As we were ringing in the New Year, I received lots of inquiries on how to come to Canada to work and to study, but mostly work related inquiries. I also got messages from Canadians and PRs who want to be reunited with their family members and want to start the sponsorship process. They want to start the year with their hearts bent on fulfilling their 2022 immigrations goals for themselves and their families. I’m right there with you. I’m more than happy to assist those who come to me for help on their immigration and citizenship matters. If it’s something that I could not do I will straight up tell you I can’t help you because I don’t want to waste your time and money, and my own time and efforts as well.
Canada’s 2022 immigration targets
Canada plans to admit a total of 411,000 Permanent Residents in 2022. This immigration target consists of the following: Federal High Skilled Workers, 110,000; Federal Business, 1000; Economic Pilots (Caregivers, Agri-Food Pilot, Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot), 10,000; Atlantic Immigration Pilot, 6,250; Provincial Nominee Program, 81,500; Quebec Skilled Workers and Business, TBD; Spouses, Partners and Children, 80,000; Parents and grandparents, 23,500; Refugees and Protected Persons, 24,500; Resettled Refugees – Government Assisted, 12,500; Resettled Refugees – Privately Sponsored, 22,500; Resettled Refugees – Blended Visa Office Referred, 1000; Humanitarian and Compassionate Considerations and other, 5,500.
Canada is bent on fulfilling its 2022 immigration targets. In fact, it has exceeded its 2021 immigration goals by welcoming more than 401,000 Permanent Residents. The question is are you ready to fulfill your immigration goals this year?
Practical Tips to fulfill your goals
Working with an authorized representative is a 2-way street. You need to work together to ensure that you have the right documents and you meet deadlines. I have compiled some practical tips to help you fulfill your 2022 immigration goals.
- Get started, be decisive! You’ve thought about it in 2021 and you’ve discussed it with your family and friends. And yet, you haven’t started on anything. I get it. This is a major life decision with associated costs and failure scares you. But take note that not doing anything because of fear also means you’re a failure for inaction. In life, there is what you call “calculated risks and informed decisions.” You have to take meaningful actions on your 2022 immigration goals and the first thing to do is to get started. I’m highly recommending that you talk to an authorized representative who can assess your profile and set you on the right track.
- Have a sense of urgency. Think and act like your requirements are urgent. Have a mindset that what is needed now could have been done yesterday. Meet your target dates earlier than planned. If you have this sense of urgency, you’ll always find yourself one step ahead of the game. Some immigration pathways have deadlines so having a sense of urgency is always beneficial.
- Be actively patient. Immigration processes takes time, especially these days with the COVID-19 pandemic causing delays on almost anything. Some application processes take more time than others. There can be unforeseen delays. Actively wait while your applications are being processed. Continue with your activities while waiting for decisions. Don’t stop working, keep on studying. Keep busy. Life doesn’t stop just because you’ve lodged an application.
- Do your due diligence with caution. There are a ton of information on Canadian immigration on the internet that you can access. “Informed decisions” are your best decisions. However, be careful that you limit your research to official Canada government sites as information on group chats and forums may have been delivered out of context. When checking on forums keep in mind that people will have different interpretations of what they’ve read. Most importantly note that not all cases are the same so what may be applicable to others in the forum may not be applicable to you. When it comes to Immigration, put your maximum trust on what’s stated in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the law that governs immigration matters in Canada.
- Be financially prepared. There is a cost to immigration whether you Do It Yourself (DIY) or you hire a representative. You have to be prepared for the costs to process your requirements such as medicals, English exams, processing fees.
- Be cautious against fraudulent practitioners. This is in relation to Tip No. 5. Be wary of fraudulent agencies who offer you “guaranteed” approvals, fast processing, and all the words you want to hear! If it’s too good to be true, it usually is. I have been approached so many times by people who have lost huge amounts of money to fraudsters. Be very cautious because these pseudo agencies have mastered the art of deception. They have professional looking websites, manpower and business licenses. Pro-tip: A business license alone isn’t an authorization to provide immigration and citizenship services in Canada. You must be checking your agency’s memberships with their regulatory bodies such as the law societies (for lawyers) and the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants for licensed immigration consultants. It will be very painful to lose your hard earned money to fraudsters. So be cautious and do background checks on your representatives.
