Saskatchewan Provincial Immigration program
Saskatchewan’s Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) is one of the popular and successful provincial immigration programs in Canada. Since the launching of the program, the province has seen an influx of not only new immigrants but has also generated a substantial relocation of immigrants that have already settled in other provinces. Saskatchewan’s provincial immigration program presents a viable and faster alternative to federal permanent immigration visa programs. Presently, following categories are available to apply for permanent immigration visa under this provincial immigration program:
1. Skilled Workers
This is an employer driven category under which skilled workers, professionals or managers are required to have a full-time, permanent job offer from a Saskatchewan employer. It has three sub-categories i.e. Skilled Workers/Professionals, Critical Occupations and Existing Work Permit holders. In order to be eligible under this category of provincial immigration program, an applicant must have:
o A permanent full-time employment offer from a Saskatchewan employer.
o The employment offer must be for a management position or in an occupation or trade listed under skill levels 0, A or B of National Occupational Classification (NOC) or in a designated trade.
o At least six months’ experience working with a Saskatchewan employer on a temporary work permit.
2. Entrepreneurs
Saskatchewan has recently launched a new process under this category of provincial immigration program which will help expedite the processing of permanent immigration visa for those who wish to invest their management talent and capital in Saskatchewan. In order to be eligible for permanent immigration visa under this category, an applicant must have:
• A verifiable minimum net worth of $300,000 Canadian Dollars.
• Accumulation of verifiable net worth through legal means.
• Minimum three years entrepreneurial or business management experience.
• Intent to reside and actively invest in Saskatchewan.
After the permanent immigration visa is issued by the federal government of Canada under this sub-category of provincial immigration programs, the prospective immigrant will be required to:
• Have a minimum active investment of $150,000 CAD in Saskatchewan. In case the entrepreneur owns less than 1/3 of the business, then the volume of investment must be more than $1 million.
• Manage the daily operations of business.
• Make a $75,000 good faith deposit which will be returned in full if the performance agreement is fully complied with.
3. Family Members
This category has been a major reason for the last couple of years that immigrants from other Canadian provinces have been re-locating to Saskatchewan as they can sponsor their foreign relatives for permanent residence visa in Canada provided the sponsor and sponsored relatives meet certain conditions. A Canadian citizen or permanent resident should have lived in Saskatchewan for more than 1 year prior to filing of the affidavit of support for a foreign relative. In order to be eligible for permanent immigration visa under this provincial immigration program, the foreign family member must:
• Be 18 to 49 years of age.
• Have a signed affidavit of support from one or more family members living in Saskatchewan.
• Have post secondary education with minimum of one year training/apprenticeship and have a diploma, certificate or degree.
• Have minimum one year of experience in his/her occupation.
• Have the English language proficiency that is adequate to work in his/her occupation.
• Either have a permanent full-time job offer from a Saskatchewan Employer or intend to find such job in Saskatchewan, and
• Have enough money to support his family without work after arrival.
4. Farm Owners/Operators
In order to be eligible for permanent immigration visa under this category of provincial immigration program, the applicant:
• Must have a net worth of $500,000 Canadian Dollars.
• Must sign a Performance Agreement to purchase a farm in Saskatchewan and make a refundable deposit of $75,000 CAD in trust. The deposit will be forfeited if the terms of Performance Agreement are not complied with.
• Must make an exploratory visit to Saskatchewan minimum of five days duration and must meet with Saskatchewan immigration representative.
• Must provide documentary evidence to prove experience as farm operator.
5. Health Professions
Under this category of provincial immigration program, foreign qualified health professionals who have been working in Saskatchewan for more than six months as a foreign worker can apply for permanent immigration visa. Physicians, Nurses and Other Health Professionals are eligible to apply under this category of provincial immigration program.
6. Hospitality Sector Pilot Project
This is a Pilot Project under Saskatchewan’s provincial immigration program which allows Saskatchewan government to nominate under the program those hospitality sector workers that are already working in the province as foreign workers for more than six months in the categories of Food/Beverage Server, Food Counter Attendant/Kitchen Helper, or Housekeeping/Cleaning Staff. This category of provincial immigration program is a pilot initiative and its duration and scope are limited.
7. Long Haul Truck Drivers
The category of provincial immigration program was developed jointly by Saskatchewan Trucking Association, Service Canada and Citizenship and Immigration Canada to attract long-haul truck drivers to Saskatchewan. Truckers are brought to Canada under Service Canada’s Temporary Worker policy for occupations requiring a high school diploma or hands-on training. In order to be eligible for permanent immigration visa under this program, long haul truck drivers must first begin working in Saskatchewan for an approved trucking firm on a temporary foreign work permit. If after a minimum period of 6 months the employer offers a permanent job then they can apply for permanent immigration visa under this category.
8. Students
This category under the provincial immigration program offers a great opportunity to foreign students who have graduated from a recognized, post-secondary educational institution in Canada and have worked for at least six months for a Saskatchewan employer under a CIC post-graduation work permit. In order to be eligible to apply for permanent immigration visa under this category of Saskatchewan’s provincial immigration program, a foreign student must have:
• Completed a post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree from a recognized Canadian institution as a full time student.
• Worked for a minimum of six months of paid employment in Saskatchewan.
• Have a post-graduation work permit from Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
• Have a valid full-time permanent job offer from a Saskatchewan employer.