The NEXUS program is a voluntary program which allows pre-screened low risk travellers who are deemed admissible to enter both Canada and the United Sates expedited processing when entering these countries.[1] Program members use designate processing lanes without having to go through the usual customs process. It is jointly run by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and US Customs and Border Protection.

2. What is the eligibility process?

A Canadian applicant must be a citizen or permanent resident of Canada. Permanent residents of Canada must have lived as legal residents for a minimum of three years before the date of application with few exceptions related to serving in the armed forces.[2]

Once the application has received conditional approval, an interview will be scheduled where a CBSA officer or US Customs Boarder Protection Officer will conduct verification processes and an eligibility review. The membership will then be finalized by the NEXUS Enrolment Centre. The members are given a card identified as the NEXUS membership card. If a new card is issued, all previous cards must be destroyed.[3]

3. Do I have to comply with all the rules and regulations?

As a NEXUS member, the rules are applied very strictly. It includes complying with all customs and immigration laws and regulations, and any other laws or regulations that are enforced by the CBSA and United States Customs and Border Protection. A member is required to have the NEXUS card in their possession when using the services, report all goods being imported, and understand that the membership card is valid for his or her use only.[4]

4. Are you able to cancel your membership?

There is no leniency for carelessness or lack of knowledge.[5] A reason for the cancellation of the NEXUS Membership could be that the individual has been deemed by the United States or Canada to not be of “good character.”[6] The CBSA’s assessment of good character includes a review of the person’s border compliance history, criminal history, immigration violations and intelligence information. CBSA enforcement actions can include (but are not limited to) seizing goods or issuing a penalty or fine.

5. What steps should I take if my card has been cancelled, revoked or seized?

A request for review must be submitted to the CBSA’s Recourse Directorate within 90 days from the date the rejection or cancellation of the membership became effective. It becomes effective either immediately when notified in person or 15 days after the notice is mailed.

If the CBSA Recourse Directorate decides that the enforcement action is warranted, one will have to file two legal proceedings with the Federal Court: (1) a notice of application for judicial review of the NEXUS Membership Cancellation within 30 days of the CBSA Recourse Directorate letter; and (2) a notice of action challenging the enforcement action.

(sources)

The post Travel Often? Here are 5 Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Nexus Passes for Canadians first appeared on Bellissimo Law Group.

This amount that was spent is up 47 per cent in the past 5 years, while the number of visitors rose 17 per cent in the same period. Toronto saw the highest number of overnight visitors coming from the United States with 2,973,000 visitors and China with 319,000 visitors.

More than 70 per cent of American visitors arrived by plane, which is a dramatic shift from 50/50 back before the year 2000. This increase is important to Toronto’s economy as the visitors who fly here are staying longer, doing more and are spending more money.

Toronto’s biggest increase in regards to overnight visitors came from Mexico, as we saw a 72-per cent jump from 44,000 to 75,000 visitors. This is due to the fact that back in December 2016, Canada removed a 7-year-old requirement for Mexican travellers to obtain a visitor visa.

Domestic travellers continue to visit Toronto more than any other Canadian city. Toronto welcomed 10.4 million overnight domestic visitors, spending $2.6 billion dollars in 2017.

Clearly there is something special about Toronto that continues to draw in tourists from around the world and within Canada. Toronto is known for its tall skyscrapers, famous sport teams, music/film festivals, multicultural and delicious foods and is viewed as an ideal candidate for what a city can and should be.

Want to read more? Click here.

The post Toronto broke a new tourism record with 43.7 million visitors in 2017! first appeared on Bellissimo Law Group.

A:  To answer your question I will have to make at least three assumptions – one, that you are a Canadian citizen, two, that you and your boyfriend lived together for at least one year in the United States and three, he does not have a criminal record or other potential grounds of inadmissibility including for example, security, human or international rights violations, and or organized criminality.  If any of these assumptions are incorrect it will affect your application as follows:

One, if you are not a Canadian citizen you cannot sponsor your partner while living abroad.  You must resettle in Canada and ensure you remain a permanent resident, meaning meeting the residency requirements for one, before any sponsorship is filed.  Although meeting residency requirements in the United States and Canada may be possible it is not easy and ultimately you will have to remain in Canada for the processing of your sponsorship and permanent resident application.  If you are a Canadian citizen you will still have to demonstrate you intend to resettle in Canada by the time your partner/husband lands in Canada.

Two, if you did not live together for at least one year or do not get married before filing you would only be left with the option of a conjugal partner sponsorship which can be difficult to prove and in my opinion an application of last resort.  In part under conjugal partner sponsorships you must establish you have a view to marriage and you have been unable to live together which based upon you both living in the United States for over 12 months may be difficult to argue. It is important to highlight the intention to marry and not being able to live together is a position taken by visa offices as opposed to a requirement in the regulations.   You indicate though you intend to marry so this would eliminate the need to establish a minimum length of cohabitation and the need to resort to a conjugal partner application.

Three, if your boyfriend’s deportation from the U.S. was for criminality he would be inadmissible to Canada and depending upon when he completed his sentence he may need to apply for a certificate of rehabilitation and if not eligible for rehabilitation would have to seek special permission to enter Canada (which can be difficult to obtain).  If he was inadmissible for security, human or international rights violations, and or organized criminality other potential remedies would have to be explored but can be very difficult to overcome.  Assuming though my assumptions are correct you are a Canadian citizen, you will be married or common law partners and your future husband is not inadmissible to Canada, you will be able to sponsor him as a member of the family class.  Good luck!

For more information on Family-Class Sponsorship, please click here.

The post I Live in the United States, Can I Still Sponsor My Future Husband? first appeared on Bellissimo Law Group.

The poll also found that preference towards assimilation of minorities tends to increase with age as well as length of time spent living in Canada. 53% of Canadians between the ages of 18 to 34 feel that “we should encourage cultural diversity with different groups keeping their own customs and languages;” compared to only 31% of those aged 35 to 54, and a mere 17% of those aged 55+ agreeing with this sentiment.

Fortunately, Canada’s hardening attitude towards multiculturalism does not appear to be affecting how welcome newcomers to Canada feel. 83% of immigrants who have been in Canada for less than 10 years feel welcome as a part of the community they live in. In addition, in spite of the growing preference towards assimilation, 67% of Canadians indicated that they were satisfied with how well new immigrants were integrating into their communities.

For more information on Temporary or Permanent Migration to Canada, click here.

(Sources)

The post Study Finds Canada Now More in Favour of Assimilation Than United States first appeared on Bellissimo Law Group.