Advice for People Emigrating to Canada
If you want to live in Canada, you can apply to become a permanent resident. Other than visiting, working there temporarily or studying at a Canadian school or university, emigrating means you will have the right to stay in the country indefinitely. As a permanent resident you are also allowed to work in Canada. The government offers six possible classifications: skilled workers and professionals; Canadian experience class; investors, entrepreneurs and self-employed people; provincial nominees; sponsoring family members; and Quebec-selected skilled workers.
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Skilled Workers and Professionals
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Based on criteria such as education and work experience, skilled workers and professionals can emigrate to Canada. You are eligible to apply if you either have found employment, you have been living in Canada for one year legally or you have at least one year experience in certain occupations. Immigrants coming into the country this way are also referred to as "federal skilled workers," but this does not mean that you have to work for the government.
"Skilled workers are people who are selected as permanent residents based on their ability to become economically established in Canada," Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), the department in charge of immigration, says on its homepage.
Canadian Experience Class
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Temporary foreign workers and students who graduated in Canada can become immigrants through the Canadian Experience Class, which is a relatively easy process, according to Citizenship and Immigration Canada,
Investors, Entrepreneurs and Self-Employed People
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Men or women interested in starting their own business in Canada can apply for immigration either as investor, entrepreneur or as a self-employed worker. This category caters to "people expected to make a C$400,000 investment or to own and manage businesses in Canada," according to Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
Provincial Nominees
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Some people emigrate to Canada after being nominated by one of the country's provinces. Each province establishes its own criteria about whom it wants to sponsor. Factors the province looks at include occupation, business plans, family ties and others. As a first step, you will have to apply to your province of choice, which in return will compare your profile to its immigration needs. After being nominated, you will still have to apply for permanent residence to Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
Sponsoring Family Members
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As a permanent resident, you can sponsor immediate family members (spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, dependent child, parent or grandparent) to also be able to live, study and work in Canada. However, you are financially responsible for your family member, and this person cannot ask for financial assistance from the Canadian government.
Quebec-selected Skilled Workers
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Quebec selects possible skilled workers who will adapt well to living in Quebec based on its own criteria. Your first step is to obtain a Quebec certificate of selection, which documents that the Government of Quebec has accepted you for immigration to Quebec. Then you can continue with your application.
Emigrate to Canada: How It's Done
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Citizenship and Immigration Canada lists all immigration categories in detail who can apply and how it is done. Also on this site is the "Working in Canada Tool," (see Resources) which helps you to make an informed decision about where to live in Canada, depending on your needs.
Another resource that can help you live the Canadian dream is an attorney who specializes in Canadian immigration law and who can guide you through your application process.
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