Despite Changes, the Parents’ Sponsorship Program is Still Luck-Based

Despite Changes, the Parents’ Sponsorship Program is Still Luck-Based

Many people from across the world immigrate to Canada every year with the dream of a better life ahead of them. Leaving their families behind, people set out on an endeavour to start a new life. However, the Canadian government offers a parent sponsorship program that enables those in Canada to bring their parents and grandparents here and come together with their loved ones again.

In order to improve the parent sponsorship program for immigration, the federal government of Canada has gone an extra mile to ensure some significant enhancements are made. This program is specially designed and tailored to help immigrants who would like to bring their parents or grandparents to Canada to live with them.

The year 2017 saw a considerable number of applications for the parent sponsorship program; however, the Canadian government could only approve 9500 applications out of 10,000 entries for sponsors. The reason behind application rejections were the many problems in this program. The government had not pre-decided a clear gauge for judgment before disqualifying some of the applications for sponsors. The government may have worked on new improvements in this program but the program is still based on a lottery system.

Although the government has made a vital change to the application form, they have added a field that asks information about family income. This clearly states that the government wants to use income as a parameter for qualification for the applicants. This newly introduced change at least sets a definite standard for consideration, whereas, previously, applicants had to depend completely on luck for their selection. It was entirely a lottery.

However, what is imperative to note is that the change won’t totally do away with the lottery system as the income criterion does not ask for any proof. Immigration lawyers in Canada believe even a change like this one will not be able to reduce the difficulty level in filtering out ineligible applicants.

In the parent sponsorship program for immigration, luck plays the role of an ultimate decider. There are a whole bunch of applicants who apply each year and get a rejection every time. Not because of ineligibility, but, just because their luck didn’t work in their favour. That means, if someone remains unlucky, they may never be able to sponsor their parents.

This is why, despite the federal government’s new amendments to a problematic lottery program for parent sponsorship, immigration lawyers in Canada believe strongly that the revised system is still extremely erroneous. Bettering and reconstructing the parent sponsorship program will demonstrate the Canadian government’s commitment to aiding more people in reuniting with their parents and keeping families together.

All You Need to Know About Working in Canada after You Graduate

All You Need to Know About Working in Canada after You Graduate

Universities in Canada are well-known and reputed around the world. Many international students aspire to pursue a degree or certification in these universities and colleges for a world-class education. If you have been a student in Canada and have a degree from here, you have probably had the opportunity to network here and even make some friends. Studying and living here gives one an opportunity to know the country better before you decide to migrate to Canada. If you are someone who is looking to be in the country for long-term, luckily, there are a few possibilities that allow you to stay back in this country post your graduation to explore work opportunities. You can either choose to stay in Canada for the time being after you graduate or you may decide to move here permanently by seeking residency in Canada.

Ways to Work in Canada Temporarily After You Graduate

If you wish to work in Canada temporarily after you complete your studies, one of the ways is to apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). The application will cost $255 and the processing usually takes anywhere between 50 and 110 days on an average. To qualify for a PGWP, you must have graduated from an accredited institution in Canada and you must be at least 18 years old. You must be a full-time student enrolled in a degree or diploma program that is a minimum eight months long. It is necessary for your educational institution to meet the basic requirements to back your work permit. To be eligible, you should have documents from your institution to prove that you have met all the requirements for graduation from your program.

You must apply within 3 months of completing your program while you still have a valid study permit. Once you have successfully received your PGWP, the span of time you will be allowed to live in Canada will be contingent to the duration of your study program. For coursework of eight months to two years, you will get a permit for the same length of time. For a one-year-long program, you will typically be allowed to work and live in Canada for an extra year. In case you were enrolled in a two-year-long program or have pursued multiple programs, your work permit will commonly let you live and work in Canada for three years.

There are exceptions to the above rules. Under certain circumstances such as PGWP requirements for graduates of some schools in Quebec, for transfer students, for accelerated programs and for flight schools, you may still be allowed to seek a temporary stay in Canada. If you are already employed, you may be allowed to avail an employer-specific work permit that enables you to stay in the country for a definite period of time to work for only that particular employer. You can also apply for an open work permit enabling you to work for any eligible employers.

Work in Canada Permanently After Graduation

If you have finished your education from Canada and have decided to continue living in this country permanently, you may be eligible to apply for permanent residency once you have successfully completed your education. If you have a Canadian education and some work experience while studying, these factors may provide you with some additional help in your application. If you have family in Canada, you can opt for permanent residency through sponsorship. In case these options are not available to you, try applying through Canadian Express Entry. To be able to apply via EE, you are required to have at least 12 months of full-time work experience and you should meet language and other requirements.

Another option for permanent residency is via the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). Every Canadian province has its own program with its own set of rules, so it is better to compare each of these programs to find something that most closely fits your profile.

Are you looking to apply for work permit or residency? To gain more information and get assistance in your process of filing, reach out to Ronen Kurzfeld, an immigration lawyer in Toronto, Canada.

Adjusting to the Canadian life: A guide for new immigrants

Adjusting to the Canadian life: A guide for new immigrants

The decision of moving to a new country across continents is a big one and comes along with a lot of baggage. As a newcomer in Canada, you will find many significant cultural differences between your own country and the new country where you are about to start a new life. In order to be able to settle in well into a new country, the smartest thing to do is to learn about the Canadian culture and adapt to it so you can escape uncomfortable situations. Doing so will make you feel more confident and happy about your decision to move across the globe. Take a look at some of our advice on how you can get used to the Canadian culture:

Research and read about Canada before your big move: It is important you read as much as you can about the new country prior to your move. Prepare yourself emotionally and get acquainted with the Canadian culture. Learn the local Canadian jargons and popular terms by following the pop culture on this side of the world, read Canadian news sites, watch movies and TV series and listen to podcasts. Continue to read, watch and follow the Canadian resources even after you have arrived in Canada. Once you are in the new country subscribe to some Canadian magazines and newspapers. This will help you gain more familiarity with your new surroundings.

Participate in different groups created by new immigrants and Canadians: It is always wise to get to meet and know other people who are planning a move just like yourself or some others who have already moved to Canada before you. Connect with newcomers from across the world. Every immigrant goes through the same process of acclimatization. You can learn from each other and lend support to one another. Take part in group chats, networking meets and community gatherings to get to know local people and get used to the new environment.

Learn about Canadian holidays: Learning about Canadian holidays and celebrating them will make you feel at home and will enable you to fit in well and become accustomed to your new home.

Try volunteering: Participating in projects and events to assist others without any payment may not be something that might be of any interest to you. However, volunteering will open doors for you to meet new people from various cultures and backgrounds, and allow you to adapt quickly into the Canadian way of life. According to records, approximately 47 percent of Canadians volunteer in some capacity as it adds value to your profile and benefits you to get Canadian job experience.

Join language classes: Canada has two official languages, French or English. It is valuable and is considered an asset to know these two languages. This will make communication simpler and make it easier to call a new country your home. Register into classes to learn and master these languages. You can also practice writing, reading and speaking the new language smoothly.

Develop interest in some popular local sports: Try and pick up local Canadian hobbies and sports such as hiking, skiing, working out in the gym, ice hockey, basketball and so on. You don’t necessarily have to start playing basketball and ice hockey but if you gain an understanding and develop some interest, it will help you in starting conversations and making a new circle of friends.

So, are you all set for your big move to Canada?

One of the most amazing things about Canada is that it is a beautiful potpourri of cultures from around the world. You don’t have to let go of your own culture when you arrive in this country but you can find new cultures to celebrate too.

If you have made the decision to immigrate to Canada, Immigration lawyer Ronen Kurzfeld can assist you and offer you guidance in applying for the Federal Skilled Workers Program or to seek other lawful ways to immigrate to Canada.