Things to Consider Before Applying for Canadian Immigration
If you’ve set your heart for moving to Canada, you’re at the right place. Canada is one of the most popular places to live worldwide, because of its education quality, lifestyle, culture, and safe and secure environment. However, before you apply for immigration, here are a few things you should learn;
Immigration Programs
If you do some research on Canadian immigration, you’ll notice that the country offers several immigration programs. The most integral immigration categories include, Things to Consider Before Applying for Canadian Immigration, family class, and economic class. A majority of these programs are point-based but a few programs aren’t. Similarly, applying for some of the immigration plans requires you to have a sponsor, while some don’t require a sponsor.
So, it’s best if you seek help from an immigration consultant to learn which PR route you should take, based on your needs, budget and requirements.
Documents
If you want to apply for permanent residency, you’ll need to submit several documents to IRCC based on the requirements of the specific IRCC program you’re applying for. A majority of these documents may take you months, which may eventually delay more important immigration matters. Some of these documents include police background checks, civil status documents, and work reference letters. While some countries may issue police background checks within a few weeks, a majority of countries take more time in completing these checks.
Check Expiry Dates of Important Documents
Don’t forget to check expiry dates of documents, such as passports, police background checks, Work permit/study permit, bank statements, invitation to apply, language test results, medical assessment reports, etc. You can set up reminders or track these details through a calendar. This will keep you on track and help you stay on top of your application process.
Credit Score
Just like the US, Canada is also a credit-based economy. That is to say, most people in Canada, make purchases through credit cards and repay their amount by the end of their installments or credit card billing cycle. Once you acquire your first credit card, build a credible credit history to have a good credit score. A high credit score helps you acquire profitable loans from financial institutions. They check your credit score to ensure that you can repay loans on time. You also need to show your credit score and credit reports for some other purposes, including but not limited to accommodation, job applications, mortgage applications, etc.
Social Norms
Canadians are quite open, polite, and friendly; but they have a strong sense of personal space and respect. Don’t mistake their politeness and social conventions to breach someone’s personal boundaries. In the same way, oversharing your own details is also considered a very questionable thing to do in Canada.
If you move into Canada, never visit a friend without informing them, regardless of how strong your bond is. Canadians value privacy and people always plan their schedules.
Living and Settling Costs
Always consider the costs of traveling and moving, once your application gets approved by the Canadian government. A study by Numbeo indicates that the average monthly cost of living in Canada for four family members is about $3,674.
The rent, however, mainly depends on your location and the value of the rental property but a majority of Canadians tend to spend 35% to 50% of their income on housing and other utilities.
Choose the City that Suits your Budget and Lifestyle
Before you choose the right city to move into, you need to learn about its cost of living, average salaries, lifestyle, whether, and rental costs.
For instance, many people move to Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and other places in Atlantic Canada, because of their lower real estate prices and natural beauty.
Similarly, French-speaking people tend to prefer Quebec, because its immigration programs prioritize French speakers more. The province has an average salary of $49,511.
Planning to Immigrate to Canada?
Considering Canada’s top-notch education system and a highly lucrative working environment and corporate culture, many people worldwide want to pursue higher studies in Canada or get a work permit to start their career in Canada. If you’re one of those, Nanda and Associate Lawyers Professional Corporation can help you file an application and guide you throughout the process.
About the Author
The author is associated with Nanda and Associate Lawyers Professional Corporation and aims to help people immigrate to Canada, with a seamless immigration process. The Canadian immigration law firm has a team of highly professional and qualified Canadian immigration lawyers and immigration consultants on board.
Disclaimer: The information provided above is only meant for educational purposes and shouldn’t be used as a substitute for legal advice.