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China News Digest - Canadian Regional Services (Bo Xiong) --------------- Date: Wed, 15 Nov 1995 10:45:30 -0600 Reply-To: xwang@ug.cs.dal.ca Originator: fcsscn-l@uwalpha.uwinnipeg.ca Sender: fcsscn-l@uwalpha.uwinnipeg.ca From: Roland Xinlei Wang To: Multiple recipients of list Subject: FCSSC News Release 7-11, Wednesday November 15, 1995 ******************************************************************** # FCSSC News Release 7-11 Wednesday, November 15, 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. Recent Info for Spouse Visa of Chinese Students from IECC 2. Statement from FCSSC President about Visa Rejection Cases in Beijing 3. Recent Change of Immigration Policy 4. Immigration News ============================================================================ +--------------------------------------------------------------------------+ 1. Recent Info for Spouse Visa of Chinese Students from IECC +--------------------------------------------------------------------------+ From: Changming Yan, FCSSC Immigration Center Date: Nov. 4, 1995 The International Education Conference in Canada (IECC) was held in Ottawa from October 28-31 in Ottawa. The meeting was organized by the Canadian Bureau for International Education. Every year the International student advisors from all of the Canadian universities, colleges and institutes get together with the Canadian governmental officers and the representatives of many embassies, and discuss about the international education and the affairs of the international students in Canada. The commonwealth Secretary General, Mr. Chief Emeka Anyaoku, the President of the Canadian International Development Agency, Mrs. Huguette Labelle and The Under Secretary General of United Nations, Dr. Gillian Martin Sorensen gave the speech in the meeting. Many topics related international education in Canada were discussed, which includes: Transition Learning Needs of International Students, Education and Cultural Programs for Cooperation, Value of Orientation Programs, Attracting and Supporting International Students and Immigration. The immigration was a big issue, there were three sections on immigration in the meeting. Several key officers of Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration of Canada(CIC) were invited to give presentation, including the Director General of Immigration, Visitor and Refugee Program, the Director of Non-immigration Program, the Director of Asia, and Pacific Branch and the Director of Medical Program Development. Several students of the Carleton University, University of Ottawa and Algonquin College were invited to attend this meeting. They represented the international students from different countries. Mr. Changming Yan, the Director of the Immigration Center of FCSSC, as one of the delegates of University of Ottawa, referred to the immigration officers the problem about family union for the Chinese students whose spouses were refused to get the visitor visa by the Canadian Embassy in Beijing with the support of the international student advisors from many universities, including University of Ottawa, University of Manitoba, University of British Columbia, University of Regina and University of Guelph. The immigration officers agreed to reconsider the financial requirement for the foreign students who want to sponsor their spouses to visit in Canada. The guideline is the net income of $C19,000 right now. The financial requirement will be changed as following: The minimum funding for a foreign student: $C10,000 for living as single; plus $C4,000 for spouse and plus $C3,000 for a child. The funding could be income(excluding the tuition fee) and saving. The income is considered more important when the immigration officers issue the visitor visa to the spouses. The problem is not solved totally because there is no such financial requirement for the international students from many other countries and, it is not necessary to set up such high guideline for spouse' three month visit. The immigration Center of FCSSC will still work on it. The Director General of Immigration, Visitor and Refugee Program, Mr. Gerry Van Kessel promised that the CIC would review the immigration processing in Beijing. The new immigration policy has been discussed, which supposed to be announced on November 1. It has been delayed because of the current political situation. The point system for the independent immigration is going to be changed, but there are not much influence to the foreign students' qualification. It is very appreciated that the international student advisors have given a lot of help to the FCSSC members. They are going to help us continuously. If you, as an international students, have problems with you, please go to ask the international student advisors at your universities for help. Also, it is encouraged that the local Chinese student associations visit the international student advisors and set up good relationship with them. There are a lot of useful information for the international students with them. You can contact the FCSSC Immigration Center, Mr. Changming Yan, or Ms. Lily He at fcssc-imm@uwalpha.uwinnipeg.ca. we are willing to help you, specially for the common concerns for the Chinese of students. +--------------------------------------------------------------------------+ 2. Statement from FCSSC President about Visa Rejection Cases in Beijing +--------------------------------------------------------------------------+ From: Zhu Ningsheng, FCSSC President Date: November 8, 1995 Dear Netters, According to the following latest information from Beijing I just received a couple of days ago, I will suggest that FCSSC, relevant CSSAs, and their members take the further actions like: 1) FCSSC will write an official letter directly to Sergio Marchi, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, attached with all the collected cases of the visa rejection in Beijing. 2) FCSSC will entrust a lawyer of VSI, Ms. *Millie Hrnjez, to directly contact the Ministers Office in Ottawa on behalf of FCSSC for the visa rejection cases of its members. 3) Relevant CSSA members should write to the local MPs and International Student Centers to claim your cases. Meanwhile, please send your copies directly to VSI office in Toronto. 4) Each local CSSA president may collect more cases and send them to both FCSSC and VSI. If you have any concerns and questions, please directly contact the addresses at fcssc-imm@uwalpha.uwinnipeg.ca. Thank you again for using FCSSC network service. Enclose: Message from Mr. John Ryan, Immigration Lawyer working with FCSSC ************************************************************************** Spousal Visitor Visas - A Thorny Issue ************************************** By John P. Ryan, Immigration Paralegal Increasingly we have become aware of problems experienced by FCSSC members obtaining Canadian Visitor Visas for their spouses, while studying in Canada. We recently made representations to the Canadian Embassy here in Beijing, at the request of Mr. Ning Sheng Zhu, National President of the FCSSC, outlining member concerns. Views were communicated to the Embassy that many members felt that the financial support figures used by the Consulate were too high and unrealistic when compared to the actual experience of FCSSC Members studying and living in Canada. In response, our office was informed by Immigration staffers, that decisions to grant visitor visas to spouses of Chinese students studying in Canada are based upon the financial ability of the student to support his or her spouse for the entire period of his or her stay in Canada. It was pointed out that many spouses who travel to Canada with the initial intention of travelling temporarily, usually decide to extend the duration of their stay considerably,( up to and including finally deciding to stay permanently). This, the Embassy maintains, increases the amounts required to provide for the spouses stay. The process used to access the students ability is based on financial estimates provided to the Canadian Government by Universities across Canada. These estimates include the cost of living expenses, supplies, rent; transportation expenses and food. We have been advised that the student in Canada must demonstrate an annual income that ranges from in excess of $17,000 CAD if your university is in a smaller center such as Saskatchewan and over $19,000 CAD if you study at a University in the Toronto area. While the staffers did concede that the figures did seem a bit high, they were unwilling to change the policy until directed to by Citizenship and Immigration Canada's National Head Quarters in Ottawa. It was confirmed that the current levels of funding required are under review in Ottawa. Visa Seminars International Inc. has advised Mr. Ning Sheng Zhu to address members concerns directly to Sergio Marchi, the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. In addition individual members would be well advised to also contact their local International Student advisors in order to bring pressure to bear on the individual universities who provide figures to Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Representations definitely should also be made to your local member of Parliament outlining your concerns. We will continue to make representations directly to the embassy here in Beijing on the behalf of individual members. In our next edition of the Visa Scene Advisory we will provide you with the names and addresses of persons inside the ministry who will be able to speak directly to this issue. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ * Ms. M. Hrnjez joins VSI after seven years experience as an independent Immigration Lawyer. Over the course of Ms. Hrnjez's career she has dealt with all areas of Canada Immigration. She brings with her a deep understanding of Canadian Immigration Law and practice. According to the agreement of FCSSC and VSI, Ms. M. Hrnjez will be entrust to deal with the Ministers Office directly on behalf of FCSSC regarding the rejection cases of FCSSC members. *************************************************************** How To Reach VSI; ***************** North America; Europe; *************** ******* Visa Seminars Int. Inc. Visa Seminars Int. Inc. (Berlin) 196 Adelaide St. W. Kinzig Strasse 33 Suite 100, 10247 Berlin, Germany Toronto, Ontario. Tel:49-30-292-2977 Canada, M5H 1W7 Email: 74503.441@compuserve.com Tel: (416)-599-8767 Chief Representative: Ms. Faust Fein Fax: (416)-599-9812 Email: jryan@inforamp.net Asia **** Beijing; Shanghai; ******** ********* Visa Seminars Int. Inc. (Beijing) Visa Seminars Int. Inc. (Shanghai) Friendship Hotel The Shanghai Foreign Trade Hotel Building #4, Suite 617, Suite 1505, Building No.2 3 Bai Shi Qiao Road, 590 Wanping Road, Beijing, 100873 PRC. Shanghai, 200030, PRC. TEL/FAX: 86-10-849-9457 TEL/FAX: 86-21-439-5604 email: visac@public.bta.net.cn email: visac@public.bta.net.cn Chief Representative: Ms. Chen Yao Chief Representative: Ms. Lu Ying ************************************************************************* +--------------------------------------------------------------------------+ 3. Recent Change of Immigration Policy +--------------------------------------------------------------------------+ From: Changming Yan Date: November 12, 1995 The enclosed immigration news is from Dr. Lyle Eide, the director of the International Student Service Center at Univ. of Manitoba. Dr. Eide is also the executive of the Immigration Committee of the Canadian Bureau of International Education. ========================================================================= As you may know, The Honorable Minister for Immigration, Sergio Marchi, announced levels of immigration for 1966 in the House of Commons, on November 1, 1995. Although changes in the "point system" and new regulations for accepting applications are often announced at the same time, this did not happen this year. Therefore, at this time, I can only report that the 1996 Plan "provides for a range of between 195,000 and 220,000 immigrants and refugees in 1996, up 5,000 from last year's projections." However, all this really means is that there was no real change in levels because in recent years, Canada has not met the projections set. (As well, I EXPECT there will be little change in the "independent category" because this is the group that is getting the best support.) AFTER changes regarding new policies/practices for 1996 immigration have been announced, Don Cameron, Canadian Consul at Seattle, Washington, will come to Winnipeg and give us an up-to-date "Immigration Information Session." (Mr. Cameron agreed to do this in e-mail communication with me, yesterday.) +--------------------------------------------------------------------------+ 4. Immigration News +--------------------------------------------------------------------------+ From: John Ryan Date: November 11, 1995 *********************************************** VISA SCENE ADVISORY - Beijing 08 November 1995 --------------------------------------------------------------- An Information service provided to members of the Federation of Chinese Student Scholars in Canada and other students worldwide. *************************************************************** Contents ******** 1) Service standards at Canadian Consulates in Buffalo and Detroit. 2) CCPE increases Fee for Assessment of Engineering Qualifications 3) John Ryan visits to give seminars in Berlin, Germany . ************************************************ Service Standards at Canadian Consulates in Buffalo and Detroit by John P. Ryan, Immigration Paralegal ************************************************ Further to our last Visa Scene advisory, Visa Seminars International Inc. has now received official notification from Mr. M.A. Oppertsnauser the new Consul in Buffalo of significant increases in the amount of time required to process applications at both offices. While cases held by the Area Processing Center may still be processed in six to eight months, files transferred to either the Buffalo Consulate or the Detroit Consulate for Interview can now expect to wait upwards of 12 to 18 months for the final processing of their cases. The Published service standards quoted in the Letter are as follows; SERVICE STANDARDS ***************** "Effective immediately, the following service standards apply to cases submitted to the APC. -Acknowledgement of receipt of an application will be sent in seven days of the receipt of application. -Outcome of initial assessment is sent within 45 days of the receipt of application. -Estimated time to finalization for cases retained in APC is 6-8 months following initial assessment where an interview is not required. As it is currently taking a minimum of 5-6 months from the date of examination until we receive notification of medical results it is therefore imperative that applicants undergo their medical examinations immediately upon receipt of the medical forms. Failure to do so will only lengthen the total processing time. -Estimated time to interview Buffalo is 12 - 18 months following initial assessment. Medical instructions will be issued along with the interview letter. -Estimated time to interview in Detriot is 12 - 18 months following initial assessment. Medical instructions will be issued along with the interview letter." In his letter, Mr. Oppertsnauser cautioned that the above waiting periods were only estimates and that times actually may increase. He further stated that his office will no longer respond to what it deems as routine status enquiries while the case is being processed within the above standards. This effectively means that it will be next to impossible to receive a status update on a file ( unless it is for an exceptional reason ) until the processing time has exceeded the above noted periods. Clients may still attempt to obtain information by contacting the APC Help Line at (716)-858-9590 from 8:30 to Noon and 1 to 3:30pm weekdays. So the net result appears to be that it will take upward of eight to ten months for the consulates to process a waived interview applicant ( including waiting period for initial assessment) and between 12 to 18 months for the conclusion of a case that requires an interview. What a difference a year makes. ************************************************************************* CCPE Increases Fee for Assessment of Engineering Qualifications. by John P. Ryan, Immigration Paralegal ************************************************************************* In the same letter, Mr. Oppertenauser, Consul Buffalo, announced that his office would no longer act as an intermediary in the assessment of engineering qualifications. All prospective engineers require assessment of their qualifications and they should now contact the Canadian Council of Professional Engineers (CCPE) to obtain the necessary forms. Once completed the applicant is instructed to return the forms directly to the CCPE along with the applicable fee which has recently been increased to $175. ********************************************************************* John Ryan Visits Berlin, Germany ********************************************************************* Between the 21st and 26th of November Visa Seminars International Inc. President John Ryan will be in Berlin, Germany to deliver three seminars on Immigration to Canada. These Seminars will occur on the evenings of the 22nd, 23rd and 24th of November. For exact times and locations all interested parties are asked to contact VSI's representative Ms. Fausta Fein directly in Berlin at 030-292-2977 We look forward to seeing you in Berlin. +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 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@uwalpha.uwinnipeg.ca English News Release | | 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 NR issues are on ftp: uwalpha.uwinnipeg.ca:/pub/fcssc/NR/nr5|nr6|nr7 | +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+