THE CANADIAN IMMIGRATION NEWSLETTER
(Vol. XXV, No.1) January 2007
The Canadian Immigration Newsletter is produced by the offices of James Norris in Victoria, British Columbia, CANADA. James Norris is a member of the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants (CSIC) and has 30 years of experience in the field of Canadian immigration. He holds the designation of Certified Canadian Immigration Consultant.
Please feel free to print a copy of the Newsletter and give it to a friend or relative.
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BEIJING, GUANGZHOU and HONG KONG BUSINESS TRIP
Mr. Norris’ next business trip to China will take place from March 27 to April 2 2007. He will be visiting the cities of Beijing, Guangzhou and Hong Kong. Mr. Norris will be consulting with clients and visiting the Canadian Consulate General in Hong Kong and the Canadian Embassy in Beijing.
Readers of the Newsletter who would like to have their relatives or friends apply for immigration to Canada can call Mr. Norris at the China Hotel in Guangzhou (Liuhua Road, Tel: 8666-6888) on March 28. Mr. Norris will be staying at the Swissotel in Beijing (Hong Kong Macau Centre, Chaoyang District, Tel: 6501-2501) and would like to meet with clients in the Chinese capital on March 27. Mr. Norris will meet with new and existing clients in Hong Kong at the Novotel Century Hotel (238 Jaffe Road, Wanchai District, Tel: 2598-8888) on March 29, 30 and 31.
As President of James Norris Ltd. Mr. Norris is pleased to bring his expertise in Canadian immigration consulting to you and your family in China
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CANADA APPOINTS A NEW MINISTER OF IMMIGRATION
Diane Finley was appointed Minister for Citizenship and Immigration on January 4, 2007. She joins Immigration Canada after her 1-year appointment as Minister for Human Resources and Social Development.
Ms. Finley’s professional career began as an administrator of the University of Western Ontario’s French Immersion School. Prior to her election as Member of Parliament for Haldimand-Norfolk riding in Ontario, she held several senior positions in both the public and private sectors encompassing health care, transportation, agricultural equipment manufacturing, printing and publishing, and aviation. While working with the Laidlaw group of companies, Ms. Finley built Canada’s largest publicly funded ambulance service company.
Beyond her work, Ms. Finley has received many awards for her activism, including the University of Western Ontario’s Coupe de Président. She was also named “one of Canada’s future leaders” by the prestigious Governor General’s Study Conference 2000. Most recently, Ms. Finley has been working with the Thyroid Foundation of Canada to spread awareness of thyroid conditions and urge more Canadians to have their thyroid tested.
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2006 ANNUAL REPORT TO PARLIAMENT ON IMMIGRATION
In October 2006, Monte Solberg, the then Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada, tabled the 2006 Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration. The report outlines Canada’s initiatives over the past year to attract and welcome newcomers, and provides a projection of the number of people expected to become permanent residents of Canada in 2007.
“Canada’s new government believes that immigration should play an important role in building our country and helping our economy grow”, said then Minister Solberg.
Canada plans to accept between 240,000 and 265,000 newcomers as permanent residents in 2007. This is an increase from the planned range of 225,000 to 255,000 set out in last year’s Annual Report.
In tabling the Annual Report, then Minister Solberg emphasized that it is also important to make sure that services and supports are in place to give immigrants every opportunity to succeed in their new home. In Budget 2006 the government committed $307 million in additional funding for language training and another services that help newcomers settle in their communities. As well, $18 million dollars was allocated towards establishing an agency for the assessment and recognition of foreign credentials.
The Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration, which must be tabled by November 1 each year, is a requirement under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. The report includes the linguistic profiles of the permanent residents who came to Canada last year, the number of temporary resident permits issued, and the immigration plan for 2007. Provincial and territorial considerations are also included in the report, along with a complete list of federal-provincial-territorial agreements.
Highlights of the Report
The government plans to admit between 240,000 and 265,000 new permanent residents in 2007. This compares to a range of 225,000 to 255,000 in 2006. Mid-year statistics show that the numbers for 2006 will likely be in the upper end of this range.
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Year
Planned Range of Immigrants Admitted
2007
240,000 - 265,000
2006
225,000 - 255,000
2005
220,000 - 245,000
2004
220,000 - 245,000
2003
220,000 - 245,000
2002
210,000 - 235,000
2001
200,000 - 225,000
2000
200,000 - 225,000
1999
200,000 - 225,000
1998
200,000 - 225,000
1997
195,000 - 220,000
1996
195,000 - 220,000
1995
190,000 - 215,000
In 2005, Canada admitted 262,236 new permanent residents. This figure was above the planned range of 220,000 to 245,000, partly because immigrants used their visas faster in 2005 than in 2004. Immigration Canada can control the number of visas issued, but not when people choose to use them. The average time between visa issuance and immigrant arrival in Canada declined by close to 30 days in 2005.
Economic Class
The planned range for the economic class in 2007 is 141,000 to 158,000. The compares to a planned range of 126,000 to 143,000 in 2006. The economic class includes skilled workers, business immigrants, provincial nominees, live-in caregivers and their dependents.
Family Class
The planned range for the family class in 2007 is 67,000 to 69,000 newcomers. This compares to a range of 61,000 to 65,000 for 2006. The 2007 planned range includes between 18,000 and 19,000 parents and grandparents, maintaining the same number of parents and grandparents planned for in 2006.
Refugees and Other Protected Persons
The planned range for 2007 is between 25,900 and 30,800 refugees and other protected persons. This compares to a planned range of 32,800 to 40,300 in 2006. In 2005, Canada admitted 35,768 refugees and other protected persons.
The expected decline in the number of asylum claims in 2007 is a reflection of a number of factors, most notably a broader global decline in the number of asylum seekers since 2001. In contrast, the 2007 planned levels include an increase in the number of refugees abroad to be resettled to Canada through the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program. The program provides Canadians with the opportunity to help refugees abroad build a new life in Canada.
The planned range for privately sponsored refugees for 2007 is 3,000 to 4,500. This compares to a range of 3,000 to 4,000 in 2006.
Other Statistical Highlights
In 2005, 6,806 people were granted permanent resident status on humanitarian and compassionate grounds, or for other reasons (2.6% of the total).
There were 13,760 temporary resident permits issued in 2005 to persons seeking to enter Canada. Temporary resident permits are given to people who have compelling reasons to travel to or remain in Canada (such as family reasons, humanitarian grounds, etc.), but who would be ordinarily inadmissable.
In 2005, Canada issued temporary visas to an additional 1,077,286 people. This number included 99,146 visas issued for temporary foreign workers; 57,476 new study permits granted for international students; and 920,664 temporary visitor visas.
The report also highlights CIC’s partnerships with provincial and territorial governments. This overview includes a list of the federal-provincial-territorial agreements currently in force and summarizes the key joint initiatives. In 2005, 8,047 permanent residents were admitted through the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) to meet provincial and territorial needs. The PNPs allows provincial and territorial governments to actively participate in the immigration process. Immigration Canada currently has formal agreements with 10 provinces and territories for the nomination of an agreed-upon number of individuals to fill regional and local economic or social needs.
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MARRIAGES OF CONVENIENCE
When someone gets married for the sole reason of immigrating to Canada, this is known as a marriage of convenience.
Under Canada’s immigration law, marriages of convenience are not allowed. Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s officers are specially trained to recognize genuine immigration applications, and they know how to detect marriages of convenience. They use a variety of techniques to uncover marriage fraud, including document checks, site visits and interviews with sponsors and applicants.
Canada’s immigration system is also set up in a way that discourages marriages of convenience. Anyone who wants to sponsor their spouse or partner to immigrate to Canada makes a serious legal commitment. As a part of this commitment, sponsors must support their spouse or partner for three years, even if the relationship fails. If the couple breaks up and the sponsored person gets social assistance, the sponsor must pay back the amount of social assistance the former spouse received. Given the legal obligations, sponsorship should not be taken lightly, and everyone is responsible for ensuring that their marriage is genuine.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada recognizes that even genuine marriages can fail. However, if a person enters into a marriage of convenience and comes to Canada as an immigrant, enforcement action can be taken. This enforcement action could result in deportation, and is the responsibility of the Canada Border Services Agency.
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SHORT-TERM COURSES
Foreign nationals may enter Canada or remain in Canada without a study permit to attend a course of study of six month duration or less, if the course will be completed within the period authorized upon entry.
Obtaining a study permit
The Regulations state that despite the exemption from the requirement of a study permit for short term courses, students may obtain a study permit before entering Canada. This will allow them to apply later, in Canada, to renew their study permit for further studies.
Period of authorized stay
Foreign nationals wishing to enroll in subsequent educational programs, even those that are shorter than six months, must leave Canada and obtain study permits in the normal manner, unless the new studies can be completed within the original period of stay authorized upon entry.
Course or program of study
The length of the course into which foreign nationals are accepted is often a more important consideration than the number of months they intend to study. With the exception of exchange programs, even if they plan to study for six months or less, if the course or the program is longer than six months, they need a study permit.
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PROOF OF CANADIAN CITIZENSHIP
A citizenship certificate is proof of a person’s Canadian citizenship. It is a wallet sized card with the person’s photograph. It is not a travel document.
Persons need to prove their citizenship when they:
-vote;
-apply for a passport;
-apply for certain jobs; or
-apply to obtain certain government entitlements.
When Is a Citizenship Certificate Issued?
Persons born in Canada, or outside of Canada to a Canadian parent after 1977, automatically acquire citizenship but are not issued a citizenship certificate unless they apply for one. New Canadians (permanent residents who have been naturalized) get a certificate when they become citizens.
Persons who want to get a citizenship certificate, or replace one that was lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed, must apply for it either from within Canada or outside of Canada (depending on where they reside).
NOTE: While a Canadian birth certificate is proof of citizenship, each government agency has the right to determine which documents it will accept to establish proof of entitlement to its services.
How to Apply for a Certificate?
To apply for a citizenship card, a person must:
Complete the Application for a Citizenship Certificate from Inside Canada and mail it with supporting documents and processing fee to the Case Processing Centre in Sydney, Nova Scotia; OR
Complete the Application for a Citizenship Certificate from Outside Canada and mail it with the supporting documents and processing fee to the Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate closest to their home.
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About the Author
James Norris is a practising certified Canadian immigration consultant with offices at 500 – 645 Fort St., Victoria, B.C., Canada, V8W 1G2, Tel: (250) 382-4234, Fax: (250) 380-7299.
Email: james@jamesnorris.com
Website: www.jamesnorris.com
From 1975 until 1982, Mr. Norris worked as a Canadian diplomat with responsibility for the selection of immigrants to Canada. During this time he was assigned to Canadian overseas missions in India, the Philippines, the United Kingdom and the U.S.A. This experience makes his advice particularly valuable to foreign nationals who wish to move permanently to Canada.
In 1982 Mr. Norris set up his private practice in Victoria as an immigration consultant. James Norris Ltd., his private company, was incorporated in 1990.
July 1, 2005 marked Mr Norris’s 30th anniversary working in the field of Canadian immigration. He joined the then Department of Manpower and Immigration on July 2, 1975 as a trainee overseas immigration officer.
About the Newsletter
James Norris has produced the Canadian Immigration Newsletter since 1985 for the information and benefit of his clients and other interested parties.
If you or a friend would like to receive an electronic copy of the Newsletter, please contact our office with your email address. We would be happy to include you on our mailing list.
