The following is a summary of developments concerning Canadian Citizenship and Immigration that took place or were announced over the last two weeks. • Government Closes Buffalo Visa Office The current Canadian administration, as part of its ongoing efforts to transform the Canadian immigration system, is closing its Buffalo, New York visa office. >>Read more… […]
The post Canadian Immigration News Briefs for May 2012 first appeared on CIC News.
The intention of this blog is to add my voice to the large chorus of critics of Bill C-38, otherwise known as the omnibus budget bill, now before Parliament. The legislation in question is a 425-page document that contains all sorts of non-budgetary measures including significant changes to the Old Age Security system, Employment Insurance […]
The post David’s Blog: Abuse of Power first appeared on CIC News.
British Columbia (BC), situated in the westernmost part of Canada, is a province renowned for its cosmopolitan population and great natural beauty. Almost half of its 4.5 million residents live in and around the metropolitan areas of Vancouver and the capital city of Victoria. However, the province is also experiencing growth in the countryside as […]
The post The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program: Gateway to the West first appeared on CIC News.
The following is a summary of developments concerning Canadian Citizenship and Immigration that took place or were announced over the last two weeks. • New Permanent Residence Card Direct Mail-Out Pilot Program Beginning 20 April 2012, most Permanent Residents who require Permanent Resident (PR) cards will no longer have to pick up these cards at […]
The post Canadian Immigration News Briefs for Mid-May 2012 first appeared on CIC News.
Recent months have seen profound changes to Canadian immigration programs. For those who follow these changes, or whose applications may be affected by them, keeping track of when and how decisions are made and implemented is of the utmost importance. For this reason, CIC News has created a comprehensive list of the large-scale changes that […]
The post A Summary of Recent Changes to Canadian Immigration first appeared on CIC News.
Speaking in Calgary on 10 April 2012, Canadian Citizenship and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney announced plans to create a new category of immigration under the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program. The category, which is to be called the FSW Skilled Trades program, has been crafted as a way to streamline the immigration process for tradespersons […]
The post New Skilled Trades Program Announced for Federal Skilled Workers first appeared on CIC News.
Any person with a criminal conviction may be considered inadmissible to Canada on the grounds of security. In most cases, when 5 years have passed from completion of the sentence, a foreign national is eligible to apply to Canadian immigration authorities for rehabilitation. Everyone else must apply for and receive a Temporary Residence Permit in […]
The post Canada Eases Entry Rules for Visitors with Minor Convictions first appeared on CIC News.
Every month, Attorney David Cohen will answer a few general Canadian immigration questions submitted by our readers. Here are this month’s questions and answers: I believe my Federal Skilled Worker application, which I submitted in 2006, is among those that will be returned. I still want to immigrate to Canada. Am I eligible to reapply? […]
The post Canadian Immigration Questions and Answers with Attorney David Cohen first appeared on CIC News.
The following is a summary of developments concerning Canadian Citizenship and Immigration that took place or were announced over the last two weeks. • Accelerated Labour Market Opinion Program Announced Today Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) announced today plans for a new Accelerated Labour Market Opinion (A-LMO) initiative. This initiative is effective from […]
The post Canadian Immigration News Briefs for April 2012 first appeared on CIC News.
Last Thursday, April 25th 2012, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) announced the implementation of a new Accelerated Labour Market Opinion (A-LMO) program. The introduction of this accelerated program is undoubtedly welcomed by many employers, who have been frustrated by rising LMO processing times across Canada. However, it is important to look at what […]
The post David’s Blog: …But Is It Good For Canada? first appeared on CIC News.
The province of Alberta, located in Western Canada between Saskatchewan and British Columbia, is one of Canada’s most rapidly expanding provinces in terms of both population and economic power. With a population of over 3.6 million, largely centralized in the cities of Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta is the most populous of Canada’s ‘prairie provinces’. It […]
The post The Continued Success of the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program first appeared on CIC News.
The following is a summary of developments concerning Canadian Citizenship and Immigration that took place or were announced over the last two weeks. • New Federal Skilled Worker Category to be Created for Skilled Trades The Canadian Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Jason Kenney, announced today plans to streamline the application process for skilled tradespersons […]
The post Canadian Immigration News Briefs for Mid-April 2012 first appeared on CIC News.
BREAKING NEWS The Government of Canada announced on 29 March 2012 a plan to reduce the backlog of Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) applications by returning all applications and government fees submitted prior to 27 February 2008. This will amount to a total of almost 300,000 returned applications, as well as approximately $130 million in refunded […]
The post Special Edition: Canadian Government Budget Slashes Immigration Backlog first appeared on CIC News.
On 21 March 2012, the Quebec Ministry of Immigration and Cultural Communities (MICC) issued a statement outlining new policies for Permanent Residency (PR) immigration to Quebec through the Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSW). These new policies took effect retroactively on 20 March 2012, and will dictate what applications Quebec will accept for the upcoming fiscal […]
The post Recent Changes to Quebec Immigration: A Summary first appeared on CIC News.
Every year, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) sets immigration targets to meet the Canadian government’s economic, family reunification, and humanitarian goals. 2012 will see a large increase in the issuance of visas from overseas, with total documents rising from 217,800 in 2011 to a projected 255,100 for this year. >>Read full article on CanadaVisa.com
The post Citizenship and Immigration Canada Announces New Immigration Targets first appeared on CIC News.
Every month, Attorney David Cohen will answer a few general Canadian immigration questions submitted by our readers. Here are this month’s questions and answers: My partner and I have been together for ten years, but are not married because same sex marriage is illegal in our country. She is currently in Canada on a 5 […]
The post Canadian Immigration Questions and Answers with David Cohen first appeared on CIC News.
The following is a summary of developments concerning Canadian Citizenship and Immigration that took place or were announced over the last two weeks. • Important Changes to Quebec Immigration Programs Announced The Quebec Government announced yesterday a comprehensive plan to reduce processing times for permanent residency applicants to Quebec. >>Read more… • Best places for Canadian newcomers […]
The post Canadian Immigration News Briefs for March 2012 first appeared on CIC News.
Immigration Minister Jason Kenney is on a mission to transform Canada’s immigration policy. If all goes according to plan, gone will be the days when ambitious immigrants start near the bottom and work their way up the ladder of economic success. The new skilled worker immigrant will be younger and a well-trained tradesperson or a […]
The post David’s Blog: A Fly in the Ointment first appeared on CIC News.
Saskatchewan, located in western Canada between the provinces of Manitoba and Alberta, is home to a booming economy and rapidly growing population of Canadians and new immigrants. According to the most recent Canadian census, its population has recently surpassed 1 million residents. The majority reside in the urban centers of Saskatoon and Regina, though robust […]
The post The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program: An Introduction first appeared on CIC News.
The following is a summary of developments concerning Canadian Citizenship and Immigration that took place or were announced over the last two weeks. • Western provinces seek greater authority Severe labour shortages in Western provinces have resulted in some provincial leaders calling for radical changes in immigration procedures. >>Read more… • Immigration Minister talks of […]
The post Canadian Immigration News Briefs for Mid-March 2012 first appeared on CIC News.
The most recent Canadian census, published in May 2011, has revealed new information about emerging population trends throughout the country, and how immigration has responded to and shaped these trends. In the past 5 years Canada has welcomed 1,863,791 new permanent and temporary residents. Between 2006 and 2011, the country saw a 5.6% population increase […]
The post Canadian Census Sheds Light on Immigration Success first appeared on CIC News.
Applicants in the Quebec Skilled Worker (QSW) program may be required to attend an interview with a Quebec immigration officer. This month, CIC News offers some advice on how to prepare and interviews Fritzie Selga, a Filipino nurse who succeeded at her interview and received her certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ). >>Read full article on […]
The post Preparing for the Quebec Selection Interview first appeared on CIC News.
Every month, Attorney David Cohen will answer a few general Canadian immigration questions submitted by our readers. Here are this month’s questions and answers: My spouse is a Canada citizen but he does not have monthly income but has other assets such as a house. Could he sponsor me to immigrate to Canada under the […]
The post Canadian Immigration Questions and Answers with David Cohen first appeared on CIC News.
The following is a summary of developments concerning Canadian Citizenship and Immigration that took place or were announced over the last two weeks. • Quebec employers no longer must recruit locally to hire foreign workers for range of jobs While the Quebec Facilitated IT program came to an end on February 24th, the 7 affected […]
The post Canadian Immigration News Briefs for February 2012 first appeared on CIC News.
The Minister of Immigration has let it be known that we can soon expect changes in the way economic immigrants are selected under the Federal Skilled Worker program. We don’t yet know the exact details but from the dropped hints, you can pretty well rest assured that applicants in the professions will be required to […]
The post David’s Blog: Plus ça change… first appeared on CIC News.