If you are looking for better employment or education opportunities, Canada is the place to be. Canada ranks second for having a good job market and is highly rated for having a well-developed education system.
If you are looking to move to Canada from Ghana, you will be pleasantly surprised that there are many options for doing so.
Canada is a large and resource-rich country, so having a small population plays an important role in immigration. This means that they are more welcoming to foreigners than most countries, which is great considering that Canada is a great place to create a better quality of life for yourself or your family.
Canadian Immigration Minister Marco Mendocino has announced that the country will welcome 401,000 new permanent residents by 2021. With the many immigration programs and visa options available, you could be one of them. them.
Read below to find out more.
Express Entry
Express Entry, created in 2015, is an online immigration system that selects applicants for permanent residence in Canada through federal economic immigration programs. Express Entry is considered one of the most important entry points for immigration to Canada.
This is due to the efficiency of the program with the potential for the application process to be as short as six months, as well as the number of immigrants it brings to Canada. The year 2021 will see 108,500 new ITAs (invitations to apply).
Applicants for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and Canadian Experience Class must go through the Express Entry system.
Express Entry is open to almost everyone. You will only be selected to apply for permanent residence if you meet or score above the CRS cutoff score. Profiles are selected from random draws every two weeks.
How Does The Express Entry to Canada Work?
- Find out if you’re eligible for the program;
- You need to create your Express Entry profile;
- You’ll receive a CRS score – you get points for age, work experience, qualifications, language skills, job offers, adaptability, and spouse factors;
- Your profile goes into the Express Entry draw every two weeks;
- The Government releases the CRS cut off scores;
- Profiles with CRS cut off scores or higher get ITAs
Canada has already set targets for the next three years, hoping to welcome over 1.2 million new immigrants by the end of 2023. The Express Entry system will contribute 332,750 to this total. Below is a table showing the breakdown for each year.
| Breakdown of ITAs for 2021-2023 | |
|---|---|
| Year | Number of ITAs |
| 2021 | 108,500 |
| 2022 | 110,500 |
| 2023 | 113,750 |
Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS)
The CRS is a points-based system used to assess and score your profile. This score will also rank your profile in the Express Entry group.
The higher your CRS points, the better your chances of receiving an ITA.
There are many ways to improve your CRS score, once you have submitted your profile, such as:
- Redo language test to improve your score
- Gain more work experience within your field
- Earn another qualification
- Apply with your spouse
- Ensure a Provincial Nominee
- Receive a job offer in Canada
- Having a sibling in Canada
With the Express Entry system in place, making the move to Canada from Ghana is a much greater possibility.
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
The Provincial Nominee Program is an agreement with local provinces to nominate eligible economic immigrants who wish to work or live in that particular province.
So essentially the Provincial Nominee Program helps skilled foreign workers immigrate to Canada to a province or territory where those skills are in demand.
How Does the Provincial Nominee Program Work?
You should choose a province based on where your skills are most in demand and apply for an appointment in that province. The more work is requested, the more likely you are to receive an ITA.
Your first step is to have the application approved by the province, which takes a fairly short period of two to nine weeks, depending on the province.
Its second step would consist of medical, police, and security checks. Typically, this can take six to eight months or more depending on the applicant.
Once you have been appointed, PNP can help you with a work visa before moving to Canada.
There are two application options when applying through a Provincial Nominee Program.
- Apply directly to a province or territory;
- The Express Entry-link process
Direct Application Process
This request is sent directly to the province of your choice. You must submit a paper application by mail or courier. The waiting period for the result of your request can take between 15 and 19 months.
This option seems to take longer.
Express Entry Application Process
This form of application has two options:
- Expression of Interest – this is where you express interest in a certain province or territory through your Express Entry profile. If you have the skills and experience, a province can directly select your profile and send you a nomination.
- Apply through a Provincial Nominee Express Entry Stream – find the province where your job is in-demand
With this option, you will have a better chance of receiving an ITA, as well as a reduced wait time, since it is on average six to eight months.
Study Permit
Studying can be a great way to move to Canada. You will experience the lifestyle firsthand while earning a grade from some of the most prestigious universities and colleges. By studying in Canada, you could network and make connections in your field, which could secure your future employment.
What Are the Requirements for a Student Visa?
To study in Canada you need to meet certain requirements, these include:
- being enrolled in a Designated Learning Institution(DLI);
- having enough money for your living expenses, to pay your tuition fees and money your return ticket for yourself and family members who come with you;
- you should not have a criminal record;
- you need to be in good health; and
- to show that your intention is to leave Canada once your study permit expires
The study permit is valid for the length of your program plus an extra 90 days. Full-time students can have a partner move to Canada with them. They are eligible for a work permit or visitors visa.
What’s great is that your partner doesn’t need a job offer before moving to Canada, but can rather seek employment once there. Your partner can apply for a job as long as your course is running.
Can I Work With My Student Permit?
Absolutely yes! The study permit allows you as a full-time student to work a maximum of 20 hours per week. This would be a great way to gain experience in the field relevant to your studies.
You have a few options when it comes to working in Canada as a student such as working on or off the campus, working as an intern in your field, or simply any part-time job.
Through this option, it’s possible to obtain a work visa, which will allow you to live and work in Canada. Which can then lead to becoming a permanent resident in Canada.
Life in Canada for Ghanaians
It’s no secret that Canada is a place of different cultural backgrounds. Canada cares about your needs for a helping community, and you’ll find many organizations put in place to help you such as the United Ghana Association of Ottawa, the Ghanaian Canadian Association of Ontario.
Missing home can certainly have an impact when immigrating so isn’t it great that you’ll find Ghanaian music, fashion, and food in Canada, allowing Canada to become your home with ease. Only now your home has better health care, education, and a high minimum wage.