At IMB Immigration Law, we guide the clients carefully through Applications for PR to Canada. Home Child Care Provider Program is an initiative by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) that offers an easy pathway to permanent residence in Canada to in-home child caregivers. Examples of such jobs are – babysitter, live-in caregiver, nanny, governess, etc. Notably, it does not include foster parents.
The program which was launched in June 2019, accepts a limited number of applications, capped at 2750 at the moment. The program allows the applicant to apply for a work permit and permanent residence at the same time. Once the applicant has two years of eligible work experience in Canada, they can transition to permanent residence easily. The program allows the applicant’s immediate family members to accompany them to Canada to work or study while the applicant accumulates the minimum required work experience to become a permanent resident. The work permit that is granted under the program is an occupation-restricted open work permit. Such a permit allows the holder to work only in the occupation listed on the work permit, however for any employer. Eligibility Criteria The applicant must meet the following eligibility criteria to become a permanent resident under the program:
With respect to the Quebec province in Canada, the Home Child Care Provider doesn’t apply to caregivers who wish to work in the province. For a foreign national willing to work in Quebec as an in-home caregiver, their employer will need to hire them through the Temporary Worker Program and must apply for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). Application Process
Processing Time It can take up to 12 months for the application to be processed under the program. Contact IMB Immigration Law If you are interested in immigrating to Canada under this or any other program, contact IMB Immigration Law for a free evaluation at [email protected]. The firm is headed by Ravneet Kaur Brar – one of the best immigration lawyers in India. She has years of valuable industry experience helping people immigrated to US, UK and Canada through a variety of programs. Take advantage of her knowledge, to fulfil your immigration dream to Canada and USA. Visit www.imbimmigrationlaw.com today!
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IMB Immigration Law: Biometrics has become an essential part of visa process. For example US and Canada immigration process involves getting biometrics done before you are approved for a visa. In simple terms biometrics are your personal details to identify you with – your face and fingerprints. The process involves visiting a designated centre to have your photograph and fingerprints taken. These are taken digitally with the use of digital face and fingerprint scanners. It is important to note that you have to book an appointment in advance before you visit a visa application centre (VAC) to give biometrics. Consulates and embassies outsource biometrics to VFS Global, a third-party service provider.
Applicants should give biometrics well in advance of the visa interview. One should not schedule biometrics on the morning of the visa interview because the details may not reach the visa officer timely and can result in denial of the visa. The time of biometrics is also dictated by the destination country’s consulates processes. United States requires biometrics done before the in person interview and the booking for the biometrics is completed at the same time as the booking of the visa interview. Canada requires biometrics done after the consulate issues a letter for the same. This consulate or IRCC issued letter is needed to book the appointment with VFS. Similarly, every country has different rules. Please ensure that you check with the Immigration Lawyer or the Consulate website to get the right details. Biometrics Process For Canada When applying for a Canada visa, the biometrics fee is paid online (CAD $85) for individuals and CAD $170 for a family applying together. Upon payment of fee, applicant will receive an instruction letter with information on where you can go to give your biometrics. This letter is sent electronically in your account registered at the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website. It is important to carry this letter and your valid passport for giving biometrics. Once you receive the letter, you will be required to make an appointment at an official biometrics collection service point to give your biometrics. Notably, biometrics will need to be given within 30 days of receiving this letter. In case you choose to apply for a visa/ permit to Canada in the offline or paper mode at a visa application centre (VAC), you can pay the biometric fee and give your biometrics there. You just need to book an appointment before you visit a VAC. Currently, temporary foreign workers in essential services such as healthcare, agriculture, agri-food sectors are exempted from giving biometrics in advance due to COVID-19 pandemic. They may still be asked to give biometrics at a Port of Entry (POE) at the discretion of an immigration officer. Biometrics For A UK Visa If you intend to secure a visa to the UK for a period exceeding six months, you will need to give your biometrics. A biometric residence permit (BRP) is issued that bears your name, date and place of birth along with fingerprints and a photo of your face. It also has information regarding your immigration status and any conditions of stay in the UK. A BRP helps to establish the identity of the candidate. Based on where the candidate is from and the type of passport they have, there are two unique ways to do this. The first option is UK Immigration: ID Check app that is available for use only to people with a biometric passport issued by an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland. For the rest of the countries, the option is to book an appointment at a visa application centre (VAC). The biometrics fee is included in the visa application fee when applying from outside UK and doesn’t have to be paid separately. The process involves giving your digital photograph and fingerprints along with your signature. You will need to make an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point. The first step is creating a UKVCAS account when you apply. You will receive an email from UKVI telling you when you can make an appointment. Once you book the appointment, you will be required to visit a UKVCAS service point with the following:
The next step is collecting your BRP once you arrive in the UK. This must be done before the vignette sticker in your travel document expires or within 10 days of arriving in the UK, whichever is later. UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) will send you a decision letter electronically that will tell you to collect your BRP from a particular Post Office branch. Securing a visa is often a complex process. However, qualified assistance from one of the best immigration lawyers in India can help you sail through the process easily. Contact IMB Immigration Law today at [email protected] to start your application process. Ravneet Kaur Brar, the head immigration lawyer at the firm will be able to give you the best advice for US, UK and Canada immigration supported by her years of rich industry experience. IMB Immigration Law | Ravneet Kaur Brar View all posts by IMB Immigration Law | Ravneet Kaur Brar As a business-person, you can find your way to permanent residence in Canada through a variety of immigration programs designed for foreign nationals who would like to start a new or take over an existing business in Canada. Ravneet Kaur Brar – IMB Immigration Law
Most of these immigration programs are provincial nominee programs (PNPs) offered by various Canadian provinces. Except for the immigration programs by the provincial governments, Canada’s federal government also offers an immigration pathway to business-persons through the Start-up visa program. Eligibility Requirements There are certain eligibility requirements that a candidate must meet to be considered for immigration to Canada as an business person. All these programs have their distinct eligibility criteria, however, with common elements. Few of those are:
Start-Up Visa Program Earlier, Canada’s federal government had a few business immigration programs, all of which have been discontinued except for the Start-up visa program. The program requires an applicant to have business idea for a qualifying business. The program requires a candidate to meet the minimum language and settlement funds benchmark. One unique requirement of this program is – you will need to secure a letter of support from a designated organisation. This is a great program for those who have an innovative business idea. Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) If the Start-up Visa program is not suitable for you, you can take the provincial nominee programs route. All Canadian provinces and territories have a provision of supporting permanent residence application of those foreign entrepreneurs who want to set up a new or buy an existing business in the province/ territory. Every PNP stream for entrepreneurs has its unique eligibility criteria that usually varies according to the economic needs of the province. For example – provincial governments allow investment in businesses based on the how well it can further the province’s economic interests. This means you will need to have prior information about the businesses a particular province is targeting before you decide to start your PNP application. An important condition in the PNP pathway is – you must live in the province concerned and operate an eligible business there. Application Process Apart from meeting the net worth and personal investment requirements, you must also have a business plan that can convince the authorities concerned that you will be a good pick. For this purpose, you must submit a detailed business plan. You are allowed to undertake exploratory visits to Canada (mandatory under a few programs) to find suitable business opportunities. During this course, you can even secure a temporary work permit that can later help you become a permanent resident of Canada, conditional upon you meeting the eligibility requirements. Contact Ravneet Kaur Brar – IMB Immigration Law at [email protected] to get more information about Business Immigration Programs To Canada and start your application process today. IMB Immigration Law | Ravneet Kaur Brar View all posts by IMB Immigration Law | Ravneet Kaur Brar All International students require a study permit to Canada to join a course of study with a duration longer than 6 months. The first step in your quest to studying in Canada is securing admission at a designated learning institution (DLI).
What Is A DLI? The provincial and territorial governments in Canada allow a number of educational institutions to host foreign nationals as students. Such institutions are called designated learning institutions. By default, all the primary and secondary educational institutions in Canada are designated learning institutions.A list of DLIs is available on IRCC website. Admission Process For A Study Permit DLI will issue a letter of acceptance, once you meet with all eligibility criteria. This letter is an important document and will be required for visa application process. Visa applications can be submitted online or on paper for ease of students. Due to Covid-19 Pandemic, online application submission is the only option. SDS Stream Vs. Regular Application There are two ways applicants from certain countries (India, Pakistan, China, Philippines etc.) can apply for study permit. Besides the regular application process, they can go through SDS- student direct stream. SDS provides a faster application processing (20 calendar days) provided you are able to provide the required documents. Notably, only the applications submitted electronically are eligible for SDS processing. In addition, SDS requires acceptable IELTS scores; GIC of $10k CDN; payment of first year tuition in full; upfront medical etc besides the usual set of documents. SDS allows you to submit a temporary resident visa (TRV) application for any accompanying family member(s) at the same time you submit your study permit application. On the other hand, Regular Study Permit Applications include non-SDS electronic applications and paper-based applications submitted through visa application centres (VAC). For regular applications, the current processing times are approximately 15 weeks when applying from India. This excludes the time it takes for you to give your biometrics and your application to move from a VAC to Immigration Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). In the current scenario, you will need funds of at least CAN $14,000 p.a. for yourself and an accompanying family member. Above which, you will need an additional CAN $3,000 for every additional family member accompanying you to Canada. Apart from the above-mentioned mandatory documents, you may have to submit additional documents such as a letter of explanation, custodian declaration for minor children and any other documents according to your country/region-specific visa requirements. Processing Time And Fee The processing time may vary depending on whether you apply for study permit from within or outside Canada. Variations in processing times are also possible as per the country you apply from. In the current COVID-19 situation, it may take longer than the usual processing time of about 15 weeks for your Canada study permit application to be processed. The current processing fee Canada study permit is $150 CAD. There is a biometrics fee of $85 as well. Impact Of COVID-19 On Canada Study Permit Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the processing of all kinds of applications has been delayed. But IRCC has allowed for flexibilities in the application process with respect to the documents you have to submit. For example, you can share a letter of explanation if you are unable to submit a complete application with all the necessary documents. Incomplete Applications-Considered Your application will not be rejected due to being incomplete and you will even be given an extension to put together the missing documents when your application is taken up for processing. Priority, however is being given to complete applications. Incomplete applications are being processed through two stages.
COVID-19 FAQ’s Q. What happens if I apply for Canada study permit now? Ans. If you apply for Canada study permit now, it may take longer than usual for your application to be processed as IRCC are unable to operate in full capacity due to restrictions imposed due to COVID-19 pandemic. However, considering that applicants in various countries may be unable to give biometrics, undergo medical examination and submit their original travel documents. IRCC have made necessary accommodations in this regard. IRCC have also decided to keep incomplete applications open instead of refusing them while granting extension to applicants to gather and submit any missing documents. Applicants need to submit a letter of explanation stating that you are unable to provide certain documents due to COVID-19. Q. I am already enrolled as a student in Canada on a study permit and need to return to the country to carry on my program studies. How does the COVID-19 situation impact me? Ans. For students who have already secured study permit to Canada and want to enter Canada to start their program study along with those who had to leave Canada during the pandemic in the midst of their course, they can return only if they have an essential purpose for entering Canada. Students travelling directly from the US are also admissible. The purpose of your travel may be deemed essential in any of the following scenarios:
IMB Immigration Law | Ravneet Kaur Brar View all posts by IMB Immigration Law | Ravneet Kaur Brar Canada’s people friendly government has once again extended their helping hand towards the businesses and workers affected by the global economic slowdown. Canada govt. acknowledges that more and more businesses are opening but they need constant support to beat the heat. In order to keep the businesses running and rehiring of the workers, Govt. has extended the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy until Dec 19th 2020. This doesn’t stop here, they have planned to make it more accessible to support more businesses by creating a top-up for employers who were most affected.
Those eligible businesses who had any dip in revenue during the pandemic outbreak, can now qualify for the wage subsidy. For the next period of wage subsidy, Govt. has opened the applications and launched an updated and improved calculator that will help you prepare for the subsidy. What are the changes in the provision?
View all posts by IMB Immigration Law | Ravneet Kaur Brar International Students in Canada can qualify for PR under the Canada Experience Class. Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is one of the three economic immigration programs under the popular Express Entry system. The program is for foreign nationals with Canadian work experience.
To qualify for Canada PR, you have to fulfill a number of eligibility requirements ( in language proficiency, work experience, level of education, etc.). EligibilityWork Experience The most important CEC requirement is work experience in Canada. A Candidate’s work experience must be in ‘skill level 0’ or ‘ A or B’ as defined by Canada’s National Occupational Classification (NOC). Skill level 0 occupations are managerial jobs. The skill type A occupations include professional jobs that require a university degree such as Architects, Doctors, Dentists, etc. Skill type B occupations involve technical jobs and skilled trades that you can start with a college diploma or after completing an apprenticeship. Examples of such jobs are – Chefs, Electricians, Plumbers, etc. Work Experience Requirements
English and French are the two official languages of Canada. Candidate should have the minimum required level of proficiency in either of these to be eligible for Canada immigration. This is one of the most common and crucial eligibility criteria found across Canada immigration programs. A candidate can prove your language proficiency by taking an approved language test. For English, the approved tests are: IELTS and CELPIP. The tests approved for French language are: TCF and TEF CLB is a measure of language proficiency. The test language scores are converted to CLB levels. The minimum-required level of language proficiency will depend upon your occupation, which is as follows:
Importantly, IRCC has not outlined any minimum-required level of education for CEC. However, an applicant needs the necessary level of education as per occupation. At IMB Immigration Law, we make your Canada Immigration process smooth and seamless. Check out www.imbimmigrationlaw.com for a complete range of immigration services. Write to us at [email protected]. IMB Immigration Law | Ravneet Kaur Brar View all posts by IMB Immigration Law | Ravneet Kaur Brar Canada is a highly sought after immigration destination. It is popular for accepting a high number of immigrants as permanent residents every year.
Express Entry is the most popular pathway for Canada PR. IRCC assesses your candidature based on your ability to contribute to the Canadian economy. For that purpose and in general, as well, it’s important that you are able to communicate effectively once you move to the country. Canada places a high emphasis on language (English and French). Proficiency In English Language Canada is largely an English-speaking nation with a concentration of French-speaking population in the Quebec province of the country. Unless you want to live and work in the Quebec province, you will need to have proficiency in the English language. IELTS Test You must prove your language proficiency in English by taking an approved language test. For the purpose of establishing the language proficiency of candidates in English, IRCC has approved the following two tests:
While CELPIP is specific to Canada immigration, IELTS test is accepted by a number of other English-speaking countries for immigration purposes. Difference Between CELPIP And IELTS Take a look at some of the differences between CELPIP and IELTS test: CELPIPIELTS It is completed in one sitting of 3 hours.It takes more than one sitting as the listening test is conducted separately. Fully computer-based.Available as both paper and computer-based. Listening test is always conducted face-to-face. Result becomes available in 15 calendar days.Result for the paper-based test becomes available in 15 calendar days and within 7 calendar days for the computer-based test. CELPIP is specifically designed for Canada immigration.IELTS has a global acceptance with many countries accepting it for immigration purpose. Each section i.e. reading, writing, speaking and listening has maximum of 12 points.Each section has maximum of 9 points.Conversion Of Score Into Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) Irrespective of what your score is, your score will be converted into Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB). It is applicable to both CELPIP and IELTS test. There are minimum CLB requirements for each program in the Express Entry system. For example – the minimum IELTS score requirement for the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) is 6 across bands i.e. reading, writing, speaking and listening. That is equivalent to CLB 7. The highest CLB level is 10 with which you will be able to score full points for language proficiency factor. Click here to see the CELPIP/ IELTS to CLB conversion table. You can visit this page to get information about the CLB requirements for the three Express Entry programs. Please reach out to us at www.imbimmigrationlaw.com to seek more information about English requirements for Canada Immigration. IMB Immigration Law | Ravneet Kaur Brar Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor their parents and grandparents to Canada permanently. The parental sponsorship is approved on the basis of the sponsor’s earning capacity.
Eligibility For Parental Sponsorship
Minimum Income RequirementThe sponsor must meet the minimum income requirement for each of the three taxation years before the submission of the parental sponsorship application. The minimum income requirement for the program is updated every year. See the table below that gives information about the minimum income you must have, for the last three years for applying to sponsor your parents or grandparents in 2020. The figures given below are in the Canadian dollar. Total Number Of Dependents202020192018 2 people$32,899$41,007$40,379 3 people$40,445$50,414$49,641 4 people$49,106$61,209$60,271 5 people$55,695$69,42368,358 6 people$62,814$78,296$77,095 7 people$69,935$87,172$85,835 If more than 7 people, for each additional person, add:$7,121$8,876$8,740 Minimum Income Requirement for Parental SponsorshipIn general, there is a 30 percent increase in the minimum income requirement every year, which has been omitted this year due to the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sponsorship AgreementSponsor is required to sign a sponsorship agreement with an undertaking to support the dependents for 20 years after they become permanent residents of Canada. During the period of undertaking, if any of the sponsored family members avail any kind of social assistance, sponsor will be responsible for repaying it to the government. Application Process
Cap On The Number Of ApplicationsIRCC have announced that they will be accepting a maximum of 10,000 applications in 2020, which originally was set at 21,000 before the COVID-19 outbreak in March. This means you must apply as soon as possible to be among those 10,000. Applications for the program are set to open on October 13, 2020. In case, you are unable to apply for the program for any reason, you can apply for 2021 intake. IRCC has set a target of accepting up to 30,000 applications for 2021. Please visit https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/family-sponsorship/sponsor-parents-grandparents.html for more details. We at IMB Immigration Law are providing cost effective and professional immigration services for parental and grandparents sponsorship. IMB Immigration Law ( www.imbimmigrationlaw.com) is an Immigration Law firm and we take pride in being one of the best Immigration law firms in India. Contact IMB Immigration Law at [email protected] today to start your application process. IMB Immigration Law | Ravneet Kaur Brar As a spouse or civil partner of a UK immigrant, you can apply for a UK Spouse Visa that entitles you to live in the UK for a period of more than six months. This visa allows you to stay in the UK for a period of 33 months.
A fiancé(e) or a proposed civil partner visa allows a stay of six months, within which you must either marry your partner or enter into a civil partnership. Once this happens, you can apply for an extension from within the UK. Eligibility Criteria You and your partner must meet the following eligibility criteria for spouse visa:
A valid passport with a minimum of one blank page for affixing visa.
TB TestA certificate of successful screening for Tuberculosis from a clinic in your country that has been approved by the Home Office. Processing TimeUK spouse visa application forms are completed and submitted online. Applicants need to smartly complete the forms, as they are extensive and all questions must be answered truthfully. Applicants should be diligently complete the forms. The processing time for a UK spouse visa is 12 weeks. The processing times can increase if more extensive paperwork is required in a complex case. Fee & SurchargesThe application fee for a UK spouse visa is £1523. There is a health surcharge of £400 for every year of the proposed stay in the UK. There is not separate biometric fee for overseas applicants. DependentsYou will need to submit a separate application for each dependent and pay separate fees as well. Issues And ChallengesThe process of navigating the visa applications can be daunting. The most common challenges faced by applicants are:
You can obtain information at https://www.gov.uk/uk-family-visa/partner-spouse. Our Immigration lawyers can assist with all types of issues as listed above. We at IMB Immigration Law have helped many clients who had their UK spouse visa refused. Contact us at IMB Immigration Law today. Visit out website at www.imbimmigrationlaw.com. Write to us at [email protected] to get personalized advice. |
AuthorIMB Immigration Law head Ravneet Kaur Brar is an Immigration Law professional with over fifteen years of rich experience behind her. She is an attorney-at-law (California State Bar) in the United States and a member of American Immigration Lawyers Association. She is also a Canadian Barrister & Solicitor (Ontario Bar) and a member of the Law Society of Ontario. Ravneet is an advocate and member of Punjab and Haryana bar Council in India. She has extensive experience working in immigration law in Canada and the United States. She is also on the attorney list of the United States Embassy in India. ArchivesCategories |