Effective November 5, 2011 there will be a suspension on sponsoring your parent or grandparent to Canada as a permanent resident. Instead, effective December 1, 2011 the Conservative Government will offer a program (Parent and Grandparent Super Visa) where one can have a parent or grandparent apply for a 10 year multiple entry visa (max 2 year length of stay). The visa is conditional on the parent or grandparent arranging private medical insurance while in Canada. The visa is expected to take 8 weeks to process.
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November 4, 2011 |
7:47 pm | Breaking News, Canadian Immigration News, Family Sponsorship |
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The key changes announced to the BC Provincial Nominee Program are as follows:
1.Amending program requirements to allow BC PNP business immigrants, who locate in regional communities and invest in existing businesses, to meet their employment commitments by maintaining existing jobs. This change is to be effective Oct. 14.
2.Making the Entry Level and Semi-Skilled pilot category of the BC PNP a permanent category in key sectors such as tourism. This change is to be effective immediately.
3. Reducing the minimum size for eligible employers located outside of the GVRD from five employees to three. This change is to be effective Oct. 14.
Further information can be found at this link: http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/news_releases_2009-2013/2011JTI0119-001293.htm
Yes, the general rule is that being convicted of impaired driving you will be found criminally inadmissible to Canada as Canada views impaired driving (DUI) as a crime and anyone convicted of an offence or act abroad that is deemed a crime in Canada will be criminally inadmissible to Canada. It is how the offence is viewed in Canada that matters even if the conviction for impaired driving is not viewed as crime in the country where it occurred. This rule will apply for visitors, workers, students or anyone coming to settle in Canada. However, an individual may have some solutions. One might qualify for deemed rehabilitation of your criminal matter or one could apply to Canadian immigration for criminal rehabilitation in the case of serious criminality and if that doesn’t work then one can also apply for a Temporary Resident Permit to enter Canada at the discretion of a visa officer on the basis that the applicant has compelling reasons to enter Canada.
Deemed Rehabilitation:
If it is minor crime and 10 years have past since the completion of the sentence then you maybe deemed rehabilitated by Canadian immigration.
Criminal Rehabilitation
If it is a serious criminal conviction and five years have past since the completion of the sentence one may apply to Canadian Immigration for a declaration that they have been rehabilitated and can enter Canada.
If 5 years has not passed since the completion of the sentence then an applicant can apply for a Temporary Resident Permit which can be issued at the discretion of an immigration officer. The permit is valid for up to three years. The fee for a Temporary Resident Permit is $200.00 Cdn.
Charge(s)
If you have an outstanding criminal charge(s) that are very serious and would be treated as serious crimes in Canada then this can also preclude you from visiting, studying or immigrating to Canada. If you have prior or pending charges and or criminal convictions in the past, you may contact my office here for an assessment of the impact of your criminal history may have on you being able to enter Canada to study, work, visit or emigrate.
I have uploaded an Uncontested Divorce Questionnaire Form here, I charge $950.00 to complete an uncontested divorce from start to finish including tax and disbursements.
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July 5, 2011 |
10:04 pm | Breaking News, Canadian Immigration News, Canadian Investor Program News, Immigration Law |
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Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) announced that effective July 1, 2011 they would only accept 700 Federal Investor Category Immigrants for the upcoming year and amazingly it has been reported that this quota has already been reached and within 1 hour.
If you have a high net worth and business experience there are still Provincial Immigration programs (Provincial Nominee Immigration to Canada) in effect that can lead to immigration to Canada as business person. Please click here and complete my free online business assessment form.
Effective July 1, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has announced changes to the Canadian Skilled Worker Immigration Program such that the 29 eligible occupations for filing a skilled worker application without a prior work permit in Canada will be reduced from a quota of 20,000 to a quota of 10,000 (500 per each of 29 eligible occupations) for the coming year. This cap rate will not apply for Applicants who have a validated job offer from a Canadian employer. It is advisable for applicants to file as soon as possible as the occupation quota may fill up very quickly resulting in a bar to making an application. Contact my office here if you wish for me to help you with your skilled worker application.
CIC has also stopped, effective July 1, 2011, the Federal Immigration Entrepreneur Program from accepting any applications at this time. The Investor Program will have a quota of of 700 investor applications for the proceeding 12 months.
If you wish to submit a business application there other options other than the Federal Immigration Program. Many Provinces in Canada offer their own Business Immigration Programs through Provincial Nominee Programs. Please complete my business assessment form here in order to determine whether you may qualify for a Provincial Business Immigration Program.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) proposes changes to the Federal Skilled Worker Program. They are proposing changes to the job offer, education, language and age requirement. They are proposing increasing the points awarded for ability in the 1st official language of Canada either English or French and lowering the length of the degree requirements for certain skilled trade workers. In regards to the age category, they propose lowering the age in which maximum points can be awarded in the age category (from 49 to 35). For job experience, less emphasis will be placed on prior work experience.
The changes will greatly effect certain skilled immigrants from being able to emigrate to Canada. It is advisable to contact the Atkinson Law Office as soon as possible to evaluate the effects of the proposed legislation on your chances of immigration and to consider applying as soon as possible before the new regulations come into effect.
The Economist says Canadian Home prices are now overvalued by 23.9%, see Globe article http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/top-business-stories/study-says-canadian-house-prices-overvalued-by-239/article1771934/
Effective immediately the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) will no longer be accepting new applications in the Family Stream and the US Visa Holder Category. The change is temporary until further notice.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada has imposed new visa rules on Citizens of Mexico and the Czech Republic. Starting on July 14, 2009, Mexican and Czech Republic Citizens will require a visa to travel and enter Canada. The Canadian Government is allowing for a 48 hour grace period for Mexicans and Czechs to apply for the visa on entry to Canada, however, effective Wednesday at midnight, a Canadian visa will be required before entry.
As of Wednesday at midnight, Czech Republic and Mexican citizens must apply for a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) before arrival in Canada and meet the requirements to receive one.
The reason for the decision on the part of the government of Canada is to stop the rapid increase in refugee claimants from these two countries many of whom start refugee claims that are ultimately unsuccessful.
The effective of this is that these citizens must before travel to Canada apply for a Canadian TRV at a Canadian Visa office abroad which will have to be done well in advance of any travel to Canada. The applicants must establish that they qualify for a TRV by establishing that there visit to Canada is temporary, the will not overstay their approved time in Canada, they have not funds to cover their stay in Canada amongst other requirements.
The Czech Republic is likely to now impose similar visa requirements on Canadians traveling to the Czech Republic and it is uncertain whether Mexico will do the same.