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Canada has witnessed a steady inflow of foreigners who chose to settle permanently based on their work skills and otherwise. Tracing back to the modern Canadian immigration system that possibly began in 1967, the “immigration points system” has evolved considerably today. This is why we have come up with a Q&A-styled blog about Canada immigration for dummies to comprehend your chances of qualifying.
Understanding Canada Immigration 101
Canada immigration 101 lessons will give you a basic understanding of the scope of immigration in Canada. In Canada, immigration is the act granting permanent residency status, including to refugees. Furthermore, all Canada permanent residency holders are eligible to apply for Canadian citizenship after meeting certain requirements. Read this blog and understand Canada Immigration for Dummies better. Let’s begin the Canada immigration 101 lessons by answering the top 4 frequently asked questions about the immigration journey to Canada.
Q: What Language Tests are Compulsory for Canada Immigration?
IELTS stands for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and is one of two accepted language proficiency tests in English. The other is the Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP).
The major difference between IELTS and CELPIP is the English accents. CELPIP uses Canadian accents for the speaking and listening portion of the test, unlike the IELTS, which uses English-speaking accents from other countries, including Australia and New Zealand.
IELTS is a language test designed to prove English proficiency for students who wish to pursue post-secondary study in Canada and for Express Entry & other immigration programs. CELPIP is only designated for Permanent Resident applications by IRCC.
Apart from English as a universal test of proficiency, Canada also considers French as its official language. Canadian provinces like Quebec, and British Columbia attracts a lot of french-speaking immigrants.
If you speak French, taking the Test d’évaluation de français (TEF) or the Test de Connaissance du français (TCF) can significantly increase your chances in the Express Entry pool.
The language test results must meet the Canadian Language benchmarks (CLB) for English and Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) for French. Newcomers who speak English and French can earn up to a maximum of 28 points. If you only speak one of Canada’s official languages, you can still earn a maximum of 24 points.
Q: Can I Apply for Canada Immigration along with my Spouse under Express Entry?
Of course, you can.
Every Express Entry profile has a Principal Applicant (PA). The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) for the Express Entry system differs for single PAs and partnered PAs is somewhat different.
To account for your partner, the CRS reduces the number of points the PA can get for various factors by a total of 40 points. However, at the same time, the CRS also allows the PA to earn up to 40 points through their partner’s profile.
There are four components to a CRS score. The total maximum CRS score a person, either single or coupled, can obtain is 1200 points.
1) Core/Human Capital Factors: Age, language proficiency in English or French, and study in Canada or abroad can contribute to a maximum score of 460 points for someone who is a couple, but 500 points for a single person.
2) Spouse/Partner Factors: Based on your spouse or partner’s language proficiency, education, or work experience, the partner PA can get a maximum score of 40 points.
Obviously, single PAs are not eligible to gain points under this category.
3) Skill Transferability: Canadian work experience or a postsecondary credential can fetch you up to 100 points.
4) Additional Points: Those with prior provincial nominations can gain 600 points which will effectively guarantee them an invitation to apply for Canada PR in subsequent Express Entry draws.
Many even prefer to obtain Canada permanent residency as a single applicant and later sponsor their spouse under family-class immigration to settle permanently in Canada.
Q: What is the Present State of Canada Immigration?
The revised Immigration Levels Plan for 2022-2024 will welcome about 1.7 million newcomers over the next three years including economic, family, and refugee class immigrants.
However, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) are said to let Canada Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) take the center stage in inviting more than 83,500 immigrants to apply for Canada immigration in 2022. In fact, Canada is more dependent on PNP to meet its annual immigration targets ever since the pandemic.
Canada has also decided to cut Express Entry admissions in half for 2022 mainly due to increasing backlogs in the FSWP & CEC applications in the pool. IRCC will return to normal Express Entry admissions levels by 2024 when it targets the arrival of 111,5000 Express Entry immigrants then.
Quebec has returned to the target of welcoming over 50,000 immigrants in 2022. This is after four years of cutting immigration by 20 per cent. About 65 per cent will arrive through its economic-class immigration programs.
The study in Canada campaign is also picking up pace in recent times. In fact, the latest statistics will entice more international students to plan their higher studies in Canada. Over the period 2008 to 2018, the annual number of new Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) holders increased six-fold, from 10,300 to 64,700. Close to three-quarters of all PGWP holders transitioned to permanent residence within five years of obtaining their PGWP.
Follow our regular news updates to upgrade your ‘Canada immigration for dummies’ guide to ‘plan your Canada immigration with expert advice’ guide.
Q: What is Permanent vs Temporary Status in Canada?
Obtaining “permanent residence” in Canada is also known as “immigrating to Canada”. As PR holders, they enjoy all rights and privileges at par with citizens (i.e. free health care, free elementary and secondary education, etc.) with three (3) exceptions:
- Permanent residents cannot vote;
- Permanent residents cannot hold a Canadian passport; and
- Permanent residents can be deported for certain criminal convictions.
Anyone with desirable work experience, education, and language proficiency can apply for Canada permanent residency. You can meet the requirements of one of the many categories of Canadian Immigration:
- Federal Skilled Worker Class
- Federal Skilled Trades Class
- Canadian Experience Class
- Business Class
- Family Class
Apart from the direct permanent residence pathway, Canada also prefers transiting more temporary residence holders to become permanent residents. Such temporary residence visa holders majorly include those on work permits and study visas.
That’s all for this edition of Canada Immigration for dummies. Get to Part 1 of Understanding Canada Immigration 101 here.
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