If you are planning on immigrating to Canada, there are a few things you should know, both about the immigration process and about what you can expect upon your arrival. There are a lot of details that come with the decision to immigrate to Canada, and it can be an overwhelming and time-consuming process. Prepare yourself before making the leap, so you don’t run into any rude surprises throughout the process or upon your arrival.
Here are five steps on how to move to Canada:
1. Applying
There are many different programs people can apply for to help them immigrate to Canada, so before making the final decision to move, find out which program applies to you. Are you planning to study in Canada? Are you a skilled worker? Do you have a job lined up already, or family already in the country?
All of these questions are an important part of deciding which immigration program to apply under, and your answers to these questions will help dictate if you are eligible. Other important factors are your language ability, age, health status, and net worth.
2. Refugees
Immigrating to Canada as a refugee is slightly different than applying to immigrate for other reasons. Refugee status indicates to Canada that your life is in grave danger if you remain in your country. You cannot apply directly to be a refugee, you must be referred.
There are specific organizations that refer people to Canada as refugees, or a person can refer and sponsor a person to be a refugee. However, if you are already in Canada, you can apply for refugee status which would allow you to remain in Canada if your life would be at risk in the event that you left.
3. Where to go
Canada is a huge country, which means there are a lot of major differences between provinces. For instance, in Quebec it may be difficult to get by if you don’t know any French, as it is a francophone province, while in other provinces this wouldn’t be an issue. Some provinces are much more densely populated while others are more sparsely populated with lots of small communities.
Some provinces may have needs for workers in certain industries, while others may not have openings for workers in those same industries. These are just a few of the factors to consider when trying to decide where to go.
4. It takes time
Depending on the type of application submitted, it may take a significant amount of time before the application is approved, if it is approved at all. There is a chance that the application will be rejected, or there may be additional information required before a decision can be made.
Applying for a student visa can take up to 20 weeks, while applying to immigrate with a spouse as a sponsor can take up to a year. Express entry applications only take about six months, but this type of immigration is reserved for skilled workers. These processing times are just the amount of time to provide a decision on the application – they do not include all of the other requirements that would finalize the immigration process.
5. Sponsors
One of the most straightforward ways to immigrate to Canada is to have a sponsor who is already in Canada. This person must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and must have a job and make an income that will be able to sufficiently support themselves and the person they are sponsoring.
They are also legally responsible for the person they are sponsoring, and must provide basic needs – food, shelter, and clothing. In addition, they should help their loved one successfully integrate into the community.
