Uma Venkatraman - RCIC - Visions Canada

The Government of Canada welcomes and encourages international business people to invest their entrepreneurial expertise, technical skills and investment capital inCanada’s economy. This class of immigrant makes a positive contribution toCanada’s economic development by applying their capital and knowledge to Canadian business ventures, which in turn creates jobs for Canadians and permanent residents.

Canadian Experience Class (CEC) caters specifically to Temporary Foreign workers and International students as they have obtained a Canadian education and / or Canadian work experience and they have already adapted and settled into Canadian society.

he Entrepreneur Program seeks to attract people with business experience and they must have a net worth of at least $300,000 legally obtained. Entrepreneurs must have the intention and ability to actively manage a business inCanada(anywhere inCanadaexceptQuebec) that will positively impact the Canadian economy and create employment opportunities for Canadian residents.

Family category immigration reunites families in Canadian homes. Family Class Immigrants are sponsored for a Canadian Immigrant Visa by a close relative who is either a Canadian citizen or a Canadian permanent resident. The Canadian relative is known as the Sponsor.

Canada values the skills and experiences that foreign professionals and workers bring with them and has many employment opportunities for the qualified person. The goal of encouraging this type of immigration is to attract people with good education and employment skills who will contribute toCanada’s economic growth and development.

The investors are persons who have operated, controlled or directed a successful business or commercial undertaking by their own endeavors.

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

The permanent residents ofCanadahave the right to live, study and work anywhere inCanadafor as long as they remain permanent residents, and are entitled to most social benefits accorded to Canadian citizens. The permanent residents are entitled to apply for Canadian citizenship after 3 years of obtaining permanent residency.

Most provinces in Canada have an agreement with the Government of Canada that allows them to play a more direct role in selecting immigrants who wish to settle in that province. The requirements and procedures for the Provincial Nominee Programs differ from Province to Province depending upon the needs and experience. The program identifies and recruits immigrants who have specialized skills which will be of benefit to the Province in further developing the Province’s economy. The program will allow the province to recruit persons with occupational and entrepreneurial skills.

“Self-Employed” class provides an avenue for applicants who are likely to be successful inCanadaas artists, singers, musicians, actors, athletes or farmers. The person must have the intention and ability to be self-employed inCanadaand must make a significant contribution to cultural activities or artistic life or by purchasing and managing a farm.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada requires that foreign individuals who wish to study at Canadian educational institutions must obtain Student Authorizations. A Student Authorization is a document issued by Immigration Canada officials that permits a foreign individual to study inCanada, generally at a specific Canadian educational institution and in a specific program, and always for a limited time.

The Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Immigration Regulations not only cover persons who wish to live in Canada permanently but also those who wish to study and/or work temporarily in Canada and persons who wish to visit. A temporary resident is a person who is lawfully inCanadafor a temporary purpose. Temporary residents include students, foreign workers and visitors such as tourists

Citizenship and Immigration Canada defines Visitors as people who wish to enterCanadafor a temporary purpose, such as tourists, temporary foreign workers and international students. All Visitors to Canada must apply for and be granted Visitor Visas by Immigration Canada unless they are citizens of visa exempt countries. In addition, Visitors should not have a criminal record or pose a security risk, should be in good health, and should have sufficient funds to support themselves during their stay in Canada.

Temporary employment visas, or “work permits”, allow skilled professionals to come toCanadatemporarily for work. ImmigrationCanadanormally requires that a firm job offer from a Canadian employer is present prior to applying for an Employment Authorization. In most cases, a job offer is required, and that job offer must be confirmed by Human Resources Development Canada. This is called a Labour Market Opinion and a job offer validation.