Anyone who wants to move to Canada must find a way to make a living and obtain a visa. Canada has six different categories that immigrants can apply under for permanent residence. The categories are skilled worker class immigration, business class immigration, provincial nomination, family class immigration, Quebec-selected immigration and international adoption. Each class section has its own special requirement. For example, the skilled worker class requires immigrants to be evaluated based on education level, language proficiency, work experience, age, arranged employment and adaptability.
The business class is a bit different. This class is specifically set for investors, entrepreneurs and self-employed people. Investors must possess a net worth of $800,000 Canadian and invest $400,000 into the Canadian economy. Entrepreneurs need to have a net worth of $300,000 to operate a business that creates at least one full-time job within three years of the person becoming a permanent resident. Those who are self-employed should have experience, intention and the ability to establish a business or they could have the intentions to purchase and manage a farm.
U.S. citizens moving to Canada must have a Canadian work visa and confirmation of residence status for each family member that is with them. You also need to have copies made of their passports and birth certificates. International moving companies, like Mayflower Transit, may require additional paperwork, including itemized lists of all belongings being shipped to your new address and those that may arrive at a later date. The moving company may also want the value of all belongings they are shipping. According to the online magazine Slate, the application process for permanent residence can take an average of 25 months to complete.
Another way to move to Canada from the United States is to live with a sponsor family. A Canadian citizen or permanent resident can sponsor a spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, dependent child, adopted child or other eligible relative. The process begins when the sponsor applies to be considered a sponsor.
There are two separate processes for applying for a sponsorship--one for sponsoring your spouse, conjugal or common-law partner and dependent children and another is used to sponsor other eligible relatives. Anyone who sponsors a relative to live in Canada is responsible for supporting that relative while that person lives in the country. Sponsors must be sure that the new relatives do not need any governmental financial assistance during their stay.
