Immigration to Canada - Options

Mulling move - News - Jamaica Gleaner - Tuesday | January 14, 2014

Dear Miss Powell,

My wife and I have assessed our lives here in Jamaica and we want better for ourselves and our children. We have relatives in Canada and master's degrees, so we were thinking of the federal skilled worker programme. We, however, heard that there were other programmes that we could explore. We would like to know how we can get Canadian citizenship. We own our own home, vehicles, and have a net worth of over US$1 million. What is the best way to apply to move to Canada?

- MM

Dear MM,

There are several ways that one may immigrate to Canada. The main avenues are via the following programmes:

1. Federal skilled worker

2. Federal skilled trades

3. Canadian experience class

4. Investors, entrepreneurs and self-employed

5. Family sponsorship

6. Provincial nominees

7. Live-in caregivers

I have written on each category before and the past articles can be found on The Gleaner's website and also on my website. However, based on the brief information you have provided, I would recommend that you review the list of eligible occupations to see if you and your wife qualify under the federal skilled worker category or the investor category.

Federal skilled worker programme

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has a list of eligible occupations, which will be updated in May. There is a cap on the number of applications that are accepted each year. You should apply immediately if you have at least one year of full-time work experience in one of the following jobs:

1 Land surveyor

2 Aerospace engineer

3 Mining engineer

4 Chemical engineer

5 Petroleum engineer

6 Geoscientist

7 Oceanographer

8 Occupational therapist

9 Inspector in public and environmental health

10 Occupational health and safety

11 Medical radiation technologist

12 Medical laboratory technician

13 Pathologist assistant

14 Medical sonographer

15 Respiratory therapist

16 Clinical perfusionist

17 Cardiopulmulmonary technologist

If your have a degree from a non-Canadian university, you will need to apply for an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report from one of the accredited organisations. This report must be submitted with your application. If your area of expertise is not listed above, do not worry as a new occupational list should be published in May. I would recommend that you request the ECA report immediately, so that you are ready to submit your application in a timely manner.

Investors, entrepreneurs and self-employed

You indicated that you have a net worth of over US$1 million, therefore, you should begin exploring the possibilities of becoming an investor in Canada. Although there is currently a temporary pause on the Federal Immigrant  Investor and Entrepreneur programme, there are still opportunities to invest in the province of Quebec. Also, if you are able to make a significant contribution to the cultural or athletic life of Canada, or intend to buy or manage a farm, you may apply under this category.

You appear to have various options available to you based on the brief information provided. Consider meeting with an  immigration lawyer to explore your credentials, financial position, and to guide you in the application process. You should not apply under more than one category at the same time, so you need to ensure that you choose the option that will yield the best result. An experienced immigration lawyer can guide you in this process.

If you pass all the medical and criminal checks, you should be granted a permanent resident status. Once you have been granted permanent resident status and spent approximately four years within Canada, you may be eligible to apply for citizenship.

Deidre S. Powell is a lawyer, mediator and notary public who is a member of the Jamaican and Ontario, Canada bars, with offices located in Ottawa, Ontario. Her areas of practice are in immigration, real estate, personal injury, family, commercial and administration of estates. Submit your questions and comments to: Email: info@deidrepowell.com. Subject line: Immigration. Tel: 613-695-8777, Follow us for updates: Twitter: deidrespowell Facebook: jamaicanlawyer