Streamline Process for Canadian Immigration

Canadian immigration has become highly popular in the last few years due to the high human development index of this country. The Canadian government has also streamlined the process of immigration to Canada.

 It has introduced the Express Entry system under which the candidates are eligible as per the point structure of the comprehensive ranking system (CRS). Under this system, almost 1,200 points are available to the candidates.

600 of these points are awarded if the candidate has a job offer or a nomination from a province in Canada (PNP which stands for Provincial Nominee Program). Out of the rest 600, 500 points are awarded for the human capital factors of a candidate and/or his spouse which collectively imply their individual ages, language proficiencies, levels of education and Canadian work experience if present.

The rest 100 out of 600 are available to those candidates who have the right skill transferability combinations of the human capital factors mentioned above, for example, a good language-proficiency combined with a work experience in the native country or Canadian work experience plus work experience in the native country.

It's important for a candidate to get his educational levels assessed. This is highly crucial for candidates who have obtained their education outside of Canada. It's also important for candidates who are on the verge of completing their degrees that they do so before getting their educational credentials assessment (ECA). ECA is important for candidates who have received their education outside of Canada.

It helps the Canadian government to know the worth of education received outside of Canada. It's important to get each and every post-secondary degree assessed to get the highest number of points available. The candidates can also score extra points if they are able to get a certificate of recognition from a province for a certain trade qualification. The candidates who have the maximum points available under this point structure can look forward to immigration Canada.

One way to increase the CRS score is to enhance the score for language proficiency (English or French). It can be by getting a higher score in the designated English language exams which include CELPIP (Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program) and IELTS etc.

The educational credential assessment is not mandatory for candidates who are applying for the Express Entry under the Canadian Experience class. But they can still increase their points by applying for the same. Such candidates can get an extra of 200 points, there can be 150 points awarded for ECA and an extra 50 for the experience held under the Canadian Experience class.

With an assessment of the bachelor's degree, a candidate can earn an extra of almost 170 extra points. So, make sure that by following all these conditions you are able to score the maximum points and able to attain immigration to Canada. Canadian Immigration is very popular among the immigrants, if you are a Pakistani national and looking for immigration to Canada then you must apply for it without further delay.

IMMIGRATION MINISTER ALLAYS INDIAN COMMUNITY’S CONCERN ON CHANGES IN THE POLICY

Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse has spoken with and listened to the concerns of, members of the Indian community on the recent changes in the immigration policy.

Speaking this morning to a full house audience in a public meeting organised by National List MP Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi in association with the Indian Association in Manukau East, the Minister spoke eloquently for ninety minutes on stretch addressing major concerns of the community.

National MP Dr Parmjeet Parmar was also present at the meeting.

While not everyone was happy with the Minister’s inability to comment on their individual visa situations, the Minister did demonstrate a genuine commitment to engage with the community and allay some of the major concerns and widely prevalent myths in the community around immigration.

There were many concerned voices in the community about the situation of international students who may miss the Kiwi-dream of getting residency in this country with the new rule being introduced.

The Minister acknowledged the concerns of community members and even sympathised with their situation but reiterated the fact that the “days of international students getting residency based on low-skilled jobs are over in New Zealand.”

The Minister also assured to look into a request raised by New Zealand Indian Central Association (NZICA), the parent body for all Indian community organisations in New Zealand – that the department of immigration should be able to accept the “sponsorship letter” issued by them to support the individual application of community members.

This has been a long time request from the NZICA from the Department of Immigration. The Minister’s offer to have a look into this is a “step forward” for the community.

Speaking exclusively to Indian Weekender immediately after the meeting, the Minister further clarified some common myths around the changes in the policy.

IWK: Do Indian international students need to live in any kind of fear about the impending changes in the immigration policy?

Michael Woodhouse: I don’t think so. International education has been really an important part of our growing economy over the last few years, and I think that’s going to continue. I do think that there is a deliberate strategy by the providers and the government to move from quantity to quality of the students. I think a higher education will help those students who might have aspirations for a pathway to the residence.  

But it’s not going to be possible for all graduates coming from sub-degree programs at the moment to be able to get that pathway to the residence. I think we need, to be honest with them about that.

IWK: Community’s concern is that why these sub-degree courses and education providers are not regulated and instead students are being targeted.

MW: Well, I think that is a question to be asked to NZQA and the Minister of Tertiary Education. But I know that they [education providers] are being regulated. There are a number of education providers who are offering sub-degree programs that are of concern. Some of them are already closed, and the Immigration New Zealand work with the affected students to make sure that they are able to make the transition to other courses. That is a stressful process I acknowledge. But that is to ensure that the New Zealand reputation of a provider of very high quality of international education is maintained. And I think that’s what we are doing.

IWK: The main issue of the students is that many of them have already arrived in New Zealand based on their confidence in what we are calling as “sub-degree” courses to help them secure residency?

MW: Well if that is an expectation that they have then I believe that the New Zealand government has not set it. With an overwhelming demand for residency in Skilled Migrant Category, it was necessary to lift the bar. So the number of points required and now the remuneration threshold that is being consulted on could be a barrier to some of them. I accept that it could affect those who are already here. But I do believe that it is important that they do get better advice before they come to NZ about the likelihood of pathway to the residence.

Even in current settings four out of five international students are not getting residency.

IWK: From what we have heard from you earlier today that there are jobs out of Auckland. Does that mean that students who are worried about new income threshold can move outside Auckland and possibly get jobs paying $49,000 and leading to residency?

MW: Certainly what I know is that for those people who are getting Skilled Migrant Category Residence, the average salary of applicants are higher out of Auckland than it is in Auckland. The other thing is that we incentivise the search for skilled jobs outside of Auckland by offering more points to those who are successful in securing jobs outside Auckland.

IWK: Minister you earlier talked about the Parent visa category which is another area of concern for our communities. Should we expect any good news in the Parent visa category soon?

MW: Well unlikely in respect of numbers. Previously there were 5,500 resident category resident visas issued every year, which was reduced to 2000 and because we have a huge number already in the pipeline, we have to suspend it for a year temporarily.

When it reopens, then the expectations for the sponsorship by children will be higher, and I am also consulting if the temporary setting for the parents' visa could be adjusted to make it more parents friendly. That work is underway, and we might have more to say later in the year. Source: indianweekender

Now 313 Skilled Workers are Applying for Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program

Canada has ten provinces and three territories. Each province is providing Provincial Nominee Programs to nationals across the world. Currently, in a draw on March 16, there are 313 candidates got an invitation to apply for Manitoba PNP. Manitoba requires skilled persons having a certain set of skills to enter. If you are a Pakistani National and wants to get Immigration to Canada then Manitoba should be your first choice. There are some Manitoba Provincial Nominee Programs Requirements which are available at the official website. Moreover, you have to show your intention to settle in Manitoba.

Skilled Workers Draw at 16 February 2017  

In this draw 250 candidates got an invitation to apply, those invitations are called as Letter of Advice (LAA). You can apply to get immigration to Manitoba in the Sub Category of Skilled Workers. There are about 63 applicants who received LAA form the Manitoba.

Here are few lines about the initiatives of Manitoba for this program:

Exploratory Visits

This category is for those who are qualified for the pre-approved Exploratory Visit. The Government of Manitoba warmly looking for the prospective candidates who met the required criteria for the Exploratory Visit.

Recruitment Missions

If you are a Skilled Worker and having the interest to settle in Manitoba then in this recruitment some representatives of Manitoba conduct an interview to assess you according to the criteria. Moreover, you have to provide your Expression of Interest (EOI) to Manitoba.

Importance of EOI

If you have provided your EIO then you can receive the LAA form the government of Manitoba. Once you got the certificate then you can apply for Immigration to Canada.

Points system

Once you have provided all data then you will be eligible for the special point system to rank in the list of all candidates. Under this point system, each applicant can get up to 1000 points in this Point System.

Immigration to Canada is now quite easy to approach. You can apply for any of the ten provinces for Provincial Nominee Program. These PNPs are attracting the more and more immigrants to make Canada their favorite destination for immigration. If you are planning to move to Canada then you should not waste a single minute. Presently, the immigration laws in Canada are very friendly for the immigrants. As immigrants from the world, if you form Pakistan then you should apply for immigration to Canada also.

Trump’s Immigration Policies Pose a Test for Canada and Its Open Borders

Canada has long been viewed as a country that is open to migrants. But the reality is far more complex and is increasingly colored by events taking place south of the border.

In particular, the Canada-U.S. Safe Third Country Agreement, which took effect in 2004 and requires asylum-seekers to apply for refuge in their first country of arrival, has cast some doubt on the narrative of Canadian tolerance. 

Over the past decade, Canadian authorities have denied entrance to thousands of migrants seeking asylum, many of them from African countries such as Somalia, Nigeria, Sudan and Ghana. 

In all likelihood, it has discouraged many more from attempting to reach the border in the first place. ...

Source: worldpoliticsreview

“No change to visa requirements for Sri Lankan travellers – High Commission of Canada

The High Commission of Canada to Sri Lanka reports that there has been no recent changes to visa requirements for Sri Lankan travellers.

“Sri Lankan citizens require visas for travel to Canada. There have been no recent changes to visa requirements for Sri Lankan travellers” –  the  Canadian High Commission reported as there has been reports claiming a change in Canadian visa requirements for Sri Lankan travellers.

The Canadian High Commission further noted that in case of a change to visa requirements, it would be announced by the Government of Canada via Government of Canada websites, social media and press releases.

The High Commission of Canada encourages all travelers to verify visa and entry requirements and ensure that they have proper visas required for entry to Canada in advance of travel.

Sri Lankan citizens contemplating travel to Canada are encouraged for accurate information on visa and entry requirements for Canada and for more information on how to apply. Source: newsfirst

New Zealand has a patchy record on Muslim immigration

Donald Trump's attack on Islam, particularly his efforts to impose a temporary travel ban from seven (recently changed to six) predominantly Muslim countries, has rightly caused outrage in this country.

Some of the comments seem to suggest though that the events in the United States during these early weeks of the Trump administration are a type of madness unimaginable in New Zealand. We haven't come anywhere close to a "Muslim ban", but this country's past policies in relation to Muslim immigration are by no means beyond reproach. Could populist and xenophobic policies surface in future?

Discrimination on the basis of ethnicity and religion characterised New Zealand's immigration and refugee policy until the late 1980s. The country wanted British immigrants. Small numbers of refugees from the Middle East began arriving in New Zealand from the late 1970s, comprising people of Baha'i and Christian backgrounds.

The admission of Muslim refugees remained controversial. In response to pressure from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to resettle Iranian refugees in 1985, New Zealand said that it wasn't prepared to accept any Iranian refugees other than those of the Baha'i faith. In the mid 1980s, churches and groups (such as Islamic Associations) approached the New Zealand government to accept refugees from Afghanistan.

New Zealand was unwilling to accept more than a very small number largely due to the perception that the refugees, who were "devout" Muslims from rural often nomadic backgrounds, would have difficulty fitting in.

The 1987 Immigration Act reflected a major policy shift. It ushered in the selection of immigrants on the basis of their skills and qualifications rather than their ethnicity and religion. New Zealand's refugee quota of 800 (later reduced to 750) was set up at this time.

The refugees would be accepted because of their need for protection (and sometimes on a regional basis) not on the basis of their religion or ethnicity. Refugees from the Middle East and Africa, who were Muslim, arrived in significant numbers, escaping war, famine and economic collapse which displaced millions of people.

Among the newcomers were Somali refugees who arrived in the early 1990s. Staff at the organisation then charged with settling refugees recalled the debate about their acceptance. There was anxiety about their being Muslim. What if they are fundamentalists? What about female circumcision?

There were concerns about the group of 50 Muslim refugees from Saudi Arabia New Zealand accepted in the mid 1990s after the Gulf War.

According to some people involved in refugee resettlement at that time, the issue was not religious bias against the Muslim faith but ease of settlement in the community. If the cultural differences were too large, the community wouldn't cope. If the community couldn't accept the refugees, their chances of having good settlement outcomes were poor.

Increased security concerns after the terrorist attacks of September 2001 (9/11) impacted on the selection of refugees, with immigration reports on quota composition referring to the need to ensure that cases did not pose a security risk. The high-profile case of Algerian asylum seeker Ahmed Zaoui, a lecturer in Islamic traditions, shows how the new security concerns affected the way New Zealand dealt with asylum seekers.

Zaoui arrived in New Zealand in 2002, seeking political asylum. He was detained and transferred to the maximum security prison at Paremoremo, where he was kept in isolation for 240 days. In 2003, New Zealand declined Zaoui's application for refugee status on the grounds that though he had a well-founded fear of persecution in Algeria, there were "serious reasons" for considering that he had committed terrorist or non-political crimes. Read More: stuff

Missing Chinese tourist found in Taupo

A Chinese tourist who went missing after leaving her Auckland hotel room last week has been found in Taupo, police say. 

Police located 42-year-old Ling Fang Mai at a Taupo address last night.

Mai initially arrived in Auckland last Wednesday as part of a tour group and spent the afternoon visiting the Mt Eden summit before checking into a motel in Parnell around 8pm.

That night, she told her roommate she was going for a walk but never returned. 

It is understood she was in New Zealand on a one month tourist visa.

On Tuesday, Mai contacted a family member in China to say she was OK.

However, detective inspector Aaron Pascoe said police continued to look for her as the circumstances of her disappearance and the single contact with her family did not fully allay concerns for her welfare. 

A team of officers had been making enquiries about her whereabouts since her disappearance and located her at a Taupo address.

A great deal of time and effort went into looking for her, he said. Source: stuff

Ciobo defends visa rules as Indonesia and Australia seek to cement trade deal

Australia’s trade minister, Steve Ciobo, has defended tough visa entry requirements for Indonesian students ahead of a high level visit to the country to complete an Australia-Indonesia trade deal.

Australia’s prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, will join Ciobo and a delegation of 120 Australian business people for the Indonesia-Australia Business Week (IAWB).

Indonesia is Australia’s 13th largest trading partner and Australia is hoping to get more access for vocational education and tertiary institutions to operate in Indonesia, while Indonesia wants to get access to training and education in Australia. 

Ciobo said both countries were looking to finalise the deal after a decade of negotiations. He has met his counterpart, the Indonesian trade minister Enggartiasto Lukita, 14 times since the latter came to the post in July last year.

In February, during a visit by the Indonesian president, Joko Widodo, to Australia, Indonesia agreed to lower tariffs on Australian sugar from 8% to 5%, while Australia agreed to remove tariffs on pesticides and herbicides coming from Indonesian suppliers.

Ciobo said on Monday the visa requirements imposed on Indonesians looking to study in Australia were part of an overall immigration system.

Indonesians aged 18-30 who apply for visas need to show they have access to $5,000 in their bank account, provide a letter of support from the Indonesian government, show they have completed two years of undergraduate study, have good English and provide a chest X-ray.

“Anything we do, we do in the context of existing visa requirements,” Ciobo said. “That’s part and parcel of the requirements we have in terms of securing visas for people from outside of Australia. We have requirements in terms of health for things like tuberculosis but we will look at it in the context of the overall deal.”

The Australian delegation is looking for opportunities in vocational education and training, tourism, financial services and technology, water and sustainable urban design and agribusiness supply chains.

Ciobo said Australia would like to have better access for the Australian labour force.

“Tens of millions of new Indonesian households are forecast to join the middle class over the next five years, presenting significant opportunities for Australian exporters to supply the growing needs of Indonesian consumers with Australian goods and services.”

The prime minister will travel to Indonesia on Monday night. Read More: theguardian

Tempted To Move Out Of The U.S.? New Zealand Wants To Help You Escape

Right after the presidential election, visits from U.S. citizens to the Immigration New Zealand website soared. Think 56,300 visits in 24 hours versus the usual average of 2,300. And New Zealand Now — a website about living, working, studying and investing in the country — experienced the same spike, with a 192% increase in U.S. visitors. Even Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg joked before the election that she might move to New Zealand if Trump won.

While some Americans might not have been serious about their intent to leave the country, 

The city has launched an initiative called LookSee Wellington. The goal? To recruit 100 talented technology candidates from across the globe, with a focus on the United States. The program arranges meetings with prospective employers who have roles that match a candidate's skills, and flights and accommodations are covered.

But here’s the thing: Whether you work in the tech industry or not, Wellington is a great place to live. Diversity is celebrated, gay marriage is legal and the first female leader was elected more than 20 years ago. If you hold a work visa valid for two years or more, public healthcare is free or low cost. The city also has more restaurants, cafes and bars per capita than New York City. And New Zealand has been called an "incubation nation," a place where innovation thrives and where people can make a real change and have impact.

We interviewed one expat who has already made the move: San Francisco native Alanna Irving (formerly Krause), who is cofounder of both Loomio, an online tool for collaborative decision-making, and Enspiral, a social entrepreneurship network. Here, Alanna tells why she relocated to Wellington — and why you should, too.

Begley Bloom: What inspired you to move to Wellington?

Irving: I traveled and lived in different countries throughout my twenties, just sort of jumping from one opportunity to the next. It was great, but I eventually came to realize that I wanted to make more considered choices, connect to a community more deeply and find meaningful work that wasn't "just a job." When I discovered a thriving community of social entrepreneurs in such a fantastic city, I knew it was a place I could continually learn and grow, personally and professionally. I've been here over six years, and that's still true.

Begley Bloom: How did you find out about Wellington? 

Irving: I originally came to New Zealand on a working holiday visa, with no particular plan to stay long term. At the time, I was just hopping from country to country soaking up experiences. But once I got to Wellington, I pretty much knew I wouldn't want to leave after only one year.

Begley Bloom: Tell me about your companies. When did you start them? What were you doing before?

Irving: My resume before I got here was all over the place. I started a web design company in the U.S., was a translator in Japan, worked in IT in London, studied in Spain and volunteered in India. I didn't know how all these different experiences were going to add up to a career — or if they ever would. When I arrived in Wellington in 2011, I encountered entrepreneurs using the tools of business and software for positive social impact in exciting ways. All my different experiences actually prepared me perfectly to work at the intersection of people, tech, business and impact, so I jumped into Enspiral. It grew from just a few software developers to a network of over 300 people with diverse skills, who want to use their working lives to make the world a better place. A group of us founded Loomio in 2012, when entrepreneurs from Enspiral and activists from the Occupy movement realized we actually needed to solve the same problem: effective decision-making without meetings. We started a worker-owned co-op and built an online tool that's now used by thousands of groups around the world. Read More: forbes

Ontario’s Popular Immigration Streams is Reopening Next Week!

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) is going to accept applications regarding its three much popular immigration streams. These streams are as under.

• The International Masters Graduate Stream
• The Express Entry Human Capital Priorities Stream
• The International D. Graduate Stream

There was a temporary pause on these streams during last May, as their annual allocations have reached its limit.

Furthermore, a new user-friendly process of submitting an online application was on its way. This process will start after reopening of these OINP streams. According to the government of Ontario, this overhauled system will speed up the application process. It will allow employers to look for skilled workers in a hassle-free manner.

A clear message to the Provincial Government is out there. The following streams will experience a pause and reopen periodically.

• The International D. Graduate stream
• International Masters Graduate stream
• Human Capital Priorities stream

The basic purpose this strategy is to process existing applications in an efficient manner.

For the year 2017, overall allocations for OINP are 6,000 and include all applications related to OINP streams. No doubt, the number of allocations is going up, as the province’s allocation was just 2,500 in 2014.

International Ph.D. Graduate Stream

This Stream focuses on such individuals who graduated from one of Ontario’s publicly funded universities in a Ph.D. program. A job offer is not required for this stream as it operates outside the Express Entry System.

International Masters Graduate Stream

This specific Stream operates outside the Express Entry system. It targets individuals who have graduated from one of Ontario’s publicly funded universities, with a Master’s degree. Besides this, it is not necessary to provide a job offer.

Eligible candidates residing outside Ontario are capable of applying, once this stream reopens. It is possible for applicants to hire an alternate service provider to obtain their language test.

Express Entry Human Capital Priorities Stream

The reopening of Express Entry Human Capital Priorities Stream, will receive a great response by the candidates of federal Express Entry pool. Once this stream reopens, OINP will start looking into federal Express Entry pool to find qualified candidates. After this, eligible candidates will receive Notifications of Interest, which is an invitation to apply.

It is necessary for the candidate to be a part of Express Entry pool. In addition, the candidate must have 400 or more points in Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The applicant can also get 600 additional CRS points if he or she obtains an OINP nomination certificate through this stream. The 400 CRS points threshold is relatively lesser than any one of the Express Entry draws, conducted previously. This may enhance the chances of eligibility under the OINP Express Entry Human Capital Priorities Stream.

According to a statement shared by Laura Albanese (Ontario’s Minister of Immigration), “Ontario is helping to make our province even stronger”. Further stated, “Immigration is the right key for competing in today’s global economy in a better way. This helps in growing our workforce and stimulating innovation. By attracting people with skills and abilities, we can easily fill labor market gaps.” Source: immigrationexperts

Indian students hope to return to NZ after deportation

A group of students who are on the verge of being deported say they will continue to fight their case once they're back in India.

Nine students will fly out over the coming days after more than eight months fighting the decision.

The students gathered in their Auckland lawyer's boardroom today and finished off some paperwork for a complaint to the Ombudsman to be made.

The students and their lawyer, Alastair McClymont, said they were unfairly paying the price of India-based agents who submitted fraudulent documents on their behalf. But after failing to get Associate Minister of Immigration David Bennett to intervene they'll be returning home over the next couple of days.

Rahul Reddy said he has organised for his friends to pick him up from the airport.

He said he would be going back to live with his parents and would start to look for work. But despite it all he said he was still set on returning in order to gain work experience.

"Because we've spent our money here, it's not a small amount that we've spent here. It's almost like $30,000 that we spent here for our education and for our work experience to gain. So without that I cannot go back to my country and work there. I have to show them the experience of practical knowledge here."

Mr Reddy said his bags were packed and he would be spending the weekend saying goodbye to friends, family, and members of the Unitarian Church who supported the cause by providing sanctuary.

Mr McClymont said it was far from over.

He was planning on filing a complaint to the Ombudsman about how the students' characters were assessed with a specific emphasis on their case that the students were not aware of what their agents submitted on their behalf.

He was feeling confident the outcome would be positive, he said.

"And if it is I intend to ask Immigration New Zealand and the Ombudsman [to] go back and review up to 150 applications which have been declined by the same method."

Mr McClymont said he would seek to remove his clients' deportation statuses so they were able to apply for a visa to return to New Zealand.

He expected the decision would take a couple of months.

'New Zealand's reputation is going down'

The students returning to India would continue to seek justice there by visiting the local police to press charges against their agents.

The Indian Express newspaper was also starting to report on the students' cases.

One student who was returning, Manoj Narra, said it was not a good look for New Zealand.

"In India New Zealand's reputation is going down, frankly speaking ... Because everyone is saying that if Immigration is in the right position they have to check before entering this country."

He said people were asking why discrepancies were picked up after students had already started studying.

The students maintained that justice had not been served in their case and said they did not want any other international students to New Zealand to have to endure the same ordeal. Source: radionz

US-based Australians fear crackdown on working visas by Donald Trump

Australians living in the US have called on the Turnbull government to demand tolerance and evidence-based policy-making from Donald Trump's White House, amid concerns from employers that foreign workers could be targeted in a sweeping review of visa rules.

Speculation exists among immigration experts that Mr Trump will direct the Homeland Security, Labor and State Departments to review employment-based categories, potentially hitting thousands of Australians with work and study visas. 

Australians could be affected by any changes to the E3 specialty occupation visa, established by the George W. Bush administration specifically for Australians and available to 10,500 people each year.

One US recruiter has told clients a draft executive order being considered by Mr Trump would direct a wholesale review of a range of popular visas to assess whether foreign workers are disadvantaging American citizens, with possible restrictions to student visas also being considered. 

Mr Trump's chaotic first two weeks has prompted more than 225 Australians living across 15 states of the US to sign an open letter to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, calling on the federal government to publicly endorse values including trade, respect for institutions, independent media and freedom from discrimination as part of the Australia-US relationship.

Signatories include Australian employees of Facebook, Google, Goldman Sachs, Boston Consulting Group and PwC, as well students at leading universities, including Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, the University of California, Columbia, and New York University.

Matt Tyler, a public policy masters student at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, said many Australians were alarmed by Mr Trump's actions and rhetoric and hoped the federal government would use political and diplomatic representation to push back on infringements by the administration.  

"In the midst of rapid changes, there is a risk that behaviours undermining the fabric of society and democracy are normalised," he said. 

"To prevent this, a set of fundamental values are a useful starting point. As Australians at the coalface of changes playing out in the US, we are in a unique position to ask the Australian government to publicly clarify the values underpinning the US-Australia relationship.

"There is fear and uncertainty regarding the status of visas. Some are concerned that the E3 visa will be caught up in a review of the broader H1B visa although there has been no indication from Washington as to whether this is the case." 

Karissa Domondon, chief of staff at clean technology start-up Global Thermostat in New York, said answers were needed from both governments.

​"I've received numerous questions from Australia in my network about possible changes to foreign worker visas, but we can't say anything for certain.  This ambiguity has created some unease. 

"I moved to the US at a time when there was still significant optimism around the Paris 2015 climate agreement.  The depth of climate change entrepreneurship [and] public debate on climate change has been eye-opening, but I'm concerned about climate change action being put on the back-burner," she said. Source: smh

Ontario’s Human Capital Priorities and Graduate Streams to Reopen

One of the most popular Canadian immigration streams aligned with the Express Entry selection system will reopen next week, with Ontario set to begin inviting candidates through the Human Capital Priorities Stream of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP).

In addition, the OINP streams for eligible Master’s and PhD graduates will also reopen.

These three streams, among the most popular under the OINP, had been placed under a temporary pause since May, 2016.

Speaking at the announcement of this reopening, Ontario’s Minister of Immigration, Laura Albanese, stated that “Immigration is key to stimulating innovation, growing our workforce and keeping us competitive in today’s global economy. By helping attract the people who have the skills and abilities we need to fill labour market gaps, Ontario is helping ensure businesses are better able to prosper and make our province even stronger.”

News of the Human Capital Priorities Stream reopening is likely to be greeted with enthusiasm by many Express Entry candidates, as this stream proved to be an attainable pathway to Canada for many candidates when it was previously issuing Notifications of Interest (NOIs, effectively an invitation to apply to the program). This being an enhanced stream, successful applicants obtain 600 additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points and an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence at a subsequent draw from the pool.

When this stream reopens, the OINP will begin searching the federal Express Entry pool for qualified candidates and issue Notifications of Interest.

To be eligible under the Ontario Human Capital Priorities Stream under the most recent intake cycle, candidates must:

• Score a minimum of 400 points under the CRS. The score must remain at or above 400 during both the Ontario nomination processing stage and at the federal application for permanent residence processing stage;
• Have a minimum level of work experience;
  • Candidates who choose to be assessed against the Federal Skilled Worker Class (FSWC) criteria must have at least one year of continuous and full-time employment experience, or part-time equivalent, in a National Occupation Classification (NOC) level 0, A, or B occupation in the five years prior to the date of the Notification of Interest from the OINP.
  • Candidates who choose to be assessed against the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) criteria must have at least one year of cumulative and full-time employment experience, or part-time equivalent, in a NOC 0, A, or B occupation in Canada in the three years prior to the date of the NOI from the OINP.
• Have a Canadian Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD degree OR an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report produced by a designated organization indicating that their foreign education credential is equivalent to a Canadian Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD;
• Demonstrate a language proficiency level of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 or above in all four competencies (speaking, reading, writing, and listening);
  • Language proficiency must be proved by test results from one of the following designated testing agencies:
    • IELTS (General Training Test only) for English;
    • CELPIP (General test only) for English; or
    • TEF for French;
• Intend to reside in Ontario, as demonstrated by a statement of intent and indication of ties to Ontario;
• Possess sufficient funds to cover settlement costs in Ontario. This must be supported by bank statements; and
• Meet the additional criteria under either the FSWP or CEC.

These criteria are subject to change, and the OINP has stated that further details may be revealed next week.

International PhD Graduate Stream

Individuals who have graduated from a PhD program at one of Ontario’s publicly funded universities may be eligible to apply to the OINP International PhD Graduate Stream. This stream operates outside the Express Entry system, and a job offer is not required.

International Masters Graduate Stream

The International Masters Graduate Stream, which operates outside the Express Entry system, targets individuals who have graduated with a Master’s degree from one of Ontario’s publicly funded universities. A job offer is not required.

When this stream reopens, eligible candidates will now be able to apply if they are residing outside Ontario. Applicants will also now have the option of using an alternate service provider to obtain their language test, though exactly what this entails is not clear at this time. Source: cicnews