The Ministerial Instructions 7 (MI7) for the Start-Up Visa Program
The seventh set of Ministerial Instructions (MIs) i.e. MI7 came into effect on March 30, 2013. Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) used these Ministerial Instructions (MIs) for introducing the Start-Up Visa Program.
The Start-Up Visa Program refers to a pilot program under the Economic Immigration Class. This program provides entrepreneurs with permanent residency and access to a wide range of business partners. Applicants for the start-up visa would typically require a commitment from:
- A designated Canadian angel investor group
- A designated venture capital fund or,
- A designated business incubator
The applicants would receive the commitments that specify that the designated entities would be supporting the applicant’s business ideas. Thereafter, the applicant would need to apply for permanent residence to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC).
It is worth highlighting that the Start-Up Visa Program is one of the first initiatives that the authorities have created. It allows the Minister to issue instructions for creating economic immigration programs that have a limited duration of five years. This is in accordance with the provisions specified in section 14.1 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).
The authorities will be reviewing the success of this program during the five-year trial period. If the program proves to be a success during this trial period, the Department would have the option of maintaining it further. In this scenario, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) would need to formally introduce the new economic class in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR). Readers would need to visit the website of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) for obtaining the full text of MI7.
On October 26, 2013, the authorities re-issued the Ministerial Instructions (MIs) for including business incubators within the program. Readers would need to visit the website of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) for obtaining the full text of this update to MI7.
Subsequently, on November 22, 2014, the authorities made additional revisions to the Ministerial Instructions (MIs). These revisions removed the educational requirement for applicants. In addition, they added additional designated entities to the program. Readers would need to visit the website of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) for obtaining the full text of this amendment to MI7.
Furthermore, on May 23, 2015, the authorities made additional revisions to the Ministerial Instructions (MIs). The latest set of revisions added additional designated entities to the program. Readers would need to visit the website of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) for obtaining the full text of this update to MI7.
The Ministerial Instructions 14 (MI14) for the Caregiver Program
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) issued the fourteenth set of Ministerial Instructions (MIs) i.e. MI14 on November 29, 2014. These Ministerial Instructions (MIs) limit permanent residence applications through the Live-in Caregiver Program to foreign nationals. It is worth highlighting that these foreign nationals would need to have supporting Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) that facilitated their initial entry into Canada. In addition, Service Canada would need to have received these Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) on or before November 30, 2014. At the same time, MI14 was responsible for establishing two new pathways to permanent residence for foreign nationals engaged in caregiving occupations. However, these foreign nationals would need to possess the relevant Canadian work experience.
The Caring for Children Pathway and the Caring for People with High Medical Needs Pathway have similar criteria that is quite similar to those outlined in the Live-n Caregiver Program. However, unlike the specifications mentioned in the Live-in Caregiver Program, the two pathways do not prescribe the live-in requirement.
In addition, the Caring for People with High Medical Needs Pathway identifies several specific healthcare occupations. Caregiver applicants could use these occupations for gaining the relevant experience. Thereafter, they would be able to qualify for permanent residence.
The authorities created these new pathways under the provisions specified in section 14.1 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA). Section 14.1 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) enables the Minister to issue instructions for creating economic immigration programs that have a limited duration of five years. Readers would need to visit the website of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) for obtaining the full text of this update to MI14.
The Ministerial Instructions 16 (MI16) for the Immigrant Investor Venture Capital Class
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) issued the sixteenth set of Ministerial Instructions (MIs) i.e. MI16 on January 23, 2015. These Ministerial Instructions (MIs) helped in introducing the Immigrant Investor Venture Capital Class.
These Ministerial Instructions (MIs) came into being for providing the relevant support to a broader strategy for business immigration reform. The instructions aimed to achieve this by stimulating innovation and growth in the Canadian economy. The authorities believe that this would take place through the provision of at-risk capital from investors that the investors could actively invest in Canadian start-up ventures that demonstrate a high-growth potential. In addition, these instructions also aim to attract immigrant investors, who would be well prepared for integrating into the Canadian business landscape and society.
The authorities created these new pathways under the provisions specified in section 14.1 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA). Section 14.1 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) enables the Minister to issue instructions for creating economic immigration programs that have a limited duration of five years. Readers would need to visit the website of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) for obtaining the full text of this update to MI16.