Aug 24, 2012 | Immigrate to Canada, In the News, Legally Speaking, Permanent Residency, Skilled Workers, Why you need an immigration specialist
The Canadian government has been incredibly busy this year making major changes to it’s immigration system. With the pause of the Skilled Worker program, sponsorship of parents and grandparents, and the hold on investors and business class immigration, it has been an incredibly active year for minister Jason Kenney.
Recognizing that immigrants are an integral part of the Canadian economy, and growing labour shortages in the country overall, Minister Jason Kenney has made plans to improve the system as a whole.
As the Skilled Worker program is one of the most important in bringing in skilled immigrants, we are hearing that the government has a proposal to re-instate the Skilled Worker program, but this time without a list of priority occupations. In 2008, Citizenship & Immigration Canada (CIC) implemented a requirement that one must have work experience in a priority occupation to qualify for the program. In 2009, CIC limited the number of Skilled Worker applications to a maximum of 20,000 per year and the following year reduced it once more to 10,000.
We are now hearing from the Federal government that the Skilled Worker program will be redesigned to better accept the applicants that Canada wants. There will be changes to the points system and when it comes to the occupation list, there will be none! Those who would like to submit applications under this category will need to meet the minimum points based on 5 categories and their work experience will need to be of a management or skilled position (NOC O, A or B).
We do understand that the sponsorship program for parents and grandparents may reopen in 2014, but until then the Super Visa is the way to go. If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and want to sponsor your parents or grandparents to Canada you will have to apply for a Super Visa. The Super Visa is a multiple entry visa that will allow your parents and/or grandparents to live (but not work) in Canada for a period of up to 2 years at a time.
Investors, entrepreneurs and business class applicants will have to wait for further information on these programs as there has been no update at this time.
If you are interested in immigrating to Canada we strongly suggest that you contact our office to speak with our immigration counsel for the most accurate and up to date information. You may complete our free online assessment form to determine whether you are or will be eligible to immigrate. Feel free to call and speak to us directly at 1-416-665-3939 or toll-free within North America at 1-888-808-7338.
Jul 17, 2012 | How to find Employment, New Laws, Work Permits, Working In Canada
Alberta is currently in demand for temporary workers. As one of Canada’s most quickly growing provinces, they are at a shortage of workers.
As a result, and to facilitate faster processing and entry of foreign workers into the province, Alberta is expanding their pilot project for specific occupations.
If your occupation is listed below and you have a job offer from an employer in Alberta, your employer will be exempt from having to obtain an LMO (company approval to hire foreign workers). The LMO process normally takes 2 to 4 months. Once an LMO has been issued, the foreign worker may apply for a temporary work permit. A job offer in an occupation below will exempt the employer from having to obtain approval, in turn reducing the overall processing time by approximately 3 months.
Occupations under the expanded Pilot Project:
- Carpenter
- Estimator
- Heavy duty equipment mechanic
- Ironworker
- Millwright and industrial mechanic
- Steamfitter and pipefitter
- Welder
This pilot project is due to expire on July 31st, 2013.
For further information or if you have a job offer and would like to confirm if you qualify to apply directly for a work permit, please contact our office to speak with our immigration council.
Jul 12, 2012 | Videos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bV_041oYDjg&feature=related
Jul 6, 2012 | Immigrate to Canada, In the News, Legally Speaking, New Laws, Permanent Residency, Skilled Workers
On June 29, 2012 Citizenship & Immigration Minister Jason Kenney announced that they will stop accepting and processing applications under the Federal Skilled Worker category. July 1st, 2012 was supposed to reset the quota for the immigration year, however the federal government decided to stop accepting new applications all together in order to try and tackle the backlog. This does not affect applicants who have pre-arranged job offers.
Those applicants who had submitted their applications prior to February 27, 2008 should read the chart below to determine if their application will continue to be processed or whether CIC will return their application along with the fees.
Processing Instructions
| If the officer… |
and |
Then… |
| has not established whether the applicant meets the selection criteria prior to March 29, 2012 |
|
- the application is terminated; and
- fees paid to CIC are to be returned to the person who paid them.
|
| has established whether the applicant meets the selection criteria prior to March 29, 2012 |
the application has not been finalized before June 29, 2012… |
- processing of the application continues to a final decision; and
- fees paid to CIC will not be returned to the person who paid them.
|
| established whether the applicant meets the selection criteria on or after March 29, 2012 |
the application has not been finalized before June 29, 2012… |
- the application is terminated; and
- fees paid to CIC are to be returned to the person who paid them.
|
| established whether the applicant meets the selection criteria on or after March 29, 2012 |
the application has been finalized before June 29, 2012… |
- the final decision on the application stands;
- processing continues to visa issuance or refusal; and
- fees paid to CIC will not be returned to the person who paid them.
|
Jul 1, 2012 | In the News
Frequently referred to as “Canada’s birthday”, Canada Day is is the national day of Canada celebrating the anniversary of the July 1st, 1867, enactment of the British North America Act, 1867 (today called the Constitution Act, 1867), which united three colonies into a single country called Canada, within the British Empire. Originally it was called Dominion Day, but the name changed in 1982, the same year the Canada Act was enacted.
Communities across Canada will host organized events as well as private ones. In most Canadian cities you can find public events such as parades, carnivals, festivals, barbecues, air and marine shows, and most popular, fireworks. There is no central recipe on how to celebrate Canada day – go out and enjoy the festivities.
Can-Am Immigration would like to wish all of our clients a Happy Canada Day.
To all those clients who recently became Canadian citizens we hope you enjoy your first Canada Day in Canada.
Have a wonderful long weekend and enjoy the fireworks!
