So You Want To Come To Canada, Eh?

Eligibility, Sponsorship and Help So you want to make Canada your new home. It is important to be equipped with the right information if you are planning to migrate to Canada. First, comes the eligibility. Eligibility to Immigrate To Canada According to the Canadian Immigration policy if you are a qualified skilled worker, provincial nominee, a businessperson or a close relative of a Canadian citizen, you are eligible for the Canadian Immigration (Permanent Resident) Visa, which is the first step towards becoming a Canadian citizen.

The applications for Visa fall under the following categories – Federal Skilled Worker (for professionals and other skilled workers), Provincial Nomination Program (for workers wishing to migrate to a particular province), Quebec Skilled Workers (for workers planning to migrate to Quebec), Business Class Immigration (for business mangers as well as owners), and Family Class Sponsorship (for those who have Canadian family members). All those who wish to immigrate to Canada under the Family Class Sponsorship must be sponsored by a family member or close relative who is living in Canada either as a permanent resident or a citizen. In addition, all Canadian citizens who wish to adopt a child from another country must sponsor the child for permanent residence. Canadian Immigration Sponsorship The first question is, who all are eligible to sponsor their relatives under Canadian immigration sponsorship? The answer is any adult Canadian permanent resident or citizen who has no record of defaulting on a previous sponsorship, has no criminal charges against him/her and has no pending immigration enquiry, is entitled to sponsor a relative. The sponsor should also meet the minimum financial requirements specified by Citizenship and Immigration Canada. The next question is which relatives can be sponsored under what as known as the “Family Class”. A Canadian resident can sponsor the following – a spouses or a common-law or conjugal partner at least 16 years of age, parents and grandparents, dependent children or minor unmarried brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces and grandchildren. The requires that the sponsor sign a legal contract with the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. The contract is called an Undertaking. In addition, the sponsor must also sign a Sponsorship Agreement with their relative who is being sponsored. Also it is the responsibility of the sponsor to prove that the relative being sponsored fulfills the fundamental requirements of everyday living in Canada. Use a Canadian Immigration Consultant It is important to avail the services of an experienced consultant while applying for permanent residency and citizenship. Your consultant should be a Canadian immigration attorney authorized by Citizenship and Immigration Canada. A competent lawyer can reduce the hassles of preparing the Canadian Immigration (Permanent Resident) Visa and provide full assistance at every single step of the application process. Expert lawyers can help you understand the “nitty griities” and assist you in fulfilling the various formalities. In addition, professionals, skilled workers and businesses can also benefit immensely from the services of an authorized and expert lawyer. Most Canadian immigration consultants also specialize in providing legal advice and consultancy for acquiring study permits, work permits and visitor visas. Immigration consultancies often have a staff of multilingual lawyers experienced in handling various complications that may arise in the process.
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