Work, immigration through the points system (Express Entry) or via studies?
If you are approaching the subject of Immigration Canada now, you will see that a very common point that raises many doubts is the way in which people reach the 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.
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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? Once someone receives a Permanent Resident visa, they 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 get the PR card you need to go through a process of many steps. And the path to permanent residency varies from person to person and depends on the strategy chosen. One thing you have to keep in mind: you will need a plan. And in your planning, BFF CANADA can help you. Discover our services here.
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, certain language skills and good educational background. Additionally, there are several requirements for a candidate to be eligible for one of the most popular systems – Express Entry, a points-based system that measures a candidate'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 in one of the requirements, they need to compensate for the other. Click here and learn about our immigration consultancy which can evaluate your immigration profile and suggest paths.
What are the immigration categories?
There are a few 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 BFF Canada comes in, as we represent a regulated immigration consultant (Ana Medeiros), which will be able to evaluate your profile, check if you are eligible for a 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 of these categories? Or, if I only fit in a few years from now, can I immigrate before then?
This is where a strategy used by many Brazilians and also immigrants from around the world comes in, which is coming 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 up to 20 hours a week. No, English courses do not give you the right to work, but if you come with your spouse, they can work full time if you are enrolled in a college or university (there are some rules for this) and if they have children, the children can attend free public school (if they are over 5 years old). Isn't it great?
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 permit. 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, on 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 can build together the plan to stay in Canada. It may be 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 conditions for couples.
- 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 of networking, something important and essential for getting a job here.
- There are some rules for you to be eligible for all these benefits and also for the PGWP, which is why 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. . You can also study here and start your plan to immigrate in the future!
