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The Canadian Immigrant Investor Program or (IIP) is a Canadian visa service designed for work visa applications from business people with significant experience and capital who wish to immigrate to Canada.

Immigration visas of this type, along with the Entrepreneur Immigrant visa and the Self-Employed Immigrant visa form the range of Canadian business visas, or Canadian Business Immigration Program aimed at attracting people with economic skills and experience to live and work in Canada on permanent basis, contributing to and further developing the economy.

As Canadian immigration consultants, Worldwide Visa Services( TNS) can help you to assess which business immigration option for relocation to Canada is right for you. We don't stop at providing just a Canadian visa service; instead, we offer guidance and a range of services to cover everything you will require for your move to Canada, immigration lawyer expertise, detailed information on immigration processes and more.

Benefits

The IIP Canadian immigration service provides a route to permanent residence in Canada and unlike temporary visas for Canada designed for short term solutions such as a Canadian visit visa, often known as a tourist visa, no restrictions are placed upon the work that can be undertaken. No specific job offer is required as is the case with a Canadian work permit and successful applications for migration to Canada will receive permanent resident status. After three years in Canada, immigration services provide the opportunity for candidates to progress from permanent residency in Canada and apply for Canadian citizenship.

Eligibility Criteria

In Canada Immigration applications via this route require that candidates must be able to meet the definition of "Investor" by demonstrating a minimum of two years of business experience and a legally procured net worth of at least $800,000 (CDN). They must also make a minimum investment of $400,000 with Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). The Canadian business visa service permits you to apply for a Canadian visa under one business route only; you cannot switch to another once your application has been submitted.

Points System

Beyond the above criteria, the IIP requires that applicants should meet a minimum of 35 points based on a number of criteria. This is similar to a Canadian skilled worker visa, and the Highly Skilled Migrant Program or HSMP in the UK, rating candidates by their language proficiency, education, experience and age. However, for this business visa route the required threshold is significantly lower.

Business experience

Canada visa applications may receive between 20 and 35 points, calculated on years of business experience gained within the five years immediately prior to the application.

Education

Between 5 and 25 points towards your Canadian Visa application are awarded for education. Points in this category are awarded for your highest academic achievement and the number of years you have spent in full time education.

A Master's Degree or PhD plus 17 years of full-time study = 25 Points.
Two or more Degrees at Bachelor's level plus 15 years full-time study = 22 Points.
A Three-year diploma, apprenticeship or trade certificate plus 15 years full-time study = 22 Points.
A Bachelor's Degree plus 14 years full-time study = 20 Points.
A Two-year diploma, apprenticeship or trade certificate plus 14 years full-time Study = 20 Points.
A One-year Bachelor's degree plus 13 years full-time study = 15 Points.
A One-year diploma, apprenticeship or trade certificate plus 13 years full-time study = 15 Points.
A One-year diploma, apprenticeship or trade certificate plus 12 years full-time study = 12 Points.
Secondary School Graduation = 5 Points.

Language Proficiency

Applying for a Canadian work visa as an investor provides a route to settled status as a permanent Canadian resident. As a result proficiency in either of the official languages of Canada, English or French, is taken into account. Bilingual candidates applying for a Canadian visa for immigration via this route must nominate one language as their "first language". Points will be awarded in four key ability areas of Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing. A maximum of four points will be awarded per ability area for the first language and two points per ability area for the second language.

1st Official Language (Points per area of ability)

High = 4 Points.
Moderate = 2 Points.
Basic = 1-2 Points.
None = 0.

Maximum points = 16

2nd Official Language (Points per area of ability)

High = 2 Points.
Moderate = 2 Points.
Basic = 1 - 2 Points.
None = 0.

Maximum points = 8

Overall maximum = 24

Age

Points are also awarded in this class of Canadian immigration visas for a candidate's age, the maximum being 10, awarded to applicants aged between 21 and 49. Two points are subtracted for each year beyond this range with a cut off point of below 17 and beyond 53 years of age.

Adaptability to life in Canada

The success of applications for Canada Visas can be furthered by the availability of six extra points which demonstrate an ability to adapt to the Canadian business environment. This can be achieved by demonstrating that you have either:

Opted to visit Canada within the five years directly prior to your application to make an exploratory business trip.
Taken part in a joint federal-provincial business based immigration initiative.

In either case, you must first contact your destination province in Canada who will be required to provide documentary evidence that you have fulfilled one of the above criteria.

Dependants

Canadian Business visa applications of this type allow you to bring your family to join you in the country. Spouse immigration and fiancé immigration to Canada allow your husband, wife, common-law or unmarried partner to join you along with any unmarried children under the age of 22.

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