An immigrant visa is a document issued by the Canadian Government that allows a person to travel to Canada and apply for admission as a legal permanent resident. Generally, people wanting to move permanently to Canada seek for an Immigrant Visa. The visa signifies permission to enter Canada for an indefinite period of time, and can be based on employment, family relationship, business investment, or other ties to Canada



Different ways to apply for an Immigrant Visa

Conventional Refugee (Political Asylum)

An applicant can request an application for political asylum in Canada, if that person has a well founded fear of persecution because of his/her religion, race, nationality, membership of a particular social group and political opinion. If the individual can provide proof of such reason for why they cannot go back to their home country or cannot get protection from their country, then they have a very likely chance of successfully attaining an Immigrant Visa.

Live-in-Caregiver (Nanny or Domestic help)

The purpose of this program was to meet the shortage of domestic help in Canada. Under this program the work permit can be obtained by following the below mentioned process:

- Obtaining job offer from the prospective employer in Canada

- Employer must make an application for approval of sponsorship in Canada

- On approval of sponsorship, the applicant must apply for employment authorization to the Canadian immigration office

- This application can be made by the applicant while in Canada or out of Canada

- The work permit is issued to the applicant for a period of two years. After the expiration of that time the individual can make an application for permanent immigration to Canada.

Spouse

An applicant can apply under this class if he/she gets married in Canada while on a temporary visa in Canada.

Humanitarian or on Compassionate Ground

An applicant can apply under this class on the basis that if visa is not issued, the applicant will suffer undue hardships.

Basic Programs that allow for individuals to immigrate to Canada as a Permanent Resident

Business Immigration Program

This program seeks to magnetize the experienced business people to Canada who are expected to invest, own or manage business in Canada and contribute to Canadian economy.

Canada has three classes of business immigrants:

Investors

Entrepreneurs

Self Employed

Family Sponsorship Program

Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada can sponsor their spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, dependent child or other eligible relatives such as a parent or grandparent to become a permanent resident.

Federal Skilled Worker Program

Applicants under this program must have paid work experience which is managerial, professional, technical or a skilled trade according to the Canadian National Occupational Classification.

Provincial Nominee Program

To apply under the Provincial Nominee Program, applicants must be nominated by a Canadian province or territory.

Canada Green Card

Canada Green Card is a term that is used metaphorically to describe Permanent Residency in Canada. Instead of a Canada Green Card, the permanent residents of Canada have the right to a Canada Permanent Resident Card as a proof of their Canada immigration status. The Canada Permanent Resident status grants an individual the right to enter and live in Canada.