How to Immigrate to Canada?

The development of global communications and public transport nowadays has made immigration a much more pleasant and, most importantly, safer experience than it was at the time when the conversation might have taken place. By definition, to immigrate means to move to a new environment, and if your destination is Canada, there are several factors you have to consider before filing an application with the immigration authorities of this economically stable country.

Step 1 – Choose a Representative
First and foremost, you need to choose your immigration representative – a reliable and resourceful person who will assist you throughout the visa application process and will communicate with the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), the Immigration and Refugee Board or the Canada Border Services Agency. Immigration representatives fall in two main categories – paid and unpaid. The first group includes lawyers, immigration consultants or notaries, who have been authorised by some legal entity to deal with such matters. The second group consists of persons or organizations, who do not charge a fee for their services such as family members, friends or members of non-government or religious organizations. Note that the Canadian government does not deal with any non-authorized immigration representatives who charge a fee for their services.

Step 2 – Consider Potential Opportunities
Once you have picked up a person to do the paperwork for you, you have to figure out what exactly you will be doing in Canada; however economically stable and secure this country may be, it is not the Eden Garden and you still have to work for your daily bread. In general, there are three categories of immigrants in Canada: family class, including the close relatives of Canadian residents who are issued residence permit under family reunion laws; independent immigrants, who are admitted on the basis of a point system that has been designed to supply the country’s labour market with fresh work-force; and refuges, who want to immigrate to Canada because they have been discriminated against in their home country or their human rights have been violated in any other way.

At the same time, independent immigrants fall in the following categories depending on their skills and profession: skilled workers and professionals who want to settle in Canada outside Quebec and those who want to settle in the Quebec area; people who have graduated in Canada or have had a recent job position in the country; persons who want to start their own business in Canada such as investors entrepreneurs and self-employed private persons.

Alternatively, the local government of one of Canada’s provinces or territories may nominate you to move there and start a career. Keep in mind those persons who immigrate to Canada as provincial nominees should have the skills and qualification to make an immediate economic contribution to the province that nominated them. They also have to be ready to establish themselves in that province and become Canadian residents.

All applications are filed for one class and the qualification requirements vary for each of them. Details cannot be changed once the application is submitted. It is best to carefully consider your opportunities and plans before you submit your application.