CANADA IMMIGRATION NEWS AND TIPS

Dear Mrs Powell, My half sister is a Canadian citizen. I have a mechanical engineering degree. The problem is that I haven’t really worked as an engineer. I’ve been working as a maintenance technician, plus I own a small mechanic shop where I work part-time and supervise one guy who works full- time for me. Would I still qualify to go to Canada? Another very important thing is, can I add my mother and my daughter as a dependent? They live with me and rely on me. So I can’t leave them behind if I qualify. Thank you. KE Dear KE, Canada has a very generous immigration system. Individuals have over 100 immigration pathways to choose from. The issue is choosing the best pathway for you and your family. The most common pathway is to use the Express Entry System. This is the system that manages the Federal Skilled Worker Programme (FSWP), Federal Skilled Trade Programme, Canadian Experience Class and some Provincial Nominee Programmes. The Canadian government promised that it will be conducti...

Dear Miss Powell, I have been reading your articles for a while, and you have inspired me to apply to live in Canada. Based on your articles, I think I would be able to apply as a Federal Skilled Worker, but I have not applied as I am currently taking care of my mother and my nephew, and I’m concerned about the application. I am their only family member as my sister died, and I do not know who my nephew’s father is. I can’t leave them alone, but I see this as an opportunity to do better in life. Can I include my mother and my nephew as a dependent on my application? – R.A. Dear R.A., Your mother and nephew are blessed to have you in their life. I understand your concerns, and I am pleased to let you know that the Canadian government recognises the need to keep families together. If you are able to qualify to come to Canada, there are several programmes that you can examine to determine the best route to ensure that your family is not separated for any extended period. Co...

FIND OUT MORE  c omplete our  online form   Dear Ms Powell, M y mother   lives alone in Jamaica and my husband and I keep going back and forth to help her. We think it’s time we sponsor her to live with us here in Canada. We wouldn’t have to worry so much, and she could live with us and help us with her grandchildren. I looked online and I can’t seem to find where to apply, even as everyone said I should have been able to apply in January. Have they cancelled the programme? I would love my mother to be here in the spring. How can I get her here? Can a lawyer guarantee that we will get through? Your help would be appreciated. A.K. Dear A.K., Under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) of Canada, citizens and permanent residents have been able to apply to sponsor their parents and grandparents to live with them in Canada, provided that all the parties are able to satisfy the requirements. Under this programme, Immigration Refugee and Citizenship Canad...

Dear Ms Powell, My mother is 65 years old and lives in Jamaica. I am now a Canadian citizen and would like her to come to Canada to live with me. How do I get my mother to live with me here as a citizen? - S.B. Dear S.B., If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you can apply to Immigration Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to sponsor parents and grandparents of Canadian permanent residents to live in Canada or apply for them to get a 'super visa'. The key is to ensure that both you and your relative are able to satisfy the requirements. This means that you will need to prove that you have the income and ability to take care of your parent financially. If you are living alone, you will need to show a minimum income of approximately CDN$39,000; if you have a family of three, income of approximately CDN$48,000. These figures change on an annual basis, so you should always check the IRCC website for the latest figures. You, as the sponsor, will be ...

Dear Miss Powell, My granddaughter lives in Canada. Can she file for me? My daughter died recently and I don't have any other relatives here in Jamaica. I'm retired and she is 28, married, with one child. I think I could be helpful to her, plus it would be a joy to just be close to my granddaughter and her family. SW Dear SW, If your granddaughter is a permanent resident or a citizen of Canada, she can sponsor you to become a permanent resident of Canada under the family class category of parent and grandparent sponsorship. Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has limited the number of applications that it will accept on an annual basis to 10,000. The quota is currently full; however, the programme will be reopened on January 3, 2017. Therefore, now is the time to prepare your documents so that you can submit them promptly when they begin accepting applications. Your granddaughter must prove that she is financially able to sponsor you. This means th...

Dear Ms Powell, My mom is in Jamaica and she is healthy and strong. I want her to come and spend some time with me in Canada as I'm scheduled to have a baby soon. She says she doesn't want me to file for her as she doesn't want to live here, but that she would come and spend a year with me to help my husband and I with our new baby. Is there a way to apply for her to stay longer than six months? Would I need to apply for a work permit for her? - I.B. Dear I.B., It is not uncommon for parents and grandparents to visit their family members and spend an extended period of time, especially to assist with the birth of a child, celebrate marriage, assist with a loved one who is ill or help a bereaved family member. Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is the department of government that handles these applications. As long as you are a permanent resident or citizen of Canada, you may apply for a 'supervisa' for your parents and/or grandpar...

Dear Ms Powell, I heard that I can get a Super Visa to go and stay in Canada for up to five years without going back and forth every six months. Can you tell me how to apply for a Super Visa? - B.D.  Dear B.D., Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has a category called the Super Visa that is usually granted for a maximum of five to ten years. Qualified individuals will be authorised to stay longer than the usual six months - from the date of entry, up to a maximum of two years - without paying a fee to apply to extend the time authorised to remain in Canada. However, this visa is only open to parents or grandparents of permanent residents and citizens of Canada, who are able to satisfy certain requirements. The main requirement is that you must be a genuine visitor and do not intend to work without a permit during your visit. You must also leave at the end of the time granted to stay within Canada. If you are a parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or permane...

Dear Ms Powell, I am Jamaican born and I recently got permanent residence in Canada. My mother is now alone in Jamaica and I want her to come to live with me. I heard that I can apply for a 'super visa' for her to come and stay with me for up to five years at a time. Can she work when she comes? How do I apply for the super visa for my mom? OM Dear OM, Parents and grandparents of Canadian permanent residents or citizens can apply for a super visa to visit their children and grandchildren for a period in excess of six months at a time provided that both the applicant and the sponsor are able to satisfy the requirements of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). Under this programme, the applicant will be expected to be a visitor only and not work without a valid work permit during the time that he is visiting. If your mother would like to work, she will need to apply for a work permit and satisfy the work permit requirements. A super visa does not grant you permissi...