Canada’s Immigration Categories || VO Visas

 Canada’s Immigration Categories || VO Visas 

The recent announcement that Canada will resume Express Entry invitations for all candidates starting in July is good news for those whose immigration plans have been put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, Express Entry is only one way to immigrate to Canada, and with so many routes, it can be difficult to know where to start. Understanding Canada's immigration categories is a good first step.

Economic Class

Economy class is Canada's largest source of immigration. Those who qualify for one of the more than 100 pathways are considered to be able to make the greatest contribution to the Canadian economy and to integrate more easily into the Canadian labour market.

Express Entry

The most important immigration route for federal economy class is called Express Entry. There are three programs through the Fast Track:

·         The Federal Skilled Worker Program is open to all applicants with certain language, educational and professional experience. Work experience is classified using the National Occupational Classification system. This system is used to determine if a candidate is eligible for the economy class immigration program. Each occupation is assigned a code and assigned a skill level.

·         The Federal Skilled Trades Program is an option for those who have at least two years of industry experience and required English or French skills within the five years preceding their application.

·         The Canadian Experience Class is for people who have worked in Canada for at least one year and meet language proficiency standards.

In each route, eligible applicants upload their profiles to the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website and receive points using a Comprehensive Ranking System. The score is used to rank candidates based on criteria such as education, language skills, and work experience. The higher the score, the more likely you are to receive an invitation to apply for permanent residence.

IRCC invites the highest ranked candidates every two weeks.

Provincial Nomination Program

Newcomers seeking permanent residency can apply for the Provincial Nomination Program (PNP). Each Canadian province and territory (except Quebec and Nunavut) has a PNP that allows them to nominate immigration candidates for permanent residence.

There are two types of PNP. The expanded PNP invites Express Entry candidates to apply for provincial nomination. If Express Entry candidates successfully apply for a provincial nomination, they are eligible for an additional 600 CRS points.

Provinces participating in the PNP also have elementary streams that operate outside of the Express Entry system. Through these immigration programs, applications can be made directly to the provincial government, although applications may take longer to process.

Getting a provincial nomination is not the same as becoming a permanent resident. In Canada, only the federal government can grant permanent resident status. However, a provincial nomination can provide important support for Canadian immigration applications.

Quebec

Quebec's approach is slightly different. Quebec has a special agreement with the federal government that allows it to choose immigration. Quebec is the only province in Canada with French as an official language, so many of its immigration programs require applicants to speak French.

Quebec has a unique immigration program. For example, skilled workers can apply for the Quebec Skilled Worker Program, which is similar to the federal skilled worker program. Pilot programs could also be used to encourage immigration of people with food industry experience, caregivers, and people with AI and technology experience.

Family Class

 

After economy class immigration, family class sponsorship is the second most common route to immigration to Canada. Canada welcomes more than 100,000 new immigrants each year through family sponsorship. Two main pathways make this possible: the Spouse, Partner and Children Program and the Parent and Grandparent Program.

 

Spouses and Partners:

 

Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor spouses, common-law partners and any dependent children. They must be able to demonstrate that they can support their partner and dependent children financially for a specified period of time (called a commitment), in this case three years, regardless of future financial changes. Applicants must provide proof of relationship, such as a marriage certificate, photograph, or proof of joint expenses. Notably, Canada welcomes people in same-sex relationships, and all sponsorship requirements are the same for same-sex couples and spouses.

 

Parents and Grandparents:

 

Parents and grandparents can be sponsored by any Canadian citizen or permanent resident. To sponsor a parent or grandparent, you must meet the minimum income and be willing to support your dependents for 20 years. The minimum income requirement can be met by taking into account the income of the spouse or partner.

 

Refugees and Humanitarian Class

Canada has long been considered a haven for refugees and asylum seekers. Refugees seek to escape persecution, war or disaster in their homeland.

There are three main categories of entry to Canada as a refugee or humanitarian immigrant.

 

Resettled refugees:

Government-assisted refugees are referred to IRCC through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. The remittances are expected to take them to Canada, where they will be supported by the government for a year.

Privately sponsored refugees are brought to Canada through sponsorship by NGOs. Sponsors are usually religious communities, NGOs, or groups of five or more who work together to resettle refugees in their communities for any reason. Private sponsors must support refugees for at least one year.

 

Refugees deported by mixed visa offices are a mix of the first two categories. After arriving in Canada, they are sponsored by the Canadian government for six months and privately for another six months.

 

Asylum claimants in Canada:

 

Asylum seekers can apply for refugee status upon arrival in Canada. If their application is approved by the Refugee Protection Division of the Canadian Immigration and Refugee Board, they will be granted permanent residency.

 

Humanitarian and compassionate Claimants

Humanitarian and compassionate grounds may be used to apply for permanent residency in situations where applicants are not normally eligible.

After submitting an application, IRCC assesses how the applicant settled, as well as family relationships, dependents and their expectations upon their return to their home country. This route is used less frequently and is designed for special situations.

 

Conclusion

Knowing which category to apply for is a good starting point when deciding how to immigrate to Canada.

Whether you are a skilled worker, seeking family sponsorship, or seeking refugee status, knowing the basics will save you time, stress and money when traveling to Canada.