On March 21, Immigration Minister Mark Miller said that for the first time in Canada’s history, the number of temporary residents entering the country would be limited. According to statistics from the Government of Canada, a total of 2.5 million temporary residents (international students and temporary workers) lived in Canada in 2023, representing 6.2% of the country’s population. Minister Miller says that the goal of the new changes will be to reduce this number to 5% in the next 3 years, and that they will not affect people who come to Canada to work in construction, health professionals, or teachers of preschool children. Minister Miller also called on Canada’s provinces to increase the number of invitations for permanent residency through provincial nominations. He called on the provinces to open their doors and give more opportunities to people who are already living in Canada and who can contribute to the country’s economy. The Minister of Employment and Workforce Development, Randy Boissonnault, also announced three important changes that will support the initiative to reduce the number of temporary residents coming to Canada with a work permit obtained with an LMIA, effective May 1, 2024: All these measures are in addition to the previous changes announced by the Minister of Immigration, Mark Miller, regarding international students, who can apply for an open work permit for their spouses or common-law partners only if they are studying a master’s degree, a PhD, or some specific bachelor’s degrees related to health, law, education or engineering.
Sponsorship of spouses, common-law partners, and children for permanent residency in Canada
One of the three main goals of the Canadian immigration system is family reunification. Canada supports citizens and permanent residents who are interested in bringing their immediate family members to come and live in this beautiful country. When we say immediate family members, we are referring specifically to spouses, common-law partners, and dependent children under 22 years of age. Children who are 22 years of age or older can be sponsored as long as they are financially dependent on their parents and also have a physical or mental health condition that makes them dependent on their parents. General Sponsor Requirements – Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada – Be 18 years of age or older – Reside in Canada, and if you live outside of Canada, you must demonstrate your interest in returning to live permanently in the country – Have a job or prove that you are financially stable and, therefore, can take responsibility for the family member you are sponsoring. You don’t need to prove a minimum annual or monthly salary. – Check that you have ended previous romantic relationships – You cannot sponsor a spouse or common-law partner if you obtained your permanent residency after being sponsored by a previous spouse or common-law partner in the last 5 years – Not receiving financial aid from the government (except disability benefits) – Not be bankrupt or owe money to the government – Have not committed serious crimes or are currently in jail -Among others. General Requirements for Applicants for Permanent Residency The most important thing is to show that the relationship is genuine and not merely for immigration purposes. You have to convince the immigration officer that your relationship is real and not for convenience. The sponsorship application must tell the story of the relationship in such a way that the immigration officer sees that the applicants and the sponsor are indeed a family and need to live together in Canada. It is not enough to include marriage certificates, birth certificates, and notarized documents; you must also include evidence that proves the good faith of the relationship. Some examples of the evidence to be presented in this application are the following: photos, proof of the trips you have made to visit each other, proof of the conversations you have had at a distance, letters from family and friends that validate the relationship, presence as a couple on social media, proof of financial collaboration between each other. If you live together, include a copy of the lease agreement that indicates your names, utility bills of the house, a joint bank account, and, in general, documents from the government and institutions that prove that you actually live together. The applicants must also submit the police records of the countries where they have lived for more than 6 months since turning 18 years old, and must take the medical exams to prove that they are admissible to Canada. Spouses and dependent children who want to be sponsored would only be inadmissible to Canada if they have an illness or health condition that poses a danger to public safety or public health. Dependent children who are included in the application and who are not the sponsor’s child need the authorization of the parent who is not accompanying them to Canada, if they are under 18 years of age. What to Expect in This Immigration Program Family sponsorship is an immigration program that can take about 12 months, counting from the day the application is submitted to Immigration Canada until the day the immigration officer makes a decision. The application costs CAN $1,080 for the spouse and CAN $155 for each dependent child, plus CAN $85 for biometrics if there is only one person on the application or CAN $170 if there is a family group. The family sponsorship application can be submitted from within or outside Canada. If it is sent from within Canada, the spouse or common-law partner can obtain a work permit while waiting for permanent residency, as long as he or she has a legal immigration status at the time of submitting the sponsorship application. Likewise, dependent children can start studying in primary or secondary schools in Canada for free upon receipt of the permanent residency approval confirmation.
Visa Application for Mexican Citizens
Mexican citizens who wish to come and visit Canada must apply for a visitor visa starting February 29, 2024, at 11:30 PM. There are two exceptions to this new immigration measure imposed by the Canadian government. 1. If the person has a valid U.S. visa 2. If the person has had a Canadian visa in the last 10 years If the Mexican citizen meets one of these two exceptions and is coming by air to Canada, then they can continue to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (Eta) to enter Canada. If the Mexican citizen does not meet any of these exceptions, then they will need to apply for a visitor visa. It is important to note that Mexican citizens have always required a visa when they have decided to enter Canada by land or sea. In addition, all Etas that were active and did not meet any of the two exceptions mentioned above, were cancelled by the Canadian government. There are other Latin American countries that must meet the same requirements to obtain an Eta The migratory measure imposed on Mexican citizens is very similar to the migratory changes made to the citizens of Argentina, Uruguay, Costa Rica and Panama last June 2023. This measure says that citizens of these countries can apply for an Eta to enter Canada (they do not need a visa) if they have a valid U.S. visa or if they have traveled to Canada in the last 10 years. The only current Latin American country that can apply for an Eta without additional conditions is Chile. What requirements will a Mexican citizen need to demonstrate to qualify for a Visa from now on? The visa application is more extensive than an Eta, and requires more time and money to complete. The form and list of supporting documents are extensive, and the processing time is also longer than an Eta. In summary, these are the requirements that are needed to apply for a visitor visa: 1. The applicant must have a letter of invitation from a family member or friend in Canada, 2. The applicant must justify the purpose of his/her visit to Canada 3. The applicant must demonstrate that he/she has sufficient financial funds to cover his/her stay expenses while visiting Canada (lodging, food, transportation, etc.) 4. The applicant must prove that he/she has roots in his/her country of origin and therefore will not stay in Canada longer than the time authorized by the immigration officer. Among the arguments that are included to defend this point can be work, studies, property, investments, close relatives, or people who need you and are waiting for your return to your country of origin. 5. The applicant must mention his/her travel history for the last 10 years. The processing time for a visitor visa can be 45 days or more. The application can be done online, and has a value of $100 Canadian plus $85 for biometrics that must be paid to the Canadian government at the time of submitting the application. The visa will last for 10 years or until the passport expires, and it will be multiple-entry. The applicant will be able to stay in Canada for 6 months, and make extensions from within Canada if they wish to stay longer. All of this is always at the discretion of the immigration officer. Causes and consequences of this new migratory measure with respect to international relations between Mexico and Canada According to political representatives of the Canadian government, this measure is being taken due to the high number of refugee applications (28,000) made by Mexican citizens during 2023, which were abandoned or denied. According to government statistics, Mexico is the country with the highest number of refugee claims in Canada. The Canadian government emphasized that it appreciates its trade relations with Mexico and that it will continue with international treaties on this matter. On the other hand, the President of Mexico did express his disagreement with the imposition of visas for Mexican citizens, but also advocated for the continued development and commercial relationship between the two countries, stressing that if respect between the nations was maintained. The Electronic Travel Authorization (Eta) was available to Mexican citizens in Canada from 2016 to 2024 by decision of the government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Permanent Residency for Construction Workers Without Status in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA)
I decided to write about the Permanent Residency program for construction workers without immigration status in the Greater Toronto Area because I am surprised to learn how many people are unaware of its existence. In Canada, and especially in Toronto, there are many construction workers without status who are contributing to the construction of the country. They are risking their lives and health on a daily basis to cover the high rate of unemployment and the high demand for housing and infrastructure. They are hardworking people who pay their taxes and are immersed in Canadian culture. These workers, unfortunately, live in hiding for fear of being deported from Canada, have limited access to social programs, and are vulnerable to labour exploitation. The Permanent Residency program for construction workers in Toronto began in July 2019, and was supposed to run until the end of 2023. However, on January 3, 2024, it had an extension of another 6 months due to the success of the program, and is now in effect until July 2, 2024. It is important that all people who think they may qualify for this program apply. It is the opportunity to regularize their status in Canada and begin to have access to all the benefits as Permanent Residents. A maximum of 1000 applications will be accepted for the program. The applicant may include his or her immediate family in the process, i.e. spouse, concubine, and dependent children. You do not need to demonstrate a level of English or French. Applicants will receive a work permit and their children a study permit while they await their permanent residency. Requirements to qualify for this program – Have entered Canada legally and eventually lost immigration status – Be working in construction in the Greater Toronto Area – Have worked in construction full-time for at least 3 years in the last 5 years – Have lived in Canada for the last 5 years prior to submitting the application – Have a family member who is a permanent resident or Canadian citizen living in Canada – Have not previously applied for refuge – Not be inadmissible to Canada for any reason other than overstaying in Canadian territory and working without authorization Application Processing The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) is responsible for registering and processing applications before they are submitted to Immigration Canada. Interested individuals should visit the CLC website and fill out the registration form for the program, this will put them on a waiting list for a few months. When the CLC contacts them, it is because they are already among the 1000 places, and they can already complete their application for permanent residency under this regularization program and send it to Immigration Canada. All processing with the CLC is free of charge; however, applicants must cover the costs of processing, biometrics and medical examinations before Immigration Canada. Children pay less than adults. The entire process to obtain confirmation of Permanent Residency status can take around 5 months.
Refugees in Canada: Eligibility, 2024 Applications, Causes and Consequences
Canada has signed international agreements with the United Nations (UN) since 1951 that oblige it to receive, evaluate, and analyze the case of a person who comes to this country to request refuge, before telling them that they are not accepted or giving them an order to leave. In Canadian immigration law, this right is called Procedural Fairness and the Principle of non-refoulement. Who is eligible? People who qualify for refugee status in Canada are those whose lives are in danger in their home country. They are people who have been persecuted or who have a well-founded fear because of their race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because they are members of a particular social group. These individuals must prove to the Canadian government that their lives are not safe anywhere in their home country, and that their country’s government cannot protect them. Similarly, persons who are at risk of being tortured, or of receiving cruel and unusual treatment or punishment in their country of origin, may be considered protected persons in Canada. High number of refugee applications in 2024 Currently, since January 2024, leaders of the Conservative Party of Canada and the Premier of Quebec have expressed their disagreement with the high number of refugee claimants in Canada, especially in Quebec. The mayor of Toronto, Olivia Chow, has also said that the city needs more financial support from the federal government to assist the high number of refugees coming to this part of Canada, especially in terms of housing. Consequently, on January 31, 2024, the federal government agreed to offer $362 million to cities and provinces with the most refugee application numbers to deal with this situation. Causes and Consequences Canada’s conservative party is suggesting re-implementing visa applications for Mexican citizens. They announced that many of the current refugee applications are from citizens of that country, and that many of these applications are not approved because the applicant does not qualify for refuge protection, unfortunately. They added that this situation only increases the waiting list for people who do qualify for the constitutional right of refugee protection. The decision to implement the visa application for Mexican citizens is not official, they are just comments and discussions by political representatives. Today, what is legal is the decision made by the federal government in 2016 under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, where the visa application requirement is waived for Mexican citizens to expedite and promote trade agreements between Mexico and Canada. Finally, it is important to note that whether or not the visa is imposed again on Mexican citizens, this decision is not going to have much influence on the improvement of the crisis that currently exists in Canada with respect to the slowness of the migratory processes, much less in the housing crisis. There are deeper problems in the different Canadian systems and institutions that need to be carefully evaluated in order to really achieve the long-awaited solutions.
New Immigration Changes for International Students
The Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship of Canada, the Honourable Marc Miller, stated on January 22, 2024 at a press conference that the process to come to Canada as an International Student will be modified from now on. Three fundamental aspects were mentioned: 1. For the first time in many decades, there will be a limit on the number of applications for study permits approved in Canada. By 2024, only 364,000 will be approved, which represents a 35% reduction compared to 2023. The number of Study Permit applications approved for 2025 will be evaluated by the end of 2024. This is a two-year temporary measure that is aimed solely at college and university students. Elementary, secondary, master’s and doctoral students will not be affected by this measure. The limited number of international students that may come per year will be distributed by provinces depending on the number of people living in that territory, as well as the number of Designated Educational Institutions that also exist in that territory. 2. International Students must include in their application for Study Permit in Canada a proof or testimony provided by the province where they wish to study. This document is currently being created by the provinces, and they have until March 31 to submit it to the federal government. Likewise, as part of the requirements to qualify for the Study Permit with the option of obtaining an open work permit upon graduation, students must apply only to public educational institutions as of September 1, 2024. In other words, international students who come to Canada to study at private institutions will not have access to a work permit after graduation, and therefore must return to their home country once their studies have concluded. 3. The open work permit will only be granted to spouses of international students registered in Masters and Ph.D. programs, as well as spouses of students of some professional programs such as medicine and law. The limit on the number of study permits approved over the next two years will not affect international students already in Canada, nor will it affect those who are applying for an extension of their study permit. These changes are in addition to the other recent changes implemented by the Honorable Marc Miller. Since January 2024, the amount of money that an international student must show in their study permit application to prove that they can cover their basic expenses in Canada has doubled. The amount went from $10,000 to $20,635. This amount only includes the main applicant, not partners or children, and also does not include the costs of the first year of school tuition, which must also be included in the application. As of December 1, 2023, Designated Educational Institutions need to confirm with Immigration Canada all acceptance letters sent to study permit applicants who are outside of Canada. The Honourable Minister of Immigration, Marc Miller, explained that maintaining a list of Designated Learning Institutions ensures the proper functioning of the systems in Canada because these institutions must provide housing for their students, which is one of the highest needs currently in the country. According to CIC News, Canada admitted around 800,000 international students in 2022, and according to the immigration plan declared by the Minister of Immigration before the Parliament of Canada last October 2023, Canada has a limit of 485,000 applications for permanent residency in 2024. These numbers indicate that the number of international students admitted to Canada is quite high, and therefore, a limit has been decided on it. The Minister of Immigration explained that the goal of these changes is to protect the integrity of Canadian systems and support sustainable demographic development in Canada while helping international students not fall victim to fraud and to receive the quality of education they deserve.