CANADA IMMIGRATION NEWS AND TIPS

 FIND OUT IF YOU QUALIFY TO COME TO CANADA.   click link Dear Ms Powell, I recently completed studies at a Canadian university and my study permit expires in August. I’m missing my family, so I plan to go back to Jamaica and chill out for a while then return to apply for the post-graduate work permit after Christmas. My friends say I can’t leave before I get the work permit and that January will be do late to apply. Is this so? I really miss being home and my brain is tired. Can you please let me know if I can go home and then come back in January without messing up everything? TY Dear TY, International students who come to Canada for a minimum of one-year programmes and attend a designated learning institution (DLI) may be granted a Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) to gain Canadian work experience and can live permanently in Canada. The time granted for work permit has always been tied to the duration of the studies. Before July 2019, students were required...

Dear Ms Powell, I heard about a school in Halifax where I can study 'massage and hydrotherapy'. Can you tell me how I can find out if this school is accredited? Can I get a permit to stay in Canada when I finish? - CR Dear CR, It is a good idea to check if a school is accredited or is considered to be a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) by Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), before you embark on studies as a pathway to becoming a permanent resident in Canada. There is a list of DLIs which may be found on IRCC's official website:  www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/study-institutions-list.asp . On the successful completion of your studies, you may apply for a post graduate work permit (PGWP). The work permit will allow you to work in Canada for a specific period of time. The amount of time that you will be granted will be based on the length of your studies. The permit will not be granted for a period longer than the period of study. Therefore...

Dear Ms Powell, I have been working as a customer service representative at a bank for the past four years and I would like to move to Canada. I tried applying under the express entry programme, and when I did the online assessment, it said I was ineligible. Someone said it's because even though I have seven subjects, I wouldn't qualify as I don't have a degree or diploma. She said if I study in Canada, I might be able to get citizenship that way. Is this true? How do I apply to study in Canada and become a citizen? - TP Dear TP, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has made several changes over the last 12 months to their policies and procedures dealing with applications for study permits and have introduced the highly competitive express entry system. This new system is based on individuals' scores using factors such as age, education, experience, language ability, and adaptability. Citizens of other countries may be granted the right to become permanen...

Dear Ms Powell, I am a Jamaican and I'm graduating from a school in Ontario this year. I would like to stay in Canada to get some experience and hopefully get permanent residence in the long run. Can I apply for a work permit? Do I need a labour market report? Can I apply before I get my results? Can you tell me how long the work permit would be valid for? What do I need to apply? Can I start working before I get the work permit? - NB Dear NB, International students who have completed post-secondary studies in Canada may be granted a work permit to remain in Canada to obtain work experience, provided that they are eligible. You may apply under the Post Graduate Work Permit Programme (PGWPP). After you have worked for a number of years in Canada, you may be eligible to apply under the Express Entry system to become a permanent resident. You do not need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) report in order to apply for a postgraduate work permit. The work permit will...

Dear Ms Powell, I am  40 years old and would like to attend university in Canada. I also have a 19-year-old son who I would like to take with me. Can you tell me if they would give me a visa for both of us to go? I really want to upgrade myself and set a good example for my son, but I do not want to leave him when I go to study. Can I work when I get there? How do I proceed? - BT Dear BT, First of all, I have to say I am very proud of you. In the modern economy, learning is a lifelong process and Canada has very favourable programmes for adult education. Adults can apply to attend colleges or universities as mature students, and applications to schools by mature students are evaluated differently from applicants who have just finished high school. Many schools in Canada recognise that mature students have life experiences that younger students may not have, such as work experience, experience as a parent or independent learning. Therefore, schools consider this e...