CANADA IMMIGRATION NEWS AND TIPS

Dear Ms Powell, My niece is in Jamaica and I am in Toronto. She would like to visit me for the summer holidays and she asked me for an invitation letter, but I'm not sure what to write. Can you tell me what information to put in the letter? Thanks in advance. Keep up the good work. - K.P. Dear K.P., An invitation letter is one of the most important supporting documents that anyone who is applying for a temporary resident/visitor visa should include as a part of their application to the Canadian Embassy. The letter should have all the essential facts about both your niece and yourself to help the visa officer to make a decision on whether or not to grant the visa. Therefore, it is important that it is well written. Your letter must include the following about the person being invited: - Complete name; - Date of birth; - Passport number, date issued and date of expiry; - The person's address, telephone number and email address, if available; - Your relatio...

Dear Ms Powell, I have relatives who live in Ontario. I read your recent article about opportunities in Manitoba and I was interested until I noticed that an applicant would need to have relatives there and not have any relatives in other provinces. What are my options as a professional who wants to live in Ontario? How do I ensure that I get selected in spite of the fact that Ontario is a popular destination for most immigrants? - RC Dear RC, You are right that Ontario is still the most popular province for most immigrants and the provincial government has recognised this and taken steps to strengthen their position. The Ontario Immigration Act was passed with one of the main objectives being to ensure that the province attracts the best immigrants who can contribute to the growth and development of the province. Individuals who have the requisite education or qualifications, work experience, language proficiency and demonstrate an ability to successfully establish thems...

Dear Ms Powell, I heard that there are opportunities to move to Canada as an investor. I'm not interested in living in Ontario; I think half of Jamaica is living there! Can you let me know about investment opportunities in other provinces? I have a cousin in Manitoba, and so I wouldn't mind moving there. Can you let me know the requirements and how much money I would need to show to be eligible? - JJ   Dear JJ, I am pleased to see that persons are exploring opportunities outside the province of Ontario, as Canada has ten provinces with various attractive immigration programmes. Since you have a relative in Manitoba, I will advise about the opportunities in Manitoba. The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Programme (MPNP) is a provincial immigration programme made possible through the Canada-Manitoba Immigration Agreement. There are two immigration streams under the MPNP. One is for skilled workers and the other is for business investors. The MPNP for skilled workers w...

Adaptability Matrix Adaptability Matrix is also available in PDF format The Adaptability Assessment Matrix is used to evaluate your potential to successfully settle in Manitoba and become economically established by starting a business. In order to be nominated, you must score a minimum 60 (out of a maximum 100) points on this matrix. 1. Age (Max 15 points) Age Point Below 21  0 21 to 24  5 25 to 29 10 30 to 44 15 45 to 49  10 50 to 54 5 Above 54 0  2. Business Knowledge (Max 15 points) Points Points Business Owner and manager (more than 50% ownership) 15 Business Owner and manager ( 20% to 50% ownership) 12 Senior Manager 10 You must have at least three years of business ownership experience in past five years to be assessed for points as a business owner. If you own multiple businesses, only the percentage of ownership of the main/principal business will be considered for the purpose of this criterion. If your spouse owns shares in...