CANADA IMMIGRATION NEWS AND TIPS

Immigration Corner | Hoping to escape Trump : Dear Ms Powell,  I'm an undocumented person living in the USA. I have a degree and several years' experience. Can I apply to become a permanent resident of Canada? I have a Canadian visa. Can I just go there and apply to stay? I just can't take the madness with Trump in the USA. - Anonymous Dear Anonymous, Canada has one of the most generous and efficient immigration policies in the world. Most of the individuals who are granted permanent residence are highly educated, have work experience as a professional or tradesman, and obey the law. Many professionals are able to become permanent residents of Canada if they are able to provide the requisite proof and are not deemed inadmissible under Canadian laws. To apply under any of the immigration programmes you will be required to show proof of your country of birth and if you are not currently residing in your country of birth, you will need to show documents to sho...

Immigration Corner | Do I need a visa?   ( Tips for USA Greencard Holders) Dear Ms Powell, D o I need to apply for a Canadian visa if I have a US green card and a Jamaican passport? I am planning to visit my aunt and family for Christmas and I don't want any trouble at the airport. - GH Dear GH, A Jamaican citizen with a valid US green card, which is a card granted to permanent residents of the US, is not required to get a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or visitor's visa in order to travel to Canada. This, provided that they are not deemed inadmissible to Canada and have an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA). Effective March 2016, an individual with a US green card is required to get an eTA. This is also applicable to individuals who are planning to travel to other countries via Canada (in transit). You do not need an eTA if you are a citizen of the US and have a valid US passport.   How To Apply For An eTA The application must be submitted online via ...

Dear Ms Powell, I was on vacation in the United States (US) and my family decided to visit our relatives in Toronto, Canada. I wasn't driving, but when I got to the border the immigration officer denied me entry. They said they have evidence of me driving under the influence in the US. I have a valid Canadian visitor's visa and a US visitor's visa. I used to go to school in the States and I was charged in the States for driving under the influence (DUI), but that was years ago. I can't believe they refused to allow me into the country when I have a valid visa. I was forced to leave the car and find a hotel to stay until my family returned. Can I appeal this? What can I do? I don't want this to happen to me again. This is totally embarrassing and I don't want this trouble again. The US did not prevent me from entering, so why is Canada penalising me for something that happened in the US years ago? - Distressed Dear Distressed, Once someone has a crim...

Dear Ms Powell, I am on long leave from my job as a teacher, and I'm visiting with my fiancÈ in New York. He wants us to visit his mother in Canada for the Christmas. Do I need a Canadian visa if I have a United States (US) visa? If I need a visa, can I just apply for it online or can I just visit the Canadian embassy here in New York? - I.J Dear I.J, Each country has its own rules and requirement for granting entry by a foreign national. So, if you are from a 'visa-required' country or territory such as Jamaica, Trinidad, St Vincent, Guyana, Sierra Leon and Bangladesh, you will need to apply for a temporary resident/tourist or visitor's visa to enter Canada. You cannot just use your US visa to enter Canada. Although you may have satisfied the US government that you should be granted a visitor's visa, you will still need to satisfy the Canadian authorities that you qualify for a tourist visa to visit Canada. If you are from a 'non-visa country...

I want to work in Canada - News - Jamaica Gleaner - Tuesday | March 18, 2014 Dear Ms Powell, I  was  born in Jamaica and work in Jamaica, but I am also a citizen of the United States (US). I am interested in working in Canada and I heard that US citizens can work in Canada without applying for a work permit. Is this so? How would I go about doing this? How long could I work? Is this possible under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)? - CJ Dear CJ, There are very few jobs that would require a non-resident/citizen of Canada to work without a valid permit. Since you are a citizen of the US, to be able to work in Canada, you would need to fall in one of the following categories: 1.  Become a permanent resident; 2.  Work in one of the specified fields that do not require a work permit, for example: some business visitors, athletes, clergy, performing artistes, public speakers, news reporters, film and media crews; 3.  Have a job ...