Dec 4, 2012 | Immigration, In the News, Permanent Residency
All applicants who have applied or are planning to apply for immigration to Canada under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) are required to pass a language proficiency test. This is also true for individuals who wish to obtain permanent resident status in Canada under the Federal Skilled Workers Program or various Provincial Nominee Programs.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has amended the language requirements for Canada immigration which will now allow CEC applicants to take the CELPIP (Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program) instead of the previously required IELTS (International English Language Testing System). Applicants now have a choice between taking either the IELTS or the CELPIP General Tests. All applications for the Canadian Experience Class which are submitted with the CELPIP General Test results which were written on or after the starting date of November 23, 2012 will be considered for eligibility into the CEC program.
By allowing Canada immigration applicants a choice between the two tests, the CIC is making it easier to fulfill the language requirements of each immigration program. Often the waiting time for the IELTS can be a problem for applicants or they may have difficulty finding a location near their home where they may take this test. By opening up the option of taking the CELPIP exam instead, individuals who are applying for Permanent Residence may be able to complete and submit their application faster with more choices for when and where to complete the language requirement exam. With 17 locations across Canada, the CELPIP tests are readily available for those who may be unable to find a testing centre for the IELTS in their area. Finding a testing center close to you is easy, whether you choose to take the IELTS or the CELPIP. Our office can guide you in finding the right place to go and ensuring that you complete the proper test for the program under which you are applying.
If you are interested in applying for immigration to Canada under the Canadian Experience Class and would like more assistance in your application and/or need help locating a testing center to complete your IELTS or CELPIP exams, you may contact our office to speak with a licensed and knowledgeable immigration consultant. With the guidance of an immigration consultant, you will be able to make the choice of which test is best for you and we will provide you with the information you need to get started on your immigration application.
Can-Am Immigration is interested in hearing your opinions on every change made by the Canadian government. Tell us what you think about the addition of the CELPIP General Test to the CEC language proficiency test requirements. If you are currently in the process of immigration to Canada under one of the programs that require the test, we would love to hear from you. If you have already taken either the IELTS or the CELPIP, please share your thoughts on the test (was it difficult for you? do you believe one or the other of these two tests may be better? how do you feel about the language proficiency requirement for permanent residence?) You may also wish to share this new information with your friends and family who may be interested in applying for immigration to Canada. You may comment or share this story directly from this website to Facebook, Twitter, Google +, and/or any of your other social networks.
Nov 8, 2012 | Family Immigration, Immigration, In the News, New Laws, Permanent Residency
New regulations were put into action on October 25, 2012 in an attempt to stop marriage fraud in Canada. These new laws will require sponsored spouses to remain in a relationship with their sponsors for a period of at least two years. Marriage fraud has become a large problem in Canada. According to Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney, “There are countless cases of marriage fraud across the country.” Efforts to prevent people from marrying for the sole purpose of obtaining permanent resident status have been ongoing. These new regulations have been a long time coming as similar laws are already in place in many other countries.
Permanent residents who were sponsored within the last two years and who have no children with their current sponsor will now need to stay in the relationship for two years or risk losing their permanent resident status. There must be some evidence that the relationship is genuine and not simply a “marriage of convenience.” In some cases of marriage fraud, Canadian citizens are being victimized by their partners who enter into the relationship with the goal of obtaining citizenship and then leaving their partner. Other cases include the exchange of money in which Canadian citizens are accepting money to marry and sponsor non-Canadians into Canada. Canadians are now standing up against marriage fraud with groups such as Canadians Against Immigration Fraud (CAIF) and the Canadian Marriage Fraud Victims Society joining Minister Kenney and the CIC in their fight against marriage fraud in Canada. Canadian Marriage Fraud Victims Society founder, Palwinder Singh Gill, supports the new regulations, stating that “Canada’s generous family sponsorship program was being abused because many people were marrying only to get a permanent resident card and then leave their partners. With this rule, those abusing the system will think twice.”
Anyone who applies or has applied for permanent resident status whose application was received on or after October 25, who is in a relationship with their sponsor for less than two years, and who does not have children with their sponsor at the time of their application, will now be given conditional permanent residence. Conditional permanent residence differs from regular permanent residence only in that you must remain in a legitimate relationship with your sponsor for that period of time. Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) believes that enforcing this two year condition will reduce the amount of marriage fraud in Canada. In the past, Canada was considered a “soft target” for those who wished to bypass Canada immigration laws in order to become permanent residents under the Spousal Sponsorship program. These new regulations will hopefully put an end to marriage fraud in Canada. Other measures to prevent marriage fraud in the past include a law which was put in place in March which prevents those who have been sponsored from sponsoring a new spouse for a minimum of five years. This means if you were sponsored by your spouse in the last five years and are now in a new relationship, you are not eligible to be a sponsor until you have been a permanent resident for at least five years. These regulations along with the requirements of the Spousal Sponsorship program, which puts the burden on the sponsors and their partners to prove their relationship is genuine, should greatly reduce marriage fraud in Canada.
Some exceptions to these laws have been put into place which will allow for certain situations to be assessed differently. In cases of abuse or neglect, a sponsored spouse will not be forced to stay with their sponsor for these two years. This also applies in cases where the abuse is coming from a third party who is not the sponsor and who does not live with the couple, such as family members of the sponsor. Applicants who are found to be in a relationship which is abusive will not lose their permanent resident status if they leave their sponsors before the two year conditional permanent residence requirement. Another exception to this rule would allow sponsored spouses to keep their status in the case of a sponsor’s death prior to the two year period.
We want to hear what you have to say on the issue of marriage fraud and these new regulations. Do you think these new laws will put an end to the long-standing problem of marriage fraud in Canada? Do you believe the CIC should take further measures to prevent marriage fraud? Let us know what you think by sharing your opinions here on our blog and/or share this post with your friends and family on facebook and twitter.
If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who has sponsored and/or been sponsored by a spouse or partner and you are not sure how these new regulations may affect you, call our office to speak to an immigration consultant.
Dec 4, 2011 | Immigrate to Canada, Immigration, New Laws, Skilled Workers
Next year, Canada will be increasing the Federal Skilled Workers Program. Canada will be admitting up to 10,000 more skilled immigrants than in past years.
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!
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!
