Canadian Immigration - Canada Immigration Visa - How to Immigrate to Canada

Global Canadian Immigration Services

ABOUT CANADA

Canada is the second largest country in the world in area (after Russia), but one of the most sparsely populated. Canada occupies roughly two-fifths of the North American continent. Canada is bounded on the north by the Arctic Ocean, on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, on the south by twelve States of the United States, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean & the U.S. state of Alaska. The national capital for the ten provinces and three territories of Canada is Ottawa located in the province of Ontario. Canada's official languages are both English and French. For a clear view of the Canadian map with all ten provinces and three territories with Links to their tourist sites, click here.

Map of Canada

Click on the various Provinces on the map to visit their tourist sites.

Click on the Various Provinces

This Canadian map has been taken from: http://www.pch.gc.ca/ceremonial-symb/english/prv.html

WHO CAN IMMIGRATE TO CANADA?

Generally speaking, anyone from anywhere around the world who meets the immigration requirements and selection criteria is qualified to apply to immigrate to Canada.

WHY IMMIGRATE TO CANADA?

Canada has a long tradition of welcoming immigrants. Every year, Canada welcomes thousands of new immigrants. Coming to Canada as an immigrant is an exciting oppurtunity. United Nations (UN) has rated Canada the best country in the world for overall quality of life for the past five years. Canadians enjoy a comfortable standard of living, good health care, social security, a high level of education, and a relatively safe and clean environment. "The Charter of Rights and Freedoms" entrenched in the Canadian constitution guarantees such fundamental rights as equality, mobility and legal rights, as well as freedom of speech, assembly and association.

IMMIGRATION CATEGORIES

Federal Skilled Workers (Independent Immigrants)

Family Class Sponsorship

Business Class Immigration

Employment Authorization

Federal Skilled Workers (Independent Immigrants)
Most independent immigrants are skilled workers, who are expected to have the skills, education, work experience, language ability and other qualities needed to participate in the Canadian labour market.

*Note
You may also be called to attend an interview in order for the Visa Officer to assess your personal suitability before the issuance of your visa.

Personal suitability has to do with the degree to which a person and his/her family are deemed able to settle successfully in Canada. It refers to a person's adaptability, motivation, initiative and resourcefulness.

For a free Assessment of your eligibility for Immigration to Canada, Click here

Funds Required to Settle in Canada
All independent applicants must also prove that they have enough money to support themselves and their dependents for at least six months after they arrive in Canada. The Government of Canada provides no financial support to new independent immigrants. You should research the cost of living in the region of Canada where you intend to live. You should take with you as much money as possible to make your initial establishment easier. You will be required to show proof of your funds.

Your Rights and Obligations as a Permanent Resident of Canada
You and your dependents have the right to live, study and work in Canada for as long as you remain permanent residents, and are entitled to most social benefits accorded to Canadian citizens. When you have met citizenship requirements (3 years after obtaining permanent residency), you may apply for Canadian citizenship and a Canadian passport.

There are a few limitations on permanent residents:

You cannot vote in certain elections.
You may be ineligible for certain jobs requiring high-level security clearances.
As permanent resident, you also have the same legal obligations as Canadians, such as paying taxes and respecting other laws.
If you or your dependents commit serious crimes, you or your dependents risk being deported from Canada.

You remain a permanent resident until you become a Canadian citizen or abandon Canada as your place of residence. You may be considered to have abandoned Canada if you have frequent and/or lengthy absences from the country. If you travel to Canada to present your Immigrant Visa to obtain permanent residence and then return to live in your home country indefinitely, you will lose your permanent resident status.

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.

Family Class provides for equal treatment under the law for common-law couples of the same or opposite sex by expanding the family class to include the term "common-law partner".

Under the Family Class Sponsorship, the definition of Common-law partner is a person who is living in a conjugal relationship with another person for a period of at least one year. A Conjugal partner is a person residing outside Canada who have maintained with another person a conjugal relationship for at least one year, but have not cohabited with each other.

An individual in a conjugal relationship for at least one year of a person, but who is unable to cohabit with the person, due to persecution or any form of penal control, may be considered as a common-law partner of that person.

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 a parents since before the age of 22 and unable to provide for themselves due to a medical condition.

Click here to obtain your Do-It-Yourself Immigration package!

Business Class Immigration
There are three types of business immigrants to Canada:

Canada welcomes successful business people seeking new opportunities and challenges. The Business Immigration Program is designed to encourage and facilitate the admission of these individuals. In addition to providing excellent business opportunities. Canada is a multi-cultural country that boasts one of the world's highest standards of living, with excellent health, education, and social systems. The Canadian government welcomes business immigrants and offers services to help immigrants start business and settle in Canada.

Exploratory trip

Both the federal and provincial governments strongly advise Business Immigrants to make an exploratory trip to familiarize themselves with the place and get a more realistic sense of the opportunities and challenges of their business project in the province that they want to start business and settle with their families.

There are three types of Business Immigrants to Canada:

A) Investors
In order to be eligible as an Investor under the Business class immigration, applicants must have a net worth of at least $800,000 Canadian dollars. (You may also include your spouse's assets when assessing your net worth, if applicable). The applicant will be required to make an investment of $400,000 Canadian dollars in approved projects in Canada. The provincial government use the funds for job creation and economic development. The full amount of the investment (without interest) is repaid to the investor after five years. The return of the investment is fully guaranteed by participating provinces and territories. Provinces and territories secure the investment against the loss.

Many potential Business Immigrants, though able to meet the program's net worth requirements, may have difficulty raising the liquid assets required ($400,000 CDN) in a short period of time or they do not wish to tie up their money for a period of five years while receiving no interest on the transaction. As a result, the Investor has the option to receive a loan from a financial institution in Canada for up to 70% of the investment. So, the Immigrant Investor deposits $120,000 CDN. (Approx. $75,000 US), borrows the remaining of the $280,000 CDN and nothing is paid back at the end of the term. The Investor's deposit of about $120,000 CDN. (Approx. $75,000 US) is used up by the financial bank to pay the interest charges for the value of about $280,000 CDN loan for the five year term. No monthly payments or interest is required to be paid by the Investor for the loan of about $280,000 CDN. In effect the cost of the program would be about $120,000 CDN. (Approx. $75,000 US) to the investor.

For Business applicants who wants to participate on the investor program to obtain their permanent residency in Canada, and do not wish to invest the required amount of $400,000CAN for any reason, our company can arrange for you to obtain a loan of $280,000 CDN from a Canadian Bank or Financial Institution in Canada, so the cost of the program will be about $120,000 CDN (approx. $75,000 US) to you.

Besides the net worth requirement of $800,000 CDN, the Investors will be required to prove that they have significant business experience.

The Quebec government manages its own immigration programs providing for Independent Business applicants selection rules. In many respects, the province of Quebec has the most secured investor program, as government regulations are stricter.

"Business experience", in respect of an investor, means

the management of a qualifying business and the control of a percentage of equity of the qualifying business for at least two years in the period beginning five years before the date of application for a permanent resident visa and ending on the day a determination is made in respect of the application, or
the management of at least five (5) full-time job equivalents per year in a business for at least two years in the period beginning five years before the date of application for a permanet resident visa and ending on the day a determination is made in respect of the application.

"Net worth", in respect of an investor, means the fair market value of all of the assets of the investor and their spouse or common-law partner minus the fair market value of all of their liabilities.

"Qualifying business", means a business other than a business operated primarily for the purpose of deriving investment income such as interest, dividends or capital gains -- for which, in each of any two years in the period beginning five years before the date of application for a permanent resident visa and ending on the date a determination is made in respect of the application, there is documentary evidence of any two of the following:

that the percentage of equity multiplied by the number of full-time job equivalents is equal to or greater than two full-time job equivalents per year;
that the percentage of equity multiplied by the total annual sales is equal to or greater than CDN $500,000;
that the percentage of equity multiplied by the net income in the year is equal to or greater than CDN $50,000; and
that the percentage of equity multiplied by the net assets at the end of the year is equal to or greater than CDN $125,000.

"Full-time job equivalent", means 1,950 hours paid employment.

"Net assets", in respect of a qualifying business or qualifying Canadian business, means the assets of the business, minus the liabilities of the business, plus shareholder loans made to the business by a foreign national and their spouse or common-law partner.

"Net income", means in respect of a qualifying business or qualifying Canadian business, means the after tax profit or loss of the business plus remuneration by the business to a foreign national and their spouse or common-law partner.

"Percentage equity" means:

in respect of a sole proprietorship, 100 per cent of the equity of the sole proprietorship controlled by a foreign national or their spouse or common-law partner;
in respect of a corporation, the percentage of the issued and outstanding voting shares of the capital stock of the corporation controlled by a foreign national or their spouse or common-law partner; and
in respect of a partnership or joint venture, the percentage of the profit or loss of the partnership or joint venture to which the foreign national or their spouse or common-law partner is entitled.

Advantage of the Applicant under the Investor program:

Investors are not required to start a business in Canada as in the case of the Entrepreneur program;
Investments are fully guaranteed by provinces and territories that participate in the program;
The provinces and territories control the investment during the five year lock-in period; and
No immigration "terms and conditions" are imposed upon admission as in the case of the Entrepreneur program.

The Investor program is better suited for people who are obliged to constantly travel to and from Canada as soon as permanent residence is established and do not wish to be subjected to reporting immigration requirements as is the case with the Entrepreneur program.

For a free assessment of your eligibility for permanent residency in Canada under the Business Class Immigration, Click Here

B) Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneur must have business experience. They must have managed a qualifying business and controlled a percentage equity of a qualifying business for at least two (2) years in the period beginning five (5) years before the date of application. The entrepreneur class applicant must have a legally obtained minimum net worth of at least $300,000 and are required to sign a statement that they intend and will be able to meet the conditions or permanent residence.

Features of the Entrepreneur Program:

A minimum net worth requirement of $300,000;
A requirement that within three years of becoming a permanent resident, the entrepreneur must have controlled and have actively managed a qualifying Canadian business for a period of at least one year, and that the business must have created employment opportunities for others; and
All family members are admitted under the same conditions as the principal applicant; the conditions are removed once the entrepreneur satisfies the conditions.

To qualify as an Entrepreneur, the applicant must be able to meet the following conditions:

An entrepreneur who becomes a permanent resident must meet the following conditions:
- the entrepreneur must control a percentage of the equity of a qualifying Canadian business equal to or greater than 33 1/3 percent;
- the entrepreneur must provide active and ongoing management of the qualifying Canadian business; and
- the entrepreneur must create at least one incremental full-time job equivalent for Canadian citizens or permanent residents, other than the entrepreneur and their family members.
The entrepreneur must meet the conditions for a period of at least one year within the period of three years after the day on which the entrepreneur becomes a permanent resident.
An entrepreneur who becomes a permanent resident must provide to an officer evidence of compliance with the conditions within the period of three years after the day on which the entrepreneur becomes a premenent resident.
An entrepreneur must provide to an officer:
- not later than six (6) months after the day on which the entrepreneur becomes a permanent resident, their residential address and telephone number; and
- during the period beginning 18 months after and ending 24 months after the day on which the entrepreneur becomes a permanent resident, evidence of their efforts to comply with the conditions.

"Business experience", in respect of an entrepreneur, means the management of a qualifying business and the control of a percentage of equity of the qualifying business for at least two years in the period beginning five years before the date of application for a permanent resident visa and ending on the day a determination is made in respect of the application.

"Net worth", in respect of an entrepreneur, means the fair market value of all of the assets of the entrepreneur and their spouse or common-law partner minus the fair market value of all of their liabilities.

"Minimum net worth" means:

in respect of an entrepreneur, CDN $300,000; and
in respect of an entrepreneur selected by a province, the minimum net worth required by the laws of the province.

"Qualifying Canadian business" means a business operated in Canada by an entrepreneur -- other than a business primarily for the purpose of deriving investment income, such as interest, dividends or capital gains -- for which there is in any year within the period of three years after the day the entreprenuer becomes a permanent resident documentary evidence of any two of the following:

the percentage of equity multiplied by the number of full-time job equivalents is equal to or greater than two full-time job equivalents per year;
the percentage of equity multiplied by the total annual sales is equal to or greater than CDN $250,000;
the percentage of equity multiplied by the net income in the year is equal to or greater than CDN $25,000; and
the percentage of equity multiplied by the net assets at the end of the year is equal to or greater than CDN $125,000.

"Full-time job equivalent" means 1,950 hours of paid employment.

"Net assets", in respect of a qualifying business or a qualifying Canadian bisiness, means the assets of the business, minus the liabilities of the business, plus shareholder loans made to the business by a foreign national and their spouse or common-law partner.

"Net income", in respect of a qualifying business or a qualifying Canadian busines, means the after profit or loss of the business plus remuneration by the busines to a foreign national and their spouse or common-law partner.

"Percentage of equity" means:

in respect of a sole proprietorship, 100 per cent of the equity of the sole proprietorship controlled by a foreign national or their spouse or common-law partner;
in respect of a corporation, the percentage of the issued and outstanding voting shares of the capital stock of the corporation controlled by a foreign national or their spouse or common-law partner; and
in respect of a partnership or joint venture, the percentage of the profit or loss of the partnership or joint venture to which a foreign national or their spouse or common-law partner is entitled.

For a free assessment of your eligibility for permanent residency in Canada under the Business Class Immigration, Click Here

C) Self-Employed
Self-employed immigrants must have relevant experience and have the intention and ability to be self-employed in Canada and to make a significant contribution to specified economic activities in Canada. Other business immigrants with more generic business abilities will be required either to meet the entrepreneur or investor definitions, or to qualify as skilled workers or be selected as provincial nominees.

"Relevant experience" in respect of a self-employed person means at least two (2) years of one of the following types of experience in the period beginning five years before the date of application for a permanent resident visa and ending on the day a determination is made in respect of the application, as follows,

self-employment in cultural activities or in athletics,
participation at a world-class level in cultural activities or athletics, or
farm management experience.

"Specified economic activities" in respect of a self-employed person means cultural activities, athletics or the purchase and management of a farm.

Features of the Self-employed Program:

No immigration "terms and conditions" are imposed on this class.
Self-employed immigrants must have the experience, intention and ability to establish a business that will, at a minimum, create an employment opportunity for themselves and that will make a significant contribution to cultural activities or athletics in Canada, or to purchase and manage a farm in Canada.

For a free assessment of your eligibility for permanent residency in Canada under the Business Class Immigration, Click Here

Selection Criteria

To be selected as a Business Immigrant, you must meet first the definition of the business class in which you are applying under (investor, entrepreneur or self-employed person). If you successfully meet the definition, you are then assessed against five (5) selection factors (age, education, official languages, experience and adaptability). The pass mark for all three (3) classes of business is 35. The maximum possible score for each class is 100.

Entrepreneurs and investors are assessed under five selection factors: (relevant experience, age, education, language abilities, and adaptability).

Self-employed applicants must meet the definition of a Self-employed category as described above. Self-employed immigrants will be evaluated against a similar selection criteria point system applicable to their circumstances.

For a free assessment of your eligibility for permanent residency in Canada under the Business Class immigration, Click Here.

Employment Authorization

Live-in Caregiver Program
This category applies to individuals who are qualified under certain requirements to enter Canada as a Live-in Caregiver. The Live-in Caregiver provides without supervision, in a private household in Canada in which the person resides, child care, senior home support care or care of the disabled.

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.

For more information about the Live-in Caregiver Program, please contact us and we will mail you a job application along with all the requirements and qualifications.

Temporary Resident Visa/Study Permit

If you are planning to visit Canada as a tourist, business traveller, student or visiting family in Canada, please click here to obtain your Do-It-Yourself Immigration package!