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Immigrating
to Canada - PART 1 of 2
Ever since the Presidential election in the USA, I have
been inundated with requests for immigration information
from American citizens. In that this site is primarily for
visitors to Canada, I am stretching the boundaries of my
mandate slightly to bring you this information, although
one could argue that there is a very fine line between a
long-term visitor and an immigrant.
Where do you start?
Having your heart set on moving to Canada is an
admirable goal, but there is a process that must be undertaken
and can take from weeks to months to complete. A good place
to start is with an on-line assessment tool that will give
you a clearer idea whether you will qualify to immigrate.
Moving to Canada involves more than just packing a bag and
arriving.
The immigration process is based on personal and professional
attributes that are given a numerical value: the higher
the number, the better the chances of immigration.
Part of the screening process is to ensure that the new
immigrant will have access to social support, which is one
reason for the language requirement. Another factor that
will enhance your chances of immigration success is having
family already in Canada who can sponsor you and assist
you when you get here. There are always exceptions to the
rules, but generally speaking, the Citizenship and Immigration
Canada (CIC) like to keep family together where ever possible.
Business Class
Some immigrants come to Canada with the intent
to be self-employed or with a substantial investment into
a business. These business class immigrants are welcome
to invest in Canada when they provide work for themselves
and at least one other Canadian in the process. By doing
so, they reduce the stress on our social safety net. Investors
must invest a minimum amount in approved projects in Canada.
CIC will act as an agent on behalf of the provinces and
territories, which will decide where to invest the money.
All investors must provide a minimum investment of $CDN400,000
and have a minimum net worth of $CDN800,000.
The Entrepreneur Program seeks to attract experienced persons
that will own and actively manage businesses in Canada that
will contribute to the economy and create jobs. Entrepreneurs
must demonstrate business experience, a minimum net worth
of CDN $300,000 and are subject to conditions upon arrival
in Canada.
Independent Immigrants
The considerable majority of immigrants are individuals
who do not have family members already here, or have a net
worth of $800,000. These individuals must satisfy the CIC
that they have an excellent chance of fitting into the Canadian
mosaic. In addition to qualifications already noted, individual
immigrants will have a much better chance at being approved
for immigration if their occupation is in high demand, and
if they have pre-arranged employment.
Points
All people applying to immigrate to Canada are
assessed according to what is called the selection system
that weighs specific success factors. If you do not score
67 points on the scale, it is unlikely you will qualify
as an independent immigrant, and may have to seek other
means to enter Canada. The points system is based on:
… Education
… Language ability
… Work experience
… Age
… Arranged employment
… Personal suitability / Adaptability
Of these items, you will be assessed mainly on your qualifications,
skills and experience in the occupation you wish to have
in Canada. If you do not have at least one year's experience
in your occupation in your home country, Immigration Canada
may not consider the occupation as being valid.
Even if you are good at your job in your own country, you
have to meet Canadian standards for that occupation before
it will be considered. For example, an engineer from Saudi
Arabia may meet the Canadian standards, while and engineer
from Kenya may not (or vice-versa). Equivalent standards
are measured by education, training and experience as opposed
to job titles, which can differ between countries.
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