Earlier this month, the province of Saskatchewan introduced new procedural guidelines for the Entrepreneur category of the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) that will speed up the processing of applications under this program. In recent years, Saskatchewan has been an attractive destination for immigrants to Canada because of the many employment and investment opportunities it […]

The post Saskatchewan PNP Update: Province introduces new procedural guidelines for faster processing first appeared on CIC News.

On October 9, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Canada (CIMC) Minister Jason Kenney announced proposed changes to Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program that will strengthen the protection of Temporary Foreign Workers in Canada. “Temporary Foreign Workers play an important role in the Canadian economy. We have a duty to them, employers and all Canadians, to ensure […]

The post Immigration Minister proposes changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program to help protect foreign workers in Canada first appeared on CIC News.

Over the past few years, there has been a gradual but steady shift in the ways that people qualify for a Canadian permanent resident visa. More and more, the Canadian government is relying upon the 13 provinces and territories to come up with their own immigration strategies (Quebec and Provincial Nomination Programs), using selection criteria […]

The post David’s Blog: Think you don’t qualify? Think again first appeared on CIC News.

For the second year in a row, the World Economic Forum has ranked Canada’s banking system ‘the soundest in the world,’ and given Canada top marks for the ease of starting a business. The Immigrant Investor Program, a category of Canadian Business Immigration, is an essential Canadian immigration option for business people who have accumulated […]

The post Business Immigration: the Quebec Investor Category may provide a faster route to Canadian Immigration first appeared on CIC News.

In the August, 2009 edition of our Newsletter, we highlighted two of the 38 qualifying occupations for the Federal Skilled Worker program: University Professors, and College and Other Vocational Instructors, and emphasized the importance of duties performed in each occupation, as opposed to job titles. This month, we look at Construction Managers, another qualifying occupation, […]

The post A closer look at the 38 qualifying occupations: Civil Engineers and Architects may qualify for the Federal Skilled Worker Program as Construction Managers first appeared on CIC News.

Earlier this month, the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) announced a major change to its popular US H1B Visa Holders category. One occupation—Computer and Information Systems Managers—has been removed from the list of qualifying occupations. That’s the bad news. The good news is the Federal Skilled Worker program remains an attractive Canadian immigration option for […]

The post AINP Update: Computer and Information Systems Managers may still qualify for Canadian immigration under the Federal Skilled Worker Program first appeared on CIC News.

Some immigration consultants in Montreal are helping landed immigrants bypass the residency requirements for Canadian citizenship, by offering “life in Canada simulation” services, according to an investigation by the CBC, Canada’s national news network. >> Read full article on Canadavisa.com

The post David’s Blog: Tempting… but don’t do it first appeared on CIC News.

Despite the global economic recession, the Canadian economy has proven to be quite resilient. Throughout September, there have been many signs that not only showed that the economic situation in Canada is improving, but that its economy was less affected by the global downturn than most economies around the world. Canada remains an ideal place […]

The post As the Canadian economy shows increasingly positive signs, the contribution of immigrants is playing a major role in its growth first appeared on CIC News.

When Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Canada (CIMC) Minister Jason Kenney announced the details of the new Action Plan for Faster Immigration, which set new regulations for the Federal Skilled Worker program of Canadian immigration, the focus turned to a list of 38 qualifying occupations that determine a potential applicant’s eligibility to apply to immigrate under […]

The post Applying to immigrate to Canada as a Federal Skilled Worker: Beyond the 38 qualifying occupations first appeared on CIC News.

There is often confusion about whether or not an individual is eligible to apply under the Federal Skilled Worker Program, because their job title might differ from those listed in the announced 38 qualifying occupations. Job titles for a particular occupation can vary across different countries, different industries and even different employers, but the duties […]

The post A closer look at the 38 qualifying occupations under the Federal Skilled Worker Program: University Professors, and College and other Vocational Instructors first appeared on CIC News.

Since 2001, the Yukon Territory has been the only Canadian Territory to have an immigrant Nominee Program in place. However, the Yukon now has company. On August 5, 2009, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Canada (CIMC) Minister Jason Kenney, along with his Territorial counterparts, announced the new Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP). This fast-track Canadian immigration […]

The post Northwest Territories Nominee Program: A New Fast-Track Canadian Permanent Residency Option first appeared on CIC News.

This week, Nova Scotia announced that a new stream is being added to its Provincial Nomination Program (PNP), known as the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP). Under the NSNP Non-Dependent Children of Nova Scotia Nominees stream, non-dependent children of people previously nominated by the province will be able to apply for fast-track Canadian immigration. The […]

The post Nova Scotia announces new Provincial Nomination Program stream to welcome more immigrants first appeared on CIC News.

 “The pot calling the kettle black” is an expression, which refers to criticism that could equally apply to the critic. Interestingly, similar idioms can be found in more than 30 languages, across as many cultures and so we can assume that this particular human disposition is universal in nature. It most certainly applies to the […]

The post David’s Blog: The Pot Calling the Kettle Black first appeared on CIC News.

Since 1991, the province of Quebec has had an agreement in place with the Government of Canada, called the Canada-Quebec Accord, which allows Quebec to select its own immigrants. In the June 2009 edition of our newsletter, we reported that the Quebec Immigration Minister had announced changes to Quebec’s immigration programs. Some of these changes […]

The post Quebec Immigration Update: Changes to selection grid to improve the immigration and settlement process first appeared on CIC News.

Working-aged dependents of Temporary Foreign Workers in Ontario and Alberta can now obtain Open Work Permits, giving them the ability to contribute to the Canadian workforce alongside their parents.  On an Open Work Permit, these individuals will be able to work for any employer in Alberta or Ontario without having to undergo the usual process […]

The post Children of Temporary Foreign Workers in Alberta and Ontario can now apply for Open Work Permits first appeared on CIC News.

The “Programme de l’expérience québécoise,” or “Quebec Experience Class” (PEQ), is a new, accelerated immigration program that will allow international students and Temporary Foreign Workers in Quebec to apply to immigrate permanently to Quebec. The PEQ, which will be put into effect before October, 2009, shares some aspects with its federal counterpart, the Canadian Experience […]

The post New Quebec Experience Class mimics Canadian Experience Class, but offers faster route to Canadian Permanent Residency first appeared on CIC News.

Language ability plays a crucial rule for immigrants to Canada in terms of their ability to find employment and successfully integrate into their new society. Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has set up language training services for new arrivals across the country. However, it is also important to be proficient in one of Canada’s two […]

The post Language training programs are the key to successful settlement in Canada first appeared on CIC News.

About a year ago, I was privileged to appear before parliamentary committees that were charged with examining proposed changes to Canada’s immigration selection system. The government of the day claimed that urgent modifications to the law were necessary in order to streamline the immigration process and reduce the backlog of pending skilled worker (economic) applications. […]

The post David’s Blog: Canada on the wrong immigration track? first appeared on CIC News.

Along the lines of the federal Canadian Experience Class, introduced last year by Citizenship and Immigration Canada, the province of Quebec is launching its own accelerated and simplified immigration program for international students and specialized foreign workers who meet labour market priorities in the province. >> Read full article on Canadavisa.com

The post Quebec adopts special immigration program for international students and foreign workers first appeared on CIC News.

The Canadian province of Saskatchewan has been steadily building its reputation as an immigration destination in Canada.  Significant investments have been made to its Provincial Nomination Program (PNP) and towards immigrant settlement services in recent years, helping to develop a strong immigrant community in the province.  Now, the Government of Saskatchewan has unveiled a new […]

The post Saskatchewan’s new immigration strategy strengthens communities and the economy first appeared on CIC News.

Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Canada Minister Jason Kenney joined the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in observing World Refugee Day earlier this month.  Canada’s longstanding commitment to providing a new home for refugees was acknowledged by the UNHCR, and current resettlement programs and integration initiatives were celebrated. Every year, Canada’s refugee program provides […]

The post Canada’s commitment to refugee resettlement first appeared on CIC News.

July 1st is Canada Day, a day for all of Canada’s citizens and Permanent Residents to celebrate the benefits and opportunities bestowed up them as Canadians.  Recognizing the contributions made by immigrants and the importance of immigration to the country’s history, the Government of Canada has now given national museum status to Canada’s Immigration Museum, […]

The post Happy Canada Day! Canada now has a National Immigration Museum first appeared on CIC News.

We Canadians take our hockey seriously. And why not? It is, after all, our game and no other country can match us over the long haul in international competitions. Hockey for us is a source of pride and many of us follow our favourite teams with the fervour you would expect from a religious devotee. […]

The post David’s Blog: A Tale of Two Cities first appeared on CIC News.

In the April edition of our newsletter, we had reported that changes were coming to the popular U.S. Visa Holder category of the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP).  Earlier this month, those changes were announced and, as suspected, the list of qualifying occupations was reduced.  Eight of the information technology (IT) occupations have been removed […]

The post Changes made to H1B fast-track Canadian immigration category first appeared on CIC News.

Entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized businesses are an important part of the Canadian economy.  If, as a potential Canadian immigrant, you would like to establish and manage your own business in Canada, the Entrepreneur category of Canadian Business immigration could be your ticket to Canadian Permanent Residency.  The federal and provincial governments strongly encourage newcomers […]

The post Manage a business in Canada: Business Immigration for Entrepreneurs first appeared on CIC News.