I would like to immigrate to Canada...

Every year, Canada welcomes thousands of new residents to Canada. As someone interested in building a home for yourself in Canada, you have a number of options when applying for permanent residence status. Read about these programs and decide which class suits you and your family best.

New Expedited Procedure for Skilled Worker Class Immigration (except for Quebec-Selected Skilled Workers):
This category should be used by those wishing to immigrate on their own merit without a sponsor. To qualify as a skilled worker, you must have a combination of education, job skills, experience, knowledge of English and/or French, personal suitability and other factors which are assessed against a selection ("point") system. Your job skills must be readily transferable to the Canadian labour market. Some jobs in Canada require that you have a special licence from the province/territory before you can begin work. These are called regulated occupations. Check to see if your skills and experience qualify you to come to Canada under the new skilled worker system. Please note that all applications in this category have to be sent first of all to the Centralized Intake Office (CIO) in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada. More information.

Important: This does not apply to Quebec. See Quebec-Selected Skilled Workers.

Business Class Immigration:
Canada welcomes successful business immigrants who bring business skills and know-how that will contribute to the nation's economic and cultural well-being, and create job opportunities. There are three categories of business immigrants: Entrepreneur, Investor and Self-employed more information.

Canadian Experience Class
This category is for persons who may immigrate on the basis of their Canadian experience. It applies to temporary workers or recent graduates with Canadian credentials who wish to apply for permanent residence. All applicants must have work or studies in occupations that meet the minimum requirements and evidence of proficiency in the English or French language. Moreover they must have work experience as a temporary foreign worker, or work experience following graduation from a Canadian post-secondary institution. more information.

Family Class Immigration:
You must have a close family member living in Canada who is able and willing to make a legally-binding promise to sponsor you until you are established in Canada. In most cases, a close family member means a spouse, common-law partner, parent or grandparent. Your family member (sponsor) in Canada should begin by contacting the Canada Immigration Centre nearest his/her home in Canada. Once a sponsorship is approved by the immigration authorities in Canada, your sponsor will be informed and application forms and instructions will be forwarded to him/her on your behalf.
Learn how to sponsor your family member or come to Canada as a member of the family class. more information.

International Adoption:
Adopting children from abroad can be a long process. This is to protect children's rights. Learn about what you need to do to bring an adoptive child to Canada more information.

Provincial Nomination:
Most provinces in Canada have programs to encourage immigrants to settle in their province and benefit their economies. Learn about settling in one of Canada's provinces as a provincial nominee. more information.

Immigration to Quebec - The Province of Quebec uses its own criteria to select skilled workers and business immigrants. It works in co-operation with the Government of Canada to process them. Different procedures also apply to family class immigrants destined to Quebec. Persons wishing to settle in Quebec may contact a Quebec immigration office outside Quebec.more information.

General Information

Immigrants in all classes must meet certain health and security requirements as well as specific requirements related to the class itself. Persons with health or medical conditions which could be a danger to public health or create an excessive demand on Canadian health or social services may not be allowed admission to Canada. Persons who have committed or who have been convicted of serious crimes may also be prohibited admission to Canada. Applications from persons facing criminal charges in Canada or abroad cannot be processed until the charges are dealt with.

More detailed information, including application forms and instructions, can be found at Citizenship and Immigration Canada's internet site: www.cic.gc.ca.

Processing Times

Current processing times in Berlin from date of application received:

Immigrant Category
Family Class (partner / child)	6 months
Provincial Nominee / Québec / HRSC	12 months
Business Applicant	14 months
Family Class (parent)	21 months
Skilled Worker (for applications received before February 27th, 2008)	24 months

Please note:

• "Application received" means the date a completed "application for permanent residence in Canada" with all fees and necessary documentation is received at the visa section.
• These times depend on applicants providing all information required with their initial application or in a timely manner when requested.
• If additional medical tests are required, add 3-6 months.
• If document verification is required, add at least 2-4 months. (All documents submitted in support of an application are subject to verification with the issuing authority.)
• If an interview is required, add 3-6 months.

Read more about:

• where to apply
• the processing fees