Posts by Michael Niren

Last month saw multiple changes to Canada’s International Mobility Program (IMP), which in turn affected work permit categories currently exempt from Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIA). The changes kicked in on February 21, 2015, and along with new compliance requirements, a new form, and new fees, mean a newly-introduced step in the process must now be taken before […]

If you’re intending to move to Canada, there are certain questions you need to ask yourself to ensure that you’re making the right decision. This includes your motivations for moving as well as practicalities such as whether you have enough savings, and how you’ll support yourself once you get there. You will want to know […]

If you’re qualified in a skilled trade and want to become a Canadian permanent resident, the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) is probably the right choice for you. Need to make sure you fulfill all the Federal Skilled Trades Program requirements? Then look no further than our simple, five-minute guide below – we’ll tell you […]

In particularly exciting news for Express Entry candidates, a record breaking sixth Express Entry draw was announced by Citizenship & Immigration Canada last week, which saw the Comprehensive Ranking Score (CRS) requirement drop to an all-time low of just 453. The announcement saw 1637 invitations to apply for Canadian permanent residency issued to successful Express Entry candidates. Even […]

Are you interested in applying for an E-2 visa but aren’t sure whether you meet the requirements? Well, look no further. Here at VisaPlace, we’ve compiled the following simple formula for checking whether you have all E-2 visa requirements before you apply. First thing’s first – never worry about rushing to get your E-2 visa application in due to […]

The Quebec Skilled Worker Program has been pushed back to mid-summer. Along with the unprecedented delays, Immigration Quebec has also announced that they will be accepting a total of 6,300 visas this year – not much change from last year’s quota. What This Means for You Although you won’t be able to apply for the Quebec […]

Your dream goal of moving to the United States is seemingly within reach, but are you worried your employer isn’t taking all the right steps to help you get there? US employers have a responsibility to sponsor their prospective employees so that they can become permanent residents. Getting a green card and gaining US citizenship […]

(Below is a transcription of this video) Hi. This is Michael Niren, immigration lawyer and founder of visaplace.com. So, over the years, we have processed thousands of visas for Canada and U.S. We have helped a lot of people cross borders. And, we have found that there are common questions that people ask about getting […]

Are you interested in applying for Canadian permanent residence via the Family Class category, but aren’t sure how much to budget for Canadian Family Class Sponsorship fees? It’s the surprisingly common question we hear from many of our clients, and today we’re going to give you a better idea of Family Class Sponsorship fees and how […]

Do you believe everything you hear about US immigration? At VisaPlace, we often encounter hopefuls looking to immigrate to the United States who have blindly followed bad advice from so-called “professionals”, only to find they’ve made serious errors that may have messed up their case for good. From our combined experiences of providing professional immigration […]

Nova Scotia’s popularity seems to be at a 10-year high, with over 2,661 immigrants having settled in the province last year. So, what’s led the province to be more popular than it has been for the last decade? Let’s take a look at last year’s immigrants as an example. Increase in Numbers for Nova Scotia […]

(Below is a transcription of this video) Hi, this is Michael Niren, immigration lawyer and founder of visaplace.com. A lot of controversy surrounding whether or not an individual who is taking the oath of Canadian citizenship should have the right to cover up their face, usually for religious purposes while taking the oath. Should Individuals […]

Thousands of foreign nationals visit Canada each year and are oftentimes refused for various reasons. In some cases, a refusal may be due to the immigration officer assigned to your case making a mistake. In contrast, it can be because the applicant made the mistake themselves. We gathered four of the most common mistakes applicants […]

Are you interested in applying to the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)? As of January 1st, the main method of applying for FSWP has changed, and a new system known as Express Entry has been introduced – however, according to critics, the new system may need to be “fine-tuned”. In total, 779 candidates – around 26 per cent of the […]

Do you want to live and work in Canada, but are debating whether you really need to hire an immigration lawyer? Technically, there is no legal requirement to hire an immigration lawyer to represent your case. According to the Government of Canada: “You do not need to hire an immigration representative. It is up to you. […]