Our ServicesThere is more than one way to come to Canada. For some people, the right option is Express Entry. Others may qualify for a work permit, while those with close family members in Canada may have a pathway through sponsorship.
The challenge is usually determining which path suits you best.
Your options depend on your education, work experience, family relations, employment opportunities, language skills, and current immigration status. That is why it may be helpful to speak with an experienced immigration lawyer before applying.
At ImmigrationWay, applicants receive guidance on a wide range of Canadian immigration matters, including Express Entry, work permits, permanent residence, and family sponsorship.
Let’s compare three common pathways.
1. Express Entry: A Pathway for Skilled Workers
Express Entry is Canada’s online application management system for certain skilled-worker permanent residence programs.
It manages applications under three federal programs:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program
- Canadian Experience Class
- Federal Skilled Trades Program
Suitable candidates create an Express Entry profile and enter the pool. The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) ranks candidates, and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducts invitation rounds. Those who receive an Invitation to Apply can submit an application for permanent residence.
Factors affecting eligibility and competitiveness can include education, age, skilled work experience, official-language ability, Canadian experience and other elements of the applicant’s profile.
This is where advice from an Express Entry lawyer can be particularly helpful. A lawyer can review your circumstances, help identify the appropriate immigration program, review supporting documents, and address issues that could affect your application.
ImmigrationWay assists applicants pursuing permanent residence through Express Entry, including the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Canadian Experience Class and Federal Skilled Trades Program.
Express Entry may be worth exploring if you have skilled work experience, meet the requirements of an Express Entry program and want to pursue Canadian permanent residence.
2. Work Permits: Coming to Canada to Work
What if your immediate goal is employment rather than permanent residence?
Work permits are of two broad types, namely employer-specific work permits and open work permits.
An employer-specific permit usually allows you to work under the terms listed on the permit, such as the targeted employer, job, or location. In most situations, the employer may require a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), but some positions are LMIA-exempt.
An open work permit is different because it is not tied to one specific employer. However, open permits are only available in specific circumstances; applicants cannot choose an open permit simply because they prefer it.
Work permit applications can quickly become complicated because the correct route depends on your job, employer, nationality, current status and the immigration program involved.
A work permit lawyer can assess your situation and help determine which category may apply before you invest time in an application.
ImmigrationWay provides assistance with Canadian work visas and work permit matters, helping employers and foreign nationals navigate relevant immigration requirements.
A work permit may be suitable if you have a Canadian employment opportunity or qualify under a category that permits you to obtain an open work permit.
3. Family Sponsorship: Reuniting Families in Canada
Another way of immigrating to Canada is through immigration pathways where qualified citizens and permanent residents can sponsor some members of their family to become permanent residents.
Family sponsorship may include spouses, common-law partners, dependent children, and (depending on the program and requirements) some other relatives.
For spousal, partner, and dependent-child sponsorship, the sponsor usually must meet the following criteria: 18 years of age, Canadian citizenship, permanent residence, or being registered in Canada under the Indian Act. Additional requirements and restrictions can apply depending on the circumstances.
Sponsorship is not simply about proving that two people are related. The sponsor and applicant must satisfy immigration requirements, submit appropriate documentation and, in relationship-based cases, establish that the relationship meets the applicable legal requirements.
ImmigrationWay helps clients with family, spouse, common-law and child sponsorship applications.
Sponsorship can be appropriate where you have an eligible family relationship with an eligible Canadian citizen or permanent resident who can sponsor you.
Which Canadian Immigration Pathway Is Best for You?
There is no universal answer.
If you’re a skilled professional with several years of international work experience, Express Entry might make sense.
Someone with a Canadian employer ready to hire them may need to explore a work permit.
Someone married to a Canadian citizen or permanent resident may have a family sponsorship option instead.
In some situations, applicants may even have more than one potential pathway. An experienced immigration lawyer can compare those options and help determine the right strategy based on your circumstances.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Express Entry the same as permanent residence?
No. Express Entry deals with applications for some permanent residence programs. Joining the Express Entry pool does not mean you will receive an invitation to apply.
- Does Express Entry require a Canadian job offer?
Not necessarily. The job offer requirements depend on your situation and the immigration program.
- Can I get a Canadian work permit without a job offer?
Certain open work permit categories do not require a job offer, but you must meet the eligibility requirements for one of those categories.
- Can my spouse sponsor me for Canadian permanent residence?
Potentially. Canadian citizens and permanent residents may be able to sponsor an eligible spouse or partner, subject to program requirements.
- Should I speak to a lawyer before applying?
It is not mandatory for every immigration application, but professional advice can help you determine eligibility, choose a pathway, prepare documents, or handle complex immigration circumstances.
Get Help Choosing Your Pathway to Canada
Selecting an immigration program is one of the most crucial decisions that you will make in the course of your Canadian immigration. Using the wrong route to apply, not understanding eligibility requirements, or not submitting all required information can cause unnecessary problems.
ImmigrationWay helps individuals and families understand their Canadian immigration options and build a strategy suited to their circumstances.
Whether you need an experienced Express Entry lawyer to review your permanent residence options, a work permit lawyer to guide you through working legally in Canada, or an immigration lawyer to assist with family sponsorship, the ImmigrationWay team can help you understand what comes next.
