CANADA IMMIGRATION NEWS AND TIPS

  Accelerated pathways to permanent residency FIND OUT IF YOU QUALIFY - FREE ASSESSEMENT Dear Miss Powell, This is   a really urgent question as I’m really wondering if there is finally a light at the end of the tunnel for farm workers and little people like me. I just heard from a friend who is a truck driver that there is a new programme for us to stay in Canada for good. Can you tell me about this programme, as me and my new girlfriend, who is a helper, really want to stay in Canada. My girlfriend also has a sister that she is helping to go to school here, but she said a lawyer told her she is kind of old, so she is worried that she may have to go home soon. Can you please tell us if there is a way for us to sort out our papers to stay permanently? A lot of my friends are really anxious to hear from you. Looking forward to your response in the newspaper. – MM Dear MM You are right about a new pathway for some temporary foreign workers and international students to get perma...

  Dear Ms Powell, I   rely on your articles to help me with understanding Canada’s immigration rules. I now have an urgent matter. My son got through to study as an international student for a Canadian school. Due to corona, the government said that he could stay home and study online for up to six months. We were planning for him to go to Canada to finish up then out of the blue, no flights to Canada and more travel restrictions. We are already making a sacrifice for our son to have a better life in Canada, and we were advised that this was the best route. Now with these restrictions, we are wondering if he would qualify to live in Canada if he doesn’t get to finish up his studies and get Canadian work experience. What is my best course of action as nobody seems to be answering the phones at the embassy? I look forward to seeing my answer in The Gleaner. Thank you. – Concerned Mother Dear Concerned Mother, The government of Canada is constantly monitoring the pandemic, the si...

  Dear Miss Powell, I’m so stressed. My study permit was approved and I’ve been doing classes online, but I’m worried that this won’t be good enough, and I may not do well in my exams. This is unfair to us international students, as we pay so much for our tuition fees. Do you know when the borders will be open for international students to come in? – A.S. Dear A.S., I understand your frustration. Many persons who have received study permits, work permits, visitor’s visa and confirmation of permanent residence are asking the same questions. The government of Canada has been making decisions based on the evolving situation in Canada and the world, with the aim of protecting Canadians and those authorised to enter Canada. The situation is constantly changing, and so my advice is based on the situation at the time of writing this article. TRAVEL EXEMPTIONS AND RESTRICTIONS The department of Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship (IRCC) announced that “starting October 20, 2020, designate...

 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 would like an opportunity to visit Canada to work. I just want to get some experience of working in another country. Does Canada have programmes like that? I would just like to get some international work experience and get to know Canada. I could visit some of the universities to see if I would like to do further studies there. - W.P.   Dear W.P., Canada has a programme known as the International Experience Class (IEC), which allows young people from around the world, who qualify, to come to Canada to travel and work under one of three available programmes. The programmes are The International Co-op (internship); Young Professionals; and The Working Holiday programmes. Your eligibility for these programmes is based on your country of citizenship. To qualify for an IEC work permit, your country of citizenship must have an agreement with Canada that allows you to apply for the work permit. If your country is not on the list, you will need to use one ...

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...