CANADA IMMIGRATION NEWS AND TIPS

Dear Miss Powell, I hear all the time about friends and colleagues moving to Canada for a better life. I have a degree and work as a manager for a small business. My husband is an electrician. How can we get to Canada? How fast can this application be done? Do we need to use a lawyer, or can we just use a travel agent? A friend said she just signed up with a travel agency to apply for her to become a citizen of Canada. Should I do the same? - J.J. Dear J.J., Canada has several programmes available under which you can apply to go to Canada to visit, work, and study or live permanently. Each programme is unique, and therefore, the programme that you choose should be based on your individual situation. The most popular programmes under which you apply to go to Canada are the following: 1. Family Class Sponsorship 2. Quebec Skilled Worker Programme 3. Federal Skilled Worker Programme 4. Federal Skilled Trades Programme 5. Canadian Experience Class 6. Provincial N...

Dear Miss Powell, I've been saving for the past three years for my move to Canada. I'm a young pharmacist and I plan to sponsor myself as a Federal Skilled Worker. How much money do I need to have in my bank account? I have a joint account with my mother. Can I use this as proof? How do I prove that I have enough money to migrate to Canada? - PP Dear PP, The government of Canada has various programmes to grant persons permanent residence under the category of economic immigrants. These programmes are classified as the Federal Skilled Worker Programme, the Federal Skills Trade Programme, and applications are submitted via the express entry portal. In order to be eligible under these programmes, qualified individuals are required to show that they have enough funds to facilitate their move and ultimate settlement in Canada. This is called settlement funds. This is required of persons without a job offer and other categories, except under Canadian Experience Class p...

Dear Miss Powell, I am a professional and I would like my family to move to Canada. The problem is that I don't have a job offer. I have paid two companies to help me find a job and nothing. I feel like I'm wasting time and money now that the system has changed. Some of my friends did self-sponsorship under the old system and they are gone. I spoke to a consultant who said the only way I can get through is through a job offer or go to school. I have a master's degree, my husband has a bachelor's degree and we have two children and we are already qualified so school is not an option. Can you help us? Life in Jamaica has become unbearable and I want the best for my children. F.M.   Dear F.M., There are a number of ways you can immigrate to Canada without a job offer. Some of the ways may not apply to you, but I'm mentioning them for the benefit of other readers. You can immigrate to Canada under family sponsorship class, refugee and humanitarian programme...

Dear Ms Powell, I've been thinking about applying under the express entry system to go to Canada, and I have my English exam results and credentials report ready to apply. I am, however, short on funds in my bank account but have an apartment and a car that I could sell, and I would have more than enough money for myself and my family. My concern is that I might sell my apartment and car and then never receive an invitation to apply, leaving my life in a shambles as I'm sure I couldn't replace those things easily. I checked my score and I realise that even though I could get in the pool, I only have 389 points. Can you tell me, based on my points, when I expect to get an invitation to apply? - YT  Dear YT, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) released a report on the express entry system that provided some clarity about the selection process, yet it did not increase our ability to predict when they will select a particular score. In March, many practitioners ...