Canada immigration news: The USA is lurching to the right on a number of important issues, with the latest example the highly controversial move by the Supreme Court to end women’s right to abortion.
With the decision leaving many Americans feeling disenfranchised and frightened about the direction their country is headed, Canada could be an ideal destination for those who have simply had enough of the US.
Overturning Roe vs Wade triggered the closure of abortion clinics across the country, with some states already having laws in place to ban abortion in anticipation of the Supreme Court’s decision.
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In the same week, as Democrat President Joe Biden celebrated the successful passing of mild gun control measures, the Supreme Court moved to make it easier to carry firearms by overturning a 1913 New York licensing law.
This came despite 225 mass shootings in the US in 2022 (or more than one a day), including the bloody massacre of 19 school children and two teachers in Uvalde, Texas on May 24.
Same sex marriage and contraception could be next, with Justice Clarence Thomas suggesting the Supreme Court could reconsider a slew of decisions, placing further constitutional rights under threat.
The controversy dates back to the presidency of Donald Trump, when he was able to nominate three new Supreme Court justices – namely Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett – and significantly shift the balance of the bench to the right.
The nominations left many Americans fearful of the consequences, and now those fears are being realised.
Even before Trump’s Supreme Court picks, Americans were already considering their options to move north. His election victory over Hillary Clinton triggered a huge surge in the number of Americans researching how to move to Canada.
The number of American citizens becoming Canadian permanent residents rose in every year of the Trump presidency except the last, from 7,655 in pre-Trump 2015, to a peak of 10,900 in 2018, his third year in power.
After dropping off in 2020 due to COVID-19, the figure surges again in 2021 to 11,950, and is on pace in 2022 to exceed 12,000 for the first time.
Canada has a plethora of options for American citizens who wish to immigrate here.
In addition to economic programs, Canada also has an established family sponsorship immigration program, which include options for LGBTQ couples and common law partners.
With provincial programs also welcoming newcomers using a wide variety of criteria, American citizens interested in moving to Canada have many pathways open to them.
Broadly, the options are:
1) Federal Economic Class
Canada accepts the largest number of immigrants under the economic class, with annual levels set to reach nearly 270,000 by 2024.
The largest group within the economic class is the Federal High Skilled category.
There are many immigration streams to be considered when considering applying for Canadian permanent residence from the USA.
Canada operates its federal economic class immigration system using Express Entry. Many provinces also follow a similar approach.
Express Entry requires candidates to submit a profile, with the highest scoring profiles issued an Invitation to Apply to one of the above immigration programs.
Candidates then get 60 days to submit a full application.
Under Express Entry, candidates score Comprehensive Ranking System points for core factors such as age, education, work experience and language ability.
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One of the best ways to increase a CRS score is with a job offer, which can be worth 200 or 50 points depending on the skill level. Visit skilledworker.com, the leader in foreign recruitment, to access our job search services.
Several of Canada’s provinces also operate Express Entry streams, allowing them to tap skilled workers from the pool.
A provincial nomination is worth 600 points and effectively guarantees an Invitation to Apply.
If you meet the requirements, Express Entry can be a fast way to achieve Canada immigration, with target processing times of six months once the full application is received.
If you do not qualify through a federal economic program, the next step is to consider provincial streams for your application for permanent residence from the USA.
Each one of Canada’s provinces runs their own immigration programs, targeting the specific demands of local labour markets.
If you have specific skills, there could be a provincial stream waiting to accept you.
Quebec has autonomy over its immigration system, with the right to set its own immigration levels and the power to operate its own programs.
Quebec recently launched an Expression of Interest system similar to Express Entry, where candidates submit profiles to the Arrima system and are issued periodic invitations to apply.
Canada also aims to attract entrepreneurs and investors through its business immigration programs, with many applications accepted from the USA.
At the federal level, options include:
Canada’s Start-Up Visa Program offers Canadian permanent residence to qualified immigrant entrepreneurs.
The program targets innovative entrepreneurs and links them with private sector investors in Canada who will help establish their start-up business.
Candidates can initially come to Canada on a work permit supported by their designated Canada-based investor, before qualifying for permanent residence once their business is up and running.
There are three types of private-sector investor:
Initially a three-year pilot, the program was made permanent on March 31, 2018.
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The basic candidate eligibility requirements for the Start-Up Visa are:
A designated entity is a Canadian private sector angel investor, venture capital fund or business incubator.
The required commitment must meet the following criteria:
For the candidate to qualify for permanent residence:
NOTE: Up to five candidates may have their permanent residence application supported by the same business investment. However, certain candidates may be designated essential to the business. If any essential candidate withdraws their application, or are refused, all other candidates under the same business investment will see their applications terminated.
One of Canada’s most popular business programs is the Quebec Immigrant Investor Program.
It is the only passive investment program that leads to Canadian permanent residence.
Intake for the Quebec Investor is currently paused.
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Quebec also runs Immigrant Entrepreneur and Self-Employed programs.
Several of Canada’s other provinces also operate business programs as a route to permanent residence from the USA.
Increasingly, the provinces require time spent in Canada setting up a business as a temporary resident before candidates are nominated for permanent residence.
Increasingly, immigrants are coming to Canada as temporary residents and transitioning to permanent residents.
This is a popular route for candidates who do not immediately qualify for permanent residence when applying from the USA.
Time spent in Canada as a temporary resident counts towards a permanent residence application.
Work permits are issued through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, International Mobility Program and International Experience Canada Program.
Caregivers also have their own streams for work permits (under the TFWP) and transition to permanent residence.
Candidates in the USA with family members who are already permanent residents or citizens can apply through Family Class Sponsorship immigration.
Economic Immigration (Including Express Entry)
These fees apply to:
Fees | $CAN |
Your application Processing fee ($850) and right of permanent residence fee ($515) | 1,365 |
Your application (without right of permanent residence fee) | 850 |
Include your spouse or partner Processing fee ($850) and right of permanent residence fee ($515) | 1,365 |
Include your spouse or partner (without right of permanent residence fee) | 850 |
Include a dependent child | 230 (per child) |
Spouse, Partner or Child
Fees | $CAN |
Sponsor your spouse or partner Sponsorship fee ($75), principal applicant processing fee ($490) and right of permanent residence fee ($515) | 1,080 |
Sponsor your spouse or partner without right of permanent residence fee Sponsorship fee ($75) and principal applicant processing fee ($490) | 565 |
Sponsor a dependent child Sponsorship fee ($75) and processing fee ($75) | 150 (per child) |
Include any dependent child Include any dependent child on an application with your spouse or partner ($155) | 155 (per child) |
Fees | $CAN |
Sponsor your parent or grandparent Sponsorship fee ($75), principal applicant processing fee ($490) and right of permanent residence fee ($515) | 1,080 |
Sponsor your parent or grandparent (without the right of permanent residence fee) Sponsorship fee ($75) and principal applicant processing fee ($490) | 565 |
Include the spouse or partner of your parent or grandparent Processing fee ($570) and right of permanent residence fee ($515) | 1,085 |
Include the spouse or partner of your parent or grandparent (without the right of permanent residence fee) Processing fee ($570) | 570 |
Include a dependent child of your parent or grandparent | 155 (per child) |
Fees | $CAN |
Sponsor your relative (22 years or older) Sponsorship fee ($75), principal applicant processing fee ($490) and right of permanent residence fee ($515) | 1,080 |
Sponsor your relative (22 years or older without right of permanent residence fee) Sponsorship fee ($75) and principal applicant processing fee ($490) | 565 |
Sponsor a dependant, adopted child (or child to be adopted) or orphaned relative Sponsor only a dependent child ($75 sponsorship fee and $75 processing fee) | 150 (per child) |
Include a dependant, adopted child (or child to be adopted) or orphaned relative on an application with your relative The fee for including a dependent child in your family member’s sponsorship application ($155) | 155 (per child) |
Sponsor your relative (under 22 years old and not your dependent child) Sponsorship fee ($75), principal applicant processing fee ($75) and right of permanent residence fee ($515) | 665 |
Sponsor your relative (under 22 years old and not your dependent child, without right of permanent residence fee) Sponsorship fee ($75) and principal applicant processing fee ($75) | 150 |
Include the spouse or partner of your relative Processing fee ($570) and right of permanent residence fee ($515) | 1,085 |
Include the spouse or partner of your relative (without right of permanent residence fee) | 570 |
These fees apply to:
Fees | $CAN |
Your application Processing fee ($1625) and right of permanent residence fee ($515) | 2,140 |
Your application (without right of permanent residence fee) | 1,625 |
Include your spouse or partner Processing fee ($850) and right of permanent residence fee ($515) | 1,365 |
Include your spouse or partner (without right of permanent residence fee) | 850 |
Include a dependent child | 230 (per child) |
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