CANADA IMMIGRATION NEWS AND TIPS

Immigration Corner | Do I qualify as an investor? : Dear Ms Powell, I am a 50-year-old businessman and I would like my family to move to Canada. I was wondering how I could qualify as an entrepreneur or investor. I have a brother living in Ontario and I would like to move there. He said he may even be able to help me to get a job offer if I don't qualify as an investor. Please tell me how I could get to live in Ontario with my wife and two children as citizens. - AM Dear AM, If you are interested in implementing a new business idea or buying an existing business in Ontario, you could be eligible under The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Programme's (OINP) entrepreneur stream. Under this programme, qualified individuals now have an opportunity to be nominated by the province of Ontario for permanent residence in Canada, once the business has been successfully established. The application process can be quite challenging and lengthy. However, with the proper guidance a...

Immigration Corner | I want a visa :  Dear Ms Powell, I have been working up courage to apply for a visitor's visa. The problem is that everyone in my family who has applied has been turned down. I have a job, but I am not sure what they are looking for. My cousin says that she didn't  show enough ties. Not sure what that means. Can you tell me how I can prepare to make sure my application is successful? - S.P. Dear S.P., A visitor's visa/temporary resident visa to Canada is usually issued to individuals who are able to satisfy a visa officer that they will respect the terms of the visa. It is also usually granted when the applicant is able to prove that he will return to his home country at the end of the period of time allowed, has the economic resources to afford the trip, and that he is not a risk to the Canadian society. When your family members were refused, they would have received a letter outlining the reason for the refusal. Examine that letter to...

Dear Miss Powell, I'm planning a trip to Jamaica and I'm worried about the types of things I can bring back to Canada. My sister's Christmas cake was recently taken away upon entry. I don't want that kind of trouble at Customs. - AP Dear AP, When taking items into Canada, you will be asked to declare all items that you are planning to take into the country. There is a declaration form that you should complete. This is often provided to you on the plane or on landing.  At some ports, this is done electronically when you land. You will need to enter the information into a special kiosk and then your answers are printed out.  If you indicate that you have certain prohibited/ non permitted items you could be delayed, interviewed and your baggage subject to a search.   Non-permitted items are items that are not necessarily harmful but are not permitted because of safety concerns. Non-permitted items are not allowed past the security checkpoint, such as shar...