Introduction to Citizenship and Immigration Canada Prepared by Katherine Rafoss

Determines general immigration policies Selects and admits immigrants, temporary workers, foreign students, and visitors to meet the social, economic and cultural needs of Canadian communities Screens applicants to help protect the health, safety and security of Canadians Resettles and protects refugees Helps newcomers adapt to Canadian society and become Canadian citizens About Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC)

Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and its Regulations were implemented June 28, 2002 Provides definite guidelines for Canada’s immigration policy and procedures Requires that CIC provides an annual Report to Parliament Jointly administered by CIC and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA )

Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) Ports of entry, enforcement, intelligence gathering HRSDC – Service Canada Labour Market Opinion (LMO): required by temporary foreign workers to obtain a work permit Arranged Employment Opinion (AEO): confirms permanent job offer to support application for permanent residence under Skilled Workers Program Health Canada / RCMP / CSIS Background checks: medical, criminal and security Our Partners

IRPA provides legal basis for: Consulting provinces and territories regarding the number, distribution and settlement of permanent residents Entering into agreements with provinces and territories on sharing responsibility for immigration Consultations and Agreements with Provinces and Territories

Migration into Canada is managed through two main categories: Temporary residence: international students temporary foreign workers visitors Permanent residence: family class sponsorship economic immigrants protected persons/refugees Canada’s Immigration System

International Students 7 Top source countries for Canada: China India Rep. of Korea Saudi Arabia USA France Japan Mexico Iran Hong Kong Nigeria Statistics Source: CIC Facts and Figures 2011

Change to Custodianship Requirement for Minor Students (OB 339) Effective September 15, 2011, custodianship requirement will be discretionary for minor students between 17 years of age and age of majority in province or territory of the educational institution where they intend to study. The custodianship requirement will continue to be mandatory for minor children under age of 17. Study Permits: Most students require a Study Permit, with some exceptions: – Short-term course or program less than six months – Foreign representatives to Canada and Members of foreign armed forces and their dependents Custodianship for Minor Students 8

In Saskatchewan, a “minor child” is considered a child under the age of 18 years. Minor children who may study in Canada without a study permit: – “Every minor child in Canada, other than a child of a temporary resident not authorised to work or study, is authorised to study at the pre-school, primary, or secondary level.” (Source: Subsection 30(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act) – Every child under the age of 18 who is claiming refugee protection in Canada, or who is a dependent child of a refugee claimant, may study at the pre-school, primary, or secondary level (up to grade 12) without a study permit. The child’s Refugee Protection Claimant Document is required for school registration. Children from visa-requiring countries do require their own visas to enter Canada. After arriving, they can be issued a visitor record if authorised to attend school under subsection 30(2) but it is not necessary. Often one of the parents’ work or study permits will show the child’s name and birth date to facilitate school registration. A study permit is needed for study at the college or university level or if the primary- or secondary-level student is the child of a visitor. Study Permits for Minor Children 9

Temporary Foreign Workers 10 There were 300,211 Temporary Foreign Workers in Canada as of December 31, Of those, 6,989 were in Saskatchewan. Top source countries for Temporary Foreign Workers in Canada: Philippines United States Mexico Australia France India United Kingdom China Republic of Korea Japan Jamaica Statistics Source: CIC Facts and Figures 2011

The employer must first demonstrate an inability to find Canadians or permanent residents to fill the position by obtaining a positive or neutral Labour Market Opinion where required. Language: R200(3)(a) states that "An officer shall not issue a work permit to a foreign national if there are reasonable grounds to believe that the foreign national is unable to perform the work sought” but the language ability assessment must be relevant to the job sought. Issues of language capacity and effective community orientation are being addressed through the TFW Annexes of some Canada-Provincial/Territorial Immigration agreements. Medical: If the worker will be employed in health services, child care, or teaching at the primary or secondary level, and/or comes from or has transited through a designated country for more than six months, s/he will require a medical examination. The spouse of a skilled worker is eligible to apply for an open work permit without the requirement of a Labour Market Opinion, but the child of any temporary foreign worker in Saskatchewan and the spouse of a worker who is not considered ‘skilled’ (i.e., NOC code 0, A, or B) must meet all the same requirements as the principal applicant. No services are currently funded through CIC for Temporary Residents Eligibility for Entry and Services 11

Work Permit | Study Permit | Visitor Record Type of Document, Name, Birthdate, Sex, Country of Birth, Country of Citizenship, Office File Number (if applicable), Client ID, Date Signed, Valid Until, Extension Number. At the bottom, there may also be remarks. Work Permit may also show: Employer, Occupation, Employer Location, Conditions. Immigration categories, if applicable, are not entered on Temporary Resident documents. Information to be printed on the initial work permit is entered by the visa post. It may be amended by Canada Border Services Agency before printing. Discrepancies may occur between documents issued by different visa posts. The holder of the permit is responsible for making sure the permit is valid. Allowing the document to expire without applying for a new document means the holder is in Canada without status and may be reported for remaining in Canada beyond the period authorised for their stay. Temporary Resident Document 12

Permanent Residence 13 Economic Class - Federal Skilled Workers - Business Immigrants - Live-in Caregivers - Provincial Nominee Program - Canadian Experience Class Family Class - Sponsorship of close relatives Protected persons/Refugees - Refugee Resettlement Program - In-Canada Refugee Determination (from CIC Facts and Figures 2011)

Family Class Sponsorship 14

New Parent and Grandparent Super Visa: The Super Visa came into effect on December 1, 2011 Multiple entry and valid for up to 10 years. Allows applicant to remain in Canada for up to 24 months at a time without the need for renewal of their status. Expected average processing time is within eight weeks of application. This allows a parent or a grandparent to come to Canada within eight weeks instead of waiting for many years. Parent and Grandparent Super Visa applicants are required to obtain private Canadian health-care insurance for their stay in Canada Family Class Sponsorship (FC ) 15

Immigration Source Countries and Destinations 16 Numbers by source area for SK: Asia and Pacific 6,425 Africa and the Middle East 1,240 Europe and the UK 836 South and Central America 306 United States 148 Top Source Countries for all of Canada: Philippines, China, India, United States, Iran, United Kingdom. Statistics Source: CIC Facts and Figures 2011

This card indicates the holder’s status as a permanent resident. It is valid for 5 years. The permanent resident should always hold a valid permanent resident card and must hold a valid card to be granted re-entry to Canada as a permanent resident. Permanent Resident Card 17

A permanent resident must reside in Canada a minimum of 730 days (2 years) in the 5-year period after becoming a permanent resident or, if s/he became a permanent resident more than 5 years ago, in the 5 years prior to the date an officer conducts a residency review. Permanent residents are eligible for the same health coverage as Canadian citizens. They are not eligible for Interim Federal Health benefits unless they are detained under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. CIC funds language assessment and some other services to Permanent Residents. Services offered to permanent residents in Saskatchewan are found here: After a permanent resident has 1095 days (3 years) of physical presence in Canada, s/he may apply for Canadian citizenship. Eligibility for Entry and Services

In-Canada Claims for Refugee Status 19 Refugee Claims in Canada in 2011: Total for Canada:25,311 Total for SK:49 Top source countries : Hungary China Colombia Pakistan Namibia Nigeria Mexico Refugee Claimants present on 1 December 2011: Total for Canada:98,380 Total for SK: 292 Statistics Source: CIC Facts and Figures 2011

Each year, Canada provides asylum to more than 10,000 persecuted persons and welcomes another 12,000 refugees from abroad Refugees from more than 140 countries were either resettled or were granted asylum in Canada Canada expands its refugee resettlement programs by 20% over 3 years. Changes Claims for refugee protection will now be heard by the Refugee Protection Division of the Immigration and Refugee Board within 60 days of making a claim to a CIC officer, or within 30 days if the claimant is from a Designated Country of Origin and is making a claim against that Designated Country. Claimants not from Designated Countries of Origin have the option to appeal to the Refugee Appeal Division if their claim is refused. Many other changes are described here: Refugee Protection 20

Convention refugees abroad Referred by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), approved by a Canadian visa post abroad, and arrive with Permanent Resident visas. Country of Asylum Class People in refugee-like situations, who do not qualify as Convention refugees, also approved at a Canadian visa post abroad and arrive with Permanent Resident visas. Refugee claims made at a port of entry or within Canada If eligible, are referred to the Refugee Protection Division of the Immigration and Refugee Board for a hearing. If found to be in need of Canada's protection, may remain in Canada with Protected Person status and may apply for permanent residence under the Protected Person class. Type of Refugee Claimants 21

Refugee claimants and protected persons are eligible for basic and emergency health care services if they do not hold a work or study permit. If they hold a work or study permit, or when they become permanent residents, they are expected to apply for provincial health coverage. Details are found here Government-Assisted Refugees who are granted entry to Canada as permanent residents are eligible for support delivered by CIC-supported non- governmental agencies. Support can last up to one year from the date of arrival in Canada, or until the refugee is able to support himself or herself, whichever happens first. It may include: accommodation; clothing; food; help in finding employment and becoming self-supporting; and other resettlement assistance. Services for Refugees 22

Citizenship and Immigration Canada - Facts and Figures: Citizenship and Immigration Canada – Annual Report to Parliament: /index.asp CIC Operational Bulletins: Links to Information

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