Ottawa, June 13, 2016 – As part of its commitment to family reunification, the Government of Canada will grant permanent residence to more spouses, partners and dependent children of Canadian citizens and permanent residents this year. This will significantly reduce the backlog of existing applications and speed up processing times going forward.

Each year, the Government sets how many permanent residents Canada intends to admit through its various immigration categories during the year. This is done with the annual immigration levels plan. The plan for 2016 reflects the Government's key priorities for immigration, which include bringing more families together.

This year, the Government increased the number of spaces allowed for spouses, partners and dependent children by 14 000, bringing it up to 62 000 spaces.

Over the past few years, more people have applied to come to Canada in the spousal category than there was space for in previous immigration levels plans; this has created a backlog. This year, the Government will reduce this backlog.

Tackling the spousal backlog will ease the uncertainty faced by spouses and partners wanting to move forward and build their lives in Canada with their family and help them integrate into our communities and our economy.

Increasing the number of admission spaces for spouses and partners is one of the measures the Government has taken to support family reunification. Through Budget 2016, $25 million was also allocated to support faster and more predictable processing times for family sponsorship.

What this means for applicants
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has begun to work on reducing its current spousal sponsorship backlog.

Reducing the backlog means complete and straightforward spousal sponsorship applications will be finalized faster.

The backlog reduction applies to applications received through the family class (overseas processing) as well as the spouse or common-law partner in Canada class (in-Canada processing).

All applications will continue to undergo the necessary screening to ensure that individuals do not pose a health, safety or security risk to Canadians and that the relationships are genuine.

If you have already submitted an application to sponsor your spouse or partner, IRCC may contact you to advise you if we need additional information to help process your application. You do not need to contact us, but please make sure your file is up to date.

If you are contacted, please respond to any communication you receive from us within the time frame provided in order to ensure that we can properly process your application. The success of our efforts relies on your cooperation.

If you have not yet submitted an application to sponsor your spouse or partner but plan to do so, the application will not be dealt with as part of our backlog reduction efforts, but it will be processed as quickly as possible.

IRCC's work to reduce the backlog will eventually benefit all spousal applicants—whether they are already in the backlog or submitting a new application—by bringing down wait times for all.

Find general information on family sponsorship, and find answers to your questions at the Help Centre.

June News

안녕하세요.

어느덧 2016년도 5개월을 훌쩍 넘기고
6월이 성큼 다가 왔습니다. 2016년 절반이 지나 가고 있습니다.

영주권, LMIA 승인 혹은 비자 연장으로 기뻐 하시는 분들도 계시고,
지체되는 LMIA 수속으로 더운 날씨 만큼 가슴이 답답하고 먹먹해 하는 분들도 많으리라 여겨집니다.

2016년도 최근 이민 및 LMIA 수속 상황을 알려 드립니다.

1. Express Entry
2016년 들어 꾸준히 한달에2번씩 추첨을 통해 초청장을 발급하고 있습니다.
가장 최근 추첨 일은 6월 1일 이었으며cut-off score는 483점으로 762명이 초청장을 받았습니다.
Food section에서 가장 많은 분들이 Express Entry를 통해 영주권을 취득 했다는 보고서로 인해 혹 이민법이 바뀌는 것은 아닌가 하고 이 분야 분들이불안해 하시기도 하는데 아직까지 변동된 내용이나 새로운 발표는 없습니다.
또한 International student에게 좀더 유리한 점수를 더 하자는 제안들도 나왔지만 이 역시 확정된 내용은 아직 없습니다만 향후 정부 발표를 주시해 봐야 할 것 같습니다.

LMIA 승인서를 통한 Job Offer가 있어야만 초대장을 받을 수 있는상황은 계속될 전망 입니다.
2015년에 2-3개월 소요되던 수속기간이 요즘은 5-6개월 정도 소요되고 있습니다.
비록 작년 보다 수속 기간이 늘어지긴 했지만, EE만큼 빠른 이민은 없으니 열심히 영어 공부 하셔서이 방법을 꼭 선택하길 당부 드립니다.

2. 알버타 주정부 이민
2016년 1월 29일 재오픈된 이후, 현재까지 꾸준히 신청자를 받고 있는 상황 입니다.
5월30일 기준으로 1500개 이상의 Nomination certificate가 발급 되었습니다. 참고로 주정부 1년 쿼터는 5500 입니다.
International Graduate Category, Skilled Worker Category를 제외한 나머지 카테고리는 정체 현상이 해소 되었지만 , 한국 분들이 많이 신청하는 retail 수퍼바이저 & food 수퍼바이저 등을 포함한 10개 직종에 해당되는 케이스들은 여전히 22~ 24개월 정도 기간이 걸리고 있으니 이 분야로 근무 하시는 분들은 주정부 수속기간 감안하셔서 비자 연장에 신경쓰시기 바랍니다.

Cook, welder, hairstylist 등 자격증이 필요한 직종 및 , 푸드 및 호텔 분야 세미스킬 직종 (키친헬퍼, 서버, 푸드카운터어텐던트, 룸어텐던트) 등의 수속기간은 1.5~3개월 정도로 아주 빠른 속도를 보이고 있습니다.

직종에 따라 주정부 수속기간이 달라진다는 점, 잊지 마시기 바랍니다.

카테고리별 자세한 수속 현황 다음 AINP사이트를 참고 하기 바랍니다.
http://www.albertacanada.com/opportunity/immigrating/ainp-processing-inventory.aspx

주정부에서 노미니를 받고 난 이후, 연방 신청 수속은 현재 1년 반 정도 소요되고 있습니다.

SK 주정부 이민 신청은 job approval을 받은 경우, 노미니 받기까지 다른 주정부에 비해 가장 빠른 것 같습니다. 따라서 알버타에만 취엄/이민 하시려고 치중하지 마시고, SK 혹은 마니토바 주도 고려하셔서 고용주를 찾아 보기 바랍니다.

3. LMIA
요즘 가장 많이 문의 하시고 답답해 하는 신청서인 것 같습니다.
일반적으로 LMIA수속 기간은 정부 시책에 따라 달라집니다. 현재는 작년 12월에 접수하신 신청서 부터 정체 현상을 보이고 있습니다. 이는 작년 7월까지 정체를 빚었던과 같은 상황을 보이고 있습니다. 현재 정부서 foreign worker program을 재검토 중이므로 조만간 새 규정이 발표될 것 같습니다.

이렇듯 수속 기간은 언제든 뒤바뀔 수 있지만 현재는 이민용/워퍼밋용 LMIA신청서는 순조롭게 진행되고 있으니 만약 고용주 자격이 되신다면 이 신청서도 고려해 보시기 바랍니다.

비지니스가 CRA 보고용 재무재표상 안정적인 income을 보이고, foreign worker영주권 서포팅을 고려하는 고용주 분들은Dual LMIA (영주권 서포팅 + work permit)신청이 가능하십니다.

Dual LMIA를 신청할 경우 고용주가 준비할 서류는 다음과 같습니다.
Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) documents, including:
T4 Summary of Remuneration Paid (most current year ending)
PD7A Statement of Account for current source deductions (for 12-month period preceding LMIA application).
CRA Schedules 100 and 125 - T2 Corporation Income Tax Return (for corporations only – 2 most recent returns filed).

하지만 조만간 워퍼밋용 LMIA 수속 기간이 화~~악 풀려 작년 하반기처럼 이 신청서가 더 빨리 진행될 수도 있을거라는 반전도 있으니 어떤 신청서를 선택할 것인지는 항상 그때 그때 결정하셔야 할 것 같습니다.

4. LMIA 고용주 심사
요즘 서비스 캐나다 업무를 보면 LMIA 승인 수속은 뒷전이고 대부분이 고용주 심사에 매달려 있은 것처럼 느껴집니다.
고용주 심사를 받으신 분들은 이미 경험해 보셨겠지만 요청하는 서류가 더 많이 까다로와 졌고 보완을 받았을 경우, 보완 서류도 아주 구체적으로 변하고 있습니다.

지금까지 foreign worker를 고용한 적이 있는 분들은 아래의 내용을 잘 지키고 있는지 다시 한번 검토 바라며 서류 작성에 만전을 기하기 바랍니다.
1) LMIA 승인서에 있는 규정대로 wage, overtime, vacation fee/days, national holiday는 제대로 지급하고 있는지? (참고로 근무 기간 중, 웨이지 변동이 생기면 서비스 캐나다에 반드시 신고 하도록 되어 있으니 이 역시도 주의하기 바랍니다. )
2) 고용계약서에 명시되어 있는 내용을 잘 준수 하고 있는지?
- 교통비 (편도 또는 왕복 교통비 ) 제공 여부
- 숙박제공 여부 (고용계약서 yes로 되어 있는 경우)
- WCB 가입
- Personal Health Insurance 가입 여부 (foreign worker가 각 주정부에서 제공하는 헬스카드를 받기 전에 근무를 시작했다면 그 근무한 날로 부터 까지 그 직원이 헬스카드를 받기 전까지 사설 보험 제공은 했는지 )

위의 준수 사항에 하나라도 지켜지지 않은 것이 있다면 고용주 심사시 합당한 이유로 설명을 하셔야 고용주 심사를 통과할 수 있습니다.

5. 사면신청
과거 음주운전 또는 신원조회 서류상 어떠한 기록이라도 있는 있는 분들은 영주권 신청하시기전에 해당 사건의 사면 여부에 관해서도 미리 전문가와 상담 받아 보시기 바랍니다.

6. 비자 수속현황 – Work permit, Study permit, Visitor visa
올해 초까지 온라인 수속기간이 우편 신청기간 보다 훨씬 오래 걸렸습니다. 이 때문에 신청서가 우편신청으로 많이 몰렸는지 지금은 온라인 신청이 더 빠릅니다. 이처럼 수속 기간은 항상 이렇게 저렇게 뒤바뀌니 그때 그때 접수하는 싯점에서 결정하셔야 할 것 같습니다. 현재 온라인 수속 기간은 한달 남짓이며 우편 접수는 약 3-4달 소요되고 있습니다.
어떤 경우든 각자 비자 만기 일은 반드시 기억하셔야 비자 만기 일 전에 연장 하셔야 함을 다시 한번 당부 드립니다.

비자 수속기간 현황은 아래의 사이트를 참고하기 바랍니다.
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/index.asp

과거 힘들었던 분들이 지금은 영주권자가 되어 넉넉한 웃음으로 ‘앞으로 뭐 하며 살지??’ 라는 화두로 고민하실 겁니다. 지금 비자 연장으로 힘들게 시간을 보내시는 분들도 조만간, 이런 미래가 조만간 오리라 믿습니다. 당장 힘들어 보따리 싸들고 한국 가 버릴까 하는 분들도 계실테지만 사람이 사는 곳은 어디나 마찬가지로 힘듬이 있으면 즐거움이 기다리고 있을거라 믿습니다. 끝까지 포기하지 마시고 목표를 향해 조금씩 더 힘내서 지내기 바랍니다.

궁금한 내용 있으시면 언제든 연락 주시고, 항상 최선을 다하는 캔트랙스가 되도록 노력하겠습니다.

감사 합니다.

최형란 올림.

You may choose to use a representative to act for you with:

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC),the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, orthe Canada Border Services Agency.

There are two types of representatives: paid and unpaid.

Paid representatives

Only some people can charge a fee or receive any other type of payment to represent or advise you on a Canadian immigration or citizenship proceeding or application. These are:

lawyers and paralegals who are members in good standing of a Canadian provincial or territorial law society,notaries who are members in good standing of the Chambre des notaires du Québec andcitizenship or immigration consultants who are members in good standing of the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council.

These people are called “authorized” representatives.

CIC will not deal with representatives who charge for their services and are not members of one of the above groups.

Other people who offer paid immigration or citizenship advice

Anyone who gives you paid advice before you apply or start a proceeding must be authorized. Unauthorized people must either become authorized or refer you to someone who is.

If you pay a representative, they must be authorized if they:

act on your behalf during an immigration or citizenship proceeding by speaking for you,help you choose the best immigration stream orfill out any forms.

Unpaid third parties

Unpaid third parties include:

family members,friends,non-profit groups andreligious groups.

They can still act for you in the same way as a paid representative.

To protect your privacy, you need to give written consent to CIC before we share any of your personal information with your consultant, lawyer, or other representative, paid or unpaid. Use the Use of a Representative (IMM 5476) form to give your consent.

Ottawa, March 13, 2014 — Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander today encouraged potential newcomers to use authorized immigration representatives to avoid becoming victims of fraud.

March is Fraud Prevention Month and this year Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has partnered with the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC) and the Federation of Law Societies of Canada (FLSC) to promote awareness of authorized immigration representatives and what services they can provide.

For Fraud Prevention Month 2014, CIC has developed a new video which urges newcomers to avoid becoming the victim of a “disappearing act” and explains where they can obtain information on immigration representatives that are authorized to deal with the Government of Canada.

Unscrupulous and unauthorized representatives weaken Canada’s immigration system, cost taxpayers money, and slow down the processing of valid applications. Under Canadian law, only authorized immigration representatives can charge a fee to help someone apply for a visa to come to Canada. If a newcomer uses an unauthorized representative, their application may be refused and they could risk becoming victims of fraud.

To learn more about choosing and using a representative, visit CIC’s website.

Quick facts

Of nearly 6,500 permanent residents who have been flagged as being linked to major investigations, 1,894 people have withdrawn or abandoned their citizenship applications – a sign of success with our immigration fraud deterrence measures.Regulations, which came into force on June 30, 2011, impose penalties on unauthorized representatives who provide, or offer to provide, advice or representation for a fee at any stage of an immigration application or proceeding. If the court finds a person guilty, the following penalties would apply:on summary conviction, the person is subject to a fine of up to $20,000, or up to six months imprisonment, or both;on conviction on indictment, they are subject to a fine of up to $100,000 or up to two years imprisonment, or both.

Bill C-24 reinforces the value of citizenship by cracking down on fraud and ensuring Canadian citizenship is only offered to those who play by the rules. Proposed measures include:stronger penalties for fraud and misrepresentation (a maximum fine of $100,000 and/or five years in prison);expanding the grounds to bar an application for citizenship to include foreign criminality which will help improve program integrity; andmaking it an offence for unauthorized individuals to knowingly represent or advise a person on a citizenship application or hearing for a fee.

Quotes

“Fraud is a very serious issue in our immigration system. Our government is taking action to combat fraud by introducing specific measures in theStrengthening Citizenship Act that will address misrepresentation in the citizenship system. Fraud Prevention Month reminds newcomers of the importance of using authorized immigration representatives and provides information to newcomers so that they do not become victims of fraud.”

Chris Alexander, Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration Minister

“Unauthorized representatives are not trained or regulated, and take money for services they cannot provide, which often leads to the refusal of applications that might otherwise be approved. Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants are highly trained and effectively regulated, so their clients can be sure that they are getting the best advice and representation possible.”

Bob Brack, CEO, Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council

“As the regulators of the legal profession Canada’s law societies ensure that lawyers, Quebec notaries and Ontario paralegals meet high standards of competence and professional conduct. It is vital that anyone thinking of using an immigration representative check that they are authorized. Verifying whether a lawyer, Quebec notary or Ontario paralegal is licensed and in good standing is easy. The information is publicly available through the on-line directories of the law societies or by calling the law society directly.”

Marie-Claude Bélanger- Richard, Q.C., President, Federation of Law Societies of Canada

The Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

The Government of Canada is focused on creating jobs and opportunities for hard-working Canadians in every region of the country.

Providing businesses, especially the crucial small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with new and improved market access so they can expand and compete globally is a key part of the government’s pro-trade plan, the most ambitious in the nation’s history.

On September 22, 2014, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Park Geun-hye, President of the Republic of Korea, witnessed the signature of the Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement (CKFTA), Canada’s first free trade agreement in the Asia-Pacific region. Following legislative approvals and the completion of all domestic procedures required to implement the CKFTA in both countries, the CKFTA entered into force on January 1, 2015.

The CKFTA provides Canadian businesses and workers with unprecedented access to South Korea, directly benefiting Canada’s SMEs. Specific measures that will help SMEs to access the South Korean market include eliminating tariffs, locking in fair and predictable conditions for business and ensuring non-discriminatory treatment i.e. that each country treats the other’s companies and goods the same way as it treats its own.

Increased Market Access

The Agreement will result in increased trade opportunities through tariff elimination in a broad range of sectors, such as industrial goods (for example, aerospace, information and communications technology, metals and minerals, chemicals, plastics, pharmaceuticals, industrial machinery and cosmetics), agri-food products, forestry and value-added wood products, and fish and seafood products.

Simplified Origin Procedures and Trade Facilitation

The Agreement makes it easier and less costly for Canadian SMEs in a wide range of sectors to do business in the South Korean market.

For example, the Agreement simplifies the process of clearing goods through South Korean customs, thanks to:

• clear and transparent origin procedures that effectively administer the rules of origin without creating unnecessary obstacles to trade;
• access to advance rulings on the origin or tariff classification of products;
• the promotion of border procedures automated through the use of information technology in order to expedite procedures for the release of goods; and
• an impartial and transparent system for addressing any complaints about customs rulings and decisions.

Reduced Non-Tariff Barriers

The Agreement contains strong disciplines on non-tariff measures, which will help Canadian businesses to reap the benefits of the Agreement and ensure that market access gains are not undermined by lack of transparency or unjustified trade restrictions. Importantly, these strong disciplines on non-tariff measures are backed up by fast and effective dispute settlement provisions.

For instance, the Agreement:

• promotes and require (in absence of good reason not to) the use of internationally accepted standards that minimize duplicative certification and testing of products;
• improves transparency with respect to standards and regulatory development by ensuring that SMEs have access to information, such as laws, regulations and administrative rulings, that can affect trade;
• encourages cooperation in bilateral, regional and multilateral forums on ways to promote increased transparency;
• promotes quality management system guidelines for the regulation of medical devices and pharmaceutical products to facilitate safe bilateral trade in those products; and
• establishes a committee and prospectively a working group whereby any standards-related concerns can be addressed and dealt with on a timely basis, including concerns on wood building products and sanitary and phytosanitary issues.

Increased Access for Services and Improved Temporary Entry

Canadian SME service providers benefit from increased and more transparent and predictable access to the South Korean service market.

For example, Canadian SMEs benefit from preferential market access in key areas of export interest, which include research and development, environmental services, business services, services incidental to manufacturing and mining, wholesale trade, air and railroad transport services, legal consultancy services, and private and adult education.

The temporary entry provisions of the Agreement also benefit SMEs. The Agreement gives Canadian business people new and preferential access to the South Korean market by removing barriers to entry, such as economic needs tests. It also ensures that new barriers, such as quotas and proportionality tests, will not be introduced in the future.

The Agreement also provides preferential access for Canadian independent professionals, such as architects, engineers and management consultants, as well as broader coverage for Canadian firms sending professionals to South Korea to fulfill service contracts, for instance in the science, engineering or information technology fields.

These temporary-entry provisions are the most ambitious that South Korea has ever negotiated, which gives an advantage to Canadian SMEs over their U.S. and EU competitors.

South Korea: Gateway to Other Asian Markets

South Korea is a key gateway to the wider Asia-Pacific region and is geographically situated in an ideal location to facilitate trade with the rest of Asia.

The Agreement provides Canadians with access to new markets, customers and partnerships, creating stronger supply and production chains. Canadian SMEs can use South Korea as a strategic base for expanding their presence throughout the Asia-Pacific region, further increasing their global competiveness.

Canada already has significant foreign direct investment in South Korea, including in the automotive, transportation, financial services and life sciences sectors. The Agreement offers opportunities for Canadian firms already enjoying success in the South Korean market to grow further. In turn, it also creates new opportunities for Canadian SMEs looking to partner with these established Canadian firms, thereby expanding their access to Asian supply chains.