RHYME & REASON

Filipiniana News – August 2016 Updates on Parent/Grandparent Sponsorships and Super Visas Early this year, the quota of 5,000 parent/grandparent (PGP) applications imposed by the previous Conservative government was doubled by the new Liberal government to 10,000.   But   with 14,000 applications received only 3 days after   it reopened on 4 January 2016, this meant that at least 4,000 applications may be returned or will presumably be carried over to fill the new 10,000 quota for 2017.    For immigrants who have tried or been planning to sponsor their parents and grandparents to become permanent residents of Canada, the increased annual quota may provide some hope.   However, those who intend to do so should plan ahead and ensure that the complete sponsorship application package will be ready for submission when the quota reopens on 3 January 2017.   Those who will again fail to meet the quota for 2017 and subsequent years, there i...

Filipiniana News   -   July 2016 RHYME & REASON Forum on Canada's Immigration Policy Early this month, a so-called "national conversation on immigration"   was launched by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), formerly known as Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC).    The IRCC press release states that this initiative will run for a month, from 5 July 2016 until 5 August 2016.   This consultation project will include " cross-Canada round-table discussions led by the Minister and Parliamentary Secretary, stakeholder engagement by departmental officials; and, public opinion research."   For most of us who may not have the chance to participate in these in person consultation activities, IRCC also invites online written submissions through its website at http://www.cic.gc.ca - jusr enter "conversation on immigration" in the search box and you will find the relevant link as the very first item in the search result...

Filipiniana News   -   June 2016 RHYME & REASON Nationalism without Borders For the Filipino diaspora, celebrating Philippine independence day on June 12th of every year   has become a familiar event held not only in Philippine diplomatic offices, but even in some city halls and other public places in various parts of the world.       With approximately ten million overseas Filipino workers scattered around the globe, ceremonies such as these allow Filipinos to rekindle nationalistic sentiments, while living or toiling many miles away from home.   After lengthy absences from one’s motherland, it is not unlikely that even the most hardened of hearts would feel a sense of nostalgia at the sight of one’s national flag or upon hearing a rendition of the national anthem.   Therefore, these activities serve an important purpose, especially for homesick Filipino migrants in far-flung destinations. A former diplomat...

Filipiniana News   -   May 2016 RHYME & REASON Stumbling Blocks to Family Reunification One of the main objectives of Canada's immigration system is family reunification.   Hence,   priority is given to family class sponsorships and the automatic inclusion of spouses and dependent children in most permanent residence applications.   Sadly however, this objective is often thwarted by human weaknesses or bureaucratic limitations. For example, despite government warnings and stricter scrutiny of spousal sponsorship applications, sponsorship fraud still persist.   I have met with some Canadian sponsors who, after learning that their foreign spouses only married them for purposes of gaining immigration status in Canada, wanted to know how they can have their sponsored spouses deported.   Sadly, sponsors realize too late that if the sponsored spouses have already been granted permanent residence, the sponsors cannot simply revoke the...