A lot of immigrants face numerous doubts regarding the payment of Income tax. They often find themselves in a dilemma whether to pay income tax in their home country or in which they have earned their income (a Source Country). Of course, it is not fair to pay tax on the same income in every country you migrate to. What is the solution then?

It is here when the “Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement” signed by India comes to your rescue. It is an amicable solution to solve the confusing scenario of double taxation. To avoid hardships and ensure that the immigrant pays a fair tax in accordance with his income, India entered into Double Tax Avoidance Treaty with various countries. Under the same, the concerned person may be exempted from paying the tax or the tax liability in India would be reduced, depending upon the individual’s case study.

Objective:

• Avoid being taxed more than once and offer an equality-based system.
• Prevention of discrimination between the taxpayers and offering an element of legal aspect. That means all tax-payers would be treated equally and none would be provided with any preferential treatment in taxing by any of the 66 contracting countries.

Who is entitled for the “Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement- India?”

All those people who are Indian residents or residents of any of the 66 concerned countries, with which India has entered into the agreement, are covered under the agreement and are entitled to the benefits associated with it.

There is no end to the laws and regulations associated with your Immigration procedure. It would be a better option to hire the services of an Immigration and Visa expert for every concerned matter.

Are you a Chartered Accountant and a foreign national? Are you on the lookout for a job in Canada? If yes, you have landed on the right page! In order to work in Canada, you have to get an approval from the Provincial Institute of Chartered Accountants. You must apply to the particular provincial body where you intend to live and work. There are 10 provincial chartered accountants institutes in Canada with the authority to grant admission to students and other members. These institutes are also in charge of drawing the guidelines for the foreign accountants to qualify for Canadian jobs. These guidelines also include conducting examinations for the candidates.

The following websites would be of great help for those applying for an accountant job in Canada:

• http://www.albertacas.ca/Home.aspx - If you intend to live and work in Alberta, the above link would guide you through the procedure to be followed.
• http://www.icab.bm/ - The Province of Bermuda offers job opportunities in this particular field. However, the candidate has to undergo the CPA examination conducted by the Chartered Accountants of Bermuda. For more, log on to this website.
• http://www.ica.bc.ca/kb.php3?catid=9 – Under the laws of the British Columbia, the use of the term CPA is not valid. However, an exception is only made if the candidate is a member of the BC Institute. Visit this site to know more on the application procedure.
• http://www.icam.mb.ca/ - There are 12 mandatory courses for CA that are recognized by the Chartered Accountants of Manitoba. Click here for more on the CAs in Manitoba.
• http://www.nbica.org/english/index.asp - There are certain guidelines to be met in order to be a practitioner in New Brunswick. The official website of Chartered Accountants Institute would be of great help.
• http://www.icans.ns.ca/ - The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nova Scotia is the official designating body granting permits to the foreign trained accountants to work in Nova Scotia.
• http://www.icao.on.ca/ - This site is good for those planning to live and work in Ontario. This official site is updated with all the latest regarding the rules and regulations brought out by the Chartered Accountants of Ontario.

However, there are many more such provincial bodies. For the best possible outcome, it would be wise to get in touch with a visa and immigration expert.

Canada as a study destination is one aspect to be viewed very carefully. It is one of the most favored destinations to study in the world. It is an ideal place for all learning minds; offering the best in the form of infrastructure and other basic necessities of life. The scope of opportunities is much more, catering to individual as well as overall development.

The individual provinces and territories hold responsibility to the post secondary education in Canada. According to a recent report brought out by the Canadian Council of Learning, Canada continues to be considered as a trailblazer when compared to other top ranking study destinations. With this is the constant need for skilled labor by many businesses and enterprises. Big corporations are always on the search for qualified skilled professionals who can take on the role of the next generation of managers.

This is good news especially for those students who are on the look out for quality education and good opportunities post study. The country has many different institutions offering courses in all the major disciplines of study. With this, is the professional outlook that gives an international approach to the students. Thus, with an international degree from Canada, a student would turn into a desirable employee for any company situated in any part of the world.

To ensure this, the governments of the various provinces have a separate set of investment for their public institutions offering post – secondary education. In addition, the Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) offers its financial assistance for those in need and is constantly on the move to provide for better skills and learning. The department also offers international exchange programs for students across the globe.

Also, the country has always opened its arms to students belonging to other ethnicities and nationalities. Thus, making the country a safe place for the youngsters to live, work and study.

To ensure that your dreams of studying in Canada are met, you should be able to get a Study Permit (Student Visa) to Canada. It does cost to avail the services of a Student Visa specialist to guide you through this all important stage of studying in Canada. However, it helps you in selecting the best of the options.

Immigration merely does not mean applying for a visa. The process does not end here. While applying for a visa, many important aspects are considered such as the place of work and residence, the profession you are into and so on. An architect immigrating to Canada has to ensure the above and has to qualify under a certain criteria (at times based on the country of origin). For instance, it is simpler if you are an architect from the US to get registered and licensed in Canada compared to others. This is because of the mutual ties between both the countries.

The most important facet is the place of residence which is of utmost importance. You must contact the Provincial and Territorial Associations of the Architects, the websites of which are mentioned below:

1. http://www.aibc.ca/ - The Architectural Institute of British Columbia (AIBC) is the body to be contacted if you wish to live and work in British Columbia. Click on the above to know more.
2. http://www.aaa.ab.ca/ - The Alberta Association of Architects has been designed as a platform to express and discuss architecture and to maintain the standards of architecture in Alberta.
3. http://www.saskarchitects.com/web/index.shtml - The Saksatchewan Association of Architects works to provide for better leadership, guidance and assistance in the field of architecture for the overall betterment for the Community and its members.
4. http://www.mbarchitects.org/web/index-dyn.shtml - The Manitoba Association of Architects is a self governing body created under The Architects Act. This association is responsible for the practice of architecture as a profession in Manitoba.
5. http://www.oaa.on.ca/ - The Ontario Association of Architects is the authorizing body for the promotion and spreading of knowledge, skills and proficiency related to architecture with respect to the public interest.
6. http://www.oaq.com/ - When it comes to Quebec, one must show his proficiency in French in order to qualify to live and work in Quebec. Click on the above to know more.
7. http://www.aanb.org/ - The Architects Association of New Brunswick is self regulating body with the responsibility of maintaining the standards of architectural services being offered in the province amongst others.
8. http://www.aapei.com/ - The Architects Association of Prince Edward Island is the authorizing body for the practice of architecture in Prince Edward Island. This website is an endeavor to promote public learning and to provide assistance for the professionals.
9. http://nsaa.ns.ca/main.html - The Nova Scotia Association of Architects keeps a record of all the professional architects who are registered under its province to live and work. With this, a disciplinary committee is maintained foreseeing all actions in public interest.
10. http://www.newfoundlandarchitects.com/ - The Newfoundland & Labrador Association of Architects is the leading organization controlling architecture as a profession in the province. To know more, click on the above.
11. http://www.nwtaa.ca/ - The Northwest Territories Association of Architects is the authorizing body for this province. Click above for further information.

Apart from you own researching and becoming self aware about the various aspects, you must also contact a seasoned Immigration and Visa specialist who can further guide you with the process.

US and Canada – both countries are the major developed nations in the world. Also, they are amongst the largest countries in terms of area. Be it US or Canada, you can expect the best of everything in terms of infrastructure and other living conditions. You would find something or the other in each which makes it hard for an immigrant to decide. So, this article is for those finding it hard to decide on which country to opt for.

Both the countries being developed and technologically advanced, few aspects could be taken for granted. US is host to some of the world cities offering plush and brilliant amenities. These include New York, Houston, Atlanta, Los Angeles and Chicago and so on. Living in the richest and the most powerful nation of the world has its own advantages. However, it is not very hard to get used to the culture and settle down in the United States. But then, some of its world class cities and states are highly expensive providing quality in return. The common language to communicate is English which today, is considered to be a global language.

On the other hand, Canada is still host to the traditional colonial way of living. With the essence of England still in intact, followed by French, it is the matter of languages that matter. Each and every province in Canada offers something totally different unlike the United States. As a country, Canada offers oodles of options for an immigrant. Though the country endeavours world class facilities, it also offers the cheapest cost of living when compared to the other countries, especially the United States. However, language is an issue the immigrant has to deal with. Thus, he has to ensure that he knows the local language to interact and communicate with people.

Both, US and Canada welcome the immigrants with open arms. The job opportunities are equally appealing. There are no specific conditions to be followed for each and every state in the US when compared to that of Canada. The American immigration policies include usually the Family Sponsorship programs for the immigrants and the only option is that of conversion of the work permit in to a Green Card. This process takes almost 5 – 8 years. An applicant wanting to immigrate to Canada has to apply under a specific program offered by the provincial government. Also, an applicant applying for Canada immigration has to clear under a Point Based System. A qualified applicant can become a Permanent resident of Canada within 2 – 3 years.

US, being a better economy offers better income opportunities when it comes to job opportunities. This leads many Canadians immigrate to the United States. However, Canada offers a slower pace of life. In both the cases, International Trade and Professional qualifications have to be approved and licensed again.

So think and decide! Contact an authorized and an experienced immigration consultant to help you take a decision.

Last year, Canadian Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced some new regulations for the Federal Skilled Worker program of Canadian immigration. He introduced some additional routes for the applicants to immigrate under the concerned program. In order to qualify for the same, the candidate must:

• Have a minimum of 1-year work experience in one of 38 occupations within the past ten years. It is mandatory that the work-experience is full-time; OR
• Have an offer of Arranged Employment in Canada (It is one of the six factors for which points are awarded to determine whether the application would be accepted or refused); OR
• The applicant is residing in Canada as a Temporary Foreign Worker or as an International Student for a minimum span of one year.

Eligibility:

• According to the current qualifying system, Candidates who meet the minimum pass mark of 67 points, have an offer of Arranged Employment in Canada but fail to fulfill the experience criteria also have the freedom to apply under the Federal Skilled Worker Program. However, they must have a minimum of one year of work experience in a Skilled, Professional or Managerial occupation.
• If the applicant has lived in Canada on a Study Permit or a Temporary Work Permit; has a full time work experience in either Skilled, Managerial or Professional occupation within the last ten years and is easily meeting the minimum pass mark of 67 points, he/she can apply under the Federal Skilled Worker Program.

The Action Plan would surely serve as a huge relief for those applicants failing to qualify under the 38 qualifying occupations. It is better to consult an experienced Immigration expert and know every finer detail of the latest Immigration rules.

After the recent visit of the Immigration Minister of Australia, Chris Evans, Deputy Prime Minister of Australia, Julia Gillard, is now expected to visit India at the end of this month. This visit aims to express her concern over the recent racial attacks in Australia that victimized Indian students and reinvigorate bilateral ties, better than before.

Departure of Gillard, who is also Australia’s Education Minister, will be held on August 30 for a five-day tour that comprise in her visit to Chennai and Delhi.  Prior to her visit, Gillard talked about commitment of the Australian Government to strengthen the long-term relationship between the two countries in a strategic way.

The visit will be utilized by Gillard to promote recent efforts of the Australian government to enhance education quality for international students along with re-registration of the Australian education providers, reports “The Australian.”

The Australian government also released a review about its sector of international education that includes laws that govern student visas. Bruce Baird, former federal Liberal MP, did the review after the recent assaults endured by Indian students in Australia that also bought into light a few claims by students, who mentioned that private education institutions targeted them in a scam.

During her trip to India, Gillard plans to visit several educational institutes and meet students who have completed their studies in Australia, previously. Also on her list are meeting with Kapil Sibal, Minister for Human Resource Development, along with various government officials.

Gillard’s visit is believed to pave way for the Prime Minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd’s upcoming tour to India. Let us keep our fingers crossed and hope that Gillard’s tour proves to be a huge success.

Jobless people in Canada can find some ease in this article. With the Employment Insurance (earlier known as the Unemployment Insurance) by your side, you would hardly find yourself in any financial despair in Canada.

Canadian workers pay some amount in the Central Fund. In the later stages, when these workers leave their jobs or are unable to continue with their work, they can draw the same in accordance with their earlier made contributions. The amount received as an Employment Insurance depends upon the previous salary of the applicant as well as on the unemployment rate.

The financial aid was first attempted in the year 1935 and holds tremendous importance for places that have higher rates of unemployment. Here is a list of benefits associated with the Employment Insurance:

• Regular Employment Insurance benefits: These benefits are for those who are currently available for work but lost their jobs without their fault. For example due to seasonal lay-offs and so on.
• Maternity, Parental and Sickness benefits: As the name suggests, those who are pregnant, performing their parental duties for the newborn or adopted child or sick can avail these benefits. You are required to fulfill mandatory conditions such as showing a proof that your regular weekly earnings are reduced by more than 40% and so on.
• Compassionate Care benefits: The benefits are for those who have to miss their work for a dying relative. The benefit came into existence on January 4, 2004, when eligible applicants who are absent from their jobs to take care of a gravely ill relative; can get up to six weeks of employment insurance benefit for a time span of six years.
• Fishing benefits: A fisher by profession is a self employed person. But if you are not self-employed and are in the fishing occupation, then you can avail the Employment Insurance benefits.

When you should submit the application? It would be a wise option to apply for the Insurance as soon as you become unemployed otherwise there are chances that you may miss out on some key benefits.

Documentation

While making the application, you are required to show mandatory documents like your Social Insurance Number, Personal Identification, Record of Employment, Bank statements, Employment Details, Medical Certificate (If you are seeking sickness benefits) and Adoption Certificate (provided you are an adoptive parent).

*The documentation required may vary in the case of online registration.

Rules to Avail Employment Insurance

The applicant is required to fulfill the following mandatory conditions while applying for the same:

• You should be willing and able to work.
• You should be in a process of job seeking exercise and should have a record of the employers you have contacted (Date and Time of contact).
• Keep a record of the money earned when on Employment Insurance and report the same on schedule.
• Report all money earned (That includes your self-employment earnings too).
• Report when you are not available for work or are absent from your residence.

So if you have paid Canadian Employment Insurance premiums and are unemployed, it is best to apply for Employment Insurance as soon as possible.

Also, to claim employment insurance, it is mandatory to be a Canadian Citizen or have a Permanent Resident card. It would be a wise option to hire the services of an experienced Immigration and Visa consultant and secure a hassle free future for you and your family in Canada!

Immigration is a major decision that is made only once in a life time. This makes it even more important to take the right direction. There is a certain scale known as the Point Based System, on which an applicant is assessed. Incase you are planning to immigrate along with your family, it is crucial to select the right Principal Applicant. To stand a better chance, it is important to select an appropriate family member as the Principal Applicant.  For instance, if you would like to migrate to Australia, you must earn the Pass Mark under the Point Based System; the various categories of which include:

• Age – You should be above the age of 18 but below 45 years. The less is your age, the more points you are likely to earn. Also, you must prove your age with some evidence in form of a birth certificate or any other relevant document. You can easily earn up to 30 points if you are between the age group of 18 – 29 years. However, you can earn as less as 15 points if you are above 40 years. In this case, if you are applying with your family, it is best for the principal applicant to be of a younger age. This would enhance your score and your chances too.
• Qualifications – Your points could be easily added up if you have a degree from a recognized Australian University. You can earn as high as 25 points if you have earned a Doctorate with a minimum of 2 consecutive years of study. On the other hand, points as less as 5 could be earned if you meet the basic requirement of a two year study program. In order to claim your points, you must provide a copy of your degree as a proof. You can earn an additional 5 points if you meet the 2 year study requirement while living and studying in a regional or a low population growth metropolitan area in Australia. In this case, if one of the spouses has studied and earned a degree in Australia, then he/she would score better. For more on this criterion, it is best to contact an immigration expert like ABHINAV today!
• Work Experience – As an applicant, you must have the relevant work experience of at least one year which is related to the current job that you are applying for. The points earned also depend on the occupation that has been nominated for the program. The duration of time for which you have worked in this particular industry also counts. You can earn a maximum of 10 points if you have worked for at least 3 to 4 years in the relevant or the related field of occupation.On the other hand, you can claim 15 points if your occupation is listed in the Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL). Also, if you have been employed in it for one year in the last four years; and you have a similar job offer from a company with at least 10 full – time employees for 2 years; you can earn up to 20 points.In addition, if you are eligible for an Australian skilled work experience, 5 extra points could be earned.

  In all the above cases, the total work experience of both the spouses should be assessed first before deciding upon the Principal Applicant. We, at ABHINAV provide free prior assessment services for all our clients and conclude their eligibility accordingly.

• Language Skills – English being the primary language of communication, you are expected to communicate, both orally and in writing. There are three levels of evaluation under this category – Proficient, Competent and Vocational. If you are found to be proficient, you can earn as high as 25 points followed by 15 if found to be competent or vocational. In order to prove the above, you must appear for the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) examination. You have to score a minimum number of points in the test in order to qualify for the visa. However, if you are a citizen of UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand or the Republic of Ireland, you are exempted from the IELTS test.Also, you can earn an additional 5 points if you know any of the Australian Community languages. The list is endless. Experienced veterans at ABHINAV are updated with the latest and would be glad to assist you in the entire application procedure.
• Blood Relations – If you have blood relatives residing in Australia, they can be your sponsors in the country. This would work for you since it would be easier for you to prove your genuine intentions and would stand you a better chance to qualify.Also, under the Skilled Sponsored Category, you are likely to gain 10 more points for being sponsored by an Australian state or a territory government. Thus, any of the spouses having relatives can add this to their advantage.
• Skill Level – Your skills are highly important while you are being assessed for immigration. This is because you have to prove that you are the candidate who can contribute to the country’s growth and development. You can earn as high as 60 points, provided you have a qualification or a trade certificate along with the relevant experience, which satisfies the Australian standards and are related to your occupation.To know more, check the Skilled Occupation List (SOL). It is advised that you get your skills assessed before applying for the same.
• Spouse Skills – Incase, your spouse also qualifies the basic requirements; you can earn an addition of 5 points that would be added to your PBS.

You must earn a minimum of 120 points if you are applying under the Skilled Independent Category and 100 points if for Skilled Sponsored program.

Also, watch the video of Ajay Sharma, the Principal Immigration Consultant of ABHINAV on “Choosing the right principal applicant for immigration”:

In all above factors, it has to be ensured that the chosen Principal Applicant holds a strong chance when compared to the spouse. Hence, it is better to undergo a free assessment for both the prospective applicants, offered by our firm. Get in touch with us today!

Speculation are being made that the new UK Immigration rules are doing more harm rather than any justice to the legal migrants.

As a part of this change, the government is planning to constrict the rules for legal migrants, especially the ones from the Indian origin. The policy involves banning wives who join their husbands, mainly from India and Pakistan, from receiving ‘child benefit.’ In addition, they are barred from gaining advantage of a wide range of other state aid till the time they gain proficiency in the English language, support British values and do voluntary work in the community.

“These are preposterous proposals that have never been discussed either in the Labour party or in Parliament,” stated Keith Vaz, Britain’s longest-serving MP of Indian origin.

Other plans include:

• Instead of 5 years, the status of ‘Indefinite Leave to Remain’ will be granted after 10 years of employment.
• People on ‘Indefinite Leave to Remain’ will not be able to avail any state benefits that Britons are entitled to;
• The introduction of ‘Earned Citizenship’: This particular span of time will include doing up to three years of unpaid voluntary work, including trade union work;
• Applicants will be required to show a proof of commitment to ‘British values.’
• They will also be penalized for participating in anti-war protests.
• The citizenship tests will be decked with certain sections on British history and politics.

“They are unworkable, expensive and deal with legal migrants whereas what worries people in the UK is illegal immigration,” said Vaz.

“These are half-baked proposals that give out the worst possible message — they clearly discriminate against people from the Indian subcontinent in particular,” he said

“This is an act of desperation by a government that knows it has let immigration run out of control,” added Damien Green, the Home Affairs spokesman for the opposition Conservative party.

These plans would be officially implemented in the year 2011, if Parliament votes them through. Let us wait for more news on this issue!