Mar 20, 2020 | Featured, In the News, New Laws, Policies and Problems
The last few days have been a whirlwind and we know many of you are worried about the processing of your applications, reuniting with family, or returning to Canada. We want to assure you that you are not alone. Can-Am Immigration and our staff are here to provide you with the most up-to-date information pertaining to the Coronavirus as it relates to Canada Immigration, applications, and entry into the country.
CANADIAN BORDER CLOSED
As of March 17, 2020, the Canadian border is closed to non-Canadian citizens. Travel to Canada is limited to citizens, permanent residents, immediate family members and essential travel only. On March 18, 2020, the Canadian and United States border was also closed to non-essential travelers. This means that only Canadian citizens or permanent residents can travel from the United States to Canada. Travel for business or trade purposes is still allowed.
AIR TRAVEL LIMITED
To prevent the spread of the Coronavirus, airline companies are instructed not to allow anyone to board an aircraft if they are showing any signs of symptoms of COVID-19. Those individuals who believe they may be infected should not travel and should not take their chances to board an aircraft at this time.
ONLY 4 CANADIAN AIRPORTS OPEN
On March 18, 2020 the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the closure of all Canadian airports with exception to the following four (4). All air travel, with exception to flights originating from the United States, Mexico, Caribbean, and St-Pierre and Miquelon will be routed to these airports to help with the containment of the COVID-19 virus.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
- Immigration Canada has cancelled all inland landing interviews and will conduct interviews by phone. You will be contacted by IRCC if you had a scheduled landing interview.
- Biometrics offices are closed and are not providing services at this time. If you received a request to complete the step of biometrics, you will automatically be given 90 days to complete this step.
- Flag-polling is not permitted and is not encouraged.
- IELTS and CELPIP in-Canada testing centres are currently closed until further notice.
Our offices will remain open and we will continue to provide updates as necessary. We hope that you and your family stay safe during this difficult and unprecedented time.
Nov 27, 2019 | Blog, Canadian Experience Class, Express Entry, Featured, Federal Skilled Trades, In the News, Skilled Workers
Every few weeks, the government of Canada holds an Express Entry draw, inviting thousands of qualified applicants to apply for Canadian permanent residence (PR). In the most recent Express Entry draw, held on Wednesday, November 27, Immigration, Refugees & Citizenship Canada (IRCC) sent out invitations to 3,600 candidates in the Express Entry pool with a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 471 or more. Individuals who have a profile in the Express Entry pool and meet the minimum CRS cut-off score should have received an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for immigration to Canada.
This is the second draw to occur this month, continuing the trend of two draws a month by IRCC. The previous draw, held on November 13th, had a cut-off CRS score of 472, just one point more than the most recent draw. The same number of candidates received ITAs in the last draw as in this recent one, bringing the total number of invitations to 7,200 for the month of November. In total, 78,900 invitations have been sent out so far this year. In 2018, a record-breaking 89,800 candidates received ITAs and with just one more month left in 2019, it is unclear whether that record will stand. It’s still possible for this record to be broken in the final month of the year, depending on the number of draws held and the size of the draws.
Did you receive an ITA?
First of all, we want to congratulate those who received an invitation this week. If you are among the individuals who received an ITA in this week’s draw, now is the time to start preparing your permanent residence application. Keep in mind that you must submit your complete application with all required documents within 60 days of receiving your ITA. Often, these applications can be confusing and even the smallest of errors could result in your application being delayed or even refused. If you have a spouse, common-law partner, and / or dependent children, whether or not they will accompany you to Canada, it is necessary to include these family members in your application. If you wish to bring your spouse, partner, or dependent children with you to Canada, this can make the application process all the more complex. To prevent delays or refusal of your application, it is important that you prepare your application accurately and completely. Our immigration consultants can help you to determine what information is required and what documents you need to provide. We will guide you throughout the process and be with you every step of the way to ensure the best possible outcome for you and your family. If you need help preparing and submitting your permanent residence application or if you are interested in entering the Express Entry pool before the next draw, contact us to speak with a licensed immigration consultant.
How to apply for Express Entry
Individuals who wish to enter the Express Entry pool to possibly receive an ITA in the next draw will need to first determine that they are eligible for one of the three current economic programs. The first step to determine your eligibility is to complete our free online assessment. Our team of consultants will review and assess your qualifications to determine if you meet the requirements for an Express Entry application. This assessment will rank you based on various factors – including language, work experience, education, and others – to determine whether you meet the minimum requirements for one of Canada’s economic immigration programs. If you are found to be eligible, you may then proceed with the next step in the application process.
Canada’s Express Entry pool is open to all individuals who meet the minimum requirements of any one of the following economic programs:
In addition to these three programs, certain Provincial Nominee Programs also allow candidates to apply through the Express Entry pool. You may be required to enter the pool before or after receiving a nomination, depending on the requirements of the provincial program. If you meet the requirements of a Provincial Nominee Program, we can assist you in the process of entering the Express Entry pool and submitting an application to the province of your choice.
How to get an ITA
Individuals who meet the requirements of one of the above listed economic immigration programs will need to first create an online profile in the Express Entry pool. Once you’ve entered, your profile will remain in the pool for 12 months. If, after that 12-month period, you have still not received an invitation, you may submit your profile to the pool again. IRCC will select the most qualified applicants from the pool to invite so it’s important to make sure you meet the minimum selection criteria. For example, having a job offer is not a requirement to enter the pool but those with job offers will receive more points, making them more likely to be selected and receive an ITA. Other factors that impact your score include age, education level, work experience, and language ability. If you did not receive an ITA this time around, you may want to work on some of these factors. Increasing your language ability will result in a higher score, improving your chances of being invited in the next draw. Applicants who receive a nomination from a province will receive 600 CRS points, all but ensuring that they will receive an ITA in the next round of invitations. In total, there are 1200 CRA points that one can acquire. Our immigration consultants can assess your situation and assist you in determining which areas you may be able to improve in order to earn more points and possibly receive an ITA in a future draw.
Jun 18, 2019 | Caregiver Program, Complete Representation, Featured, Immigrate to Canada, In the News, New Immigration Programs, New Laws, Temporary Foreign Workers, Work Permits, Working In Canada
New Caregiver Programs take effect today. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has made changes to the In-Home Caregiver Program. These changes affect how employers hire caregivers and what is required as part of the approval process for both employers and caregivers. As of June 18, 2019 employers who are hiring caregivers from overseas are no longer required to submit an Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIA) application for approval. Any LMIA application that was submitted on or before June 17, 2019 will continue to be processed and work permits for those caregivers will still continue to process as well. Caregivers who are currently in Canada on work permits that require extensions or those that are changing employers will require new LMIAs and new work permits.
There are now 2 new caregiver streams to consider when applying to hire a caregiver from overseas. Employers should consider starting early as it is expected to take about 12 months for a caregiver to arrive in Canada on a work permit.
Home Child Care Provider pilot (NOC 4411)
Home Support Worker pilot (NOC 4412)
General Program Requirements for Employers and Caregivers
- Employers will need to complete the job offer form
- Caregivers will need to submit an application for permanent residence along with a work permit application
- Caregivers can also apply for their spouses and children to accompany them to Canada and can obtain open work permits and study permits
- Caregivers must meet the eligibility criteria before applying for permanent residence, if eligible they will receive work permits to come to Canada
- Work permits will be valid for 3 years and will give the caregiver the opportunity to complete 24 months of full-time work as a caregiver
- Processing time can take up to 1 year for work permits to be issued.
- After the caregiver completes 24 months of work he/she will need to submit proof and their PR application will be finalized.
These new applications will require careful preparation by an authorized representative. It is strongly recommended that caregivers hire an authorized representative to ensure that their application will qualify and that they will achieve their goal of work permits and then eventually permanent residency in Canada.
For all inquiries, questions or concerns regarding these changes, please give us a call at +1-416-665-3939 or from inside Canada toll-free 1-888-808-7338.
May 17, 2017 | Blog, Citizenship, Family Immigration, Featured, Immigrate to Canada, Immigration, In the News, Permanent Residency, Spousal Sponsorship, Student Visas, Temporary Foreign Workers, Tourist Visas, Work Permits, Working In Canada
According to a U.S. News study, Canada was ranked the second best country in the world in 2017. U.S. News partnered with Y&R’s BAV and Wharton to rank 80 countries, based on several attributes, divided into nine (9) sub-rankings:
- Adventure (friendly, fun, pleasant climate, scenic, and sexy);
- Citizenship (cares about human rights, cares about the environment, gender equality, progressive, religious freedom, respects property rights, trustworthy and well-distributed political power);
- Cultural Influence (culturally significant in terms of entertainment, fashionable, happy, has an influential culture, modern, prestigious and trendy);
- Entrepreneurship (connected to the rest of the world, educated population, entrepreneurial, innovative, provides easy access to capital, skilled labor force, technological expertise, transparent business practices, well-developed infrastructure and well-developed legal framework):
- Heritage (culturally accessible, has a rich history, has good food and many cultural attractions);
- Movers (different, distinctive, dynamic and unique):
- Open for Business (bureaucratic, cheap manufacturing costs, corrupt, favorable tax environment and transparent government practices);
- Power (a leader, economically influential, politically influential, strong international alliances and strong military alliances); and
- Quality of Life (affordable, a good job market, economically stable, family friendly, income equality, politically stable, safe, well-developed public education system and well-developed public health system).
Coming in as the second best country overall after Switzerland, Canada was also ranked #1 in the Quality of Life sub-category and 4th in the Citizenship sub-category. With a great public health care system and strong education system, as well as being a safe and family-friendly country; Canadians can boast a high quality of life. Canada is also known for being welcoming to immigrants and accepting of the diverse cultures of all their citizens. Canada is a land of opportunities for many foreign nationals as well as a safe haven for refugees. It might even be said that the American Dream is currently alive in Canada. In fact, the United States ranked 7th overall behind the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, and Sweden (ranked 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th, respectively). Canada also ranked second best country overall in the same survey done in 2016 (behind Germany) as well as #1 in Quality of Life and #2 in Citizenship.
In addition to the above-mentioned categories, Canada also ranked number one for Best Countries for Education, well above the United States (which ranked 7th). Canada secured this #1 spot because of its highly developed public education system and quality universities. All in all we can say that Canada is a wonderful place to live. No matter where in the world you come from, what your beliefs are, and what your future goals look like, Canada and its occupants welcome you with open arms.
Are you interested in exploring this beautiful country? There are so many opportunities for individuals and families looking to study, work, and live in Canada. Our team of experienced immigration consultants is here to help you achieve your dream. Maybe you want to come for a visit to see the sights or to visit family. Perhaps you are looking for temporary status that allows you to work and /or study in Canada. Even if you are seeking a more long-term status, we can help. Canada places much value on the reunification of families. So if you have family members living in Canada, we can help with Family Sponsorship applications, including Spousal Sponsorship. From visitor visas to permanent residence to citizenship, our team can help you choose the best program to fit your needs. To get started, take our free online assessment or contact us today. We would gladly answer all of your questions and discuss your options for Canada immigration.
Jul 1, 2013 | Featured
Today we celebrate Canada’s birthday, the anniversary of the day (July 1, 1867) in which Canada became a country. The beginning of Canada’s eventual complete independence from England, on this day four provinces joined together to form the great country we know and love, giving us some of the many freedoms we enjoy today. If this is your first Canada Day, we want to welcome you to our beautiful country and urge you to go out and explore the many events that you will certainly find happening in your area. Similar to the Fourth of July holiday celebrated in the United States, Canada Day is a day dedicated to outdoor celebrations like parades, carnivals, barbecues, fireworks, and many more fun activities to enjoy with your loved ones. Since it is a federal holiday, most offices and businesses will be closed today. This makes today a great day to forget about work, school, and other responsibilities and spend some quality time with your family doing… well… whatever you like, really. Much like the country itself, Canada Day is a mixed bag of fun things to do; there are no specific rules on how to celebrate the holiday, so everyone is free to celebrate as they wish. Children may enjoy a day at the park or the beach. Newcomers celebrating for the first time might take the opportunity to meet fellow Canadians, both young and old, by attending an organized celebration in your town. An evening spent partying at your local club may be the choice for the adults once the kids are in bed. Whatever you like to do, today is the day to do it!
For more information, ideas, and to find activities in your area, follow this link: http://www.canada-day.ca/ or simply do a Google search to find events happening near you. However you choose to celebrate our nation’s 146th birthday – whether it be partying like a rock star or relaxing in the sun – make sure to pack plenty of Canadian pride and your maple leaf flag!
On behalf of our team here at Can-Am Immigration, we wish you a very Happy Canada day, whether it be your first or your 50th.
Feb 7, 2013 | Featured
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