Canadian Immigration and Some New Realities

Canadian Immigration and Some New Realities The reasons for people considering immigration to the country of Canada vary. Seeking better and higher paying employment, more personal freedoms, even the attraction of Canada’s national health care coverage are some of the things that are responsible for some foreigners deciding that they want to seek citizenship there. Whatever the reasons, international migration accounted for over half of Canada’s population growth in the years 2001, 2002, and 2003.

Canada has several immigration programs, depending on the main reason for applying for citizenship. One of these is the “Skilled Worker” program. If a person can show that he or she will become economically established in Canada, then they may be able to become permanent residents. Types of Canadian Immigration There is an application process to enter the country as a Skilled Worker. A potential immigrant must meet the minimum work experience requirements, such as having at least one year of full-time paid work experience in a job that fits a classification for jobs in the Canadian economy. The NOC, or National Occupation Classification, is a system that classifies these jobs, and information on this system can be accessed by going to: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/skilled/qual-2-1.html, or contacting the Canadian Government Customs and Immigration Department. On the Skilled Worker immigration application a person must also include proof of sufficient funds; immigrants must be able to support themselves and their families for at least 6 months upon arriving in Canada. Language skills are also tested to assess the ability to speak one or both of Canada’s languages, English and French Other immigration programs include Business Immigration, for people who have experience investing in or running a business, and Provincial Nominations, a program where different Canadian provinces seek to attract immigrants to their area to boost the local economy. Those who would like legal help with their application for immigration can contact a Canadian lawyer who specializes in Canadian immigration and employment law. Visit, http://www.immigration.ca, where people can read about immigration laws and programs. The website also has a forum where people can discuss their experiences or issues concerning immigration. Some New Realities in a Post 9/11 World After the tragic events of September 11th, 2001 in the United States, Canadian officials moved to strengthen immigration measures in order to counter the increased threat of international terrorism. Immigrants are scrutinized carefully for any potential threat to national security. It is illegal to transport firearms, (including stun guns), pepper spray or mace over the border into Canada. It is legal to buy pepper spray in Canada except as an animal repellent and the container states as such, and the law prohibits owning a handgun for personal defense. For this reason, a small personal alarm system that can be easily carried in a purse or in the hand are a popular form of protection in Canada. A fire safety or first aid kit may be brought into the country as long as neither contains potential weapons. In a fire safety kit, fire extinguishers will be checked for content, and first aid kits will be checked for sharp surgical-style instruments. Hypodermic needles and any medication must be accompanied by the appropriate legal documents stating that they may be immediately required at any time to protect the health of the immigrant. There has been an increase and improvement of surveillance systems along Canada’s borders due to the Anti-Terrorism Act that was implemented after the 9/11 attacks in the U.S. Canadian border officials work closely with officials in the United States to try to prevent illegal immigration from one country to another. Officials on both sides of the border carry sophisticated communication equipment, firearms, and handcuffs, and people caught illegally crossing the border are detained, questioned, and depending on the circumstances, jailed or immediately deported.
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