What’s the Canada Immigration Policy for International Students?

What’s the Canada Immigration Policy for International Students?

Canada boasts some of the best universities in the world. Canada’s immigration policy for international students is very welcoming, with over 350,000 foreign students arriving in Canada to study every year. If you intend to complete a program which lasts six months or less, you do not need a Canadian study permit. However, if you intend to study for a longer duration, or even if you are unsure about the length of your course of study, it is a good idea to obtain a Canadian student visa so you won’t have to leave the country if you decide to enroll in a longer program.

 

 

Eligibility Criteria for Canada Student Visas

 Before applying to study as an international student in Canada, you must meet the eligibility criteria for a Canadian student visa:

• You must have been accepted by a Canadian educational institution
• You must demonstrate you have enough money to pay for tuition, fees, and living expenses for yourself and family members
• You must prove you have enough money to pay for return transportation
• You must not have a criminal record, or be a security risk
• You must be in good general health and willing to take a medical exam
• You must be able to convince an immigration officer that you intend to leave Canada and will leave after your studies are complete

How to Apply for a Canada Student Visa

You can apply for a Canadian study permit online or by filing a paper application. Applying online is faster. If you submit an application by paper, be sure to allow twice as much time to complete the process. The visa office in your home country can assist you with the documents needed from your country. Additionally, the nearest Canadian visa application center (VAC), is also willing to help guide you through the process.

To begin the process, you must have a letter of acceptance from a recognized higher education provider. Students who will study in Québec must also apply for a certificate of acceptance (CAQ), which is acquired from the government of Québec. This document must be received before you apply for the student visa.

Next, you should obtain the application from the Canadian embassy or consulate, or your local visa office. In some cases, you will also need to obtain a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV). This is required when you are a citizen of certain countries for which TRVs are required for entry into Canada. Citizens of visa-exempt countries do not need a TRV. Temporary permits can be processed with your study permit application package, so you do not need to do it ahead of time.

You will need to answer a few question on the Canadian Immigration website. This helps determine if you can apply online, and the questions prepare a checklist of documents you will need to submit.

After Approval

When you are notified that your Canadian student visa application is approved, the CIC will send you an introductory letter. Students who are from countries requiring an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) and/or a temporary residence visa will also be issued these authorizations. The eTA will immediately be linked to your passport or travel documents. The eTA will be valid for five years or until your passport expires, whichever date arrives first.

When you arrive at the Canada Border Services Agency (CSBA), present these documents, with your passport, financial proofs and letter of acceptance, and the agency will officially issue your Canadian study permit. Once you receive your permit, you are officially permitted entry into Canada, where you may pursue your studies.

What is Canada’s Immigrant Investor Program?

What is Canada’s Immigrant Investor Program?

Canada’s immigrant investor programs are exclusive immigration streams open to a limited number of individuals each year. The programs once provided a one-step path for entrepreneurs and investors to immigrate by making a minimum investment to get permanent residency in Canada. However, this program is now administered at the provincial level. In most provinces, there is now a two-step process for entrepreneurs who want to invest in Canada by creating a business. Let’s take a look at how the immigrant investor programs work.

 

Two-Step Provincial Entrepreneur Programs: British Columbia, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia

 Provincial entrepreneur programs require candidates to make a minimum investment to get permanent residency in Canada. In addition to a monetary contribution, the immigrant must commit to spending up to two years on a conditional temporary work permit before the province will issue a nomination for permanent residence.

British Columbia, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia all operate a two-step program. In the two-step process, candidates must sign an Investment Agreement compelling the candidate to follow through on a Canadian business investment. In Ontario and British Columbia, for instance, candidates have 20 months to implement a business plan outlined in a Performance Agreement. The province will nominate the candidate for permanent residence if the terms of the agreement are met.

These changes were implemented after controversies about investors who paid a deposit for permanent residency while pledging to open a business, but never followed through on their promise to create jobs in the Canadian economy. The provinces have moved to a more contract-oriented model, with candidates being held to their pledge to open a business in Canada as a condition of permanent residence.

Ontario’s Business Investor Stream

To be eligible for immigration to Ontario under this program, a person must have a business activity which will benefit Ontario. There are five factors that a person and their business partners must meet:

1)      A minimum of 36 months of full-time business experience during the last 60 months. This experience must be as owner or senior manager.

2)      Net worth of $1,500,000 if the business will be located within the Greater Toronto Area. Business located outside of this area must have ownership with a net worth of at least $800,000.

3)      For businesses within the Greater Toronto Area, minimum investment of $1,000,000. For businesses outside of this area, a personal investment of at least $500,000.

4)     The business must create at least two permanent full-time jobs for Canadian citizens or permanent residents.

 5)      If a person plans to make their investment by purchasing an existing Canadian business, the investor must make at least one visit to Ontario during the 12 months before the application is submitted.

 All provinces which follow this format follow a similar process. Check with the local province to find the most recent minimum investor amount.

 

One-Step Provincial Entrepreneur Programs: Québec, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick

Québec has a one-step program permitting investors to become permanent residents for a minimum investment of $800,000 for a period of five years. A person who applies for the Québec stream must have a net worth of at least $1.6 million, an intention to settle in Québec, and prior senior management experience. The person does not need to sign an Investor Agreement.

Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick also operate one-step programs. For example, an investor can secure permanent residency in P.E.I. with a $200,000 deposit and a personal net worth of at least $600,000. New Brunswick allows immigration for investors who have a $300,000 net worth and a deposit of $75,000.

Alberta’s Self-Employed Farmer Stream

Alberta’s entrepreneur stream is only open to self-employed farmers who are able to invest a minimum of $500,000 of equity in a primary production farming business. Entrepreneurs in this category may be required to show that they can invest more than the minimum amount.

For more information visit:

The Ultimate Canada Visitor Visa Checklist

The Ultimate Canada Visitor Visa Checklist

Are you planning to visit Canada in the near future? If so, you need to be aware of the requirements for obtaining a visitor visa. A visitor visa, also called a temporary resident visa, is an official document stamped in your passport demonstrating that you meet the legal requirements to travel to Canada. This post explains exactly what travelers must do to enter Canada.

Step 1: Canada Visitor Visa Checklist

The first step is making sure you meet the basic requirements for travel to Canada. You must have:

• A passport or other valid travel document
• Be in good health (a medical certificate may be required)
• Have no criminal convictions
• Demonstrate an intent to return to your home country
• Have enough money for your stay (bank statements may be required)

Step 2: Determine if You Need a Medical Exam

People who intend to visit for six months or less generally do not need a medical exam unless they work in specified health fields or in agriculture. You need a medical exam if you will remain in Canada for more than six months, and:

• You have lived temporarily for six or more months in a row in specified countries in the year immediately prior to the date you will enter Canada.
• You are coming to Canada to work in a job where public health must be protected.
• You are applying for a Parent and Grandparent Super Visa.

If you need a medical exam, contact the visa office for instructions on how to proceed.

Step 3: Documents Required for Canada Visitor Visa

The nearest visa application center (VAC) can help with the paperwork. Generally, you need the following forms and documents to complete your visitor visa application:

• Application for Temporary Resident Visa
• Family Information Form
• Photocopy of the Information Page of Passport
• Two Photographs (with name and date of birth written on back)
• Proof of Financial Support (bank statements)
• Photocopy of Marriage License or Certificate
• Purpose of Travel Statement
• Photocopy of Current Immigration Status (if your country of residence is different from your country of citizenship, you must provide proof of legal status)
• Custody Documents or Letter of Authorization from Both Parents (for minor children traveling with one parent)

You can apply online or on paper. Each person who seeks entry into Canada must submit a separate application.

Step 4: Pay Application Fees

As of December 2017, the fee schedule for visitor visas and super visas is as follows:

• Visitor visa / super visa = $100 per person
• Visitor visa for family of five or more = $500 total

To be eligible for the visitor visa for a family of five or more persons, dependent children must be under age 22 and the family members must apply at the same time and place.

Step 5: Biometrics

Some visitors to Canada need to give biometrics (fingerprints and a photograph). If you need to give biometrics and are applying on paper, the application must be submitted in person at the VAC office.

Step 6: Submit the Application

Families are required to send their applications together with one package. To identify the proper office, visit the webpage and select your country where you currently live.

Step 7: Application Processing

After you submit the application, it will be reviewed to make sure it has all the supporting documentation. Most applications are processed in just a few weeks. After the application is processed, your passport and original documents will be returned to you.

Step 8: Approved

Once your application is approved, the visa will be stamped inside the passport. When you arrive in Canada, a border agent will ask for your travel documents.

Documents required for a Canadian visitor visa are subject to change. Be sure to check the VAC for the most recent information for your country.

Are you interested in immigrating to Canada permanently? Contact the Immigration Law Office of Ronen Kurzfeld to see how we can make your Canadian dream come true.