Canadian Permanent Residency
Personal immigration project from Morocco to Canada
Featured image courtesy of Unsplash and used only for display purposes.
Context
In late 2022, I decided to leave Morocco and build a future in Canada through the Express Entry permanent residence process. This life-changing personal project required navigating a complex, high-stakes immigration system with strict requirements, fixed deadlines, and sequential dependencies. I approached it as a structured project with clear phases spanning credential assessment, language testing, document preparation, medical examination, and final submission. In Q4 2023, I successfully landed in Canada as a permanent resident.
Methodology
The Canadian immigration process demanded a predictive (waterfall) approach with sequential phases and minimal flexibility. Each step—credential assessment, language exams, document gathering, medical examination—depended on successful completion of the previous one. Strict timelines and non-negotiable requirements necessitated meticulous planning, careful execution, and proactive stakeholder management with family and employer.
Process
I began by researching Express Entry eligibility criteria and documenting required steps. I submitted documents to World Education Services (WES) for Educational Credential Assessment and tracked evaluation status to completion.
For language requirements, I scheduled and completed both IELTS General Training and TCF Canada exams with strict preparation timelines. After receiving results, I submitted my Express Entry profile with ECA and language test credentials. My Comprehensive Ranking System score met the cutoff, and I received an Invitation to Apply (ITA) following an IRCC draw in Q1 2023.
Then, I collected and organized all supporting documentation: identity documents, employment reference letter, payslips, police certificate, and financial proofs. I completed an upfront medical exam with an IRCC-approved physician and uploaded all finalized documents to the IRCC portal after cross-checking each requirement.
Throughout the process, I regularly monitored application status on the IRCC portal, completed biometrics appointments, responded promptly to all IRCC correspondence, and submitted my passport for visa stamping upon final approval.
Stakeholder management was critical: I communicated plans and timelines to my family in Morocco to prepare them for my departure, and coordinated a smooth workplace transition by providing advance notice to my employer months before leaving.
Before and after landing, I documented research on job search strategies, housing, banking, and settling procedures as a newcomer to Canada.
Artifacts
- Comprehensive Project Checklist – Detailed task list with dependencies tracking every immigration stage.
- Personal Calendar – Deadline tracking for tests, medical exam, ECA timeline, biometrics, and key milestones.
- Document Management System – Structured folders with backups of all supporting documents organized by category.
- PR Application Journey Notes – Personal documentation of the application process, departure preparation, and pre/post-arrival procedures.
- Settlement Research Documentation – Compiled information on job search strategies, housing, banking, and essential newcomer resources in Canada.