News Release — An Immigration Plan that works for Canada: More immigrants who are already working in Canada to be admitted through Canadian Experience Class

Ottawa, October 31, 2012 — The Government of Canada will maintain record levels of immigration to support economic growth in 2013, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced today.

“Our Government’s number one priority remains economic and job growth,” said Minister Kenney. “Newcomers bring their skills and talents, contribute to our economy and help renew our workforce so that Canada remains competitive on the world stage.”

According to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC)’s 2012 Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration tabled today, CIC plans to admit a total of 240,000 to 265,000 new permanent residents in 2013, for the seventh straight year. This represents the highest sustained level of immigration in Canadian history.

In particular, the 2013 Immigration Levels Plan makes room for the rapid growth in the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). The CEC, which was created in 2008, facilitates the transition from temporary to permanent residence for those with high-skilled work experience in Canada, including international students and temporary foreign workers. Admissions under the CEC have increased from about 2,500 people in 2009 to more than 6,000 in 2011, with more expected this year than ever before. In 2013, CIC intends to accept a record high of up to 10,000 permanent residents through this popular program.

“Immigration plays a vital role in our country’s long-term prosperity,” said Minister Kenney.“Our 2013 Immigration Plan will build on our economic success by bringing in more of the world’s top talent who already have a successful track record in Canada.”

Every year, CIC consults with provinces, territories and public stakeholders across Canada to develop a balanced immigration plan. Besides stakeholder consultations, the Canadian public is invited to participate through online consultations on immigration levels and mix. This year, for the first time in Canadian history, CIC consulted with key Aboriginal groups.

CIC’s 2013 planned admission ranges for other immigration programs will be released in the coming days.

CIC annual tracking survey, methodological report

Report

Summary

Demo Tables Study 1 Set 1

Demo Tables Study 1 Set 2

Demo Tables Study 2 Set 1

Demo Tables Study 2 Set 2

News Release — “The Jig is Up on Marriage Fraud,” says Minister Kenney

Mississauga, October 26, 2012 — In an ongoing effort to deter people from using marriages of convenience to cheat their way into Canada, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) introduced a new regulation that requires certain sponsored spouses live in a legitimate relationship with their sponsor for two years or they risk losing their permanent resident status.

“There are countless cases of marriage fraud across the country,” said Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney. “I have consulted widely with Canadians, and especially with victims of marriage fraud, who have told me clearly that we must take action to stop this abuse of our immigration system. Sometimes the sponsor in Canada is being duped and sometimes it's a commercial transaction. Implementing a two-year conditional permanent residence period will help deter marriage fraud, prevent the callous victimization of innocent Canadians and help us put an end to these scams.”

The new regulations apply to spouses or partners in a relationship of two years or less and who have no children in common with their sponsor at the time they submit their sponsorship application. The spouse or partner must live in a legitimate relationship with their sponsor for two years from the day on which they receive their permanent resident status in Canada. The status of the sponsored spouse or partner may be revoked if they do not remain in the relationship.

Minister Kenney was joined at today’s announcement by representatives of Canadians Against Immigration Fraud (CAIF). Sam Benet, President of CAIF stated: “We applaud Minister Kenney for taking bold steps to address the growing problem of marriage fraud and for protecting the integrity of our immigration system.”

“I think it is a very good measure,” added Palwinder Singh Gill, founder of the Canadian Marriage Fraud Victims Society. “Canada’s generous family sponsorship program was being abused because many people were marrying only to get a permanent resident card and then leave their partners. With this rule, those abusing the system will think twice.”

The regulations include an exception for sponsored spouses or partners suffering abuse or neglect. The conditional measure would cease to apply in instances where there is evidence of abuse or neglect by the sponsor or if the sponsor fails to protect the sponsored spouse or partner from abuse or neglect. This abuse or neglect could be perpetrated by the sponsor or a person related to the sponsor, whether or not the abusive party is living in the household or not during the conditional period. The exception would also apply in the event of the death of the sponsor.

The conditional measure is now in force, which means that it applies to permanent residents in relationships of two years or less, with no children in common, whose applications are received on or after October 25, 2012.

Conditional permanent residence does not differ from regular permanent residence other than the need to satisfy the two-year requirement.

These regulations bring Canadian policy in line with that of many other countries including Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom, all of whom use a form of conditional status as a deterrent against marriage fraud. The lack of such a measure increased Canada’s vulnerability to this type of unlawful activity. It is expected that by implementing a conditional permanent residence measure of two years as a means to deter marriage fraud, Canada will no longer be considered a “soft target” by individuals considering a marriage of convenience to circumvent Canada’s immigration laws.

“Canadians are generous and welcoming, but they have no tolerance for fraudsters who lie and cheat to jump the queue,” said Minister Kenney. “This measure will help strengthen the integrity of our immigration system and prevent the victimization of innocent Canadians.”

In addition to conditional permanent residence, CIC introduced, in March of this past year, a measure that prohibits sponsored spouses from sponsoring a new spouse for five years following the date they become a permanent resident. Along with a multilingual advertising campaign, CIC released a short video warning people not to be duped into committing marriage fraud. The video directs people to a specific page on the CICwebsite (www.immigration.gc.ca/antifraud) for advice on how to immigrate to Canada “the right way.”

News Release — Minister Kenney Proposes Guidelines on Barring Harmful People from Canada

Ottawa, October 24, 2012 — People who promote terrorist activity or incite hatred which is likely to lead to violence could be barred from Canada, according to proposed guidelines released today by Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney.

The Faster Removal of Foreign Criminals Act, introduced in Parliament on June 20, 2012, includes several proposed changes to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to protect the safety and security of Canadians. Among the proposed changes is a new ministerial authority to refuse temporary resident status to foreign nationals on the basis of public policy considerations.

“This authority ensures that we do not let in those who, for example, have a track record of promoting hatred and inciting violence against vulnerable groups,” said Minister Kenney. “The intent is that this authority be used very sparingly and with caution. We want to ensure that we strike the right balance in describing the scope of this authority, which is why I’ve tabled the guidelines in Parliament and welcome the feedback of parliamentarians.”

The proposed guidelines, introduced by Minister Kenney before the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration, illustrate scenarios where the Minister may choose to exercise his authority. The proposed guidelines outline two categories of behaviour and activities whereby a foreign national may be refused temporary resident status: 1) individuals who promote terrorism, violence or criminal activity including individuals who incite hatred that is likely to lead to violence against a specific group; and 2) certain foreign nationals from sanctioned countries or corrupt foreign officials.

This new authority would allow the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism to deny temporary resident status to a foreign national for a period of up to three years, on the basis of public policy considerations. The authority is intended to be used only in exceptional circumstances.

Unlike many of our key international partners, including the United Kingdom, the United States, New Zealand, and Australia, which already have similar measures in place, Canada currently does not have a mechanism to prevent certain foreign nationals who are otherwise admissible from entering Canada, even though it is in the public interest that they be kept out.

“For years, Ministers of Immigration have been asked by members of federal and provincial parliaments, stakeholders, and Canadians to refuse entry to individuals who promoted hateful rhetoric, yet we were powerless to act,” said the Minister. “This authority would apply to the handful of exceptional cases each year where there are no other legal grounds to keep such people out of the country to protect the safety and security of Canadians.”

The Minister will report annually to Parliament on the number of instances the new authority is used.

The new discretionary authority for refusal is meant to be flexible, allowing for case-by-case analysis and quick responses to unpredictable and fast-changing events. It would allow the Minister to make a carefully-weighted decision, taking into account the public environment and potential consequences.

To view the proposed guidelines, consult the Backgrounder.

I have written to the Nobel Peace Prize Committee nominating the brave young Pakistani woman Malala Yousafzai:

News Release — Minister Kenney announces Citizenship Judge Appointment, Reappointments

Ottawa, October 22, 2012 — Roy Wong has been appointed as a Citizenship Judge in Vancouver for a full-time, three-year term, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced today. The appointment is effective October 29, 2012.

Mr. Wong holds a Bachelor of Arts from New York University, a Licentiate in Law from theUniversité de Montréal and the Certificate of Qualification for Common-Law from the University of British Columbia. He had a lengthy career as a lawyer and is a past member of the Law Society of British Columbia and a past member of the Barreau du Québec.

Four other citizenship judges have been reappointed to three-year terms:

• Ann Dillon (Vancouver)
• Renée Giroux (Montreal)
• Anne-Marie Kains (Vancouver)
• Terrence O’Malley (Regina)

Citizenship judges are responsible for making decisions with regard to citizenship applications, presiding over citizenship ceremonies and administering the oath of citizenship to new citizens.

America needs to rethink its immigration policy

The Immigrant Exodus: Why America Is Losing the Global Race to Capture Entrepreneurial 

IVEK WADHWA’S new book, “The Immigrant Exodus”, is admirably short, yet he packs it with righteous fury. America, he points out, has one of the greatest assets a nation can have: people yearn to live there. Chinese students, Indian doctors, British actors and French financiers flock to its shores. What is more, America is very welcoming and always has been. Its universities brim with foreign brains. Its zippiest companies are powered by immigrants. Some stay for ever. Others work for a while and return home, where they often continue to swap ideas and do business with their American friends.

A nation that can attract the cleverest people in the world can innovate and prosper indefinitely. Unless it does what America has done since September 11th 2001, which is to make the immigration process so slow, unpredictable and unpleasant that migrants stay away.

Consider the story of Puneet Arora, who came to America in 1996 to study medicine. He won a fellowship at the prestigious Mayo Clinic, worked for a while as a doctor in a deprived area and ended up as medical director at Genentech, a giant American biotech firm. Mr Arora is clearly the kind of citizen that any sensible country would be delighted to have. Yet America kept him waiting 16 years for a green card (which grants permanent residency).

Life in immigration limbo is wretched. Immigrants on H1-B visas, which are issued to skilled workers, must be sponsored by a specific employer. They cannot change jobs without imperilling their application. Their careers stagnate. They do not know whether they will be deported, so they hesitate to put down roots, buy a house or start a company. Sometimes their spouses are barred from working. In some states their spouses cannot even obtain a driving licence, as if they were female and living in Saudi Arabia. Fewer and fewer talented people are prepared to put up with such treatment, and they have plenty of other options. They know that Canada, Australia and Singapore hand out visas swiftly and without fuss. If they are from a poor country, they know that there are opportunities back home.

Mr Wadhwa’s finds are alarming. Since no nationality may receive more than 7% of employment-based green cards, Chinese and Indian applicants are treated more harshly than citizens of less populous nations. The time they must spend in limbo has shot up. If they have a great idea for a new company, they can go home and start it straight away. In America, if they quit their day job, they may be deported.

In a survey, Mr Wadhwa found that most Indian and Chinese students in America expect problems in obtaining a work visa when they graduate, regardless of the demand for their skills. An unprecedented number now plan to go home. Mr Wadhwa believes that immigration policy has halted the surge in high-tech firms founded by immigrants, and possibly reversed it. In Silicon Valley the proportion of high-tech start-ups they founded has fallen from 52% in 2005 to 44% this year.

“The Immigrant Exodus” is packed with examples of opportunities squandered for want of a visa. Hardik Desai, for example, persuaded hard-nosed investors to put $300,000 into his start-up, which made diagnostic technology. But he could not persuade the immigration authorities to let him work for his own company without proving that it could pay his salary for a long time—something almost no new firm can prove. So he had to shut it down.

Mr Wadhwa, who is himself of Indian origin, moved to America from Australia back in the days when it was easy. Working as a computer scientist, he received a green card in 18 months and went on to found two high-tech companies. He laments that, if the conditions when he first arrived had been as they are today, “I would have been a fool to leave Australia.” By locking out foreign talent, America has “blocked the flow of [its] very lifeblood,” he argues in this wise and powerful tract. Yet the problem is simple to solve. Mr Wadhwa lays out a seven-point plan that can be summarised in three words: let them in.

A Free Canadian Video

A Free Canadian Video

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This video encourages all Canadians to learn more about citizenship by reading Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship.

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Transcript for “Free” Video

Video length: 30 seconds
Close-up image of young boy appears on screen.  Video treatment is in black and white.  All spoken words appear as text flowing behind actors.
Boy Speaks: I am a Canadian, a free Canadian,
Full body image of young woman appears on screen.
Young woman speaks: free to speak without fear,
Close-up image of man appears on screen.
Man speaks: free to worship in my own way,
Close-up image of young man appears on screen.
Young man speaks: free to stand for what I think right,
Full image of man appears on screen.
Man speaks: free to oppose what I believe wrong,
Close-up image of woman appears on screen.
Woman speaks: free to choose those who shall govern my country.
Close-up image of young man appears on screen.
Young man speaks: This heritage of freedom
Close-up image of young woman appears on screen.
Young woman speaks: I pledge to uphold.
Image of hands holding an e-reader looking at the Citizenship and Immigration publication titled: “Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship” appears on screen.
Narrator: Learn more about citizenship at citizenship.gc.ca/discover
Text on screen: citizenship.gc.ca/discover
Narrator: A message from the Government of Canada.
Text on screen: Canada wordmark

Notice – Fee Returns for Federal Skilled Worker applicants affected by the backlog elimination measure

October 12, 2012

The content below is offered in PDF format. For more information or to download the appropriate viewer, check the Help page.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is now starting to return fees which were paid to the Department for Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) applications affected by the Government of Canada’s Jobs, Growth and Long-Term Prosperity Act.

If you applied before February 27, 2008, and have not heard from CIC about whether a decision based on FSW program selection criteria (*see below) was made on your application, you may be affected by this new law.

If you fall under this category, CIC needs to verify your contact information is up to date so that your fee return will reach you at your current address. Please note that interest will not be paid on the fees.

Please confirm your latest contact details by sending CIC this form (PDF, 1.4 MB). While we will also contact you by regular mail later on if we do not hear from you, communicating with us electronically is the best and easiest way to have your fee return processed.

Due to the large number of affected applicants, the fee return process may take some time from the date your form is received by CIC to the issuance of your cheque. We appreciate your patience.

Your FSW application has been terminated by operation of law if:

• you applied before February 27, 2008, and
• a decision based on FSW program selection criteria* was not made on your application by an immigration officer before March 29, 2012.

(*A “FSW program selection criteria” decision means that a CIC officer has determined that you have accumulated enough points to qualify for the program, based on factors such as your language skills, education and work experience.)

If you remain interested in immigrating to Canada, you may be eligible under other immigration programs. To find out more about the requirements and steps to apply in each category, please see Immigrating to Canada.

News Release — Minister Kenney Delivers Keynote Speech at BORDERPOL Conference

London, U.K., October 17, 2012 — Canada’s efforts to enhance the security and integrity of our immigration system were highlighted yesterday by Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism in his speech at a major conference on border control in the United Kingdom (U.K.).

“The first responsibility of the state is to protect the safety and security of its citizens,”Minister Kenney said during his keynote address. “By developing laws, policies, and practices that make our immigration system more secure, we believe we are helping to ensure continuing support for that system.”

The inaugural BORDERPOL Conference, hosted by the U.K. Border Force, is a leading forum for international sharing of experiences and best practices among specialists in the border control industry. The two-day event is the first of its kind.

Minister Kenney spoke alongside Mark Harper, the U.K. Minister of State for Immigration. Delivering his address to an audience composed of border management, immigration, customs and security policy makers and practitioners, Minister Kenney highlighted Canada’s integrity measures in border and migration management.

“When I became Minister, I was acutely aware that Canada had a reputation – fairly or not – as an international ‘soft touch’ when it came to immigration and border security,”Minister Kenney stated. “In recent years, we have worked very hard to change this impression. We have done so, in part, by introducing a good number of tough-but-fair initiatives to bolster the security of our immigration system.”

Of note, Minister Kenney spoke of the many changes to Canada’s immigration system, including:

• stronger laws to combat human smuggling;
• reforms to deter unfounded refugee claims and other abuses of the refugee determination system;
• cracking down on immigration fraud;
• the tabling of a new law that would allow Canada to remove foreign criminals more quickly by limiting appeal mechanisms;
• proposed tougher penalties for those who commit immigration fraud; and
• the introduction of biometric screening of visitors to Canada.

The Minister further noted that recent efforts to crack down on fraud and abuse in Canada’s immigration system, including residency fraud and fraudulent asylum claims, help restore Canadians’ faith in the immigration system, which ultimately allows Canada to continue to have the most generous system in the world.  In fact, since 2006, the government has maintained the highest sustained levels of immigration in Canadian history.

“Canadians are rightly proud of our generous approach to refugee protection. As one example, at a time when other countries are reducing their programs to resettle refugees from overseas, Canada maintains one of the largest such programs in the world,” Minister Kenney stated during his speech.

The Minister stressed that Canada takes its international obligations seriously, cooperating with other countries in sharing policy and operational experiences, as well as increasingly sharing information and intelligence. On this most recent trip, Minister Kenney has met with immigration and law enforcement experts in Hungary, Sweden and the U.K.to discuss the shared challenges of facilitating legal migration while combating illegal immigration, which is often associated with organized criminal activity and human smuggling operations.

Minister Kenney marks the celebration of the first day of the Coptic New Year

Statement – Minister Kenney marks the celebration of the first day of the Coptic New Year

Ottawa, September 11, 2012 — The Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism issued the following statement to mark the celebration of the Feast of El Nayrouz, the first day of the Coptic New Year and a commemoration of Coptic martyrs and confessors:

Today is the Feast of El Nayrouz, the first day of the Coptic New Year. I wish to extend my regards to all Coptic Orthodox and Catholic Christians observing today, both in Canada and around the world.

Sadly, this New Year observation comes at a time of recent mourning for many Egyptian Christians, who are presently living through increasing violence and anti-religious persecution.

The Coptic Church is one of the world’s oldest, established in Egypt by St. Mark early in the first century. While the Coptic calendar itself predates the birth of Christ by at least three millennia, and retains the names of 13 ancient Egyptian gods. Coptic Christians chose 284 A.D. to begin their counting of years, as this was the first year of the reign of the Roman Emperor Diocletian, who implemented the first heavy age of martyrdom and persecution of Christian Egyptians.

This day is steeped in tradition for many Copts, who eat dates on this day; the red colour symbolizing the blood that they were willing to shed for Christ, with the white colour on the inside serving as a reminder of the martyrs’ purity of heart.

Coptic Canadians are a community of strong values and vibrant growth. For all Canadians, this important day provides an excellent opportunity to reflect on the importance of faith and religious freedom, and the tremendous contribution of Coptic Christians to Canadian society.

As Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, I want to wish a blessed New Year to all Coptic Canadians and their families.

New immigration stream welcome: Canadian Construction Association

KELLY LAPOINTE

DCN staff writer

A new dedicated stream for skilled trades workers is one solution proposed by the federal government to build a fast and flexible economic immigration selection system focused on meeting Canada's labour market needs.

“It looks like a step in the right direction and we’re certainly thrilled to see how quickly the government has acted upon the announced reforms,” said Canadian Construction Association (CCA) president Michael Atkinson.

“In particular the new standalone skilled trades stream now doesn’t require challenging the points system.”

The proposed changes include the creation of a new Federal Skilled Trades Class (FSTC), amendments to the Federal Skilled Worker Class (FSWC) and improvements to the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).

These changes come after an extensive program evaluation, stakeholder and public consultations, as well as other research by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC).

The Canadian construction industry will need 319,000 new workers by 2020.

The FSTC will assess immigrants based on four requirements: a qualifying offer of employment from up to two employers in Canada of at least one year duration or a Certificate of Qualification; be proficient in one of Canada’s official languages; have at least 24 months of work experience in the same skilled trade in the last five years; and meet the qualifications that satisfy the employment requirements as described by the National Occupational Classification (NOC).

The new class will be open to only NOC B occupations, including industrial, electrical and construction trades.

“Our needs go beyond simply NOC B, but this is a great start, a very positive movement and it’s great to see that the government not only listens but is respondent,” said Atkinson.

“One of the things that we’ve been saying to government all along was that the current points system was not construction trades friendly, they’ve made that adjustment. We’ve also said that we felt that experience and having job offers should be a much bigger consideration than post-secondary education. And they’ve done that.”

Among the recently announced amendments to the FSWC, language would become the most important selection factor by establishing new minimum official language thresholds and increasing points for language.

The changes will also increase the emphasis on younger immigrants and increase points for Canadian work experience while reducing points for foreign work experience.

Atkinson said it just makes sense to place a greater emphasis on younger immigrants.

“You’re talking about building a future workforce, not just for projects in front of you that year, but forever,” he said.

“It makes some sense that somebody that’s younger is more apt to be building a career in construction, rather than an older worker.”

The proposed modification to the CEC would reduce the requirement of 24 months of Canadian work experience to 12 in the preceding 12 months.

The program continues to be limited to NOC 0, A and B professions only.

Overall, Atkinson said he is pleased with the swiftness with which the government has moved on promised changes to the FSWP.

In April, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced changes to the program and outlined the proposed changes in August.

CIC issued a call for service proposals in August.

The final publication is scheduled for release in late 2012 and the new FSWP points grid will likely take effect in January. While there is currently a pause on new applications, CIC expects to begin accepting applications again early next year.

Cdn Construction Assoc predicts shortage of 320,000 construction jobs, & call our immigration reforms "very positive”

New immigration stream welcome: Canadian Construction Association

KELLY LAPOINTE

DCN staff writer

A new dedicated stream for skilled trades workers is one solution proposed by the federal government to build a fast and flexible economic immigration selection system focused on meeting Canada's labour market needs.

“It looks like a step in the right direction and we’re certainly thrilled to see how quickly the government has acted upon the announced reforms,” said Canadian Construction Association (CCA) president Michael Atkinson.

“In particular the new standalone skilled trades stream now doesn’t require challenging the points system.”

The proposed changes include the creation of a new Federal Skilled Trades Class (FSTC), amendments to the Federal Skilled Worker Class (FSWC) and improvements to the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).

These changes come after an extensive program evaluation, stakeholder and public consultations, as well as other research by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC).

The Canadian construction industry will need 319,000 new workers by 2020.

The FSTC will assess immigrants based on four requirements: a qualifying offer of employment from up to two employers in Canada of at least one year duration or a Certificate of Qualification; be proficient in one of Canada’s official languages; have at least 24 months of work experience in the same skilled trade in the last five years; and meet the qualifications that satisfy the employment requirements as described by the National Occupational Classification (NOC).

The new class will be open to only NOC B occupations, including industrial, electrical and construction trades.

“Our needs go beyond simply NOC B, but this is a great start, a very positive movement and it’s great to see that the government not only listens but is respondent,” said Atkinson.

“One of the things that we’ve been saying to government all along was that the current points system was not construction trades friendly, they’ve made that adjustment. We’ve also said that we felt that experience and having job offers should be a much bigger consideration than post-secondary education. And they’ve done that.”

Among the recently announced amendments to the FSWC, language would become the most important selection factor by establishing new minimum official language thresholds and increasing points for language.

The changes will also increase the emphasis on younger immigrants and increase points for Canadian work experience while reducing points for foreign work experience.

Atkinson said it just makes sense to place a greater emphasis on younger immigrants.

“You’re talking about building a future workforce, not just for projects in front of you that year, but forever,” he said.

“It makes some sense that somebody that’s younger is more apt to be building a career in construction, rather than an older worker.”

The proposed modification to the CEC would reduce the requirement of 24 months of Canadian work experience to 12 in the preceding 12 months.

The program continues to be limited to NOC 0, A and B professions only.

Overall, Atkinson said he is pleased with the swiftness with which the government has moved on promised changes to the FSWP.

In April, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced changes to the program and outlined the proposed changes in August.

CIC issued a call for service proposals in August.

The final publication is scheduled for release in late 2012 and the new FSWP points grid will likely take effect in January. While there is currently a pause on new applications, CIC expects to begin accepting applications again early next year.

News Release — Minister Jason Kenney Meets with Roma Leaders in Hungary

Alsózsolca, Hungary, October 9, 2012 — Today, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney travelled to the village of Alsózsolca and the city of Miskolc, in Northeastern Hungary to meet with members of the Roma community.

Hungary has been the largest source country for asylum claims filed in Canada for the past three years, and approximately 40 percent of these claimants have come from the region around Miskolc.

Minister Kenney visited Hungary in advance of the coming into force of the Protecting Canada’s Immigration System Act, expected later this year.  This law will help the Government of Canada offer fast protection to genuine refugees while stopping the abuse of our system and generosity by bogus asylum claimants and human smugglers.

While in the region, Minister Kenney toured Alsózsolca, speaking with local residents and visiting Roma children at the Benedek Elek Primary School; met with the Mayor and other civic leaders of Miskolc; and held a roundtable with leaders of the local Roma Self-Government. He also visited the Miskolc Polar Bear Ice Hockey team, which is coached by Canadian Tim Kehler and has Canadian players.

“I was happy to get a chance to listen to the Hungarian Roma community’s concerns, and discuss with them the irregular migration which sees almost 95 percent of Hungarian asylum claims abandoned, withdrawn or rejected,” said Minister Kenney.

Asylum claims are heard by the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, an independent tribunal which decides refugee claims made in Canada on a case-by-case basis.

The trip to Alsózsolca came at the end of a two-day official visit to Hungary. The visit included bilateral ministerial discussions and a fact-finding mission into the situation of minority communities in Hungary.

While in Budapest, Minister Kenney met with Interior Minister Sándor Pintér, Foreign Minister János Martonyi, and Minister of Human Resources Zoltán Balog. These discussions centred on Canada-Hungary relations and patterns of irregular migration from Hungary to Canada. Minister Kenney also met with Flórián Farkas, MP and President of the National Roma Self-Government regarding the Hungarian government’s National Social Inclusion Strategy.

“I was pleased to hear Minister Balog’s sincere commitment to improving the education and job prospects of the Roma in Hungary,” said Minister Kenney.

Minister Kenney also had extensive discussions with civil society groups, including roundtable meetings with non-governmental organizations involved in promoting the integration of the Roma community into Hungarian society, and Jewish community members engaged in Holocaust education and combating anti-Semitism. While in Budapest, Minister Kenney visited a memorial monument to Raoul Wallenberg and the Hungarian Holocaust Memorial Centre, and the Minister also attended Simchat Torah observances at the Grand Synagogue of Budapest, where he met the Chief Rabbi.

“During this year celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of Raoul Wallenberg, Canada’s first honorary citizen, I was honoured to visit the memorial to his humanitarian work on the site of a large Jewish community that was devastated during the Holocaust,”said Minister Kenney. “Throughout this trip, I reinforced Canada’s belief in the values that animated Wallenberg, namely our belief in human dignity and the protection of human rights.”

Jason Kenney: Nice Toronto Star story on the enthusiasm for Canada amongst young Irish

The lineup for the job fair, entitled The Working Abroad Expo, in Dublin Ireland, went right around the block. Immigration Minister Jason Kenney appeared at the job fair Saturday. (Oct. 6, 2012)




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Irish immigrants helped build Canada since its early days. They are now being asked to pitch in again.

A job fair over the weekend in Dublin, at which Canada and Canadian companies were well represented, drew nearly 8,000 job-hungry Irish hoping to escape hard times on the Emerald Isle.

To underscore the fact that the red carpet is out, Canada’s Immigration Minister Jason Kenney was front and centre in the Irish capital, with an appearance on Ireland’s popular Late Late Show to explain how Canada is making it easier for young people to emigrate from Ireland.

Canada is in hot competition with Australia and New Zealand — favoured destinations for Irish immigrants since the economic crash defanged the once-roaring Celtic Tiger.

“We are trying to raise the profile of Canada because we have seen huge numbers of highly educated young Irish going to Australia,” Kenney told the Star before leaving on the four-day visit. “So this is a test drive on our effort to have a more proactive recruitment-based immigration system.”

Kenney said he only has to look around the parliament buildings in Ottawa to see the contributions the Irish made to Canada. “There are shamrocks (engraved in the stone) that is a reminder that the Irish are one of the founding peoples,” he said.

Alice O’Grady, 24, is one of those who left Ireland for greener pastures in Canada. Originally from Bantry, a small town in County Cork, O’Grady has been here less than three months and is currently busy handling PR for a car rental agency.

“I love it. I would actually hate to go home,” said O’Grady, who lives in east-end Toronto with her Irish boyfriend.

To sweeten the pot, Canada will increase the length of work visas for young Irish and double the quota of those who may arrive through the International Experience Canada (IEC) program.

Beginning in 2013, Citizenship and Immigration Canada will increase the number of spaces available for Irish, aged 18 to 35, by 1,000 to 6,350 and will seek to nearly double the current IEC quota to 10,000, beginning in 2014.

The IEC allows young Irish to travel and work in Canada for up to one year; they get an open work permit, which allows them to work for any Canadian employer. In exchange, young Canadians can likewise travel and work in Ireland.

Currently, Irish youth can participate twice in the IEC for a maximum of 12 months each time. Beginning in 2013, however, they will be eligible to take part in the IEC only once but for a period of up to two years, the department said.

One employer seeking Irish workers is the Labrador-based Iron Ore Co. of Canada. The company, which also attended the Dublin job fair, needs 200 skilled trades — electricians, heavy duty mechanics and millwrights among them — over the next five years and is convinced that Ireland can supply them.

Newfoundland and Labrador have “really strong Irish roots and a very strong Irish cultural heritage, so we believe that would be a really great fit,” said Heather Bruce-Veitch, the company’s director of external relations.

Toronto’s John Harrington, a registered Canadian immigration consultant with several Irish clients, said people “are cold-calling me from Ireland” looking for work.

“Their economic recession has brought a lot of that about. I see a lot of the skilled trades, electrician, plumbers, engineers,” he said.

But he cautioned that anyone who comes over as a labourer won’t have an opportunity to immigrate to Canada “unless you marry someone here. It’s all based on the skill level of your occupation.”

An excited Jack Price, 24, is coming to Canada in two weeks.

“I managed bars in Ireland, so hopefully I will get into the bar business,” said Price, also from Bantry.

Price, a qualified sailing instructor, said he “fell in love” with Canada when he visited in 2010 for a Georgian Bay sailing competition.

According to the Irish Times, attendance was down about 25 per cent compared with the same event last March, when attendees lined up for over three hours to get in and many people were turned away.

Apply for Canada Passport using Form PPTC 153

About Canada Passport Form PPTC 153

Form PPTC 153 is used by individuals who wish to apply for Canada Passport. Form PPTC 153 is the Adult (General) Passport Application for Canadians 16 years of age or over applying within Canada or from the United States.

A Canada Passport is the only dependable and universally accepted travel and identification document for Canadians who wish to travel abroad.

Issued to Canadian citizens only, a Canada Passport serves as the identification of the applicant as determined by documentary evidence of citizenship and documents to support identity.

The holder of a previous Canada Passport may be eligible to apply for a passport through the Simplified Renewal Application Process. For more information, visit www.premiersintl.com

Who Should Apply for Canada Passport

Canadian adults and children 16 years of age or over applying from within Canada or the United States for a Canadian Passport.

Children under 16 years of age applying for passport use form PPTC 155, Child General Passport Application.

Canada Passport Requirements

In order to qualify for a Canada Passport, the following requirements should be accomplished:

Three (3) pages of the application form must be filled out completely and signed within the last 12 months.

Two (2) matching passport photos taken within the last 12 months.

Application form PPTC 153 and one of the photos must be certified by your selected guarantor.

Proof of Canadian citizenship (original only).

Documents to support identity.

Provide any and all Canada Passport or travel document issued to you within the last five (5) years.

The applicable fee.

All documents submitted throughout the travel document application process which are written in another language other than English or French must be translated by a certified translator.

It may be required to provide additional documents or information in support of the application.

Immigration to Canada Made Easy

Immigration Direct is able to provide a variety of services to future residents of Canada in an easy and much less stressful way when compared to filing by oneself. There is always room for error when someone undertakes a task that they are familiar with. That’s why Immigration Direct is a much more accurate and reliable venue for filing for immigration benefits. We’re regularly engaged in helping people immigrate to Canada.

Our step-by-step guides to filling out the requisite immigration forms lead you smoothly through the governmental processes. Our helpful customer service center is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to help you. Along with the rest of our services we also assure you that your privacy is of our greatest concern and the security of your personal information is our highest priority.

Immigration to Canada is easy with our most popular forms:

• Applications to apply for your first permanent resident card. This document allows you to live and work in Canada.
• You can also apply to have your permanent resident card replaced after it has been damaged, lost, stolen or in other way made unusable right here at Immigration Direct.
• PR card renewals are also a snap with our helpful online guidance.
• And after you’ve had your permanent resident card for a while and you’ve decided you want to take the next logical step you can apply for Canadian citizenship with us as well! With Canadian citizenship you won’t have to worry about filing immigration forms anymore.

Also as a part of the Immigration Direct website we follow the big news and trends in Canadian immigration so that you can stay up to date on the issues. By being in the know regarding everything immigration related in Canada you’ll be in a better position to take full advantage of your rights and your immigration benefits. Our section of articles is also very informative and is full of information on immigration trends, news at the CIC and other helpful hints that can help get you through the immigration process frustration free.

So don’t delay, pursue your dreams of living and working in Canada today!

The Citizenship Residency Requirement

Under the Citizenship Act, an applicant for Canadian citizenship must have resided in Canada for at least 3 years in the 4 years immediately preceding submission of the citizenship application.

For individuals who have been a permanent resident for the last four years, this is an easy calculation. You simply add up the days that you spent outside the country, and confirm that you were present in Canada for at least 1095 days.

For individuals who have been a permanent resident for less than four years, the calculation may be more complicated. If you became a permanent resident three years ago, and you never left Canada for more than 24 hours at a time since becoming a permanent resident, then – voila! – you meet the residency requirement. But if you did take international trips since becoming a permanent resident, then you need to make some more sophisticated calculations in order to qualify for citizenship. And you’re only in a position to make these “sophisticated calculations” if you lived in Canada before you became a permanent resident and within the last four years. If you did not live in Canada before you became a permanent resident, or if the time that you lived in Canada before becoming a permanent resident is outside the "last 4 year" range - then you need to wait until you accumulate those 1095 days before applying. But if you did live in Canada before becoming a permanent resident, and within the last 4 years, then you might have some additional options.

For individuals who have been a permanent resident for less than four years, the calculation may be more complicated. If you became a permanent resident three years ago, and you never left Canada for more than 24 hours at a time since becoming a permanent resident, then . voila! . you meet the residency requirement. But if you did take international trips since becoming a permanent resident, then you need to make some more sophisticated calculations in order to qualify for citizenship. And you.re only in a position to make these .sophisticated calculations. if you lived in Canada before you became a permanent resident and within the last four years. If you did not live in Canada before you became a permanent resident, or if the time that you lived in Canada before becoming a permanent resident is outside the "last 4 year" range - then you need to wait until you accumulate those 1095 days before applying. But if you did live in Canada before becoming a permanent resident, and within the last 4 years, then you might have some additional options.

The time you resided in Canada before you became a permanent resident counts as 1/2 time. This means that for every two days that you resided in Canada since becoming a permanent resident, you can count one of them as fulfilling the 1095 days obligation. So if you lived in Canada for a year before becoming a permanent resident, and you were present in Canada for 100% of that year, you can add 182 days to the number of total days you have spent in Canada since becoming a permanent resident.

Individuals who have been a permanent resident of Canada for less than 3 years can also use this benefit. For example, if you have been a permanent resident for only two years and have spent a total of 730 days in Canada, you can still qualify for citizenship if you lived in Canada for the two years immediately preceding your acquisition of permanent resident Status, but only if you never took a trip outside of Canada in those two years.

It's a generous calculation system: one that tries to give as many advantages as possible to applicants, so that you can apply as quickly as possible for the benefit of Canadian citizenship. You should be aware, however, that there are certain periods of time . spent in Canada- that will not help you meet the residence requirement. For example, time that you spent serving in jail will not count towards the residence requirement.

If you think that you meet the residence requirement, you can get started with your citizenship application now. Don.t worry about making a mistake with your calculation - we'll make sure that you meet the residence requirement before you submit your application.