If you have even an iota of doubt on the identity of a caller claiming to be from IRCC, do not divulge any personal details and do not make any fund transfers. Call immediately the Border Tip Line or Canada’s Anti-Fraud Center. You can find the contact toll-free numbers from IRCC website. Canada is determined to keep its nationals, permanent citizens and temporary residents safe and secure and ensures that such frauds are instantly reported, and fraudsters convicted.

New immigrants to Canada are eligible to become Canadian citizens. Though citizenship is natural, it can also be acquired by those wanting to live in Canada as its rightful citizens. The Canadian Citizenship Act represents Canadian citizens, defines their rights and duties, and formulates all procedures and provisions under the Act. Some of the ways in which you become a naturalized citizen are-

Citizenship by Birth: If you do not have a Canadian passport, citizenship card or certificate but were born in Canada, you have the right to become Canadian citizen. For this, you would need verifiable documents to support your claim and prove that you were born in Canada. These documents include your provincial or territorial birth certificate that will establish the place of your birth. If you own these required documents, the process for applying for Canadian citizenship becomes a very easy and smooth.: In cases where someone does not have a birth certificate, there are a few other documents that can establish their right to Canadian citizenship. Anyone who is born in Canada even to foreign parents, barring foreign diplomats, has the right to Canadian Citizenship as per the Canadian immigration law.

Citizenship by Descent: You can apply for Canadian citizenship without first becoming a permanent resident in Canada even if you are born outside Canada to Canadian parent(s). As per the new law, citizenship by descent is permitted to only one generation born outside of Canada. This provision applies to anyone who was born in Canada, or given a citizenship status, before 1 January 1947 but stopped being a British subject and did not yet become a citizen on that date. This rule would differ for different provinces and territories. For instance, for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians the applicable date is 1 April 1949 as this was when the two provinces joined Canadian territories. This would also apply to British subjects who are living in Canada on 1 January 1947 but for some reason could not acquire their citizenship at that time. The dates again differ for provinces like Newfoundland and Labrador. The right of Canadian Citizenship also extends to adopted children under the above-mentioned circumstances. However, the procedure can get extremely complicated and lengthy. Children born outside Canada and adopted by Canadian parent(s) are not eligible in situations such as mentioned below-

1. If their adoptive parent(s) was born outside Canada to Canadian parents.
2. Their adoptive parent(s) obtained citizenship on the basis of adoption from a Canadian.

Evidently, there are some restraints for rights of citizenship granted to adopted children but they can still become naturalized citizens. Even when the adopted children do not meet the requirements of Canadian citizenship, they can be sponsored by their adoptive parents so that they may first become permanent citizens and later obtain for citizenship by naturalization. Children who are born to Canadian parent or to parents who were naturalized citizens, also automatically have the right to Canadian citizenship.

Myths about Canadian Citizenship: There are many false marriages and relationships forged for the sake of permanent residency and citizenship. Canadian immigration law is framed to discourage any form of dishonesty and malpractice. You cannot become a naturalized Canadian citizen if you marry a Canadian or on having lived in Canada for a long time. However, you can always apply for citizenship after becoming a permanent resident and fulfilling the eligibility criteria. In cases where a person has renounced citizenship earlier, he/she will have to become a permanent resident first and meet the eligibility criteria to become a Canadian citizen.

Citizenship Revocation: A naturalized Canadian citizen is under the threat of getting their citizenship revoked if they are found to be inadmissible in Canada on a number of accounts. Your citizenship can be revoked if you are proved to be a potential threat to the national security of Canada, or if you are found guilty of dishonesty, fraud, concealment of facts or deception in filing the application form. Citizenship revocation is a matter of grave concern with far-reaching consequences. Revocation orders mean that the person will have to leave the country within a stipulated time-period and will no longer hold permanent residency of Canada. With the latest changes in place, your documents can be seized by the immigration officers if you are suspected of giving false personal information and/or submitting fake documents to procure the passport. Any concealment or misrepresentation of facts is a serious offence. Also, if the permanent resident or the Canadian citizen is found involved in illegal activities, criminal offense, or terrorist activities, or it is found that the passport is being used by someone not the original passport holder it will lead to passport revocation. All these offenses are serious offenses by the Canadian government and the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (IRCC) is fully authorized to order the removal of the convicted person from Canada. Additionally, as per the latest changes in immigration laws, if an individual has citizenship of Canada and a Citizenship of another country, he/she will not lose his/her Canadian citizenship on being found guilty of treason, terrorism, espionage or in possession of arsenal. Rather, dual citizens might not face the threat of revocation at all but will be subjected to prosecution in Canada for their criminal offenses just like any other Canadian national. The final verdict on all revocation of Citizenship cases rests with the Federal Court. Individuals facing revocation can make an appeal in the court or to the Appeal Division for re-assessment of their case.

The Canadian temporary foreign workers program allows skilled workers across various specified trades to become permanent residents of Canada. This program was initiated in order to acknowledge and honour those engaged in diverse skilled trade occupation and who can benefit from an exclusive program.  The applications are assessed in order to determine the applicant’s training, skills and ability to remain financially independent in Canada.

The program is managed, regulated and monitored by the immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). The designated institutions ensure that those nominated and selected qualify under the program. They also ensure that foreign workers are permitted to immigrate to Canada only if there are labour market shortages reported. This is done to protect employment opportunities of Canadian nationals and permanent citizens in Canada. The immigration laws of Canada have recently become severe so that the interests of the larger community in Canada can be protected. The rules to qualify under the Temporary Workers Program, therefore, have become severer. A rigorous system has been out into place to ensure that only qualified people are permitted to immigrate to Canada under this program. Any kind of non-compliance with the rules on the part of the employer or employee meet with harsh penalties.

Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) is a fast track entry system under which work permits are issues based on the LMIAs (Labour Market Impact Assessment) that are granted by ESDC. ESDC has the full authority to monitor and regulate the process and decisions made under this program. Under this, the employer must be able to prove that no other Canadian or a permanent resident could suffice for the job requisites.

The issuance of the LMIA that is positive or neutral rests on the following factors –

• If the employment of the foreign national will economically benefit Canada and generate further employment opportunities for Canadian nationals.
• If the employment of the foreign national will address an existing labour shortage in Canada.
• If the wages offered to the foreign national are consistent with prevailing Canadian standards of wages.
• If the work culture is positive and non-discriminatory for the foreign national.
• If the employer has made enough efforts to hire a Canadian national.

In the second procedure, i.e., the IMP (International Mobility Program), work permits do not require an LMIA. This includes work permits under the mentioned categories – spousal, post-graduation, intra-company transfers, global work permits for youth, NAFTA and other free trade agreements, and many more. If both an employee and the employer meet certain eligibility standards, they will be eligible to apply under this program successfully.

Applicants applying for the federal Skilled Workers Program must establish that they meet the minimum requirements to qualify for this visa for getting permanent residency in Canada. They must do so by submitting proper proofs along with various required documents to validate their claims. Minimum requirements for this visa include proper work experience, age, education, language ability and adaptability.

There are certain standards to be met by the employer who seeks to hire a non-Canadian skilled worker. The qualifying requirements to be fulfilled by the employer recruiting the foreign national are –

• The employer giving the job offer must be permanently settled in Canada and directly engaged in business.
• The employee recruited must fulfil the job requirements of the job offered with the right educational qualification and work experience.
• If the employer must have shown compliance with federal, provincial, or territorial laws in the past as well.
• The employer must have made sufficient efforts to hire a Canadian national first. The employer will be asked to demonstrate that considerable efforts were made to ensure the same.
• The employer must ensure that the working conditions for the hired professionals are conducive, free of abuse and non-discriminatory.
• The employer must demonstrate if any prior commitment made at the time of LMIA issuance related to skill and knowledge of Canadian nationals have been delivered.

Employers who are found guilty of non-compliance for a violation committed before 1 December 2015 could be subjected to –

1. A 2-year ban from using Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and the International Mobility Program (IMP).
2. The publishing of the employer’s name, address, and ineligibility duration on the official website of IRCC.
3. A non-favourable LMIA on pending applications, if any.
4. A revocation or cancellation of LMIA issued earlier.

Employers who are found guilty of non-compliance for a violation committed on or after 1 December 2015 could be subjected to –

1. A warning letter issued by ESDC or SC.
2. Monetary penalties per employee.
3. A ban of two or more years, or even a permanent one in cases of serious violations.
4. The publishing of their name and address and ineligibility duration on the official website of IRCC.
5. A non-favourable LMIA on pending applications, if any.
6. A revocation or cancellation of LMIA issued earlier.

Since the Employer Compliance procedure underwent some changes in 2013, there are different inspection procedures and penalties. The penalty is based on the assessment of the violation and its severity. In cases where a violation is committed prior to 1 December 2015, employers are banned for 2 years from accessing International Mobility Program (IMP) and Employment and Social Development Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program. For offences committed on or after 1 December 2015, the employers receive a warning letter, a penalty, and restraint from accessing the International Mobility Program (IMP) and TFW for almost 2 years. In extreme cases, there can be a revocation of work permits for the foreign nationals working for the employer.

An applicant is required to answer the residency questionnaire before applying for Canadian Citizenship. This is to ensure that the application given by the applicant is honest, truthful and reliable. The applicants are required to fill the questionnaire and attach verifiable documents to demonstrate that the applicant fulfills the eligibility criteria. The questionnaire that you are required to fill before your Canadian citizenship can get tricky and complicated. There is no room of error in this kind of application as whatever you state in writing will be taken as your final word. Any inaccuracy, error, or inconsistency will be reviewed with adverse consequences on your eligibility. It is best to consult an immigration firm to ensure that you make no such error and also to smoothen the whole process.