CANADA IMMIGRATION NEWS AND TIPS

  BOOK A ZOOM CONSULTATION Dear Mrs Powell, Can I sponsor my brothers? They are 17 and 21 years old. The older one is graduating soon from university and the younger is in high school. I am a 29-year-old citizen of Canada. I live alone and have a good job, so I can afford to keep them with me. Which application should I file for them? I am more concerned about my younger brother as both of our parents have passed away. I’m sending money for them to go to school, but I would prefer them to be here with me in Canada. I hope that there is a way for me to get them to live in Canada with me. Thank you in advance for responding to my question. – BM  Dear BM There are various steps that one can take to sponsor a sibling to Canada provided that all the parties involved can meet the requirements. Canadian citizens and permanent residents may sponsor brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces, or grandchildren who have been orphaned, if the relative is under 18 years old, not marr...

Dear Miss Powell, I spoke to an immigration lawyer in the USA, and she told me that I would qualify for an O1 visa as I have published several books. Does Canada have an O1 visa programme like the USA? I would like to know if I could qualify to live in Canada, since I’m a published author and have received a few prizes for my work. I prefer Canada over the USA, as I have relatives there. Also, if there is a similar programme, what is the processing time? Thank you. KL Dear KL Highly skilled individuals may qualify to get an O1 visa to work in the USA and then apply for a green card or permanent residence in the USA. This is a non-immigrant visa classification reserved for individuals who have been recognised for outstanding contribution to society in the areas of arts, business, education, athletics, sciences or the motion picture or television industry. Individuals may qualify for O1A or O1B based on their extraordinary abilities. Canada does not have a programme called O1 visa. Howev...

Dear Mrs Powell, My half sister is a Canadian citizen. I have a mechanical engineering degree. The problem is that I haven’t really worked as an engineer. I’ve been working as a maintenance technician, plus I own a small mechanic shop where I work part-time and supervise one guy who works full- time for me. Would I still qualify to go to Canada? Another very important thing is, can I add my mother and my daughter as a dependent? They live with me and rely on me. So I can’t leave them behind if I qualify. Thank you. KE Dear KE, Canada has a very generous immigration system. Individuals have over 100 immigration pathways to choose from. The issue is choosing the best pathway for you and your family. The most common pathway is to use the Express Entry System. This is the system that manages the Federal Skilled Worker Programme (FSWP), Federal Skilled Trade Programme, Canadian Experience Class and some Provincial Nominee Programmes. The Canadian government promised that it will be conducti...

    Dear Miss Powell, I am a Jamaican. I am fully vaccinated and would like to visit Dubai for vacation. I’m trying to find the fastest route and least number of transfers. I noticed that I could travel via Canada, as there is a direct flight from Toronto. Could you tell me if I need a Canadian visa? I’m not staying in Canada; I’m just changing planes and going to Dubai. Thank you. – PT BOOK A ZOOM CONSULTATION Dear PT, Jamaican citizens need a transit visa to connect to another international flight via Canada. A transit visa is an official document granted by the Canadian government that indicates that you meet the requirements to travel through a Canadian airport for up to 48 hours. You may request a single- or multiple-entry visa, depending on if you intend to return via the same route. You should ensure that your connecting flight leaves Canada less than 48 hours after your arrival at a Canadian airport. If your connecting flight departs more than 48 hours...

  Dear Miss Powell, I want to apply for a study permit, but it takes a lot of money and effort to go through the process. A friend told me that Canada doesn’t have an officer looking at applications, they use this Chinook computer programme. I know five individuals whose applications were rejected. They say that most individuals don’t stand a chance right now, as they pay their money and it’s a computer that just spits out rejection letters. Is it fair that they are using this Chinook system? Can you tell me more about this system? How can I beat this system? I would really like to pursue my masters, but concerned that my application won’t stand a fair chance. My aunt who lives there is encouraging me to apply, but I don’t know if it’s a good idea. Maybe I should look at England or the USA. What do you think? Thank you in advance for responding to my question. BOOK A ZOOM CONSULTATION Dear LD, Since the pandemic, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has been criticis...

Protect yourself! Use a lawyer who is authorised to practice in Canada.  BOOK A ZOOM CONSULTATION No individual can guarantee you a card to live in Canada permanently. This is the prerogative of the Canadian government, which selects qualified individuals and grants them a confirmation of permanent residence. After an individual has landed in Canada, then he will be granted a permanent resident card. It is your duty to guard yourself from scammers, or ‘choppas’, by verifying that the person you are dealing with is authorised to represent you and your family. The Canadian government will only accept applications from lawyers and paralegals who are members in good standing with a Canadian provincial or territorial law society. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) also accepts applications from notaries who are members in good standing of the Chambre des notaires du Québec and consultants who are members in good standing of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Con...

Dear Miss Powell, I am an accountant and I want to move to Canada to be with my family, but the IELTS exam is killing me. I have taken the exam four times and I can’t seem to get a good-enough grade to apply under the express entry programme. I am just horrible at doing exams. I do well enough in speaking, but can’t get over six for writing, listening, or reading. Is there any way I can become a permanent resident of Canada without sitting the exam? Someone said I should try the school route. What do you think? Can that work? Thank you for your help. – AO Dear AO,   Most of Canada’s immigration programmes require that you prove your competence in at least one of Canada’s official languages. For English, the required language exam is the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), General Training examination, or the Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Programme (CELPIP) – General Examination. For French, you would need to sit the TEF Canada: Test d’évaluation de ...