If you are a permanent resident of Canada and are planning to apply for a Canadian citizenship, the following article would be of great help to you. To become a citizen of Canada, there are certain pre – requisites to be catered to. The applicant should not have undergone any form of immigration enquiry or investigation and so on.

The following are the key points to be noted before applying for citizenship:

• You must have lived in Canada for a minimum of three years or 1095 days in the last fours year. This period of residence should be prior to applying for citizenship. However, children are exempt from this requirement. Accurate time period of residence should be provided with, prior to becoming a permanent resident as well, if it is within the above mentioned four year period. This is because there are instances where in an applicant would be considered as residing in Canada when he was physically not present in the country.
• In order to apply, you should be atleast 18 years of age.
• You should not have been convicted of any crime or offence that is prohibited under the Citizenship Act or imprisoned. The time spent in prison does not count for the residency period.
• Proficiency in English or French is a must to communicate with the local citizens.
• As a future citizen of Canada, you must be aware of the rights and responsibilities of a Canadian citizen. This includes the right to vote as well. Others include the history, geography and the political aspects of the country.

After the ensuring that you clear the above pre-requites, the following steps should be followed to apply for citizenship:

• Check your eligibility criteria, as mentioned above.
• Submit the application for citizenship.
• Incase, you are between the age group of 18 and 54 years, you have to appear for the Citizenship test.
• Incase you are 14 years of age or older, you must be present for the citizenship ceremony.

It has to be remembered that it is not mandatory for all the permanent residents in Canada to apply for citizenship. They are free to apply for an extension or renewal of their PR card if it expires. This PR card is permitted for five years at a stretch. However, on the PR card, certain rights are not available which are only applicable for the citizens of Canada.

Today is 12th March’2010! – “THE ULTIMATE DAY” – At least for all those cricket fanatics who wait for this day throughout the year! It’s the start of the IPL season guys!

TV, Internet, Newspapers… Every medium is flooding with DLF IPL, a private event; that above all, explains the success of Indian Premier League. For a private event, entire media is fighting to give free of cost coverage! Strange, but Interesting! So what marketing and branding strategy has worked in favour of IPL?

One, “Packaging of the Event” from day 1 as entertainment is the biggest strategic hit. Cricket just happens to be there!

Two, to keep it focussed in 20 overs and inviting International players, not only enhanced the entertainment value but also factored in the fastest growing segment of high income youth. This segment is short of time and wants everything to be packaged small.

Three, It structured teams around states thereby ensuring team and brand loyalties and assured eyeballs when it comes to media.

Five, by following a well tried international model of clubs and player auctions, it got players interests and their willingness to give the tournament their 110%. Knowing that players are going to play attacking entertaining cricket attracts paid audience to the stadium and draws them towards other forms of media like TV, internet and print press.

Six, the public and press relations during the first two versions meant media hype was maintained and that has lead to immense unpaid publicity. Interestingly in IPL3, the organisers have offered strict terms for freebies for non-official media. The initial purpose having been achieved, the official TV channel is getting its due. That again hints to a well planned strategy.

Seven, getting International Cricket Council to keep a window for IPL season was the biggest strategic coup. Now cricket boards all over the world want to have similar event but may not be able to get well known players for their events!

Eight, do not forget that (Board of Cricket Control in India) ensured that the event got all international recognition and gave it the required financial backup to conceive and execute the event.

Nine, attracting the movie stars like Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta and Shilpa Shetty along with highly placed industrialist as team owners, ensured ample media and public interest which further contributed to the success of the event.

Ten and finally, organisers packaging of all above and ensuring the event was always in controversies and news, meant branding exercise of the kind that has not been seen in sports. At the end of the end, we have a happy lot of bunches - public, sponsors, media and most importantly IPL bankers!

Good job done IPL, Lalit Modi and team- keep the IPL and Indian flag flying! IPL is one of the ways of telling the world that India has arrived.

This surely raises the question, what happens when a foreign child is adopted by Canadian parents! It becomes a matter of concern when a case of hearing reported for a teenage; accused for committing an assault and robbery that is facing the threat of deportation to his birth land. The teenager had committed the crime four years back in 2005 and has been released from a juvenile detention center recently.

The accused who was a minor at the time of the crime had been adopted by a Canadian family. This means he is not a Canadian citizen. Now that question arises what really happens to such an adopted child? So, here is the answer…

A child born after 1947 in Canada is regarded as a citizen of that country. Besides, if a child is born outside Canada after 1977, but if he/she has a Canadian parent is also regarded as a citizen of Canada. This criterion was applicable to a number of generations of people who were born to original Canadians until 2008. But, a law that had been passed in 2009 restricted this to only one generation.

Until 2006, an adopted child from a foreign country was required to be sponsored as a permanent resident first before he/she could be regarded as a Canadian citizen, which is popularly know as naturalization. Towards the end of the year 2007, this law was altered which stated that an adopted foreign child would be granted with Canadian citizenship without first going through the process of immigration. The same law was extended to Canadians who live outside the country.

Now foreign nationals who are adopted by Canadian citizens can obtain Canadian citizenship directly, without having to go through the process of naturalization! To know more about this, contact an Immigration and Visa consultant!

A detainee who has been in Australia for the past twenty-seven years is going to be deported to his native land Cambodia. When the Australian authorities were trying to deport him for almost four years, finally the man in question has voluntarily agreed to go back to Cambodia.

The case came to light at the federal Parliament last Wednesday, when the Commonwealth and Immigration Ombudsman reported the same. Accused with a number of crimes, such as robbery and supplying drugs, thereby developing a strong criminal background, the man has been in immigration detention at Villawood, Sydney. While authorities tried to send him back to Cambodia, he then refused to return. But, now the unidentified man is willing to go back to this country.

The man was raised and educated in the Oz land. He arrived the land when he was only nine-year old. After living almost twenty-seven years in Australia, he has become a part of the Australian community. However, the immigration authorities termed him as a non-citizen in Australia.

The removal of the man from Australia is on the priority list for the immigration department, confirmed the Immigration and Citizenship Minister Chris Evans. The minister also confirmed that as per an individual’s deportation procedure, the man will be provided with a post-removal package to support and assist him.

This is one of the many cases included in the Commonwealth and Immigration Ombudsman’s report. Most of these accused have been in detention for several years, where many of them are detained at Villawood.

Every immigration program follows distinctive procedure. Thus, when one is looking forward to immigrate to a new country, it is very important for that person to have the proper understanding of the application process for the particular program that he/she has opted for. It fact, the secret of successful immigration lies in the proper understanding of the application process and little homework beforehand.

Let’s have a look at the application procedure for Canadian Federal Skilled Worker program:

• Before an applicant is set to work on the application process, he/she must confirm that the Federal Skilled Worker category is appropriate for him. It follows choosing the right application form.
• The applicant is required to get his/her qualifications, occupation, experience, and other required documents assessed by the authorized body.
• When filling up the form(s), the applicant must make sure that he/she has put in all the details carefully and it is complete. Incomplete forms are most likely to be rejected.
• The fee for the processing of the application for the applicant as well as dependants should be submitted along with the forms.
• Once the applicant is done with these steps, the application will go to the Centralized Intake Office (CIO) in Nova Scotia, Canada. Here, things undergo scrutiny and the CIO will decide whether the application meets the prerequisites for the Federal Skilled Worker program. If they find the application fulfills the criteria, they would forward it to the designated country visa office, otherwise if they end up with a negative decision, the application is most likely to be returned back.
• This follows the submission of the application along with all the essential documents at the local visa office.
• The applicant must provide the IELTS test score report earned for the language proficiency at the visa office.
• The applicant must bear his/her expenses related to medical and security clearances.
• Once the applicant is approved to immigrate to Canada, he/she must pay for the Right to Permanent Resident fee. However, the fee, which covers both the applicant and his/her spouse or law partner, should be paid before the applicant is issued with the PR visa. Afterwards, if the applicant decides not to use this visa, the fee would be refunded.
• Last but not the least, the applicant must submit his/her passport to be stamped on the visa.

The process of making application is one of the most important parts of the whole immigration process. This is the phase where you should be presented yourself watchfully in order to make your immigration successful. While, you may find it critical at times, hiring an Immigration and Visa consultant would be the smartest move you could make!

Reports say that the Indian government is planning to make amendments in the guidelines on Conference and Tourist Visa. Union Home Secretary G K Pillai has confirmed that the Home Ministry has received a lot of complaints against the present regulations. Therefore, the Centre is working on easing out the guidelines to make it easier for the overseas academicians to visit the country.

The criticism is against all those guidelines that specify that overseas participants from 8 countries need to go through the security clearance from the Ministry in order to get the Visa.

Pillai confirmed that the Ministry, in consultation with other agencies, is reworking on these guidelines and making it simpler for the foreign nations to come and visit the country. In addition, he committed that Government do make rules which may be not correct and it is a democratic society and we have the right to correct our mistakes too.

He went on to say that the ministry is deeply concerned for overseas nationals who come for a conference in the country. Therefore, it is mandatory to know their backgrounds and other essential details. The essence behind the regulations is to ensure the country’s security.

Pillai also mentioned that scholars having genuine backgrounds would no difficulties, especially if they are qualified from registered Universities.

Former foreign secretary Kanwal Sibal confirmed that it is essential to check the credentials of overseas applicants.

IPL is starting from tomorrow onwards. Just when I was thinking that everything is commencing in a smooth manner, a controversy regarding Match Fixing has emerged out of no where…

Two of the best batsmen in the cricketing history – Pakistan’s Younis Khan and Mohammad Yusuf, have been sentenced with a lifetime ban which surely marks and END to their cricketing careers. The news has drawn cry from cricket fans from all over the world, but that’s what these culprits deserve for backstabbing their own country – a country which has given them name, fame and almost everything throughout their lives. These so called traitors have sold their country for just a few bucks!

The speculations of Match Fixing started brewing during a recent series against Australia, when the Pakistani team lost against Australia by a huge margin. It was a clean sweep in Test Matches, One Days and T20… Imagine Pakistan’s teams didn’t even manage to win a single match! And do you guys remember the famous ball tampering incident involving Shahid Afridi in the same mentioned series. He chewed the ball as if he was eating an apple and that too in front of the whole media! I mean, imagine the guts of this Pakistani player!  How can he do so, when a small child can tell that Ball Tampering is a serious crime in Cricket!

The suspicion was bound to happen! After the series got over, PCB came into action and conducted a deep investigation, punishing the culprits their deserving punishments in the end!

Hence, here we are with the results: Both Younis Khan and Mohammad Yusuf have been permanently banned from the national team. In addition, present captain Shoaib Malik and bowler Rana Naved-ul-Hassan are sentenced not to show their faces in the team for one year. Each player was also fined $24,000. It has been said that hard-hitter Shahid Afridi, bowler Umar Akmal and wicket keeper Kamran Akmal may be fined Rs. 3 million each!

Pakistan has already faced serious bans for the last 12 months or so. It was not long back when it was stripped off from its right to conduct International Cricket matches in Pakistani stadiums. Wonder what the future has in store for the great Pakistan and its great Pakistani Team!!!

Reports say that the new comprehensive immigration bill would have regulations that would prevent the entry of undocumented workers in the country. One such implementation would be the introduction of ID Cards for overseas workers to prevent employers from recruiting undocumented and fake workers.

To be more specific, it would be mandatory to have a “NATIONAL BIOMETRIC IDENTIFICATION CARD” for all the overseas workers working for their US employers.

The proposal is in its initial stage. In addition, talks are that all the legal workers, be it the nationals or the overseas workers, would be given the ID card, provided they succeed to qualify for the necessary requirements and prove their eligibilities towards the same.

The ID card would be decked with embedded information to ensure 100% safeguard from illegal immigration. But the issue is draped with plenty of criticism too. The multinational companies, who make big profits through the aids from illegal overseas immigrants, would surely have their opposition towards this proposal, some day or the other. Do you think that these parties would let this bill pass so easily?

Some people also believe that the implementation would breach people’s privacy. The ID cards may serve as their national ID Cards too; therefore every moment could be easily tracked by the government. In addition, the government would track their working history, which in some cases, may not prove right for the general masses.

The core problem lies within the employers who hire these undocumented workers. Rather than enforcing harsh regulations on the employees, it becomes mandatory to impose stringent rules on the employers who hire illegal workers!

The government of UK has made some changes in the Immigration regulations, to further aid the entry of genuine students in the country. Below are the new amendments implemented under Tier 4 Student Visa. Have a look at them:

• If the student applicant is applying under Tier 4 Student Visa in General category to study a course which is not up to a Degree level course, then you will only work for 10 hrs/week.
• The minimum level of English course that Tier 4 Student Visa holders can enroll into is level B2 of CEFR.
• Applicants who are aged 16 or 17 and are applying under Tier 4 (Child) category, they are entitled to work only for 10hrs/week till the time their term is finished.
• Applicants applying for course for six month or less are not allowed to bring their relatives or family members.
• For those applying for a course lower than a Degree course won’t have the freedom to allow their dependants to work unless they fulfill the requirements set under Tier 1 or Tier 2 of the PBS.

Further changes would be introduced from April 2010. Students would surely be affected from the recent amendments, but this would ensure the entry of genuine applicants into the country. In addition, the rules would make sure that genuine students get the right time to work part time, in addition to their regular study hours.

Big hits, sixes all over the boundary, thrill, action, excitement, cheerleaders, big banners, advertisements, booze, fag, bollywood beauties, million dollars, betting, TRPs, smart cricketers in smart jerseys… That’s what we call IPL! A perfect amalgamation of glamour with cricket!

Let us dig into the past and freshen up our memories on what actually happened in earlier IPLs. Sit back, relax and cherish some of the strange or what we call “Kewl” Controversies!

• Sree-Harbhajan slapgate: Remember SreeSanth getting a huge slap on his face by his Indian teammate Bhajji during a clash between Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab? Of course, who can forget that? The controversy still prevails in their blood and holds the tendency to give us goose bumps ever single time we think about the incident! Poor Bhajji had to face a ban for the rest of the series!
• It is India, country of gods and religion! And here we are, playing in the midst of half naked, creepily dressed cheerleaders, distracting audience as well as players from their primary motto! Of course, the issue was bound to create controversy! And it surely did. Vijay Mallya brought in the concept of cheerleaders in action, and soon everyone followed! The political leaders even went on to call them “worse than bar dancers.”
• The presence of “racism” in IPL was seen as one of the critical facets in IPL. Two UK cheerleaders claimed that they were called “Negroes” and were ruled out of IPL matches!
• Who can forget the famous battle between Sourav Ganguly and KKR coach John Buchanan? Also, his theory of multiple captains (four formula) played a huge role in creating controversies in previous IPLs! I mean, that theory was really weird.
• KKR was also decked with another issue: a clash between Shah Rukh Khan and Sourav over various issues, including team selection.
• The funniest situation was when the last and second last teams of IPL1 went on to the play the finals in the IPL2. Here we are talking about Deccan Chargers and Royal Challengers Bangalore!
• In another controversy, the owner of Royal Challengers Bangalore sacked its CEO Charu Sharma and took the captaincy from Rahul Dravid after a poor performance from their so called Test team in the first session. Rahul Dravid replied back with full anguish and went on to become one of the best run getters in the second session of IPL! The performance helped him to gain his slot back in the One Day Internationals, but it didn’t last long!
• Ya! I remember one more! Kolkata Knight Riders owner Shah Rukh Khan was barred from visiting team’s dressing room! That created a lot of controversy!

Guys, you have more to share? Do let us know! The “Comment Feed” is waiting for your replies! HOWWZZAAAT?