How to apply for a Canada PR Visa from India?

The permanent resident card or the PR card is given to the permanent residents of Canada. In this guide, we will brief you about the formalities involved in getting a Canada PR Visa.

Benefits

Permanent residents enjoy several benefits in the country. Some of these are listed below:

• With a resident visa, you get a study permit and work permit. So, with the work permits, you can work anywhere in Canada.

• You can apply for Canadian Citizenship (once you become eligible)

• Social and family security services

• You are protected under the Canadian law

• You can get Health care and most of the other benefits which a Canadian Citizen receives

• Free education for children and social provisions for the entire family

• Accessibility to the USA

Following are the things that a Canada Permanent Resident is not allowed to do: 

• Right to vote or not allowed to run a political office

• They are not allowed to get any job that needs a high-level security clearance.

Visa Category

There are different immigration programs or visa categories available, under which you can apply for the Canada permanent residency visa.

• Skilled Immigrants Program (Express Entry)

• Federal Skilled Worker ( FSW) 

• Federal Skilled Trades Program ( FST) 

• Canadian Experience Class ( CEC)

• Start-up visa ( for applicants who have a business idea and need someone to fund it)

• Investors Entrepreneurs and Self Employed 

• Quebec Skilled Workers Program ( QSWP)

• Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)  

Eligibility Criteria

You must score 67 points out of 100 to meet Canada residency requirements. If you are accompanied by your spouse, his/her points will also be taken into consideration for the PR application.

Breakage of points for Canada PR:

• Age: 12 points (maximum)

• Education: Max 25 points (maximum)

• Work Experience: Max 15 points (maximum)

• Language Skills: Max 28 points (maximum)

• Adaptability: Max 10 points (maximum)

• Arranged Employment: Max 10 points (maximum)

Once your eligibility is confirmed, you can apply for visa card.

Documents Required

The following documents are required to obtain Canada PR.

• Sufficient fund's proof to support the application

• ECA (Educational Credential Assessment)

• Originals, copies, and official translations of documents supporting the application. Apart from this, educational degrees, diplomas, and certificates, personal identification documents and/or sponsor letters and relevant information

• Skills assessment test

• Language Test Result(IELTS, etc.)

• Additional fees

• Other documents based on the different visa categories.

Canada PR Visa Application

The permanent resident visa of Canada has various immigration programs but if you are a skilled worker, Canada Express Entry system is the best way to get a permanent resident in Canada. Steps involved in Visa Application are provided below.

• Check your points followed by your education assessment by WES or other related assessing bodies

• Apply online through an electronic portal called Express Entry, get selected based on your ranking

• Receive an invitation to apply. Make the final application along with the documents and relevant fees.

Once you are done with these steps and once your visa is confirmed, you will be asked to submit your passport to the Canadian embassy in India for the visa stamping.

Fees

The visa fee depends on the type of immigration program you apply to. If you apply for permanent resident status through Express Entry, the fee is $CAN 1040, which includes a Processing fee of $CAN 550 and Permanent Residence Fee of $CAN 490. 

Time Required

Time required varies based on the situations and here is a list of some of the most prominent factors, which would contribute towards the waiting time that you will have to bear. 

1. Country of residence: The country where you reside as of now is in a position to create a strong impact on the overall waiting time of your application. Before the month of December 2015, this factor was not taken into consideration. However, it is not being taken into consideration. That’s because the applications are now being moved all around the visa offices located in a global network to make the process more efficient. 

2. Type of your application: The exact type of application that you submit to migrate to Canada would create an impact on the waiting time as well. Therefore, you need to be mindful of it as well. This happens because different applications are being processed in different ways. On the other hand, some of the application programs are receiving a large number of applications when compared to others. This factor can also contribute a lot to the processing times that you have to bear in the long run. 

3. Completeness of the application: If you are planning to apply for Canadia immigration as a Canada federal skilled worker or from any other category, you need to make sure that your application is comprehensive and precise. If it is not, you will have to experience many negative consequences. It is one of the biggest reasons why applications are being delayed. 

Average process and processing time for applications 

1. Express entry: Express entry program available for Canada permanent residency visa is linked with the speediest application processing time. In fact, this program was introduced with the objective of speeding up the application time that applicants will have to bear. This includes the Federal Skilled Trades, Federal Skilled Worker, Provincial Nominee Programs and Canadian Experience Class.  According to the statistical information, it is clear that 80% of all applications submitted under the express entry program are being proceeded within a time duration of just six months. However, you need to understand that this doesn’t contain the time that is required by you to go ahead and fill in the express entry application on your own. On the other hand, it doesn’t contain the time taken for you to receive an invitation to apply for a visa or prepare for your final application submissions as well. 

2. Study permit: If you apply for a Canada study visa to study in one of the educational institutions that are located in Canada, you can expect your application to proceed within just 4 to 6 weeks. However, this is not applicable to all countries. In some of the countries, more extensive background checks are being done. As a result of it, the study permit application processing time can go up to a period of 20 weeks. 

3. Permanent residency card: When you obtain permanent residency in Canada, you will have to go ahead and apply for the permanent residency card as well. This can take up to 61 days to process. But if you are replacing or renewing the permanent residency card that you have got, the process will consume up to 71 days. 

You can keep these days in your mind and wait accordingly after an application. Then you can avoid the hassle.