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Immigration Newsweek

By: Atty. Henry Moyal

As we all celebrate the new year and return to our busy lives after the holiday break, Canada Immigration has been busy announcing changes. In particular, in January 2018 the following important laws were announced.

SPONSORING OF PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS

The parent sponsorship program is now in full force again with a random selection of 10,000 applicants. It should be noted that last year Canada Immigration received over 90,000 applicants when the 2017 quota opened.
Currently, potential sponsors must first notify IRCC that they are interested in sponsoring their parents and grandparents by submitting an “Interest to Sponsor” form. Using a random selection process, IRCC will then invite potential sponsors to apply to sponsor their parents and grandparents.
Those who wish to apply to sponsor their parents and grandparents in 2018 must first fill out this application before February 1, 2018.
It is also crucial to remember that potential sponsors must have the minimum income requirement for 2014, 2015 and 2016 to qualify.

LMIA GOVERNMENT FEE OF $1000 TO BE WAIVED

Effective December 8, 2017, families or individuals seeking to hire a foreign caregiver to provide home care for individuals requiring assistance with medical needs are exempt from paying the Labour Market Impact Assessment application processing fee of $1000. Families or individuals with a gross annual income of $150,000 or less, seeking to hire a foreign caregiver to provide childcare in their home to a child under 13 years of age, also qualify for the processing fee exemption.

ADDING A CHILD UNDER 22 TO AN EXISTING PR APPLICATION

Canada Immigration has changed the age of dependent child from “under 19” to “under 22” on October 24, 2017. Applicants have until Jan 31st, 2018, to add any family members to existing applications that were submitted prior to this change.

Attorney Henry Moyal is a certified and licensed immigration lawyer in Toronto, Ontario.
The above article is general advice only and is not intended to act as a legal document.
Send questions to Attorney Moyal by email canada@moyal.com or call 416 733 3193