Difference between revisions of "Immigrating to British Columbia"
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==[http://www.welcomebc.ca/pnp BC’s Provincial Nominee Program] to speed up immigration applications== | ==[http://www.welcomebc.ca/pnp BC’s Provincial Nominee Program] to speed up immigration applications== | ||
BC and most other provinces have [https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/provincial-nominees.html provincial nominee programs] (under the economic class). These provinces can speed up, or fast track, an immigration application so it takes less than one year. They can also have a work permit issued in 2 to 3 months. One of the fastest ways to immigrate to BC is under BC’s Provincial Nominee Program, which lets BC select immigrants based on their specific ability to contribute to the BC economy. For example, applicants for jobs in BC where there is a shortage of workers—such as high-tech positions and rural postings—qualify here. But an applicant must first have a job offer to apply under this program. The program has 4 steps: registration, invitation, application, and nomination. | BC and most other provinces have [https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/provincial-nominees.html provincial nominee programs] (under the economic class). These provinces can speed up, or fast track, an immigration application so it takes less than one year. They can also have a work permit issued in 2 to 3 months. One of the fastest ways to immigrate to BC is under [http://www.welcomebc.ca/pnp BC’s Provincial Nominee Program], which lets BC select immigrants based on their specific ability to contribute to the BC economy. For example, applicants for jobs in BC where there is a shortage of workers—such as high-tech positions and rural postings—qualify here. But an applicant must first have a job offer to apply under this program. The program has 4 steps: registration, invitation, application, and nomination. | ||
==Refugees== | ==[http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/results-by-topic.asp?top=11 Refugees]== | ||
Canada has a long tradition of helping people in need, accepting them as refugees. Refugees are people unable or unwilling to return to their own country based on a well-founded fear of being persecuted because of their race, religion, political opinion, nationality or membership in a particular social group, or people who might face risk to their lives, cruel and unusual treatment, punishment, or torture if they went home. The Canadian government has now restricted access to the refugee process by designating some countries as “safe” and requiring special procedures for refugee claimants from these countries. Refugee claimants must prove they meet the definition of a refugee to become a protected person in Canada. | Canada has a long tradition of helping people in need, accepting them as refugees. Refugees are people unable or unwilling to return to their own country based on a well-founded fear of being persecuted because of their race, religion, political opinion, nationality or membership in a particular social group, or people who might face risk to their lives, cruel and unusual treatment, punishment, or torture if they went home. The Canadian government has now restricted access to the refugee process by designating some countries as “safe” and requiring special procedures for refugee claimants from these countries. Refugee claimants must prove they meet the definition of a refugee to become a protected person in Canada. | ||
Help for new immigrants | ==Help for new immigrants== | ||
Some financial and other help is available to immigrants through various programs and services, including counseling and cultural orientation, loans to help with transportation to Canada, language training, and job-related services. | |||
The Legal Services Society (LSS) may provide a lawyer for free if you: | The [https://www.lss.bc.ca/ Legal Services Society] (LSS) [https://www.lss.bc.ca/legal_aid/ may provide a lawyer for free] if you: | ||
* meet the financial guidelines, and | |||
* are facing an immigration proceeding that may remove you from Canada or you want to claim refugee status. | |||
The LSS website lists legal aid locations. You can also call the LSS Call Centre at 604.408.2172 (Greater Vancouver) or 1.866.577.2525 (elsewhere in BC, no charge). | The [http://www.legalaid.bc.ca/ LSS website] lists [http://www.legalaid.bc.ca/legal_aid/legalAidLocations_Map.php legal aid locations]. You can also call the LSS Call Centre at 604.408.2172 (Greater Vancouver) or 1.866.577.2525 (elsewhere in BC, no charge). | ||
If your application is rejected or you’re asked to leave Canada | ==If your application is rejected or you’re asked to leave Canada== | ||
The refusal of a temporary residence application (such as a visitor record, a work permit, or a study permit), will most often come with instructions to leave Canada immediately. But some applicants will get a [https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/temporary-residents/visitors/restoration-status.html 90-day restoration period] when they can resubmit an application without having to leave the country. If you stay in Canada without a restoration period, it can cause serious problems for any future application to enter. | |||
In cases where Canada Border Services Agency takes steps to remove someone from Canada, most people are eligible for a pre-removal risk assessment before they are removed from the country. If you have already made a refugee claim that was rejected, the decision on risk will be based only on new evidence. | In cases where Canada Border Services Agency takes steps to remove someone from Canada, most people are eligible for a pre-removal risk assessment before they are removed from the country. If you have already made a refugee claim that was rejected, the decision on risk will be based only on new evidence. | ||
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The Federal Court of Canada can review most decisions of immigration officials and tribunals. But it does so only in very limited cases. You would need legal help in this area. | The Federal Court of Canada can review most decisions of immigration officials and tribunals. But it does so only in very limited cases. You would need legal help in this area. | ||
If you do not qualify under the usual immigration rules | ==If you do not qualify under the usual immigration rules== | ||
Immigration officials can make exceptions to the usual immigration rules in some cases to prevent undeserved or exceptional hardship. | |||
== | ==More information== | ||
*[ | *[https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship.html Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada] is a good starting point. | ||
*Check [http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/index.asp processing times] and [https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/check-status.html application status] on the government website. | |||
*The [http://www.legalaid.bc.ca/ Legal Services Society] has free publications. Click [http://www.legalaid.bc.ca/publications/index.php Publications] then under “I want to find a publication by subject,” click “[http://www.legalaid.bc.ca/publications/subject.php?sub=10 Immigrants & Refugees]”. | *The [http://www.legalaid.bc.ca/ Legal Services Society] has free publications. Click [http://www.legalaid.bc.ca/publications/index.php Publications] then under “I want to find a publication by subject,” click “[http://www.legalaid.bc.ca/publications/subject.php?sub=10 Immigrants & Refugees]”. | ||
*The [http://www.irb-cisr.gc.ca/ Immigration and Refugee Board] has details on refugee claims, admissibility hearings, and immigration appeals. | *The [http://www.irb-cisr.gc.ca/ Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada] has details on refugee claims, admissibility hearings, and immigration appeals. | ||
*The [http://www.ccrweb.ca/ Canadian Council for Refugees] has general information on refugees. | *The [http://www.ccrweb.ca/ Canadian Council for Refugees] has general information on refugees. | ||
*The [http://www.welcomebc.ca/pnp BC Provincial Nominee Program] explains program details. | *The [http://www.welcomebc.ca/pnp BC Provincial Nominee Program] explains program details. | ||
'''The above was last reviewed for accuracy by | [updated February 2018] | ||
'''The above was last reviewed for accuracy and edited by John Blois.''' | |||
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