Certain types of people are especially at risk. If you do not speak English well or if you are not currently in Canada, you are more at risk.  You should investigate and ask questions, such as their license number, and should look at their website or Google them in order to find out more information.  Can-Am Immigration is a consulting firm with regulated, licensed and insured immigration consultants available to help you. Give us a call and we will be happy to explain to you everything about our experience and licensing that you need to know.

If you are not currently in Canada, you should beware. In countries like India, “immigration consultants” or “travel agents” will claim to sell you a visa for $10,000 – $25,000 Canadian or more!  They will tell you that they are taking care of all of the paperwork when in reality, they simply sell you a plane ticket and then disappear.  Therefore, if they are filing paperwork for you or “representing” you, you must be careful because the applications can be deemed fraudulent and the visas might be fake.  The best thing to do if you are outside of Canada is still to contact a Canadian consulting firm, like ours, and work with them directly.

If you have experienced any of these types of problems, please give us a call and we will try to help you.  If you do not hire a licensed immigration consultant, you never know what kind of trouble you could have! You could lose your money, end up in jail, or be deported back to your home country.  It is better to avoid any scams and hire a licensed expert immigration consultant!

Contact Can-Am Immigration today.

The increase in the number of workers will help address the demands of the job market, and help decrease years’ worth of pending applications to the program, the government has said.

The current priority of the government is still the economy. Minister Jason Kenney of the Ministry of Immigration and Multiculturalism says that the government recognizes the value of immigration to the Canadian labor market. Unlike other countries, Canada recognized the importance of the contributions made by skilled immigrants, because they add to Canada’s competitiveness in the international arena.

The government expects levels of immigration to remain fixed between 240,000-265,000, although during the next year, a big chunk of this number would be allowed to enter Canada under the Federal Skilled worker program. Just for this year alone, just fewer than 50,000 immigrants were allowed entry into Canada through this program, and that number is expected to increase to just fewer than 60,000 in 2012.

New studies done by the government show that the Federal Skilled Workers Program is successful, with 89% of immigrants who were allowed entry through this program being employed within 3 years, and 95% of those who hired them being very happy with the services rendered.

Minister Kenney says that the government will keep on exerting effort to improve the immigration system, so that it would be more responsive and adaptable to the needs of the labor market.  Recently, the Canadian government has announced many changes to the immigration system. Keep an eye on our blog to learn about these as they happen.  Of course, if you are interested in immigrating to Canada through the Skilled Worker Program, please give us a call so we can help you file your application today!

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!

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:

1. 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.
2. 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!

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:

1. 60% more sponsored parents and grandparents will be admitted to Canada next year.
2. 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!
3. The Canadian government will be considering public opinions when formulating its new policies.
4. 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!

According to the Globe and Mail, Canadian immigration lawyers are reporting a dramatic increase of calls from Americans looking to move to Canada.

Statistically, a record number of Americans had applied for temporary work visas last year, as demonstrated by the latest Immigration Canada statistics, largely driven by the contrasting health of the two countries’ labor markets.

Take into consideration that the jobless rate in the U.S. is 9.1% while in Canada it is 6.3%.

Other factors that are attracting American immigration aside from work opportunities include affordable healthcare, a stronger banking system and a stable housing market.

At the immigration consulting firm of Can-Am Immigration, our experienced team has helped many individuals with their immigration needs. We specialize in immigration to Canada. We are experienced with helping people complete the necessary documentation and gain the knowledge needed in order to immigrate. We help families and individuals. We help those looking to work in Canada, study in Canada and those looking to sponsor family members.

Contact us today for a consultation. We also provide Facebook consultations.

The State of Alabama is in disarray over the changes to the law, known as H.B. 56. The intent of the law is to force illegal workers out of jobs. What is happening currently in the state is many construction workers, roofers, field hands and workers who perform hard labour jobs, who are illegal workers are being driven away. These vacancies create a void that will affect Alabama’s economy; something it cannot afford with cities that need to be rebuilt after Tornado damage.

Key provisions of this law had to be blocked by an appeals court while the U.S. Supreme Court considers various constitutional challenges.

The Mexican government had also appealed this law, arguing it would promote racial profiling, in particular,  targeting Hispanics. Many legal Hispanic workers are even fleeing the state of Alabama because their family and friends don’t have proper documentation and they fear they will be jailed. There is a negative atmosphere and they don’t feel welcome.

The opinion of the Federal Appeals Court was sought.  On Friday, October 14, 2011 the ruling of the 11^th Circuit Court of Appeals issued an Order. Alabama may continue to enforce most of its anti-illegal immigration law, known as H.B. 56.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) had asked the 11^th Circuit to enjoin much of H.B. 56 while it appeals the September 28 district court decision that allowed the law to take effect September 29 as planned. Essentially, by asking the Court to enjoin parts of H.B. 56, the Court is being asked to “block” certain provisions. The DOJ argued that immigration law enforcement rests with the federal government and states could not set p their own systems. The U.S. District Judge at the 11th Circuit Court, Judge Sharon Lovelace Blackburn disagreed and said Alabama’s efforts mirrored the federal government’s efforts or were complementary.

The following provisions of the law stand after the 11th Circuit’s review and injunction order. This means that these sections were upheld/allowed to be put in use:

• Section 12, which requires local law enforcement to make a reasonable attempt to check immigration status during a lawful stop, “when practicable”, when there is reasonable suspicion the individual is an illegal alien.
• Section 18, which requires local law enforcement to make a reasonable effort to verify the immigration status of a person who is arrested for driving without a license.
• Section 27, which bars the enforcement of contracts entered into when one party knows the other is an illegal alien.
• Section 30, which provides that it is a felony for illegal aliens to enter into a “business transaction” with the state or political subdivisions.

However, the 11^th Circuit Court of Appeals also blocked the following two provisions:

• Section 10, which provides that an illegal alien who fails to comply with the federal alien registration requirements found in 8 U.S.C. § 1304(e) and/or 8 U.S.C. § 1306(a) is guilty of a misdemeanor under state law.
• Section 28, which requires public schools to gather immigration status information from students upon enrollment, based on birth certificates, and compile and submit non-identifiable data related thereto to the state.

The Order received from the 11th Circuit does not contain a discussion explaining why it agrees with or blocked any of the provisions.

The next step in litigation over the anti-immigration laws contained in H.B. 56 will likely be a ruling from the District Court on the merits of the Department’s challenge to the law.  Both sides will be submitting briefs in that case by the end of November. The decision could come sometime in December.

The grim reality is that families will be torn apart. Members of the Hispanic community are lining up at lawyers’ offices, asking for  Power of Attorney in order to protect their children. Children born in America are considered to be Americans. That will not stop their parents from becoming targets of investigations. Police, through the provisions of the new laws can effectively separate families from each other.

In the many Hispanic neighbourhoods of Alabama, the residents are avoiding being seen in public and are hiding. If anyone is caught without proper citizenship documentation, that is the end of his or her stay in Alabama. The worst consequence of all is separation from your children and relatives. Many residents are leaving Alabama.

It is estimated that 185,000 people in the state have already fled as of October 5, 2011, which was approximately a week after the law came into effect. Another estimate is that 1/4 of the commercial building workforce has left the state.

Lawmakors and one author of the bill that become the new immigration law said that the law is meant to help legal residents suffering from nearly 10 percent unemployment in Alabama.

“We have the best law in the country and I stand by what we’ve done” – Republican Senator Scott Beason

(Of note, Sen. Beason said he has received ‘thank you’ claims from 2 people who replaced illegal immigrants who fled their jobs).

Hispanic parents are fearful about what would happen to their kids should they be rounded up under the new law. HB56 came into force at the end of September, and under its provisions police officers are required to check the immigration status of anyone they stop where there is a “reasonable suspicion” that the person might be undocumented.

Should the individual fail to produce valid immigration papers, they can be instantly sent to jail at the start of deportation proceedings.

Five states have now passed immigration laws similar to HB56, but Alabama is the only one that has been allowed by the courts to put elements of the law into effect. The federal Department of Justice, as well as a local coalition of groups and individuals, are both challenging the new law in the US appeals court for the 11th circuit that covers Alabama, Georgia and Florida. To read more about how the law will be enforced, click here to read an article by Huffington Post News.

Can-Am Immigration can help you with your immigration needs and questions. Contact us for a consultation today. We also offer Facebook consultations for your convenience.

The unstable U.S economy is driving an increased number of Americans to search for better employment opportunities up north. Citizenship & Immigration Canada say that the number of Americans entering Canada as foreign workers has doubled between 2008 and 2010.

On Thursday, U.S. President Barack Obama will unveil a plan to reduce the unemployment rate across the country. A stimulus that will include, money to refurbish schools and provide state aid for teachers and first responders, and tax incentives for small businesses to hire the long-term unemployed and military veterans, which to me is basically another gamble with $445 billion dollars that can only increase what is already a sky-high U.S debt.

Canada was lucky to have escaped the economic meltdown, and that is primarily due to Ottawa who was committed to refusing deregulation of the banking sector.

Immigration lawyers and consultants working in the Windsor-Detroit area are claiming an increase of business from American clients who have secured job offers in Canada and are applying for work permit and permanent residency.

Americans make up the second-largest group of foreign workers in Canada, behind Filipinos, most of who are nannies and caregivers. But there isn’t just an increase in American foreign workers; we are seeing a greater number of American students coming to learn in Canadian post-secondary institutions.

Even tuition, at 3 or 4 times the rate for Canadian students, American students are choosing Canadian schools for financial reasons, they are still a fraction of the cost of the majority of U.S. post-secondary institutions.

Although there are many traveling to Canada for work, there are those Americans who have been unemployed since 2008 and are still hoping that they can find a Canadian employer who will sponsor them. Many of these people find themselves stuck with the most common dilemma: in order to get a work visa, you must have a job offer. But in order to get a job offer, you need a work visa.

In Canada, to apply for a work permit (work visa), foreign workers must first secure a job offer from a Canadian employer. Once a job offer has been presented, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) will make the determination of whether a visa should be issued or not.