Q. If you pass the minimum number of points to qualify for an interview, does that mean that you’ve got a good shot at getting in? Or, is this only the first hurdle?

Q. I have recently been laid off from my position in the USA and have returned to my home country. My application for Canadian permanent resident status was already pending at Buffalo. Am I still eligible for an interview waiver?

The following is a summary of issues which have arisen recently which may affect those seeking temporary or permanent relocation to Canada:

EDMONTON — To solve Alberta’s chronic labour shortage, 10 provincial ministries have come up with some unusual proposals, including enticing skilled workers to come to the province, even temporarily.

Q. Once landing documents are issued, is it still possible to be refused landing at a Canadian port of entry?

Q. Is there any estimate as to when Bill C-11 will be implemented, or as to what score will be necessary to succeed at that time?

There were several important news releases in the month of October which may affect those seeking temporary or permanent status in Canada. The following is a summary of such:

OTTAWA, October 31, 2001 — Citizenship and Immigration Minister Elinor Caplan reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to immigration today by tabling a plan in the House of Commons on immigration levels for 2002. The planning range, established in consultation with provincial and territorial governments, moves the Government of Canada closer to its long-term goal of annual immigration levels of one percent of the population.

Q. Given the current situation in the USA, are there any expected consequences for Canadian immigration?

Q. A parent that I am sponsoring was asked to do additional medical examinations due to a small kidney stone? Might this result in inadmissibility?

The principal changes to the “Regulation respecting the selection of foreign nationals”, which was adopted on May 2, 2001, came in effect on September 17, 2001. Major changes are affecting the point system, the factors and criteria of the selection grid.

OTTAWA — A new immigration law that’s lingering in the Senate contains the tools to tighten Canada’s borders and weed out potential terrorists, Immigration Minister Elinor Caplan says.

Q. What is the major criteria for interview waiving? I heard from qualified friends that they got there interview waived but there English ability seems to be below average. English ability is one of the major criteria. Is it that for qualified professionals the visa officer take it granted that the candidates English ability is good?

Q. I own a house in my home country which I intend to sell after I land in Canada. I will declare it upon my landing along with other funds I intend to bring in Canada at a later stage.
1) Do I have to make an estimation of the value of my house, i.e., the money I will be bringing in Canada as a result of the selling?
2) Will I be subjected to paying an income tax on the money resulted from the selling, considering this is an assets I have prior to my landing in Canada?

Tens of thousands of temporary workers could be fast-tracked into Canada some within weeks, possibly even days - under a proposed radical overhaul of federal immigration rules.

OTTAWA — Canada is on the road to exceeding its immigration targets for the second year in a row, according to an internal government document.

Q. Now that I am on a work visa (1 year work permit after graduation), I wonder if I have to pay the federal taxes they deduct from my paycheck? I am still not a resident of Canada.

Q. Do you have any suggestions for improving the chances of successful application for a candidate who does not score high points in the Skilled Worker category?

Bill C-11 was adopted by the House of Commons (3rd reading) and was introduced in the Senate in June 2001. There will be no official movement on the Bill until the resumption of the Senate’s session in September of 2001 .

Q. I want to know how to write résumé’s cover letter for Canadian Employers. I have several years of computer experience with many related International certifications. I also want to know what attractive text should be in one’s resume cover letter, So that employer does not wonder that person wants employment letter for achieving ten extra points only in Canadian immigration process. In reality I not only want ten points but I am true job seeker. I had seen there are 100’s of Canadian job’s for whom I can meet their requirements very easily instead that there are jobs for whom I am extra qualified and experienced. I had researched a lot on this topic (resume Cover Letter for Canadian immigrants) but cannot find any sample cover letters nor help. So please help me how to write cover letter for Canadian employers while you do not have permanent residence and living in one’s own homeland.

Q. I’m currently a french resident, I’m considering applying for permanent resident status under the skilled worker program. My question is about the company => employee => taxes cash flow. To make my question clear, let me expose how this works in Europe:

One negotiates a gross salary. From this amount the company automatically pays a certain amount to different governmental organizations in the employee’s behalf. This is what they call “charge social” and it corresponds to social insurance, basic and extra medical insurance, unemployment funds, etc. This is about 22% of one’s gross income. What rests, is your taxable income, for which one pays fiscal taxes.

My question is, what is the money flow in Canada? Does the employee get the gross amount s/he negotiated, does the company pay certain taxes in the employee’s behalf?

Bill C-11 was adopted by the House of Commons (3rd reading) and was introduced in the Senate in June 2001. There will be no official movement on the Bill until the resumption of the Senate’s session in September of 2001 .

Q. I am presently residing in Canada with my Canadian spouse. Is it still necessary to return to my home country and submit the application there?

Q. I received my landing documents, and plan to move. I am now in California, and have the US H1B visa. My plan is go to Canada for landing, stay there for a few days, then go back the US to say goodbye to my boss, then reenter Canada. My question is what documents do I need provide at the time of landing?

Accra’s satellite office in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, West Africa, has become a full-service immigration office like Accra. Certain countries (see list of area responsibilities*) currently under the jurisdiction of the Accra regional processing centre (RPC) will become part of Abidjan’s new territory after April 1. The division of responsibilities basically follows linguistic lines: French-speaking for Abidjan (with the exception of Benin and Togo, which will remain with Accra because of close proximity) and English-speaking for Accra.

Ontario’s Budget, announced early in May, restored tens of millions of dollars in R&D incentives to the bottom lines of IT industry companies. For a two-year period, Ontario will restore the value of base provincial incentives that were to have been clawed back as per the February 2000 federal budget.

Ontario Premier, Mike Harris, says his government will head off a crucial doctor shortage by creating a new Internet-based medical school in Northern Ontario and bringing in more foreign doctors…

Immigrant investors have put $2.5 billion into the Canadian economy in the past five years, according to a study by the federal immigration department.

Q. With a points score of 63 what are the chances of an interview waiver? Failing that what are the chances of being awarded the 7 points for personal suitability at interview? I will be applying through the London office.

Q. Once the application process is completed, what is the process at the time of landing?

Given the recent changes in the economic climate in the USA, we have summarized some recent reports on the Canadian economy for the benefit of our readers.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration is undertaking the process of public consultations across Canada with respect to Bill C-11, an Act respecting immigration to Canada and the granting of refugee protection to persons who are displaced, persecuted or in danger. The committee will be holding public hearings as follows:

OTTAWA — Canada’s technology industry wants the federal government to spend at least $500-million to boost the pool of skilled graduates who are considered key to attracting — and keeping — the industry’s high-growth companies.

Q. My husband and I would like to immigrate to Canada. Unfortunately, my finances are a wreck and I may have to file for personal bankruptcy — will this impact on our chances to immigrate in five years?

Q. We plan to immigrate to Canada. We want to find out if we have some regular monthly income in our former country and transfer that to Canada while we live in Canada as immigrants and citizens afterwards, do we have to pay any tax for those?

Le tableau suivant représente le nombre total d’immigrants et de réfugiés qui sont arrivés au Canada en l’an 2000. Le total est divisé selon les diverses classes économiques et selon les différents individus appartenants à la catégorie de la famille.

OTTAWA — Statistics Canada in a report released Tuesday said Canada’s population will continue growing in the next quarter century, but it will age considerably and the proportion of young people will shrink significantly.

Q. I am a permanent resident and have a brother who is 23. How I can sponsor him or apply for him?

Q. I just got the landing papers, but I found the expire date was only 33 days away. The visa was issued in late-January and will expire in early March. It is impossible for me to leave right now. Is it possible that the visa can be extended for a few months?

Previous editions of this newsletter have discussed the changes to the Immigration Act and Regulations proposed under Bill C-31: Archive: November 2000

When a Federal election was called in late 2000, this Bill was placed on hold, and subsequently revised.

Effective March 1 2001, the following the income requirements apply to sponsors of Family Class applicants seeking admission to a province other than Quebec:

OTTAWA (Reuters) — Canada, one of the few countries in the world still accepting large number of immigrants, said on Thursday it would increase the number of people it wanted to attract over the next two years.

Q. Myself and my spouse landed in Canada and returned to our prior country of residence shortly thereafter. Is her pregnancy sufficient grounds for issuance of a Returning Resident Permit?

Q. Are there any fixed cycle for recruitment?

Is it true that applying during January helps since the recruitment decisions for the year are taken then ?

The Citizenship and Immigration Department has announced recently that 226,500 new immigrants landed in Canada in the 2000 calendar year. This number exceeds the target of 200-225,000 which was set by the government for the same period.

Following the recent publication of the email addresses of immigration officials at visa offices worldwide, the Citizenship and Immigration department has issued a Memorandum stating that email should not be used to respond to inquiries about cases.

“After years of declining immigration flows, most industrialized countries are opening their doors to foreign workers again. The idea is to address labor shortages, while keeping an eye on the problems arising from population aging. Immigration, however, is unlikely to provide a long-term solution.

Q. Does Getting Work Permit In Other Countries Ruin Your Application? As An It-Specialist, I Have Obtained Work Permit For Five Years Work In Germany But Still Want To Immigrate To Canada. Is This German Work Permit Regarded As A Negative Point In My Eligibility For Obtaining Canadian Permanent Residence?

Q. I am a Canadian Citizen living and working (for a Canadian employer) in the U.S. and have a green card pending (since March ‘98). I have been here 6 years and met and married my husband (US Citizen) down here. We are considering a move back to Canada (my family/friends are there).

We have many many questions from taxes i.e. what to do with 401 K $ if we move up there, if we sell our house and make money and move up to Canada next year 2001, will we be taxed both in Canada and US on the earnings made from the sell of the house. Also immigration questions, if I return to Canada do I keep my old SIN # or will I need to get a new one (I guess I need to change my name on it but what about a new one).

How do I tell Canada I’m back? How do I tell the US I’m leaving? If I do obtain my green card before leaving (finally!), what then are the implications of excepting it?

The Citizenship and Immigration Department has published a document, entitled “Who May Represent You,” outlining some of the factors that candidates considering professional representation should consider. In this document, the Department has clarified some of the differences between representation by a lawyer and representation by a consultant. Below are some of the points made in this regard: