Posts by Michael Niren

Despite a population that’s roughly a fourth the size of Canada, Sweden’s population of nearly 10,000,000 accepts more than double the amount of asylum seekers than the Canadian government does on a yearly basis. In 2013 alone, Sweden accepted 31,220 newcomers to their country while Canada allowed 13,206 in the same period of time.   […]

What is the Canadian Citizenship Test? The Canadian citizenship test is required for individuals between ages 18 and 54 applying for citizenship. It is most commonly a written test, but sometimes an applicant will be required to take oral test with a citizenship officer instead. The test focuses on subjects like citizens’ rights, freedoms, and responsibilities, along […]

As recently reported by UPI, Venezuela tourism industry could be hurt thanks to the new US visa requirements. The new development could lead to a 10% decline in tourist numbers. Ongoing tension between the two governments has meant that the country has been left behind in terms of tourism – and is in fact, the only country on the planet […]

As recently reported by The Real Deal, the increased demand for EB-5 visas could lead to new regulations aimed at curbing the influx of foreign investors. This unprecedented move will make it harder for project developers to attract capital from abroad. The popular EB-5 visa currently allows foreign investors to fund domestic projects that create American jobs […]

As an employer or potential employee, knowing the changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program could be a huge benefit.  These changes will impact how employers hire and compensate potential foreign hires and highlight the details of how quickly someone from outside the country can begin to work. Changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program Tweaks […]

We’ve covered so many topics on our immigration blog, but what about same-sex marriages? Many of our clients often ask us about petitioning for their same-sex partner or spouse for a visa, so we thought we’d put together this blog post to help clear things up The good news is that as of July 1, […]

As you’re probably aware by now, Express Entry kicked into place on January 1, 2015. This means that if you’re a skilled worker looking to immigrate to Canada, you have to go through the express entry system. We’re going to go over all the steps you’ll need for Express Entry, from finding out whether you’re eligible, […]

The new Opportunities Ontario Provincial Nominee Program is an immigration program that works in conjunction with Express Entry and enables Ontario to nominate individuals as well as their families for Canadian permanent residence, on the basis that they already have a pre-approved job offer for the province. Here’s a step-by-step guide for applying to the Opportunities Ontario […]

At the end of the month, Bill C-24, otherwise known as the Strengthening Canadian Citizenship Act, partially came into effect, essentially introducing a two-tier citizenship system. Below, we’re going to take a look at what this means for those who want to apply for Canadian citizenship, as well as current Canadian citizens. Grants of Citizenship First, […]

If you’re interested in immigrating to Ontario, and qualify for Express Entry, you may be eligible for the Ontario French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream. Here at VisaPlace, we’re going to outline exactly what you need in order to be eligible for this particular Skilled Worker Stream. Do You Qualify for the Ontario French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream To initially […]

(Below is a transcription of this video) Can I come to Canada with a criminal record? We get a lot of people asking us, what if I have a criminal record? Can I still get a visa? Can I enter Canada? Hello everyone, my name is Hishgee Bessey of visaplace.com. If you’re planning to apply […]

If you’re interested in applying to the Ontario Human Capital Priorities Stream, you must first be eligible for CIC’s express entry system and also meet Ontario’s criteria. Human Capital Priorities Stream Requirements In order to qualify for the Human Capital Priorities Stream, you must have: Received a PT Notification of Interest via yourMyCIC account; Successfully entered […]

As recently reported by The Wall Street Journal, the US has announced plans to change rules for H-1B working visa holders. If implemented, the changes may cost American companies millions of dollars. The draft guidelines state that employers who currently employ H-1B workers must file an amended visa application AND a Labour Condition Application (LCA) if a worker switches to work […]

Toronto has been lucky enough to hold both the 2015 Pan American Games and Parapan American Games. With the result of the games being held here many people are looking to visit Canada which has been causing the Canadian Government to issue many visas. Individuals can apply though the accreditation process if they meet Canada’s […]

As recently reported by CBC News, actor Randy Quaid was released from custody after his recent arrest in Montreal. The Canadian Immigration and Refugee Board ordered that the actor be released after being held in a detention centre in Laval, Que. A warrant had been issued for Quaid’s arrest back in January 2013 after missing an IRB interview. With his long, grey hair and significant […]