5 stars
25 Combined Years of Canadian Business Immigration Experience | phone +1 416 895 3026 | 24/7 Toll-Free phone +1 888 505-3026

From Vietnam Executive to Canadian Entrepreneur: A Success Story.

Published: August 16, 2023 Updated: October 14, 2024

If you are a sophisticated entrepreneur with good English language skills and access to sufficient capital to buy a business in Canada, you may be eligible to get permanent residence in Canada as an owner-operator of a business in Canada.

Read the story of Mr. Pham, who arrived in Canada in November 2020 as a new owner of a Canadian business in Calgary, Alberta. He and his family were recently approved to stay in Canada as permanent residents. It took the IRCC 1.5 months to approve Mr. Pham’s application for permanent residence even though Mr. Pham did not have sufficient CRS points to be selected under the Express Entry program. Read the details of his immigration journey below.

Background

Our client, Mr. Pham, is an accomplished professional from Vietnam. Before coming to Canada as a business owner, he held a senior executive position at a prominent bank in Vietnam. In 2020, Mr. Pham invested capital to acquire controlling shares of an active business in the Province of Alberta. The company has been providing granite stone and quart installation services in Calgary, Alberta and generating $800,000+ in gross revenue. Mr. Pham assumed the role of a General Manager in November 2020 and relied on all employees and the former owner of the business to run the company during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Business Operations in Canada

Upon arrival to Canada, Mr. Pham worked diligently on improving his company’s financial performance and overall operations in Canada. Under his management and strict financial oversight, his company’s gross profits increased to $1.5 million by the end of 2021, providing jobs to 19 part-time and full-time Canadians. As a sophisticated professional with a solid background in finance and management, Mr. Pham continuously focused on increasing cash flow and profit margins for his business in Canada.

Application for Permanent Residence with a Challange

Since our client was working as an owner of a business in Canada, we advised our client to use the Express Entry program Federal Skilled Worker stream to transition to permanent residence. By February 2022, our client had completed all the eligibility requirements for this program and obtained his English language test results and all the necessary documents. His application details can be found below:

  • Express Entry profile completed: February 2022
  • Express Entry score: 443 (with an additional 200 points he received for the job offer from his company in Canada).

Unfortunately, Mr. Pham was disadvantaged in the Express Entry pool, losing significant points due to his age and limited language skills. Even though his company in Canada offered him a permanent, full-time job in Canada, adding 200 points to his CRS score, the score was not enough to receive an invitation to apply for permanent residence.

Our team had to take a creative approach and try multiple strategies for Mr. Pham so that he could transition to permanent residency as a business owner in Canada. We developed and tried 3 strategies to help Mr. Pham to transition to permanent residence. One of the strategies we tried was to request the IRCC to grant Mr. Pham an exception from the general rule and consider his establishment in Canada and economic contribution through his business.

We submitted our request to the IRCC in late February of 2023, and Mr. Pham’s application for permanent residence was approved in early May 2023. It took the IRCC 1.5 months to consider our request and grant Mr. Pham and his family permanent status in Canada. Thank you, IRCC!

Thus, Canada gained another successful entrepreneur who has been working hard to contribute to our country’s economic prosperity. We know how stressful and intimidating this final journey was for our client, and we are happy that the IRCC approved his application in a relatively short period of time.

Mr. Pham is an incredible professional and a very kind human being. We are happy that he chose Canada as his permanent home. We are also grateful for this opportunity to serve him and be a part of his immigration journey. Congratulations to our client! We wish him tremendous success in Canada!

How Sobirovs Can Help

Are you planning to invest in a Canadian business and relocate as a business owner? Sobirovs Law Firm is here to guide you through every step of your business immigration journey. Our experienced lawyers understand the complexities of Canadian immigration law and provide tailored advice to suit your unique situation and goals. We handle everything, from initial consultations and business plans to precise application submissions. Schedule a consultation for an honest, thorough assessment of your chances, and let us help make your dream life and business in Canada a reality.

Bringing You, Your Talent &
Your Business To Canada

Get started and make your first step towards Canada. Book your 1-hour strategy meeting with a licensed Canadian immigration lawyer.

Immigration to Canada can be very complicated for businesses, business owners, and foreign employees. Hiring business immigration lawyers with the skill, experience, and patience is often crucial to successfully navigating this complex process. The experienced professionals at Sobirovs Law Firm offer tailored legal services in all business and corporate immigration matters. Contact us for more information on how we can help you meet your immigration needs.

We have worked with & represented clients from all walks of life. Always just one call – or click – away, weʼre happy to help you begin your & your familyʼs journey to Canada.

Talk to a Lawyer

Our Clients Say…

Our Lastest Insights

We publish helpful tips about Canadian immigration programs and are happy to share our knowledge with you.
July 7, 2025

Canadian Court Orders Government to Process Delayed Start-Up Visa: What Entrepreneurs Need to Know 

A landmark Federal Court ruling could signal hope for entrepreneurs facing endless delays in Canada's Start-Up Visa program  If you're an entrepreneur caught in Canada's...
Justice scale symbolizing the balance between transparency and strategic documentation in immigration approval. June 18, 2025

A Win Against the Odds: C11 Approval After IRCC’s Policy Overhaul 

How an Entrepreneur from India Overcame the Odds to Secure Her C11 Work Permit in Canada  Ashu (not her real name), an entrepreneur from India,...
C11 work permit checklist showing key legal criteria being reviewed by a business applicant June 18, 2025

New Federal Court Case Sets a Stricter Standard for C11 Work Permit Renewals

In 2025 FC 1014, the Federal Court upheld the refusal of a C11 work permit extension, reaffirming the rigorous evidentiary burden placed on self-employed foreign...
Confident international entrepreneur reviewing documents with a Canadian flag in the background, representing opportunity through the C11 work permit. June 11, 2025

Changes to Canada’s C11 Work Permit in 2025: What Matters and How to Win

If you're an entrepreneur or self-employed professional planning to build a business in Canada, the C11 work permit might be your gateway. On 27 May...
Canadian and American flags side by side on a boardroom table June 6, 2025

Are Americans Still Welcome in Canada? A Business Immigration Perspective

The phone calls and emails arrive with a familiar refrain: "Given everything that's happening politically, are Americans still actually welcome in Canada?" It's a question...
Smiling entrepreneur reviewing work permit application documents for Canada’s C11 program June 6, 2025

Canada’s New Immigration Direction: Strategic Implications for Foreign Entrepreneurs

In May 2025, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a new mandate to Canada’s immigration leadership, which focuses on two primary immigration objectives:   bringing immigration...

Sign Up To Be

The First in Canadian Business Immigration News

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.