The federal government plans on tightening rules for those on student visas to reduce inappropriate use of the visas to work in Canada. The new rules will seek to prevent the practice of gaining entrance into Canada on a student visa, but instead of attending school, using the time in Canada to work. Immigration Minister Jason Kenney says that while […]
Read moreCitizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) unveiled information on Friday about the new Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) that will be launched in the new year. The revised program will have more demanding language requirements, more selective credential assessment, and will give preference to Canadian work experience over foreign work experience, among other changes. CIC placed a temporary freeze on the acceptance of new applications […]
Read moreImmigration Canada released statistics on health care spending for refugee claimants yesterday to bolster its case that the recent scaling back of free health care for those awaiting refugee decisions was necessary. The statistics show that refugee claimants from Mexico, Hungary, Colombia, the United States and Jamaica, all countries that do not have a record of human rights abuse and […]
Read moreCitizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) today launched an online consultation campaign to solicit input from the Canadian public on ways to modify the federal Immigrant Investor Program (IIP) to increase the benefit it provides to the country. “We can no longer be a passive player in the global competition for talent and investment. That is why we need to review […]
Read moreLess than a week after the conviction of one former senior Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) official on fraud and breach of trust charges for accepting bribes, another has plead guilty to three counts of breach of trust and three counts of fraud, for taking up to $6,000 in bribes in exchange for using his position at CIC to approve their […]
Read moreThe Ontario provincial government and the federal government hope to put an end to the adage of the immigrant taxi cab driver with a PhD, by spending a combined $57 million to train new Canadians to gain the credentials necessary to work in their field of study in Canada. Data emerging over the last few years has shown a growing […]
Read moreDiane Serré, a former official at Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), was found guilty of 15 counts of fraud and 12 counts of breach of trust by Ontario Superior Court Justice Catherine Aitken, for using her position at CIC to help 10 immigration applicants with their applications in exchange for gifts and cash remuneration. The investigation that led to the charges against Serré […]
Read moreHealth workers groups held several rallies across Canadian cities yesterday to protest government cuts to health care programs for refugees. As part of its deficit reduction program, the federal government is cutting medical services provided at no cost to refugees through the Interim Federal Health Program, limiting free services to emergency health care and treatment of chronic conditions that pose a public […]
Read moreRules in place since April 10th give Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) the legal authority to share information on professional misconduct by immigration representatives with governing bodies. CIC regularly receives complaints and tips from the public about unethical or illegal conduct by immigration representatives, but until the […]
Read moreAccording to a bulletin released by the Canadian Immigration Ministry last October, Canadian visa officers working abroad will be made anonymous, with their names not being published in official Canadian documents, in order to reduce the risk of corruption and possible threats against them. Some visa officers abroad have been subject to threats and harassment after refusing to issue visas to applicants, […]
Read more