Links for PR

http://canimmi.blogspot.com/2008/08/top-10-tips-for-successful-canadian.html
http://canadaiswaiting.blogspot.com/2008/08/top-6-reasons-of-delay-in-canadian.html

The New Immigration Law: A dangerous piece of work

By Colin R. Singer

The Harper government is taking fire for introducing a controversial immigration bill that will drastically modify the process under which immigrants are selected to Canada each year.

Introduced in the March, 2008, federal budget bill and waiting a third and final reading before Parliament later this month, the proposed changes will provide Immigration Minister Diane Finley with unprecedented flexible ministerial powers to unilaterally decide who gets into Canada. She claims she needs this power in order to fix the backlog of some 900,000 (and growing) pending applicants for Canadian permanent residence.

Complete article at http://www.immigration.ca/permres-independent-c50.asp

PR miscellaneous point to be taken care of

• Change in applicant's status (marital/employment) should be updated with the PR application CIC office at the earliest
• After getting PR, a person has to re-land in Canada. For this, a person doesn't need to have a US visa. (case of person already in Canada and then re-entering Canada)

Validity of passport required for getting PR/Work permit

During a recent discussion the following point came into notice

• If you are applying for a 1 year work permit and your passport expires in 9 months, you will get a work permit for 9 months. You need to get your passport renewed and then get the rest 3 months of work permit
• Same care has to be taken in the case of PR

Changes to the Post Graduate work permit program

According to the announcement made on April 21, 2008 (available @ link ), there are some changes to the Post Graduate work permit program (details @ link). A recent seminar highlighted some points which are of concern to the Queen's MBA (or any similar 1 yr program) international students.

Before	Now
Job Offer required for applying for work permit	Job Offer NOT required for applying for work permit
Application for work permit to be submitted within 90 days of course completion	--No change/Same as previous--
Duration of work permit = 1 calendar year	--No change/Same as previous--
Work Permit has an employer's name on it	Work permit DOES NOT have any employer's name
While on Post Graduate Work Permit, if a person changes a job, he needs a new work permit (new work permit might/might not be post graduate work permit)	Person can change job. No new work permit required
At the time of application of work permit, student's permit should be valid	--No change/Same as previous--
Health insurance coverage under Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP)	No health insurance coverage
Passport should be valid till the date of work permit sought. Otherwise, work permit will be only till the validity of passport. However work permit can be extended (same type of work permit) after getting passport renewal for the remaining duration	--No change/Same as previous--
Labour Market Opinion (LMO) or HRSDC approval not required	--No change/Same as previous--
The job has to be in relation to the field of study	It can be ANY job--job need NOT be in relation to field of study

 Some questions related to the above changes

Q: What if my student's visa/permit expires before my 90 days limit?
A: The student's visa/permit can be renewed to get benefit of full 90 days period

Q: What is meant by course completion?
A: For courses requiring a thesis submission, the date of submission of revised thesis is considered as the course completion date. For courses requiring exams, the date of availability of the course's final total marks on the mark-sheet is taken as the course completion certificate.

Q: Can I apply when I am outside Canada to inside Canada office?
A: Not recommended. Someone else can send your completed application from inside Canada to an office inside Canada. A Canadian address is required on the form

Q: When does the 1 year period start?
A: The date of issue of the work permit marks the start of the 1 year work permit period.

Q: What if I go on a vacation during this 1 year period?
A: You are "eating into" your 1 year work permit period.

Q: What after my Post-Graduate work permit expires?
A: A normal work permit has to be applied. The company applies for it as it has to get a LMO approval. It is suggested that the company mentions on its work permit application form (submitted on behalf of the person) that the person was originally hired as a part of post-graduate work permit program.
Note: LMO approval takes about 6-8 months. So start the process through your employer taking this time into consideration...i.e. apply about 6-8 months before your post graduate work permit expires.

Q: What are the changes in the health insurance?
A: Earlier work permits carried a name of employer and the employees were covered under Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) {for companies in Ontario}. Now since the work permit carries no name of employer, the work permit holder has to get the insurance himself. This might require him to buy from private companies. There is a provision of extension of his University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) till some months in future.
Note: More details are awaited on this point.

Q: I am already on a Post Graduate work permit. Can I still take benefit of these changes?
A: Yes. The work permit can be changes accordingly.

Q: What all is required for getting a work permit?
A: Details at link

Note: Social Insurance Number (SIN) is required for getting a salary. Once you get a work permit, the same can be obtained within few days.

Useful Link: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/index.asp

Note: At the time of this blog post, the details of the new policy were not updated on the CIC web-site.

Disclaimer: The blog post author takes no responsibility for the correctness of the information posted here. The information can change or maybe applicable in a different manner for different people. Complete disclaimer at bottom of blog

Government of Canada introduces changes to work permits for international students, making Canada more attractive for skilled individuals

Vancouver, April 21, 2008 — The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, today announced changes to work permits for international students who graduate from eligible programs at certain Canadian post-secondary institutions, making it easier to attract foreign students to Canada.

Effective immediately, and for the first time, these international students would be able to obtain an open work permit under the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program, with no restrictions on the type of employment and no requirement for a job offer. In addition, the duration of the work permit has been extended to three years across the country. Previously, the program only allowed international students to work for one or two years, depending on location.

“The Government of Canada wants more foreign students to choose Canada and we want to help them succeed,” said Minister Finley. “Open and longer work permits provide international students with more opportunities for Canadian work experience and skills development. This will, in turn, help make Canada a destination of choice, and help us keep international students already studying in Canada.”

The increased flexibility offered by the expanded program will benefit graduates and employers alike as the program will help international students get important work experience while responding to Canada’s labour market needs. Canada will benefit in the long run as the professional experience gained will help graduates meet the requirements to stay permanently in Canada

More at link

Canadian Permanent Residents Vs H1B Holders

I found this in a mail from an immigration consultant. I am not sure how much this is true but it really is a good starting point!

Canadian Permanent Residents Vs H1B Holders
-------------------------------------------
While we apprise you of some of the interesting facts about Canada, we are excited to present you a crystal clear comparative analysis between a H1B Visa Holder in USA and a Canadian Permanent Resident based on the feedback received from many of our clients who currently hold an H1B status.

1.H1B visa holders can not change sponsoring employer whereas Canadian Permanent Residents are free to move between jobs and locations, work on contract as a consultant, which could result in tax benefits.

2.H1B visa holders are unable to start own business whereas Canadian Permanent Residents can commence their own businesses.

3.Many H1B visa holders face the risk of going back to their home country if their Green Cards are not applied before the 6-year limit or when H1B expires, such is not the case with Canadian Permanent Residents. No such risk exists. At the very outset, new immigrants receive a permanent residence visa (very similar to the USA Green Card).

4.H1B visa holders cannot sponsor dependents other than spouse/children, whereas, once you are a permanent resident, you can sponsor other family members also who are dependent on you (brothers, sisters, parents etc.)

5.If a spouse of H1B visa holders wishes to work, he/she has to arrange for sponsorship from potential employers; thus creating a barrier to finding employment, whereas in case of Permanent Residents, spouse can legally work in Canada, as he/she also has the Permanent
Resident status - no permits or authorizations needed.

6.Citizenship - is a LONG wait. First the green card and then many more years to citizenship. Whereas, in Canada 3 years of residence entitles you to apply for citizenship. Canadian Citizens does not need H1B to work in USA.

Pursuant to new IRPA a permanent resident only has to stay 2 years in 5 years period to maintain his/her permanent resident status.

Got the Student's Permit!

The major task before every student seeking admission overseas is the Student's Visa and I have been successful in getting it. Its such a great feeling now.
It was a surprise call from Blue-Dart informing a shipment from VFS. Since I submitted my passport just 1 day earlier and I have got a shipment in not even 48 hours! But the bottom line is..i got the Visa!!
...whosh...whosh...apun chala..kingston calling!

Passport Re-submitted!

I re-submitted my passport after 10 days of my medical tests. Hopefully the reports have reached the embassy!
The wait starts again!

One Step Closer : by Linkin Park or BCP ?

Received my Police Clearance Certificate today! Didn't knew that police and/or government office can work on time. They asked me to collect the certificate on March 14, 2007 and they did give it to me!

One step closer to PR! thanks Bangalore City Police!

Can-Visa Medical done

One more task in the process of acquiring a Canadian Visa is completed with a successful medical check up.
Tests performed during the medical checkup

• Blood-various types-even HIV and STD tests
• Urine
• Chest X-ray
• Physician consulation

Expense: INR 1720
Time taken: 1 hour

So the only work left is wait! yes again!

The medical reports will be sent after 5 days to the Embassy but the doctor. The letter received along with the passport request me to submit passport again (for Visa stamping if successful) after 15 days of medical check-up!

Target date of passport submission at VFS, Bangalore: March19-20

Visa Stage 1 Clear

Received my passport back with a letter requesting me to get the medical check-up. All other things are perfect.

So Visa application stage 1 is clear!!! Only medical check-up left!

Taken the appointment for the medical also!

Finally!! a visa status change!!

I visited the VFS office where I had submitted my Visa application. The lady told me that the passport was scanned inside the embassy on 20th Feb. So the passport is inside the Embassy and the processing is taking time.
But finally at around 7 pm the visa/passport status on the VFS Visa Tracker changed to "Passport Couriered on 5/3/2007". This was such a relief!
The next tasks were to get the passport at the earliest and hoping that everything else is cleared and a request for a medical check-up is there!

Good luck!

A trip to police station

I went to the local police station to see if my Police Clearance Certificate application has reached there. It had reached there and so I was ready for the next step i.e. the police verification.
Certain documents are required by the police officer. Not knowing about the same, I had not taken them. The following is a list

1. 3 passport size photographs, preferably the ones attached on the Police Clearance Certificate application
2. *Proof of residence-Rental agreement is usually not accepted. Gas connection/phone bill specifying the address is required. One latest and one earliest bill is required.
3. Xerox of passport
   

*The date on this proof is the date which will be taken as your start date of stay in Bangalore for the PCC. Hence check if you can obtain all the proofs starting from your date of arrival here. Rest depends on the police officer working on your application.

The police officer will dictate you a letter addressed to the in-charge of the police station. Once done, don't be surprised if some loosening of purse-strings is required!

Approximate time taken: 15 minutes

A wonderful experience as the police officer was very polite and even got a chair for me ;)

Wait... wait and wait..

"Curiosity kills the cat" is a well-known idiom. But what seems to work in my case is "Uncertainty kills the dog"

Friday and the 10th working day after submitting my visa application has passed. No update from the VFS, no reply from the Embassy, no change in Visa-tracker status.

The only hope is a possible dispatch from Embassy on Monday, 5th March and the passport reaching me on 6th March-thats still 4 days away!

Indians still need to prove their English proficiency skills

Be it an application for MBA to a Business School or for Permanent Resident (PR), Indians still need to prove their English proficiency skills. And giving one test is not enough-while the b-school applications might require you to submit your TOEFL scores, a PR application requires IELTS -General Module and TOEFL is not accepted.

Just imagine that you have given IELTS-Academic Module and it is not accepted for the PR application (this needs to be checked, just an assumption)

So whatever be the case, I booked an appointment for IELTS at an expense of INR 7400. The well sought after date got full and hence had to take another one, which is just on the date I intended to clear off from Bangalore!!

Police Clearance Certificate application submitted

Finally submitted an application for the Police Clearance Certificate (PCC), at the Bangalore Police Commissioner's Office (PCO), required for the Canadian Permanent Resident (PR) application. As instructed by one of the fellow MBAites I took a colleague who knew Kannada well!

Documents required for PCC

1. PCC Application form (can be had from PCO)
2. 3 passport size photographs
3. Xerox of passport
4. *Proof of residence-Rental agreement is usually not accepted. Gas connection/phone bill specifying the address is required.
   
5. Remit challan of INR 200
   

*The date on this proof is the date which will be taken as your start date of stay in Bangalore for the PCC. Hence check if you can obtain all the proofs starting from your date of arrival here. Rest depends on the police officer working on your application.

Procedure for applying for a PCC at Bangalore PCO (with inputs from A**x)

1. From the Single Window counter at the Police Commissioner's Office (PCO), obtain the application form for Police Clearance Certificate (PCC). 'Canadian Immigration' can be stated as the reason for PCC if asked.
2. The next step requires a submission of INR 200 at an a/c (a/c details available at both PCO and the bank) at the Treasury Branch of State Bank of Mysore at Lady Curzon Road, Near Bowring Hospital, Shivaji Nagar, Bangalore. A strange procedure here requires you to collect the remit form (challan) from a xerox shop opposite to the Bank. Don't be surprised if you find that the entire form is in Kannada. Here is where your Kannada-versed friend comes into picture. Though the columns are similar to any other bank remit form, but still! Fill the form, get it stamped on the ground floor and then remit the charges on the first floor.
   
3. Submit the application form with the INR 200 receipt/challan at the PCO Single Window submission counter and collect the acknowledgment. Do verify your details on this. This acknowledgment is required to collect your PCC after approximately 15 days from PCO.
4. The officer accepting your form at the PCO will ask you to visit your local police station (also mentioned in your PCC application form) after 2 days of submission of your PCC application at the PCO.

Viza chiza! worry shary!

The lady at the VFS counter told me that my passport will be back in 3-4 working days time and according to that deadline, I should have received the passport by 23rd Feb. But neither did I receive my passport nor the status of my application in the Visa Application Tracker on VFS site changed. It still said that the application has been dispatched to the Embassy on 19th Feb. The VFS SMS tracker atleast mentioned that the Passport has reached the Embassy on 20th Feb.
Can you call this tracking? 2 different status for 1 application!!

The worry is increasing-all sorts of thoughts anticipating the reasons of such a delay are coming in my mind. A call to the counselor soothed me a bit as according to her, the delay can, in no way, be taken as a signal for rejection.

Finally I called the Embassy and they asked me to mail them. Lets see when and what the reply comes.

A 'railway-track' sprint

It is believed that any country's embassy, when issuing a non-immigrant permit/visa (student permit, work permit etc) satisfy themselves of the fact that the person seeking the permit will return back to his country. And for the same reason, the Canadian Embassy has included a Questionnaire as a part of the Visa application where an answer to what one intends to do once he has completed his education is expected.

While filling my Visa application, I made sure that my answers are able to convince the Visa officials of my return to India. This would enable me a hassle-free Students Visa/permit for my MBA course at Queen's.

Along with this, I am running to collect the documents which will enable me to successfully file a Permanent Resident (PR) application upon reaching Canada. The one of the few documents which I have come to know is a Police Clearance Certificate from all the countries of stay. Luckily or unluckily I have not visited been to any country outside India.

My present state of resident application for Canada is like that of a Railway track where the two rails are parallel and can never meet but run together always. For me, though the tracks are running parallel for the time being, its a different case-a case of an athlete running on two sprint tracks simultaneously with am aim to win each sprint. One of the sprint/track is a Student Visa, where I am trying to assure the Visa officials that I am returning back to India; the other being the Permanent Resident application process, something enabling me stay in Canada like a Canadian citizen sans the right to vote.

A question seldom pops up in my mind nowadays-After getting a PR status-will I be an Indian? or will I be a Canadian? or will I be both? Its not less than an identity crisis!

On a balloon..

The feeling's different-looks like i am flying high-riding on a balloon!
Even though the visa has not been granted and only the application has been submitted, but its a great relief. The hectic job of collecting the documents, arranging them, making sure that they are correct as desired by the Canadian Embassy is finally over.
Let's wait for the passport to return back and then hopefully move towards the medical examination.
That will be even bigger relief!! Can then it be "flying on a jet plane?" (and not a ballon as i have written now)