If you're getting to the point Immigration Canada Now, you will see that a very common point that raises many doubts is the way in which people reach their long-awaited immigration, that is, permanent residence (the “PR”, a type of “Canadian green card”). To get there, there are several immigration programs and also a strategy that combines higher education in the country and work experience. That's why a lot of people have this question, “immigrate or study first and then try to immigrate”?
This text is in the form of questions and answers, to make it easier to understand this complex and at the same time wonderful universe of Canadian immigration. It’s just a “little bit” of everything in a very simple way, so that you better understand how we can help you get here. Count on us for your immigration plan, whatever it may be, we are here to assist you at every stage. 😉
PERMANENT RESIDENCE – THE DREAM OF DREAMS
IS PR CARD THE SAME AS CITIZENSHIP?
No, but it's what allows a person to stay here without having to return to their country of origin. That in itself is great, right? As soon as someone receives a permanent residence visa (Permanent Resident), you now have many of the same rights and obligations as Canadian citizens (as a PR you cannot vote, for example, but you can enjoy public services and many other things). You can stay with PR status indefinitely, as long as you accumulate 2 years of residence in each 5-year period and renew your PR card. After 3 years of Canadian residence, you can apply for Canadian citizenship, which is a process involving evidence, documentation and ceremony.
To achieve PR you need to go through a 4-step process. Everything involves finding out if you are eligible, gathering all the necessary documentation, submitting the application and waiting for the invitation to apply, if everything goes well and you are approved. “Wow, but it’s a huge bureaucracy”, “There are a lot of demands”. Yes, because it is necessary to select who enters a country, according to that country's criteria.
HOW TO IMMIGRATE USING THE POINTS SYSTEM?
Canada has been welcoming immigrants since 1867 and has had one of the best immigration systems in the world for years. Does this mean everyone can come and work here? Of course. Canada needs qualified professionals with work experience and good educational background. Furthermore, there are several requirements for a candidate to be eligible for one of the most popular systems – the Express Entry, a points-based system that measures an applicant's potential to settle in Canada. In this system, candidates are awarded points based on different prerequisites to qualify for Canadian immigration. These include the level of English (which needs to be proven with proficiency tests such as IELTS, for example), professional experience, educational background, age, financial proof, among other things. It is a combination of several factors and points that will make a candidate eligible to apply. If the candidate does not have a good score on one of the requirements, they need to compensate for the other.
IMMIGRATION CATEGORIES
There are some main categories of Canadian immigration. Each of them caters to a different group of immigrants and comes with its own set of rules and prerequisites. How do you know which category you fit into and go through the entire process? There are two ways: researching and doing everything yourself or hiring a specialized consultancy to help you on this journey. And that's where the BFF Canada come in, as we represent two regulated immigration consultants, who will be able to evaluate your profile, see if you are eligible for any program and carry out your process. If you do not yet have a profile for these categories or do not wish to go through these processes, you can come through studies, a strategy that we will explain now.
WHAT IF I DON'T FIT INTO ANY CATEGORY? OR IF I'M ONLY IN A FEW YEARS FROM NOW AND I WANT TO GET TO CANADA BEFORE THAT?
Study. Work. Stay.
This is where a strategy used by many Brazilians and also immigrants from around the world comes in, which is to come to Canada through studies. It's a way to get here and chart your path to immigration, that is, until you get your PR.
How can studying here on a higher education course open the doors to immigration for you? Canada welcomes thousands of students from all over the world every year. It is always at the top of the education rankings and has a great strength in this industry, both economically and as a kind of “training of future immigrants”. It is very important for Canada that people have a “Canadian experience”, that is, a deep experience in the country, both personal and professional. As it is a multicultural country with people from all over the world, knowing how to deal with this multiculturalism and understanding the rules of the market and society here are vital points for future immigrants. To receive a student visa (study permit), you must choose a higher education course lasting more than 6 months and enroll, so you can work 20 hours a week. No, English courses do not entitle you to work, but if you come with your spouse, they can work full time and if you have children, the children can attend public school for free (if they are over 5 years old).
In addition to studying here being able to count points for your immigration process in the future, there are many other advantages of coming this way. For example:
- There is no age limit. We have several students who came to Canada after the age of forty, in fact. Today they are studying at colleges or universities and intend to stay.
– You can stay longer in the country when you graduate and get a full-time work visa. Yes, this is called PGWP (post-graduation work permit) and it is the dream of many Brazilians who think about living here. This is a type of work permit that Canada can offer to those who graduate here. To be eligible for this benefit, you must study at a public college or university, in long-term courses (at least one year or more). When you graduate and file your PGWP application with the Canadian government, you can get 1 to 3 more years in the country, depending on how long you studied and also on the sovereign decisions of the immigration officer.
– You can bring your family and everyone build together the plan to stay in Canada. In addition, it is easier to pay household expenses by having a spouse who can work full time while the student applicant studies and works part time. There are specific rules for this and not all educational institutions allow these actions.
– Studying in Canada can also open many professional doors, as you will be immersed in the country’s culture and will be able to do a lot networking, something important and essential to get work here.
There are some rules for you to be eligible for all these benefits and also for the PGWP, so we have our educational consultancy, for those who want the study plan strategy to be effective and really have a chance of leading the student to future immigration eligibility.
LANGUAGE
One thing that cannot be avoided, obviously, is proving language proficiency. As we work with the English part of Canada, so we focus on English. For both immigration programs and studying higher education here, you will need to be sharp in the language. Don't have the necessary level yet? Don't worry, as we have several course options at the best English schools in Canada (in-person or online) and we can create a language study plan for you, until you reach the level you need.
Now that you know a little about the existing strategies, it is ideal start your planning. Changing countries is complex and requires your focus and dedication, as well as qualified professional help, which we can offer for you and your family.
Find out below about our services and how we can help you get here.
Immigration consultancy, with our partner consultants:
Educational consultancy, to reach Canada through studies:
Need more content? Follow us on our Instagram and always stay well informed about Canada.
Count on us for whatever you need.
Hugs and we hope to see you soon in Canada. 😉
BFF Canada team
