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.