Canadian Immigration News Briefs for Mid-May 2013

The following is a summary of developments concerning Canadian Citizenship and Immigration that took place or were announced over the last two weeks.

• Canada Courts Silicon Valley Entrepreneurs 

Canadian Immigration Minister Jason Kenney is visiting Silicon Valley to push the government’s newest business immigration program, the Entrepreneur Start-Up Visa. >>Read more...

• Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship Program to Reopen in 2014 

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has announced that the Parent and Grandparent sponsorship stream will re-open on January 2nd, 2014. At that time, the program’s processing time is expected to be cut in half. >>Read more...

• Family Class Immigration Increased in 2012

2012 saw a 15 per cent increase in immigration through Family Class sponsorship, according to a recent announcement by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). >>Read more...

• Foreign Born Canadians at Historical High 

Over 6.8 million Canadians were born outside of Canada, according to new information from Statistics Canada. This staggering figure means that 20.6 per cent of the population, or 1 in 5 people, are foreign-born.>>Read more...

• Ministerial Instructions Announced for Immigration Programs 

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has issued a number of Ministerial Instructions pertaining to a range of Canadian immigration programs. The Ministerial Instructions were published in the Canada Gazette, a government publication, on May 4th 2013. >>Read more...

• Federal Skilled Worker Program Opens Saturday 

After a long wait, the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) will open its doors to applicants this Sunday, May 4th. Excited applicants from around the world are already preparing their applications in advance of Saturday’s opening. >>Read more...