Canada To Increase Foreign Student Enrollment

Canada is exploring ways to bring in more foreign students to study at its universities and other degree/diploma awarding institutions.

The country’s federal immigration minister, Jason Kenney announced this recently but he did not give any concrete figures.

Last year, Canada allowed close to 80,000 students, up by 20 percent from the 2004 figures. Canada has now more than 200,000 foreign students altogether.

But other countries, such as Australia, Britain and the United States attract far more students than Canada. Australia has more than 350,000 students while the USA has more than 700,000.

Most of the students come from Asia – China, Japan, India and South Korea.

And having foreign students make business sense, as they usually pay much more than locals as fees. As well, because they do not have family ties, foreign students are dependent on hostels which also helps local businesses.

And foreign students aiming to come to Canada have real incentives now: under the Canada Experience Class, becoming a permanent resident – the first step towards citizenship – has been made much easier. Students of certain programs can apply for permanent residence if they meet certain conditions, such as having followed an academic program lasting at least two academic years, have had at least a year of skilled work experience and language skills.

Jobs With Future 1 – Seniors Homecare

Seniors Homecare

This is one of the sectors set to see rapid growth.

According to the Canadian Homecare Association, more than 600,000 Canadians of age 65 and over received homecare in 2007, and this is a 51 percent increase over the figure in 1997.

And over the next twenty years, the ratio of Canadians older than 65 will rise from one in ten to one in four.

And as health and retirement costs rise, many families will decide to keep their ageing parents at home for as long as possible and hire home healthcare companies to provide the needed healthcare. This reduces the cost of having their parents live in assisted living centres. Besides, this will also give the seniors an opportunity live in a known environment.

And all levels of government in Canada provide help for those in need.

However, it is impossible to meet the every need of a senior in-homecare. Here is where private companies come in.

Cdn$20b

And one employment agency predicts that up to 20 billion Canadian dollars will be spent over the next 10-15 years in seniors homecare.

One Canadian newspaper, the Calgary Herald, recently quoted some private homecare companies as saying their businesses have been booming, with some seeing an increase of more than 20 percent.

What is Homecare?

Definitions vary, but generally it refers to a variety of programs offered in the community to help people remain in their own homes, help reduce hospital admissions, and allow earlier discharge from hospitals.

Home care is appropriate if you need professional service from registered nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and social workers, or if you need personal care provided by home health aides. (courtesy:elderwise.ca)

The Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA)

What it is it?

This is a new type of savings account announced by the federal government.

Starting January 2009, Canadian residents at least 18 years of age and having a Canadian Social Insurance Number (SIN) can open a TFSA account and invest a maximum of 5000 dollars a year.

The TFSA can be of any of the following types of investmens:

• In Cash

• Publicly traded securities and stocks

• Government and corporate bonds

• Guaranteed Investment Certificates (GICs)

As of next year, the maximum limit will be adjusted to inflation and rounded to the nearest 500 dollars.

The income derived (such as interest, dividends and capital gains) from the account will not be taxed. But contributions to the account will not be tax deductible.

Income from this account will not affect eligibility for federal benefits and credits such as Canada Child Tax Benefit, Old Age Security or the Guaranteed Income Supplement.

Withdrawals from the account will not be taxed. Furthermore, if one withdraws, for example, 2,000 dollars this year, then next year the maximum contribution amount will go up by 2,000 dollars.

And if you had invested only 3,000 dollars this year, then the maximum allowed contribution for next year would increase by 2,000 dollars.

If the account holder becomes a non-resident for tax purposes after contributing to the TFSA, he/she can retain the account but will be taxed for contributions while retaining that status.

There is a possibility for the account holder to transfer the TFSA assets to a spouse or common-law partner upon death. But income derived from the account, which ceases to be a TFSA upon the death of the account holder, after the death will be taxable.

Canada to Reduce Immigration Intake?

Canada might consider reducing the number of immigrants it will allow if the current economic downturn continues. That the numbers will go down is not confirmed, but the federal immigration minister, Jason Kenney, recently expressed his worry about bringing in newcomers to face a country in economic turmoil.

At present Canada’s unemployment rate stands at 7.2 percent and the trend is disturbing. In January, 2009, alone it jumped by more than half a percent, or by 129,000 in absolute numbers. The worst hit has been Ontario, where most of the immigrants prefer to go to.

Unemployment Forecast

Some analysts say, another 200,000 or even double that amount might lose their jobs during the course of this year.  The government predicts that it will take at least four more years for Canada to reach the employment level of last year.

Immigration Target

It is in this background that Canada’s immigration politics should be seen. Last year, the country allowed just under 250,000 new immigrants, most of them under the Economic Class. As well, Canada also allowed about 140,000 temporary workers and close to 80,000 foreign students last year.

For this year, Kenney says the target is between 240,000 to 265,000.

With the economy in a steep decline and job losses mounting, Canadian policy makers would be concerned about frictions that could arise if there are more newcomers while locals struggle to find jobs. Besides, settlement agencies have also expressed concern about the fact that immigrants tend to suffer more from unemployment than their Canadian-born counterparts, even if they have equal or better qualifications.

But for now, Kenney says, he will stick to his target for this year. But some analysts predict the number of temporary workers, mostly farm workers, might drop this year.

Time Taken To Process Spousal Applications

On average, according to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), it takes about eight months to process an application to sponsor a spouse or a partner.

But the time taken to process a spousal application differs from country to country. Interestingly, according to official data provided by the CIC, time taken to process an application is longer in western Europe than in Asia. In general, the time is spread between four months in Beijing, China, to 18 months in Accra, Ghana.

Here are the official processing times for the various regions.

Africa & the Middle East 10 months

Asia/Pacific 7 months

Europe 9 months

The Americas 11 months

One of the factors that can cause delay in the completion of a sponsorship process is the time taken to secure the security clearance. This is particularly true if the applicant is a citizen of a country in a civil-war situation. Canada is keen to ensure those who might fall under its law governing crimes against humanity and/or acts of terrorism do not enter the country.

Another reason for a delay might be when the applicant is considered off-shore. For example, if the spouse is a citizen of India but currently resides in the United States, it is the US consulate that would deal with the application but this is considered off-shore and there could be delays.

Sponsoring Your Spouse/Common-Law Partner/Conjugal Partner

Spouses/partners are given top priority under immigration law in Canada.

Some of the requirements, such as minimum income, are not needed for one to sponsor his or her spouse/partner.

First, let us see who falls under Spousal/Common-Law Partner/Conjugal Partner category.

Spouse

• You can sponsor someone as a spouse if you are married under Canadian or a foreign country law.
• If you were married in Canada, you should have the marriage certificate issued by the provincial/territorial authority.
• If you were married in a foreign country, then the marriage must be valid under that country’s, and Canadian, law. In case you were married in a foreign embassy/ high commission or a consulate premises in a country, then the marriage must be valid under the laws of the country where the diplomatic mission is located, and not under the laws of the country of diplomatic mission. For example, if the marriage was conducted in the Chinese embassy in India, then the marriage should be valid in India, and not in China.

Common-Law Partner

• If two people – either of the opposite gender or of the same – have been living together in a conjugal relationship for least one year in 12-month period. Short absences are allowed for business and family reasons.
• You have taken steps to set up a household together and these steps can include joint bank accounts and credit cards, joint ownership of a home, joint rentals, and mail addressed to either the same person or both at the same address.

Conjugal Partners

• Those who live in exceptional circumstances that prevent them from living together as common-law partners or spouses can apply under this category.
• You could prove that your coming together is being prevented for a number of reasons such as an immigration barrier, your sexual orientation or if you have been refused long-term stay in each other’s country.
• You can apply if you can prove you want to get married/live together but cannot because of war or other similar situations.
• You cannot apply if you could have lived together but chose not to for reasons such as education and career.

Criteria for the Sponsor

The sponsor should commit to financially support the partner for three years from the date the spouse/partner becomes a permanent resident.

Some Reasons Why You Cannot Sponsor

You had failed on a previous sponsorship commitment.

You had failed to pay a court-issued support order such as alimony or child support.

You had received state assistance for reasons other than disability.

You had declared bankruptcy and have not been released from it.

You were convicted of violent crime.

You are in prison.

Family Class Immigration

Canada allows many types of people to be sponsored under the Family Class.

They are:

• Spouses: (married/ living together/ conjugal partners)

• Children: Dependent children who are under the age of 22 and are unmarried can be sponsored. As well, children who are over 22 and those who are married can also be sponsored, if they can prove they are full-time students and are financially dependent on the sponsor.

• Adopted Children: A person who is under 18 and whom the sponsor wants to adopt in Canada can be sponsored.
• Parents: Obviously, parents of the sponsor. And parents may also bring their dependent children with them.
• Grandparents
• Orphans: An orphan is described as someone whose parents are both deceased. An orphaned sibling, grandchild or a nephew or niece can be sponsored if they are under the age of 18 and are unmarried.
• Other Relatives: If the sponsor does not have any spouse, child, parent, sibling, grandparent, aunt, uncle, nephew, or niece living in Canada, and no relative living abroad who can be sponsored, then the sponsor may sponsor any other relative regardless of their age.

Immigration to Canada

Canada has a rich history of welcoming immigrants. As it is with history, the nature of immigration has changed over the decades, and now most of the immigrants come not from western Europe, but from Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa and Central and South America.

In 2009, between 240,000 to 265,000 new immigrants would be welcomed in Canada, even though the federal immigration minister, Jason Kenney has indicated the numbers might go down depending on the severity of the current recession.

About 60 percent of this year’s immigrants would come under the economic category (skilled) while the rest would be allowed under family and humanitarian categories.

Smart Canadian

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