FAMILY CLASS IMMIGRATION

Family re-unification is so fundamental to Canadian Immigration law that it is stated as an objective in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act of Canada. The concept "family member" is limited by its definition in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations. Some of the family members that you may be able to sponsor for permanent residence include:

✓ Sponsor your Spouse / Parents     Application Checklist
✓ Sponsor your Common-law Partner

ECONOMIC IMMIGRATION

Many immigrants to Canada are accepted based on their ability to become economically established in Canada. Generally speaking, business applicants have to prove business experience and must have a certain legally acquired net worth, and workers have to prove work experience. Depending on the category applicants are assessed on many other criteria as well:

✓ Canadian Experience Class Info
✓ Provincial Nomination
✓ Business Immigration Application    Checklist
✓ Immigrant Investor Program Info
✓ Entrepreneur Program Info
✓ Self-Employed Persons Program Info

INVESTOR CATEGORY

Applicants in the investor category require the management experience of a qualified business or the management of five full time employees and a net worth of $800,000.00. The applicant will deposit the sum of $400,000.00 with the Government of Canada for the period of five years. The full deposit will be refunded  without interest after five years.

If the applicant is unable to come up with the required deposit of $400,000.00,  another option is to obtain a loan from a bank or financial institution. Currently the loan fees are between $120,000.00 to $130,000.00. Farmers can also qualify under this program, This program is very expedient. An applicant can acquire permanent residence for his/herself and their immediate family within a year.

QUEBEC SELECTED IMMIGRATION

Quebec is responsible for selecting immigrants who wish to settle in Quebec. Find out how to apply to be selected to settle in Quebec  Info

TEMPORARY RESIDENTS

Generally speaking this includes any person who comes to Canada for a legal temporary purpose and is granted status as a temporary resident of Canada. Canadian Immigration laws have fairly recently changed to make it easier for those workers or students who have certain work experience or have graduated from approved courses of study in Canada to become permanent residents:

✓ Work Permits Application    Checklist
✓ Study Permits Application
✓ Extend your Stay in Canada or Restore your Status
✓ Permanent Residence
✓ Skilled Workers Application
✓ Self Assessment Test for Skilled Workers Test
✓ Provincial Nominees Info 
✓ Temporary Resident VISA
✓ Refugee Claims
✓ Service Canada Applications for Labour Market Opinion Confirmations
✓ Arranged Job Offers

SKILLED WORKER CATEGORY

✓ Education--25 Points Max.
✓ Language--24 Points Max.
✓ Experience--21 Points Max.
✓ Age--10 Points Max.
✓ Arranged Employment--10 Points Max.
✓ Adaptability--10 Points Max.

Successful applicants have to obtain 67 points out of 100 points

IAD APPEALS

If you have sponsored any member of family class (spouse/parents) and your case has been refused by the VISA office overseas, you have the right to an appeal. Our office can assist you, to file and present your case before the Immigration Appeal Board.

Business Immigration - Permanent Resident

Canada seeks to promote economic growth and opportunity by attracting individuals who can contribute financially to our economy. You may qualify as a business class immigrant in three ways: as an investor, as an entrepreneur, or if you are self-employed. Each of these categories are discussed below.

Self-Employed category

The self-employed immigration category requires that you have an intention and ability to create your own employment in Canada, and you must make a significant contribution to the cultural, artistic, or athletic life in Canada, or purchase and manage a farm in Canada.

You must have been self-employed in cultural activities (such as acting, music, writing, art and so forth) or in athletics, or have competed at the world level in athletics.

In all cases, you must be able to support yourself and any of your dependents. You must have sufficient net worth, experience and/or artistic qualifications.

Family class category

If you have a relative who is either a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, he or she may sponsor you for a permanent resident visa. The applicant must be known to, and related to the sponsor in the following ways:

✓ spouse, common-law or conjugal partner 16 years of age or older;
✓ parent and grandparent;
✓ dependent children, including adopted children;
✓ children under 18 years of age whom you intend to adopt;
✓ children under guardianship;
✓ brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces or grandchildren who are orphans; under the age of 18 and not married or in a common-law relationship; or
✓ you may also sponsor one relative of any age if you do not have an aunt, uncle or family member from the list above.

A son or daughter is dependent when the child:

✓ is under the age of 22 and does not have a spouse or common-law partner;
✓ is a full time student and is substantially dependent on a parent for financial support since before the age of 22, or since becoming a spouse or common-law partner (if this happened before age 22); or
✓ is financially dependent on a parent since before the age of 22 because of a disability.

A sponsor must demonstrate financial ability to provide for the essential needs of the immigrant and any dependents. A sponsor will have to sign an agreement with the government to provide for the essential needs of the immigrant for a period between 3 and 10 years (depending on their age and relationship to the sponsor). Legal action can be taken against the sponsor if he or she fails to meet his or her obligations to support the immigrant.

A sponsor must be at least 18 years of age, a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.

Self-Employed category

The self-employed immigration category requires that you have an intention and ability to create your own employment in Canada, and you must make a significant contribution to the cultural, artistic, or athletic life in Canada, or purchase and manage a farm in Canada.

You must have been self-employed in cultural activities (such as acting, music, writing, art and so forth) or in athletics, or have competed at the world level in athletics.

In all cases, you must be able to support yourself and any of your dependents. You must have sufficient net worth, experience and/or artistic qualifications.

Study in Canada

Canada is a popular place to study. Over 130,000 students come to Canada to study every year, and many more come to study English or French. Canadian schools are first class and the environment is welcoming and safe. You can join individuals from all over the world for a unique educational experience.

A study permit is only required for educational programs lasting 6 months or more. However, you should consider obtaining a study permit anyway, in case you want to continue to study past 6 months. A study permit will also let you work part-time on campus if you wish.

In order to obtain a study permit, you must provide an original letter (not a copy) of acceptance from the educational institution where you will study. The letter must include details of the courses you will be taking and must specify the length of the educational program.

Citizens of these countries will also require a Temporary Resident Visa, in addition to a study permit in order to study in Canada.

In Canada, educational institutions set all entrance and fee requirements. Click here for a comprehensive list of universities, colleges, private training institutions and English language training in Canada.

Visit Canada

Every year more than 35 million people visit Canada. Canada welcomes these visitors as tourists, students or temporary workers. In order to visit Canada, you may need a medical examination if you plan to stay over 6 months. You will need a valid passport, and you will need a temporary resident visa if you are from one of these countries. If you are not from one of the previous countries, you will not need a visa to visit Canada.

Canadian work or study experience and permanent residence

If you have worked or studied in Canada, you may qualify for the Canadian Experience Class. In order to apply for permanent residence under the Canadian Experience Class, you must:

✓ plan to live outside the province of Quebec
✓ be either:
✓ a temporary foreign worker with at least two years of full-time (or equivalent) skilled work experience in Canada, or
✓ a foreign graduate from a Canadian post-secondary institution with at least one year of full-time (or equivalent) skilled work experience in Canada
✓ have gained your experience in Canada with the proper work or study authorization
✓ apply while working in Canada – or – within one year of leaving your job in Canada

According to the Canadian National Occupational Classification (NOC), skilled work experience means:

✓ Skill Type 0 (managerial occupations) or
✓ Skill Level A (professional occupations) or
✓ Skill Level B (technical occupations and skilled trades)

Your application will be assessed on two requirements if you apply as a temporary foreign worker:

✓ your work experience and
✓ your ability in English or French.

If you apply as a graduate of a Canadian post-secondary educational institution with Canadian work experience, it will be assessed using the above requirements, as well as your education.

Provincial fast-tracking programs

In order to address highly-skilled labour needs in different provinces, there are special provincial programs designed to bring foreign individuals with specific skills into the province quickly, often within a few months (versus two years or more through the normal immigration process). Depending on the province in which you wish to reside, you may or may not need a job offer from an employer in advance. You may qualify if you have advanced skills and training in information technology, the aerospace sector, skilled trades, and other areas, or if you have considerable experience and net worth operating your own business. Currently, the following provinces offer special ‘fast-track’ programs for skilled immigrants:

✓ Alberta
✓ Manitoba
✓ Newfoundland and Labrador
✓ Prince Edward Island
✓ Yukon
✓ British Columbia
✓ New Brunswick
✓ Nova Scotia
✓ Saskatchewan