On 10th March 2010, the government of Canada announced certain amends to be brought about in the criteria for excepted language skills. These changes would be applicable for all those applying under the Federal Skilled Worker and the Canadian Experience class. This was announced by Jason Kenney, the Minister for Immigration and Multiculturalism.

Clarifying the above, Kenney said that the language skills criterion has not changed as such. The only change is that from now on, the applicants have to submit the proof of their language skills while submitting their application itself. So, the applicant has to now submit his proficiency either in English or French since these are the two official languages for Canada. This amend has been brought about to ensure faster processing of the applications.

Earlier, the applicants were permitted to either submit a written statement or a test conducted by a third party that is independent from the Citizenship and Immigration Canada. The written statement was meant for those who had English or French as their first language. But this was not being limited to the above. Those not having the above as their first language were also due advantage of the same. These written statements did not prove the candidate’s proficiency in the practical use of the language. So, they had to provide with other forms of evidence which obviously lead to a processing delay.

With this, all the applicants would be given a single chance to prove their proficiency in the same. However, they are still free to submit a written statement.

On the other hand, submitting test results for the language skills would ensure quick and genuine processing of the application. With this, these tests would also let the applicants know of their standing in the same. After getting their test results, they would be in a better position to decide on whether to apply for immigration or not. Incase of written statements, the applicants would not know how much they have scored till their application has not been assessed by the relevant authority.

However, it is recommended to present with the test results straight away to avoid any forms of delay.

It has to be realized that for any immigrant, the language skills are the key indicators to his success rate in the job market. The better his language skills, the more likely are his chances of landing with a good job.

When it comes to the applicants of the Canadian Experience Class, it is mandatory for them to meet the requisites for the same. For the Federal Skilled Workers, a maximum of twenty four points are awarded for this criterion.

Recently, Prince Edward Island, Canada made changes to its Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). With the implementation of new amendments, immigrants will find it easier to go through the program in order to meet the requirements needed to obtain residency in Prince Edward Island!

Earlier, individuals who intended to migrate to Canada under the PEI PNP Entrepreneur Stream had to deposit $25,000 as an evidence of good faith, along with the intention of settling in the province. However, the amount gets refunded, given the applicant had resided in the province for a year. As per the new amendment, this requirement has now been relaxed.

Also immigrant entrepreneurs whose proficiency in English or French, being the two officially accepted languages in Canada is insufficient were required to deposit an amount of $20,000, that to be returned after they demonstrated a certain level of language skills in either of the languages. With the changes to the PNP, the PEI government lowered the standard for the official language skills.

The PNP is a federal-Provincial partnership between the governments of Canada and Prince Edward Island. The program was introduced to accelerate immigration to Canada for individuals, as well as families who intend to settle in Prince Edward Island. As per the rules of the program, applicants must meet the basic requirement of having moderate proficiency in either of the two Canada’s official languages, English or French. PNP allows applicants to immigrate under three categories- (1) Skilled Worker; (2) Immigrant Entrepreneur; and (3) Immigrant Partner.

The Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada is a judiciary committee that reports to the Canadian government on issues linked with Immigration and Refugee. At present, Brian P. Goodman, is the current chairman of the committee.

The Board is decked with four divisions: Refugee Protection Division, Immigration Division, Immigration Appeal Division and Refugee Appeal Division. Each division of IRB has the onus of making decisions on various immigration related issues, but the tribunal process for every division remains the same. The hearing is commenced in the similar way as if a hearing is going on in a court, rather in an informal manner. The process follows Canadian laws. Following are some of the facets linked with the Tribunal process:

The applicant appearing before IRB holds the right to be represented by a trusted source (for instance an Immigration and Visa consultant, family member, to name a few). In addition, you have all the freedom to present arguments and documents for your case.
Hearing can be held by various means like in person, video conference or telephonic conversation also. The language used can be English or French and the applicant has the right to choose the language for his hearing. Person concerned can also apply for an interpreter.
“Member” is the term given to those who hear the case. Also, the hearings of the refugee are kept private while others can be made public.
The decision is made on the basis of the background of the applicant, documents and evidences provided by the concerned person, rules and regulations of the Canadian law and the hearing.
It is mandatory that the judge (also known as Member) should justify the decision made by him by giving ample reasons to support the final decision.

For more information on the cases applied under the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, take advice from an expert Immigration veteran and commence further.

Of late, the Canadian province of Quebec is seeing growth in the population of English-speaking people, better known as Anglophones! Montreal, the largest city in Quebec further has experienced the considerable flow of Anglophones in recent years. Ever since the inception of the Charter of the French Language or the Bill 101, English has been an endangered language in Quebec. But, it is seen that the language is getting stronger in Montreal. According to a StatsCan report, Anglophone population in Quebec rose by about 5.5 percent in the period between 2001 and 2006.

The Bill 101, a fundamental law in Quebec, Canada, passed in 1977 defines the linguistic rights of Quebecers and states French as the sole official language in the province. Even though the law was passed to protect the French language, it somehow had affected the inhabitants of Quebec who speak English, belong to “minorty” group. English-speaking minority. Soon after the enaction of the charter, English language had gone endangered.

Then Minister of Cultural Development, Quebec, Camille Laurin proposed the Bill 101, which was later enacted by the National Assembly of Quebec on August 26 in the 1977. The primary purpose of the charter was to promote the use of French as the official, as well as public language of all Quebecers. It also emphasized to increase the francization on immigrants. In an attempt to do this, English language was being restricted to children who were already in the education system; their siblings; children whose parents had attended an English elementary education in Quebec or children of parents who were temporarily posted in the province.

But, the recent years saw a change in the trend. The year 2006 witnessed the first growth in English-speaking population in Quebec in last thirty-five years, contributed mostly by population from other provinces of Canada. During the first six months of 2009, an estimated 12,348 Anglophones entered Quebec from other Canadian provinces. The reason behind the growing number of Anglophones in Quebec, especially Montreal might have been a cultural shift that has been instrumental in making English acceptable in the workplace in Quebec!

Being the French dominant Canadian province, I couldn’t think of a better heading that expressing it in French. Quebec is one province which is a part of Canada yet it is very distinct from the other provinces. Millions of tourists from different parts of the world throng the state every year. It is one of those very few places in North America that has kept the Francophone culture alive. This has ensured to keep the feel of the Europe alive in this state.

Tourism in Quebec is the fifth largest industry in the state. With a mix of cultures existing together in the same province makes for an interesting place to visit and explore. Not to miss out are the cities of Montreal and Quebec.

Montreal could be considered as the only city in North America to have safely preserved the Francophone culture. It is also the second largest Francophone city after Paris. The major neighborhoods to be visited include Chinatown, Little Italy, Old Montreal, Latin Quarter, Quartier International and so on. The city is known for its architecture and cultural events.

The Quebec City is the second most populous city in the province. On the banks of the Saint River Lawrence with Levis on the opposite bank, it is one of the oldest and a spectacular city. The city is known for its summer festivals and the winter carnivals. Check out the Chateau Frontenac which is a city hotel touching the Quebec skylines. Other sights include the Montmorency Falls and so on.

For a traveler, there are loads to indulge into from adventure sports to leisure activities. The province has twenty seven national parks for a tourist to visit at will. Apart from these are museums, casinos, theme parks, cruises and other sites of historical importance.

Other activities involve hiking, fishing and hunting, cycling, skiing, snowmobiling and much more…

So plan a vacation today!

From the CEO’s Desk…

The year 2009 was a turning point for the Immigration Industry in different aspects. Many countries faced challenges of balancing their immigration policies and targets in line with looming recession. Those who received their Immigration visas were not sure whether or not and when to land in the new country. And despite toughening the economic scenario and the immigration polices, people who applied for immigration continued to have an upswing.

The immigration consulting market became more interesting with new products like Denmark Green card and Hong Kong Quality Migrant program coming into picture. Of the two, the Denmark Green card is the biggest disappointment. The Denmark Visa Consulate offices lack the necessary Human Resources and Infrastructure to manage the constant inflow of applications. This has resulted in the ever increasing application processing delays and the absolute lack of transparency while processing. In addition, it being a non-immigrant visa has discouraged many applicants and those who qualify for other options prefer Canada and Australia as they offer Permanent Resident status from the first day post landing.

UK Tier 1 became tougher with educational requirements being limited to Master’s degree holder. As the year ends, it has been proposed that the Tier 1 program has become too tough and even Bachelors degree holders should also be permitted to apply. However, this program is known for its quicker (mostly under one month) processing. On the negative side, the higher application fee and the procedure of demonstrating funds is a major deterrent for those interested.

Australia adopted stringent processing time frames and by the final quarter, only occupations nominated under the CSL (Critical Skills List) were expected to get (within 12-15 months) priority processing. Majority of the other lists and categories will experience longer processing delays – at times more than 3 years.

Canada is the surprise winner and despite a very limited occupation list, the country continues to attract maximum interest from prospective Immigrants. The main reason for this is the shorter processing timelines. Also, its geographical positioning making it neighbours with the USA is another advantage. But as the year closes, there are strong rumours that Citizenship and Immigration Canada is proposing to toughen its selection criteria. Hence, this country is being eyed very keenly this New Year.

Prospective Immigrants also interested in the French Skills Talent and Migration visa; although it has a very limited in scope as it is essentially targeted at the self employed, entrepreneurs and investors.

ABHINAV stood out amongst other consultants. It grew its business by over 100% and we are among one of the few India based consultants that meet the requirements of authorised representatives as prescribed by Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Our highly trained human resources ensure that our clients get excellent services irrespective of the country they apply for.  Our website – www.abhinav.com – is now among the premium Immigration websites and enjoys top 26,000 ranking at year end.

Exciting years lie ahead and the company has earmarked Pune and Hyderabad as its new office location. Both these new branches will be operational by March’31st 2010.

In Immigration business since 1994, the company is best placed to service aspirations of immigration and visa applicants out of India and around.

Ajay Sharma

Principal Immigration Consultant of Abhinav

Jason Kenney, Immigration Minister Canada has recently criticized the fact that people with poor language skills easily gain Canadian Citizenship. Though it is mandatory to have proficiency in Canadian languages including French and English, Kenney says that the language requirements are not enforced in a strict manner, which leads to immigrants with poor language skills.

He recently held a meeting with certain citizens residing for more than 15 years and found that none of them were able to converse in either of the official languages. Now the minister is planning to revamp the Immigration process in order to increase the priority given to the official languages of Canada.

The amendments would also ease out the procedure with which foreign credentials are accepted and will assist the applicants applying for Canadian Immigration in a major way.

It is advised to take a language course before planning to migrate to Canada. It will not only provide you with an added advantage in your application process but would help you cope with an altogether new world of Canada. In addition, you can hire the services of an Immigration and Visa advisor to know more.

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.

Are you on the look out for immigration options? Finding it hard to decide as to which country is the best – Canada or Australia? Given the recent circumstances such as the recession and the racial attacks in Australian, a prospective immigrant has to weigh his options more carefully. Both the countries more or less follow a similar pattern to judge candidates for immigration. This is done on the Points Based System for both the countries.

Also, both the countries are two of the developed nations of the world which puts them at a very enviable position. This makes it a tough choice for a prospective immigrant to select which country to opt for.

On one hand, Canada is closer to the United States and to UK. Thus, it leads to easier and less travel costs for the frequent travelers to these countries. The country has a perfect climate except for the places close to the Arctic. This means Christmas falls in the winters. The commonly spoken languages are English and French. Here, the costs of fast moving consumer goods and other electronic items are comparatively cheaper. All the provinces in the country are more or less independent of each other. Thus, there is a lot of variation in the laws for each and every state.

On the other hand, Australia has a better process of accreditation for the foreign trained professionals. Climate is another plus point since it’s an island continent. However, it cannot be generalized for the entire Australia. The specifications for all the white goods especially the electronics would require a separate configuration altogether. This might pose as a problem. Although, the country is in close proximity to Asia. With an Australian passport, you are liable to be a resident of New Zealand.

Above all, both the countries are not highly populated giving space to each and every individual. With this, immigrants are welcomed with open arms and are considered as an asset to the development to the country’s economy. Both have a multi – cultural society with immigrants coming from across the globe. This makes both the places apt for immigration.

However, based on your individual preferences, an Immigration and Visa Expert would be able to guide you better. He would be updated with the latest in this regard. So, get in touch with one today!

It is mandatory for all the children residing in Canada to receive the basic education. The Canadian government offers it for free of cost to all children. This education is paid for via the taxes and is looked after by the particular provincial governments in collaboration with the local school boards.

This public education starts from the age of 4 or 5 years depending on the territory or province. The child should continue this education till 15 or 16 years of age. This has to be done in compliance with the provincial or the territorial laws where the child resides.

It would be better if you get to know about the education system in advance so that it is easier for you and your child to cope with the changes. To know more, you can visit the particular provincial website for the Ministry of Education which would enlighten you on the same.

Select a particular school for your child. Your selection should be based on the distance from where you reside. The best is to select one which is at a walking distance from your house. If not, then school buses are available for transportation at a very minimal cost. Also, there are many different types of school systems in Canada. So, you have to get to know on that aspect as well.

For this, you have to contact the local school board which administers the procedures for all the public schools in the community. It is mandatory that you submit the relevant documentation as requested by the officials.

Also, new students especially if they are immigrants would be tested before they are enrolled into a particular school. This is to ensure that the child is allotted the right class or grade to continue his education further.

Apart from enrolling, you have to see to it that the child is making constant progress. Extra effort has to be put in since the child would be under culture shock and may find it difficult to cope with it.

To know more on the educational aspects in Canada, contact an Immigration and Visa Specialist who deals with the same. He can provide you with more accurate information on the same.