Alright so I've been searching around online to see what i need to actually MOVE to Canada but i haven't been having any luck. I'm "Self employed" and by this i mean i sell things online. So i'm not really sure what i would have to do, or get to be a legal resident of Canada. I currently live in the US. Any tips or information would be greatly appreciated..
Moving to canada
- Thread starter 123876778
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To move to Canada permanently you need to apply and be approved as a permanent resident under one of Canada's immigration categories. The full list is here:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/index.asp
There is a self employed categories but its requirements are very specific and based on what you've said, you probably won't qualify:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/business/self-employed/index.asp
There's also the the Investor and Entrepreneur categories. To qualify, you need to be able to make an investment in Canada of $800K and have a net worth of at least $1.6M. Both of these classes are closed to new applications until next July.
Assuming none of these fit you, then you would have to look at the skilled worker programs. There are skilled worker programs both at the federal and provincial level. To qualify for these, you typically either have to have recent experience in a specific list of occupations or a job offer in Canada. You also need to have sufficient funds in the bank to establish yourself in Canada.
Long story short, there's really no immigration program that fits "self employed" as you've described it (unless you're moving your online business to Canada and willing to invest $800K here).
What other work experience / qualifications do you have? Maybe you would qualify under one of the skilled worker programs.
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/index.asp
There is a self employed categories but its requirements are very specific and based on what you've said, you probably won't qualify:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/business/self-employed/index.asp
There's also the the Investor and Entrepreneur categories. To qualify, you need to be able to make an investment in Canada of $800K and have a net worth of at least $1.6M. Both of these classes are closed to new applications until next July.
Assuming none of these fit you, then you would have to look at the skilled worker programs. There are skilled worker programs both at the federal and provincial level. To qualify for these, you typically either have to have recent experience in a specific list of occupations or a job offer in Canada. You also need to have sufficient funds in the bank to establish yourself in Canada.
Long story short, there's really no immigration program that fits "self employed" as you've described it (unless you're moving your online business to Canada and willing to invest $800K here).
What other work experience / qualifications do you have? Maybe you would qualify under one of the skilled worker programs.
123876778 said:Well, sounds like i have no way to Canada. I have a friend i would be living with when i get there, does that change anything? I mean, can i just grab a passport head up and move in with him?
If you are visa exempt, you can come to Canada as a visitor for up to 6 months. Before your 6 months are up, you can apply to extend your visitor status, prove that you can support yourself, have emergency health insurance etc. If you are a US citizen, you would have to make sure they give you a stamp in your passport when you enter. They sometimes don't and you need it in order to prove your entry date if you want to extend your visitor status.
As a visitor, you are not allowed to work in Canada. However, if you are working online, you are technically not working in Canada, you are not making money in Canada but in some other country, right? It is a grey area. I would go with "don't ask, don't tell" on that.
If you want to get a job in Canada, you would need the employer to apply for a labour market opinion proving that they looked high and low and found no Canadian or PR who wanted this job. If they get it, you can apply for a work permit. It will only allow you to work for this particular employer in that particular position.
Is this friend of yours a boyfriend by any chance? If that is the case, if you live together for 12 months and can prove it, joint utilities, bank accounts etc., he could sponsor you as a common law partner. If you marry, he could sponsor you right away as his spouse.
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