Author: Simon WU, Head of Newstars’ Beijing branch and a licensed Australian migration agent, writing under the pen name “The Ordinary Road”. With more than 10 years of experience living and working in Australia, he specialises in overseas skilled migration and investor migration. Having once been a skilled migrant myself, I will guide many overseas migrants along their own “extraordinary road”.
Canadian and American migration programs have long been the two options that high-net-worth individuals in China compare and choose between most closely. Both countries’ outstanding education resources, along with comprehensive healthcare systems and comfortable living environments, represent the quality of life many aspire to. However, looking back over the migration trends of the past decade, we’ve found that after the migration boom around 2012, momentum has gradually settled over the past two years. Migration competition between the two countries has entered a “best of the best” phase. The migration market has been through sweeping changes — from an early period when many pathways flourished side by side, through policy shifts and market shake-outs — and ultimately Canada’s federal Self-Employed Person migration program and the United States’ Outstanding Talent migration program (EB1-A) have emerged as the new focal points capturing the attention of high-net-worth individuals.
Business Migration Programs
Compared with business and investor migration programs, these two programs have no asset requirements for applicants. Compared with skilled migration programs, they have no English-language requirement. And compared with other programs that often take four to five years to process, these two take only around two years. Most importantly, both programs boast remarkably high success rates — over 90%. (With migration programs this good, there’s no need to hesitate — apply now!) So, whether these two programs will spark a new wave of migration remains to be seen — watch this space!
Talent-Based Migration Programs
Canada’s federal Self-Employed Person migration program is one of Canada’s most established migration programs, tailor-made for outstanding individuals with expertise in culture, arts or sport. Over the past two years, market trends have meant the US EB1-A program became known to high-net-worth individuals in China before Canada’s Self-Employed Person program did. As more applicants applied, the US EB1-A began to experience a short-term backlog. Unlike the US EB1-A, Canada’s federal self-employed migration program has maintained a high approval rate while also working to shorten processing times (the total processing period is currently just 22 weeks), and applicant numbers are gradually catching up with those of the US EB1-A. In fact, Canada’s federal Self-Employed Person program is somewhat similar to the US Outstanding Talent program (EB1-A), though the two do differ in the level of achievement required (Canada’s federal talent program sets a more accessible bar). So if you have outstanding achievements in culture, arts or sport but may not fully meet the US EB1-A standard, Canada’s federal self-employed migration program is well worth your attention.
Canada’s Federal Outstanding Talent vs US Outstanding Talent
| Canada Federal Outstanding Talent Migration (Self-Employed Person) | US Outstanding Talent Migration (EB1-A) | |
| Suitable for | Outstanding individuals in culture, arts or sport (one achievement is sufficient) |
Outstanding individuals in science, arts, business, education, sport and other fields (at least three achievements) |
| Success rate | Over 90% | Over 90% |
| Processing time | 2 years | 2 years |
The above is a comparison of the two programs. Both are excellent options with many similarities and a few straightforward differences, making it hard to say which is better. Ultimately, whichever program you choose, what matters most is finding the one that’s right for you.
Eligibility Requirements for Canada’s Federal Self-Employed Person Program:
(1) Education: diploma level or above
(2) At least two years of work experience in culture, arts or sport within the past five years, with income mainly derived from a business you personally own that carries out related work, or from commissions earned while working independently. In addition, within the past five years you must meet at least one of the following:
Won a national-level or higher competition award as an individual
Served as a national-level or higher team coach/competition judge/adjudicator
Held a national-level or higher solo art exhibition
Had artwork auctioned or collected by a national-level or higher institution
Participated in a world-level cultural, arts or sporting event on two occasions (once a year)
(3) A base score of at least 35 points (out of 100)
(4) Assets: proof of at least CAD 20,000 in net family assets, including any realisable assets such as savings, funds or property
(5) The applicant must intend to establish a business or earn income as a self-employed individual after arriving in Canada
(6) The applicant and any accompanying family members must meet medical examination and police clearance requirements
(7) The applicant’s English or French proficiency must reach a basic conversational level
(8) Accompanying children must be no older than 21 years of age
