Posts by Michael Niren

As you’re probably aware by now, Express Entry kicked into place on January 1, 2015. This means that if you’re a skilled worker looking to immigrate to Canada, you have to go through the express entry system. We’re going to go over all the steps you’ll need for Express Entry, from finding out whether you’re eligible, […]

The new Opportunities Ontario Provincial Nominee Program is an immigration program that works in conjunction with Express Entry and enables Ontario to nominate individuals as well as their families for Canadian permanent residence, on the basis that they already have a pre-approved job offer for the province. Here’s a step-by-step guide for applying to the Opportunities Ontario […]

At the end of the month, Bill C-24, otherwise known as the Strengthening Canadian Citizenship Act, partially came into effect, essentially introducing a two-tier citizenship system. Below, we’re going to take a look at what this means for those who want to apply for Canadian citizenship, as well as current Canadian citizens. Grants of Citizenship First, […]

If you’re interested in immigrating to Ontario, and qualify for Express Entry, you may be eligible for the Ontario French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream. Here at VisaPlace, we’re going to outline exactly what you need in order to be eligible for this particular Skilled Worker Stream. Do You Qualify for the Ontario French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream To initially […]

(Below is a transcription of this video) Can I come to Canada with a criminal record? We get a lot of people asking us, what if I have a criminal record? Can I still get a visa? Can I enter Canada? Hello everyone, my name is Hishgee Bessey of visaplace.com. If you’re planning to apply […]

If you’re interested in applying to the Ontario Human Capital Priorities Stream, you must first be eligible for CIC’s express entry system and also meet Ontario’s criteria. Human Capital Priorities Stream Requirements In order to qualify for the Human Capital Priorities Stream, you must have: Received a PT Notification of Interest via yourMyCIC account; Successfully entered […]

As recently reported by The Wall Street Journal, the US has announced plans to change rules for H-1B working visa holders. If implemented, the changes may cost American companies millions of dollars. The draft guidelines state that employers who currently employ H-1B workers must file an amended visa application AND a Labour Condition Application (LCA) if a worker switches to work […]

Toronto has been lucky enough to hold both the 2015 Pan American Games and Parapan American Games. With the result of the games being held here many people are looking to visit Canada which has been causing the Canadian Government to issue many visas. Individuals can apply though the accreditation process if they meet Canada’s […]

A bridging open work permit is designed to essentially bridge the gap between the expiry of your current work permit and the final decision on your application for Canadian permanent residence. In order to do this, you must first have applied for permanent residence under one of these classes: The Federal Skilled Worker Class (FSWC) […]

As recently reported by CBC News, actor Randy Quaid was released from custody after his recent arrest in Montreal. The Canadian Immigration and Refugee Board ordered that the actor be released after being held in a detention centre in Laval, Que. A warrant had been issued for Quaid’s arrest back in January 2013 after missing an IRB interview. With his long, grey hair and significant […]

(Below is a transcription of this video) So, you want to get a visa for Canada or United States. You want to work, perhaps want to study, or move there permanently? Hi, My name is Michael Niren, immigration lawyer and founder of visaplace.com. I’m going to outline for you the top five tips to hopefully […]

Travelers from visa exempt countries (such as UK, Australia, France, Japan and Chile) will be required to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) before travelling to Canada. This is very similar to a current system in place in the USA, known as the ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization), which is used by the […]

As recently reported by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), the Philippines was the top source country for permanent residents to Canada last year. In 2014, Canada opened its doors to over 40,000 Canadian permanent residents from the Philippines – that’s a 30% increase from the previous year. In addition to that, Canada also issued close to 47,000 visitor […]

As recently reported by CIC news, the recent changes to the temporary foreign worker program came into effect on April 30, 2015. The changes allow Canadian employers who can’t find a Canadian to fill the position to employ foreign workers on a temporary basis. The hourly wages per occupation chart has also been updated. The […]

As recently reported by Yahoo Canada News, the federal government will start implementing pre-screening of travellers from countries that don’t require a visa to visit Canada. This is part of a border security deal with the US. From next year, visitors from countries that don’t require a visa to visit Canada will be required to apply […]