Immigration Canada

Nova Scotia Announces New Immigration Stream – No Job Offer Needed

Lighthouse of Peggys Cove, Nova Scotia (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Province of Nova Scotia has created a new immigration option for aspiring permanent residents called the Regional Labour Market Demand Stream. This stream, which is administered under the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP), is particularly exciting because individuals do not need a job offer in Canada to apply.

The Regional Labour Market Demand Stream was announced in early March, and began considering applications on March 6, 2014. Through this stream, Nova Scotia immigration officials are able to select individuals with skills and experience that are in-demand in the province.

Eligibility Requirements for the Regional Labour Market Demand Stream

In order to be eligible for this stream, applicants must meet the following criteria:

Be between the ages of 21 and 55;
Meet minimum language proficiency requirements;
Have at least two years of continuous full-time work experience within the past five years in an eligible occupation*;
Intend to work in an eligible occupation;
Be legally residing in current country of residence;
Have sufficient funds for settlement in Nova Scotia;
Have at least a high school level of education and a degree, diploma, or certificate from a post-secondary institution;

Completed post-secondary program must be at least one year in length

Demonstrate intent to live in Nova Scotia and ability to become economically established in the province;
Complete an Employment Settlement Plan; and
Attend an interview, if required.

*The NSNP has listed 43 eligible occupations. The list includes, but is not limited to, occupations in the following fields: engineering, health services (including nursing), skilled trades, and food service.

The Settlement Plan

For this stream, applicants must complete an Employment Settlement Plan, which is provided by the NSNP. The settlement plan requires applicants to answer questions on the following topics:

Intended occupation in Nova Scotia;
Reasons for choosing Nova Scotia; and
Where they wish to settle and why.

By answering these questions, applicants demonstrate their desire to live in Nova Scotia as well as their readiness to quickly settle into their new homes.

The Application Process

Like other Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), obtaining a permanent resident visa through the NSNP is a two-step process.

First, applicants must apply to the NSNP for provincial approval. For the Regional Labour Market Demand Stream, the NSNP has stated that processing times may be up to one month or more depending on the volume of applications received and the time required to assess the application documents. Nomination under the NSNP is solely at the discretion of the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration. Desirable applicants are then selected by the province and issued a Provincial Nomination Certificate. The overall application, including the Provincial Nomination Certificate, must then be approved by the Federal government.

In the second step of the process, the Federal government assesses an applicant’s admissibility with respect to medical and security/criminality concerns. The final authority rests with the Federal government, who is ultimately responsible for granting Canadian permanent resident status.

What This Means for Applicants

The Regional Labour Market Demand Stream is a chance for individuals to immigrate to one of Canada’s most economically and culturally dynamic provinces.

According to Attorney David Cohen, many prospective immigrants possess valuable skills and experience that are needed in Canada. However, due to the gradual restriction of some immigration programs, many have not yet been successful in obtaining Canadian Permanent Residency.

“In recent years, many if not most new Canadian immigration programs require that individuals first obtain a job offer in Canada in order to be eligible to apply,” said Attorney David Cohen. “The fact that this new stream does not require a job offer is likely to generate large amounts of interest.”

At the moment there is no deadline for submission of applications. However, the NSNP notes that this can change at any time.

“This new program is a wonderful opportunity for individuals to immigrate to one of Canada’s most beautiful provinces,” said Attorney Cohen. “However, such opportunities do not last forever. Now is the time for eligible applicants to seize the moment and have a chance to realize their immigration goals.”

To find out if you are eligible for the NSNP, or any of over 60 Canadian immigration programs, please fill out a free online assessment today.

Source: http://www.cicnews.com/2014/03/canadian-immigration-news-briefs-midmarch-2014-033313.html

How to Sponsor Spouse for Canada Immigration?

by Jessica

The permanent residents and Canadian citizens who are at least 18 years old and have financial resources can sponsor their spouses either living in Canada or outside the country to obtain Canadian permanent residency. The sponsor must also sign a sponsorship undertaking to financially support spouse for a period of three years. The sponsored spouse receives the conditional permanent residence for a period of two years during that time the sponsor and spouse must live in a legitimate relation together.

The sponsored spouse must meet the medical, and security checks and failing to meet the medical and/or security requirements will make family member inadmissible to Canada.

Who is a Spouse?

A spouse is persons who is married to the sponsor and their marriage is legally recognized in Canada and place where the marriage ceremony took place.

If you got married in Canada then you must must have a marriage certificate issued by the province or territory where the marriage took place.

If you were married outside Canada:

the marriage must be valid under the law of the country where it took place and under Canadian law, and
the marriage, if performed in an embassy or consulate, must follow the law of the country where it took place, not the country the embassy or consulate represents.

When Spouse Can not be Sponsored?

The Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations excludes the persons from being sponsored as a spouse if:

you are under age 16,
you (or your sponsor) were married to someone else at the time of your marriage,
your sponsor applied for permanent residence but did not include you on their application as someone who should be examined or
your sponsor has sponsored another spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner in the past, and three years have not passed since that person became a permanent resident (or five years if your application was received on or after March 2, 2012).

Apply for Sponsorship:

The spouse sponsorship is a two step process in which you are assessed for eligibility as a sponsor and if you qualify to sponsor your spouse, then your sponsored spouse must apply for permanent residence.

First a citizen or permanent resident of Canada must apply to sponsor a spouse.
- Your sponsorship application is processed by a Case Processing Centre (CPC) in Canada.
- You will be notified in writing by the CPC about the decision on your sponsorship application.
Your spouse must apply for permanent residence.

Al though it is a two step process, the application for sponsorship and permanent residence must be completed and submitted at the same time.

Spouse living in Canada

Following are the list of forms for sponsoring your spouse living in Canada to become permanent resident:

Spouse Living Abroad:

If the spouse being sponsored lives outside Canada, then you need to use the following forms for sponsoring and Canadian permanent residence:

1. Sponsorship Forms:

2. Permanent Residence Forms:

In addition to the above immigration forms, the sponsored spouse may have to follow specific instructions depending on the country of residence.

Western Europe [IMM 3901]
Includes instructions: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and Vatican City

Eastern Europe [IMM 3902]
Includes instructions for: Armenia, Belarus, Bulgaria, Estonia, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia and Ukraine

China [IMM 3903]
Includes instructions for: People’s Republic of China, Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong and Special Administrative Region of Macau

India [IMM 3904]
Includes instructions for: India, Bhutan and Nepal

Philippines [IMM 3905]
Includes instructions for: Philippines

South East Asia and Pacific [IMM 3906]
Includes instructions for: Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Indonesia, Kiribati, Laos, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Myanmar, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua-New Guinea, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Vietnam

General Asia [IMM 3907]
Includes instructions for: Bangladesh, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Maldives, Mongolia, Pakistan, South Korea, Sri Lanka and Taiwan

Latin America [IMM 3908
Includes instructions for: Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela

Caribbean [IMM 3909]
Includes instructions for: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago

United States [IMM 3910]
Includes instructions for: United States of America, Bermuda, Puerto Rico, and Saint-Pierre and Miquelon

Middle East and Central Asia [IMM 3911]
Includes instructions for: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Cyprus, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, West Bank and Gaza Strip, Yemen

Africa [IMM 3912]
Includes instructions for: Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Central African Republic, Union of the Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Sao Tome é and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe

Japan [IMM 3913]
Includes instructions for: Japan

Where to Send Application?

You must pay the required processing fees and send the completed and signed application forms along with supporting documents to the Case Processing Center in Canada at the following address:

CPC Mississauga
P.O.Box 3000, Station A
Mississauga, ON
L5A 4N6

The form 5476 Use of Representative is optional and you need to submit this form only if you are being representative by authorized immigration consultant or immigration lawyer.

Skilled Worker Immigration through Manitoba Nomination Program

by Jessica

Canadian province of Manitoba has its own nomination program that permits foreign skilled workers with strong connection to the province to obtain Canadian permanent residence. The program is designed to facilitate foreign nationals who have work experience or graduated from Manitoba post-secondary educational institutions.

1. Manitoba Provincial Nomination Program:

Manitoba Provincial Nomination Program (MPNP) is divided into two streams depending on the labor market and foreign national’s ties to the Manitoba community.

Currently working in Manitoba: Applications are accepted from temporary foreign workers and international student graduates who have been working full-time for at least six months and whose employer has offered a full-time, long-term job.
Skilled workers overseas: Applications are accepted from skilled workers who score sufficient points for employability and adaptability based on five factors. The eligibility factors include age, English proficiency, work experience, education and Connection to Manitoba.

2. Connection to Manitoba Community:

The connection to the Manitoba community can be demonstrated through the following:

Applicant has completed an eligible Manitoba education or training program of at least one year for which he/she received a diploma or degree,
Applicant has a valid post-graduation work permit issued by Citizenship and ImmigrationCanada (CIC),
Applicant has a job-offer letter from the Manitoba employer for whom he/she has been working at least six months.

If you have friends and family members in Canadian provinces other than Manitoba then you maynot be eligible for Manitoba Nomination program.

Similarly, if you are in Canada and have completed your education from another province and worked there, you may not qualify for the program as Manitoba wants to determine if the applicant has a sincere desire to settle in Manitoba or not.

The Province of Manitoba has the sole authority to approve the nomination of individuals for permanent residence. The MPNP nomination decision will be based on assessment of your potential for successful economic settlement as an independent skilled worker. Your genuine intention and ability to settle in Manitoba with permanent residency will also play a key role in your eligibility assessment.

What are Rules for Canada Study Visa under Student Partner Program?

by Jessica

Increasing number of students from India are choosing Canada as a preferred designation for higher studies abroad. Over 20,000 India students entered Canada to embark on their journey to the better foreign educational credentials.

Canada provides the opportunity to work during studies, obtain post-graduation work permit and become permanent resident under the Canadian Experience Class. Canadian colleges anduniversities also offer exceptionally top quality education at relatively lower costs compared to United Kingdom, Australia and the United States.

Indian students can benefit from the student partner program (SPP) which is only open for the Indian students. SPP is an administrative collaboration between Canadian visa offices in India and the Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC).

Students do not apply to the SPP, they apply to a participating Canadian college and may be considered under the program if they meet the eligibility criteria. Following is the checklist for Canadian study visa:

Payment of Tuition Fee: Copy of receipts for tuition payment (one Semester/one Year – as asked by the SPP institution)
Proof of Available Funds: You MUST demonstrate the purchase of a special GuaranteedInvestment Certificate (GIC) from a participating Canadian financial institution, in the amount of $10,000 CAD to cover living expenses for your first year in Canada.
Language Proficiency: IELTS test results taken within last 24 months with overall band not less than 6.0, with no individual band lower than 5.5 bands in any module.
Minimum Education: Passed out from 12th Grade in the last two years or completed their Bachelor’s Degree in the last five years with atleast 50% score in their latest qualification.
Graduated with not more than two accumulations per year.

The Canadian High Commission in India recommends that Indian students must submit their applications for Canadian study visa by 01 August for September entry and by 01 December for January entry. The visa office will not be able to process the study visa applications in time and most likely be refused if submitted after the above mentioned deadlines.

http://www.visato.com/canada/what-are-rules-for-canada-study-visa-under-student-partner-program-20131228

Immigration Canada

Nova Scotia Announces New Immigration Stream – No Job Offer Needed