OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Oct. 5, 2010) - Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney today announced a new program to help newcomers gain valuable Canadian work experience, a significant hurdle for many immigrants.
"Newcomers are key to building a stronger Canada," said Minister Kenney. "The Federal Internship for Newcomers program helps immigrants use their skills in the Canadian labour market as they begin their new lives in Canada."
This program offers newcomers the opportunity to acquire temporary Canadian work experience in fields relevant to their skills and experience. Newcomers can benefit from work placements within the federal government, which facilitates a smoother integration into the Canadian labour market for program participants.
"Our government is committed to helping newcomers succeed," said Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development. "This program is an example of how we are taking action so that newcomers can maximize their talents and contribute to Canada's long-term economic success."
Over the past two years, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) and Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) piloted two similar internship initiatives. This year, in addition to CIC and HRSDC, several other federal departments and agencies are taking part in the expanded initiative, including: Health Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, Natural Resources Canada, and the Canada Border Services Agency. Compared to last year, these additional organizations represent a quadrupling of the number of federal organizations offering opportunities to newcomers. Besides these organizations, a number of other departments and agencies have already confirmed their interest in participating in the program.
Over the past year, CIC and HRSDC were able to extend opportunities to 29 interns. This year, the number has more than doubled, with over 60 interns participating in the fall intake.
In addition to the policy, program and administrative positions offered last year, new internship positions have been added in fields such as finance, translation, communication and science.
The expansion of this program follows up on a recommendation by the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration. In addition to the departments and agencies that are ready to hire interns this fall, many others have expressed interest in a future intake. As the new program gains popularity, it is expected that the numbers will only increase as more federal organizations join the program. CIC and participating departments and agencies are partnering with World University Services Canada, Local Agencies Serving Immigrants, Hire Immigrants Ottawa, and Service Intégration Travail Outaouais to select interns
MANITOBA MAKING IT EASIER FOR INTERNATIONAL GRADUATES TO STAY AND WORK IN THE PROVINCE
Changes Give Manitoba Competitive Advantage to Retain Best, Brightest: Selinger
Premier Greg Selinger today announced changes to Manitoba’s successful Provincial Nominee Program that would make it faster and easier for international students to stay and work in the province.
“International students bring many benefits to our economy and communities, and we want to ensure we can continue to attract and retain the best and the brightest,” said Selinger. “We are making Manitoba a destination of choice for international students and meeting the needs of businesses by providing them with better access to highly skilled and well-trained employees.”
Beginning in 2011, international graduates from a post-secondary educational program of at least two academic years at a Manitoba institution will be able to apply immediately to the Provincial Nominee Program in advance of receiving an offer of employment. Previously, international graduates could only apply to the Provincial Nominee Program after working for a Manitoba employer for at least six months.
As part of the changes, international students applying for the fast-track program will also enrol in an employment-readiness program upon completion of their studies. The program will include job readiness, career coaching and job-matching services.
“By fast-tracking the immigration process for international graduates and helping them integrate into the job market, Manitoba will be well positioned to compete for and retain our highly skilled workers,” said Selinger.
In 2009, Manitoba welcomed 13,518 newcomers, 75 per cent of whom came through the Provincial Nominee Program. Last year, 203 international students were accepted to the Provincial Nominee Program, three times more than in 2005. The top source countries of International Students nominated to Manitoba are China (65 per cent), India (five per cent), Bangladesh (three per cent), Korea and Pakistan (two per cent each). The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program has approved over 1,000 international students since 2005.
Manitoba had 5,384 international students studying at Manitoba institutions in 2009.
"Changes to application requirements under the Federal Skilled Worker and Canadian Experience Classes", focus on business immigration - September 2010
Image via WikipediaIntroduction
The Minister of Citizenship and Immigration has the authority to issue instructions regarding the processing of immigration applications. Pursuant to Ministerial Instructions issued on June 26, 2010 (the “MI”), the Minister introduced the following changes:
Category Cut
The MI eliminates the FSW class of applications for temporary foreign workers and international students living in Canada for one year. As such, skilled workers are limited to applying under the FSW class categories for applicants with arranged employment offers (“AEO”), and applicants with experience in the last ten years under one or more of the list of eligible NOC code occupations (“NOC List”). Applications received by the CIO on or after of June 26, 2010 must meet the criteria of either of these two categories to be placed into processing (OB).
Cap on Processing
Exclusive of AEO applications, a maximum of 20,000 FSW applications will be considered for processing each year. Within that 20,000, an annual maximum of 1,000 applications per NOC Code will be considered for processing. Applications will be considered in order, by the date of receipt, with applications received on the same day being considered in accordance with routine office procedures. The first year of cap calculations runs from June 26, 2010 to June 30, 2011. Subsequent years will be calculated from July 1 to June 30 unless otherwise indicated in future MIs (OB).
Revised NOC List
The MI reduced the number of occupations eligible for the FSW program from 38 to 29. The occupations removed from the list include managers in finance, health care and construction, computer and information systems, university professors and vocational instructors. Occupations added to the list include: psychologists; social workers; dental hygienists; pharmacists; dentists; architects; biologists; insurance adjusters; claims examiners; primary industry production managers (except agriculture); and professions in business, services and management. Applicants must have one year of continuous full‐time or equivalent paid work experience in at least one of the listed NOC codes, and not combine partial year experience in multiple NOCs on the List (Canada Gazette Part 1, June 26, 2010, n. 3 at 1670 [“Gazette”]).
The complete list is as follows (Gazette at 1670‐ 1671):
FSW applications accompanied by a request for processing on humanitarian and compassionate grounds must be identified for processing under the MI in order to be processed (i.e. the application must meet the AEO or NOC List category requirements to be eligible for processing) (Gazette at 1671).
Language Proficiency
As of June 26, 2010, all FSW and CEC applications must be accompanied by the results of the principal applicant’s English or French Language Proficiency Assessment in order to be considered for processing. Only test results from a designated third party language testing agency will be accepted (Gazette, n. 2 at 1670). Currently, there is a two‐month waiting list for examinations in Alberta, so applicants are advised to book well in advance of submitting their application.
Summary of Application Requirements
Applicants must submit the completed application forms, together with all supporting documents (i.e. those listed on both the CIO and visa office specific document checklists). The CIO will review the application for completeness. If the application is incomplete, the entire package will be returned to the applicant.
To be eligible for processing, FSW applications received by the CIO on or after June 26, 2010 must:
The Minister of Citizenship and Immigration has the authority to issue instructions regarding the processing of immigration applications. Pursuant to Ministerial Instructions issued on June 26, 2010 (the “MI”), the Minister introduced the following changes:
- an annual limit to the number of applications to be processed in the Federal Skilled Worker (“FSW”) class;
- removal of the FSW category for temporary foreign workers and international students living in Canada for one year;
- a revised list of NOC code occupations eligible for FSW priority processing; and
- mandatory testing for language proficiency for FSW and Canadian Experience Class (“CEC”) applicants.
Category Cut
The MI eliminates the FSW class of applications for temporary foreign workers and international students living in Canada for one year. As such, skilled workers are limited to applying under the FSW class categories for applicants with arranged employment offers (“AEO”), and applicants with experience in the last ten years under one or more of the list of eligible NOC code occupations (“NOC List”). Applications received by the CIO on or after of June 26, 2010 must meet the criteria of either of these two categories to be placed into processing (OB).
Cap on Processing
Exclusive of AEO applications, a maximum of 20,000 FSW applications will be considered for processing each year. Within that 20,000, an annual maximum of 1,000 applications per NOC Code will be considered for processing. Applications will be considered in order, by the date of receipt, with applications received on the same day being considered in accordance with routine office procedures. The first year of cap calculations runs from June 26, 2010 to June 30, 2011. Subsequent years will be calculated from July 1 to June 30 unless otherwise indicated in future MIs (OB).
Revised NOC List
The MI reduced the number of occupations eligible for the FSW program from 38 to 29. The occupations removed from the list include managers in finance, health care and construction, computer and information systems, university professors and vocational instructors. Occupations added to the list include: psychologists; social workers; dental hygienists; pharmacists; dentists; architects; biologists; insurance adjusters; claims examiners; primary industry production managers (except agriculture); and professions in business, services and management. Applicants must have one year of continuous full‐time or equivalent paid work experience in at least one of the listed NOC codes, and not combine partial year experience in multiple NOCs on the List (Canada Gazette Part 1, June 26, 2010, n. 3 at 1670 [“Gazette”]).
The complete list is as follows (Gazette at 1670‐ 1671):
- 0631 Restaurant and Food Service Managers
- 0811 Primary Production Managers (Except Agriculture)
- 1122 Professional Occupations in Business Services to Management
- 1233 Insurance Adjusters and Claims Examiners
- 2121 Biologists and Related Scientists
- 2151 Architects
- 3111 Specialist Physicians
- 3112 General Practitioners and Family Physicians
- 3113 Dentists
- 3131 Pharmacists
- 3142 Physiotherapists
- 3152 Registered Nurses
- 3215 Medical Radiation Technologists
- 3222 Dental Hygienists & Dental Therapists
- 3233 Licensed Practical Nurses
- 4151 Psychologists
- 4152 Social Workers
- 6241 Chefs
- 6242 Cooks
- 7215 Contractors and Supervisors, Carpentry Trades
- 7216 Contractors and Supervisors, Mechanic Trades
- 7241 Electricians (Except Industrial & Power System)
- 7242 Industrial Electricians
- 7251 Plumbers
- 7265 Welders & Related Machine Operators
- 7312 Heavy‐Duty Equipment Mechanics
- 7371 Crane Operators
- 7372 Drillers & Blasters ‐ Surface Mining, Quarrying & Construction
- 8222 Supervisors, Oil and Gas Drilling and Service
FSW applications accompanied by a request for processing on humanitarian and compassionate grounds must be identified for processing under the MI in order to be processed (i.e. the application must meet the AEO or NOC List category requirements to be eligible for processing) (Gazette at 1671).
Language Proficiency
As of June 26, 2010, all FSW and CEC applications must be accompanied by the results of the principal applicant’s English or French Language Proficiency Assessment in order to be considered for processing. Only test results from a designated third party language testing agency will be accepted (Gazette, n. 2 at 1670). Currently, there is a two‐month waiting list for examinations in Alberta, so applicants are advised to book well in advance of submitting their application.
Summary of Application Requirements
Applicants must submit the completed application forms, together with all supporting documents (i.e. those listed on both the CIO and visa office specific document checklists). The CIO will review the application for completeness. If the application is incomplete, the entire package will be returned to the applicant.
To be eligible for processing, FSW applications received by the CIO on or after June 26, 2010 must:
- meet the criteria of either the AEO or NOC List categories;
- be accompanied by the results of the principal applicant’s language proficiency assessment; and
- not exceed the identified caps.
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Third country nationals applying for non-immigrant visas at US consulates in Canada must be aware of changes in appointment procedures
Image via Wikipedia
- Canada, USA
- September 29 2010
Thousands of non-immigrant visa applicants who are in the United States choose to apply for their non-immigrant visa at US consulates in Canada or Mexico rather than traveling back to their home countries. This is commonly referred to as Third Country processing. Third Country Nationals (TCNs) seeking non-immigrant visa appointments with a US consulate in Canada need to be aware of recent changes in the process. These procedural changes went into effect September 1, 2010. Previously, appointments were made by using the fee-based Visa Appointment Reservation System (NVARS) and visa application fees were paid at Scotiabank before attending the visa interview. The new appointment system requires applicants to use CSC Visa Information Services to apply for a US visa at a US consulate in Canada.
As of September 1, 2010, under the new system, persons must first pay the visa application fee (MRV) online in order to be able to make a visa appointment. Because fees must be paid in advance online before being able to check the availability of appointments, this may pose scheduling problems for prospective visa applicants.
Applicants who paid the MRV fee before September 1, 2010, but did not set an appointment have a grace period to use that MRV fee to schedule an appointment through October 1, 2010. After October 1, it will be necessary to pay the fee again in order to make the appointment.
TCNs must be mindful that appointments are not automatic. Two issues which must be dealt with by a TCN seeking to apply for a visa in Canada are 1) getting a visa to enter Canada from the Canadian government. The CSC Visa Information Services website has some helpful entry permit information for TCNs considering applying for a visa in Canada and 2) getting a US consulate to exercise its discretion to process the visa application.
Consular officials have been advised that they can refuse to issue a visa and refer the applicant to his/her home country for processing in cases where the post believes the case fits into a profile indicating fraud or where the applicant has been out of status. Depending on the length of time and the circumstances causing the unlawful presence in the United States, a TCN may need legal assistance to present the case properly and overcome a discretionary refusal on the part of the consular official. Additionally, persons who entered the United States only under the Visa Waiver Pilot Program may also be subject to difficulties in processing at a third country post since their biographical data has previously never been formally submitted to a US consulate abroad.
As of September 1, 2010, under the new system, persons must first pay the visa application fee (MRV) online in order to be able to make a visa appointment. Because fees must be paid in advance online before being able to check the availability of appointments, this may pose scheduling problems for prospective visa applicants.
Applicants who paid the MRV fee before September 1, 2010, but did not set an appointment have a grace period to use that MRV fee to schedule an appointment through October 1, 2010. After October 1, it will be necessary to pay the fee again in order to make the appointment.
TCNs must be mindful that appointments are not automatic. Two issues which must be dealt with by a TCN seeking to apply for a visa in Canada are 1) getting a visa to enter Canada from the Canadian government. The CSC Visa Information Services website has some helpful entry permit information for TCNs considering applying for a visa in Canada and 2) getting a US consulate to exercise its discretion to process the visa application.
Consular officials have been advised that they can refuse to issue a visa and refer the applicant to his/her home country for processing in cases where the post believes the case fits into a profile indicating fraud or where the applicant has been out of status. Depending on the length of time and the circumstances causing the unlawful presence in the United States, a TCN may need legal assistance to present the case properly and overcome a discretionary refusal on the part of the consular official. Additionally, persons who entered the United States only under the Visa Waiver Pilot Program may also be subject to difficulties in processing at a third country post since their biographical data has previously never been formally submitted to a US consulate abroad.
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British Wanted in Canada
Image via WikipediaOne of Canada's Largest Regions Wants to Attract British Immigrants
Northwestern Ontario, one of Canada's largest yet most sparsely populated regions, wants to attract British immigrants. The 32 diverse communities that make up this relatively unknown region along Lake Superior, have come together to launch a new immigration recruitment strategy that promises British newcomers the best of all worlds.
Northwestern Ontario's communities are actively inviting the British to find a new home, job or business opportunity in the region. With only one out of its 32 communities having a population greater than 10,000, the focus of this new strategy is to promote community renewal through population growth, knowledge and investment attraction, and other economic development opportunities.
In particular, new graduates and skilled workers are wanted because there are currently more positions to be filled in certain sectors than there are qualified candidates. The regional labour market has a very urgent need for professionals in the health care, science and technology sectors. Furthermore, an aging population has resulted in a surplus of businesses for sale.
Northwestern Ontario is located in the centre of Canada and while the region may not be easily recognizable by name, its assets are recognized worldwide. They include the nature of Lake Superior; the world's largest freshwater lake, and the City of Thunder Bay; recently voted the most affordable urban centre to live in the world. A small but steadily growing population of British newcomers has started to discover Northwestern Ontario as an immigration destination in Canada.
Stephanie Suarez immigrated to Thunder Bay at age 26. Disillusioned by the escalating cost of living and poor quality of life in England, Stephanie opened her own business in Northwestern Ontario. Within 3 years, she had won several business awards including Influential Young Woman of the Year, Young Entrepreneur of the Year, and one of Canada's Top10 One's to Watch by Canadian Marketing Magazine.
Says Stephanie; "I would have to be a multi-millionaire in London, England to live the type of lifestyle I enjoy in Northwestern Ontario. I am the envy of my British friends who face long commutes and work days just to pay for a shared apartment, let alone start a family or their own business. I am certain that the opportunities in Northwestern Ontario are unmatched anywhere else in the world."
Fifty-something's, Stephen and Rita Ash, recently sold their 3-bedroom semi in West Yorkshire to retire to Northwestern Ontario. "We are enjoying a retirement lifestyle here that would never have been within our reach in England. We can golf, sail, travel and eat in the best restaurants on a pension that would have only covered basic living costs back home. Add the low crime rate, cleanliness and friendly people, and it reminds us of what England used to be like years ago," says Stephen Ash.
Northwestern Ontario's communities have launched a new website portal http://www.immigrationnorthwesternontario.ca to help prospective newcomers learn more about living, working, learning and doing business in the region. In addition, a marketing campaign is running across major cities in Britain over the next few months. The initiative has been funded by the Ontario and federal governments through the Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement. Related articles by Zemanta
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