PROVINCIAL NOMINEE PROGRAM

 

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The local provinces in Canada have an agreement with the Canadian Government whereby they can nominate immigrants who wish to live, settle and work in that particular province.  In order to receive a visa through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), the candidate is required to choose a province they wish to live in and subsequently apply for the nomination.  The province will then consider the application based on its immigration and labour needs, while also assessing the candidate's genuine intention to settle in the province.

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Most of the provinces in Canada have PNP's that allow for an accelerated immigration process according to provincial needs.  There are two types of PNP Programs.  The first type is the skilled worker PNP which allows for the expedited processing of skilled workers that have a job offer from a local provincial business in an occupation or business sector that meets local provincial needs. The second type of program is a business immigration program which allows for an expedited immigration process if the applicant establishes a new business, invests money or enters a joint venture with a local business.

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In PNP applications, the first step is for the application to be approved by the province. In most cases this first step is completed quickly. The provincial processing time can range from two weeks to nine months depending on the province. PNP approval is commonly called being “nominated” by the PNP. After the PNP approval, federal approval consisting of police, medical and security checks are still required. This generally takes 6-8 months at most. After PNP nomination has occurred the PNP can assist the nominee to obtain a work visa on an expedited basis.

EXPRESS ENTRY

 

The Express Entry was introduced in January 2015 to allow Canada to achieve its future labour market requirements with the objective of long term economic growth.
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The Express Entry System was introduced by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to select candidates for immigration to Canada through a number of Economic Immigration Programs at the federal level.  Candidates who intend to apply for Immigration through the Federal Skilled Worker Class, Federal Skilled Trades Class or the Canadian Experience Class need to apply through this system.

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The Express Entry System is seen as the flagship program providing a fast-track route to Canadian Immigration.  It is the main driver of economic migration to Canada.

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PROFESSIONAL & SKILLED WORKERS

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Canada recognizes the importance of foreign skilled workers to enable the continued growth of its economy.  Those who are eligible for immigration under the Express Entry criteria can become a part of the growing workforce and be offered the opportunity to settle in Canada as permanent residents. The following programs offer ways of immigrating to Canada as a skilled worker:

1.  Federal Skilled Worker Program

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Since 2015, the Federal Skilled Worker Program has been part of the Express Entry system since the objective of the Express Entry system is to fast-track applications of qualified skilled foreign workers for permanent residency so that they can help meet the labour needs of Canadian industries.  

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2. Quebec Skilled Worker Program 

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The Quebec Skilled Worker Program is a unique program as it caters to candidates who intend to live, settle and work in Quebec, the french-speaking province of Canada.  This program does not require the candidate to have a job offer and the program does not provide for an occupations list.

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The province of Quebec runs its own immigration program which is separate from the Federal program. In this program, the candidate must submit an Expression of Interest before they can be invited to apply through a portal.  If you are successful, you are issued a Quebec Selection Certificate which is similar to the Invitation to Apply for permanent residence that the federal government extends.  

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FAMILY SPONSORSHIP

 

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The Spousal and Family Sponsorship Class ensures that you do not come to Canada alone.  This Sponsorship Class was created by the Canadian government to help reunite families whenever possible.

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If you are a permanent resident or Canadian citizen, you can qualify to sponsor certain members of your family to immigrate to Canada with you.  There are several categories that can help unite you with your loved ones

• Parents & Grandparents

• Dependent Children

• Spouses & Common Law Partners

All family sponsorship applications are prioritized by the Canadian Visa Office.