How To Become A Permanent Resident In Canada

According to United Nations, Canada along with Australia are the countries, which receive most legal immigrants every year. In this article, I am going to talk about the different Canadian programs that allow to become a permanent resident in Canada. 

Each year, more than 200.000 people from arround the world become permanent residents  in Canada. Once authorized to enter in Canada as permanent residents, those people receive a permanent residence card and benefit of almost all of the rights Canadian citzens have, excepted the voting right. 

The process of obtaining a permanent residence in Canada is long and complex. It is also in a state of constant change due to various initiatives and modifications of foreign policy concerning the regulations.  And you ou can become a permanent resident if you belong to one of the six categories mentioned below:

1- Skilled worker class immigration:

Skilled worker class immigration applicants are evaluated based on their educational level, their ability to speak the language, their work experience, their age, their job contracts and their adaptability. Every factor is individually evaluated and the final score points determine if the applicant is suitable for the permanent resident status. The scale used to evaluate the candidates is from 0 to 100, with a required minimum of 67 points. 

There is also another measure used to determine candidate's suitability. The Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) also takes into account the criminal history of the individual if exists, the Canadian labor market, and other factors to determine the final result for the application.

2- Business class immigration: 

The business class category can be devided into 3 other categories:

A) The Investors:

They are asked to prove their experience as businessmen. They also have to present a financial capacity legally obtained worth of $C800,000 and to invest $C400,000 in the Canadian economy. 

B) The Entrepreneurs:

Like investors, entrepreneurs are also asked to demonstrate their experience in managing businesses and to mention any activity like if they possess a part or a percentage in a company. They also have to have a clear value of $C300,000, be able to check and to conduct businesses and to create at least one full-time job, without taking into account his, within three years of becoming a permanent resident, as well as to behave in a correct way with the Canadian residents. 

C) The independent or self-employed people:

Self-employed people must have some experience, the intention and the capacity to establish affairs, which will create, at least, an employment for themselves and which will make a significant contribution to the cultural activities and to the economic dynamism of Canada.

3- Family class immigration:

If you have one or several members of your close family, who have the status of permanent residents in Canada, these can help you to obtain a permanent residence too. About 30 % of all of the immigrants who come to Canada are introduced by members of their family. The Canadians are obliged by the government to help the new members coming to Canada during a period of 3 to 10 years to help them settle in Canada.

4- Provincial nomination:

If you intend to begin a new life in one of the various Canadian provinces, this process will help you in your selection. You, the applicant, are required to get in touch with the representative office of immigration in the chosen province and to apply for a nomination to the aforementioned province. After this nomination is made, you have to apply to the Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

5- Québec-selected immigration:

The province of Quebec made a special agreement with the federal government of Canada to choose those immigrants that fits with its immigration requirements. There are thus 6 different categories of those newcomers:

* Permanent workers

* Families

* Students - permanent immigration

* Temporary workers - permanent immigration

* Businessmen

* Political refugees

6- International adoption:

Permanent residents in Canada are authorized to adopt foreign children. The process is extremely long and laborious to protect the rights of the children and guarantee that the foster home is capable of receiving the child correctly. The Canadian families planning to adopt children must be able to raise them up until their majority, and are in the formal obligation to take best care of the child.

The procedures to get a permanent resident visa:

To start the process of obtaining a permanent resident visa, you need to get in touch with the closest consulate, the high commission or the embassy of Canada in your country or in the nearest country to you where there is a Canadian respresentation. In the first place, obtaining a permanent resident visa requires that you:

* Supply a medical certificate and police record.

* Complete a permanent resident visa application. 

* Pay your application fee. 

* Book an appointment to be interviewed by the representatives of immigration of Canada.

And according to the nature and category of your application, what follows can be required or not:

* Originals, copies and translations of the documents which support your request including: educational degrees, diplomas, certificates, documents of identification and\or a sponsor letter with relevant information. 

* Prove of sufficient Funds to support yourself during your stay in Canada.

*  Provide language test(s) results.

* Assessment test of your skills.

* Proof of refugee status.

* Other documentation or tests.

* Additional fees.

Different fees concerning permanent residency as of 2005:

The prices below are in Canadian dollars and are subject to frequent changes at the discretion of Citzenship and Immigration Canada.

 A- For Family class applicants:

* Sponsorship application ($75 per application)

* Main Applicant ($475) 

* Main Applicant, if less than 22 years and not a spouse or a partner of common-law partner ($75 including a dependent child of the sponsor, a child to be adopted, and an orphaned brother, sister, niece, nephew or grandchild.)

* A member of the family of the main applicant, who is of more than 22 years, or of less than 22 years and is a spouse or a partner of common-law partner ($550) 

* A member of family of the main applicant, who has less than 22 years old and is not a spouse or a partner of common-law  partner ($150)

Notice: the fees estimated for the main applicants and the members of the family the family classcategory are payable along with the sponsorship fees, when the sponsor fills in the sponsorship application.

B- For investor, the entrepreneur or the self-employed class applicants:

* Main applicant ($1.050) 

* A member of the family of the main applicant who is of 22 years or older, or is less than 22 years of age and is a spouse or a common-law partner ($550) 

* A member of the family of the main applicant who is of less than 22 years and is not a spouse or a common law partner ($150) 

C- For other classes of applicants:

* Main applicant ($550) 

* A member of the family of the main applicant who is at least 22 years old, a spouse or a common-law partner ($550) 

* A member of family of the main applicant who is less than 22 years old and who is not the spouse or a common-law partner ($150)

Categories: Canada