CANADA IMMIGRATION NEWS AND TIPS

Why won't Canada recognise my divorce? - News - Jamaica Gleaner - Tuesday | August 27, 2013 Dear Ms Powell, I am engaged and planning to get married to a Canadian citizen in December. The wedding is going to be at Niagara Falls. I already have a visitor's visa, so I'm not writing you about that. I filled out some forms, and sent the original of my divorce from Jamaica and my fiancé told me that he is having difficulty getting the marriage  licence as the divorce was done in Jamaica. Doesn't Canada accept divorce from Jamaica? How do I prove that my divorce is valid? How long will the process take? - K.M Dear K.M, Congratulations on your engagement. A divorce which is granted by the Supremen Court of Jamaica and recognised in Jamaica is usually acceptable proof that you are free to remarry in Canada. However, before a marriage licence is granted, the minister of government services will need to grant you permission to marry in Ontario. This permission will be granted o...

Immigration officer's death causing me grief! - News - Jamaica Gleaner - Tuesday | August 13, 2013 Dear Ms Powell, I  paid  J$86,000 to Mr Desmond Cherrington's Immigration Office in April 2011 for a job as a live-in caregiver. In the contract, it stated that, if they have not found any work between six and 12 months, a full refund of my money would be granted. In April 2012, a year had passed and so I requested my money. They were charging me US$3,000 plus I would pay for my work permit, medical and airfare different from the US$3,000. Half of that year, they were twisting me up and down, talking about the letter is not acceptable and to wait 30 days each time. In January this year, I took out a summons. I didn't get a court date until May and at the court I heard that Cherrington is dead. I am not the only one, and several people have called the Ministry of Labour and Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC) of Canada, and it's like they...

Canadian wants Jamaican citizenship - News - Jamaica Gleaner - Tuesday | July 30, 2013 Dear Ms Powell, I  have been reading your articles on a weekly basis and must say that I've learnt so much about immigration to Canada, but I'm interested in learning more about moving to Jamaica. I hope that you are able to assist me as I am a Canadian citizen and I've been in a common-law relationship with a Jamaican man for the past eight years. He is a successful businessman and so I am the one going back and forth as he does not want to move to Canada and can't take much time off work. I visit very often and, whenever I visit, I am not permitted to stay as long as I wish, so I would like to know if there is any way that I can get Jamaican citizenship. Would I need to give up my Canadian citizenship? What do I need to prove and what documents do I need to submit? How long does it take to process? Would it be simpler if we were married? Should we get married in Jamaica or Can...

No word since telephone call - News - Jamaica Gleaner - Tuesday | July 23, 2013 Dear Miss Powell,  I have applied for several jobs in Canada and recently did a telephone interview. The interview was very positive and I was getting excited about moving to Canada. A woman from the company called back to find out "what is my status in Canada" and if I had a work permit.  I explained that I have a temporary - resident visa . She said, sorry, and I never heard from them again, despite the many messages left. Can't I work as a resident? How do I get the required status? - FH Dear FH, You are very fortunate to have received an interview and even a second call, so congratulations. When you are asked, "what is your status in Canada", your prospective employer is trying to assess if they can legitimately hire you without the onus being on them to assist you with obtaining the requirement to work. You cannot work in Canada with an ordinary temporary-resident visa. A te...

How do I apply to live in Alberta? - News - Jamaica Gleaner - Tuesday | July 16, 2013 Dear Miss Powell, I know you are in Ontario, but I think Ontario is flooded with immigration applications, and so I want to try elsewhere. I heard that Alberta is a good place to apply to move to Canada. How can I become a permanent resident in Alberta?- DD Dear DD, Alberta is known to be a top destination for immigrants because of the strong economy, sunshine, and high standard of living. It is indeed a good province in which to seek to live and work. There are several ways to apply to work in or immigrate to Alberta, however, the application process is still the same as Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is responsible for the application process. Ways to qualify There several ways that you may qualify to be in Alberta just as with any other province in Canada. 1. Family sponsorship 2. Study permit 3. Work permit - temporary foreign worker 4. Federal skilled worker (The National Occupationa...

The danger of applying for immigration online - News - Jamaica Gleaner - Tuesday | July 9, 2013 Dear Ms Powell, I am inquiring about a programme I found on the Internet. I would like to know if it is legitimate or a scam. I filled out a form online on their website and they responded to me via email informing me to fill out the application and pay a processing fee of US$99. I am a Jamaican who currently holds a bachelor's degree in social work and I'm seeking employment opportunities in Canada. - DM Dear DM, I am not familiar with the programme you mentioned. However, I have often written about ways to avoid scammers and I think my words are falling on deaf ears. Ever so often I receive emails from persons who have lost thousands of dollars to these online programmes, because they have not done their due diligence. I am reminding you and others that the only persons who are authorised to charge a fee for their services are lawyers, paralegals and notaries (Quebec) who are in...

How does my marriage affect our visas? - News - Jamaica Gleaner - Tuesday | June 18, 2013 Dear Miss Powell, I am the holder of a Canadian visa (multiple entry) . I was a widow when I obtained the visa. I used to visit a very dear friend of mine who is a Canadian citizen. He has been my friend for many years. However, we moved the relationship to another level three years ago. We both visit each other. I was making one of my many visits to him when he proposed and we decided we would have a private wedding in Jamaica, so that my kids who don't have visas would be able to be part of it. We got married in April. I would like to give my daughter, who is 15, a trip for the summer to visit Canada, but I am concerned it could be too quick for me to visit again, since I was there in April 2013, when we came home and got married. I must also point out that whenever I visit I stay for five to six months. We have not started any paperwork for filing as yet. We just want t...