Wondering why the immigration application for that qualified Qatari professional was rejected? There are many reasons that very qualified candidates get rejected. The immigration authorities do not simply review the professional background of a candidate. They review much more than that. The candidate should be prepared to present that the work experience is in line with the immigration requirements, that the work a candidate claims to do matches the occupation the candidate claims in the application, and that the application is supported by the necessary and adequate documents.
This is of particular significance for those applying from Qatar. Many candidates move across different employers in the Gulf countries of the Cooperation Council, which can cause challenges in employment documentation, and therefore such candidates should ensure that they have reviewed their documentation in detail before applying as it can help avoid time consuming and costly challenges post application.
Case in point, one looks at the immigration profile of an individual that lives and works in Qatar with a degree, a considerable amount of professional experience (10-12 years) and a strong professional track record.
You expect that individual to check all the boxes for the skilled immigration application.
When such applications are turned down, the first reaction is.
“How can a qualified candidate with this type of profile get turned down?”
The reason is often because of missing pieces.
Immigration officers look to see if the candidates fit the parameters of the immigration program, and, of course, if the candidates properly substantiate their applications with supporting documents.
Even the best profiles can have their share of issues.
A good profile does help, but not as a replacement for the law.
1. Being Qualified and Being Eligible Are Different Things
One of the first things applicants should know.
For instance, we have the case of a 38-year-old degree holding professional in Doha with 12 years of management experience. From an employment perspective, that is an excellent profile.
For a Skilled Migration Program, however, a host of issues may come into play: age, language, occupation, work experience recognition, points, nomination, etc.
Thus, the applicant, a highly accomplished professional in his field, may still not qualify for a particular Immigration pathway.
This is why the assessment should be done before the application, not after money and time have been spent.
2. Your Job Title Doesn’t Prove Work Experience
This is especially pertinent to the professional community in Qatar, as well as other countries in the GCC.
Company job title naming systems can vary.
A person called a Project Manager may not really have management responsibilities. The Sales Manager may be the Business Developer. An Accountant may have a broad remit in Finance.
Immigration department can assess the role.
Choosing an occupation based on a job title can present an issue if the job title shows responsibility which is not really the case. Anything shown as experience should be consistent across the CV, reference letters, and attached employment evidence.
3. Strong CVs and Strong Immigration Evidence Are Not Identical
Your CV is designed to appeal to an employer and therefore may be somewhat brief and even shine in a promotional way.
Immigration documentation, on the other hand, will have its own purpose.
An Immigration officer will want to see paperwork outlining where you worked, how long you were employed, your job title and the duties you performed. Depending on the case and the program, there may be a need for other documents as well.
In this regard, some strong applicants run into some issues.
A CV might say:
“Managed major infrastructure projects across Qatar.”
While this may seem impressive, it will not provide enough specificity for the job being claimed.
Immigration applications require evidence, not creative writing.
4. Employment Documentation May Not Match
Due to their career, some Qatar-based applicants have complex employment records. One individual may have worked in India, Qatar, UAE and Saudi Arabia across a 10 or 15 year period.
Old employers may have closed. HR may only provide the most basic certificates of experience. Job titles may be different across contract, records related to the QID, salary records, and letters of reference.
While these do not automatically mean an application gets refused, inconsistencies will generate questions.
This is why applicants should not be frustrated when asked by a consultant to provide an old contract, evidence of salary, or other clarification for a previous position.
Sometimes one additional document will explain an issue that an immigration officer would otherwise need to question.
5. Claiming Points Erroneously
While online calculators for skilled immigration systems appear to be straightforward, a score becomes meaningless when points cannot be validated in accordance with the program rules, making every point a claim to be defended.
Points are often overclaimed in different ways:
– qualifying work experience,
– education equivalency,
– language points,
– points for a spouse, or
– other program-specific factors.
The difference is often negligible.
Being entitled to claim points that, if awarded, would have made an application successful, can leave an applicant with an apparently strong application, when in fact it is weak.
It is advisable to have a professional verify the score rather than producing the maximum possible score.
6. Missing, Inconsistent or Incorrect Information Weaken The Case
Not all refusals occur due to major problems.
In some cases the problem is indeed very minor: a missing supporting document, inconsistent dates, incomplete travel history, an unexplained overlapping period of education and employment, or supporting documents that do not prove what the applicant says they prove.
A more serious mistake is enhancing the applicant’s profile to strengthen their visa application by amending or living supporting documents and/or obtaining supporting documents that do not reflect the applicant’s history.
Information provided must be truthful and capable of being supported.
Frankness, explaining the unexplained, is generally better than trying to hide it.
7. Changes In The Immigration Landscape While You Plan
Skilled migration is a dynamic process.
Governments can alter their priorities on selection, invitations, occupation lists, programs, criteria, and the levels of business planning they engage in.
The Qatar Researcher who started research on immigration several months ago may no longer be seeing accurate information on an old website or from a friend.
Just because your colleague received their PR in the same occupation, doesn’t mean you will get the same result too.
The timing, evidence and personal profile can all be different.
What can Applicants do Before Applying?
A great application starts with a slightly uncomfortable truth…address the weaknesses before focusing on the strengths.
Confirm your occupation and duties. Check the points, the employment dates on your CV and supporting documents, check qualifications, language and other results.
Most importantly, when your immigration consultant starts asking you a thousand questions, tell them the truth…they may be trying to identify an issue and help you get an explanation or a supporting document before your application reaches an immigration official.
The goal is to avoid surprises and gaps. The goal is to make your application accurate and complete.
Final Thoughts
Being qualified will not guarantee you success, refusal can occur for many reasons having nothing to do with your professional status.
Successful skilled immigration is an evidence based process.
For professionals in Qatar evaluating Canada, Australia or other skilled migration countries, the right question to ask isn’t:
“Am I a strong case?”
The correct question is:
“Am I fulfilling the requirements of this particular program? Can I substantiate each section?”
The former is more likely to resolve challenges that may arise later.
Are you planning to consider a Skilled Migration from Qatar?
MIS Consultants can assess your qualification in light of your background and the supporting documents prior to your decision about proceeding.
First, assess your eligibility based on your documented information. Do not assume that the qualification will get you across the line.
Commonly asked Questions
1. Is a refusal possible in a case of a highly qualified applicant?
Yes. Qualifications are just one of the many components. An applicant is also expected to satisfy the requirements and provide sufficient evidence for the information and points claimed.
2. Is it possible for a CV to lead to an immigration refusal?
A CV typically is not a deal-breaker; however, contradictions between your CV and supporting employment evidence can be problematic. Your employment history should be consistent with the dates, positions, and the nature of the work you performed.
3. What is the significance of employment reference letters?
For pathways that require qualifying work experience, employment evidence can corroborate the nature and the extent of the applicant’s employment. The exact evidence that is required is contingent on the immigration program and the applicant’s specific case.
4. Do I have the flexibility to define my job title from my time working in Qatar to select my skilled occupation?
Probably not. Job titles differ in different countries and are assigned by employers. You should assess the duties as well as the other job requirements, as opposed to solely relying on the name that is printed on your contract or business card.
5. Can you provide an example of how points can lead to a refusal?
Of course. If an applicant cites points that are unjustifiable and those points influence eligibility or selection, then it can result in the application being refused. Those points should be validated against the program rules and supporting evidence.
6. Does a refusal of my previous application mean I cannot apply for the program?
Probably not. The implications of the previous refusal will depend on the reason it was refused and the rules of the new program. It is advisable to review the reason for the refusal prior to applying for the program.
