Blog Archives - Jane Katkova & Associates

20 10, 2017

International Experience Canada

International Experience Class in an incredible opportunity for young people to explore Canada, gain Canadian work experience and to feel the country as an insider, not as a guest.

For those who is interested in IEC program, you need to know the following:

you have to be of 18 and 35 (inclusive)

your country of citizenship must have an agreement with Canada which will allow you to apply for an IEC work permit, or
you may be able to use a Recognized Organization as……………………….

Depending on the country of your nationality, you will be able to choose from up to three travel options:

Working Holiday Visa

The type of a work permit you will get for Working Holiday will be an open work permit. (This type of work permit allows a person to work for any Canadian employer in Canada, with an exception for an employer listed as ineligible on the list of employers who have failed to comply with conditions, or who, on a regular basis, offers striptease, erotic dance, escort services or erotic massages).

This type of a work permit is perfect for you if:

You don’t have a job offer from a specific employer
You want to work for more than one employer in Canada
You want to work in more than one location

Young Professionals Visa

The type of work permit you will get in the Young Professionals category will be an employer-specific work permit (This work permit will indicate the name of the employer a person can work for; how long a person can work; and the location where a person can work (if applicable)).

A person who holds an employer-specific work permit can only work for the named employer for the length of time specified, and if applicable, at the location shown on the work permit.

This type of work permit is for you if:

You have a job offer in Canada from a Canadian employer
You will work for the same employer during your stay in Canada

International Co-op Internship Visa

The type of work permit you get in the International Co-op (Internship) category is an employer-specific work permit.

This category is a good match for your plans if:

You’re a student registered at a post-secondary institution in your country of residence
You have a job offer for a work placement or internship in Canada
You need to do this work placement or internship to complete your studies
You’ll work for the same employer during your stay in Canada

As an eligible citizen, you may participate in IEC twice, under any category.

The job you are offered in Canada must be classified as a National Occupational Classification (NOC) Code Skill Type Level 0, A or B to be considered as contributing to your “professional development.”

To be eligible for the Young Professionals category, you must:

be a citizen of any eligible country,
have a valid passport for the duration of your stay in Canada—your work permit in Canada will not be longer than the validity of your passport,
be between the ages of 18 and 35 (inclusive),
have the equivalent of CAN$2,500 to help cover your expenses in Canada,
be able to take out health insurance for the duration of your stay—you may have to present evidence of this insurance when you enter Canada,
be admissible to Canada,
have, prior to departure, a round-trip ticket or demonstrate that you will have the financial resources to purchase a departure ticket at the end of your authorized stay in Canada,
have a signed letter of offer or contract of employment in Canada—the employment offer must be in your field of expertise (through schooling or work experience) and contribute to your professional development,
not be accompanied by dependents, and
pay the fees.

The following is a chronological step-by-step overview of how the IEC program works:

Complete the Come to Canada questionnaire and, if eligible, get your personal reference code.
Use this code to create your MyCIC account.
Complete the remaining steps in the IEC profile builder.
Submit your profile and choose the IEC pools you want to be in.
If you receive an Invitation to Apply via MyCIC, you will have 10 days start your application or to decline the invitation. If you accept, click the “Start Application” button in your MyCIC account to start the work permit application process.
After you press the button “Start Application” in MyCIC, you have 20 days from that day, regardless of whether you accept on day 1 or 10, to complete, pay and submit the work permit application.
(Young Professional and International Coop categories: before your 20 days expire, your employer needs to pay the $230 Employer Compliance Fee through the Employer Portal. Ask your employer to send you the offer of employment number they will get after they have paid their fees. You need this number to apply for your work permit.)
Upload all supporting documents, including police and medical exam certificates, if applicable (if you don’t have the supporting documents, you can upload proof that you have applied to undertake a medical exam and that a police certificate request has been sent).
Pay your participation fee of CAD $150 with a credit card through the online payment system in MyCIC.
(Working Holiday Category: pay your open work permit holder fee of CAD $100 at this time as well.)
At this point, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRC, formerly Citizenship and Immigration Canada, or CIC) begins its temporary work permit application assessment. IRC may ask you to provide additional documents. This is the last chance to withdraw from IEC and obtain refunds.
If the application is successful, a letter of introduction (LOI) will be sent to your MyCIC account. The official name of the document is Port of Entry (POE) Introduction Letter.
This letter is to be presented upon arrival at a Port of Entry (such as an international airport) in Canada, whereupon a work permit may be obtained.

IRCC typically processes complete applications within eight weeks.

We at #Jane_Katkova_and_Associates are sure you will enjoy your time in Canada and will gain memorable experience

19 09, 2017

What Is Express Entry?

There is a new program within Immigration Canada – Express Entry. What is Express Entry? what are the requirements? How to create a profile?

We will discuss these questions and get you familiar with Express Entry. Let’s start.

What is Express Entry?

What Is Express Entry

Express Entry is an online immigration system which allows people to submit an application to be considered as a skilled immigrant. Your application will be then ranked using a points system. If you have a high ranking you will then be invited to apply for permanent residence as a skilled immigrant.

Since the Launch of the Express Entry program, a total of 43,202 individuals which includes applicants and their families have been admitted to Canada as permanent residents.

Who is eligible for Express Entry?

Before you can apply to get into the express entry pool you must see if you meet the criteria. You can find out if you’re eligible by reading the eligibility criteria for express entry and by completing the online questionnaire that will tell you if you are eligible or not for express entry based on the answers that you provide.

Once you know you’re eligible, you can start the application process. The first step is to create an express entry profile where you’ll provide your information about your skills, work experience, education, language and other information that they may ask for.

Once you’ve submitted your application, your profile will be entered into a pool or group of people who have applied for express entry. Once you’ve been entered into the pool you will be ranked against everyone else who’s in the pool. The ranking is determined by a number of points that you have and if you have a high ranking your profile will be selected and you will be invited to apply for permanent residency.

What is CRS?

The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) is the points system that is used to assess and rank your profile in the express entry pool. The CRS will rank you based on things such as your age, Canadian work experience, your language abilities, your level of education, foreign work experience and other additional details.

You can try to improve your score and increase your chances of getting a high rank by getting a valid job offer, improving your language test scores, improving your education and by obtaining relevant work experience.

CANADIAN IMMIGRATION EXPERTS

Here at Jane Katkova & Associate, we help people who wish to immigrate to Canada.

If you need help processing your immigration files contact us for a consultation.

9 08, 2017

COST OF CANADIAN CITIZENSHIP

Ottawa is charges minors like adults when it comes to charging them for their citizenship applications.

Although recent changes to the citizenship act allow those under age 18 to make an application without their parents, they must pay the same fee as adults — $530.

By contrast, the fee is $100 for minors who apply for citizenship together with their parents.

Critics say children applying for citizenship on their own are probably unaccompanied minors who came to Canada alone for asylum or are estranged from their family and in such difficult situations that they can’t afford the application fee.

The government supports the amendment to make it easier for children to obtain citizenship without a Canadian parent and has made changes to clarify who can apply for citizenship on behalf of the child.

Conservative Senator Victor Oh, who put forward the amendment in the Senate to allow children to apply for citizenship on their own, said no fee-specific provisions were made in his motion at the time because he was told setting processing fees did not require legislative changes and fell within the immigration minister’s discretion.

Oh said he sent a letter to Hussen in early July and asked him to lower the fee to no more than $100, but he has yet to hear back from the minister. “We can’t discriminate and penalize the minors who apply on their own,” Oh said. “These children are the most vulnerable and they are not making it easier for them to become citizens.”

Immigration officials said the $530 application fee was put in place to reflect the increasing cost of processing. Over the past three years, an average of 29,740 children under age 18 applied for citizenship per year, the majority of them with their parents.

That’s a lot of money. The government has removed the legal barrier to citizenship for them but has now set up a new financial barrier. Theoretically, more young people could become citizens. In practice, they will find it a lot harder.

Passport Canada currently charges those 16 or older $160 for a 10-year passport and $57 for children younger than that for in-Canada applications. Immigration lawyers expect the number of unaccompanied minors applying for citizenship to be fewer than a couple hundred a year.

3 08, 2017

EXPRESS ENTRY DRAW OF 3,264 CANDIDATES (MINIMUM 441 SCORE)

Express Entry’s first draw in three weeks was on August 2. 3,264 candidates were in the pool receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence. Only Candidates with a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 441 or above were eligible to participate. Accompanying family members, including spouses or common-law partners, as well as dependent children, may also come to Canada along with the principal applicant. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada aims to process complete submitted applications within six months. Apart from candidates eligible under the Federal Skilled Trades Class, the record low threshold so far is 413*, in a draw that took place on May 31.

Express Entry Of May 26

Express Entry Draws of May 26 invited provincial nominees with a minimum CRS score of 775. In addition, there were candidates in the Federal Skilled Trades Class with a minimum score of 199.

Express Entry Today’s Draw

Today’s draw brings the total number of ITAs issued since Express Entry was first launched to 122,596. Of these, nearly half (54,487) have been issued in 2017. The increase in ITAs issued this year is a consequence of Express Entry becoming the main driver of economic immigration to Canada, with the backlog of applications submitted before 2015 now whittled down to just a handful of cases.

The increase in ITAs issued this year is a consequence of Express Entry becoming the main driver of economic immigration to Canada. There is a backlog of applications submitted before 2015 now whittled down to just a handful of cases.

We Can Help You

Canadian Immigration Experts assist in processing applications for express entry.

1 08, 2017

Happy Birthday Canada – Make This Country Your Home!

On July 1, 2017, Canadians cheerfully celebrated their favorite country in the world.

For thousands of people, old and new immigrants to Canada, a far land in the North has become a cherished home and the best country on Earth. And rightfully so!

Toronto, ON

In May 2017, yet again, Canada for the second year in a row, was ranked second in the annual “Best Countries” survey from the U.S. News & World Report. Only Switzerland edged out Canada for the number one ranking, scoring a perfect 10 while Canada took in 9.7 in overall scoring.

But Canada ranked first in the “Quality of Life” category, scoring a perfect 10 based on a variety of sub-factors including politics, economy and health care. The report also cited Canada as being a “high-tech industrial society with a high standard of living.”

Canada ranked first in the “Quality of Life” category, scoring a perfect 10 based on a variety of sub-factors including politics, economy and health care. The report cited Canada as being a “high-tech industrial society with a high standard of living.” Undoubtedly a country of immigrants, relying on the “new blood” and talent of people, yearly arriving in Canada for permanent residence, the country is largely building its future on the best of the best, attracted by the open doors to the country for those who are professional, experienced and business savvy.

Only in 2016, Canada accepted 320,000 new residents of the country to offer them a new future where possibilities and opportunities are endless.

nova scotia, canada

Canadians love and appreciate what immigrants bring to this country. Canadians are used to people speaking numerous accents, representing their cultures and communities. Multiculturalism is not a mere term, but a reality which is a part of an every day living for us, Canadians.

In this country, we understand better than anywhere else, how different cultures and traditions intertwined enhance a success of a nation, where respect is a base for communication.

We witness increasing numbers of interracial marriages, kids growing up speaking their parents’ language as well as English and French, we see multicultural audiences in symphony concerts and baseball games, we honor each other’s heritage and traditions, and we celebrate our country.

Statistically, 99% of new immigrants find a way through the initial challenges which come along with a relocation to a new place and make it a success either in a corporate world or their self-established businesses.

Happy Birthday Canada Most members of the team of Jane Katkova & Associates, including Jane Katkova-Brown, the Founder and Principal Counsel of the Firm are immigrants. We are a multicultural team, coming from many countries of the world, speaking many languages, talking with accents, loving tasting our national foods during lunch breaks, sharing stories from back home, jokes, and loving every minute of it!

All of us are parents, raising our children in one of the safest countries in the world. They are the new generation, for which Canada is home on every level. Our kids speak at least two languages, they are open minded and free from prejudice.

We are grateful for the opportunity Canada offered us.

Thank you, Canada!

Happy Birthday Canada!

31 07, 2017

START-UP VISA FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO IMMIGRATE

The government of Canada has announced that the Start-Up Visa program, a pathway to Canadian permanent residence for entrepreneurs launching a company in Canada, will become a regular feature of Canada’s immigration landscape in 2018.

The Start-Up Visa program encourages immigrant entrepreneurs to grow their companies in Canada. Successful applicants link with private sector organizations in Canada, where they can receive funding, guidance and expertise in opening and operating their enterprise in Canada. More than 50 Canadian venture capital funds, angel investor groups and business incubators are now designated to participate in the program.

Since being launched in 2013, a total of 117 principal applicants have been approved for permanent residence through this program. These entrepreneurs represent 68 start-ups launched in Canada. The government is hopeful that more immigrant entrepreneurs will be approved over time, benefiting the Canadian economy.

Every company launched in Canada with the help of the Start-up Visa Program has the potential to be a big win for Canadians by providing middle-class jobs and strengthening our economy.

By making the Start-up Visa Program permanent, Canada will attract more innovative entrepreneurs who generate new business opportunities, create jobs and equip Canadians with the skills they need for the jobs of the future.”

In order to be eligible, applicants for a Start-Up Visa must meet the following requirements:

English or French (CLB 5 in all abilities);
Have sufficient funds to settle in Canada;
Plan to settle in a province other than the province of Quebec;
Pass Canadian security and medical clearances;
Prove that the business is supported through a designated organization;
Show that the business meets ownership requirements.

No more than five foreign nationals may apply for permanent residence as part of the same business venture under the Start-Up Visa Program.

Image credit: universityex.com

27 07, 2017

ONTARIO IMMIGRATION STREAM PAUSED AFTER SURGE IN INTEREST

The Ontario immigration office has paused registration for the OINP Express Entry Human Capital Priorities Stream. The move comes following a surge in applications for the popular Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) category, which selects candidates from the Canada Express Entry pool.

There will be no further Notifications of Interest issued while the pause on registration is in place.

The stream has reached its current registration limit and no additional registrations for this stream can be accepted at this time. The program will also place a hold on sending any additional Notifications of Interest for the Human Capital Priorities Stream.

Those who have already registered for the stream are required to submit a completed application within 14 days of registering a profile on the OINP e-Filing Portal.

Candidates selected for the Human Capital Priorities Stream receive 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points under Canada Express Entry, effectively guaranteeing an Invitation to Apply (ITA).

To qualify applicants must have:

Pending application under the Federal Express Entry system;
Minimum of 1-year of full time, or full time equivalent work experience under NOC occupation level 0, A or B;
Canadian equivalent Bachelors degree, Masters degree or PhD;
Minimum CLB level 7 in IELTS general exam;
Intention to reside in the Province of Ontario;
Minimum of 400 points under the Federal Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System.

25 07, 2017

NEW EXPRESS ENTRY RECORDS

2017 has already been the biggest year for the Express Entry Immigration. Moreover, the spring and early summer period was a time in which Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) created new opportunities for candidates in the Express Entry to be awarded additional points. IRCC also implemented new strategies to invite certain candidates through program-specific draws.

The 26,653 ITAs issued during the second quarter of 2017 was more than the 24,632 ITAs over the first quarter, and more than double the 13,202 issued over the course of the final three months of 2016.

There were nine Express Entry draws conducted over the second quarter of 2017, four of which set new record lows for the minimum CRS required. This CRS threshold went down to 413 for candidates under Federal Skilled Worker Class.

Many candidates who entered the pool with CRS scores below the minimum drawn were able to raise their scores and obtain ITAs. More than half (55 percent) of candidates who received an ITA had CRS scores below 450 (the lowest score drawn in 2016). Core CRS indicated a candidate’s score without the additional points for a provincial nomination, a job offer, or post-secondary education obtained in Canada.

Since 2016, new additional points factors have been introduced for candidates with a sibling in Canada and for candidates with French ability. With these new factors, the range of possible ways to increase one’s score has expanded.

The most valuable single factor under the CRS is a provincial nomination, which is worth 600 CRS points; therefore, a candidate with a CRS score of 200 would become a candidate with a score of 800 as soon as he or she obtains a provincial nomination. With this nomination, a candidate will receive an ITA at a subsequent draw from the pool.

Ontario, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia (BC) have been particularly active with their enhanced PNP streams.In Ontario, a new approach introduced in the final week of June allowed Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) officials to search the Express Entry pool for candidates with experience in an Information Technology (IT) occupation, with a view of selecting applicants for the Express Entry-aligned OINP Human Capital Priorities stream. Candidates with experience in certain IT occupations were prioritized for selection, even if they scored less than 400 points under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Normally, Ontario only invites candidates with 400 or more CRS points. This strategy may be repeated, either for IT professionals or with other candidates in mind.

In Nova Scotia, the Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry stream reopened on July 5 for Express Entry candidates in one of 16 target occupations, including occupations in finance, health care, engineering, information technology, academia, social work, and law. No job offer is required under this stream.

As in the case of Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan’s International Skilled Worker – Express Entry sub-category also seeks out candidates in certain occupations, and no job offer is required for eligibility.

BC has also joined the immigration process by prioritising IT professionals. BC also continues to invite workers and graduates in non-tech occupations.

More provinces are engaging with Express Entry in innovative ways, and that draw sizes remain large. Moreover, with a high immigration target for next year and plenty of scope for IRCC to invite candidates through the second half of 2017, it is likely that candidates from different backgrounds and in a variety of occupations and scenarios will continue to benefit.

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24 07, 2017

PROVINCIAL NOMINEE PROGRAM UPDATES

Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) continue to allow workers, graduates, entrepreneurs, and their families with a pathway to Canada. The first half of the summer has seen plenty of activity, particularly from Ontario, Nova Scotia, British Columbia, Manitoba, and Alberta.

Through the PNPs, Canadian provinces can nominate individuals for immigration to their province. Some PNP streams, known as enhanced streams, are aligned with the federal Express Entry selection system. Streams that are entirely separate from Express Entry are known as base streams. An enhanced nomination results in the applicant receiving 600 additional points under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) and an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence at a subsequent draw from the pool.

Under Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan for 2017, the government has set a target to bring in up to 54,000 new permanent residents this year alone.

The government of Ontario’s immigration department invited applicants to settle in the province via the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). A new strategy introduced towards the end of June for the Express Entry-aligned Human Capital Priorities stream allowed OINP officials to search the Express Entry pool for candidates with experience in an Information Technology (IT) occupation. This strategy lasted one week but may be rolled out again, either for IT professionals or with other occupations in mind.

All the while, under the Human Capital Priorities stream Ontario has continued to issue Notifications of Interest (NOIs) on a weekly basis to a broad range of candidates who may not necessarily have IT-related experience.

Moreover, the OINP continues to welcome applications under its other streams, which include options for French speakers, tradespersons, graduates, and entrepreneurs. On July 20, Ontario announced that foreign workers and international students/graduates could now apply for a base OINP nomination under the Employer Job Offer streams.

Nova Scotia reopened its Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry stream. This was welcome news for candidates in one of the 16 target occupations, which includes occupations in finance, health care, engineering, information technology, academia, social work, and law.

For just a few hours after the stream reopened, certain Express Entry candidates in the following occupations were able to submit an application to the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) without a job offer.

NOC 1111: Financial Auditors and Accountants

NOC 1114: Other financial officers

NOC 1123: Professional occupations in advertising, marketing and public relations

NOC 1241: Administrative assistants

NOC 1311: Accounting and related clerks

NOC 2131: Civil engineers

NOC 2171: Information systems analysts and consultants

NOC 2174: Computer programmers and interactive media development

NOC 2281: Computer network technicians

NOC 2282: User support technicians

NOC 3012: Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses

NOC 3233: Licensed practical nurses

NOC 4021: College and other vocational instructors

NOC 4211: Paralegal and related occupations

NOC 4212: Social and community service workers

NOC 6235: Financial sales representatives

Over recent weeks and months, British Columbia has joined the ever-growing group of provinces that are looking for IT/tech professionals. In BC’s case, the advent of tech-only draws through the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) was announced after six such draws had taken place from May through to July. It should be noted that BC also continues to invite workers and graduates in non-tech occupations.

Skilled workers and business immigrants have been the big winners so far this summer under the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP). Most recently, on July 11, a total of 494 workers were issued a Letter of Advice to Apply (LAA). With this letter, an individual may submit an application for a provincial nomination certificate under the MPNP.

The MPNP for skilled workers includes two categories, one for overseas workers and one for workers in Manitoba. These immigration options may be attractive to individuals who may not necessarily be eligible under the federal Express Entry selection system, as the eligibility requirements are different. For example, the MPNP awards points for language proficiency equivalent to Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4 to candidates in certain occupations, a much lower threshold than what is required under the Federal Skilled Worker Class. Manitoba’s skilled worker stream operates on a unique points system, and potential applicants must first register an Expression of Interest before they may be invited to apply.

Alberta has issued 3,150 provincial nomination certificates so far in 2017 under the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP), which has an allocation of 5,550 nominations for the year. Though Alberta does not currently align any AINP with Express Entry, individuals with a nomination certificate may apply to the Canadian government for permanent resident status.

The AINP consists of three main streams:

The Strategic Recruitment Stream is for tradespersons, engineers, and post-graduate workers.

The Employer-Driven Stream comprises of three categories for skilled workers, international graduates, and semi-skilled workers.

The Self-Employed Farmer Stream is a way for individuals to purchase and develop a farm in Alberta.

20 07, 2017

IMMIGRATION FRAUD WARNING!

The government of Ontario has cautioned applicants to the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) that some people have received emails claiming to be sent by the OINP. In these emails, the receiver is sent a false Ontario Certificate of Nomination and is asked to pay a “Right of Permanent Residence Fee.”

The certificates use the Government of Ontario Logo and the address of “400 University Avenue” in Toronto. Ontario is asking individuals who receive such an email to report it to their government authorities.

The OINP states that individuals who have not applied to the program and who do not have an application pending will not receive a confirmation letter or nomination certificate from the OINP.

No Certificate of Nomination will ever be emailed to you by the OINP.
The contact telephone and fax number on the certificate contain a 708 area code. This is NOT an area code used in Ontario and is not connected to the OINP in any way.
The false nomination certificate refers to the CIC Visa Office. The Federal Government of Canada has changed the name of the department that deals with Canadian immigration. It is now called Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
You will never be asked to make a payment to the OINP through a wire transfer, and you will never be asked to pay a “Right of Permanent Residence Fee”. Applicants to the OINP pay a one-time upfront administration fee to the program, through the online system, and do not pay for a nomination certificate when and if it is granted.
The update goes on to note that the OINP does not contact people by phone or email to make a payment. Persons who are asked to do so are asked to forward the information to the OINP at ProgramIntegrityTeam@ontario.ca.

Ontario also asks people to never give out personal information such as account numbers, mother’s maiden name, passwords or other identifying information in response to unsolicited emails or calls.

To report fraud, contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre by telephone at 1-888-495-8501 or through their website: http://www.antifraudcentre-centreanitfraude.ca.

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