Kaizad's Canadian Immigration & Citizenship News

19 months!!! to process Canadian citizenship applications

2010-11-19T12:00:00.000-04:00

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/canada/cit-processing.asp

Application processing times: grant of citizenship

The table below shows the time required to process Canadian citizenship applications based on a complete application package. Processing times are based on how long it took to process 80 percent of all cases between April 1, 2009, and March 31, 2010. Please note that the times may vary slightly.

Current approximate processing time for a routine application: 15-19 months

The process is divided into four (4) steps:

Step	Processing Time
Step 1: Application received and entered into CIC systems If your application meets the minimum processing requirements, you will receive an acknowledgment letter. If not, your application will be returned to you.	6 months Status available online (once you receive your acknowledgment letter)
Step 2: Initial review of your application We will notify you by mail if additional information or documents are required.	9 months Status available online
Step 3: Detailed review of your application We will notify you by mail if additional information or documents are required. We will notify you by mail when to come to the CIC office to write the citizenship test or to have your documents verified. If your application is complete, CIC will arrange for a citizenship judge to make a decision on your application.	13 to 17 months Status available online
Step 4: Decision If you meet all the requirements for citizenship, we will notify you by mail of the time and place of your citizenship ceremony. If you do not meet the requirements, we will inform you in writing.	15 to 19 months Status available online

Step

Processing Time

Step 1: Application received and entered into CIC systems

If your application meets the minimum processing requirements, you will receive an acknowledgment letter. If not, your application will be returned to you.

6 months

Status available online
(once you receive your acknowledgment letter)

Step 2: Initial review of your application

We will notify you by mail if additional information or documents are required.

9 months

Status available online

Step 3: Detailed review of your application

We will notify you by mail if additional information or documents are required.

We will notify you by mail when to come to the CIC office to write the citizenship test or to have your documents verified.

If your application is complete, CIC will arrange for a citizenship judge to make a decision on your application.

13 to 17 months

Status available online

Step 4: Decision

If you meet all the requirements for citizenship, we will notify you by mail of the time and place of your citizenship ceremony. If you do not meet the requirements, we will inform you in writing.

15 to 19 months

Status available online

===============================================================================================

Government of Canada announces 2011 immigration plan

2010-11-05T21:22:00.001-03:00

News Release

Government of Canada announces 2011 immigration plan

Ottawa, November 1, 2010 — The Government of Canada will maintain high immigration levels to help sustain the economic recovery, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced today upon tabling the annual immigration plan in Parliament.

It is estimated that Canada will welcome between 240,000 and 265,000 new permanent residents in 2011. Sixty percent of these immigrants will come through economic streams.

"Canada's post-recession economy demands a high level of legal immigration to keep our work force strong," he said. "At the same time, we are maintaining our commitment to family reunification and refugees."

Like many other countries with ageing populations and low birth rates, in the not too distant future Canada will not have enough people to keep our work force growing. While the majority of new entrants to our labour force will continue to come from within Canada, without immigration, the size of our work force will shrink. Within the next five years, all of our labour force growth will come from immigration.

Highlights of the 2011 immigration plan include a higher range of admissions for spouses and children in the family category. In keeping with recent reforms to Canada's refugee system, the 2011 plan also includes an additional 1,125 refugees resettled in Canada as part of the commitment to increase total refugee resettlement by 2,500 over three years. In 2008, the last year for which figures are available, Canada resettled more bona fide refugees than any country but the United States. Canada resettles over one in 10 of the world's refugees.

"These refugees are selected and screened by Canada, and come here legally," noted Minister Kenney. "We look forward to giving them a safe, new beginning."

Within the economic category, the 2011 plan balances projected admissions between federally and provincially selected workers to meet Canada's national and regional labour market needs. Provincial programs help distribute the benefits of immigrants across the entire country. Twenty-five percent of economic immigrants are now destined for provinces other than Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec, compared to 11 percent in 1997.

The Federal Skilled Worker Program remains a significant portion of the economic category. The program admits a range of workers, including technicians, skilled tradespersons, managers and professionals, who help to supplement the Canadian-born work force.

Kaizad's Canadian Citizenship & Immigration News (KCCIN) is a public immigration blog covering topics relating to citizenship, immigration & settlement and much much more. "Kaizad's CCIN" provides the latest information pertinent to Immigration to Canada .

http://news-citizenshipandimmigrationcanada.blogspot.com/

Eligibility criteria for federal skilled worker applications

2010-07-20T17:44:00.001-03:00

Reference taken from : Canada Visa.Com

On June 26, 2010, Canadian Immigration Minister Jason Kenney announced that the Government of Canada has amended its current immigration procedures to put even greater emphasis on economic recovery and further reduce the Federal Skilled Worker application backlog. The changes, effective immediately, concern the Federal Skilled Worker program:

The former list of 38 qualifying occupations has been amended to include 11 new occupations with 20 previously listed occupations having been removed.

Effective immediately, the following occupations have been added to the list:

0811 Primary Production Managers (Except Agriculture)
1122 Professional Occupations in Business Services to Management
1233 Insurance Adjusters and Claims Examiners
2121 Biologists and Related Scientists
2151 Architects
3113 Dentists
3131 Pharmacists
3222 Dental Hygienists & Dental Therapists
4151 Psychologists
4152 Social Workers
7216 Contractors and Supervisors, Mechanic Trades

The following occupations remain on the list:

0631 Restaurant and Food Service Managers
3111 Specialists in clinical medicine
3112 General practitioners and family physicians
3142 Physiotherapists
3152 General duty registered nurses
3215 Radiological technologists
3233 Licensed practical nurses
6241 Chefs
6242 Cooks
7215 Contractors and Supervisors, Carpentry Trades
7241 Electricians (Except Industrial & Power System)
7242 Industrial Electricians
7251 Plumbers
7265 Welders & Related Machine Operators
7312 Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanics
7371 Crane Operators
7372 Drillers & Blasters - Surface Mining, Quarrying & Construction
8222 Supervisors, Oil and Gas Drilling and Service

For those skilled workers applying under the occupation list, the government will limit the number of applications considered for processing to 20,000 total per year. Within the 20,000 limit, a maximum of 1,000 applications per occupation will be considered. This limit does not apply to applicants with a job offer.

Candidates for the Federal Skilled Worker program and for the Canadian Experience Class Program will now be required to submit the results of a language proficiency assessment exam, along with a complete set of supporting documents (such as copies of passports, evidence of educational history, documentation of marital status, proof of settlement funds, police clearances, etc.) with their application forms. As such, the language proficiency results and additional documentation must be gathered to create an initial application.

The authority for the changes, known as ministerial instructions, comes from amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act approved by Parliament in 2008 as part of the Action Plan for Faster Immigration.

The instructions are meant as a flexible tool to allow the government to keep the intake of applications for economic immigration in line with the number and types of jobs available in Canada, as well as reduce application backlogs and processing times.

Since the first instructions were issued in November 2008, the backlog of federal skilled worker applicants in process prior to the legislation has dropped from 640,000 to 380,000. The majority of decisions on new applications are being made in six to 12 months, compared with up to six years prior to the changes. But in the first quarter of 2010, the number of new applications rose significantly beyond the department's ability to process them in a timely way, leading to the recognition that a more refined approach is necessary.

"These changes bring Canada in line with the practices of the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, our main competitors for skilled immigrants," said Immigration Minister Kenney. "They help match the supply of applicants to our processing capacity and today's post-recession job market needs. This is the only responsible way to manage our immigration system."

Adjusting to life in Canada

2010-05-23T20:22:00.001-03:00

Adjusting to life in Canada

A new and challenging experience

This section will explain a few of the challenges you can expect to face in your new life here. The more you learn about Canada, the easier your adjustment to your new home will be.

Respect differences

Canada's population of around 31 million people reflects a cultural, ethnic and linguistic mix that is unique in the world.

Canadian multiculturalism is based on the belief that all citizens are equal and that diversity makes us stronger as a country.

An immigrant-serving organization can help you find out about how Canadians greet people, what is considered polite behaviour, how business gets done and other social customs.

Adapting to a new culture and country

Moving to a new country may be hard for some people. It is common to feel the following emotions when you first arrive in Canada:

Discomfort
Helplessness
Frustration
Fear
Insecurity
Uncertainty about how to behave
A sense that your cultural beliefs and values are being challenged
A sense that things are not predictable

Feelings of stress are common

Your first months in Canada will be full of change. You will face many challenges, especially if you have to learn English or French, or improve your language skills. You may have to take a first job or live in a home that is different from what you expected. You may need to get more education or training to get a job and build your new life here. This can create some stress in your life.

You can get help if you need it.

Contact an immigrant-serving organization to find out what resources are available in your community to help you cope emotionally.

Learn more about:

http://news-citizenshipandimmigrationcanada.blogspot.com/

Canada Best Job site!

2010-05-21T03:35:00.001-03:00

http://www.workopolis.com

Workopolis is a Canadian website offering online career solutions: allowing employers to post jobs and candidates to post resumes in order to connect online.

Workopolis also offers career management tools and advice and draws an audience of roughly three million visitors a month. Headquartered in Toronto, Workopolis has offices in eight Canadian cities, including Montreal, Ottawa, Calgary and Vancouver and provides its services in both English and French.

2010-05-19T17:27:00.001-03:00

News Release

Minister Kenney announces new Citizenship Judge appointment

Ottawa, May 17, 2010 — Today the Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, announced the appointment of Mr. Crist Geronikolos as a Citizenship Judge in Scarborough for a three-year part-time term.

Judge Geronikolos is active in the Greek community and serves concurrently as the President of the Canadian Hellenic Congress and Vice-President of the Greek Community of Toronto. Prior to his appointment, Judge Geronikolos worked for the past 20 years at a number of life insurance companies in southern Ontario. He also has a designation as an Elder Planning Counselor.

Citizenship judges are responsible for making decisions with regard to citizenship applications, presiding over citizenship ceremonies and administering the oath of citizenship to new citizens.

http://news-citizenshipandimmigrationcanada.blogspot.com/

2010-05-19T17:26:00.001-03:00

News Release

Minister Kenney announces appointments to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada

Ottawa, May 18, 2010 — Today the Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, announced two appointments to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB).

In the Toronto regional office, David J.T. Mungovan was appointed for a three-year term. In the Calgary regional office, Lynne Patricia Edith Cunningham was appointed for a three-year term.

These appointments were made in accordance with the IRB's merit-based appointment process.

Prior to her appointment to the IRB, Ms. Cunningham was a detective with the Sex Crimes Unit and, previously, supervisor of the Domestic Conflict Unit, both with the Calgary Police Service. She has been with the Calgary Police Service for the past 30 years.

Prior to his appointment to the IRB, Mr. Mungovan was most recently Counsel with Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP.

Minister Kenney is committed to delivering on the Government of Canada's promise to fill vacancies on the Board with qualified individuals as quickly as possible after vacancies arise. Since October 2008, the Minister has made 67 appointments and 34 reappointments to the IRB.

The IRB has not fallen below 80% of its full complement since January 2009, and has been above 95% of its full complement since November 2009. With today's announcement, the IRB is at 99% of its full complement.

Created in 1989, the IRB is an independent administrative tribunal that reports to Parliament through the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism. The Board has three divisions – the Refugee Protection Division, the Immigration Appeal Division and the Immigration Division. The IRB determines refugee protection claims made in Canada, hears immigration appeals, and conducts admissibility hearings and detention reviews

Quarterly Administrative Data Release

2010-05-19T02:10:00.001-03:00

Quarterly Administrative Data Release

The Quarterly Administrative Data Release provides up-to-date portraits of the immigration process, including both permanent and temporary streams, as well as an overview of the citizenship process.

When using these tables, it is important to remember that:

All current year data are preliminary estimates. In particular, there is a time lag associated with applications being entered into CIC systems, which may initially result in an underestimation of applications actually received. These numbers will stabilize over time.
After an authorization/visa is issued, applicants can choose if and when they will enter Canada within a specified period of time up to 12 months. A successful applicant becomes either a temporary resident or a permanent resident upon arrival in Canada.
An application for citizenship can only be made by a permanent resident after they have lived in Canada for at least three years of residence (1,095 days) in the four years immediately preceding the date that they apply.

CIC Operational Network at a Glance

	Calendar year					Year to date
	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2008 (Jan‑Sep)	2009 (Jan‑Sep)
Permanent Residence (Persons)
Applications Received	347,004	353,016	419,776	452,034	445,622	344,500	240,589
Network Outcomes
Positive	245,222	256,195	258,776	252,399	249,600	198,673	208,906
Negative	33,662	109,604	93,819	84,031	81,656	61,803	59,353
Withdrawn	28,447	33,922	30,947	23,090	26,681	17,345	31,555
Total Network Outcomes	307,331	399,721	383,542	359,520	357,937	277,821	299,814
Total Authorizations and Visas Issued	241,549	252,192	253,523	249,675	246,181	195,395	207,430
Temporary Residence (Persons)
Applications Received	1,317,027	1,400,551	1,477,133	1,545,518	1,557,283	1,252,266	1,215,097
Network Outcomes
Positive	1,107,679	1,164,717	1,221,752	1,275,141	1,259,745	1,017,789	993,518
Negative	185,463	209,870	225,581	243,245	264,030	206,166	208,993
Withdrawn	19,516	19,177	35,373	25,737	23,320	16,693	26,547
Total Network Outcomes	1,312,658	1,393,764	1,482,706	1,544,123	1,547,095	1,240,648	1,229,058

Source: CIC, Operational Databases, 3^rd Quarter 2009

CIC Permanent Resident Applicants Awaiting a Decision

	As of December 31 (unless otherwise indicated)
Volumes (in persons)	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009 (June 30)	2009 (Sep 30)
Working inventory
Federal Skilled Worker applications received on or after the priority processing date of February 27, 2008*	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	107,529	142,174	135,890
Backlog
Federal Skilled Worker applications received before the priority processing date of February 27, 2008*	503,037	486,548	509,585	586,109	515,546	451,948	424,926
All Other Permanent Resident Applications**	264,814	336,370	333,849	339,608	373,985	391,305	408,730
Backlog Subtotal	767,851	822,918	843,434	925,717	889,531	843,253	833,656
Total Applicants Awaiting a Decision	767,851	822,918	843,434	925,717	997,060	985,427	969,546

* The date the Action Plan for Faster Immigration took effect.
**Other permanent resident applicants include Family Class, Refugees, Humanitarian and Compassionate and others in the Economic Class.

Source: CIC Operational Databases, 3rd Quarter 2009

Top of Page

Application Processing Times

Information on immigration and citizenship applications.

Canada – Permanent and Temporary Residents

	2008						2009
	Q1	Q2	Q3	YTD	Q4	Total	Q1	Q2	Q3	YTD
Permanent Residents by Category
Family class	14,262	17,220	16,857	48,339	17,234	65,573	14,659	16,840	17,510	49,009
Economic immigrants	31,282	43,129	46,506	120,917	28,154	149,071	29,690	44,108	48,056	121,854
Refugees	4,897	5,892	5,375	16,164	5,696	21,860	4,058	5,928	7,370	17,356
Other immigrants	2,702	3,005	2,574	8,281	2,459	10,740	2,375	2,781	2,427	7,583
Category not stated	1	1	0	2	0	2	1	0	0	1
Total Permanent Residents	53,144	69,247	71,312	193,703	53,543	247,246	50,783	69,657	75,363	195,803
Temporary Residents by Yearly Status
Foreign students	12,901	10,170	45,360	68,431	11,104	79,535	14,210	10,076	48,302	72,588
Foreign workers	43,744	60,788	49,712	154,244	38,166	192,410	45,106	57,570	43,030	145,706
Humanitarian population	8,742	8,702	10,505	27,949	9,954	37,903	9,479	9,659	7,795	26,933
Other	23,633	20,992	26,082	70,707	18,960	89,667	21,499	19,709	25,145	66,353
Total Entries Temporary Residents	89,020	100,652	131,659	321,331	78,184	399,515	90,294	97,014	124,272	311,580

Source: CIC, Research DataMart, 3^rd Quarter 2009

Citizenship at a Glance

	Calendar year					Year to date
	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2008 (Jan‑Sep)	2009 (Jan‑Sep)
Grants
Applications Received	188,176	216,027	224,460	227,520	239,680	181,120	173,824
Ceremonies	2,996	3,425	3,898	3,029	2,701	2,023	1,651
New Canadian Citizens	193,610	198,482	260,743	199,842	176,467	127,982	118,662
Inventory	n/a	245,870	195,385	189,886	222,574	219,227	245,548
Proofs
Applications Received	54,346	79,682	59,094	60,107	55,729	43,297	44,909
Total Outcomes
Approved	52,796	79,142	64,977	56,734	44,512	32,025	51,943
Refused	n/a	381	388	90	59	43	181
Closed for other Reasons	n/a	2,138	2,264	2,043	1,518	n/a*	n/a*
Total	n/a	81,661	67,629	58,867	46,089	n/a*	n/a*
Inventory	40,819	22,459	29,575	35,917	54,076	49,507	54,990

*As of December 2, 2009 data for applications closed for other reasons could not be successfully downloaded. The download date for 2004-2008 is July 18, 2009

Source: CIC, Operational Databases, 3^rd Quarter 2009

Quarterly Administrative Data Release – Additional Tables

Additional statistical tables are available in CD format upon request to research-recherche@cic.gc.ca. These tables, on the permanent and temporary resident streams, provide more detailed information on applications received, application outcomes, visas issued, processing times, inventory at selection and final decision stages, entries of temporary residents and immigration of permanent residents.

Glossary of Terms and Concepts – Canada – Permanent and Temporary Residents

Glossary of Terms and Concepts – CIC Operational Network at a Glance; Application Processing Times; and Citizenship at a Glance

For further information (media only), please contact:

Media Relations
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-952-1650
CIC-Media-Relations@cic.gc.ca

DISCLAIMER: This email (and any associated file) is confidential, may be legally privileged and is for the intended recipient only. If you are not the intended recipient you are hereby notified that any dissemination, disclosure, copying, distribution or any action taken or omitted to be taken in reliance on the contents of this message or files associated with this message is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you have received this communication by mistake, please email the sender by replying to this message, and deleting the original and any printout thereof. SSGC is neither liable for the proper and complete transmission of the information contained in this communication nor for any delay in its receipt.

ATTN: Prospective Canadian Immigrants!

2010-05-10T01:15:00.001-03:00

Kaizad's Canadian Citizenship & Immigration News (KCCIN) is a public immigration blog covering topics relating to citizenship, immigration & settlement and much much more.

"Kaizad's CCIN" provides the latest information pertinent to Immigration to Canada . This news blog is linked to the Citizenship & Immigration Canada (CIC Canada) website and any new posts and news are delivered directly to your email inbox. The website is: http://news-citizenshipandimmigrationcanada.blogspot.com/

Kaizad's Canadian Immigration & Citizenship News

19 months!!! to process Canadian citizenship applications

Application processing times: grant of citizenship

Government of Canada announces 2011 immigration plan

News Release

Government of Canada announces 2011 immigration plan

Eligibility criteria for federal skilled worker applications

Reference taken from : Canada Visa.Com

The former list of 38 qualifying occupations has been amended to include 11 new occupations with 20 previously listed occupations having been removed.

Effective immediately, the following occupations have been added to the list:

The following occupations remain on the list:

The authority for the changes, known as ministerial instructions, comes from amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act approved by Parliament in 2008 as part of the Action Plan for Faster Immigration.

The instructions are meant as a flexible tool to allow the government to keep the intake of applications for economic immigration in line with the number and types of jobs available in Canada, as well as reduce application backlogs and processing times.

Adjusting to life in Canada

Adjusting to life in Canada

A new and challenging experience

Respect differences

Adapting to a new culture and country

Feelings of stress are common

Learn more about:

Canada Best Job site!

http://www.workopolis.com

Workopolis is a Canadian website offering online career solutions: allowing employers to post jobs and candidates to post resumes in order to connect online.

News Release

Minister Kenney announces new Citizenship Judge appointment

News Release

Minister Kenney announces appointments to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada

Quarterly Administrative Data Release

ATTN: Prospective Canadian Immigrants!

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