Each week we collect stories related to Canadian immigration, and we provide a brief summary of each story in our weekly blog edition. Below you will find snapshots of stories that range from the ongoing changes in Canadian immigration laws to success stories. We then give you fresh links at the bottom that link to each story within our summary. Let’s dive in!

Breaking Canada Immigration News

Canada has had longstanding ties with Antigua and Barbuda that goes hundreds of years back in history. Although Canada intends to continue their committed partnership with Antigua and Barbuda through working together on “mutual challenges and opportunities, a major change as occurred this week. On Monday, June 26th, 2017, Canada has determined that Antigua and Barbuda no longer meet the criteria for a visa exemption. This means that Antigua and Barbuda will require visas to travel to Canada. Any Electronic Travel Authorizations (eTA) issued beforehand will no longer be valid for Canada, they will need to obtain a visa to travel to Canada. Of course, Canada still highly welcomes visitors from the islands. “Most approved visa applicants will receive a multiple-entry visa, which allows travelers to visit Canada as many times as they want, for up to 10 years. For each visit, travelers can stay up to six months.” Although the change may seem like a step back for immigration, it will be extremely beneficial for both Canada and Antigua and Barbados.

In the last six months of President Trump’s reign over the United States, thousands of people fled to Canada to escape the crackdown on immigrants. Many of these people fled to a more welcoming Canada but now they are finding themselves stuck in legal limbo because of an “overburdened refugee system.” These immigrants are finding themselves struggling to find work, permanent housing, and enrolling their children in schools in Canada. The countries refugee system has struggled to process thousands of applications which has led there to be an extremely long wait time for families. The government is focusing on clearing a backlog of around 24,000 claimants for refugee status. While asylum claimants wait for their case to be filed, they are eligible for work permits to start working in Canada. Many housing units have said that they will not rent places to refugee claimants because they are having a hard time obtaining jobs and paying their rent. Immigration specialists recommend reaching out for the help of an immigration lawyer to process these refugee cases.

A United States Travel Ban 2.0 rolled out this weekend and now Canada has responded. On Tuesday, June 27th, Justin Trudeau said that he had “multiple conversations” with the United States administration about protecting the Canadian rights in the face of immigration decisions south of the border to Mexico. “But at the same time, Canadians have been very clear that we see immigration as a net positive, that we know we don’t have to compromise security to build stronger, more resilient communities,” he said. “I will continue to stand for Canadian values and Canadian success in our immigration system as I always have, whether it’s in Washington or in Hamburg next week or elsewhere around the world.” Trudeau then commented on the diversity in Canada “Canadians come from every corner of the world, speak two official languages and hundreds more, practice many faiths, and represent many cultures,” he said. “Multiculturalism is at the heart of Canada’s heritage and identity, and as Canadians, we recognize that our differences make us strong.”

Other Canadian Immigration Stories This Week:

1. A&B passport holders react to Canada revoking visa-free entry

2. REGIONAL: No more visa-free travel from Antigua to Canada

3. New party calls for review of CIP after Canada imposes visa requirements

4. The Canadian case for merit-based immigration

5. My Canadian immigrant story: From the Philippines to small town Ontario

6. Douglas Todd: Why are Europeans rapidly renouncing their Canadian immigrant status?

7. Indian Government raised visa fee up to 50% for foreign nationals

8. No more visa-free travel from Antigua to Canada

9. Trump Clampdown on Immigration Leaves People Trapped in Canadian Limbo

10. Asylum seekers in Canada who fled Trump now trapped in legal limbo

11. Trudeau touts open Canadian immigration system in face of Trump travel ban

12. Extremist groups come out of shadows in Canadian province

13. Not-so-new Canadian: How welcoming is N.L. for immigrants?

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