Citizenship and Immigration Canada
July 27, 2017 Henry J. Chang, Dentons LLP Corporate Immigration, Employee Relations, Human Resources, International HR Law, Recruiting and Hiring
Bill C-6 received royal assent on June 19, 2017 and eases many of the key eligibility requirements for citizenship, including the physical presence requirement and the requirement to demonstrate knowledge of Canada and its official languages. Bill C-6 also eliminates some of the more controversial elements of the Strengthening Canadian Citizenship Act, including the ability to revoke the Canadian citizenship of dual nationals based on national security grounds.
Bill C-6, Canadian immigration, CIC, Citizenship, Citizenship Act, Citizenship and Immigration, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, dual citizenship, dual nationals, employment law, Foreign workers, Immigration Law, Minister of Immigration, national security, naturalization, physical presence requirement, revocation, Strengthening Canadian Citizenship Act
July 20, 2016 Henry J. Chang, Dentons LLP Corporate Immigration, Employee Relations, Employment/Labour Standards, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Recruiting and Hiring
On June 28, 2016, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau formally announced that the Temporary Resident Visa (“TRV”) requirement for citizens of Mexico travelling to Canada will be eliminated as of December 1, 2016. However, the existing TRV requirement will continue until November 30, 2016. Mexican citizens who wish to travel to Canada before December 1, 2016, will still need to obtain a TRV from a Canadian consular post.
Canada's Electronic Travel Authorization, citizens of Mexico travelling to Canada, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, employment law, eTA, Immigration and Refugee Board, Mexican citizens, Mexican refugee cases, refuge in Canada, refugee claims, Temporary Resident Visa, visa-exempt Mexican citizens, weak passport system
June 15, 2016 Henry J. Chang, Dentons LLP Corporate Immigration, Human Resources, Recruiting and Hiring
Since Express Entry began on January 1, 2015, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (“CIC”) has issued several rounds of Invitations to Apply (“ITAs”). As of the date of this article, CIC has issued a total of 35 rounds of ITAs.
Canadian Experience Class, CEC, CIC, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Comprehensive Ranking Score, CRS, Express Entry, Federal Skilled Trades, federal skilled worker, FST, FSW
April 20, 2016 Henry J. Chang, Dentons LLP Corporate Immigration, Human Resources
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (“CIC”) has announced two new categories of work permits exempt from the Labour Market Impact Assessment requirement, pursuant to Section 205 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations. These work permits apply to: (1) foreign nationals whose work is essential to a television or film production and would create and maintain significant economic benefits and opportunities for Canadians and permanent residents; and (2) foreign nationals working in dance (i.e. ballet, contemporary), opera, orchestra, and live theatre, whose work contributes to competitive advantages and reciprocal benefits for all Canadians. CIC has also clarified its business visitor guidance to confirm that foreign nationals who are employed as film producers, essential personnel for commercial (i.e. advertising) shoots, and film and recording studio users may now seek admission under the business visitor category.
CIC, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, dance, film production, Labour Market Impact Assessment, live theatre, LMIA exemption, opera, orchestra, performing artist, television, work permit
March 14, 2016 Henry J. Chang, Dentons LLP Corporate Immigration, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Privacy and Security, Recruiting and Hiring
On April 1, 2015, Citizenship and Immigration Canada published regulations implementing its Electronic Travel Authorization (“eTA”) program. The regulations initially required eTAs to be mandatory as of March 15, 2016. Fortunately, the new Liberal Government has decided to delay the enforcement of the eTA requirement until Fall 2016 (no exact end date has been announced) by implementing a “leniency period.” During the leniency period, visa-exempt foreign nationals who do not have an eTA will still be permitted to enter Canada as long as they have appropriate travel documents, such as a valid passport. Nevertheless, visa-exempt foreign nationals are encouraged to obtain an eTA as soon as possible.
Canada, CIC, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Electronic Travel Authorization, eTA, leniency period, Temporary Resident Visa, TRV, Visa, visa-exempt
February 17, 2016 Henry J. Chang, Dentons LLP Corporate Immigration, Human Resources, Recruiting and Hiring
Since Express Entry began on January 1, 2015, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (“CIC”) has issued several rounds of Invitations to Apply (“ITAs”). As of the date of this article, CIC has issued a total of 26 rounds of ITAs. The last two rounds (rounds 25 and 26) have required minimum CRS scores (453 points and 457 points) that have approached the levels used in rounds 17 and 18 (450 points).
Canadian Experience Class, CEC, CIC, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Comprehensive Ranking Score, CRS, Express Entry, Federal Skilled Trades, federal skilled worker, Foreign workers, FST, FSW
January 13, 2016 Henry J. Chang, Dentons LLP Corporate Immigration, Human Resources, Recruiting and Hiring
When the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (“OINP”) announced the termination of its Investor Stream on October 29, 2015, it promised that it would create new Entrepreneur and Corporate Streams to replace it. On December 18, 2015, the OINP published complete eligibility criteria and application guidelines for these two new business streams.
business streams, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, corporate stream, entrepreneur stream, Immigration Law, investor, OINP, ontario, Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program, permanent residence, PNP
December 9, 2015 Henry J. Chang, Dentons LLP Corporate Immigration, Employee Relations, Human Resources, Recruiting and Hiring
On November 16, 2015, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (“OINP”), formerly known as the Ontario Provincial Nominee Program, announced that it has exhausted its base stream allocation for 2015. Between November 16th, 2015 and January 3, 2016, the program will not accept any new employer pre-screen applications or applications under the Master’s Stream or PhD Stream. Any applications received during this time period will be returned to the applicant. The OINP will begin accepting new applications under all these streams on January 4, 2016.
base stream applications, Canada, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Immigration Law, OINP, ontario, Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program, permanent residence, PNP, temporary pause
December 9, 2015 Henry J. Chang, Dentons LLP Corporate Immigration, Employee Relations, Human Resources, Recruiting and Hiring
On October 29, 2015, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (“OINP”), formerly the Ontario Provincial Nominee Program, announced that the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship, Immigration and International Trade is redesigning its OINP business streams. As a result, it has terminated its existing Investor Stream. However, applications for its redesigned Corporate Stream and Entrepreneur Stream will be accepted in the Fall of 2015.
Canada, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, corporate stream, entrepreneur stream, Immigration Law, investor stream, OINP, ontario, Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program, permanent residence, PNP
December 9, 2015 Henry J. Chang, Dentons LLP Corporate Immigration, Human Resources, Recruiting and Hiring
Since Express Entry began on January 1, 2015, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (“CIC”) has issued several rounds of Invitations to Apply (“ITAs”). As of the date of this article, CIC has issued a total of 20 rounds of ITAs. Although the lowest Comprehensive Ranking System (“CRS”) score eligible to receive an ITA has been 450 points (which occurred in rounds 17 and 18, the minimum CRS score has risen to over 480 in the last two rounds (rounds 19 and 20).
Canadian Experience Class, CEC, CIC, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Comprehensive Ranking Score, CRS, Express Entry, Federal Skilled Trades, federal skilled worker, FST, FSW
November 9, 2015 Henry J. Chang, Dentons LLP Corporate Immigration, Human Resources, International HR Law, Penalties and Fines
Background As was previously mentioned, Jason Kenney, Minister of Employment and Social Development, and Chris Alexander, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, announced changes to Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker (“TFW”) program on June 20, 2014. Among these changes was a proposal to impose fines of up to $100,000 on employers who violated the TFW program. The […]
administrative monetary penalty, AMP, AMPs, Canada, Canadian, CIC, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, employer compliance, Employment and Social Development Canada, employment law, ESDC, foreign national, foreign worker, Immigration Law, Labour Market Impact Assessment, LMIA, Temporary Foreign Worker Program, TFW
September 16, 2015 Henry J. Chang, Dentons LLP Corporate Immigration, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Recruiting and Hiring
When Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s Express Entry Program began on January 1, 2015, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (the “OINP”), formerly known as the Ontario PNP, still did not have an Express Entry Stream in place. However, the OINP has now announced two Express Entry Streams: (1) the Human Capital Priorities Stream, and (2) the French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream.
Canadian Experience Class, CEC, CIC, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Comprehensive Ranking System, CRS, Express Entry, federal skilled worker, Foreign workers, FSW, Human Capital Priorities Stream, Invitation to Apply, ITA, National Occupation Classification, nomination, Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program, PNP, provincial nominee program
June 2, 2015 Henry J. Chang, Dentons LLP Corporate Immigration, Human Resources, Recruiting and Hiring
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (“CIC”) has now issued six rounds of Invitations to Apply (“ITAs”) under Express Entry. CIC is clearly increasing the number of ITAs that it issues in each round and is also lowering the minimum CRS score that applies in each round.
Canadian Experience Class, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, employment law, Express Entry, Express Entry Stream, Federal Skilled Trades, federal skilled worker, foreign national, Foreign workers, Immigration Law, Invitations to Apply, permanent residence, provincial nominee program
March 11, 2015 Henry J. Chang, Dentons LLP Corporate Immigration, Human Resources, Recruiting and Hiring
On December 22, 2014, Citizenship and Immigration Canada announced a one-year pilot program to issue open work permits to applicants under the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada class before they have received approval in principle.
CIC, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, inland processing, open work permit, SCLPC, spousal work permit, Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class
March 11, 2015 Henry J. Chang, Dentons LLP Corporate Immigration, Human Resources, Recruiting and Hiring
Since Express Entry began on January 1, 2015, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (“CIC”) has issued four rounds of Invitations to Apply (“ITAs”). However, the total number of ITAs being issued is still relatively small. Also, even though the last round included ITAs issued to applicants having a minimum Comprehensive Ranking Score of 735, this is still too high for an applicant who does not have arranged employment or a nomination certificate issued under a PNP Express Entry stream.
Canadian Experience Class, CEC, CIC, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Comprehensive Ranking Score, CRS, employment law, Express Entry, Express Entry Stream, Federal Skilled Trades, federal skilled worker, Foreign workers, FST, FSW, Invitation to Apply, ITA, PNP, provincial nominee program