Getting Permanent Residence in Canada
Our clients are amazed when I tell them that there are so many ways to get your permanent residence to Canada. If you have a relative in Canada who is a Canadian citizen or Canadian permanent resident, they could potentially sponsor you for Canada immigration under the Family Class category. Or, you may be able to apply under the Skilled Worker category on your own based on your own credentials if you have a certain level of education, work experience and can speak English or French etc. Finally, if you are a business person, you may be able to qualify under the Entrepreneur or Investor categories.
There is even a category for some for people living without legal status in Canada called the Humanitarian and Compassionate category or “H & C”. H & C applicants must show that they have successfully established themselves in Canada, despite their lack of status and will suffer undue hardship in their home country should they be required to leave Canada. H & C cases are often difficult to win because in only exceptional circumstances do immigration officers approve such cases. It is very important therefore to document your Humanitarian and Compassionate applications very well to convince an officer that your case is worthy of an approval.
Many different ways to obtain Permanent Residence in Canada
But regardless of the immigration category, whether it be Humanitarian and Compassionate, Skilled Worker, Family Class or Business Immigration, there is usually a lengthly processing time ranging from 6 months for some Family Class cases to over 5 years for some Skilled Worker or Business Immigration cases. Often the specific immigration office or Canadian Embassy will determine the processing times of your application so before making an application it is important to inquire about how long it will take. A qualified Canadian immigration lawyer should be able to give you this information in order for you to make an informed decision about processing times.
You should also know that for certain applications such as Humanitarian and Compassionate cases, only Canadian immigration offices in Canada accept them. Others like Skilled Worker or Business cases are filed to Embassies outside of Canada. Again, a qualified immigration lawyer should be able to advise you on the appropriate place to file your application.
Any information provided here does not constitute legal advise and is intended for general information only. Should you require legal advise, you are encouraged to contact a lawyer directly. All blog postings are public and are not subject to solicitor/client confidentially. Case results depend on a variety of factors unique to each case, and case results do not guarantee or predict a similar result in any further case undertaken by the lawyer.
My present Permanent Resident Card was issued 2005 and is due to expire in April.2010. I have been a bona fide landed immigrant since Sept 1976 and still have the original documentation. I wish to have this card renewed. What steps do I need to take to ensure this process goes smoothly.
Generally, you have to show that you maintained residency during the 5 year period. But given your long history of being a PR, why not apply for Canadian citizenship so you do not have to worry about PR renewals in the future?
I have a diploma in Pharmacy. Can I apply for Canadian Permanent Residence?
Dear Shavinav,
You may be eligible to apply under the Federal Skilled Worker category as a pharmacist. The cap has been reached for pharmacist this year; however, when the cap re-opens, I recommend that you consult with a qualified immigration lawyer with more detailed information on your academic and training background to better assess your eligibility. You need to have either a valid offer of arranged employment in the specific occupations listed in NOC A, B or O, or have one year of continuous full-time paid work expereince as a pharmacist.
Thank you.
I complete my MBA in 2012. Can I apply for Canadian Permanent Residence?