Immigration to Canada Colombia

Immigration to Canada Colombia

Predominantly located in South America, Colombia has an insular region in North America. It borders Brazil, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela. The country has access to the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, which makes it the only country in South America with coastlines and islands along both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.

Colombia covers an area of 1,141,748 km2, with a total population of 50 million citizens. The predominant ethnic group is White-Mestizo, while minor groups are Afro-Colombians and Amerindian. Spanish is the official language in the country, in addition to 70 regional languages. English has official status in San Andrés and Santa Catalina.

Colombia has the third-biggest diversified economy in South America, with macroeconomic stability and long-term growth prospects. The state is a member of main regional and international organizations, including the Pacific Alliance, the Andean Community, the Organization of American States, the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development, and a NATO Global Partner.

Still, there is a tendency toward immigration to Canada among residents of Colombia. Today, about 75,000 people of Colombian ancestry live in Canada. They prefer to settle in Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, and British Columbia.

Study Immigration to Canada from Colombia

The tried-and-true way of immigration to Canada is admission to the educational institution in the country. Indeed, international students from Colombia obtain permanent residency more often than foreigners who apply for immigration programs directly from overseas. To begin with, they need to complete at least a two-year study program at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI). Then, international students from Colombia ought to get a post-graduation work permit (PGWP). The permit can be issued for up to three years, and it allows recent graduates to work for any employer in the country.

Once citizens of Colombia get at least a year of work experience, they can apply for immigration to Canada under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) or Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). The CEC program has the following requirements. Applicants should gain a year of work experience, have a job classified under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) Skill Type 0, A or B, and meet Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 for NOC 0 or A jobs or CLB 5 for NOC B positions. International students who want to apply for immigration to Canada under the PNP need to have a job offer under the mentioned NOC categories and at least a year of work experience.

Work Immigration to Canada from Colombia

One more effective way for immigration to Canada is through work programs. Canadian employers who cannot hire qualified local workers tend to apply for the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) or International Mobility Program (IMP). The TFWP aims to fill labor shortages in the country with the help of Colombian residents. Canadian employers ought to obtain a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) and send a copy to the prospective foreign worker. This document should prove that Canadian citizens or permanent residents cannot fill the needed job position.

Canadian employers can also hire citizens of Colombia who are exempt from an LMIA under the IMP. Still, foreign workers ought to obtain an open work permit. The open work permit LMIA exemption categories are inland permanent residence applicants, inland permanent residence applicants in spouses and common-law sponsorship class, spouses and common-law partners of international students and foreign workers, family members of foreign representatives and military personnel, humanitarian reasons, open work permits for vulnerable workers, bridging open work permit, occupation-restricted open work permits for caregivers, post-graduation work permit applicants, post-secondary and secondary co-op applicants, refugees, Canada World Youth Program applicants, International Experience Canada (IEC): Working Holiday applicants, and professional athletes.

Both programs help residents of Colombia gain the required work experience for immigration to Canada. Foreigners who have at least one year of work experience can apply for the Provincial Nominee Program and Canadian Experience Class.

Family Sponsorship to Canada from Colombia

The other effective option for immigration to Canada is the family sponsorship program. To be eligible to sponsor a relative from Colombia, Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or people registered in Canada as Indians must be over 18 years old.

The common stream for immigration to Canada is spousal, conjugal, and common-law partner sponsorship. To qualify for the program, citizens of Colombia must be more than 18 years old and have long-term relationships with a Canadian. In addition, they ought to give their biometrics, provide a police certificate, and complete the medical exam.

Canadians who want to invite their adopted or biological children to the country can apply for the dependent children sponsorship program for immigration to Canada. Children must be under 22 years old and do not have a spouse or common-law partner.

Parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens can also apply for immigration to Canada under the parents and grandparents sponsorship program. Still, Canadians do not have a right to sponsor their parents-in-law, grandparents-in-law, and people inadmissible to Canada.

Express Entry Program. Federal Skilled Worker and Federal Skilled Trades Streams

Express Entry stream is one more way for immigration to Canada. It includes the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and Federal Skilled Trade Program (FSTP), which are launched for skilled professionals from Colombia.

To apply for immigration to Canada under the FSWP, foreigners ought to fulfill the following requirements.

1. They must have at least a year of full-time foreign work experience under NOC Skill Type 0, A, or B within the last ten years.
2. Residents of Colombia should have Canadian or foreign educational credentials. Foreign diplomas or degrees need to be submitted along with an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report.
3. Applicants ought to take the English or French Language Proficiency Test and meet CLB Level 7.
4. Citizens of Colombia must get no less than 67 out of 100 points on the FSWP assessment grid that evaluates their age, level of education, language proficiency, work experience, the offer of employment, and adaptability.

Foreigners who decide to apply for immigration to Canada under the FSTP ought to meet several requirements.

1. Residents of Colombia must get at least two years of full-time work experience under NOC Skill Type B within the last five years.
2. They need to obtain a full-time job offer from up to two local employers for at least a year. Alternatively, applicants can get a certificate of qualification from a Canadian governmental body.
3. Applicants are obliged to pass the English or French Language Proficiency Test. Citizens of Colombia ought to meet the CLB Level 4 for reading and writing and Level 5 for speaking and listening.

Business Immigration to Canada from Colombia

The next option for immigration to Canada is business programs. Residents of Colombia have a chance to apply for the Provincial Entrepreneur Immigration Program. The stream has the following requirements.

1. Foreigners must purchase or open an eligible type of business in a preferred province and hire at least one full-time local professional.
2. Applicants need to have no less than three years of business work experience within five years. Work experience is counted toward senior manager and business owner occupations.
3. Citizens of Colombia ought to have 600,000-1,500,000 CAD of personal net worth and invest 200,000-1,000,000 CAD in business development.
4. It is mandatory to  have post-secondary education and meet CLB Level 4.

Residents of Colombia who wish to start an innovative business in the country may apply for immigration to Canada under the Start-Up Program. Applicants ought to provide a letter of support from the designated investor, have 13,213 CAD of settlement funds, and meet at least CLB Level 5.

The other business option for immigration to Canada is the Self-Employed Immigration Program. Foreigners need to be 20-50 years old, obtain post-secondary education, have at least two years of self-employed work experience, take IELTS General with a score of 5.5, and have 13,213 CAD of settlement funds.

Citizens of Colombia who wish to settle in Quebec usually apply for one of the three provincial programs. Foreigners who get at least two years of management experience within five years, have 2,000,000 CAD of personal net worth, and can invest 1,200,000 CAD in business development should use the Investor Program for immigration to Canada.

The next pathway is the Quebec Entrepreneur Program which has two streams for immigration to Canada. Stream One suits those who want to launch a business and live in Quebec. Stream Two is launched for applicants who have a business plan, obtain at least 900,000 CAD of personal net worth, and want to launch or buy a business in the province.

The last way for immigration to Canada is through the Quebec Self-Employed Worker Program. Residents of Colombia must have at least two years of self-employed work experience, practice their trade in Quebec, have 100,000 CAD of personal net worth, and deposit from 25,000 to 50,000 CAD. The amount of deposit depends on the preferred region in Quebec.

 

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