The best magazine
- 1). Determine whether you qualify for a Canadian visa under the Skilled Migrant Visa Program. This is the most popular visa category for immigration. Check the Canadian National Occupational Classification (NOC) to see if your work experience qualifies you. You must have relevant experience in the last 10 years in either Skill Type 0 (managerial), A (professional) or B (technical jobs and skilled trades). If your job is not on this list of occupations, you cannot qualify for a Skilled Migrant Visa.
- 2). If your occupation is listed in the NOC, you may be able to apply for a Skilled Workers Visa. This is a points-based system that assesses you on five other elements in addition to work experience: education (up to 25 points), ability in English and French (maximum 24 points), age (up to 10 points), any arranged employment (10 points max) and adaptability (up to 10 points). Your work experience can give you a maximum of 21 points. You need 67 points to qualify for a permanent residence visa. See the list of categories in detail on Citizenship and Immigration Canada's website. Take the self-assessment test to see if you would qualify.
- 3). Show you have enough funds to immigrate. A single person will need $10,168 in Canadian dollars (£6,735), while a family of four will need $18,895 in Canadian dollars (just over £12,500) in their bank account. You do not need to show this level of funds if you have arranged employment in Canada.
- 4). Secure an Arranged Employment Offer. While you do not necessarily need a job offer from a Canadian firm to attain a Skilled Workers Visa, it may help to speed up the process. It also can give you the extra points you need to qualify for the visa in the first place. Having an Arranged Employment Offer also may allow you to secure a temporary work permit first for expedience, followed by a permanent visa later.
- 5). Fast-track your application. You may be eligible to immigrate to Canada under a Federal Skilled Worker Visa if you can fulfil a current skilled labor shortage. If your application is on the Priority Occupation List, you can apply under the Federal Skilled Worker Visa and your application will be treated as a priority. While you do not need a job offer to apply, it will help your chances if you have an Arranged Employment Offer. You could be in Canada within months of applying. Check the Priority Occupation List on Citizenship and Immigration Canada's website.
- 6). Immigrate as a business migrant. Another way of immigrating to Canada is to apply for a business-related visa. To encourage its economy, Canada welcomes people with business experience and relevant assets.
- 7). Choose from an Investor Immigrant Visa, an Entrepreneur Immigrant Visa or a Self-Employed Immigrant Visa. To obtain an Investor Immigrant Visa, you need to have at least two years of business experience and a net worth of at least $800,000 Canadian dollars (£530,000), and be prepared to make an investment of $400,000 Canadian dollars (£265,000). To qualify on an Entrepreneur visa, you need to have at least two years business experience, a net worth of $300,000 in Canadian dollars (£200,000) and meet further criteria. Self-Employed Immigrant Visas are limited to people who have experience in either cultural activities, athletics or farm management. Find a full list of specific criteria on Citizenship and Immigration Canada's website.
- 8). Investigate Provincial Nominees. Most provinces in Canada have an agreement with the Canadian government stating they can bring in immigrants to fulfill a specific skills shortage within their province. You must first apply directly to the province concerned before making an application to Citizenship and Immigration Canada for permanent residence. See which provinces are currently participating in the program on Citizenship and Immigration Canada's website.
- 9). Apply for permanent residence. After deciding which type of visa you qualify for, download an application form from Citizenship and Immigration Canada's website, fill in and apply. Each type of visa application will give details of how to apply and where to send your application. You can then track your application online.
Source: ...