Archives for June 2005

The Government of Canada and the province of Saskatchewan announced on June 1, 2005 that the original Canada-Saskatchewan Immigration Agreement of 1998 has been replaced.

The agreement sets out the role of Saskatchewan regarding foreign students, workers, and other immigrants to the province. It is hoped that immigration, generally the responsibility of Citizenship and Immigration Canada, will be more effective as a result of the involvement of the province.

The new Agreement specifically addresses the creation of Saskatchewan’s Provincial Nominees program in 2002 and incorporates it into the overall immigration program. The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program provides the province with the ability to attract skilled labour suited to the unique needs of its culture and economy. As a result of the new Canada-Saskatchewan Agreement, the cap on Provincial Nominees has been removed.

The new Agreement includes special provisions for Enhanced Language Training, minority French-communities, and work for foreign students. The Saskatchewan Minister in charge of Immigration was hopeful that these and other initiatives would continue to mark Saskatchewan as a place where newcomers are welcomed and supported.

In response to the December, 2004 Tsunami near Indonesia, Citizenship and Immigration Canada enacted temporary measures to speed-up reunification of sponsored immigrants with their families in Canada.

CIC staff waived fees and granted priority processing to affected applicants. As of June 7, 2005, CIC’s humanitarian efforts had resulted in 366 permanent resident visas being issued.

Most individuals issued expedited visas are spouses, partners and children of Canadians or Permanent Residents, whose applications were already in process when the disaster struck. In the next six months CIC expects that visas will be issued to parents and grandparents whose Family Sponsorship applications were in progress at the time of the Tsunami.

In the months since the disaster CIC waived application and Right of Permanent Residence fees from those in the affected areas. As of July 1, 2005, the application fee will again be mandatory, but those applications made before this date will still benefit from a waiver for all fees.

Before May 5, 2005 individuals who lost or renounced their Canadian citizenship as minors were unable to resume this citizenship without fulfilling several requirements, such as obtaining permanent residency, living in Canada for at least a year, and taking citizenship tests.

Now, those who lost citizenship while under the age of eighteen and between 1947 and 1977 are relieved of these requirements.

Persons interested in regaining their Canadian citizenship should contact the nearest Canadian embassy, consulate or high commission before submitting an Application for Resumption of Citizenship.

Question: What happens if I get married after I have submitted my application for a permanent resident visa?

Answer: You must immediately notify the Canadian Visa Office in charge of your file. What happens next depends upon the stage you are at in the application process.

If your application has not yet been finalized (visa not issued) you must add your spouse to your application as your dependent (accompanying or not). Your spouse will need to submit the appropriate forms, government fees, if accompanying, and undergo a medical examination and a background check.

If your application has been finalized (visa issued) but you have not yet landed in Canada as a permanent resident, you cannot add your spouse to your application. Nor can you land in Canada alone and sponsor your spouse at a later date. Rather, you must return your permanent resident visa to the Visa Office and you will have to submit an entirely new application for permanent residence in Canada, including your spouse as a dependent in your new application. So, if you have received your Canadian permanent resident visa and are planning to get married, you would be well advised to land in Canada before your marriage. You can then get married and as a permanent resident you will be entitled to sponsor your spouse.