Alexander Atkinson, Immigration Lawyer

Spousal Sponsorship Changes

admin — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 01:03:36 +0000

The government of Canada has brought in changes to the Immigration regulations to tighten up rules for sponsorship of family members from abroad where the Canadian sponsor has a criminal record for violent offences against a list of family members or other individuals. The definition of family members and other individuals has been expanded, additional information can be viewed here http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/releases/2011/2011-11-23.asp.

Canada places 2 year suspension on parent and grandparent Canadian Immigration Sponsorships

admin — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 02:43:16 +0000

Effective November 5, 2011 there will be a suspension on sponsoring your parent or grandparent to Canada as a permanent resident. Instead, effective December 1, 2011 the Conservative Government will offer a program (Parent and Grandparent Super Visa) where one can have a parent or grandparent apply for a 10 year multiple entry visa (max 2 year length of stay). The visa is conditional on the parent or grandparent arranging private medical insurance while in Canada. The visa is expected to take 8 weeks to process.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada announces new intiative for attracting Internernation PhD students

admin — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 00:34:48 +0000

The result of the new initiative will be as follows: Beginning on November 5, 2011 certain PhD students in key sectors will be eligible to submit Federal Skilled Worker Applications provided that they have completed at least 2 years of study towards their PhD and remain in good academic standing at a qualifying post secondary institution. Recent PhD grads can also apply under the Skilled Worker Category provided that they apply within 12 months of their graduation.

BC Government announces significant changes to BC PNP Program

admin — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 21:31:04 +0000

The key changes announced to the BC Provincial Nominee Program are as follows:

1.Amending program requirements to allow BC PNP business immigrants, who locate in regional communities and invest in existing businesses, to meet their employment commitments by maintaining existing jobs. This change is to be effective Oct. 14.

2.Making the Entry Level and Semi-Skilled pilot category of the BC PNP a permanent category in key sectors such as tourism. This change is to be effective immediately.

3. Reducing the minimum size for eligible employers located outside of the GVRD from five employees to three. This change is to be effective Oct. 14.

Further information can be found at this link: http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/news_releases_2009-2013/2011JTI0119-001293.htm

I have a DUI conviction in the USA, how will this impact my ability to move to Canada to work?

admin — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 04:37:38 +0000

The general rule is that being convicted of the equivalent of impaired driving in Canada (DUI in the USA) you will be found criminally inadmissible to Canada as Canada views impaired driving (DUI) as a crime and anyone convicted of an offence or act abroad that is deemed a crime in Canada will be criminally inadmissible to Canada. It is how the offence is viewed in Canada that matters even if the conviction for impaired driving is not viewed as crime in the country where it occurred. This rule will apply for visitors, workers, students or anyone coming to settle in Canada. However, an individual may have some solutions. One might qualify for deemed rehabilitation of your criminal matter or one could apply to Canadian immigration for criminal rehabilitation in the case of serious criminality and if that doesn’t work then one can also apply for a Temporary Resident Permit to enter Canada to be granted in the discretion of a visa officer on the basis that the applicant has compelling reasons to enter Canada.

Deemed Rehabilitation:

If it is minor crime and 10 years have past since the completion of the sentence then you maybe deemed rehabilitated by Canadian immigration.

Criminal Rehabilitation

If it is a serious criminal conviction and five years have past since the completion of the sentence one may apply to Canadian Immigration for a declaration that they have been rehabilitated and can enter Canada.

If 5 years has not passed since the completion of the sentence then an applicant can apply for a Temporary Resident Permit which can be issued at the discretion of an immigration officer. The permit is valid for up to three years. The fee for a Temporary Resident Permit is $200.00 Cdn.

Charge(s)

If you have an outstanding criminal charge(s) that are very serious and would be treated as serious crimes in Canada then this can also preclude you from visiting, studying or immigrating to Canada. If you have prior or pending charges and or criminal convictions in the past, you may contact my office here for an assessment of the impact of your criminal history may have on you being able to enter Canada to study, work, visit or emigrate.

Breaking News: Canadian Immigration Investor Quota already met for the upcoming year

admin — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 00:40:55 +0000

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) announced that effective July 1, 2011 they would only accept 700 Federal Investor Category Immigrants for the upcoming year and amazingly it has been reported that this quota has already been reached and was reached within 1 hour.

If you have a high net worth and business experience there are still Provincial Immigration programs (Provincial Nominee Immigration to Canada) in effect that can lead to immigration to Canada as business person. Please click here and complete my free online business assessment form.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada announces changes to Skilled Worker, Investor and Entrepreneur Program

admin — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 00:35:15 +0000

Effective July 1, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has announced changes to the Canadian Skilled Worker Immigration Program such that the 29 eligible occupations for filing a skilled worker application without a prior work permit in Canada will be reduced from a quota of 20,000 to a quota of 10,000 (500 per each of 29 eligible occupations) for the coming year. This cap rate will not apply for Applicants who have a validated job offer from a Canadian employer. It is advisable for applicants to file as soon as possible as the occupation quota may fill up very quickly resulting in a bar to making an application. Contact my office here if you wish for me to help you with your skilled worker application.

CIC has also stopped, effective July 1, 2011, the Federal Immigration Entrepreneur Program from accepting any applications at this time. The Investor Program will have a quota of of 700 investor applications for the proceeding 12 months.

If you wish to submit a business application there other options other than the Federal Immigration Program. Many Provinces in Canada offer their own Business Immigration Programs through Provincial Nominee Programs. Please complete my business assessment form here in order to determine whether you may qualify for a Provincial Business Immigration Program.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada proposes changes to Skilled Worker Immigration Category

admin — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 06:14:59 +0000

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) proposes changes to the Federal Skilled Worker Program. They are proposing changes to the job offer, education, language and age requirement. They are proposing increasing the points awarded for ability in the 1st official language of Canada either English or French and lowering the length of the degree requirements for certain skilled trade workers. In regards to the age category, they propose lowering the age in which maximum points can be awarded in the age category (from 49 to 35). For job experience, less emphasis will be placed on prior work experience.

The changes will greatly effect certain skilled immigrants from being able to emigrate to Canada. It is advisable to contact my office, Alexander Atkinson Canadian Immigration Lawyers, as soon as possible to evaluate the effects of the proposed legislation on your chances of immigration and to consider applying as soon as possible before the new regulations come into effect.

Canadian Immigration Lawyer Alexander Atkinson: news on the Canadian Investor Immigration Program

admin — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 00:05:54 +0000

Effective December 1, 2010 — Citizenship and Immigration Canada will once again accept applications under the federal Immigrant Investor Program.

Canadian Government Immigration Fees

admin — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 17:41:07 +0000

The following are the typical immigration fees charged by Immigration Canada (Government of Canada) for Permanent Residency Applications to Canada:

Processing Fees:

Principal Applicants:
Principal applicant (business class): $1,050.00
Principal applicant (skilled worker): $550.00

Dependent Family $550.00
spouse, common-law,
conjegal or same-sex partner

each child under the age of 22 $150.00

Right of Landing Fee:

This is a fee charged by Immigration Canada and is payable only once your visa has been issued and the applicant and dependent(s) are about to land in Canada.
Each person over 22 $490.00