How to Become a Canadian Resident

Canada is a beautiful country with a vibrant economy and a history of welcoming immigrants. Canada allows more than 200,000 people per year to immigrate to Canada as permanent residents. Once a person has been approved, they receive a Permanent Resident Card which entitles them to almost all of the same rights and responsibilities of Canadian citizens.

 

This guide to obtaining permanent residency is designed to give you a step-by-step explanation of how to become a Canadian resident. If you want to immigrate to Canada or have a pending application for permanent residence, it is recommended that you speak with a qualified immigration attorney for assistance.

 

Requirements to Become a Canadian Resident

 

The first step is ensuring you meet Canada’s minimum requirements for permanent residency:

• You must be 18 years old to become a Canadian resident. Minors must have a parent or legal guardian fill out the application on their behalf.
• You are not eligible for immigration if you have committed a crime, have a serious health issue, are in financial trouble or if you (or someone you are related to) have been barred from Canada.
• You must speak either English or French.

Once you are sure you meet the minimum requirements, you can determine which immigration program is best for your situation.

 

If you have a job lined up already, you can apply for Express Entry into Canada. This internet-based system makes it faster for Canadian employers to get approval of their new hires.

 

Immigration Categories

 

Do you have a job offer in Canada? Do you have family in Canada who can sponsor you for permanent residency? Do you have a specific job skill which could benefit Canadian employers? Are you an experienced caregiver? Are you an entrepreneur? Do you have French language skills or ties to Québec?

 

If you answered yes to any of the other questions, you probably qualify to submit an application for Canadian permanent residence under one of Canada’s immigration categories:

Skilled Worker Class Immigration

If you have specific job skills, experience, and education, you may be able to become a resident under the Skilled Worker Class. This class evaluates people based a points system which awards points for education level, language skills, work experience, age, employment, and adaptability. Applicants will receive an overall score indicating whether they are a good candidate for permanent residence status.

Once you have been given a numerical score, other factors will be evaluated as well, such as criminal history and the needs of the Canadian labour market.

Business Class Immigration

Investors, entrepreneurs and self-employed persons can qualify for permanent residence under the Business Class program. Business Class immigration requires the applicant to demonstrate they have significant financial resources.

Provincial Nomination

Canada’s immigration system allows the provinces participate in selecting immigrants who have certain skills. If you have a specific province or territory in mind, you should contact the representative immigration office and apply for nomination through that office.

Family Class Immigration

If you have family ties to Canada, your relatives may be able to sponsor you for permanent residency. Around 30 percent of all immigrants are sponsored by family already living in Canada. Your family is required to pledge financial support as a condition of Family Class immigration.

Québec-Selected Immigration

The province of Québec selects individuals which meet its own criteria for immigration.

Application and Invitation

Before you can receive your permanent residence card, you will most likely need to pass through two screening levels: provincial and federal. Some people will be permitted to immigrate as a temporary resident and then file for permanent residency while living in Canada. People who file the application while living outside Canada are not able to move until they receive their official invitation.

Who Can Sponsor an Immigrant to Canada?

Under the Family Class immigration category, citizens and permanent residents can sponsor their relatives, including foreign spouses, partners, dependent children, parents, or grandparents for immigration to Canada. The Canadian government makes family reunification an important goal, and over the next three years, the country will welcome over 260,000 people who will be reunited with their family in Canada.

 

 

Who Can Sponsor an Immigrant to Canada?

A person can become a sponsor if:

• They are at least 18 years old;
• They are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person registered as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act,
• They can prove they are financially able to assist the sponsored person(s); and
• They have enough income to provide for basic needs of dependent children of the principal applicant.

 

Who Cannot Sponsor an Immigrant to Canada?

 Certain people cannot sponsor immigrants to Canada:

• People who failed to pay an immigration loan, a performance bond, or family support payments;
• People who have not been able to provide for the basic needs of previously-sponsored relatives who received social assistance from the government;
• People who are under an immigration removal order;
• People who are incarcerated;
• Those who receive social assistance (unless they are disabled), or who are going through bankruptcy;
• People who were sponsored by a spouse or partner who became a permanent resident less than five years ago;
• People who have sponsored a previous spouse or partner and three years have not passed since the spouse or partner became a permanent resident; and
• People convicted of sexual offences, violent offences, or offences which caused bodily harm to a relative, and persons who attempted or threatened to commit this type of offence.

 

Sponsorship of Spouses, Common Law Partners and Dependent Children

 

A Canadian citizen or permanent resident can sponsor a spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner or dependent child as long as the applicant and spouse or dependents are not inadmissible. For sponsorship purposes, a spouse can be opposite or same-sex and must be married to the Canadian citizen or permanent resident.

If a couple was married in Canada, they must provide a marriage certificate from the territory or province where they were married. If the couple was married outside of Canada, the marriage must be legally valid in the country where the marriage was performed, as well as legally valid in Canada.

A couple does not need to be married to take advantage of the spousal or common law partner sponsorship provision. If a couple has lived together in a conjugal relationship for at least 12 months, with no interruptions, they are eligible for family sponsorship. However, the CIC may require couples to prove their relationship with photographs and other evidence.

The government wants to ensure that sponsored family members have adequate support once they arrive in Canada. Spouses and common law partners must sign a formal agreement which confirms that both people understand their responsibilities. The sponsoring person must also sign an agreement pledging to provide for the basic needs of the spouse, partner, dependent child or other relative.

There are unique requirements to sponsor a close relative to Québec. If you live in Québec, it is important to review the law and consult with a lawyer about the Québec process.

 

Spousal Sponsorship Processing Time

 Generally, it takes 18 months to complete the sponsorship process for people who live outside of Canada, and 24 months for applications by people living inside Canada. In December of 2016, the Canadian government announced its plans to process 80 percent of the spousal sponsorship applications within 12 months. New application forms and procedures are streamlining the process and reducing the waiting time. For example, medical examinations are no longer needed upfront and police certificates are only required for the countries where the spouse or partner most recently lived and where they spent most of their lives since age 18. Complicated or unusual applications may still take more than one year to process.

New Data Shows Nearly 25% of Canadian Workers are Immigrants

Over the last 10 years, immigrants have significant gains in Canada’s workforce and more the 50% have a bachelor’s degree, according to Canada’s 2016 census.

Statistics show that immigrants made up 23.8% of Canada’s workers in 2016. This is up 21.6% from 2006. During the same 10-year span, Canada introduced extensive changes to its immigration system to focus on skilled labour shortages, specifically the introduction of the Express Entry system in 2015.

Statistics Canada defines an immigrant as a person who has ever been or who is a permanent resident or landed immigrant.

When you look at Canada on a regional scale, the results are even more impressive. In 2016, immigrants represent high labour force numbers in the following cities:

• More than 50% of workers in Toronto, Ontario, metropolitan area
• 2% of workers in Vancouver, British Columbia
• 5% of workers in Calgary, Alberta

One of the main goals with the Express Entry system is to offset the expected labour decline due to Canada’s aging population. The three categories the system classes economic immigrants under are the Federal Skilled Trades Class, the Canadian Experience Class, and the Federal Skilled Worker Class.

Since January 2015, nearly 150,000 invitations to apply for Canadian permanent residence have been issued through the Express Entry system.  Canada has announced this year that it plans to welcome nearly one million new permanent residents by the end of 2020. Through this plan, Canada has made targets to admit 250,000 of these newcomers through the Express Entry System.

To enter for the Express Entry pool, applicants need to decide which class they qualify under. Candidates will be evaluated based on their work experience, educations, language ability, skills, and other personal information.

Trends in Higher Education

According to Canada’s 2016 Census statistics:

• Over 50% of recent Canadian immigrants a bachelor’s degree or higher
• Four in 10 immigrants between the ages of 25 and 64 a bachelor’s degree or higher
• 3% of immigrant in the same age group had a master’s or doctorate degree
• Immigrants two times as likely to hold a master’s degree or PhD compared to the Canadian-born population

Trends in Jobs

According to Canada’s 2016 Census statistics:

• Canada’s social assistance and health care industry employed the most Canadians
• More than two million Canadians were employed in the two above industry
• Strong growth in the high-skilled computer and information systems professionals group, now representing 2.1% of Canada’s total employment
• Tech hubs in Canada are Ottawa-Gatineau (4.9% of all employment) and Toronto (3.7% of all employment)

For more information from the 2016 Census, click here.

Are you looking to apply for a work permit, the Express Entry program, or a student visa? Contact the Immigration Office of Ronen Kurzfeld to start your application today.

Canada to Make Changes to Medical Inadmissibility Rules

The current medical inadmissibility rules for newcomers need to be reformed and are out of touch with Canadian values, according to Canada’s immigration minister, Ahmed Hussen.

The announcement was made in front of Parliament’s Standing Committee on Immigration on November 22 as a part of a broader review of these medical rules.

The current policy is more than 40 years old, and Hussen said it needs to “be brought into the 21^st century.”

What are the Medical Tests for Canadian Immigration Currently?

Canada’s current medical inadmissibility rules require every applicant for a Canadian immigration visa and some who apply for temporary status to get a medical exam by a medical officer.

The list of medical tests for Canada immigration includes the following:

• Blood tests
• Urine test
• X-rays

The applicant’s mental state and medical record are also examined.

Applicants can be denied permanent residency strictly on medical grounds their admission could potentially cause an excessive demand on current health or social services that the government provides or their condition would put the safety and health of the Canadian population at large in jeopardy.

To determine if an applicant is admissible on medical grounds, the medical officer is required to consider severity, probable duration, and nature of any health impairment. The medical officer must also consider other factors including the following:

• Unusual or unpredictable behaviour that could become a danger to public safety
• Danger of contagion
• Social or health services required and whether the use of those will take away those services from Canadian nationals

Immigration and Refugee Protection Act: Section 38-1C

Hussen further explained that the current excessive demand provision does not align with Canada’s values and the inclusion of people with disabilities in the Canadian society.

Under Section 38-1C of Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, excessive demand is summarized as the anticipated costs that are probable to exceed the average Canadian per capita social services and health services over a consecutive five years following the individual’s latest medical assessment. This period can be extended to 10 years, in some cases. The predicted impact on wait times for Canadian social and health services is also considered.

In 2017, for a demand to be considered excessive the cost threshold was $6,655 per year or $33,275 over a five-year period.

There are several exceptions to this excessive demand policy in cases of family sponsorship for a sponsor’s spouse, conjugal or common-law partner, and dependent child.

Moving Forward

Hussen said that all options are on the table with the impending changes to the medical inadmissibility rules for newcomers. This even includes the possibility of the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) scrapping the excessive demand rule altogether.

But, the medical examination of every applicant for a Canadian immigration visa and some who apply for temporary status will stay intact.

According to Hussen, the goal of the review is to uphold the federal and provincial governments committing to making sure the fair treatment of immigrants and the protection of Canada’s health and social services.

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.

How to Apply as a Nurse in Canada

As the number of seniors continues to rise, healthcare professionals are becoming more and more crucial. This growing number of dependents is putting a stress on the system.

As a result, Canada needs nurses. But, what are Canada’s requirements for nurses?

Requirements to Work as a Nurse in Canada

In general, to be eligible to register or work in Canada as a nurse (either a Registered Nurse or Licenced Practical Nurse), you need to demonstrate competency to practice. To prove this, you will need to have your education credentials assessed.

If your education credentials are deemed as the equivalent to nursing programs in Canada, the nursing regulatory body will address additional application requirements. These requirements to work as a nurse in Canada include work experience, language proficiency, good character, and screening for criminal history.

Once your application meets all the requirements, you are require d to write the Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Exam (CPNRE) or Canadian Registered Nurse Examination (CRNE) as part of the licensure or registration process.

This is a requirement in all Canadian provinces and territories except for Quebec. It maintains its own registration examination.

At this time, these examinations can only be written in Canada. Once you have passed the required examination, you are eligible to work in Canada as a nurse.

How to Apply as a Nurse in Canada

If you are looking to work as a nurse in Canada, you have to be deemed able to practice an RN or LPN as noted in the general process above. To qualify, you have to register with the Canadian Council for Practical Nurse Regulators or the Canadian Nurses Association.

In Canada, each province and territory establishes its own registration requirements. Before you can register with the CCPNR or the CNA, nurses have to send an application to the nursing regulatory body in the territory or province where you want to work.

You will find the links to these nursing regulatory bodies below, alphabetized by province and territory.

Alberta

Registered Nurse Application

Licensed Practical Nurse Application

British Columbia

Registered Nurse Application

Licensed Practical Nurse Application

Manitoba

Registered Nurse Application

Licensed Practical Nurse Application

New Brunswick

Registered Nurse Application

Licensed Practical Nurse Application

Newfoundland & Labrador

Registered Nurse Application

Licensed Practical Nurse Application

Northwest Territories & Nunavut

Registered Nurse Application

Licensed Practical Nurse Application

Nova Scotia

Registered Nurse Application

Licensed Practical Nurse Application

Ontario

Both Registered Nurse & Licensed Practical Nurse Applications

Prince Edward Island

Registered Nurse Application

Licensed Practical Nurse Application

Quebec

Registered Nurse Application

Licensed Practical Nurse Application

Saskatchewan

Registered Nurse Application

Licensed Practical Nurse Application

Yukon

Registered Nurse Application

Licensed Practical Nurse Application

If you are looking for Canadian nursing jobs for international nurses, you can do so as a temporary resident on a work permit or a permanent residence.

Are you looking to work in Canada as a nurse? Contact the Immigration Law Office of Ronen Kurzfeld to see how we can help with your immigration process.

What Does an Immigration Lawyer Do?

Making the decision to come to Canada on either a temporary or full-time basis is a big decision. But now that you’ve made this decision, there is some work to be done.

Whether you are applying for a work permit, student visas, or citizenship, you want to make sure your applications are successful.

That’s where an immigration lawyer comes into play.

So, what does an immigration lawyer do?

Citizenship and immigration services require a special eye for detail that only an experienced immigration lawyer can offer.

For citizenship, in particular, the application process can be time-consuming and very complex. Immigration lawyers like Ronen Kurzfeld help you gather the documentation you need to become a citizen.

But what an immigration lawyer does isn’t limited to citizenship applications. There are other ways an immigration lawyer can help your case, including the following:

• Assist with citizenship tests
• Represent you in court
• Get immediate access citizenship in emergency situations
• Help you start a business in another country

Immigration lawyers help you analyze your rights, strategies, and possibilities, interpret the law, and lead you through the complicated immigration process. They do a lot of work on your behalf, such as preparing paperwork and organizing which items you need for your application. For example, proof of valid marriage or birth certificates. They also ensure the information you present is clear consistent, correct, and clear. This is especially important when filling out forms, collecting documents and preparing testimony and statements.

If you think you don’t need an immigration lawyer, there is one big drawback.

It’s easy to make mistakes.

Since the volume of immigration application is so high, one single mistake can lead to trouble.

Experienced immigration lawyers can help you complete the task successfully. They know how to avoid delays, what issues to prepare for, and what to expect. This can help make sure your applications don’t get held up on any legal technicalities.

Citizenship and immigration services take a long time to go through on your own without guaranteed success. With an immigration lawyer, you are one step closer to a move to Canada.

Are you looking to make the move to Canada? Get in touch with the Immigration Law Office of Ronen Kurzfeld to see how we can assist you with a successful application.

 

Canada’s Target to Welcome Almost One Million New Immigrants By 2020

Between 2018 and 2020, nearly one million new immigrants will come to settle in Canada. According to Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen, this target is the most ambitious immigration levels in recent Canadian history.

These numbers are being set in the federal government’s new multi-year Immigration Levels Plan, which was formally presented on November 1 in the House of Commons.

The majority of newly admitted permanent residents will be economic migrants. Most of these economic newcomers would immigrate through the Express Entry immigration selection system. The targets in the economic categories will generally increase year until 2020.

The table below shows the target admission for Express Entry from 2017 to 2020.

Year	Target	Target Increase
2017	71,700*
2018	74,900	3,200 (4%)
2019	81,400	6,700 (9%)
2020	85,800	4,400 (5%)

*This number does not include the target number for the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program.

In 2017, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) have made itself clear that the Express Entry program is currently the main driver of economic immigration. This has been shown through an increased number of issued Invitations to Apply this year, more than the last two years together.

The increased target for 2017 Express Entry candidates was contributed as a result of a decrease in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off thresholds this year. This is because an increased intake places downward pressure on the CRS cut-off thresholds.

Between 2011 and 2016, the percentage of recent immigrants to Canada by category looked like the following:

• Economic immigrants – 60.3%
• Family Class immigrants – 26.8%
• Refugees – 11.6%
• Other – 1.3%

Family Reunification

Another important highlight from Canada’s multi-year Immigration Levels Plan includes a target to reunite spouses, parents, common-law partners, grandparents and dependent children of permanent residents and Canadian residents through the Family Class programs, including sponsorship. There will be a slight increase in the Family Class target admissions year over year, as seen in the table below.

	Low	High	Target	Target Increase
2017	80,000	86,000	84,000
2018	81,000	89,000	86,000	2,000 (2.4%)
2019	82,000	91,000	88,500	2,500 (3%)
2020	82,000	96,000	91,000	2,500 (3%(

 

Canada’s Progression Over the Years

It is targets like the proposed that has grown the percentage of immigrants to Canada. According to Statistics Canada, nearly 22 percent of Canada’s population is currently made up of first-generation immigrants, whom all settled as permanent residents and many have gone on to become naturalized citizens. There are many more residents in Canada on a temporary status, such as on a work permit or student visa.
By 2026, it’s projected that the share of Canada’s population made up by immigrants will reach as high as 30 percent of the overall population.
This is a significant number in comparison to that in the past 30 years, which is shown in the graphic below.

The immigration process is not an easy task. That is why working with the Immigration Law Office of Ronen Kurzfeld is your best chance at an approved application. Are you looking to immigrate to Canada? Get in touch with us today to see how we can help.