Canada lures Indian students with citizenship offer.

Friday, 5 February 2010

Effective February 14th 2010 international students who attained a degree from a Quebec university will be offered a “certificate of selection” that will fast track them to obtaining Canadian citizenshi

Quebec Premier Jean Charest asserted that , "any student who obtains a bachelor, masters or PhD degree from a Quebec institute will automatically receive a certification of selection to become a citizen of Canada. This is the first time that such a step is being taken, and the idea is to recognise the efforts and skills of those who come to study with us. We have a shortage of skilled labourers, and we need to address that".

This move was intentional in luring students from India as Canada already has long standing partnerships with many Indian institutions.

Since its inception nine months, ago the Student Partners Program has seen approximately 4,000 applications submitted from Indian students intending to study in Canadian colleges and universities.

Immigration Minister Jason Kenny, commented that "international students bring with them new ideas and experiences and contribute both financially and culturally to the communities and institutions where they study."

A pilot project is currently under way to increase the processing time of students. As a result the acceptance rate has doubled and the applications of students are being processed in as little as two and a half weeks. Despite the quick processing time, the system is designed to identify fraudulent applications by administering a series of checks, including requiring the applicant to provide verifiable documentation as well as collecting feedback from colleges as to whether students are attending classes and upholding academic standards.

Currently there are more than 178,000 international students studying in Canada.

If you are interested in Visas to Canada, contact Nexus Canada for information and advice on which visa is best suited to you.

INTERNATIONAL YOUTH EXCHANGE PROGRAMS (SWAP, WHP) CANADA

Canada's International Youth Exchange Program visa allows eligible foreign students and young workers from designated countries to work and live in Canada temporarily in order to learn new skills and gain valuable exposure to the Canadian culture. The programs vary from country to country and are managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs. Many of these programs offer a first-come first-served processing rule, while some programs have a limited number of spaces each year. Each program maintains its own requirements, application quotas, submission deadlines and upper age limits, and applications are processed on a first-come first-served basis.

There may also be conditions attached to the Working Holiday visa which may limit the type of work and the employer for whom the applicant may work. Once granted, Working Holiday visa holders can vacation and travel in Canada , explore the diverse country, and engage in temporary work to supplement their travel expenses.

INTERNATIONAL YOUTH EXCHANGE PROGRAM VISA REQUIREMENTS

In order to qualify for a Working Holiday visa, applicants must:

* Hold a valid passport from a country which has a reciprocal arrangement with Canada;
* Be aged between 18-35 years of age at the time of the application(depending on the relevant program);
* Be a full-time student in some cases, possess no criminal convictions or serious medical conditions; and
* Have sufficient funds for their intended stay in Canada.

INTERNATIONAL YOUTH EXCHANGE PROGRAM VISA ENTITLEMENTS

Once an International Youth Exchange Program visa has been issued, applicants are generally provided with assistance on organizing their trip, job search, assistance and orientation in Canada upon arrival, accommodation arrangement and support. The duration of the visa will usually vary between 1-24 months. Applicants can also pursue language, general interest of self-improvement studies. An International Youth Exchange Program visa is an invaluable opportunity for young people to explore all that Canada has to offer. Applications are accepted on a yearly basis, on a first-come first-served basis. Some Working Holiday visas are issued as a once-in-a lifetime opportunity, while others allow for repeat participation. Temporary work permit holders can extend their stay in Canada by applying for another visa, during their stay.

Travel and Work in Canada

Did you know that if you are between the ages of 18 and 35, you can work legally for up to one year anywhere in Canada? Whether it is to gain valuable international work experience or to finally take that trip of a lifetime you’ve always imagined, why not become one of more than 35,000 young participants from around the world who travel and work in Canada with our program each year?

What is it all about?

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada has negotiated agreements with several countries and has partnered with various organizations. Through these agreements and partnerships, international young participants can easily obtain a temporary work permit and gain professional and personal experience in Canada.

You have two options:

Option A) Are you a modern-day adventure-seeker or a seasoned traveller who wants to plan your experience in Canada on your own? Consult the list of participating countries to see if your country of origin has an agreement with Canada.
Country


Australia
Austria
Belgium
Chile
Czech Republic
Denmark
France
Germany
Ireland
Italy
Japan
Korea, Rep.
Latvia
New Zealand
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom

Option B) In order to gain experience, are you willing to pay a small fee to obtain guidance, assistance and support, either in Canada or in your country? Consult the list of partner countries:

http://www.international.gc.ca/iyp-pij/partner_countries-pays_partenaires.aspx

Canada Immigration Options for People Under Age 30

By: Gianpaolo Panusa
As you probably know, immigration to Canada is restricted to a handful of occupations. One way around this is to acquire experience working in Canada at an appropriate job.

If you are without dependents and under age 30 (and in some cases, even over 30), you may qualify for an international youth exchange that will allow you to work in Canada from 6 months to two years depending on the country you are in.

You can usually work in any occupation you like, however, if you plan on immigrating permanently in the future, it would be crucial to work in a technical or management occupation in NOC A, B or O.

The following countries have youth exchange agreements with Canada:

* Argentina

* Armenia

* Australia

* Austria

* Belarus

* Belgium

* Brazil

* Chile

* Costa Rica

* Czech Republic

* Denmark

* Dominican Republic

* Finland

* France

* Germany

* Ireland

* Italy

* Japan

* Korea

* Lithuania

* Latvia

* Luxembourg

* Mexico

* Netherlands

* New Zealand

* Norway

* Peru

* Poland

* Russia

* Slovak Republic

* South Africa

* Spain

* Sweden

* Switzerland

* United Kingdom

* United States

There are also exchange programs with various international organizations such as AIESEC and IAESTE and others.

Each program has different qualifications, so check to see if any of these programs work for you.

Can I apply to immigrate to Canada from USA?

By Fatima-Zahra Fahmi
I am staying in the USA on a visitor visa and I want to know if I can apply to immigrate to Canada from here as I am not willing to go back to my home country.

Answer:

According to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, applications for permanent residence must be submitted to the visa office responsible for:

• The country where the applicant is residing, if the applicant has been lawfully admitted to that country for at least one year; or
• The applicant’s country of nationality, or if the applicant is stateless, their country of habitual residence other than a country where they are residing without having been lawfully admitted.

The applicant is not required to have been residing in the host country for one year at the time of application, but to have been lawfully admitted to that country for a minimum one year period at the time of application.

In the USA, visitor visas are generally issued for a period of six months but can be extended for another 6 months which makes it up to a total of one year.


If you have lawfully entered the USA and you are currently residing there on the basis of a 6 months visitor visa (B2) you would need to apply for an extension to meet the definition of been lawfully admitted for at least one year. If you already applied and were granted an extension, then you will be able to apply for permanent residence to Canada through the Buffalo visa office. You do not need to wait for the completion of the one year before you apply, you can submit your application as soon as you secure an extension. Also, if you lose your legal status after your application is submitted, whether or not your status is restored, you application will still be processed and assessed on its merits.

However, if you are not sure you can get an extension of your visitor status in the USA and the six months has not yet expired, you may consider applying for a temporary resident visa to Canada (Visitor, student or worker) and explore options to apply for permanent residence from within Canada. For a temporary residence visa, the rule of one year does not apply, yet you have to show that you were admitted lawfully.

Please note that this answer only covers the question on where an application can be submitted. A successful application will depend on whether you meet all the immigration requirements for the category you are applying under or not.