Canadian visa post located in the US are second last in the world in processing skilled worker applications

• Canada
• October 11 2011
• 

Author page »

Its glory days they are not: the rankings of the Buffalo-NY visa post responsible for processing Canadian immigration applications have plummeted from being near the top  -in terms of processing times globally - to near last. The Canadian Consulate General in Buffalo-NY, the main office responsible for the processing of Canadian Permanent Residence and temporary visa applications for persons in the USA intending to immigrate to Canada, was known as one of the fastest, most reliable processing centers for Canadian immigration applications globally – until recently. Only the visa posts in Trinidad & Tobago and Pakistan process applications slower than the Buffalo visa post at the moment. This cannot be good news for the many American nationals and persons living in the US who are considering immigrating permanently to Canada. With the highest rate of American immigration into Canada in the past 30 years, it may be the backlog, it may be the management, but something is certainly slowing down the processing of applications at this visa post. Applicants who submitted their documents when the Buffalo visa post had published processing standards of 6-12 months in past years, are dismayed to find out that processing times have grown to 21 months. For Federal Skilled Worker applicants, this delay is compounded by the fact that these applications must first pass a preliminary assessment stage at the Case Processing Centre, which itself takes an additional 5 months at this time. In all, waiting for 26 months may not be such an attractive deal to many highly qualified nationals. The solution? May applicants are instructing their Canadian immigration lawyers to submit their applications at the visa post responsible for their country of nationality. With processing times like 18 months in Damascus-Syria, 15 months for New Delhi – India, and 15 months for Mexico City – Mexico, many applicants, even those who may be working or living in the US, are asking their Canadian immigration lawyers to file their applications at the visa offices responsible for their home countries.    

Colombia FTA gives Canadian firms a big boost

The Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement came into force on August 15, 2011—a key boost for Canadian companies in five important sectors: agriculture, information and communications technologies, mining, oil and gas, and services.

The agreement gives Canadians access to new markets, customers and partnerships, creating stronger supply and production chains. The FTA will:

• Improve market access
• Remove or reduce trade barriers
• Make Canadian goods more competitive
• Reduce or eliminate tariffs on Canadian exports
• Allow free transfer of investment capital
• Provide investor protection and assurances
• Protect against unlawful expropriation
• Assure access to binding international arbitration

A separate double taxation agreement will also ensure people or businesses from one country are not double-taxed for doing business in the other.
The Canadian pork industry, for instance, will likely see its exports double to around $12 million within the next three years, starting immediately, says Jacques Pomerleau, President of Canada Pork International, the industry association that represents Canada’s pork producers.
“We really needed to level the playing field,” says Pomerleau. According to Pomerleau, Canadian pork exporters had to contend with difficult market conditions before this FTA was negotiated. “It used to be very difficult to calculate import tariffs,” he says. “Tariffs would vary constantly. One day we would pay a 25% tariff, the next it would be 5% and you never really knew why. Now, we have transparent and stable access to a very important market and that is great news for Canadian companies.”
Canada’s interest in Colombia is growing strongly, and the market is attracting Canadian businesses—oil and gas, mining and manufacturing in particular. The country has undergone important economic and legal reforms, spurring democracy and global direct investment. The business climate is now stable and predictable, making Colombia a secure business partner and a solid investment destination. Colombia also offers attractive investment incentives. There are more than 40 free trade zones where the corporate tax rate is 15 percent. Also, imported materials are exempt from customs duties and VAT.
For more information, visit The Canadian Trade Commissioner Service.

Opportunities in Colombia
Agriculture

• Exports: Reduced tariffs will offer greater opportunities for Canadian agricultural and food producers. Consumer demand for processed foods and high-value food products is rising steadily.
• Investment: Colombia has 34.5 million hectares available for agricultural land development and a climate that supports efficient production.

Information and communications technologies

• Exports: Colombia needs computer hardware and software, along with networking solutions and telecommunications equipment from foreign sources. The government procurement market is well worth exploring. Specialized software and e-services solutions are also in demand.
• Investment: Opportunities exist for mobile telecommunications, broadband and Internet service providers.

Mining

• Exports: Demand for transportation, early prospecting and drilling equipment is strong. Exploration companies also need geophysical, land surveying, mapping, engineering and environmental planning services.
• Investment: Investors are needed to expand coal and nickel mining production. International firms are also securing rights to explore Colombia’s gold and copper deposits.

Oil and gas

• Exports: Colombia needs equipment and services for all stages of oil and gas production.
• Investment: Opportunities to build and expand petrochemical production and ethanol-producing plants are promising.

Services

• Exports: Transportation infrastructure is needed, including urban transit, roads, ports and airports. Engineering and construction firms stand to benefit from opportunities in the power generation and transmission sector. Environmental services are also in high demand. The government is investing in waste management and water treatment services.
• Opportunities: There are excellent prospects in engineering, forestry, mining, oil and gas financial services, and education.