Updating: Additional Family Information

If you have filed for an immigrant visa to the Visa Office already and there's been changes in your status such as additional family members, you will have to update the Canadian Embassy as soon as you can.

If you have filed single and during the processing gets married, update your application by submitting the following
1. NSO Birth Certificate of your spouse
2. NSO Marriage Certificate
3. Copy of Passport of your spouse
4. Application Form (IMM008)
5. Additional Family Information
6. Filing Fee of 550Cn$ payable to Canadian Embassy Manila.

For updating additional family member (child/ren), the following must be submitted to the Visa Office.
1. NSO Birth Certificate
2. Copy of Passport
3. Application Form (IMM008)
4. Additional Family Information
5. Filing Fee of 150Cn$ each payable to Canadian Embassy Manila


You may send this documents thru mail or thru dropbox. Do not forget to indicate your file number when updating your application.

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Selection Criteria

Submitting your application for a Permanent Resident Visa to Canada means that you must have meet the requirements set by the Citizenship Immigration and Multiculturalism Canada. Each program has its own set of requirements.

For those who would like to apply under the current regulation of Skilled Workers and Professional Immigrant Visa program, one must meet the pass mark and be in the list of occupations eligible for Federal Skilled Worker.This (pass mark) is based on the Selection Criteria, as stated below. You may assess your qualification based on the factors below and award yourself points. If you get 67 points or more, you may be able to apply for a Permanent Resident Visa to Canada as long as you meet the other requirement, being in the list of high demand occupations.

Selection Criteria

1	Education	maximum	25
	Phd	25
	Masters/Double Degree	22
	College	20
	Two Year Course	15
	Secondary	5
2	Age (braket of 21 – 49 yrs old)	maximum	10
3	Work Experience	maximum	21
	1 Year	15
	2 Years	17
	3 Years	19
	4 Years and above	21
4	Language		24
	English (based on IELTS result)	16
	French	8
5	Adaptability	maximum	10
	Spouse Education (maximum)	5
	Relative	5
6	Certified Job Offer (AEO/PNP)		10

If you meet the pass mark which is 67 points based on the Selection Criteria above and had one (1) year work experience within the last ten (10) years in any of the professions in the List of Occupations Eligible for Federal Skilled Worker issued by CIC, you may then apply for a Permanent Resident Visa.

IF you wish to be properly evaluated, you may email me your resume at rgajo@go2canada.com.

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Transit Without Visa in Canada

Transit without Visa in Canada is being implemented in Vancouver at this time, after a pilot project at Vancouver International Airport. This program will allow international travelers to pass through Canada airports on their way from and to United States.

“Removing the requirement for a Canadian transit visa will make Canadian airports more attractive for international travellers going to and from the United States,” said Minister Kenney. “This will help airports expand their business, which will in turn have a positive impact on the local economy.”

“This program creates an opportunity to enhance travel to North America through Canada, while protecting our security interests,” said Minister Van Loan.

“We are embarked on a robust trade agenda to open doors for Canadian business in markets around the world,” said Minister Day. “We are taking action here today to facilitate the flow of people and goods over the border so they can seek opportunities abroad and create jobs at home.”

“The Transit Without Visa program is a key initiative for facilitating travel between North America and Asia via the YVR gateway,” said Larry Berg, President and CEO, Vancouver Airport Authority. “It allows us to capitalize on our geographical advantage as the major West Coast airport closest to Asia, and enables our airlines to transit passengers between Asia and North America seamlessly.”

Needless to say, the Transit Without Visa in Canada will increase the number of travelers who will pass through Canada and increase opportunities in the airport. The program is created to contribute to the local economy through airport fees and retails. Actions concerning securities are being implemented in connection with this program.

As of this moment, Transit without Visa program applies to US Visa holders from the Philippines, Indonesia, Taiwan and Thailand who are traveling through Vancouver International Airport to and from the United States. Philippine Airlines, China Airlines and Cathay Pacific Airways are eligible to participate under this program. Chinese nationals US Visa holders, however, may be able to participate to this program by traveling on one of the pre-authorized air carrier and fly on direct, non stop flights to Vancouver International Airport coming from Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Manila and Taipei. This is a trial put into place for Chinese nationals which evaluation will be conducted after a year.

To further expand this program, requests from airports, airlines and/or foreign nationals will undergo full assessment before approval to participate in the program. For more information, you may visit http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/releases/2009/2009-07-30.asp.

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IELTS Results Proving English Language Ability

In applying for a Skilled Worker and Professional Immigrant Visa to Canada, one will be assessed using the Selection Criteria. Language ability is one of the factor used in evaluating if an applicant will be given a Permanent Resident Visa.

English is one of the languages used in Canada aside from French and an applicant must show proof that he/she is able to speak any of the two languages.

Taking the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) examination is one way to prove an applicant's proficiency in the language. Though, this is not mandatory. Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Canada recommends to applicants whose English is not the first language in the country he/she lives to take the IELTS examination.

You will find below the table to get the points depending on the result of the IELTS exam.

Level	Points (per ability)	Test results for each ability
		Speaking	Listening	Reading (General Training)	Writing (General Training)
High	First official language: 4	6.5 - 9.0	7.5 - 9.0	6.5 - 9.0	6.5 - 9.0
	Second official language: 2
Moderate	Either official language: 2	5.5 - 6.0	5.5 - 7.0	5.0 - 6.0	5.5 - 6.0
Basic	Either official language: 1 (maximum of 2)	4.0 - 5.0	4.5 - 5.0	3.5 - 4.5	4.0 - 5.0
No	0	Less than 4.0	Less than 4.5	Less than 3.5	Less than 4.0

Not mandatory as it is, International English Language System will help you as an applicant to determine if you have meet the minimum required points (67pts).

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Immigration Applications Inside Canada

Many of work and student permit holders are inquiring about immigration applications inside Canada. They would want to know the options available for them to become Permanent Resident Visa holders.

There are various applications available for those inside Canada depending on their status and the kind of work they hold. Below are the immigration applications inside canada:

1. Canadian Experience Class - temporary resident visa holders inside Canada or even those who have just left Canada may apply for Permanent Resident Visa under this category. For those who have left Canada, they should make the application within a year from leaving Canada.

Most of work visa holder, especially those under Labour Market Opinion or Expedited Labour Market Opinion Project may not apply under Canadian Experience Class because one of the requirements is that the occupation they held must be Skill Type O, Skill Level A or B.

2. Provincial Nominee Program - if the employer would be willing, he/she may nominate his/her employee or worker for immigration under this Category. There are requirements depending on the Province.

3. Skilled Worker and Professional Immigrant Visa - for those who did not qualify under the two options above, temporary resident visa holders may opt to apply under the skilled worker and professional category. The applicant should meet at least 67 points from the Selection Criteria and have at least one year experience that is included in the List of Occupations Eligible For Federal Skilled Worker program.

4. Arrange Employment Opinion - if the applicant has a job offer from an employer giving him/her a full time and permanent position, the applicant may submit his/her application under the Arrange Employment Opinion category.

If you are inside Canada either as a foreign worker or as a student and would want to know which application suited your qualification, email me your resume at rgajo@go2canada.com for initial evaluation. Immigration applications inside Canada are still processed at the nearest Visa Office or at the country of residence of the applicant.

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Embassy Fee - Update

Effective June 13, 2009, Canadian Embassy Manila imposed embassy fees is as follows:

Immigration Cost Recovery Fees (in effect as of June 13, 2009)
	CAD$	PHP
I. Permanent Resident Visas
Skilled Worker and Provincial Nominee Applicants
Principal applicant	$550	23,650
A family member of the principal applicant who is 22 years of age or older, or is less than 22 years of age and is a spouse or common-law partner	$550	23,650
A family member of the principal applicant who is less than 22 years of age and is not a spouse or common-law partner	$150	6,450
Investor, Entrepreneur or Self-employed Persons Class applicants
Principal applicant	$1,050	42,300
A family member of the principal applicant who is 22 years of age or older, or is less than 22 years of age and is a spouse or common-law partner	$550	23,650
A family member of the principal applicant who is less than 22 years of age and is not a spouse or common-law partner	$150	6,450
Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF)	$490	21,000
Note that for Family Class applicants, the Right of Permanent Residence Fee must be paid by the sponsor from within Canada. The visa cannot be issued until this fee is paid. The RPRF fee is payable by principal applicants (with the following exceptions) and accompanying spouses and common-law partners. Exceptions: Dependent children of a principal applicant or sponsor, a child to be adopted, or an orphaned brother, sister, niece, nephew or grandchild; and protected persons, including Convention refugees
II. Temporary Resident Visas	CAD$	PHP
Visitors (including re-entry and seafarer applications)
Single entry to Canada	$75	3,225
Multiple entry	$150	6,450
Family rate for either single or multiple entry (all family members must apply at the same time and place, no limit to the total number of family members)	$400	17,200
Work Permits
Work permit	$150	6,450
Work permit - Group of 3 or more performing artists	$450	19,350
Study Permits	$125	5,400
III. Other	CAD$	PHP
Temporary Resident Permit	$200	8,600
Replacing a Visa	$30	1,300
Return to Canada (for Permanent Residents) - Travel Document	$50	2,150
Application processing fee, if inadmissible on the grounds of serious criminality	$1,000	43,000
Application processing fee, if inadmissible on the grounds of criminality	$200	8,600
Authorization to return to Canada after removal	$400	17,200
Repayment of removal expenses
To the U.S.A. and St. Pierre and Miquelon	$750	32,250
To any other country	$1,500	64,500

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Minimum Wage in Ontario

One would be interested to know the minimum wage in Ontario if the person plans to reside or is residing in Ontario Canada.

The Ministry of Labour in Ontario contains information about employment, labour laws employment standards and the like.

If you are an aspiring immigrant to Canada or a first time landed immigrant, it is best to know the employment regulations and standards to protect your rights and of course, to counter, vis-a-vis the cost of living, your would-be income.

Below is a table containing the minimum wage in Ontario. For those who are planning to reside in Ontario, the information below may be helpful.

Minimum Wage Rates

Minimum Wage Rate	March 31, 2009 Current wage rate	March 31, 2010
General Minimum Wage (This rate applies to most employees)	$9.50 per hour	$10.25 per hour
Student Minimum Wage (This rate applies to students under the age of 18 who work 28 hours a week or less when school is in session or work during a school break or summer holidays.)	$8.90 per hour	$9.60 per hour
Liquor Servers Minimum Wage (This hourly rate applies to employees who serve liquor directly to customers or guests in licensed premises as a regular part of their work. "Licensed premises" are businesses for which a license or permit has been issued under the Liquor Licence Act.)	$8.25 per hour	$8.90 per hour
Hunting and Fishing Guides Minimum Wage (The minimum wage for hunting and fishing guides is based on blocks of time instead of by the hour. They get a minimum amount for working less than five consecutive hours in a day, and a different amount for working five hours or more in a day--whether or not the hours are consecutive.)	$47.50 $95.00	$51.25 $102.50
Homeworkers Wage (110 per cent of the general minimum wage) Homeworkers are employees who do paid work in their own homes. For example, they may sew clothes for a clothing manufacturer, answer telephone calls for a call centre, or write software for a high-tech company. Note that students of any age (including students under the age of 18 years) who are employed as homeworkers must be paid the homeworker's minimum wage.	$10.45 per hour	$11.28 per hour

If you have been working for at least a year, there is a schedule increase in the minimum wage while there is also a different computation for those who earn based on commission.

Provision for room and board may be taken into account by an employer as wages. This is to ensure that the minimum wage has been paid to the employee.

Minimum wage in Ontario is a bit higher than other provinces but one must also take into account the cost of living.

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