Immigrate to Canada from Jamaica – 4 Fastest Pathways
Are you in Jamaica, and would you want to immigrate to Canada from Jamaica? Do you have skills relevant to live and working in Canada? Or, are you a prospective student who plans to study in Canada and later become a resident?
If you answered yes to the above, we have something for you! Canada is one of the best countries to immigrate to and permanently reside abroad. Aside from its warmth and open arms, Canada is a place where you can enjoy a good life. So if you are a Jamaican with plans for career advancement and an upgraded standard of living, Canada is the best place to think of. In this article, you will not just learn the fastest pathways to immigrate to Canada from Jamaica but why you should do so and other relevant information.
Why should you immigrate to Canada from Jamaica?
There are several reasons people from Jamaica consider Canada as their top immigration destination in the world. First, Canada is famous for its economic strength, robust employment prospects, and low crime rate.
Provinces like British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario have numerous vacancies in the private sector, especially in smaller companies. The agricultural, IT, hospitality, and tourism sectors are most in demand of workers. In addition, there are different sectors of the economy where many foreign workers are needed to fill vacancies. To fast-track the immigration process and manage the kind of people coming into the country, Canada set up different immigration pathways. Technically, these pathways help to make the visa application more accessible to those who want to immigrate to Canada from Jamaica or any other country.
Thus, the government of Canada has introduced programs such as the Express Entry system, Provincial Nominee Program, and others that accelerate the visa application process and make it easier for different individuals to access it. If you meet the eligibility for these programs, you will receive an invitation to apply (ITA) for permanent residence. Then, you can become a Canadian citizen after a few years of becoming a permanent resident. Below are the top reasons to immigrate to Canada from Jamaica:
High quality of life
If you immigrate to Canada from Jamaica, you have signed up to enjoy an excellent quality of life. This means that you will enjoy standard healthcare, which is free for all residents and citizens of Canada. In addition, if you or your family chooses to study here, you will enjoy top-rated education. The public education system in Canada is one of the best in the world, with free basic education.
Another area to enjoy the superiority of life is the area of security. Canada ranks among the safest countries in the world. That is to say. You can go about your business daily and come back at night to sleep with both your eyes shut.
Gain work experience
If you graduated from any designated learning institution in Canada, you could apply for the Post-Graduate Work Permit Program (PGWPP). With that, you will gain adequate work experience in relevant fields. Further, the knowledge you gain will increase your prospects of permanent residence in Canada through the Canadian Experience Class when applying through the Express Entry system. Receiving your permanent residence may not take more than six months, especially if you have at least one year of work experience.
Economic opportunity
Canada has around 433,000 jobs in semi- and high-skilled fields. If you have the right skills for these jobs and meet the eligibility, you can easily immigrate to Canada. Moreover, since the country offers a good work environment and high pay, it will help elevate your financial life. However, you may not get a good job once you get to Canada but be sure to get one by upgrading your work experience.
What are the Pathways to immigrating to Canada from Jamaica?
There are several accelerated and easy ways to immigrate to Canada from Jamaica. All you need to do is to find out their requirements and compare them to your qualifications. Then, go for the one you are most qualified for. As such, below are the four easiest ways to immigrate to Canada from Jamaica:
Express Entry
Launched in 2015, the Express Entry System is one of the fastest immigration programs that allow qualified workers from any country to immigrate to Canada to live, work, or study. With the system, the CIC (Citizenship and Immigration Canada) can practically assess immigrants and select those that meet the requirements under the federal economic immigration programs. They include:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program
- Canada Experience Class
- Federal Skilled Trades Program
Through the program, individual provinces can also choose the best candidates that meet their labor needs to apply for permanent residence. Also, employers in these provinces may play a role by employing candidates who satisfy their requirements. In addition, they may access these candidates through the Canadian Job Bank and other means.
To qualify under the Express Entry system, you must obtain 67 or more points on a 100-point scale. If you score more than 67 points, you may qualify for the Federal Skilled Worker Program.
Here is a breakdown of the 67 points:
- language skills = 28 points
- education = 25 points
- work experience = 15 points
- age = 12 points
- arranged employments = 10 points
- adaptability = 10 points.
Further, you will be put in a pool with other applicants, and if you rank highly in the pool based on the skills above, you will be invited to apply for permanent residency through an invitation to apply (ITA). At this point, you have just 60 days to submit your supporting documents under any of the three classes of the Express Entry system. If you failed in the ITA, you would remain in the pool for one year before you can resubmit your profile and reenter the pool.
After you have applied for your PR, you will receive an acknowledgment of receipt (AOR) from the IRCC. This is confirmation that your profile has been created, and the processing time is just six months.
Provincial Nomination Program (PNP)
One of the top ways to immigrate to Canada from Jamaica is to apply for a visa through the Provincial Nominee Program. Each province of Canada has the nod of the government to nominate any applicant in the Express Entry pool to live and work in the said province.
There are two streams to apply to under the PNP: the enhanced streams and the base streams. The enhanced streams are in line with the Express Entry system. Suppose you choose any of the provinces and territories of Canada to apply for your immigration. In that case, you will automatically increase your chances of receiving an invitation to apply (ITA) for a PR.
If the province finds you eligible to live and work there, they will nominate you to apply for permanent residence. For that reason, you will receive an additional 600 CRS scores while in the pool. Subsequently, in the next Express Entry draw, you will qualify to receive an ITA.
More importantly, choosing the right province or territory to work in will increase your prospects of getting a job and ultimately receiving higher pay. If you are fortunate to receive a job offer while still in the pool, it will help to fast-track your chances of becoming a permanent resident of Canada. In essence, you will only be able to scale through the PNP if you have an Express Entry Profile.
What are the in-demand jobs in the provinces and territories of Canada?
Here is a list of occupations in Canada and the provinces they exist:
- Alberta – Managers in construction, registered nurses, computer and IT professionals, farm laborers, food and beverage servers, childcare and home support worker, etc.
- British Columbia – Paramedics, family physicians, psychiatrists, registered nurses, software engineers, civil engineers, computer engineers, etc.
- Nova Scotia – Nurses, physicians, paralegals, accountants, civil engineers, college and vocational instructors, etc.
- Prince Edwards Island – Registered nurses, IT professionals, food and beverage servers, university professors, housekeepers, etc.
- Yukon – caregivers, early childhood instructors, mining, IT specialists, accountants, etc.
- Newfoundland and Labrador – medical occupations, educational occupations, business and finance professionals, etc.
Atlantic Immigration Pilot (AIP)
Atlantic Canada has an immigration program that allows Canadian employers to employ and retain skilled workers from Jamaica and other countries. This program is another accelerated way to immigrate to Canada from Jamaica. Four provinces make up Atlantic Canada: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edwards Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
If you plan to immigrate to any of these provinces through the AIP, you will first receive a job offer from your prospective Canadian employer. Upon accepting the job offer, your employer will connect you to the right organization to help you develop a settlement plan. Sometimes, you may get a temporary work permit if there is urgency for your job position. With that, your immigration to Canada will be fast-tracked.
Further, the AIP has three streams, namely;
- The Atlantic High-skilled Program
- Atlantic Intermediate-skilled Program
- Atlantic International Graduate Program.
Canada Investor Immigration
This program is developed to magnetize high-net-worth individuals who already own or can manage large-scale businesses abroad. Since the individuals already have what it takes to develop the Canadian economy, their presence will be highly appreciated.
Two investor programs exist for those who wish to immigrate to Canada from Jamaica. They are the Federal Investor Program and the Quebec Investor Program. They are a bit similar and require the investment to be in an approved fund investment. Also, the investment must last five years before the investor can return their money.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Canadian immigration favorable to me?
Without a doubt, Canada is prominent for its immigration programs. It is one of the most accessible, and with its somewhat low growth rate, the government must invite immigrants to fill the space. Therefore, a Jamaican can immigrate to Canada, even with qualifying family members.
So, moving to Canada means you can study, work and do business there. Also, the country is multicultural, making it easy for people of different cultures, languages, customs, and viewpoints to coexist. Some immigrants equally work in government and participate in the country’s cultural festivals. So, if you wish to immigrate to Canada from Jamaica, it is a great decision you will never regret.
What are the benefits of Canadian permanent residence and citizenship?
As soon as you receive clearance for PR or citizenship, you can gain from all the social and national programs. This includes having access to free healthcare without having health insurance. You will also enjoy the national social security system to access some financial relief upon retirement. Another benefit of becoming a PR or citizen of Canada is that your children can attend education up to the secondary level for free.
Should I immigrate to Canada from Jamaica?
Planning to move to Canada is not a decision you take. You must have considered the pros and cons before arriving at your decision. What’s more, you will need to meet the Canadian immigration requirements to enable you to do so. If possible, you may contact an immigration lawyer to guide you through.
How long does it take to immigrate to Canada from Jamaica?
Generally, you can spend around a year from start to finish for the processing of your application. Although it may take more or less, leave the target at one year.
How long can I enjoy Canada permanent residency as a Jamaican?
When you become a permanent resident of Canada, you will enjoy it for life. However, you must accumulate at least two years of residency every five years. It must not be consecutive, but make sure to live at least two years in Canada. In essence, you can travel out of Canada at will so far you don’t stay longer than necessary.
Conclusion
To be able to immigrate to Canada from Jamaica, you will need to understand what is in for you. This article will help you with the answers you seek.