Family Class provides for equal treatment under the law for common-law couples of the same or opposite sex by expanding the family class to include the term "common-law partner".

Under the Family Class Sponsorship, the definition of Common-law partner is a person who is living in a conjugal relationship with another person for a period of at least one year. A Conjugal partner is a person residing outside Canada who have maintained with another person a conjugal relationship for at least one year, but have not cohabited with each other.

An individual in a conjugal relationship for at least one year of a person, but who is unable to cohabit with the person, due to persecution or any form of penal control, may be considered as a common-law partner of that person.

A dependent son or daughter is either:

	under the age of 22 and not a spouse or common-law partner; or,
	have depended substantially on the financial support of a parent and have been continuously enrolled and in attendance as full-time students in a post secondary institution accredited by the relevant government authority since before the age of 22 (or since becoming a spouse or a common-law partner, if they married or entered into a common-law relationship before the age of 22); or,
	have depended substantially on the financial support of a parents since before the age of 22 and unable to provide for themselves due to a medical condition.

In order to be eligible as an Investor under the Business class immigration, applicants must have a net worth of at least $800,000 Canadian dollars. (You may also include your spouse's assets when assessing your net worth, if applicable.) The applicant will be required to make an investment of $400,000 Canadian dollars in approved projects in Canada. The provincial government use the funds for job creation and economic development. The full amount of the investment (without interest) is repaid to the investor after five years. The return of the investment is fully guaranteed by participating provinces and territories. Provinces and territories secure the investment against the loss.

Many potential business immigrants, though able to meet the program's net worth requirements, may have difficulty raising the liquid assets required ($400,000CAN) in a short period of time or they do not wish to tie up their money for a period of five years while receiving no interest on the transaction. As a result, the Investor has the option to receive a loan from a financial institution in Canada for up to 70% of the investment. So, the immigrant Investor deposits $120,000CAN (approx. $75,000US), borrows the remaining of the $280,000CAN and nothing is paid back at the end of the term. The Investor's deposit of about $120,000CAN (approx. $75,000US) is used up by the financial bank to pay the interest charges for the value of $280,000CAN loan for the five year term. No monthly payments or interest is required to be paid by the Investor for the loan of about $280,000CAN. In effect, the cost of the program would be about $120,000CAN (approx. $75,000US) to the investor.

For Business applicants who wants to participate on the investor program to obtain their permanent residency in Canada, and do not wish to invest the required amount of $400,000CAN for any reason, our company can arrange for you to obtain a loan of $280,000 CAN, from a Canadian bank or financial institution in Canada, so the cost of the program will be about $120,000CAN (approx. $75,000US) to you.

Besides the net worth requirement of $800,000CAN, the Investors will be required to prove that they have significant business experience.

"Business experience", in respect of an investor, means

1. the management of a qualifying business and the control of a percentage of equity of the qualifying business for at least two years in the period beginning five years before the date of application for a permanent resident visa and ending on the day a determination is made in respect of the application, or
2. the management of at least five (5) full-time job equivalents per year in a business for at least two years in the period beginning five years before the date of application for a permanet resident visa and ending on the day a determination is made in respect of the application.

"Net worth", in respect of an investor, means the fair market value of all of the assets of the investor and their spouse or common-law partner minus the fair market value of all of their liabilities.

"Qualifying business", means a business other than a business operated primarily for the purpose of deriving investment income such as interest, dividends or capital gains -- for which, in each of any two years in the period beginning five years before the date of application for a permanent resident visa and ending on the date a determination is made in respect of the application, there is documentary evidence of any two of the following:

• that the percentage of equity multiplied by the number of full-time job equivalents is equal to or greater than two full-time job equivalents per year;
• that the percentage of equity multiplied by the total annual sales is equal to or greater than CDN $500,000;
• that the percentage of equity multiplied by the net income in the year is equal to or greater than CDN $50,000; and
• that the percentage of equity multiplied by the net assets at the end of the year is equal to or greater than CDN $125,000.

"Full-time job equivalent", means 1,950 hours paid employment.

"Net assets", in respect of a qualifying business or qualifying Canadian business, means the assets of the business, minus the liabilities of the business, plus shareholder loans made to the business by a foreign national and their spouse or common-law partner.

"Net income", means in respect of a qualifying business or qualifying Canadian business, means the after tax profit or loss of the business plus remuneration by the business to a foreign national and their spouse or common-law partner.

"Percentage equity" means:

1. in respect of a sole proprietorship, 100 per cent of the equity of the sole proprietorship controlled by a foreign national or their spouse or common-law partner;
2. in respect of a corporation, the percentage of the issued and outstanding voting shares of the capital stock of the corporation controlled by a foreign national or their spouse or common-law partner; and
3. in respect of a partnership or joint venture, the percentage of the profit or loss of the partnership or joint venture to which the foreign national or their spouse or common-law partner is entitled.

In the event that the Entrepreneur does not wish to start his/her own business, then, the entrepreneur must invest in an existing business. A minimum of one third ownership is required.

Entrepreneurs and their dependents are admitted to Canada under the "terms and conditions" that they will establish and actively manage a business in Canada within two years of arrival. Immigration officials in Canada monitor the entrepreneur's progress and can help by referring entrepreneurs to provincial officials or other agencies that assist in business activities.

"Business experience", in respect of an entrepreneur, means the management of a qualifying business and the control of a percentage of equity of the qualifying business for at least two years in the period beginning five years before the date of application for a permanent resident visa and ending on the day a determination is made in respect of the application.

"Net worth", in respect of an entrepreneur, means the fair market value of all of the assets of the entrepreneur and their spouse or common-law partner minus the fair market value of all of their liabilities.

"Minimum net worth" means:

• in respect of an entrepreneur, CDN $300,000; and
• in respect of an entrepreneur selected by a province, the minimum net worth required by the laws of the province.

"Qualifying Canadian business" means a business operated in Canada by an entrepreneur -- other than a business primarily for the purpose of deriving investment income, such as interest, dividends or capital gains -- for which there is in any year within the period of three years after the day the entreprenuer becomes a permanent resident documentary evidence of any two of the following:

• the percentage of equity multiplied by the number of full-time job equivalents is equal to or greater than two full-time job equivalents per year;
• the percentage of equity multiplied by the total annual sales is equal to or greater than CDN $250,000;
• the percentage of equity multiplied by the net income in the year is equal to or greater than CDN $25,000; and
• the percentage of equity multiplied by the net assets at the end of the year is equal to or greater than CDN $125,000.

"Full-time job equivalent" means 1,950 hours of paid employment.

"Net assets", in respect of a qualifying business or a qualifying Canadian bisiness, means the assets of the business, minus the liabilities of the business, plus shareholder loans made to the business by a foreign national and their spouse or common-law partner.

"Net income", in respect of a qualifying business or a qualifying Canadian busines, means the after profit or loss of the business plus remuneration by the busines to a foreign national and their spouse or common-law partner.

"Percentage of equity" means:

1. in respect of a sole proprietorship, 100 per cent of the equity of the sole proprietorship controlled by a foreign national or their spouse or common-law partner;
2. in respect of a corporation, the percentage of the issued and outstanding voting shares of the capital stock of the corporation controlled by a foreign national or their spouse or common-law partner; and
3. in respect of a partnership or joint venture, the percentage of the profit or loss of the partnership or joint venture to which a foreign national or their spouse or common-law partner is entitled.

"Relevant experience" in respect of a self-employed person means at least two (2) years of one of the following types of experience in the period beginning five years before the date of application for a permanent resident visa and ending on the day a determination is made in respect of the application, as follows,

1. self-employment in cultural activities or in athletics,
2. participation at a world-class level in cultural activities or athletics, or
3. farm management experience.

"Specified economic activities" in respect of a self-employed person means cultural activities, athletics or the purchase and management of a farm.

To be selected as a Business Immigrant, you must meet first the definition of the business class in which you are applying under (investor, entrepreneur or self-employed person). If you successfully meet the definition, you are then assessed against five (5) selection factors (age, education, official languages, experience and adaptability). The pass mark for all three (3) classes of business is 35. The maximum possible score for each class is 100.

Entrepreneurs and investors are assessed under five selection factors: (relevant experience, age, education, language abilities, and adaptability).

Self-employed applicants must meet the definition of a Self-employed category as described above. Self-employed immigrants will be evaluated against a similar selection criteria point system applicable to their circumstances.

• You cannot vote in certain elections.
• You may be ineligible for certain jobs requiring high-level security clearances.
• As permanent resident, you also have the same legal obligations as Canadians, such as paying taxes and respecting other laws.
• If you or your dependents commit serious crimes, you or your dependents risk being deported from Canada.

• you have a stay of about six months but a visitor's stay can be extended.
• you must be authorized to be able to study or work.
• you should have medical insurance for the duration of your stay since visitors are not eligible for provincial health coverage.

According to Canadian statistics in 1998 over 101,000 enrollments to Canadian institutions were from foreign students. This statistical measure excludes the students who were just enrolled in English and French as a second language courses. Canada's schools, colleges, and universities are enriched culturally due to the enrollments of foreign students.

To study in Canada students must have authorization. To obtain this authorization the student must meet certain immigration requirements.

All post-secondary schools and institutions vary in foreign student fees and requirements. One can obtain any details or information concerning fees, academic requirements, living costs, health insurance, and student programs. For the purpose of student authorization the student must check that the academic institution is acceptable.

• the work is part of the program of study.
• within one year after graduation the work is related to the field of study.
• their source of funding is cut off through no fault of their own.

According to Canadian statistics nearly 150,000 immigrants become new Canadian citizens every year. To be a Canadian citizen is something to be proud of. Canadians celebrate their citizenships to express their pride. To be Canadian means one must value the rights and accept the responsibilities attached to the citizenship.

If you have been living in Canada for three years or more as a permanent resident, you should consider becoming a Canadian citizen. If you were born in Canada, you are already a Canadian citizen.