April 15, 2023

During this time of economic growth, Canadian employers are experiencing significant labor shortages. To address this issue, they can still explore the option of hiring foreign citizens who are on visitor visas. This is possible because the temporary public policy, which allows visitors to apply for work visas within Canada during the COVID era, has been extended for two years until February 28, 2025, as announced by the IRCC.

Under this policy, foreign nationals who are currently in Canada as visitors and receive a valid job offer can apply for a work permit without having to leave the country. Moreover, visitors who have held a work permit within the last 12 months can request interim work authorization to start working for their new employer more quickly.

Previously, applicants needed to apply for their initial work permit before coming to Canada, and those who were already in Canada with visitor status when their work permit was approved needed to leave Canada to be issued their work permit. With this new policy in place, leaving Canada is no longer necessary.

To be eligible, an applicant must have valid visitor status on the day of application, a job offer supported by a labour market impact assessment (LMIA) or an LMIA-exempt offer of employment, and submit an application for an employer-specific work permit no later than February 28, 2025. Additionally, the applicant must meet all other standard admissibility criteria.

As a leading Canada immigration lawyer in India, we suggest that all Indian citizens looking to take advantage of these extended rules to conduct thorough research about the job market in different parts of Canada, identify prospective employers, and prepare a professional-looking resume in PDF format to send to companies and post on job portals in Canada. They should also be available for video conferencing for potential interviews and be prepared to travel to Canada if required.

Although our Indian Immigration law firm does not offer services in securing jobs in Canada for applicants, as a trusted Canada immigration consultant in Ahmedabad, we can assist with the job search process and legally process LMIA applications, work permit applications within or outside Canada, and visitor visa applications if necessary.

For more information and assistance in your Canada immigration matter please contact Ajmera Law Group – click here

Mr. Prashant Ajmera is an Indian immigration lawyer, Canadian citizen, and author of two books – see his video profile 

March 21, 2023

As a wanderer and a student, your travel bucket list undoubtedly includes the land of a maple leaf, which is none other than Canada. It is known as maple leaf’s land not only because they are grown across the country but also because it signifies unity.

The picturesque beauty, multicultural society, word class education, friendly policies, supportive government, excellent career opportunities, and of course, good money are some of the reasons the country attracts a high amount of Indian immigrants as travelers, work professionals, and obviously students.

While travelers and students show great enthusiasm and dedication for their visa approval, there are some who misuse their zeal for personal and monetary benefits. Therefore, if you are looking to travel to Canada from India, you need to be aware of a few things or rules laid down by the Canadian government to save your visa from rejection and your money from scammers.

As a leading Canada immigration lawyer in India, we are listing those rules to make things easy for you.

Hiring a Visa Agent v/s Immigration Lawyer in India

As an Indian, it is possible to apply for a Canadian visa by yourself or through an agent, also known as a representative in the North American country – Canada. These agents in India are not regulated and licensed by the Government of India and hence you should be extremely careful before you hire these agents or consultants in India. In compare to that an immigration lawyer in India can provide you better service and assess your case before the application is submitted.

The Canadian government considers lawyers, Quebec notaries, consultants, or paralegals who are registered with the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants as authorized agents or representatives. In case you choose to proceed with a paid or unpaid unauthorized agent or representative, your application may be returned or refused. Therefore, be aware and choose your representatives wisely.

It will be wise to pay small fees and get a legal opinion in writing rather than depending oral promise made by agents.

Repercussion of Fraud

Attaching or sending fake documents with your visa application is nothing short of a crime. It is a serious fraud that can land you in serious consequences wherein your application will suffer rejection, you will not be able to apply for the upcoming five years, and you can face a charge or registration of permanent fraud with IRCC.

You will be responsible even if it is your representative’s idea to submit fake documents or cook a story on your visa application. Hence, make it a point not to sign a blank form or application handed over by the representative. Also, ensure the accuracy of the information and supporting documents before signing the application.

Cost of Application 

The official website of the Canadian government lists the tentative cost of application, which is as follows.

Visitor visa₹6,000 ($100)
Work permit₹9,300 ($155)
Open work permit₹15,500 ($255)
Study permit₹9,100 ($150)
Biometrics₹5,100 ($85)

There is no distinction concerning gender, course, number of applications, and more when it comes to the cost you need to bear for your permit or visa application. It remains the same for everyone. Thus, you should be aware of scammers charging hefty amounts just for the application in the name of surety.

Remember, no one, including representatives with a high success ratio, can assure you of a visa, permit, or PR. Another thing to know is that you can schedule a biometric appointment for free and only need to bear the cost of samples taken at the center. In addition, the authorities will automatically issue visas without any additional cost once your work or study permit is given a green signal.

Student Visa Scams 

There are lot many student visa scams going around in the market. As a Canada immigration consultant in Ahmedabad, we remind you that no lawyer, consultant, or even a representative can guarantee a visa, especially in the absence of an acceptance letter. So, do not pay and trust firms or individuals trying to scam you with visa or permit assurance.

Some things to consider before applying for a study permit are.

  • Ensure that your educational facility is Designated Learning Institution (DLI).
  • Do not apply for a student visa or study permit without an acceptance letter.
  • Pay your academic fees directly to the institution.
  • Check if your institution offers help for international students.

Unreal Job Opportunities

It is a general case scenario that internet fraud will lure people in the name of permanent job offers in Canada. However, it is not a piece of cake either for you to secure a job in Canada or for a Canadian company to open a position for foreign residents.

In reality, Canadian companies should try to hire talents from their country. In case it doesn’t work, the organization needs the government’s approval in the form of a document that states permission to recruit people from foreign countries. The document is known as labour market impact assessment (LMIA) and costs about $1,000 CAN, which is around ₹60,200 for every individual they wish to recruit. Think and research twice or thrice about the company and opportunity before paying your agent for the offer and help.

Wrapping Up

Don’t let anyone hinder your dream to settle, work or study in Canada. The country offers various visas with different eligibility criteria, and for business or investment enthusiasts, Canada is also open to citizenship through investment options.

Be sure to apply for a visa through an authorized agent or representative for a smooth process, and to know more about Canadian citizenship by investment for Indian, contact us.

Collect information, think & make plan before you decide to study & settle abroad

  1. Canada to deport 700 Indian students as visa documents found to be fake
  2. Recent Deaths of Indian International Students Point to Disturbing Trend
  3. Haryana Man’s Suicide Over Canada Student Visa: “It Arrived When He Was Gone”
  4. Spate of deaths: India’s missions in Canada to create database of students
  5. Dozens of International Students Are Dying in Canada. The Federal Government Isn’t Doing Anything.
  6. Rise in Suicides Prompts Punjabi Students in Canada to Mobilize Against Wage Theft
  7. Heartbreaking Reports of International Indian Students in Canada dying young in Tragic circumstances.
  8. Jarring notes: Issues Indian students face in Canada
  9. International Students Crisis in Canada
  10. Indian International Students’ Suicide Cases in Canada are alarming – Harminder in Tahir Gora’s Show
  11. Suicides Have Spiked Among Canada’s International Students
  12. Five Indian students killed in Canada road accident
  13. Advertisement by Government of Canada in the Indian Newspapers in English, Hindi, Punjabi & Gujarati
September 19, 2022

Are you planning to start your immigration process to Canada? Then this blog is for you.

A large number of Indian citizens are looking for permanent residence and eventually citizenship of Canada as living there entails many benefits. The first and foremost benefit is greater employment opportunities.

Canada also offers a high quality of life and free universal healthcare to its residents. This is what attracts immigrants to Canada from all over the world. Additionally, the country has one of the lowest crime rates in the world. It is country with one of the most abundant natural resources and natural scenery.

For its economic growth, the Canadian government is actively looking to attract foreign workers as well as investors.

Canada is the first country in the world to introduce a business immigration program and has always remained at the forefront in attracting entrepreneurs, investors and new talent globally. The country and its provinces offer many different investment programs through which one can obtain permanent residency. Whatever program one chooses, one is obliged to go through the necessary immigration process. So, let’s start with the mistakes one must avoid before and during the application process.

1. Business exploratory trip:

Before applying for residency of Canada under any business immigration program, it is advisable to undertake a business exploratory trip to explore the business opportunities. To visit Canada, obtaining a visitor visa becomes necessary. Before submitting a visitor visa application of Canada, it is important to ensure that all details in the application are consistent with all your facts and documents. Incorrect or inconsistent information in the visitor visa application can create problems for future business immigration application.

2. Language test:

Applying for a Canada business immigration visa or start-up visa requires a minimum score of 5 bands in IELTS. It is important to have this minimum score before applying for any business immigration program of Canada. Adverts that proclaim that they can help you obtain residency of Canada with an IELTS score of less than 5 bands are misleading and nothing more than a scam to entice vulnerable customers.

3. Related business:

Ensure that the business you plan to start (if it is a new business) or buy (if it is an existing business) in Canada is related to the business you are already operating and managing in your home country. We meet many clients who are in the real estate development business in India but wish to open a retail business in Canada. This can cause many difficulties in obtaining approval from Canadian government authorities.

4. Investment amount:

The basic investment requirement for Canada under many of its business immigration programs is between CD$ 100,000 to CD$ 200,000. However, most Indian business persons presume that just by investing this requisite amount they can obtain permanent residence of Canada. This is not true. This investment amount is just one of the many requirements. In addition to the investment, the business activity you wish to pursue in Canada must meet the Canadian government’s guidelines.

5. Investing in a business owned by family or friends:

There is a large Indian community in Canada and many Indian business persons feel comfortable in making an investment in their relatives’ or friends’ businesses. They feel this will ensure the safety and security of their investment. As such there is no bar to such an investment. However, our experience shows that such applications (where investment is in a relative’s/friend’s business) are scrutinized very closely because the government wants to ensure that the investment made is a real and not just a ploy to obtain immigration of Canada.

6. Not looking for proper guidance:

Many businesspersons prefer to complete the immigration application process themselves. But looking at the complexity of the process, it is recommended that applicants consult a qualified and experienced immigration lawyer for guidance. The paperwork involved is so complex and plentiful that only with the help of an experienced and knowledgeable lawyer can success be ensured.

Conclusion

Canada has been voted one of the best countries to live in year after year. If you wish to immigrate to Canada under one of its business immigration programs, it is advisable that you avoid the mistakes mentioned above. It is strongly recommended that you consult a qualified lawyer specializing in Canadian immigration to ease the process. Our law firm can help you every step of the way to ensure success.

November 7, 2021

International Student Crisis: Funeral home sending an alarming number of bodies back to India!

October 21, 2021 (Yahoo News) 

The lotus is a symbol that looms large in India’s mythology.

The soft pink petals of the flower join knowledge, prosperity and compassion together in spiritual harmony. In life, and beyond, the lotus represents the attainment of bliss.

The Lotus Funeral Home and Cremation Centre is an unassuming building, located incongruously in an industrial area near the border between Toronto and Peel.

A small peaked porch at the front of a squarish concrete structure marks the entrance grieving families walk through. The rest of the building stretches back to a parking lot at the rear and it shares its street with a shipping company, furniture warehouse and an industrial equipment supplier.

For family members in India who receive the bodies of their loved ones from the Lotus Funeral Home half-way round the world, the symbolism is a tragic reminder of a promising life cut short.

Lotus is where more and more young people from the world’s largest democracy are laid to rest. Their bodies are prepared there for a journey back home, from where they left on their adventure to study abroad, carrying the weight of so many expectations.

The funeral home is tasked with arranging the transportation of deceased Indian nationals, students who came to Canada among the waves of like minded seekers searching for a better life.

As Brampton grapples with an international student crisis, where too many youngsters fall through the cracks—some into a life of crime, lured by prostitution or the drug trade, others simply crushed by isolation and lonliness—increasing numbers of flights are carrying the bodies of young Indian men and women as part of their cargo.

“We’re finding that the number of student deaths has increased, not only in Brampton but across Canada. We see it across Canada,” Kamal Bhardwaj, the owner of Lotus Funeral Home and Cremation Centre, told The Pointer. “We have relationships with the Indian consulate, so when an international student passes away, then we’re notified, then we have to [help] out the families, usually bring their bodies back to India.”

In the past two weeks alone, Bhardwaj and his staff have sent the bodies of five students home. He says he sends them home at least on a monthly basis.

International students, many of whom live in Brampton, face a daunting task settling in Canada. A large number come from South Asia, where some families have liquidated assets and saved for decades to send one child to North America for an education, and eventual immigration… they hope. In the 2016-2017 academic year, there were 35,403 international students from India studying at colleges and universities in the country, according to Statistics Canada.

“In order to afford that, when you do the financial transaction, you’re looking at mortgaging the farm at home,” Gurpreet Malhotra, the CEO of Indus – Community Services, previously told The Pointer. “Family puts everything they’ve got into borrowing money to get you into Canada.”

The amount of money spent by international students in Canada has exploded over the last decade. According to the federal government, they spent $6.5 billion in 2008, and by 2018, the number had reached $21.6 billion, more than tripling in a decade as many of these unsuspecting students became the focus of a post-secondary system that now views them as a cash cow.

Governments have been all too happy to relieve their financial pressures by expanding international student admissions to significantly increase revenues.

The pressure on students is immense, as are the costs. They are often unable to return home for a host of reasons, including the crippling family shame that would accompany failure, and are limited to just 20 hours per week of work to support themselves here. Many are still developing a full grasp of the language and others come from places like rural Punjab, with no experience of life in big Canadian cities.

Some are lured into the world of organized crime and drug trafficking.

While international students, often not even out of their teens, struggle to navigate a new system, private and public colleges benefit handsomely. For Canada’s post-secondary education institutions, these young people and their desperate families represent a critical source of revenue.

The sector began to shift toward attracting more international students in 2008. Young adults coming to Canada from abroad can pay as much as four times the tuition fees their domestic classmates pay.

Over the past ten years, revenue from student fees has increased by 218 percent in Canada, with a $3.25 billion increase in the Canadian international education market over roughly the same period. The average tuition fee for domestic students is $6,822 compared to $27,613 for international students.

This outsized reliance on income from international students is shown in Sheridan College’s most recent annual report. According to the institution, 62 percent of its revenue comes from tuition fees and 56 percent of tuition fees are paid by international students.

International students accept the cost, at least in part, because graduation is portrayed by education agents in India as a path to permanent residency. An industry of private and relatively unregulated colleges has developed in Canada, selling degrees and diplomas as a path toward a permanent home in Canada.

“I can give you a painful example of a student who was acting out at the corner of Steeles and McLaughlin,” Baldev Mutta, the CEO of Punjabi Community Health Services, told Brampton councillors in September. “Somebody called us. We rushed over to find out. And, when we calmed this young man down, he said, ‘I need to get arrested because I have not eaten for a while and I have no place to sleep. At least if the police arrest me, I know they are going to feed me’.”

In a foreign land without a support system, the consequences can be fatal. Greedy landlords cram people into houses without suitable fire protections, while human traffickers circle the students most desperately in need of money.

Go Fund Me, a crowdfunding website, acts as a tragic obituary.

“His family wishes to see him one last time, but they cannot bear the costs of coming to Canada or of the funeral,” one appeal, to send the body of a 21-year-old student back to India, says. Another 23-year-old passed away in a truck fire after three years in Canada away from his family, and another died after drowning.

“They wanted their daughter to have a very good education and lead a better life and contribute to the betterment of others’ lives, and she came to Canada as an international student on an education loan,” one page explains. “They also expected her to support her younger sister for her education and career in the upcoming years. Now the family has lost their light in life, in a tragic accident.”

There are multiple factors that can lead to the death of an international student. From exorbitant rents and inadequate housing to a lack of emergency food support. Poor connections between the international student community and mental health services also leave many isolated without anyplace to turn. Colleges and private “career” schools have been criticized for not providing proper support to the students they gladly take money from, to fund operations designed primarily for the success of domestic students.

Community leaders monitoring the plight of international students say suicide is a growing problem.

“I can’t tell you the cause of death because I am not privy to that,” Bhardwaj said. “Usually, when there is a young person involved in a death, it is investigated by the coroner’s office, now the coroner’s office doesn’t share the results with us … but I can tell you on visual observations you can see certain indications of a suicide, for example.”

The Peel Regional Police says it does not have a way to record missing persons or death by suicide under any category that identifies the individual as an international student.

“I think the magnitude of the problems are so enormous that until we can all sit down in one room and say, ‘What are some baby steps we can take to address this?’ I think it is going to keep on spiralling and we will see the aftermath of it later on,” Mutta said.

He mentioned students who had been arrested as drug mules and nine pregnant international students his organization is working to help.

Mutta and Malhotra are leading community efforts to address the international student crisis. Bhardwaj also runs a charity that specializes in mentoring and peer-supporting international students before and after they arrive in Canada.

The solutions — which lie in the hands of all three levels of government — can’t come soon enough.

The difficulty faced by international students in Brampton echoes around the world. It is felt by friends locally, community leaders and, most painfully, by parents and other loved ones thousands of miles away.

“We’re dealing with these families and this tragedy, parents don’t believe this has happened, they don’t believe it is their child, they go through a hunger strike,” Bhardwaj says. “They said, ‘No, no, no, until I see my son, I’m not going to eat anything’. And literally, these are the kind of things we see… it’s just difficult all around, it impacts everyone, even our staff.”

Their end-of-life care is supposed to comfort families that look to the lotus as a symbol of hope, that even after death their loved ones will find their bliss. For families in India, who have to receive the bodies sent by Bhardwaj, his lotus is a reminder of everything they lost.

Source: Yahoo News:

April 13, 2021

AFTER SEVERAL YEARS AT No. 2 and one at No. 3 since the inception of the Best Countries report, Canada finally climbed to the No. 1 spot in the sixth edition of U.S. News & World Report’s annual rankings released on Tuesday.

The North American country ranked first in both the Quality of Life and Social Purpose subrankings, meaning that it is seen as a stable and safe society in which individuals can develop and prosper, and is open, fair and equitable. Most of the countries that ranked highest for 2021 come from Western Europe. But Australia, New Zealand and Japan – which is ranked No. 2 overall – also appeared in the top 10.

The Top 10 Countries in the World:

1. Canada
2. Japan
3. Germany
4. Switzerland
5. Australia
6. United States
7. New Zealand
8. United Kingdom
9. Sweden
10. Netherlands

To read complete article click here 

December 26, 2017

Many students who are going to study in Canada find it very difficult to find a job in Canada in their own field and then receive sponsorship to get Canadian immigration under Canada Experience class.

In order to retain these foreign students in Canada few provinces in Canada have come up with a new category called International students business class.

If you are studying in Canada at a designated education institute for two years and you have received your graduate’s work permit for three years and if you own 100% of the Canadian business and run and manage for a period of 12 months you are edible to apply for immigration to Canada.

In this class, you are creating job for yourself.

You must be under the age of 40, with an IELTS score of 5 bands each. If the business is located in rural area additional points are awarded.

If the spouse has studied in Canada, has an IELTS score of 5 bands, your application will be awarded additional points.
The student must be 100% owner of the business which is a real business with at least one job and the applicant is working full time into the business.

The following businesses are not allowed.

• adult services including but not limited to the production, distribution, and/or sale of pornographic or sexually explicit products and/or services,
• and/or the provision of sexually-oriented services;
• aestheticians and services;
• beauty salons;
• bed and breakfast accommodations;
• coin-operated;
• consultancy (business or agency that offers expert professional advice in a field);
• cooperative (business or organization owned and operated by its member);
• credit or debit cards (active or inactive);
• domain names;
• a farm that is maintained without expectation of being a primary source of income;
• financial brokerage (a business that derives its prime source of income
• from acting as an intermediary for buyers and sellers); • financial services including, but not limited to cooperatives and/or credit unions;
• home-based and/or businesses operating from residential property;
• landlord property and rental management;
• not-for-profit businesses and organizations;
• property investment (purchase of a real estate for the intention of earning a return on the investment, either through rental income, the future resale of the property, or both);

Several provinces of Canada office this program.

For more information on this and other eligibility for immigration to Canada send us an email: info@ajmeralaw.com

December 26, 2017

Immigration to Canada – New plan announced in November 2017

Canada has long history of taking immigrants from all over the world in last 25 years and this has become more obvious when government of Canada announced their next three years pan for taking total number of new immigrants.
As per latest plan in the year 2018 -2010 government wish to except 310,000, 330,00 and 340,000.

This is equivalent to 1.3% of the total population of Canada. In the past government has accepted 1% of the total population and total number of immigrant was less than 300,000.

Here is the data for several categories:

201820192020Total  

% Increase

Economic ProgramsRangeTargetRangeTargetRange
Express Entry, Skill and Canada Exp. class71,70072,700-78,20074,90076,000- 83,00081,40081,000-88,000+19.66%
Atlantic Pilot Program2,000500- 2,0001,0001,000-4,0002,0002,000-4,000+100%
Caregivers18,00015,000-20,00017,0009,500-15,50014,0004,000-7,000-72.22%
Business500500-1,000700500-1,500700500-1,500+40%
Provincial Nominee Programs51,00053,000-57,40055,00057,000-63,50061,00062,000-68,500+32.94%
Quebec Skilled Worker Program and Quebec Business29,30027,900-29,90028,90031,500-33,50032,50031,500- 33,500+10.92%
All Economic Programs172,500 169,600– 188,500177,500175,500201,000191,600181,000-202,500+13.51

 

This rise in total immigration number is clear indication that Canadian Government wish to attract more immigrants. However from overall interest from all the countries in recent years many prospective immigrant may find immigration to Canada rules difficult. However due to high demand of Canada immigration bar is raised higher and higher.

On the other hand one may also realise that compare to Australia and New Zealand, Canada is accepting 5 times more immigrants per years only after USA.

Are you interested in immigrating to Canada just email us your detail and will be happy to advise you for your chances for immigration to Canada. Email: prashant@ajmeralaw.com