265,000 new immigrants for 2011

Citizenship and Immigration Canada has just published the 2011 Immigration Plan. It is estimated that Canada will welcome between 240,000 and 265,000 new permanent residents in 2011. Sixty percent of these immigrants will come through economic streams. Please contact for more info about immigration to Canada or visit www.connectingtocanada.com

Immigrant Investor Program

What is the purpose of the Immigrant Investor Program?

The Immigrant Investor Program (IIP) seeks to attract experienced business people and/or professionals with solid business or managerial experience, who can contribute to the development of a strong and prosperous Canadian economy with their capital, know-how, skills and experiences.
Under this program, you and your family become Permanent Residents of Canada and enjoy the highest quality of education for your children, medical service for your family and many other benefits that Canada would offer to you.  

Who can apply?

In order to apply immigration to Canada under Immigrant Investor Program, you must have;

• at least two years of business experience* within five years of applying,
• a net worth of at least C$1,600,000 that was legally obtained, and be willing and able to make an investment of C$800,000 for five years without interest,
  There are ways to finance $800,000 investment amount.
• proof that you have sufficient funds to support yourself (and your dependents, if applicable) after you arrive in Canada,
• obtain a minimum of 35 points in the selection grid, and
• the ability to meet medical and security requirements.

Which program to apply?

There are two Immigrant Investor Programs:
Federal Investor Program if you want to settle anywhere in Canada except Quebec
Quebec Investor Program if you plan to settle in the Province of Quebec (primarily French speaking)

	Federal Program	Quebec Program
Minimum Net-Worth Requirement	Must have legally obtained net worth of at least C$1,600,000  (including spouse)	Must have legally obtained net worth of at least  C$800,000 (including spouse)
Investment Requirement	Must deposit C$800,000 for 5 years with Canadian Government, at 0% interest	Must deposit C$400,000 for 5 years with Quebec Government, at 0% interest
Investment Period	63 months	60 months
Investment Security	Provincial guarantees	Quebec guarantee
Business / Management Experience Requirement	Must have managed five full-time job equivalents per year for at least 2 years within the last 5 years before the application date  ORMust have owned and managed a qualifying business that meets any two of the four requirements for at least 2 years within the last 5 years before the application date	Must have at least 2 years managerial experience in the 5 years preceding the application. Assumed duties related to the planning, management and control of financial, human or material resources acquired through  - a legal farming, commercial or industrial business; or - a legal professional business where the staff, excluding the candidate, occupies at least the equivalent of 2 full-time jobs; or - an international agency or a government or one of its departments or agencies.
Permanent Residency	Anywhere in Canada, outside of Quebec	Province of Quebec

How to apply?
If you think you meet the Immigrant Investor requirements and you and your family are ready to start your new life in Canada, or you have more questions, please contact Connecting to Canada.

NOTE: Federal Investor Immigrant Program is currently on hold due to the requirements to make necessary legal amendments with the increase of Investment amount and net worth requirement as of June 26, 2010 (which was before 400,000C$ and 800,000C$ respectively). The program is expected to start again in the Fall 2010. Quebec Investor Immigrant Program continuous to accept application under the old requirements until these amendments take place.

CONTACT CONNECTING TO CANADA FOR MORE INFORMATION 

New regulation on English/French language requirements for Immigration

As of June 26, 2010, with the new Ministerial Instruction, all applicants under Federal Skilled Worker and Canadian Experience Class Immigration, must provide an eligible test result as a proof of their skills and knowledge on English or French.

Eligible tests are IELTS (General test) AND CELPIP for English and TEF for French.

Connecting to Canada
Canadian Immigration Consultancy &
Education Advising

New Occupation List Eligible for Skilled Worker Immigration

New Ministerial Instructions regarding the eligible occupation for Skilled Worker Immigration came into effect as of June 26, 2010.

According to this list, 29 occupations below will be considered as eligible for applying to immigrate Canada under Federal Skilled Worker Program until new instruction will come probably until June 2011.

The number of applicants will be limited to 20,000 this year under this program and for each occupation the maximum number of applicants considered for processing will be around 1000.

Here is the list of 29 occupations:

Restaurant and Food Service Managers
Primary Production Managers (Except Agriculture)
Professional Occupations in Business Services to Management
Insurance Adjusters and Claims Examiners
Biologists and Related Scientists
Architects
Specialist Physicians
General Practitioners and Family Physicians
Dentists
Pharmacists
Physiotherapists
Registered Nurses
Medical Radiation Technologists
Dental Hygienists & Dental Therapists
Licensed Practical Nurses
Psychologists
Social Workers
Chefs
Cooks
Contractors and Supervisors, Carpentry Trades
Contractors and Supervisors, Mechanic Trades
Electricians (Except Industrial & Power System)
Industrial Electricians
Plumbers
Welders & Related Machine Operators
Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanics
Crane Operators
Drillers & Blasters - Surface Mining, Quarrying & Construction
Supervisors, Oil and Gas Drilling and Service

For more information about Skilled Worker Immigration please visit our website at www.connectingtocanada.com or contact us.

Connecting to Canada
Canadian Immigration Consultancy and
Education Advising

Federal Skilled Worker Immigration Program

What is the purpose of the Federal Skilled Worker Program?


World Bank figures in 2008 shows that Canada has the 11th largest economy in the world.  To sustain growth in the economy, Canadian businesses need skilled workers who are qualified to work in a variety of occupations. If you [and your family, if applicable]become a Permanent Resident of Canada under the Federal Skilled Worker Program and enjoy the highest quality of education for your children, medical service for your family and many other benefits that Canada would offer to you.


Who can apply?
If you intend to immigrate to Canada as skilled worker, there are three simple steps to follow.  You should:

• be eligible to apply,
• meet minimum requirements,  and
• obtain the minimum required score in selection test.

Am I eligible to apply for Permanent Residency in Canada under Federal Skilled Worker Category?

• Do you have an offer of arranged employment in Canada?
• Are you a skilled worker who has at least one year of work experience in at least one of the following eligible occupations?
  Check the list list of eligible occupations

If your answer is YES to one of these questions and you have an official language proficiency test result, then you are ELIGIBLE to apply for Permanent Residency in Canada under Federal Skilled Worker Program.
Ok, I am eligible to apply.  Now, what are the minimum requirements?
If your application is eligible for processing, you must also meet the following minimum requirements to qualify as a skilled worker:

• You have at least one year of continuous full-time paid work experience or the equivalent in part-time continuous employment, AND
• Your work experience must be in managerial occupations, professional occupations or technical occupations and skilled trades as outlined by the Canadian authorities, AND
• You must have acquired the work experience within the last 10 years.

What are the selection factors and what is the score required to be selected?
If you meet these minimum requirements, your application will then be processed according to the following six selection factors:

• education, 
• existing language skills in English and/or French (Canada has two official languages)
• work experience,
• age,
• arranged employment in Canada, and 
• your adaptability.

In the skilled worker points grid that you need to score minimum of 67 points.

Take the test

You must also show that you have enough money to support yourself and your dependents after you arrive in Canada.


How to apply?

If you think you meet the Federal Skilled Worker requirements and you [and your family, if applicable] are ready to start your new life in Canada, or you have more questions please contact Connecting to Canada for more details.
CONTACT CONNECTING TO CANADA NOW

Canadian Immigration Programs

There are variety of immigration programs available that may be suitable for you. In general, Canada has well-managed immigration programs for the following categories:

• Immigrant Investor Program    
• Federal Skilled Worker Program
• Provincial Nominee Programs
• Family Class Immigration  

• Business Class Immigration as Entrepreneurs, 
• Self-employment Immigration for artists, athletes or farmers,
• Immigration applications under refugees and protected person category; 
• Quebec Immigration Programs (Investor, Skilled Worker etc.)

To inquire more about these programs, you can visit our website www.connectingtocanada.com or contact us.

Connecting to Canada

Canadian Immigration Consultancy and

Education Advising