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Vancouver Immigration Advisors: How Immigration is Fuelling Population Growth in Canada

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As an Immigration Advisor in Vancouver,  the team members at Racer Immigration understand that immigration is an important factor fuelling healthy population growth in Canada. While immigration is occasionally contested or questioned, a new report from Statistics Canada highlights just how important immigration remains to population growth in Canada.

The report shows that immigration remains the key part of Canada’s population growth, and resulted in an increase of 321,065 new immigrants in 2018. By the start of 2019, Canada’s population reached 37,314,442, fuelled in part by a record increase of new immigrants in the fourth quarter of 2018.

In the year 2018, Canada’s population increased by over half a million, and immigration accounted for over 80% of that growth.

The Government of Canada introduced its Express Entry selection system in 2015. Through the program, the federal government selects candidates who can make-up for shortages in the labour market as well as skilled professionals and invites them to apply for permanent residence in Canada.

Thanks to the monumental success of the Express Entry program, Canada issued a record-breaking 89,800 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for Canadian permanent residence to eligible candidates through the Express Entry system in 2018.

“It is evident that the Canadian government is taking measures to attract and retain the best and the brightest to the country,” says Attorney David Cohen at the Campbell Cohen Law Firm in Montreal. “It is also important to note the role that immigration plays in growing Canada’s population and populating various regions across our beautiful and vast country.”

Learn more about living and working in Canada. To meet with an Immigration Advisor in Vancouver, contact Racer Immigration at (778) 688-4848 or visit https://racerimmigration.com/. We’re happy to consult and meet with all types of people who are looking to immigrate to Canada.

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.

Nova Scotia Welcomes Record Number of Immigrants 

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As  Canadian immigration consultants in Vancouver, the team at Racer Immigration is pleased to report that Nova Scotia approved a record number of immigration applications in 2018, and is on track to welcome more new permanent residents than ever before.

Nova Scotia’s Office of Immigration reported that a total of 5,225 newcomers settled in the province between January 1 and October 31, 2018, and that has most likely surpassed 2016’s record of 5,485 landings by the end of the year. In addition, the province accepted 2,272 applications through its immigration programs this year.

“These numbers reflect the work we have done to attract international talent to our province,” Nova Scotia’s Immigration Minister said. “The success we are seeing will help increase access to important services, grow our population and strengthen our economy.”

The streams from which these candidates were chosen included those tied to Canada’s federal Express Entry system. Nova Scotia’s three Express Entry-linked streams—Nova Scotia Demand, Nova Scotia Experience and Labour Market Priorities—allow the province to invite eligible candidates to apply for permanent residence.

Immigration has been instrumental to Nova Scotia’s growth, which has been on an upward trend for the last three years

For those hoping to move to Nova Scotia, or elsewhere in Canada, Racer Immigration can provide advice about options and programs designed to bring different immigrants to Canada. Visit the Canadian Immigration Consultants of Racer Immigration at https://racerimmigration.com/ or contact (778) 688-4848 to learn more.

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.

Vancouver Immigration Advisor Announces Relaxed Rules for Medical Conditions

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As a team of  Vancouver immigration advisors, Racer Immigration knows that immigrating to Canada can be challenging, sometimes for reasons beyond an applicant’s control. Once upon a time, pre-existing medical issues were more or less automatic disqualification, but that’s about to change.

The Liberal government has announced that it will be loosening the rules that have made prospective immigrants inadmissible on medical grounds, although they are not removing the legislation entirely.  

These rules have been in place for more than forty years and have been called “way out of date” by Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen, and are not in line with Canadian values or policies of inclusion for citizenship.

The revisions include not barring entry due to children with developmental delays, special education requirements or hearing/visual impairments. The current health-care cost threshold will be tripled. This should allow at least 75% of the thousand or so people previously rejected for entry on medical grounds.

While the eventual goal is to remove the medical inadmissibility policy entirely, it seems that won’t happen until more consultations have occurred. Though some have criticized  the changes as minor tweaks, it is still  a positive step towards fair inclusion.

Anyone considering immigration to Canada should consider working with an experienced Canadian immigration consultant. Policies are always changing, but an experienced consultant will be able to provide advice on how to strengthen an application and avoid major pitfalls.  Contact (778) 688-4848 to learn more.

New Survey Show Canadian Exceptionalism to Newcomers

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As a full-service immigration and business consulting firm, the team at Racer Immigration assess the best possible way for people to legally immigrate to Canada. With services that range from application assistance to troubleshooting, they provide assistance to both families and businesses looking to bring people to Canada. As a matter of course, team members have to stay up to date with laws and trends. And new research by the Environics Institute offers some good news to prospective Canadians.

In light of the news and social media, it’s clear that many countries are harbouring a growing anti-immigration stance. Many European countries and the United States have made headlines with their verbal vitriol and biased policies.

But while Canada is no stranger to bigotry and discrimination, there is much to feel positive about as well. A study by the Environics Institute has shown that overall Canadian attitudes towards immigration are largely positive, a trend that hasn’t changed over the last thirty years. Even more notably, Canada stands out in terms of the satisfaction and happiness immigrants themselves report. This is a feeling that’s shared in the 2018 World Happiness Report, where Canadian immigrants’ feelings about their “subjective well-being” ranked seventh out of 156 countries.

Despite what may be heard online, sixty percent of Canadians disagree that immigration levels are too high, and only thirty-five percent agree. Eighty percent agree that their impact on the economy is a positive one.

If you or someone you love is looking to move to Canada, contact Racer Immigration at (778) 688-4848.