The importance of getting it right

‘The decision to immigrate to Canada is typically one of the top three most important decisions that an individual might make over the course of his or her life. This reality is even more heightened when one is also making the decision on behalf of accompanying family members,’ says Attorney David Cohen.

‘Not far behind the initial decision to immigrate rests another decisive decision, namely whether to go it alone, or whether to retain the services of an experienced representative to assist and provide legal counsel throughout the immigration process.

‘What is particularly noteworthy from this CBA request for a meeting with IRCC is that it raises issues about applications that have already been submitted. Oftentimes when candidates receive an Invitation to Apply through Express Entry, for example, they may think that they already have at least one foot in Canada. The reality, however, is that it is only by getting the next part — the actual application — right that applicants can reduce the risk of experiencing the kind of pitfalls that have befallen other applicants.’

Read more at http://www.cicnews.com/2016/02/canadian-bar-association-raises-client-concerns-immigration-refugees-citizenship-canada-027249.html#M8dbdsgo8ihWT4I6.99

2016 Express Entry Draw #4: 1505 Invitations, Lowest CRS Score 459

February 10th 2016 - Canadian Immigration authorities conducted the 4th round of invitations under Express Entry in 2016 and 27th overall, inviting 1505 applicants for permanent residence. The lowest Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score was 459. It was the eighteenth successive draw under the Express Entry Systemwhere the lowest CRS score was under 500.

Express Entry is an immigration system implemented by Canadian immigration authorities ("CIC") on January 1, 2015 which manages skilled worker applications under Federal Economic programs. This includes the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Skilled Trades Program the Canada Experience Class and certain parts of the Provincial Nominee Program.

Stakeholders expect to see future declines in the CRS score to enable Canadian immigration authorities to meet targeted annual immigration levels. Annual immigration levels for 2016 are expected to be released by federal immigration authorities, shortly.

For more details:

http://www.mondaq.com/canada/x/465874/work+visas/2016+Express+Entry+Draw+4+1505+Invitations+Lowest+CRS+Score+459

Express Entry Immigration to Canada viewed with a lot of interest in India

The Express Entry system is being viewed with a lot of interest in countries like India where a large number of skilled workers are interested in moving to Canada. More than 33,000 Indians immigrated to Canada in 2013 with more than half shifting to Canada for economic or business purposes.

Provinces like British Columbia have a large Indian population and such provinces are the preferred destinations for new immigrants. Other provinces like Vancouver are seeking to attract skilled immigrants possessing experience and knowledge in the field of technology.

Significant Decrease in the Point Requirements in 25th Express Entry Draw - New Draw happened at 453 points

The latest draw from the Express Entry pool, and the 25th since the immigration selection system was launched just over a year ago, took place on January 13, 2016. This draw sees a decrease in the number of Comprehensive Ranking System  (CRS) points required by candidates for Canadian immigration in order to receive an Invitation To Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence.

A positive start to a new year under a new government

Since the Canadian federal election took place on October 19, 2015, a total of seven Express Entry draws have taken place. Each of these draws has selected a portion of candidates who do not have a qualifying job offer in Canada or a nomination from a Canadian province. Moreover, the CRS point requirement since the first of these most recent seven draws has decreased from 489 to 453.

This latest draw is also the second to take place within the first two weeks of 2016. In contrast, the first draw of 2015 took place on January 31.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC, formerly known as Citizenship and Immigration Canada, or CIC) recently stated that 2016 would see more regular draws from the pool, with an increase in the number of candidates issued ITAs in each draw.

“The number of invitations issued per round is expected to increase as the pre-Express Entry inventory of applications is finalised. In turn, it is expected that the minimum score of those that are invited to apply will drop,” stated an IRCC Policy Analyst during a webinar hosted by IRCC on December 16, 2015,

The Policy Analyst added that "we expect that in the new year when our rounds start growing — to meet our new levels plan — that the score will reduce."

From 461 to 453: A small but significant difference

While a decrease of eight points between two draws may appear negligible on first glance, the difference between 461 and 453 is in many cases quite profound.

The CRS awards points based on a range of factors, including a candidate’s age, level of education, work experience (both in Canada and international), language proficiency, and whether the candidate has a qualifying job offer or provincial nomination certificate. Candidates may also be awarded points for certain combinations of what are called “skills transferability” factors, as well as the core human capital credentials of a spouse or common-law partner, if applicable. If a candidate does not have a job offer or provincial nomination, he or she may be invited to apply based on points awarded for core human capital and skills transferability alone.

The decrease from 461 to 453 allows certain candidates, who may not have been awarded a bounty of points for one factor, to compensate for this through strong credentials in other areas. This circumstance is likely to become more apparent if and when IRCC continues to increase the regularity of the draws while also increasing the number of candidates selected.

Read more at http://www.canadavisa.com/news/significant-decrease-in-crs-point-requirement-in-25th-express-entry-draw-for-immigration-to-canada-13-01-2016.html#biKL4wjBWsDQXeAQ.99

Changes to Canadian Citizenship

Who will be affected by the changes to Canadian citizenship? 
Anyone who holds or is eligible for another citizenship is vulnerable to the citizenship stripping provisions of Bill C-24 if they commit any of the crimes included in the Bill. The dual citizenship can be due to the fact that you immigrated from a country that lets you keep the citizenship after attaining Canadian Citizenship or because you were born outside Canada and are eligible to get the Citizenship of that country. It also include the children of those immigrants as some countries allow the citizenship of the offspring of all citizens as their birth right.

Why will this turn dual citizens into ‘second class’ citizens? 
Now if turn this concept of who gets stripped upside down, this law essentially says that some Canadians, who have no other citizenship and no eligibility for citizenship anywhere else, are Canadians forever! Other Canadians, including dual citizens – who have Canadian citizenship and the citizenship of another country at the same time – could possibly have their citizenship taken away, even if they were born in Canada just because of their back ground. It goes against what Canada stands for. We are talking about exclusion rather than inclusion. Even if government never takes their citizenship away, the fact remains that their citizenship is not permanent and secure.

Why does the law only apply to dual citizens and those people who are eligible to obtain another citizenship?
According to international Humanitarian law, it’s illegal for any country to take away anyone’s citizenship leaving them “stateless”. Meaning they do not belong to any country. So Bill C-24’s citizenship revocation clauses apply to only Canadians with dual citizenship, because stripping their Canadian citizenship will still leave them with other citizenship.

Under what conditions the Canadian Citizenship can be revoked? 
Bill C-24 lists certain criteria for revoking Citizenship, like being convicted of or are suspected of involved in activities that endanger Canada and its interests. Examples can be taking part in armed offence against Canada or supporting/providing help in such offence. Regardless, dual citizens now have weaker rights of citizenship simply because it is possible to take their citizenship away. Legal experts say that there is no stopping the government on adding more crimes to this list in future as the law has already been passed and it is only a matter of updating it.

Does this really apply to Canadians who don’t have another citizenship, but could be eligible for another citizenship?
Like mentioned above, International laws stops a country from stripping a person of its citizenship for fear of leaving them “stateless” but Canadian Citizens who are born on Canadian soil but are eligible for citizenship of another country due to their parents and background are vulnerable to this clause. They may never have never visited of that other country and they may have only know Canada as their home, they could still be stripped of citizenship if convicted or suspected of eligible crimes.

What is Implied Status

If a temporary resident has applied to extend their period of authorized stay in Canada before it has ended, the period of their stay in Canada is extended until a decision is made on their application pursuant to subsection 183(5) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR).  Thus, even if an individual is days away from the expiry of their work or study permit, they will still be able to obtain implied status so long as their extension application is received before the official expiry date on their permit is reached.

Once on implied status, a temporary resident who has applied for a renewal of their work or study permit has a right to continue working or studying under the same conditions until a final decision is made on their renewal application. However, to maintain their implied status it is imperative that a temporary resident remain in Canada throughout the processing of their renewal application. Implied status will be lost immediately upon exiting Canada.

Open Work Permits for Spouses of Canadian citizens or permanent residents

Effective December 22, 2014, Citizenship & Immigration Canada (CIC) will be issuing Open Work Permits to certain spouses or common-law partners who are applying for permanent residence from inside Canada.  Also previously, sponsored spouses would have to wait until first stage approval to be issued open work permits. Since the first stage approval is taking nearly 16 months, it is creating major hardships in a way, that, these people cannot work while living in Canada and while waiting for their applications to be finalized.

Applicants who have already submitted their application for permanent residence under the Spouse/Common-Law class but have not yet applied for an open work permit can do so with immediate effect.

If an applicant has already received an approval in principal, then they have the option of applying for a work permit online.

Applicants who have yet to submit their applications for permanent residence can also complete an application for a work permit and submit along with their application for permanent residence.