Last year, the province of Alberta introduced the Strategic Recruitment Stream of the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP).  This program recognizes the valuable contributions that workers from overseas have made in North America by fast-tracking the Canadian Permanent Residency of certain US H1B visa* holders.  The application procedure has recently been modified. The Strategic Recruitment […]

The post Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) changes process for H1B holders first appeared on CIC News.

As of April 17, 2009, Canada’s Citizenship Act will be amended.  The new law now limits Canadian citizenship to the first generation born abroad to Canadian citizens. All individuals born in Canada are granted citizenship, as are people born abroad who undertake the Canadian citizenship process and are approved. Previously, individuals who were born abroad […]

The post Canadian citizenship rules change for those born outside of Canada first appeared on CIC News.

Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister (CIMC) Jason Kenney spent some time this month in India and Pakistan to work on further strengthening Canada’s relations with the two countries.  He met with important political figures and religious leaders from various communities to discuss immigration to Canada, employment in Canada for Indian and Pakistani residents, and Canadian […]

The post CIMC Minister visits India and Pakistan to discuss Canadian immigration first appeared on CIC News.

Earlier this month, we introduced you to LoonLounge.com, a social network where Canadian residents and future immigrants can connect and learn from each other, become engaged in Canadian communities, and ultimately help improve the Canadian immigration and settlement processes.  The response from our newsletter subscribers and the Canadian media has been overwhelmingly positive, with a […]

The post LoonLounge.com – the new Canadian immigration and settlement online community – garnering praise across Canada first appeared on CIC News.

In order to hire a foreign worker, Canadian employers may need to satisfy Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) that they cannot find any Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents to fill the available position.  HRSDC’s role is to ensure that Canadian residents have first access to Canadian jobs.  To better reflect Canada’s evolving labour […]

The post New requirements for Canadian employers hiring foreign skilled workers first appeared on CIC News.

I have previously written about what I perceive to be the missing link in Canadian immigration. My grandfather’s story illustrates it best. When he arrived in Canada many years ago, my grandfather had nothing but the name of a man in Montreal who once lived in his town. My grandfather was eternally grateful when, after […]

The post David’s Blog: Help is here first appeared on CIC News.

Throughout his years in immigration law, David Cohen has learned that there is an important link missing in the Canadian immigration process.  He has seen new immigrants thrive just as he has seen others struggle.  Those who succeed do so because of their connections to Canada – connections with people in Canada, Canadian community organizations, […]

The post Simplifying Canadian Immigration and Settlement Together – LoonLounge.com first appeared on CIC News.

On March 14, 2008, the Conservative government announced their intention to introduce significant amendments to Canada’s immigration system.  Many heated debates, numerous stakeholder consultations, a federal election, and a new Immigration Minister later, the amendments were finally announced on November 28.  Immigration remains a key priority for Canada, but now has a slightly stronger focus […]

The post Canada immigration changes finally announced – Outlook for 2009 first appeared on CIC News.

With the goal of processing new Federal Skilled Worker applications within 6-12 months, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Canada (CIMC) has implemented new submission procedures to make the process more efficient. > > Read full article on Canadavisa.com

The post Faster Canadian immigration processing times with new submission procedures first appeared on CIC News.

Many Canadian employers have been feeling the pinch of chronic labour shortages over the past few years and Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC) and Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Canada (CIMC) have been responding with various measures to alleviate them.  The most recent good news is the expansion of the NAFTA temporary foreign worker […]

The post Improved labour mobility within Canada and across North America first appeared on CIC News.

Immigrant and temporary migrants have become increasingly important to population growth and to Canada’s economy.  Canadians are grateful for the contributions of workers from abroad, and have established a vast network of settlement services to help them feel at home.  A recent HSBC survey has given Canada the top spot in terms of how friendly […]

The post Canada – The most welcoming country in the world first appeared on CIC News.

Without a doubt, the Canadian immigration story of the past year has to do with the changes made to the Federal Skilled Worker category of immigration.  Not only is qualifying now different than it was a year ago, but the application process itself has also changed significantly. >> Read full article on Canadavisa.com

The post David’s Blog: What was, What is, What’s next first appeared on CIC News.

If you are a business person looking to make an investment in Canada, the Business Immigration Program may be an important fast-track Canadian immigration option for you.  Business Immigration seeks to attract foreign nationals with business and managerial experience who will contribute to the development of the Canadian economy.  Through this priority processing program, you […]

The post Canada Business Immigration – The door is wide open first appeared on CIC News.

Following Prime Minister Harper’s re-election last month, he appointed a new cabinet and a new Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism.  Jason Kenney, former Secretary of State for Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity and a well-known figure in Canadian ethnic communities, has been appointed to this position. Jason Kenney was first elected to the House of […]

The post Meet Canada’s new Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism first appeared on CIC News.

In the Government of Canada’s recent Speech from the Throne, Governor General Michaëlle Jean stated that the federal government will “work with the provinces to make the recognition of foreign credentials a priority”.  In addition to the establishment of the Foreign Credential Referral Office last year, provincial governments have been working to develop tailor-made plans […]

The post Recognition of foreign credentials – A priority for Canada and provincial governments first appeared on CIC News.

Saskatchewan has just made it easier for international students to become Canadian Permanent Residents.  British Columbia (BC) is now helping its substantial food processing sector to retain foreign skilled workers by nominating them for fast-track Canadian immigration.  These students and workers have now been added to a growing list of foreign nationals who can qualify […]

The post PNP Update – Fast-track Canadian Permanent Residency options expanding first appeared on CIC News.

In a few days from now, the waiting will be over. Not only will we know the fate of the Federal Skilled Worker applications submitted to the Canadian Visa Offices after February 27, 2008, (now in a suspended state) but we will also find out what lies in store for Skilled Worker applications that will […]

The post David’s Blog: What if? first appeared on CIC News.

This month’s Canadian federal election resulted in Canada’s third consecutive minority government, re-electing Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Conservative Party.  Now that the Conservatives have secured their place as the ruling government, it is expected that the Immigration Minister will announce her plan about how the recent Canadian immigration amendments will be implemented. Though […]

The post Canadian Federal Election Results: Conservatives win minority government first appeared on CIC News.

Two recently released reports have shown that the children of Canadian immigrants are faring well in Canadian post-secondary institutions and therefore seeing increased success in the work force.  Many Canadian families have a similar story of parents immigrating to Canada and working hard to make sure that their kids could stay in school.  These efforts […]

The post Children of immigrants succeeding academically and professionally in Canada first appeared on CIC News.

The province of Alberta and the Philippines have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to facilitate the flow of Filipino skilled workers into Alberta.  Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and British Columbia have entered similar agreements with the Philippines over the past year, all working towards alleviating chronic labour shortages in their growing economies. Along the same lines […]

The post Alberta joins four other Canadian provinces in actively recruiting Filipino skilled workers first appeared on CIC News.

Here’s what the Province of Ontario has to say about immigration on its official website. “Immigration is a cornerstone of Ontario’s economic prosperity and social fabric.” “More that half of all newcomers to Canada have chosen to settle in Ontario each year since 1987.’ Maybe so, but that was then and this is now. >> […]

The post David’s Blog: Hey Ontario, Get in the Game first appeared on CIC News.

Le président français Nicolas Sarkozy et le Premier ministre du Québec Jean Charest viennent de signer un accord bilatéral qui assure la reconnaissance des qualifications professionnelles par leurs gouvernements, permettant la liberté de mobilité de nombreux travailleurs français et québécois. >> Read full article on Canadavisa.com

The post Nouvel accord entre le Québec et la France appuie la mobilité des travailleurs first appeared on CIC News.

On October 14th, a Canadian federal election will be held to either re-elect the governing Conservatives, or to elect a new party and Prime Minister.  Given the changes to Canadian immigration policy that have taken place over the past few months, the outcome of this election will have important implications for immigration to Canada.  If […]

The post Canadian federal election will have implications on immigration to Canada first appeared on CIC News.

As of September 17, 2008, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is accepting applications for the newest category of Canadian immigration, the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).  This fast-track immigration category was designed specifically for Canada’s temporary foreign workers and international graduates with work experience, as a means to more easily transition them into Permanent Residents, and […]

The post Canadian Experience Class up and running first appeared on CIC News.

Canada, like most OECD countries, has a selective immigration system that focuses on highly skilled candidates. This has created gaping holes in the lower-skilled Canadian workforce, where many employers are struggling to find workers. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD) International Migration Outlook 2008 report recommends that OECD countries adapt their immigration and […]

The post OECD recommends that lower-skilled workers be included in immigration policy first appeared on CIC News.