Dominica Citizens Will Travel Visa-Free to Schengen Countries.

Citizens of Dominica will no longer require a Schengen visa for a short stay visit up to 90 days for business, family and touristic purposes in Eu-rope.

European Commission proposes visa-free travel to citizens of the Commonwealth of Dominica, among 19 Nations in the Caribbean, Pacific, and the Middle East added to the list of countries and territories exempt from the visa obligation.

A visa waiver will be offered to citi-zens of Colombia, Dominica, Grena-da, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Mi-cronesia, Nauru, Palau, Peru, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grena-dines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Ti-mor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad and To-bago, Tuvalu, the United Arab Emir-ates (UAE) and Vanuatu.

Currently, nationals of the listed counties, including Dominica, have to travel abroad to apply for a Schengen visa due to the lack of con-sular presence in most of these coun-tries. Visa exemption makes it much easier for them to plan trips to the EU countries and reduce the costs of travelling.

Nationals of Dominica and other 18 countries on the proposed list will be able to conveniently travel to coun-tries of the Schengen area, as well as to Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania. Currently, the Schengen Area in-cludes the territory of 22 European Union countries and associated countries.

“It will have a direct impact on citi-zens of these countries and on EU citizens, in the form of more people-to- people contacts and business op-portunities”, said Cecilia Malm-ström, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs.

These changes notably increase the prestige and demand for the Domi-nica citizenship program allowing to obtain citizenship through invest-ment in the shortest possible time (3-4 months) with reasonable invest-ment requirements (US$ 100,000-200,000 as the case might be).

The visa exemption proposal is ex-pected to be reciprocated through agreements with these countries to ensure a visa free regime for all EU citizens and some categories of Brit-ish citizens currently under the visa obligation. Now it is the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union who are to consider and finally approve the Commission proposal, which is expected to hap-pen in the nearest time.

If you want to be immediately noti-fied by e-mail once the visa exemp-tion comes in force, leave your e-mail in the form below.

Please Contact Us for more information on this program.

Official source: “A smarter visa policy to facilitate tourism to the EU”. europa.eu. 7 November 2012.

News, Study in Canada

Simon Fraser University Custom ESL/ELC Programs

October 20, 2014 nkic

English Language and Culture (ELC) Custom Programs

The SFU ELC Program Delivers successful custom English training programs to a particular group or cohort.

Some of the many advantages of custom program are:

Custom programs that are a minimum of four weeks long
Custom program content tailored to the needs of the cohort
Start dates are flexible, depending on classroom availability
The standard program is 27 class hours per week
Classes run between 9 am and 3:30 pm Monday to Friday
Classes take place at the SFU Campus in downtown Vancouver
For custom groups, ELC requires a minimum of 15 students per class group

ELC Custom Program Costs

The tuition cost depends on the length of the program and the size of the group

Other costs include (per student for one month):

Accommodation: CAD $1,125. This includes a one-time placement fee of CAD $275 and four weeks’ accommodation, including three meals per day.
Airport pick-up: CAD $100. This is a one-time fee.
Medical Insurance: CAD $60 per month. Ideally, medical insurance should be arranged before the students leave their home countries. Upon request, ELC can arrange for medical insurance.
Transit pass: CAD $110 (Two zones, for one month). Students can buy transit passes when they arrive in Vancouver. Visit www.translink.bc.ca for more information.
SFU ID Card: CAD $20
Farewell Luncheon: CAD $40 (student only) or CAD $135 (student plus home-stay family)
You can arrange a luncheon through ELC if you wish.
Special Request Field Trips: Variable cost.

Curriculum

Canadian Studies

Canadian Studies will help you focus on the cultural context of English by studying topics such as geography, history, government, and social institutions, as well as engaging in discussions about current Canadian issues.

You will work both individually and in small groups, and you’ll respond to and analyze a variety of authentic texts, including articles, maps, charts, audio-visual presentations, TV, news, and documentary clips. You can expect to learn how to watch, interpret, discuss, and respond to what Canadians are saying, and to receive the tools to analyze the cultural background of any country.

Composition

This course is designed to help you improve your English grammar skills and learn how to write to a Canadian audience. You will learn how to organize your thoughts and express ideas so that Canadian readers will be able to understand what you’ve written. You may also experiment with creative writing genres.

Listening Practice

Many students struggle to understand popular TV, music, daily conversations, and business negotiations. These courses will provide strategies that will help you make sense of slang, idiomatic language, and contextual clues. You can expect to learn how to understand not only what people are saying, but also how and why they choose their words and expressions.

Oral Skills

This class will focus on oral English enhancement. You will practice ways to improve your speech clarity and fluency through informal conversation and formal speaking tasks. You’ll target various aspects of spoken mechanics.

Reading Skills

The Reading Skills class combines reading comprehension and vocabulary building in a variety of formats. You will analyze how writers use language to stress and change meanings and develop an awareness of current events, Canadian social issues, and popular culture.

By questioning the language, images, and attitudes presented in literature, newspapers, magazines, cartoons, and advertising, you will develop an understanding of culture and international context.

News Media

The News Media course will help you learn how to understand what people say and write. You will actively practice your English listening, reading, and speaking skills through electronic and print media and learn strategies for making sense of language, images, and attitudes presented in the news. This course will also introduce you to some topical issues that are currently of concern to Canadians.

Academic Field Work

This course will provide you with an opportunity to go out into the community to interact directly with some aspect of Canadian culture. In the process, you will also practice your English communication skills in a context other than the classroom.

These trips are normally connected to course content and are conducted by instructors during class time. To make the most of these experiences, we encourage you to ask lots of questions before, during, and after the trips. Outings change from one program to another, but common examples include the following:

A visit to the British Columbia law courts
A tour of the Vancouver Art Gallery
A visit to a local television station
A nature walk through Stanley Park
A scavenger hunt at Granville Island

Please make requests for field trips to specific locations well in advance. We make no guarantees about securing these trips, though we will do our best.

Specializations

For three hours each week, students in the Premium Program study in an elective (specialization) of their choice. You may choose one of the following:

IELTS preparation
Business communications
Grammar intensive
Film studies

Please Contact Us for more information on these programs.

NKIC Newsletter

Studying In Canada

October 17, 2014 nkic

School Programs

Canada has one of the best education systems in the world that allow foreign students to achieve their educational goals in a safe and nurturing environment.

We are pleased to offer immigration counseling and program information assistance to prospective foreign students wishing to gain admission to English as a Second Language (ESL) Programs, Undergraduate and Graduate Studies Preparatory Programs, and Undergraduate University Transfer Programs in combination with ESL training at the following universities:

Simon Fraser University

Simon Fraser University (SFU) was founded on September 9th, 1965. Initially had 2,500 students attending the original campus located on top of Burnaby Mountain, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.

Since its first year, the original SFU campus on top of Burnaby Mountain has seen great expansion with many new buildings, facilities, and faculties.

In order to facilitate access to its new and different programs, SFU has expanded into two new additional campuses located in Downtown Vancouver and Surrey. Currently SFU has more than 30,000 students and 6.500 faculty and staff. More …

The University of British Columbia

The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the 40 best universities in the world. Since 1915, UBC’s West Coast spirit has embraced innovation and challenged the status quo.

UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley. Also in Vancouver, UBC Robson Square is a vibrant learning centre in the heart of downtown, the UBC Learning Exchange is a community engagement initiative based in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, and UBC’s Centre for Digital Media at the Great Northern Way Campus is located in Mount Pleasant.

Currently UBC has 15,171 Faculty and Staff, and 58,284 Graduate and Undergraduate students spread across its campuses. More …

British Columbia Institute of Technology

Do you want to live and work in Canada? BCIT’s International Student Entry Program (ISEP) can help you reach your professional and educational goals. ISEP develops overall English language and academic skills. It is also a direct pathway to BCIT certificate, diploma, and degree programs. Students can choose ISEP to improve their English and academic skills or ISEP Plus if they want to continue studies in a BCIT program. Students who complete ISEP level 400, 500 or 600 are eligible to transfer into a BCIT program. More …

The University of Toronto

The University of Toronto (U of T) strives to ensure that its graduates are educated in the broadest sense of the term, with the ability to think clearly, judge objectively, and contribute constructively to society.

U of T wishes to increase its ability to attract students from elsewhere in Canada and abroad, in the belief that while these students gain an education their presence will enrich the experience of students from the local community. As a U of T student, you can tailor your university experience by choosing from among over 700 different undergraduate programs and more than 280 different graduate and professional programs.

At U of T students, faculty and staff study, work and live on three campuses. With some of the most prestigious architecture and beautiful green space in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area, and more than 1,000 extracurricular activities available to students, U of T offers an extraordinary environment in which to learn and work.

U of T is situated in one of the world’s most vibrant urban environments. Ranked the most diverse city in North America, Toronto and the surrounding Greater Toronto Area are dynamic, inviting areas with something for everyone. From sports teams to cultural happenings, festivals to street fairs, Toronto has it all.

There are three campuses to choose from at U of T – Downtown Toronto (St. George), Mississauga (in the west) and Scarborough (in the east). More …

Please Contact Us for more information on these programs.

NKIC Newsletter

USA EB-5 Business Investors Visa Program

October 15, 2014 nkic

We are glad to work with Mercan Capital in offering their projects as the investment vehicle for satisfying the requirements of the EB-5 Business Investors Visa Program.

Current investment projects are available in Georgia (Peachtree City and Clayton), Mississippi (Columbus ), and in Minnesota (Saint Paul)

USA EB-5 Program Details

Qualifications

Must be at least 21 years of age
Demonstrated legal source of funds
No criminal record

Benefits

No language requirement
No minimum education required
No demonstrated business or management experience required
Investment capital can derive from business ownership/profit, a gift, inheritance or any other lawful activities
Applicants do not have to live within the State of their investment
Live, work and study anywhere in US and benefit from lower tuition fees
Inclusion of dependent children below 21 years

Legal Source of Funds

Only have to demonstrate the funds being used, i.e. USD $550,000
Legal source not as stringent as Canada but more rigorous than Bulgaria
Documented proof and clear financial transactions between company accounts and personal accounts, as applicable, or proof of property purchase and subsequent sale, or gifts, with gifting persons source of funds, or Inheritance details

Investment Requirements

Investment of USD $500,000
The enterprise must create full time employment for at least 10 Qualified US workers, indirect employment is permitted
Active management of the enterprise is not required

Permanent Residence/Green Card Requirements

A person may be found to have abandoned permanent resident status if:

Move to another country intending to live there permanently
Remain outside of the United States for more than 1 year without obtaining a reentry permit or returning resident visa. However, in determining whether your status has been abandoned, any length of absence from the United States may be considered, even if less than 1 year
Remain outside of the United States for more than 2 years after issuance of a reentry permit without obtaining a returning resident visa. However, in determining whether status has been abandoned any length of absence from the United States may be considered, even if less than 1 year
Fail to file income tax returns while living outside of the United States for any period
Declare yourself a “nonimmigrant” on your tax returns

Citizenship Requirements

If you are a green card holder for at least 5 years, you must meet the following requirements in order to apply for naturalization:

Be a non conditional green card holder for at least 5 years immediately preceding the date of application
Have lived within the state, or USCIS district with jurisdiction over the applicant’s place of residence, for at least 3 months prior to the date of applying
Have continuous residence in the United States as a green card holder for at least 5 years immediately preceding the date of the filing the application
Be physically present in the United States for at least 30 months out of the 5 years immediately preceding the date of filing the application
Reside continuously within the United States from the date of application for naturalization up to the time of naturalization
Be able to read, write, and speak English and have knowledge and an understanding of U.S. history and government (Civics)
Be a person of good moral character, attached to the principles of the Constitution of the United States, and well disposed to the good order and happiness of the United States during all relevant periods under the law

USA Tax Information

Taxes are imposed on net income of individuals and corporations by the federal, most states, and some local governments
Citizens and residents are taxed on worldwide income and are allowed a credit for foreign taxes

What are the Costs Involved?

USD $500,000 Paid Into Investment Project Itself
USD $45,000 Additional Fee to Pay Costs Associated With Obtaining “Regional Center” Designation From US Government (which are part of the Administrative Costs below)
USD $10,000 Fees For Attorneys, Administrative and Management Costs

Government fees, not included

EB-5 Program Timeline

EB-5 Application Timeline

Please Contact Us for more information on this program.

NK Immigration Consultants

Global Immigration Consulting Services