Nov 13, 2011 | Immigrate to Canada, Immigration, New Laws
Recently, the Canadian government announced that it will be soliciting feedback and opinions from the public on its intention to make it mandatory for those who want to migrate to Canada to take and pass a series of French or English language tests. Immigration applicants who are aged between eighteen (18) and fifty-four (54) years old would be required to take these language tests. In addition, the ability to both speak and listen to French or English may be tested. This new change, according to Citizenship and Immigration Canada, would best gauge the applicants’ mastery of French or English.
The change offers several choices to those who want to migrate to Canada, but would not want to pay for the language tests. If the applicant has finished his/her education where French or English is the main language of education, then they will have the option of not having to pay for the language test.
According to Citizenship and Immigration Canada officials, possessing the ability to effectively communicate in either or both English or French is a key component to being successful as new Canadian citizens. The government’s intention to make these new language tests mandatory ensures that immigration applicants can speak either French or English at the time of their application for Canadian citizenship, thus making sure that the citizenship program are effective for both the new Canadian citizens, and for the country of Canada.
This new policy raises some questions: How would the public feel towards the new requirement that make it mandatory for immigration applicants to take French/English language tests? What about those who may be unable to read or write in English or French, but have an excellent grasp of spoken English or French? What about those people who can speak excellent French or English, but are incapable of either reading or writing in French or English? If you think this new language testing requirement could affect your citizenship application, contact our firm now to discuss your options!
Nov 9, 2011 | Family Immigration, In the News, Why you need an immigration specialist
Canadian marriage fraud is on the rise. The Canada Border Services Agency currently has more than 30 criminal probes with relation to fraudulent marriages that took place during the past few years. Canada’s border agency brought up the possibility that organized crime syndicates may have a hand in facilitating these fraudulent marriages in order to achieve legal status in Canada.
Upon analysis by Citizen and Immigration officials, they noticed that there were too many dubious similarities among marriage sponsorships, which led to the conclusion that most of these marriages might be fraudulent in nature.
There are two types of fraudulent marriage:
- A Canadian sponsor with good intentions falls prey to a foreign national, who takes advantage of their union to gain permanent resident status in Canada, and the same can result to the offender being kicked out of Canada.
- Both individuals are aware and participate, of their own free will, in a phony marriage. This is what is considered by the government to be “organized crime”.
In order to gather enough evidence to support and successfully prosecute the offending parties, the Public Safety Ministry has conceded that they require investigations, which take up a lot of resources.
More than three-dozen investigations have been initiated in the last four years, out of which seven cases have been brought before the courts, resulting in convictions for three of these cases. As of the end of 2010, more than a dozen of these cases were still pending.
The result of all of this is that Canadian marriage immigration may become more difficult and restrictive, like it is in the USA. A move has been proposed where “conditional permanent residence” would be granted to foreigners who have been married to their Canadian sponsor for less than 2 years, just like in the US process. Upon arrival in Canada, they have to remain in that relationship for 2 more years, otherwise they risk losing their permanent residency status. For this reason you should contact our firm for help filing your Canadian marriage sponsorship application, to increase your chances of success!
Nov 5, 2011 | Family Immigration, Immigrate to Canada, Immigration, In the News, Where to seek help
If you have elderly parents or grandparents and have tried to bring them to Canada to be with you, we have good news. All of those applications that have been pending for so long will now be processed.
Recently, Minister Jason Kenney made an attempt to “reduce the number of elderly relatives of immigrants” based on the “social services they will consume.” He obviously did not realize how important extended family is. Bringing your parents or grandparents to Canada will give you the opportunity to work more hours and earn more money while still knowing your children are growing up in a loving family environment. Minister Kenney’s viewpoint, fortunately, has not been accepted in Parliament.
On Friday afternoon, the news was released that the Canadian government will be reducing the visa backlog for elderly relatives of immigrants. Imagine how Minister Kenney felt when he had to make that announcement! The program is called the Action Plan for Faster Family Reunification and has four parts:
- 60% more sponsored parents and grandparents will be admitted to Canada next year.
- A new visa, called the “Parent and Grandparent Super Visa” is being released. This is a 10-year visa that allows parents and grandparents to spend up to 24 months at a time in Canada. Instead of waiting 8 years to get a visa, your parents and grandparents will only need to wait 8 weeks! This new visa is being released on December 1, 2011, so contact us now!
- The Canadian government will be considering public opinions when formulating its new policies.
- The Canadian government will not be accepting any more parent or grandparent sponsorship applications during a temporary pause of up to 24 months while they reduce the backlog. This may sound bad, but considering the 8-year waits of the past, a 2-year wait is progress!
Until the sponsorship pause is complete, we will not be able to file parent or grandparent sponsorship applications for you, but we can file for the Parent and Grandparent Super Visa! Please contact us today to find out the fastest way to bring your elderly relatives to Canada to live with you!
