Jackie Tran, the famous gangster of the crime world finally marked his presence at the Calgary International Airport, prior to his much awaited and already expected deportation to Vietnam. Earlier, the gangster was accused of indulging into crime deeds including drug trafficking, to name a few.

He finally boarded a flight to Vietnam, courtesy his lost fight over the immigration decision which commanded him to move out of Canada in the year 2004!

Earlier, the Federal Court of Canada denied interfering in Tran’s case, resulting in enforcing a decision against Tran’s favor. The deportation by The Immigration and Refugee Board also marked an end to Tran’s legal battle, allowing him to leave for his native Vietnam in a quiet manner.

He came to Canada in the year 1993. He was accompanied by his mother and a child! He holds a PR but never got the citizenship, which the experts are saying, is one of the vital facets in his deportation. Experts also believe that the case marks a huge question on how Canadian Immigration deals with non-citizens who are involved in criminal cases. The gangster was also involved in assaulting with a weapon, apart from other crimes!

Raj Sharma, Tran’s lawyer, provided some occurrences and tried to save him from the deportation, but the efforts failed in the end! Tran was also accused of having connections with the FOB Killers, which weaken the case further.

On one side, we pity him for not getting ample favor, for not being a Canadian citizen. On the other side, we favor the decision by the Canadian Immigration officials too, as how can they keep a person having criminal connection in their country!

The state of Alberta has been a tourist destination since the early twentieth century. The place has been known for its culture and history since the early years. The various attractions for the tourists include those of cultural and heritage sites which portray the history of Alberta, national parks, urban arts, indulge in adventure sports such as those of skiing, hiking and camping to name a few. The favorite tourist spots are Edmonton, Calgary and the Canadian Rockies.

Edmonton, which is also the capital city of Alberta, is known for the West Edmonton mall which is a shopper’s paradise. The place is also known as Canada’s Festival City where the summer season hosts a series of festivals. These include the Edmonton Folk Music Festival and the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival. The city has almost more than 4.4 million visitors each year.

Similar to the above, Calgary attracts around 4.2 million tourists annually. At least a million visitors come to Canada just to witness the Stampede which is a festival in Calgary. It is basically the celebration of the Wild West and the cattle ranching industry. The Banff National Park and the Jasper National Park are another attraction not to be missed out.

A vacation could be easily categorized into exploring the mountains, ski activities, hunting and fishing and so on. The Canadian Rockies in the south - west of Alberta is the best place to indulge in some activities to pump your adrenaline. You can get on hiking trails, horse riding and water rafting.

There are many skiing resorts and destinations in Alberta. Some of the famous resorts include Lake Louise Mountain Resort in the Banff region, Nakiska and Fortress in Kananaskis Country, Marmot Basin near jasper and so on.

The wild in Alberta offers a perfect ambiance to relax and rejuvenate. The Bow River is an excellent spot for fly fishing. There are many lakes in Alberta where the tourists are permitted fishing.

However, there is a lot more to explore. So pack up and to make things easier, consult a Visa specialist who can help you get your visa as soon as possible!

According to a recent press release, The Tourism Industry Association of Canada has applauded “Great Wolf Lodge in Niagara Falls” with a national award for its fine work in Human Resources Development.

Canada has always been one of the favorite tourist destinations for people from all over the globe as it has something to offer for everyone. It is glued with some of the spectacular cities like Vancouver, Calgary, Victoria, and Halifax, to name a few. Though it would be impossible for you as a tourist to visit all the Canadian cities, until and unless you are not on a year’s holiday, but visiting a few would surely help you to get a taste of diversities offered by all these cities in a brilliant way.

Canada is famous for its stupendous nature’s wonders like Niagara falls (most people visit Canada to solely witness its charm), Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks, Cabot Trail, Dinosaur Provincial Park and Nahanni National Park Reserve, etc. From children to adults, no one can be left untouched with the grandeur that this charming country has to offer.

Canada is decked with plenty of activities for people of all age groups. Be it camping, golfing, fishing, hiking, skiing, and snowboarding. So just tighten your belts and head towards Canada. Next comes the “Affordability” factor. Cities like Toronto and Vancouver are little expensive, but overall Canada serves a perfect example of an affordable country to visit for all the travelers.

The weather is perfect, the cuisines are marvelous, and with plenty of fun, Canada is the kind of destination that every traveler aims for! You want more? Visit Canada and witness the experience yourself.

Making career and finding better future options are some of the facets that are perhaps becoming top priorities for students out there. More than anything else, students are concerned about their faculty, institutions and the kind of education they get. This is perhaps one of the reasons, they don’t hesitate to leave their home country and choose the option of studying abroad. Check out some of the hottest study destinations:

1. The United Kingdom: Just as the destination is popular with vacationers, it is immensely applauded for its educational institutions, range of courses offered and faculty members. And if you are into literature and art, there is no better place than the UK. Just head on towards UK and know their culture and accent by indulging in some entertaining exchanges.
2. Australia: The country offers a perfect comfort zone for students, especially those belonging to the English-speaking zones. Sydney, Perth and Melbourne are most popular study hubs in Australia, thanks to some of the renowned universities like University of Sydney, The University of Sydney, Faculty of Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, La Trobe University, and Melbourne Business School, to name a few. Australia has lot to offer to students having any subject.
3. USA: USA as a study destination can be regarded as a brilliant choice to perfect your academic career and enhance your chances of working with some of the top professionals. Students from various countries flock in to study some of their favorite subjects in well-recognized US Universities.
4. Canada: The country offers a diverse range of more than 90 Institutions and is famous for its high quality of education. With a country offering diversity like no other, Canada with its two official language- English and French, can be a perfect choice for you. Some of the options include Academy Canada, Acadia University, Alberta Vocational College – Calgary, Cégep Joliette-De Lanaudière, College Militaire Royale, and Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal, to name a few.
5. Italy: Know that Europe’s oldest university is in Italy! Students from all over the world come to study in some of the best Italian educational institutes like European School of Economics, European University Institute, Institute of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, and Istituto Universitario di Architettura (Venezia). It is advised that students should not limit themselves to the places about which they have just heard. Rather, they must check out institutions in other Italian cities as well. There is more to Italy, then just pasta, pizza, the Leaning Tower of Pisa and wine! Go and explore its educational aspects.
6. Mexico: The place is getting increasingly popular with students planning to study and learn the meaning of life at the same time! The line sounds interesting! Isn’t it? The practical experience offered by the country is even more exciting and full of learning experiences. Just study your favorite subjects and make your career in Mexico! In addition, it is a great place to learn Spanish.

The list doesn’t end here. Consult an Immigration and Study Visa expert now and know more about your options of studying abroad.

Like every year, Mercer Consulting organized and conducted a survey on the best cities to work in the world. This survey caters to help the companies and governments across the world to make the world a better place for employment. More than 200 cities from different parts of the world were ranked in this study.

The various aspects included in the study were cost of living, infrastructure and so on.

The results of the survey showed five of the Canadian cities to be the best in the world in terms of standards of living. These include Ottawa, Calgary, Montreal, Vancouver and Toronto. Vancouver was rated as the top city in North America ranking fourth in the world. This has clearly proved Canada elevating beyond any other city in the United States.

Other readings showed Ottawa moving three places up and ranking at 16th. However, Calgary went down by a position at the 26th spot. But, Toronto and Montreal were at the same rank as that of last year (15th and 22nd respectively).

The results also showed the effects of the recession with reducing numbers of the internationally – stationed employees. Due to this, many international assignments are being re – worked because of the financial crunch which has led to cost cutting initiatives. The survey also showed a reduction in the number of projects being implemented.

So, if recession has not perturbed you in any manner, then we suggest Vancouver being a great city to immigrate in Canada. Contact an Immigration and Visa veteran dealing with Canadian immigration since he would be in the best position to tell about the current scenario in Canada.

You have finally immigrated to Canada! Wow! No need to say that the last few days of completing the whole immigration process were really hectic and full of excitement. That phase has passed now. Now you must think about establishing yourself in Canada! Right?

You need to consider various aspects such as settling down, finding an accommodation, a nice job, getting your children enrolled in a good institution, to name a few. The very first thing that you need to do is run your mind through the following check list:

• Make sure that you have ample bank-balance to support self and dependants (if any). Also assure that you apply and/or shortlist some of the likely employers for a credible job in order to earn a stable income and maintain your bank-balance.
• Start exploring your “Housing Options.” Different places like Calgary, Toronto and Ottawa (to name a few) offer different prices as far as the accommodation is concerned. Make your move wisely.
• You have to see to it that you have applied for the Canadian identification and carry the relevant documents (like your license etc.) with you every time. In addition, keep some of the bank-receipts handy with yourself. You never know when you can need them.
• It is a wise option to keep some Canadian currency with you. You can exchange your money for the Canadian currency.
• Take care of yourself and maintain a health insurance that would keep you away from the future hassles. Take at least three months insurance for self and all family members immediately on landing on a PR visa. A wise decision would be to get one before landing in Canada.
• It is also beneficial to apply for a Health Insurance Card as soon as possible and permitted.
• Learn more about the local aspects like the transportation, pricing of basic utilities and so on. This way, you can keep yourself updated with the information on the current happenings around you. (Tip: Get a local map of your area and have a sneak peak of all the places located near you)
• Start working on your language and communication skills: This would help you in interacting with the local masses and keep your thoughts in front of them in a better way.
• Make a search and list out agencies and organizations – Government and NGO- that are mandated to help the newly landed immigrants and their families on various aspects related to starting the new life in Canada.
• You can also search communities, religious agencies and organizations that can help you in establishing a network with the already settled people in Canada.
• Last, but certainly not the least: Know about your rights and responsibilities under the Canadian Law and Human Rights.

Migrating to a new country is never easy. Such matters require a professional assistance from an experienced veteran beside you. Hire an immigration specialist today.

Have a Happy Stay!

An “Authentic” Place to Live In!

Calgary is regarded as one of the cheapest, yet a comfortable place to live, study and work, when compared with other major cities of Canada. The critical aspect is that, with the drop in the expenses, the quality of life has not been sacrificed at all.

Apart from being a stupendous city to live in, the place is decked with some of the enormous sightseeing options for all its habitants. Aero Space Museum, Bow Valley Ranch, Calgary Chinese Cultural, Canada Olympic Park and Calgary Zoo are some of the places that are a must watch for every person visiting Calgary.

An Overview on Accommodation

The main reason for a modest cost of living in Calgary is the weakening rate of Canadian dollar that has labeled the place as one of the cheapest to live in. The housing rates are much cheaper as compared to other major cities. For instance, one can easily buy a Standard Two-Storey at a cost price of somewhere between $390,700 and $400,000. Similarly, a Townhouse can range $301,600 and can go up to $330,000 (based on a 25% down payment and a 25-year mortgage loan at a 5-year fixed rate, which is exclusive of maintenance fees)

Students can get various options as far as their accommodation is concerned. Apart from the Campus Residence, students can opt for the “Temporary Accommodation” that may range somewhere between $1,089.00 and $1,200.00 per month for a two-bedroom apartment.

Distribution of Annual Basic Expenses (Per Household)

Food: $7,815 - $7,900
Shelter: $16,391 - $16,491
Household Operation: $3,807 - $3,900
Transportation: $13,458 - $13,600
Personal Taxes: $25,800 - $26,800

Transportation

Calgary Transit is a critical resource for people belonging to middle-class, students and elders in a major way. The transportation network besets a wide range of road, rail, air and pedestrian facilities and serves as a huge contentment for all the Calgarians out there.

The “C-Train” or Light Rail Transit (LRT) system serves a huge benefit for students as it has a University station on the east side of campus. In addition, students find a great comfort in traveling, with the presence of various bus stops that are located at the main entrances of various campuses.

Other Expenses

Always save some amount of money for unexpected expenses on a daily basis. Some of these expenses may include entertainment costs, dental and medical bills, insurance, investments such as IPO’s, shares and debentures and so on.

All in all, Calgary is one of the favorite places to stay and spend time with your loved ones. Hire the services of an adept immigration consultancy firm to know more about the immigration process and get ready to experience the feeling of “AWE”!