"Dear Alla, Oleg and Vadim,
Really, my family and I are so pleased to know you. This fall (2008), when we have been planning to go to Toronto as immigrants we were so confused because we didn't know what to do as regards the required arrangements for our settlement. Fortunately, one of my friends told me about your settlement services in Toronto.
When I contacted you, through your web site at www.welcometotoronto.org I found out how sincere and keen you are. Your help was so great and you let me know everything I had to do.
My family and I would not forget your kind and warm welcome on arriving to Toronto. Not only your nice spirit and patience with us but also your plan and arrangements were amazing, quite clear and precise. However, we have spent a great time with you even while doing the required arrangements.
I don't know how to thank you for your help because we have saved a lot of time that was supposed to spend in arrangements. Instead, we spent this saved time in enjoying the beautiful Toronto city.
My family and I would like to especially appreciate Mrs. Alla for her efforts with us.
I will be delighted to recommend "Welcome to Toronto" to my friends who are going to land in Toronto as immigrants or even visitors because I am so sure that they we will get a wonderful help. Thank you Alla, Oleg and Vadim and I hope that our friendship will stay forever. Good luck and God bless you."
Dr. Hossam H, Dubai
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Another Successful Settlement Experience
"We really appreciate your help in our accommodations and arrangements. By using the settlement services of Welcome to Toronto, our immigration process was easy and pleasant!
The airport pick up - drop-off service that you provided us, helped us greatly, as we saved so much time and effort since it was very immediate and convenient. We love the apartment you rented on our behalf, the conditions and services are very good (the pool, sauna and fitness room) are breathtaking and the location is great! The temporary furniture you provided us with was very helpful during our first few days in Canada.
Moreover, we saved a lot of money and time by getting into our apartment right away, otherwise we would stay in a motel for several days, which is very expensive in Toronto and we would simply waste our time. We also appreciate, that you provided us with very important information, and that you drove us to furniture stores and supermarkets, helped us open our bank account, assisted us with health insurance and getting the SIN number, while at the same time you helped us apply to schools, LINC courses and fill out all the necessary documents.
Our kids are very happy with the school and the childcare. My husband attends the LINC language course, also due to your help, and our younger kids are provided with free childcare. It has only been a few months since our arrival to Toronto, and I am already employed. I work in a language school as an instructor. It takes me 25 minutes to get there from my home by subway. I value your help in arranging my appointment with a career counselor, who directed me to very helpful workshops, where I learned the most effective ways of job search, resume writing and passing job interviews.
In closing, we are enjoying our life in Toronto and we are very thankful for the services of Welcome to Toronto, and for helping us start out successfully!"
Yuila and Roman G.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Crossing the Border with a Work Permit
Before you cross the border, you may wish to have my useful list of documents readily available for inspection by the border officers to make your crossing as smooth as possible (other documents may be required depending on your particular circumstances):
- Copies of degrees or educational documents
- Copies of any previous employment contracts or agreements related to your work in Canada
- Latest bank statements and investment statements
- Original birth certificates for all family members
- Current passports for all family members
- Vehicle registration certificate and title (depending on how your title looks, you may need a permission letter from your financier – i.e., if it is joint title, you may need further documentation). Note that your vehicle will have to pass provincial inspection if you want insurance here – modification may be likely including day time running lights (which are fairly inexpensive to install) and others depending on the model and make of the vehicle
- A list in duplicate of all the goods you are bringing into Canada, showing their value, make, model, and serial number where applicable. Smaller items such as "dishes" can be lumped in one category with an estimated value.
- Report any currency / monetary instruments you are bringing with you that exceed $10,000 (i.e., cash, traveler's cheques, bank drafts)
- Avoid importing any firearms
- Veterinary certificate for any dogs or cats which must include recent rabies vaccination and statements of good health
- Houseplants may be imported, please declare at border. No plants intended to be planted outside may enter Canada
- Do not bring any fresh fruit, meat or vegetables of any kind
Highest Number of Immigrants since 1911
Tories set to announce number of foreigners allowed into Canada highest since 1911
By: Alexander Panetta, THE CANADIAN PRESS
OTTAWA - The government is set to announce Friday that a near-record number foreigners was allowed into Canada last year - 429,000 - a total higher than in any year since 1911.
That sum includes 251,000 permanent residents, as well as temporary workers and foreign students, said government sources who released the number to The Canadian Press.
The NDP dismissed the figure as artificially inflated by temporary residents - including "cheap labour" seasonal workers and students - and note the actual number of permanent residents was 262,000 in 2005.
The latest figures will be released on the same day as a controversial piece of legislation, which is designed to cut processing times for some immigrants - but which could also shut out others.
The budget implementation bill will include a legislative change that gives the immigration minister the authority to cap applications beyond a certain limit if the backlog gets too long.
"It would give the minister the authority to manage the size of the backlog and set limits," Immigration Minister Diane Finley said in an interview.
"It takes three to six years for someone to even get their application looked at - let alone processed.
"That's not fair to them, it's not fair to their families, and it's not fair to the employers that want to hire them. We have to fix that. It's not going to be fixed overnight."
Immigration wait times have surged more than 20 per cent since 2004, according to statistics released by the opposition.
More than 800,000 prospective immigrants languishing on waiting lists. Finley blamed the previous Liberal government for allowing waiting lists to grow more than 15-fold since 1993.
The legislative change is among a host of other recent reforms designed to reduce wait times.One is creating SWAT teams who can be transferred to process files from countries or immigration categories where the wait is longest.
Another is allowing Canadian officials stationed abroad in quieter posts to process paperwork filed in immigration hot spots.
The government is also creating a new category of immigrant - the Canadian Experience Class. Under that category, temporary residents such as highly skilled workers and foreign students would be allowed to remain in Canada post-graduation while they apply for permanent residence.
The idea, Finley said, is to keep the best and brightest from giving up and heading elsewhere while stuck on Canadian wait lists.
But the opposition zeroed in on the legislative change that would allow the government to cap applications.
With Canada facing a declining birth rate, an aging population and labour shortages, they suggest the government should hire more immigration staff instead of reducing applicants.
"By 2011, 100 per cent of Canada's labour force growth will come from immigration," said Liberal immigration critic Maurizio Bevilacqua.
"Why does the minister believe that shutting the door on immigration is the answer?"The NDP's Olivia Chow called the approach "short-sighted and wrong."
"We need to increase the target number of immigrants into the country to one per cent of the population - or 330,000 people - in order to renew our workforce and drive our economy," Chow said.
"Instead of allowing families into Canada, the Conservative government seems intent only to bring in massive numbers of temporary foreign workers who are vulnerable to mistreatment and abuse."
Finley would not say whether she intends to use the new power to cap immigration applications, saying that the budget bills need to pass first.
The idea of capping immigration applications to combat wait times is reminiscent of a controversial Diefenbaker-era policy.
In 1959, the Tory government also proposed limits to tackle the backlog in applications - a 131,000-person backlog at the time, fuelled primarily by Italians arriving through family sponsorships. The goal was identical: to reduce those applications in order to speed up processing times for more valued skilled workers.
Within one month, the Diefenbaker government abandoned its effort in the face of an uproar from Italian-Canadians and the Opposition Liberals.
Many elderly members of Canada's 1.3-million-member Italian community can still be heard blaming that policy for their lifelong vow never to vote Conservative again.
Some of these voters are staunch social and fiscal conservatives, but their traditional tendency to vote Liberal anyway has served as a historical obstacle to the Conservatives winning seats in Montreal and Toronto.
But Finley called it hypocritical for today's Liberals to complain about the government measure. She noted that they're allowing the budget to pass, and abstaining en masse from voting on it.
"The Liberals created this situation. For them to provide any criticism of it - when they're actually supporting this legislation in the budget - is nothing but hypocritical," she said.
"We're losing out on a lot of talent because it takes too long for people to get processed here."Now we've got employers screaming for talent, which is stuck on wait lists."
By: Alexander Panetta, THE CANADIAN PRESS
OTTAWA - The government is set to announce Friday that a near-record number foreigners was allowed into Canada last year - 429,000 - a total higher than in any year since 1911.
That sum includes 251,000 permanent residents, as well as temporary workers and foreign students, said government sources who released the number to The Canadian Press.
The NDP dismissed the figure as artificially inflated by temporary residents - including "cheap labour" seasonal workers and students - and note the actual number of permanent residents was 262,000 in 2005.
The latest figures will be released on the same day as a controversial piece of legislation, which is designed to cut processing times for some immigrants - but which could also shut out others.
The budget implementation bill will include a legislative change that gives the immigration minister the authority to cap applications beyond a certain limit if the backlog gets too long.
"It would give the minister the authority to manage the size of the backlog and set limits," Immigration Minister Diane Finley said in an interview.
"It takes three to six years for someone to even get their application looked at - let alone processed.
"That's not fair to them, it's not fair to their families, and it's not fair to the employers that want to hire them. We have to fix that. It's not going to be fixed overnight."
Immigration wait times have surged more than 20 per cent since 2004, according to statistics released by the opposition.
More than 800,000 prospective immigrants languishing on waiting lists. Finley blamed the previous Liberal government for allowing waiting lists to grow more than 15-fold since 1993.
The legislative change is among a host of other recent reforms designed to reduce wait times.One is creating SWAT teams who can be transferred to process files from countries or immigration categories where the wait is longest.
Another is allowing Canadian officials stationed abroad in quieter posts to process paperwork filed in immigration hot spots.
The government is also creating a new category of immigrant - the Canadian Experience Class. Under that category, temporary residents such as highly skilled workers and foreign students would be allowed to remain in Canada post-graduation while they apply for permanent residence.
The idea, Finley said, is to keep the best and brightest from giving up and heading elsewhere while stuck on Canadian wait lists.
But the opposition zeroed in on the legislative change that would allow the government to cap applications.
With Canada facing a declining birth rate, an aging population and labour shortages, they suggest the government should hire more immigration staff instead of reducing applicants.
"By 2011, 100 per cent of Canada's labour force growth will come from immigration," said Liberal immigration critic Maurizio Bevilacqua.
"Why does the minister believe that shutting the door on immigration is the answer?"The NDP's Olivia Chow called the approach "short-sighted and wrong."
"We need to increase the target number of immigrants into the country to one per cent of the population - or 330,000 people - in order to renew our workforce and drive our economy," Chow said.
"Instead of allowing families into Canada, the Conservative government seems intent only to bring in massive numbers of temporary foreign workers who are vulnerable to mistreatment and abuse."
Finley would not say whether she intends to use the new power to cap immigration applications, saying that the budget bills need to pass first.
The idea of capping immigration applications to combat wait times is reminiscent of a controversial Diefenbaker-era policy.
In 1959, the Tory government also proposed limits to tackle the backlog in applications - a 131,000-person backlog at the time, fuelled primarily by Italians arriving through family sponsorships. The goal was identical: to reduce those applications in order to speed up processing times for more valued skilled workers.
Within one month, the Diefenbaker government abandoned its effort in the face of an uproar from Italian-Canadians and the Opposition Liberals.
Many elderly members of Canada's 1.3-million-member Italian community can still be heard blaming that policy for their lifelong vow never to vote Conservative again.
Some of these voters are staunch social and fiscal conservatives, but their traditional tendency to vote Liberal anyway has served as a historical obstacle to the Conservatives winning seats in Montreal and Toronto.
But Finley called it hypocritical for today's Liberals to complain about the government measure. She noted that they're allowing the budget to pass, and abstaining en masse from voting on it.
"The Liberals created this situation. For them to provide any criticism of it - when they're actually supporting this legislation in the budget - is nothing but hypocritical," she said.
"We're losing out on a lot of talent because it takes too long for people to get processed here."Now we've got employers screaming for talent, which is stuck on wait lists."
Monday, March 24, 2008
Bill 50 and Immigration
Proposals embedded in budget bill would give minister power to deny or speed applications
Mar 24, 2008 04:30 AM Nicholas Keung Immigration/Diversity Reporter
Proposed changes to the Immigration Act may allow the overhaul of Canada's immigration system, but critics fear they could also allow Immigration Minister Diane Finley to ram through changes without parliamentary – and public – oversight.
Legal experts and immigrant advocates made their reservations known after the Conservative government announced plans to change the six-year-old Immigration and Refugee Protection Act by asking Parliament to relinquish its decision-making power on immigration policies to a single person – the minister.
Since Bill 50 was introduced this month, Finley has been touting it as a way to reduce the 800,000-case backlog and cut long waiting times for immigration applications.
But critics, while commending the government's political will to tackle the decade-old backlog, said they were caught off guard by the secrecy surrounding the new provisions.
The bill would allow the minister to discard applications from specific countries, reject applicants who otherwise meet all immigration criteria, and accelerate some applications, allowing queue-jumping.
Worst, applicants couldn't appeal.
Lawyer Lorne Waldman said the approach goes against the points system that was introduced in the late 1960s to make the system non-racist and accountable.
"This new change will undo all of this by allowing the minister to override the established criteria by directing that whole categories be not processed and by giving the minister the power to direct that applications be processed despite them not meeting the objective criteria," Waldman warned.
The bill could also terminate the processing of humanitarian applications from overseas and limit the number and type of applications each person could file.
All these scenarios could happen via "minister's instructions" that circumvent the traditional process of public consultations, parliamentary committee reviews and oversight, critics charge.
"Nothing could be further from the truth," Finley said yesterday on CTV's Question Period. "We have to make it easier to get more people here faster. We have a backlog right now that the previous government ballooned from 50,000 to 800,000. It has since grown to 900,000."
Finley said the changes will help fill jobs that go empty while qualified people wait, as well as provide the option of faster processing for applicants from troubled areas.
The amendment is contained within the 2008 budget implementation bill, which means it would take a confidence vote to defeat the new provisions. That fact alone is alarming, said prominent immigration lawyer Gordon Maynard.
"It doesn't allow proper debate of the content. The opposition parties have to accept it or face an election. It just isn't fair," he said.
"It's a worry. It's a concern because these changes aren't made without reasons. Someone would have thought it out. What targets do they have in mind? They are not seen in the legislation."
The current law obliges the immigration department to consider, process and decide all applications to ensure every foreigner who meets the requirements is entitled to enter Canada. The new provisions give the minister the right to discard applications or retain them permanently – allowing the department to chop the backlog with no legal consequences.
The legal and advocacy community is campaigning against the changes and NDP immigration critic Olivia Chow (Trinity-Spadina) has vowed to introduce a motion to delete the amendment when Parliament resumes this month.
But Gerri MacDonald, president of the Refugee Lawyers' Association of Ontario, isn't hopeful.
"The Conservative government put in all these unwanted provisions in a budget bill knowing that the opposition doesn't want to force an election," she noted.
"It is disturbing."
Mar 24, 2008 04:30 AM Nicholas Keung Immigration/Diversity Reporter
Proposed changes to the Immigration Act may allow the overhaul of Canada's immigration system, but critics fear they could also allow Immigration Minister Diane Finley to ram through changes without parliamentary – and public – oversight.
Legal experts and immigrant advocates made their reservations known after the Conservative government announced plans to change the six-year-old Immigration and Refugee Protection Act by asking Parliament to relinquish its decision-making power on immigration policies to a single person – the minister.
Since Bill 50 was introduced this month, Finley has been touting it as a way to reduce the 800,000-case backlog and cut long waiting times for immigration applications.
But critics, while commending the government's political will to tackle the decade-old backlog, said they were caught off guard by the secrecy surrounding the new provisions.
The bill would allow the minister to discard applications from specific countries, reject applicants who otherwise meet all immigration criteria, and accelerate some applications, allowing queue-jumping.
Worst, applicants couldn't appeal.
Lawyer Lorne Waldman said the approach goes against the points system that was introduced in the late 1960s to make the system non-racist and accountable.
"This new change will undo all of this by allowing the minister to override the established criteria by directing that whole categories be not processed and by giving the minister the power to direct that applications be processed despite them not meeting the objective criteria," Waldman warned.
The bill could also terminate the processing of humanitarian applications from overseas and limit the number and type of applications each person could file.
All these scenarios could happen via "minister's instructions" that circumvent the traditional process of public consultations, parliamentary committee reviews and oversight, critics charge.
"Nothing could be further from the truth," Finley said yesterday on CTV's Question Period. "We have to make it easier to get more people here faster. We have a backlog right now that the previous government ballooned from 50,000 to 800,000. It has since grown to 900,000."
Finley said the changes will help fill jobs that go empty while qualified people wait, as well as provide the option of faster processing for applicants from troubled areas.
The amendment is contained within the 2008 budget implementation bill, which means it would take a confidence vote to defeat the new provisions. That fact alone is alarming, said prominent immigration lawyer Gordon Maynard.
"It doesn't allow proper debate of the content. The opposition parties have to accept it or face an election. It just isn't fair," he said.
"It's a worry. It's a concern because these changes aren't made without reasons. Someone would have thought it out. What targets do they have in mind? They are not seen in the legislation."
The current law obliges the immigration department to consider, process and decide all applications to ensure every foreigner who meets the requirements is entitled to enter Canada. The new provisions give the minister the right to discard applications or retain them permanently – allowing the department to chop the backlog with no legal consequences.
The legal and advocacy community is campaigning against the changes and NDP immigration critic Olivia Chow (Trinity-Spadina) has vowed to introduce a motion to delete the amendment when Parliament resumes this month.
But Gerri MacDonald, president of the Refugee Lawyers' Association of Ontario, isn't hopeful.
"The Conservative government put in all these unwanted provisions in a budget bill knowing that the opposition doesn't want to force an election," she noted.
"It is disturbing."
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
The Immigration System
Immigration stimulates Canada’s growth, prosperity and cultural diversity. It reunites families and offers protection to refugees. Citizenship and Immigration (CIC) staff overseas and across Canada review applications and ensure that each new applicant meets various criteria for admission, including medical, criminal and security checks.
Planning Our Future
The Government of Canada, in consultation with the provinces, the territories and key stakeholders, establishes an annual range for the number of immigrants who will be admitted into Canada. In the past 10 years, Canada has welcomed, on average, 220,778 immigrants and refugees a year.
Canada benefits from the talents, experience and energy of immigrants, whether they are skilled workers, business people, refugees, relatives of Canadian citizens and residents, foreign students, temporary workers or others. All stimulate economic growth and enrich Canada’s social and cultural life.
Workers Strengthen Our Economy
CIC recognizes the benefits of attracting highly skilled workers. Nearly 59 percent of Canada’s immigrants are in the skilled worker and business immigrant categories. They help fill shortages in our labour market or invest in our economy and contribute to Canada’s economic growth.
CIC works to attract specialized temporary workers to Canada through programs for software development professionals and spouses of highly skilled workers. In 2002, CIC officers abroad and in Canada issued over 211,570 work permits to temporary residents and more than 138,500 visas to economic immigrants and their dependants.
Bringing Families Together
Reuniting families is an important part of our work. Our immigration program allows Canadians to sponsor close family members, including spouses, dependent children, parents and grandparents.
Helping Refugees
Canada is respected internationally for its humanitarian efforts. Our history is one of helping refugees and people in need of protection and assistance.
In the three years from 2000 to 2002, we resettled more than 26,800 government-assisted refugees. In addition, many Canadians volunteer to assist victims of persecution and violence through the Private Sponsorship of Refugee Program. CIC also assists refugees who arrive in Canada unexpectedly.
When people arrive in Canada and make a refugee claim, they are referred to the Refugee Protection Division—one of three tribunals making up the Immigration and Refugee Board. This tribunal decides if claimants are refugees or people in need of protection as defined in various international conventions.
Welcoming Visitors
Canada welcomes nearly 49 million foreign travellers each year. These visitors explore our country, visit their families and participate in business and trade. They enrich Canada’s economic, social and cultural life.
Most of Canada’s guests require a passport for entry; others require a Temporary Resident Visa. In 2002, CIC officers abroad issued approximately 639,500 visas.
They Learn, We Learn
Each year, more than 68,800 foreign students arrive in Canada to attend our schools, colleges and universities. During their stay, foreign students promote international understanding and build important cultural and trade relations between Canada and the rest of the world. CIC gives priority to processing their applications quickly.
Managing Canada’s Borders
We must ensure a balance between the desire to welcome newcomers to Canada and the obligation to protect Canadian society. We must not allow criminals, terrorists and other inadmissible people to enter or stay in Canada.
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) enforces this important principle by intercepting people with false travel documents, performing investigations, conducting hearings through the Immigration and Refugee Board, and detaining and removing people. Approximately 8,700 people are removed from Canada every year.
For more info visit the CIC Website or talk to one of the members of Welcome to Toronto
Planning Our Future
The Government of Canada, in consultation with the provinces, the territories and key stakeholders, establishes an annual range for the number of immigrants who will be admitted into Canada. In the past 10 years, Canada has welcomed, on average, 220,778 immigrants and refugees a year.
Canada benefits from the talents, experience and energy of immigrants, whether they are skilled workers, business people, refugees, relatives of Canadian citizens and residents, foreign students, temporary workers or others. All stimulate economic growth and enrich Canada’s social and cultural life.
Workers Strengthen Our Economy
CIC recognizes the benefits of attracting highly skilled workers. Nearly 59 percent of Canada’s immigrants are in the skilled worker and business immigrant categories. They help fill shortages in our labour market or invest in our economy and contribute to Canada’s economic growth.
CIC works to attract specialized temporary workers to Canada through programs for software development professionals and spouses of highly skilled workers. In 2002, CIC officers abroad and in Canada issued over 211,570 work permits to temporary residents and more than 138,500 visas to economic immigrants and their dependants.
Bringing Families Together
Reuniting families is an important part of our work. Our immigration program allows Canadians to sponsor close family members, including spouses, dependent children, parents and grandparents.
Helping Refugees
Canada is respected internationally for its humanitarian efforts. Our history is one of helping refugees and people in need of protection and assistance.
In the three years from 2000 to 2002, we resettled more than 26,800 government-assisted refugees. In addition, many Canadians volunteer to assist victims of persecution and violence through the Private Sponsorship of Refugee Program. CIC also assists refugees who arrive in Canada unexpectedly.
When people arrive in Canada and make a refugee claim, they are referred to the Refugee Protection Division—one of three tribunals making up the Immigration and Refugee Board. This tribunal decides if claimants are refugees or people in need of protection as defined in various international conventions.
Welcoming Visitors
Canada welcomes nearly 49 million foreign travellers each year. These visitors explore our country, visit their families and participate in business and trade. They enrich Canada’s economic, social and cultural life.
Most of Canada’s guests require a passport for entry; others require a Temporary Resident Visa. In 2002, CIC officers abroad issued approximately 639,500 visas.
They Learn, We Learn
Each year, more than 68,800 foreign students arrive in Canada to attend our schools, colleges and universities. During their stay, foreign students promote international understanding and build important cultural and trade relations between Canada and the rest of the world. CIC gives priority to processing their applications quickly.
Managing Canada’s Borders
We must ensure a balance between the desire to welcome newcomers to Canada and the obligation to protect Canadian society. We must not allow criminals, terrorists and other inadmissible people to enter or stay in Canada.
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) enforces this important principle by intercepting people with false travel documents, performing investigations, conducting hearings through the Immigration and Refugee Board, and detaining and removing people. Approximately 8,700 people are removed from Canada every year.
For more info visit the CIC Website or talk to one of the members of Welcome to Toronto
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Work Permits, Permanent Resident Status, and Arranged Employment
Persons seeking to live and work in Canada may do so primarily via either of two options. The first is to seek a temporary resident visa such as a Canadian work permit; the other is to seek permanent resident status in Canada.
Canadian Work Permits
A work permit is a visa of a fixed duration which allows an individual to engage in employment in Canada. Such a permit is generally based on a job offer from a Canadian employer, or on a specific intended business activity. Accordingly, the work permit issued to the individual is specific to an employer and a position of employment. The visa has a fixed validity, generally of one year, and can most often be renewed from within Canada.
The advantage of a Canadian work permit for a foreign worker is the time frame in which it is issued. Such permits can be issued within anywhere from a single hour at a Canadian port of entry to several weeks at visa offices abroad, depending on a number of factors. This compares very favourably with the delays associated with a permanent resident application, which can take between 12 and 48 months, or even longer.
The disadvantage of a work permit is that it is inherently temporary in nature. In the case that the individual did not have an intention to remain beyond several years, this may not be an issue, but those who wish to reside permanently in Canada will need to consider the permanent resident route. A work permit does not itself lead to permanent status or citizenship in Canada.
Permanent Resident Status
A permanent resident visa is sought via a Canadian visa office abroad. Successful candidates are awarded a visa which allows them to live in Canada for so long as they fulfill the requirements of residency. These requirements entail residing physically in Canada for a period of no less than two years out of any given five year period, although certain exceptions may apply.
Possession of permanent resident status has certain rights and responsibilities. They include:
equality rights
democratic rights
legal rights
mobility rights
language rights
freedom of religion
freedom of expression
freedom of assembly and association
Canadians are also expected to:
obey Canada's laws
respect the rights and freedoms of others
respect Canada's linguistic duality and multicultural heritage.
Permanent resident status does not have any expiration. An individual may continue to live and work in Canada indefinitely with such status. It also allows that individual to seek Canadian citizenship, typically after residing in Canada for a period of three years. Canadian citizens have the right to apply for a Canadian passport and to return to Canada at any time after traveling or living abroad.
Arranged Employment
Applicants who meet the requirements of Canada's skilled worker selection criteria are not required to have pre-arranged employment in Canada prior to applying. Having an advance job offer, however, can have its benefits. For those who do not qualify under the selection system, arranged employment may lend enough points to meet the current pass mark. For those who do already qualify, pre-arranged employment can have the effect of expediting the application process.
Arranged Employment, as a selection factor, awards points in the case that a Canadian employer satisfies Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) that a bona-fide offer of skilled employment exists for a candidate upon becoming a permanent resident of Canada.
For those with a job off in advance, there is also the possibility of pursuing a Canadian work permit first, and then a permanent resident visa. This offers the advantages of both categories; the expedience of a temporary visa, and the long term validity of a permanent resident visa. Thank you, diycanadaimmigration dot com, for providing such useful information.
For more information visit www.welcometotoronto.org
Canadian Work Permits
A work permit is a visa of a fixed duration which allows an individual to engage in employment in Canada. Such a permit is generally based on a job offer from a Canadian employer, or on a specific intended business activity. Accordingly, the work permit issued to the individual is specific to an employer and a position of employment. The visa has a fixed validity, generally of one year, and can most often be renewed from within Canada.
The advantage of a Canadian work permit for a foreign worker is the time frame in which it is issued. Such permits can be issued within anywhere from a single hour at a Canadian port of entry to several weeks at visa offices abroad, depending on a number of factors. This compares very favourably with the delays associated with a permanent resident application, which can take between 12 and 48 months, or even longer.
The disadvantage of a work permit is that it is inherently temporary in nature. In the case that the individual did not have an intention to remain beyond several years, this may not be an issue, but those who wish to reside permanently in Canada will need to consider the permanent resident route. A work permit does not itself lead to permanent status or citizenship in Canada.
Permanent Resident Status
A permanent resident visa is sought via a Canadian visa office abroad. Successful candidates are awarded a visa which allows them to live in Canada for so long as they fulfill the requirements of residency. These requirements entail residing physically in Canada for a period of no less than two years out of any given five year period, although certain exceptions may apply.
Possession of permanent resident status has certain rights and responsibilities. They include:
equality rights
democratic rights
legal rights
mobility rights
language rights
freedom of religion
freedom of expression
freedom of assembly and association
Canadians are also expected to:
obey Canada's laws
respect the rights and freedoms of others
respect Canada's linguistic duality and multicultural heritage.
Permanent resident status does not have any expiration. An individual may continue to live and work in Canada indefinitely with such status. It also allows that individual to seek Canadian citizenship, typically after residing in Canada for a period of three years. Canadian citizens have the right to apply for a Canadian passport and to return to Canada at any time after traveling or living abroad.
Arranged Employment
Applicants who meet the requirements of Canada's skilled worker selection criteria are not required to have pre-arranged employment in Canada prior to applying. Having an advance job offer, however, can have its benefits. For those who do not qualify under the selection system, arranged employment may lend enough points to meet the current pass mark. For those who do already qualify, pre-arranged employment can have the effect of expediting the application process.
Arranged Employment, as a selection factor, awards points in the case that a Canadian employer satisfies Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) that a bona-fide offer of skilled employment exists for a candidate upon becoming a permanent resident of Canada.
For those with a job off in advance, there is also the possibility of pursuing a Canadian work permit first, and then a permanent resident visa. This offers the advantages of both categories; the expedience of a temporary visa, and the long term validity of a permanent resident visa. Thank you, diycanadaimmigration dot com, for providing such useful information.
For more information visit www.welcometotoronto.org
Issue one - Settling in Canada
After arriving in Canada, you will need to do a number of things to get oriented and to begin laying the roots necessary to successfully integrate. Some of the main factors that new arrivals will need to consider include housing, employment, healthcare, education, and obtaining your social insurance number.
Accommodations
The first thing that you will need to consider after arriving in Canada is where you will stay. If you are fortunate enough to have friends or relatives in Canada who can house you and your family temporarily – great, but most people will need to consider short term housing. Canada has two main forms of short term accommodation, motels and hotels.
Motels are inexpensive rooms that are most often used by travelers driving longer distances. As such, they are most often located close to major thoroughfares such as highways. These rooms are generally going to be the most inexpensive option and would be billed by the night per stay. The average cost per night of this type of room will be CAD$55, but visitors can expect very few “frills” during their stay.
Hotels are a more expensive option, but will generally offer more services to their customers. These can range from chain hotels or inns that are also commonly located on major thoroughfares, but which are associated with a national or international company. This type of accommodation will typically be at the less expensive end of the spectrum of hotel costs and may be most suitable for a stay of several weeks while something more long term is sought.
After several weeks, you should have made arrangements for something more long-term. The best solution while you gain footing and familiarize yourself with a new country will be rental of a house or apartment. Short term rentals are available on a month to month basis, and may include fully furnished accommodations for a higher cost than those without furnishings. Rental is probably the better option until you know where your career in Canada will start, and what area in that region you prefer. Signing a lease will commit you to a location for a specific period of time, typically a year, but will generally mean lower prices than month to month rentals.
Once you are comfortable that your roots are sufficiently established, you may choose to go on to buy a home. Most people will use a real-estate agent for this process in order to find the most suitable place. For the buyer, there is generally no cost for the assistance provided by such an agent in the buying process. Some real-estate agents can also assist in locating suitable rental properties, again typically at no cost to the one renting the home.
Employment
A major consideration for most immigrating to Canada is that of their first position of employment here. Not a simple task, there is considerable preparation that is required of candidates in order to secure that first position. Things to consider include your résumé, promoting the international experience that you no doubt possess, evaluation of academic credentials, familiarization with occupational organizations, and more.
A typical approach that many candidates for employment will take advantage of is the use of online services such as the Workopolis network. These services are convenient as they allow you to examine the availability of positions throughout Canada. Of course local newspapers and national publications such as the Globe and Mail should also be referred to.
Recruiters will typically work on behalf of employment candidates for no cost, and are retained by employers to locate suitable employees. Career counselors generally work on behalf of the candidate himself but charge a fee for the service, typically equivalent to one to two month’s salary. The latter is usually reserved for management or executive level candidates.
Healthcare
As you are likely aware, all Canadians are entitled to government sponsored healthcare. Each province is responsible for providing this service to its residents, and applications must be submitted the provincial ministry responsible. Some provinces will impose a delay of up to 90 days from the time of an application for healthcare coverage until the time that you are actually covered. It is still important to apply right away after establishing residence in a given province, but if such a delay is imposed, it may be necessary to consider private health insurance for whatever duration is applicable.
Education
Either for yourself of for your dependents, it may be necessary to familiarize yourself with Canada’s education system. Like most western countries, Canadian academics are categorized into three levels; primary or elementary school; secondary or high-school; and tertiary or university level education. Education is governed by the individual provinces, however, and not at the Federal level. Schools may be public, including denominational schools, or private. As children are required by law to attend schooling until the age of 15 or 16, all non-private schools are publicly funded - as are Quebec’s CEGEPs, a level of education unique this province which occurs between secondary and university education.
The elementary school system emphasizes basic academic abilities such as language, math, social studies, introductory arts and science. In general, high school programs consist of two streams. The first prepares students for university, the second for post-secondary education at a community college or institute of technology, or for the workplace. 200 post-secondary technical institutes and colleges exist alongside approximately 100 universities. Student fees for Canadians, owing to substantial government subsidies, account for only about 11 percent of the cost of Canadian post-secondary education.
Social Insurance Number
A Social Insurance Number is used to register Canadian workers with the Employment Insurance Program and with the Canada Pension Plan. It is also used for tracking for purposes of taxation and is typically a mandatory requirement for employment for a Canadian entity. Upon arriving for such, applicants may apply for their Social Insurance Number in person (fastest), by mail, or by phone if residing in the province of New Brunswick.
For more information visit www.welcometotoronto.org
Accommodations
The first thing that you will need to consider after arriving in Canada is where you will stay. If you are fortunate enough to have friends or relatives in Canada who can house you and your family temporarily – great, but most people will need to consider short term housing. Canada has two main forms of short term accommodation, motels and hotels.
Motels are inexpensive rooms that are most often used by travelers driving longer distances. As such, they are most often located close to major thoroughfares such as highways. These rooms are generally going to be the most inexpensive option and would be billed by the night per stay. The average cost per night of this type of room will be CAD$55, but visitors can expect very few “frills” during their stay.
Hotels are a more expensive option, but will generally offer more services to their customers. These can range from chain hotels or inns that are also commonly located on major thoroughfares, but which are associated with a national or international company. This type of accommodation will typically be at the less expensive end of the spectrum of hotel costs and may be most suitable for a stay of several weeks while something more long term is sought.
After several weeks, you should have made arrangements for something more long-term. The best solution while you gain footing and familiarize yourself with a new country will be rental of a house or apartment. Short term rentals are available on a month to month basis, and may include fully furnished accommodations for a higher cost than those without furnishings. Rental is probably the better option until you know where your career in Canada will start, and what area in that region you prefer. Signing a lease will commit you to a location for a specific period of time, typically a year, but will generally mean lower prices than month to month rentals.
Once you are comfortable that your roots are sufficiently established, you may choose to go on to buy a home. Most people will use a real-estate agent for this process in order to find the most suitable place. For the buyer, there is generally no cost for the assistance provided by such an agent in the buying process. Some real-estate agents can also assist in locating suitable rental properties, again typically at no cost to the one renting the home.
Employment
A major consideration for most immigrating to Canada is that of their first position of employment here. Not a simple task, there is considerable preparation that is required of candidates in order to secure that first position. Things to consider include your résumé, promoting the international experience that you no doubt possess, evaluation of academic credentials, familiarization with occupational organizations, and more.
A typical approach that many candidates for employment will take advantage of is the use of online services such as the Workopolis network. These services are convenient as they allow you to examine the availability of positions throughout Canada. Of course local newspapers and national publications such as the Globe and Mail should also be referred to.
Recruiters will typically work on behalf of employment candidates for no cost, and are retained by employers to locate suitable employees. Career counselors generally work on behalf of the candidate himself but charge a fee for the service, typically equivalent to one to two month’s salary. The latter is usually reserved for management or executive level candidates.
Healthcare
As you are likely aware, all Canadians are entitled to government sponsored healthcare. Each province is responsible for providing this service to its residents, and applications must be submitted the provincial ministry responsible. Some provinces will impose a delay of up to 90 days from the time of an application for healthcare coverage until the time that you are actually covered. It is still important to apply right away after establishing residence in a given province, but if such a delay is imposed, it may be necessary to consider private health insurance for whatever duration is applicable.
Education
Either for yourself of for your dependents, it may be necessary to familiarize yourself with Canada’s education system. Like most western countries, Canadian academics are categorized into three levels; primary or elementary school; secondary or high-school; and tertiary or university level education. Education is governed by the individual provinces, however, and not at the Federal level. Schools may be public, including denominational schools, or private. As children are required by law to attend schooling until the age of 15 or 16, all non-private schools are publicly funded - as are Quebec’s CEGEPs, a level of education unique this province which occurs between secondary and university education.
The elementary school system emphasizes basic academic abilities such as language, math, social studies, introductory arts and science. In general, high school programs consist of two streams. The first prepares students for university, the second for post-secondary education at a community college or institute of technology, or for the workplace. 200 post-secondary technical institutes and colleges exist alongside approximately 100 universities. Student fees for Canadians, owing to substantial government subsidies, account for only about 11 percent of the cost of Canadian post-secondary education.
Social Insurance Number
A Social Insurance Number is used to register Canadian workers with the Employment Insurance Program and with the Canada Pension Plan. It is also used for tracking for purposes of taxation and is typically a mandatory requirement for employment for a Canadian entity. Upon arriving for such, applicants may apply for their Social Insurance Number in person (fastest), by mail, or by phone if residing in the province of New Brunswick.
For more information visit www.welcometotoronto.org
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