I want to live in Québec with my grandfather

Dear Miss Powell,

My grandfather lives in Montreal and he is willing to help me to move to Canada. I’m 25 years old and just received a contract to work in the USA, but I don’t really want to live there. Would my work experience in Jamaica and the USA help with my applications? What are the options to live permanently in Québec with my grandfather? Do I need to be able to speak French to apply?

Dear MP,

There are several opportunities to move to Canada as an individual with a degree, under 35 years old, and have a close relative residing in Canada. If your grandfather has no other living relative residing in Canada and no relative that is closer to him, then he can sponsor you under the family class category.

As a highly skilled individual, you could consider the Québec Skilled Worker Programme (QSWP). However, you should know that this is a unique programme and different from the Federal Skilled Worker Programme (FSWP), which is managed by the express entry portal. If you do not want to restrict yourself to Québec, there are other options in various provinces, as well as under the FSWP. You may want to discuss your options directly with an immigration lawyer to ensure that you are selecting the best route to permanent residence in Canada.

Since you specifically indicated a desire to live in Montreal, you may apply to come to Canada under the QSWP to receive a Québec Selection Certificate (CSQ). You will need to submit your application via the Mon projet Québec portal directly to be considered by the province for nomination for permanent residence. Under the QSWP, you will need to apply directly through this Expression of Interest bank.

Until recently, Québec has not been viewed as the province of choice for English speakers. However, the recent changes have open the door to Englishonly speakers to apply, provided that you can maximise your points in other areas. You will need to score at least 50 points based on the system, or if you are married or have a common-law partner, you need to score at least 59 points.

Your eligibility will be based on factors such as education, age, Canadian/USA work experience, proficiency in French, proficiency in English, training that is considered to be in demand in Québec, accompanying and spousal factors (if applicable), adaptability and financial capability.

Although you are not required to provide proof of proficiency in French language, if you are able to pass the French test you could get maximum of 16 points, while for English language, the maximum points awarded is six points. You will also get an additional points for having family there and have visited or stayed in Québec for a minimum of three months.

If you have Québec education, training or work experience, or a valid job offer, additional points will be granted so that your ranking will be higher in the pool and you have a greater chance of being selected.

QUEBEC OCCUPATION LIST 2018

The Québec government issued a list of occupations that they consider to be in-demand jobs. That is, areas of training subcategory are used to identify individuals with the potential to do well in the Québec economy. If you have the education, training and skills in these categories, then you could be granted additional points and receive a CSQ so that you can apply for permanent residence. The list includes, but is not limited to, the following occupations:

1. Human resource managers and recruiting managers.

2. Banking and investment managers.

3. Administrators, sales and marketing managers.

4. Accountants, financial officers, managers and analysts, actuarial science.

5. Assessors, valuators and appraisers.

6. Engineers – civil, mechanical, electrical, electronics, computer, aerospace.

7. Registered nurses, licensed practical nurses.

8. Psychologists.

9. Zoologists.

10. Heavy-duty equipment mechanics.

11. Plastic and rubber products supervisors.

12. Machining tool operators.

13, Supervisors – food beverage and associated products processing.

14. Graphic art technicians, graphic designers and illustrators.

15. Biologists and related sciences.

16. Biological technologists and technicians.

17. Physicists.

18. College and other vocational instructors.

If you are interested in the QSWP, you must submit your application directly through the Mon projet Québec online portal. There is a fee to apply and a limited number of applications are accepted each year. You will be required to provide proof of self-sufficiency, various declarations depending on your profession, copies of your birth certificate, educational certificates, to name a few. For more information, I would recommend that you consult with an immigration lawyer directly.