Immigration Blog about US & Canadian Immigration matters.

Sponsoring a Refugee

If you would like to sponsor a refugee, you would need to meet certain requirements to be eligible. First and foremost, in order to sponsor a refugee, you will need to be a group of five or more Canadian citizens, Registered Indians, or permanent residents who are 18 years of age or older and who live (or have representatives) in the community where the refugees are expected to live. The Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada refer to this group of people as the Group of Five. Similar to any other types of sponsorship, sponsors are obligated to arrange necessary settlement to financially support the principal applicant (the refugee) for the full duration of the sponsorship. The sponsors are also responsible for fulfilling the terms of the Sponsorship Undertaking. In this blog, you will specifically learn about the financial responsibility of the sponsors.

Who is Ineligible to Sponsor a Refugee

If you are a person who has been convicted in or outside Canada of murder or other offences, and five years have not passed since the completion of the person’s sentence, then you are ineligible to sponsor a refugee. A person who has not paid fines ordered by a court, is in jail, is subject to a removal order, or is subject to a revocation proceeding under the Citizenship Act, also fails to qualify as an eligible sponsor.

Which Type of Visa Should I get

Canada is beautiful country with plenty of tourist hotspots, and this is why Canada is one of the most popular countries to travel to. However, you may have to do a complete preparation before you come to visit Canada. Depending on your circumstances, the things you will need to prepare may be different than other individuals preparing to visit Canada. As a result, it is highly recommended that you have a thorough understanding of all the things you will need to prepare for prior to your travel. In this blog, you will learn about different processes individuals commonly go through before visiting Canada.

What is Temporary Resident Visa

A temporary resident visa (TRV) is also known as the visitor visa. If you are a foreign national who wants to visit Canada and is coming from a non-visa exempt country, you will need a temporary resident visa. A temporary resident visa typically allows you to stay in Canada for a 6 month period maximum. If your temporary resident visa is valid for a different length of time, it will be clearly indicated on the visa. It is your responsibility to be aware of the expiry date of your visa, so that you do not overstay in Canada. You are not permitted to leave and re-enter the country, unless you apply for and receive an approved multiple entry visa.

Knowing the Federal Skilled Worker Program

Express Entry is one of the ways by which you may obtain a permanent residence status in Canada. However, Express Entry is a broad concept in the field of immigration, as there are many programs under it. There are three major programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class. Having to figure out the Express Entry or the programs can be a hassle for many foreign nationals. In order to prepare you for your application, it is important for you to recognize and understand the eligibility requirements prior to applying. In this blog, you will learn about the Federal Skilled Worker Program, as well as other important information one should know before applying under this economic immigration program.

Skilled work experience Requirement for the FSW

Individuals can be recruited for positions which qualify as Skill Type 0 (managerial jobs) or Skill Level A (professional jobs) or Skill Level B (technical jobs and skilled trades) on the Canadian National Occupational Classification (NOC) list.

Gaining your Permanent Residency with Express Entry

As you may know, there are many ways by which you may obtain a permanent residence status in Canada. Express Entry is one of the options. However, the Express Entry can be confusing to many foreign nationals in terms of application types, as there are many categories under the Express Entry system. In order to prepare you for your application, it is important for you to recognize and understand the eligibility requirements prior to applying. The Express Entry immigration system process has two steps that a foreign national must take in order to successfully complete the application process. In this blog, you will learn about eligibility requirements for Express Entry, as well as the application process of Express Entry.

What is Express Entry

The Express Entry immigration system allows foreign nationals that come from a variety of different fields, educational backgrounds, and work experience to immigrate to Canada. By applying for Express Entry, you are essentially establishing a mutually beneficial relationship with the Canadian Government. That being said, while you are obtaining your permanent residency, you are also contributing to the Canadian Labour Market and the economy. As long as the foreign national is eligible, they can apply under the Express Entry immigration system to get a Permanent Resident Status in Canada. Permanent Resident Status will then be your stepping-stone to the last stop of your Canadian Immigration journey, which is obtaining the Canadian citizenship.

Applying for Canadian Citizenship

If you are about to get a Canadian Citizenship, that means you are at the final step of your immigration journey! Some people may wonder about the necessity of getting a Canadian citizenship. Canadian citizens have more privileges than permanent residents. For example, Canadian citizens have the right to vote and can become involved with a political party or leadership campaign. Furthermore, you do not have to worry about any expiration dates for a visa, a PR card, or a permit. There are many more benefits of getting a Canadian citizenship. If you’d like to learn more information about how to become a Canadian citizen, then continue to read this blog.

Canadian Citizenship Eligibility

Permanent resident status

Studying in Canada

Canada is well-known for its educational system and opportunities. That being said, many parents have chosen to let their children to study in Canada, in order to give them a head start for their future. Do you want to send your children to Canada, and let them receive education that is highly respected worldwide? If so, it is important for you to understand the requirements for obtaining a minor’s study permit. If you are unfamiliar with the process of applying for a study permit, continue to read this blog to learn relevant information regarding a minor’s study permit application.

Understand the Term “Minor”

According to Canadian Law, each province has its own age of majority, which is the age that determines when a person becomes an adult. That being said, anyone who is under the age of majority is considered as a “minor child”.

Obtaining your Permanent Residency with the Federal Skilled Trades Program

If you have dreamed of becoming a permanent resident in Canada, you have many ways to do so. For example, you may apply for business class immigration or family class immigration, given the fact that you are eligible to apply. Express Entry is one of the options. However, Express Entry can be very confusing to many foreign nationals, because there are many categories under it. There are three major programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class. In order to prepare you for your application, it is important for you to recognize and understand the eligibility requirements prior to applying. In this blog, you will learn about eligibility requirements for the Federal Skilled Trades Program, as well as other important information one should know before applying under this economic immigration program.

What is the Federal Skilled Trades Program

The Federal Skilled Trades Program is for foreign skilled workers to gain permanent residency in Canada, based on being qualified in a skilled trade. This program selects its applicants based on their skilled work experience, language ability, and education. However, simply meeting these three requirements does not guarantee you will be selected by the Canadian government.

Applying for a Super Visa

Many families have been split apart as a result of children and grandchildren attempting to immigrate to Canada and start a new life. The government of Canada takes this into consideration and allows for a process called the super visa. The super visa is a visitor’s visa for parents and grandparents who wish to visit their children or grandchildren in Canada. This super visa allows for multiple persons to visit Canada for a period of 2 years at a time and with a status period of up to 10 years. This article will talk about who is eligible for a super visa, what to do if it is refused, super visa extensions, and financial requirements in order to allow for a parent/grandparent to obtain a super visa.

Eligibility required to apply for a super visa

• An applicant can apply for a super visa if they meet the requirements for temporary residence in Canada as a visitor and provide the proper documentation. They require documents such as:proof of their relationship to the child or grandchild (who must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident)
• proof of a medical examination and of being medically admissible into Canada
• evidence that the child or grandchild is able to provide financial support through meeting the low income cut-off (LICO) minimum (a co-signer may be added to meet the LICO minimum)

Application process of a super visa

After your application is sent, it will be processed at the visa office to make sure it has been done correctly and that it contains all the necessary documents. A visa officer will decide if an interview is necessary. If an interview is required, you will be notified about the interview. If your application is refused, your passport and other documents will be returned. You will also receive a letter telling you why your application was refused. If you sent forged or fake, they will not be returned to you. If your application is approved, your passport and other documents will be returned to you with your super visa. Note that a valid temporary resident visa (TRV) and a valid travel document do not guarantee you entry into the country. You may not be allowed to enter if you arrive in Canada and a Canadian official finds that you are no longer admissible because there has been new information about you which has appeared (such as a forged document).

NAFTA Work Permit

Are you a North American citizen who’s been seeking employment in Canada? Do you believe you have the skills to help the international scope of the Canadian economy? North American Free Trade Agreement was set into place to help those who want to find employment in Canada. Although this does hand North American applicants leverage when being seen as possible NAFTA work permit candidates, every applicant must submit their applications only after thorough and careful analysis. It needs to be understood that even the most qualified and experienced workers have been denied of the Canadian work visa permit. So planning is of the utmost importance when it comes to this application. Please continue reading this blog for further assistance and information on this immigration matter.

What is a NAFTA work permit

A NAFTA work permit application dates back to the North American Free Trade Agreement first established in 1994, which was decided between Canada, US, and Mexico as a national point of contact. This application serves to provide US and Mexican citizen’s a less difficult route when it comes to obtaining their Canadian work visa permit. This not only allowed but also promoted a much stronger relationship between the three countries.

Applying For a Post-Graduate Work Permit

Are you an international post-graduate student who has recently graduated from a Canadian designated learning institution (DLI)? If you would prefer to gain some work experience in Canada first, you have the opportunity to do so. The post-graduate work permit program (PGWP), which specifically allows international post-graduate students who have finished studies in Canada, to apply for an open work permit. This blog aims to tell you all you need to know about applying for a PWGP, and what it means to have an open work permit in Canada.

What is a Post Graduate Work Permit

The post-graduate work permit program (PGWP), which specifically allows international post-graduate students who have finished studies in Canada, to apply for an open work permit. Having an open work permit means an individual is permitted to work for any employer in Canada. On a PGWP the maximum length of time you will be permitted to work in Canada is 3 years, depending on your program of study. To be clear, the length of time your PGWP will be valid is dependent on how long your study program is.

Information about LMIA’s

If you are an employer who wants to hire a foreign national, chances are you will need a labor market impact assessment (LMIA). A labor market impact assessment is an application to Canadian Immigration Services (CIC) all on its own and it must be submitted by the employer. It is an important step in the process of hiring a temporary foreign worker, as an LMIA ensures the temporary foreign worker will not be taking a job away from a Canadian looking for employment. Therefore, in this article, you will learn relevant information regarding the LMIA.

Who Needs an LMIA

All applicants applying for the Temporary Foreign Workers Program will require a Labour Market Impact Assessment; exempt occupations are now part of the International Mobility Program.

Applying for Refugee status

Are you or someone you know living in fear of persecution or danger of death in their home country? Are you seeking somewhere safer to live and strive with your family? Canada offers those who are experiencing danger in their home countries a safe place to live and contribute to society. Canada’s refugee program is open to anyone of any background. The Immigration and refugee board of Canada (IRB) will review your application to determine if you are eligible to claim refugee status and whether you are a person in need of protection or a convention refugee.

What is your Eligibility

First of foremost, you must make sure that you are not under a removal order. You can receive removal orders by overstaying your stay in Canada whether you are in Canada under a TRP or a TRV. Once you are sure that a removal order is not issued against you, you can start the process of applying for refugee status. Once you have applied, the IRB will decide whether you are a convention refugee or a person in need of protection.

Applying For a Study Permit

Many foreign nationals attempt to come and receive an education in Canada’s well known education system. Studying in Canada has many perks, including receiving Canadian legal status under the law. Although, it is important to note that a study permit is not a visitor’s visa, so you must leave after your study period has ended. It is also possible to return to your home country during study breaks, but must return with proof of study at a designated Canadian Learning institution. There are also certain exceptions in regards to study permits; these exceptions are individuals who are exempt from needing a study permit to study in Canada or those from a designated country which allows for direct entry into a Canadian designated learning institutions (DLI). This article will discuss how to apply for a study permit through the student direct stream, who can extend their study permit, and the conditions on study permits.

Requirements for a study permit

The first step in obtaining a study permit is receiving an offer of admission from a Canadian learning institution. Once you have received and accepted your offer, you may apply for a study permit in Canada. The study permit is a document that the Canadian government issues that allows international students to study at a designated learning institutions (DLI) in Canada.

While studying in Canada under a study permit you must:

What is the Live-In Caregiver Program

The live-in caregiver program allows Canadian citizens or permanent residents to hire a foreign national to provide “live-in care.” All this is, is full-time in home care. If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and you require full-time care, then you may be eligible to apply to hire a foreign national to provide this care for you. This mutually beneficial for both the Canadian employer and the live-in care giver, this may help a foreign national find work and/ or achieve permanent residency in Canada. So, if you think you might be eligible to be a live-in caregiver, or if you might need to hire a foreign live-in caregiver, continue to read this blog for more information.

What is a Live-In Caregiver

A live in caregiver is qualified person that can work without supervision in a private household. He or she is supposed to provide care for the elderly, children and or the disabled. The live-in caregiver does not necessarily need to live with the employer, but the employer is responsible for arranging the live-in caregiver’s place to stay. though. To begin, the live-in caregiver will enter Canada as a temporary foreign worker

What is an LMIA

If you are a Canadian employer who is looking to hire a foreign national to fill a position temporarily, the government may allow you to do this. However, it is important for the Canadian government to ensure Canadians have access to jobs in Canada, before those positions are filled by foreign individuals. In order to prevent foreign nationals from taking positions from Canadians who need them, the Canadian government has set the requirement for foreign nationals and their employers to obtain a labor market impact assessment (LMIA), prior to being able to obtain a work permit. Because this is such an important step, and most work permits require an LMIA, we will take the time to break down the application process, to help you prepare an application for an LMIA.

Who Needs an LMIA

Anyone coming to Canada who will obtain an employer specific work permit, and is not covered by a free trade agreement, will need to apply for an LMIA. One of the major benefits of applying for a work permit under a free trade agreement is that barriers such as an LMIA are removed. Other than that, only individuals applying for an open work permit are LMIA exempt.

Are You Inadmissible to Canada?

If you have criminal records, you will likely be denied entry into Canada at the Canadian border. To avoid facing these issues you could apply for a temporary resident permit (TRP) or, even apply for Criminal Rehabilitation (CR). Both of these applications take time, though, you may be able to overcome inadmissibility in person at the border if you are an American citizen. The application processing is slightly stricter at the border, because individuals must demonstrate their need to enter Canada outweighs their risks they possess to Canada and Canadians. Though, if you can put forth compelling reasons why you should be allowed to enter Canada for a temporary period of time, then you may be granted a temporary resident permit at the port of entry. In an ideal situation, a Temporary Resident Permit application would be submitted well in advance of attempting to enter Canada, to allow a consulate to render a decision. However, processing times at the consulate are often longer, and often a decision will not be made in time for your travel. When you have an urgent travel date, you should apply for a temporary resident permit at a port of entry.

How to Apply for a Temporary Resident Permit at a Port of Entry

It is the case for many individuals that they realize they are criminally inadmissible to Canada, only a short time before they had intended to try to travel to Canada. This is an incredibly nerve wracking thing to become aware of, because it almost certainly means you will have an issue fulfilling your travel plans, as you will not be allowed to enter Canada. What makes this worse than simply being inadmissible to Canada, is that there is not enough time to apply for criminal rehabilitation, or apply for a temporary resident permit at the consulate level, both of which help communicate to immigration officers that you are serious about overcoming your status as inadmissible to Canada. Though, there is still a solution for individuals in this circumstance. You can apply for a temporary resident permit at a port of entry, as you try to enter Canada, rather than at the consulate. If you apply for a TRP at the border instead of the consulate, you will receive a decision the same day, rather than wait the typical 8-12 month processing times. If you have an urgent travel date coming up, and need to overcome your status as criminally inadmissible, keep reading this blog to learn how to apply for a TRP at a port of entry.

Intra Company Transfer

Are you a foreign national that wants to work in Canada? Do you already work in a multinational company from either the United States or Mexico, which acquires an existing subsidiary branch within Canada? Do you obtain an upper-level position within your multinational company and are seeking to expand your knowledge to your company’s subsidiary branch? If your answers to these previous questions are yes, then you may be eligible for an intra-company transfer. Acquiring a work visa or permit within Canada is not an easy process to undergo and in order to be successful in this process, it is recommended to seek out legal experience and book a consultation with one of our immigration representatives through Akrami & Associates. For further information on this topic, please continue to read this blog.

What is an Intra Company Transfer

An intra-company transfer refers to an eligible foreign national, that is employed in a multinational company somewhere abroad, and wishes to be employed in a connecting branch for their company, within Canada. This transfer can only occur if the eligible worker wishes to transfer within a branch of their original company, which can be only from the United States or Mexico. But first things first, all potential intra-company transferees must obtain a work permit in order to even be considered for an employment transfer to Canada. Without this valid piece of document, a foreign national from a visa-exempt country cannot obtain work in Canada, regardless of connecting branches of employment.

Applying for a Visitor’s Visa

Canada has always been known to be an accepting country of visitors. A visitor’s visa is a stamp on your passport which proves that you are cleared by the Canadian government to be allowed into the country. Canada accepts visitors from all backgrounds and creeds with due process. This means that if you take the necessary legal steps to apply and receive a visitor’s visa, you should have no problem obtaining a visitor’s visa. This article will talk about who needs a visitor’s visa, how to extend a visitor’s visa, and a visa overstay welcome.

Basic Travel Requirements for a Visitor’s Visa

In order for you to begin your application process, you must ensure that you oblige by this checklist to ensure that your application will run as smoothly as possible. These are the requirements:

How to Become a Canadian Citizen

If you wish to become a fully naturalized Canadian citizen someday, it may be on your priority list to learn the things you’ll have to do to complete this process. Though, it is a very long process, which always begins with another process to help an individual gain permanent resident status. The process by which an individual becomes a permanent resident could be very different from person to person, though, all who have achieved permanent resident status will suddenly find themselves on relatively the same path, whether they simply care to maintain their status as permanent residents, or, they would prefer to become Canadian citizens. Throughout this article we will cover the process of becoming a Canadian citizen, and be sure to explain the requirements to become eligible for this status.

So you’re a Permanent Resident, What’s next?

As you may already know, permanent residents must meet their “residency requirement” to be permitted to maintain their status as a permanent resident. You must a spend a minimum of 2 years, or, 730 days total in Canada to be able to successfully renew your status as a permanent resident. This is equivalent to spending a total of 2 years in Canada. This two years does not need to be consecutive, you simply must spend a total of 2 years, within the 5 years your PR card is valid in Canada.

HELP! I have to Overcome Criminal Inadmissible to Travel to Canada!

Have you recently been denied entry into Canada at a port of entry, or had your visitor visa application denied? Have you learned recently that your criminal record will affect your ability to visit Canada? If so, you must deal with your inadmissibility before you will be permitted to enter the country. It is also very useful to know that if you have an issue with criminal inadmissibility, there are different ways you can overcome this. Often, people wish to enter Canada for very good reason, perhaps to visit relatives who are sick or to celebrate familial weddings. It would be a shame to be forced to miss these events because you are inadmissible to Canada and were unaware of the avenues available to overcome this issue. If you are inadmissible to Canada but would still like to enter Canada, your options are to submit an application for criminal rehabilitation or apply for a temporary resident permit. Therefore, throughout this article, we will discuss what each of these applications entails, and how to apply for each.

What Is A Temporary Resident Permit? What Is Criminal Rehabilitation?

First and foremost, BOTH a temporary resident permit and an application for criminal rehabilitation only make you admissible to enter Canada. NEITHER of these documents gives an individual permission to actually enter Canada for any length of time. If you wish to travel to Canada, you must determine whether you are from a visa-exempt or a non-visa exempt country, and apply for the necessary travel documents accordingly. As a traveler from a non-visa exempt country, you will need a visitor visa. On the other hand, if you are a traveller from a visa-exempt country, you will only need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA).Ultimately, it is important to understand that along with a temporary resident permit or an approved application for criminal rehabilitation, you will also need a valid visitor visa or eTA to be permitted to enter the country.