Self-Employed Immigration

Immigrating to Canada as a Self-employed individual

There is a wide array of options that are made available to you to help you immigrate into Canada. Most of the time you are required to obtain a valid job offer for you to apply successfully. However, the application process becomes a bit more complicated when an individual is applying who are self-employed. If this bring concern to you there is no need to worry as this blog will give you answers to any of the questions that you may have.

Essential Information about Self-Employed Immigration

Just as the name entails, the self-employed persons program is a program run by the government of Canada that allows individuals to immigrate, permanently, to Canada as a self-employed person. If this program brings interest to you, you must:

• Have relevant experience in cultural activities or athletics; and
• Be willing and able to make a significant contribution to the cultural or athletic life of Canada

In order to be eligible to immigrate under the title of ‘self-employed’, you are required to:

1. Have relevant experience
2. Be willing and able to be self-employed in Canada
3. Meet the program’s selection criteria; and
4. Meet medical, security and any other conditions

The way that the government of Canada assesses your application when deciding whether or not they want to approve your application is by using selection criteria. This selection criteria includes your:

• Experience
• Age
• Language Abilities
• Education; and
• Adaptability

Relevant Experience

In order for your experience to be relevant you are required to have partaken in cultural activities or athletics at a world-class level, or you have been self-employed in cultural activities or athletics.

By definition relevant experience in terms of a self-employed person means at a minimum, two years of experience. These two years of experience must be completed within the period that begins 5 years prior to the date you applied all the way to the date that the government of Canada creates a decision on your application. If you decide to have more experience by being self-employed for more years within the time frame, this will benefit you as you will be rewarded more points which in turn gives your application a stronger chance of being successfully approved.

For cultural activities, at a minimum, your experience must be either:

1. 2 one-year periods of being self-employed in cultural activities; or
2. 2 one-year periods of participating at a world-class level in cultural activities; or
3. The combination of a one year period written in (1), and a one year period written in (2)

In terms of athletics, at a minimum, your experience must be either:

1. 2 one-year periods of being self-employed in athletics; or
2. 2 one-year periods of participating at a world class level in athletics; or
3. The combination of a one year period written in (1), and a one year period written in (2)

Application Process

In many cases, you will be asked to give both your fingerprints and photograph, also known as your biometrics, once you apply.

The first step in the application process is for you to obtain the application package, where all your information that the government uses to determine whether or not you should be granted access into Canada. Included in the application package includes a document checklist and guide.

Within your application package it is important to include all forms, documents, information, signatures, fees, and language tests that the government of Canada asks of you to supply to them. If for some reason, some or any of your information is not found, your application will be deemed as incomplete and the government of Canada will return it without processing it.

It is very important that your application package is completed to its highest degree of formality and all of your answers are both complete and true. This is very important because if the government of Canada finds out that you have represented yourself falsely, either by giving them false information or leaving out important details:

1. Your application could be refused
2. You could be found inadmissible; and
3. You could be prohibited for five years from applying to come into Canada for any reason

Fees

Most of the time, the fees that will be included with your application are:

1. Processing fees for you and anyone you include in your application
2. The Right of Permanent Residence Fees (RPRF)
3. Biometrics fee; and third party fees

Majority of the time, you will be required to pay a biometrics fee once you submit your application. If you fail to do this you will be punished by experiencing some delays. After paying your biometrics fee along with your complete application, the government of Canada will send you a letter confirming that you need to provide them with your biometrics, and direction on where you are able to go to complete this task. It is very important that you keep this letter as you are required to show this letter when submitting our biometrics in person.

Third-party fees only occur only in certain situations. You will have to pay third-party fees for:

1. Medical exams
2. Police certificates; and
3. Language testings

**Please Note that the instructional document will aid you in understanding which fees you will be required to pay in order to apply as well as showing you how to pay for them.**

Contact Akrami and Associates

Self-employed Immigration has a wide array of requirements which makes this application both confusing, and sometimes, overwhelming. In addition, the application for Self-employed Immigration can be a difficult task when attempting it on your own. Due to this, it is highly recommended that you seek out professional and experienced assistance prior to attempting to apply for Self-employed Immigration.

Akrami & Associates work and have experience with the many different immigration issues. We have helped many of our clients to obtain permanent residency through Self-employed Immigration in Canada. Please feel free to contact Akrami & Associates at 416-477-2545 for more information, or if you would like to book a consultation with an immigration professional for more advise.

With Akrami and Associates, there is Always a Way!