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IMMIGRATION PROCESS
The immigration policy of Canada works towards maximizing the economic
and social benefits of migration to Canada by achieving annual immigration
targets; reuniting immigrant family members; selecting business immigrants
and other immigrants capable of adapting to the Canadian labour market;
admitting visitors and foreign students who stimulate the demand for
goods and services; and admitting temporary workers who fill skills gaps
in the Canadian labour market and who transfer occupational skills to
Canadian workers.
Permanent Visas
Federal Skilled Workers
Family Class Sponsorship
Business Class Immigration
Federal Skilled Workers
An applicant must meet the education, skills and training requirements
as per the selection grid as well as meeting Canadian work standards.
One may need assessment from professional bodies and educational institutions
and must also bridge the shortfall in qualifications and training depending
on the occupation. The major factors on which an individual is assessed
in order to immigrate to Canada is:
- Education
- Experience
- Language
- Age
- Adaptability
Applicants are required to clear background checks, medical examination
and meet the financial requirements. The IRPA gives the Citizenship
and Immigration Minister power to amend the laws as and when there
is a requirement keeping in mind the Canadian job and economy. One
would need proper guidance at all stages to succeed in Canada.
Rights and Obligations as a Permanent Resident of Canada
The permanent residents of Canada have the right to live, study and
work in Canada for as long as they remain permanent residents, and
are entitled to most social benefits accorded to Canadian citizens.
The permanent residents are entitled to apply for Canadian citizenship
after 3 years of obtaining permanent residency.
Family Class Immigration
Canadian citizens and permanent residents living
in Canada, 18 years of age or older, may sponsor close family members
who wish to immigrate to Canada. Sponsors must agree to support the family
member and accompanying dependents to help them settle in Canada.
Family members eligible for sponsorship are:
- Spouse (16 years old or older).
- Conjugal / Common-law Partner (16 years old or older).
- Parents/Grandparents.
- Dependent children, including adopted children.
- Children under the age of 18 whom the sponsor intends
to adopt.
- Brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces, or grandchildren
who are orphans, under the age of 18 and unmarried or not in a common-law
relationship.
- Any other relative if the sponsor has none of the above
family members either in Canada or abroad.
A dependent son or daughter is either:
be under the age of 22 and not a spouse or common-law
partner; or,
have depended substantially on the financial support
of a parent and have been continuously enrolled and in attendance as full-time
students in a post secondary institution accredited by the relevant government
authority since before the age of 22 (or since becoming a spouse or a
common-law partner, if they married or entered into a common-law relationship
before the age of 22); or,
have depended substantially on the financial
support of parents since before the age of 22 and unable to provide
for themselves
due to a medical condition.
Business Class
There are three types of applicants under
this category:
- Investors
- Entrepreneurs
- Self employed persons
Investors
The Immigrant Investor Program seeks to attract
experienced businesspersons and capital to Canada. Investors must
demonstrate business experience, a minimum net worth of CAD 800,000
(including spousal assets) and make an investment of CAD 400,000.
Under the federal system the prospective immigrant would qualify if
he owns a qualifying business in 2 years out of last 5 years.
The
investors are persons who have operated, controlled or directed a
successful business or commercial undertaking by their own endeavours.
Investors are required to make an investment of a minimum of $400,000
for at least five years in a project, which has been assessed by the
province as being of a significant benefit to its economy. This investment
has to be made prior to approval of immigration case and provinces
and territories secure the investment. Those who wish to take part
in the investor immigration program may live anywhere in Canada; and
is not determined by the location of their investment.
Entrepreneurs
The Entrepreneur Program seeks to attract experienced
businesspersons that will own and actively manage businesses in Canada
that will contribute
to the economy and create jobs. They must show net worth of CAD 3,00,000
(including spousal assets) and must satisfy 2 financial parameters out
of the following- employees, sales, net profit, equity /capital (in 2 years
out of last 5 years).
After landing in Canada as permanent residents, the
entrepreneurs are expected to establish a qualifying Canada business within
3 years of landing. CIC monitors establishment of qualifying business and
if the same is not established within the statuary time period, the immigrant
will have to go back to his home country. Entrepreneurs and their dependants
are admitted to Canada under specific conditions that are subsequently
monitored by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) after landing. The
venture must make significant contribution to the economy and must result
in creation or maintenance of employment opportunities for one or more
Canadian citizens or permanent residents, other than the entrepreneurs
and his/her dependents. The entrepreneur must also provide active and ongoing
participation in management of the business. In this category an applicant
is required to meet the condition of opening a successful business and
employing, at least, one Canadian citizen or a landed immigrant within
the first three years of landing in Canada.
Self-Employed
Self-employed persons must have the intention and ability to create their
own employment and make a significant contribution to the cultural, artistic
or athletic life of Canada, or, to create their own employment by purchasing
and managing a farm in Canada.
TEMPORARY VISAS
Work Permits
Persons seeking to work on a temporary basis in
Canada requires a Work Permit which is a document issued by the Canadian
Immigration authorities
allowing a foreign national to work in Canada for a specific employer,
at a specific job, and always for a limited time, usually one year or
less. In some cases, like jobs in the food industry, applicants have
to undergo a medical examination as a pre-condition.
To apply for a Work Permit, a job offer from a Canadian employer is required.
The job offer may or may not be approved by Human Resources Development
Canada. This is known as a job offer validation.
Study Permits
A study permit issued by Canadian Immigration Authorities allow a foreign
national to study in Canada for a limited time in a specified Canadian
educational institute. The applicant must have an acceptance letter from
a recognized educational institute in Canada and must have sufficient funds
for tuition and living costs. Sometimes applicants have to undergo medical
examinations. Study Permit holders must obtain a Canadian Visitor Visa
unless they are citizens of a visa exempt country.
Live- In Caregivers
This category applies to individuals who are qualified under certain requirements
to enter Canada as a Live-in Caregiver. The Live-in Caregiver provides
childcare, senior home support care or care of the disabled without supervision,
in a private household in Canada in which the person resides. Participants
who are selected under the Live-in Caregiver Program are allowed to apply
for permanent residence within the country if they have worked fulltime
for at least two years as a Live-in Caregiver in Canada.
Visitor Visa
Visitor's visas are issued to people who wish to enter Canada temporarily,
as tourists, temporary foreign workers or as students. All Visitors must
apply for and get this visa unless they are citizens of a visa exempt country.
There are basic requirements for issuance of a visitor's visa, like the
applicant must not have a criminal record, pose a security or a heath risk
and should have sufficient funds to support themselves during their stay
in Canada.
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