Can I Immigrate to Canada as Self-Employed?

[hussain515]

Hi there,

I've been an online freelancer for 10 years and I've a small design & development agency that I run from home. All my team is hired online from platforms like Upwork etc.

I'd like to know if I qualify for Canadian Immigration and which category suits me? Most of my clients are online from the USA and my annual volume is good so I can definitely contribute to the Canadian economy very positively.

When I search under self-employed, I see stuff like cultural activities etc. I've no idea what that means. And I couldn't find the IT freelancing category anywhere.

Please let me know.

Thanks

 

[scylla]

Hi there,

I've been an online freelancer for 10 years and I've a small design & development agency that I run from home. All my team is hired online from platforms like Upwork etc.

I'd like to know if I qualify for Canadian Immigration and which category suits me? Most of my clients are online from the USA and my annual volume is good so I can definitely contribute to the Canadian economy very positively.

When I search under self-employed, I see stuff like cultural activities etc. I've no idea what that means. And I couldn't find the IT freelancing category anywhere.

Please let me know.

Thanks

Your occupation does not qualify under the self-employment immigration stream. This stream is for cultural and athletic occupations.

You need to look at Express Entry.

 

[hussain515]

Your occupation does not qualify under the self-employment immigration stream. This stream is for cultural and athletic occupations.

You need to look at Express Entry.

Ok, but how come they don't consider it self-employed? Any particular reason for that?

 

[scylla]

Ok, but how come they don't consider it self-employed? Any particular reason for that?

Because the self-employment program is specifically targeted to those involved in athletic and/or cultural activities. That's the purpose of the program.

There are different programs for people like you - specifically Express Entry.

 

[hussain515]

Because the self-employment program is specifically targeted to those involved in athletic and/or cultural activities. That's the purpose of the program.

There are different programs for people like you - specifically Express Entry.

Got it, thanks.

I've got 18 years of education, 4 years of graduation and 2 years MBA. How will my degrees be evaluated to see how many points I get, and how long it normally takes for degree verification?

 

[scylla]

Got it, thanks.

I've got 18 years of education, 4 years of graduation and 2 years MBA. How will my degrees be evaluated to see how many points I get, and how long it normally takes for degree verification?

It can take a few months to get your degree assessed. Everything is slower due to COVID. Submit the assessment as soon as you can.

Impossible for me to say how your education will be assessed. This will depend on several factors including the school and how the program compares to the equivalent in Canada.

You also need to take IELTS.

Both IELTS and ECA are required before you can set up an Express Entry profile. You are aiming for around 470 points to have a good chance of being selected.

 

[hussain515]

It can take a few months to get your degree assessed. Everything is slower due to COVID. Submit the assessment as soon as you can.

Impossible for me to say how your education will be assessed. This will depend on several factors including the school and how the program compares to the equivalent in Canada.

You also need to take IELTS.

Both IELTS and ECA are required before you can set up an Express Entry profile. You are aiming for around 470 points to have a good chance of being selected.

Thanks. It would've been nice if there were online services available which can provide assessment within a week or two like they offer for USA visa.

Anyways, for Canada which body reviews the degrees to provide an assessment? And what are the normal fees?

Also may I ask which immigration program is the easiest to immigrate to Canada? I already have a stable online business in place which I can do from anywhere in the world. My goal is to move to Canada with family, because my country, Pakistan is not a very safe place to raise your kids. Plus there are many other reasons I'd like to move to Canada.

Thanks

 

[scylla]

Thanks. It would've been nice if there were online services available which can provide assessment within a week or two like they offer for USA visa.

Anyways, for Canada which body reviews the degrees to provide an assessment? And what are the normal fees?

Also may I ask which immigration program is the easiest to immigrate to Canada? I already have a stable online business in place which I can do from anywhere in the world. My goal is to move to Canada with family, because my country, Pakistan is not a very safe place to raise your kids. Plus there are many other reasons I'd like to move to Canada.

Thanks

You'll need to dedicate time to researching all of this through the official IRCC web site if you want to do it yourself. See the links below. Alternatively, you can hire an immigration lawyer to assist you. Good luck.

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/works.html

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/come-canada-tool.html

 

[hussain515]

Th

You'll need to dedicate time to researching all of this through the official IRCC web site if you want to do it yourself. See the links below. Alternatively, you can hire an immigration lawyer to assist you. Good luck.

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/works.html

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/come-canada-tool.html

Thanks, I did the self assessment for express entry and I qualify for it.

There was a question in it, do you've a job offer in Canada or not.

Well in my case, I don't really need a job offer in Canada bcoz I've my own online business that I'll continue in Canada. Do I get any extra points for this?

And for people immigrating to Canada on express entry, is it necessary for all of them to FIND & DO a JOB in Canada? I mean what if someone just starts or continues a business like in my case, what happens then? Can such a person still be allowed to stay in Canada and continue the business?

 

[scylla]

Th

Thanks, I did the self assessment for express entry and I qualify for it.

There was a question in it, do you've a job offer in Canada or not.

Well in my case, I don't really need a job offer in Canada bcoz I've my own online business that I'll continue in Canada. Do I get any extra points for this?

And for people immigrating to Canada on express entry, is it necessary for all of them to FIND & DO a JOB in Canada? I mean what if someone just starts or continues a business like in my case, what happens then? Can such a person still be allowed to stay in Canada and continue the business?

No - you don't get extra points for having your own online business. You only get extra points if you have a job offer from an employer in Canada and that employer has obtained an approved LMIA. So you need to answer "no" to the job offer question.

You do not have to find a job once you are a PR and in Canada. You can continue working your online business.

Note that you need to score around 470 points to have a good chance of being selected for PR through this program. Express Entry is a points-based program and those with the most points are selected out of the pool. Simply qualifying is not enough.

 

[hussain515]

Ok I

No - you don't get extra points for having your own online business. You only get extra points if you have a job offer from an employer in Canada and that employer has obtained an approved LMIA. So you need to answer "no" to the job offer question.

You do not have to find a job once you are a PR and in Canada. You can continue working your online business.

Note that you need to score around 470 points to have a good chance of being selected for PR through this program. Express Entry is a points-based program and those with the most points are selected out of the pool. Simply qualifying is not enough.

Ok, I finished the assessment, but where can I see how many points I currently have? My end result doesn't show any points

 

[scylla]

Ok I

Ok, I finished the assessment, but where can I see how many points I currently have? My end result doesn't show any points

Use this tool:

https://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/crs-tool.asp

 

[hussain515]

Use this tool:

https://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/crs-tool.asp

Thanks. If I can get a job offer just using my resources in order to get 200 points for it, but after reaching Canada, I continue my own online business, is there any issue in it?

 

[scylla]

Thanks. If I can get a job offer just using my resources in order to get 200 points for it, but after reaching Canada, I continue my own online business, is there any issue in it?

I'm not sure what you mean by "using my resources". You need an approved LMIA in order for the job offer to count for points.

Also, to get 200 points for a job offer, it has to be a senior executive role (e.g. CEO). These roles are generally extremely difficult to secure. Having said that, you can certainly try.

 

[hussain515]

Ok

I'm not sure what you mean by "using my resources". You need an approved LMIA in order for the job offer to count for points.

Also, to get 200 points for a job offer, it has to be a senior executive role (e.g. CEO). These roles are generally extremely difficult to secure. Having said that, you can certainly try.

Ok, and if someone goes without a job offer on express entry, is it necessary to find/have a job there? I mean is a job conditional to stay in Canada or express entry means you'll get PR for sure even if you don't find a job, and even if you start/continue a business?