CANADA IMMIGRATION NEWS AND TIPS

Immigration Corner | Can my father help me? :  Dear Ms. Powell, I am a 40-year-old engineer and I was born in Jamaica. I always heard that my father is a Canadian citizen but I had not met him until recently. We have been communicating regularly since then. I was checking how to immigrate to Canada and I came across your name. What is the best way to get to live and work in Canada? Can my father sponsor me although I am an adult? - JJ Dear JJ, I am pleased that you have reconnected with your father and that you are communicating with him on a regular basis. I know the importance of having loving support and guidance of a father. Your situation is very unique as there are many laws and regulations that affect the rights of children born to Canadian citizens before April 17, 2009. The general rule is that most children born to Canadian parents before April 17, 2009, were citizens at birth. Also, under the Canadian Citizenship Act, some people who were born outsid...

Government welcomes Royal Assent of Bill C-24 - Canada News Centre Source:  Office of Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration Minister Government welcomes Royal Assent of Bill C-24 The government celebrates the passage of reforms to the Citizenship Act June 19, 2014 — Ottawa, ON —  Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander announced today that reforms to the  Citizenship Act  received final passage and Royal Assent. The reforms will strengthen the rules around access to citizenship to ensure that new citizens are better prepared for full participation and integration into Canadian society, with the goal of fostering in new Canadians a stronger attachment to Canadian values and traditions. Key reforms include: Improving efficiency Canada’s citizenship program is being improved by reducing the decision-making process from three steps to one. It is expected that, by 2015–2016, this change will bring the average pr...

How do I apply for permanent residency? - News - Jamaica Gleaner - Tuesday | February 18, 2014 Dear Ms Powell, I came across your article in the  Jamaica Gleaner  online and I have a small question. For the past 12 years, I have worked in Canada as a seasonal worker. Someone told me that I can apply for  permanent  residency , but I'm not sure if I qualify or how to go about it. I want to do things the right way, so I'm writing to you to help me. - KJ Dear KJ, You can apply to become a  permanent  resident  under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). This category is open to temporary foreign workers and  foreign students . To be eligible, you must have acquired a minimum of 12 months of legitimate full-time or equal amount of part-time work experience within the last 36 months, plan to live outside of the province of Quebec, meet the language requirements. I am not sure what type of work you were doing, but there are a few  major...

How do I get my child a Canadian passport? - News - Jamaica Gleaner - Tuesday | January 21, 2014 Dear Miss Powell, M y daughter  was born in June 2012 in Jamaica. Her father was born in Canada. I heard that even though my child was born in Jamaica and I am a Jamaican citizen, my child can get a Canadian passport. Can you please tell me how to go about getting a Canadian passport for my child? - JH Dear JH, Your daughter qualifies as someone who can apply for Canadian citizenship as she is the child of a Canadian citizen even though she was born in Jamaica. Your child is classified as a 'child born to a Canadian parent who was born in Canada' after April 17, 2009. This date is significant as this was when the law changed. Fortunately, under the new rules, your child still qualifies as her father was born in Canada. If she is approved, her Canadian citizenship will be dated back to 2012, the date when your child was born. You do not need to  apply  for citize...