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Benefits, credits, and taxes for newcomers: What you need to know about income taxes and benefit payments for the first year you are a resident of Canada.

Benefits, credits, and taxes for newcomers - Canada.ca Information for individuals on the income tax rules that apply to newcomers to Canada (immigrants).

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced two new pilot programs on March 6, 2024 – the Rural Community Immigration Pilot and the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot. These programs are focused on expanding permanent immigration options in rural and Francophone minority communities, with the goal of addressing the labour shortage in rural communities and attracting Francophone newcomers to settle in Francophone minority communities outside of Quebec.

Both pilot programs are expected to be launched in the fall of this year. We expect to hear details of each pilot program in the coming months, including details of the participating communities.

Contact us today to find out more!

www.joinglobal.ca
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 778-994-9494

Extension of special measures for Iranian nationals in Canada as temporary residents. These special measures are now being extended until February 28, 2025.

Under these special measures, Iranian nationals in Canada with valid temporary resident status can continue to study, work or visit family by applying for an extension of their status free of charge. They can also apply to move between temporary streams, from within Canada, at no cost.

Mexican citizens travelling to Canada will need to meet new requirements to travel to Canada.

What’s changing?

*Starting February 29, 2024, you will need to meet new requirements to be eligible for an electronic travel authorization (eTA).

*If you already have an eTA, it will automatically be cancelled unless you also have a valid work or study permit.

*If you have an eTA application in progress, you will need to apply for a new eTA or for a visitor visa.

*Before you travel to Canada, you will need to apply for a new eTA (if eligible).

*If you’re not eligible for an eTA anymore, you will need to apply for a visitor visa to travel to Canada.

As of February 29, 2024, Mexican citizens who hold a valid US non-immigrant visa or have held a Canadian visa in the past 10 years and are travelling by air on a Mexican passport will be able to apply for an electronic travel authorization (eTA). Those who do not meet these conditions will need to apply for a Canadian visitor visa.

Updated travel information for Mexican citizens coming to Canada Canada and Mexico have maintained a deep, positive and constructive diplomatic partnership over the past 80 years. We have worked to ensure North America is the world’s most competitive economic region and maintain strong bilateral, regional and multilateral cooperation. To support travel and peop...

The Canadian government has extended the Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act until January 1st, 2027.

The policy, which was initially instituted to increase the number of housing units available to Canadians for purchase, will now be in place for an additional two years. Initially, the home buyer ban was set to expire at the start of 2025.

Government extends ban on foreign buying of Canadian housing | CBC News Some foreign nationals will continue to be banned from buying Canadian housing, as the federal government extends the expiration of the program until 2027.

Additional information about International Student Program reforms Web notice for to provide clients with more information about the latest announcement on the International student intake cap for study permit applications.

Important changes to study permits

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced significant alterations to the international student program on January 22, 2024. These include a new cap on study permit approvals for 2024 and a provincial attestation letter policy. This cap and attestation process is a temporary measure, set for two years, with a reassessment planned for 2025. The cap is part of a series of measures to enhance the integrity of the student program and balance the rapid growth in international student numbers with national infrastructure capacities

Key Changes:

Implementation Date: The changes, including the study permit cap and attestation letter requirement, took effect from January 22, 2024. Applicants who did not submit their study permit application prior to January 22, 2024, will be subjected to these new policies, regardless of having a Letter of Acceptance (LOA).

Study Permit Cap: IRCC has set a limit of 360,000 study permit approvals for 2024.

Provincial Attestation Letter: Provinces and territories have until March 31, 2024 to finalize the process for issuing attestation letters.

Exemptions from Cap: Minor children attending primary or secondary school, Master’s, PhD, or other post-graduate program students, and those extending/renewing their permits are exempt. The process for changing Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) in 2024 remains to be clarified.

PGWP Program and Spousal Work Permit Restrictions: New guidelines under the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program and restricted work permit eligibility for spouses of certain study permit holders will be implemented.

Canadian Government opens new temporary resident pathway for Palestinians in Gaza with family in Canada.

Temporary resident pathway opens for Palestinian extended family in Gaza The ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel, following Hamas’s terrorist attacks on October 7, has created a humanitarian catastrophe on an unprecedented scale in Gaza. Understanding that many Canadians are concerned about the safety of their loved ones in Gaza, in December, the Government of Ca...

Canadian immigration minister says government is considering cap on international student visas.

- The Canadian government has raised the prospect of a cap on the number of visas it will issue for international students.

- The move comes in the wake of growing public concern around immigration levels in Canada, especially in relation to a continuing housing affordability crisis in the country.

Canada weighs capping foreign student admissions The immigration minister says the system bringing in international students "has gotten out of control".

Effective December 23, 2023, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has lifted Türkiye’s visa requirement for six countries: United States, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Saudi Arabia, and Oman. Tourists from these countries are now permitted to spend 90 days out of a 180-day period in Türkiye without a visa. Previously, foreign nationals from these countries were required to obtain an e-visa for trade and tourism which could cost up to $78.50 depending on their nationality. The Presidential Decree was published on December 23, 2023, in the Resmî Gazete, the Official Gazette of the Republic of Türkiye.

The launch date of the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) has been delayed to 2024, as reflected on the official ETIAS website. The date of entry into operation of ETIAS is not yet known, but it is expected to be announced at the end of 2023, according to the European Commission Migration and Home Affairs.

Since early-2016, the European Union (EU) has been working to modernize EU border management through a system such as ETIAS to avoid bureaucracy and delays for travelers, as well as to improve security. ETIAS was initially expected to go into effect in 2021, which was later delayed until 2023. Now, it is slated to launch in 2024.

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ETIAS Official EU website on ETIAS, the new travel authorisation for visa-exempt travellers to enter 30 European countries. Applications should be filled in this website from 2024.

Travellers from the following 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 travelling to Canada by air:

🇦🇬Antigua and Barbuda
🇦🇷Argentina
🇨🇷Costa Rica
🇲🇦Morocco
🇵🇦Panama
🇵🇭Philippines
🇰🇳St. Kitts & Nevis
🇱🇨St. Lucia
🇻🇨St. Vincent and the Grenadines
🇸🇨Seychelles
🇹🇭Thailand
🇹🇹Trinidad & Tobago
🇺🇾Uruguay

Eligible travellers from 13 more countries now qualify for visa-free travel to Canada - Canada.ca Canada is a destination of choice for people looking to visit, do business or reunite with family and friends. That’s why we are committed to improving our immigration programs and services by making them more efficient and equitable for people around the world.

On April 19, the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), a union which represents over 155,000 public servants in Canada, began strike.

PSAC says it is one of the largest strikes in Canadian history.

Throughout the strike, there will be disruptions to various public services in Canada, including those provided by Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Will IRCC process my application?
IRCC says it has limited capacity during a strike, so delays in processing applications are expected. This includes delays to applications currently being prioritized.

What if my work/study permit is about to expire?
You can apply online to extend your stay in Canada during the strike. You must meet the conditions to maintain your status and remain in Canada until a decision is made on your application:

Your extension application must be submitted online (unless you are exempt). You must submit your application before your temporary residence status expires.

Can I still apply to live/work/study in Canada during the strike?
It is still possible to apply online or mail an application to IRCC. However, there will be processing delays.

Additionally, ESDC says there will be delays or disruptions in the collection of biometrics. Foreign nationals who apply for a visitor visa, a work or study permit (excluding United States nationals), permanent residence, or refugee or asylum status are required to submit biometric data (fingerprints and a photograph). An application without biometrics is not complete and may be rejected when IRCC resumes processing applications at normal service levels.

Will there still be citizenship ceremonies?
Citizenship events scheduled while the strike is ongoing will be rescheduled. IRCC says some urgent applications may still be processed.

Is my in-person appointment with IRCC still happening?
Clients in Canada with immigration-related appointments will be contacted to re-schedule or cancel appointments. Overseas interviews are proceeding as scheduled, unless advised otherwise by the IRCC office abroad.

Can I contact IRCC?
The IRCC Client Support Centre is experiencing service delays. The department says you can expect longer response times. This also applies to the IRCC webform. IRCC is not answering social media enquiries.

Can I still apply for an LMIA?
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) is advising that there will be service disruption within the department.

Specifically, there will be disruptions to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, which means that the department will be delayed in reviewing Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs), a mandatory document for Canadian employers who wish to hire workers from abroad.

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Immigration minister expects impact of public servants’ strike on visa applications will be ‘severe’ | Watch News Videos Online Watch Immigration minister expects impact of public servants’ strike on visa applications will be ‘severe’ Video Online, on GlobalNews.ca

As part of Canada’s response to the situation in Türkiye and Syria, the Government of Canada has been processing temporary and permanent residence applications from people affected by the devastating earthquakes on a priority basis, including applications for refugee resettlement.

Canada announces support for Turkish and Syrian temporary residents As part of Canada’s response to the situation in Türkiye and Syria, the Government of Canada has been processing temporary and permanent residence applications from people affected by the devastating earthquakes on a priority basis, including applications for refugee resettlement. Now, we are als...

700 Indian students to face deportation from Canada due to fake visa documents.

700 Indian students to face deportation from Canada due to fake visa documents One of the students said in an interview that after passing out from class 12th, about 700 students applied for study visas through Brijesh Mishra-led Education Migration Services in Jalandhar. These visa applications were filed in 2018 onwards till 2022.

Canada announces support for Iranian temporary residents. Effective March 1, 2023, these new measures make it easier for Iranians who wish to extend their temporary status in Canada or move between temporary resident streams by waiving certain processing fees. Learn more:

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2023/02/canada-announces-support-for-iranian-temporary-residents.html