21 May Canada extended immigration measures to support relatives of Canadian citizens and residents who left Sudan
Canada extended immigration measures to support relatives of Canadian citizens and residents who left Sudan
On May 16, 2024, the Government of Canada extended immigration measures to help immediate family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents who left Sudan. These measures, valid until October 27, 2024, were implemented following the violence that broke out on April 15, 2023. With these measures, qualifying relatives from abroad can receive a fee-exempt temporary resident permit (TRP) to ease their journey to Canada. Upon arrival in Canada, they can apply for a fee-exempt open work or study permit and even submit a fee-exempt application for permanent residence under the family class.
Sudan, #TRP, #temporary_residents
Displaced Ukrainians call on the Federal Government for an easier route to permanent residency
Ukrainians in Canada, who fled the war, are urgently seeking a streamlined pathway to permanent residency as current programs do not cater to their unique situation. In March 2022, Canada implemented the Canada-Ukraine authorization for emergency travel program (CUAET), temporarily allowing Ukrainians to reside in Canada. However, the program ended in March, leaving many Ukrainians without a way to stay. Economic immigration programs require fluency in English, being under 30, having a Canadian master’s degree, and at least one year of work experience in their field. This makes it difficult for many Ukrainians, who are refugees and not young, highly skilled workers. In October, Canada introduced a permanent residency program for Ukrainians with immediate family in Canada, but only 7% of Ukrainian newcomers qualify.
Ukraine, #CUAET, #PR, #Ukrainian_newcomers, #refugees
IRCC opened public consultations for the Immigration Levels Plan
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has launched public consultations for the Immigration Levels Plan. Immigration Minister Marc Miller will unveil the new multi-year Immigration Levels Plan for 2025-2027 this November, outlining the targeted number of new permanent residents to be admitted to Canada annually. This plan includes temporary residents transitioning to permanent residency and new permanent residents arriving from outside Canada. For the first time, Canada is expanding the Immigration Levels Plan to include an annual target for new temporary residents, separate from the permanent residents. IRCC invites Canadian citizens, stakeholders, and immigration experts to participate in these public consultations, which will remain open until June 30, 2024.
Immigration_Levels_Plan, #Immigration_to_Canada, #IRCC
Canada should focus more on producing millionaires rather than importing them
Countries globally are competing to attract wealthy immigrants from emerging nations like China and India by offering fast-tracked citizenship and tax incentives. However, Canada takes a different approach. In 2014, Stephen Harper’s Conservative government eliminated the federal Immigrant Investor Program, citing a lack of long-term positive impact on Canada. The Quebec Immigrant Investor Program, criticized for its lax residency requirements, was suspended in 2019 and relaunched in 2021 with stricter residency and French-language requirements. Meanwhile, Australia’s Labor government plans to end its “golden visa” program, which allowed over 100,000 wealthy immigrants, primarily from China, to earn residency through significant investments. Despite this, Australia outpaces Canada in millionaire residents. Instead of importing wealth, Canada focuses on creating homegrown millionaires, a strategy that could benefit the country in the long run. Critics argue that proposed capital-gains tax increases could deter wealth creation and prompt existing millionaires to leave.