News Briefs – Prime Minister seeks to Improve Foreign Credential Accreditation

Vancouver MP Hedy Fry led a roundtable discussion on the subject of Canada’s recognition of the career credentials of immigrants. “It is a tall order in a short time,” said Fry, who was given a mandate by Prime Minister Paul Martin in early December to report on the problem of assessing foreign credentials and helping […]

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Safe Third Country Agreement to Limit Refugee Applications

Refugee claimants in the U.S. will have limited time to seek asylum in Canada before a controversial agreement comes into effect requiring them to seek a safe haven in the first country they reach. The move could decrease the number of refugee claims in Canada by as much as one-third, and has already prompted anxiety […]

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Change Status within Canada?

Q. I intend to come to Canada as a visitor for several months. If I find a job during that time, can I change my status while in Canada? Answer: Specific provisions to ‘change’ status under such circumstances do not exist, but an applicant can apply for a work permit or for permanent resident status […]

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News Briefs – Language Schools being Investigated

The Minister of Immigration, Judy Srgo, have begun investigations into private language schools in order to enhance the foreign student program. Amidst complaints that many such private institutions do not offer an adequate education, the process of accrediting such colleges is being reviewed. The 11 immigration ministers will also discuss how ESL courses can assist […]

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Labour Shortage may Require Increase in Immigration

A looming and “severe” labour shortage will put “significant strain” on Canada’s public and private pension system, according to a study by Watson Wyatt Canada. The consulting company predicts that over the coming decade, Canada’s pool of workers will grow more slowly than the population, then stagnate, before shrinking in the 2020s and eventually lead […]

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Effect of Any Changes

Q. If I submit my case now and the pass mark changes again, how will that affect my application? Answer: Although no changes to the Regulations or pass mark are presently under official discussion, this is always a possibility. In the last case in which this took place, we saw that the immigration department sought […]

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News Briefs – World Migration Organization Proposed

The International Organization for Migration (IOM), an inter-governmental body with more than 100 member states, tries to address migration issues outside of the U.N. system and cooperates with the U.N. in the Geneva Migration Group. A single global agency should be created to deal with the wide range of issues surrounding the increasingly important migration […]

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PR Card Requirement Strands Canadians

Stricter security measures brought in for the new year have left dozens of landed immigrants stranded overseas, barred from Canada-bound flights because they do not have permanent-resident cards. At least 36 people were turned away from flights to Canada since the new rules went into effect on Dec. 31, Citizenship and Immigration spokeswoman Maria Iadinardi […]

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