The only immigration option for South Africans

Source: The South African, 07/12/2018

This is not surprising given the fact that the number of people
trying to immigrate to Canada has risen over 65% since 2017.
Canada is appealing for many reasons, including universal
healthcare, top-ranking public education, low unemployment and a
welcoming immigration policy.
Canada offers a wide variety of options for those looking to
emigrate from South Africa. Some may be temporary, while other are
permanent and can be a pathway to Canadian Citizenship.
Visit Visas
The first option for South Africans is a visit visa. This allows
individuals to visit Canada for up to six months at a time to
explore the country and see if they like it. The cost for this
visa is $185 CAD (which includes biometrics). For those who decide
that they like Canada and would like to move there, there are
several different options which can be explored.
Work Permits
The first option for those wanting to move to Canada is a work
permit. This allows the applicant to live and work in Canada for a
limited period of time (typically one â€` two years).
After working in Canada, the applicant may then be eligible to
apply for Permanent Residency under one of several immigration
programs. In order to be eligible for a work permit, the applicant
would need to have a job offer from a Canadian employer who is
willing to support their application.
This may involve proving that they have tried to recruit locally
(in Canada) and could not find a Canadian to fill the position.
The Work permit fee is $240 CAD (which includes biometrics). If
the worker is married, in some cases their spouse can be issued
with an open work permit. Any dependent children would also be
eligible to accompany their parent.
Study Permits
For those looking to pursue their studies in Canada, they can
apply for a Canadian study permit. This would allow them to study
in Canada, and in most cases work up to twenty hours per week. If
the applicant is married, their spouse can go with them and would
be issued with an open work permit. Dependent children can also
accompany the applicant.
After studying in Canada, the applicant may then be eligible to
apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit which would allow them to
work for any employer in Canada in any occupation. These can be
issued for up to a three-year period (based on duration of program
of study).
After studying and working in Canada, many applicants are then
eligible to apply for Permanent Residency under one of several
different immigration programs. The Work permit fee is $235 CAD
(which includes biometrics)
Permanent Residency
Canada offers numerous different ways to apply for Permanent
Residency without requiring a job offer. This includes making an
application under the family class, one of the economic classes or
one of the provincial nomination programs. Application fees are
typically $1,125 CAD per adult applicant.
Family Class
The family class allows Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents
over the age of 18 who are living in Canada or are planning to
live in Canada once their family member arrives in Canada to
sponsor their family members for Permanent Residency.
Sponsoring certain family members requires that the sponsor meet a
certain yearly income in order to apply. Relations you can sponsor
to Canada under the family class include:
• Spouse / Common-Law Partner / Conjugal Partner
• Parent (including adoptive parents)
• Child
• Grandchild
• Brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces, or grandchildren who are
orphaned AND are under 18 AND do not have a spouse or common-law
partner
A Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident can also sponsor any one
relative to Canada, regardless of age, but only if they do not
have a living relative who is one of the following AND they do not
have any other living relatives who are a Canadian Citizen,
Canadian Permanent Resident or a Registered Indian:
• Your spouse/common-law/conjugal partner
• Your child
• Your parent
• Your grandparent
• Your sibling
• Your aunt or uncle
Economic Classes for Express Entry
Express Entry is the online application system used by anyone
applying under the Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Skilled Trades,
Canadian Experience Class or certain Provincial Nominee Programs.
These programs target foreign nationals who are highly skilled and
have at least one year of full time paid skilled work experience,
have experience working in certain trades for two years or longer
in the past five years, have already worked in Canada for one year
or longer in a full-time paid skilled position, or have work
experience in certain occupations which are in demand in specific
parts of Canada. These applications can be processed in six months
or less.
Other Economic Classes
Canada has many other options for those who cannot apply through
the Express Entry system. They tend to be more complicated and
take longer to process. They include specific programs for
entrepreneurs, those looking to start a business in Canada, those
looking to invest in Canada, those already working in Canada on a
valid work permit, those who have completed an educational
qualification in Canada or those with a job offer from a Canadian
employer.
Citizenship
In order to apply for Canadian citizenship, you need to hold
Canadian permanent residency status and need to have spent a total
of 1095 days in Canada within a five-year period before applying.
Most applicants will also be required to prove that they have
filed personal income tax in Canada for three years within the
five years before applying, that they have passed a Canadian
citizenship test and that they are proficient in French or
English. Canada allows dual citizenship, which means you do need
to renounce your current citizenship in order to obtain it unless
your country of origin requires you to.
With so many different pathways for people to immigrate to Canada,
its popularity is sure to increase in the coming year. With other
popular destinations for South Africans becoming more restrictive,
Canada is fast becoming the best option for those South African
looking to emigrate.