Posts Tagged ‘Canadian Immigration’

Should immigrants adopt Canadian values???

November 21, 2011

In a recent survey done by Environics, commissioned by Pierre Eliot Trudeau Foundation found that both immigrants settled in Canada and those born in Canada have the same view that certain values should be accepted as part of becoming a Canadian immigrant.

The poll results show that 97% of Canadians feel that newcomers should embrace “Gender Equality” and “tolerance of others” and 96% of the immigrant Canadians agree as well.

Nearly 9 in 10 Canadians polled believed that Canada’s law should take precedence over the religious law for the new arrivals and 91% of the immigrant Canadians agreed. And, 88% of the Canadians polled agreed that newcomers should become familiar with Canada’s history and culture and 87% of the polled immigrants concur.

Almost 8 in every 10 Canadians polled also strongly feel that immigrants should “raise their kids as Canadians” and 74% of the new arrivals polled agreed. The survey suggests that newcomers adopting Canadian values is a much higher priority for the public than achieving financial self-sufficiency.

That is definitely food for thought for the new comers and something to learn about, take into account when planning to move to Canada permanently.

What do you think as an would be immigrant/ new comer to Canada/ well-settled immigrant/ Canadian should the newcomers adopt the Canadian way of life?

If you are looking to immigrate to Canada, please fill in the free assessment form or contact us at info@immigrationzonecanada.com for further information.

Canadian immigration program eyeing Spousal sponsorship changes

November 12, 2011

Government of Canada has been discovering the cases of marriage fraud, according to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) in 2010 about 16% of sponsorship applications were refused including the reason that the marriage was not bona-fide.

Canadian permanent residents and/ or Canadian citizens sponsor their spouses for immigration and Canadian officials often discover that the marriage is a fraud, it is a scam where in the relatives, the wedding or reception avenue, sometimes even the relatives of the wedding couple are the same in many applications that have been received.

Because of the widespread marriage scam that has been uncovered singularly in China and India, Government of Canada is planning to implement changes to the spousal immigration program, where in the spouses will be given a “conditional” immigration status. Plus, the sponsor will be banned from sponsoring another spouse for the next 5 years. The spousal conditional status of immigration time frame has not been decided yet but it could be 2 years  or longer. And, the permanent residency will be conditional upon the couple living together for the stipulated period of time.

Currently Australia and US have spousal immigration programs where in the couple have to prove that they have lived together the specified period of time before the applicant (spouse) becomes a permanent resident.

If you are looking to immigrate or are interested in spousal immigration, please send us an email at info@immigrationzonecanada.com  or fill up the free assessment form to find out if you are eligible for immigration to Canada.

Canadian Immigration Federal Skilled Worker quota changes effective 1st July 2011

August 19, 2011

Effective 1st July 2011, government of Canada, has reduced the number of applications from 1000 per eligible occupation to only 500. And the clock is ticking already, this limit of only 500 applications for each of the 29 eligible occupations has started from 1st July 2011 and will end on 30th June 2012.

In total, the government of Canada, will only be taking 10,000 applications from 1st July 2011 till 30th June 2012. So if you have been thinking about filling up the forms, or gathering the required documentation or finding out if you are eligible or not, do you make enough points or you are slightly short on points how to get more points..etc,. then act on it NOW..

The hour-glass is trickling.. And, soon the 500 cap will be reached on the eligible occupations. Also remember, there is always a chance you might not be eligible next year as the government of Canada, revises the list of eligible occupations based on the economic demand and the shortfall or surplus of people for occupations in Canada.

So act fast, and remember you can always send us a free assessment form to get you started on the path of becoming a permanent resident of Canada.

Dentists eligible for immigration to Canada under the Federal Skilled Worker program

March 6, 2011

Government of Canada has amended the list of eligible occupations and effective 26th June 2010, Dentists are eligible to apply for immigration to Canada.

If as a Dentist,  you diagnose, treat, prevent and control disorders of the teeth and mouth. Work in private practice or may be employed in hospitals, clinics, public health facilities or universities then you are eligible. And, the above also includes dental surgery, designing of bridges, fitting of dentures, supervision of dental hygienists and other dental staff as well as dentists who have specialised in orthodontics, periodontics, endodontics, oral pathology etc.,

Some of the job designations are:

  • dental officer – military
  • dental surgeon
  • dentist
  • dentist, public health
  • doctor of dental surgery
  • endodontist
  • general practice dentist
  • implantologist – dentistry
  • oral and dental surgeon
  • oral and maxillofacial surgeon
  • oral medicine specialist
  • oral pathologist
  • oral pathology and maxillofacial surgery specialist
  • oral radiologist
  • oral surgeon
  • orthodontist
  • pediatric dentist
  • pedodontist
  • periodontist
  • prosthodontist
  • public health dentist
  • specialist, oral medicine
  • stomatologist
  • surgeon, dental
  • surgeon, oral
  • surgeon, oral and maxillofacial

If you have at least one year of experience as a dentist then you are eligible to apply for immigration to Canada currently. Also, note that as of 29th Oct 2010, Canadian Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) had received 197 applications out of the allowed 1000 for the year starting from 26th June 2010.

If you are not sure whether you will make sufficient points to be eligible for immigration, then fill the free assessment form or email us at info@immigrationzonecanada.com to find out more.

Canada releases family class immigration quota for 2011..highest ever in 50+ years!!

February 26, 2011

Government of Canada released family reunification plans for 2011. Family class includes wives, husbands, children, parents and grand parents of Canadian permanent residents and citizens. Last year (2010) 59,000 family class immigrants entered Canada, the highest number accepted in the last 50 years of Canada’s immigration history.

Citizenship and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney, announced recently that in 2011 the Canadian government will increase family reunification. In 2010, the quota set aside for family class immigration was between 57,000 – 63,000 immigrants, and 59,029 family class immigrants entered Canada in 2010 alone. For 2011 that quota has been increased even further to become 58,500 to 65,000 immigrants.

“Within the family class, our government is putting wives, husbands, and children first.  Through a slight decrease in projected admissions range for parents and grandparents, we will be able to significantly increase the number of spouses and children admitted next year,” said Minister Kenney. “That means more dads, moms, and children being reunited with their loved ones than in previous years.”

If you or any one you know is eligible for immigration to Canada under the family class immigration OR if you would like to find out more about the family class immigration, please feel free to contact us at info@immigrationzonecanada.com or browse through our website Immigration Zone Canada to learn more.

Canadian Immigration system’s proposed overhaul, more emphasis on youth, language ability and skilled trades..

February 21, 2011

Government of Canada has proposed an overhaul in the Canadian Immigration system placing more emphasis on youth, language ability and skilled trades.

“There’s no shortage of people who want to come to Canada, and we should frankly do all we can to attract the best and brightest,” said Mr. Kenney. “There are certain traits which seem to be more heavily correlated with higher income and better employment, such as younger immigrants and higher levels of language proficiency.”

Under the current Federal Skilled Worker program, a prospective immigrant needs to score minimum 67 points out of 100 to be eligible for immigration. Where Education factor contributes 25 points, Language proficiency is 24 points, Work Experience is 21 points, Age contributes to 10 points, Arranged Employment in Canada and Adaptability contribute 10 points each, all together adding to 100.

“A welder from Poland doesn’t need to have university-level French, but somebody expecting to work as a medical doctor does. Perhaps the points system should be more intelligent and flexible to correspond,” Mr. Kenney said.

The current immigration system favours the highly educated, proficient in language/s applicants to score an easy 67 versus tradespeople with less educational qualifications and lower proficiency in language. But a trades person doesn’t necessarily need excellent language skills to work in their trades, although language is important for an easy integration in Canada and in the Canadian work force. The proposed new system will address this shortfall and aim to make the point system flexible to address the needs of the Canadian market place.

This is a good news story which if followed through will give better opportunities to tradespeople for immigration under the Federal Skilled Worker program, and it will cause less anguish and distress when new immigrants look for jobs in Canada.

If you are looking to immigrate to Canada or would like to know more about it, please contact us at info@immigrationzonecanada.com, visit our website or fill in the free assessment form.

Beware of Canadian citizenship and immigration fraud!! (PART-2)

January 18, 2011

Now that the 3 people have been arrested for residence scam leading to false permanent residency and citizenship. Minister Jason Kenney has reacted to RCMP’s investigation and has put forward in the parliament amendment to the Citizenship and Immigration Act of Canada to incorporate fines of up to $100,000 or 5 years in prison or both.

In his own words, Residence fraud in the immigration and citizenship programs is a matter of increasing concern. In this investigation alone, 260 files were implicated and five people have obtained Canadian citizenship. Consequences for citizenship fraud may include criminal prosecution, revocation of citizenship and removal from Canada. Permanent residents who commit fraud may lose their permanent resident status and may be subject to removal from Canada. As indicated in media reports, there are a number of other ongoing police investigations regarding potential residence fraud across Canada.

“I am greatly concerned with this situation. This is why I have tabled amendments to the Citizenship Act to strengthen the penalties for both applicants and third parties who assist them in completing a fraudulent application. The proposed new penalty for fraud would be a fine of up to a maximum of $100,000 or five years in prison or both.”

So remember to check the authenticity of the person you are entrusting your citizenship and immigration to. At the end of the day, your status will be stripped and if you are proven to be involved could go to prison and./ or pay a fine of 100,000 once the changes become part of the law as proposed by minister, Jason Kenney above.

Better to be safe than sorry..Remember if it is too good to be true, it ain’t true..

Beware of Canadian citizenship and immigration fraud!!

January 16, 2011

On 6th Jan 2011, RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) arrested 3 people (Ahmad EL-AKHAL, age 62 of L’ile-Bizard, Quebec, Tahani Mohamad Hassan EL-AKHAL, age 53, and Hussam Hassan Ali SAIF, age 44 of Mississauga, Ontario) while investigating citizenship and tax fraud case referred by CIC (Citizenship and Immigration Canada). They are now in custody and waiting for bail hearings. This is just the beginning, CIC will now dig into all the people who got false residency and citizenship through them and take away their resident or citizen status.

Police believes that this scheme of submitting false documents allowing people living outside of Canada to obtain permanent residency and citizenship began 10 years ago. This was allegedly done by Ahmed Al Akhal. Saif, was forging the leases, taking mail, cheques.

Police (RCMP) found that hundreds of foreign nationals are using fraudulent methods for obtaining Canadian citizenship and these people are also false filing income tax refunds and they got approx. $500,000 of improper benefits and tax refunds from CRA (Canada Revenue Agency).

Ahmad EL-AKHAL faces a total of 58 charges, Hussam Hassan Ali SAIF faces 3 charges, Tahani Mohamad Hassan EL-AKHAL is charged jointly with Ahmad EL-AKHAL. These charges are aiding or abetting the making of false representation, fraud, concealing material circumstances, counselling misrepresentation, as well as forgery, possession of proceeds obtained by crime.

In a nutshell, we as immigration consultants, lawyers, prospective immigrants and permanent resident card holders (who have got permanent residency of Canada) should be aware and take responsibility for associating, partaking in any illegal activity to further immigration or citizenship for anyone. Whether it be falsifying a document or forging or showing that someone has been living at a certain address in Canada while the person is in reality not even in the country.

We, as prospective clients for immigration and citizenship need to be aware of the authenticity of the person who we are dealing with and take ownership of our own documents and filled forms etc., So that when these illegal activities are discovered and investigated then we are not losing our residency or citizenship.

Always use authorized lawyers, members of notary and Canadian certified Immigration Consultants and if it is wrong it is wrong doesn’t matter who is doing it, it will be done in your name.

Contact Immigration Zone Canada for more information on immigration, residency, citizenship. And, contact RCMP or CIC if you know someone who is carrying out any illegal activity.

India and China urged to crackdown on crooked consultants by Canadian Immigration Minister

September 7, 2010

Canadian Immigration Minister, Jason Kenney will be traveling to India, China and Philippines, the 3 largest sources of immigrants to Canada. Jason Kenney will be asking India to enact a similar law to the Canadian bill, Crackdown on Crooked Consultants Act so that the fake and corrupt, agents/ consultants who are duping innocent would be immigrants, charging them sums of money, forging documents on their behalf etc., will become illegal under the law and be prosecuted by the government of India.

This act will empower the legal consultants (belonging to CSIC, Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants), the immigration lawyers and the members of the notary in Quebec to legally represent and charge money for advice and/ or immigration services provided. Canada has introduced this bill in the parliament already and wants India to follow suit to make it easy for the crooks to be caught and prosecuted.  Majority of the “exploitation” of the vulnerable applicants occurs outside of Canada and Canada needs help from India, China and Philippines to tackle the illegal immigration consultants.

Since Jason Kenney has visited India (Chandigarh) early last year, there have been lots of arrests and convictions and Canada’s acceptance rate for the people from Chandigarh for visit visa has gone up by 16% from 32% 5 years ago to 48% now. If you are in Chandigarh you can always check out “WALL of SHAME”. It has information on some of the fraudulent documents – fake marriage, birth certificates, bank statements, travel itineraries etc., that have been used by unscrupulous agents / consultants.

Always remember, knowledge is power. And, here are some more links to ensure that you are always dealing with the authorised representatives and lawyers:

Immigration Consultants- CSIC and to check if the consultant you are dealing with is authorized by the government of Canada, click  https://www.csic-scci.ca/en/find/ and search.

LawyersLSUC and if you know the name of the lawyer click http://www1.lsuc.on.ca/LawyerParalegalDirectory/loadSearchPage.do;jsessionid=20BFCC2932391023910165BC47C93C4D

Notary in Quebec- Chambre des notaries du Quebec

Also, remember Immigration Zone Canada has authorized Canadian Certified Immigration Consultant to provide guidance or advice on immigration matters and queries. Contact us if you have any questions about immigration or fill up the free assessment form.

Are you a Social worker, wondering if you can immigrate to Canada?

August 28, 2010

If you answer YES to the below description than you are eligible for immigration to Canada.

Social workers  help individuals, couples, families, communities, organisations etc., to develop the skills and resources required to enhance social functioning including counselling, therapy etc.,. You are employed with hospitals, schools, child welfare organisations, community agencies etc., or work in a private practice.

Some examples of designations are:

  • Addiction social worker
  • Case management consultant – social work
  • Case management social worker
  • Case work consultant – social work
  • Casework supervisor – social work
  • Caseworker – social work
  • Certified social worker
  • Child welfare social worker
  • Children’s aid investigator
  • Co-ordinator of social work
  • Family social worker
  • Geriatric social worker
  • Group social worker
  • Medical social worker
  • Psychiatric social worker
  • Registered social worker
  • School social worker
  • Social casework consultant
  • Social work co-ordinator
  • Social work officer
  • Social work officer – military
  • Social work supervisor
  • Social worker
  • Social worker, groups
  • Social workers supervisor

On 23rd June 2010, government of Canada changed the list of occupations eligible for immigration to Canada in order to meet and fulfill the current occupational demands of the Canadian society. Overall the no of eligible occupations went down and lots of occupations were removed from the list.

However, certain occupations were added to the list as well. If you have 1 year of Social worker experience than you are eligible to apply for immigration to Canada.

There is a catch, Canada is only accepting 1000 applications each year from each occupation. That means that the moment Immigration department of Canada reaches 1000 mark for Social Workers than no more applications will be processed in 2010.

So if you are a Social Worker and meet the above description with at least 1 year of experience under your belt than waste no more time. Contact us or fill up a free assessment form to find out if you qualify so that your application is one of the 1000 that are processed in 2010.


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