sept. 10 on ABC News, raising the likelihood of the earliest general-election debate  in modern history.

The early-debate gambit from Biden amounted to a public acknowledgment that he is trailing in his re-election bid , and a bet that an accelerated debate timeline will force voters to confront the possibility of Trump returning to power .

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s running mate, the Silicon Valley investor Nicole Shanahan, said that she had given another $8 million  to their independent campaign.

Biden’s Investments in Battlegrounds:  Biden’s economic policies have helped spur billions of dollars in new investments in Arizona and Georgia, yet Trump has maintained a significant lead over Biden in both states .

Warming to Trump:  In an about-face, big financiers on Wall Street, in Silicon Valley and elsewhere are increasingly on board for a second Trump term  after the first one alienated them.

Russian Disinformation:  Ahead of the election, Russian disinformation videos are trying to appeal to right-wing voters with fake messages about Biden , experts say.

Black Women in the Senate:  The Democratic Party has taken heat for not backing Black female candidates in statewide races. But in November, voters could double the number of Black women ever elected to the Senate .