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Tag Archives: NKIC Newsletter – May 2016
2016 Ultimate Canadian Rockies Tour
In partnership with Haghjou Immigration Services Inc. NKIC is pleased to offer a complete tour package to the Canadian Rockies September 14 – 25, 2016.
Itinerary
DAY 1 – Vancouver (D)
Arrive in the cosmopolitan city of Vancouver. Check into your downtown hotel, then enjoy a get acquainted dinner this evening with fellow passengers.
DAY 2 – Vancouver (B)
Vancouver is one of the most captivating cities in Canada, with its multicultural fusion and spectacular mountain and ocean setting. A city tour includes Stanley Park, Chinatown, English Bay as well as some prestigious residential areas of Vancouver. Visit Capilano Park and experience the suspension bridge, the tree top adventure and the cliff walk, plus Salish First Nations culture.
DAY 3 – Vancouver to Victoria (B)
Leaving the mainland, cross the Strait of Georgia via BC Ferry to Vancouver Island. First stop is at the famous Butchart Gardens with time to wander, and then enjoy a tour of this distinctly old world city with its Victoria architecture, elaborate gardens and British flavor.
DAY 4 – Victoria to Vancouver (B)
Head over the Malahat Pass with exceptional views of Discovery Passage to meet the ferry back to the mainland, cruising through the Gulf Islands to Horseshoe Bay. The afternoon is yours to spend at leisure.
DAY 5 – Vancouver to Whistler (B)
Follow the Sea to Sky Highway to the mountain resort of Whistler. Along the way stop for a break and a short walk to view the tumbling waters of Brandywine Falls before arriving in the world-class resort town of Whistler. The afternoon is yours to explore the pedestrian only village just steps from your hotel.
DAY 6 – Whistler to Sun Peaks (B)
Today travel through into the rugged BC interior filled with picturesque landscapes from start to finish. Your destination is the cozy European-style four season resort town of Sun Peaks with great restaurants and shops in strolling distance.
DAY 7 – Sun Peaks to Jasper (B)
An unforgettable highlight today is a River Safari ride through Grizzly Bear Valley, right in the heart of the world’s only inland temperate rainforest. Observe bears and other wildlife in their natural environment, without the constraints of gates and cages, from the safety of a boat mid river, presenting the optimum opportunity for the perfect snapshot. Today’s journey takes you
into the great Canadian Rockies, as you head to the quaint mountain town of Jasper.
DAY 8 – Jasper (B)
Start the day with a ride up Whistler Mountain on the Jasper Tram and enjoy breakfast at the top. A full day of sightseeing follows including a gentle walk down Maligne Canyon to see how the water has carved spectacular crevices out of the mountain. A short drive takes you to Maligne Lake, the largest natural lake in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. This evening enjoy a float trip down the Athabasca River.
DAY 9 – Jasper to Lake Louise (B,L)
Today drive one of the world’s most spectacular highways, the Icefields Parkway. Visit the powerful and breathtaking Athabasca Falls and then arrive at the vast Columbia Icefields whose waters feed three oceans. Visit the Interpretive Centre and then have the experience of a life – a ride on the Ice Explorer for a close up look at the Athabasca Glacier. At the summit of Bow Pass see the beautiful baby blue waters of Peyto Lake and the rugged beauty of the Mistaya River Valley before arriving in Lake Louise, jewel of the Rockies surrounded by glistening glaciers and towering mountain peaks.
DAY 10 – Lake Louise to Banff (B,L)
Explore the western part of the mountain chain and cross the Continental Divide into Yoho National Park. Visit Takakkaw Falls and Emerald Lake, filled with glacial run-off water that makes it glisten with the blue-green hue of an emerald. Then travel the famous Bow Valley Parkway, where wildlife sighting are common. Stop at Johnston Canyon for an easy walk through a deep rugged canyon littered with waterfalls and then arrive in Banff, home of Canada’s first national park.
DAY 11 – Banff (B,D)
Explore Banff on a sightseeing tour with stops at Cascade Gardens and beautiful Bow Falls and then ride the gondola up Sulphur Mountain for an unparalleled view of the mountains and valley below. Also included is time at Cave & Basin National Historic Site, which tells the story of the hot springs that drew visitor’s to Banff in the first place. Tonight enjoy a farewell dinner with newfound friends.
DAY 12 – Banff to Calgary (B)
A transfer is provided to Calgary for your journey home.
Tour package includes
- 15 Meals: 11 Breakfasts (B), 2 Lunches (L), and 2 Dinners (D)
- Motor coach transportation
- Farsi Speaking Tour Guide(subject to availability)
- Attractions as listed
- Vancouver City Tour & Stanley Park
- Capilano Park & Suspension Bridge
- Sun Peaks Resort
- River Safari
- Mount Robson Visitor Centre
- Jasper National Park
- Jasper Tram
- Maligne Canyon & Maligne Like
- Icefields Parkway
- Athabasca Falls
- Columbia Icefields with Ice Explorer Ride
- Lake Louise
- Yoho National Park
- Takakkaw Falls & Emerald Lake
- Bow Valley Parkway & Johnston Canyon
- Banff Gondola
- 3.5 – 4 Star Accommodation
Bookings
For the best selection and availability it is recommended travel packages are booked as far in advance as possible.
Documentation
Travel vouchers, tickets, itinerary instructions and supplier address will be provided at the time of final payment. All documentation is sent electronically and will be required to be printed and presented to your suppliers as you travel. These documents are as good as cash. Lost vouchers will require a $50 processing fee to resend.
Deposit & Final Payment Policy
A $500 deposit is required at the time of booking to hold your
customized vacation package. Final payment is required 60 days prior to departure.
If Airline, Rail, Cruise line or any specialty product is included in your itinerary you will be advised at the time of quotation or booking of any other deposit or final payment policy’s that are required by these suppliers.
Cancellation Penalties
Standard cancellation fees are as follows:
- 71+ days Fully Refundable Less Deposit
- 70 – 0 days prior to departure – 0% refundable
Name Changes
Name changes can be done up to 30 days prior to arrival.
Regrettably cancellation charges cannot be waived. There will be no exceptions. No Refunds on unused services after departure from original city. Cancellation Insurance is recommended for all tours.
Travel Insurance
Protection you can trust and rates you can afford. Haghjou Immigration Services Inc. STRONGLY RECOMMENDS travel insurance to all customers travelling to Canada. Travel insurance can be purchased to cover penalties in the event a customer needs to cancel or change their travel plans due to unforeseen circumstances. Travel insurance is also available for medical and emergency protection during travel as well as loss and delay coverage. If you do not carry travel insurance, all hospital and medical expenses incurred during your vacation package would be at your own expense. No refunds for unused travel will be provided in the case of a medical emergency.
Visa & Passports
A passport valid for six months beyond the travel date is required for entry into Canada. It is your responsibility to ensure you have the applicable visa’s required for the nationality of the passport you are traveling on.
Itinerary & Schedule Changes
Our tours are planned in advance and occasionally the itinerary may need to be adjusted or schedule changes may occur. Tour management reserves the right to make any adjustments in plans, which may be necessitated due to circumstances not under our control. The tour organizer reserves the right to make any changes before or during the tour for the comfort and enjoyment of the passengers.
Tour Does Not Include
- Gratuities to Tour Directors and Drivers – Our tour directors and drivers work very hard to ensure you have a worry free and enjoyable holiday. Gratuities are appreciated and should be extended on a voluntary, individual basis – not as a group.
- Meals – Not listed in the itinerary.
- Personal Expenses – Phone calls, In Room Movies, Gifts, etc
- Luggage Handling – at Airports or tours less than three days
- Optional Tours – Additional fees will apply
- Baggage (not including one piece per person) – Additional Fee will apply
Please Contact Us for more information on this tour package.
Residence Permit For Investment in Portugal
New legal provisions open up the possibility of applying for a residence permit for pursuing investment activities in Portugal to those who have entered the country regularly (v.g. holders of valid Schengen visas, or beneficiaries of visa exemption), by transferring capital, creating jobs or acquiring real estate.
Recently the Portuguese government through the ministry of Foreign Affairs has established new legislation that allows non EU citizens, through investment in the country, to obtain a residency permit, commonly known as the “golden residence permit”, or “golden visa”, which enables foreign Investors to travel freely in the Schengen area.
The Schengen Area is a group of 26 European states which have abolished passport and immigration controls at their common borders. It functions as a single country for international travel purposes, with a common visa policy.
The holder of a golden residence permit may travel freely in the Schengen Area (Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, Norway, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Sweden and Switzerland)
NPCF provides legal services related to the acquisition of nationality (Portuguese citizenship), and legal rights of foreign citizens (non EU citizens), namely obtaining visas and other legal authorizations regarding short, temporary or permanent entry and stay in the Portuguese national territory.
A “golden residence permit” may be granted to foreign non EU Citizens, by making an investment in the country, for a minimum period of 5 years and on condition that they stay in Portugal for a period of 7 or more days, in the first year, and 14 or more days, in the subsequent years.
All third country citizens who conduct an investment activity, as an individual businessperson or through a company set up in Portugal or in another EU Member State and who, in addition, are stably settled in Portugal, provided these citizens fulfil the quantitative requirements and the time requirements set out by the relevant legislation, may apply for a Residence Permit for Investment, by one of the following routes:
- Capital transfer with a value equal to or above 1 million Euros;
- The creation of, at least, 10 job positions;
- The purchase of real estate property with a value equal to or above 500 thousand Euros;
- The purchase of real estate property, with construction dating back more than 30 years or located in urban regeneration areas, for refurbishing, for a total value equal to or above 350 thousand Euros;
- Capital transfer with a value equal to or above 350 thousand Euros for investing in research activities conducted by public or private scientific research institutions involved in the national scientific or technologic system;
- Capital transfer with a value equal to or above 250 thousand Euros for investing in artistic output or supporting the arts, for reconstruction or refurbishment of the national heritage, through the local and central authorities, public institutions, public corporate sector, public foundations, private foundations of public interest, networked local authorities, local corporate sector organizations, local associations and public cultural associations, pursuing activities of artistic output, and reconstruction or maintenance of the national heritage;
- Capital transfer with a value equal to or above 500 thousand Euros, for purchasing shares in investment funds or in venture capital geared to capitalize small and medium companies that, in turn, must present a feasible capitalization plan.
NKIC is pleased to partner with NUNO PINTO COELHO DE FARIA & ASSOCIADOS, SOCIEDADE DE ADVOGADOS, R.L., LAW FIRM, shortly known as “NPCF”, a Law Firm positioned in the market since 2008.
Please Contact Us for more information on this program.
Quebec Skilled Workers Program will Accept 10000 Applications in 2016
Quebec has been working to make certain improvements to provide a better customer experience. For this reason, they have decided to postpone the intake period for applications under the Regular Skilled Worker Program until the end of spring 2016.
Accordingly, applicants who have already created their Mon projet Québec account may submit their application between June 13 and 20, 2016. The maximum number of applications to be received during this period will be raised to 5,000.
When this number is reached, applicants who do not have an account may create one with a view to the next intake period. During this second period, the dates of which will be established later, the Ministère will also receive 5,000 applications.
Applicants who have a job offer validated by the Ministère or who are temporary residents in Québec and authorized to present an application for a Certificat de sélection du Québec may do so at any time.Those who already have an account may submit their application online, while those without an account are asked to call 514-864-9191. A customer service agent will tell them what steps to take.
Please Contact Us for more information.
Canadian Border Services New Security Screening Measures
Canada’s border services officers are identifying and detaining more people with outstanding arrest warrants at Canadian border crossings after making changes to the way travelers are checked for security risks.
Officer who work on the front lines of Canada’s borders were given access to police information late last year, after a CBC News investigation revealed they couldn’t screen travellers against Canadian police records, such as outstanding warrants.
New numbers obtained by CBC News show that in the first month after the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) database was introduced at primary inspection points, it flagged 1,800 cases in which travellers had outstanding warrants against them.
While some warrants were for minor infractions, such as outstanding fines, a quarter of the referrals were related to criminal offences and resulted in “further action,” according to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
Arrests across Canada
In some cases, they were people who had eluded police for some time.
In March, police records contained in the CPIC database helped border services officers at Toronto Pearson International Airport identify a suspect in a fatal arson in Woodstock, Ont. Jeyakumar Shanmuganathan, 43, had allegedly fled Canada in 2011, but when he tried to re-enter the country after a flight from Sri Lanka on March 2, he was flagged and arrested.
At the same Toronto airport last month, a woman travelling from Jamaica was flagged by CPIC while attempting to enter Canada. Police said she had failed to appear for fraud charges in Barrie, Ont., in 1996, and avoided authorities for 20 years.
Similarly, border services officers at a New Brunswick border crossing in January were able to identify and arrest a suspect in a series of sexual assaults dating back to the 1980s.
Heidi Illingworth, executive director of the Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime, told CBC News she expects more arrests could result from the increased screening resources.
In an email, she wrote, “Victims often yearn for justice even many years after the crime so if the authorities can finally try to hold someone accountable for the harm they’ve caused — that is a good thing.”
Officers who do the primary inspection of travelers at Canadian borders have now had access to the CPIC database since November 2015.
The change came after CBC News reported on a case where a man charged with sexual assault in Canada was able to re-enter the country without being arrested at the border.
A further investigation revealed that although U.S. border services officers used Canada’s national police database to help screen all travellers into that country, officers at primary inspection points in Canada did not have access to it.
Border officers pleased
Canadian officers working the front lines of border checkpoints could access information about people being sought by immigration authorities, or those with lost, stolen or fraudulent passports. But until last year, other databases, such as CPIC, were only made available to officers at a secondary screening where more thorough checks are conducted.
That meant that a person coming into Canada had to first be deemed suspicious by a front-line border agent in order to get fully screened against Canadian police warrants by another agent at a secondary checkpoint. The idea was to save time at the border.
After lobbying the government to make the CPIC tool available at all levels of border inspection, the head of the union representing Canada’s border services officers says his members are pleased with the changes.
Jean-Pierre Fortin, of the Customs and Immigration Union, said the old system meant that in some cases, front-line services officers “didn’t have a clue” about the identities of the people they were letting into the country.
Now, with full CPIC access, he said, border services officers are “way more efficient” in ensuring “that if there’s an outstanding warrant, immediately, there’s action that’s being taken.”
Senate calls for more screening
This new screening system arrived years after a Nigerian priest, who had been charged with sexual assault in Canada, was allowed back into the country, unhindered, despite an outstanding Canadian warrant for his arrest.
As CBC News reported last year, Father Anthony Onyenagada is accused of assaulting a female parishioner at a southern Ontario Catholic church he visited in 2004.
By the time charges were laid against him and a warrant was issued for his arrest, Onyenagada had left the country. Police assured the woman that the priest would be arrested if he ever tried to re-enter Canada.
But nearly 10 years later, the woman found out that he had returned and left the country again, without being arrested.
The woman complained to the CBSA, but the agency has offered no apology for allowing Onyenagada through the border.
A 2015 Senate report, released before the CBSA changes took effect, said that around 44,000 people were in Canada illegally last year, and that in some cases, the government had lost track of them. The report called for more rigorous screening of visitors and immigrants to the country.
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By Sarah Bridge, John Lancaster, Jennifer Fowler, CBC News