Canada wants people who would come as investors rather than immigrants under the family reunification clause. It appears that Canada is investing in its future by showing a preference for investor immigrants. Canada wants to bring into the country people who are well off. It does not want people who will have problems finding a job. The annual immigration level put up by the Canadian Government is approximately 1% of its population i.e. about 3 lakh people. In the last two years immigrants from India to Canada has increased three times. One of the pre-conditions for an immigrant to Canada is knowledge of English or French. Canada also insists upon immigrants being highly qualified.

Like other countries of the world, different categories of immigration to Canada include family immigration, investor immigration, immigration based on special skills or knowledge (independent immigration), refugees and political asylum.

1.1 Live-in care Giver Program

In addition, a special immigration category has been created in the year 1992 by the Canadian Government which is known as "The Live-In Caregiver Program (LCP)". This program is designed for qualified persons who reside in the private household of their employer in Canada to care for children, the elderly or the disabled. The immigration regulations of Canada define a `live-in caregiver' as a person who provides, without supervision, in a private household in Canada in which person resides, childcare, senior home support care or care of the disabled. Under the LCP, a caregiver automatically becomes eligible to apply for permanent residence ("Landed Immigrant" Status) after the caregiver has worked under the programme for at least two years in the immediately preceding three year period. Most of the participants in LCP are women. This programme is ideal for Indian nurses, baby-sitters, ayahs and domestic workers. The need for childcare in Canada has accelerated as more women have entered the labour force in Canada. The need for care of the elderly has also increased as more people reach retirement age. From the employer's view point, LCP facilitates the entry of much needed workers who can assist in the household and from the employee's view point, it provides the caregiver with a special way to achieve permanent residence in Canada which the caregiver would not otherwise have. The caregiver must have successfully completed secondary school course, must have training or experience in the field or occupation related to the employment and must have the ability to speak, read and understand English or French. It is expected that about 5,000 immigrants would be granted permanent residence in the year 1998 under the LCP.

1.2 Independent Applicants

Independent applications applying for residence in Canada (other than in Quebec) are processed using the "points system". Under this system, the applicant is awarded points based on various factors which assess his or her ability to make a positive contribution to Canada. Independent applicants must generally attain at least 70 points in order to qualify for landed status.

The following are considered in an independent case:

1. education;

2. education/training factor for their particular occupation;

3. experience in the particular occupation;

4. occupational factor for the particular occupation;

5. arranged employment (a position for which an employment validation has been obtained) or designated occupation (qualification to work in an occupation which is designated as being in short supply) factor;

6. demographic factor;

7. the applicant's age;

8. the ability to read, write and speak English and/or French;

9. the assisted relative bonus;

and

10. the applicant's personal suitability for becoming successfully established in Canada.

A maximum of 16 points can be awarded for education.

The points given for experience are calculated after considering the number of years of experience (up to a maximum of 4 years) and the education/training factor (ETF) for the particular occupation. The maximum points which can be awarded for experience is 8. Zero units in this category (which occurs where the applicant does not have at least one year of experience in the field) are a bar to further processing unless the applicant has arranged employment.

The occupational factor is based on employment opportunities available in the occupation that the applicant is qualified and prepared to pursue when in Canada. An applicant requires at least 1 point on the General Occupations List or further processing is barred. If no points are given for occupational demand in the applicant's occupation, the applicant will not qualify for landed status, even if the points gained from other factors exceeds the required 70 points. However, an applicant who has arranged employment in Canada or is in a designated occupation may qualify notwithstanding that his or her occupation offers no assessment points for occupational demand.

An applicant can be awarded 10 points if he or she has arranged employment.

1.3 Miscellaneous :