#Canadian immigration alternatives

[uglyandtraveling]

Living in Canada as a Newcomer: Essential Tips for a Smooth Start!

Discover essential tips for newcomers settling in Canada! From surviving winters to finding housing, jobs, and more—here's your ultimate guide.

[doyoulikethissong-poll]

M.I.A. - Paper Planes 2008

"Paper Planes" is a song by British hip hop artist M.I.A. It was released on 11 February 2008 as the third single from her second studio album, Kala (2007). It samples English rockband the Clash's 1982 song "Straight to Hell", leading to its members being credited as co-writers. A downtempo alternative hip hop, pop track combining African folk music elements, the song has a less dance-oriented sound compared to other songs on the album. Its lyrics, inspired by M.I.A.'s own problems obtaining a visa to work in the USA, satirise American perceptions of immigrants from war-torn countries, and said that the issue was probably "them thinking that I might to [sic] fly a plane into the Trade Center".

M.I.A. had wanted to work with American producer Timbaland for the album Kala, but her application for a long-term US work visa was rejected. This was allegedly due to her family's connection to the Tamil guerrillas, commonly known as the Tamil Tigers, a claim M.I.A. denied. Her visa problems were also attributed to her criticism of the Sri Lankan government's discrimination and alleged atrocities committed against the Tamils, with whom M.I.A. shares an ethnic and cultural heritage. She expressed this on her politicised debut album Arular. The unexpected success of "Paper Planes" paralleled M.I.A.'s condemnations of the Sri Lankan government's war crimes against the Tamils, generating accusations that she supported terrorism.

The song received widespread acclaim from contemporary critics, who complimented its musical direction and the subversive, unconventional subject matter. It won awards from the Canadian Independent Music Awards and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), and earned a Grammy nomination for Record of the Year. The song has received praise in publications such as NME, Pitchfork and Rolling Stone, each naming it among either the best songs of the 2000s decade or of all time. The review aggregator Acclaimed Music reports it as the second-most acclaimed song of the 21st century.

"Paper Planes" was used in the theatrical trailer for the 2008 stoner comedy Pineapple Express, directed by David Gordon Green, which catapulted the song to mainstream success in the US. "Paper Planes" and the DFA remix appear on the soundtrack to Danny Boyle's drama Slumdog Millionaire, released in 2008. The video game Far Cry 3 (2012) begins with "Paper Planes" used in the opening cinematic sequence.

"Paper Planes" received a total of 68,9% yes votes!

[iron-sparrow]

Elftober 【第十二天】 Knowledge

Yeah, that's a cup of pearl milk tea in Yein's hand. I'm using today's prompt ✨KNOWLEDGE✨ as an excuse to drop some mad unsolicited facts about the popular Taiwanese beverage. What's the occasion? Some dumb racist motherfuckers going viral, particular in the English-speaking Asian social media sphere.

So anyway, pearl milk tea (珍珠奶茶) originated in Taiwan (ROC) back in the 1980s. Some of you likely hear bubble or boba milk tea more; the "bubble" refers to the literal bubbles (泡泡) that form when shaking the tea, while "boba" refers to the enlarged tapioca balls. Yes, "boba" is actually derived from Chinese slang for large breasts, coming from Hong Kong sex symbol Amy Yip.

You'll find plenty of trivia all over the Internet about tapioca milk tea, but I want to stress the importance of this drink as a cultural icon for an entire nation that has struggled for decades to be recognized by world governments as its own country.

In Taiwan, bubble tea has become not just a beverage, but an enduring icon of the culture and food history for the nation. In 2020, the date April 30 was officially declared as National Bubble Tea Day in Taiwan. That same year, the image of bubble tea was proposed as an alternative cover design for Taiwan's passport. According to Al Jazeera, bubble tea has become synonymous with Taiwan and is an important symbol of Taiwanese identity both domestically and internationally. Bubble tea is used to represent Taiwan in the context of the Milk Tea Alliance.

Ignore your own feelings about pearl milk tea for a moment to simply appreciate its cultural impact around the world and how much that means to the millions of Asians spread around the globe. Here is a drink that came out of a Chinese-speaking nation that's been so widely accepted in its most basic form, without having to be altered ten different ways to be more palatable and marketable toward locals. It's a big deal, really, especially given the Western world's longstanding xenophobia toward Chinese people and just about everything we do or eat or whatever. While Japanese and Korean cuisines have enjoyed elevated pop status (double-edged blade there), the information war against Chinese continues and affects how we are perceived versus other Far Eastern ethnicities.

And how many instances have we seen by now of White people attempting to "rebrand" Chinese food (and mahjong lol) by claiming to have discovered a healthier, cleaner way to make it? Further perpetuating the belief that Chinese food is unhealthy or dirty, which can't be separated from the enduring sentiment that we are vermin or a virus since immigration out of China to NA became a noticeable trend in the 1800s.

The latest racist nitwits attempting to colonize for profit is a couple who appeared on Dragon's Den (like Shark Tank but Canadian, for those who didn't know) trying to get backing for their Montreal-based company, Bobba. Yeah. They fucking called it "Bobba."

"Yes, I'm talking about bubble tea: that trendy, sugary drink you are queueing up for, and you are never quite sure about its content. Those days are over with Bobba."

With their whole chests, these people had the caucasity to pitch this company to a panel that included Simu Liu, who has always been very outspoken about struggles unique to the Asian diaspora.

When grilled by Liu over their disrespect toward the origin culture, the idiot with the leopard-print collar went on to say "it's not an ethnical product anymore," because he and his business partner threw in popping bobas and fruit teas and juices. Hey, newsflash, chucklefucks ⸺ popping boba pearls and fruit teas/juices are also staples for most modern Chinese tea shops.

Simu Liu was the only one of the three panelists to offer scrutiny, even pointing out that the products the couple offered did not mention anything about Taiwan, despite the one guy's attempts to win Liu over by saying they're working with a Taiwanese manufacturer.

The couple is being torn apart online for very good reason, and I'm an even bigger fan of Simu Liu after his very eloquent summation of why Bobba (ugh) and the way it's being pitched is so problematic.

To quote author and journalist Kat Lieu, who founded Subtle Asian Baking ⸺

It's not that selling boba or other Asian products is wrong, but the issue arises when they're marketed as superior or "better" while portraying the original product as inferior, strange, unhealthy, or dirty and make a profit. It's crucial not to erase the identity and culture from which these products originate. To the person who said I appropriate the French when I make madeleines, tell that to my colonized Vietnamese ancestors who were forced to bake baguette for their colonizers

Before you come at me about not liking the texture of boba pearls or the flavor of traditional milk tea or whatever, bear in mind most legit tea shops will offer a variety of drinks with different toppings. Look around, explore your options, and most importantly, do not support colonizers.

Now if you'll excuse me, I think I'm gonna go get me some fruit teas with diced kiwi and aiyu jelly.

Back to your regularly scheduled Elftober tomorrow.

ELFTOBER PROMPT LIST

[ladyimaginarium]

fellas. canadian fellas. canadian folx. canada. y'all better fucking vote for the ndp in october 2025. we're not like in america where there's only two major parties & a few minority parties, there's more than two major political parties to choose from ! the ndp specifically are fighting for all of these things:

like. idk about y'all but all of this seems a lot better than what we have rn. if you give a fuck about indigenous peoples, if you give a fuck about black people, if you give a fuck about asian people, if you give a fuck about people of color & racialized people, if you give a fuck about human rights, if you give a fuck about queer rights, if you give a fuck about two spirit rights, if you give a fuck about trans rights (ALL trans rights, they've called for specific care approaches for trans girls & trans women, trans boys & trans men & for nonbinary people too!), if you give a fuck about intersex rights (they support the ban of intersex genital mutilation until intersex children are old enough to consent if they want cosmetic surgery or not & have spoken about intersex issues!), if you give a fuck about women's rights, if you give a fuck about reproductive rights, if you give a fuck about feminism, if you give a fuck about intersectionality, if you give a fuck about religious freedom, if you give a fuck about multiculturalism, if you give a fuck about workers' rights, if you give a fuck about farmers, if you give a fuck about sex workers' rights (they support the decriminalization of sex work & stigma of sex work!), if you give a fuck about addicts (they support decriminalization of drugs & stigma of drug addiction!), if you give a fuck about the poor & the homeless, if you give a fuck about people with HIV/AIDS, if you give a fuck about disabled & neurodivergent people, if you give a fuck about autistic people, if you give a fuck about the environment & the earth sea & sky, if you give a fuck about palestine (they support the statehood of palestine & have been actively been calling out antipalestinian racism & have been calling the government to stop sending & selling weapons to the israeli government & have called for a ceasefire!), if you give a fuck about lebanon, if you give a fuck about sudan & congo (they actively support the sudanese & congolese people!), if you give a fuck about armenia, if you give a fuck about ukraine, if you give a fuck about jewish lives (they adamantly are against antisemitism & have spoken out about protecting jewish people & bringing the israeli hostages home to their families!), if you give a fuck about arab & muslim lives (they have actively spoken out against antiarab racism & islamophobia!), if you give a fuck about international peace, if you give a fuck about immigrants, refugees & asylum seekers, if you give a fuck about prisoner's rights, if you give a fuck about people living in rural & remote & reservation & northern communities, if you give a fuck about free universal healthcare, if you give a fuck about free mental healthcare, if you give a fuck about free eye & free hearing care & free dental care & infertility procedures & prescription drugs, if you give a fuck about food sovereignty, if you give a fuck about antiterrorism & antiextremism & deradicalization, if you give a fuck about the demilitarization of the police & using alternative methods like social workers & psychologists, if you give a fuck about taxing the ultra rich & billionaires & polluters, if you give a fuck about renewable energy, if you give a fuck about affordable childcare & housing & abolishing the poverty line, if you give a fuck about affordable post-secondary education & affordable quality internet & cellphone service & transportation all across the country, if you give a fuck about affordable groceries so everyone can feed their families, if you give a fuck about healthy food in every community, if you give a fuck about your children, if you give a fuck about the elders in your community, you'll vote for these guys. & on TOP of that? the leader of the ndp, jagmeet singh, is a son of immigrants & an indian punjabi man of color & a SIKH, he's not some privileged ass white guy, he's been on the ground himself as an activist & has actively been fighting for all these rights with quite literally everything i've seen so far. noncanadians are also encouraged to reblog too!

[yourgamemasterthewhiterabbit]

I'd like to illustrate a problem here for a second about documentation and having ID expire every 5 years or whenever you move, while disabled in Canada, or at least Ontario.

To renew ID you need 3 pieces of documentation, one for proof of citizenship/status/immigration etc, like your birth certificate or registration etc, one for proof of residence like personally addressed mail, a bank statement or bill...

And the third, which must be separate, which is "proof of identity" for which the following is accepted:

credit card

valid Ontario driver’s licence or temporary driver’s licence

valid Ontario Photo Card

Canadian Immigration Identification Card

Certificate of Canadian Citizenship (plastic card)

Certificate of Indian Status (paper or plastic card)

Confirmation of Permanent Residence (Imm 5292)

only if signature is shown

current employee ID card

current professional association licence

Old Age Security Card

Ontario motor vehicle permit (plate portion only)

passport (Canadian or foreign)

Permanent Resident Card

only if signature is shown

Record of Landing (Imm 1000)

student ID card

union card

I have crossed out the ones I can't get as a disabled single adult with no dependents who was born here, is not elderly, cannot drive etc... Your average single young disabled adult born and raised here.

The certificate of citizenship I could [have, previously] technically get, but as a natural born citizen other sources will insist my birth certificate should be enough and I should never need this... And they STOPPED ISSUING THE PLASTIC CARDS LISTED HERE AS VALID ID!

I can't get a credit card approved because of my income.

The passport I only ever got because when I was younger I could travel, and it wouldn't get money taken off my pension etc... But most people in my position won't have or maintain this, and indeed mine is still with someone I took a trip with in my 20's and is lost to me, and I have had no real reason to renew it or report it lost. I can't renew it without getting the info off the old one and I can't apply for a new one without already having valid id AND BEING ABLE TO FIND 2 PEOPLE TO VOUCH FOR ME... Which I don't have, frankly, and I am going to go out on a limb and say that when you are more or less house bound and an inconvenient disabled who people are prone to abusing it is quite common enough to not be able to find 2 people to vouch for you. You also need a guarantor and someone to take photos! And sign them! And why would you? Why would you maintain a passport when you can't even travel??? It isn't accessible to me anyway.

So most people in my position, which is a lot, will ONLY have the photo ID card as "proof of id" which you NEED to 1. renew your health card, 2. renew the photo card itself.

My problem with this is that technically you need a photo ID card that's still valid, to make your photo id card valid again. They technically are not allowed to use your health card as this kind of ID.

I am disabled and therefor often things are LONG expired by the time I have the ability to get them renewed, so in addition to all this, my health card and photo id expire at the same time every time now.

They wanted to have a photo id alternative to the driver's license to help with issues like this to begin with, but they haven't made it much better.

The next issue is it's the only government Id that's of any use to me and that I am encouraged to get but it costs 35$ because it's treated as optional, instead of it being free like your health card is... So actually your health card does cost 35$ to maintain... Because you need your photo id card to stay valid... So actually our "free" healthcare has an out of pocket cost of 7$ per year minimum. That's not a lot, but that's not free if that 35 every 5 years stops you from being able to have health coverage.

I want a form of government ID, that counts as proof of identity, for the purpose of renewing my very important health insurance card, that doesn't bloody expire all the fucking time.

Because you're actually supposed to renew your health card every time your address changes... And when you are poor and disabled you tend to either be stuck with your parents, or stuck moving constantly to escape abuse.

And just... Do you know, how many times, for how many months I have been effectively between health coverage, in a country with free healthcare, and thus unable to seek medical attention, because my id has expired and I did not have the physical energy to go get it renewed? And that shouldn't happen!

Technically, by their own laws/policy they should have turned me away to renew my id, which would have left me 100% fucked with no existing valid ID to use to get other ID. That shouldn't be able to happen to you every 5 years or every time you move, especially when you are disabled.

And they shouldn't charge 35$ for it, considering you need it to get your health card renewed at all, technically speaking. It should be FREE! Especially if you are disabled!

If I still physically had my last passport I might be able to keep renewing it without this bullshit headache, but I can't without my old one.

They should have never switched to health cards that expire, I don't care if they wanted photo id, it was fine before, this is bullshit. This makes healthcare potentially inaccessible to the disabled because they have put it behind these stupid hoops you have to jump every 5 years and when you move.

And do you know how many disabled people have memory and mobility issues???

This is stupid.

And the kick in the teeth is that once they have my photo taken they will randomly chose to use older photos they have on file, because clearly my appearance hasn't changed enough through my adult life for them to even care how old the photo is! Why does the photo id have to expire if the photo can be over 10 years old according to their own records!? Their whole excuse for them expiring is that your appearance and address need to be up to date!

For those of you who don't know because it might have been before your time... health cards used to be white with a red stripe and no photo or address and they never expired. You only needed a new one if it was lost or stolen and that was fine. You could memorize the number on it and not even carry your card like you do with your SIN.

And then they switched us to the new photo ones to make sure everyone would have photo ID

And then they decided health cards couldn't be photo id because they didn't want to manage who got health care and who could buy alcohol with the same system for whatever reasons, so they came out with the "photo id" that you are expected to have as an alternative to a drivers license if you don't drive...

But they wanted money, so they charge 35$ every five years and make you pray to their monument of bureaucracy to get it.

Anyway fuck this my ability to make medical appointments shouldn't expire in a country with free healthcare. If they had a problem with people using each other's health cards before and messing up records, they should have made it easier to get your own health card, and not harder. And yes they should have made it so anyone even an illegal immigrant or someone who lost all their ID in a fire could walk into a clinic and still get basic care.

Not this bullshit song and dance.

So gee, if I fail to renew online just before these card expire you will hear me rant about this bullshit again in 5 years.

They could at LEAST give you a disability id card that never expires that you can use for shit like accessing the food bank or for proof of identity etc... Maybe even then it would be easy to have discount programs for anyone on a disability pension, maybe any groceries that are deemed basic necessities enough could be partially or fully subsidized without extra applications and headaches?

But no it's like they want to make healthcare inaccessible for the people who need it the most.

[pureamericanism]

Whenever I've contemplated the recent Canadian MAID policies, my mind has inevitably wandered to Robert W. Chambers' justly revered weird tale "The Repairer of Reputations" and the Government Lethal Chambers that are such a key thematic element therein. I am not going to imply that the Canadian health services have fallen under the sway of the Yellow Sign (although...), but I've always noticed in reading and listening to other moderns' response to the story that there's important period context that gets largely missed. This is understandable - most people haven't read nearly as many fin-de-siècle and Edwardian era 'Scientific Romances' as I have, for the good reason that most of them are really quite bad.

But without historical context, it's easy to miss exactly what the alternate future New York City that the story may or may not be set in represents. It's a whole collection of relatively common Progressive era tropes representing peoples' hopes and fears about the immediate future, arranged in an optimistic (even Utopian) key. The obsession with civic beautification, the gleaming fleets of battleships that are almost an extension of the "good architecture [that] was [everywhere] replacing bad," the optimistic hope that race problems could be settled for all times and peaceably without any then-unseemly 'mixing' (Indian scouts! an "independent negro state of Suanee"! checking of immigration!), a militarism that's as much about pomp & love of regimentation as about actual wars, the "colossal Congress of Religions" that "laid [bigotry and intolerance] in their graves" and "began to draw warring sects together", a love of orderly centralization... This is all the sort of stuff that moderate, bien-pensant Progressives and Fabians of Chambers' day would have cheered on. Even the "war with Germany," involving an unlikely occupation of the Virginia coast, is an optimistic take on the Invasion Story subgenre that was becoming common at the time (the scars it left "had been forgotten in the joy over repeated naval victories, and the subsequent ridiculous plight of General Von Gartenlaube's forces in the State of New Jersey.") It's all of a piece, an expression of boundless Columbian Exposition optimism and faith in Reason and Progress to bring forth an Earthly Paradise.

And so are the Lethal Chambers. They are reasonable, and graceful, and beautiful, solutions to the problem of hopelessness. Reasonably, why should a person not have a right "to end an existence which may have become intolerable to him, through physical suffering or mental despair"? Too, "the community will be benefited by the removal of such people from their midst." And the Chamber is beautiful, placed in a verdant park, decorated with Grecian columns and marble statues, designed to make one's exit from this world as rationally elegant as possible. It's all done discreetly, in the best possible taste.

This is why the story is given this whole setup, why it begins with what seems today to be a very disorienting bit of archeofuturistic world-building. In the context of this world of rational hopes rationally filled, not only is Castaigne's descent into madness more shockingly out of place, but it also represents an irruption into that world of something else, something old and strange and powerful. There is a reason that Wilde & Castaigne invoke the trappings of the archaic medievalism that the Progressive world sought to do away with forever, and a reason why Wilde deals (or claims to deal) in blackmail and conspiracy. All the flotsam and jetsam that, it was hoped, could be swept away like the old slums, bob inevitably to the surface.

As something of a reactionary, I'm inclined to take a political reading of this - "don't immanentize the eschaton!" as the slogan goes. But, like all really good fiction, "The Repairer of Reputations" is about something deeper than politics. I leave further interpretation as an exercise to the reader.

[beardedmrbean]

If you plan on flying around the country in 2025 and beyond, you might want to listen up.

You have about 365 days to make your state-issued driver’s license or identification “Real ID” compliant, per the Department of Homeland Security.  

The Real ID compliance is part of a larger act passed by Congress in 2005 to set “minimum security standards” for the distribution of identification materials, including driver’s licenses. This means that certain federal agencies, like the Transportation Security Administration or DHS, won’t be able to accept state-issued forms of identification without the Real ID seal.

It's taken a while for the compliance to stick, with DHS originally giving a 2020 deadline before pushing it back a year, then another two years and another two years after that due to “backlogged transactions” at MVD offices nationwide, according to previous USA TODAY reports.

You won’t be able to board federally regulated commercial aircraft, enter nuclear power plants, or access certain facilities if your identification documents aren’t Real ID compliant by May 7, 2025. 

Here’s what we know about Real IDs, including where to get one and why you should think about getting one.

Do I have to get a Real ID?

Not necessarily. 

If you have another form of identification that TSA accepts, there probably isn’t an immediate reason to obtain one, at least for travel purposes. But if you don’t have another form of identification and would like to travel around the country in the near future, you should try to obtain one. 

Here are all the other TSA-approved forms of identification:

◾ State-issued Enhanced Driver’s License

◾ U.S. passport

◾ U.S. passport card

◾ DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)

◾ U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents

◾ Permanent resident card

◾ Border crossing card

◾ An acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized, Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe

◾ HSPD-12 PIV card

◾ Foreign government-issued passport

◾ Canadian provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card

◾ Transportation worker identification credential

◾ U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)

◾ U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential

◾ Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)

However, federal agencies “may only accept” state-issued driver’s licenses or identification cards that are Real ID compliant if you are trying to gain access to a federal facility. That includes TSA security checkpoints.

Enhanced driver’s licenses, only issued by Washington, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, and Vermont, are considered acceptable alternatives to REAL ID-compliant cards, according to DHS. 

What can I use my Real ID for?

For most people, it's all about boarding flights.

You can only use your Real ID card to obtain access to "nuclear power plants, access certain facilities, or board federally regulated commercial aircrafts," according to DHS.

The cards can't be used to travel across any border, whether that's Canada, Mexico, or any other international destination, according to DHS.

All you have to do to get a Real ID is to make time to head over to your local department of motor vehicles.

Every state is different, so the documents needed to verify your identity will vary. DHS says that at minimum, you will be asked to produce your full legal name, date of birth, social security number, two proofs of address of principal residence and lawful status.

The only difference between the state-issued forms of identification you have now and the Real ID-compliant card you hope to obtain is a unique marking stamped in the right-hand corner. The mark stamped on your Real ID compliant cards depends on the state.

[wavevisas123]

Ontario Closes Entrepreneur Stream, British Columbia Nominates More Candidates: November Immigration Updates

Table of Contents

Ontario Closes Entrepreneur Stream

British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program Updates

How an Immigration Consultant Can Help

Conclusion

Ontario Closes Entrepreneur Stream

On November 4, 2023, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) officially closed its Entrepreneur Stream, which had previously been paused since December 2023. The provincial government has begun winding down this stream and is in the process of implementing amendments to close it permanently. If you had already applied under this stream, your application will still be processed according to updated regulations. Candidates who had made commitments to establish businesses in Ontario may still be eligible for a provincial nomination for permanent residency.

For those interested in Ontario’s other immigration options, it’s important to stay informed and seek advice from a Canadian immigration consultant to explore alternative pathways.

British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program Updates

British Columbia’s Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) has been active in nominating candidates for immigration. On November 5 and 6, the province held two draws for entrepreneurs and skilled workers. The November 5 draws focused on the Entrepreneur Base and Regional Streams, issuing at least 11 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for candidates with a minimum cut-off score of 115 for the Base Stream and 130 for the Regional Stream.

The following day, November 6, saw the BCPNP hold a selection draw for Skilled Worker and International Graduate streams, targeting professions in high-demand sectors such as childcare, construction, healthcare, and tech. For example, in the tech sector, candidates needed a score of 128 to receive an ITA.

British Columbia continues to be an attractive destination for immigrants with its growing economy and various opportunities in diverse industries.

British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program Updates

British Columbia’s Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) has been active in nominating candidates for immigration. On November 5 and 6, the province held two draws for entrepreneurs and skilled workers. The November 5 draws focused on the Entrepreneur Base and Regional Streams, issuing at least 11 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for candidates with a minimum cut-off score of 115 for the Base Stream and 130 for the Regional Stream.

The following day, November 6, saw the BCPNP hold a selection draw for Skilled Worker and International Graduate streams, targeting professions in high-demand sectors such as childcare, construction, healthcare, and tech. For example, in the tech sector, candidates needed a score of 128 to receive an ITA.

British Columbia continues to be an attractive destination for immigrants with its growing economy and various opportunities in diverse industries.

How an Immigration Consultant Can Help

Navigating Canada’s immigration system can be complex, especially with changes like Ontario closing its Entrepreneur Stream. A Canadian immigration consultant can provide expert guidance and help you understand your eligibility for different programs. Whether you’re a skilled worker or entrepreneur, the best immigration consultants can help you identify the most suitable pathways, assist with application preparation, and increase your chances of success.

At Wave Visas, we have a team of certified immigration consultants who stay updated on the latest immigration news and policies, ensuring you get the best advice tailored to your unique situation.

Conclusion

Canada continues to attract immigrants with its robust provincial nominee programs, but staying informed about changes is essential for making the right decisions. Whether you are interested in British Columbia’s PNP or other immigration streams, working with a Canadian immigration consultant can simplify the process and help you achieve your immigration goals. To learn more about how we can assist you, contact us at Wave Visas today!

Looking for Canada Immigration, Fill up the below mentioned form.

[delurkr]

Canadian Clarke AU: Timeline of Events

Overview: The (current) title of the AU refers to Dennis escaping to Canada to avoid military service during the Vietnam War. @108garys and I basically consider this to be his default trajectory that in canon was interrupted by his death in the fire (death will do things like that). The official summary might be something like: In early 1972, Dennis dodges the military draft by uprooting his life in Little Hope and crossing the border to Canada, where he spends the next few years on his own and meets people and stuff. Unofficial alternate title for the AU: ✨108garys and Delurkr Bully Dennis into Growing Up✨

This post is the barebones chronology we'll use as a master post to keep everything organized, and I'll add links to more detailed posts as we make them.

Timeline below:

1970

July 1 - Draft numbers are drawn. The Clarkes learn that Dennis has a decent chance of being drafted during the next year (Write-up: 1970 through early 1972)

1971

Dennis is deemed fit for service at his military physical exam

Anne writes a letter to the draft board, in an attempt to inquire about conscientious objector status, but the letter is never sent

November - Dennis receives an induction order in the mail

December - The day passes on which Dennis was ordered to report

1972

(January 16 - The fire does not happen)

February 2 - Dennis receives a second induction order in the mail

February 6 - James, Anne, Anthony, and Megan drive Dennis to Montreal

Within the next few months - Dennis's first attempt to become a landed immigrant falls through

Dennis moves to Toronto. He meets Kenneth upon arriving, and they begin the next effort toward Dennis becoming a landed immigrant

1973

--

1974

Late year - Dennis meets college student Dot. They date briefly and don't hit it off

1975

Tanya and Vince are expecting their first child

April - Dennis meets Rupinder and Neel when they join up and move to Blackwood Mountain to attempt living off the land. Kenneth leaves Canada. (Art: Rupinder, Neel, and Kenneth in early 1975, Art: Dennis playing mountain man)

November - Dennis, Rupinder, and Neel leave Blackwood. Dennis returns to Toronto

1976

Dennis and Dot marry

1977

--

1978

May - Dot graduates from college

Second half of year - Dennis and Dot move to Massachusetts (Art: Dennis and Dot in 1978)

1980

Dennis and Dot divorce

1981-

--

(Colors are for easy reference, but let me know if they're too hard to read across color schemes and I'll remove them)

[rtc-confessions]

Alright, y'all asked for this, this is the first OC I've got out of.....God knows how many. Just to note, I'm autistic and I have ADHD, so most, if not all of mine will not be neurotypical. (I do have a picture for this OC, but IDK if this will accept it) (CW: hospital mention, a ton of injuries, bees

Name: Brynn McCoy Age: 15 Birthday: August 19th Zodiac Sign/Nature: Leo, the sunny nature. Favorite Ride: Happy Honeybee Ride. RTC Superlative Title (The __est boy/girl/kid/etc in town): The Most Outgoing Girl in Town. Catchphrase: "There's nothing that can't be solved with some music, a funny cat video, or some duct tape." Short Karnak-style Backstory: Brynn was born to two first-generation Canadians; her father is a police officer and the son of an Irish textile worker and a British banker while her mother is a stay-at-home mom and a beekeeper and the daughter of two Ukrainian immigrants, one a seamstress and the other a farmer. While not exactly the richest family, they managed to make do with what they have. Due to her hyperactive nature, Brynn was diagnosed with ADHD when she was six years old, but due to her need to check on the bees at least once a day, listen to her favorite songs at least once a day, and other ritualistic behaviors along with a delay in certain milestones, she was diagnosed with autism at age 9. Brynn adored the small town of Uranium City, despite the dreariness of it, and made a promise to herself to make at least one person smile each day, having meltdowns whenever she went a day without making someone smile. This pushed her to study other people and figure out what they liked, making her a friendly face around Uranium City and earning her the title of the Most Outgoing Girl in Town. Some random facts about Brynn: -Pan and has a crush on another one of my OCs who is a girl from Ukraine. -Extremely accident-prone, is on a first name basis with hospital staff. -She likes mosquito bites, something about feeling alive. -If there's a female cartoon character that's hyperactive, bubbly, sweet, cute, and wants to make others smile, chances are that she has them as a comfort character. -Primary Comfort Characters are Pinkie Pie, Enid Sinclair, Star Butterfly, and Mabel Pines. -Has been a Girl Guide (Canadian Girl Scout) since she was 5. -Nicknamed the Bunny-Bee Princess of St. Cassian. -Makes funny commentary during arguments as a coping mechanism. -Has a special interest in bees along with arts and crafts. -Soprano/Alto alternating in the choir. -Rejection Sensitive. -Favorite song is Paradise by the Dashboard Light by Meatloaf and The Smile Song from MLP. -If she was a magical girl, this is what her transformation would look like: Brynn takes out a wand with a top that looks like the combination of a disco ball and the top of one of those honey wand things.

"Let's get buzzy on the dance floor!" she exclaims. 

Catchy disco music with a slight modern twist plays as a multicolored dance floor appears underneath her and a disco ball above her. As she dances, her transformation gives her hair a 1970s disco dancer look and honey bee antennae appear. Her clothes change to a bee-striped dress with disco ball shimmer, and disco dancer sleeves, cute gloves with a small honeybee on each one and glittering gold platform shoes. She gets honey-gold eyeshadow, bold mascara and eyeliner to make her eyes look bigger, black lipstick, neon flowers on each cheek, and her irises change to a honey gold.

"Let the music move you, let the groove flow through you; I'm Disco Honey!"

She ends in a cute pose.

List of things Brynn has done in her life thusfar: (and has somehow not died from any of them)

1. Learned a Ukrainian song in (roughly) the span of two days after listening to it a bunch to impress the girl she has a crush on.

2. Decorated her Bible with honeybee scratch-n-sniff stickers that smell like honey. (Also asked if it was a sin to do so.)

3. Hung upside down in a tree for so long that she passed out and when she woke up, it was like 3 am, she was covered in mosquito bites, and her dad and his cop buddies were climbing up the tree to get her down and she had to go to the hospital to check for brain damage. 

4. Hung onto some monkey bars past the recess bell until her dad picked her up after school.

5. Had a conversation with Jesus as she was doing so.

6. Went as a washing machine for Halloween at His advice in grade 3.

7. Went as a Biblically-accurate angel in grade 7, wearing the costume to school on Halloween.

8. Cried during a Christmas party because she thought Jesus was in all of the crackers there.

9. Watched that Spongebob Christmas Special and tried to climb our Christmas tree so that she could be the star on top like Patrick when she was 6. And fell off the tree.

10. Had a hyperfixation on penguins when she was 8 and tried to slide down an icy hill on her belly like they did. And blacked out and ended up in the hospital. Again.

11. Chose to be a hunter wolf when she played wolf clans at recess because it gave her an excuse to run around the playground, until she got demoted to medicine wolf because she kept crashing into trees.

12. Once said what she thought was a bad word and so she cleaned out my mouth with soap and accidentally swallowed the soap bar.

13. Tried to eat cake while sleeping and woke up coughing.

14. Dressed up as a flower and sat by the apiary to see if the bees would try to suck nectar from her.

15. Tested to see if banana peels are slippery like in cartoons. 16. Tried to use a sleigh as a winter surfboard once. 17. Tried to build a castle out of girl guide cookie boxes and fell off the ladder. (Yeah, I might have a problem.)

~~

[bopinion]

2024 / 11

Aperçu of the Week:

"Evil will fail and the wonderful future will come."

(Yulia Navalnaya, widow of the "deceased" Kremlin critic and Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny)

Bad News of the Week:

The AfD (Alternative für Deutschland / Alternative for Germany) is a right-wing party. So why should it come as a surprise that it also has right-wing extremist contacts? After all, the line between right-wing populism and right-wing radicalism is blurred. Nevertheless, it came as a shock (hopefully not just to me) that the AfD parliamentary group in our parliament, the German Bundestag, employs more than 100 right-wing extremists.

Yes, that's right: far-right enemies of the constitution work in our legislature, the heart of democracy. You need to know that every member of parliament has the right to a staff. In their respective constituency and in Berlin. To support their work in plenary and in the committees to which they belong. Parliamentarians are hardly limited in their choice of staff, except by the budget.

There are currently 78 members of the Bundestag (out of a total of 735) from the AfD. And they grant right-wing extremists unhindered access to sensitive information, to legislation, to the resources of the democracy they are fighting against. And not even in secret. They are officially active in right-wing extremist organizations. Among them are activists from the "Identitarian Movement", ideological masterminds from the "New Right" and several neo-Nazis.

That can't really be true. This is a Trojan horse with which our democracy is being hijacked by parasites. It is about time for regulations and background checks for the employment of Bundestag staff. No suburban bowling club would accept members on its board who want to abolish recreational sports and, above all, balls. Democratic institutions and especially constitutional bodies need ways to protect themselves from enemies of the constitution within their own ranks. And quickly.

Good News of the Week:

Dutch right-wing populist Geert Wilders sees "no more chance of being head of government". In the election last November, his right-wing party PVV (Partij voor de Vrijheid / Party for the Freedom) surprisingly emerged as the strongest parliamentary group. The cheap campaign slogans "Less asylum and immigration" and "Putting the Dutch first" resonated better with voters than expected.

With this tailwind, Wilders wanted to form a coalition at the head of which he would stand. He wanted to convince the conservative VVD party of long-time Prime Minister Mark Rutte as well as the New Social Contract party and the farmers' party BBB - and now had to realize that he would not succeed.

The result is a stalemate in the "Second Chamber of the States General" of the Dutch parliament. With 17 (!) parties sharing the 150 seats, this will remain the case. Another coalition with a parliamentary majority is virtually impossible. An independent "expert government" is now possible, but this is likely to head primarily towards early elections.

Is that a good thing? No. But it is certainly better than Wilders' participation in government. As a reminder, here are the key points of his political "program": All immigration should be stopped. Payments to the European Union should be significantly reduced. The accession of new members should be prevented. Islam should be rejected across the board. Arms deliveries to Ukraine should be halted. Et cetera. Thank you very much. Europe really doesn't need someone who not only names Donald Trump and Viktor Orbán as his role models, but also seeks to surpass their views.

Personal happy moment of the week:

At the weekend, dear friends and we were faced with a dilemma. After visiting an arts exhibition, we wanted to watch a movie together at their place in the evening. The problem was the language. Because neither my (Canadian) wife's German nor our hosts' English is good enough to follow a complex plot with pleasure. In the end, the solution was a silent movie - the Charlie Chaplin classic "City Lights" from 1931. It worked wonderfully. And it's simply great fun to see how this grand master of old-school cinema uses simple means to ensure a good laugh. Great. I still have three Chaplin films lying around within my dusty DVDs. And I'm already looking forward to watching them.

I couldn't care less...

...that Elon Musk stopped the large-scale talk show "Don Lemon Show" on X - the most expensive hobby in the world - at the last second. Like a rocket exploding on take-off, but perhaps that's a nasty comparison. Why? Because, as a guest on the first episode, he didn't like Don Lemon's questions. It's nothing new that Musk is rather thin-skinned. And has a somewhat idiosyncratic interpretation of "radical free speech" and "without censorship". I would still like a Tesla.

It's fine with me...

...that digital marketplaces like Apple's AppStore or Google's Play App Store for Android, which ultimately also provide the infrastructure and quality assurance, take a 30% distribution margin. Roughly speaking, that's half of stationary retail and less than online stores. Where does this "everything should be free online" attitude come from?

As I write this...

...I discover the music of a colleague. Until he had to bite the bullet of lowly work reasons, he made electronic music at an astonishingly high level. It's pretty timeless and good for chilling out to. My compliments, Marcus!

Post Scriptum

As planned, Vladimir Putin was confirmed in office as Russian president for another six years. No, the election was anything but constitutional, free, independent, fair and neutral. Nevertheless, I consider the 87% to be embellished, but not completely falsified. After all, the majority of the population only has access to state-controlled media. And they present Putin - surprise! - as a strong leader and successful defender of the country against the rest of the world. Who people are happy to support on his mission for Mother Russia. See also the approval of the Ukraine war. Excuse me, the "special military operation against a fascist regime in Kiev". Information is (would be) key. Oh boy...

[visas-connect]

Title: Understanding Income Proof Requirements for a Student Visa in Canada

Introduction: When applying for a student visa in Canada, providing the necessary income proof is a crucial step. The specific type of income proof required may vary based on individual circumstances. In this blog post, we will explore the common types of income proof accepted and shed light on the financial requirements set by the Canadian government for international students.

Types of Income Proof:

Bank Statements: Submitting bank statements for the past 4 months showing a minimum balance of CAD 10,000 (or the equivalent in your home currency) is often accepted.

Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC): A letter from a financial institution confirming a GIC with a minimum value of CAD 10,000 can serve as proof of financial resources.

Scholarship or Financial Aid: A letter from your school stating that you have been awarded a scholarship or financial aid covering your tuition and living expenses is another form of income proof.

Employment Letter: If you plan to continue working while studying, a letter from your employer stating your intent and income can be considered.

Alternative Evidence of Financial Resources: In cases where the above documents are not available, you may provide alternative evidence, such as property ownership documents, investment statements, tax returns, or letters of financial support from family members or friends.

Considerations: The amount of income proof required may depend on the duration of your study program. Shorter programs may require less documentation than longer-term programs. It is important to note that each province or territory in Canada may have specific financial requirements for international students.

Submission and Application Process: Once you have gathered the necessary income proof, you can submit it with your study permit application either online or by mail. The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will review your application and determine whether to grant you a study permit.

Conclusion: Understanding the income proof requirements for a student visa in Canada is essential for a successful application. By providing the requested income proof and meeting the financial requirements, you increase your chances of obtaining a study permit and pursuing your educational journey in Canada.

Remember to refer to the official website of IRCC for the most up-to-date information regarding financial requirements for student visas.

#StudentVisa #StudyInCanada #IncomeProof #FinancialRequirements #InternationalStudents #VisaApplication #IRCC #StudyPermit #EducationAbroad #CanadaVisa #FinancialResources #Scholarships #EmploymentProof #BankStatements #GIC #VisaProcess #VisaAssistance #VisasConnect

[angelsrecs]

YOUR BEST AMERICAN BOY by hatsuna

Completed | T | 23k

Main tags: Miya Atsumu/Sakusa Kiyoomi, Getting Together, Alternate Universe- Asian Americans, High School, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

“What unites both generations [OF ASIAN AMERICANS], Eng and Han suggest, is a kind of linguistic lack, a missing vocabulary—a paucity of stories that they might tell themselves about where they are going, and what it would mean to feel whole.”

Kiyoomi Sakusa has spent the last seventeen years believing he is boring. He has never met anyone inclined to challenge this belief.

c/w: self-harm, blood, implied child abuse

—

The main reason I love this fic so much is because sakusa is so relatable in this fic. One of the central themes of this fic is the “Asian American experience” and cultural dissonance. I’m a second (and 1/2 I guess? My mom moved when she was a kid, my dad was born here) generation Chinese Canadian and it was like sakusa was written just to remind me of my experiences.

This bring me into my first favourite scene:

“But when we were talking just now, you said Kiyomi, which is wrong. You're missing a vowel. You're missing the other 'o.'"

"Am I?" Kiyoomi asks, the shame returning, the pebble in his belly expanding into a stone.

"Yeah, you sure are." Atsumu's eyes are far away, but his voice reaches a hand down Kiyoomi's throat and tugs.

It comes up green.

I don’t know any Chinese—mandarin or cantonese—like I should. When I was a child I was put into Chinese school; my Saturday’s were spent learning mandarin (because my parents thought it would be more useful for my future) instead of the Cantonese my parents knew. When I was in grade 1, full of resentment of having an extra day of school unlike my other friends, when my mandarin homework was too difficult for my parents to help me with, I begged my parents to let me stop. As a last ditch effort they put me into the Cantonese equivalent of my grade level and I just remember being so confused and hopeless that class. I never had to go again after that. Now I can’t even write my own name anymore and during family gatherings I say hello and look to my parents to translate for me when they inevitably as the usual How old are you now? How’s school going? When the subject comes up on why I don’t know Chinese I tend to blame my parents Why didn’t you speak it at home when I was younger? Why did you put me in mandarin classes? but in all honesty it’s my fault for giving up. I think about that a lot. Back to the point, I had some other Chinese friends ask what my Chinese name and when I said it there were some laughs about what it sounded like (wash hair). I’m pretty sure it’s because of my pronunciation (because canto and mandarin shouldn’t be that different); anyways, this scene really struck home.

I don’t know anything about OCD other than what was put in a chapter of my into to psychology class, but I think hatsuna does an incredible writing Sakusa’s OCD. I appreciated how they included definitions in the diagnosis scene, as well as how we see his experience full frontal during the fic.

Also I’m a sucker for words as a motif so when humanity/being alive is repeated throughout this fic it felt a punch to the stomach (this is a good thing) every time.

Kiyoomi remembers the rush of heat he felt in his cheeks at this declaration—the unshakable understanding that he was human. It simmered in his stomach for a long, long time. 

Because a name means you are real. A name means you are real. 

[movies] are a form of proof that yes, we were human, and yes, we were here.

Another thing I loved in this fic is the way hatsuna writes relationships, platonic or romantic.

I loved how the author also explored sakusas relationship with his mother (oh god here comes another tangent). My mom is a 1st Gen immigrant and while she didn’t move on her own (let alone move for me like in this fic), if I think about her childhood too much I get kinda weepy. She moved because of the Vietnam war and to keep it short, I know I’m extremely privileged to be in the position I am. She doesn’t talk much about that time (to me or to my dad either I’m pretty sure), but I heard one story from my aunt is how she fell off the boat when travelling from Vietnam. My mom has always been afraid of water.

One of the things I get on my fyp the most on tiktok is clips of people’s podcasts (sorry they’re kinda good and I’ve found some nice ones this way) and I remember 2 clips really vividly; they were from 2nd gen immigrants talking about their parents and the sacrifices they made and the guilt & gratitude that comes with it. I think that’s more of the angle this fic takes.

She’s out cold before Kiyoomi can tell her that he knows. That he knows monsters and martyrs are two sides of the same coin, that perhaps mothers are the closest thing humans will ever get to angels. 

Regarding the relationship between sakusa & atsumu, I wouldn’t say this is a slow burn, but we get these wonderful snippets of their development with this snapshot style of writing which takes me to my other favourite parts of this fic

The chuckle his partner lets out flutters like butterfly wings; it kisses him on the cheek. And just like that—all liquid gold and lavender—it dawns on Kiyoomi that Atsumu embodies happiness. Miya Atsumu is joy itself.

“What word were you assigned for the project again?” Kiyoomi starts exporting his video. “Happiness,”

"Love," Maria repeats, her eyes still glued to her true-tone screen. She's rereading her script one last time, checking for spelling errors before she submits it. "I thought your word was love."

Note: I cut out a few section of this last scene so it’s more succinct

Author does such a good job balancing the romance aspect and the more.. character study aspect (not quite sure how to word it). Like I said this isn’t quite a slow burn because I don’t feel the type of tension that’s associated with the tag, their development is more like a flow of water that builds up to the confession scene between the two.

For anyone else who has felt like a part of them has been missing due to being raised outside of their home country, YOUR BEST AMERICAN BOY will lay you bare in the best way possible.

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

“Bolshevism and Atheism Must Be Combatted in Western Canada,” Kingston Whig-Standard. November 11, 1932. Page 2. ---- Rev. R. G. Katsunoff of the Church of All Nations, Montreal, said that the rapid spread of Bolshevism and Atheism among the non-Anglo-Saxon peoples of Western Canada was alarming and added that the only solution of the menace was the Gospel of Jesus Christ and fellowship. Mr. Katsunoff lectured on “The New Canadian” in Sydenham Street United Church last evening. 

The speaker said that teachers from Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba are brought to Winnipeg to take a short course for the teaching of Bolshevism and Atheism among the children. "What will Canada be within thirty years if this continues?" asked the speaker. Rev. Katsunoff said that the foreigners in the West are becoming conscious of the power of their franchise and he expressed the fear that if atheism and Bolshevism were allowed to predominate in the West, it would terminate in a sorry state of affairs. Different methods of combating the menace had been suggested such as force, while others contend that the situation would right itself, but the speaker emphasised that unless the non-Anglo-Saxons were assimilated and racial prejudice overcome there would never be a solution. 

Rev Mr. Katsunoff said that there were over 2,000,00 people in Canada of non-Anglo-Saxon birth, while in the western provinces alone one half of the total population was made up of people of foreign birth. He also stated that in Canada there were seventy different national groups and 100 different dialects. The speaker emphasised the fact that the young foreign people were not going to the churches and no great effort was being made to bring them in closer contact with the spiritual things of life.

Racial prejudices among the Europeans seem to be intensified in the country, said the speaker, and he cited several instance where fights had taken place between different nationalities. Mr. Katsunoff said that these people must be brought into unity, to work for the good of their adopted country, and added that the gospel and fellowship were the only ways In which this would be accomplished. The Europeans had a racial superiority complex and it is the duty of the Church and Canadians to annihilate this feeling, he said. 

The speaker spoke of the splendid work that was bring carried on by the missionaries among the non-Anglo-Saxons and said that in many places throughout Canada, congregations had been formed. 

In closing, Mr. Katsunoff said that the Europeans who immigrate to Canada have the same ideals and yearnings as the Canadian people and advocated that the service clubs, churches and people as a whole take a greater Interest in these new Canadians. 

[AL: European immigrants have a race superiority problem, quails the Eastern European Anglican priest worried about the loss of Anglo-Saxon dominance and assimilating of immigrants to ‘Christian’ values. Also, love how old the conspiracy that public lay schools teach Atheism and Bolshevism! Honestly, a western Canada without Christian supremacy sounds better than the alternative...]

[ankitablog21]

Why skilled workers and international graduates in Quebec should explore alternative provincial pathways

Temporary residents currently residing in Quebec may want to explore other provincial pathways to permanent residence, due to the recent suspension of the Regular Skilled Worker Program and the PEQ–Diplôme streams.

In addition to federal immigration options, individuals may also want to explore Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) in other provinces and territories across Canada.

While there are no guarantees in the Canadian immigration process, obtaining a provincial nomination provides a solid pathway to apply for permanent residence (PR) through the federal government.

TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE: https://esseindia.in/skilled-workers-and-international-graduate-in-quebec/

[lebizcanada20]

Canada study permit Updates: SDS Replacement Options

Introduction

In a sudden move that has caught many by surprise, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced the immediate closure of the Student Direct Stream (SDS) program. This news will undoubtedly impact international students planning to study in Canada, especially those from countries where the SDS program provided a quicker, streamlined study permit process. Here, we break down what the SDS closure means, how it may impact students, and the steps students can take to navigate this unexpected change.

What Was the Canada study permit application / Student Direct Stream (SDS)?

The Student Direct Stream was a fast-track study permit in top universities processing initiative introduced in 2018 by IRCC to help international students from certain countries obtain their study permits more quickly. Originally available to students from countries like India, China, the Philippines, and Vietnam, the program eventually expanded to include applicants from several other nations. The SDS allowed for a faster 20-day processing time for applicants who met strict eligibility criteria, including proof of funds and language proficiency.

 Benefits of the SDS/ Study permit alternatives Canada

The SDS program brought several key advantages:

– Faster Processing: The SDS program offered processing times as short as 20 calendar days, compared to the standard processing time of several weeks or even months.

– Certainty and Stability: Students who met the criteria could feel more secure in their study plans, knowing they would receive a faster response on their applications.

– Encouragement of Qualified Applicants: The SDS program targeted students who could demonstrate financial stability and language skills, aligning with Canada’s goals for economic contribution and academic success.

—

 Why Has the IRCC Closed the SDS?

While specific reasons for the SDS closure haven’t been fully disclosed, the IRCC frequently evaluates and adjusts its immigration programs to adapt to new policy objectives, manage resources, and respond to operational needs. Here are some likely contributing factors:

1. Increased Demand for Study Permits: The popularity of the SDS program may have created a backlog, increasing processing times for regular applications.

2. Resource Allocation: IRCC may be reallocating resources to manage overall study permit processing, especially as international student demand continues to rise.

3. Policy Realignment: Shifting immigration priorities and strategies could have influenced this decision, possibly focusing on broader changes to Canada’s study permit framework.

—

Immediate Implications of the SDS Closure

Here is a summary of the recent changes to Canada’s international student program in 2024, presented in a tabular format:ChangeDetailsCap on Study PermitsA cap on new study permit issuances has been introduced. In 2025, the cap will be set to 437,000 new study permits, including for master’s and PhD students.Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) EligibilityNew language and field of study eligibility criteria have been implemented for students applying for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).Work Permits for SpousesThe availability of work permits for spouses of international students has been limited.Cost-of-Living RequirementThe cost-of-living requirement for international students applying for a Canadian study permit has been updated.Summary of the Canada study permit recent changes

These measures are part of the federal government’s strategy to manage the levels of temporary residents, including study and work permit holders, in the country.

 1. Longer Processing Times

Without the SDS’s expedited process, students may now face regular study permit processing times, which can extend up to 12 weeks or more, depending on the volume of applications. This could result in delayed visa approvals, impacting students’ ability to arrive in Canada before their semester starts.

 2. Potential Increase in Study Permit Requirements

IRCC might reassess regular study permit application requirements to account for the absence of SDS. While no changes have been announced, prospective students may need to demonstrate additional proof of language proficiency or financial support, similar to SDS standards.

 3. Financial and Logistical Challenges

Students from SDS-eligible countries who counted on expedited processing may now face unforeseen challenges. Including managing finances for prolonged application timelines and adjusting travel plans. Students already in the process of applying through SDS may need to contact IRCC or their designated visa office for updated guidance.

 Alternatives and Next Steps for Affected Students

If you were planning to apply to the SDS, here are some strategies and steps to consider:

 1. Stay Informed with IRCC Updates

First, monitor official IRCC announcements and updates regularly. The situation may evolve, and IRCC could provide further guidance on alternative pathways or streamlined options. Subscribe to official IRCC communications, or regularly check their website for real-time information.

 2. Communicate with Your Educational Institution

Reach out to your prospective Canadian institution, as many colleges & universities have resources dedicated to assisting international students with visa-related issues. Institutions may also provide extensions or alternative enrollment options to accommodate affected students.

 3. Consult Immigration Professionals

Consider consulting a licensed immigration consultant or legal expert familiar with Canada’s study permit system. They can help guide you through regular study permit applications and ensure you’re fully prepared with all necessary documentation.

 Alternatives to Consider for Faster Processing

If you’re looking for alternatives to speed up your Canada study permit application, consider these options:

– Express Entry for Post-Graduate Students: If you have a strong academic background, researching pathways through. Express Entry post-graduation could provide an alternative for residency and work permits in Canada.

– Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP): Some provinces offer nomination programs that include educational pathways. Explore options for studying in provinces that may offer PNP streams aligned with educational programs.

– Family or Work-Related Visas: If you have family ties or work opportunities in Canada. Explore alternative visa routes that could later support on study permit applications.

 Conclusion:

Adapting to the New Normal in Canadian Study Permit Applications

The closure of the Student Direct Stream marks a significant shift for international students hoping to study in Canada. While this change introduces new challenges, there are steps you can take to adapt & make the process as seamless as possible. Stay informed, be proactive, and explore alternative pathways to achieve your academic and career goals in Canada.

Canada a top choice for international students, although the process may now require planning & patience, the opportunities for study and work remain strong. Take this time to ensure you’re fully prepared & explore all resources available to make your dream of studying in Canada a reality.

 Frequently Asked Questions

 Why Did IRCC Close the SDS?

SDS closure reasons unclear, but likely tied to resource allocation and policy shifts.

 Can I Still Apply for a Study Permit without the SDS?

Yes, students can still apply through the regular study permit application process. However, processing times may be longer, so it’s crucial to plan accordingly.

 What Are Some Tips for Applying for a Study Permit Without the SDS?

Ensure you have complete and accurate documentation, including proof of funds, language proficiency (if applicable), and a solid study plan. Working with an immigration consultant can also improve your chances of a smooth application process.