Canada Visa Application Online Resource

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Changes on the proof of language proficiency rule

Language proficiency is one of the six selection factors in Canada's Points System. To prove language proficiency in French or English, applicants could either submit IELTS Examination Results or a written submission to a visa officer. The written submission was intended for people whose first language is either English or French. If the Visa Officer is not satisfied with the written submission, they are required to offer these applicants the opportunity to submit the results of a designated language test within a certain time period. That was rule before.

Effective April 10, 2010, this rule will be changed.

Improvements to proof of language rules will increase fairness, reduce delays, says Immigration Minister

Ottawa, March 10, 2010 — The Government of Canada is streamlining the process for assessing the language skills of applicants to the Federal Skilled Worker and Canadian Experience classes, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced today.

“The language requirements themselves have not changed,” said Minister Kenney. “But beginning April 10, 2010, prospective immigrants will be required to prove their English and French language abilities at the time they apply. This requirement supports our commitment to fast, fair and efficient application processing.”

Previously, to prove language ability in French or English, applicants could either submit an independent, third-party test or a written submission to a visa officer. The written submission was intended for people whose first language is either English or French. However, many applicants whose first language was not English or French were taking advantage of the written submission. The submission wouldn’t adequately prove their ability and they would have to provide further evidence, leading to processing delays that could take months.[Source]

This change in the proof of language proficiency rules shouldn't really affect you if you are a client of Canadian Immigration Consultancy. We do not encourage written submission as proof of language proficiency, as we know that it will only cause delay in the process and worst, possible cause of refusal.

Tuesday, March 02, 2010

Embassy of Canada in Chile

The Embassy of Canada in Chile has temporarily moved to Hotel Rugendas located in Callao 3123, Las Condes, Santiago. It was due to the February 27th earthquake in Chile.

The Embassy of Canada in Santiago has been affected and the visa section of the embassy is temporarily closed. CIC is making every effort to restore services as soon as possible.

Temporary resident visa applicants who need to travel to Canada before the visa office re-opens are asked to submit their applications to another Canadian visa office. Persons with Permanent Resident applications in process should be assured that full processing is expected to resume shortly. Please check this website for updates.[Source]

For more information about Embassy of Canada in Chile, visit http://chile.gc.ca

Authorization Letter from Canadian Board of Immigration Lawyers

If you are actively looking from employers in Canada through the Internet and somebody asked you to get an Authorization Letter from Canadian Board of Immigration Lawyers and that you need to pay $85 to get it, PLEASE DO NOT MAKE ANY PAYMENT!

It's a scam!

LAW OFFICE, IMMIGRATION LAWYERS CANADA
OPEN 24 HOURS FROM MONDAY TO SUNDAY.
Greater Toronto
Law Offices of Charles W. Pley.
Address; 102, Sherwood Heights Drive Ontario, Canada.

Attention; On behalf of the immigration airport lawyers and board of directors.
An immigrant who is visiting Canada as a Tourist or invitation to visit any of the Canadian Hotel for work or Any Company, examination cannot be concluded at the port of entry by the officer, A visitor visa is a document or stamp in the passport (in most cases) which allows entry of a person into Canada as the person meets the requirements of the Act for the purpose of visiting Canada.

Visitors must apply to a Canadian Board of Immigration Lawyers and obtain admission in such an institute as you have contacted us. This institute must be certified by the Immigration Authority for the issuance of the AUTHORIZATION LETTER.

But before we can issue you the AUTHORIZATION LETTER, as requested by the Immigration Bureau Ottawa Department Canada to enable your Visa to be issued at the Canadian Embassy, you are required to pay the sum of $85 Dollars for the issuance of your AUTHORIZATION LETTER.

This is generally mentioned in the prospectus of the Tourist or Invitation by any Hotel or Company for work in Canada. And immediately your document is Approved Admission in that particular institute will qualify him / her for Working Permit Visa Approval Authorization, if you are ready to pay for the processing fee and obtain the AUTHORIZATION LETTER. You can contact our zonal tourist department on how you will make your payment in their office.

Note: you are advised to contact them through this email address below so that they will direct you how you will go and make the payment to their office.

Touristsimmigrantsdepartmentcvi@yahoo.ca

Note; As soon as we receive your payment fee from our zonal tourist department, you will be issued the AUTHORIZATION LETTER immediately as requested by the Immigration Bureau Department Canada, which will guarantee the issuance of your Visa at the Canadian Embassy. Be inform that you have only 48 hours to send us the payment confirmation receipt from our zonal tourist department, failure to do so your entire documents will be terminated.

THE BARRISTER. DAVID COHEN
DIRECTOR GENERAL OF IMMIGRATION LAWYERS
January 2010.

The above letter was forwarded to my by one of my blog readers. He's almost ready to pay them but fortunately he asked me first. You do not need Authorization Letter from Canadian Board of Immigration Lawyers to process your work permit. And there is no such thing as Immigration Bureau Ottawa Department Canada.

Atty. David Cohen is a legitimate Canadian Lawyer but his name is apparently being used by these scammers.

Mark is now in Vancouver!

If you have read my post about Guide for Filipino Nurses, you will be familiar with the case of Mr. Mark Hernandez. For those who are just new here, Mark sent his resume to me for assessment a year ago. He is a Registered Nurse but at the time, he barely have one year work experience. He is not eligible to apply under Federal Skilled Worker program and like what I normally advise to those who are not yet eligible, I told him to start looking for a job offer from Canada (Here's how to find jobs in Canada).

He did and he is now working in the beautiful city of Vancouver!

I haven't met Mark in person but we constantly communicate through email and IM's. Yesterday, he told me that he was able to watch 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics! He also told me that he met Marieton Pacheco last month.

See you in Vancouver soon, Mark! :-)

Baguio City Immigrant's Party | Celebrating Panagbenga Festival

Canadian Immigration Consultancy - Baguio Office celebrated Panagbenga Festival not by participating in Panagbenga Float Parade. Instead, we held an Immigrant's Party at Hotel Supreme, where some 30 applicants were awarded their visas!

That is the reason why I was in Baguio City last weekend.

Some of the visa grantees took them 5 years to get their visas, while some others took only 5 months. Some made it smoothly but there's this client whose application was initially refused but after we appealed his case, he eventually got the approval.

Most of the visa grantees are Registered Nurses and Physicians who initially thought of trying their luck in the US. There's also a number of College Instructors from different Universities in Baguio City who received the visa.

If, until now, you're still in doubt about the 6-12 months processing for Permanent Resident Visa application, it will be your loss. These applicants will be moving to Canada soon! If you are eligible to apply, start your application NOW! Don't let this opportunity just pass by.

Online Resource for Newcomers | Finding newcomer services in your area

As you may have noticed, more and more applicants are getting their visas within a short processing period of 6 months on the average. These new immigrants will have a common concern once they landed in Canada - Finding newcomer services in their area.

Well, here's a good news.

Minister Kenney announces expanded on-line resource for newcomers

Ottawa, March 1, 2010 — From finding information on how to start a new business to opening a bank account, there are many steps newcomers take to successfully make their way in Canada. Now, an internet resource has been created for newcomers to help them quickly and easily find a range of government services, in addition to settlement services, in their communities, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced today. This resource is easy to find at www.servicesfornewcomers.cic.gc.ca.

“The Services for Newcomers resource has been put in place to help newcomers find the private sector and government services they need to succeed. With this resource, newcomers will easily find the many services available to them, such as how to buy their first home,” said Minister Kenney. “This can only increase their chance of successful integration within their new communities, and this is an important goal for Canada.” [Source]

The said Online Resource for newcomers has two major services being offered - Community Service and Government Service.

Community services for newcomers include free services such as:

language training

help with everyday tasks

finding a job

helping newcomers adjust to life in Canada

Government services include:

driver's license

passport

health care

government benefits

For more information, visit www.servicesfornewcomers.cic.gc.ca/.

Before moving to Canada, be very sure to check out Canadian Immigration Integration Project (CIIP) too!

March 2010 Visa Bulletin

March 2010 Visa Bulletin is now out! Visa Bulletin is a monthly newsletter I am sending to my clients to keep them informed of the latest in Canada's Immigration program.

Sunday, February 28, 2010

Canada PR Visa for the Perez Family

The Perez received their PR Visas on Feb 10, 2010. It only took five months after submitting their application and supporting documents to Canadian Visa Office Manila on September 2009!

Ms. Alma Perez is a Registered Nurse who have several years of experience as a Company Nurse. I have said it before and I'm saying it again, you don't need a hospital experience to qualify as a Nurse. And this is another proof.

If you are just a new registered nurse and is planning to live and work in Canada you do not have to acquire a hospital experience. Volunteer work in a hospital does not count as work experience under Canada's Points System in determining your eligibility.