Immigration Blog about US & Canadian Immigration matters.

Steps in Obtaining Refugee Status in Canada

Canada is a progressive country that believes in human rights and equality for all and any individuals who enter. For any individuals who are entering Canada because they are being persecuted in their home countries or are unable to return to their country for reasons such as war, they may be able to apply for refugee status in Canada. Canada offers these types of individuals protection. In this article, I will address what constitutes refugee status in Canada, who is eligible for refugee status in Canada, and how to apply for refugee protection in Canada.

What is Refugee Status

A refugee is an individual who has fled from their home country due to well-founded fear of persecution. Furthermore, other attributes that come along with refugee status is that they are unable to return to their home country due to persecution or worse. In addition, these individuals have unfortunately have had to endure horrific experiences. It is important to note, however, that refugees are much different than immigrants. An immigrant is defined as an individual who voluntarily chooses to settle permanently in another country from their own home country. In contrast, a refugee is defined as an individual who involuntarily is forced to flee their home country and need to relocate elsewhere.

Human Capital Priorities (HCP) Stream Introduced in Ontario

In Canada, Ontario is the most populated province and it continues to be a very popular destination for new immigrants looking to settle in Canada. Luckily, Ontario has an immigrant nomination program that helps skilled foreign nationals who have work experience obtain permanent residency in Canada, specifically Ontario, and thus contribute to the Canadian economy. It is important to note that the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is quite helpful to any Express Entry candidate as it provides them with the most points out of all Express Entry factors. For instance, a successful candidate may be able to obtain up to 600 additional points from the PNP program. As a result, they may be able to receive an invitation to apply at the next available draw for the Express Entry pool. Additionally, candidates under the Express Entry pool, who have work experience in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) occupations, are now prioritized by the Ontario province under this new initiative that was introduced on June 26, 2017. In this article, I will address the new Stream and how it affects the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) and Express Entry altogether.

Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Workers

In order to qualify under this Stream of Human Capital Priorities (HCP), a part of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), candidates must be eligible as ICT workers under Express Entry. As of June 26, Ontario has specifically targeted these types of workers for their province. The province of Ontario is searching for candidates under Express Entry with experience in specific ICT occupations and as a result the candidates are eligible to receive a Notification of Interest (NOI), which was previously called an invitation to apply for provincial nomination. Thankfully, this is even the case if they had scored less than 400 points under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).

Questions and Answers for Common-Law Sponsorship

In this article, I will address questions and answers for Common-Law sponsorship in order for you to further understand what a Common-Law sponsorship entails. A Common-Law sponsorship is intended for Canadian citizens and permanent residents who wish to sponsor their common-law partner to come to Canada and receive permanent residency. It was created to give Canadian citizens and permanent residents an opportunity to finally be united with their spouses. The Canadian government believes that individuals live a better life when they are united with their families and reinforce family reunification. If you feel as though you would be eligible to apply for a Common-Law sponsorship, I suggest you read our article on “How to Sponsor your Common-Law Partner” before reading this question and answer article. This article is intended to clarify any misunderstanding or confusion with regards to a Common-Law sponsorship.

Q: What documents can my common-law partner and I provide to prove we have been living together for over a year?

A: There are specific documents that you and your common-law partner can provide to Immigration to prove that you have been living together for over a year. Such documents include, shared ownership, lease or rental agreements of residential property; joint bills for shared utilities, such as electricity, telephone, gas, etc.; important documents that show the same address, such as driver’s licenses and insurance policies; and lastly, identification documents. Keep in mind, Immigration will accept any other documentation you can provide that you feel would prove that you and your common-law partner have been living together for over a year.

Important Documents Needed for Spousal Sponsorship

When applying to sponsor your spouse to Canada as a permanent resident, it is very important to consider and recognize the important documents that you must provide Immigration Canada. These documents will be the supporting evidence to prove why your spouse should be able to gain entry into Canada and eventually become a permanent resident. If you are unable to provide specific documents, it is recommended to provide Immigration with an explanation why. You should make sure the explanation is reasonable and valid, if not Immigration does have the authorization to refuse the application. Therefore, in this article, I will explain the important documents needed for a spousal sponsorship application as well as other factors you should consider.

Before Submitting Documents Make Sure you’re Eligible

Before applying for a spousal sponsorship application and providing Immigration with the appropriate documentation, it is always advisable to first determine whether you are eligible to sponsor your spouse. You must prove to Immigration that you are eligible and financially capable to sponsor your spouse. Furthermore, there are certain eligibility requirements that need to be considered in order to sponsor your spouse. The eligibility requirements for a spousal sponsorship are that you are required to be at least 18 years of age; you are required to be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada; you are required to prove that you have not received any social assistance for reasons other than disability; you are required to prove that you have necessary income to provide the basic needs for your spouse; and lastly, you are required to sign an undertaking and should not have any active undertakings.

Steps to Sponsor your Spouse to Canada

Before you can sponsor your spouse to Canada, there are several different factors that you should consider. Some factors include your eligibility to sponsor, the type of relationship you will indicate on the application and whether the application will be in Canada or overseas. The most important factor is whether or not you can sponsor your spouse and if you are eligible to; if you are not, then you will not be able to sponsor. Furthermore, you must also ensure you are married to your spouse in order to do a spousal sponsorship. Lastly, you must determine whether your spouse will be in Canada while the application is being processed or whether they will be overseas. Therefore, in this article, I will explain the eligibility requirements for spousal sponsorship, the documents needed for the application, the difference between inland and overseas spousal sponsorship, and more.

Eligibility to Sponsor your Spouse

As previously mentioned, this is the most important factor of a spousal sponsorship application. The reason being is because the sponsor must be able to prove to Immigration that they are eligible and financially able to sponsor their spouse. There are certain requirements that need to be considered prior to applying to sponsor your spouse. Below is a list of eligibility requirements for the sponsor.

Applying for a Work Permit On and/or Off Campus

As an International student in Canada, experiencing the Canadian education system and observing the Canadian culture, can definitely insight some interest in possibly working and seeing what the Canadian economy has to offer. More international students now want to work while studying and they have two options to choose from on-campus and off-campus. The Canadian economy and workplaces are very unique and can attract many students. Of course in order to work in Canada, you must be authorized to do so. Therefore, in this article, I will explain the eligibility requirements for international students wanting to work while studying in Canada, either on-campus or off-campus, and the difference between the two options.

Working On-Campus

The convenience of working on-campus can appeal to many international students as many are unfamiliar with the surrounding environments and are comfortable being near their school and residence. There are eligibility requirements that one must take into consideration before working on-campus. One must abide by these requirements in order to work at the educational institution without a valid work permit. The eligibility requirements are listed below.

Canada Plans for an Increase in Tourism

Canada has always been a very welcoming country to any and all citizens of the world population. As a result, the Canadian government has implemented a New Tourism Vision to increase the number of international tourists who are visiting the country by a total of 30 percent estimated to happen by 2021. This New Tourism Vision is an extensive 20-point plan that describes in detail the plans Canada has for its international visitors. Canada hopes to meet this plan and if the country is successful, Canada will be one of the top 10 most visited countries in the world, hopefully by 2025. Therefore, in this article, I will address the 20 points in the New Tourism Vision and what this means for Canada in the future.

Current Tourism

Because Canada has always encouraged foreign nationals to visit Canada, part of the plan is already in place. As of right now, Canada is recognized as the top international destination for 2017 by The New York Times, Lonely Planet and Conde Nast. Canada is known worldwide for its welcoming culture, international festivals, lively cities, and last but most importantly, its stunning landscapes. In addition, Canada has always been a stable and secure environment with an up and coming world-class culinary scene and more. With all of these wonderful aspects in mind, it is not surprising that the tourism has increased substantially over the years.

Romanians, Bulgarians and Brazilians May Now Be Visa-Exempt

There are many countries all around the world that desire to be visa-exempt as the application and process can be somewhat overwhelming and confusing for a lot of people. Luckily for Romanians, Bulgarians and Brazilians, they no longer have to apply for a Temporary Resident Visa when travelling to Canada by air. There are specifications, however, such as you must have held a Canadian visitor visa in the past 10 years or currently hold a U.S. visitor visa. If this applies, then you will only need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to enter Canada. Additionally, when visiting Canada, you may only stay temporarily for a maximum of six months. In this article, I will address the changes for these countries in particular and why these changes were introduced.

Why the Visa Requirement was Lifted?

Although the visa requirement being lifted is only anticipated to change on December 1, 2017, as per Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), many individuals from Romania and Bulgaria are now extremely enthusiastic about the idea of being able to come to Canada without first obtaining a visa. After this lift happens, these individuals will only require an eTA to fly to Canada. The Canadian government has yet to decide whether they will extend the lifting of the visa requirement to all of the citizens of Brazil.

Questions and Answers for Spousal Sponsorship

In this article, I will address questions and answers for spousal sponsorship in order for you to further understand what a spousal sponsorship entails. A spousal sponsorship is intended for Canadian citizens and permanent residents who wish to sponsor their spouse to come to Canada. It was created to give Canadian citizens and permanent residents an opportunity to finally be united with their spouses as it is said that individuals live a better life when they are united with their families. If you feel as though you would be eligible to apply for a spousal sponsorship, I suggest you read our article on “How Can I Sponsor my Spouse” before reading this question and answer article. This article is intended to clarify any misunderstanding or confusion with regards to a spousal sponsorship.

Q: When is the appropriate time to submit my police certificates for my spousal sponsorship application?

A: Immigration has made changes with regards to police certificates and exactly when is the appropriate time to submit them. Should you already have your police certificates on hand, you may submit them with your application. However, if you have not yet completed your police certificates you may submit them when Immigration requests them from you. This is usually requested when the application is being processed and Immigration will send you a communication to notify you, either by e-mail or mail, depending on if you have an online account or not.

Questions and Answers for Study Permits

In this article, I will address questions and answers for study permits, as there are several different student circumstances, in order for you to further understand what a study permit entails. A study permit is intended for foreign nationals who wish to come to Canada to pursue an education. It was created to give foreign nationals an opportunity to further their education and careers through a Canadian educational institution. If you feel as though you would be eligible to apply for a study permit, I suggest you read our article on "How can I get a Study Permit for Canada as an International Student" before reading this question and answer article. This article is intended to clarify any misunderstanding or confusion with regards to a study permit.

Q: Do I need a study permit before attending any educational institution or are there some exceptions?

A: There are some exceptions to the educational institutions that you may attend, that do not require a study permit. There are some specific courses that do not require a study permit; they are listed below.

What is an Electronic Travel Authorization eTA

The Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) was introduced as a new entry requirement for visa-exempt foreign nationals who wish to enter Canada by air and do not require a visa to enter Canada. In comparison with a visa (temporary resident visa TRV) , an eTA application is usually approved within minutes of applying and is a much faster process (maximum waiting period 72 hours). If you are travelling by land or sea, you do not require an eTA if you are a visa-exempt foreign national. This can become extremely beneficial if you are travelling to Canada on short notice. In this article, I will explain who needs an eTA, the cost of an eTA, the length of validity for an eTA, how to apply for an eTA and steps after applying for an eTA.

Do I need an eTA as visitor to Canada?

Whether you need an eTA or not strictly depends on how you intend on travelling to Canada. As previously mentioned, if you are planning on arriving in Canada by air and you are a foreign national from a visa-exempt country, then you will need an eTA prior to arriving. In order to find out whether your country of origin is a visa-exempt country, it is always best to go onto the government of Canada website and check. If your country is not a visa exempt country, then you will require a visa also known as Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) prior to entering Canada.

What is a Visitor Visa?

Do you wish to visit Canada for tourism purposes? Or, do you wish to visit Canada to see family members or friends that you have not seen in a while? Or, do you wish to visit Canada for business purposes? If you said yes to any of the above questions, you will most likely need a visitor visa to enter Canada. It is important to note that there are specific requirements and documentation that you must provide in order to obtain a visitor visa. In this article, I will explain in detail, who needs a visitor visa to come to Canada, what the requirements are for a visitor visa, how to start the process of obtaining a visitor visa and further steps.

Who Needs a Visitor Visa to Come to Canada?

In order to determine whether you need a visitor visa to come to Canada, you must first determine whether or not your country of origin is a visa exempt country or not. If not, then you will require a visa. To find out, I suggest going on the government of Canada website and choose your specific country to find out whether or not you need a visa. If you do not need a visa to enter Canada, you will most likely need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) . Please refer to our blog on “Who Needs an ETA” for more information. If you do need a visa, then please continue reading this blog as it will show you the next steps you need to take.

Steps to Hiring a Live-in Caregiver

Do you wish to have someone help you with the basic necessities of someone you care about? For instance, do you need constant assistance for eldercare, individuals with special needs or childcare? If this is the case, then you should hire a live-in caregiver. Live-in caregivers will help and assist you with these specific circumstances. There are certain steps that you must take in order to ultimately hire a live-in caregiver. In this article, I will explain and outline the steps needed from the employer to hire a live-in caregiver as well as the steps that the live-in caregiver needs to take.

How to Find a Live-in Caregiver

As an employer looking to find a live-in caregiver, there are standard requirements that need to be met. Through the live-in caregiver program, the employee must have a valid work permit to proceed with being hired. Therefore, the employer must ensure that this is done before offering employment. The employer must also ensure that they have attempted to hire employees through advertisements, personal or business contacts, and/or hiring agencies. After this is done, then they may be able to go through the application process of the live-in caregiver program in order to hire them.

What Kind of Jobs Lead to Permanent Residence

Would you like to know whether your career or current job can lead you to permanent residency in Canada? Is it your dream to work in a career that you love but also live in a country of your dreams, such as Canada? With the Federal Skilled Worker Program, you may be able to do so. In this article, I will outline the requirements you need in order to be eligible under this specific program, as well as detail the specific jobs/careers that Canada is currently looking for.

Eligibility for the Federal Skilled Worker Program

In order for you to apply under this specific economic immigration program, there are some minimum requirements that you must have. The minimum requirements are:

Do you Desire to become a Canadian Citizen?

Has it been a dream of yours to finally become a Canadian citizen after many years of being a permanent resident? This can be possible with the Canadian citizenship application. To become a Canadian citizen is not an easy process but we will let you know the requirements and restrictions for citizenship.

Who may apply for Canadian Citizenship?

In order to become a Canadian citizen, you are required to meet the following conditions:

Humanitarian and Compassionate Consideration

It can be extremely frustrating if your application for Permanent Residency is refused and you feel as though your specific case is justified. In these special circumstances, you may be able to apply under the Humanitarian and Compassionate consideration, better known as H&C. There are several restrictions with respect to examination of applications for H&C consideration.

Who Qualifies for Humanitarian and Compassionate Consideration

A foreign national who is inadmissible or who does not meet the requirements of the Act or Regulations may make a written request for consideration of H&C under A25(1).

Do you Qualify for a Super Visa?

One might ask, what is the difference between a Visitor Visa and a Super Visa? Is the super visa superior to the visitor visa, and if so, in what way? In fact, a super visa is not superior to the visitor visa as they both have the same purpose. The visitor visa is intended for any individual, of any age, to enter Canada temporarily. On the other hand, the super visa is intended for visitors in Canada with an eligible parent or grandparent that can visit family in Canada for up to two years without the need to renew their status. This gives the family of citizens or permanent residents in Canada the opportunity to visit and explore the wonders that Canada has to offer!

What the Super Visa Offers

The Super Visa is intended to be a multi-entry visa that provides multiple entries for a period of up to 10 years. This can be extremely beneficial for family members who wish to stay with their family for a longer period of time than just a couple of years. The key difference compared to a Visitor Visa is that the Super Visa allows an individual to stay for up to two years on initial entry into Canada, while a 10-year multiple entry Visitor Visa would only have a status period for each entry of six months only.

International Students Studying in Canada

Do you want to study in Canada? Do you feel like the educational opportunities are better here than in your home country? If so, you should apply for a Study Permit. It is important to note that a study permit is necessary for some foreign nationals; however, there are some foreign nationals that do not require a study permit to study in Canada. In this article I will explain in detail, who needs a study permit and who does not, how to start the process of obtaining a study permit and any further steps.

Who does not need a Study Permit?

There are some necessary steps one has to make before applying for a study permit in Canada. Yet, there are some foreign nationals that do not require a study permit at all. If you fall under any of these categories below, you do not need a study permit to study in Canada:

Group of Five Sponsorship (G5)

The United Nations has reported that in 2016 there were a record number of refugees displaced all over the world. Today that number is soaring far above 65 million people, and is the highest number of refugees that the world has ever seen; including during the time of the holocaust.

This is devastating number of people that have been forced to leave their home country in order to escape war, persecution or natural disasters. Because of the increased number of refugees in the world today, Canada has opened its doors to these individuals— through a program called the Group of Five (G5) Sponsorship.

Permanent Residence for Province of Alberta

Canada is one of the second largest country in the world with a population of over 35 million people and welcomes every year over 200,000 immigrants. Canada has been ranked by the United Nations one of the best places to live as it offers great quality of life, great educational opportunities, low unemployment and crimes rates and life expectancy is comparably longer than most other countries. Aside from the great opportunities it offers, Canada is a beautiful country with millions of square kilometers of rolling hills, flat plains and beautiful mountain ranges. Canada is also known for multiculturalism, filled with immigrants from all over the world that contribute to Canada’s economic growth. The diversified backgrounds and cultures is what makes Canada unique and you would never feel far away from home.

If you are looking to immigrate to Canada and sought interest in the province of Alberta then the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program AINP may be for you.