4 Things to Consider if you are Seeking Refugee or Asylum Status in Canada

4 Things to Consider if you are Seeking Refugee or Asylum Status in Canada Posted onAugust 30, 2023 ByBrittany Berge InBlog 1. Who can obtain refugee status in Canada? In 2022, the Government of Canada accepted over 28,000 asylum seekers, giving them status in Canada as “convention refugees” or “protected persons”. In Canada, the Immigration Refugee Board determines who is a convention refugee or person in need of protection, based on a specific set of criteria. To be a convention refugee, an individual must be outside of their home country and have a well-founded fear of persecution based on race, religion, political opinion, nationality or membership in a particular social group. To be a person in need of protection, an individual must be a person in Canada who would be subjected personally to a danger of torture, risk to their life, or a cruel and unusual treatment or punishment if they were returned to their home country. An individual can make a claim for refugee status at a port-of-entry (such as a border crossing, airport, etc.) or after they have already entered Canada. 2. Can a refugee claimant access any social services? Besides meeting the criteria as either a convention refugee or a person in need of protection, an individual must be found eligible to make a claim for refugee status. Eligibility factors that are considered include: a. whether the claimant has committed a serious crime, b. made a previous claim in Canada, c. made a claim in another country, d. or received a protection in another country. Although the refugee claim process can take several months or even years, once an individual is found eligible to make a claim for refugee status in Canada and while their claim is pending, they may have access to services such as social assistance, education, health services, and legal aid. In addition, once an individual has undergone the required medical examination, most individuals can apply for a work permit to begin working in Canada while their claim is pending. 3. What if I was in the United States prior to entering Canada? Canada has an agreement with the United States, the Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA), which requires refugee claimants to seek protection in the first safe country they arrive in. For the purposes of this agreement, both Canada and the United States are considered “safe countries”. The   terms of this agreement apply to all individuals who are making a refugee claim at a land port of entry or who enter Canada between ports of entry and make a claim within 14 days of entry. This agreement does not apply to those who arrive by sea or by airport. There are several exceptions for those who would typically be barred by making a refugee claim in Canada due to the STCA. These exceptions include refugee claimants who have family in Canada, unaccompanied minors under 18, individuals holding a valid Canadian travel document, and those who have been charged or convicted of an offence that could subject them to the death penalty in the US. 4. How can a lawyer help me with my claim? The process of claiming refugee status in Canada is complex as there are very specific requirements that must be met for a person to obtain status as a refugee or protected person. It is essential that a refugee claimant submits a complete and detailed application that meets all the required criteria, as an individual only has one chance at making a successful refugee claim. A failed refugee claim will lead to a removal order and will prevent you from staying in Canada. In the case of a failed refugee claim, you may be able to make an application for a temporary resident permit, or a pre-removal risk assessment. However, these options will not be available until 12 months has passed since your failed claim. At Sierra Immigration Alliance, our Refugee or Asylum lawyers can assist you in making your refugee claim, including preparing your claim, gathering supporting evidence and representing you at your hearing.   Leave a Reply Cancel reply Logged in as Yulin Wang. Edit your profile. Log out? Required fields are marked * Message*

Canada Is Attracting Foreign Tech Workers

Canada Is Attracting Foreign Tech Workers Posted onOctober 30, 2022 ByNaseeb Kahlon InBlog It’s no surprise to hear that BC has been going through a labour shortage the last 5 years and this situation has only been amplified in the last couple of years by the Covid-19 situation. The province has not only been attracting tech employers like Amazon and Microsoft but is also a hub for its own tech-based companies like Hootsuite, Slack and EA Games, which have only continued to grow. Thus, it’s never been a better time for tech talent to immigrate to Canada especially with provincial programs like the BCPNP Tech program, which facilitates and prioritizes applications of foreign nationals working in the industry in BC, whether they are continuing to work in these positions or have received a new job offer from a tech company in BC. Through the BCPNP tech program tech professionals are nominated for permanent residency. Once nominated they are also supported for a work permit. This is a great option for tech professionals that either need a brand-new work permit or need to extend their work permit, while they wait to get approved for permanent residency. In addition, tech professionals will have the added assurance of obtaining permanent residency right away, giving them a concrete plan to settle in BC. Sierra Immigration Alliance has been assisting BC tech employers and foreign tech professionals with their BCPNP applications, work permit and permanent residency applications since the BCPNP tech program opened in 2017. Contact Sierra Immigration Alliance’s immigration lawyers specializing in working with tech companies and tech workers in every industry whether it be in IT, ecommerce, health tech, AI, NFTs, software, crypto, hardware, social media, etc. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Logged in as Yulin Wang. Edit your profile. Log out? Required fields are marked * Message*

Occupations that are Eligible for the BCPNP Tech Program

Occupations that are Eligible for the BCPNP Tech Program Posted onJanuary 30, 2022 ByNaseeb Kahlon InBlog The National Occupational Classification or NOC is Canada’s national system for describing occupations. The below NOCs are eligible for the BCPNP tech program. As a BC employer, if any of your employees fall into any of the below NOCs, they are eligible to be nominated for permanent residency by the province as well as get a new work permit or extend their current work permit. If you are a foreign national that works in any of the below NOCs for a BC employer, you are eligible to be nominated for permanent residency and can obtain a work permit or can extend your current one. Contact Sierra Immigration Alliance today to apply for the BCPNP tech program. BC PNP Tech Occupations  10030 Telecommunication carriers managers 20012 Computer and information systems managers 21100 Physicists and astronomers 21210 Mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries 21211 Data scientists 21220 Cybersecurity specialists 21221 Business systems specialists 21222 Information systems specialists 21223 Database analysts and data administrators 21230 Computer systems developers and programmers 21232 Software developers and programmers 21233 Web designers 21234 Web developers and programmers 21300 Civil engineers 21301 Mechanical engineers 21310 Electrical and electronics engineers 21311 Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) 21320 Chemical engineers 21399 Other professional engineers 22110 Biological technologists and technicians 22220 Computer network and web technicians 22221 User support technicians 22222 Information systems testing technicians 22310 Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians 22312 Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics 50011 Managers – publishing, motion pictures, broadcasting and performing arts 51111 Authors and writers (except technical) 51112 Technical writers 51120 Producers, directors, choreographers and related occupations 52119 Other technical and coordinating occupations in motion pictures, broadcasting and the performing arts 52112 Broadcast technicians 52113 Audio and video recording technicians 52120 Graphic designers and illustrators 53111 Motion pictures, broadcasting, photography and performing arts assistants and operators Leave a Reply Cancel reply Logged in as Yulin Wang. Edit your profile. Log out? Required fields are marked * Message*