Canada Immigration Process

According to Citizenship and Immigration Canada, you will have to prove to have settlement funds of minimum $10,000 CAD per individual. Additional $ 2,000 CAD will be required for each dependent accompanying the immigrant to Canada. The exception for this is if you have a pre-arranged job offer in Canada.

It must be noted here that the threshold settlement funds required can vary. This is depending upon the location in Canada and is based on the size of the family.

Whereas, the needs of every family are diverse and diverse cost of living can be found in different regions in Canada. The below basic guidelines can be followed to determine the budget of a newcomer to Canada excluding airfares and moving costs:

• 1 Adult immigrating individually: $ 25,000 CAD
• 1 Couple moving together: $ 30,000 CAD
• 1 Couple with 1 kid below 10 years: $ 33,000 CAD
• 1 Couple with 1 kid above 10 years: $ 35,000 CAD
• For each extra kid below 10 years: add $ 1,000
• For each extra kid above 10 years: add $ 2,000

Essentially, the above-explained sum of cash will offer you adequate breathing space to settle in a new nation. This is prior to getting a job and starting to earn an income. It must suffice for basic living expenses for 4 to 6 months depending on how well you budget. Any amount lesser than this will make it really tough.

There are a range of immigration programs if you wish to immigrate to Canada from India. You can apply for PR Visa or Provisional Residency Visa through these programs. The chief among them are:

• Federal Express Entry System
• Provincial Nominee Programs
• Quebec Skilled Workers Program

Majority of the immigration programs of Canada are based on points. The applicants must ensure that they fulfil the eligibility requirements of these programs. They must score adequate points based on diverse factors of their profile. This includes Language Proficiency, Work Experience, Education, and others. Only then they can qualify for a specific immigration program or system.

Immigration to Canada has 6 major streams. These are:

• Federal Skilled Worker Program
• Provincial Nominee Program
• Quebec Skilled Worker Program
• Business Immigrant
• Canada Experience Class
• Family Sponsorship

Each stream caters to a diverse group of immigrants and has unique eligibility requirements. Here we will consider the requirements for the FSWP:

Skilled work experience

You must possess a minimum of 1 year of work experience that is full time and continuous. This is out of the last 10 years prior to your submission of PR application. Equivalent continuous part-time work will also qualify. This must be in the Skill Type B, A, or 0 in the Canada NOC – National Occupational Classification.

Language ability

You must demonstrate that you possess language proficiency of minimum CLB 7 – Canadian Language Benchmark. The test results must be from an organization that is designated by IRCC for language testing. 

Education

You must offer either an overseas educational credential or a Canadian educational credential. An Educational Credential Assessment – ECA Report must be offered from a designated agency. This is to prove that the overseas certificate/degree/diploma is on par with the Canadian credentials.

The minimum points for basic eligibility for FSWP are 67 out of 100. Those who score below 67 will not qualify. It must be noted here that basic eligibility factors score and CRS score (Comprehensive Ranking System) are different.

All the qualified candidates must create a profile in the Express Entry System. ECA and IELTS score is mandatory for this. The profile is then offered ranking out of 1200 for diverse factors. This includes Work Experience, Language Proficiency, Education, Age, etc.

CIC holds regular draws from the Express Entry pool and specifies minimum CRS score for the draw. All the qualified candidates in the pool with scores above the specified CRS minimum score are offered an ITA. They can submit an application for Canada PR Visa. The CRS minimum score has remained at 450 and above so far in 2019.

Yes, application for Canada PR Visa can be submitted by applicants with IELTS 5 bands score. There are several immigration pathways such as Atlantic Pilot Program, PNP or if you have a valid job offer.  

To apply for this program, you must submit an Expression of interest and qualify under the type of job mentioned under the Skill types.  Based on your inputs your profile will be given points and you will have to score a minimum of 67 points to find a place in the applicant pool.

Officials from provinces and employers in Canada go to this pool to search for talent that will meet their needs. If you score high points you will get an invitation to apply for a permanent residency (PR). The number of invitations (ITAs) are however based on the Annual Immigration Level of the country.

Once you have a fair idea of the requirements for this program, you will first do an assessment to see if you have the necessary qualifications that meet the eligibility requirements. You will need to:

• Chalk out a plan of action to score adequate points in your low score areas
• Assess how best you can score these points to find a place in the applicant pool

Under this program Canadian provinces and territories nominate individuals for Canadian Permanent Residency.  This program was created to help Canadian provinces attract international talent and solve their talent shortage crisis. The provinces are on the lookout for professionals with experience in technology, finance or education, marketing or healthcare.

With this program you have the option to apply to some of the best Canadian provinces which include:

• Prince Edward Island
• Ontario
• Saskatchewan
• Manitoba
• Nova Scotia

There are two options when filling an application through the PNP program-valid job offers from Canadian companies or through Express Entry.

You could qualify through the individual In-demand Occupation Lists of some provinces. You will get an invitation from the province if your occupation is on the list. You can then go for a Canada PR Visa application.

Apart from the mandatory documents, applicants for the PNP program must present their educational and professional credentials.

There are two options when filling an application through the PNP program:

1. Through Express Entry
2. Non-Express Entry

Express Entry Stream

There are 2 ways to apply:

You can apply for a nomination by contacting the province or territory and apply for a nomination under the Express Entry stream.

If you get a positive response from the province or territory to nominate you, you can create an Express Entry profile or update your profile if it already exists.

The other option is to create an Express Entry profile and indicate the provinces or territories you are interested in. If the province sends a ‘notification of interest’ you can then contact them and then apply through the Express Entry system.

 You must meet the eligibility requirements for a successful outcome of your application.

Non- Express Entry Stream

Under this option you can apply to the province or territory for nomination under the non-Express Entry stream.  If you meet the eligibility requirements and qualify through the individual In-demand Occupation Lists of some provinces, you will get a nomination from the province if your occupation is on the list. You can then apply for a Canada PR Visa.

You will now have to submit a paper application for your PR visa. The processing time is usually longer than through the Express Entry system.

 Steps in PNP application for PR visa

1. Apply in the province or region where you desire to settle.
2. If your profile meets the eligibility criteria, you could be nominated by the province to apply for a PR visa.
3. Apply for your PR visa after you are nominated by a province.

The criteria for evaluating the PR application varies from province to province.

To apply under the PNP program you must meet the minimum requirements for the province’s non-Express Entry streams or must be nominated under that stream.

If you do not receive a nomination, then you must contact he province directly.

To choose the right immigration program, you must do your research to decide which one is right for you and more importantly which will ensure a greater chance of success in getting your PR visa. You must understand the application process of each program to help you choose the right immigration program.

This is where the help of an immigration consultant will be valuable. The consultant will help you with submitting your application on time so that you do not miss out on the deadlines or closing dates that will be a setback to your application success.