Marjorie Carmona Newman is a REGULATED CANADIAN IMMIGRATION CONSULTANT based in Edmonton, Alberta. She is currently a Board of Director of the Canadian Association of Professional Immigration Consultants (CAPIC). A recipient of CAPIC's Members Service Award for six consecutive years (2017-2023). A recipient of Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal in Dec 2022 and the 2023 Golden Balangay Winner for Excellence in Community Service.

Canada launched a pilot program to streamline work permit processing for Canadian employers recruiting in the Philippines

It’s a big win for Filipino workers when the Government of Canada recently announced a pilot program launched to streamline the work permit processing for Canadian employers recruiting in the Philippines. Canada’s Minister of Immigration, the Honourable Marc Miller announced a pilot program known as CANWORK Philippines. This pilot program will streamline work permit processing
Read more
No Comments

Medical exam for Express Entry applications

Beginning October 1, 2023, upfront medical examinations ARE NO LONGER REQUIRED at the time of application for Express Entry. IRCC announced recently that applicants must wait for the issuance of the medical exam instructions before booking an appointment with a panel physician. I know this is quite confusing since we are used to providing eMedical
Read more
No Comments

Parents and Grandparents program to re-open this fall

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced recently that starting October 10, 2023, they will begin sending invitations to apply to 24,400 interested potential sponsors, with the goal of receiving up to 15,000 complete applications. Invitations will be sent over in the course of two weeks. PLEASE NOTE THAT ONLY THOSE WHO SUBMITTED AN INTEREST
Read more
No Comments

Canada announces the first ever Express Entry invitations for newcomers with experience in the trades

On May 31, 2023, former Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Hon. Sean Fraser announced that IRCC finalized categories for category-based selection. The categories were expected based on BILL C-19 which received the royal assent in Canada’s parliament in June and became a law. This law grants the minister of immigration full authority to
Read more
No Comments

Canada announces new immigration stream specific to health workers

Realizing the critical need for health workers in the country, Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Honourable Sean Fraser announced new changes to Canada’s flagship economic immigration programs, Express Entry. The Government of Canada will start sending out Invitations to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence to candidates from specific fields or with
Read more
No Comments

Philippines one of the 13 countries now qualify for visa-free travel to Canada

Canada’s Minister of Immigration recently announced the addition of 13 countries to the electronic travel authorization (eTA) program. Travellers from these countries who have either held a Canadian visa in the last 10 years or who currently hold a valid United States non-immigrant visa can now apply for an eTA instead of a visa when
Read more
No Comments

Canada’s Immigration Minister Sean Fraser announces new measures to strengthen family reunification!

On May 26, 2023, Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Hon. Sean Fraser announced certain measures with the aim to strengthen family class in Canada. The new measures include the following: Faster temporary resident visa (TRV) processing times for spousal TRV applicants New and dedicated processing tools for spousal TRV applicants A new open
Read more
No Comments

IRCC updated proof of funds for skilled immigrants under express entry and proof of funds for TRV/Supervisa

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has recently updated the proof of funds for skilled immigrants under Express Entry. IRCC updates the table that shows how much money you will need to settle in Canada every year, based on 50% of the low-income cut-off totals. To stay eligible, you may need to update your settlement
Read more
No Comments

Canada to reduce work experience requirements for caregivers to qualify for permanent residence

Caregivers and employers welcomed the recent announcement from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada or IRCC that Canadian work experience required for a caregiver to qualify for permanent residence is being reduced from 24 months to 12 months. This means that caregivers and their families will now benefit from a faster path to permanent residence. Those
Read more
No Comments

Family members of workers under the low wage stream not eligible for the open work permit under the new public policy

On December 2, 2022, Canada’s Immigration Minister, the Honourable Sean Fraser announced that Canada is extending open work permits to family members of temporary foreign workers at all skill levels. Starting January 2023, through a temporary 2-year measure, Canada will extend open work permit to spouses, common-law partners and working age dependent children. This is
Read more
No Comments