The Forms Required
For information on the applicant’s business and educational background, the officers would need to go through Schedule 6. In addition, they would need to examine IMM 0008EGEN as well.
It is worth mentioning that some missions might wish to tailor additional forms that could be location-specific.
The Roles and Responsibilities for Processing Entrepreneurs and Self-Employed Persons
This section outlines:
- The roles and responsibilities of officers at the visa office in processing applications, selecting and counselling applicants in the entrepreneur and self-employed categories and,
- The roles and responsibilities of provincial and territorial officials dealing with applicants in the entrepreneur and self-employed categories
The table below highlights the officer roles and responsibilities at visa offices with respect to entrepreneurs.
|
Individual or Group |
Responsibility |
Comments |
| Officer at visa offices abroad | Determine whether the potential entrepreneurs meet the definition as specified in R88 | If ‘yes’, then the applicant is eligible and the officers can proceed with the assessment for admissibility |
| Assess the applicant’s admissibility in the entrepreneur category | ||
| Provide counselling, as operational exigencies permit on the program | The officer would need to:
|
|
| Issue visas to the applicant and to those family members who meet the selection criteria as well as the statutory requirements | ||
| Explain the conditions of permanent residence imposed on all entrepreneurs and their family members | ||
| Provide the entrepreneur with information concerning the permanent residence and monitoring process | This information could typically include:
|
The table given below specifies the officer roles and responsibilities at visa offices with respect to self-employed candidates.
|
Individual or Group |
Responsibility |
Comments |
| Officer at missions abroad | Determine whether the applicants in the self-employed category meet the definition as specified in R88 | If ‘yes’, then the applicant is eligible and the officers can proceed with the assessment for admissibility |
| Assess the applicant’s admissibility in the self-employed category | ||
| Issue visas to the applicant and to those family members who meet the selection criteria as well as the statutory requirements |
The Roles Played by Provincial and Territorial Officials (Excluding Quebec)
The federal, provincial and territorial governments typically encourage prospective business immigrants to invest in Canada. The authorities are cognisant of the fact that provinces play an important role in the business immigration program. As such, the authorities award adaptability points for:
- Exploratory visits and,
- Participation in federal-provincial business immigration initiatives
|
Individual or Group |
Responsibility |
Comments |
| Provinces and territories | Designate officials who specialise in the entrepreneur program | Some provinces and territories might wish to become involved with entrepreneurs prior to their application. Similarly, other provinces and territories might want to do so from the point of application onwards. Still other provinces and territories might become interested in assisting entrepreneurs once they have become permanent residents |
| Arrange activities in Canada for assisting entrepreneurs before or after becoming permanent residents | ||
| Respond to written enquiries from potential applicants | ||
| Offer seminars or counselling sessions | ||
| Engage in various promotion and marketing activities | ||
| Send officers abroad for recruiting applicants and provide information about doing business in Canada | ||
| Review proposals if the applicant expressly requests this | Applicants could present their business proposals to provincial officials for comment, even though the authorities do not consider this in the selection process | |
| Monitor performance | ||
| Some provinces and territories might | Prefer more limited contacts with the visa office | For instance, they may prefer communicating with visa offices only on high priority or urgent cases. Similarly, they might wish to review only contentious, questionable or high profile cases |
| Provincial and territorial officials might | Provide various services once the authorities grant the applicant permanent residence | Such services could typically include:
|
The Roles and Responsibilities in Processing Quebec Cases
The province of Quebec has signed an agreement with the federal government. This agreement remains pursuant to A8 and A9. As such, Quebec has the right to select its own foreign nationals who intend to reside in that province as permanent residents. All these individuals therefore, earn selections pursuant to the Canada – Quebec Accord on Immigration.
The table given below highlights the roles and responsibilities of officials from the federal government and Quebec.
|
Individual or Group |
Responsibility |
Comments |
| Quebec officials | Are responsible for the selection of entrepreneurs intending to settle in Quebec | Immigration is a shared jurisdiction under theConstitution Act. As such, under the terms of the Accord, Quebec has the authority to select its entrepreneurs. |
| Federal officials | Evaluate inadmissibility under the provisions specified in A33 to A41. As such, they can:
|
Quebec has the authority to impose conditions and determine compliance. However, federal officials can perform these functions too. |
| Federal officials and Quebec officials | Could choose to work together, on occasions, for monitoring entrepreneurs in Quebec | This understanding is between La Direction de l’aide à l’immigration d’affaires (DAIA), Du ministère des Affaires internationales, de l’Immigration et des Communautés culturelles
(MAIICCQ) and the regional office of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) in Montreal. The final decision concerning compliance remains the responsibility of the federal government. |
