If you are interested in moving to Canada and obtaining Permanent Residency and citizenship there are a few options are your disposal.
Express Entry
When it comes to efficient immigration pathways to Canada, Express Entry stands tall as the most favored choice among aspiring immigrants, this includes USA citizens looking to make the move.
Express Entry is designed to attract economic migrants who can contribute to the Canadian economy, this streamlined system offers a quick and relatively smooth process for obtaining permanent residency. Express Entry is not a program in itself but rather an online system employed by the Canadian government to manage applications from skilled workers seeking permanent residency.
Under the Express Entry system, skilled workers can apply through three programs:
Canada Experience Class: The Canadian Experience Class is an immigration program that allows individuals who have gained professional work experience in Canada to apply for permanent residency.
Federal Skilled Worker: The Federal Skilled Worker Program is an immigration program that allows skilled workers with work experience in a designated occupation to immigrate to Canada as permanent residents.
Federal Skilled Trades: The Federal Skilled Trades Program is an immigration program that allows skilled tradespeople with work experience in a specific trade to immigrate to Canada as permanent residents.
Applicants are ranked using a point-based system that considers various factors, including age, education, language proficiency, and work experience. The Canadian government conducts periodic draws, inviting the highest-ranking applicants from the pool to apply for permanent residency. The entire process typically takes under one year and, in some instances, just a few months from application to receiving an invitation for permanent residency. So, if you possess valuable skills and qualifications, Express Entry might be the best option for you.
Provincial Nominee Programs
The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is a crucial immigration pathway that enables Canadian provinces and territories to nominate individuals with the necessary skills and experience for permanent residency.
Tailored to meet the unique economic demands of each province, the PNP offers specific streams and criteria aligned with local labor markets. This pathway is the second most popular pathway of immigrating to Canada.
Some PNPs are streamlined through the express entry and for candidates already in the Express Entry system, the PNP provides an additional chance to increase their Express Entry score, 600 additional to be exact. While PNPs operating independently may take longer.
Successful applicants often spend a minimum of two years as residents in the nominating province before having the option to relocate within Canada.
Sponsorship
If you are an American and have family ties to a Canadian permanent resident or citizen, sponsorship might be ideal for you. Types of sponsorships include Spousal, Common-law, Conjugal Partner, Dependent Children, Parents, and Grandparents. With a sponsorship, the sponsored individual can live, study and work in Canada if they become permanent residents of Canada. However, before receiving their permanent residency, they can acquire a work permit allowing them to work in Canada as they wait for their permanent residency application.
Start-up Visa
If you have the capital to invest in Canada, the Business Immigration route might be an option for you.
You can apply through a Federal or Provincial (PNP) business immigration program. Whether you are self-employed or are looking to establish a business in Canada you can apply for the Start-Up Visa. To qualify for the Start-Up Visa, you will need to have a letter of support from a designated angel investor group, venture capital fund, or business incubator. You have to meet the ownership requirements for a qualifying business. You have to meet the language requirement by getting a score (CLB) of 5 in all four categories for either English or French. You need to have an adequate amount of money to settle and provide for the cost of living before earning an income. Alternatively, several Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) cater to foreign applicants who wish to start a business in a particular province. Many PNPs offer regional entrepreneur programs that require a lower investment to apply.
