Alexander Atkinson, Immigration Lawyer

Spousal Sponsorship Changes

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 [...]

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

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 [...]

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

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 [...]

BC Government announces significant changes to BC PNP Program

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 [...]

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

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 [...]

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

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 [...]

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

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 [...]

Citizenship and Immigration Canada proposes changes to Skilled Worker Immigration Category

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 [...]

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

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

Canadian Government Immigration Fees

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 [...]