Permanent Residence in Calgary
You loved your stay in Canada but unfortunately your visa has expired. How can you extend your stay or even better, make Canada your new home? Apply for permanent residency in Canada!
Some of you may think it is hard to apply for permanent residency to Canada. But, in 2016 our country had accepted 296,346 immigrants. Once accepted, you can enjoy all the benefits of being a Canadian such as;
- Healthcare coverage
- The right to study in Canada
- Work in Canada
- Freedom of travelling in Canada
Canada Immigration – Calgary, AB
Although Canada is a great place to immigrate too and the volume of people we accept is quite high, it is still quite difficult to apply for if you do not have an expert supporting you.
For instance, there are many different streams of immigration channels to Canada and by understanding which one fits your situation the best can result in a smooth immigration process.
As stated previously, of the 296,346 accepted immigrants – there are 4 main channels of applying:
- 53% were economic immigrants
- 26% were sponsored family members
- 20% were resettled refugees and protected persons
- 1% were humanitarian and other
Understanding the right route will play an important factor in whether you get accepted for permanent residency in Canada.
Many applicants blindly apply without any expert guidance and some have even lost the opportunity to immigrate to Canada after countless rejections. We strongly suggest you see our immigration lawyers and immigration consultants before applying.
How to Apply for Immigration to Canada
Before you apply for permanent residency in Canada, there are some requirements you need to meet. First off, it may sound redundant but make sure to see if you are already eligible to be a Canadian citizen by taking this online test provided by the Government of Canada here. Next, are you over 18 or not? If not, it may be more difficult to apply for permanent residency.
The 4 methods of applying for permanent residence are Economic (Express entry), family sponsorships, refugee resettlement and humanitarian. The Canadian immigration policies are always changing and will affect your immigration policy with or without your knowledge of it.
We strongly suggest you see our immigration lawyers and consultants to find the best representation for your case and counter any updated immigration policies that may affect your future life in Canada.
Express Entry
The Express Entry is Canada’s fast-track program for immigration to place skilled foreign workers in a low labour force supply. To apply for express entry, applicants can apply online and will be rated by the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Once you have created your online profile, the CRS will set a score based on the level of your language, proficiency, education and work experience. A minimum score of 67/100 is required and the top-ranking applicants will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
If you are one of the lucky few whom are accepted by the ITA, you will have 60 days to finish your application and accept the offer. For all the other applicants who did not get accepted, employers looking for foreign workers can pick from the pool if they demonstrate a positive LMIA outlook.
Upon seeing our immigration team, they will decide if you can be best represented through the express entry and can assist you into the various levels of express entry such as:
- Federal Skilled Workers (FSW),
- Federal Skilled Trade (FST) and
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC),
Federal Skilled Workers (FSW)
The Federal Skilled Workers (FSW) program are for applicants who fall under Canada’s high demand jobs. Here is a more in depth list of accepted jobs for FSW here. Most the FSW jobs are Skill Level Type 0, Level A and B which require a certain level of post-secondary education. The minimum requirement for this program are:
- At least 1 year work experience (1,560 hours) within the past 10 years
- Language test with a minimum score of Canadian Language Benchmark 7 (CLB)
- Education Credentials Assessment (ESA)
The FSW program is limited to 25,000 accepted applicants a year in Canada. Our immigration team will prepare and review your FSW documents to ensure you are 100% ready when applying.
Federal Skilled Trade (FST)
The Federal Skilled Trade (FST) program are for applicants who are trained in a field of trade that is in high demand. Here is a more in depth list of accepted jobs for FST here. Most the FST jobs do not require education. The minimum requirement for this program are:
- At least 2 years of work experience within the past 5 years
- Language test with a minimum score of Canadian Language Benchmark 5 (CLB)
- Meet the required job requirements as set out by the National Occupational Classification (NOC)
- Have an offer for employment in that trade for at least 1 year or a certificate in that trade by a Canadian authority
The FST program is limited to 5,000 available visas for skilled trade workers. Our immigration lawyers and consultants are experienced in the FST application process, please direct your questions/inquiries for further information.
Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
The Canadian Experience Class is an ideal program for temporary foreign workers who have had working experience in Canada for a year and want to transition to permanent residency. The requirements for the CEC are as followed:
- Have obtained and worked one year skilled, technical or professional work experience in Canada in the past 3 years of application date
- Language Test with a minimum score of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 or CLB 7 depending on the requirement of the job
The CEC program is limited to 8,000 available visas for CEC. It is a popular program amongst international students who have studied in Canada and worked a work for a year.
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is allows the Canadian provinces and territories to nominate different individuals who wish to move to a specific province in Canada. Each province and territories have their own set of requirements and differ in what they are looking for. To apply for the PNP, please visit the respective province/territory website for more information regarding how to contact the province’s representative.
- Alberta
- British Colombia
- Manitoba
- New Brunswick
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Nova Scotia
- Ontario
- Prince Edward Island
- Saskatchewan
- Northwest Territories
- Yukon
If you are nominated by a province, your chances of becoming a permanent resident will increase dramatically. Please consult our immigration team for more information on how to prepare your application package for any PNP and remember to check on recent updates regarding to do with any immigration news here.
Family Sponsorship
One of the most popular methods of attaining a permanent residence in Canada is through the family sponsorship program. As previously stated, approximately 30% of all immigrants are sponsored by family members. To become an eligible sponsor, you need to be:
- at least 18 years or older
- a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
- not receiving social assistance for reasons other than disability
- able to provide basic needs for the sponsored family member
With new changes toward this form of immigration stream, the applicant will need to prove a ‘genuine’ relationship between the two spouses to counter immigration fraud. Our immigration lawyers and consultants will be able to prepare a family sponsorship package that will be ideal for your situation.
Humanitarian and Compassionate Grounds
This immigration method is a complex situation for immigrants and only makes up 1% of the total applicants.
To prove an immigrant can apply for Humanitarian and Compassionate Grounds (H&C), they need to prove that by having the application refused and moving back to their country can create undeserved hardship or life threatening situations for the applicant.
Other factors as stated by the Government of Canada that may affect if you’re accepted for H&C are:
- how settled the applicant is in Canada
- general ties to any family members in Canada
- the best interest of the children, if any
Our immigration litigation lawyers can assist you with this situation and bring your case to light.
How our Immigration Team Can Help
Our immigration team is made up of lawyers and consultants that have many years of experience and have helped clients from all around the world.
At Shim Law, we believe diversity breeds success and being a Canadian is a multicultural utopia. Our staff come from all around the world and we understand the professional and the personal processes of moving to another country.
We will give you our expert support and can even provide our immigration services in up to 10 different languages to better suit your needs.
Some people may self-apply to immigrate to Canada but we strongly suggest everyone to meet with an immigration professional to prepare and review your application. The Canadian immigration program is a constantly changing service that requires specialized knowledge and experience to accomplish.
By working with our immigration consultants and immigration lawyers, you will apply with a risk-free application and the support of our team.
Please feel free to call us at (403) 476-2011 or book a consultation online to meet with our immigration team!
