Canada seems to be aping the US and dragging its feet over processing immigration files. Immigration hopefuls complain that if it earlier took about 18 to 20 months for files to get cleared, it now takes about 36 to 53 months. Immigration experts say this has been a result of a decision of the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) to lower points required to become eligible for permanent residence (PR) from 75 to 67.

This has led more applicants to make a beeline for PR, creating a huge backlog with the CIC. Experts, however, feel that though it is taking more time now to immigrate to Canada, applicants who fulfil all criteria do eventually get PR.

"Canada has a stable immigration system and it will remain attractive for professionals who are not in a hurry to migrate. The processing time now has been raised to 53 months but the applicants get a PR easily after that," says immigration consultant Pranay Shah. In the immigration plan included in the annual report for 2003-04 by CIC, the immigration body expects to bring to Canada between 2,20,000 and 2,45,000 newcomers as permanent residents. The overall range identified in 2003 is thus being maintained in 2004. An overall range of 2,20,000 to 2,45,000 new permanent residents is also being proposed for 2005, subject to consultation, review and approval



CIC will continue to aim for a 60/40 balance between economic and non economic immigrants. This means that approximately 60 per cent of the people selected in 2004 are expected to be in the economic class, which is comprised of skilled workers, business immigrants, live-in caregivers and provincial nominees, as well as their dependants.

The balance of the newcomers would be in the family class and the protected persons class, as well as cases decided on humanitarian and compassionate grounds. Immigration Levels for 2004 for skilled workers and dependants will be in the range of 119,500 - 135,500, business immigrants 6,000 - 6,000, provincial/territorial nominees 3,500 - 3,500, live-in caregivers, 3,000 - 3,000 taking the total of economic class migrants (including dependants) to 132,000 - 148,000. The quota in the family class-- spouses, partners and children is 42,000 -42,000, parents and grandparents 10,500 - 13,500 taking the total to 52,500 - 55,500. Total protected persons who will be invited will be 29,400 - 32,800 and on humanitarian and compassionate grounds, public policy considerations and permit holders 6,100 - 8,700. So in 2004, the total permanent residents 2,20,000 - 2,45,000.

"Canada draws its immigrant population from a great number of countries, and there have been significant shifts in primary source countries over time. For example, in 1980, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the United Kingdom together accounted for some 29% of the movement that year. Since 2000, China and India have become the source countries for over one quarter of our new permanent residents," says Denis Coderre minister of CIC as quoted in the annual report. Another consultant Prasanna Acharya says: "Immigration aspirants look at Canada as a safe bet, where they can file for immigration and are ready to wait until the file clears. It is an option that will fructify later."

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Orginally posted by goud

"Canada has a stable immigration system and it will remain attractive for professionals who are not in a hurry to migrate. The processing time now has been raised to 53 months but the applicants get a PR easily after that," says immigration consultant Pranay Shah.

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Try overtaking child's imagination

I thought they wanted peope and fast too.....

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I once made a mistake, but I was wrong about it.

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Orginally posted by mercury6

I thought they wanted peope and fast too.....

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Try overtaking child's imagination