CBC News - Canada - Immigrant visas to drop 5%: records

CBC News - Canada - Immigrant visas to drop 5%: records

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Feds nix illegal work for residency rules | Canada | News | Toronto Sun

Feds nix illegal work for residency rules | Canada | News | Toronto Sun
This story reminds me that even those in the government office running the programs are unclear, to the right answers, all the time! So, how can we expect those that are making the decision on people's immigration file to know all the answers?

I give the immigration people a "pat on the back" for doing the job they're doing, but they do not always do things that make sense to the rest of us!
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CBC News - Montreal - Couple survives immigration ordeal

CBC News - Montreal - Couple survives immigration ordeal

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Immigrating to Canada: Immigration Scams!!

See below for the story.

http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Montreal+charged+alleged+500K+immigration+scheme/4083334/story.html

Immigration Scams!!

I came into this business wanting to make a living out of helping people settle into Canada. I have put my hard earn money, or should I say my "wife's" hard earned money, into getting my business going. Now, I am all for making a living doing this business, but what I can't fathom is how people develop a conscience knowing they are taking advantage of others' situation. Many times I hear on the news, or read in the paper about "Shady" consulting work, whether it's by a consultant or a lawyer or by someone not registered with either the Law Society or The Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants.

But there is one thing for certain, people will come to Canada from all over the world and as long as there are, there will be someone there to try to take advantage of them.

Canadian Population

Canada's population saw its highest growth to reach the 34,238,000 mark. The highest levels it has been since Canada has started welcoming new immigrants.  From July 1 to October 1, 2010 the Canadian population increased by 129,300 during that period. 

Canada's population growth depends on immigration levels because Canada has a shortage of skilled labour in a variety of occupations, and this proves that if you have the skills necessary and can establish your self here, then you too can have a place in the "Canadian Cultural landscape".


If you are interested in learning more about this, please contact me.  

Occupation List

Citizenship and Immigration Canada

Total complete applications received since June 26, 2010

On June 26, 2010, the eligibility criteria for Federal Skilled Worker applicants changed.

Between June 26, 2010, and June 30, 2011, a maximum of 20,000 complete Federal Skilled Worker applications will be considered for processing. Within the 20,000 cap, a maximum of 1,000 Federal Skilled Worker applications per eligible occupation will be considered for processing within this same time frame.

These limits do not apply to applications with an offer of arranged employment (job offer).

Applications received toward the overall cap: 5,937 of 20,000 as of January 6, 2010

Applications received per eligible occupation:

Eligible Occupation (by National Occupational Classification [NOC] code)	Number of Complete Applications Received*
0631 Restaurant and Food Service Managers	352
0811 Primary Production Managers (except Agriculture)	65
1122 Professional Occupations in Business Services to Management	1,000 (Cap reached)**
1233 Insurance Adjusters and Claims Examiners	104
2121 Biologists and Related Scientists	363
2151 Architects	332
3111 Specialist Physicians	274
3112 General Practitioners and Family Physicians	333
3113 Dentists	408
3131 Pharmacists	565
3142 Physiotherapists	131
3152 Registered Nurses	1,000 (Cap reached)**
3215 Medical Radiation Technologists	23
3222 Dental Hygienists and Dental Therapists	9
3233 Licensed Practical Nurses	41
4151 Psychologists	76
4152 Social Workers	238
6241 Chefs	49
6242 Cooks	107
7215 Contractors and Supervisors, Carpentry Trades	52
7216 Contractors and Supervisors, Mechanic Trades	140
7241 Electricians (except Industrial and Power System)	72
7242 Industrial Electricians	85
7251 Plumbers	24
7265 Welders and Related Machine Operators	23
7312 Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanics	24
7371 Crane Operators	2
7372 Drillers and Blasters – Surface Mining, Quarrying and Construction	8
8222 Supervisors, Oil and Gas Drilling and Service	37

*The number of complete Federal Skilled Worker applications received as of January 6, is approximate.

**Once the cap has been reached, we can only accept applications for this occupation from people with an existing offer of arranged employment.

NOTE: Because application intake fluctuates, these figures are meant as a guide only. There is no guarantee that an application sent in now will fall within the cap.

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HRSDC UPDATE

National List of Commodities for the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program and the Agricultural Stream of the Pilot Project for Occupations Requiring Lower Levels of Formal Training

As of January 1, 2011, all commodities included under the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) will be extended to all participating provinces with the exception of the animal sector that will remain exclusively available in the province of Quebec. This list is also relevant to the Agricultural Stream of the Pilot Project for Occupations Requiring Lower Levels of Formal Training (NOC C and D Pilot Project) since this program stream only applies to occupations categorized under the SAWP.

National commodities include:

• Fruits, Vegetables (includes canning/processing), greenhouses, and nurseries
• Apiary Products
• Tobacco
• Sod
• Flowers
• Christmas Trees  

Quebec-Only commodities include:

• Mink
• Poultry
• Swine
• Duck
• Sheep
• Dairy
• Bovine
• Horse

Note: to hire agricultural workers for an occupation or in a commodity that is not part of the list above, employers may still do so through the regular stream of the NOC C and D Pilot Project.

CIC Updates

Regulatory and Administrative Changes to the Federal Immigrant Investor Program

Issue

This Operational Bulletin is to inform officers of regulatory and administrative changes to the federal Immigrant Investor Program (IIP) which took effect on December 1, 2010.

Background

The IIP seeks to attract experienced business people to invest in Canada’s economy.

The volume of applications made under the federal IIP has grown exponentially in recent years, resulting in a growing inventory and increased processing times, both of which threaten program sustainability.

In order to temporarily stem the flow of federal IIPapplications, an administrative pause on new applications under the federal IIP was implemented on June 26, 2010, through Ministerial Instructions.

At the same time, proposed regulatory amendments to the definition of “investor” and “investment” in section 88 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations(IRPR) were pre-published in the Canada Gazette. These proposed regulatory amendments, which increase the threshold requirements for both personal net worth and investment, have been approved and came into force on December 1, 2010.

The Canada-Québec Accord requires the governments of Canada and Québec to consult each other on changes to their personal net worth and investment amounts under the federal IIP and the Québec investor program. Under the Accord, both parties have agreed to harmonize their standards and practices in the implementation of their respective IIP and, effective December 1, 2010, the personal net worth and investment amounts for Québec-selected investors are the same as those under the regulatory amendments to section 88 of the IRPR. Québec continues to be responsible for the selection of investors destined to Québec.

These regulatory amendments, coupled with the administrative measures outlined below, are intended to refocus the program on applicants who can make a greater economic contribution to Canada and facilitate efforts to draw down the existing federal IIP inventory.

Processing Instructions

Effective immediately, the administrative pause on new applications under the federal IIP is lifted and visa offices are once again required to accept new federal IIPapplications.

Applications under the federal IIP received before June 26, 2010, are to be processed according to the legislation in effect at the time of receipt of the application. Specifically, that legislation sets lower threshold requirements for “investment” and “legally obtained net worth” – $400,000 and $800,000 respectively – than those currently set out in the recent amendments to section 88 of the IRPR.

Applications received under the federal IIP on or after December 1, 2010, are to be processed in accordance with the new regulatory amendments to the IIP which came into force on that date. Specifically, in accordance with amendments to the definition of “investor” and “investment” in section 88 of the IRPR which increase the required investment amount from $400,000 to $800,000, and the amount required for legally obtained net worth from $800,000 to $1,600,000 for federal investor class applicants.

Effective December 1, 2010, the simplified application process option is no longer available to applicants under the federal IIP; without exception, applicants must submit a full application under the IIP in order to be eligible for processing. The business immigration application guides and forms have been updated to reflect this administrative change. However, if a simplified application form is received from an investor applicant, the visa office should return it to the applicant along with the fee payment. Prospective applicants can then re-apply with a full application, using the correct application guide and forms.

In addition, effective December 1, 2010, visa offices are to put new applications under the federal IIP – those received on or after December 1, 2010, – into process immediately. New and old (i.e. applications under the federal IIPreceived before June 26, 2010) applications will be processed concurrently. As a general rule, visa offices should process applications under the federal IIP in a 2:1 case processing ratio of old inventory applications to new applications received on or after December 1, 2010. The concurrent case processing ratio of 2:1 is provided as a guideline only; this ratio may change over time in accordance with operational requirements and may not apply equally to all visa offices depending on the volume of investor class applications processed by a given visa office.

Effective December 1, 2010, the required investment amount and the amount required for legally obtained net worth is $800,000 and $1,600,000 respectively for investors selected by Québec under its business immigration program.

New to this Blogging world

I am new to this blogging world and feel a little intimidated by it, feeling that I have nothing to offer. However, I am willing to give it a try to see what comes of it.