There is a new process for the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) in 2017. You must first fill out a short online form to let CIC know that you’re interested in sponsoring your parents/ Grandparents. CIC will choose 10,000 entries at random and invite those people to apply to sponsor their parent or grandparent. The application intake starts with first working of the Calendar year. All the applicants interested in sponsoring their Parents and Grand Parents has to submit an online “Expression of Interest” application. The applications are open from January 03, 2017 to February 02, 2017.
Family Class Sponsorship
For Family Sponsorship purposes, a dependent child means a child who is:
- Under 19 and unmarried on the date the application for sponsorship is submitted (and still unmarried on the date the child lands in Canada); or
- Of any age or marital status and is a continuously enrolled full-time student, who is financially dependent on his or her parents since before the age of 19 (or since becoming a spouse or common-law partner, if this happened before 19); or
- Is financially dependent on a parent since before the age of 19 because of a disability.
The sponsor must be able to demonstrate the financial ability to provide for the essential needs of the Family Class applicant and dependents (sponsored family members). The financial ability requirements may not apply where the sponsored individual is a spouse and/or one or more dependent children.
The sponsor is obliged to enter into a sponsorship agreement with the sponsored family member(s). By signing this agreement, the sponsor agrees to provide for the essential needs of the sponsored family member(s).
The length of the sponsorship process varies depending on the Visa Office to which the Family Class application is submitted. Sponsorship cases are processed on a priority at all Visa Offices.
Study Permits
You should apply as soon as you receive your letter of acceptance from the educational institution. The time needed to process an application to study in Canada may vary at different visa offices.
You will need a medical examination if you will be in Canada for longer than six months, and you come from a designated country/territory for which Canada requires a visa.
In order to return to Canada, you must be in possession of a valid passport or travel document. You also need to hold a valid study permit if you are returning to study in Canada.
CIC recommends that you apply to extend your study permit at least three months before expiry. Applying for your study permit online typically results in faster processing times.
Express Entry Program
Candidates cannot apply directly to the program. If they are selected from the Express Entry pool and are issued an invitation to apply, they may then submit an application for permanent residency.
The program will be applicable to these economic immigration plans–Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and Canadian Experience Class (CEC). The various Canadian provinces &territories will also be in a position to employ aspirants from the Express Entry system, for a part of the PNPs, with a view to fulfill the requirements of the local labour market.
No, there is no cap whatsoever on the figure of aspirants who could gain admission into the pool of Express Entry.
There is no eligible occupations list in place at this time. Applicants need to have at least one year of work experience in the past 10 years in a National Occupational Classification (NOC) code type A, B or 0.
Under the Skilled Worker category, the following family members may be included in your application:
- your spouse or common-law partner;
- your dependent children and the dependent children of your spouse or common-law partner, up to 19 years of age;
- the dependent children of your dependent children and the dependent children of the dependent children of your spouse or common-law partner.
Yes, you will be awarded points under the Adaptability Factor if you or your accompanying spouse or common-law partner has a close relative who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and who is currently residing in Canada.
Express Entry – Canadian Experience Class
As an individual applying for permanent residence under the Canadian Experience Class, you must be a foreign worker who has accumulated a minimum of one year of full-time skilled work experience in Canada within the last three years.
Yes, you have one year of skilled work experience in Canada within the past three years to qualify for Canadian Experience Class.
If you are international graduates, your work experience does not have to be related to your education, as long as you have gained the experience after graduating from an approved Canadian post-secondary educational institution
Yes, provided that you have accumulated at least two years of full time skilled work experience in Canada.
Work Permit
Work visas and employment authorizations are known as work permits in Canada. A work permit is a document issued by officials of the Canadian Government that allows a foreign individual to work at a specific job for a specific employer.
With few exceptions, work permits are sought by those who have work arranged in Canada. This can include an offer of direct employment with a Canadian employer, contract employment in Canada, or some business activities in Canada. Such work must be described and documented in an application for a work permit.
It is possible to submit an application while in Canada with valid visitor status. However, such an application will generally need to be submitted to a location outside of Canada such as a visa office abroad or a Canadian port of entry.
No, you cannot engage in work in Canada until the work permit is received. Work conducted outside of Canada for a Canadian employer is also not subject to the requirement of a work permit.
Yes, your spouse/common law partner and dependent children can accompany or follow you to Canada. In many cases, persons entering Canada on a work permit may request that an open work permit be issued for their spouse/common law partner.
Super Visa
The key difference is that the Super Visa will have status periods for each entry that last up to two years, while the 10-year multiple entry visa status period for each entry is six months.
To be eligible for the super visa, applicants must be the parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents. Dependants of parents and grandparents are not eligible for the super visa. However, they can apply for a regular visitor visa. The super visa applicants must also be found admissible to Canada and meet some other conditions.
When you apply for a parent and grandparent super visa, include the following people when calculating family size:
- the child or grandchild inviting you;
- the spouse of the child or grandchild inviting you;
- the dependents of the child or grandchild inviting you;
- any dependents travelling with you;
- any other person whom the child or grandchild inviting you is currently sponsoring or co-signing for; and yourself.
Live-in Caregiver
Yes. As long as your work experience meets the specific requirements of the pathway you plan to apply to, your work experience as a live-in caregiver in Canada may be counted towards meeting the work requirement of the Caring for Children Pathway or the Caring for People with High Medical Needs Pathway. You will also need to meet all other requirements to be eligible to apply through one of the pathways.
You must have two years of full-time work experience in Canada within four years before you apply for permanent residence through one of the pathways.
No. You must have two years of full-time work experience in Canada in a single eligible occupation. For example, you would be eligible to apply if you had two years of experience as a licensed practical nurse or as a registered nurse, but you would not be eligible to apply if you had one year of experience as a licensed practical nurse and one year of experience as a registered nurse..
The Caring for Children Document Checklist (PDF, 382.38 KB) and the Caring for People with High Medical Needs Document Checklist (PDF, 385.81 KB) identify the forms and documents you must submit with your application for permanent residence through each pathway.
Yes. You will also need to meet all other requirements to be eligible to apply through this pathway.
No. Any experience you include in your application must have been authorized by a work permit to count towards meeting the work experience requirement for either pathway. If you have ever worked in Canada illegally, your application may be refused.
Citizenship Services
If you want to become a Canadian citizen, you must:
- Determine if you are eligible to become a citizen.
- Apply for citizenship.
- Take the citizenship test, if you are between the ages of 18 and 54.
- Attend a citizenship ceremony, if you are 14 or older.
No, there is no obligation to apply for Canadian Citizenship; but it is in your own interest to apply as soon as possible once you complete the residency requirement.
Since 1977, Canada has permitted its citizens to hold dual or multi Citizenship. As a result, Canadian citizens will not lose their Canadian Citizenship if they retain their former nationality or become citizens of another country. If you intend to become a Canadian citizen, you are advised to verify whether the country of your current nationality permits dual citizenship.
No. Marriage to a Canadian citizen does not give you citizenship. You must first apply and obtain permanent residence, then apply for Canadian citizenship and meet the same requirements as any other person seeking citizenship in Canada.