NEWS
MAJOR NEWS & CHANGES IN IMMIGRATION LAWS
The Canadian Immigration Integration Project (CIIP
Feb - 20. 2010
The Canadian Immigration Integration Project (CIIP), which began in 2007 as a pilot programme, will get USD 15 million over the next three years to expand its services in India, China and the Philippines, as well as to open a new office in London.
The new office will serve prospective immigrants to Scandinavian countries, Britain and the Gulf States.
Canadian immigration imposes tougher restrictions on agents
Feb 15, 2010
In an effort to crack down on unscrupulous Canada immigration agents, the government in Quebec is closing a loophole in the law.From June, the regulations controlling immigration agents in the province are to be changed. Under the new restrictions, only notaries, consultants and lawyers certified by the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants (CSIC) will be able to offer services to help people looking to obtain a Canadian visa.The move comes six ears after similar restrictions were brought in by the federal government, which did not affect consultants in Quebec. The crack-down follows several cases where consultants were found to be charging large sums to people in exchange for providing them with false documentation.
In a further move to stop the fraudulent agents, every newcomer moving to Canada's Quebec province will be asked to give over the name of any agent they used to obtain their Canada visa.
Rise in fake marriages causes concern in Immigration dept.
Dec. 2, 2009
OTTAWA – A rising trend in fake marriages by would-be immigrants, perhaps criminally organized, is raising alarms within the federal Immigration department."It's a trend that we're starting to see and the department is concerned that there is organized fraud around that movement," Claudette Deschênes, Assistant Deputy Minister of Immigration, told a House of Commons committee this morning. Deschênes was replying to New Democrat MP Olivia Chow (Trinity-Spadina), who was inquiring about the nearly 50 per cent refusal rate for spousal applications from places such as China, western Africa and Hong Kong. The sharp spike in refusals sparked a story in The Star earlier this year.
Chow asked whether the refusals were linked to organized, illegal attempts to get people into Canada. "We're looking at that. It's a new trend, but we are concerned that it's an organized movement," Deschênes said.
Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said it's on the government's radar too.
"Globally we do have a problem of marriages of convenience, commercialized, fake marriages to get into Canada," Kenne said.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper is leaving today for China and it's not known whether any of his discussions on his travels will deal with the fake marriage problem.
Canada moves forward on biometrics for Canadian visa holders
Nov 24, 2009
Citizenship and Immigration Canada has been moving towards rolling out a biometric plan for Canadian visa holders to begin in 2011, a system that is expected to be fully in place by 2013.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada says biometrics on Canadian visas will significantly contribute to Canada’s efforts to reduce identity fraud and ensure the safety and security of Canadians. When the project is fully implemented, people applying for a Canadian Temporary Resident Visa, Canadian Study Permit or Canadian Work Permit will be required to provide Canadian immigration with their digital fingerprints and have their photo taken in person before they arrive in Canada.
Last week, a number of Canadian universities at the Canadian Bureau for International Education annual conference discussed the move to biometrics, which is seen by many as a measure that will introduce delays to the Canadian Study Permit application process.
U.S.-Canada to share refugees' biometric info
Nov-24, 2009
WASHINGTON — Seeking to enhance its efforts to crack down on fraudulent refugee claims, the Harper government on Tuesday announced it has struck a deal to share fingerprint information on asylum seekers with the United States.
Public Safety Minister Peter Van Loan made the announcement following a bilateral summit here with U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano.Under the protocol, the U.S. will join a biometric data-sharing initiative Canada had already launched last summer with the United Kingdom and Australia.
Indian police uncover fake Canadian visa scam
Nov. 2. 2009
New Delhi – Indian police say they have cracked a ring of criminals who conspired to operate one of the biggest fake visa scams in years involving Canada. The alleged crooks lurked on the leafy streets outside Canada's diplomatic mission in New Delhi, as well as in the office of a bogus travel and tourism company in Punjab, a state in northwestern India.
The Star has learned Indian police have made three arrests in New Delhi and two more in Punjab, charging five men with making false documents, passing fake documents as genuine and criminal conspiracy. Police are still searching for at least three others.The fake visa service charged Indians as much as $21,000 to obtain bogus visas, police said, adding they believe the ring operated through a company called Kaavi Tour and Travels in Chandigarh, Punjab's capital city.
Documents and files seized by police indicate the ring, allegedly headed by a man named Anil Kumar - who has at least three aliases - may have cheated victims out of more than $650,000. That would make it one of the biggest visa fraud operations police here have exposed in years."People in Punjab are so desperate to get to Canada for work, that's why they fall into this," New Delhi police sub-inspector M.P. Saini said.
Temporary permits leave foreigners open to exploitation
Nov. 2, 2009
In Mumbai, Mac Akela was a top chef at a luxury hotel, running a department of 72 people and preparing meals for the rich and powerful. Life was good.He had a wife and three children. And his $15,000 yearly salary got him far, particularly with the rent-free home his employer provided.One day, a visiting Toronto restaurateur fell in love with Akela's cuisine. He offered him twice his salary, and by November 2007, Akela was cooking up a storm in a north Toronto restaurant. Six months later, he was broke and living in a homeless shelter.He blames much of his downfall on Canada's controversial Temporary Foreign Worker program. It tied him to his Toronto job, preventing him from working for anyone else, even when his employer swindled him out of half his promised salary.Asking for his money got Akela fired and kicked out of his employer-owned, one-bedroom apartment, which he shared with two other workers for $400 a month. That set him on an 18-month ordeal of government red tape, largely illegal work and more abuse from employers. "I am fed up," says Akela, who fears being deported and asked that his real name be withheld. "I came to this country with big dreams. I used to be treated with respect back home. Here it's nothing but lying and cheating."
"I thought Canada was a fair country," he adds.
Canada announces level of Canadian visas and immigration numbers to remain constant in 2010
Nov. 3, 2009
Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, tabled Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s 2009 Annual Report today in Parliament, saying that Canadian visa and immigration numbers will remain the same.
Under this new Action Plan, the processing time for applications for the federal skilled worker program is now six to twelve months. In addition, applications for the federal skilled worker program have decreased 30%, from 630,000 to 425,000. Even though this backlog consists of people who applied before February 27, 2008 and includes an additional 240,000 applicants who have applied to the new federal skilled worker program, the number of applications being processed is still 12% lower than when the Action Plan took effect.Minister Kenny credits the reduction of the backlog to the fact that only applications that meet specified criteria are being processed. He explained, "Before we changed the system, we had to process every application received. Since many more people applied every year than could be accepted, a backlog was created." The improvement of the Federal skilled worker program is part of the Government of Canada's overall commitment to enhance the immigration system to maximize its contribution to our total economic growth.According to Minister Kenny, "The Government of Canada will continue to work with provinces, territories and stakeholders to make sure immigration meets the needs of communities, employers and families now and in the future."
Immigration Minister Jason Kenney cuts refugee targets for 2010
Nov 2, 2009
OTTAWA — Canada plans to cut substantially the number of refugees it will accept in the coming year from people who make their claim after arriving in the country, according to new government figures.Immigration Minister Jason Kenney says Canada expects to accept between 9,000 and 12,000 claims in 2010, including their dependants, from people who apply for asylum after arriving in Canada.The number is less than half the 22,500 to 28,800 refugees and dependants targeted for acceptance in 2006 under the former Liberal government.The targets have dropped steadily since 2006 according to the annual reports to Parliament on immigration levels.
Nannies' dreams choked by bureaucratic red tape
Nov. 2, 2009
They leave their families and give up careers in teaching, nursing and technology to come here and look after our children and frail elderly.They often pay recruiters up to $5,000 to live in basements or spare bedrooms in our homes and toil long hours while they count down the 24 months of live-in work they need to become eligible for permanent status.
And yet nannies' dreams are often shattered by technicalities in Canada's Live-In Caregiver Program and the "heartless" and "arbitrary" decisions of immigration officials, says Toronto immigration consultant Sol Gombinsky.
"It's like they are just waiting for them to slip up and say `gotcha,'" says Gombinsky, who set up his consultancy in 1997 after working for the federal immigration department for 30 years. "There's no appreciation of the hardships these women have endured and the sacrifices they have made. ... It's scandalous."
Sally, who is hoping Gombinsky can fight a deportation order she received two weeks ago, recounts how, after 20 months of working as a live-in caregiver for an aggressive 80-year-old woman with Alzheimer's disease, the woman was offered a long-sought spot in a nursing home.
Government of Canada Tables 2010 Immigration Plan
-(Marketwire - Oct. 30, 2009) -
Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, tabled Citizenship and Immigration Canada's 2009 Annual Report today in Parliament. "While other countries have cut back immigration levels as a short-term response to the global economic downturn, our government is actually maintaining its immigration levels to meet the country's medium- to long-term economic needs," said Minister Kenney. "Canada plans to welcome between 240,000 and 265,000 new permanent residents in 2010, the same number of immigrants as in recent years. In 2010, Canada will again welcome more new permanent residents than the average annual intake during the 1990s," said Minister Kenney. "The focus of the 2010 plan is on economic immigration to support Canada's economy during and beyond the current economic recovery."
In particular, the admission ranges for immigrants nominated by the provinces and territories have been increased. Provinces and territories are in the best position to understand how Canada's immigration intake can be aligned to their labour market needs. Second, by increasing the admission ranges in the Provincial Nominee Program, the Government of Canada is helping to ensure that the benefits of immigration are distributed across this country. Canada and the provinces will work together to manage growth in the provincial nominee program. Increasing the total number of immigrants processed under the economic category will also allow CIC to continue reducing the backlog of federal skilled worker applicants as part of the Action Plan for Faster Immigration.Although the Action Plan has been in place for less than a year, early indications are that it is paying off. "People applying now under the federal skilled worker program can expect to receive a decision within six to twelve months, compared to up to six years under the old system," said Minister Kenney. "We've also brought the backlog of federal skilled worker applicants down from over 630,000 to 425,000-a reduction of more than 30%."
The backlog consists of people who applied before February 27, 2008, the date the Action Plan took effect. Since then, almost 240,000 people have applied to the new federal skilled worker program under the Action Plan. But even with those additional applicants, the total number of people currently awaiting a decision on their application is still 12% lower than when the Action Plan took effect."Before we changed the system, we had to process every application received. Since many more people applied every year than could be accepted, a backlog was created," said Minister Kenney. "Now that we are processing only those applications that meet specified criteria, our Government is making significant progress in reducing the backlog."
Improving the federal skilled worker program is part of the Government of Canada's overall commitment to modernizing the immigration system to maximize its contribution to our overall economic growth.
"The Government of Canada will continue to work with provinces, territories and stakeholders to make sure immigration meets the needs of communities, employers and families now and in the future," concluded the Minister.
May have paid $45,000/each for the trip to Canada
Oct 21, 2009.
Would-be migrants who were found aboard a vessel headed for British Columbia may have each paid $45,000 for the trip.
The men, believed to be Tamils from Sri Lanka, remain in custody as Immigration Canada determines their identity. The ship, called the Ocean Lady, was seized by RCMP last Friday.
Another vessel carrying Sir Lankans was caught off the coast of Australia last week, and the passengers said they had paid smugglers $15,000 to board the ship. One man told a reporter about the Ocean Lady, and said he had wanted to board that vessel instead, but it was too expensive at $45,000 per person.
SHOKING FUGURES IN FAKE JOBS
OCT 17, 2009
Last fall, the Star detailed the plight of 11 Filipino workers brought to Canada as welders and plumbers and told upon arrival their employer no longer wanted them. They were then spirited to a dilapidated farmhouse in Elmvale and put to work in a water bottling plant or made to clean stables and dig ditches. Instead of the $23 an hour they were promised, the workers were paid between $200 and $900 for six weeks' work. They were rescued after the Filipino consulate raided the farmhouse.
The RCMP investigated but did not lay any charges against either the recruiters who brought the men to Canada with the phony job offers, or the labour boss who exploited them. Most of the men had paid about $12,000 in placement fees to work in Canada.The Star's investigation into the caregiver program revealed some nanny recruiters were charging between $5,000 and $10,000 for jobs that did not exist. Nanny advocates have long complained that the government chooses the easier route of deporting hapless workers caught working illegally rather than charging the recruiters or the employers.
Since 1999, the total number of temporary foreign workers entering Canada has nearly doubled, increasing from 107,217 in 1999 to 193,061 in 2008, with more than 40 per cent destined for Alberta and British Columbia. Service Canada also approved more than 30,000 applications for nannies in 2008.The new regulations will put the onus on immigration officers overseas and Human Resources and Skills Development offices across the country to assess the validity of a job offer and determine whether a prospective employer has the means to pay the worker.
Current regulations provide for a fine of up to $50,000
OCT 16, 2009
Current regulations provide for a fine of up to $50,000 or imprisonment for up to two years for anyone who "employs a foreign national in a capacity in which the foreign national is not authorized ... to be employed."
The government is also working on bogus immigration consultants
OCT 16, 2009
The government is also working on a "robust package of measures to crack down on bogus immigration consultants," said an aide to Immigration Minister Jason Kenney.The proposed federal changes come in the wake of Star investigations showing widespread abuse in both programs, chief among them being recruiters bringing foreign workers to Canada with bogus job offers, then shifting them into unauthorized work where employers pay them a fraction of what they were promised. The province has already announced its own action, saying in April it would crack down on recruiters who exploit nannies and other foreign workers
Bad-employer blacklist to protect nannies
OCT 16, 2009
Harper government proposes tough new rules aimed at publicly shaming employers of foreign workers and ending bogus jobs. Employers who abuse foreign workers will be blacklisted and denied permission to hire another foreigner for two years, according to tough new regulations proposed by the Harper government. Under the rules proposed by Ottawa, any employer shown to have violated the Temporary Foreign Workers Program and the Live-In Caregivers Program will have their names and addresses posted on a government website so foreign workers will know these employers are ineligible to hire them.
Deportation numbers skyrocket in Canada
OCT 13, 2009.
Fifty per cent more people were deported from Canada last year than a decade ago -- proof the system is getting too aggressive with who it gives the boot, says one local immigration lawyer. Figures from the Canada Border Services Agency show deportations from the country have spiked to 12,732 removed last year, compared to 8,361 in 1999.
While three-quarters of deportations were failed refugee claimants, the rest were removed on criminal or security grounds.
Foreign-worker mistreatment triggers probe
OCT 8, 2009
Manitoba's Department of Labour has opened an investigation into the case of four Filipino workers who say they faced intimidation and broken promises after being recruited to work in Canada.A CBC News investigation revealed this week that Glenn Syping, Imelda Campecino, Mercedes Comia and Alan Acar each paid a Niagara Falls, Ont., employment recruiter $3,000 to get to Canada, plus nearly $1,700 each in airfare in July. They were told their employer — a family that owns Wendy's fast-food restaurants in Regina and Brandon, Man. — would reimburse their travel and health-care insurance costs, but they are still out the fee paid to the recruiting agency.The workers also had to have the Labour Department recover other money for them, including unpaid labour, holiday pay and overtime.Under a Manitoba law governing the treatment of temporary foreign workers passed earlier this year, the recruitment fee would be illegal.But the workers were originally recruited to Saskatchewan, which does not have a law prohibiting such fees. The Ontario recruiter passed them to a Saskatchewan immigration consultant, who set them up with the Wendy's franchisee. The employees were then moved to the Brandon location not long after they started work.
Canada’s refugee system is broken
OCT 8, 2009
Canada’s refugee system is broken, with unacceptably long delays to determine whether someone is a legitimate refugee, says Immigration Minister Jason Kenney. Testifying before a Parliamentary committee Tuesday, Kenney said he is working on plans to overhaul the system and hopes to introduce the changes before Christmas.
Canada's total population as of July 1, 2009.
Oct 1, 2009
Population as of July 1, 2009
Canada 33,739,859
Newfoundland and Labrador 508,925
Prince Edward Island 140,985
Nova Scotia 938,183
New Brunswick 749,468
Quebec 7,828,879
Ontario 13,069,182
Manitoba 1,221,964
Saskatchewan 1,030,129
Alberta 3,687,662
British Columbia 4,455,207
Yukon 33,653
Northwest Territories 43,439
Nunavut 32,183
Alberta leads provincial growth
Alberta was the fastest growing province with a growth of 0.59 per cent — or about 20,000 new residents — in the quarter, but its growth was slower than the previous year, when it had a growth of 0.80 per cent.
Statistics Canada said growth in Alberta slowed because the number of residents from other provinces moving to Alberta declined, though Alberta still led the provinces in interprovincial migration gain with 4,700 net additions.
Manitoba, Saskatchewan and British Columbia also recorded higher than usual population growth.
The remaining provinces and territories had growth rates less than the national average. Ontario's population grew by 0.34 per cent in the quarter, the seventh quarter in a row that its demographic growth has been below the national average.
Young Canadians between the ages of 15 and 24 have been among the hardest hit by the recession
Sep 13, 2009
Statistics Canada says the average unemployment rate for the summer was 19.2 per cent, the second highest rate since comparable data was available in 1977.Citizenship and Immigration Canada, alerted to the problem by Mundel in his May memo, told Canwest News Service in an e-mail it takes such allegations of fraud seriously and that the government is "looking closely at this issue with a view to taking action against abuse."
Foreign students abusing work-study program
Sep 13, 2009
OTTAWA -- With Canada's youth battling near record jobless rates, some foreign students are apparently subverting a federal program that allows them to study and work in this country, by skipping the studying part of the equation in favour of taking jobs.
A veteran Canadian immigration official in South Korea has blown the whistle on the scheme, alerting his superiors in Ottawa to reports that a majority of prospective Korean students destined for private language schools in Canada do not actually attend a single course.Instead, they use the work permits they get as part of the deal to land jobs.
Foreign worker dismissals set to rise Overseas recruitment expected to drop.
Sep. 11. 2009
The number of dismissals of temporary foreign workers is expected to spike in 2009, while the number of new foreign workers being recruited to Canada is forecast to drop significantly as companies face the prospect of layoffs in a recession, say immigration lawyers and recruiters. Service Canada, one of the federal government organizations that oversee the recruitment of temporary foreign workers, is also making it more difficult to recruit overseas.On Jan. 1, the organization released new recruitment process guidelines that are more onerous and cumbersome.
"Now (employers) will have to go through all the hoops and (Service Canada) is doing that on purpose because they want to be seen as taking care of Canadians and permanent residents first."
The organization now requires more extensive search criteria at home before going abroad and added other guidelines to encourage employers to find qualified Canadians before turning to overseas recruitment drives.
Two months of separation for the Sheikhs
Mon Sep. 07 2009 6:12:31 PM
The Sheikhs had been living in Canada for almost a decade as refugees from the political and sometimes violent turmoil of Karachi. In 2007, immigration officials learned the family had lived in Dubai before coming to Canada, and that information had not been included in their application, so the couple was deported to the U.S.The Sheikhs are currently living in New York, where they've filed for refugee status in the United States in an effort to buy more time. It will take months for a decision on the Sheikh appeal. If it fails, it's either to New York or back to Pakistan
Judge orders review of deportation issued over expired license
September 7, 2009
OTTAWA -- Should a person be exiled from Canada for driving with an expired driver's licence? The federal Immigration department says yes; but a Federal Court judge begs to differ.Judge Sean Harrington of the Federal Court of Canada has ordered a judicial review of an immigration officer's decision to force Jamaican-born Samuel Nathaniel Bailey, who has been living in Canada for more than two decades, to return to his homeland to apply for permanent resident status in Canada.
The officer rejected Bailey's request to be allowed to apply from within Canada on humanitarian and compassionate grounds, in part because he had violated the British Columbia Motor Vehicle Act by twice driving with an expired driver's licence.
Refugees preyed on by immigration consultants
(Aug 24, 2009)
Some immigration consultants at the U.S. border are reportedly preying on asylum seekers heading into Canada by selling them faulty application forms for refugee claims. Refugee groups here in Canada and across the border are warning people they are not required to purchase or bring forms when they cross the border to file a claim. Officials say documents are provided free by immigration officers. The bogus forms can sell for $200 or more a piece.
Canada plans to share fingerprint database
(Aug 22, 2009)
OTTAWA — Calling asylum seekers a "vulnerable group," Canada's privacy commissioner expressed concern Friday about a new government plan to share fingerprint information with Britain and Australia to combat immigration fraud.
Canada plans to share fingerprint database with U.K., Australia By Mike Blanchfield, Canwest News Service August 21,
A new agreement between Canada, Britain and Australia allows to check each other's fingerprint databases to tackle immigration fraud, but doesn't give them unfettered access.Photograph by: Darren Stone, Victoria Times ColonistOTTAWA — Calling asylum seekers a "vulnerable group," Canada's privacy commissioner expressed concern Friday about a new government plan to share fingerprint information with Britain and Australia to combat immigration fraud.
The three-country agreement was announced Friday with little fanfare, with Canada and the two countries providing assurances that no one's privacy would be violated and that no database for the prints would be created.
A lawyers' group in Australia also raised privacy concerns about the plan, which the United States and New Zealand were expected to join later on. The offices of Immigration Minister Jason Kenney and Public Safety Minister Peter Van Loan made the announcement Friday along with their counterparts in London and Canberra, calling it a "landmark initiative" that would "improve our ability to identify foreign nationals who are seeking to enter Canada and who are trying to hide their past from authorities."The new agreement allows countries to check each other's fingerprint databases but doesn't give them unfettered access.The three-country agreement was announced Friday with little fanfare, with Canada and the two countries providing assurances that no one's privacy would be violated and that no database for the prints would be created.
Punjabi Youth duped on promise to help migrate to Canada
( Aug 09 2009 )
Dream of another Punjabi youth to migrate to Canada was shattered as he was duped of Rs 6 hundred thousand and left high and dry in another country.Harpreet Singh, a youth from Kuraali near Chandigarh was promised by Fatehgarh Sahib-based immigration agents to help him migrate to Canada. But he was abandoned at the Hong Kong Airport. After learning of his plight, the Hong Kong embassy officials deported the youth, Harpreet, to India. In a complaint lodged with Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Harpreet alleged that he approached Ranveer Singh alias Sonu and his mother, Harwinder Kaur, who run an immigration firm in Sirhind, and paid them Rs 6 lakh for his immigration to Canada. On way to Canada, Sonu allegedly abandoned Harpreet at the Hong Kong airport. Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) after investigating the charges has recommended registration of a case for criminal breach of trust and cheating against the mother-son duo. Both of them are on the run.
August 6, 2009.
Changes in photo specifications for the Permanent Resident Card
The new PR card will have a larger integrated photograph of the document holder with a higher resolution than is found in the current PR card design. In order to achieve this improved photo quality, a small change is required to the specifications of the photograph submitted with the application.
New photo specification for facial size
While the overall dimensions of the photograph remain the same, 35 mm (1.375 inches) by 45 mm (1.75 inches), the new specification for the facial size within the photograph – crown to chin – is between 25 mm (one inch) and 30 mm (1.181 inches). The previous size was between 25 mm (one inch) and 35 mm (1.375 inches).
JULY 23, 2009.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) announced a change to the Canada–U.S. Safe Third Country Agreement.
Effective July 23, 2009, individuals from countries under a temporary suspension of removals (TSR) coming through the Canada-U.S. land border to make a refugee claim in Canada will no longer be eligible to make a refugee claim in Canada and will be turned back to the United States unless they qualify for one of the remaining exceptions under the Canada-U.S. Safe Third Country Agreement.
To read CIC's July 23rd press release, click HERE
JULY 13, 2009
Beginning 12:01 a.m. EDT on July 14, 2009, Czech nationals will require a visa to travel to Canada,
JULY 13, 2009
Beginning 12:01 a.m. EDT on July 14, 2009, Mexican nationals will require a visa to travel to Canada
JULY 9, 2009
JUNE 4, 2009
MARCH 11, 2009
Minister Kenney Announces Changes To Canada’s Immigration
Canada has recently announced changes to the immigration system to enhance our ability to attract, for the shorter term, and retain, for the longer term, people whose skills are a fit with the needs of Canadian employers.
In December 2008, Canada announced that professionals seeking to work temporarily in Canada under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) can now receive work permits for up to three years. Previously, NAFTA workers were required to renew their work permit every twelve months. The change matches the United States' new rules on issuance of Trade NAFTA (TN) work visas to Canadian and Mexican professionals under NAFTA.
APRIL 01-2008
Travellers From Visa Waiver Countries Must Obtain Pre-Approval From The Department Of Homeland
Security Before Entry
Travellers from visa waiver countries must first obtain pre-approval from the Department of Homeland Security by following the instructions on the Electronic System for Travel Authorization website.1 The pre-approval application must be submitted directly online and takes 24 to 48 hours to process. Each approval is good for five years for multiple trips to the United States. Visa waiver passport holders cannot enter the United States without such an approval notice.
The visa waiver program is for citizens of certain countries who are visiting the United States for business or pleasure purposes for trips that last 90 days or less. For a complete list of countries currently participating in the Visa Waiver Program,
Can a new Immigrant or foreign worker Buy property of house in Canada..?
Recent Immigrant to Canada? It’s a common myth that if you are not a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant, you do not qualify for a mortgage. The good news is that various lenders offer mortgage products specifically tailored to the needs of non-landed immigrants. While most financial institutions traditionally have insisted that new immigrants provide a down payment of at least 20% to 35%, there are now lenders who offer qualifying new immigrants (or those who have been transferred to Canada by an employer) mortgages which feature a much lower down payment.
