Family Sponsorship

Vancouver Immigration Consultants share Canada’s New Caregiver Immigration Pilots

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As a company of Canadian Immigration Consultants in Vancouver, the team at Racer Immigration understands that many of the people who come to Canada looking for job opportunities are also considering knowing and learning about pathways to get the permanent residence. This month, our team are happy to share with you great news for caregivers.   

Canada is accepting applications to its 2 new caregiver immigration pilot programs: 

  • the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and,
  • Home Support Worker Pilot. 

Both pilot programs provide eligible caregivers a pathway to permanent residence after they have acquired two years of Canadian work experience.

According to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) news, these two new pilots programs intend to provide work permits to caregivers who meet some criteria, such as:

  • To prove Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of 5 in English or French;  
  • One year of Canadian post-secondary education or the foreign equivalent;
  • To be admissible to Canada;
  • To have a job offer in Canada. 

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said the new pilots will provide “a clear transition from temporary to permanent status” for those people who work as caregivers and their families.   

Other updates that these new pilots are bringing include changes in the work permits, allowing caregivers to have occupation-specific work permit instead of employer-specific work permit which giving them the flexibility to change employers; the family members of the caregiver employee will be entitled to open work permits and/or study permits.

Racer Immigration knows that all this information can be quite confusing and overwhelming. As an Immigration Advisor in Vancouver, our team of experts can help you understand all these possibilities. Racer Immigration is happy to advise those intending or undertaking this caregiver immigration process.     

To learn more about these new pilots programs and other immigration programs and their requirements, contact  Racer Immigration Consultants in Vancouver at (778) 688-4848 or visit https://racerimmigration.com to schedule an appointment.

Vancouver Immigration Consultants: Pilot Will Provide Foreign Agri-Food Workers with Pathway to Canadian Permanent Residence

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As a firm of Canadian immigration consultants in Vancouver, the team at Racer Immigration knows that many of the people who come to Canada looking for work are also interested in pathways to permanent residence. This month, we’re happy to share news about a new three-year immigration pilot program, designed to support the growth of Canada’s agri-food sector.

In its 2019 budget, the Government of Canada stated: “To help the agri-food sector meet Canada’s ambitious export targets and attract and retain needed labour, the federal government will launch a three-year immigration pilot to bring in full time, non-seasonal agricultural workers that will include a pathway to permanent residency.”

This ambitious pilot program is supported by the Canadian Meat Council (CMC), which has been requesting 2,750 immigration spots to fill meat packers, meat processors and equipment supplier positions. Many of these positions have been long overlooked by Canadian workers, although these jobs are part of an important process to meet a growing demand for food made and manufactured in Canada.

According to Industry Canada’s Agri-Food Economic Strategy Table 2018 report, there is a great need to address in terms of labour shortages in the agriculture sector, and utilizing Canada’s permanent immigration and temporary foreign worker programs will help attract skilled workers across various skill levels.

Although details of the pilot program have yet to be fleshed out and delivered by the federal government’s immigration division, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), this program could represent an excellent opportunity for people who want to work and live in Canada.

Racer Immigration Consultants in Vancouver can provide advice about permanent residency and other possible options. Visit the Canadian Immigration Consultants of Racer Immigration at https://racerimmigration.com/ or schedule a consultation at  (778) 688-4848 to learn more.

Preapproved Permanent Residency for Caregivers in Canada 

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As a Canadian immigration consultant in Vancouver, Racer Immigration knows how important it is for families to stay together. For foreign Caregivers hoping to come to Canada, securing clearance for their families used to take a long time. However, the Government of Canada has announced a pilot program intended to expedite the process.

Previously, Caregivers coming to Canada had to work for a period of time before they could even think about bringing their families over. This meant spouses and children were often separated, which placed considerable strain on family relationships.

The new Caregiver pilot program, announced on February 23rd, will allow overseas workers to bring family members with them to Canada with pre-approved Permanent Residency.

Eligibility for Permanent Residency will be determined before applicants arrive in Canada. They will be given a new, occupation-specific Work Permit that allows for changing employers without applying for a new Work Permit.

The pilot program will run for five years, and allow Caregivers to bring their spouses, common-law partners and dependent children. Spouses and partners will be issued Open Work Permits, allowing them to work for any Canadian employer. Children will be issued Study Permits, so they can register for school. Caregivers already living in Canada are also welcome also apply.

As a full service immigration and business consulting firm, the consultants at  Racer Immigration assess the best possible way for client to immigrate to Canada. Services also include assisting in the application processing and overcoming difficulties if challenges arise. For employers, Racer Immigration can assist in processing of the LMIA and searching for foreign skilled workers, especially in the manufacturing sector.

For those curious about Canada’s new Caregiver pilot program, the consultants at Racer Immigration consultants in Vancouver are pleased to provide guidance and advice. To learn more, visit https://racerimmigration.com/ or contact (778) 688-4848.

Racer Immigration Consultants in Vancouver: Introducing the Super Visa

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As a firm of Canadian immigration consultants in Vancouver, the team at Racer Immigration stays on top of the latest immigration and visa-related developments. For those looking to get parents or grandparents into Canada for extended periods, the Super Visa is an option to note.

With limited applications available, it can be hard for children to bring their parents or grandparents into the country. Out of 100,000 applications made to acquire the required form for the Parents and Grandparents Program, less than a third get through.

As an alternative to stay connected during the long process, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has indicated that those unable to submit an Interest to Sponsor form could still try to bring parents and grandparents to Canada using a Super Visa

The Super Visa is valid for up to 10 years and allows eligible parents and grandparents to visit their family for up to two years at a time. This is ideal for relatives living in countries that require a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) for entry into Canada because they will then be able to travel freely between Canada and their country of residence without having to re-apply for a TRV after six months.

The Super Visa is available year-round and has a lower income requirement than Canada’s Parents and Grandparents Program, and most applications are processed within a few weeks.

To apply for a Super Visa, a parent or grandparent must:

  • Have a signed letter from a child or grandchild who invites them to Canada that includes:
    • a promise of financial support for the duration of their visit
    • the list and number of people in the household of this person
    • a copy of this person’s Canadian citizenship or permanent resident document
  • Have medical insurance from a Canadian insurance company that:
    • is valid for at least one year from the date of entry
    • provides at least $100,000 for minimum coverage
    • have proof that the medical insurance has been paid (quotes aren’t accepted)
  • The recipient must also:
  • be allowed to enter Canada
  • take an immigration medical exam

Please note that Super Visa applicants must be visitors who intend to leave at the end of their visit.

For those hoping to secure immigration status for parents or grandparents, please contact Racer immigration consultants in Vancouver at (778) 688-4848 to learn more.

Family Reunification to Launch Late January

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As a team of immigration consultants in Vancouver, Racer Immigration has some excellent news for those trying to reunite their families in Canada. The Government of Canada has announced that the parents and grandparents sponsorship program will reopen in late January 2019.

The Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP), allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor family members for Canadian permanent residence.

Up to 20,000 applications will be processed through the PGP in 2019. Invitations will be issued to the first 20,000 sponsors who submit an Interest to Sponsor form and meet the program’s requirements. This first-come, first-served approach replaces the randomized lottery process that IRCC introduced last year, which many criticized as unfair to those who had been waiting for years to sponsor their family members.

The decision to revert to a first-come, first-served approach was a result of “listening to stakeholders and clients” according to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and will hopefully streamline access to the program as well as improve client experience.

“Using this modified intake process will give the government more flexibility in the application process, ensuring that we receive as many applications as possible,” the IRCC said.

As a Canada Immigration Consultant, Racer Immigration is happy to advise those who wish to help their family members join them in Canada. Contact Racer Immigration at (778) 688-4848 to learn more, or visit https://racerimmigration.com/.

Settling Together: Free Newcomer Services Offered by the Canadian Government

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As a Vancouver immigration agency, Racer Immigration provides full-service immigration and business consulting, assessing the best possible ways for clients to immigrate to Canada. However, what do you do after you arrive? From securing a job to setting up a bank account, the Government of Canada offers resources that identify many excellent services available to new Canadians. Some of these include:

  • locating for a job (for example, nearby multicultural centres, immigrant services, or local libraries)
  • getting a language assessment or registering for English/French classes (such as local ESL schools)
  • finding a place to live
  • assistance for filling out forms and applications (immigrant service centres)
  • Sign up kids for school (district contact information)
  • learning about community services (multicultural centres)

The Government of Canada’s website offers a handy search engine to seek out these services based on an address or postal code, and filter by the services required. From there people can contact the service provider directly. For those who are currently outside of Canada, they can look for available Pre-Arrival Services using a similar search engine.

The immigration consultants at Racer Immigration provide the information necessary to help new Canadians get a head start. For more information, call (778) 688-4848.

Navigating Refusals—Advice from Canadian Immigration Consultants

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As a firm that provides Immigration Consulting Services in Vancouver, the team at Racer Immigration warns that one of the biggest mistakes prospective Canadians can make is waiting until their application has been refused to seek out professional help.

Navigating a refusal is always more work as it requires understanding the reason for refusal and answering these concerns when reapplying. Moreover, it’s important to realize that multiple attempts made in a short period can reduce the chances of getting to yes.

While it’s always best to work with a skilled Canadian immigration consultant or lawyer from the start, steps can be taken if an application is refused.

When someone receives a general refusal, and they do not understand the concerns of the visa officer, they should hold off on submitting another application. It’s vital to obtain the notes of the officer who refused the application and prepare a thoughtful answer in subsequent forms. To get these notes, an applicant must request the Global Case Management System or “GCMS” notes in their file. These will provide insight into the immigration officer’s concerns.

Reapplying is an opportunity to provide more information and strengthen your application. The new application should be consistent with the old one, but remember that the case will likely be looked at by a different officer—and it should stand on its own.

A reputable Canadian immigration consultant can investigate a rejection and explain your case in detail. To learn more about working with Racer Immigration, please call (778) 688-4848.

Canada Increases Opportunities for Parents and Grandparents in 2019

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Racer Immigration has good news for those hoping to reunite with their parents and grandparents in Canada. As of July 28th, 2018, the Ministry of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship has increased the cap on the number of sponsorship applications for parents and grandparents from 10,000 to 17,000.

As a full-service immigration company in Vancouver, Racer immigration knows that many people who move to Canada do so with the hopes of someday bringing their families with them. Sponsorship applications continue to be one of the most popular immigration programs in Canada.

The program was so popular that between 2012 and 2013 new applications had to be stopped in order to allow Canadian immigration officers to deal with the backlog. And when the program reopened, the government imposed an annual cap of 5,000 applications.

Over time the process changed and evolved. In January of 2017, an online lottery system was introduced where 10,000 lucky Canadian citizens and permanent residents were selected at random for an invitation from IRCC to file their sponsorship applications, rather than the previous “first come first served” basis.

But the lottery system was designed based on assumptions that every person who entered the lottery would meet the eligibility requirements and would be able to make a complete application within the allotted time. In reality, many sponsors who received invitations did not meet the minimum requirements and many more who received invitations never went on to make complete their applications, and so a further call for applications was made.

With the annual cap of 10,000 applications a year being increased to 17,000, Canadian families have better odds than ever to sponsor their parents and grandparents for Canadian permanent resident status.

Racer Immigration happy to help those who want to know more about sponsorship or finding other ways to bring their parents and grandparents to Canada. Contact Racer Immigration at (778) 688-4848 to learn more.

Conservatives Discuss Ending Birth Tourism

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As a team of Canadian Immigration Consultants, Racer Immigration in Vancouver strives to stay on top of all issues related to Canadian citizenship. In recent years, immigration rights have become a hotly contested topic. At the moment, the Canadian Conservative Party, led by Andrew Scheer, is calling for an end of birthright citizenship, arguing it has encouraged “birth tourism.”

What makes this so controversial is the claim that the practice has been abused and taken advantage of. “Birth tourism” is when pregnant, non-Canadian women fly to Canada in order to give birth and secure citizenship for their babies. When those children become adults, they can sponsor their parents to immigrate to Canada.

This is seen by some as a loophole that needs to be closed, as it allows them to receive Canada’s benefits without going through the same channels other immigrants must. MP Joe Peschisolido says the practice is very costly for taxpayers, “since it can be used to gain access to Canada’s publicly subsidized post-secondary education system and to take advantage of Canada’s public healthcare system and generous social security programs, all without having to contribute much to the funding of these systems and programs.”

Immigration lawyer Michael Niren called birthright citizenship a “non-issue.” According to Statistics Canada, only 313 babies were born to non-Canadian mothers in 2016. That number has gone down significantly since 2012 when Statistics Canada reported that 699 babies were born to non-Canadian mothers.

“There are problems with immigration in Canada, but birth tourism is not one. It is a politicized concept,” he said. “Conservatives are trying to energize their base.”

When immigrating to another country, it’s important to stay on top of evolving laws that could impact an applicant’s process and rights. The team at Racer Immigration is pleased to provide timely consulting and advice for people hoping to immigrate to Canada. Contact (778) 688-4848 to learn more.

New Immigration Possibilities for French Speaking Immigrants

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Racer Immigration knows that immigrating can be a frustrating process, and navigating the ins and outs can be time-consuming. As Canadian Immigration Consultants, Racer Immigration has learned that Canada is taking steps to increase francophone immigration, which will come as welcome news for prospective French-speaking immigrants.

This Canada-Ontario collaboration will focus on three annexes: the French-speaking immigrants, international students, and partnerships with municipal governments, all as part of the Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement (COIA).

In the case of French-speaking immigrants, COIA will set out to help identify opportunities for allowing more French-speaking immigrants into Ontario to reach their immigration targets.

By partnering with Municipalities through COIA, they will be able to focus on issues related to public interests regarding immigration, both in attracting and retaining them, as well as their integration into the community.

Working with international students is also a key focus, especially in their transition from post-graduation employment into permanent residency.

Through these initiatives, the Governments of Canada and Ontario are demonstrating their commitment to ensuring that the economic, social and cultural benefits of immigration are maximized in the province.

Whether you wish to settle in BC, Ontario, or anywhere else in Canada, there are many paths and opportunities available. Racer Immigration provides expert consulting and advice for people around the world. Contact (778) 688-4848 to learn more.