Canada is a favorite destination for individuals wanting to relocate to another country. The immigration friendly policies of the country make it a favorite of those wanting to migrate to another country. There are numerous job opportunities and the country is encouraging migrants to come and settle here.
Many migrants opt for a PR visa when they wish to settle in Canada. The PR visa offers social security, free education and health care among other benefits.
Canada offers various immigration programs through which you can apply for a PR visa, but each one has its individual eligibility requirements and application procedure. In this post, we will look at three easiest ways to migrate to Canada with a PR visa. As for the question which is the easiest method to get PR in Canada, it is a subjective matter. It depends on how far you meet the eligibility requirements and your diligence in following the application procedure. The three immigration programs for PR application are:
Each of this immigration program has its own set of criteria. However, here are some common general requirements for applicants:
- Above 18 years of age
- Must have the minimum educational qualifications equal to higher secondary education in Canada
- Must have the minimum marks in language proficiency tests such as IELTS or CLB
- Have at least one year of work experience
- Have a valid job offer for high priority treatment of your application
Points System:
Canada follows a points-based system to determine whether you qualify for the PR visa. This is known as the Comprehensive Ranking System or CRS. Based on the details you provide; your profile will be ranked on the following criteria:
- Age
- Education
- Work experience
- Language ability
- Adaptability
- Arranged employment
If your profile must be selected, you should be able to get 67 points out of 100 in the CRS.
Before you make your PR application under any immigration program, you must do these crucial things, to assess where you rank in the eligibility criteria and your chances of getting a PR visa.
Do a self-assessment: Use the self- assessment tool in the Express Entry profile to assess your possible CRS score. If you get the minimum required points, you have a good chance.
Check your finances: You need to have a minimum amount of CAD 12,699 in your bank account if you are applying only for yourself. For dependents who will be relocating with you, an average additional amount of CAD 3000 is required.
Take your language proficiency test: A good score in a popular English language proficiency test is required. The most popular one is the IELTS test and you should have a minimum score of 6 bands to qualify for a PR visa.
Get your Educational Credential Assessment (ECA): You must get your Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) from the World Education Services (WES) or any other assessing authority for your educational qualifications. The ECA helps to verify your educational qualifications gained outside Canada.
Look out for Provincial Nominee opportunities: If you get a provincial nomination you will add 600 points to your Express Entry profile and stand a better chance of getting your PR visa approval.
1. Express Entry Program:
The Express Entry program is one of the most popular ways to migrate to Canada. It was the first immigration program to use skills and points to assess the eligibility of individuals wishing to migrate.
The visa processing time under this program can extend up to six months or less.
Here are the steps involved in the application process:
Step 1: Create your Express Entry profile
As a first step, you will have to create your online Express Entry profile. The profile should include credentials like age, work experience, education, language skills, etc. Based on these details you will be given points and your profile will be given a score.
If you have the required score, you can submit your profile, which gets added with the other profiles in the Express Entry pool.
Step 2: Complete your ECA
If you have done your education outside Canada, you should complete an Educational Credentials Assessment or ECA. This is to prove that your educational qualifications are equal to those awarded by the Canadian educational system.
Step 3: Complete your language ability tests
As the next step in the Express Entry program, you should take the required English language proficiency tests. The recommendation is a score of 6 bands in IELTS. Your test score should be less than 2 years old at the time of application.
You will gain extra points if you know French. To prove your proficiency in French, you can give a French language test like the Test de evaluation de Francians (TEF).
Step 4: Calculate your CRS score
The profiles in the Express Entry pool are ranked based on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. Factors such as age, work experience, adaptability, etc. determine your CRS score. Your profile gets included in the Express Entry pool if you have the required CRS score.
Step 5: Get your Invitation to Apply (ITA)
Your profile gets selected from the Express Entry pool, provided you have the minimum score for the Express Entry draw. After this, you will get an ITA from the Canadian government following which you can start the documentation for your PR visa.
2. Provincial Nominee Program (PNP):
If you opt for the PNP to apply for your PR visa, these are the steps:
- You must apply in the province or region where you desire to settle.
- You could be nominated by the province to apply for a PR visa if your profile meets the eligibility criteria.
- You can apply for your PR visa after you are nominated by a province.
The criteria for evaluating the PR application differs in each province but the eligibility requirements are similar to the Express Entry Program.
After you receive your ITA you must submit the required documents.
The PNP is an option you can choose if your points score is not high enough and you still get your provincial nomination. When making your application under the PNP, you can choose a province from where it will be easy to get a nomination based on your profile.
A provincial nomination can help you in two ways to get your PR visa. It can add 600 CRS points to your Express Entry application and makes you eligible to apply for your PR visa directly to IRCC.
3. Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP):
The province of Quebec is a popular destination for immigrants. Quebec has its own Provincial Nominee Program known as the Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP). This is an immigration program that provides a fast and convenient way to migrate to Canada.
This immigration program was started with the intention to encourage more immigrants to come and settle in Quebec without having to go through the hassle of a lengthy immigration process.
Through this program skilled workers can apply for the Quebec Selection Certificate or Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ). It is not necessary for applicants to have a valid job offer in order to migrate to Quebec. However, those with a job offer are given higher priority.
Th QSWP is also based on a points-based system like the Express Entry System.
The application for the QSWP is quite simple and involves just two steps:
Step 1: Submit your completed application form along with the required documents. Your documents will then be verified by the immigration authorities.
Step 2: The immigration authorities will give you a CSQ that makes you eligible to migrate to and stay in Quebec for 3 months. After this period, you can apply for your PR visa.
These are three immigration programs that can help you migrate to Canada. They are simple and uncomplicated. Whether they provide an easy way to migrate to Canada is purely a subjective matter. It all depends on how well you meet the eligibility requirements and your points score in the CRS rankings.
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