Immigration Minister Jason Kenney elaborates on the transformational changes to Canada’s immigration model
What are the most important changes to Canada's immigration program?
The Prime Minister gave an indication at his speech in Davos. We are re-focusing immigration reforms on Canada’s labour market.
We are embarking on a program of transformational change to move from a slow, rigid and passive, really a supply-driven immigration system, to a fast, flexible and pro-active, demand-driven immigration system.
One of the most important reforms is the massive expansion of the provincial nominee programs which has resulted in a better geographic distribution of immigrants across Canada.
The number of immigrant going to Manitoba has tripled; to Saskatchewan has quadrupled; to Alberta and Atlantic Canada has doubled.
This is all good news.
Q: What about the long-standing problem of immigrants' un- and under-employment?
We are starting to see signs of improvement in the economic outcomes of more recent immigrants, those coming through the provincial nominee program because they typically have jobs lined up. More recent arrivals under the skilled worker program are also doing better, especially those with pre-arranged employment.
Q: What other reforms are important?
We have high unemployment in an economy with large labour shortages. And this, frankly, frustrates the hell out of me - that we're bringing hundreds of thousands of people into the country to face many of them end up un- or underemployed in an economy where there are acute labour shortages.
Q: How do we resolve this paradox?
We need to get better results for newcomers and get better results for immigration. This is the most important public policy question of our time.
We need to deal decisively with the legacy backlogs. We took action starting in 2009, and reduced the backlog in half.
But we must do more or we’ll just be carrying forward the backlog for years. We won't be able to get to a situation where we can bring in people with pre-arranged jobs in a matter of months which is what you need if you want an immigration system that is responsive to the labour market.
We’re bringing forth amendments to the immigration act to return about 100,000 applications involving about 300,000 individuals, application which have been in the system from 2001-2008. We’ll return the application fees.
This will allow us to move to a just-in-time system, a working inventory in our skilled worker system, where in about 18 months, so by 2014, we will be admitting people who apply within months.
Q: Why is that important?
That speed will be critically important so we can then go to employers and say, look at the global labour market and actively recruit people from abroad who can work at their skill level.
We are going to create a pool of qualified immigrant applicants who have given us permission to share their applications and then the employers can go into that pool and essentially we will run queries for them to pull out.
We will do a revision of our points selection grid to put more emphasis on younger people with Canadian, as opposed to overseas, experience. We will give priority to those with pre-arranged employment offers in Canada.
We will raise the language benchmarks for those who want to work in higher-end occupations but we also want to introduce more flexibility to create a skilled trades scheme because we have a skilled trades shortage.
Finally and I think one of the most exciting reforms we're looking at doing is a re-assessment of how we assess education and qualifications, again emulating the Aussies and New Zealanders.
Q: Yes, immigrants have long complained about the difficulty in getting recognition for their overseas credentials.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/editorials/immigration-minister-jason-kenney-elaborates-on-the-transformational-changes-to-canadas-immigration-model/article2397489/?utm_medium=Feeds%3A%20RSS%2FAtom&utm_source=Opinions&utm_content=2397489

Federal budget 2012: Skilled immigrants urge investments into talents already in Canada

Naseem Ahmed Pasha, 44, from India, finished medical school at Mysore University and practised Medicine first in India and then in Saudi Arabia for 15 years. He's passed the Canadian exams but can't get into the requisite residency

Read More: http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/1154844--federal-budget-2012-skilled-immigrants-urge-investments-into-talents-already-in-canada 

Hello All! The government of Canada just came out with a interesting news release

  Government of Canada transforms economic immigration program

Ottawa, March 30, 2012 — To create a fast and flexible immigration system that creates jobs and promotes Canada’s long term prosperity, the Government of Canada will eliminate the backlog in the main federal economic immigration program.
Read more : http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/releases/2012/2012-03-30a.asp

News Release – Minister Kenney introduces sponsorship restriction to address marriage fraud

Toronto, March 2, 2012 — The Government of Canada has put in place a bar on sponsorship in an ongoing effort to deter people from using a marriage of convenience to come to Canada, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced today.

Regulatory changes now in force mean sponsored spouses or partners will have to wait five years from the day they are granted permanent residence status in Canada to sponsor a new spouse or partner. Until now, a sponsored spouse or partner arriving in Canada as a permanent resident could leave their sponsor and sponsor another spouse or partner themselves, while their original sponsor was still financially responsible for them for up to three years.
“I held town hall meetings across the country to hear from victims of marriage fraud,” said Minister Kenney. “In addition to the heartbreak and pain that came from being lied to and deceived, these people were angry. They felt they had been used as a way to get to Canada. We’re taking action because immigration to Canada should not be built upon deceit.”
Minister Kenney was joined by representatives of Canadians Against Immigration Fraud (CAIF) at today’s announcement.
"We welcome the steps taken by the Honourable Jason Kenney to stop marriage fraud,” said Sam S. Benet, President of CAIF. “These measures will definitely protect the integrity of our immigration system.”
Spousal sponsorship is open to abuse when a person enters into a relationship – such as a marriage or a common law partnership – in order to circumvent Canada’s immigration law. Concerned with the problem, the Minister held online consultations in the fall of 2010 to gather public opinion and ideas on how to best address marriage fraud.
“Many of the people who took part in the consultations made it abundantly clear that marriage fraud poses a significant threat to our immigration system,” added Minister Kenney. “Our government has listened to the victims of marriage fraud and all Canadians, and acted to crack down on those who engage in fraud and abuse Canadians’ generosity and our immigration system.”
Barring such sponsorships is consistent with similar restrictions imposed by Australia, New Zealand and the United States.
The proposal for a five-year sponsorship bar was prepublished in the Canada Gazette on April 2, 2011, and was open for a 30-day public comment period. The changes coming into force today, March 2, are posted on Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s website and will be published in Part II of the Canada Gazette on March 14, 2012.
To show it is serious about cracking down on marriage fraud, CIC is taking a number of steps to deter it. For example, in addition to the sponsorship bar, further public consultations are also expected to begin in the coming weeks on a proposed conditional permanent residence measure. A Notice of Intent proposing the development of this conditional measure was published in the Canada Gazette on March 26, 2011. The measure aims to deter people in newer relationships from using their relationship to gain quick entry to Canada as permanent residents when they have no intention of staying with their sponsor.
In addition, legislation to crack down on crooked consultants came into force in June 2011 and last spring, CIC launched an anti-fraud campaign, which will be relaunched this month. This includes a short video warning people not to be duped into committing marriage fraud. The video directs people to a special link on the CIC website (www.cic.gc.ca/antifraud) to find out how to immigrate to Canada the right way.

Immigration officials admit failure to stop residency fraud

OTTAWA - Canadian immigration officials admit their refusal rate for Canadian residency applications at the embassy in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates "should have been higher."
That's the conclusion of a 2010 quality assessment report unearthed by an Access to Information request provided to QMI Agency.
The embassy in Abu Dhabi handles visa applications from the Emirates as well as other Gulf countries, such as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
Officials say foreign nationals working in Gulf countries have been able to obtain Canadian residency using fraudulent sponsors who "go to great lengths to try and convince visa officers that they are residing in Canada when in fact they are not."
The report notes the motive is money because highly skilled workers, such as engineers and nurses from Canada and other western countries, get double the salary of other foreign nationals doing the same work.
"An Indian national working in Kuwait will receive a significant salary increase if he acquires a British passport," noted the report.
Immigration lawyer Richard Kurland sees another problem.
"If there's instability in that Middle East country Canada historically will pay to bring to safety Canadian residents - permanent residents," said Kurland. "So, it's a cheap insurance policy paid for by the people of Canada for non-residents."
Kurland says the consequences aren't tough enough for fraudsters.
"The only sanction practically is non-renewal of their plastic (residency) card," he said.
In an e-mail statement, immigration officials noted the government is cracking down on citizenship fraud.
Immigration Minister Jason Kenney refused comment.

Citizenship And Immigration Canada Will Increase Skilled Worker Visas In 2012

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Up to 10,000 more skilled workers could be admitted to Canada in 2012

Canadian Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney told Parliament last week that he intends to increase skilled workers in Canada by between 8,000 and 10,000 during 2012, up from the current 47,000 to between 55,000 and 57,000.

“The government’s number one priority remains the economy,” said Minister Kenney, “We recognize the importance of immigration to our labour market and we value to contributions of skilled immigrants who add to our international competitiveness. We are committed to facilitating the arrival of the best and brightest in our country.”

This year, Canada’s overall immigrant intake was about 250,000. The government intends to keep that number consistent through 2012, which means that the additional skilled worker visas will take visas away from other Canadian visa categories.

If you are intending to immigrate to Canada in any kind of immigration category, get help. It’s a maze of regulations and paper work. More number do not necessary mean more approvals.

Canadian Immigration and Visas

Currently, Canada immigration is looking for a variety of skilled people who wish to immigrate and enjoy the Canadian way of life. The Canadian Skilled Worker class of visa leads to permanent residency in Canada.
If you are traveling to Canada on holidays, you may require a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV). Please visit the Travel Visa section of this web site for further details.
Canadian Immigration has Working Holiday Visas with several countries, allowing under 30s and students the opportunity to live and work in Canada for a limited period of time. For more information on the Canadian Working Holiday scheme, please visit the Working Holiday section of the Canadian Visa Bureau site.
Canadian immigration offers two classes of visas; temporary and permanent. The Temporary Canadian Visas and Permanent Canadian Visas are listed below.

Permanent Canadian Immigration

Skilled Worker Class

• Canada is looking for a variety of Skilled Workers. The Skilled Worker class of Canadian Visa leads to permanent residency. Applicants are required to meet the current pass mark of 67 points. You can apply as an individual or through Canada's Provincial Nominee Program.
  Business Class
• Business migration to Canada can happen under three streams; Investor, Entrepreneur and Self-employed. All Business Class applicants are required to prove their ability as well as meet the minimum pass mark for the Business Points Test.
  Partner Class
• The Canadian spousal policy sets out that most spouses and common-law partners in a genuine relationship with a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, regardless of status, are able to apply for permanent residence while remaining in Canada.
  Child-Sponsored Class
• If your child is a a citizen or permanent resident of Canada and is18 years of age or older, then they can potentially sponsor your migration to Canada via the child-sponsored Canadian family visa.

Temporary Canadian Visas

Canadian Travel Visa

• If you are visiting Canada on holiday you may be required to obtain a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) and have a medical examination prior to entering Canada. For more information on holiday and visitor visas, visit the Canadian Travel Visa section of this site.
  Working Holiday Program
• Canada has Working Holiday Visa arrangements with several countries around the world. The Working Holiday program generally allows students and under 30s the chance to travel through Canada while supplementing their holiday with incidental work.

Study Permits

• If you are planning to study in Canada for more than 6 months, you will be required to obtain a Canadian Study Permit. Some students are required to undergo medical examinations for their Study Permits.

Canadian Visa Bureau specialises in skilled worker migration to Canada. Canadian Visa Bureau also offers visas for holidays, working holidays, work rights and immigration.

7 TIPS ON IMMIGRATION TO CANADA FOR SKILLED WORKERS AND ADDITIONAL USEFUL INFORMATION

Question Number One: Can I change my Immigration Class after I have submitted my application?
Tip: You cannot change your immigration Class once you have submitted your application. We advise that you will read all the Immigration Classes presented in “My Immigration Consultant” e-book and apply to the class that best fits you.
Question Number Two: What happens if I do not meet the financial requirements set by Immigration Canada?
Tip: Applicants that have Arranged Employment (as defined by R82) do not need to meet these financial requirements. “Arranged employment” means a job offer in Canada that has been approved by Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) or that is exempt from HRDC approval.
Question Number Three What happens if I do not meet the financial requirements and I do not have an Arranged Employment but I do have relatives or friends in Canada willing to help me financially?
Tip: If your relatives or friends have some extra money they could spare, then they could open a trust account in your name at a Canadian bank in Canada. When the Visa Officer is ready to ask you to provide proof of money to settle in Canada, only then your relative should open up the account and obtain a letter from the Canadian Bank stating;
that you have a trust account opened in your name; and to specify the total amount of Canadian dollars. Make a copy of the letter for your records and provide the Visa Officer with the original one.
Question Number Four Does Immigration Canada provide me with a job offer?
The Answer is No.
Tip: When you get our "Canada Immigration Expo"you will automatically have information that will give access to hundreds of job offers and employers all over Canada. It will provide you with the names of employers and their addresses where you could send your resume to. Additionally you will find samples of Cover letters and Resumes so that you could potentially be one of the best applicants for the job.
Question Number Five Is there a way that I could speed up my Immigration process?
Tip: Skilled Workers and Business Applicants, who wish to settle in a province that offers Provincial Nominee Program and have an approved job offer, will receive accelerated immigration process.
Question Number Six If I am short a few points for qualifying under the point system, is there a way that I could still apply to Immigrate to Canada and have a successful application?
Tip: If you are short a few points for qualifying under the point system, [color=#550000]"Canada Immigration Expo" will provide you with all available search tools and resources which will give you access to register on line with hundreds of Canadian recruiting agencies and employers to secure a job offer and ultimately obtaining the 10 points towards your eligibility
Question Number Seven If I will be asked to attend an Interview, would my performance have an impact in the Visa officer’s decision?
Tip: Yes. Your ability to meet the Canadian immigration criteria depends, of course, on your personal and professional background. By the same token, it also depends on the way you will answer the Canadian Immigration officer’s questions so that you manage to provide him/her, in less then ½ hour time, with the selected information that best underscores your merits, while avoiding unnecessary exhibiting your weak points.
In performing their assessment, the immigration officers have a duty to fairly treat each candidate, but they do not have a duty to protect your interests in particular. Given that the number of people who apply each year for immigration to Canada is considerably higher than the annual level established by the government of Canada, the immigration officers are rather expected to act selectively, in order to choose those who they consider to be the best.
However, we consider that it is our role, through information, guidance and valuable advice provided with "Canada Immigration Expo” and other resources, to promote your interests, and to make sure that you are effectively considered one of the best and that you are granted the permanent resident status at the end of the immigration process.
Additional Important and Useful Information

More Indians immigrating to Canada as skilled workers and students

"In 2012, Canada plans to admit between 240,000 and 265,000 new permanent residents. We have maintained the immigration levels despite the recession because our economic growth will require a steady stream of new immigrants to meet labour market demands," says Simon Cridland, spokesperson of the High Commission of Canada in Delhi.

In 2010 Indians were among the highest numbers of immigrants who moved to Canada under the following categories: skilled workers, Canadian experience class, entrepreneurs, self-employed, investors and provincial nominees. In total, 30,252 Indians gained permanent resident status in Canada in 2010, an increase of more than 4,000 compared to 2009. In terms of source country for immigrants, India was second only to the Philippines.

"For skilled Indian professionals, the economic categories are very attractive. Many Indians have done very well in this country as entrepreneurs, executives, academicians and in public life," says Deepak Obhrai, the Indo-Canadian MP from Calgary, Alberta.

Indians have chosen to move to popular cities like Vancouver, Toronto and Calgary.

"Calgary now has over a 1,00,000 Indians. Various provinces have their own nominee programmes to attract skilled immigrants to fill in local shortages," added Obhrai.

In addition to skilled workers, another popular Canadian immigration route for Indians is the student category. Recent initiatives from Canadian immigration like the post-graduation work permit programme and Canadian Experience Class have become attractive options for Indian students. In 2011, it is estimated around 13,000 Indian students studied in Canada.

The Canadian Experience Class fast-tracks permanent residency visa applications for skilled temporary foreign workers and graduate students who have spent time in Canada on temporary visas.

In order to be eligible for this visa class, applicants must be either: a temporary foreign worker with at least two years of full-time skilled work experience in Canada, or a foreign graduate from a Canadian post-secondary institution with at least one year of full-time skilled work experience in Canada. Applicants must also be fluent in English or French and apply while working in Canada or within one year of leaving their job in Canada.

If you would like to apply for a Canadian visa WorkPermit.com can help. WorkPermit.com has been dealing with visa applications for over twenty years. We have an in-house immigration attorney and would be delighted to have an opportunity to help you with your visa application. Please feel free to contact us for further details.

Finding-Selecting-Choosing a Canada Immigration Lawyer for your needs

How do you find and choose a Canada immigration lawyer?  How do you decide which one to use?  How does the Canadian Government regulate who can call themselves a immigration consultant or Why Hire A Immigration Lawyer or Consultant vs Do-It-Yourself?  Who can charge to represent your application?

Many people ask friends "Who did you use?" or "Do you know someone who can help me or my business about Canada immigration?"  Many people do research with their favorite Search Engine.

On the web, after qualifying your search terms to include such things as:  languages spoken by the lawyer, city, or immigration category -- you may want to look for a Client testimonials section on a lawyer's web-site see example below. 

You should also look for a information about specific experience and qualifications of the lawyer you wish to consider, e.g. in BC, have they made a point of saying to the Law Society that they have a Preferred Area of Practice in Canada Immigration Law?  or in Ontario, has the lawyer become formally Certified as a Canada Immigration Law Specialist? 

see also lawyers with experience in Immigration Litigation when seeking help with an appeal(s) - or lawyers with experience with Canada's Anti-Terrorism Act s/a www.justice.gc.ca/en/anti_terr/act.html Department of Justice Canada / Ministière de la Justice Canada - web info

e.g. Toronto Missisauga area J. Eastman LLB. former counsel with Justice Canada

for example see Toronto lawyers with Canada Immigration Specialist Certification

for example see Vancouver lawyers with stated Preferred Area of Practice in Immigration Law

Why choose a Lawyer who has developed-acquired "special expertise" in Canada's Citizenship & Immigration Law?  Why not a general practice lawyers, or a lawyer who you know has done a great job with your other family or personal matters, and what about "Immigration Consultants"?

Canada's laws and regulations in the area of immigration seem to change more frequently than other areas, you want someone who not only keeps up with the latest developments but also can handle potential legal and bureaucratic complications, e.g. where you may need formal legal representation at a Tribunal or a higher court to sort out / appeal your application if it is refused-rejected by an immigration officer or manager or tribunal.

Choosing between a number of specialists, consider -- if a lawyer has taught Canada immigration courses-workshops to other lawyers/government-officials/public-groups (e.g. through the local Lawyers' Continuing Legal Education Society, professional development program) you may assume they are experienced in this area of law, and worth contacting for an interview, or sending a email to e.g. sample courses.

Other Things To Look For In Selecting a Lawyer

Has the lawyer been featured in any news articles, from credible publications e.g. city, regional, national newspapers or TV stations?  An example is the profile that CBC [Canadian Broadcasting Corporation] gave to Ed Corrigan, Immigration and Refugee Lawyer who works out of London, Ontario. Reading things like news articles give you another view of what type of cases this lawyer or law firm handles and a little bit about their "style" of dealing with clients and of course the media.

Has the lawyer had articles published in recognized Canada Law Journals [e.g. www.journal.law.mcgill.ca?

e.g. David Matas, Canada Immigration / Human Rights Lawyer, Winnipeg, Manitoba and his article in the McGill Law Journal, article The Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Fifty Years Later in 2000 see www.journal.law.mcgill.ca/abs/vol46/1matas.html - ABSTRACT [with link to entire article]

The problem with testimonials on a lawyer's web site, are they are often self-serving, you don't expect them to put up a testimonial from an unsatisfied former client. However they serve a purpose in giving you an idea of the range of clients they have dealt with.

How connected to their local community is the lawyer you're considering. Do they mention on their web site that they are a member of a local business group? -- help fund raising efforts for English as a Second Language tutoring program? (considering programs like this have had budget cuts in many local schools in e.g. BC in recent years) -- the purpose of seeing this is that it helps give you an idea of one way a lawyer has a "feel for" the community-social-business environment in which you may want to immigrate to.

Many of these factors may have no bearing on how you choose to select a lawyer, but they do help you evaluate different lawyers web sites. One immigration lawyer advises prospective clients, that .... immigrating to another country is a major decision that can have short and long term costs, you are looking for someone that you are going to depend on probably not only for yourself but also your family's well being, in terms of getting through the immigration process as quickly and painlessly as possible.

The relevance of a web site according to search engine queries is a topic of much discussion, you will get different results using the same search term e.g. "Canada Immigration Appeals Lawyer" on ... Google.com from Yahoo.com from MSN.com from Teoma.com (Teoma is owned by AskJeeves.com) and not to forget Gigablast.com a small search engine that produces results disproportionate to its size.

Why Do People Migrate to Canada?

The 10 provinces and three territories that make up Canada annually receive a great number of people relocating and looking to start a better life. This is no wonder because, among other things, Canada gives the same rights to landed immigrants that it does to citizens. Consistently ranked as one of the top countries to live worldwide, there are many reasons to migrate to Canada.

Related Searches:
Immigrate United StatesImmigrate Lawyer Health Care
Canada offers all its citizens and permanent residents universal health care regardless of income level. Most provinces offer coverage free of charge, excluding dental work. The system is mostly funded publicly and most services are supplied by private enterprises. In general, prescriptions are dispensed to seniors free of charge. A substantial social security network exists as well and includes unemployment insurance, welfare, family allowance and senior pension.
Economy
Today Canada's GDP is ranked one of the world's highest. In the areas of human, social, financial and natural resources, Canada is ranked consistently high by the World Bank. One of the top trading nations worldwide, its market-oriented economy competes and production patterns rival the United States. Canada is a member of the G-8, an economic partnership of industrialized nations, and of this group, the country's debt burden is the lowest.
Education
Canada's education system is highly touted worldwide. Among member countries of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (O.E.C.D.), Canada is first in net enrollment for 18- to 21-year-olds in public and private post-secondary education. Part of the reason for this is an average low cost for tuition.
Diversity
An ethnically diverse country, Canada's residents come from all walks of life. The minority population in Canada is just below 20 percent, and its immigration rate is the highest per capita in the world. The largest groups in the country are of northern European ancestry, while both Asian and Slavic minorities are visible, especially in the larger cities of Toronto and Vancouver. Toronto was recently singled out as the most ethnically diverse city in the world by the United Nations.
Crime
Compared with its southern neighbor, Canada's violent crime record is substantially lower. Murder, aggravated assault and robbery statistics are far below similar stats for the United States. For murders in Canada, weapons are only involved on average 33 percent of the time, and this may largely be the result of strict gun laws countrywide.
Climate
Canada is famous for its bitter winters. But for populations in the southern portion of the country, whether inland or along the coasts, climate is varied. Southern Canada receives four distinct seasons, with summers being surprisingly warm and, in some cases, uncomfortably humid.

How can I apply to immigrate to Canada?

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) establishes immigration policy and makes decisions on who can enter Canada.

If you want to immigrate to Canada, you need to apply through CIC. The type of application you make, depends on which immigration category you want to apply under.

Immigration Categories

You can apply for permanent residence under the following categories:

·Skilled workers and professionals

·Family class immigrants (sponsorship)

·Investors, entrepreneurs and self-employed people

·Refugees

You can apply for temporary residence under the following categories:

·Foreign students

·Temporary foreign workers

·Visitors

Eligibility

All applications are evaluated on specific requirements and regulations.

You may need to meet certain health and security requirements. For example, you may have to get a medical examination or show any record of arrest or conviction.

CIC may also want to interview you or see other documentation.

How to Apply

Most immigration applications are made outside Canada, but some can be made inside Canada in certain circumstances.

Visit CIC's website for more information about how to apply and where to send your application.

Usually, you have to pay a fee for each application you make. If your application is refused, you will not get a refund. Information and other assistance at CIC offices is free.

If you are in Canada, you can call the CIC Call Centre for more information about your situation at 1-888-242-2100. You can also get assistance from a settlement agency. To find a settlement agency in your area, go to Services Near Me.

For More Information

·Come to Canada - If you want to come to Canada, this new tool can help you figure out what your options are and how to apply. This tool is useful for people who want to immigrate, study, work or visit Canada. This resource is from Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

·Canadian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate - A list of Canadian visa offices outside of Canada.

·Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) - An independent tribunal that is responsible for hearing refugee claims and appeals.

·Canada Border Services Agency - CBSA is responsible for border services (port-of-entry services), customs and enforcement of some immigration laws in Canada.

OTTAWA — Citizenship and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney says changes are coming to Canada’s immigration system to make it more flexible in an effort to combat labour shortages.

Kenney told CTV’s Question Period that the government is planning to change the points system for selecting immigrants to recognize the skilled trades. This policy change would alter the focus of the traditional immigration preference for university-educated migrants including engineers and doctors.

“People who are skilled tradespeople have an almost impossible job of coming to Canada under our current system because the skilled worker program basically selects people with advanced university degrees,” Kenney told CTV.

He said by opening up the border to more trade-oriented workers, the federal government will be able to attract “hidden jewels” that will help fill labour shortages in specific areas.

NDP MP Olivia Chow said the federal government would serve Canadians better by training people out of work at home, before looking abroad to fill labour needs.

“We have 1.4 million Canadians looking for work and the apprenticeship programs and school training programs can certainly be ramped up,” Chow said. “Those (companies) that train workers — and train unemployed workers especially — should be rewarded with a tax break.”

She said Canada has relied on immigration too often to fill needs in the labour market, where there are plenty of options at home.

Chow said only bringing in workers would make it difficult for those who gain residency or citizenship to bring their families to Canada.

Kenney said there were plans to make it easier to deport people from the country found to be inadmissible by immigration officials.

“We’ll be coming forward with legislation on that in this term of Parliament to streamline the number of almost endless appeals that exist,” he said.

“When these people hire clever lawyers, they’re able to go back with endless appeals,” Kenney said. “We need to say, ‘You get your day in court in Canada, but not 20 years in court.’ ”

Chow said there is no need to change the rules surrounding deportation to remove people from Canada. Instead, she said, the Canada Border Services Agency should keep better track of individuals set for deportation.

A scathing auditor general’s report released in November said the CBSA was lacking guidance, training and information to properly determine who should and shouldn’t be let into Canada.

In an effort to track down people set for deportation, the CBSA rolled out a most wanted list to enlist the public’s help in tracking down people convicted of serious crimes and suspected war criminals that have slipped past the CBSA.

Kenney used as example the case of Leon Mugesera, a suspect wanted in his native Rwanda and accused of inciting the 1994 genocide — where close to one million minority Tutsis and moderate Hutus were slaughtered. Mugesera was shipped back to his homeland this month after at 15 year legal battle over his deportation — an example that Chow said was extreme.

The minister also said there were no plans to expand the recent changes to government regulations making it mandatory for immigrants taking the oath of citizenship to reveal their faces, even if they wear traditional coverings like the niqab or burka.

He said it was already standard procedure for face coverings to be removed in interviews with visa officers.

“The general principle should be that when citizens are interacting with the government, with the state, they should be showing us who they are, uncovering their faces, and I think we’re taking a reasonable approach to that,” he said.

Immigrating to Vancouver? Beware of housing costs

Vancouver is now the second least-affordable place to live behind only Hong Kong amongst the world’s English speaking cities.
Vancouver has even surpassed Sydney, Australia to take the number two spot.
What does “least affordable” mean?
The study looked at 325 cities across the globe, and compared median incomes to median house prices.
They found that Vancouver’s median home price of $678,000 was over 10 times the median household income of $63,800. A ratio of 3 or under is considered affordable.
However, if you’re dreaming of immigrating to Vancouver for the mild climate, laid-back atmosphere, and its ocean and sand beaches, don’t be dismayed.
This study only covers the city of Vancouver. There are a number of cities close to Vancouver with much lower housing costs and transit (busses or trains) into Vancouver.
For example, Surrey and Langley offer much more affordable housing than Vancouver, and they are only between thirty and sixty minutes from Vancouver.
Other areas include Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, White Rock, Delta and others that share the climate and atmosphere of Vancouver, but not the sky high prices.
Also note that British Columbia is a large province, and there are very affordable cities in the island, interior and northern regions. You won’t get the mild climate of Vancouver, but you will still get the awesome scenery and outdoor experiences of British Columbia.

New List of High Demand Occupations for Canadian Immigration

The Canadian immigration of skilled workers or professionals is based on the high demand professions recognized by Canadian government. Citizenship and Immigration Canada has issued an updated list of professions in which Canada has shortage of professionals. Effective June 26, 2010, the list of high demand 29 profession  for Canadian Immigration under Federal Skilled Worker class is following:

0631 Restaurant and Food Service Managers
0811 Primary Production Managers (Except Agriculture)
1122 Professional Occupations in Business Services to Management
1233 Insurance Adjusters and Claims Examiners
2121 Biologists and Related Scientists
2151 Architects
3111 Specialist Physicians
3112 General Practitioners and Family Physicians
3113 Dentists
3131 Pharmacists
3142 Physiotherapists
3152 Registered Nurses
3215 Medical Radiation Technologists
3222 Dental Hygienists & Dental Therapists
3233 Licensed Practical Nurses
4151 Psychologists
4152 Social Workers
6241 Chefs
6242 Cooks
7215 Contractors and Supervisors, Carpentry Trades
7216 Contractors and Supervisors, Mechanic Trades
7241 Electricians (Except Industrial & Power System)
7242 Industrial Electricians
7251 Plumbers
7265 Welders & Related Machine Operators
7312 Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanics
7371 Crane Operators
7372 Drillers & Blasters – Surface Mining, Quarrying & Construction
8222 Supervisors, Oil and Gas Drilling and Service
There is a cap of 10,000 applications per year with maximum of 500 applications per occupation per year will be considered. However, it does not apply to you if you have Arranged employment offer.
If your application is received at CIC, Sydney Canada after cap of 500 is reached  your application will be returned.
We can help you in assessing your eligibility as Federal Skilled Worker class or provide you the best alternate option to immigrate to Canada.  Click Here to Contact us to check out if you qualify.

Calgary – The place to Immigrate to in Canada

With the fastest growing immigrant population in Canada, and the country’s first Muslim mayor, Calgary is poised to reap the rewards of Alberta’s energy boom for a wide spectrum of Canadians, including many of its newcomers.

Calgary is the largest city in Alberta, and as such is benefitting from the province’s current status as Canada’s top oil-producing region. Several statistics point to Alberta’s rising fortunes:

Alberta’s population has risen 37 percent in the last decade.

Alberta has the most highly educated population per capita in Canada.

Alberta has the highest gross domestic product per capita in Canada at CAD$70,824.00.

Alberta has been named the most economically free jurisdiction in North America.

Calgary is serving as the hub of this economic transformation. Calgary was ranked the world’s fifth most livable city by The Economist magazine last year, and a quarter of its population is made up of visible minorities, including its mayor Naheed Nenshi. Nenshi’s parents are immigrants from Tanzania.

“There are very few places in the world where a kid from a minority ethnic community, a minority faith community, could be elected… mayor without anyone blinking an eye,” said Nenshi.

What’s more, a large proportion of Calgary’s coming 100,000 jobs over the next eight years in the oil industry will have to be filled by new immigrants according to industry sources.

Some of the main jobs that will be on offer are for engineers, electricians, and construction workers. Among these positions are several that are on the list of 29 qualifying occupations under the Federal Skilled Worker program.

These include electricians:

NOC 7241 - Electricians

NOC 7242 - Industrial electricians

And construction workers:

NOC 7265 - Welders and related machine operators

NOC 7312 - Heavy-duty equipment mechanics

NOC 7371 - Crane operators

NOC 7372 - Drillers and blasters – surface mining, quarrying and construction

Additionally, engineers are one of the three strategic recruitment streams of the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program, which can mean a fast-track to immigrating to Alberta from outside Canada for several types of engineers. For a list of the specific engineering specialities that fall under this stream, see Engineering Occupations.

Lastly, it can’t hurt that Canada’s now long serving Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, who last year finally won a majority in Parliament, represents a district in Calgary, and remains committed to his vision of Canada as an “emerging energy superpower”. To realize this vision, Calgary, Alberta, and their growing pool of skilled immigrant labour, will surely be part of the mix.

Tourist Visa to Canada

Canada has much to offer visitors. It borders on three oceans, has towering mountains, countless lakes and a friendly cosmopolitan culture. Under the Tourist Visitor visa, foreigners can apply to come and visit Canada for a short duration of time. This visa allows applicants to apply to come and visit Canada along with their dependent children. Applicants must intend to come to Canada to visit and refrain from engaging in work or study and respect the terms of their entry to Canada. Join more than 5 million people who visit Canada each year and explore the many touristic opportunities this great country has to offer.

Although this visa does not entitle applicants to work in Canada, it does offer them the chance to experience Canada's diverse geographic and cultural landscape for themselves.

Tourist Visa Entitlements

As a visitor, tourists are free to travel anywhere throughout Canada and visit family, friends and experience Canada's many attractions. They may also register for short courses relating to courses of areas of general interest, self-improvement or to register to learn English or French. During their stay, visitors can meet with prospective employers or recruiters and seek out exciting employment opportunities, explore world-class schools and educational institutions to pursue further studies, and investigate options for extending their stay in Canada.

Visitors can also take advantage of the many world-renowned festivals, cultural and artistic events which take place throughout the year, as well as explore the majestic landscapes and many natural wonders which find a home in Canada, making it truly unique.



Provincial Nominee Program Working Well


Calgary, January 26, 2012 — The majority of immigrants selected by provinces and territories under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) are succeeding in Canada, according to a newly released study by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC).
The PNP is the second largest economic immigration program after the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP). The program allows participating provinces and territories to nominate potential immigrants who they believe will meet their particular economic and labour market needs. The PNP has grown almost sixfold since 2004 and currently accounts for over 36,000 new permanent residents per year.
CIC’s evaluation of the PNP focused on the economic outcomes and mobility of provincial nominees (PNs) admitted between 2005 and 2009. Overall, the report has found that the program is working well, although there are differences in economic outcomes by province or territory and by PNP stream. The scope of the study was limited to assessing the PNP from a national perspective. Provinces and territories are expected to conduct regular evaluations of their own PNPs.
“Clearly, provincial nominees have strong economic outcomes and are making a positive contribution to Canada,” said Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney. According to the report, more than 90 percent of PNs declared employment earnings after one year in Canada. After three years, their average income ranged between $35,200 and $45,100. Although results varied by stream and location, about 70 percent of the PNs surveyed held a job in line with their skills.
CIC’s study confirmed that the PNP is effective in helping to spread the benefits of immigration across the country. Today, 26 percent of all economic immigrants are destined for provinces other than Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec, compared to 11 percent in 1997. However, retention rates of PNs in their province or territory of nomination vary widely, from 23 percent to 95 percent.
The evaluation also pointed to certain areas of the PNP in need of improvement, such as some aspects of program design, delivery and accountability. Currently, each province and territory with a PNP is responsible for the design and program requirements for their nominee categories, which must always respect federal immigration regulations. To ensure better economic outcomes, the report recommends that there be minimum language standards for all PNs and stronger links between PN occupations and specific local labour market needs. It also calls for greater clarity in the roles and responsibilities of the provinces and territories and CIC visa offices abroad in areas such as fraud detection.
In addition, the report recommends that CIC work with the provinces and territories to strengthen the focus on the PNP objective of encouraging the development of official language minority communities. Finally, the evaluation proposes that a common PNP monitoring and reporting framework be established to strengthen overall accountability.
“As I’ve said in the past, we are excited about this program but realize that it needs improvement in key areas,” said Minister Kenney.
In 2012, CIC plans to admit between 42,000 and 45,000 immigrants under the PNP category, including spouses and dependants. This year, the provinces and territories will retain the same overall and individual PNP nomination allotments as in 2011.
CIC completed a similar evaluation of the FSWP in 2010, which found the program to be highly effective. After three years in Canada, the average income of FSWs was slightly below that of their PN counterparts, whereas FSWs with arranged employment offers earned significantly more. As a result of consultations held in the spring of 2011, CIC is making further adjustments to improve the FSWP.
Download our tutorial: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/releases/2012/2012-01-26.asp



Immigration to Canada: Minumum Language Proficiency Standards

Canada's immigration minister is calling for minimum language proficiency standards, which could help minimize immigration fraud cases emerging mainly out of the eastern provinces.

"Some of the people who have lower language proficiency have come in through these investor schemes that we've had to shut down because they were quite dodgy, and some provinces were allowing consultants to run fast and loose and attract people who had a lot of money but no language proficiency," Jason Kenney told reporters Thursday, while providing an update on the federal government's Provincial Nominee Program.

Kenney recommended that the Canadian government work more closely with provinces to step up fraud prevention efforts and eliminate "bottom-feeding, unscrupulous immigration agency consultants," many of whom use fake documents and line up fake jobs to take advantage of the system.

By setting language proficiency standards, the nominees selected are also more likely to better serve themselves, to succeed in their employment and, in turn, benefit provinces and territories economically.

Meanwhile, Kenney also highlighted the successes of the Provincial Nominee Program, which authorizes provinces to nominate individuals for permanent residence who meet specific regional labour market needs, such as engineers or tradespeople.

The Provincial Nominee Program, now the second largest economic immigration program after the Federal Skilled Worker Program, has grown nearly sixfold since 2004 and currently accounts for more than 36,000 new permanent residents per year in Canada.

A recent study, which looked at nominees admitted between 2005 and 2009, revealed that more than 90 per cent declared employment earnings after a year in Canada, and after three years, had an average income that ranged between $35,200 and $45,100. About 70 per cent found a job that matched their skill set.

As well, the program was able to spread nominees outside of the major metropolitan areas of Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, with 26 per cent of all economic immigrants destined for provinces outside of Ontario, Quebec and B.C. compared with 11 per cent in 1997.

However, provincial retention rates varied significantly across the country, from 23 per cent in the east coast compared with 95 per cent in B.C., Kenney said, adding: "This issue merits further attention."

The report also recommended that the federal government work closer with provinces and territories to get businesses involved in the recruitment of people from overseas and to have jobs lined up for people when they arrive.

Alberta Human Services Minister Dave Hancock said the province doesn't have set language proficiency standards in its program, but he's confident most if not all nominees in Alberta have the necessary language skills to work here.

He added Alberta doesn't really have a problem with fraud cases within the nominee program here.

However, he said his main concern with the program is that Alberta's allotment has been capped at 5,000 for the last few years, which will remain the same this year. But he estimates Alberta needs up to 10,000 positions to deal with the province's labour crunch.

"We're going to have a skills shortage and this is one of the best programs from an immigration perspective to ensure we have a targeted way of bringing people needed in Alberta for the economic growth that's happened," he said, adding the province is facing a shortage of 114,000 skilled workers over the next 10 years.

Hancock said his department has been discussing with the federal government to have the cap lifted. But at the very least, he'd like to see the allotment raised to a minimum of 6,000.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada plans to admit 42,000 to 45,000 immigrants through the Provincial Nominee Program, including spouses and dependents, and has given provinces and territories the same overall nomination allotments from 2011.

Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Immigration+minister+says+immigrant+language+proficiency+must+requirement/6058296/story.html#ixzz1kfVw8l5o

Entering Canada with a Criminal Record: A Canadian Immigration Lawyer’s role

A person seeking temporary or permanent residence in Canada is screened for their criminal admissibility.  This screening consists of asking questions of a person, and in many cases, asking for police records for that person.  If a police record reveals some causes for concern, then a person may be inadmissible to Canada.

However, a temporary resident permit is one remedy that may allow a person to enter Canada despite the criminal record.  Factors that are looked at include how serious the offence was, the likelihood of committing further offences, whether drugs like alcohol were involved, the number of offences committed, whether all parts of the criminal sentence were completed, and how much time has gone by since the crime was committed.

An experienced Canadian immigration lawyer knows what the above criteria mean in an individual’s case for seeking entry to Canada.  This is ascertained through a review of the criminal records of a person, and discussing them with the person seeking entry to Canada.

Other elements of getting into Canada despite a criminal record involve trying to come up with an ideal list of documents that fit into the above criteria.  This may include things such as employer records, and letters of reference in favour of the person seeking entry to Canada.

Offences that can lead to admissibility problems aren’t confined to those that are equivalent to Canada’s Criminal Code.  Rather, an offence that if committed outside of Canada that is equivalent to an Act of Parliament, can make someone inadmissible.  I once dealt with a client who committed the offence of selling illegal fireworks in an EU country.  This is not an offence under Canada’s Criminal Code.  However, it was an offence under Canada’s Explosives Act.  Based on the sentence imposed in the Canada Explosive’s Fact, the person needed a temporary resident permit to enter Canada.

The processing time for such a permit is connected to the type of entry being sought.  Thus, a person seeking a temporary visa would be subject to the relatively short waiting times associated with the processing of a visitor visa.  By contrast, a person seeking entry on a permanent basis would be subject to the longer wait times as described by Canada’s immigration department.

Failing to know that an offence is indictable if done in Canada is no excuse.  I have come across persons who failed to show offences that they were charged for, or convicted of.  Once discovered, a finding of misrepresentation is made by a Canadian immigration officer, and the result is an inability to enter Canada for two years unless another remedy is sought.

A new tip line to report citizenship fraud

 

A new tip line to report citizenship fraud has been added to the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) call centre.
“Canadian citizenship is not for sale. I encourage anyone who has information regarding citizenship fraud to call our tip line,” said Minister Kenney making the announcement recently. “My department will ensure that all tips are investigated and that appropriate action is taken.”

Cases involving false representation, fraud or knowingly concealing material circumstances in the citizenship process – for example, pretending to be present in Canada to meet the residence requirements for obtaining citizenship – should be referred to the citizenship fraud tip line at CIC’s Call Centre at 1-888-242-2100 (in Canada only, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday). Those overseas can contact the nearest Canadian visa office. Tips may also be reported by e-mail at Citizenship-fraud-tips@cic.gc.ca.

All other types of fraud tips related to immigration should be reported to the Canada Border Services Agency’s (CBSA) Border Watch Tip Line at 1-888-502-9060. The CBSA is responsible for enforcing the provisions of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
To date, CIC has identified approximately 2,000 people from over 100 countries who may have obtained Canadian citizenship fraudulently, many by using the services of crooked consultants to misrepresent their residence in Canada. CIC is taking steps to revoke citizenship from those who obtained it fraudulently, where allowed by the evidence.

Need help in settling in Canada? Approach churches, they are extending helping hand

How churches have come to be a boon to immigrants- Read on

It was in 2006, when the members of Christ Presbyterian Church celebrated Advent with a multicultural theme. The congregants present in the Advent belonged to different communities and sang carols in Tagalog, English, Twi and Spanish. The food also reflected multiculturalism as pita bread was served during one week of the communion. While this kind of diversity and multiculturalism is still rare in churches in Canada, studies show that immigrants are becoming the emerging faces of churches in Canada.

The National Congregations Study reported an increase in the ethnic diversity of the congregations as one of its findings. The number of non-immigrant churches has fallen down from a 61% in 1998 to a 49 % in 2006-2007. This change truly depicts the continuing increase of immigration in the United States.

Many church leaders are welcoming new immigrants into the church and cording to them all it takes is the right intention. This, however, can be challenging at times especially for mainline Protestant churches. The Catholic Church, however, has left no stone unturned to welcome new comers. To make immigrants feel at home, many churches have been organizing masses in several different languages including Spanish and Twi. The churches want to reach out to different communities, which mean they will have to reflect their communities.

Here are a few things that churches across Canada are attempting in order to make the immigrants feel welcomed in the congregations:
1. Story Telling Sessions: Story telling is viewed as a sacred act by man church leaders. Story telling sessions are organized by the Reconciliation UMC. In these sessions the members share one trait each that makes them as well as their culture unique.
2. Relationship-Building: This happens to be the most important step. Churches cannot force anyone to build relations but can encourage them to do so by creating opportunities where they can meet and share.
3. Common-Lunch: This helps people in opening up over the lunch table. It is believed that food is the most basic thing that helps people relate and connect and food is a common link that connects all cultures.
4. Complaints Sessions: The leaders of the church organize complaints sessions. In these sessions the people sit together, discuss their complaints and this helps in solving the issues in a more peaceful manner.

Those involved in this cause feel that sharing stories, food and leadership can help the immigrants feel like a part of the rest of Canada and United States and also a part of the kingdom of God.