Immigrate to Canada from Saint Lucia – How to Apply
Many Immigrants seeking for a better future are wondering how to Immigrate to Canada from Saint Lucia.
There are many options for immigrating to Canada depending on whether you want to invest, start a business, or file an application for the provincial nominee program (PNP) as a temporary or permanent resident.
However, there are four main categories of Immigrants to Canada. These categories includes: the Family Class members (closely related persons of Canadian residents living in Canada), Economic Immigrants (Canadian experience class, skilled workers and business people), Humanitarian and Compassionate applicants.
The Canadian government has stated categorically that it would aim to take in 1.3 million immigrants in the next three years as a means to boost post-pandemic growth.
However, this article will give a general guide on how to Immigrate to Canada from Saint Lucia, the pathway options available, the best cities in Canada and also the steps to Immigrate to Canada from Saint Lucia.
Location of saint Lucia
Saint Lucia is an island nation in the eastern Caribbean.
It is the second largest of the Windward group in the Lesser Antilles and is located about 24 miles (39 km) south of Martinique and some 21 miles (34 km) northeast of Saint Vincent. See the table below:
Immigrant Program Category Immigration Class Year 2021 Target Min Target 2021 Max Target 2021 Year 2023 Target Min Target 2023 Max Target 2023 Year 2023 Target Min Target 2023 Max Target 2023
Federal High Skilled Economic 108500 81000 110250 110500 96250 112900 113750 100000 114500
Federal Business Economic 1000 400 1250 1000 250 1250 1000 500 1250
Economic Pilots: Caregivers Economic 8500 4900 9250 10000 4500 10500 10250 4500 11000
Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program Economic 6000 3300 6250 6250 3000 6750 6500 3500 6750
Provincial Nominee Program Economic 80800 64000 81500 81500 63600 82500 83000 65000 84000
Quebec Skilled Workers and Business Economic * Quebec immigration plan TBD TBD
Total Economic Economic 232500 180500 237000 241500 199000 247000 249500 207000 253500
Spouses, Partners and Children Family 80000 61000 81000 80000 60000 81000 81000 60000 82000
Parents and Grandparents Family 23500 15000 24000 23500 14000 24000 23500 14000 24000
Total Family Family 103500 76000 105000 103500 74000 105000 104500 74000 106000
Protected Persons in Canada and Dependents Abroad Refugees and Protected Persons 23500 17000 25000 24500 19000 25000 25000 19500 25500
Resettled Refugees - Government-Assisted Refugees and Protected Persons 12500 7500 13000 12500 7500 13000 12500 8400 13000
Resettled Refugees - Privately Sponsored Refugees and Protected Persons 22500 14900 23000 22500 15400 23000 22500 15500 23000
Resettled Refugees - Blended Visa Office-Referred Refugees and Protected Persons 1000 100 1000 1000 100 1000 1000 100 1000
Total Refugees and Protected Persons Refugees and Protected Persons 59500 39500 62000 60500 42000 62000 61000 43500 62500
Total Humanitarian & Compassionate and Other Humanitarian and Other 5500 4000 6000 5500 5000 6000 6000 5500 8000
Overall Permanent Resident Projection All Programs 401000 300000 410000 411000 320000 420000 421000 330000 430000
Why should I immigrate to Canada from Saint Lucia?
So many opportunities exist in Canada. People who wish to immigrate to Canada from Saint Lucia may stand a chance to benefit the following:
- Right to sponsor parents or grandparents after you settle
- No restriction of Employment
- Free education for kids up to adulthood
- Free healthcare for the entire family
Additionally, Canada Immigrants can enjoy permanent residency even without job. The spouse also gets the right to work full-time in any company. You can switch between jobs and change companies as you want without any racial discrimination.
Also, Canada promotes diversity and gives equal respect to all religions and culture. Canada is a multicultural territory which gives you peace despite the nationality you represent.
Some major Provinces in Canada
If you are planning to immigrate to Canada from Saint Lucia, one of the first steps is getting a Province and an apartment. Canada has thirteen provinces and a few territories such as listed below: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Saskatchewan. The three territories are Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon.
Alberta.
Alberta is one of Canada’s three prairie Provinces. It shares the Canadian Rocky Mountain range with its Western B.C neighbor and is famous as a ski and hiking destination. Alberta is a nice Province and a dream territory for immigrants. Also the home of the University of Alberta.
Ontario
Ontario is Canada’s most populous province, by a long shot. It is also home to the federal capital of Ottawa and the unofficial financial capital of Toronto. Many Immigrants are living in Ontario city. It is also the home of the popular University of Ontario.
British Columbia
This is the Country’s most Western Province. It is bordered by the Pacific ocean,
B.C, however, has some of the most temperate locations in the country. It can also be a home for an immigrant.
Saskatchewan
This Province is the central prairie province, landlocked between the other two, Alberta and Manitoba.
However, Most of Saskatchewan’s population lives in the southern half of the region, especially in Saskatoon and Regina.
Manitoba
Manitoba is the most easterly prairie province and longitudinal center of Canada. Like Saskatchewan, a majority of the population lives in the southern region.
If you wish to immigrate to Canada from Saint Lucia, you may consider living in Manitoba Province.
Quebec
Quebec is the second most populous Canadian province, known primarily for its French-speaking population, culture, and heritage.
It is also the country’s largest province by land area. Most residents live along and near the St. Lawrence River, especially in and between Montreal and Quebec City, the two major cities. French speaking Immigrants may like to live in Quebec Province.
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada’s three Maritime provinces, which form a tiny water-bound cluster on the east coast, just below Quebec and bordering the state of Maine in the U.S.
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is the second smallest Province and the second most densely populated in the country. It is one of the three maritime provinces and part of Atlantic Canada. Halifax is the major city of Nova Scotia.
Prince Edward Island
This is the smallest province in Canada, measured by land size and population. Its principal city is Charlottetown (provincial capital).
Pathways to immigrate to Canada from Saint Lucia
Many pathway Programs are available for all Immigrants. People who wish to Immigrate to Canada from Saint Lucia are no exception.
Though, each of these Pathways has a Criteria or requirements through which it operates. The Following are the Pathways to immigrate to Canada from Saint Lucia:
- Express Entry program
- Canada Provincial Nominee Program
- Canada’s Start-Up Visa Program
- International Students Pathway
- Family Sponsorship
Express Entry
Generally, Canada uses the Express Entry system to manage applications for three Canadian immigration programs. These include:
- The Federal Skilled Worker Class
- The Federal Skilled Trades Class
- The Canadian Experience Class.
In Express Entry, the Candidate’s CRS score is calculated on the basis of many of the human factors which includes Education, Age, Skilled work experience and Language Proficiency (English and French). This Express Entry Pathway permits individuals or couples to get CRS points.
Applicants on this note do not need any experience in Canada for them to get an invitation to apply for permanent residence.
Only a few number of candidates with the highest CRS points in the EE pool gets Invitations to Apply(ITA)
Your CRS is a numerical value out of 1,200, which is obtained from age, work experience, Educational background, ability to adapt and language proficiency.
Canada Provincial Nominee Programs
A Candidate can still immigrate to Canada from Saint Lucia through the Provincial Nominee Program when Express Entry didn’t work as planned.
These are the immigration Pathways arrangements by Canadian Provinces
Though Canadian Provinces do not have the ability to give out permanent residency status, they can boost your application by nominating you for permanent residence in the federal government’s Express Entry System.
However, Candidates who receive a nomination get 600 points in addition towards their federal Express Entry CRS score.
Therefore, it increases in a huge way your chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply.
Note that the minimum score for an Express Entry PNP draw is typically in the mid 700s and up. In contrast, other Express Entry programs require scores in the 400s.
However, candidates with provincial nomination need only score in the 100s for core human capital in order to receive an Invitation to Apply.
International Students Pathway
International Student study permit is a pathway program through which the Canadian government welcomes International students across the world for the purpose of studying in Canada.
This pathway program is a very popular program which Saint Lucia Students can benefit from while planning to immigrate to Canada for studies.
You can work under some circumstances while studying. In addition to that, you can obtain a Post-Graduation Work Permit after graduating.
Post- Graduate Work Permit allows you to work in Canada for up to three years after graduating.
Significantly, Canadian work experience will boost your Permanent Residence application.
Family Sponsorship
You can equally immigrate to Canada through Family sponsorship if you have a family member (s) who are Canadian Citizens or permanent residents.
The processing time for Family Sponsorship applications process is usually between one to two years
Canada’s Start – Up Visa Program
This immigration program allows Entrepreneurs with innovative business ideas to immigrate to Canada through the Canada Start – up visa program.
Canada’s Start-Up visa Program is a means through which the Canadian government employs Entrepreneurs to boost its economy and create employment.
Canada needs entrepreneurs to boost its economy and create employment, especially during this pandemic recovery. Therefore, to immigrate to Canada can be possible using any of these pathways.
5 Steps to immigrate to Canada from Saint Lucia Using Express Entry Program
Step #1. Complete your Language Test
For you to immigrate to Canada with this program, you must have an IELTS Score of minimum five to be qualified for Canada express Entry. See the table below:
Express Entry Language Proficiency for the First Official Language
Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level per ability With a spouse or common-law partner (Max. 128 points) Without a spouse or common-law partner (Max. 136 points)
Less than CLB 4 0 0
CLB 4 or 5 6 6
CLB 6 8 9
CLB 7 16 17
CLB 8 22 23
CLB 9 29 31
CLB 10 or more 32 34
Step #2: Get your ECA Report
Secondly, all your Educational Transcripts must go through Credential Assessment (ECA). This requirement is compulsory for Applicants who studied outside Canada.
But, Candidates who are applying for the Federal Skilled Worker Program or the Canada Experience Class (CEC) program may not need the ECA process. See the table below:
Express Entry Education Factors
Level of Education With a spouse or common-law partner (Max. 140 points) Without a spouse or common-law partner (Max. 150 points)
Less than secondary school (high school) 0 0
Secondary diploma (high school graduation) 28 30
One-year degree, diploma or certificate from a college, university, technical or trade school, or other institute 84 90
Two-year program at a college, university, technical or trade school, or other institute 91 98
Bachelors degree OR a three or more year program at a college, university, technical or trade school, or other institute 112 120
Two or more certificates, diplomas, or degrees. One of them must be for a program of 3 or more years 119 128
Masters degree, OR professional degree needed to practice in a licensed profession (such as medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, optometry, chiropractic medicine, law, or pharmacy) 126 135
Doctoral level university degree (Ph.D) 140 150
Step. #3 Determine your Express Entry Eligibility
You will have to check whether your occupation is listed under the NOC list in order to create your profile.
Then your occupation profile has to be Under the O. A or B series.
A candidate must then score a minimum of 67 points in the WES assessment to be qualified to apply for the Express Entry Pathway. See the table Below:
Step #4. Create your Express Entry Profile
Here, you will fill in all your details accurately and select the program of your choice.
Then check whether you are okay with the Selected program to avoid rejection and fill your Expression of interest (EOI)
Step #5. Submit your Permanent Residence Application
At this final stage, for a foreign national to be qualified to apply for a Canadian Permanent Residence Status under the Express Entry System, a candidate should meet a minimum score of 67 points out of 100.
The minimum points required for express entry include the following:
- Age (Maximum 12 points)
- Education (Maximum 25 points)
- Language Proficiency (Maximum 24 points) English and/or French
- Work Experience (Maximum 15 points)
- Adaptability (Maximum of 10 points)
- Arranged employment (10 points (not mandatory
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the cost of Immigrating to Canada from Saint Lucia?
To Immigrate to Canada from Saint Lucia, the applicant may spend up to $15,500 CAD. This amount is equal to $32,684.31(XCD) or ( thirty-two thousand six hundred eighty-four eastern caribbean dollars 31 cents).
How long does it take to Immigrate to Canada from Saint Lucia?
Usually, It takes 6-18 months to receive a Canadian Visa decision. Also, applications may remain in Express Entry for 12 months and it usually takes a few months to gather all the requirements at home in Saint Lucia to lodge the initial application.
What challenges can I face if Immigrate to Canada?
Canada has high tax rates compared to other countries in the world. Such tax involves: income tax, property tax, provincial tax, tax on goods and services, and more. Depending on your salary, your tax rate could increase. The government taxes people with higher incomes at higher rates.
Can I move to Canada without a job?
No, in most cases you don’t need a job offer. But, you will need one if you are eligible for either the Federal Skilled Worker Program or the Federal Skilled Trades Program, but don’t not have enough money to support yourself and your family in Canada.
Can I ship food to Canada?
Yes, Food, perishable or non-perishable that are canned, bottled or otherwise are acceptable for shipping. Whether commercial or casual import declarations or permits may be required.
Conclusion
In Conclusion, Canada is among the countries that are ranked on political stability, diplomatic relations, terrorism impact etc. Therefore, Canada is a good destination for every immigrant who wishes to change to a new environment for work, Education, and others.