Small businesses are generally understood to be the bedrock of the Canadian economy. The entrepreneurs they create are often considered to be the lifeblood of Canada’s economy. Unfortunately, it can be difficult for overseas entrepreneurs in Canada to use their Canadian business experience to qualify for economic immigration programs. Potential immigrants who are self-employed or who have small businesses in Canada, or who intend to do so, need to understand the consequences of immigration in order to properly structure and plan to start their businesses.
Self-employment and immigrating
Many Canadian economic immigration programs restrict or penalize self-employment in Canada. For example, one of the key requirements for participating in Canada’s largest economic immigration program in the Canadian Experience category is that the applicant must have at least 12 months of qualified work experience within three years.
Potential immigrants in Canada are classified into each other in the fast track application management system. People can earn points for various reasons, among which Canadian work experience points are especially valuable. However, you will not earn any points through self-employment experience.
Consolidation is not the solution
Many people believe that if their business is registered, they will not be considered self-employed. However, not everything is that simple.
Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) takes a holistic approach to determine whether someone is self-employed. Relevant factors include: the degree of control or autonomy of the worker over the way and time to complete the work; the degree of financial risk that the employee bears if the employee owns and provides his own tools; whether the employee is free to do business that affects his ability to create profits or suffer losses Decision-making; The IRCC website clearly recommends that individuals who have substantial property rights and/or exercise control over the company they work for are generally considered self-employed. Therefore, just starting a business does not protect small business owners from not being eligible for immigration due to their work experience in Canada.
Independent opportunity
Therefore, for temporary foreign workers who wish to work and start a business in Canada, the best advice is to wait and see. We once introduced a carpenter worker on vacation, with an hourly salary of $25. We told him to wait for his permanent residency to be approved. He managed to obtain public relations status and now runs a multi-million dollar company with more than 30 employees. He started his career with a work permit.
However, foreign workers who own small businesses in Canada should not be completely discouraged. There are many options to consider.
First, the federal skilled working class makes self-employment possible. They still have the right to express entry.
Secondly, although Canadian work experience, Individual business owners who do not meet the Express Entry points requirements, small business owners can apply for additional points through collaborative work.
Third, the entrepreneurial projects included in many provincial nominated projects vary from province to province.
Finally, entrepreneurship visas allow certain companies that participate in incubators or obtain venture capital funds to qualify for immigration.
What is even more confusing is that although the experience of overseas workers in Canada does not meet the requirements of the fast-track entry point, their overseas self-employment experience is legal. Because the Canadian government is working hard to encourage the development of small businesses, you can resolve this paradox.