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China News Digest - Canadian Regional Services (Bo Xiong ) --------------- Date: Thu, 27 Apr 1995 21:13:29 -0300 Reply-To: FCSSCN-L stands for FCSSC News Release Sender: FCSSCN-L stands for FCSSC News Release >From: Roland Xinlei Wang Subject: FCSSC News Release 6-44, Thursday April 27, 1995 To: Multiple recipients of list FCSSCN-L Status: RO ******************************************************************** # FCSSC News Release 6-44 Thursday, April 27 1995 # # # # m"m D mm" "m" ""D mmmmmmm m"m m"m # # m" "m mmmDmmmm mmmmm D""" D D """D D D "D" "D" # # m" "m D D D D D""" m"m """D D"""D mDmD DmDm # # n" mmmmmmmmm "m D D D D D"""""""""""""D DmmmD mmmD Dmmm # # D D D D D " """""D" " D D D D D D # # mmmmDmmmm D D D D "D DmmmD"DmmD D D # # D m" m" DmmmD """""""D""""" "" D " D D"" # # mmmmmmDmmmmmm m" mm" " " "Md D m" D # # # # # # Federation of Chinese Students and Scholars in Canada # # # ******************************************************************** Table of Contents ============================================================================ 1. New Executive Committee of CSSA in Waterloo 2. Special Report From York University 3. FAQ of Immigration to Quebec ============================================================================ +--------------------------------------------------------------------------+ 1. New Executive Committee of CSSA in Waterloo +--------------------------------------------------------------------------+ >From: Nianhong Bei Date: Tue, 25 Apr 1995 10:46:25 -0300 The new President of CSSA in Waterloo, Nianhong Bei started her work as the President here from April 1, 1995. The new executive committee members include: Nianhong Bei: President Ping Yang: Treasurer Patrick Lee: in charge of communication Keqing Zhang: in change of outdoor activities Jie Sun and Xiaofei Chen : in charge of entertainment Yunping Cui: in charge of sports +--------------------------------------------------------------------------+ 2. Special Report From York University +--------------------------------------------------------------------------+ >From: Jiang, Hongtao (FS300631@Sol.YorkU.ca) Date: Sun, April 23 The York University Tenants Association (YUTA) represents over 4000 graduate students (including their family) living on York Campus. At last YUTA annual election (May 1994), 5 out of 7 positions was taken by York Chinese students (including YUTA president, vp, treasure). These five Chinese students are also York ACSS and FCSSC members. This was the first time in York history that our Chinese fellows won a major election in York community. In the past year, five of us worked as the core for YUTA. We went through many difficulties and though times. Sometimes YUTA executives were under tremendous pressure to fight those racist attack. But we are proud to tell you that we have succeeded in "getting the YUTA well organized" and "establishing the presence of the association in the community". We also worked out the first complete YUTA Constitution, which was passed by a referendum on April 17. A year on a time-energy-consuming and courage-required positions such as that of YUTA has let us learn a lot. All of us have got an impressive experience which perhaps is worthy to be remembered for the rest of our life. On behalf of the association (YUTA and all York Chinese students), we would like to express our appreciation and cordial thanks at the end of our term for your invaluable, firm and consistent support throughout the year. We fully understand that nothing could be done without the strong support from our Chinese community, CSSA and FCSSC. The next YUTA annual election will be hold during the first week of May, two of our CSSA members, Wang Jinru and Zou Xinfu have decided to run for the YUTA positions of president and treasure. Next year, some of our members may run for the GSA positions. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- [Editor's Note] FCSSC President Mr. Zhu Yuchen sends following letter to Mr. Wang Jinru, Mr. Zou Xinfu and Chinese student & scholars at York University regarding their involvement toward local community. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mr. Wang Jinru, Mr. Zou Xinfu, and Chinese students and scholars at York University: I am very pleased and also excited to know that two of your CSSA members, Wang Jinru and Zou Xinfu will run for the President and Treasurer positions in York University Tenants Association, which represents over 4000 graduate students and their families living on York campus. Working as volunteers in a community requires sacrificing one's personal time and may face various challenges in trying to understand people from different background. Mr. Wang and Mr. Zou deserve the respect for their firm commitment to serve the best interest of graduate student community at York University. I would like to extend, on behalf of Federation of Chinese students and scholar in Canada, our full and complete support for their courageous decision. And I am sure they will get all the support they need from the Chinese students and scholars at York University, because they all have reasons to be proud of their CSSA. Last year, five of your members contributed tremendous efforts to the successful operation of the York University Tenants Association after winning five of the seven positions of the Association. Their pioneering attempt has set an example for the rest of us in not only getting actively involved in local community activities, but also actually taking the leadership in them. I believe more and more people of Chinese origins will emerge, in the near future, on all the mainstream Canadian political, economic, and cultural platforms, as well as play major roles in community activities. For now, three cheers for the people at York University. --- Zhu Yuchen, FCSSC President Email: yuchen@bnr.ca Telephone: (613) 823-6611 (Home) (613) 765-2893 (Office) Facsimile: (613) 823-6640 Address: 14 Summerwind Cres., Nepean, Ont. Canada K2G 6G6 CC: FCSSC News Release +--------------------------------------------------------------------------+ 3. FAQ of Immigration to Quebec +--------------------------------------------------------------------------+ >From: Changming yan <058194@acadvm1.uottawa.ca> Date: Mon, 24 Apr 1995 20:55:20 -0300 [Editor's Note] As many of our Chinese students, scholars and professionals in Canada or around the world are going to apply for landed immigrant in Canada. FCSSC Immigration Centre selects the following document for immigration to Quebec, a special province in Canada which has its own immigration policy. We hope this will bring some basic information to our readers. This is the fourth FAQ provided by the Immigration Centre, FCSSC. The FAQ for INDEPENDENT IMMIGRATION TO CANADA has been published in the FCSSC News Release NR6.35. The FAQ for CANADIAN RETURNING RESIDENT PERMIT has been published in the FCSSC News Release NR6.40. The FAQ for CANADIAN CITIZENSHIP has been published in the FCSSC News Release NR6.42. If you have any more concern about immigration to Canada, or any comments to the FCSSC Immigration Centre, please contact us at fcssc-imm@uwalpha.uwinnipeg.ca or Mr. Changming Yan at (819)246-9298(Tel/Fax). ****************************************************************** QUEBEC IMMIGRATION - FAQ ****************************************************************** >From: csinger@cam.org The Quebec Government is currently the only government in Canada which has entered into an agreement (Accord) with the Government of Canada for the purpose of facilitating the formulation, coordination and implementation of immigration policies and programs with respect to that Province. As a consequence thereof, the Quebec Government enacted in 1981, its own laws regulating the selection of foreign nationals wishing to settle permanently or temporarily in Quebec. In virtue of the Accord, Quebec has exclusive authority to select foreign nationals destined to that Province, while the Canadian Government continues to maintain exclusive jurisdiction over statutory matters such as health, security and settlement funds. The Quebec government is currently issuing Quebec Certificates of Selection to qualified professionals and skilled persons under the "Independent" category, who possess a variety of attributes including education and employment experience which are compatible with occupations "open" to prospective immigrants to Canada. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS THE ACQUISITION OF CANADIAN PERMANENT RESIDENCE UNDER THE QUEBEC INDEPENDENT CATEGORY (SKILLED WORKERS) March 1995 What does Canadian permanent resident status entail? Pursuant to the provisions of Canada's constitutional laws, the holder of a Canadian permanent resident visa and his/her accompanying dependents are permitted to permanently reside and earn a livelihood in any one of the ten provinces or two territories within Canada. What does a Quebec Certificate of Selection entail? A Quebec Certificate of Selection (CSQ), serves as the instrument which when received by the Canadian Citizenship & Immigration authorities, initiates the process of acquiring Canadian permanent residence. As well, the holder of a CSQ will be able to subscribe to the various social services which are available in Quebec such as the Quebec Provincial health care plan. Who qualifies for a Quebec Certificate of Selection? The Independent category provides for the granting of a CSQ to applicants who are assessed a total of either 50 or 60 units of assessment (depending on the circumstances of their case), under 9 Factors Of Assessment. Currently, the Quebec version of the "List of Open Occupations" which are available to prospective immigrants to Quebec is quite restrictive. Accordingly applicants who are able to obtain "approved" offers of employment and/or are assessed a sufficient number of points under the Factor - "Adaptability", have the best chance to obtain a CSQ under the Independent (Skilled Worker) category. Alternatively, applicants who receive written offers of employment, may qualify for Ministerial approval, pursuant to the highly discretionary provisions of the Quebec Regulations. How long does it take to obtain a CSQ and a permanent resident visa? Depending upon the time of year, the Quebec Government office, the Canadian visa office in question and other factors, the processing time for an application for a CSQ and permanent residence filed under the Quebec independent category can vary from between 8 months and 24 months. This is the time generally needed to attend a Quebec selection interview, receive a CSQ, complete the federal statutory health requirements and obtain a clean bill of health for the applicant and accompanying dependents; obtain a confirmation of no criminal inadmissibilities for the applicant and the overage accompanying dependents and demonstrate sufficient assets to successfully establish the family in Quebec. Who is included in the application for a CSQ? The application for a CSQ includes the applicant, spouse and unmarried children of any age. This is substantially different from the Federal dependency provisions. Where are applications submitted? Applications for a CSQ must be filed with an appropriate Quebec Government office outside of Canada. Once approved, the Quebec Government will forward to the appropriate Federal visa office, the CSQ and applications completed by the applicant, for Canadian permanent residence. The effective selection of the Quebec office can greatly reduce the overall processing time which varies from post to post. There are currently a number of Quebec Government offices in Western Europe; the Middle East; Pacific Asia; Central America; and the United States. Do the Quebec authorities levy processing fees to evaluate an application for permanent residence? At the present time, there are no fees charged for an assessment under the Independent (Skilled Worker) category by the Quebec Government. However once initiated, applications for Canadian permanent residence must include the appropriate non refundable processing fees for applicants and their accompanying dependents. As well, effective February 28, 1995, a Right Of Landing Fee of $975 will be charged to any person who is at least 19 years of age applying for permanent residence. Processing fees and Right Of Landing fees must be filed with the federal applications. In the event an application is refused or withdrawn, the Right Of Landing fees are refundable. Must the applicant travel to Quebec as part of the immigration process? (Not applicable for persons studying or working in Quebec) The applicant need not visit Quebec as part of the immigration process. However points are awarded for visits (one point for a two week visit within the previous five years; two points will be awarded where a sojourn of at least two weeks has taken place during the preceding five years, for employment or studying purposes). The reality is that familiarity with the Quebec landscape, including the French language, customs and particularly a knowledge of the area of intended destination in Quebec, can impact positively on the overall assessment. Who must attend the selection interview? The applicant and spouse (where applicable), will generally be required to travel to the processing visa office and attend the selection interview. In some cases, the requirement for a spouse to attend the selection interview, can be waived. As well, certain posts require that accompanying dependent children over the age of 19 years, attend the immigration selection interview. The selection of the processing office is therefore one factor in determining who must attend the selection interview. What documents are submitted along with the application? Applications filed under the Quebec Independent category generally include documents pertaining to the applicant's education, employment experience and where applicable, an (approved) offer of employment. In addition, applicants are required to submit statutory documents such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, etc. Is full-time employment experience a necessary requirement? In most instances, at least one year of full-time employment experience related to the applicant's intended occupation in Quebec, is a necessary preliminary requisite to qualifying for a CSQ and Canadian permanent resident status. What About Interview Waives? The Quebec Government conducts interviews for all applicants applying under the Independent (Skilled Worker) category. Once a CSQ is issued it will generally occur that the federal visa office will exercise its right to waive the federal interview. Are assets/personal net worth determining factors in the selection process? Under the Independent category, personal net worth is not a selection criterion under which an applicant is assessed. Assets can impact positively on an applicant's assessment under the Factor - "Adaptability". All applicants must however provide evidence of sufficient funds for the family to travel and settle in Canada (Quebec) according to current Federal requirements. Generally, a sum ranging between $5,000 - $20,000 CDN would be deemed sufficient depending upon the size of the conjugal family and the area of intended destination in Quebec. Such evidence would be furnished immediately prior to visa issuance. Does it help to have a relative/friend in Quebec? Having a close relative/friend in Quebec residing in the area of applicant's intended destination, will result in five points being awarded to the applicant. Do prior visa applications to Quebec, Canada or the United States hinder an application for a CSQ ? This is another area which is quite sensitive and should be addressed appropriately. Must an individual reside in Quebec in order to maintain permanent resident status? At the present time, a Canadian permanent resident residing in Quebec is, pursuant to Canadian Constitutional laws, permitted to relocate to any one of the 10 provinces and two territories in Canada. This is a predominantly Federal issue. Under current Federal legislation, a Canadian permanent resident should not remain outside of Canada for more than six months in any twelve month period. In some cases, a Returning Resident Permit may be obtained from the Canadian authorities (in Quebec), which would allow for continuous absences of up to two years while permanent resident status is preserved. For example, individuals who wish to complete their studies or honour the terms and conditions of an existing employment contract may qualify for such a permit. This is a highly discretionary area of the regulations. Can Canadian permanent resident status lead to Canadian Citizenship? As a general rule, individuals with three years of permanent resident status during the preceding four years can qualify for Canadian citizenship. Generally, actual physical residence is required. However in a number of instances, non physical residence has been acceptable. The issue of physical and non physical residence has given rise to substantial litigation and accordingly merits further consideration by prospective applicants. Can foreign nationals who have applied for a Quebec Certificate of Selection and Canadian permanent residence under the Quebec Independent category obtain a temporary non immigrant visitor's visa to Quebec? Traditionally, concurrent applications for permanent residence and temporary entry to Canada have been viewed by visa officers as being incompatible with each other. Under current Quebec immigration policy, applicants are encouraged to become familiar with Quebec's landscape which assumedly will augment the applicant's likelihood of successfully integrating into Quebec society. Indeed, applicant's are awarded additional points for visits exceeding two weeks. However, applicant's are discouraged however from "waiting" inside Quebec during the permanent residence application process. Accordingly, applicants who wish to procure temporary entry into Canada (Quebec) and who have pending, an application for a CSQ and Canadian permanent residence, will be required to demonstrate sufficient ties to their current country of residence prior to the issuing of a temporary visitor's visa by the Canadian visa office abroad. Is it more advantageous to apply before or after an applicant has researched the Quebec labour market? The various occupations which are open to prospective immigrants to Canada, are continuously being revised by the Quebec immigration authorities to reflect Quebec's changing labour market requirements. As well, since the processing of either a permanent resident, CSQ or an employment authorization visa generally takes months to complete, Quebec employers prefer to consider the candidacy of applicants who possess the appropriate legal status to become permanently employed in Quebec. This increases the marketability of a potential applicant for the prospective Quebec employer. What are the current prospects for employment in Quebec? Quebec is currently experiencing a higher than average rate of unemployment compared to the National average. Applicants who are interested in establishing residence in Quebec are advised to undertake a preliminary visit in order to establish contact with prospective employers. What are the benefits of engaging the services of an attorney who specializes in Quebec and Canadian immigration matters? Quebec Immigration laws and regulations are highly procedural and provide for the extensive use of discretionary authority by immigration officers. Such discretion must be exercised in precise and well defined limits. As well, Quebec immigration laws are rather new in relation to the Federal model. The joint involvement between the Quebec and Federal governments in the immigration process, often entails a series of complex procedural undertakings which require the participation of knowledgeable and experienced counsel, who is familiar with both jurisdictions. A skilled attorney specializing in this field, will be able to effectively navigate through the required proceduralities, recognize the presence of irregularities in the use of discretionary authority, the misapplication of immigration directives and guidelines, the misapplication of regulatory definitions and the committing of fundamental breaches in the duty to act fairly during the assessment process. An experienced attorney will ensure that such irregularities are raised within the proper legal delays, and that the issues in question can be properly addressed before a competent tribunal or court of law. In practical terms, a reputable attorney will effectively prepare submissions which satisfactorily address the issues where discretion is a factor. A reputable attorney will effectively present to the visa office instances of irregularities in the assessment process which most often will be corrected, thus avoiding the need to avail the use of the judicial system. Lastly, Quebec Immigration guidelines permit the participation of an attorney during the selection interview, which in some instances can successfully assist a prospective applicant. +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Executive Editor: Xinlei Wang (xwang@ug.cs.dal.ca) | +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | This FCSSC NR is sent to 5,000--10,000 worldwide subscribers and readers. | +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | To sign on/off FCSSC public list, send a msg to the listserv address with | | command: "subscribe " or "unsubscribe " | | LIST NAME LISTSERV ADDRESS USED FOR | | fcsscN-l listserv@vm.ucs.ualberta.ca English News Release | | fcsscD-l listserv@vm.ucs.ualberta.ca Discussion and info exchange | | fhy-ps listserv@uwalpha.uwinnipeg.ca Chinese Magazine for printing | | fhy-gb listserv@cunews.carleton.ca CM jiantizi version for reading | | fhy-hz listserv@uwalpha.uwinnipeg.ca CM for on-line reading | | fhy-big5 listserv@uwalpha.uwinnipeg.ca CM fantizi version for reading | | Please send your technical request to: fcssc-cic@md.physics.uoguelph.ca | | send news contributions & comments to: fcssc-nr@uwalpha.uwinnipeg.ca | | send immigration related questions to: fcssc-imm@uwalpha.uwinnipeg.ca | | send questions on student services to: fcssc-service@uwalpha.uwinnipeg.ca | | All issues of NR are on the ftp site: uwalpha.uwinnipeg.ca:/pub/fcssc/nr | +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+