CANADA IMMIGRATION NEWS AND TIPS

Dear Miss Powell, I see where you say that Canada is processing visa applications worldwide, and I want to renew my Canadian visitor’s visa, but I hear that applications are not being processed because they can’t get fingerprinting done. Why do they need my fingerprints when I give them my police record to show I’m not a criminal? Is this all part of the information grabbing by countries nowadays as they use the coronavirus as an excuse to collect people’s information? How come some people are exempted and some not? A friend told me that she renewed her visa and she didn’t need to do any fingerprinting. What is going on? I’d like to visit my sick Auntie and want to know why they want my fingerprints. – Y.T. Dear Y.T., I understand your concern. However, everyone wishing to enter Canada to visit, work, study, or live permanently will be required to appear in person at a biometrics collection service location or visa-application centre (VAC) to provide their fingerprints and to have a di...

Dear Miss Powell, I am looking worldwide for opportunities to do well. I am a 28-year-old recent graduate with a master’s degree from the United States of America (USA). However, with what is happening there, I am wondering where is the best place for me to explore – Canada or Australia. Which has the better immigration system? Can I qualify to live in Canada even if I don’t have family there? I hear that I need to show that I have a certain amount of savings and investments. How much would I need? Thanks in advance for your guidance. – A.F. Dear A.F., Canada and Australia have a similar immigration system. However, many Jamaicans prefer Canada because of its proximity to Jamaica. Both countries have a points-based immigration system, whereby individuals who have the education, skills, work experience, and other factors, may get permanent residence in a matter of months. I will highlight below why I recommend Canada. However, ultimately, the decision is yours. FIND OUT I...

Dear Miss Powell, I have a Canadian visa which will expire by the end of the year, and I would like to go to Canada in the summer to see if I should really apply as a skilled worker to live there. The problem is that I am pregnant, and with COVID-19 and the talk of a second wave, I’m concerned that I could get stuck in Canada. What happens if my baby is born there? Will he get Canadian citizenship? I heard about ‘birth tourism’ in Canada. What would be my child’s status if he is born there? How will that affect my visa? Can I stay (in Canada) to take care of him while he goes to school? What are some of the things I should consider? Thank you for your time. – I.N. Dear I.N., If you are a foreign national and you give birth in Canada, your child will automatically become a Canadian citizen. This is a right under paragraph 3(1)(a) of the Canadian Citizenship Act, irrespective of the status or citizenship of his parents, with the exception of persons born to accredited diplom...