CANADA IMMIGRATION NEWS AND TIPS

Do I qualify for the skilled worker programme? - News - Jamaica Gleaner - Tuesday | October 7, 2014 Dear Ms Powell, I am 47 years old and have a degree in tourism management. I am currently working in a hotel in Canada. I would like to know if I qualify under the Federal Skilled Worker Programme (FSWP) , Canadian Experience Class, to remain in Canada as I am sure that my employer would say yes to my sponsorship, if I request it. The only thing is that I do not want to get stuck in the job I currently have. How can I apply to stay in Canada permanently? - JJ Dear JJ, Since you are already working in Canada, you stand a good chance of qualifying under one of the programmes to become a permanent resident.  The programmes that you could qualify under are usually based on your current occupation, work experience, age, education and whether or not you can get a valid job offer. Federal Skilled Worker Programme You have indicated that you have a ...

Look out for immigration scammers - News - Jamaica Gleaner - Tuesday | June 10, 2014 Dear Ms Powell, I am  a truck driver working in Jamaica and I am eager to work in Canada. Someone told me about an agency here in Jamaica and I contacted them. They said they can guarantee me work in Canada and that they can get me the work permit. They are charging me CA$4,000 to get this done. They mentioned that the CA$4,000 is to prepare my documents. However, a friend got a job at a hotel and said she didn't have to pay so much for hers. I tried linking with that person who helped her, but the man said he was only looking for hotel workers. Then I heard that I can get permanent residence and don't need a work permit. I see all kinds of advertisements online and in the newspaper. I'm very confused. I don't want to get scammed. How can I know who is legit? - PS Dear PS, I have written several articles advising people about immigration scams. In fact, since Citizenshi...

New Canadian immigration programmes - News - Jamaica Gleaner - Tuesday | April 15, 2014 Dear Ms Powell, I was  told by a friend that the  Canadian Immigration office has released some new programmes this year. I can't seem to find the information on any websites. Can you tell me what these programmes are? - RM Dear RM, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) changes its immigration programmes on an annual basis and, therefore, we need to monitor the updates regularly. I have written several articles about the federal skilled worker categories which will be closed April 30, 2014, and new rules and schedules could be issued soon. However, as noted last week, the province of Quebec has announced a number of new measures under the skilled worker, investor and entrepreneur programmes. These new rules came into effect on April 1, 2014, and will run until March 31, 2015. Also, the province of Nova Scotia has some new programmes available this year. Quebec ...

Dear Ms Powell, I keep hearing about the Federal Skilled Worker Program and I would like to apply, but I'm not sure if I qualify. Can you tell me more about the programme and how I can qualify? What is the deadline for submitting the application? Is there anything that can disqualify me? - R.T. Dear R.T., The Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) Program is the most popular immigration programme. Most professionals have utilised this as an option to emigrate to Canada. Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is constantly changing the programme, based on the Canadian economy. There was a temporary pause on the programme in 2012, and was reopened in May 2013 with new rules and with a cap on the total number of applications that they would accept under each category. In the latest information received from CIC, the total number of applications that they have received is 3,831 of the potential 5,000 applications. Of the 24 eligible occupations listed by CIC, nine of these c...

How do I apply for permanent residency? - News - Jamaica Gleaner - Tuesday | February 18, 2014 Dear Ms Powell, I came across your article in the  Jamaica Gleaner  online and I have a small question. For the past 12 years, I have worked in Canada as a seasonal worker. Someone told me that I can apply for  permanent  residency , but I'm not sure if I qualify or how to go about it. I want to do things the right way, so I'm writing to you to help me. - KJ Dear KJ, You can apply to become a  permanent  resident  under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). This category is open to temporary foreign workers and  foreign students . To be eligible, you must have acquired a minimum of 12 months of legitimate full-time or equal amount of part-time work experience within the last 36 months, plan to live outside of the province of Quebec, meet the language requirements. I am not sure what type of work you were doing, but there are a few  major...

Should I send employer money? - News - Jamaica Gleaner - Tuesday | January 28, 2014 Dear Miss Powell, Someone offered  me a job as a helper in Canada and told me that I should send him CA$300 to process an 'LMO' application on my behalf. Should I send him the money? He sent me a contract so I know I would be earning more than CA$2,000 a month, so I don't mind sending him the money if that helps with the papers. What do you think? What is this LMO? If he gets the LMO, would I automatically get the visa to travel to Canada? How long after being there can I get citizenship? - AS Dear AS, DO NOT send any money to a prospective employer. Under no circumstances should an employer recover the cost of an LMO, which means 'labour market opinion' from an employee. The current cost of the LMO is CA$275. It is wrong for a prospective employer to ask a prospective employee to send money to him to pay for this document. DO NOT send him the money! An LMO is a docume...

Mulling move - News - Jamaica Gleaner - Tuesday | January 14, 2014 Dear Miss Powell, My wife and I have assessed our lives here in Jamaica and we want better for ourselves and our children. We have relatives in Canada and master's degrees, so we were thinking of the  federal  skilled worker   programme. We, however, heard that there were other programmes that we could explore. We would like to know how we can get Canadian citizenship. We own our own home, vehicles, and have a net worth of over US$1 million. What is the best way to apply to move to Canada? - MM Dear MM, There are several ways that one may immigrate to Canada. The main avenues are via the following programmes: 1.  Federal skilled worker 2. Federal skilled trades 3. Canadian experience class 4. Investors, entrepreneurs and self-employed 5.  Family sponsorship 6. Provincial nominees 7. Live-in caregivers I have  written on each category  before and the p...

Clearing the air on family-sponsorship policies - News - Jamaica Gleaner - Tuesday | November 12, 2013 Dear Miss Powell, When I first came to Canada, my aunt was the one who sponsored me. Now I am planning to sponsor my niece, and I read one of your articles where you said that aunts can't sponsor an individual. I am writing to tell you that you are wrong in your assumptions and I'm living proof that aunts can sponsor their nieces and nephews. - EW Dear EW, I'm smiling as I read your correspondence and would like to thank you for sharing your experience. Although you did not share the details of when you were sponsored and your particular circumstances, I would like to reiterate that every immigration file is assessed on an individual basis. Further, the public must be aware that Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) changes its programmes and policies on a regular basis and, therefore, those of us who are practising in immigration law must update ourselves ...

My friend needs stronger ties - News - Jamaica Gleaner - Tuesday | November 5, 2013 Dear Miss Powell, I have a friend who I want to invite to Canada for a couple of weeks in the summer of 2014. She has a mother who is 76 years old, living with her. Do you think it's a good idea to get a letter from her mom stating that the mother is dependent on her child for support? What else can strengthen her application? - HJ Dear HJ, Whenever an individual applies for a temporaryresident visa or visitor's visa, the individual will need to satisfy thevisa officer that she has very strong social and economic ties to Jamaica, that would motivate the individual to return to Jamaica at the end of the time granted to be in Canada. A letter from your friend's mother could help, but she would need to go further by including additional information to strengthen her application. I have mentioned in previous articles some ways that you can establish social and economic ties. I wil...