Canada Immigration: What You Need to Know

by Chris Robertson

If you're considering immigrating to Canada, you're certainly not alone. Due to its high standard of living, its excellent education system, and its universal health care, Canada immigration is attractive to people around the world. And, who can ignore the country's peacefulness, safety, and sheer beauty?

There are a number of paths to Canadian immigration. For example, provinces and territories share authority with the federal government and can fast track applications for permanent residency. The immigrants given priority are those who the provinces and territories deem to have skills in areas defined as important by the provincial authorities.

There are also immigration options based on marriage and family relationships. If, for example, you're married to a permanent resident or citizen, you can achieve permanent residency through their sponsorship. Similarly, if your parent is a permanent resident, he or she can sponsor you if you're less than 22 years of age, if you're financially dependent upon him or her, or if you are disabled. If you're the brother, sister, nephew, niece, or grandchild of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, there are circumstances under which you can be sponsored for residency.

Through its business class application, the country also extends Canadian immigration to those who fit its entrepreneur and investor requirements. For example, if you have a net worth of $300,000 and extensive business management experience, or net assets of $1 million, you may be eligible for these immigration categories - and, in the process, realize significant tax savings.

Similarly, if you have an offer of employment, are a temporary foreign worker, or have experience in any number of occupations listed as desirable by the federal government, you may be eligible for immigration. Although the list of occupations changes from time to time, they currently run the gamut from financial managers and health care managers to mining engineers and crane operators.

Although Canada accepts close to a quarter of a million immigrants each year, Canadian immigration isn't necessarily a cakewalk. Indeed, navigating the various immigration categories and finding the one that will reduce your delay in moving to the country can be confusing at best and impossible at worst. After all, in 2006, close to half of applications for immigration in the business and skilled worker categories were refused.

Because the immigration process can be so tricky, it is helpful to engage the services of a Canadian immigration consultant who can assess your chances of qualification and smooth the way for successful immigration. A Canadian immigration consultant who is accredited by the country's government can go even further, by representing you during the application process and, if necessary, making your case to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. You can find immigration consultants online, but make sure that you select one that has a high success rate (a 95% success rate should be the standard you use), one that will provide you with a free assessment of your chances for success, and one that offers personal and effective services at reasonable prices. When you do, you'll exponentially increase the chance that, this time next year, you'll be enjoying the high standard of living that Canada has to offer.

About the Author
Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies. For tips/information, click here: Canada immigration
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Foreign Relatives and US Citizenship

by Sally Odell

Permanent residents and US citizens may help qualifying foreign relatives to petition for citizenship and permanent residence in the US. If you have already been accepted as a natural born U.S. citizen, or naturalized, or if you are currently living in the U.S. during your qualifying permanent residency period, you are able to help your relatives outside the US become US citizens.
In general here is what you need to know to help your family become US citizens. This needs to be done with the assistance of a qualified immigration attorney due to the many recent changes is the USCIS rules.

The person applying for a green card or visa (termed a foreign national) must have a relative that is a US citizen or a lawful permanent resident. They must also be able to show proof of their status and proof of their relationship to the applicant. As you might expect, there are a lot of forms to be filled out during this process, and rather than risk filling out the wrong one and delaying the process, make sure you consult with a competent immigration lawyer. They know precisely which forms you will need, and when and where to file them on your behalf.

The person applying has to also prove their wage (income) is 125% above the poverty line for the whole family, including the applicant. If that isn't possible then the applicant may become a joint sponsor with another relative. If that isn't feasible, then the applicant's assets may be considered.

If the applicant's relative is a US citizen it must be proven that the applicant is a child under 21 years old; the married son/daughter; brother/sister of a US citizen; spouse or parent of a US citizen. In these instances, there are various qualifying ages that should be checked out by consulting with your immigration attorney.

If the applicant needed a sponsor and that sponsor is a US permanent resident, the sponsor has to prove the applicant is the wife or husband, or unmarried daughter or son. As you can see, this is not the easiest process to follow and there are a lot of areas where having immigration legal counsel will make the difference in the final outcome.

In order for a petition to be filed, you and your immigration lawyer need to be very thorough on your application forms. While this process from start to finish might be complex and cumbersome, the end result will be the happy reuniting of a family; something that most immigration lawyers strive for each day.

About the Author

Sally Odell - Rifkin & Fox-Isicoff, PA is an immigration lawyer in Miami with immigration law offices in Orlando and Miami Florida. To learn more, visit http://www.rifkinandfoxisicoff.com.