Routes To Immigration To Canada For Our American Neighbours
The reaction to Donald Trump’s election win saw tremendous interest in Canadian immigration. Following the stunning results of the evening of November 8, 2016, web searches for “Canada immigration” and “Canada citizenship” were up over 4,000 percent each.
In fact, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) website saw so much traffic that it crashed around 9 P.M. EST.
For Americans looking to immigrate to Canada, there are numerous pathways. Persons with skilled work experience, which includes a wide array of professions, can attain permanent residence through the Federal Worker Stream of the express entry system. Americans who choose to work in Canada, or to study and then work, can also obtain work permits to gain Canadian skilled work experience to qualify for the Canadian Experience Class. There are also several permanent residence routes through our provinces, including for workers and graduates.
Still other options exist for investors, business owners, family members of Canadians, caregivers, and persons in situations warranting humanitarian relief.
Express entry is still the fastest way to get permanent resident status in Canada. However, an applicant must first attain a sufficient number of points to be selected to apply for permanent residence in express entry, based on the following factors:
- Age;
- Level and location of education attained;
- Relevant work experience;
- Language ability; and
- Whether the applicant has an offer of employment or has been selected for permanent residence by a province
While frustrated American citizens are looking for a way out, there is some good news on the immigration front. Canada has increased the number of immigrants allowed into the country to 300,000 for 2017. This push would mean that over half of Canada’s immigration for 2017 would be economic-based.
Regardless of the cause for immigration to Canada, working with a skilled Canadian immigration lawyer can help any atrupplicant navigate the process and give you the best shot at entering our country—as a permanent resident and, eventually, a proud citizen.
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Arghavan Gerami
Arghavan Gerami is the Founder and Senior Counsel at Gerami Law Professional Corporation ('PC'), a full-service immigration law firm in Ottawa, Ontario. Since 2011, Ms. Gerami has focused her practice on immigration and refugee litigation. Prior to that, Ms. Gerami worked at the Ministry of Attorney General and the Department of Justice and had the privilege of serving the Honourable Mr. Justice M. Evans at the Federal Court of Appeal on immigration and administrative law appeals. Ms. Gerami contributes to the Immigration Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association, the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Ms. Gerami has also published numerous journal articles and presented at various immigration and refugee law conferences and events across Canada.