CANADA IMMIGRATION NEWS AND TIPS

Dear Ms Powell, I have a good friend in Canada and he is willing to sponsor me for a visit to Canada. I?m not working but he will pay for the ticket and I can stay at his place. How do I go about applying for a visitor?s visa? My friend said he will send all the documents I need to show that he can afford to have me there for the visit. Can I just send the application to the Canadian embassy with all his information? LK Dear LK, When an individual is seeking to apply for a visitor's visa or a temporary resident visa to Canada, the person applying, the applicant has to satisfy the Visa Office that has strong social and economic ties to his home country that would motivate you to return to your home country. That means that the onus is on you to show that you can afford the trip and that you will return to Jamaica at the end of your trip. The person sponsoring you would only need to send an invitation letter, enclosing proof of his status in Canada and financial situatio...

Dear Ms Powell, Thank you for your guidance over the past few months, as I am pleased to say that I now have landing papers for me and my family in less than a year. Will they give me everything I need at the airport or do I have to go to different places to get registered? How do I get my children into schools? How do I get a job? - TT Dear T.T. Last week, I answered some of your questions on what to do as a newcomer to Canada and what to expect at the airport when you first land. If you missed that article, you may check  The Gleaner 's website for the previous article, 'What should I expect in Canada?'. This week, I will focus on the things you should do in your first weeks of landing in Canada. You should receive a book titled  Welcome to Canada  from Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). You may receive it before in your package or at the airport when you land in Canada. That book has useful information about what you should know about settling int...

Confirmation of Permanent Residence of Canada Dear Ms Powell, Thank you for your guidance over the past few months. I am pleased to say I got landing papers for my family and me in less than a year. I'm excited and nervous at the same time as I do not know what to expect when I get there. I have some friends there who say that we can stay with them for a while until we get settled, but I want to know that I bring everything I will need to settle in quickly, especially as I am bringing my children with me. Can you please tell me how to prepare and what to expect at the airport when I arrive in Canada? Will they give me everything I need at the airport or do I have to go to different places to get registered? How do I get my children into schools? How do I get a job? TT   Dear TT, Congratulations to you and your family. It was my pleasure to serve you and I'm excited that you and your family are now on your way to making Canada your new home. You would have re...

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 worked in Canada last year on a contract as a skilled labourer. I was hoping that my employer would rehire me this year and I could get a work permit. He however said he can't do so this year as the Canadian government is not allowing him to hire any more temporary foreign workers. He said if I come back he would be happy to hire me, but he is having a hard time and can't help me to get the work permit this year. How can I get to go back? - KE Dear KE, I sympathise with you and your former employer, as many temporary foreign workers (TFW) and employers alike are up in arms about the recent changes under the Canadian Temporary Foreign Worker Programme (TFWP). Most employers are limited to only 20% of their workers being temporary foreign workers especially in the food and accommodation sectors. That is because the government is focusing on reducing unemployment rate and ensuring that persons who are already in Canada can fill these positions.   Apply...