Language Proficiency Resources for Canadian Immigrants

Successful applicants for Canadian permanent residence have in most cases demonstrated high proficiency in one of Canada’s official languages. Nevertheless, it is very important for all Canadian permanent residents who arrive in Canada to master the English or French language in order to have the best opportunities at securing good employment. On August 7, 2008, the federal government announced the grant of millions of dollars to agencies in Toronto providing settlement services to newcomers, much of which will be used to further language training, communication assessment services, bridge-to-work opportunities, and mentoring and internship placements for internationally trained individuals. It is important for new Canadian immigrants to use the community resources available so that they will have the best possible opportunities at securing employment in Canada.

Immigrating to Canada? Visit www.akcanada.com for more information or a free assessment.

New Resource Centre for Canadian Immigrants

Although Canadian immigrants are required to come to Canada with settlement funds sufficient to maintain themselves while they become settled, it is important to know that resources are available to newcomers to assist with their settlement efforts. Community resources exist which will assist newcomers with finding employment, housing and schools for their children. On August 7, 2008, the opening of a new Immigrant Resource Centre in Scarborough, Ontario was attended by the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. The financial assistance from the Canadian government into such centres for Canadian permanent residents who recently applied for permanent residence in Canada will provide a welcome resource to help newcomers to adjust to their new lives in Canada. Immigrating to Canada? Visit www.akcanada.com for more information or a free assessment.

Canadian Business Immigration Networking Opportunity

Please be advised that the Business Immigration Section of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade is planning a “Doing Business in Ontario” seminar in English on Thursday August 14, 2008 from 8:30am to 12:00pm. This is a half-day orientation on topics relating to business start-up for new Canadian business immigrants. Our many Canadian immigration business clients will benefit from such topics as Services of the Canadian Revenue Agency, Overview of the Employment Standards Act, Information and Services that Business Centers provide and how to have Entrepreneur terms and conditions removed. We encourage our Canadian Immigration business clients to register for this event by going to http://www.2ontario.com for details. Attendance will be limited to recently landed business immigrants who have come to Ontario under the Entrepreneur, Investor or Self-Employed categories. Admission to the seminar is free. However, pre-registration is necessary; registration can be done on-line via the website and the necessary documents can be forwarded by fax to 416-325-6653. *Participants must fax OR mail in a copy of their Record of Landing (IMM 1000) or Confirmation of Permanent Residence (IMM 5292). This is an excellent opportunity to learn about business in Ontario and the seminar can be a great place for newly landed Canadian business immigrants to network with one another and share ideas, problems, and successes. Further details can be obtained by calling Shamim at (416) 325-6975 or Mahshid at 416-325-6976. Immigrating to Canada? Visit www.akcanada.com for more information or a free assessment.

Document Definitions for Canadian Immigration

Document checklists will describe what supporting documents must accompany an application for Canadian immigration . It is worthwhile to understand that the terms “original”, “notarized copy”, “photocopy” and “certified translation” appear on the checklists in order to present the proper form of document to comply with the government’s Canadian Immigration requirements. An original document is the actual document issued by the issuing authority. A photocopy is a copy of the original. A notarized copy is a photocopy that has been signed and stamped by a Notary Public or lawyer who indicates on the notarized copy that he/she has seen the original and is certifying that the photocopy is a true copy of the original that he/she has seen. Finally, a certified translation should contain a copy or original of the foreign language document, the translation in English or French of the foreign language document, and most importantly, an affidavit from the translator confirming that he/she is fluent in the language of the foreign document and in English or French and that the translation is a true translation of the foreign language document. In some cases, government authorized translators have their own stamp or seal but most often the affidavit of translation should be sworn before a notary public or lawyer. Immigrating to Canada? Visit www.akcanada.com for more information or a free assessment.Tags: canada immigration, documents

Abrams & Krochak Will Review Updated Canadian Immigration Documents for Clients

With Canadian immigration applications taking so long to process, and with the implementation of the simplified application forms, there is the inevitable request from the visa office for a complete set of application forms, or updated forms, as well as the request for supporting documents or updated documents. Clients of Abrams & Krochak receiving notification of such requests are encouraged to submit copies of documents they intend to forward to the visa office for our review prior to submitting the documents directly to the Canadian embassy or Canadian High Commission to ensure that the supporting documents are sufficient to secure the maximum immigration points. Once Abrams & Krochak has reviewed the supporting documents, the documents and forms can then be forwarded to the visa post for processing Immigrating to Canada? Visit www.akcanada.com for more information or a free assessment..

Temporary Work Permit Process May Be Streamlined

In Ontario, the tourism industry is lobbying the federal government to facilitate the hiring of temporary foreign workers in the hospitality and restaurant sectors as popular vacation areas such as the Muskoka region have a high demand for workers. Currently, the process for small business owners to apply for temporary foreign workers is viewed by many to be cumbersome and slow, however the process is attempting to safeguard jobs for Canadian citizens and permanent residents first before offering temporary work permits to foreign workers. An agreement between the province of Ontario and the federal government may streamline the process and make it easier to obtain the work permits, however the agreement has yet to be signed. Immigrating to Canada? Visit www.akcanada.com for more information or a free assessment.

In Demand Occupations to be Determined for Priority Canadian Immigration

	The Minister of Citizenship and Immigration announced on July 3, 2008 that consultations will take place with the provincial and territorial representatives commencing July 7, 2008 to determine the occupations most in demand in Canada. These consultations will assist the Minister in formulating a list of occupations which will take priority in processing from the Canadian immigration applications received on or after February 27, 2008. Input from concerned stakeholders will be received in August 2008. Once the consultations have concluded and the Minister’s list is finalized, the list will be published which will bring clarity to the new revisions tothe existing immigration law. Immigrating to Canada? Visit www.akcanada.com for more information or a free assessment.

Refugee Claims in Canada and US Remain Unchanged

	On June 27, 2008, the Federal Court of Appeal ruled that the Safe Third Country Agreement between Canada and the USA is a legal agreement which consequently remains in effect.  This means that anyone first arriving in the USA who wishes to claim asylum must do so in the USA and will not be allowed to make a refugee claim in Canada.  The policy behind the agreement is to prevent forum shopping, that is, to prevent persons who intend to make a refugee claim from waiting until they arrive in the most desirable country to commence the refugee claim.  A person in need of protection is expected to request protection at the earliest opportunity once in any country that can provide safety from the agents of persecution that the refugee claimant is fleeing. Immigrating to Canada? Visit www.akcanada.com for more information or a free assessment.

Impact on Immigration Applications for Expectant Parents

From time to time, our married Canadian Immigration clients become expecting parents prior to the issuance of their Canadian immigration visas. A pregnancy during an application for permanent residence, or prior to filing an application to sponsor a wife can create delays in processing. When the medical examination is conducted, a chest x-ray is required. Since x-rays cannot be performed safely on pregnant women, completion of medical examinations must occur after the child is born, and usually require the addition of the child to the application for permanent residence unless one parent is already a Canadian citizen or unless the child is born in Canada. Since processing times are long enough already, couples should be aware of further delays in the event they are expecting a baby within the time frame in which medical examinations will be conducted. Immigrating to Canada? Visit www.akcanada.com for more information or a free assessment. Tags: canada immigration, pregnancy, sponsor, visa

New Immigration Legislation Will be Slow to Impact Skilled Workers

Prior to the last major change in legislation that took place in June of 2002, Canadian immigration applicants in the skilled worker category had an Education and Training Factor (ETF) and Occupational Demand with specific points for each of those two areas assigned to every profession. In that way, it was clear that immigrants to Canada with certain professions had an easier time in meeting the pass mark. With the proposed legislation, the Minister is really turning back the clock as she will be announcing a list of professions that will receive priority, resulting in the others having to wait longer in the line before they are processed. Since these changes only affect applications recently received, it will be some time before the current changes make a dent in the current Canadian Immigration applicant backlog, if at all.

Immigrating to Canada? Visit www.akcanada.com for more information or a free assessment.