Category: Immigration

Every Canadian citizen and permanent resident is entitled to mobility rights as per Section 6 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The charter has ensured for every permanent resident the right to move, settle and earn a livelihood anywhere in the country.

Section 6(2) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms states:

Every citizen of Canada and every person who has the status of a permanent resident of Canada has the right

• a) to move to and take up residence in any province; and
• b) to pursue the gaining of a livelihood in any province

It means you can move anywhere in Canada as a permanent resident.

Canada does not have any rules that require permanent residents to stay in a particular province. But the case is a bit different for PNP immigrants. The primary aim of the provincial nominee programs is to attract immigrants who can contribute towards the province’s economy. So obviously, the provinces want their nominees to stay in their province permanently. In their case, Canada has made provisions to ensure that the PNP immigrants are not using Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) for a back-door entry to the country.

Many PNP immigrants want to leave the province of their nomination and move to another province immediately after landing. But provincial authorities can prosecute them for misrepresentation. Because, when a person accepts the nomination of a province, he expressed his intention to live in the country that nominated him. In such cases, there are also chances for the permanent residency status of the immigrant to be declined or rejected.

But there is one way for PNP immigrants to move to another province. It is by proving that the province that nominated them could not provide an occupation in their nominated NOC. But the provincial authorities must be convinced that the concerned person tried his best before deciding to move to another province.

Following are a few things that you can do as a provincial nominee before moving to another province in order to avoid landing in troubles:

• Look for another job in the province that nominated you
• Document all your job searching activities
• Approach the office of immigration in your province
• Let the officials know the efforts you have taken to find a job
• If the officials are convinced about your reason to move to another province, you will be allowed to leave

Remember, it is ideal to get the province’s approval for your decision to move in writing

Want to know more about Provincial Nominee Programs and Canada immigration? Contact us now!

Working while studying in Canada is a good option for international students which will help them meet their expenses, while gaining valuable work experience. Canada offers a number of job opportunities to international students, both on and off campus. These jobs offer good remuneration too. The only thing the international students have to be careful about is to choose the jobs that do not cause any extra burden for them while being in Canada.

International students have three major options to earn while learning

Off campus work:

The international students must meet the relevant official requirements to work off campus. The student must prove that he is a full-time student at a publicly funded institution or at a private institute authorized to confer degrees.

On campus work:

International student can work on campus at the institution where they are studying. A student can work up to 20 hours a week during normal academic sessions and full time during semester breaks.

Internship programs/coop programs: Students attending certain courses in Canada will have to work as part of their studies. The students will be awarded degree only if they produce relevant work experience, be it off campus or on campus.

Here are five top jobs that help you earn while you learn in Canada

Graduate assistant:

Graduate assistant jobs are of three types– Graduate General/Administrative Assistants, Graduate Research Assistants and Graduate Teaching Assistants. The duty of an administrative graduate assistant is to assist the staff of the administrative office of the University or a particular department. Graduate research assistants mainly have research-oriented responsibilities such as researching on internet, field work, laboratory experiments etc. Graduate teaching assistants assist professors in their teaching duties.

Store Management:

International students with sufficient skills in accounting can look for a part-time job as a store manager. Part-time store keeper jobs are also available for international students.

Language teacher:

  You can earn by teaching your native language to those interested. Many universities have clubs for extra-curricular activities. Learning a foreign language is an activity chosen by many students. By teaching your native language, you also help the students from other countries to know more about your homeland.

Tour Facilitator:

Many students work as a tour facilitator for the tour and travel companies of their native country. This is a job that will allow you to earn a few extra bucks in the form of incentives.

Translator:

You can work as a freelance translator or part-time translator to earn a decent remuneration. But you have to have mastery over both the languages and excellent writing skills.

Contact us to know more about studying in Canada

David Heurtel, the immigration minister of Quebec, informed the other day through Twitter that his ministry was planning to introduce certain changes to the immigration system of Quebec. The changes were originally outlined in March and these include introduction of a new Expression of Interest system. The minister expressed hope that the new changes will reduce the processing time of applications for immigration and enhance the Quebec economy. The changes are expected to come into force on August 2nd, 2018.

Here are four important things you must know about the new immigration regulations of Quebec:

Express Entry-style ‘expression of interest’ immigration system

The new Express Entry-style ‘expression of interest’ (Déclaration d’intérêt) immigration system to be introduced on June 2 is meant for the selection of economic immigrants to the province of Quebec. The system will be applied for the selection of candidates through the Quebec Skilled Worker Program(QSWP). The Ministère de l’Immigration, et de la Diversité et de l’Inclusion (MIDI) has already explained that the QSWP application process, under the new regulations, will include:

• The candidate submitting an Expression of Interest to settle in Quebec
• MIDI inviting the candidate to apply for a Québec Selection Certificate (Certificat de sélection du Québec, or CSQ)
• Candidate submitting an application for the Québec Selection Certificate to the MIDI.
• Candidate submitting the federal portion of the application upon obtaining the Québec Selection Certificate

Faster processing of applications

David Heurtel, the immigration minister of Quebec, says in his Tweet that the new system is designed to decrease processing times and help the province of Quebec maximize the potential of the immigration system as a driver for economic growth in the province. Quebec is aiming to reduce the processing time of applications for the economic immigration to less than 12 months.

Similar to federal Express Entry system

The new Expression of Interest immigration system will replace the ‘first-come, first-served’ model of the Quebec Skilled Worker Program. Under the new system, the candidate will have to first enter a pool of candidates similar to the Express Entry pool in order to apply. The profiles submitted to the Expression of Interest system will be valid for 12 months.  In the lines of the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), the candidates will also be assigned a fresh points total. The Quebec Government will conduct periodic draws and select eligible candidates using a sliding points threshold.

New Quebec Immigrant Investor Program (QIIP)

Quebec Immigrant Investor Program (QIIP) will also undergo certain changes that will come into effect on August 2, 2018. The minimum investment requirement will be hiked from $800,000 to $1.2 million. The minimum required net worth amount will also be increased, from $1.6 million to $2 million. Another major requirement to apply for immigration under Quebec Immigrant Investor Program (QIIP) is two years of experience in management or business within the five years preceding the application.

Quebec has an autonomous immigration system and enjoys much independence to create its own immigration programs. It also sets annual immigration levels independent from the rest of Canada. Since 2016, Quebec has not accepted any new applications for immigration. After the introduction of new regulations, the province is expected to admit around 30,000 skilled workers every year.

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Quebec attracts thousands of immigrants every year with its unique French heritage and low cost of living. But Quebec is like a different country within Canada, as the province has set itself apart from English Canada with its unique culture, language, food etc. So living in Quebec is an entirely different experience altogether.

Here are four important things that you must look into, before immigrating to Quebec

Where to live:

Most of the immigrants prefer to settle in Montreal. About 85 percent of the immigrants reside in this city. Montreal is marked by a dynamic economy, rich culture, vast employment opportunities, greenery and quality life. But there are a few other places in Quebec that offer vast job opportunities and quality of life, such as Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Bas-Saint-Laurent, Capitale-Nationale (ville de Québec) etc. You can seek the services that provide guidance to newcomers in these regions on matters such as housing and choosing schools for children.

Starting a life:

Once you reach Quebec, you will have to do a few things to start a new life there. These include opening a bank account, getting health insurance and driving license, and finding a place to live. For all these, you will need documents such as your passport and your work permit. Though most of such procedures are simple, it may take a long time to complete.

Housing:

Upon landing in Quebec, you can stay with friends or at a short-term centre as a temporary arrangement till you find a permanent housing. Explore the neighbourhoods and consider the proximity to work and school while choosing an area for residence. You must also check if public transport facilities are available there. Once you zero in on a particular area, you can monitor the ads to find a home there.

Cost of living and tax:

The cost of living is different in different regions. While cities such as Montreal and Quebec City are expensive, it is highly affordable to live in small towns. But you may have to compromise on things such as convenience and fast internet, while choosing small towns.

Remember, while you are in Quebec, you will have to file two tax returns every year. The province has heavy taxation, paperwork and bureaucracy.

Contact us to explore your options to immigrating to Quebec

Canada has introduced certain significant changes in its immigration policies and programs, as a means to welcome more talented immigrants to the country. The country plans to welcome around one million immigrants between 2018 and 2020. As part of this, more immigrants will be landing in Canada as permanent residents through the economic streams managed by the Express Entry system. Compared to 2017, Canada is welcoming more immigrants through provincial nominee programs as well. All these indicates that the immigration trends are in favor of those who wish to lead a better life in Canada.

Now let’s have a look into the recent Canada immigration trends you should know about:

The number of immigrants to Canada is increasing:

Canada has announced that between 2018 and 2020, the country will be welcoming around 1 million new immigrants. The major pathways for immigrants to become permanent residents in Canada are the federal economic immigration streams under the Express Entry system. Provincial nominee programs are another way through which a number of immigrants are being accepted to the country.

Yet another major immigration pathway is family sponsorship streams. Canada restructured the parents and grandparents sponsorship program in 2017 and made it into a lottery system. In 2018, a total of 21000 parents and grandparents are expected to join their families in Canada.

Express Entry to gain further significance:

Of late, it has become evident that Canada is considering Express Entry as the main source of selecting economic immigrants to Canada. Immigration, Refugees, Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has also increased the number of intakes through the Express Entry system.

Over the past few years, we are witnessing a trend of Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) becoming more and more lenient. In May 2017, the minimum CRS scores required for receiving Invitation to Apply for permanent residence came down to as low as 413 points.

This trend is expected to continue throughout 2018. Canada is also likely to retain the number of intakes high in order to meet its target of welcoming 1 million immigrants over the next three years.

More immigrants to enter Canada through Provincial Nominee Programs(PNPs):

Under Provincial Nominee Programs, provinces nominate candidates for permanent residence in Canada. In the PNP streams aligned to the Express Entry system, the candidates nominated by the provinces earn 600 additional CRS points. A few more provinces are joining the bandwagon by opening Express Entry-aligned PNP streams. While the province of Alberta recently opened its Express Entry-aligned PNP stream, Manitoba is in the process of renewing and updating its PNP. It means more chances for Canada immigration aspirants through PNPs.

The immigration strategy of Canada is aiming to fill the economic and demographic gaps in the country by welcoming more qualified immigrants to the country. Immigration aspirants with required qualifications can make use of this opportunity to migrate to Canada and build a better life there. All the positive trends are giving a green signal to those who wish to migrate to Canada. So if you are one among them, do not hesitate to take the first step!

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Take care of your finances when you migrate to Canada

Though Canada is one of the best places to live in, many of those who migrate to Canada dreaming a better life, initially find it difficult to establish themselves financially. Most of them have to struggle for years to build up credit, get a decent job and become financially secure. Listed below are the important things that you must do when you migrate to Canada in order to have a bright financial future.

What must you do to be financially stable when you migrate to Canada?

Getting started:

After you migrate to Canada, there are a number of things that you can do in order to save as much money as possible and take the first steps to establish yourself in the new country. One of the first things that you must do is to apply for a Social Insurance Number(SIN). This is necessary to secure a job and gain access to benefits from the government. If you have children, you can apply for Canada Child Benefit after you migrate to Canada. Under the scheme, the government will provide a tax-free monthly payment to parents who care for children under the age of 18. You can also apply for a provincial health card. If there a waiting period for the healthcare to start coverage, you can buy a private medical insurance cover for that period.

Manage your money:

It is ideal to set up a Canadian bank account before you migrate to Canada. You can also inquire if the bank offers a fee waiver for immigrants in the first year. You can ask for better exchange rates if you are transferring a huge amount of money from your home country while you migrate to Canada. If the amount is not that big, you can purchase currency at best rates from currency exchange company websites. You must remember that under Canadian law, you have to pay taxes for your worldwide income or on all capital gains. You can seek the help of a Canadian accountant specialized in immigration to help minimize the tax you have to pay to the Canada Revenue Agency.

Cut down on your expenses:

Most of those who migrate to Canada reach the country with limited financial resources. So, it is advisable that they spend their money with caution while they establish themselves in the new place. Do not splurge your money on entertainment and other luxuries till you have attained financial security. In the initial years after you migrate to Canada, it is better to invest the money in real estate or skills training that will be rewarding in the future. Also, try to have good credit ratings, so that you can secure bank loans to buy a house or a car.

Want more expert guidance on migrating and settling in Canada? Contact us right now!