Important Changes Announced To The Parent And Grandparent Program Application Process For The Year 2017

The parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents are welcome to reside in Canada through the Parent(s) and Grandparent(s) Program (PGP) as family reunification is one of the main Immigration commitments made by the Canadian Government. It is well known that through these programs, thousands of families are able to reunite and live together every year. Recently, some significant changes have been announced in the application process for the PGP for the upcoming application cycle for the year 2017, which have been highlighted below. Prior to these changes, a quota was set, limiting the number of parents and grandparents applications by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

 The purpose of this quota was to manage the intake and interest in this program. After the implementation of the recent changes announced to the PGP, Canadian citizens and permanent residents who want to sponsor their parent(s) and grandparent(s) will now be given a time frame of 30 days to fill out an online application form to indicate their interest as sponsors on the IRCC website. This online application form will be made available for 30 days, starting from January 3, 2017, at 12 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST), to February 2, 2017, at 12 p.m. EST. This means that they will now be able to avoid the January rush to submit applications by courier or mail. The online form will ask for the following information from the applicant: – First name – Family name – Date of birth – Country of birth – Main home address – Postal code – Email address

 The applicants will receive a confirmation number once the information is successfully submitted through the online form. They should keep this number for their records. Only one form has to be submitted as duplicate entries will be eliminated automatically. Completing the form does not mean a person has applied to sponsor under the program as the main application and documents will be submitted after the candidates are chosen by IRCC.

 After this 30 day period ends, 10,000 applicants will be randomly chosen by the IRCC to complete and file an application for the PGP. An online notification informing about their selection or rejection will be sent out to all those individuals who submitted their applications via this online form. Those candidates who are not selected in the 2017 application cycle may indicate their interest to apply again in the year 2018. They will be allotted 90 days within which to submit a complete application along with all supporting documents. About the Parent(s) and Grandparent(s) Program (PGP) The Family Class Sponsorship Program includes a stream for parent(s) and grandparent(s) of Canadian citizens and permanent residents. Successful parent(s) and grandparent(s) under this program will receive Canadian permanent residence and may be able to apply for Canadian Citizenship after four years. To be eligible for Family Class sponsorship, the sponsor in Canada must meet the following requirements:

 • The sponsor must be a Canadian citizen or a Permanent Resident;
• The sponsor must be 18 years of age or older;
• The sponsor must exceed the minimum necessary income level for this program (if married or in a common-law relationship, the income of both can be included);
• The sponsor must sign an undertaking to repay any provincial social assistance benefits paid to the sponsor and accompanying family member(s), if any, for a period of 20 years, if necessary; and o If the sponsor resides in Quebec, an additional “undertaking” must be signed. Sponsors will have to prove that they meet the minimum income requirements by submitting notices of assessment issued by the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) in support of their sponsorship and they must also demonstrate they have met the minimum necessary income level for three consecutive years. For more information about Immigration To Canada From Pakistan, please visit our website Lalani & Associates.

Moody brings slight boost in Hungary’s credit rating to Baa3 investment grade

There has been a slight upgradation by Moody’s, (Moody’s Investors Service) in Hungary’s long term issuer and senior unsecured bond ratings chart from Ba1 to Baa3 investment grade. The credit rating has significantly improved and the agency has acknowledged the efforts made in changing the dynamics of the policy so that foreign investment may pour in easily.
However, the risk of sovereign debt may not vary and will likely to stay constant for medium to long run.
Other extraneous variables are notably lessened which results in an improved credit profile of the country and coherence for any future economic instability.
Read Also: Brussels must take into consideration the opinion of Hungarian people regarding Brexit
The GDP growth in the upcoming years favors to remain steady and balanced, which will ensure that government bonds are secured.
Also, business investors having a portfolio of  Hungarian sovereign debts will have reduced default risk and stable returns.

A Cut Down In Processing Times – Immigration To Canada To Become Faster Through The Family Class Immigration Programs

Immigration To Canada has now become faster for all those individuals seeking to apply through the Family Class Immigration Programs. The processing time frames for the spousal/common-law partner categories of Family Class Immigration Programs are to be cut short from 24 months to 12 months, followed by a further reduction in  time to as low as 6 months.
This announcement was made by John McCallum, federal Immigration Minister of Canada, on December 7^th in Brampton, Ontario.
These new processing time targets will apply on all those who have yet to submit their applications, as well as all those individuals who have already filed their applications. Files will continue to get processed based on the first-in, first-out principle, whereby applicants who have already submitted their applications will get preference over those who are yet to submit their files.
The average processing time for spouses/common-law partners of Canadian citizens and Permanent Residents In Canada was 26 months when the Liberal government took office last year. However, the processing time was 18 months for spouses/common-law partners residing outside Canada. This new target will be applicable on all those individuals residing both, inside and outsides, of Canada.
Mr. McCallum stated, “The proposition I guarantee is that the time is now 12 months, down from 24. The changes we’re announcing will last, will be permanent. Politicians come and go, governments come and go, but departments are always there. And we have enlisted their enthusiasm, their involvement in creating this new system and so I think Canadians can be confident that these positive changes are here to stay.”
He further mentioned, “This will be of benefit to the 64,000 spouses we plan to admit to Canada in the coming year, but it will be of benefit to all Canadians because I think that people are more productive citizens, they do better overall when they are with their families than when they are isolated from their families,” said McCallum.
According to the Immigration Plan 2017, the Government of Canada plans on welcoming 64,000 new permanent residents as the spouses, common-law partners, or dependent children of Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
Thus, this new target will be welcomed by the thousands of applicants in Canada and around the world who have already submitted their applications or are planning to submit them in the near future. Furthermore, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has also confirmed that an extension will be granted to a popular Pilot program till December 21,  2017, which allows spouses and common-law partners of Canadian citizens and Permanent Residents In Canada to work while waiting to receive their permanent resident status.
For latest updates related to Immigration to Canada from Pakistan, please visit our website lalani & Associates.

The Express Entry System To Now Give More Importance To Human Capital, Skills And Experience

Immigration, Refugees, Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has implemented significant changes to the Express Entry Selection System which is a very famous program for applying for Immigration To Canada. They have shared important information related to it by going over the past trends and predicting the future of the program after the new changes have been made.

After reviewing the first year of Express Entry being in operation, IRCC revealed that 16 percent of all invited candidates belonged from occupations such as cooks or food service supervisors. This was mainly because during that time a job offer was weighted heavily under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The latest amendments made to job offers under the CRS, however, are targeted towards allowing a more fair spread of occupations among candidates invited to apply for Canadian permanent residence.

These new amendments were announced during the 24^th Annual Immigration Law Summit and have been outlined below. Among the information shared at the Summit, it was revealed that in the year 2016, approximately one quarter of all the candidates received an Invitation to Apply (ITA). This was followed by some more good news for all the potential candidates thinking of Applying for Canadian immigration in 2017, as IRCC plans to issue even more ITA’s as compared to the year 2016. They will do so by giving more weight to human capital, skills and experience.

Amendments made to Job Offers

A job offer isn’t one of the primary requirements in order to enter the Express Entry Pool or to receive an ITA.

Until November 19, 2016, 600 CRS points were allotted to candidates with a qualifying job offer which was supported by a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LIMIA). However, ever since the new improvements were revealed on November 19th, many changes have been enforced to the qualifying job offer factors, which have been listed below:

• A qualifying job offer will now be worth 200 points if the offer is in an occupation contained in a Major Group 00 of the National Occupational Classification.
• 50 points will be awarded for a job offer in any other skilled position.
• Some non-LIMIA-based job offers, such as workers in Canada on a NAFTA work permit or as an Intra –Company transferee, will now be awarded points for the first time. This is only applicable for those workers who have worked in Canada for one year at least and had received the job offer by the same employer named on the work permit.
• The job offer duration has also been changed from ‘indeterminate’ to at least one year in duration.

During the presentation at the Immigration Law Summit, a ‘snapshot’ from the pool as of October 3, 2016 was shared by an IRCC representative. According to this snapshot, around two-thirds (66 percent) of candidates with qualifying job offers had claimed core CRS points of 300 or less. As a result, a larger number of job offer candidates had core CRS scores that placed them among the bottom 7 percent of candidates in the distribution, even though these candidates were well positioned to receive an ITA.

Consequently, IRCC plans to, “balance the Comprehensive Ranking System to put greater weight on human capital, skills and experience.” The CRS has been changed to ‘better reflect the empirical value of arranged employment,’ with the expected result that:

• Candidates with high levels of human capital will now be granted a greater share in ITA’s which will enhance immigrant economic outcomes and enable employers to fill high-skilled job openings.
• Fewer candidates will now be invited with offers of arranged employment in low wage occupations.
• Even though a job offer will no longer guarantee an ITA, it will significantly increase the chances of being invited to apply.

Changes to happen to the CRS threshold

Despite a steep reduction in the number of CRS points to be awarded for a job offer, there has been an increase in the number of candidates who may be in a position to claim these points. This is due to the fact that there have been relaxations in the requirements for job offers, such as the inclusion of candidates holding an employer specific work permit in Canada.

Thus, we may see a temporary rise in the CRS cut-off points in the first few draws to take place after the implementation of these changes, as more candidates with job offers will claim additional points. However, IRCC expects a fall in the CRS cut-off point after this group of candidates has left the pool. The    prediction is that candidates without a job offer are likely to have a better chance of receiving an ITA and it should be seriously noted by the Stakeholders.   From January to September, 2016, 35 percent of ITAs were issued to candidates without a job offer or provincial nomination; IRCC expects this figure to increase over time.

Additional points to be allotted to students and graduates

There is good news for all the students who have completed their education from a Canadian Institution as the IRCC has decided to increase the number of international students to receive an ITA and also to provide an additional incentive for foreign nationals to study in Canada. In the past, these students could not avail any additional points for being a graduate from a Canadian University. However, after these latest developments, they will now be awarded up to 30 additional points.

Canada’s Minister of Immigration, John McCallum, said that “International students have been shortchanged by the Express Entry system. They are the cream of the crop, in terms of potential future Canadians.” As a result of these changes, IRCC expects that former international students will make up closer to 40 percent of all invited candidates in future draws from the pool.

Changes implemented to the Provincial Nominee Programs

According to the 2015 year-end report on the Express Entry Program released by IRCC, around 13 percent of the candidates issued ITA’s last year had obtained a provincial nomination certificate through one of the many Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) that contain a category in alignment with Express Entry.

However, in the first nine months of 2016, there was an increase in the percentage of candidates invited to apply having obtained a provincial nominee certificate to 23%. This was an indication of the significance of these programs.

According to the Immigration Plan for the year 2017 released by the IRCC, the government of Canada plans to welcome approximately 51,000 new immigrants through the various different Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP), aiming for a 7% increase compared to the target set for 2016.

To read more about the additional points to be granted to graduates of Canadian universities and changes implemented to the PNP programs, read our previously publish article.

For more information on Immigration to Canada from Pakistan, please visit our website Lalani & Associates.

Rumen Radev Appointed As The New President Of Bulgaria

Mr. Rumen Radev was chosen as the new President of Bulgaria by the citizens of the country. The official results came in on 13th November 2016 and showed an obvious success in favor of the new president.
Mr Radev is a general and a former commander of the Bulgarian Air Force. Being a new comer to politics, he is backed by the opposition social party of Bulgaria.
The new President won 59.4 percent of the votes. While on the other hand, Mrs. Tsetska Tsacheva, the 58-year-old, ruling party’s candidate nominated by the now former Prime Minister, Mr. Boyko Borisov, only managed to attain 36.16% of the votes, leaving her far behind in the Presidential race.
Many Bulgarian citizens showed their frustration with Mr. Borisov’s way of handling corruption and are also disappointed in the European Union. Whereas, others want to develop close ties with Russia in the hopes to improve Bulgaria’s economy.
The former Prime Minister gave in his resignation on Monday, the 14th of November, as he no longer felt that the sitting Parliament and the respective cabinet had national support. The resignation was accepted by the National Assembly, giving the indication that the premature parliamentary elections will be conducted somewhere around March or April 2017. An interim government will be appointed in the meantime.
Mr Radev’s victory is seen as a boost for Russian as he is known to be Russian-friendly. However, it might also be a let down to the Western allies. He has announced an end to the EU sanctions against Russia. Furthermore, the new president has also shown interest in balancing Bulgaria’s commitments to the European Union and Nato, while maintaining a mutually beneficial relationship with Russia.
These new political developments will prove to be a positive sign for the Bulgarian business and Investment environment, as it is predicted to create a more stable and predictable business environment. Mr Radev and the Vice President have declared foreign investment as their main focus, which should lead to a more enhanced business climate and solid investment opportunities. Thus, the Bulgarian Immigrant Investor Program for Citizenship and Residency is expected to become even more attractive and competitive compared to other similar immigrant investor programs across the world.
Despite the early few turbulent months to be faced by the administration, the financial and economic outlook of the country will become better in the long run.
For more information about the Bulgarian Immigrant Investor Program, please visit our website Lalani & Associates.

Significant Changes Implemented To The Comprehensive Ranking System For The Express Entry Program

The Express Entry Program has become quite famous over the years among individuals applying for Immigration To Canada. On November 19^th 2016, some important charges were made to the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) for the Express Entry immigration selection system by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
The new factors for the Express Entry Program had been expected for quite some time now and were published by the Government of Canada in the Official Gazette. The major changes are as follows:
1.Education from a Canadian University is now an additional factor:
The points to be allotted for Canadian Credentials are outlined below:

0 points	If the candidate has a secondary school educational credential
15 points	If the candidate has an eligible credential from a one-year or two-year post-secondary program
30 points	If the foreign national has either: –          an eligible credential from a post-secondary program of three years or more, –          an eligible credential from a university-level program at the master’s level or at the level of an entry-to-practice professional degree for an occupation listed in the National Occupational Classification matrix at Skill Level A for which licensing by a provincial regulatory body is required, or –          an eligible credential from a university-level program at the doctoral level

These points are only allotted for Canadian Education if the candidate:

• Studied from a Canadian Educational Institution located in Canada.
• Was admitted for at least eight months in full-time study or training
• Had physically resided in Canada for a period of eight months at least.

This change comes as an added advantage for many potential individuals, especially those who have done their Masters or Bachelors from a Canadian University and are seeking to apply for Immigration To Canada From Pakistan.

2.Invitation to Apply:

Candidates who have received Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence will now be allocated additional time to submit a complete application to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada. They will now be given 90 days to submit an application after receiving an ITA, as compared to having 60 days previously.
3.Provincial Nominee Programs:
According to the Immigration Plan for the year 2017 released by the IRCC, the government of Canada plans to welcome approximately 51,000 new immigrants through the various different Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP), aiming for a 7% increase compared to the target set for 2016. With more enhanced PNP categories opening and changing over time, it is crucial for candidates to stay up to date on these immigration programs.
These changes emulate the Canadian Government’s aim to make the process of Immigrating To Canada easier and show a welcoming approach towards accepting Immigrants into Canada, which will come as a very welcoming thought for all those individuals seeking to migrate following the results of the US Elections 2016.
For latest updates on the Express Entry Program, please feel free to visit our website Lalani & Associates.

Canadian Government To Grant Visa-Free Travel To Bulgarian & Romanian Citizens

On 1st November, the Canadian Immigration Minister, John McCallum, made an announcement regarding Canada’s intention to lift the visa requirements for Bulgarian and Romanian Citizens. The new regulation of visa-free travel for Bulgarians and Romanians is applicable on all those individuals who hold a valid U.S visa, as well those who have Travelled To Canada in the past, or individuals who have traveled for business related purposes.
This new regulation is set to be implemented in May 2017. However, by the start of December 2017, Canada intends to partially extend visa-free travel for all Bulgarian & Romanian citizens, ultimately terminating the requirement for a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) to visit Canada. Instead, they will now only need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to be able to fly or Transit Through Canada.
This move has resulted from a controversial European Union free trade deal currently being settled with Canada, and aspires to abate the tension involving Bulgarian Citizens. Bulgarian and Romania will continue to give reluctant support to this trade deal, known as the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) if Canada fails to execute a visa-waiver entry system for Bulgarian and Romanian people.
Private discussions were held regarding lifting the visa regulation between the Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau and the Bulgarian Prime Minister, Boyoko Brissov. This discussion was later extended to recent EU-Canada Summit Joint Declaration negotiations. The Canadian officials promised to lift visa requirements in return for obtaining Bulgarian and Romanian approval in favor of the CETA agreement. In reference to this, the government press stated, “[the] Canadian government will make efforts that all other Bulgarians can travel without visas by the end of 2017.”
However, the visa-free travel will only be acquired through certain necessary phases. The first phase will eliminate all those individuals who have previously obtained a TRV over the past decade from having to re-apply to enter Canada. Contrarily, they will now be required to acquire an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), which has become Canada’s latest method of pre-screening foreign travelers from visa-exempt countries.
Read Also:  Briefing Held To Discuss The EB-5 Investment Program
Canada’s decision in regards to Bulgarian and Romanian citizens aims to “further facilitate the strong cultural, educational, family and business relations that exist between Canada and Europe.” as described by the EU-Canada Summit Joint Declaration.
Despite the needs of Bulgarian and Romanian citizens to see a faster process for obtaining visa-free travel, the Canadian Government has made it that this will be a  Step-By-Step Process, commencing with only a limited number of individuals meeting the eligibility criteria previously outlined.

Briefing Held To Discuss The EB-5 Investment Program

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the EB-5 Investment Coalition and the Real estate Roundtable gathered together for a brief meeting on October 14^th 2016. The purpose of this meeting was to discuss and inform House and Senate on the inner workings of the EB-5 Investment Program and the possible outcome of the December 9^th expiration on the community. The panel was moderated by the Senior Vice President and Counsel at the Real Estate Roundtable, Duane Desiderio. The discussion was initiated by mentioning the basic eligibility requirements to qualify for the EB-5 Visa and the projects that use EB-5 investments, such as developments in rural areas, infrastructure projects and charter schools, etc.

The founder of Education Fund of America, Gregory Wing, mentioned at the briefing that his fund has utilized the EB-5 capital at several occasions to help finance 26 charter schools across 7 different American states. Mr. Wing also discussed that the lack of the EB-5 investment would have adversely impacted the schools and they wouldn’t have existed, had it not been for the EB-5 investments. He further stated that this would also affect all those children who require schools that cannot operate without sufficient funding.

The founder and President of EB-5 Capital, Angelique Brunner also spoke at the briefing. She described how the projects in Washington D.C. have transformed the economic landscape. She further stated how the banks refused to lend money due to the recession in 2007 and that is when she started using the EB-5 Investments. Ms. Brunner explained that the use of EB-5 capital had allowed the company to fund projects which earned them awards from the Urban Land Institute.

Moreover, Dan Healy, Chief Executive Office of Civitas Capital based in Dallas Texas, stated at the briefing that the EB-5 program costs US taxpayers nothing, and the same investors who initially invest in the EB-5 program, often come back to reinvest in other projects in the United States which have no connection with immigration .

It can be said that during the briefing all the reasons for sustaining the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program were discussed. The briefing concluded with stimulating questions and discussions from House and Senate staff members.

For more information on Immigration To USA through the EB-5 Investor Program, please kindly visit Lalani & Associates .

The New e-Service Portal To Renew Pakistani Passports Within 16 Minutes

Recently an e-Services Portal has been introduced by the Interior Ministry of Finance which will enable overseas Pakistanis to renew their national passports within 16 minutes rather than an entire day, and the renewed documents are to be delivered at their doorsteps.

Phase I of the new system launched went live last week, according to the reports of the local media. This portal is to be utilized only for Machine Readable Passports. Officials also stated that the establishment of this new system will lead to alleviation in the misuse of passports and extortion by ‘agents’.

According to the website, the Online Application Process  will take approximately 16.5 minutes. The renewed passports will be delivered to the location provided by the applicants within 10 days.  Moreover, an urgent renewal will take 4 days to process.

“UAE-based Pakistanis can avail of this 24-hour service as of now,” Acting Consul General of Pakistan Rana Samar Javed told Khaleej Times.

Individuals with a passport validity of 7 months are also applicable to apply for an online renewal. After filing of the application, the documents will be processed in Islamabad and delivered to the location provided by the applicant.

He further said, “This also means that people can save time by applying online instead of personally visiting the embassy in Abu Dhabi or consulate in Dubai,”

“This facility benefits overseas Pakistanis the most since they all have these travel documents and have to visit missions to renew their documents,” added Samar.

However, currently the e-Service portal cannot be used for the application of new passports and can also be utilized for existing documents.

People will have to Visit The Consulate in cases where they are applying for a new passport such as for a newborn, since there are no previous records,” explained Samar.

For latest updates, please feel free to visit Lalani & Associates.

Major Changes Implemented To The Cyprus Citizenship By Investment Program

The Cyprus Citizenship by Investment Program (CIP) was launched by the Cypriot Government with the purpose of attracting foreign direct investment into the country. This program grants full Cypriot Citizenship to those individuals who invest more than EUR 2 million in real estate along with meeting the other requirements.
In September 2016, the Cypriot Government implemented changes to the already famous Cyprus Citizenship by Investment Program. Following are the major changes:

• Reduction in the minimum investment amount to EUR 2 million from EUR 2.5 million.
• Main applicants can secure citizenship for dependent parents, provided that an additional EUR 500,000 + VAT will be invested in the purchase of a private residence in Cyprus.

The restructured Cyprus Investor Program aims to maintain the exclusive nature of the Cypriot passport, which is currently ranked at 12^th position according to the Passport Index. These changes will in no way interfere with the unique features of this program which includes a fast processing time of 3 months for the qualified investors to receive Cypriot Citizenship approval. This feature makes it the fastest programs in Europe, beating similar Citizenship by Investment Programs for Malta, Portugal or Bulgaria.
Any non-Cypriot citizen may apply for Cypriot citizenship through Naturalization by Exception if they meet one of the investment criteria given below. The qualification may either be done personally or through company/companies in which the applicant acts as a shareholder or even as a high-ranking senior manager:

1. Real estate, land development and infrastructure projects: Under this option the applicant must make an investment of at least € 2,000,000 in the purchase or construction of buildings, land development projects (residential or commercial) or infrastructure projects.

1. Investment in the purchase/creation/contribution of Cypriot businesses or companies:
   Applicants opting for this option must invest at least € 2 million in the purchase, creation or participation of businesses or companies currently functioning in the Republic of Cyprus.
   These businesses or companies should evidently have a tangible presence in Cyprus and employ at least five Cypriot citizens or European citizens

3. Financial assets of Cypriot companies or organizations:  Applicants must make an investment of at least €2 million in regulated funds in the Republic of Cyprus. Investors need to maintain the purchased assets for a period of three years.

3. Combination of any of the investment options amounting to at least € 5,000,000: 
   Applicants can choose a combination of options 1, 2, 3 which should amount to an investment of at least € 5,000,000 in total.

The Cyprus CIP comes with many benefits, including attainting citizenship of an EU member state, the right to live, work and study in any of the 28 EU countries and visa free travel to 155 countries. Moreover, this program also has flexible options with no physical residence requirement and approval granted usually within 90 days. Lastly, the main benefit is the granting of full citizenship and passports to the principal applicant and included family members.
For more information about the Cyprus Citizenship by Investment Program, please feel free to visit Lalani &  Associates.

A Massive Change In The Trend Of Mexican Immigrants Entering United States

The Pew Research Center released a report on Thursday which reveals some astonishing facts about Mexican immigrants. According to it, more Mexicans are now returning to their home country in comparison to the number of Mexicans going to United States, which has happened for the first time in decades.
The report showed statistics according to which, between the years 2009 -2014, approximately 870,000 Mexicans entered United States, whereas 1 million went back home, leading to a net loss of 130,000 Mexican immigrants for United States.  This shocking change comes at a time when immigration has become a combative subject in the presidential race of 2016, where both the Republican and Democratic parties are constantly battling over the best way of rejuvenating the Immigration System of the nation.
It was stated by the director of Hispanic research at the center, Mark Hugo Lopez, that the main reasons behind the fall in the number of Mexican immigrants were the Great Recession in the United States which made job hunting more difficult,  a progressing Mexican economy, as well as stricter border security.
Mr. Lopez further mentioned that there are chances of an increase in the number of Mexican immigrants into the country if the economy of United States keeps improving. However, due to the stable growth of Mexico’s economy and tighter security along the Southwest Border, chances are that United States won’t be able to receive a huge influx of legal and illegal Mexican immigrants like it did in the recent decades, where the number of Mexican immigrants hiked up from 3 million to an astonishing number of 13 million immigrants.
“The nature of immigration itself is beginning to change,” Lopez said. “It looks like Mexican migration is at an end.”
An alarming number of Central Americans have escaped violence in the past years, limiting the country’s capacity to process requests for asylum. Moreover, United States is receiving more immigrants from China, India and other Asian countries who are coming in as students and high-tech workers.  The director also added that chances are that Asians will hold a majority share of the immigration population in the near future.
The downtrend in Mexican migration also signifies that the profile of Mexican-born Immigrants In The United States has altered drastically. They have become more settled in the U.S., are older on average and have finished high school and college at higher rates. For example, 76% of Mexican-born immigrants in the United States had not completed high school in 1990. In comparison, 42% had completed high school and 18% had started or graduated from college by the year 2013.
The report also showed that only 14% out of the 1 million Mexicans who returned to their country since 2009 gave deportation as the reason behind their move back to Mexico. A majority said they came back out of their own will, whereas 61% claimed they did so to reunite with their families.
Moreover, Mexicans have fewer ties to people living in the United States. In 2007, 42% of Mexicans surveyed by Pew said they kept in touch with friends or family in the United States, in contrast to 35% in 2015.
For more updates, please feel free to visit our website Lalani & Associates.

Antigua And Barbuda To Attract Investment And Tourism From The Middle East Now

The Citizenship by Investment program for Antigua and Barbuda is one of the most famous Caribbean Citizenship Programs in the world, granting fast track citizenship and passport with 3-6 months. There is a possibility that Antigua and Barbuda will oversee a substantial hike in investment and travel from the Middle East. An exclusive exposition style conference will be held in October 2016 at Dubai’s Palazzo Versace Hotel, highlighting the islands’ exceptional investor and citizenship benefits.

Over the past years, the twin islands have been successfully attracting foreign funds as a result of their low-tax structure, income tax free investment, capital gains tax, inheritance tax and wealth tax. This country has already witnessed a significant rise in investment from the Middle East, including a recent MOU for $120 million for the construction of a luxury resort in the South of the island. This one-of-a-kind Caribbean resort, Callaloo Cay, is spread over 32 acres of beachfront and is expected to host the best of class, beauty, opulence.
High net worth investors from around the world have obtained Residency For Antigua And Barbuda since the commencement of the Citizenship by Investment Program in 2013. Successful candidate of this program will enjoy visa-free travel to more than 130 countries including the Schengen Zone, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore, etc. The Antigua and Barbuda passport is ranked as the 25th most powerful passport in the world.

These scenic Islands have welcomed very popular celebrities such as Robert De Niro, Gorgio Armani, Richard Branson, Oprah Winfrey as well as investors such as James Packer. Being the English speaking country of the Leeward Islands, Antigua and Barbuda have become a most frequently visited destination for wealthy tourists, coming from around the world including the US, Canada, Asia and now from the Middle East as well. Keeping this in consideration, it is no surprise that tourism generates approximately 80% of the Islands’ income.
In the coming month of October, Callaloo Cay will be the platinum sponsor at the expo-style conference promoting Antigua and Barbuda as the top destination of choice for both investment and tourism. The invite-only event will draw attention to the striking features of the islands and will be attended by a high profile travel delegation from the twin islands including Prime Minister – Hon. Gaston Browne, Ambassador to the UAE, His Excellency Casroy James, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Charles Fernandez, and Special Economic Envoy and Hollywood Icon – Robert Deniro.

This coincides with yet another milestone as Antigua and Barbuda gets set to become one of the first organizations of the Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) to open an embassy in UAE.
For more information about the Antigua And Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Program, please feel free to visit our website Lalani & Associates.

Significant Changes In The Outcome Of The Latest Canadian Express Entry Draw

Over the past year, Express Entry has been the most popular chosen route for individuals seeking Immigration to Canada.The most recent draw for the Express Entry Candidate pool took place on 7th September, 2016. The results of this draw were significantly different from the last draw that took place on 24th August 2016. There was a massive increase in the number of Invitations to Apply (ITA) issued to Express Entry applicants which reached a staggering number of 1000 candidates. This number hasn’t been reached in any of previous the draws since April 2016. Moreover, there was a significant decline in the number of Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points required for an applicant to be eligible to receive an ITA, going down from 538 in the previous draw to 491, increasing the chances of selection for candidates.

Reason behind the significant shift

Due to this recent rise in the number of ITAs issued and the substantial cut down in the CRS required points, many candidates who were not able to receive an ITA previously are now more hopeful about achieving their Canadian Immigration dream.
The outcome of this draw also makes the intention of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)evident, which is to authorize more ITA’s in order to reach their annual target level of intakes through the fall season. Some indication to this outcome was given by an IRCC representative while speaking at an event in the month of May of this year. Thus, it is now very much a possibility that this is just the beginning of an increase in the number of ITA’s issued per draw and this will continue to happen in the draws to be held in the near future. Other things being equal, this should have the corresponding effect of the CRS cut-off point coming down.

Obtaining an ITA

Considering the Canadian Government’s year-end 2015 Express Entry report, in 2015 57% of candidates to receive an ITA had obtained core CRS scores of less than 450 points which is the lowest CRS point requirement of any Express Entry draw that has been held up till now. Core CRS points imply a candidate’s score without the additional 600 points that can be allotted for a job offer or an enhanced provincial nominee certification.
Since the Express Entry system came into existence in January 2015, there has been a hike in the number of Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) options available to candidates, among which the most sought after is the Quebec Provincial Nominees Program. Many of the selected candidates from the pool are able to obtain a provincial nominees certificate from a Canadian Province. The best approach to receive an ITA for permanent residence through of these PNP programs is to be ready to apply since the window for applying is very limited as these programs keep opening and closing quickly.

How Express Entry Works?

The Express Entry system is an electronic process used to manage applications for permanent residence for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program and the Canadian Experience Class. Provinces and territories can also select candidates from the Express Entry pool through their Provincial Nominee Programs.
Candidates, who meet the express entry eligibility requirements, will be accepted into a pool of candidates. They will be ranked against other applicants according to a point-based system called the Comprehensive Ranking System. Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC)will regularly screen and select the best candidates from this pool who will then be given an invitation to apply to Immigrate To Canada as a permanent resident.
Within 60 days of receiving an ITA, the applicants are obligated to submit an application for Canadian Permanent Residence, from which point the government of Canada aims to process the application within six months. This application can also include family members, such as the spouse, dependent children and dependent parents along with the principal applicant.
Applicants can stay in the candidate pool for a period of 12 months. If they fail to receive an ITA during this time period, their Express Entry Profile will expire and they will have to submit a new profile. They can re-enter the pool if they’re able to meet the eligibility requirements.
To determine your eligibility for the Express Entry System for immigration to Canada, please feel free to get in touch with our qualified Immigration Consultants on the numbers (92-21) 3438 9311-4 (4 lines).

St. Kitts & Nevis: Les Khan Has Been Appointed The New Chief For The Citizenship By Investment Unit

On Monday, 12^th September 2016, the Prime Minister of St. Kitts & Nevis, Dr Timothy Harris, announced that the new chief of Citizenship by Investment unit will be Les Khan. This announcement was made at a national conference of service providers and developers under the St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Program.
Mr. Khan was previously working as the team leader for the IPSA international project. IPSA international, a regulatory risk mitigation company, conducted a review of the St. Kitts & Nevis CBI Program in the fourth quarter of 2014. Then, on 30^th April 2015, it was disclosed that St Kitts and Nevis government had retained the services of the company to address recommendations that would improve the country’s CBI program.
The St Kitts & Nevis Citizenship program was reorganized, restructured and repositioned as the best in the world by the current team unity administration, within one year of the announcement made on 30^th April 2015.
The improved Citizenship by Investment Unit was made the focal point of the press conference held in March 2016. During the press conference, the prime minister affirmed that “Our CIU is now open for legitimate business. It is now administratively and legally stronger and better.”
On Monday morning, in addressing the service providers and developers at the conference, held under the theme “St Kitts and Nevis Redefining Global Citizenship, Leading the Way Again!”, Mr Harris said, “There are several initiatives that I am confident will reignite participation in our CBI product, positioning St Kitts and Nevis as the clear and obvious destination for global citizenship.”
At Monday’s conference, Mr Harris provided a clear roadmap for further success. “With the appointment of the new head of the unit, the reforms undertaken and our new marketing strategy, we are now in a position to implement our rebranding effort,” Harris said, adding, “We will now be more aggressive in our rebranding and are prepared to tell the story of change in a more interactive and personal manner. We will enter the road show circuit. We will participate in selective conferences to shore up market demand whilst we look to explore more market opportunities.”
He further stated, “Les will be leading a well-disciplined local team with a broad cross-section of skills to strengthen our resource capabilities in order to deliver a platinum service. We have people with high-level expertise in marketing, Immigration, international banking, anti-money laundering and administration.”
The government inherited a backlog of over 1,500 citizenship applications, which has now been significantly reduced. Moreover, current applications to the CIU are being turned around within 45 to 75 days, while cold files are attended to on a daily basis. Moreover, the CIU is now using three due diligence service providers. It is also important to highlight that the Unit is now offering a 24/7 case management system, meaning service providers can access information on the status of their applications at any given day or time.
For further information about the St. Kitts & Nevis Citizenship and Residency Program, please feel free to visit our website Lalani & Associates.