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International Law

Canada Immigration

Canada immigration news and commentary

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Last Entry: May 19, 2013 at 00:46:49

Finally! The Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship Program Will Re-Open ? But With A Twist

Posted on May 19, 2013
As many of you are painfully aware, the sponsorship program for parents and grandparents has been suspended since November 2011. That’s right – since 2011 Citizenship and Immigration Canada have not been accepting sponsorship applications from citizens or permanent residents to bring their parents and grandparents from their home countries to Canada...

Working in Canada Just Got Tougher: Changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program Coming

Posted on April 30, 2013
As I’ve mentioned in the past, if you want to immigrate to Canada and you qualify, you should begin the process immediately, as rules seem to change often these days, and it seems increasingly more difficult to qualify. Following the public outcry after the Royal Bank hired foreign workers from India to replace Canadians...

New Federal Skilled Worker Guidelines Released

Posted on April 18, 2013
As you may know, the Federal Skilled Worker Program has been suspended since July 1, 2012 (except for arranged employment applications and those under the PhD. class). Today, CIC announced that the program will commence on May 4, 2013. It is still a points system, and 67 points (out of a possible 100) is still required in order to [...

Video Tutorial: Supplementary Information Your Travels IMM5562

Posted on April 16, 2013
Here’s another addition to my video tutorials that cover immigration form completion. As always, you should complete these forms in accordance with CIC instruction guides. As well, forms do change over time so check to see if there is a later version of this form (the date is often in the left corner of the [...

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Meeting at the Border Without a Visa: The Haskell Free Library and Opera House

Posted on April 15, 2013
When one thinks of a border between two countries, one imagines large gates or fences, tight security, a number of border officers and line-ups on either side. However, this border is different. Located at Stanstead, Quebec, and Derby Line, Vermont, the Haskell Free Library and Opera House straddles the Canadian and USA border...

Bridging Open Work Permits

Posted on April 04, 2013
I’ve received a lot of questions about bridging open work permits so I thought I’d take the opportunity to address them here. As I’ve written in this blog previously, Canada is moving towards having Canadian work experience prior to applying for permanent residence...

Things to Watch for in the New Medical Process for Sponsorship Applications

Posted on March 18, 2013
I don’t blame you if you are a little confused collecting documents for a sponsorship application that you’re going to be submitting. In many checklists, the applicant is still told to include a medical receipt for a medical performed by a panel physician...

7 Essential Elements In a Sponsorship Cover Letter

Posted on March 07, 2013
You’re going to apply under one of the Canadian immigration categories. You’ve collected the forms. You’ve reviewed our video tutorials (hopefully). You’ve also followed the CIC checklists and instructions, collected your evidence and supporting paperwork for your category...

New Update on the Skilled Worker Program

Posted on February 27, 2013
I just wanted to post a quick update on the Federal Skilled Worker Program. As you may know, the skilled worker program is currently suspended, set to open May 4th of this year. The new rules have not yet been released, although some information has been released as I’ve reported in an earlier blog...

5 Steps You Should Take Now to Prepare for the Re-Opening of the Skilled Worker Program

Posted on February 18, 2013
The Federal Skilled Worker Program was suspended in July of 2012. It will re-open on May 4 of this year, with new rules, new occupations and new quotas as compared to the old program. If you are a skilled worker with a mix of higher education, a trade, and work experience, then this program will [...

Video Tutorial: Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union IMM5409

Posted on February 12, 2013
The Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union Form Number IMM5409 is typically used in spousal sponsorship applications where the applicants are not married. A common-law couple must have lived together for at least one year, and also have intermingled financial or other affairs...

New Immigration Program for Entrepreneurs ? The Start-Up Visa

Posted on January 24, 2013
Citizenship and Immigration Canada announced a new program today that I think has a lot of merit. It is a “start-up visa” aimed at potential immigrants who wish to start a business in Canada. We have not seen this type of visa in the past...

What Are Your Rights When You Are Examined for Admissibility?

Posted on January 21, 2013
Here is a typical scenario: an individual is crossing the border into Canada from the USA. The border officer questions him about his background and any dealings with police or arrests in the past. The individual mentions a few minor incidents with the law years ago, but thinks nothing of it at the time...

Video Tutorial: Application for a Temporary Resident Visa Made Outside of Canada IMM 5257

Posted on January 15, 2013
In this video, I discuss completing the Application for a Temporary Resident Visa form. This application is required for individuals who wish to visit Canada and who are from one of these countries. If you are from one the countries listed, you will also need a temporary resident visa even if you are only traveling [...

How I Secured a Supervisa Without a Notice of Assessment

Posted on January 03, 2013
After many months (perhaps years) you’ve finally become a permanent resident of Canada. Often, your next step is to get a supervisa (i.e, a 10 year visitor visa) for your parents. You complete the paperwork and the next communication from Citizenship and Immigration Canada is a request for your latest Notice of Assessment (NOA)...

Thinking of Moving to BC? Take a Video Tour

Posted on December 14, 2012
British Columbia is a popular destination for both immigrants and other Canadians. It has a lot to offer. The lower mainland (Vancouver and the surrounding cities) and Vancouver Island offer the mildest climate in the country. Rarely do they get snow, and rarely does the temperature go below zero celsius...

If you have a trade, then you have another route into Canada

Posted on December 10, 2012
Today the government announced a new program that will be of interest to anyone with a trade (such as electricians, welders, heavy-duty mechanics and pipe-fitters announced thus far). Beginning in January of next year, Canada will admit 3000 trades people under a new trades scheme aimed at filling labour shortages in all provinces...

Update on Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship

Posted on December 06, 2012
I’ve been contacted by a number of people asking about the recent announcement of Minister Kenney regarding parent and grandparent sponsorship. As readers of this blog may know, the sponsorship process for parents and grandparents was suspended and that remains so today...

Video Tutorial: Fees for Immigration Services IMM5310

Posted on November 29, 2012
This tutorial is on the Fees for Immigration Services form IMM5310. Although the form appears fairly straightforward, it is important to get the fee correct. The $200 fee is for less serious offences, and the $1000 fee is for more serious offences (where the equivalent in Canada is 10 years in prison)...

Proxy and Telephone Marriages

Posted on November 13, 2012
I often get queries from potential applicants about the legality of proxy and telephone marriages with regard to sponsorship. A common example is one where a couple has been dating or living together, but due to immigration circumstances, can no longer see each other...

5 Reasons Your Visitor Visa Was Denied

Posted on November 01, 2012
I get a lot of people contacting me after their visitor visa application was denied. In this post, I’m going to describe the top 5 reasons why visitor visas are denied in my experience. 1) Misunderstanding the test for issuing a visitor visa A visitor visa (or temporary resident visa) application is required from citizens [...

Top 10 Best Kept Secrets of Vancouver, British Columbia (With Map)

Posted on October 24, 2012
If you or someone you know are immigrating or traveling to Vancouver, BC, be sure to visit some of our favourite spots listed below (in no particular order). We’ve provided a map at the end of this post of each location. You won’t find Stanley Park or Granville Island in this post – these are spots [...

Video Tutorial: Separation Declaration For Minors Travelling From Non-Accompanying Parent IMM5604

Posted on October 21, 2012
If you’ve ever tried to cross the border into Canada (or try to get through customs) with a child where both custodial parents are not present, then you know the need for this form. The Canadian Border Services Agency (which controls entry into the country) and CIC are extremely cautious in allowing minor children to [...

Video Tutorial: Sponsorship Evaluation IMM5481

Posted on October 19, 2012
This form is for those sponsorship a spouse, common law partner or conjugal partner for permanent residence in Canada. However, you must be careful. If the person you are sponsoring has dependent children of his or her own, then you must not use this form...

Video Tutorial: Additional Family Information Form IMM5406

Posted on October 19, 2012
This form is used in many applications, from sponsorships to federal skilled worker applications and others. Although this form is a short one-pager, from my experience, it causes endless grief for applicants as it is very easy to make an error while completing this form...

Video Tutorial: Sponsor Questionnaire IMM5540

Posted on October 19, 2012
This form is used for an “out of Canada” sponsorship of a spouse, common law partner, or conjugal partner. This form is completed by the Canadian sponsor. The “out of Canada” process is typically where the sponsored person remains outside of Canada during processing (except for short visits to Canada possibly), and only moves to [...

Video Tutorial: Sponsored Spouse/Partner Questionnaire IMM5490

Posted on October 19, 2012
This form is used for sponsoring a spouse, common law partner or conjugal partner for Canadian permanent residence. This form is of course completed by the person being sponsored (not the person doing the sponsoring). As well, this form is for those who use the “out of Canada” sponsorship process (as opposed to the “in [...

Video Tutorial: Application to Sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement and Undertaking IMM1344

Posted on October 19, 2012
This video highlights some of the more confusing sections of the Application to Sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement and Undertaking IMM1344 application form from Citizenship and Immigration Canada. This form is not only used for spousal sponsorships, but other sponsorships as well (including children)...

Top 10 Mistakes That Will Sink Your Immigration Application

Posted on October 01, 2012
I’ve been practising law for over 13 years, and I’ve seen a lot of errors that lead to rejected applications, or long delays in processing. Below I’ve compiled the top 10 errors to avoid in submitting your application for Canadian permanent or temporary residence...

Same Sex Couples and Sponsorship

Posted on September 14, 2012
I have represented a number of same sex couples applying for sponsorship through my immigration practise. In my view, there are certain challenges with a same sex application, and a few approaches that I believe substantially improve the chances of a successful application...

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