Trump’s Effect on Canadian Immigration
Canada’s Immigration Lawyers and Real Estate Agents Are Seeing a Rise in Inquiries from Americans Since Trump’s Election
Since Donald Trump was elected as President of the United States in November 2016, Canada has seen a spike in interest from Americans looking to move north of the border. In fact, the website for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) crashed on the night of the November election due to heavy traffic.
American web searches related to Canada have spiked, and Canadian immigration lawyers and realtors have experienced a significant increase in inquiries from Americans since. The Americans interested in moving to Canada appear to be directly impacted by Trump’s election, along with the fear and uncertainty for the future of the United States.
Spike in Web Traffic
Web traffic for the Royal LePage real estate website and Google searches for “moving to Canada” dramatically increased around the time of Trump’s election. Royal LePage saw a web traffic increase more than four times their usual volume the day following the election. IRCC’s website also crashed due to an estimated tenfold traffic increase on Election Day.
Boost in Canadian Real Estate Inquiries
Royal LePage representatives have also stated that American interest in Canadian real estate increased between October and December 2016. There was, in fact, a 40% increase in interest compared to the same period in 2015.
Canada has always been a popular destination for Americans and international citizens due to our reputation for being a beautiful and welcoming country. Now, though, with the low Canadian dollar and a Trump presidency, Canada is an even more desirable destination to buy real estate and resettle.
How the State of the U.S. Affects Canadian Immigration
Canadian immigration lawyers have been advising Americans dissatisfied with the state of their country and keen to immigrate to Canada long before Trump came into power. In fact, Americans sought advice from immigration lawyers in Canada when:
- George W. Bush was elected President in 2000;
- The U.S. invaded Iraq in 2003; and
- When Bush won the 2004 presidential election.
Immigration lawyers are now, once again, noticing more inquiries for Canadian immigration since Trump’s election, evidencing a potential “Trump effect” on immigration to Canada.
Concern and uncertainty with the Trump administration are the major factors influencing these increases in inquiries. Some Americans do not want to live or raise a family in a country where exclusion and fear are the driving changes in policy. As such, some immigration lawyers in both Canada and the U.S. have recently received inquiries relating to:
- Permanent residency in Canada
- Permanent residency for relatives of students and dual citizens in Canada;
- Foreign worker permits; and
- Renouncing U.S. citizenship for dual citizens.
The permanent immigration outlook caused by the “Trump effect” is still uncertain, since Trump has only been in power for a few weeks. Although there has been a rise in Canadian immigration and real estate inquiries, these trends may become more reliably evident over time if Trump continues with implementing such exclusionary policies.
Kevin O’Leary’s Stance on Immigration and NATO
He May Have Worked in Reality TV, But Some Of O’Leary’s Views Differ from Trump’s
When Kevin O’Leary announced that he was running for leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada, many Canadians immediately made comparisons to Donald Trump. Both are wealthy businessmen who are also reality TV stars, and both appear to have little compassion for others.
But when it comes to discussing immigration in Canada and international involvement, is O’Leary truly Trump’s northern cousin?
O’Leary and Immigration in Canada
O’Leary breaks from the Trump comparisons in his views on immigration and international aid, it would appear. In interviews following the announcement of his candidacy, O’Leary pointed out his cultural background as the son of immigrants from Lebanon and Ireland.
“There are no walls in my world,” noted O’Leary. One hopes that he doesn’t intend to close off immigration or add further controls.
O’Leary did not, however, provide a clear position on immigration in Canada. He has stated he plans to use the “best ideas” of his fellow candidates, some of whom have suggested a new immigrant screening process for “anti-Canadian values.”
If this suggested screening process is one of the “best ideas” that O’Leary is referring to, then there should be concern about future Canadian immigration laws. The term “anti-Canadian values” is reminiscent of Trump’s fear-mongering tactics against immigration during his election campaign.
O’Leary’s Stance on NATO
While Trump has loudly proclaimed that NATO is “obsolete,” O’Leary says that Canada needs to provide more funding to NATO. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is an international political and military alliance with 28 member countries from North America and Europe.
Members of NATO make collective decisions to provide defense and security for member countries, and an attack against one member country is considered an attack against all. Since Trump spoke out against NATO, member countries are now concerned about the United States’ support in the event of an attack or conflict.
Although similar in many ways, O’Leary appears to be a slightly more progressive and moderate candidate than Trump. Given O’Leary’s stance on NATO and immigration in Canada, he currently does not seem to have the intention of making sweeping changes to our global standing. However, a lot can change on the campaign trail.
Residency Appeals Denied More Often Than Not
A Top Appeals Lawyer Can Represent Permanent Residents who are Issued Removal Orders for Non-Compliance
In compliance with the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), permanent residents must be in Canada for a minimum of 730 days during a five-year period. Failure to be living in Canada for the required number of days will lead to removal orders for non-compliance, and residents may be revoked of their permanent residency status.
However, top appeals lawyers can help permanent residents appeal their removal orders under certain circumstances, such as:
- Providing evidence of humanitarian and compassionate considerations;
- Demonstrating that it is in the best interests of the appellant’s child that they do not lose permanent residency;
- Arguing that the appellant’s degree of establishment and continuing connections to Canada is strong;
- Providing evidence that the appellant made attempts to return to Canada; and
- Providing evidence of the hardship and dislocation the appellant’s family members will suffer if permanent residency status is lost.
An Increase in Removals
According to a recent article from The Star, the number of removal orders issued to permanent residents for non-compliance has risen significantly in the last few years, to around 1,400 each year, compared to 605 in 2008.
Permanent residents are usually issued removal orders after entering Canada at ports of entry, such as borders and customs in airports, and their non-compliance with the IRPA has been noticed by visa officers and Citizenship and Immigration Canada. The most common form of non-compliance is being outside of Canada for more than the minimum of 730 days out of a five-year period.
A Decline in Successful Appeals
Permanent residents can appeal their removal orders for humanitarian and compassionate considerations. However, according to recent government statistics, only one in 10 appellants are successful in their appeals. The number of successful appeals has drastically declined since 2008, from 127 successes out of 746 appeals, to 78 successes out of 1,008 appeals in 2014.
Top Appeals Lawyers Can Help
For permanent residents who want to appeal their removal orders, a top appeals lawyer can help with the appeals process so the appellants have a better chance of regaining their permanent residency status.
Permanent residents have 60 days after receiving the removal order letter from Citizenship and Immigration Canada to appeal to the Immigration Appeal Division, so it is crucial to get assistance for the appeal as soon as possible.
A top appeals lawyer can successfully represent permanent residents with their residency appeals and give them a chance to remain permanent residents in Canada.
Canada Remains Committed to Helping Yazidi Refugees
Immigration Canada Reaffirms Commitment to Resettling Yazidi Refugees in the Face of Recent Setbacks to Humanitarian Groups
Helping Yazidi refugees resettle in Canada within the next month is at the forefront of the country’s immigration efforts despite recent obstacles. Refugee law offices have been working closely with immigration officials in Canada to help resettle these people.
Despite the Government of Canada’s recognition of the urgent situation many Yazidi people find themselves in, obstacles continue to slow or stop the resettlement process.
The Yazidi are victims of violence and genocide in northern Iraq. The four-month resettlement deadline set by the Canadian government is fast approaching. The recent closure of a key Iraqi humanitarian partner has added further urgency to the situation.
Yazada, the humanitarian group that had been helping Canada with the refugee screening process, was recently shut down by the local Iraqi government. This political closure has called into question if Canada can actually help the Yazidi refugees.
The often-complex screening and resettlement process continues in the face of such closures, however. Canada remains a committed leader in the global refugee crisis and a safe haven for many displaced victims of violence.
The Yazidi Genocide
In 2014, ISIS began attacks against the Yazidi minority group of northern Iraq. Last June, the United Nations reported that the Yazidi community, an estimated 400,000 people, were targeted by ISIS with the aim to destroy the minority group by erasing their identity. Mass murders, torture, rape, and displacement characterize the brutal (and repeated) attacks against the Yazidis.
CBC News recently reported on Canada’s commitment to helping Yazidi refugees and provided details of the horrific violence that these people have suffered. The Sinjar Massacre is one such incident, where ISIS soldiers killed 4,000, kidnapped 6,000, and displaced another 4,000. To date, most of the Yazidi people who were kidnapped are women and girls held captive as sex slaves, where they are sold and often raped (and, in some cases, tortured) on a daily basis.
Canada’s Commitment to Helping Yazidi Refugees
In October 2016, there was a vote in the House of Commons to bring Yazidi refugees to Canada within a four-month period. All Members of Parliament voted in favour of this resettlement and a February 22, 2017 (120 days) deadline was established.
Part of this motion, tabled by Conservative Party MP Michelle Rempel, was to recognize that the Yazidi people were facing genocide at the hands of ISIS and that ISIS continues to hold captive many Yazidi women and girls as sex slaves. These victims and their families are the top priority for Canada’s resettlement commitment, yet the screening process for Yazidi refugees is faced with many obstacles.
Yazda
More recently, the humanitarian group that was helping Yazidi refugees and Canada immigration officials in the refugee screening process has been shut down by the Kurdistan Regional Government for “engaging in political activities.”
Yazda is a non-governmental organization that helps Yazidi survivors of abuse, torture, and sexual slavery—providing support to more than 600 women and girl survivors with health care and therapy. This humanitarian group was a key partner for helping the Canadian government resettle Yazidi refugees, and its closure may pose a threat to Canada’s four-month deadline.
Although Yazda may be able to continue operations in the future, there is uncertainty over if and when this will happen. Despite the possibility that Yazda may not be able to continue its partnership with Canada, Yazda’s executive director, Murad Ismael, stated that there are other NGOs and partners who are ready to help Canada with the Yazidi immigration process.
A spokesperson for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada also confirmed that Canada will continue working to meet its commitment to Yazidi refugees despite the recent closure of Yazda. The urgency to help Yazidi refugees is still at the forefront of Canada’s immigration efforts and is a significant driving factor. These survivors need help from other countries to escape persecution, find safe homes, and receive physical and emotional care.
There is hope that Canadian government will be able to continue its efforts to bring the Yazidi refugees to Canada as quickly as possible, and provide them with the medical care, therapy, and social support needed to resettle and recover from the horrific violence they have experienced.
Immigration Canada Extends Pilot Program For Families
The Open Work Permit Pilot Program Allows Sponsored Spouses And Common-Law Partners To Work In Canada While Waiting For Permanent Residence Status
Canada’s immigration application process just got a little bit better for families in Canada. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recently announced an extension to their Open Work Permit Pilot Program that was scheduled to end on December 22, 2016. The program—which is now set to run until December 21, 2017—allows sponsored spouses and common-law partners of Canadian Citizens and permanent residents to work in Canada while they wait for their application for permanent residency to be processed.
IRCC states that this program helps reunite families, and benefits Canada by promoting productivity in the workforce.
The Open Work Permit Pilot Program allows temporary workers to continue working anywhere in Canada while they wait for final decisions on their immigration status applications. This can also apply for extensions before their current work permits expire. In turn, they can, keep working in Canada, earn an income, and, most importantly, stay with their families.
The extension to the pilot program is, in fact, the second extension that’s been granted due to the extreme popularity amongst participants and their families.
Would-be applicants to the Open Work Permit Pilot Program must first apply for permanent resident status through the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada class application. The applicant must be sponsored by their spouse or common-law partner via the Inland Sponsorship route (wherein the sponsorship application is made from within Canada itself).
They must also obtain a valid temporary resident status in Canada, such as a visitor, student, or temporary worker status, and live at the same address as their spouse or common-law partner. Although applicants may submit a work permit application after they have submitted a permanent residence application, it is recommended that they submit both applications at the same time.
Canada’s Immigration Minister, John McCallum, also announced that processing times for Family Class applications will be reduced by half, and this includes Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class applications. The new application processing time is estimated at 12 months. To meet this timeframe, applications have been moved online and the documentation process will be simplified for a faster and easier application process, as well as for immigration personnel to process the applications.
By reducing application processing times and making it easier for families to stay together in Canada, the stresses of Canada’s immigration process can become less burdensome. It is much easier to move to a new country and go through the sometimes frustrating process of gaining permanent residence status if you are able to work and have your loved ones by your side.