hat You Need to Know About Maintaining Permanent Resident Status

Once you become a permanent resident, you are authorized to live and work in Canada for the rest of your life. It is difficult to lose this status once you have acquired it. In fact, there are only two ways that you can lose permanent resident status:

1. If you commit a serious crime; and
2. If you fail to maintain physical residence.

Although it is unusual for permanent residents to lose status, all should be aware that certain acts could result in deportation. The only way to ensure that you can remain in Canada permanently, without condition, is to become a Canadian Citizen.

Crimes

Commission of a serious crime has become one of the most common reasons for deporting a non-citizen from Canada. What constitutes a crime that is worthy of deportation varies on a case-by-case basis. It is strongly suggested that any non-citizen who has been sentenced to time in jail seeks the counsel of an immigration attorney. The consequences of committing a crime as a non-citizen are serious, and require prudent legal advice from a qualified representative.

The Residency Obligation

In order to meet the Canadian residency obligation, you must be physically present in Canada for at least half of the last five years. If you haven't been a permanent resident of Canada for five years, then you need to show that you can meet the residence requirement at the five-year mark.

For practical purposes, you only need to show that you meet the physical presence requirement at the time that you apply for a new Permanent Resident Card - but it is something that you should be thinking about each time you take a trip outside of Canada. You need to be careful that you spend at least half of your time living in Canada, or you risk losing your permanent resident status.

If you are someone who spends a lot of time outside Canada, then you should be aware of some exceptions that might help you meet the Residency Requirement. Specifically, time spent outside the country while accompanying a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, or while working for a Canadian organization, may count as time spent inside Canada, in certain circumstances.

Employment Outside of Canada

You may count each day you worked outside Canada for a Canadian organization or affiliated organization or in the public service of Canada. You can also count time you spent outside the country as a client of a Canadian business or the Canadian public service.

To qualify, you must show that you worked in a full-time capacity, and you must be able to show an employment relationship or contract.

Accompanying a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident Outside of Canada

This exception is even more limited. It allows you to count days spent outside Canada towards fulfilling the residency requirement if you are accompanying your spouse or common law partner, or if you are a child under 22 years of age and you are accompanying your parent, but only if your Canadian citizen or permanent resident relative was employed on a full-time basis by a Canadian business or in the public service of Canada or of a province during the period you accompanied him or her. In addition, you must be able to show that your permanent resident relative meets his or her own residency obligation.

Let's break this down: You can count days spent outside of Canada in order to meet the residence requirement if you are accompanying your Canadian citizen or permanent resident spouse or parent, but only if your spouse or parent is employed by a Canadian organization during the specified travel, and only if your spouse or parent meets his or her own residency requirement.

In practice, it is hard to see how this exception could be helpful, unless you've spent so much time out of the country that every extra day counts.

Enhance your career by getting involved in professional associations

Now that you’re in Canada, you’ll find that government agencies, non-profit organizations and even private corporations are doing a lot to support the integration of newcomers into the Canadian business environment. There are many programs and services, some free, that are offered to support new Canadians. However, it’s up to you to be proactive and take advantage of these services.

Decades ago when I arrived here, this support was limited, so we have come a long way! But taking a job-readiness program or resumé workshop, for example, is just the beginning. While such programs are designed to give you the tools you’ll need to apply for jobs, you also have to beproactive in other ways beyond taking a class. It’s up to you to get out there, meet people, develop connections and network.

You can meet people most anywhere, but I find that one of the most effective, targeted ways of making connections in your line of work is getting involved with a relevant professional or business association or group.

With a professional association, meetings and other social activities provide networking opportunities resulting in interactions with potential colleagues, employers and clients. Not only will you enhance your chances of hearing about and vying for potential job openings, but you can stay on top of industry trends, get an idea on what the competition may be doing, and share your knowledge and experience.

For licensed professions, things, of course, get a little more complicated and become a matter of certification. But even these industries often have networking groups outside the official licensing association.

Which to join?
Depending on your field of expertise, there could be several professional associations to join. For example, if you’re a writer, type in “professional association + writer” into Google, and it will lead you to the Professional Writers Association of Canada website. For an annual membership fee, you can be connected to other writers, potential job opportunities, professional development and events. There are also associations for different types of writers as well.

But before you join, you should first know what you are hoping to gain from this group. Is it mainly to network with potential employers and colleagues? Or do you want to meet other newcomers like yourself? Make sure the group is right for your needs.

Give back
After you join a group, think not only of how you can benefit, but also consider what value you bring to the group through your participation. While we reap the rewards of enhancing our networking connections, we must be prepared to give back in return as much as we put in. Not only are you doing something good, but it can only enhance your reputation and visibility.

One way to give back is to consider joining the organization’s board or committees. As vacancies arise, these groups look for replacements and are often putting more emphasis on diversity among their directors.

Becoming a board member allows you to participate in the strategic planning of the organization, through sharing your learning and experience. You get opportunities to develop your leadership skills while working closely with new peers.

What you put in
Naturally, the benefits of being in any professional association or group all depend on the effort that you put into it. It’s up to you.

Permanent Resident Card Wait Times

The new average processing times for the Permanent Resident Card have been announced. New Permanent Resident cards will take 61 days to arrive. This is measured in calendar days, so, your new Permanent Resident Card should arrive in a little less than nine weeks, or a little more than two months. Replacing or renewing your Permanent Resident Card will take 88 calendar days, or approximately 12.5 weeks, or a few days more than three months.

Permanent Resident Cards are given to foreign nationals who live in Canada on a permanent basis, only leaving for short periods of time and eventually expected to become a citizen, however, this is not a requirement. Government forms can be difficult to understand and if they are filed incorrectly it may take even longer to receive your Permanent Resident Card than even the estimates above.

Immigration Direct assists people from all over the world with immigrating to Canada. Some of the services we offer include helping you apply for a Permanent Resident Card, renewing or replacing a PR Card, and even citizenship. Register with Immigration Direct today and become part of Canada’s cultural mosaic today!

Canada is considered one of the most developed and desirable countries in the world to live in. Recently there was a certain amount of scandal when certain immigrants, so desperate to gain citizenship in Canada were defrauding the Citizenship and Immigration Canada. However, Minister Kenney was quick to respond to these fraudsters and fittingly so considering that on the 2011 Corruption Perception Index Canada ranked 10^th least corrupt. Canada is also extremely committed to the freedom of the press and in between the years 2011 and 2012 the Press Freedom Index ranked Canada 10^th most free. These rankings laying at 10^th might not seem so impressive, but imagine the context of the measurement. There are 193 member countries to the United Nations and these lists show Canada being 10^th out of all of them.

Canada is truly a wonderful and free place to be. Immigrate with Immigration Direct today!

Prepare Your Permanent Resident Card

Applying for Your Canada PR Card

Your Permanent Resident Card is one of your most important documents. It is your proof that you hold status as a permanent resident, and is essential if you plan to take any trips outside of Canada. Each time you re-enter Canada after a trip outside the country, you must present your valid, unexpired Permanent Resident Card.

The Permanent Resident Card expires every five years. Check the expiry date and apply for a new one well before you plan to travel.

Who Can Apply for a Canadian PR Card?

Applying for a Permanent Resident Card is not the same as applying for permanent resident status. Only individuals who have already been granted permanent resident status are eligible to apply for a Permanent Resident Card.

Typical applicants include individuals seeking to replace their expired Permanent Resident Card and individuals seeking to replace a lost or stolen card. In addition, certain individuals who were granted permanent resident status prior to June 28, 2002 never received a Permanent Resident Card, and may apply for a new card using this application.

Under normal circumstances, permanent residents who obtained status after June 28, 2002 received a Permanent Resident Card as part of the application process. However, applicants who did not receive a card due to CIC error may also be eligible to apply for a Permanent Resident Card on this form.

What Are the Steps in the Canada PR Process?

1. Complete your application quickly and accurately, with our easy-to-use Form Navigator^TM technology.
2. Pay the government filing fee online.
3. Gather your supporting documents and submit them with your application to CIC.
4. Upon approval of your application, report to the local CIC office to collect your card.

Welcome to Canada: a newcomer’s checklist

Once you have stepped off the plane follow this to-do list to guide your essential first steps in Canada

Before you leave the airport, check out the newcomer welcome centre. 
At the Toronto Pearson International Airport, look for the Immigrant Reception and Information Services (IRIS) kiosks. At the Vancouver International Airport, go to the Community Airport Newcomers Network (CANN) kiosk in the immigration landing room of the international arrivals area. These kiosks will have pamphlets and resources to help you in your first days in Canada.

Find temporary accommodation for your first few nights after landing and then start looking for a longer term rental. Although you may start off at a hotel/motel, they can get expensive, so try to find one with a good monthly rate. You may then want to find a furnished apartment rental until you decide for certain which areas of the city you prefer before you sign a lease for a longer term rental or consider buying a house.

Obtain a good street map, a telephone book and the Yellow Pages. These resources will be important tools in your first days as you get to know your neighbourhood and search out local services.

Visit a local immigrant settlement agency. Such non-profit organizations receive government funding to offer newcomers services, such as free ESL training, settlement counselling, employment workshops and more. They also often have host programs that buddy up newcomers with volunteers who help guide them through their first few months in Canada. See cic.gc.ca for a list of agencies across the country.  See Settlement.Org for a list of agencies in Ontario.

Apply for your Social Insurance Number (SIN) card. Without it, you cannot get a job or apply for any government assistance or credit. Applications for a SIN card can be made through a Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) office — check the blue pages of your local telephone book under Government of Canada.

Apply for your official health care card. Application forms for these cards are available from doctor’s offices, hospitals and most pharmacies, or by calling the provincial medical services authorities. Since there is a three-month waiting period for coverage in Ontario, B.C. and some other provinces, don’t delay in your application. Ensure you have temporary private health coverage to cover your family during the waiting period.

Open an account at a bank or credit union near your home. It’s important to start a relationship with a bank as soon as possible, so you can manage your money, pay your bills and begin building a credit history.

Validate your professional credentials. Contact a local foreign credentials assessment service, such as World Education Services (wes.org/ca) in Toronto or the International Credential Evaluation Service in B.C. (bcit.ca/ices).

Get your Canadian driver’s licence. An international licence is only valid for a few months. Check with your provincial motor vehicle branch on the rules in your province.

Enrol your kids at school. Every child between the ages of five and 16 is entitled to, and in fact required to, attend school. Ask at schools in your neighbourhood or contact the local school board for guidance.

Want more tips on how to navigate your new life in Canada? Click here to access our Welcome to Canada Guide

Business Migration

Australia, Canada & New Zealand have business migration programs to attract successful entrepreneur in their country. Each country has multiple programs & depending on type of visa it may be a conditional or unconditional visa. The purpose of business migration program is to attract successful businessperson in their country to benefit the economy. Business migration program generally has two main streams Entrepreneur category & Investor category.

TWO Main Stream:

Entrepreneur Category: Entrepreneur category generally does not have condition to transfer funds before getting the visa but it is a conditional visa & applicant needs to fulfill specified conditions in specific time frame. Condition generally revolves around starting the business, hiring 1-2 Citizens or PR Holders, achieving revenue & Profit.

Investor Category:
Investor category is generally designed for Business person with high net worth. This category has a very high eligibility criteria & applicant have to invest a sizable amount in government secured bonds or funds. Depending on the program these investment may have fixed interest rate.

Family Visa:
Businessman look for these visa as they can avail most of the rights as a citizens for them & their family. The benefits include free education , health care , social security, unemployment, child care etc. Any member of the family completing 3 years of stay is eligible to apply for citizenship.

Saving:
Though business programs are generally expensive still it can result in great saving for families. A family planning to send their two children in Canada for higher education can save at least CAD$ 120,000 in three years on children education vs a student visa + children do not have restriction like student visa. Moreover they can take up full time/part time employment & days they spend in Canada will be counted towards citizenship.

Minister Kenney Supports the Faster Removal of Foreign Criminals Act

The Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, today urged Members of Parliament to support the legislation to expedite the removal of foreign criminals from Canada and to enhance the safety and security of Canadians.

“We have introduced a law that will stop foreign criminals relying on endless appeals in order to delay their removal from Canada during which time they continue to terrorize innocent Canadians, we believe all parliamentarians should support this law,” said Minister Kenney. “Canadians are generous and welcoming people, but they have no tolerance for criminals and fraudsters abusing our generosity.”

The Faster Removal of Foreign Criminals Act, focuses on three areas which would:

1. Make it easier for the Government to remove dangerous foreign criminals from our country;
2. Make it harder for those who may pose a risk to Canada to enter the country in the first place; and
3. Remove barriers for genuine visitors who want to come to Canada.

Through the Faster Removal of Foreign Criminals Act, the government is delivering on its commitment to streamline the process to deport convicted criminals by limiting their access to the Immigration and Refugee Board’s Immigration Appeal Division. This will reduce the amount of time certain criminals may remain in Canada by up to 14 months, reducing their chances of committing more crime on Canadian soil.

Another change in the proposed legislation would ensure that foreign nationals who are inadmissible on the most serious grounds – security, human or international rights violations, or organized criminality – will no longer be able to delay their removal by applying for a program that is meant for cases deserving of humanitarian and compassionate consideration. This change is consistent with the government’s no safe haven policy.

Other amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to protect the safety and security of Canadians include a new Ministerial authority to refuse temporary entry in exceptional cases, and increased penalties for those who try to cheat the system.

In contrast, the legislation will facilitate the temporary entry of low-risk individuals who would have previously been refused entry because one of their family members was deemed inadmissible for non-security reasons, such as health.

“These measures are tough but fair,” said Minister Kenney. “We want an immigration system that is open to genuine visitors, while at the same time prevents the entry of foreign criminals and denies them the ability to endlessly abuse our generosity.”

These amendments, which would update the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and our immigration program, complement the recent measures in the Protecting Canada’s Immigration System Act as well as the Action Plan on Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness.