Do You Need a Visa to Move to Canada?
When the politics get heated in the US, Americans tend to escape up north. Whether it’s Quebec, a French-speaking province, or somewhere else, many people decide to move to Canada when their political environment gets too stressful.
If you’re thinking about moving to Canada, it’s important to know the process. Learn about the visas you need, the immigration processes, and the citizenship requirements.
Entry visa
Regardless of whether you’re moving to Canada for permanent residence or temporarily, an entry visa is essential. There are many different types of visas to choose from, including temporary resident visas (TRVs), multiple entry visas, and a visitor visa for stays up to six months.
TRVs are designed to help international visitors stay longer in Canada, especially those who are visiting for work or study. They are available for people who will come and go from Canada more than once within a ten-year period for stays of up to six months.
When you arrive in Canada, you will need to show your passport and a valid entry visa for any country you’re coming from. You may also need to provide biometrics at the port of entry, such as digital fingerprints and a photograph.
You’ll also need to ensure you have enough funds available to support yourself during your visit. This is a good idea even if you’re staying with family and friends.
The Canadian government’s website provides information on how to apply for a temporary resident visa. You can also contact the Canadian Immigration Service if you have questions about applying for this type of visa.
A temporary resident visa is required by most foreign nationals who want to travel to Canada for a short time to see friends or family, or for business. You may also need to obtain a study permit before you can legally enter Canada, so make sure to check these requirements before your trip.
If you’re a citizen of a visa-exempt country, you can enter Canada without an entry visa for up to six months. You can also use your membership card in the NEXUS or FAST programs to verify your citizenship when you arrive in Canada by air or land.
If you’re a resident of a visa-exempt country, it is recommended that you apply for an eTA before your trip to Canada. You can use an eTA to fly to or transit through a Canadian airport. The eTA is not automatically granted, so you should still apply for your visa before your trip to avoid delays and costs.
Express entry
The Express Entry program is one of the most popular immigration systems globally and it’s the main way that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) manages applications to several economic immigration streams. IRCC selects candidates from the Express Entry pool according to a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which is a points-based system that calculates different factors like age, education, work experience and language skills. Approximately every two weeks, the federal government selects the highest-ranking candidates and invites them to apply for permanent residence in Canada.
To apply for Express Entry, you must first create an online profile. You will then need to submit your personal information along with supporting documents. Once you’ve submitted your application, IRCC will process it within a few months.
There are many ways that you can improve your Express Entry profile and CRS score. This can include retaking a language test, obtaining a higher score in an educational credential assessment (ECA), adding more work experience, or obtaining a provincial nomination and/or a qualifying job offer.
Another way to boost your CRS is to pursue an education pathway towards Canadian permanent residence. This allows you to gain more Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points as you have more Canadian education and work experience than other candidates who don’t have this option.
If you have a spouse or partner who is not eligible for Express Entry, you can still sponsor them to join you in Canada and increase your chances of getting permanent residence. However, your spouse or partner will need to have an education credential assessment (ECA) for their post-secondary qualifications and meet other eligibility requirements before they can accompany you.
The good news is that this can be done for free. Getting an ECA for your spouse or partner will also save you the cost of taking them to Canada to have an interview and test.
Immigrating to Canada is not as expensive as you may think, as long as you do it wisely. By applying for PR with the help of authorized immigration lawyers/consultants, you can get the best results possible.
Quebec selection certificate
As part of the Quebec immigration process, you will need to obtain a Quebec selection certificate (CSQ) to confirm that you have been selected by the province to immigrate. This is an important document because it indicates that the government has evaluated you and believes you are eligible to move to Quebec.
The CSQ can also be used to prove your eligibility for a work permit, study permit or a temporary residency program in the province. However, this is not a visa and you do not have to apply for it before submitting an application to Canada’s federal immigration agency, IRCC.
To receive a CSQ, you must meet certain requirements that are set by the Quebec government. These include having a valid employment or study permit, having a high school diploma or equivalent, and meeting the eligibility criteria for your chosen immigration stream.
A CSQ is a formal document issued by the Ministere de l’Immigration, de la Diversification et de l’Inclusion of the Quebec Government to confirm that you have been selected for immigration to the province. This certificate can also be used to demonstrate your eligibility for a work permit or study permit if you have one already.
You can obtain a CSQ through the Quebec Skilled Worker Program, which is a special immigration stream for skilled immigrants with a good chance of succeeding in Canada. You can find more information on this program at Immigration and Citizenship.
As part of your CSQ, you will need to show that you have sufficient financial resources to support yourself and any accompanying family members in Quebec for at least the first three months after you arrive. You should research the cost of living in Quebec and prepare a budget to make sure that you have enough money to cover your expenses while you settle in the province.
If you are married and have dependent children, you must also include your spouse or common-law partner in your CSQ application. A point system is in place that awards points based on the selection grid for married applicants, and minimum points must be met to ensure that you are considered as a qualified applicant.
Atlantic Canada immigration
If you’re a Canadian citizen and want to move to Atlantic Canada, you need to meet some immigration requirements. For example, you’ll need a valid job offer from a designated Atlantic employer. Then, you need to create a settlement plan for yourself and your family. The process can take up to 12 months.
A settlement plan is a package that includes useful contacts and resources that will help you and your family get settled in Atlantic Canada. You can create your settlement plan yourself or have it created by a professional. Then, you need to share it with your employer and have them send it along with their endorsement application.
You’ll also need to have an educational credential assessment (ECA) that proves your education is equivalent to the required level for your job. It should be obtained less than 5 years before you apply for the Atlantic Immigration Program.
Moreover, you’ll need to prove your language proficiency in the local language of the province where your job offer is located. The minimum language requirements vary based on the national occupational code (NOC) category your job offer falls into. For NOC categories 0, A and B, the language requirements are CLB/NCLC Level 5.
To be able to receive a work permit, you must have a job offer from a designated Atlantic employer. You can then start working while you wait for your permanent residence (PR) application to be processed.
The main goal of the Atlantic Immigration Pilot is to allow employers to recruit skilled workers and international graduates for jobs that they cannot fill locally. To do this, designated employers must meet certain criteria and commit to preparing their workplaces to welcome newcomers.
For those interested in immigrating to Atlantic Canada through the Atlantic Immigration Pilot, there are three main programs: The Atlantic High-Skilled Program, the Atlantic Intermediate-Skilled Program and the Atlantic International Graduate Program. Each program requires a job offer from a designated Atlantic Canada employer, a valid immigration application and an individualized settlement plan.
The Atlantic Immigration Pilot has successfully brought foreign workers to Atlantic Canada. However, there are some issues with the program that need to be addressed. First, IRCC should speed up processing times for applicants under the AIP. Second, it should also consider allowing visa-exempt applicants to apply for work permits at ports of entry. Finally, more federal and provincial government funding should be allocated for immigrant settlement agencies to better support newcomers’ integration in Atlantic Canada.