1. Will family reunification be a priority for the New Liberal Government?
2. Will we see the lengthy wait time for spouses in particular shorten?
3. What will become of Express Entry?
4. Is it reformulated and more impactful in terms of new immigrants?
5. How will the new Citizenship Act be amended?
6. Where do temporary foreign workers figure into the Liberal immigration vision?
7. Will its recent evolution to a program of last resort that is heavy on enforcement persist?
8. Will Ministerial Instructions continue to reign supreme in immigration law and policy?
9. Will we see the end of immigration law reform buried in omnibus bills?
10. What is the overall immigration vision of our new government?

A number of these questions may quickly be answered by virtue of the use or non use of Ministerial Instructions. Under the Conservative Government, Ministerial Instructions led to major changes in the Canadian immigration regime. Various immigration categories were paused, reformulated, capped and fundamentally transformed by instruction. The intense accrual of power granted to the Minister to unilaterally decide how, when and to what degree applications were to be processed was a striking change to immigration law and policy implementation. Absent the perceived legislative shackles, the almost exclusive focus of Ministerial Instructions has been economic – an economic focus at the cost of a more balanced immigration program.  And so 2016 begins . . . what will it bring?

The post And So 2016 Begins . . . With Many Questions About the Future of Immigration Law! first appeared on Bellissimo Law Group.

These numbers must continue to increase if Canada’s new Liberal government is to meet its current commitment to resettle 10,000 refugees by the end of 2015, and another 15,000 by 1 March 2016. Late last month, the government announced that it would not meet its campaign promise of welcoming 25,000 Syrian refugees to Canada by the end of this year. Minister McCallum has stated that the government is taking the extra time to “do it right,” ensuring that those arriving in Canada have access to proper housing and support.

The Liberal plan has also faced some criticism, as the Canadian government has requested prioritization of refugees who are said to pose a “low security risk,” such as “complete families, women at risk, gays and lesbians, and single men identified as vulnerable due to membership in the LGBT community or those who are accompanying parents as a part of a family.” Notably absent from this list are unaccompanied men, which some suggest will reinforce problematic stereotypes about Syrian men posing a threat to Canadian security.

Identifying Syrian refugees interested in resettling in Canada has also been a challenge. Only 3,000 out of the tens of thousands of refugees contacted showed up for required interviews. Minister McCallum stated in a recent news conference that there remains “huge enthusiasm” in Canada, and that this data may not be complete due to unreliable communication networks overseas.

In terms of processing, a report recently released explains that while efforts are increasing in Jordan and Lebanon, more complex circumstances have slowed operations in Turkey. Due to the migration of tens of thousands of Syrian refugees through Turkey en route to Europe, it is expected that many potential resettlement candidates are no longer in the country. The Turkish government has required more time to ensure that its candidate list is accurate, causing some delays.

As efforts continue, Minister McCallum has announced that journalists will be briefed by government officials on a weekly basis to keep Canadians informed on the resettlement plans.

(Sources)

The post Resettlement for Syrian Refugees Underway, but not without Challenges first appeared on Bellissimo Law Group.

As recent years will show, the cap is expected to be reached quickly. To read more about previous changes made to the program and its popularity, please click here.

If you wish to sponsor a parent or grandparent, there are certain requirements that must be met in order to be eligible. These include being a Canadian citizen or permanent resident over 18 years of age living in Canada and having a minimum necessary income level to be able to financially support the applicants. It is still unknown whether the 2016 Parent and Grandparent program will reopen with the same requirements as 2015 or if changes will be made. Stay tuned!

For more information on the Parents and Grandparent Super Visa, click here.

The post Parent and Grandparent Program set to reopen 4 January 2016 first appeared on Bellissimo Law Group.