CANADA IMMIGRATION NEWS AND TIPS

Advice on Canadian immigration - News - Jamaica Gleaner - Tuesday | August 28, 2012 Dear Miss Powell, I would  like some advice from you on the best approach to take to emigrate to Canada. I have been looking into the possibility of doing so for some time now. My research has revealed that I would be qualified under the professional listing of College and other vocational instructor. I also discovered that to go this route I would have to secure employment in Canada, but this has proven to be a challenge so far. I had also looked at the possibility of entering as a student, but again that would mean finding funding, which is a challenge for me right now. Is it possible for you to offer some guidance to me as to where I possibly could find a job or a scholarship to assist with the process of emigrating to Canada? Thanks for taking the time to respond. I am looking forward to hearing from you. -K.C. Dear K.C., You seem to have done extensive research on ways to emigrate to Canada ...

How can I get certified to do law in Canada? - News - Jamaica Gleaner - Tuesday | August 21, 2012 Dear Miss Powell, I  am a university student pursuing a law degree. At the end of it, I would like to go to a law school in Canada to get certified as a practitioner there. I would like to know what my options are for doing so, and how I may go about doing this. Looking forward to a reply. Thank you. - K.G. Dear K.G., In order to practise as a lawyer in Canada, you first need to decide whether you would like to practise under the civil law, or common law system. The civil law system is based on French law, while the common law system is based on British law. Every province has a different licensing system, however, I will focus on how you may become a lawyer in Ontario. As an internationally trained lawyer, the process is a three-step one. First, you would need to complete the equivalent of Ontario's undergraduate Bachelor of Laws (LLB), or  Juris Doctor (JD...

Do I need an immigration consultant to submit my application? - News - Jamaica Gleaner - Tuesday | August 14, 2012 Dear Miss Powell, I  read  all the time where you say people should contact an immigration consultant or a lawyer to help them with their case. I hear of people who charge a lot and you give them your documents and they disappear with your documents and money. Do I need an immigration consultant to submit my application? What do I do if they disappear with my documents? - E.A. Dear E.A., You may use a representative to assist you with your immigration application  at any stage of the immigration process. Representatives who charge a fee for their services need to be recognised by the government of Canada. These are certified immigration consultants, lawyers, paralegals, and notaries (Quebec) who are in good standing with their regulatory organisation. Any person who represents or gives advice for a fee concerning immigra...

How do I apply for a Canadian visa? - News - Jamaica Gleaner - Tuesday | July 10, 2012 Dear Ms Powell, I am  15 years old and I visited Canada before and would like a visitor's visa again this summer. Can you tell me what I will need to apply for a visa? ? J.L Dear J.L., You indicated that you are 15 years old and so you are considered to be a minor, and so your parent or guardian would need to submit an 'application for temporary resident visa' on your behalf. However, I like that you took the initiative to write and ask about the documents that you will need, so I will list them below. 1. Valid passport, which should not expire within the next 12 months. If you have a new passport or the visa that you had before is in another passport, you should submit it as well. 2 . Birth Certificate 3. Recent passport photographs (this should be signed and dated by a justice of the peace or lawyer). 4. A copy of your transcript and a letter from the school that you attend or...

I want to work in Canada - News - Jamaica Gleaner - Tuesday | July 3, 2012 Dear Miss Powell, I am a Jamaica-born accountant with United States (US) citizenship and would like to work in Canada. Do I need a work permit ? I heard that US citizens can work in Canada under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Is this so? Please advise. - HG Dear HG, Under the NAFTA Agreement certain North American professionals are permitted to work in Canada on a short-term basis without a work permit. The Agreement allows for temporary cross-border movement of business travellers between Canada, the United States and Mexico. That means that individuals may enter Canada to carry out professional activities for their employer or on contract with a Canadian company. Such activities may include performing training functions or conducting seminars related to your profession. If you are a chartered accountant you will be able to travel more easily between the  NAFTA  countries...

Can I get a Jamaican citizenship stamp in my passport? - News - Jamaica Gleaner - Tuesday | June 19, 2012 Dear Miss Powell, I am  a Canadian citizen. I was listening to a programme on a Jamaican radio station where it was stated that one is able to have their Jamaican citizenship stamped in a passport issued by Canada or other commonwealth countries. Please advise if this is still the case. Would I have to obtain permission from Citizenship and  Immigration Canada (CIC) before taking such action? Which office in Jamaica would I attend to have this done? Thanks in advance. - R.M. Dear R.M., If you were born in Jamaica, the child of a Jamaican citizen or of Jamaican descent then you qualify for and can obtain unconditional landing status (UL) from the Passport, Immigration & Citizenship Agency (PICA) in Jamaica. PICA has offices located at 25c Constant Spring Road, Kingston and 49 Union Street in Montego Bay. The purpose of the stamp is so that you will not need to j...

Benefits to becoming a Canadian citizen - News - Jamaica Gleaner - Tuesday | June 12, 2012 Dear Miss Powell, I look  forward to reading your articles online each week. I am a Jamaican by birth and have been living in Canada since 1985. I pay my taxes and I am a good citizen. I have always held onto my Jamaican citizenship and do not want to give that up. But I think it is time to apply for my citizenship in Canada. I am just wondering about the benefits and if I will have to give my Jamaican citizenship. What is your advice? - M.N. Dear M.N, You have indicated you have lived in Canada more than 25 years, so I am going to assume that since you have been paying taxes, that you are a permanent resident and have been living in Canada legally. There are several benefits to becoming a citizen of a country. The most fundamental is the right to vote and play a role in the political process. Other benefits of being a citizen of Canada are: 1. You will have a Canadian passport and will ha...