Category Archives: News

Immigration News

Four Year Maximum Length of Work Permit in Canada

Most people can come to Canada to work for a maximum of four years. If you are currently working or plan to work in Canada, you should keep track of the total time you have worked and plan to work in Canada. After you have worked temporarily for four years in Canada, you will not be eligible to work in Canada again until another period of four years has passed.

Before you are eligible to work again in Canada, you will need to spend four consecutive years either:

  • Outside of Canada; or
  • In Canada but not working (i.e. with legal status as a visitor or student).

At that point, you can apply for a work permit and you can start another four years of working in Canada. This is known as the ‘cumulative duration’ rule.

Find out if and how the four-year maximum affects you. Please Contact Us  to get more details.

Changes to the Quebec Immigration Programs

Investor Program

The intake period for applications submitted under the Investor Program is from August 31, 2015 to January 29, 2016 (only the Ministère’s seal will constitute proof of the date of receipt of your application) or until the maximum number of applications has been attained.

The Ministère will receive a maximum of 1750 applications for a selection certificate under the Investor Program, including a maximum of 1200 from applicants from China (including Hong Kong and Macao).

Investor applicants who demonstrate, by means of a test recognized by the Ministère, that they have an advanced intermediate knowledge of French, are not subject to this maximum number of applications and can submit their application at any time. These applications will receive priority processing.

All applications must be sent to the Direction du courrier, de l’encaissement et de l’évaluation comparative, in Montréal.

Permanent Workers

Maximum number of applications

During the intake period, the Ministère will receive a maximum of 6300 applications for a selection certificate under the Regular Skilled Worker Program. The application intake period will be announced later in 2015.

If you submit an application outside the intake period that will be announced at a later date, it will be returned unless you are in one or the other of the following situations:

  • You submit an application under the Programme de l’expérience québécoise (Québec experience program);
  • You have enclosed a valid employment offer with the application for a selection certificate that you submitted under the Regular Skilled Worker Program;
  • Citizenship and Immigration Canada has informed you that it has agreed to process your application for permanent residence in Canada;
  • You are a temporary resident and eligible to submit an application for a Certificat de sélection du Québec.

Priority processing

  • The following applications will receive priority processing:
    Applications submitted under the Programme de l’expérience québéboise (PEQ – Québec experience program);
  • Applications that include a valid employment offer;
  • Applications from candidates who earned points under the factor Area of training.

Please Contact US for more details on these programs.

PEI PNP Business Impact Program Accepting New Files

The Prince Edwards Island  Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP) has just announced that it will begin accepting new files immediately.

The unchanged criteria for the principal applicant is as follows:

  • intends to settle in PEI, and invest in a business in PEI
  • minimum $600,000 CAD net worth (earned by the applicant’s own endeavors)
  • age 21-59
  • minimum 12 years of education
  • minimum 2 years of recent management experience
  • IELTS 4.0 or greater (or French equivalent)

We look forward to receiving your files, and will submit them on a first-complete basis.

Please Contact Us for more information on this program.

Changes to the Dominica Immigration Program

The Government of Dominica has announced changes to the Economic Citizenship Program, effective March 1, 2015.  These changes should help to simplify the program going forward, and are summarized below:

  1. The Government will now conduct the due diligence check on behalf of the client (rather than the client or agent dealing directly with the due diligence company).
  2. The Government fee structure has been simplified, and the application fee now includes the cost of the due diligence check.
  3. In order to expedite due diligence checks, and to comply with international banking regulations, 12 months of bank statements must now be submitted with each file.  These bank statements pertain to the bank account from which the investment funds will be transferred, and should correspond to the source of funds.
  4. New application forms will be required.

Also, as previously advised, interviews are no longer mandatory.
Should you wish to receive the new forms, and our updated marketing materials, please contact us and we would be happy to send them to you.

Dominica Removes Interview Requirement

There is no longer a mandatory interview requirement under the Dominica Economic Citizenship program. However, the Government may, at its discretion, request that certain clients attend an interview.

Please Contact Us for more information regarding this program