It is really tough to make some sense of the highly complex and ever-changing immigration system of Canada–what with many legislative changes, regulatory amendments, studies, and proposals being undertaken at the drop of a hat, and almost round the year, by the Canadian Government.
And with the Immigration Minister of the country publically declaring so-called transformational changes to the immigration system of the nation, but desisting from making public as to what the government has in its mind, the situation on this front seems to have become even more complex and perplexing—at least for the many would-be migrants and other affected people.
In the backdrop of the fresh refugee law likely to make its way sometime towards the close of the June month this year–and the plans brought forth in the budget to do away with an oppressive backlog of the old trained worker applications–some concerned people tried to find out what lies ahead for the nearly 250,000 fresh migrants who turn-up in the Maple Country every year with high hopes for a better future.
When they asked the involved people from the government what kind of immigration system does Ottawa favor, they were duly informed that the government wishes to introduce a comparatively quick and flexible, bang-on-time system which does not ignore the majority, and which woos those overseas employees who possess the desired language qualifications, employment qualifications, besides Canadian experience.
They were further told that the first-come, first-served system of the country is in the pipeline. Though Ottawa would embrace those facing persecution, it looks for looks for additional authority over who is offered with refuge even as it will not entertain those who arrive at the Canadian borders unlawfully, in large numbers, and through human trafficking operations.
They (the interviewers) were also duly informed that although the issue of the family reunification continues to be vital, the same may be achieved in a much better and improved manner, so that it does not end-up bleeding the healthcare system of the country.
On being probed what issues Ottawa is attempting to resolve, the interviewers were duly informed that in the absence of tough restrictions put on the number of applications entertained, huge backlogs appeared–more so in the family and economic categories, even as this invited long waiting times, which, at times, crawled over to as much as seven years.
In addition, people from the economic categories are time and again being granted admissions on the basis of the qualifications the nation may have looked for when they may have applied, and which, however, may no longer be applicable years later on—which, at the end of the day, dents their employability.
On being probed what the government is doing to address the issue of the backlogs, they were informed that the 2012 budget will do away with a backlog of nearly 300,000 trained workers who had duly applied to arrive on the soils of the nation prior to 2008. And, an amount of close to $130 million will be returned back to such people even as they will be encouraged to duly apply again, via certain changes, which were introduced earlier.
The interviewers were, however, also told that it’s misty as to what will happen to the backlog of nearly 88,555 migrant investors and 10,000 prospective entrepreneurs—the reason being both those programs were being revamped.
Ottawa has temporarily cancelled the entrepreneur program even as it has come up with a new limit of 700 applications per annum on the investor program. Restrictions have also been placed on the privately sponsored refugees and trained workers, who do not have pre-arranged job offers.
On being asked what lies ahead for the economic immigrants, the interviewers were duly informed that economic immigrants—people picked-up on the grounds of their employment qualifications—constitute nearly 62% of the total migrants to the country.
Changes are in the pipeline to be made to the selection system which is points based, for the federal trained workers. This is being done to prioritize young individuals, those having good language proficiency, and those who already have grabbed a job.
Ottawa is also giving the temporary overseas workers and global students extra credit for the Canadian experience they may have acquired, by making it much easier for them to pocket the much sought after permanent residency status of the nation.
On being asked what lies ahead for the migrants–who come under the family category–the interviewers were duly informed that the said category (family category) constitutes 25% of the total admissions. Ottawa has made available the much talked about supervise, which is a fresh 10-year, multiple-entry visa. The said visa was introduced during the month of November the last year, even while it would enable the parents and grandparents to travel to the country, for a maximum of years, at a given time, and visit their near & dear ones there.
When the interviewers asked what lies in the future for the refugees, they were informed that they (the refugees) constitute just one-tenth of the total admissions made to the country per annum. They (the interviewers) were also informed that the government favors those who duly apply to arrive on the Canadian shores from the foreign refugee camps, instead of those who turn-up at the borders and look for refuge.
