Oh CANADA Essential facts about Visiting, Working and Living There'

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Oh CANADA!Essential facts about Visiting,
Working and Living There.

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For More Informationand Application Kits

• Visit www.cic.gc.ca

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Who We AreCanadian Consulate General, Buffalo

• Trade, Consular, and Political
• Immigration Section
• Temporary Resident visa applications
• (visit, study, work in Canada)
• Permanent Resident visa applications
• (immigrate to Canada)

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Visa Offices in the USA
WASHINGTON, D.C. Visitor visas only
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Visiting Canada

• Determine whether visa is needed or not
• For workers/students, evidence of current
  employment/enrollment is essential

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Visiting Canada

• Same day service for most walk-ins
• 10 business day wait period for some countries!
• Early application encouraged, especially for
  travel during holidays
• Mail-in encouraged for foreign students and
  workers resident in Canada
• 10-day service standard for most mail-ins

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Temporary Resident Visa Applications
Must include

• Fully completed application form
• Correct fee
• - 75 US/Cdn (single entry)
• - 150 US/Cdn (multiple entry)
• Valid passport
• 2 passport size photos
• For those studying or working in Canada, evidence
  of current status and current enrollment/employmen
  t

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Working in CanadaInternational Students and
Spouses
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Working in Canada

• You can apply for permanent residence while
  working in Canada
• Work permits are not always required to work
  temporarily
• i.e. Business visitors, Diplomats, and training
  (R186)

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Work Without a Work Permit

• Students permitted to work without permit if
• Possess valid study permit
• Registered full-time in degree/diploma program
• Employment on campus only
• Any campus in city, any employer/service on
  campus
• Off-campus work option

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Post-Graduation Work Permits

• International students may accept employment for
  a period of one year after graduation if
• Student has completed a full-time program at a
  post-secondary institution of at least eight
  months duration
• Employment is related to studies
• 2 years outside Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal
  metro areas.

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Post-Graduation Work Permits

• Work Permit application with a valid employment
  offer is submitted within 90 days of notification
  from institution that the student has completed
  all requirements for the degree/diploma
• Available only once not renewable
• (Employer-specific)

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Work Permit Application Process

• If Work Permit is required
• Applicant secures job offer
• Job offer ordinarily must be confirmed by HRSDC
• Application is submitted to the visa office or
  POE
• If requirements are met, work permit is issued
• Valid up to 3 years with renewals possible
• IMPORTANT POINTS
• Restricted to working for one employer
• Spousal work permit usually possible
• There are exceptions!

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Information Technology

• National labour shortage in 7 software
  development occupations
• No confirmation needed
• Quick, expedited processing
• Education, language, and experience
  requirements exist
• Bachelors Degree or 2-yr Diploma 2-yr
  (related) work experience

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7 Software Development Occupations

• Senior Animation Effects Editor
• Embedded Systems Software Designer
• MIS Software Designer
• Multimedia Software Developer
• Software Developer Services
• Software Products Developer
• Telecommunications Software Designer

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Work Permits for Spouses
Spouses/Common-law (including same-sex)
Partners of persons on Study and Work Permits may
qualify to obtain OPEN Work Permits
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Work Permits for Spouses

• Spouses may obtain work permits for employment in
  the general labour market as long as
• The foreign student is the holder of a study
  permit attending a full-time post-secondary
  degree or diploma granting institution or
• After graduation, the foreign student has a valid
  work permit valid for at least 6 months for a
  qualifying job
• May work in general labour market. Positions in
  medical or childcare require medical examination.

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Immigrating to Canada
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Application Categories

• Economic Class
• Skilled Workers
• Investors
• Entrepreneurs
• Self-Employed
• Humanitarian Class
• Refugees

• Family Class
• Spouses
• Children
• Parents
• Grandparents
• Others

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The Application Process

• Applicants residing in the USA or Canada send
  their applications to Buffalo Regional Processing
  Centre (RPC)
• RPC reviews for completeness, acknowledges
  receipt, creates file, then conducts initial
  assessment
• RPC may process to completion or transfer file to
  1 of 4 other US offices for completion notice
  of transfer given
• An interview may be required

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Immigration Processing in the USA
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Application Kit

• Download the kit at www.cic.gc.ca

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How Applications are Assessed

• Federal Skilled Workers must meet the following
  basic requirements
• At least one year of work experience
• Available, transferable funds for settlement

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Minimum RequirementsWork Experience

• Must have been
• Within 10 years before application
• Continuous full-time or equivalent
• Paid
• At NOC skill level
• O Management
• A Professional
• B Technical/Skilled Trades

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National Occupation Classification (NOC)

• The NOC is a classification system for jobs in
  the Canadian economy. It describes duties,
  skills, talents and work settings for
  occupations.

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Minimum RequirementsSettlement Funds

• Available funds must amount to half of the
  minimum necessary annual income

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Minimum Requirements

• If an applicant does not meet the minimum
  requirements, there will be no further assessment
  of the application
• If there is sufficient evidence the minimum
  requirements have been met, processing will
  continue
• Selection factors

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Skilled Worker Selection Factors
   
   
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Self-Assessment Tool
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Selection Factors Age
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Selection Factors Education

• Points awarded are determined by
• Nature of the educational credential (diploma,
  trade certificate, apprenticeship, university
  degree)
• Length of program
• Number of credentials
• Total years of education

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Selection Factors Education
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Selection Factors Language

• Points awarded for level of proficiency (high,
  moderate, basic, or none)
• Canadas two official languages English and
  French
• Assessed against the Canadian Language Benchmarks
  for Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking

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Language Assessment

• One type of evidence
• Language Testing
• IELTS International English Language Testing
  System
• www.ielts.org
• TEF Test dEvaluation de Francais
• www.fda.ccip.fr/

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Selection Factors Language
Maximum 2 points
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Selection Factors Experience

• Skill Type 0 or Skill Levels A or B in NOC matrix
• Must have performed the actions in the lead
  statement of the occupation as set out in the NOC
• Must have performed all the essential duties and
  at least a substantial number of the main duties

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Selection Factors Experience

• Points only awarded for paid experience
• Must be continuous work
• Can be in more than one occupation

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Selection Factors Arranged Employment

• 10 points
• Full time, indeterminate Job Offer confirmed by
  HRSDC
• OR
• Currently working in Canada on work permit valid
  for at least next 12 months (includes Postgrad
  Intracompany NAFTA)

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Selection Factors Adaptability

• MAXIMUM 10 Points
• Education of accompanying spouse / partner
• 3, 4 or 5 points depending upon spouses
  post-secondary educational attainment
• Previous study in Canada
• 5 points if applicant or spouse/partner completed
  at least 2 year post-secondary program in Canada

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Selection Factors Adaptability

• Previous work in Canada
• 5 points if Applicant or spouse/partner have at
  least one year full time experience in Canada on
  work permit
• Arranged employment
• 5 points if applicant received points under the
  Arranged Employment factor
• Relatives in Canada
• 5 points if applicant or spouse/partner has a
  Canadian citizen or permanent resident relative
  (living in Canada)

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Inadmissibility

• Criminal
• Medical
• Misrepresentation

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Fees

• Application Fee (Canadian dollars)
• Principal applicant 550
• Spouse/Partner 550
• Child 150
• Right of Permanent Residence Fee
• Principal Applicant 490
• Spouse/Partner 490

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How Long Does it Take?

• Routine application may take up to 24 months
• Supporting documents must be submitted
• Submission of complete application up front will
  reduce processing time!
• Medical examinations are required
• An interview may be required
• Police clearance certificates from all places of
  residence in the last ten years or since age 18
  are required

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How Can I Get Canadian Immigration Information?

• www.cic.gc.ca
• General information
• Application Kits
• Fee Schedules
• CIC Publications
• Links to Related Sites
• Updates on Immigration Act
• www.canadainternational.gc.ca
• General information
• Links to other resources

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Other Useful Websites

• HRSDC
• www.hrsdc.gc.ca
• NOC
• www23.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca
• Buffalo Consulate
• www.buffalo.gc.ca
• Government of Canada
• www.canada.gc.ca

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Questions?

• Canadian Consulate
• General
• Buffalo, New York
• www.buffalo.gc.ca