“Changes to the Citizenship Act reflect the Government’s commitments to streamline the citizenship process, enhance program integrity, and repeal certain provisions of the Act that treated dual citizens differently than other Canadians. Some changes to the Citizenship Act take effect immediately upon Royal Assent, while others take effect at later dates to ensure the necessary regulatory changes and departmental preparations are in place for a smooth transition for applicants.

As of today, applicants are no longer required to intend to continue to live in Canada once granted citizenship, providing more flexibility to Canadians who may need to live outside of Canada for work or personal reasons. Immediate changes also include repealing the ability to revoke citizenship from dual citizens convicted of crimes against the national interest. Dual citizens living in Canada who are convicted of these crimes will face the Canadian justice system, like other Canadian citizens who break the law.

Some of the changes that are expected to take effect later this fall will give more flexibility to both younger and older eligible immigrants to obtain citizenship. These changes include reducing the time permanent residents must be physically present in Canada to three out of five years, instead of four out of six years, before applying for citizenship; amending the age range for people to meet the language and knowledge requirements for citizenship from 14-64 years to 18-54 years; and counting some of the time applicants spend in Canada as temporary residents or protected persons toward their physical presence requirements for citizenship.”

To read the full article, please click here.

To read related, background information, please click here.

The Government of Canada has published regulatory changes to increase the maximum age of a dependent child which will allow more families to stay together.

The new age limit of “under 22” will come into effect this fall, on October 24, 2017, raising it from the current “under 19” requirement. The increased age will apply to new applications for all immigration programs under Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

To read the full article, please click here.

An agreement was signed that will help New Brunswick address labour shortages and grow its population. The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, federal Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, and the Honourable Donald Arseneault, New Brunswick Minister for Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour, signed the Canada-New Brunswick Immigration Agreement.

The agreement supports New Brunswick in its goal to help fill labour shortages and grow its population by welcoming more immigrants. An annex to the agreement, “French-Speaking Immigrants,” is the first of its kind. It outlines how Canada and New Brunswick will work together to attract and retain French-speaking immigrants, and bring in more skilled workers.

To read the full article, please click here.

Additional information may be found here.

A pilot program to attract more skilled immigrants to Atlantic Canada and retain them is gaining significant interest from employers. To date, almost 200 employers have expressed interest in the program, with over 50 being formally designated. Under the pilot, employers play a key role, with responsibility to help with the recruitment of immigrants and their successful integration into the community.

Provinces will be responsible for designating employers to participate in the pilot, and in endorsing applicants who can apply for permanent residency. Provinces will also have an enhanced coordination role in facilitating connections between employers, settlement service providers and other government services.

IRCC is now accepting permanent residence applications for three programs under the pilot: the Atlantic Intermediate-Skilled Program; the Atlantic High-Skilled Program; and the Atlantic International Graduate Program, aimed at international students.

To read the full article, please click here.

The St. Kitts program has made positive changes, effective January 1, 2017:

• the age of dependent children is under age 30 (increased from age 25);
• the age of dependent parents/grandparents is over age 55 (decreased from age 65);
• the pricing structure of the investment option has changed, and is more economical.

Please contact Confederation for further details.

• The minimum age of a dependent parent/grandparent has decreased to 55 years.
• The age of dependent children (financially dependent, unmarried students) will increase to 27 years 364 days (under age 28).
• The amount paid, per family under the real estate option, will be reduced.
• Fees for newborns will decrease to USD $2,000.

The Government of Canada is making it faster and easier for Canadians and permanent residents to reunite with their spouses.

At the direction of the Minister, earlier this year Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) began a concerted effort to reduce processing times. From the start of 2016 to the fall, processing times were reduced by 15 percent for in-Canada applications and just over 10 percent for applications outside Canada.

Starting today, processing times will be reduced even further with most spousal applications now being processed in 12 months. Complex cases may require more time.

For the full article, please click here.

Changes to Express Entry, which will take effect on November 19, are part of a number of improvements the Government is making on a continual basis to bring changes for a more fair and responsive immigration system that will address emerging needs and ensure long-term economic growth for the middle class.

To read the full article, please click here.

Communities across Canada are gearing up to welcome Syrian refugees this fall as the pace of arrivals in Canada will be increasing in the coming weeks. Work to process Syrian refugee cases has continued over the summer and thanks to this effort and the delivery of pre-arrival orientation information sessions, more Syrian refugees are now ready to arrive in Canada.

Since the start of the Syrian resettlement initiative, many communities outside the traditional network of cities and towns that welcome government-assisted refugees have expressed an interest in helping refugees resettle and integrate.

To read the full article, please click here.