Recent months have seen profound changes to Canadian immigration programs. For those who follow these changes, or whose applications may be affected by them, keeping track of when and how decisions are made and implemented is of the utmost importance. For this reason, CIC News has created a comprehensive list of the large-scale changes that have been made to Canadian immigration programs since January 1, 2012 (with one important addition from December 2011).
While some of changes have already been implemented, many are still in the planning phases and will be put into practice later this year. These changes are presented below in chronological order.
Creation of Parent and Grandparent Super Visa – 1 December 2011
IMPLEMENTED
Beginning in December 2011, parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents may apply for a new ‘super’ visitor visa. This visa allows parents and grandparents to stay in Canada for up to 2 years at a time, and can be renewed for a period of up to 10 years.
Only parents and grandparents, and their spouses, are eligible to receive this visa. In addition to standard temporary resident visa application materials, they must secure approved health insurance for the time period they will stay in Canada.
Protecting Canada’s Immigration System Act – 16 February
NOT YET IMPLEMENTED
In an effort to maintain the integrity of Canada’s asylum system, Prime Minister Stephen Harper introduced the Protecting Canada’s Immigration System Act, which acts as an amendment to the 2010 Balanced Refugee Reform Act.
Through this act, refugee claimants from countries that do not traditionally produce refugees will be processed within 45 days. It is hoped that this shortened processing time will more quickly address unfounded claims, and thus save money housing and processing these claimants.
Additional measures have been added to tighten rules regarding human trafficking and helping the victims of trafficking operations who end up in Canada.
Finally, the Act will make mandatory the provision of biometric data for all Temporary Resident Visa applications. This is already mandated by many countries such as the US, Australia, and the EU, and will help to further minimize fraudulent applications.
Temporary Residence Permit Rules Loosened – 27 February
IMPLEMENTED
Canadian law dictates that people who wish to enter Canada but have a past criminal conviction must be either considered rehabilitated or must acquire a Temporary Residence Permit (TRP) before they can enter the country. However, many individuals are not aware of this requirement, often resulting in confusion and frustration at the border.
Effective March 1, individuals who arrive at a Canadian Port of Entry and who require but do not have a TRP may have one issued at the border, with the standard $200 processing fees waived. Applicants must fulfill the following:
• They have only one misdemeanor/summary conviction on their records; and
• They were not imprisoned for their offense
The ultimate decision regarding the issuance of a TRP at the Canadian Port of Entry lies with Canadian Border Services Agency officers. A TRP will be issued in this way only once, and those requiring a TRP who wish to return to Canada at a later date must complete the standard application process and payment of fees.
For a more detailed explanation of this option, please see the article in this month’s edition of CIC News.
Limiting Marriage Fraud in Family Class Sponsorship – 2 March
IMPLEMENTED
Individuals who have come to Canada as the spouse of a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident must now wait 5 years from the time they are granted Permanent Residency status before they can in turn sponsor a different spouse to come to Canada.
In addition to this new restriction, talks have been held discussing other possible measurements that can be taken to eliminate marriage fraud.
Quebec Skilled Worker Program Overhaul – 20 March
IMPLEMENTED
In December 2011, the Government of Quebec announced that standardized French language tests must be included in all QSW applications. This was the first step in an initiative to overhaul the Quebec Skilled Worker (QSW) program in 2012.
Beginning officially on 20 March, applicants to the QSW program were divided into 3 groups. Group 1, which encompasses seven types of applicant, includes people such as temporary foreign workers residing in Quebec and applicants with areas of training (fields of study) that score 12 or 16 on the Quebec Selection Grid. There are no limits to this type of application.
Group 2 consists of people with areas of training (fields of study) in targeted professions that score 6 points on the Quebec Selection Grid, as well as those pursuing a degree in Quebec or its equivalent outside of the province. This group is limited to 14,300 applicants.
Applicants who do not fall into Groups 1 or 2 are not eligible to apply for Quebec immigration at this time. These changes are effective from 20 March 2012 to 3 March 2013. For a more detailed summary, please see our CIC news article on the subject.
Standardizing the Assessment of Foreign Education Credentials – 28 March
NOT YET IMPLEMENTED
A new requirement has been proposed that will require Federal Skilled Worker applicants to have their education credentials assessed and verified by designated organizations prior to submitting their applications. In this way, it is believed that the number of unqualified applications will be reduced, and those who are accepted to Canada will be able to more easily find jobs in their fields.
To assist in the credential assessment process, on 16 January Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) launched the International Qualification Network (IQN) website. According to CIC, the website will serve “as a virtual space for employers, regulatory bodies, governments and organization s serving immigrants to capitalize on promising qualification assessment and recognition practices”.
Elimination of Federal Skilled Worker Backlog – 30 March
NOT YET IMPLEMENTED
Many Canadian visa offices have been slowed down due to a severe backlog of applications. To address this, on 30 March the Canadian Citizenship and Immigration Minister, Jason Kenney, announced that all files submitted to the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) Program before 27 February 2008 will be returned without assessment. This will result in the return of approximately 300,000 applications and government processing fees.
To read CIC News’ full coverage, as well as lively commentary on the decision, please look here.
Creation of Skilled Trades Category – 10 April
NOT YET IMPLEMENTED
In an effort to better target professionals in much needed skilled trades such as construction and resources management, the government intends to create a new Skilled Trades category within the larger FSW program. Further information on this can be found in this month’s edition of CIC News.
Mandatory Language Testing for Some Provincial Nominees – 11 April
IMPLEMENTED
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) are semi-autonomous immigration programs through which individual provinces are able to select the immigrants they wish to come live and work in their jurisdiction. However, some PNP regulations are still mandated by the Federal government.
Citizenship and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney stated that moving forward, PNP nominees in semi- and low-skilled occupations will have to undergo mandatory language testing of their English (or French) skills. They will have to meet minimum language standards set by the Federal government if they wish to secure their Provincial Nomination Certificates. Kenney stated that “as a result, immigrants coming to Canada […] will arrive with much better language skills and will be selected for the impact they can have on Canada’s economy”.
Work Requirements Relaxed for Canadian Experience Class – 16 April
NOT YET IMPLEMENTED
Skilled foreign workers seeking Permanent Residency through the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) may have to fulfill less stringent work restrictions to become eligible to apply.
Currently, applicants to CEC’s temporary foreign worker stream must have completed 24 months of full-time work experience within the past 36 months. Regulatory changes have been proposed that will decrease this time requirement to 12 months.
Creation of New Entrepreneur “Start-Up” Visa – 18 April
NOT YET IMPLEMENTED
Minister Kenney announced that the government has begun consultations to discuss the possible creation of a new program for immigrant entrepreneurs who wish to establish new companies in Canada.
This new program is envisioned with a component that would link newcomers with private-sector organizations that can then assist the newcomers in navigating the world of Canadian business. It will be small-scale, with about 2,750 applications received per year, and lasting no more than five years. It is one of many possible changes to Canada’s business class of immigration.
Accelerated LMO Processing Times – 25 April
IMPLEMENTED
Employers who have already received a positive Labour Market Opinion (LMO) for an employee within the past two years may have their future LMO applications expedited. The new program will allow qualified applicants to receive an Opinion within 10 business days of applying.
Employers will still have to fulfill recruitment and hiring requirements in line with traditional LMO applications for the position being offered. Currently, applications in Quebec do not offer the accelerated option. Please read Attorney David Cohen’s blog in this month’s newsletter to learn his views on this new program.
To learn more about these changes, and how they may affect your Canadian immigration goals, please contact us.
« Next Article: New Skilled Trades Program Announced for Federal Skilled Workers
{ 44 comments… read them below or add one }
It is an informative article.
Hi,
It is very informative and keeps me update about what’s going on.
I wanted to ask a question that I have applied for federal skilled worker in march 2007 from pakistan and couple of years back I got response and an offer to move to provincial category of Alberta which i accepted. I am getting mails from gov of Alberta as well. But didn’t get any requirement for documents or interview.
My latest status on line is that my file is sent to London office for further action. Will I get immigration or not considering current scenario.
Dear the CIC NEWS editors, a lot of thanks for these all updates. They are very help full for those people who wants to live in Canada and their parents and grandparents. The remarkable change I see most include:
Creation of Parent and Grandparent Super Visa.
In an effort to better target professionals in much needed skilled trades such as construction and resources management, the government intends to create a new.
The new program will allow qualified applicants to receive an Opinion within 10 business days of applying.
I am sure people at different stages in their and their parents application process will be benefited out of it. In my case, I have still a long way to go. Thank you once again and keep us informed as Usual.
Regards willbebenefited out of it. In my case
thank you for all the information..God bless
announcement of the rule expended is better position and role of the government of Canadian is to improve the standard of living of new comer and better environmental condition of the tendency of residence. We are welcome
Nice tips, i love your post here on CIC News, thanks to the admin
It is unfortunate that the Canadian Govt: should be treating like this those FSW applicants who applied prior to 27 January 2008.
These are the people who waited for a decision on their applications for many years .
Now they are being told that it is not possible to process their applications.
This is unlawful and backing down on one’s commitment.Either they should not have retained our docs for so many years or they should decide our cases as per rules in force at the time.
Canada Immigration Programme should include strategies to employ immigrants coming to Canada according to their experience and skills. Further training at Canadian level requirements can be provided to them so as to enhance their skills. Immigration process should include job guarantee at least to the main applicant. Such decisions will not only boost up the economy automatically, but it will also provided incentive and courage to newcomers.
Hi..Above post was very helpful in knowig about the recent changes in canadian business immigration.
oh good we got to know the do’s and don’ts regarding Canada immigration so,thanks for sharing the information,this will surely help us getting canadian visa.
i like canada
I genuinely hope the Canadian minister Hon. Jason Kenney will see the light in his unfair strategy in addressing immigration application backlogs. Fair & just Conscience dictates addressing the flight of those long waiting FIRST in line. LIKE YOU KNOW “HON. KENNEY I’VE BEEN WAITING IN YOUR DOORSTEPS FOR 5YRS ALREADY & SUDDENLY YOU SLAMMED YOUR DOOR SAYING I DONT LIKE YOUR FACE!?”
WITH PRAYERS, WE HOPE THAT MIN. KENNEY WILL RECONSIDER AND NOT IMPLEMENT THIS UNJUST ANNOUNCEMENT.
GOD BLESS CANADA!
Thanks for providing such a good information about changes in the process of immigrating to Canada, made by the state government recently…
hi .it is very informative article . my request is plz make easy provincial program .
Thank you very much for your good services and I hope to get to Canad to change my current life
The decission of Canadian minister to return applications of FSW applied before 2007 will create a disaster as people who applied waited a long will be ruined by canadian minister and this people will not bear to play with their lives.If u want to decrease backlogs u should ahve to adopt a new alternative instead of returning the applications.This is not fair i tm telling u.Lot of people will react as cases are not in less no.So kindly find an alternatve idea to clear the backlogs rather to return the applications.This is a request to canadian minister…….
I agree with Efren, we have been waiting for at least 5 years. So please change your decision. Assess our files, we have been waiting in the line for years, it’s not fair to return our applications.
I like this your regular update.
Thanks to updated news
i hope to see this very unfair decision change causing very bad feeling and frustration for all those 300,000 applicants. plz try some other stratagy to control backlogs, alteast dont affect those who waited the most. i have applied in 2004, now i cannot imagine that i can face this.
The fact that Canadian government suspended old immigration program for sponsoring our parents is terrible act to immigrants in Canada.
How Canadian government thinks that we can pay health costs to our parents on longer run?
I cannot express disaster it creates in my life.
Thanks for a lot of information to enter CANADA.
We are all thankful to you for this .
Please don’t return our applications. We have been waiting for a long time, with hope, without thinking of other alternatives. It’s not fair. You always talk about human rights, then respect our rights, we are humans.
Present Govt. is responsible for ruining Canada’s image. He failed to take necessary steps at early stage. Consequently, others are now suffering . Who will be responsible??? Is the the word “sorry” is enough for his whimsical act??? Who will compensate ?? No justice in Canada at all ?
Steve
I realy appreciate the up-date. It make information accessibility easier.
Pls. try another means of dealing with the backlog of applications. Ppl are already fraustrated. Canada is desirable for any peace loving being; Canada is peaceful.
Thank you.
thank you for all the information
In response to no name May 8th. Disaster is a good word but please apply it to all the Canadians born in Canada and have worked all their life in Canada!!! When they turn 65 and have only minimal coverage and can’t afford their drugs they do with out. So please don’t expect the taxpayers to pay for your parents who have not contributed to the Canadian health system. This is what is wrong with the health care in Canada. Immigrants come here and expect coverage when they haven’t paid into it for allmost 40 years and complain. I would expect the same if I went to your country, if I didn,t pay into it I then I would have to pay for what I need or else I would have to go home. So please think about it!!!!!!
I applied last 2006 and I was given a file a number for my family immigration application. As years went by, my family and I prepared for our processing time of “60 months” waiting period. The “60 months” was over then suddenly i heard the news that the canadian gov’t has announced the possible changes of FSW applications. It will break our hearts if this changes will gonna happen. As the principal sponsor of my family’s application, who applied when I was 45 years old and now turning 50 this year, it will indeed, crashed my dreams to live in Canada with my family. So please…. don’t do this to us! We are desperately begging your kind consideration. Thank you very much.
i heard that people are doing aggitation against canadian govt. as its not the way to say people waiting in que for a long period that is step is taken to clear the backlogs .u should atleast another method to clear the backlogs as is it fruitful to do like this .Canadian govt. have to taken a fruitful decission for the applicants applied before 2007 or it will create a negative sign on everybody brain.Dont play with the lives of humans……
Its really painful to note that the Canadian government is going to change the system.
I along with my family applied for the federal immigration , 76 months aback and was given a waiting period of 51 months through hard copy. I was of the hope that one day I with whole family will immigrate to Canada and for the last more than 6 years have been planning in that line and didn’t even tried any where else..
NOW I FEEL CHEATED AND HAVE THE FEELING THAT THE CANADA GOVERNMENT HAS PLAYED WITH OUR FUTURE
I have simple one question to Canadian Government as to what had they done when the back log was building?
In my words they have played with future of millions of people.
If the pre Feb 2008 applications are terminated/returned, then when did Post Feb 2008 to June 2010 applications will be processed.
CIC was promised to process within 6 to 12 months of time but all the Post Feb 2008 to June 2010 applicants already completed 30+ months.
There are many applicants put their career, personal, financial and family expansion on hold from past three years, this is frustrating as well as demotivating so many family and friends.
I would take this as an opportunity to request Canadian Immigration Minster to look into the Pre June 2010 applicants and release us from the suspense.
I think the government of canada should not only look into specfic targeted professionals in specific sectors but also put efforts on those skillful and expereinced experts in other fields of study. I see much immigrants expertise has been missed opportunities in this country.
This article is very effective and informative. With the help of this article, you can judge your postion before making formal for Canadian immigration.
I think someone intelligent and capable of handling such thing is required by canadian government,giving such type of disession are meaningless as it will ruin life of lakhs……..if all of us take pledge to be against it we will do it…..
I am really shocked to know the new policy. I am wonder that the minister of one developed and leading nation is saying these words. It is Maxim of Law that new laws are applied prospective not retrospective. If you are really sinceer to finish backlog than you must think of any alternative. This policy is shameful for the whole Canadian nation.
Dear Canadian Minister it is our all humble request to kindly finish the backlogs in an appropriate way rather than returning the cases is not the way to clear backlogs,kindly think of lakhs of people who are waiting for a long time,if u want to clear backlogs than dont entertain new cases ,firstly clear all the backlogs and then start accepting new cases when previous one are cleared….
Hello,
I agree with some portion of Canadian Immigration changes. But, regarding our profession, so far i know many doctors from around the world went to Canada and find themselves worthless, A good physician, may be up to Professor level with very good practice went to Canada at the last / middle stage of life for the sake of family with so other reasons including dreams to be a Canadian Doctor had been ruined due to their mysterious rules. Same things happen to other professions too. Skilled peoples are becoming frustrated. Do the Canadian Government are taking money or doing business with all of these immigrants where they let them in a street by the name of F S W visa, with no job satisfaction? I think in that sence, they should stop this point calculation or recruit people as a worker in industry, driver , cash centre, petrol pump like some middle east country. It is very painful for a technical person to do this kind of job with no chance to prove his/her merit. There is very few residency post for IMGS. If Canadian govt will not take this in mind then total programme will be useless. Australia is the best instead. Individuals have a chance to set for AMC exam, if passed (many bangladeshi had passed successfully) then he can directly enter to the mainstream. Why shouldn’t Canada?
Who cares for moving to that prejudiced, bigoted ‘country’? Not anyone with any sense.
Nice, I like the quick run-down of changes on one page.
A quick question – not sure if anybody is able to answer… is there any idea when the Work “Requirements Relaxed for Canadian Experience Class – 16 April” is likely to be implemented? I’m 16 months in to 24 months at the moment; would be great to be able to apply before Feb next year
Thanks again
This goes to show that even Canada in all fairness is not free from discriminatory decision making. How can you expect a senior citizen to arrive with a 2 year full health care coverage. This is impossible everyone knows international health care is super expensive. Also limiting a married immigrant from filing for his, her family to 5 years, creates a bigger stream on the Canadian economy and sees more money being pumped out the country. I bet Minister did not do well at math. Also Based on the overall revamp of the Immigration policy, I think Canada maybe adopting from other countries like England and America. And this sovereign country maybe transforming into a little monster day by day. How can you delete someone’s application after a 5 year wait, are you aware of the steps that person have taken in their life time to a just for that filing, without respect or due apology you cancel the filing. I think immigration process internationally that accepts money under international law should be held legally accountable if something like this happens. I rest my case.
Hi, I am the chief applicant for my family’s immigration process to Canada. We applied in August 2007 in Jamaica. My sisters,brother.mother are all citizens in Canada now. What is happening to beautiful Canada that I had such faith in.What can we do? Help!
The most important thing that the government should do is either to improve the job market in its major cities for the new immigrants or cut down the number of allowed applications per proffesion . There are more and more ppl arriving every year with acute shortage of jobs , which forces a big number of immigrants to come back to thier countries with no hope and spent all what they had
No No this is not fair. By Elimination of Federal Skilled Worker Backlog – 30 March you will play with the emotions of thousands of people all over the world. Please revisit your decision and do not vicitimise innocent applicants who are waiting from so long.
Can a Canadian permanent resident sponser his grand childrens
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