Toronto, November 16, 2012 — Federal, provincial and territorial (FPT) immigration ministers pledged today to create a fast and flexible immigration system designed to advance Canada’s economic growth and competitiveness, and respond to regional labour market needs.

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In the past year alone, the government has strengthened our immigration system by:

• introducing and passing the Protecting Canada’s Immigration System Act, which reforms the asylum system to make it fast and fair, combats human smuggling and allows for the collection of biometric data from visa applicants;
• introducing and passing Economic Action Plan 2012, which makes the economic stream faster and more flexible to contribute to jobs, growth and prosperity. The changes cleared the way for a new, modernized Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) by eliminating the old backlog that was leading to wait times of more than seven years for skilled worker applicants;
• introducing the Faster Removal of Foreign Criminals Act, which would close avenues used by convicted foreign criminals to delay deportation and stay in Canada.

There have also been a significant number of regulatory changes. As part of the government’s commitment to family reunification, it has:

• introduced the Parent and Grandparent Super Visa, valid for up to 10 years for visits of up to two years, which has been a great success with nearly 3,700 successful applications in its first six months;
• reduced the backlog for sponsored parents and grandparents.

Other regulatory and program changes crack down on fraud and abuse in the system by:

• taking action against marriage fraud by barring sponsored spouses from sponsoring a new spouse for at least five years and proposing a new two-year period of conditional permanent residency for some sponsored spouses;
• cracking down on crooked immigration representatives, thereby helping people who want to immigrate to Canada by protecting them from exploitation and abuse;
• combating residence fraud in the citizenship and permanent residence programs by enhancing program integrity measures and working with the Canada Border Services Agency and the RCMP on investigations into cases suspected of false representation and fraud;
• launching a new tip line through the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) Call Centre where tips on suspected citizenship fraud cases may be reported;
• reforming the Interim Federal Health Program to act as a disincentive for people not in need of Canada’s protection and to ensure that failed claimants do not receive health care more generously than what is available to Canadians, while continuing to protect the health and safety of Canadians;
• protecting vulnerable workers by prohibiting the issuance of visas and work permits for foreigners coming to work in strip clubs, massage parlours and escort agencies.

Recognizing the important role immigration plays in our economy, and the growing labour shortages in parts of the country, including in key industries, over the past few years the government has also:

• proposed improvements to the FSWP to place greater emphasis on selection criteria that have shown to contribute to better labour market outcomes, so that Canada can select skilled workers who would be able to integrate more rapidly and successfully into the Canadian labour market;
• reduced by over three-quarters, from 640,000 to close to 150,000, the total number of people in the Federal Skilled Worker backlog of applications prior to February 27, 2008;
• proposed the creation of a new Federal Skilled Trades Program;
• proposed changes to the Canadian Experience Class to make permanent residence even more accessible to talented skilled workers proficient in English or French, with Canadian educational credentials and work experience who are already doing well in Canada;
• improved the Live-in Caregiver Program by speeding up the process of issuing open work permits to caregivers who have completed the requirements of the Program, so they can establish their own homes and seek jobs in other fields;
• increased the number of provincial nominees and, in doing so, improved the geographic distribution of newcomers across Canada;
• in collaboration with provincial and territorial partners, introduced new minimum language requirements for immigrants under the Provincial Nominee Program, thereby helping social, economic and cultural integration;
• expanded a pilot project with the Government of Alberta to help Alberta employers seeking highly skilled foreign workers to fill an acute, regional labour shortage;
• introduced a new immigration stream to attract and retain international PhD students;
• proposed changes, as part of the Educational Credential Assessment Initiative, which would introduce a mandatory requirement that immigrants under the FSWP have their education abroad assessed against Canadian education standards by designated organizations;
• tripled its investment in settlement services outside of Quebec since 2005–2006, while ensuring fair funding across Canada for services like free language classes;
• launched a new website promoting innovations in the assessment and recognition of international qualifications.

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The Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is now able to share information about professional or ethical misconduct by a representative with other governing authorities, following introduction of new regulatory provisions. An immigration representative may be an immigration consultant, a lawyer, a paralegal or a notary.

Information on how to find an accredited immigration consultant, lawyer or other representative, and tips on avoiding unscrupulous representatives, are available on CIC website.

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July, 2012

Many Canadian immigration programs remain open, despite the Canadian government’s announcement that it will be taking a ‘temporary pause’ in accepting Federal Skilled Worker applications. In this article, CIC News will briefly explore current open programs, as well as the future of the Federal Skilled Worker Program.

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Representatives from Citizenship and Immigration Canada, theUKBorder Agency and the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship also sent a clear message to crooked agents that they are working with other countries and with Indian authorities to combat immigration fraud.

Unscrupulous agents have travelled to villages in the Punjab and other parts of India promising fast-track approvals for visas abroad. To avoid being duped – and refused entry into Canada, theUKand Australia – applicants should bear in mind the following:

• Do not be misled by unscrupulous agents into believing that it is acceptable to submit forged documents with your visa application. The application will be refused and you face further investigation by the Indian authorities.
• Do not believe agents who say that they can, in exchange for money, influence how fast applications are processed or the final decision. They cannot. Visa decisions are made only by visa officers authorized by the respective country.
• Do not be fooled by imposters pretending to be visa officers from Embassies. Legitimate visa officers do not meet applicants outside their offices nor do they contact you to ask for money.
• Do not be fooled by fake websites designed to look like official government or service delivery partner websites. Always get your visa information from official websites.
• Do not be duped by a job or visa scam. Many people are being cheated with job offers overseas that do not exist. Stop and think before your hand over your money, passport and personal details. If the job offer sounds too good to be true, it could be a scam.

Crooked immigration agents often advise applicants to provide fake documentation or enter into marriages of convenience,”said Sidney Frank, Canada’s Area Director for Immigration in South Asia.“Don’t be fooled. Your investment will be lost, you will be caught, and you will be denied entry to Canada.

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The federal government’s recent decision to shake up the immigration system by more closely matching supply with the need for workers is getting good reviews from spokesmen for Saskatchewan’s labour-hungry business community.

“Canada, which has 7.2 million permanent residents who were not born in the country, is the fifth most popular destination for the world’s immigrants. This country of 34 million accepts twice as many immigrants per capita as the U.S.”
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“Most people I have come in contact with have somewhat of a warped concept of what immigration really is. Immigrants in a particular culture are known as the people who are taking jobs away from the local demographic. Immigrants are those who bring strange habits and weird ideologies to an established culture. Overall, there is a somewhat negative view on immigration, and a xenophobic attitude towards immigrants. However, I urge those who are somewhat hostile to immigrants, to consider for one moment what it is like to be an immigrant. 

For a moment, consider what it would be like to abandon everything you have grown up to know as ‘normal’ or ‘cultural’. Take away your family, friends, and everything and everyone else you love and are used to having in your life. Think about how difficult it will be to arrive at a strange airport with only the clothes on your back and the money in your pocket, and now you have to establish a new life for yourself. Where do you go when you don’t know anyone? How do you restart your life from scratch after giving up everything you have worked for? 

Don’t for a moment think people leave peaceful and prosperous countries and lifestyles behind. Majority of people leave a country where they feel threatened, harassed, or where they see no future for themselves or their offspring. In essence, they leave even though they do not want to. 

These immigrants end up in a foreign country who is kind enough to accept them. Now the onus is on them to establish a life for themselves, make friends, and fine a job….It’s not easy…especially not if you are constantly told that you are taking someone’s jobs who has lived here their whole life. 

As an immigrant I can tell you that the process of immigration, changing cultures, moving to a new and foreign country, having to make new friends, find a job, and redefine yourself has quite possibly been one of the most difficult things I have ever done and I won’t wish it on my worst enemy….but I won’t trade my experience for the world. Because in the end, you see the true face of humanity, both from your home country, and from your new home. “