Omega Immigration Services

07/22/2018

07/22/2018

01/12/2018

North West Territories Nomination Program:
Business Driven Program

The Business-Driven Program of the NWTNP seeks to attract Applicants with business expertise and substantial investment capital to settle in the NW Territories and enhance their economic environment.
This immigration program is for foreign nationals with the ability to establish, purchase, or invest in an existing business. Applicants are selected primarily on the basis of their ability to create jobs for the foreign national and other Canadians living in the region.
The application process begins with a working business concept and a desire to move to the Northwest Territories (NWT). Prospective applicants submit complete applications and business plans for review to the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment. If the applicant is accepted and the business plan is implemented, a nomination certificate will be issued and the applicant may apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent resident status.
There are two streams under the NTNP's Business Driven Program:
1. Entrepreneur Stream
2. Self Employed Stream (permanently closed)

The Nomination Process
There are eight steps to the nomination process:
Step 1: Self-Assessment and Initial Investigations
Step 2: Further Investigations and Face‐to‐Face Interview(s)
Step 3: Initiating the Application Process and Pre‐Screening
Step 4: Formal Application
Step 5: Application Review
Step 6: Approval and the Business Performance Agreement
Step 7: Developing the Business
Step 8: Nomination

Minimum Eligibility Criteria
Minimum Requirements for the Entrepreneur Stream
In order to be eligible as an entrepreneur under the Business-Driven Program, applicants must:
• Invest: CDN 300,000.00 minimum
• Have a personal net worth: CDN 500,000.00
• Demonstrate that they own at least one-third (33.3 percent) of the business;
• Provide a good faith deposit of $75,000 CAD to be held in a trust and released upon satisfactory ex*****on of the terms of the Business Performance Agreement;
• Demonstrate reasonable knowledge and understanding of the Northwest Territories and its economy;
• Demonstrate sufficient communication skills to conduct business in the Northwest Territories and to integrate into the local community; and
• Have the necessary experience and education to successfully implement the business plan.

If you need help with self assessment for this program, please call our office at +1 416-471-0516, we are here to help.

01/02/2018

Parents and Grandparents under Family class Sponsorship Program Reopened today

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) introduced a new application intake process in 2017 for sponsoring parents and grandparents. The required on-line "Interest to Sponsor" form will be available at noon EST on January 2, 2018 until noon February 1, 2018. This new process is intended to make it fairer and more transparent for applicants. Now, potential sponsors must first notify IRCC that they are interested in sponsoring their parents and grandparents by submitting an on-line "Interest to Sponsor" form. Using a random selection process, IRCC will then invite potential sponsors to apply to sponsor their parents and grandparents.

If you plan to sponsor your parents and/or grandparents under the family class category, please call our office at +1 416 471 0516 to discuss how we can help you in the process.

01/01/2018

Federal Govt. extends Spousal Work Permit Pilot Program

The Spousal Work Permit Pilot Program was due to expire on December 21, 2017. This has now been extended by the Federal Government up to January 31, 2019.
Canada's federal government extension of this pilot program would allow spouses and common-law partners who are in the country and are subject of immigration applications can apply for a temporary work permit.
The program facilitates spouses and partners to work while their immigration applications are being processed/finalized.
To be Eligible for this program, candidates must be in Canada and in the process of being sponsored for permanent residence under the spouse or common-law partner class. Candidates must also have valid temporary status as a visitor, student or worker.
Applying for a Spousal Work Permit
Those who have already submitted a permanent residence application can complete a form for the special work permit online, before mailing it to the Case Processing Centre in Vegreville at the following address:
CPC – Vegreville
WP – Unit 777
6212–55 Avenue
Vegreville, AB
T9C 1X6
Those who have already been approved in principle for permanent residence without passing medical, security and background checks can also apply online.
Those who have a work permit under the initial pilot program will need to apply for an extension.
Those submitting a new application for permanent residence can apply for the work permit at the same time. Send both completed applications to one of the following addresses:
By mail:
In-Canada Sponsorship
CPC – Mississauga
PO Box 5040, Station B, Mississauga, ON L5A 3A4
By courier:
Case Processing Centre – Mississauga
2 Robert Speck Parkway, Suite 300
Mississauga, ON
L4Z 1H8

09/15/2017

Quebec Experience Program

The Québec Provincial Government has introduced a new program to encourage foreign workers and international students completing a program of post-secondary studies to remain permanently in the province.
The Québec Experience Program (PEQ) is a new simplified process leading to permanent residence for two categories of applicants. The program allows Temporary Foreign Workers and International Students to apply for permanent residence from within the province of Québec after completing a period of qualified work or approved studies.
Québec Experience Program for Students:
For students to be eligible, they must have studied in Québec and are at the advanced stages of obtaining one of the following types of diplomas:
• Diplôme d’Études Professionelles (DEP – Diploma of Vocational Studies) involving 1’800 hours of study;
• DEP and an Attestation de spécialisation professionnelle (AVS – Attestation of Vocational Specialization) totaling 1,800 hours;
• Diplôme d’Études Collégiales, formation technique (DEC – Diploma of College Studies, technical training);
• Bachelor’s degree;
• Master’s degree; or
• Doctorate.
The diploma or degree must be granted by a university or by a public education institution located in Québec and recognized by the government. In addition, the international student must possess an intermediate knowledge of oral French. The student can prove his knowledge of French by one of the following:
• Completed one of the above programs in French;
• Studied in French on a full-time basis for at least two years in a secondary or post-secondary educational institution;
• Completed an intermediate-level French course given in Québec;
• Passed a recognized standardized French test such as (Test d’Evaluation Français) (TEF); or
• Satisfied the language requirements of a professional Order in Québec.
Students may submit their application for permanent residence from within Québec six months before completing their program of study. The Certificat de Sélection du Québec (CSQ) is issued to the student upon confirmation of successful completion of an approved program of study.
Québec Experience Program for Temporary Workers:
To qualify under the PEQ, the applicant must be residing temporarily in Québec as a temporary foreign worker or as a participant in an approved work holiday program.
The applicant must have been employed full-time in Québec at a technical, professional or managerial level for a period of 12 months in the 24 months that precede the submission of the application. The 12-month period need not be continuous and can be accumulated with more than one employer. The applicant must have been employed in an occupation with a skill level higher than “C” under the National Occupational Classification system (NOC).
In Québec, full-time employment constitutes a minimum of 30 hours of paid work per week. Time spent as a self-employed can be used to qualify for the 12-month requirement. However, part-time work is not eligible under the PEQ.
At the time of submission of the application, the temporary foreign worker must be employed full-time and must be in full compliance with the visa conditions of a temporary foreign worker.
The temporary foreign worker must also possess an intermediate knowledge of oral French. To prove French language abilities, the applicant may choose from among one the options described above.
Priority Processing:
Under the PEQ program, there is no selection interview. Selection decisions are made solely from the information and documentary evidence submitted on file. It is anticipated that processing delays will conclude in approximately 1-2 months to issuance of a CSQ. Once issued, the applicant would apply for permanent residence through an appropriate federal immigration office to conclude health, security and related matters.

06/19/2017

Government of Canada launches the Global Skills Strategy.
Two Weeks application processing in most cases and enhanced customer service
Program facts
• Companies applying for workers through the Global Talent Stream now have access to a new streamlined process that provides eligible employers with:
o priority processing of applications and a client-focused service for the development of the Labor Market Benefits Plan, with a service standard of 10 business days; and
o Flexible recruitment requirements.
• Two-week work permit processing will be available to workers applying from overseas whose employers have been approved to hire a foreign worker through Global Talent Stream, as well as foreign nationals with jobs at skill type 0 (executive, managerial) or skill level A (professional) of the National Occupational Classification (NOC) applying through the International Mobility Program. The two-week service standard would also apply to immediate family members accompanying high-skilled workers to Canada.
How to benefit from the Global Skills Strategy
The Global Skills Strategy can help you get workers faster with:
• a two-week processing time for 80% of work permit applications
• work permit exemptions for highly-skilled workers on short-term work assignments and for researchers involved in a short-duration research project in Canada
• a dedicated service channel for companies looking to make large, job-creating investments in Canada
Definition of Unique and Specialized Talent for Category A of the Global Talent Stream
For Category A of the Global Talent Stream, innovative firms must be referred by one of Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)’s designated referral partners and be seeking to hire unique and specialized talent. Unique and specialized talent is indicated by:
Advanced knowledge of the industry;
Advanced degree in an area of specialization of interest to the employer; AND/OR
Minimum of five years of experience in the field of specialized experience; AND
A highly paid position with a salary of usually $80,000 or more.
Global Talent Occupations List for Category B of the Global Talent Stream
For Category B of the Global Talent Stream, employers must hire highly-skilled foreign workers to fill positions in occupations found on the following list:
0213 Computer and information systems managers
2147 Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)
2171 Information systems analysts and consultants
2172 Database analysts and data administrators
2173 Software engineers and designers
2174 Computer programmers and interactive media developers
2175 Web designers and developers
2241 Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians
2283 Information systems testing technicians
Sub-set of 5241* Digital Media and Design

06/14/2017

Saskatchewan Advises Entrepreneurs about future Immigration Draws for 2017 & 2018
The Saskatchewan immigration office has taken an unprecedented step in advising candidates exactly when it will be making draws for its Entrepreneur program.
Consequent upon most recent draw on May 24, 2017, officials have further informed that 2017 draws will be made on July 19 and October 18, while the first draw of 2018 will be made on January 17.
The advanced information of draws gives Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) candidates an opportunity to get their applications in order with a target date to complete their files.
Previously draws have taken place without the dates being advertised ahead of time.
The SINP Entrepreneur stream is a three-stage process:
1. Submission of Expression of interest
2. Invitation to submit applications
3. Nomination by the province
The expression of interest must meet the following minimum requirements:
• Minimum net worth of $500,000 legally acquired.
• Minimum of three years of entrepreneurial or relevant management experience.
• Investment of at least $300,000 in Regina or Saskatoon, or $200,000 is any other Saskatchewan area.
Candidates enter a pool where they receive a score. The top scoring candidates are invited to submit an application.
Applications must include:
• Business Establishment Plan confirming figures in expression of interest, and including at least one third ownership of a company in Saskatchewan, unless investment is $1 million or higher.
• Commitment to be active in day-to-day management of business.
• Creation of two or more jobs for Canadian citizens or permanent residents if the business is located in Regina or Saskatoon.
The SINP website says: “Please note that the SINP reserves the right to have Business Establishment Plans assessed by professional third parties identified by the government of Saskatchewan. The assessment conducted by third parties will focus on the preparation and due diligence conducted by the applicant in preparing their proposed business plan.”

05/02/2017

Two-Year temporary residency rule abolished for Spousal Sponsorship in Canada

Canada has abolished the family sponsorship immigration condition that required sponsored spouses and partners to live with their sponsor for two years to keep their Canada immigration status.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada says the move is being taken to tackle concerns with many people choosing to remain in abusive relationships because they are afraid of losing their permanent resident status.
The rule change applies to any Family sponsorship candidate subjected to the previous requirement and all new spouses and partners being sponsored as permanent residents.
This step was meant to prevent people from using marriages of convenience or relationships to immigrate to Canada.
Although the rule exempted spouses and partners who were victims of abuse, however, it was a paper rule only and in reality many of them were forced to stay in relationships to keep their status.
An IRCC statement said: “Even though there was an exception to the condition for people in such situations, it is possible a victim may not have been aware of it or may have chosen to stay in the abusive relationship for a number of reasons.
“Those could include the fear of coming forward, the perceived challenge of proving the abuse or neglect, fear of needing to continue to live with their alleged abuser, or fear of having their status revoked and being removed from Canada if the exception was not granted.”
Pros & Cons
The statement added that the risk of putting people in vulnerable situations was not worth the benefit of imposing conditional permanent residence to expose immigration fraud.
The IRCC statement pointed out that immigration officials are trained to spot whether a relationship is legitimate.
Sponsored people can lose their permanent resident status and can be removed from Canada, if relationship fraud is discovered.
The IRCC spokesperson advised that Sponsored spouses or partners must wait five years from the day they are granted permanent residence in Canada before they themselves are eligible to sponsor a new spouse or partner.
All cases previously requiring a two-year conditional rule will be vacated.

05/02/2017

Family reunification lottery had 95,000 applicants, 10,000 selected

More than 95,000 people who applied to bring their parent or grandparent to Canada, 10,000 individuals have now been randomly selected under the new family reunification lottery system.
The lottery system was introduced by the Liberal government as a way of alleviating sponsorship application backlogs under the old, first-come, first-serve system.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) received a total of 95,100 expressions of interest submissions in the first round of the lottery, which ended on Feb. 2, 2017
The 10,000 randomly selected individuals now have 90 days to submit their full applications to sponsor their parents or grandparents. Anyone who was not selected this year can enter the lottery again in 2018.
Many applicants have spoken out against the lottery system, saying that the important issue of family reunification shouldn’t depend on luck.
Most of the serious applicants had started preparing the application to sponsor their family members before the lottery system was announced, so they already spend considerable time collecting all the necessary paperwork and money to consult a legal professional.
Under the old system, the government accepted for consideration the first 10,000 sponsorship applications that arrived at the Case Processing Center (CPC) Mississauga, Ont. as soon as it opened at the start of a new year. Critics of that system said it wasn’t fair to applicants who ended up spending lot of dollars for courier services to ensure that their application would be among the first to arrive.
A petition calling on the government to reconsider the lottery system has collected more than 670 signatures so far.
“This is the first year this new process will be in place so we will monitor results to see if adjustments are needed for next year,” IRCC spokesperson advised.
The government said the new lottery system will make the sponsorship application process “more fair and transparent.”
The government said the 10,000 accepted applications represent approximately 17,000 people since one sponsorship application can include more than one person. The notice also said the government has been making a “concerted effort” to reduce the application backlog, which sat at around 41,500 people by the end of 2016.