Transcript: Immigration | Jan 09, 2001
(music plays)The opening sequence shows a wooden table with a small lit candle as several words fly by: Nutrition, medicine, prevention, treatment, health.
Fast clips show different sets of hands performing activities on the table such as pulling petals from a daisy, drawing a big red heart, tuning a violin, flipping through the pages of a book, cooking, and pouring a glass of red wine.
In animation, the title appears inside the shape of a house: “More to life.”
Maureen Taylor sits in a red armchair in a studio with yellow walls. Behind her a placard reads “More to Life.”
Maureen is in her late thirties, with wavy red hair in a bob. She’s wearing a beige turtleneck.
She says HELLO, I'M
MAUREEN TAYLOR, AND THIS IS
“MORE TO LIFE”
IMMIGRANTS WITH ANTI-BIOTIC
RESISTANCE STRAINS OF
TUBERCULOSIS, CANADIANS
GETTING HASSLED AT THE U.S.
BORDER AND KARLA HOMOLKA
WANTING TO EMIGRATE TO
ANOTHER COUNTRY.
THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE
THINGS WE'RE GOING TO TALK
ABOUT THIS AFTERNOON WITH MY
GUEST JOEL GUBERMAN IS AN
IMMIGRATION LAWYER WITH
GUBBERMAN, GARSON IN
TORONTO.
Joel is in his forties and clean-shaven with short black hair. He's wearing a plaid black suit, a blue shirt and a dark blue tie.
Maureen continues IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT
IMMIGRATION RULES, FAMILY
SPONSORSHIP OR EMIGRATING TO
ANOTHER COUNTRY WITH A
CRIMINAL RECORD GIVE US A
CALL.
A caption appears on screen showing two phone numbers.
She continues IN TORONTO YOU MIGHT AS WELL
DIAL THE TEN DIGITS,
416-484-2727.
LONG DISTANCE 2 IS TOLL-FREE
AT 1-888-411-1234.
A caption appears on screen showing an e-mail address.
She continues OR E-MAIL YOUR QUESTION TO
“MORE TO LIFE” AT TVO.ORG.
WELCOME BACK.
Joel says HI, THANK YOU.
Maureen says LOTS IN THE
NEWS.
LET'S START WITH THE CASE OF
THE HAMILTON MAN WHO
IMMIGRATED FROM AFRICA I
BELIEVE WITH TUBERCULOSIS
THAT WASN'T CAUGHT AND ENDED
UP INFECTING SEVERAL PEOPLE
HERE.
CAN YOU GIVE US AN IDEA OF
WHAT IMMIGRANTS ARE USUALLY
SCREENED FOR AS FAR AS
DISEASES.
The caption changes to “Joel Guberman. Immigration lawyer.”
He says WELL, TUBERCULOSIS
CERTAINLY THEY ARE SCREENED
FOR.
BECAUSE WE HAVE THE
UNIVERSAL HEALTH-CARE SYSTEM
MEDICAL SCREENING IS
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT BEFORE
SOMEONE CAN EMIGRATE TO
CANADA.
IF ONE MEMBER OF A FAMILY
HAS A DISEASE OR COMMUNE
CABLE DISEASE OR EVEN OTHER
CONDITIONS THE WHOLE FAMILY
IS INADMISSIBLE.
SO IT WAS A VERY MAJOR
ABERRATION FOR SOMEONE NOT
TO BE CAUGHT WITH ACTIVE TD.
THEY CERTAINLY SCREEN FOR
TB.
THEY HAVE SCREENED FOR TB
FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND
YEARS.
Maureen says WHAT ELSE DO
THEY SCREEN FOR.
Joel says ESSENTIALLY ANY COMMUNE I
CABLE DISEASE.
THERE ARE THREE PARTS TO THE
CURRENT MEDICAL REVIEW WHICH
IS SEEING A DOCTOR WHO ASKS
ALL THE PERTINENT QUESTIONS
ABOUT CONTAGIOUS DISEASES, A
FULL CHEST X-RAY AND A BLOOD
TEST.
SO WHATEVER THEY ARE
SCREENING FOR IN THAT BLOOD
TEST SHOULD COME OUT.
AND CERTAINLY IF SOMEONE
KNOWS THEY HAVE A A DISEASE
THEY SHOULD BE TELLING THE
DOCTOR.
Maureen says AND THEY ARE
SCREENED IN THEIR COUNTRY OF
ORIGIN.
Joel says YES, THERE IS A
DESIGNATED MEDICAL
PRACTITIONER DESIGNATED BY
THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT TO
DO THAT YES.
USUALLY THEY ARE SCREENED IN
THAT COUNTRY.
Maureen says NOW IN THE
LATEST DEVELOPMENT HE'S
SUING THE CANADIAN
GOVERNMENT FOR NOT CATCHING
HIS TB.
AND HE WENT ON TO INFECT HIS
WIFE AMONG OTHER PEOPLE.
WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF HIM
BEING SUCCESSFUL IN THIS
LAWSUIT.
Joel says WELL, WHEN I HEARD ABOUT
THAT I COULD ONLY THINK HAVE
WE REALLY TURNED INTO THE
UNITED STATES AT THIS POINT.
AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED AND
I WILL BE PERFECTLY BLUNT I
THINK IT IS A NONSENSICAL
AND RIDICULOUS NOTION, IT
JUST DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.
Maureen says BECAUSE IT IS A
LITIGIOUS --
Joel says IT IS HIS DISEASE.
HE CONTRACTED IT ALL, ALL
THAT CANADA IS DOING IS
SCREENING FOR IT.
WE ARE NOT CURING ANYONE.
WE ARE NOT UNDERTAKING TO DO
ANYTHING IT IS JUST
MIND-BOGGLINGLY OUTRAGE US.
Maureen says DO WE SCREEN FOR HIV AND
AIDS.
Joel says NOT OFFICIALLY.
WE DON'T OFFICIALLY.
OF COURSE THERE HAS BEEN A
PROPOSAL TO DO EXACTLY THAT.
FRANKLY, I'M SURPRISED WE
AREN'T SCREENING FOR IT.
IT IS A CONTAGIOUS DISEASE.
IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY
TARGET ANY PARTICULAR GROUP
AND IT SHOULDN'T.
BUT THE IDEA BEHIND IT IS
THAT WE DON'T INVITE PEOPLE
INTO THE COUNTRY WHO WILL
POTENTIALLY INFECT OTHER
PEOPLE WITH ANYTHING.
Maureen says AND I TAKE IT
YOU ARE SAYING IT IS NOT
JUST INFECTING THE OTHER
PEOPLE, IT COULD COST THE
HEALTH-CARE SYSTEM A LOT OF
MONEY TO TAKE CARE OF THESE
PEOPLE.
Joel says THAT IS EXACTLY RIGHT.
AND THAT IS WHAT THE LAW
SAYS RIGHT NOW.
IF A CONDITION IS GOING TO
AFFECT THE BURDEN ON THE
SOCIAL OR MEDICAL SERVICES
IN THE COUNTRY THAN SOMEONE
IS POTENTIALLY INADMISSIBLE.
AND THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS AND
WAYS TO OVERRIDE CERTAIN
EXCEPTIONS AS WELL SO IN THE
CASE OF HUMANITARIAN,
COMPASSIONATE CONCERNS OR
FAMILY REUNIFICATION,
PERSONS WITH EVEN CONTAGIOUS
DISEASES CAN BE ADMITTED IN
THE COUNTRY.
I THINK THAT THE MEDICAL
SCREENING THAT WE DO NOW IS
GOOD.
AND I THINK THE WAY THE LAW
STANDS IN ADMIT ORGANIZE NOT
ADMITTING PEOPLE IS PRETTY
SOLID.
Maureen says THE OTHER THING
I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU
ABOUT IS KARLA HOMOLKA'S
LAWYER HAS SAID THAT WHEN
SHE IS RELEASED SHE WOULD
LIKE TO LIVE SOMEWHERE OTHER
THAN CANADA.
DOESN'T THINK SHE CAN OVER
MAKE -- EVER MAKE A LIFE FOR
HERSELF IN THIS COUNTRY.
WHO WOULD TAKE HER.
says THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.
BECAUSE MY THOUGHTS EXACTLY.
WHO IN THE WORLD WOULD TAKE
SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN
CONVICTED OF WHAT SHE HAS
BEEN CONVICTED OF.
BUT INDEED THERE ARE
COUNTRIES THAT MIGHT ACCEPT
HER.
AND EVEN SOME VERY CIVILIZED
COUNTRIES UNDER VERY, VERY
EXTREME SITUATIONS MIGHT
ACCEPT HER.
THERE ARE COUNTRIES, FOR
EXAMPLE, BRAZIL THAT
ESSENTIALLY DOESN'T HAVE ANY
REALLY HARD AND FAST
IMMIGRATION LAWS AND IF SHE
SERVED HER SENTENCE AND CAN
SHOW SHE HAS SUFFICIENT
FUNDS TO SUPPORT HERSELF
THIS BRAZIL, THAT IS A
POSSIBILITY.
I DON'T PRETEND TO BE AN
EXPERT IN BRAZILIAN LAW BUT
AS I UNDERSTAND IT BRAZIL IS
ONE.
NICARAGUA FOR EXAMPLE IS
ANOTHER.
Maureen says IS IT
CONCEIVABLE THAT THE U.S.
WOULD TAKE HER.
says STRANGELY, ON A PRACTICAL
BASIS, NO.
I WOULD SAY THERE IS NOT A
CHANCE IN THE WORLD.
BUT ON A PURELY TECHNICAL
LEGAL BASIS, IF FOR EXAMPLE
SHE WERE MARRIED TO AN
AMERICAN CITIZEN AND I HAVE
READ THAT SHE HAS HAD OFFERS
OF MARRIAGE ALL OVER THE
PLACE, IF SHE WERE MARRIED
TO AN AMERICAN CITIZEN AND
THEY COULD SHOW THAT BEING A
PART AND NOT IN THE UNITED
STATES WOULD CAUSE EXTREME
HARDSHIP TO THE AMERICAN,
IT'S CONCEIVABLE THAT THEY
COULD ADMIT HER.
ALTHOUGH AS I SAY I THINK
EXTRAORDINARILY UNLIKELY.
Maureen says I ALSO READ THAT
THERE ARE RUMORS IN BRITAIN
AND I DON'T THINK IT IS
GOING TO HAPPEN THAT THE TWO
BOYS CONVICTED OF KILLING
LITTLE JAMES BULGER MAY BE
SENT TO CANADA OR AUSTRALIA.
WHAT ABOUT OUR LAWS.
WOULD WE EVER ACCEPT A
MURDERER.
says WE COULD, STRANGELY
ENOUGH, IF SOMEONE HAS BEEN
CONVICTED OF A CRIMINAL
OFFENCE OUTSIDE OF CANADA OR
EVEN IN CANADA BUT THEY ARE
NOT CANADIAN CITIZENS THEY
CAN APPLY FOR IMMIGRATION TO
CANADA.
SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN
CONVICTED WOULD HAVE TO BE
SPECIFICALLY PERMITTED BY
THE MINISTER TO COME IN AND
AT LEAST FIVE YEARS SINCE
THE END OF THE SENTENCE
WOULD HAVE TO HAVE ELAPSED.
BUT THERE IS A LOT OF
DISCRETION IN OUR SYSTEM.
SO THE MINISTER OF
IMMIGRATION CAN OVERRIDE A
LOT OF WHAT, YOU KNOW, YOU
AND I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO
DO.
Maureen says HARD TO SEE THEM
DOING THAT JUST ON A
POLITICAL LEVEL THOUGH,
ISN'T IT.
says CERTAINLY.
Maureen says ALL RIGHT.
WELL, WE'LL TAKE YOUR
QUESTIONS WHICH I'M SURE
DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO
WITH BEING A SERIAL MURDER
AND WANTING TO MOVE TO
ANOTHER COUNTRY BUT I'M SURE
YOU HAVE A LOT OF
IMMIGRATION QUESTIONS FOR
JOEL GUBBERMAN WITH
GUBBERMAN GARSON IN TORONTO.
GIVE US A CALL AT
416-484-2727.
LONG DISTANCE IT IS
1-888-411-1234.
AND THE E-MAIL ADDRESS IS
MORETOLIFE@TVO.ORG.
JUDITH IS IN MISS AUGUSTA.
Judith says HI, HOW ARE YOU.
Maureen responds GOOD, THANKS.
Judith says MY HUSBAND AND I ARE IN
THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO
BRING A FRIEND OF OURS FROM
CUBA TO CANADA TO VISIT OUR
FAMILY FOR POSSIBLY TWO
MONTHS.
AND I HAVE BEEN LOOKING INTO
WHAT THE PROCESS IS TO TRY
TO GET HER HERE AND I'M JUST
CONFUSED AS TO WHETHER I
SHOULD BE DEALING THROUGH
THE CANADIAN IMMIGRATION
OFFICE OR WHETHER I SHOULD
BE DOING THIS THROUGH THE
CUBAN CONSULLATE.
Joel says WELL, IT IS CERTAINLY A
CANADIAN IMMIGRATION MATTER,
NOT A CUBAN MATTER.
BUT REALLY YOU CAN'T BRING A
FRIEND TO CANADA.
THERE IS NO SPONSORSHIP.
THERE IS NOT REALLY ANYTHING
YOU ARE TO DO IT.
IT IS THE PERSON WHO WANTS
TO COME HERE WHO HAS TO MAKE
A FORMAL APPLICATION AT THE
CANADA EMBASSY IN CUBA.
WHAT YOU CAN DO IS WRITE A
LETTER OR AFFIDAVIT OF
SUPPORT SAYING YOU HAVE A
PLACE FOR THEM TO STAY AND
WHAT THE PURPOSE IS.
SO A CANADIAN CITIZEN WILL
LEND SUPPORT BUT THERE IS NO
FORMAL SPONSORSHIP PROCEDURE
FOR SOMEONE INVITING A GUEST
TO CANADA.
Maureen says HOW LONG CAN A
GUEST STAY IN CANADA?
Joel says WELL, THE GENERAL RULE IS
6 MONTHS.
REMEMBER, THIS COUNTRIES
THAT DON'T NEED VISAS TO
COME TO CANADA, THERE ARE
COUNTRIES THAT DO NEED VISAS
TO COME TO CANADA.
BUT ABSENTING THE VISA, IF
ONE IS STAMPED INTO THE
COUNTRY AND THEY SAY HELLO,
YOU HAVE 6 MONTHS.
Maureen says AND CUBA, DO YOU
NEED A VISA TO COME FROM
CUBA.
Joel says YES, CERTAINLY.
Maureen says THANKS VERY MUCH
FOR YOUR QUESTION.
SADIA IS IN
St. CATHERINE.
HELLO?
HI, NO?
ALL RIGHT.
WE WILL HAVE TO GET HER UP
THERE.
I WAS THINKING MORE ALONG
THE LINES OF CRIMINALS
TRYING TO COME EVEN VISIT A
COUNTRY, THE NEW PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES HAS A
CONVICTION FOR DRUNK DRIVING
ON HIS RECORD.
WOULD HE HAVE ANY PROBLEMS
COMING TO VISIT OUR PRIME
MINISTER AT SOME POINT?
Joel says WELL, I'M SURE HE
WOULDN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS
COMING TO VISIT THE PRIME
MINISTER BUT THE QUESTION IS
DEAD ON.
YES, CANADA HAS A PARTICULAR
BUG ABOUT DRIVING WHILE
IMPAIRED.
AND IN FACT MUCH LIKE THE
UNITED STATES RENDERS
INADMISSIBLE PEOPLE WHO HAVE
BEEN CONVICTED OF A SINGLE
OFFENCE OF MARIJUANA, CANADA
WON'T LET YOU IN IF YOU HAVE
A DRIVING IMPAIRED
CONVICTION ANY TIME IN YOUR
LIFE UNLESS YOU APPLY FOR
WHAT IS CALLED A MINISTER'S
PERMISSION OR SPECIAL
PERMISSION TO COME TO THE
COUNTRY BEFORE YOU COME.
Maureen says DO YOU THINK
THEY WILL MAKE GEORGE BUSH
GO THROUGH THOSE MOTIONS.
Joel says PROBABLY YES.
Maureen says IF THEY WANT TO
TREAT HIM LIKE ANY OTHER
CITIZEN.
Joel says THEY MIGHT.
I MEAN THEY MAY WELL DO SO.
NOW THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER
HEADS OF STATES WITH OTHER
VARIOUS CONVICTIONS AND
FOIBLES AND PROBLEMS BUT HE
MAY COME IN ON SOME SORT OF
DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY WHICH
DOESN'T REQUIRE THE WAIVER.
BUT A NORMAL CITIZEN,
ABSOLUTELY.
AND WE'RE VERY, VERY STRICT
ON THAT.
Maureen says SO MARIJUANA
POSSESSION AND DRUNK DRIVING,
WE ARE REALLY STRICT -- WE
ARE NOT SO STRICT ON THE
MARIJUANA, THE U.S.
WHERE THE U.S. WOULD ALLOW
YOU IN WITH A DRUNK DRIVING
CONVICTION WITHOUT ANY
HESITATION, SINGLE
CONVICTION FOR POSSESSION OF
MARIJUANA, FORGET ABOUT IT,
YOU HAVE TO GET SPECIAL
PERMISSION.
Maureen says I THINK WE HAVE
SADIA THERE NOW.
Sadia says HELLO.
Maureen says WHAT IS YOUR
QUESTION?
Sadia says I WANT TO ASK YOU, MY
BROTHER IS IN PAKISTAN.
HE'S 28 YEARS OLD.
AND I WANT TO SPONSOR MY
PARENTS AND HE IS NOT IN
SCHOOL.
I JUST WANT TO -- CAN HE
STILL COME WITH MY PARENTS
RAILROAD NOT.
Joel says SIMPLE ANSWER, NO.
IN ORDER TO ACCOMPANY YOUR
PARENTS YOUR BROTHER WOULD
HAVE TO BE A DEPENDENT.
AND A DEPENDENT IS SOMEONE
WHO IS EITHER UNDER 19 AND
UNMARRIED OR OVER 19 BUT IN
FULL-TIME ATTENDANCE AT
SCHOOL.
SO YOU SAID THE RIGHT THING,
YOU GAVE ME ALL THE FACTS I
NEEDED TO KNOW.
WITHOUT BEING IN FULL-TIME
ATTENDANCE IN SCHOOL HE IS
NOW AN INDEPENDENT PERSON
AND THEREFORE DOESN'T COME
WITH YOUR PARENTS.
Maureen says AS AN
INDEPENDENT DOES HE GET ANY
POINTS BECAUSE HE HAS GOT
FAMILY ALREADY HERE.
Joel says YES.
IF HE QUALIFIED AS AN
INDEPENDENT WHICH MEANS HIS
OCCUPATION IS ONE THAT
CANADA DEEMS TO BE IN SHORT
SUPPLY HE WOULD GET AN EXTRA
BOOST, AN EXTRA FIVE POINTS,
ACTUALLY IN THE SYSTEM
BECAUSE HIS SISTER IS HERE.
HE WOULDN'T GET ANY MORE IF
HIS PARENTS WERE HERE AS
WELL.
Maureen says OKAY.
DO YOU WANT TO TALK A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT THE INDEPENDENT
CATEGORY AND IT'S MY
UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY ARE
LOOKING AT BEING MORE
FLEXIBLE ABOUT THE JOB
SKILLS THAT A POTENTIAL
IMMIGRANT WOULD HAVE TO
HAVE.
Joel says IMMIGRATION IS LOOKING AT
A LOT OF CHANGES AND HAS
BEEN FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
BUT MAJOR CHANGES HAVEN'T
BEEN FORTHCOMING.
RIGHT NOW THERE ARE ABOUT
800 OCCUPATIONS WITHIN THE
POINT SYSTEM, IF YOU WILL.
SO IF ONE HAS AN OCCUPATION
THAT IS ON THAT LIST IT IS
WEIGHTED DEPENDING ON SKILLS
REQUIRED AND HOW MANY PEOPLE
OF THAT WE NEED IN THE
COUNTRY.
SO THAT WEIGHTING GIVES
SOMEONE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF
POINTS.
BASICALLY THAT IS IT.
EDUCATION BACKGROUND,
LANGUAGE ALL GET ADDED UP
AND IF YOU ACHIEVE A TOTAL
OF 70 POINTS AND ARE YOU NOT
A CRIMINAL AND NOT MEDICALLY
INADMISSIBLE YOU CAN
EMIGRATE TO CANADA.
THE IDEA BEHIND IT, OF
COURSE WAS TO PICK THOSE
OCCUPATIONS THAT CANADA
REALLY, REALLY NEEDS.
THE PROBLEM WITH THE SYSTEM
IF THERE IS A PROBLEM IS
THAT THAT LIST ISN'T ALL
THAT FLEXIBLE AND DOESN'T
REALLY MOVE WITH THE TIMES
ALL THAT QUICKLY.
Maureen says EXACTLY.
YOU COULD NEED AUTO MAKERS,
KNOW, ONE YEAR AND BY THE
TIME YOU GET THEM ALL INTO
THE COUNTRY YOU COULD FILL
THOSE JOBS WITH CANADIANS
AND YOU NEED SOME OTHER SORT
OF --
Joel says THAT IS ONE OF THE
REASONS THEY ARE LOOKING TO
CHANGE IT TO BE MORE
FLEXIBLE, THE PROBLEM WITH
FLEXIBILITY IS WHO DECIDES
WHAT.
Maureen says RIGHT.
IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING YOU
CAN NOW GO TO THE WEB SITE
FOR THE IMMIGRATION
DEPARTMENT AND THERE IS A
CALCULATOR ON THERE THAT
HELPS YOU FIGURE OUT HOW
MANY POINTS YOU NOW HAVE.
Joel says I UNDERSTAND THAT IS THE
CASE.
I HAVEN'T ACTUALLY SEEN IT
BUT THEY ARE ALWAYS A LITTLE
BIT, A FEW PIT FALLS IN
THAT.
ONE OF THE CATEGORIES, FOR
EXAMPLE, IS ARRANGED
EMPLOYMENT AND YOU GET AN
EXTRA 10 POINTS FOR ARRANGED
EMPLOYMENT.
WELL, 90 PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE I
HAVE SPOKEN TO WHO DO THIS
CALCULATION OF THEIR OWN SAY
I HAVE A JOB OFFER.
BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT THEY
ARE TALKING ABOUT.
ARRANGED EMPLOYMENT MEANS A
JOB VALIDATED BY HUMAN
RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT CANADA
AND THAT IS A DIFFERENT
PROCESS.
THAT MEANS AN EMPLOYER HAS
GONE THROUGH ADVERTISING
HOOPS AND WHISTLES, IT IS
MOTT JUST A JOB OFFER.
SO THERE ARE MISTAKES TO BE
MADE IN A OVERSIMPLIFIED
SYSTEM.
Maureen says OKAY, NICOLE IS
IN St. CATHARINES TOO.
HI, NICOLE.
Nicole says HI.
MY HUSBAND IMMIGRATED FROM
ROMANIA AND WE ARE STILL
WAITING HIS REFUGEE STATUS.
I WOULD LIKE TO SPONSOR HIM.
I WAS JUST WONDERING IF I
COULD GO AHEAD AND SPONSOR
HIM AS HIS WIFE FOR LANDED
STATUS AND SKIP THE REFUGEE
STATUS.
IT HAS BEEN ABOUT THREE
YEARS SINCE HE APPLIED AND
WE HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING
BACK.
Joel says WELL, INDEED YOU CAN.
NOW IT WOULD DEPEND TO A
CERTAIN EXTENT OF WHAT STAGE
THE REFUGEE PROCESS IS AT.
BECAUSE IT MAY BE NEAR
COMPLETION.
BUT ABSOLUTELY, IF HE'S HERE
AND YOU ARE MARRIED YOU CAN
SPONSOR HIM FROM INSIDE
CANADA, AGAIN THE PROCESS
MAY TAKE A LONG TIME.
IT'S A LOT SHORTER IF YOU
SPONSOR HIM WHEN HE IS
OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY OR EVEN
THE APPLICATION GOES OUTSIDE
THE COUNTRY.
BUT YOU CERTAINLY CAN DO IT,
ABSOLUTELY.
Maureen says DO WE -- IS
ROMANIA ONE OF THE COUNTRIES
WE ACCEPT REFUGEES FROM.
Joel says WELL, CANADA DOESN'T HAVE
TARGET COUNTRIES PER SE.
EVERY CASE IS DETERMINED ON
A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS.
SO WE DON'T GENERALLY SAY WE
ARE ACCEPTING REFUGEES FROM
COUNTRY A, B OR C ALTHOUGH
OCCASIONALLY UNDER
CIRCUMSTANCES WE DO.
BUT ROMANIA BY ITSELF
WOULDN'T NECESSARILY PRODUCE
EVERY PERSON AS BEING A
REFUGEE.
SOME PERSONS MIGHT BE IF
THEY ARE ACTUALLY IN FEAR OF
PERSECUTION BY THE
GOVERNMENT OR PEOPLE IN
POWER OR FACTIONS, AN
INDIVIDUAL MAY BE BUT NOT
EVERYONE FROM ROMANIA.
Maureen says SO IT IS
CONCEIVABLE YOU COULD LIVE
IN THE U.S. OR BRITAIN AND
CLAIM REFUGEE STATUS IN
CANADA DEPENDING ON YOUR
CIRCUMSTANCES.
Joel says IT CONCEIVABLE AND INDEED
IT HAS OCCURRED.
THOSE CASES HAVE GONE
FORWARD.
PERSONS FROM THE UNITED
STATES HAVE CERTAINLY
CLAIMED REFUGEE STATUS IN
CANADA.
I'M NOT AWARE OF ANYONE THAT
HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL.
ONE OF THE FAMOUS ONES WAS
THE BAMBI BAMBANEK CASE OF
ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO,
CONVICTED MURDER, ESCAPED
CUSTODY AND LIVED IN CANADA
FOR YEARS AND WAS
APPREHENDED AND CLAIMED
REFUGEE STATUS AND IT WENT
FORWARD.
Maureen says IS THAT WHAT
DRAFT DODGERS USED TO GET IN
TO CANADA DID THEY CLAIM
REFUGEE STATUS BECAUSE THEY
DIDN'T WANT TO GO FIGHT IN
THE WAR.
Joel says YOU ARE DATING ME.
THAT WAS JUST A LONG TIME
AGO.
I WAS JUST A LITTLE KID.
NO, I DON'T THINK SO.
CANADA WAS NOT SPECIFICALLY
INVOLVED IN THAT WAR.
THAT IS A VERY GOOD
QUESTION.
I DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW THEY
STAYED IN CANADA AND THEY
CERTAINLY DID.
WE ARE TALKING EARLY '70s,
LATE '60s, THE LAWS WERE
QUITE A BIT DIFFERENT.
Maureen says WE PROBABLY
DIDN'T HAVE AS STRINGENT A
LAW ESPECIALLY FROM THE
STATES.
THANKS VERY MUCH, NICOLE.
AN E-MAIL FROM CLAIRE.
I AM MARRIED TO A CANADIAN
AND HAVE TWO CHILDREN WHO
ARE BOTH CANADIAN CITIZENS.
I HAVE A SON LIVING IN NEW
ZEALAND WHO I DO NOT
SUPPORT.
WHY DOES HE HAVE TO COMPLETE
A MEDICAL EXAM IF HE HAS NO
INTENTION OF MOVING TO
CANADA.
MY HUSBAND HAD TO SIGN A
DOCUMENT AGREEING TO
REIMBURSE ANY MONEY I SHOULD
EVER CLAIM FROM THE CANADIAN
GOVERNMENT FOR TEN YEARS
AFTER GETTING LANDED STATUS.
AND IF HE SHOULD FAIL, THE
MEDICAL I CAN'T STAY HERE.
Joel says OKAY, WELL, THAT IS
CONFUSING TWO ISSUES.
AND THERE ARE TWO ISSUES.
THERE.
ONE IS THE SPONSORSHIP BY
HER HUSBAND WHICH IS, INDEED,
A 10-YEAR SPONSORSHIP.
ESSENTIALLY ANYONE
SPONSORING ANYONE TO COME TO
CANADA WILL UNDERTAKE TO
SUPPORT THAT PERSON AND IF
THAT PERSON GOES ON WELFARE
OR OTHER GOVERNMENT
ASSISTANCE, THE GOVERNMENT
CAN COME AFTER THE SPONSOR
FOR THAT MONEY.
Maureen says OKAY.
Joel says THE OTHER ISSUE IS DO WE
INCLUDE A DEPENDENT CHILD IN
AN APPLICATION, AND CANADA
REQUIRES YOU TO BECAUSE WE
DON'T ALLOW FOR SEPARATION
OF FAMILIES.
NOW YOU CAN DO T OF COURSE
ON YOUR OWN.
BUT WE AS A COUNTRY REQUIRE
THAT THE FAMILY TO
ESSENTIALLY APPLY FOR
EMIGRATION.
IF HE IS UNDER 19, THAT
WOULD APPLY.
IF HE IS OVER 19 THAN HE
DOESN'T HAVE TO APPLY AT
ALL.
HE DOESN'T HAVE TO BE PART
OF THE APPLICATION AND
THEREFORE SHE CAN'T FAIL
BECAUSE OF HIM.
Maureen says SO IF THIS IS A
CASE WHERE THE SON IS LIVING
SAY WITH HIS FATHER IN NEW
ZEALAND SHE SAYS I DON'T
SUPPORT HIM, DO CANADIAN
GOVERNMENT DOESN'T CARE IF
SHE EVER INTENDS TO BRING
HIM HERE, THEY WANT TO
INCLUDE HIM IN THE
APPLICATION JUST IN CASE.
Joel says THAT'S RIGHT, BUT ONLY IF
HE IS UNDER 19.
Maureen says YEAH, OKAY.
INTERESTING.
RITA IS IN MISSISSAUGA.
HELLO, RITA.
Rita says GOOD AFTERNOON.
I HAVE TWO SISTERS, THEY ARE
ABROAD.
WE ARE FROM MIDDLE EAST.
WE FILED THE SPONSORSHIP TO
BRING THEM TO CANADA.
BOTH OF THEM WERE DENIED.
THEY WERE DENIED RECENTLY
TOO IN ASIA.
SO I WAS WONDERING IF THERE
IS ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO,
ANY LETTER TO WRITE TO THE
MINISTER.
COULD THEY COME IN THE
MINISTER PERMIT.
THE WHOLE FAMILY IS HERE,
THEIR PARENTS, THEIR SISTERS,
BROTHERS.
Joel says NOW YOU SAID THAT YOU
APPLIED AS SOME KIND OF
GROUP SPONSORSHIP.
Rita says YEAH, GROUP FIVE
SPONSORSHIP.
Joel says SO ESSENTIALLY THAT IS
SPONSORING THEM AS REFUGEES.
Rita says RIGHT.
Joel says OKAY.
AND WELL, IT WAS DENIED
WHICH MEANS THAT WHOEVER DID
THE REVIEW OF THE CAME CASE
DIDN'T FEEL THAT IT
WARRANTED MERITORIUS
PROCESSING.
OF COURSE YOU CAN WRITE TO
THE MINISTER.
AND IF YOU THINK IT IS A
WORTHY CAUSE AND IT IS
WORTHWHILE, THAT IS EXACTLY
THE WAY TO GO.
A LOT OF THESE DECISIONS
ULTIMATELY, AT LEAST
TECHNICALLY ARE MADE BY THE
MINISTER.
MINISTERS PERMISSION IS
INDEED USUALLY HER OFFICIAL
DEAL WITH IT FOR HER.
BUT BY ALL MEANS, PUT IT IN
WRITING.
OR WRITE TO YOUR OWN MP OR
BOTH.
SOMETIMES THAT HAS MORE
EFFECT THAN HIRING LAWYERS
OR CONSULTANTS OR ANYTHING
OF THE SORT.
Maureen says RITA MIGHT HAVE
HAD SOME LUCK IF ELEANOR
CAPLAN HAD FOLLOWED THROUGH
ON THIS IDEA SHE HAD TO
ALLOW EVERYONE A ONE-TIME
ONLY SPONSORSHIP OF A
RELATIVE AND IT DIDN'T HAVE
TO BE A CHILD UNDER 19.
BUT I THINK OFFICIALS TOOK
HER ASIDE AND SAID IT WILL
NEVER WORK.
Joel says YEAH, THAT WAS SORT OF
FLOATING A TRIAL BALLOON.
IT WASN'T ANYTHING -- A LOT
OF PEOPLE LATCHED ON TO THAT
AND SAID OH, TERRIFIC, I CAN
SPONSOR SOMEONE.
IT WAS DEPENDENT ON THE NEW
LAW IT WAS DEPENDENT ON NEW
REGULATIONS.
WE DON'T HAVE EITHER.
IT DOESN'T EXIST.
Maureen says BUT WHY WOULDN'T
IT WORK FROM YOUR POINT OF
VIEW.
Joel says WELL, I THINK IT'S
OPENING AN ENTIRE CAN OF
WORMS THAT IS JUST REALLY
UNMANAGEABLE.
WHAT RIGHT NOW WE HAVE
DIRECT SPONSORSHIP OF CLOSE
FAMILY MEMBERS.
OTHERWISE PEOPLE HAVE TO BE
ON THEIR OWN MERITS,
INDEPENDENT APPLICATIONS,
BUSINESS APPLICANTS AND OF
COURSE REFUGEES.
I MEAN WE DO HAVE TO CONTROL
IMMIGRATION TO SOME EXTENT.
I THINK OUR NUMBERS ARE WAY
TOO LOW AND I'M CERTAINLY
PRO IMMIGRATION.
BUT WHEN THERE IS A ONE-TIME
SPONSORSHIP OF ANYONE WE'RE
LOSING CONTROL.
I MEAN WE REALLY ARE.
Maureen says IF WE WERE TO
INCREASE IMMIGRATION WOULD
YOU LIKE TO SEE IT DONE
THROUGH INDEPENDENT CLASS OR
FAMILY CLASS.
Joel says WELL, FAMILY AS IT STANDS
NOW I THINK IS A VERY FAIR
APPROACH AND MOST WESTERN
COUNTRIES HAVE A VERY
SIMILAR APPROACH.
BROTHERS AND SISTERS CAN'T
SPONSOR ONE ANOTHER.
THAT MAY BE A LITTLE HARSH
BUT EVEN THE UNITED STATES
IS PHASING THAT OUT OVER
TIME.
CLEARLY IT WOULD BE IN THE
SKILLED WORKER CATEGORY.
I MEAN CANADA NEEDS PEOPLE
AND THEY NEED PEOPLE WHO CAN
DO VARIOUS THINGS TO HELP
BUILD A COUNTRY OVER TIME.
AND WE HAVE TO SELECT THEM.
AND THAT IS WHY IT IS CALLED
IN THE LAW SELECTION
CRITERIA.
I THINK THAT IS WHERE OUR
BASE HAS TO BE EXPANDED.
CANADA IS LESS FAVOURABLE TO
SKILLED WORKERS THAN IT USED
TO BE.
Maureen says INTERESTING.
THANKS.
I WISH YOU LUCK.
MARY IS 68 YEARS OLD, AN
AMERICAN, A RETIRED NURSE
WHO SAW THERE IT -- FATHER
WAS BORN IN CANADA.
I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO GET
DUAL CITIZENSHIP WITH
CANADA.
DO YOU THINK COY DO THIS.
ALSO WOULD I THEN PAY TAXES
TO BOTH COUNTRIES.
Joel says OKAY.
OFF-THE-CUFF I CAN'T TELL
YOU WHETHER YOU ARE A DUAL
CITIZEN OR NOT.
THAT TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF
DIGGING.
HOW LONG YOUR FATHER LIVED
IN CANADA, WHETHER OR NOT
YOU CAN STILL APPLY FOR
REINSTATEMENT OF THE
CANADIAN CITIZENSHIP THAT
YOU NEVER GOT IT IS TRICKY
BECAUSE WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH
THE LAW 68 YEARS AGO, NOT
THE LAW TODAY SO A LITTLE
RESEARCH IS INVOLVED BUT I
WILL TELL YOU IF YOU BECOME
A CANADIAN CITIZEN, UNLESS
YOU LIVE HERE AND RESIDE
HERE YOU DON'T PAY TAXES
HERE.
AND THE UNITED STATES IS THE
OPPOSITE.
THE UNITED STATES TAXES ITS
CITIZENS IN PERMANENT
RESIDENCE NO MATTER WHERE
THEY LIVE.
SO IF YOU ARE A U.S. CITIZEN
YOU HAVE TO FILE A TAX
RETURN EVEN IF YOU FILE IN
CANADA.
THE REVERSE IS NOT THE CASE.
Maureen says AND IF YOU DO
GET CANADIAN CITIZENSHIP
CANADA WILL RECOGNIZE YOU AS
A DUAL CITIZEN BUT THE U.S.
WON'T.
AND I KNOW THIS BECAUSE I
PUT MY KIDS THROUGH THIS
SINCE WE LAST TALKED.
AND THE WOMAN AT THE
CONSULLATE OR IMMIGRATION IN
BUFFALO SAID I SAID ARE MY
KIDS DUAL CITIZENS NOW.
AND SHE SAID THE UNITED
STATES DOES NOT RECOGNIZE
DUAL CITIZENSHIP BUT WE
RECOGNIZE THAT OTHER
COUNTRIES RECOGNIZE DUAL
CITIZENSHIP WAS HOW SHE PUT
IT.
Joel says DUAL CITIZENSHIP IS SORT
OF -- I MEAN THEY ARE
PLAYING WITH WORDS.
IF YOU HOLD MULTIPLE
CITIZENSHIPS THAN AS FAR AS
YOU ARE CONCERNED YOU ARE
EITHER DUAL OR MULTIPLE
CITIZEN.
THE UNITED STATES IF YOU ARE
AN AMERICAN CITIZEN YOU ARE
AN AMERICAN CITIZEN, PERIOD.
THEY DON'T REALLY CARE IF
YOU ARE A CITIZEN OF ANY
OTHER COUNTRY.
Maureen says AND THEY THINK
YOU SHOULD BE VERY PROUD OF
THAT FIRST AND FOREMOST.
Joel says AND I SUPPOSE YOU SHOULD
BE.
Maureen says SO WHEN I'M
TAKING THE KIDS INTO THE
U.S. SHOULD THEY DECLARE
THEMSELVES AS U.S. CITIZENS.
Joel says INCLUDELY.
WHEN ENTERING IN THE U.S.
TRAVEL AS U.S. CITIZEN.
Maureen says THEY ARE NOT
GOING TO LIKE THIS.
MARIO IS IN TORONTO.
Mario says HI.
YEAH, I JUST HAD -- IF I WAS
TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY FOR
MORE THAN SIX MONTHS WILL I
GET MY LANDED IMMIGRANT
PAPERS TAKEN AWAY.
Joel says WELL, OKAY, SO I TAKE YOU
ARE A LANDED IMMIGRANT.
THAT IS AN INTERESTING
QUESTION.
AND OFTEN ASKED QUESTION OF
US AT OUR OFFICE.
THE LAW SAYS THAT IF YOU ARE
ABSENT FROM CANADA FOR 183
DAYS, SIX MONTHS IN ANY 12
MONTH PERIOD YOU ARE LIABLE
TO LOSE YOUR LANDING STATUS.
UNLESS YOU CAN SHOW THAT
YOUR INTENTION IS NOT TO
ABANDON YOUR STATUS IN
CANADA.
YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THE
UNLESS.
SO IF YOU ARE OUTSIDE OF THE
COUNTRY FOR MORE THAN SIX
MONTHS FOR A TRULY VALID
PURPOSE AND YOU STILL INTEND
TO RESIDE, NOW WHAT DOES
INTEND MEAN, USUALLY MEANS
THAT YOU HAVE TIES HERE, YOU
HAVE A HOME HERE, YOU ARE
COMING BACK TO SOMETHING,
YOU HAVEN'T ABANDONED YOUR
RESIDENT.
BUT THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO
FIX THAT.
IF YOU HAVE TO BE ABSENT FOR
A YEAR THERE ARE THINGS
CALLED A RETURNING RESIDENT
PERMIT BUT THE QUESTION IS
WHAT ARE YOUR INTENTIONS.
THERE ARE CASES ACTUALLY
WHERE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY FOR TWO,
THREE, FOUR YEARS AND STILL
CAN COME BACK TO CANADA EVEN
THOUGH THAT 183 DAY RULE
SAYS THEY SHOULDN'T BE ABLE
TO.
Maureen says MARIO, WHY GO
YOU NEED TO LEAVE FOR SIX
MONTHS.
Mario says WELL, IT DEPENDS.
I MEAN LIKE IF I HAD TO
DO -- THAT IS JUST IMAGINE
IF I HAD TO DO SOMETHING
LIKE FOR A GOOD REASON FOR
ME TO LEAVE,.
Maureen says THIS ISN'T YOUR
PLAN BUT.
Mario says RIGHT, RIGHT, IT IS NOT
MY PLAN OF LEAVING.
Joel says THIS IS A FAIRLY BIG
AREA.
I MEAN RIGHT NOW OUR LAW
SAYS THAT UNLESS YOU HAVE
THAT INTENTION YOU CAN LOSE
IT BUT IT IS A LITTLE MORE
COMPLICATED THAN THAT.
FIRST OF ALL YOU CAN GET A
RETURNING RESIDENT FOR
EXAMPLE IF YOU GO TO SCHOOL
A BROAD.
CANADA ALLOWS YOU TO DO THAT
BUT TO PROTECT YOU YOU COULD
APPLY FOR RETURNING RESIDENT
PERMIT.
YOU HAVE A DOCUMENT SAYING
YOU CAN BE ABSENT.
SO THAT IS ONE WAY TO TAKE
CARE OF IT.
Maureen says WHAT IF YOU HAD
TO GO CARE FOR AN AGING
PARENT AND YOU ANTICIPATED
THAT IT MIGHT BE -- WELL,
YOU ARE REALLY NOT SURE HOW
LONG IT WILL BE.
Joel says ANY LEGITIMATE REASON IS
GOING TO PUT YOU IN GOOD
STEAD BUT THE REAL THING IS
WHO IS GOING TO TAKE IT AWAY
FROM YOU.
PEOPLE DON'T QUITE
UNDERSTAND THAT.
THERE IS NO CANADIAN
OFFICIAL THAT IS GOING TO
RUN AFTER YOU IN YOUR
COUNTRY THAT ARE YOU BACK TO
FOR A WHILE OR WHEREVER YOU
HAPPEN TO BE AND SEIZE IT
FROM YOU.
SO WHAT HAPPENS IS WHEN YOU
COME BACK TO CAN -- CANADA
THEY SAY YOU HAVE BEEN OUT
OF THE COUNTRY FOR A YEAR
AND YOU SAY YES, REMEMBER
YOU HAND A LITTLE CARD TO
THEM TELLING THEM HOW LONG
YOU HAVE BEEN OUTSIDE THE
COUNTRY.
THAT IS WHERE THE PROBLEM
STARTS.
BUT NO IMMIGRATION OFFICER
HAS THE RIGHT TO YANK IT OUT
OF YOUR PASSPORT AND
SUMMARILY THROW YOU OUT OF
THE COUNTRY.
ONCE YOU ARE A PERMANENT
RESIDENT YOU HAVE RIGHTS AND
THOSE RIGHTS INCLUDE A
HEARING BEFORE AN
ADJUDICATER WHEN YOU COME
BACK INTO THE COUNTRY.
AND EVEN IF YOU FAIL YOU
HAVE ANOTHER RIGHT TO GO TO
THE IMMIGRATION APPEAL
BOARD.
SO IT IS A LONG PROCESS TO
TAKE IT AWAY FROM YOU.
Maureen says OKAY, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH, MARIO.
LET'S GO TO HEBA IN
TORONTO, HELLO -- HI, HEBA?
HELLO.
Heba says YEAH.
Maureen says YOU ARE ON, GO
AHEAD.
Heba says OKAY.
I HAVE MY BROTHER AT HOLLAND
AND HE APPLIED FOR REFUGEE.
AND THEY DIDN'T ACCEPT HIM.
I AM ASKING IF I CAN SPONSOR
HIM TO CANADA.
Maureen says AND HE IS FROM
WHERE.
Heba says SUDAN.
Joel says OKAY.
THAT IS INTERESTING.
I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT
SOMEONE FROM SUDAN MIGHT
HAVE A SOLID CLAIM TO
REFUGEE STATUS.
THE ANSWER IS NO, YOU CAN'T.
BROTHERS AND SISTERS NO
LONGER CAN SPONSOR ONE
ANOTHER TO COME TO CANADA.
AND THAT HAS BEEN THE CASE
FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW, AT
LEAST TEN YEARS.
I CAN'T REMEMBER THE EXACT
DATE BUT NO, THERE IS NO
DIRECT SPONSORSHIP OF
BROTHERS AND SISTERS SO
UNFORTUNATELY YOU CAN'T
BRING HIM HERE THAT WAY.
Maureen says ARE THERE
APPEALS IN THE REFUGEE
PROCESS.
Joel says THERE IS AN APPEAL
PROCESS WHEN IT IS INLAND,
WHEN THE REFUGEE HAS COME
HERE.BUT WHEN IT IS OUTSIDE
THE COUNTRY NOT REALLY.
YOU CAN ALWAYS, ALWAYS GO TO
THE FEDERAL COURT OF CANADA
IF THERE IS AN EGREGIOUS,
UNREASONABLE DECISION.
AND IN THE FEDERAL COURT CAN
MAKE A DECISION.
BUT THAT IS A REAL --
Maureen says WHAT IF CIRCUMSTANCES
CHANGE, WHAT IF YOU GATHER
MORE EVIDENCE THAT ARE YOU
BEING PERSECUTED, CAN YOU
APPLY AGAIN.
Joel says SURE, YOU CAN REAPPLY,
ABSOLUTELY.
Maureen says UNFORTUNATELY
FOR HEBA'S BROTHER THAT
MEANS HE HAS TO, YOU KNOW,
HIS LIFE HAS TO GET WORSE OR
HE HAS TO BE IN MORE DANGER
AND THAT IS NOT A GOOD
THING.
Joel says LEGITIMATE REFUGEES, IT
IS A VERY HORRIBLE
SITUATION.
I MEAN THE WORLD IS
PRODUCING A LOT OF REFUGEES,
VERY LEGITIMATE ONES.
Maureen says HOW DOES CANADA
FAIR ON THE INTERNATIONAL
SCENE AS FAR AS ACCEPTING
LEGITIMATE REFUGEE.
Joel says WELL, IN TERMS OF OUR PER
CAPITA ACCEPTANCE I READ
RECENTLY THAT WE ARE NOT AS
GOOD AS WE THOUGHT WE WERE,
I THINK.
WE ARE CERTAINLY NOT IN THE
TOP THREE OR FOUR COUNTRIES
IN PER CAPITA ACCEPTANCE.
IN TERMS OF OUR PROCESS,
THOUGH, I THINK THE WORLD
HAS GENERALLY RECOGNIZED
THAT WE ARE AMONG THE
FAIREST COUNTRIES IN THE
WORLD IN PROCESSING REFUGEES
AND DEALING WITH REFUGEES.
THERE WITH PEOPLE IN THE
UNITED STATES WHO HAVE
CLAIMED REFUGEE STATUS IN
THE U.S. WHO ARE FLOCKING TO
CANADA TO AVAIL THEMSELVES
OF OUR SYSTEM OF PROCESSING
REFUGEES BECAUSE IT --
Maureen says IN THE U.S. IT IS MUCH
HARDER.
Joel says WHICH IS NOT THE WAY IT
SUPPOSED TO BE BECAUSE
REFUGEE CONVENTION IS BY THE
UNITED NATIONS.
THE LAW IS THE UNITED
NATIONS CONVENTION ON
REFUGEES SO EVERYBODY SHOULD
BE APPLYING THE SAME.
THAT IS NOT THE WAY IT
WORKS.
Maureen says THANKS, FOR YOUR
QUESTION.
She looks at her computer screen and reads JAMES IN TORONTO, I'M A
BRITISH CITIZEN MARRIED TO A
CANADIAN.
MY APPLICATION FOR RESIDENT --
RESIDENCE IS BEING PROCESSED
AND I'M WONDERING WHAT MY
SITUATION IS REGARDING WORK.
ALSO MY VISIT STAMP ON MY
PASSPORT HAS EXPIRED AND I
WAS TOLD I CAN STAY UNTIL
TOLD OTHERWISE.
IS THIS TRUE.
Joel says WELL, IT DEPENDS,
UNFORTUNATELY BECAUSE WE
DON'T HAVE SOME OF THE
INFORMATION.
IF THE APPLICATION WAS FILED
OUTSIDE OF CANADA, IF IT WAS
FILED IN GREAT BRITAIN, FOR
EXAMPLE, THAN YOU HAVE TO
MAINTAIN YOUR STATUS IN
CANADA TO BE LEGAL.
IF, HOWEVER, THE APPLICATION
WAS FILED FROM WITHIN CANADA,
THAN YOU ARE ELIGIBLE WITHIN
THAT PROCESS TO APPLY FOR AN
EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATION
INSIDE CANADA.
NOW JUST BECAUSE THE STAMP
HAS EXPIRED, WE'VE GOT TO BE
CAREFUL HERE, DOESN'T MEAN
ARE YOU OUT OF STATUS
BECAUSE THE STAMP CAN SAY
SEPTEMBER 1st 2000.
YOU HAVE SIX MONTHS FROM
THAT DATE TO FOLLOW THE
STATUS.
AND THAN YOU CAN APPLY FOR
AN EXTENSION OF THAT STATUS
FROM BEEN THE COUNTRY IN ANY
EVENT.
SO THERE ARE SOME TECHNICAL
TECHNICALLITIES THERE THAT
YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL OF.
Maureen says WHAT IS YOUR
ADVICE TO HIM TO FIND OUT
WHETHER HE IS OUT OF STATUS
OR NOT.
Joel says OTHER THAN GIVE ME A
CALL.
Maureen says THAT WILL WORK
TOO.
Joel says SURE, I MEAN YOU CAN CALL
IMMIGRATION, UNFORTUNATELY
THE HOTLINE, YOU COULD GET
TWO OR THREE DIFFERENT
ANSWERS OR TWO OR THREE
DIFFERENT OCCASIONS.
BUT THE SPECIFICS OF THE
FACTS ARE CRITICAL IN THESE
SITUATIONS.
LOTS OF PEOPLE COME TO US
AND SAY OH, I EXPIRED AND
THEY HAVEN'T BECAUSE THERE
IS A DIFFERENT BETWEEN THE
LENGTH OF THE VISA AND THE
LENGTH OF STAY, YOU COULD
HAVE A VISA VALID FOR THREE
DAYS BUT IF YOU ENTER IN THE
MIDDLE OF THOSE THREE DAYS
YOU CAN GET SIX MONTHS
FORWARD.
Maureen says GOING BACK TO
THE QUESTION ABOUT,
WITHOUTING IN CANADA, WHO
BASICALLY IS ALLOWED TO WORK
IN CANADA.
Joel says WELL, LOTS OF PEOPLE.
BUT IN HIS PARTICULAR
SITUATION THOSE WHO HAVE
APPLIED FOR PERMANENT
RESIDENCE STATUS ON THE
SPONSORSHIP OF A CLOSE
RELATIVE FROM INSIDE CANADA
ARE ELIGIBLE ONCE THEIR
APPLICATION HAS BEEN
APPROVED IN PRINCIPLES TO
APPLY FOR A WORK PERMIT.
SO THEY DON'T KEEP YOU
LINGERING FOR TWO YEARS
WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO WORK.
ONCE YOU ARE APPROVED IN
PRINCIPLES AND THE WHOLE
PROCESS IS WINDING ITS WAY,
YOU ARE ALLOWED TO APPLY FOR
A WORK PERMIT WHICH USUALLY
TAKES ABOUT 90 DAYS TO
OBTAIN.
Maureen says ALL RIGHT.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
IMMIGRATION AND CITIZENSHIP
LAW WITH JOEL GUBBERMAN WITH
GUBERMAN GARSON.
IN TORONTO YOU FILE 8 -- THE
LONG-DISTANCE TOLL-FREE
NUMBER IS-888-411-1234.
AND THE E-MAIL ADDRESS IS
MORE TO LIFE AT TVO.ORG.
THE BRITISH CITIZENSHIP
REMINDED ME, I WANTED TO ASK
YOU, I UNDERSTAND THAT
IRELAND IS BOOMING
ECONOMICALLY.
THEY HAVE A LOW UNEMPLOYMENT
RATE AND THEY WANT TO BRING
PEOPLE HOME.
AND I WONDER HOW EASY IS IT
FOR SOMEONE FROM CANADA TO
EMIGRATE TO IRELAND.
Joel says I WISH I COULD TELL YOU
THAT BECAUSE I REALLY DON'T
KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IRISH
IMMIGRATION EXCEPT WHAT ARE
YOU TELLING ME IS ABSOLUTELY
TRUE.
FROM ONE OF THE POOREST
ENGLISH SPEAKING COUNTRIES
IN THE WORLD THEY HAVE
IGNITED AN ECONOMY.
IF I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS
THERE MANY, MANY YEARS AGO
THEIR BIGGEST INDUSTRY WAS
THE IRISH SWEEPSTAKES.
OF COURSE THAT IS PROBABLY
ALL COMPUTERIZED NOW.
I REALLY DON'T KNOW.
CERTAINLY IF YOU ARE AN
IRISH CITIZEN WHO EMIGRATED
TO CANADA AND HAVE NOT LOST
IRISH CITIZENSHIP AND I
DON'T THINK YOU DO, YOU
COULD RETURN ON A DIME.
Maureen says BUT A FIFTH GENERATION --
Joel says AND THERE ARE SOME RULES
WITH RESPECT TO GENERATIONS
IN IRELAND AS WELL AS THERE
ARE IN THE U.K.
YOU CAN ACQUIRE CITIZENSHIP
IF YOUR PARENTS WERE BORN
THERE OR EVEN GRANDPARENTS.
BUT I'M NOT AN EXPERT ON
IRISH LAW.
Maureen says TO ED IN
MISSISSAUGA.
Ed says HI.
MY PARENTS AND I ARE BOTH
CANADIAN CITIZENS.
WE WOULD LIKE TO SPONSOR MY
SISTER WHO LIVES IN
ZIMBABWE.
SHE HAS TWO PRETEENAGE
DAUGHTERS, SHE IS DIVORCED.
SHE WOULD LIKE TO EMIGRATE
TO CANADA.
YOU CAN GIVE ME SOME
IMMIGRATION AS TO HOW WE GO
ABOUT SPONSORING HER AND
WHAT THE PROCESS IS.
Joel says INDEED, YOU DON'T GO
ABOUT SPONSORING HER BECAUSE
SHE HAS BEEN MARRIED, SHE
HAS CHILDREN, SHE IS IN FACT
AN INDEPENDENT PERSON.
SO THERE IS NO DIRECT
SPONSORSHIP OF PEOPLE UNDER
THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES, SHE IS
NO LONGER A CHILD.
BUT THE KEY WOULD BE DOES
SHE HAVE AN APPLICATION AS
AN INDEPENDENT OR AS A
BUSINESSPERSON.
SO DOES SHE HAVE AN
OCCUPATION, WHAT IS HER
EDUCATION.
Maureen says ED.
Ed says YES.
Maureen says IS SHE WORKING
NOW.
Ed says SHE CERTAINLY IS, SHE IS
ESTABLISHED OVER THERE.
SHE IS DIVORCED HOWEVER AND
BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMY THERE
SHE IS THINKING OF LEAVING.
Maureen says WHAT DOES SHE DO
THOUGH.
Ed says I'M SORRY.
Maureen says WHAT IS HER
OCCUPATION?
Ed says SHE IS AN OFFICE MANAGER.
Joel says OKAY, THAT IS A DIFFICULT
SORT OF GENERALIZE THE
OCCUPATION.
WE HAVE TO LOOK AT HER
EDUCATION, HER WORK
EXPERIENCE, SEE IF WHAT SHE
DOES CAN FIT INTO ONE OF THE
CATEGORIES THAT CANADA DEEMS
TO BE IN SHORT SUPPLY OR
NEED.
AND THAN WE ARE INTO THE
POINT SYSTEM.
THE ONLY THING THAT YOU DO
IS ADD FIVE POINTS TO HER
APPLICATION.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO
ANYTHING TO DO IT.
IT IS JUST BY PROOF THAT YOU
ARE LIVING HERE.
BUT IT IS AN INDEPENDENT
APPLICATION BECAUSE SHE IS
TOO OLD AND TOO ESTABLISHED
AS AN INDEPENDENT TO BE
SPONSORED BY YOU.
Maureen says WELL, WE ARE
GOING TO GIVE OUT THAT WEB
SITE ADDRESS I WAS TALKING
ABOUT AT THE END OF THE
SHOW.
MAYBE YOU WANT TO PLAY
AROUND WITH THE CALCULATOR
AND SEE HOW MANY POINTS SHE
MIGHT COME UP.
Joel says THE POINT SYSTEM ISN'T SO
MUCH ADDING UP TO THE POINTS,
AS IN THIS CASE FIGURING OUT
WHAT OCCUPATION FITS.
SO WITH 800 OCCUPATIONS I
KNOW WHAT A PLUMBER IS, AN --
WHAT DO YOU DO WITH SOMEONE
WHO IS A MANAGEMENT
CONSULTANT OR A FINANCIAL
ANALYST.
I MEAN WHAT ARE THEIR JOB
DUTIES AND WHAT IF THE JOB
TITLE WHERE THEY LIVE AND
WORK IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT.
SO YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE
JOB DESCRIPTION AND TRY AND
ESSENTIALLY TRY AND MOLD
WHAT THEY DO TO THE TITLE
THAT CANADA USES.
Maureen says JAMIE IN WINDSOR, HI,
JAMIE.
Jamie says HI.
Maureen says WHAT IS YOUR
QUESTION.
Jamie says I HAVE A BROTHER.
HE GOT IN TROUBLE A LITTLE
WHILE AGO HERE AND EP WAS
DEPORTED BACK TO THE STATES.
NOW HE WAS BORN IN THE
STATES AND ONLY LIVED THERE
A YEAR OF HIS LIFE AND MOVED
OVER HERE WITH MY MORE AND
FATHER.
MY MOTHER WAS AMERICAN AND A
LANDED IMMIGRANT.
BUT HE GOT DEPORTED BACK TO
THE STATES BECAUSE HE GOT IN
TROUBLE.
WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO
FIGURE OUT A WAY TO BRING
HIM BACK.
I WAS WONDER IF YOU COULD
HELP ME WITH THAT AT ALL.
Joel says WELL, IT IS POSSIBLE
AFTER DEPORTATION TO COME
BACK TO CANADA.
I SUPPOSE THE FIRST TASK WE
WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT IS
FORGET ABOUT THE FACT THAT
HE WAS DEPORTED BUT ON WHAT
BASIS ARE WE GOING TO BRING
HIM BACK.
HOW OLD IS HE?
Maureen says JAMIE, HOW OLD
IS HE.
Jamie says HE IS 33 YEARS OLD.
Joel says SO AGAIN, NO LONGER A
CHILD.
SO WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE
BASIS UPON WHICH THE PERSON
CAN EMIGRATE TO CANADA.
FORGETTING ANY CRIMINALALITY
OR ANY PROBLEMS.
SO THAT IS THE FIRST STEP,
THE SECOND STEP IS
OVERCOMEABLE, ASSUMING THAT
SOMEONE IS ADMISSIBLE TO
CANADA AND FITS SOME
CRITERIA, ONE CAN APPLY TO
THE MINISTER TO OVERCOME
INADMISSIBILITY AND EVEN
DEPORTATION, USUALLY ONE
YEAR AT LEAST HAS TO ELAPSED
SINCE THEY WERE DEPORTED BUT
IT IS NOT TOTALLY OUT OF THE
QUESTION THAT SOMEONE CAN BE
READMITTED.
YOUR FIRST STEP IS THE
HARDER ONE.
FIGURING OUT HOW THEY WILL
GET HERE.
Maureen says I FIND IT HARD
TO BELIEVE THAT SOMEBODY WHO
ONLY SPENT A YEAR OF THE
STATES AND THE REST OF HIS
FORMATIVE YEARS WERE SPENT
IN CANADA WAS DEPORTED.
I MEAN IS THIS SHALL IT --
IS HE A PRODUCT OF THEIR
SYSTEM OR OURS.
Joel says WELL, I THINK THAT IS ONE
OF THE REAL FLAWS IN OUR
SYSTEM.
ESSENTIALLY IF YOU ARE A
LANDED IMMIGRANT OF CANADA
THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN THAT AND BEING A
CITIZEN IS ONE, YOU CAN'T
VOTE.
AND TWO, YOU CAN BE DEPORTED.
I MEAN IT IS A LONG TERM
VERY SOLID TEMPORARY STAY IN
A SENSE.
BECAUSE YOU CAN BE SHIPPED
HOME.
SO THIS IS NOT AN UNUSUAL
SITUATION WHERE SOMEONE HAS
LIVED HERE VIRTUALLY ALL
THEIR LIFE, HAS NEGLECTED TO
OR CHOSEN NOT TO BECOME A
CITIZEN AND THAN THE SUBJECT
OF DEPORTATION.
AND YES, THAT IS EXACTLY THE
CASE.
AND IT CAN HAPPEN.
Maureen says OKAY.
THANK YOU, JAMMIE.
SARA IS IN MISSISSAUGA AND
SAYS IMMIGRATION DIDN'T GIVE
IMMIGRATION STATUS TO MY
MOTHER BECAUSE OF HER 24
YEARS AGO ONE-TIME
SHOPLIFTING CONVICTION.
I HAVE A RIGHT TO APPEAL BUT
I DON'T WANT TO SPEND TOO
MUCH FOR A LAWYER.
CAN I STILL APPEAL.
WHAT ELSE CAN I DO.
Joel says YEAH, A SPONSORSHIP
SITUATION OF A PARENT,
THAT'S A FAMILY CLASS
SPONSORSHIP AND THERE IS AN
AUTOMATIC RIGHT OF APPEAL TO
THE IMMIGRATION APPEAL
BOARD.
NOW WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT.
IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE
IMMIGRATION APPEAL BOARD HAS
JURISDICTION TO EXAM TWO
THINGS.
A MISTAKE IN LAW, THAT IS
NOT WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT.
BUT ALSO TO ALLOW SOMEONE TO
EMIGRATE ON HUMANITARIAN AND
COMPASSIONATE GROUNDS.
SO WE CALL IT H AND C.
THAT H AND C JURISDICTION IN
THE COURT, IN THE APPEAL
BOARD IS EXTREMELY POWERFUL
BECAUSE A SINGLE CONVICTION
OF 24 YEARS AGO, I WOULD
GUESS, EVERYTHING ELSE BEING
EQUAL IS SOMETHING THE
APPEAL BOARD WOULD SAY THIS
IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO PREVENT
HER FROM COMING TO CANADA.
BUT A STRICT INTERPRETATION
OF THE LAW SAYS THAT IT IS.
Maureen says SO WE ARE TRYING
IT -- WORTH TRYING.
Joel says DEFINITELY WORTH TRYING.
Maureen says A LOT OF TIMES WHEN YOU
ARE ON WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
THE HASSLES CANADIANS ARE
GETTING AT THE U.S. BORDER
WHEN THEY TRY TO GO OVER TO
DO BUSINESS DOWN THERE.
ANYTHING CHANGED ON THAT
FRONT.
Joel says WELL, FROM OUR
PERSPECTIVE, FROM A BUSINESS
TRAVELER PERSPECTIVE I WOULD
SUGGEST THINGS ARE A LITTLE
BIT WORSE IT AS YOU KNOW
THERE IS THE FREE-TRADE
AGREEMENT WITH VARIOUS VISAS
AVAILABLE TO CANADIAN
CITIZENS TRAVELING TO THE
UNITED STATES TO WORK FOR UP
TO A YEAR.
AND OTHERS.
COMPUTER SCIENTISTS FOR
EXAMPLE WHO WERE -- COMPUTER
SYSTEMS ANALYSTS TO BE
SPECIFIC WHO WERE GETTING
REASONABLY EASY ACCESS OVER
THE LAST FIVE, SIX, SEVEN
YEARS ARE ENCOUNTERING MUCH
GREATER DIFFICULTY NOW.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE MOOD
CHANGE REPRESENTS OR WHY IT
IS THERE.
NOTHING HAS CHANGED IN THE
LAW.
BUT THESE PEOPLE ARE BEING
SCRUTINIZED TO THE Nth
DEGREE.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE A DEGREE
IN COMPUTER SCIENCE YOU ARE
GOING TO HAVE A TOUGH TIME.
WHEREAS TWO YEARS AGO IF YOU
HAD A DEGREE IN SAY
ECONOMICS AND SOME COURSES
IN COMPUTERS, YOU MIGHT GET
IN AS A COMPUTER SYSTEMS
ANALYST.
AND SO THINGS ARE GETTING A
LITTLE TOUGH AND SCRUTINY IS
GETTING A LITTLE GREATER.
Maureen says TVO CREW HAVE
HAD SOME PROBLEMS JUST GOING
DOWN TO DO SHOOTS IN THE
STATES.
SOMETIMES WE ARE JUST
LEAVING THEM AT HOME AND
HIRING CAMERA CREWS DOWN
THERE.
WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND
PEOPLE HAVE WITH THEM WHEN
THEY HIT THE BORDER IN ORDER
TO PROVE TO THOSE BORDER
GUARDS THAT I DON'T INTEND
TO STAY HERE AND TAKE A JOB
FROM AN AMERICAN, THIS IS A
ONE-TIME THING.
Joel says IF IT IS ACTUAL WORK THAT
SOMEONE IS DOING IN THE
UNITED STATES AND BEING PAID
FROM A U.S. SOURCE THAN THEY
HAVE TO MEET THE VARIOUS
EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATION
CRITERIA.
THEY NEED A COPY OF THEIR
DEGREE, AN OFFER LETTER AND
THEY HAVE TO SIFT THE
CRITERIA OF THE 60
PROFESSIONALS THAT ARE
ALLOWED INTO THE UNITED
STATES, ACCOUNTANTS, LAWYERS,
A HOST OF OTHERS, COMPUTER
SYSTEMS ANALYSTS, MANAGEMENT
CONSULTANTS, ARCHITECT.
I MEAN A GOODLY NUMBER OF
WHAT THEY CALL PROFESSIONALS.
TVO CREWS AND FILM CREWS ARE
STILL IN THE MIDST OF A BIT
OF A CRACKDOWN BY THE UNITED
STATES.
THEY DON'T MEAN TO BE TOUGH.
THEY HAVE TOLD US THEY JUST
DON'T REALLY HAVE
CLARIFICATION FROM THEIR
HEAD OFFICE AND FILM CREWS
ACROSS CANADA ARE BEING
STOPPED, NOT JUST TVO, A
SURE YOU.
Maureen says OH, GOOD, THEY
ARE NOT PICKING ON US.
FATIMA IN CARLISLE.
Fatima says I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOUR
QUESTION ABOUT MY SISTER.
I HAVE A SISTER THAT IS 66
YEARS OLD AND SHE IS BLIND
AND SHE IS IN PORTUGAL.
AND WE WOULD LIKE TO BRING
HER TO CANADA.
WE LOST OUR MUM AND I WOULD
LIKE TO KNOW HOW DIFFICULT
IS THIS GOING TO BE OR IF IT
IS GOING TO BE EASY.
Joel says IT IS GOING TO BE VERY
DIFFICULT.
FOR TWO REASONS.
ONE, THERE IS NO DIRECT LINK
SPONSORSHIP FOR A SISTER.
THERE IS ALWAYS THE
AVAILABILITY OF AN
APPLICATION ON HUMANITARIAN
AN COMPASSIONATE GROUNDS BUT
IT HAS TO BE REALLY, REALLY
A SERIOUS SITUATION.
AND OF COURSE HER BLINDNESS
MAY BE A MEDICAL
INADMISSIBILITY IF THERE IS
SOME THOUGHT THAT IT WILL
CAUSE SOME DRAIN ON THE
MEDICAL OR SOCIAL SERVICES
OF CANADA.
I'M NOT SUGGESTSING THAT IT
NECESSARILY WOULD BUT IT
COULD.
SO THERE ARE SORT OF TWO
STRIKES AGAINST YOU, NOT TO
DISCOURAGE YOU, BY ALL MEANS
IT IS WORTH TRYING.
ALTHOUGH THERE ARE FEES
INVOLVED IN FILING
APPLICATIONS, GOVERNMENT
FILING FEES AND THE LIKE.
Maureen says IT IS HARD TO
THINK OF A BLIND WOMAN AT
THAT AGE AS HAVING BEEN
DEPENDENT ON HER PARENTS BUT
ARE THERE CASES WHERE YOU
HAVE AN ADULT DHILD WHO IS
TRULY DEPENDENT ON THE
PARENTS AND THAN PERHAPS
WHEN THOSE PARENTS DIE A
BROTHER OR SISTER COULD
BRING THEM OVER.
Joel says YES.
I MEAN THERE ARE CASES.
AND THE LAW PROVIDES
INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH FOR
DEPENDENT OVER 19 CHILDREN
WHO ARE NOT GOING TO SCHOOL
WHO ARE MEDICALLY DEPENDENT,
HAVE VARIOUS ISSUES THAT
THEIR PARENTS SUPPORT THEM
WITH.
BUT IT IS A VERY, VERY DICEY
AREA BECAUSE IF ON THE ONE
HAND THEY ARE MEDICALLY
DEPENDENT, ON THE OTHER HAND
THEY ARE PROBABLY MEDICALLY
INADMISSIBLE.
SO IT IS A VERY NARROW
LOOPHOLE.
Maureen says ALL RIGHT.
THANKS VERY MUCH, FATIMA.
TOYME IN NIAGARA FALLS.
Toyme says I CAN HARDLY HEAR YOU.
Maureen says OKAY, WE HEAR YOU FINE,
GO AHEAD WHAT IS YOUR
QUESTION.
Toyme says IN JUNE LAST YEAR I
APPLIED FOR A PASSPORT, I
PAID MY 60 DOLLARS AND THEY SAID I
COULD ONLY GET IT FOR ONE
YEAR BECAUSE I HAD TO PROVE
THAT I WAS A CANADIAN
CITIZEN.
I CAME WHEN I WAS SIX YEARS
OLD IN 1931, THE FAMILY, ALL
BECAME CANADIAN CITIZENS.
I HAVE TRAVELED THE WORLD ON
VISAS AND PASSPORTS UNTIL I
WAS REFUSED.
AND NOW I AM -- I FEEL LIKE
A SECONDHAND CITIZEN,
ALTHOUGH I TAUGHT SCHOOL FOR
35 YEARS, I WAS MARRIED TO A
CANADIAN CITIZEN FOR 44
YEARS, AND NOW THEY ARE
TELLING ME THAT I HAVE TO
APPLY FOR -- TO BE A
CANADIAN.
Joel says WELL, HAVE YOU DONE A
SEARCH OF THE CANADIAN
CITIZENSHIP RECORDS TO SEE
IF YOU WERE INCLUDED IN ANY
APPLICATION OF YOUR PARENTS.
Toyme says OH, YES, I HAVE A NUMBER
AND EVERYTHING, STATISTICS
THAT I WAS ON MY FATHER'S
PASSPORT.
BUT AND THAN WHEN I WENT TO
TEACHERS COLLEGE IN THOSE
DAYS YOU HAD TO PROVE ARE
YOU WERE A CANADIAN CITIZEN.
AND I HAVE THAT
DOCUMENTATION.
BUT WHAT I'M QUESTIONING IS
WHY AT THIS PRESENT TIME
WHEN I'M ALMOST 80 I HAVE TO
REAPPLY FOR CANADIAN
CITIZENSHIP.
Joel says THAT IS A VERY GOOD
QUESTION.
AND I WOULD HAVE TO KNOW
MORE OF THE SPECIFICS TO
TELL YOU THAT THE PASSPORT
OFFICE IS BEING
UNREASONABLE.
BUT SOUNDS LIKE THEY ARE
BEING UNREASONABLE.
Maureen says SO YOU SAID HOW
DO YOU DO THIS SEARCH.
Joel says WELL, YOU CAN -- THE
CITIZENSHIP OFFICE IS IN
SYDNEY, NOVA SCOTIA.
AND THERE ARE FORMS AND YOU
CAN GET THEM ON THE INTERNET
AND THEY ARE AVAILABLE.
AND MAYBE EVEN THE PASSPORT
OFFICES LOCALLY WHERE YOU
CAN APPLY TO HAVE THEM
SEARCH THE CITIZENSHIP
RECORDS AND TELL YOU WHETHER
OR NOT IN FACT THEY HAVE A
RECORD OF YOU BEING A
CANADIAN CITIZEN.
IF THEY DON'T IT DOESN'T
NECESSARILY MEAN THAT YOU
ARE NOT T JUST MEANS THEY
DON'T HAVE A RECORD.
BUT FROM THE DOCUMENTATION
YOU SUGGEST THAT YOU HAVE, I
CAN'T IMAGINE WHY THEY WOULD
SAY THAT ARE YOU NOT A
CANADIAN CITIZEN.
I MEAN SOUNDS A LITTLE
OUTRAGE US.
Maureen says IF THEY GIVE YOU
A PASSPORT ONCE IN CANADA,
DOES THAT MEAN YOU COULD
HAVE A PROBLEM AFTER THAT
ONE EXPIRES AND GO TO APPLY
FOR ANOTHER ONE.
Joel says IT DOES HAPPEN.
IN FACT PASSPORTS CAN BE
ISSUED IN ERROR.
YOU WOULD THINK THAT A
PASSPORT IS EVIDENCE OF
CANADIAN CITIZENSHIP AND
GENERALLY SPEAKING IT IS.
BUT THEY CAN BE ISSUED IN
ERROR AND THE LAW CAN CHANGE.
IF YOU ACQUIRED CITIZENSHIP
SAY BY DERIVATION BECAUSE
YOUR FATHER WAS BORN IN
CANADA AND YOU ARRIVE --
APPLIED FOR IT BUT THEY
CHANGED THAT LAW AND YOU
DON'T HAVE A PASSPORT T IS
POSSIBLE.
WE HAVE SEEN IT HAPPEN AND
IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING TO
PEOPLE WHO SUDDENLY LEARN
THAT THEY ARE NO LONGER
CANADIAN CITIZENS.
Maureen says OKAY.
I BET IT IS.
ALL RIGHT, ELIZABETH IS -- I
DON'T KNOW WHERE SHE IS.
She looks at the computer screen and reads I'M CONSIDERING SPONSORING
MY MOTHER.
SHE IS 60 AND LIVES IN
CENTRAL AMERICA.
I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AN IDEA
ABOUT HOW LONG THE PROCESS
WOULD TAKE IF SHE STAYS
THERE COMPARED TO BEING IN
CANADA AND STARTING THE
PROCESS IF SHE COMES HERE AS
A VISITOR.
I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE
FEES AND IF I NEED TO HAVE A
HIGH INCOME TO SPONSOR HER.
Joel says WELL, LET'S START WITH
THE HIGH INCOME.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN INCOME
THAT CAN SHOW THAT YOU CAN
SUPPORT YOUR MOTHER AS WELL
AS WHATEVER OTHER DEPENDENTS
YOU HAVE.
IN THE TORONTO AREA FOR TWO
PEOPLE THAT USUALLY IS ABOUT
25,000 DOLLARS.
THAT IS YOURSELF AND YOUR
MOTHER BUT IF YOU HAVE OTHER
DEPENDENTS IT WILL GO UP.
WE'RE ALWAYS ASKED WHAT
FACTORS, SPONSORING FROM
WITHIN OR WITHOUT.
THE WHOLE PROCESS IS GENERALLY
FASTER IF ARE YOU OUTSIDE
THE COUNTRY.
YOU GET LANDED IMMIGRANT
STATUS FASTER THAN THE WHOLE
PROCESS INSIDE CANADA.
HAVING SAID THAT, HOWEVER F
SOMEONE IS INSIDE CANADA AND
THE PROCESS IS GOING ON,
THEY ARE HERE AND YOU REALLY
DON'T CARE IN MOST
CIRCUMSTANCES HOW LONG IT
TAKES BECAUSE THEY ARE WITH
YOU.
SO LET'S SAY IT TAKES TWO
AND A HALF YEARS INSIDE
CANADA OR TWO YEARS, THEY
ARE HERE THAT WHOLE TIME.
IF IT TAKES A YEAR OUTSIDE
THE COUNTRY, IT IS SORT
OF -- WHICH IS BETTER.
DEPENDS ON YOUR
CIRCUMSTANCES.
DOW NEED HER HERE OR WANT
HER HERE IMMEDIATELY, I
SUPPOSE BRING HER HERE AS A
VISITOR.
HAVING THAT, TECHNICALLY IT
IS ILLEGAL TO COME HERE AS A
VILSITIER ENTENDING TO BE A
PERMANENT RESIDENT.
SO IF YOU WANT HER TO
PERMANENTLY SPONSOR HER LET
HER APPLY FROM ABROAD.
Maureen says TECHNICALLY ARE
YOU SUPPOSED TO STAY IN
CANADA SIX MONTHS AS A
VISIT.
Joel says YOU DON'T HAVE TO STAY
SIX MONTHS.
Maureen says WHAT WOULD
HAPPEN IF SIX MONTHS WENT BY
AND SHE WAS STILL IN THE
PROCESS OF TRYING TO GET
HER --
Joel says WELL, YOU HAVE TO EXTEND
YOUR VISITOR STATUS AND LAY
THE CARDS ON THE TABLE, NOT
THAT YOU HAVE TO LAY THEM SO
MUCH THESE DAYS BECAUSE THEY
WILL KNOW.
AN APPLICATION HAS BEEN MADE
FOR PERMANENT, THE SYSTEM
WILL KNOW.
Maureen says OKAY.
RAYNA IN RICHMOND HILL.
Rayna says HELLO.
MY QUESTION IS I WANT TO
SPONSOR MY MOTHER BUT MY
BIRTH CERTIFICATE DOESN'T
STATE HER NAME OR MY NAME,
ONLY MY FATHER'S FIRST NAME.
WHAT OTHER DOCUMENTS CAN I
GIVE AS PROOF OF
RELATIONSHIP.
Joel says WELL, I AM GOING TO THROW
IT BACK AT YOU.
WHAT OTHER DOCUMENTS DO YOU
THINK YOU CAN GET.
AND I'M ASKING YOU THAT DO I
CAN THINK OF OTHER DOCUMENTS
YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO COME UP
WITH.
Rayna says I HAVE MY PASSPORT WHEN I
WAS WAS A KID WHICH GIVES MY
FATHER'S NAME AND MY
MOTHER'S PASSPORT WHICH
SHOWS MY FATHER'S NAME AS
HER HUSBAND'S NAME.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE COULD
WE GET.
Joel says THAT IS NOT BAD.
THAT IS WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO
IS LOOK FOR THAT CHAIN.
SOME LINK SOMEWHERE.
I MEAN IF THERE IS ANY OTHER
DOCUMENTS BAP 'TIS MALL
RECORDS, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU
HAVE SUCH A DOCUMENT.
YOU'VE GOT TO LOOK FOR IT
BECAUSE THEY CERTAINLY WANT
TO BE SATISFIED THAT IT IS
YOUR MOTHER.
UNFORTUNATELY EVEN IF YOUR
MOTHER WAS MARRIED TO YOUR
FATHER DOESN'T PROVE THAT IT
IS YOUR MOTHER.
IT IS A LITTLE UNUSUAL THAT
THE MOTHER'S NAME WOULDN'T
APPEAR ON THE BIRTH
CERTIFICATE AND I SUPPOSE
THAT IS WHAT CANADA
IMMIGRATION IS PICKING UP ON
IS HOW DO WE KNOW THAT THIS
IS YOUR MOTH ENGINEER WHAT
COUNTRY IS IT, YOUR BIRTH
CERTIFICATE FROM.
Rayna says FROM PAKISTAN.
THEY JUST WRITE FEMALE BORN
THROUGH -- THE DATE AND
PLACE OF BIRTH AND FATHER'S
NAME, JUST THE FIRST NAME.
AND SPELLING, ET CETERA, ARE
OFTEN QUITE DIFFERENT.
Joel says WELL, I MEAN, THIS
HAPPENS FAIRLY FREQUENTLY
WITH DIFFERENT DOCUMENTS NOT
DISCLOSING INFORMATION
SUFFICIENT.
I MEAN IF YOU HAVE FAMILY
PICTURES, WHILE YOU WERE
GROWING UP, IF YOU HAVE
RELATIVES WHO CAN SIGN
AFFIDAVITS.
IF YOU HAVE SCHOOL RECORDS.
YOU KNOW, THE MORE YOU CAN
PUT TOGETHER THE MORE YOU
LEGITIMIZE THE SITUATION.
Maureen says OKAY, GOOD LUCK.
THANKS.
CHARITY IS IN CAMEBRIDGE,
HELLO, CHARITY.
Charity says YES.
Maureen says WHAT IS YOUR
QUESTION.
Charity says OKAY, I AM AN AMERICAN.
MY SON WAS BORN IN CANADA.
THEY REFUSE TO GIVE HIM HIS
CANADIANSHIP BECAUSE OF THE
FACT THAT I'M AMERICAN.
AND I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHY.
Joel says THEY -- WHO REFUSED TO
GIVE HIM ONE.
Charity says THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT.
Joel says REFUSED TO GIVE HIM-
Maureen says CANADIAN
CITIZENSHIP.
Charity says YES.
Joel says HE IS A CANADIAN CITIZEN
IF HE WAS BORN IN CANADA.
Charity says THEY WON'T GIVE HIM
ANYTHING AND I WANT TO KNOW
WHY.
Joel says WELL, WHAT ARE YOU
LOOKING TO GET.
Charity says WELL, LIKE HIS HEALTH AND
THINKS SIN NUMBER AND STUFF
LIKE THAT.
Maureen says HOW OLD IS THE
CHILD.
Charity says HE'S THREE NOW.
Joel says ARE YOU LEGAL IN CANADA.
Charity says I'M STILL GOING THROUGH
MY PROCESS.
Joel says YEAH, WELL, IT'S NOT THAT
CANADA WON'T RECOGNIZE HIM
AS A CITIZEN, THEY DO.
AND HAVE TO.
AND WILL.
AND HE IS.
THE PROBLEM IS BECAUSE YOU
ARE NOT IN STATUS THERE IS
AGENCIES WON'T GRANT
BENEFITS TO THE CHILD
RIGHTLY OR WRONGLY.
I DON'T SAY I AGREE WITH IT.
O HIP FOR EXAMPLE ROUTINELY
TAKES THE OPTION THAT IF THE
PARENT IN A NEWBORN
SITUATION IS NOT LEGAL AND
DOESN'T HAVE OHIP THEY WON'T
GRANT IT TO THE CHILD
EITHER.
SO YOU ARE FALLING NOT
WITHIN CITIZENSHIP'S PROBLEM
BUT WITHIN VARIOUS
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES PROBLEM.
Maureen says REALLY.
SO ARE YOU SAYING IF PEOPLE
AREN'T ENTITLED TO OHIP AND
THEY ARE PAYING OUT OF THEIR
POCKET FOR THINGS.
Joel says YES, POTENTIALLY, SURE.
Maureen says YOU WOULD THINK
THAT THAT CHILD VISITS TO
THE DOCTOR SHOULD BE
COVERED.
Joel says YOU WOULD THINK SO.
I'M NOT GOING TO GET ANY
DISAGREEMENT FROM ME ON
THAT.
Maureen says THAT IS AMAZING.
SHE HAS A BIRTH CERTIFICATE
FOR HIM THOUGH.
Joel says ABSOLUTELY.
Maureen says AND THAT IS YOUR
PROOF OF CANADIAN
CITIZENSHIP.
Joel says AND IT IS.
AND TECHNICALLY THE CHILD
CAN APPLY FOR A CANADIAN
PASSPORT AS WELL, SURE.
Maureen says AND BECAUSE IN
CANADA, I MEAN, CAN YOU GET
A CANADIAN CITIZENSHIP
CERTIFICATE.
Joel says ABSOLUTELY.
Maureen says DO MOST CANADIAN
BORN PEOPLE GET THAT.
Joel says NO.
MOST CANADIAN BORN PEOPLE
DON'T.
I DON'T HAVE ONE.
Maureen says I DON'T THINK
PEOPLE REALIZE HOW MANY
BIRTH CERTIFICATES THERE ARE
IN THE HALLS OF THE
GOVERNMENT.
I HAD TO GET LONG FORM BIRTH
CERTIFICATES FOR MY CHILDREN
AND NOTHING ELSE WAS
ACCEPTABLE.
AND OF COURSE YOU DON'T GET
THAT WHEN YOUR CHILD IS
BORN.
YOU HAVE TO PAY --
Joel says YOU HAVE TO ACTUALLY
APPLY FOR IT.
Maureen says YOU HAVE TO PAY
MONEY TO GET IT.
YOU MENTIONED CATEGORIES OF
PROFBSS WHO CAN WORK IN THE
U.S.
BEAU WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IN
FINANCIAL CONTROLLER IS ONE
OF THEM.
Joel says NOT PER SE.
ACCOUNTANTS ARE, WHICH MEANS
A WHOLE REALM OF ACCOUNTING
KINDS OF OCCUPATIONS CAN GET
EASY ACCESS TO THE UNITED
STATES.
THAT IS WHY THESE THINGS
HAVE TO BE CRAFTED SO
CAREFULLY.
A FINANCIAL CONTROLLER
DEPENDS ON THE OFFER OF
EMPLOYMENT.
PERHAPS YOU MIGHT FIT IN AS
A MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT IF
YOU ARE ADVISING A COMPANY
ON ITS FINANCIAL NEEDS AND
HOW TO MAKE THINGS BETTER.
BUT SPECIFICALLY, NO.
IT'S NOT -- IT'S NOT ON THE
LIST.
Maureen says DO THOSE
CATEGORIES IN THE U.S.
CHANGE FROM TIME TO TIME
WITH THE ECONOMY OR --
Joel says WELL, IN CANADAS THAT
UNDER THE FREE-TRADE
AGREEMENT T IS THE SAME
LIST.
NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH THE
800 OCCUPATIONS.
THIS IS STRICTLY A NAFTA
LIST OF ABOUT 60
OCCUPATIONS.
IT IS ONLY CHANGED ONCE
SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE
NORTH AMERICAN FREE-TRADE
AGREEMENT.
AND THAT WAS TO DELIST
JOURNALISTS.
Maureen says JUST TO GET RID OF US.
Joel says WELL, BUT NOBODY DID
ACCEPT THE JOURNALISTS.
THE JOURNALISTS ASKED TO BE
TAKEN OFF THE LIST.
Maureen says OH.
I THOUGHT THEY WERE GETTING
PETER JENNINGS AND ALL THESE
OTHER CANADIANS DOWN THERE.
Joel says JOURNALISTS ASKED TO BE
TAKEN OFF THE LIST BECAUSE
99 PERCENT OF THESE OCCUPATIONS
REQUIRE A DEGREE.
AND JOURNALISTS DIDN'T LIKE
THE IDEA THAT IN ORDER TO BE
A JOURNALIST YOU KNEED A
DEGREE.
AND WE SAID NO, WE DON'T
WANT THAT CRITERIA SO PLEASE
TAKE US OFF THE LIST.
Maureen says OKAY.
I TAKE IT DOCTORS ARE ON THE
LIST.
Joel says PHYSICIANS ARE ON THE
LIST BUT THEY CAN'T DO
PATIENT CARE UNDER THE NORTH
AMERICAN FREE-TRADE
AGREEMENT.
SO A PHYSICIAN IS GOING TO
TEACH OR DO RESEARCH CAN GO
BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN
CANADA AND THE UNITED
STATES.
BUT THEY CAN'T -- YOU CAN'T
FUNCTION AS A GENERAL
PRACTITIONER UNDER THE NORTH
AMERICAN FREE-TRADE
AGREEMENT.
Maureen says ANYBODY WHO HAS
RIDEN A CAB IN FRONT HAS
FROM TIME TO TIME MET
SOMEBODY WHO SAID THEY WERE
A DOCTOR IN THEIR OWN
COUNTRY.
THIS IS BECOME AN ISSUE OF
HOW WE GET FOREIGN TRAINED
DOCTORS TO BE ABLE TO
PRACTICE IN ONTARIO.
WHICH LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT
SHOULD WE BE LOOKING TO TO
HELP EXPEDITE THIS.
Joel says WELL, ON THE IMMIGRATION
LEVEL WHICH OF COURSE IS
FEDERAL WE ARE NOT ACCEPTING
DOCTORS UNLESS THEY ARE
TRULY EXTRA.
I MEAN DOCTORS ARE JUST NOT
ON THAT INDEPENDENT LIST.
Maureen says NOW THAT SEEMS
CRAZY BECAUSE WE KNOW THERE
IS A SHORTAGE OF DOCTORS.
Joel says THERE IS A SHORTAGE NOW
BUT AT THE TIME THE LIST WAS
PUT TOGETHER THERE WASN'T A
SHORTAGE.
SO THIS IS --
Maureen says HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO
CHANGE THE LIST.
Joel says TO THE BEST OF MY
KNOWLEDGE IT HASN'T BEEN
CHANGED IT IN AT LEAST FIVE
OR SIX YEARS.
IT SHOULDN'T TAKE A MOMENT
TO DESIGNATION A PROFESSION
AS ONE IN SHORT SUPPLY BUT
IT HAS BEEN RARELY DONE.
I THINK, I MEAN I THINK IT
COULD BE AND I THINK IF MORE
ATTENTION WAS PAID TO THIS
LIST, A LOT LESS WOULD HAVE
TO BE CHANGED IN IMMIGRATION
GENERALLY.
THE LIST WORKS AND IT HAS
WORKED UP UNTIL NOW.
BUT IT HAS BEEN INFLEXIBLE.
THE LAST TIME IT WAS CHANGE
KD, OF COURSE, NOBODY WAS
RAISED IN POINTS.
EVERYBODY WAS CHOPPED DOWN.
SO A LOT OF SKILLED WORKERS,
NOT NECESSARILY
PROFESSIONALS GOT
ESSENTIALLY DELISTED.
Maureen says BUT IF THE
DOCTOR DOES GET IN THE
COUNTRY, IN ORDER TO BE A
CREDITED TO PRACTICE HERE
THAT HAS GOT TO BE THE
ONTARIO GOVERNMENT LOOKING
AT HOW --
Joel says THAT IS EXACTLY RIGHT IT
IS A PROVINCIAL MATTER AS
FAR AS LICENSING AND THE
COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS AND
SURGEONS AND THE WHOLE
RESIDENCY PROGRAMME SO THERE
ARE A FEW LEVELS OF
BUREAUCRACY THAT MAKES IT
VERY TOUGH.
Maureen says DIFFICULT.
LET'S GO TO JOANNA IN
PETERBOROUGH.
HI, JOANNA.
Joanna says I'M CANADIAN AND MY
COMMON LAW HUSBAND HAS
APPLIED FOR AN INDEPENDENT
FOR LANDED STATUS.
WE ARE JUST WAITING NOW FOR
THE INTRODUE THROUGH DETROIT
BUT HE IS ON A VISITOR'S
PERMIT AND IT EXPIRES
MID-MARCH AND THE BIG HICCUP
IS HIS PASSPORT EXPIRES IN
JULY.
AND WE ARE VERY CONCERNED
ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP
THIS PROCESS BECAUSE WE HAVE
A YOUNG FAMILY HERE TOO.
Joel says OKAY.
WELL, THE PASSPORT SHOULDN'T
BE A PROBLEM BECAUSE AN
AMERICAN -- IS IT AMERICAN.
Joanna says ALGERIAN.
Joel says WELL, --
Joanna says HE CAN'T APPLY FOR IT IN
CANADA, HE HAS TO GO HOME.
Joel says TO GET A NEW PASSPORT?
Joanna says THAT IS WHAT THE HICCUP
IS.
Joel says YES, THAT IS A PRETTY BIG
HICCUP I WOULD SUGGEST.
YEAH, AND CANADA WANTS A
VALID PASSPORT.
HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN PENDING.
Joanna says IT'S A YEAR -- NO, SINCE
JULY, SINCE JULY WE HEARD
FROM SORRY, DETROIT, JULY.
Joel says OKAY.
WELL, WHEN WAS THE
APPLICATION ACTUALLY MADE.
Joanna says LAST JANUARY.
SO IT HAS MOVED THROUGH
QUICKLY, WE ARE VERY LUCKY.
Joel says SO IT IS ABOUT A YEAR.
YOU SHOULD ESSENTIALLY
BADGER THEM AND TELL THEM
WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.
Joanna says CALL DETROIT AND BADGER
THEM.
Joel says WELL, DON'T CALL THEM, I
WOULD WRITE THEM.
YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GET
THROUGH ON A PHONE CALL TO
DETROIT.
WHAT DOES HE DO.
Joanna says HE IS A PHYSICIST.
Joel says OKAY, WELL, THAT IS
CERTAINLY IF I RECALL ON THE
LIST.
I'M JUST WONDERING THOUGH
AND YOU RAISE ANOTHER POINT
THAT YOU ARE NOT EVEN ASKING
ABOUT, WHY YOU DIDN'T
SPONSOR HIM.
Joanna says HE WANTED TO APPLY AS AN
INDEPENDENT, THAT IS ALL I
CAN LEAVE IT AS.
IF I HAD DONE IT THAT WAY
THERE IS PROBLEM.
I'M SUPPORTING AT THE MOMENT
BUT IT WAS JUST THE WAY HE
FELT.
Joel says AND THAT IS NOT UNUSUAL,
I MIGHT ADD.
A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T WANT
TO BE SPONSORED TO SAY THAT
WELL, THE ONLY REASON WE ARE
TOGETHER IS FOR IMMIGRATION
PURPOSES OR SOME SUCH
REASON.
AND THAT IS NOT UNCOMMON AT
ALL.
BUT MY POINT WAS AS A COMMON
LAW SPOUSE CANADA WILL LET
YOU SPONSOR.
I MEAN COMMON LAW SPOUSES
CAN EMIGRATE TO CANADA.
THE UNITED STATES DOESN'T
EVEN REGARD THOSE IN ANY WAY
SHAPE OR FORM.
BUT EVEN SAME SEX
RELATIONSHIPS ARE SOMEWHAT
RECOGNIZED BY IMMIGRATION IN
CANADA.
SO I'M SORT OF -- I HAVEN'T
ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION AT
ALL.
I'M SORRY.
BUT YOU RAISE SOME OTHER
POINTS THAT ARE INTERESTING.
Maureen says SOMETIMES YOU
JUST -- IT IS GOING TO TAKE
SOME LEGAL HELP, I GUESS.
YOU ABLE TO CALL, YOU TALK
ABOUT CALL DETROIT, WRITE
DETROIT, DO THEY PAY MORE
ATTENTION IF IF COMES ON
LEGAL LETTERHEAD.
Joel says WELL, TO BE PERFECTLY
FAIR, SOME CONSULLATE DOES
AND SOME DON'T.
I MEAN CONSULLATES TAKE ON
PERSONALITIES AND SOME ARE
VERY RESPONSIVE TO ALL KINDS
OF INQUIRIES INCLUDING, YOU
KNOW, THE APPLICANTS
THEMSELVES, OF COURSE.
OTHERS ARE NOT.
SOME ARE MORE USED TO DOING
BUSINESS WITH LAWYERS AND
WITH LOTS OF BUSINESSPEOPLE
AND OTHERS ARE STRICTLY
FAMILY BASED ONES.
I MEAN I WOULD DEFY ANYONE
TO GET IN TOUCH WITH AN
OFFICER IN NEW DELHI FOR
EXAMPLE.
Maureen says IS THAT HOW IT
WORKS.
JUST IN THE LAST MINUTE
WE HAVE, I WONDERED, IS THE
INTERNET A GOOD PLACE TO GO
TO DOWNLOAD APPLICATIONS FOR
VARIOUS CITIZENSHIP AND
NATURALIZATION THINGS.
Joel says SURE.
Maureen says THEY ARE ALL
THERE.
Joel says ABSOLUTELY.
CANADA IMMIGRATION'S WEB
SITE HAVE IMPROVED
DRAMATICALLY.
I WOULD CHOOSE THEIR WEB
SITES AS THE NUMBER ONE
PLACE TO GET THE INFORMATION
IN MOST -- AT MOST LEVELS.
ONE COULD ALSO CALL A CALL
CENTRE AND ASK FOR KITS TO
BE SENT OUT.
THAT IS THREE, FOUR WEEKS IN
THE PROCESS BETWEEN PHONE
CALL.
BUT IF YOU CAN GET ON THE
INTERNET AND DOWNLOAD THE
STUFF YOU WILL HAVE IT IN
YOUR HANDS.
Maureen says OKAY.
WE WILL BE GIVING THAT WEB
SITE ADDRESS OUT AS WELL AS
YOURS, THANKS FOR DOING THIS
AGAIN.
Joel says OF COURSE.
A slate pops up that reads “Guberman Garson. 4163631234. www.gubermangarson.com.”
The slate changes to “Immigration department. Www.cic.gc.ca.”
Maureen continues AND THAT'S ALL THE
TIME WE HAVE
FOR
MORE TO LIFE
TODAY.
BUT I HOPE YOU'LL
TUNE IN AGAIN ON TVO,
MONDAY THROUGH
FRIDAY AT 1:00.
A closing slate reads “The advice given in the preceding program is of a general nature only. Viewers should consult their own legal advisor for legal advice specific to their circumstances.”