Matt is a licenced plumber from England who has been working in his industry for the past 7 years. He tells you that he spent the first 3 years of his career working as the only plumber for the Great Britain Construction Group and during this time, he completed all of the main duties listed on the NOC full time. However, after his third year of working for this group, the company received a contract to help install drainage systems for a swimming pool that was going to be used for the Olympics. Because of the size of this project and the fact that the company hired 10 more plumbers on a full time basis to help with the project, Matt’s hours were cut to 17 per week and he was contracted with only one important task: to cut holes in the walls and floors so that another plumber can fit the appropriate pipes through the building.

He visits Elizabeth, an RCIC, and she notes that this task is one of the main duties specified on the NOC for plumbers, and his plumber’s licence will likely transfer to a Canadian equivalent as soon as he passes the relevant exams.

Is Matt an ideal candidate for the Federal Skilled Trades Program?

Anita, 30, originally came to Canada as a student in order to pursue her Master’s Degree at the University of Toronto 5 years ago. She graduated with a perfect average and was thrilled when she received a 3-year Post Grad Work Permit so she could explore the job market in any province she wanted. Her Post Grad Work Permit is now 2 months away from expiring, so she would like to explore immigration options and contacts Bob, an RCIC based out of Mississauga to see if there are any options for her.

She tells Bob that immediately after graduating on January 5th three years ago, she worked on full-time, 5 month contracts starting every January 19th for the past 3 years as an accountant for a tax company in helping corporations file their returns. After the contract was finished every summer, she always enjoyed working as a baker on a full-time basis for the remaining 7 months of the year. Bob advises her that she is a strong candidate to be selected under the Canadian Experience Class and, since there is no educational requirement, she would only need to meet the language requirements of CLB 5 and would have to be able to prove the work she performed matches the appropriate NOC requirements.

In what way did Bob not advise Anita properly?

Which of the following type of experience is NOT eligible to meet the requirements of the Canadian Experience Class?

Assuming Anita obtains a CLB 7 on her language exam, what will her CRS score be?

If Anita had worked as an accountant for 7 months per year and a baker for 5 months per year, what would her minimum IELTS score need to be in order to qualify for the Canadian Experience Class?

Hamid is an entrepreneur from Qatar with a great business plan to offer a new way of allowing people to complete their online banking by adding new layers of security that make identity theft impossible.

Although he has the business plan completed and the technical knowledge to complete this task, the final product has not been completed since he needs some help on the technical side of the production.

He is happy to inform you that he has received funding of $25,000 – $35,000 from three separate Angel Investors in order for him to launch his business in Canada. With this funding, he has to give up 40% of his shares in the company, but feels it is worth it to have the support of these backers.

Assuming he has $55,000 in savings, meets the language requirements and receives a letter of support from the leading Angel Investor, is Hamid an ideal candidate for the Start Up Visa Stream?

Penny is a Master’s Degree holder who is 35 years old and is considering moving to Canada to continue her self-employment as an interior designer. She explains to you that she started her business as soon as she finished university 4 years ago and that, though at first it was difficult, after a couple of years, the business became profitable enough for her to make a website and share an office with another interior designer.

She recently took her IELTS exam and achieved a CLB 6 while her TEF level was assessed to be a CLB 4. She also mentions that she has an aunt who lives in Winnipeg, but she doesn’t think she’ll see her much since she would like to move to Toronto.

How many points would you advise her that she is likely to get in the Self-Employed system?

Akiko is a welder originally from Japan but he has been splitting his time between Japan and Spain for welding contracts for the past 10 years. In 2013, he came to Canada and worked on a project in Saskatchewan on a 9 month contract since his welding certification easily transferred over. During his time in Saskatoon, Akiko lived with his uncle who is 61, 20 years older than Akiko. His uncle even introduced him to Richard, who owns a construction company in desperate need of welders. Richard made a job offer to Akiko and his LMIA application was successful.

Besides being a welder, Akiko has a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering and a CELPIP score of CLB 8 in reading and writing, with his speaking and listening score working out to CLB 10. His TEF score was quite a bit lower with CLB 3 in reading and speaking and CLB 5 in the remaining areas.

Richard comes to you because he would like to hire Akiko permanently and would like to know if he meets the minimum requirements for the Federal Skilled Trades Program and how many points he’s likely to score in the Comprehensive Ranking System. What would you answer?

Danielle is a 29-year old Permanent Resident of Canada who originally moved to Ottawa on June 1st, 7 years ago and did not leave Canada until she took a job teaching math at a private school in China for the last 3 years. During the last 3 years, she has spent every day of the 4-month summer holidays in Toronto so that she can spend time with her parents and she usually takes a couple of summer classes at the college during this time.

She has a great relationship with the school she works at and does not see herself changing jobs at any point in the near future, but wants to keep her PR status in case she ever decides to settle in Canada.

She is currently in Toronto and will be starting her 4th contract in China on October 1st. As such, she books an appointment with Iryna, an RCIC to ask if there are any potential issues at the POE when she comes back to Canada next year and the year after. What is RCIC Iryna likely to advise?

Haruto is an orthodontist from Japan who recently was accepted for nomination by the Manitoba Skilled Worker Overseas Stream. He explains that he has already conducted an ECA and his orthodontist licence transfers over easily. This, combined with the support of his Winnipeg-based friend, led him to being assessed at well above the required 60 points cut-off for this stream. He quickly organized his application, medical and criminal record check and is waiting for a response from the visa office in Tokyo.

Unfortunately, in between the time that Haruto received notification of his successful Manitoba PNP nomination and his application for permanent residency, he forgot to renew his Japanese Orthodontist Association insurance fees and is now banned from working in this field (anywhere in the world) for the next 5 years. He tells you that he does not have experience in another industry other than his time working as a waiter during his university studies 15 years ago.

Is he likely to be accepted for permanent residency by the visa office?

You have passed your ICCRC exam and have opened an office to begin your new career as a RCIC. After a couple of weeks, you get your first client! His name is Rufio and he would like you to help him immigrate under the Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program.

He has a PhD in Sociology and has been teaching in his country for the past 5 years. However, in Nova Scotia, he would like to work and study at the same time so he can continue to specialize in his field.

As specified in the retainer agreement, he paid you the full amount by cheque. When do you need to deposit the money into the client account?

Your office rent and internet bill will be due in a few days. Can you pay these invoices from your Client Account?

You have an expense regarding Rufio’s application that is cheaper if you pay for it in cash. Can you withdraw cash from the Client Account using an ATM to pay for this?

Marc, a client from Norway who has been living in Ottawa for the past 3 years, was sad to hear that his application for permanent residence under the Canadian Experience Class was rejected today. He reiterates that he originally went to Winnipeg as a university student, graduated with a Bachelor Degree in Engineering, and went on to work as a mechanical engineer for the last 2 years. In addition to his fluent English, he also learned to speak French at an intermediate level in his spare time. He is convinced that the agent made an error in calculating his points and rejecting his admission into the Express Entry Pool of qualified candidates. As such, he wants to know how long he has to file for leave for judicial review before he leaves Canada.

Geonwoo is a Chinese national who would like to immigrate to Canada under the Federal Skilled Worker Program. He has the relevant skills, experience, intention and funds, however, 15 years ago, when he was just starting his business, he killed a rival banker because he stole a client.

Although these actions were caught on Geonwoo’s office security cameras, because of his business connections, he only served a year in prison and went on to build a successful business. He assures you that those violent days are behind him and he is a peaceful businessman now.

What would you advise him to do?

Angus is a 50 year-old man who left Canada after a particularly cold winter in 2001. He recently discovered that, because his father was Argentinian, Angus automatically qualified for Argentinian citizenship. With this discovery, he renounced his Canadian citizenship and immigrated to Buenos Aires to start a new life and escape the frozen landscape of Nunavut.

Recently though, he thinks he may have over-reacted and is considering returning to Canada so he can spend time with his nephews and also to work in order to save money while working in Alberta. He would like to resume his citizenship and asks you how much it would cost and where he should send his application to. How would you respond?

Melissa is a 25 year old architect who completed her Master’s Degree at the University of Toronto from 2008 – 2010. After graduating, she worked for 6 months with a small architecture firm in Hamilton and eventually went back home to Colombia to spend time with her family. Her husband, Oscar, is a teacher with a Master’s Degree in Education. When Oscar was 25 years old, he spent a year in Canada working for a college as an educational advisor and both he and Melissa loved their Canadian experience so much that they would love to immigrate permanently under Express Entry.

After reading about the score needed to receive an Invitation to Apply, they both took their IELTS and TEF exams. Oscar received a score of Band 5,4,5,5 in Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking while Melissa received Band 6 in everything. For their TEF exam, Melissa received a score of 234, 199, 168, and 265 and Oscar scored a 390, 330, 250 and 390 in Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing. They’ve been looking for a job offer with no luck, but would still like to get Melissa’s Express Entry profile entered.

How many points is Melissa likely to score in the Comprehensive Ranking System?

Fidel, a Cuban in Moncton, overstayed his student permit and was eventually issued a departure order. He was studying for his PhD in Engineering and came to your office to see if you could do anything to help him stay until he graduates in 7 months. He is willing to write a promissory note to the CBSA and show a non-refundable plane ticket that shows that he will leave at the end of his studies. He is also willing to get married to his new girlfriend, Maureen, a Canadian citizen, if it means that he can stay. As you were reviewing his case, news of the devastation of hurricane Sandy was reported on CBC news and Cuba was declared in a state of environmental disaster. Can a stay of removal order be processed in this case?

Juanita is an international student at the University of Ottawa on a student visa. She is completing her Bachelor’s degree in Computer Programming and is in her 3rd year. When she first came to the University, she completed 6 months of ESL training so she could score a 6 in IELTS, which was the minimum requirement to enter her program. Last year, she found a great job as a video game programmer with Ubisoft, a leading gaming company in Ottawa. Since starting her Bachelor Degree, she has taken 6 courses per semester, but this term, she would like to take 2 due to her heavy workload.
What would you advise her?

Mavid Meckham has decided to come to Toronto to try to get a job as a coach of a soccer team or maybe open a soccer clinic to teach kids the fundamentals of the sport if he gets enough interest. He explains that he has been playing professional soccer at the Olympic and World-class level for the past 20 years and would like to bring his whole family with him when they immigrate because the kids will start university in a few years and the whole family loves visiting Vancouver, so they are certain that they will love living there. How much would he have to prove in funds for himself, his wife and their 3 children?

Mrs. Doubtfire has decades of experience that fit perfectly into the requirements of the Home Child Care Provider Program and has already secured job offers across Canada from families who need her services.
She has narrowed down her options to an incredible opportunity in Quebec City, and another in Ottawa.
The employer in Quebec City has mentioned that Mrs. Doubtfire will be responsible to pay for the LMIA, CAQ and Work Permit requirements if she were to accept the offer, but the employer will pay a MIFI-Accredited RCIC to help with the process. Is this standard practice when employers hire caregivers?

Is there a difference in the application process if she wishes to work in Ontario instead of Quebec?

Mrs. Doubtfire’s final concern is if she accepts one of the above job offers, starts working, and then wishes to change employers, does she have to redo the entire Work Permit application procedure?

A year has passed and Mrs Doubtfire has happily been working for the employer in Ontario. Her employer contacts you because he would like to retain her for another year.
What happens if an employer wants to keep a foreign worker beyond the expiry date of the LMIA?

Ignacio is the President of a large corporation in Argentina that helps companies around the world hire the best engineers for their specific projects. Since there is a large amount of work in this area in Canada recently, he decided to hire RCIC Maria to help with the filing, whether it is a work permit or permanent residency in some cases.
Ignacio would like to meet with the clients alone, sign the contract, and then tell Maria which decision the client has made in terms of whether to come to Canada as a worker or permanent resident. Then Maria will simply organize the application and liaise with the IRCC without being in contact with the client.
Would Maria be in violation of her College of Canadian Immigration and Citizenship Consultants requirements if she were to agree to this arrangement?