Understanding The Qualifications For Immigration To Canada

By Ida Dorsey


Americans often become disenchanted during periods of political conflict, and publicly vow to relocate to Canada permanently. The country to the north has an excellent reputation for economic, political, and social stability, and seems like the perfect refuge from the messy political and cultural divides common in the United States. While immigration to Canada may be an exhilarating concept, the reality is more complex.

Canada faces different challenges than the United States regarding new citizens. There is only one border, and the country encourages qualified Americans to become temporary or permanent residents as long as they meet currently existing standards. Those qualifications include such things as amount of education, relevant work experience, and bilingual abilities important in a country with two official languages.

It is not possible to simply apply for citizenship as a non-resident and then be granted all the privileges that status confers. Potential applicants must have lived in the country for a period of 1095 days, or at least three years of the previous four, before being considered. Most people who qualify have done so under the economic stream of immigration that includes the skilled worker and business categories.

To meet those qualifications, a system of scoring involving points is used. While the number of points needed to qualify has decreased during this century, the maximum number goes to people who hold higher education degrees, and the lowest to those who have only completed secondary education. Non-university training and education is similarly rated, depending on work skills involved.

The type of work experience is also important, because professional or managerial skills are preferred. Those occupations considered most desirable may include social workers or dentists, or architects and computer scientists. Although the actual list of preferred professions is quite long and comprehensive, the most noticeable characteristic is a dearth of occupations that require little education or previous experience.

In the United States bilingual abilities have become associated with foreign influence, and are rejected by significant numbers of people, but Canada has two official languages. Both French and English-speaking abilities are necessary to become a permanent resident. Like work skills, applicants are rated in proficiency of their stated primary language, and must master reading, writing, speaking and comprehension in their secondary choice.

To apply for citizenship an individual must currently be classified as a permanent resident, and must not be under review for serious criminal offenses or be involved in immigration fraud. Legal probation or parole status bars applicants, as does a Canadian removal order. A potential new citizen must be familiar with Canadian history, and recognize its institutions and citizenship responsibilities.

To begin the process it is first necessary to complete an application for permanent residency. They may be completed online or using a paper form, and all information must be presented or the application will be returned. While citizenship is possible after three years, it is not a requirement, and some immigrants choose to retain dual citizenship. In past years, most Americans who qualified for residency were admitted.




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