Immigration Canada

Nova Scotia: An Immigration Destination

Fishing Boats in Yarmouth, NS (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In recent weeks, the small Canadian province of Nova Scotia has been under the spotlight for many prospective immigrants. This is due largely to the creation of a new stream of immigration called the Regional Labour Market Demand Stream (RLMD), which is administered as part of the Nova Scotia Nominee Program. Unlike most Canadian immigration programs, the RLMD stream does not require a job offer in order to apply.

The new stream offers the chance for prospective immigrants to settle in one of Canada’s most culturally dynamic provinces. Individuals wishing to obtain Canadian Permanent Residency through the RLMD stream or any of Canada’s immigration programs may wish to consider Nova Scotia, and to learn more about what the province has to offer.

The Nova Scotia Nominee Program

The Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) is the Provincial Nominee Program for Nova Scotia. Through the NSNP, Nova Scotia is able to target immigrants with the skills that are most needed throughout the province.

The RLMD stream is one of three streams currently administered by the NSNP. It’s creation was announced just a few weeks ago, and it began receiving applications on March 6, 2014. To learn more about the RLMD stream, please read our full coverage of the announcement from our last issue.

The NSNP has released some additional information regarding the stream and its requirements, including the following:

At this time, there is no limit to the number of applications that will be accepted for review under the RLMD stream. This year only 150 applicants to this stream will receive a Provincial Nomination Certificate, but not necessarily the first 150 applications submitted.
Applicants who do not receive a Provincial Nomination Certificate for this year will be given the option of withdrawing their application or remaining in the queue for next year.
Both IELTS General and IELTS Academic tests will be accepted as proof of English proficiency.

What is Nova Scotia?

Nova Scotia is Canada’s second-smallest province in area, but with almost 1 million residents it is the most densely populated in the country. It is located in Eastern Canada, close to the province of New Brunswick and the American state of Maine. It is one of the country’s three Maritime Provinces, and is almost completely surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean.

Nova Scotia’s capital, Halifax, is a city of about 400,000 residents. It is home to world class universities such as Dalhousie University, the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, and Saint Mary’s University. Despite its modest size, Halifax is internationally renowned for its active music, art, and theatre scenes. A large number of Canada’s most famous actors and painters call Halifax home.

Working in Nova Scotia

According to a government study, Nova Scotia expects to experience “significant growth” due to retirement rates as well as expansion of new sectors of industry. These sectors includes: aerospace, information technology, skilled trades, financial services, and healthcare.

It is no surprise that the 43 eligible occupations for the RLMD stream fall largely within the scope of the province’s emerging sectors. In fact, Nova Scotia’s economy is expanding so quickly that the province has projected that it needs 75,000 new workers between the years 2011 and 2016. A full two-thirds of these new jobs will originate from the service sector.

“When it comes to career options, Nova Scotia is setting itself up to compete with some of the world’s best markets,” said Attorney David Cohen. But work is just one aspect of life in Canada. Residents of Nova Scotia find that, between bustling cities and towns and miles of pristine beach and forest, the province truly has the best of both worlds. The NSNP’s new stream is a rare opportunity for applicants to have the chance of moving to one of Canada’s best kept secrets.”

Below are the detailed eligibility requirements for the other streams of the NSNP

Skilled Worker Stream

The Skilled Worker Stream is composed of three different categories, each with their own eligibility criteria. They are as follows:

Skilled Workers

This category is for individuals with experience in an occupation classified as NOC level 0, A or B, also known as skilled occupations. Priority is given to these high skilled applicants. See below for further eligibility requirements.

Semi-Skilled Workers

This category is for workers whose occupations are classified as NOC level C, also known as semi-skilled occupations. Applications in this category will only be considered if all eligibility criteria are met and the applicant has worked for at least 6 months with a Nova Scotia employer that is supporting their application for permanent residency.

Priority is given to semi-skilled workers whose employers:

Have made an effort to recruit Canadian citizens or permanent residents for the position; and
Can demonstrate that they will provide support to assist newcomers with settlement needs

See below for further eligibility criteria.

Low-Skilled Workers

This category is for individuals whose occupations are classified as NOC level D, also known as unskilled occupations. Applications in this category will only be considered if all eligibility criteria are met and the applicant has worked for at least 6 months with a Nova Scotia employer that is supporting their application for permanent residency.

Priority is given to low-skilled workers whose employers:

Have made an effort to recruit Canadian citizens or permanent residents for the position; and
Can demonstrate that they will provide support to assist newcomers with settlement needs

See below for further eligibility criteria.

General Criteria for this Stream
In addition to the general eligibility outlined above, all applicants, regardless of their work experience, must meet the following eligibility requirements:

If living in Canada, provide proof of legal status
Be between the ages of 21 and 55 at the time of application
Receive a full time, permanent job offer from a Nova Scotia employer.
Have at completed at least a high school level of education (12 years of study), and;
- Have the education, training, and licensing/certification needed to perform the job in Canada, if applicable
Have at least 12 months of relevant work experience
Meet language requirements for the program
- For NOC levels 0, A or B – CLB level 5 in English or French
- For NOC levels C or D – CLB level 4 in English or French
Demonstrate the intent and ability to settle in the Province of Nova Scotia

Employers sponsoring applicants through this program must meet the following requirements:

Be permanently established in Nova Scotia

Have operated in Nova Scotia, under current management, for at least two years
Issue a full time, permanent job offer to the individual applicant.
- The job must be located in Nova Scotia
- The job must have salary and benefits that meet Provincial employment standards
- The job must be in a position for which there is a shortage of qualified Canadian citizens or permanent residents
- Job offers made to NOC level C or D occupations will be considered based on local labour market requirements and conditions
Demonstrate recruitment efforts to fill the position with a qualified Canadian citizen or permanent resident

Family Business Worker

This stream helps Nova Scotia employers hire workers that are close relatives and have specific skills that may be difficult to find amongst Canadian citizens and permanent residents. In order to be eligible, the identified worker, or their spouse, must be related to the family business owner or the spouse of the business owner in one of the following ways:

Son or daughter
Brother or sister
Niece or nephew (children of brothers or sisters)
Uncle or aunt (parent’s brothers or sisters)
Grandchild

They may also be a step or half relative of the same degree.

In addition, applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:

Have legal status in their country of residence
Have a permanent, full time job offer from a Nova Scotia business belonging to a close family member
Have the necessary education, training, qualifications or licensing/accreditation needed to perform the job
Have the appropriate work experience needed for the position
Demonstrate the intent and ability to settle in the Province of Nova Scotia

In addition, the family business owner, or their spouse, must meet the following criteria:

Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
Lived in Nova Scotia for at least two years
Own at least 33.3% of the business issuing a job offer.
- Business should be under current management for at least two years
Have a financially viable business that can provide the salary and other parameters outlined in the job offer
Not received social assistance or employment assistance within the last two years
Issue a full-time, permanent job offer to the close family member that meets the following requirements:
Has a salary, benefit, and working condition standards that meet provincial employment standards
- Does not contravene bargaining agreements or settle any labour disputes
- For occupations requiring certification, applicant should contact a provincial certification organization and verify they meet requirements
The family business owner or their spouse/common-law or conjugal partner may support an application under this category no more than once every two years. They may have to provide documentation to show that previously supported family members have settled into Nova Scotia, found employment, and not needed social assistance.

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/2014/04/nova-scotia-immigration-destination-043321.html

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 following occupations are currently designated as in-demand and thus eligible for this program:

Managers in Health Care
Retail and wholesale trade managers
Restaurant and Food Service Managers
Financial Auditors and Accountants
Other Financial Officers
Civil Engineers
Mechanical Engineers
Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Computer Engineers (Except Software Engineers and Designers)
Information Systems Analysts and Consultants
Database Analysts and Data Administrators
Software Engineers and Designers
Computer Programmers and Interactive Media Developers
Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Information systems testing technicians
Specialist Physicians
General Practitioners and Family Physicians
Dentists
Pharmacists
Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists
Physiotherapists
Occupational Therapists
Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
Medical Laboratory Technologists
Respiratory Therapists, Clinical Perfusionists and Cardiopulmonary Technologists
Medical Radiation Technologists
Medical Sonographers
Licensed Practical Nurses
Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment
Psychologists
Early Childhood Educators and Assistants
Retail Trade Supervisors
Chefs
Cooks
Contractors and supervisors, machining, metal forming, shaping and erecting trades and related occupations
Machinists and Machining and Tooling Inspectors
Industrial Electricians
Welders and related machine operator
Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanics
Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers
Crane Operators
Supervisors, Other Mechanical and Metal Products Manufacturing

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/nova-scotia-announces-immigration-stream-job-offer-needed-033285.html

Quebec Announces New Caps for Immigration Programs

English: Flag of . Color converted to RGB from the EPS file from the Government of Quebec which you'd have to assume is as authoritative as you can get. Français : Drapeau du Québec. Couleurs converties en RGB à partir du fichier EPS du Gouvernement du Québec. Русский: Флаг Квебека (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Government of Quebec has announced new intake caps for its skilled worker, investor, entrepreneur and self employed immigration programs. By enforcing strict limits on application acceptance, Quebec is ensuring that it will receive a manageable load of applications this year. It will also reward proactive individuals who prepare and submit applications as soon as possible, before caps close.

The new intake caps are as follows:

Skilled Workers – Between April 1, 2014 and March 31, 2015, a maximum of 6,500 applications will be accepted for review by the Quebec Skilled Worker (QSW) program.

Investors – Between September 8th and 19th, 2014, a maximum of 1,750 applications will be accepted for review by the Quebec Investor Program. No more than 1,200 applications will be accepted from any one country. There is no cap for investors who speak at least a high-intermediate level of French.

Entrepreneurs and Self-Employed Persons – The Government of Quebec will accept a maximum of 500 applications from entrepreneurs and self-employed persons.

What This Means for Skilled Workers

Applicants to the QSW program will see the greatest change in application intake. The upcoming year’s cap of 6,500 is less than half than the 20,000 application limit that was instituted this past year.

In the past ten months, over 10,000 applications were accepted for review by the QSW program. If interest in the program continues to grow, it means that in the coming months applicants will have to work fast to prepare their applications before the cap fills.

“The Province of Quebec has always been a popular destination for immigrants, and the QSW program has been its most popular immigration program,” said Attorney David Cohen. “In the past, there were relatively few restrictions in terms of how many applications would be accepted for review. The new cap means that prospective applicants must compete against the clock and against each other to make sure they secure a place in the queue.”

What This Means for Investors

The cap placed on the Quebec Investor Program is the same as last year. Last year, despite accepting just 1,750 new applications within a limited timeframe, the ever-popular program received applications from over 5,000 investors.

“The Quebec government will be receiving investor applications for just two weeks this fall,” said Attorney David Cohen. “It goes without saying that, with such a short timeframe for submission, only those individuals who are completely prepared in advance will be successful. Since preparing an investor file can be rather complicated, I encourage interested individuals to begin as soon as possible.”

At present, no additional announcements have been made about Quebec programs moving forward. One thing that can be sure, however, is that Quebec will continue to be a popular destination for immigrants from around the world.

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

Source: http://www.cicnews.com/2014/04/quebec-announces-caps-immigration-programs-043324.html

Immigration Processing Times Appear to be Decreasing

The logo of the Government of Canada. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Over the past few years, the Government of Canada has expressed its intention to bring immigration processing times down to approximately 12 months or less. Recently, it appears as though the government has begun to deliver on its promises.

According to Attorney David Cohen, of the Canadian immigration law firm Campbell Cohen, some clients who applied to the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program in summer 2013 are now receiving passport requests. A passport request is the final step in the process of obtaining Canadian Permanent Residency.

“It is exciting to see that processing times are beginning to decrease to under a year,” said Attorney Cohen. “Shortening the timeframe for application processing means that Canada gets the workers it needs in a timely fashion, and applicants are assessed within a reasonable timeframe that allows them to plan for their futures.”

The Politics of Processing Times

In years past, the government was facing a large backlog of applications for a number of programs, most notably the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP). These backlogs, along with a number of other factors, resulted in increasing wait times for applicants.

Long wait times presented a problem for both Canada and the applicants waiting to be assessed. Without the ability to quickly issue permanent residence to desirable candidates, Canada faced the possibility of becoming less competitive in the global contest for the best immigrants. Applicants, on the other hand, were made to wait in a state of uncertainty for long periods of time.

Solving the problem required program reforms on many levels. These reforms included the controversial decision to do away with some backlogged applications, the consolidation of some processing centers into the newly created Ottawa Case Processing Center, and the creation of new programs with faster processing times, such as the Canadian Experience Class.

What This Means for Applicants

According to Attorney Cohen, a reduction of processing times can mean only good news for applicants.

“In short, the faster an application is processed, the faster that applicant will see their immigration goals materialize,” said Attorney Cohen. “Hopefully, the promising timelines that my firm has been experiencing with the Federal Skilled Worker Program will continue, and expand to other immigration programs in the near future.”

Speedy processing times are optimal for a number of reasons. For example, immigration programs and program requirements can change regularly. A processing time of one year or less helps to ensure that applicants who submit under a certain set of regulations will be assessed before those regulations change. In addition, shorter and more predictable immigration timelines allow applicants to more effectively plan for their future settlement in Canada, for instance by contacting employers and looking for housing.

The Canadian government has made significant investments of time and money to bring down processing times. As recent examples from the FSWP have shown, the investments will likely pay off for both Canada and future immigrants.

To find out if you are eligible to apply to any of over 60 Canadian immigration programs, please fill out a free online assessment today.

Source: http://www.cicnews.com/2014/04/immigration-processing-times-decreasing-043326.html

Canada Immigration Without Job Offer under Nova Scotia Nominee Program

Welcome to Bienvenue à Nova Scotia (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Canadian province of Nova Scotia has introduced Regional Market Stream under the Nova Scotia Nominee Program for permanent residence without requiring a job offer from an employer in Canada. The program is intended for those foreign skilled professionals who can meet provincial labour market and economic needs and intend to settle in Nova Scotia. The Nominee along with spouse and dependents can be approved by the province to become permanent residents of Canada after approval by Citizenship and Immigration Canada. It is a two step application process. First the foreign skilled professional applies for Nova Scotia Nominee Program and gets nominated for the program. The applicant then applies to Citizenship and Immigration Canada to get the final approval to immigrate to Canada. The province is now accepting the application under this new immigration stream.

Eligibility Criteria

You must be between the ages of 21 and 55 years
You have achieved a minimum language standard on the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5
You have required amount of funds to settle in Nova Scotia
You occupation must be among National Occupational Classifications (NOC) A, B or O and must be in good demand
You must have at least 2 years of continuous full time work experience within the last 5 years in the field related to your intended profession in Nova Scotia
You must have degree, diploma or certificate from recognized post-secondary educational institution.
You have intentions to settle in Nova Scotia permanently
You have completed the Employment and Settlement Plan
You have passport or travel document of the country where you are residing legally.

Application Process:

Eligible foreign skilled professionals apply for nomination by the Nova Scotia Immigration for the Regional Labour Market Demand Stream. Nova Scotia immigration department will assess the application to check if the applicant fulfills all the requirements or the program and if the applicant will be able establish economically in Nova Scotia. The province will nominate the applicant for permanent residence in the province.

Applicants who are successfully nominated under the Regional Labour Market Demand Stream will then apply to the Citizenship and Immigration Canada for permanent residence. Citizenship and Immigration Canada will assess the application to check if the applicant meets the admissibility requirements such as medical and security. The final decision to approve the application for permanent residence is made by Citizenship and Immigration Canada. If the application is approved, applicant can then come to Canada along with spouse and dependents as permanent resident.

Nexus Canada to discuss if you are eligible to apply under the Nova Scotia Nominee Program under the Regional Labour Market Demand Stream.

Ontario proposes a Québec style Provincial Nominee Program

Le château Frontenac –Vieux-Québec / Old Quebec, ville de Québec / Quebec city(Québec, Canada) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Written By: Amy Whittam

According to Ontario Immigration Minister Michael Coteau, Ontario wants what Québec has – a special agreement with the Government of Canada on immigration. Like Québec, Ontario too would like more power to choose its own immigrants and to set its own targets for attracting skilled workers to the province.

This past month the Ontario government introduced legislation proposing an expansion of the Provincial Nominee Program. The program would grow from 1,300 economic immigrants to 5,000 accepted per year. Similar to Québec, under this new legislation Ontario would have the discretion to develop its own specific selection strategy.

Québec currently has its own set criteria for choosing new immigrants who will adapt well to life in Quebec. A skilled worker first applies to the Québec Government for a Certificat de Sélection du Québec (CSQ) and then later can apply to Citizenship and Immigration Canada programs to gain Permanent Residency.

Notwithstanding the very different historical relationship Québec and Ontario have vis-à-vis the Canadian Government, Ontario also has cause to seek a province-specific approach to immigration. Ontario is looking to grow its immigration program beyond the existing 100,000 new residents per year. Ontario also seeks to court a far grater number of skilled professionals in fields like Information Technology, which are in high demand in the province. Annual caps to the Federal Skilled Worker Program introduced earlier this year by Citizenship and Immigration Canada, may obstruct the Province’s designs on attracting more skilled workers and their families to Ontario.

The Provincial Nominee Program allows employers to fill skilled positions when there is a shortage of qualified candidates to be found within Ontario. Under the proposed new legislation, new immigrants would apply first to an expanded Ontario Provincial Nominee Program. The role of Citizenship and Immigration Canada would then be to clear these applicants on the basis of security and medical admissibility.

source: http://www.bellissimolawgroup.com/2014/03/ontario-proposes-a-quebec-style-provincial-nominee-program.html

Choose the right representative, don’t be a victim of immigration fraud

Immigration Debate at The Weissberg Forum For Discourse (Photo credit: MDGovpics)

Posted by: Claudia Cheung

March is Fraud Prevention Month, and Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander is encouraging newcomers to seek authorized immigration representatives to avoid being a victim of fraud. “Fraud is a very serious issue in our immigration system. Our government is taking action to combat fraud by introducing specific measures in the Strengthening Citizenship Act that will address misrepresentation in the citizenship system.”

Newcomers should be aware that under Canadian law, only authorized immigration representatives are allowed to charge a fee to assist an individual to apply for a Canadian visa. Hiring an unauthorized representative weaken Canada’s immigration system, cost taxpayers money, and can often lead to the refusal of the application. On the other hand, authorized immigration representatives are vastly trained and effectively regulated and will provide newcomers with accurate advice and the best service.

Authorized immigration representatives include:

- Lawyers and paralegals who are members in good standing of a Canadian provincial or territorial law society;

- Notaries who are members in good standing of the Chambre des notaires du Québec; and

- Immigration consultants who are members in good standing of the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council.

Make the right decision, don’t be a victim of immigration fraud

Source: http://www.bellissimolawgroup.com/2014/03/choose-the-right-representative-dont-be-a-victim-of-immigration-fraud.html