Marina Immigration

what a beautiful it is.... #Niagara fall

As the European Union lays out its long-awaited proposal for regulating the use of artificial intelligence (AI), Canada is signalling a very different approach when it comes to potentially high-risk uses of AI-driven technologies. As part of the newly released 2021 budget, the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) is receiving $656 million to be spent in part on technology such as facial recognition systems at the border.

There are many things Canada should rightfully be proud of on the international scene. Perhaps her "Finest Hour" culminated on May 5th when Canadian forces (in large part) liberated the Dutch from Nazi Germany AND the vilest and most basic of scourges - hunger. Bevrijdingsdag!

Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino Makes an Announcement At a virtual press conference, Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino makes an announcement on new pathways to help essential workers and other immigrants with temporary status to stay in Canada permanently.

Twillingate, Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada

We are licenced and in good standing with the ICCRC. Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC) is the country-wide regulatory authority which was created by the Canadian Government to protect the consumers who want to take the service and help of Canadian Immigration Consultants. This licence is mandatory for all consultants, whether in Canada or abroad. Protect yourself. Make sure your consultant is legal and licensed in Canada as required. #RCIC #ICCRC #IRCC #canadaimmigration

-#DYK? is not alone in requiring a negative #COVID19 test before boarding a flight. Labs in many countries are overwhelmed causing delays for Canadians wanting to return to . For information on #COVID19 tests and labs consult: http://ow.ly/dNOb50D9Yy0

Canmore, Alberta on December 22, 2020. Was - 3C or so. If link permitted, more from my trip to Banff and Canmore, Alberta here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CJprNjDBCJp/?igshid=g4f6ualgta4r

Discretionary (non-essential) travel restrictions between and have been extended to February 21, 2021.

Think twice before travelling! Some countries have very little to no #COVID19 testing capacity. Without a proof of a negative COVID-19 test, your return to Canada could be severely delayed. #Nowisnotthetime to travel.

https://www.cbc.ca//we-are-a-country-of-accomplishments-al

"Foreign nationals in Canada affected by the pandemic with an expired or expiring PGWP will have a unique chance to apply for another open work permit. These will be valid for 18 months and allow former international students to remain in Canada, continue to seek employment and build their future in this country." https://www.canada.ca//government-of-canada-announces-new-

Beware of fraud! Biometric appointments are free and the only way to confirm an appointment is through the VAC Contact Center. You must have a unique Biometric ...Instruction Letter (BIL) issued directly by IRCC in order to request an appointment. Do not use a local agent unless they are recognized by IRCC as an authorized agent otherwise you may be at risk of fraud. To find out if your representative is authorized click: http://bit.ly/2DPOQHL It is important that you provide IRCC with your contact information so that we can share important information and updates directly with you. To update your contact info, click: http://bit.ly/2BoamVk Do not send multiple webform submissions to request a biometric appointment; it will not increase your chances of receiving a confirmed appointment; nor will it expedite the overall process. Canadian Immigration and Citizenship

Some of my favourites from over the years, taken around Jasper and area

Let me take you to the other side of Moraine lake #seveinarturo

https://www.cbc.ca//mendicino-immigration-pandemic-refugee

Colourful Pine street in Vic West

According to the 2020 CBRE North America Tech-30 report, Vancouver leads the 30 top tech markets in the US and Canada, with a rate of 29.2% in the current period. https://dailyhive.com//vancouver-high-tech-software-job-gr

"A joint pilot program from the Government of Alberta and the Government of Canada the first of its kind in the country will safely test an alternative to the current 14-day quarantine requirement for international travellers while continuing to protect Canadians from COVID-19. Travellers returning to Canada continue to be legally required to quarantine for 14 days after entering the country. The new pilot announced October 22 will explore the feasibility of using a rigor...ous testing and monitoring program as a strategy to reduce the mandatory quarantine period, while keeping Canadians safe. Beginning on November 2, COVID-19 testing will be offered initially at two ports of entry into Canada, the Coutts land border crossing and the Calgary International Airport in Alberta. Travellers who participate will receive a COVID-19 test upon entry into Canada before proceeding into the required quarantine. Once the test comes back negative, they will then be allowed to leave their place of quarantine so long as they commit to getting a second test on day six or seven after arrival, at a community pharmacy participating in the pilot program. Participants will be closely monitored through daily symptoms checks. They will also be required to follow enhanced preventive health measures, such as wearing masks in public places and avoiding visiting high-risk groups." https://www.canada.ca//new-covid-19-pilot-planned-for-inte

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

The Nels Bight and Cape Sutil Ranger Station Cabins will be closed to public access until further notice. Campers must be self-sufficient and prepared to camp a...t all locations within the park. It's imperative to trip plan before leaving home. Please visit http://bcparks.ca/explore/parkpgs/cape_scott/ for more details. Nels Bight, Cape Scott Park samrhphotography via Instagram

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: International Students CURRENT TRAVEL EXEMPTIONS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS To be exempt from the current travel restrictions, the ...Designated Learning Institution (DLI) you will be attending must have a COVID-19 readiness plan approved by their province or territory. The list can be accessed here: https://bit.ly/2Hl7u0f A student must be in possession of either: An approved study permit and visa; OR A Port of Entry letter of introduction; AND; You should not travel to Canada until, at most, 3 weeks before the start date of your class. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 1. What do the new updates in the travel restrictions mean for international students? As of October 20, 2020, students outside Canada holding a valid and approved study permit may enter Canada provided they are attending a DLI with a COVID-19 readiness plan approved by a province/territory. As a student, your travel to Canada won’t be considered essential (non-discretionary) if: your study program has been cancelled or suspended you’re entering Canada for any reason other than to study 2. How do I demonstrate that my travel to Canada is essential to the airline and when I am seeking to enter Canada? You will not be required to produce any other documentation to board your flight other than Valid passport, your study permit visa and/or your Port of Entry letter of introduction letter confirming the start date of your classes from you DLI (review the DLI approved list to ensure your school is listed) evidence of your ability to quarantine for 14 days prior to studying evidence that you have enough money to support yourself All other students destined to DLIs not on the list, despite having reasons for not being able to complete courses online, will not be able to travel to Canada at this time. This includes students that may have previously been in Canada and were studying. 3. How do I know if my school is on the approved DLI list? The list is on the IRCC website search Designated learning Institutions IRCC COVID-19 : https://bit.ly/2Hl7u0f If your DLI is not on the list, please contact your learning institution directly to find out if they have submitted a COVID-19 readiness plan and at what stage they are at regarding their approval. 4. Is the 2-stage processing available for Winter 2021 start dates? No, 2-stage processing is only for classes that started in 2020. If you have already deferred your studies prior to receiving your AIP, you will fall under the regular (pre-pandemic) process: this means that you will not receive an AIP letter and you must wait for your application to be approved to its final stage when we are ready to issue you a visa. At this time, only applications to study at schools on the DLI approved list will be finalized to visa issuance; all other applicants must wait until either the school appears on the DLI approved list or the travel restrictions are lifted. 5. I have not received AIP and my DLI is listed to be approved with a COVID-19 readiness plan. Will I now receive stage one AIP and then later will it be reviewed for stage 2? Yes, you will receive an AIP letter if you submitted your application prior to Sept. 15th and began your program in 2020. In addition, we will send you a request letter to submit your biometrics and medical exam if you have not yet provided them. Otherwise, if your biometrics and medicals have already been submitted, we will assess Stage 2. If you pass Stage 2 and your DLI has an approved COVID-19 readiness plan, we will send you a letter to submit your passport for visa issuance. 6. What documents must I submit to receive AIP? Study Direct Stream (SDS) Letter of acceptance from a DLI IELTS test results demonstrating 6.0 in each band Tuition paid for the first year Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) for $10,000 CAD Most recent secondary or post-secondary school transcripts CAQ for Quebec-bound students Not Study Direct Stream Letter of acceptance from a DLI IELTS, TOEFL, or PTE test results Evidence of financial ability to pay for tuition + transportation + living expenses Most recent secondary or post-secondary school transcripts CAQ for Quebec-bound students These are the same documents required to make the eligibility assessment for cases that do not qualify under the 2-Stage processing. 9. If I am missing a document like medicals, may I still qualify for SDS? No - if you are not able to submit all the documents under SDS, the officer will assess your application as a regular non-SDS application. 10. What do I do if I cannot submit a document within the requested timeframe? Upload a letter of explanation on your MyCIC account explaining why you can’t submit the required documents (like your proof of enrolment, final transcripts, or others). For example, you may not be able to get these documents because offices are closed. When we start processing your application, we’ll ask for the missing documents and give you an extension to provide them, if needed. We won’t reject your application if you can’t submit the required documents, other than your letter of acceptance, because of COVID-19. You can also share with us this information by filling up our IRCC webform: https://bit.ly/3ppZo7U Note that you must provide a letter of acceptance from a DLI upfront when you apply. We won’t process applications that are submitted without this document. 11. How will I know if AIP is granted? A letter confirming your stage one approval will be sent to your online account or email (ensure you check both, including your junk mail folders). You may also receive an additional letter requesting you to complete the rest of your requirements (e.g. biometrics, medicals), if you have not already done so, in order to be issued a study permit. For letters received by email, please expand the headers in order to ensure it is coming from IRCC. 12. If I am granted AIP, may I assume that once I complete my biometrics and medicals I will get a student visa? No, AIP is not the same as being granted a visa. The officer will still need to establish that you meet admissibility requirements. Note that a Stage 2 refusal is uncommon provided that you have been truthful in your application, have not provided any fraudulent documents, and that you comply with any additional requests immediately. 13. How will I know if the AIP letter that I have received is a genuine one? Will I receive it from the IRCC Delhi email address? You can expect to receive your AIP letters in the email address which you shared at the time of submitting your study permit application. You will receive the email from the email address: [email protected] / [email protected] 14. When will my Stage 2 admissibility decision be completed? Your Stage 2 admissibility decision will be assessed after AIP and before visa issuance. This includes an assessment of your medical, biometrics, as well as security and criminality background questions. If your application contains all the documents required for the Stage 2 assessment, it will be assessed at the same time as Stage 1. Note that we will not finalize any applications for approval for students destined to DLIs not on the approved list. 15. Will IRCC issue any co-op work permits to students upon receiving approval of a study permit in principle (stage 1 approval)? A stage 1 eligibility approval is not a guarantee that a study permit application will be approved. As a result, a co-op work permit cannot be issued before a final decision is made on a study permit application. However, this does not prevent you from beginning your co-op program while abroad the work permit is only required for work to be done in Canada, and not outside Canada. 16. What requirements need to be completed to receive the Stage 2 admissibility decision? In order to conduct this assessment, you must: a) Provide biometrics. b) Complete your immigration medical exam. c) Answer all questions truthfully and completely. This includes declaring all previous visa refusals for all countries, providing all background history for the last 10 years, and being truthful about any previous arrests and criminal history. d) Submit only authentic documents. 17. I have submitted all the required documentation for the 2-stage approval. Will I receive just stage 1 (AIP) or stage 2 approval? We still want to provide assurance to students who have already started studying and passed stage 1, so they will receive an AIP letter which permits online study There is no Stage 2 approval letter. If your DLI is on the approved list and you pass admissibility requirements, you will have passed Stage 2, but will not receive any correspondence until we are ready to issue you a visa At this point, we will send you a passport request letter this should indicate to you that your application has been approved and is ready for visa issuance. 18. What if my schooling starts prior to me receiving my stage 1 (AIP)? You may start school online prior to obtaining your AIP. If you receive AIP after you started school, all the time will still count towards your Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) provided that you submitted your study permit application before you began your online studies. 19. Will I receive a refund of my tuition fees if my application is refused when I am studying on-line in India with a DLI in Canada? DLIs are responsible for setting their refund policies. IRCC cannot speak to this issue, but students are encouraged to ensure they are familiar with the various DLI policies relevant to their situation. PROCESSING TIMES 20. When should I expect a decision on my application? There have been many service disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic so our processing times are no longer accurate. IRCC is working hard towards normal service delivery standards. Applications meriting a refusal are being finalized at this time please check your online account or email in case you may have received a refusal letter. For applications to receive visa approval, only those destined to an approved DLI will be approved and issued visas. For all other cases, they will not be approved until either the DLI is placed on the approved P/T list, or the travel restrictions are amended or lifted. 21. When should I submit my passport for visa issuance? The Visa Application Centres (VAC) in India remains closed. In the interim, a VAC 2-way courier service has been launched. We are requesting passports in stages in order to receive passports in an orderly manner. Orderly submission of passport will expedite processing of visa requests. Applicants are advised NOT to submit their passport unless they receive 2-way courier instructions. IRCC will be prioritizing student applications from approved DLIs where students can travel to Canada. TRAVEL AMENDMENTS: 22. Will my DLI have to provide me any supporting document even if they are on the list of province/territory approved institutes with a COVID-19 readiness plan? Yes, DLIs are to provide guidance regarding the requirements to travel and quarantine in Canada, including what to do should someone encounter or be affected with COVID-19. 23. Should my institute provide an updated Letter of Acceptance stating that they are on the government’s list of approved institutes? No, this is not a requirement since the list has been published and will be updated regularly. In case your DLI is not on the list, you may want to contact them to find out at what stage they are regarding approval. You only need to provide an updated LOA if you are deferring your studies and/or switching DLIs. 24. I am eligible to travel to Canada as per the amended travel restrictions, but I have still not submitted my biometrics due to VAC closures. Is there any provision for me to travel without submitting my biometrics here in India and provide them once I land in Canada? No. All students must submit their biometrics in order to qualify for a visa. There are no exceptions. 25. My DLI is not currently on the approved list. Are there any chances of more DLIs being added? Yes. The approved list of DLIs will be reviewed regularly and updated every two weeks. In order to keep yourself updated of the most recent list, please follow our IRCC website and also follow us on social media at Facebook and Twitter @CanadainIndia 26. My DLI is on the approved list but my classes are still going to be online. Can I travel to Canada? Yes. As per the new travel amendments, irrespective of the medium of classes (physical/online), students may travel to Canada as long as they have an approved study permit and their DLI is on the Provincial/Territorial Governments’ approved list. 27. Will I be able to work in Canada once in the country even if my classes are online? Yes. Once you land in Canada, you are eligible to work for up to 20 hours a week. You may also work outside of Canada if you choose to continue your studies online abroad. In this circumstance, IRCC cannot enforce the amount of hours you can work, although we do recommend you focus on your studies as a priority. LANGUAGE TESTS 28. May I submit a language proficiency test results that I completed online? If my school has accepted my result for my admission, is this sufficient? No, IRCC does not accept results from online language tests. There are no changes to the Language Proficiency assessment score requirement. The recommended tests are IELTS (for English) and TEF/TCF (for French). We also accept TOEFL and PTE Academic. Test scores from Duolingo or any other online language test will not be accepted for any immigration application purposes, including for study permits. 29. What if my IELTS score is expired or about to expire? Given the limited availability if open test centres at this time, we will accept the IELTS results as long as they were valid on the day you submitted your application. 30. Does IRCC accept PTE language scores as proof of language ability for a study permit application? Yes, we accept PTE Academic language test scores. You must submit your scores to IRCC using the PTE portal: https://bit.ly/3n2NdMe Do not include your user name and password in your study permit application. DEFFERING YOUR STUDIES 31. My application is still pending. What happens if I defer my studies to a later semester? If you choose to defer your studies, ensure you submit a new letter of acceptance (LOA) using the webform (https://bit.ly/2EbwtB6) as soon as possible so we may update your file. 32. I received approval of my study permit but deferred my studies. How do I extend my visa? You will need to apply for a new study permit with updated information. Extensions of study permits are only granted to students already in Canada. 33. May I defer my studies after I receive AIP? Yes, however, you must submit a new LOA from your DLI as soon as possible. If you change your course of study or decide to study at a different DLI, the officer may reassess your Stage 1 (AIP) decision. POST GRADUATE WORK PERMIT (PGWP) 34. When determining if 50% or more of a program has been completed in Canada for PGWP eligibility, how is the time calculated? 50% of a total program of study is calculated based on the number of courses completed in Canada. In a situation where part of a semester is completed in Canada and the other part online overseas, IRCC will consider that the semester was completed in Canada. Applicants may have to submit additional documents from the DLI. 35. I have already completed 50% of my program online prior to the fall semester; will I be eligible to receive a PGWP? You may complete: a. 100% of your program online if i. your program is between 8 and 12 months in length, ii. you started your studies between May and September 2020, AND iii. you finish your program by April 30, 2020. b. up to 50% of your program online (until April 30, 2021) if you complete the other 50% of your program in Canada c. up to 50% of your studies online (until April 30, 2021) if i. you’ll graduate from 2 different eligible study programs within 2 years of each other ii. 1 of the programs started between May and September 2020 iii. each program is at least 8 months long, and iv. you complete at least 50% of the combined length of the programs in Canada 36. Do we have to wait for AIP for courses to count towards PGWP? The time spent studying online abroad will count towards a student’s PGWP after they submit a study permit application and before they begin their online classes if their program of study started in 2020 or January 2021. Therefore, the length of the PGWP will be considered from the date the student’s official courses began, so long as the SP application was submitted before the courses officially commenced. 37. If I switch from full time to part time studies, will this affect the duration of my PGWP? Students may put their studies on hold or become part-time students due to course cancellations as a result of public health measures at DLIs and COVID-19. For the winter, spring and summer 2020 semesters, when a student’s status changes from full-time to part-time due to changes in course delivery at a DLI, their eligibility for a post-graduation work permit will not be impacted. Starting in fall 2020, students who do not maintain a full-time status may not be eligible for the PGWP. ACCOMPANYING DEPENDENTS 38. I submitted an application for my dependents along with my study permit application. Will they be processed at the same time? Yes, applications for spouse and child/children of prospective students will be processed at the same time. You must provide financial documentation to show how you will be able to support your dependents without working in Canada. 39. With the new travel amendments in place, what will be the status of the spousal applications which were in process and whose spouses are now eligible to travel to Canada? IRCC is processing those applications and all applicants will receive decisions on their applications. However, because of service disruptions and limited staff, there is a backlog which IRCC is working through so applicants are requested to kindly be patient. 40. Will my dependents be eligible to travel with me to Canada if they have temporary resident visas and I have a study permit? With the amended travel restrictions, immediate family members may be able to accompany an international student to Canada if their reason for travel is non-optional or non-discretionary, such as getting established in Canada in support of the principal applicant’s study program. This could include a spouse or common-law partner, a dependant, or in the case of a minor child who will be studying in Canada, a parent or legal guardian. Like all travellers to Canada, international students and accompanying family members will be subject to all public health measures, including the mandatory 14-day quarantine period upon arrival in Canada. To be exempt from the travel restrictions, temporary resident visas holders who are immediate family members of study permit holders require a letter of authorization from IRCC in order to travel to Canada. A request for an authorization to travel may be made by sending an e-mail to IRCC.COVID-TravelExemptions-Exemptionsdevoyage-COVID.IRCC@cic.gc.ca. The following information should be contained in the e-mail: a) documentation showing they are an immediate family member of a study permit holder; b) why you need to travel for an essential purpose; c) your file number, name and date of birth. Canadian Immigration and Citizenship

The CBSA would like to remind travellers that discretionary (non-essential) travel restrictions between and have been extended to December 21, 2020.

New stream in Alberta! https://www.alberta.ca/ainp-international-graduate-entrepre

Hiking the Juan de Fuca trail

#CanadaRemembers #remembranceday #veteransupport

"We've reached an agreement with the federal government to refuse more than 800 labour market impact assessment applications," https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.cbc.ca/amp/1.5777248

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is emptying out its detention centres and finding alternatives to keeping detainees behind bars until they can be processed.

Athabasca Falls, Jasper, Ab

Canada at this time of the year

Different angle of Athabasca and Sunwapta falls Jasper National Park

A new official Canadian portrait of Her Majesty The Queen is now available. The photograph was taken last year at Windsor Castle in the UK. Her Majesty is wear...ing her Canadian insignia, as Sovereign of the Order of Canada and the Order of Military Merit. Created in 1967 by Her Majesty, the Order of Canada is our country’s highest civilian honour. The Order of Military Merit recognizes distinctive merit and exceptional service displayed by the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces. You can download here https://www.canada.ca//roya/order-download-portraits.html The Royal Family

Welcome to the Golden Encore Taken at Edwards Garden, Toronto ON. Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!!

"We made it to the northwestern tip of Vancouver Island and spent a night in this rugged coastal wilderness. Here are the famous sea stacks at San Josef Bay." ... + caption outofasuitcase via Instagram Visitors to the park should bring their own supplies and be self-sufficient. Follow the three Tstrip planning, training, and taking the essentials. bcparks.ca/visiting/responsible-recreation See more

My favorite season of the year in the alpine is fall. The majority of the bugs are dead, temperatures are moderate, and the foliage colors explode. This past we...ekend my friend Jacob Klassen and I hiked up 5040peak and were blessed with some of the best conditions I've witnessed on Vancouver Island. Due to the smoke from the California wildfires, the atmosphere's moisture stayed low and created a thick cloud inversion. This completely transforms the landscape in an amazing way, and we were lucky enough to capture it! See more

A calm morning at Carburn Park Calgary, AB See more of my work at https://cuonghuynhcreativity.info/