JJC Immigration Services

02/27/2014

캐나다 학생 비자 관련 규정 대폭 ‘손질’

최성호 기자
등록일자 : 2014-02-14 16:47:01 조회수 : 5194

캐나다 정부가 학생 비자 관련 규정을 대폭 손질해 시행에 들어간다.

이민부는 방문자 신분으로도 캐나다에서 학생 비자 신청을 할 수 있게 허용하는 등 내용을 골자로 하는 새 규정안을 12일 확정해 발표했다. 바뀐 규정안은 오는 6월부터 적용된다.

가장 크게 바뀌는 부분은 앞으로 방문 비자로 캐나다에 입국한 사람도 캐나다 국내에서 학생 비자를 신청할 수 있게 된다는 점이다. 이에 따라 한국에 되돌아가 신청하거나 제3국 주재 캐나다 대사관을 통해 신청했던 과거와 비교해 학생 비자 신청이 한층 수월해질 전망이다.

그러나 학생 비자 발급에 대한 심사는 한층 강화된다. 학생 비자 신청 시 이민부가 대상 어학원 또는 학교에 대해 적절성 여부를 판단했던 과거와 달리 각 지역 주정부가 지정한 학교에 대해 학생 비자를 발급할 계획이다. 대상 학교 리스트는 추후 공개될 예정이다.

아울러 그동안 문제가 있었던 코옵 취업 비자(Co-Op work permit) 발급 대상 학교는 축소될 전망이다. 이민부는 이와 관련, 코옵 취업 비자도 지정된 학교의 과정을 수학하는 유학생에 대해서만 발급이 가능하도록 수정했다.

단, 현재 학생 비자 또는 코옵 취업 비자 소지자의 학교가 차후 발표될 지정 학교 명단에 포함되지 않더라도, 새 규정 발효와 상관 없이 학업을 마치기 위해 최장 3년까지 학생 비자를 연장할 수 있다.

유학생의 취업에 대한 규제는 완화된다. 새 규정에 따르면 6개월 이상 과정의 지정된 대학(degree, diploma or certificate 과정) 재학생은 별도의 오프-캠퍼스 취업 비자(off campus work permit) 신청 없이 학기 중에는 주 20시간까지 합법적으로 일할 수 있다. 방학 중에는 전일제(full-time)로 취업이 가능하다.

또한 졸업 후 발급되는 ‘졸업 후 취업 비자’(Post-Graduation Work Permit) 심사 기간 동안 합법적으로 취업해 근무할 수 있게 된다.

이민컨설팅 업체 굿모닝 이주공사의 남이송 대표는 "한국 유학생 가운데 많은 수가 ESL 공부를 하면서 코옵 비자를 통해 일을 하고 있는 상황이라 바뀌는 규정이 한국 유학생에 미치는 영향이 클 것으로 생각된다"며 "학생 및 코옵 비자 발급 대상 학교 명단이 아직 공개되지 않아 예단하기 어렵지만, 새 규정이 한국 유학생에게 긍정적인 영향을 미칠 것으로 기대된다"고 설명했다.

최성호 기자 [email protected]

02/27/2014

시민권법 개정안 통과 시간문제 “신청 서둘러야”

최성호 기자
등록일자 : 2014-02-21 13:45:11 조회수 : 3105

지난 6일 하원에 상정된 시민권법(C-24) 개정안이 수개월 내 발효될 가능성이 높다는 전망이 나왔다.

데이빗 코헨(Cohen) 이민 전문 변호사는 자신이 발행하는 캐나다 이민 뉴스레터 ‘CIC 뉴스’ 최신호에서 "시민권법 개정에 그리 오래 걸리지는 않을 것”이라며 “수개월 내 새 시민권법이 적용될 것으로 보인다”고 전망했다. 이어 그는 “지금은 시민권법 개정을 앞둔 일종의 유예 기간”이라며 “신청 조건을 충족하는 시민권 취득 희망자는 시민권 신청을 서두르라”고 권고했다.

코헨 변호사뿐만 아니라 여러 이민 전문가들도 이민 시민권법 개정안 통과가 시간문제라는 데에 동의하고 있다. 집권 보수당이 의회의 다수를 점한 상황에서 법안이 통과되지 않을 가능성이 적기 때문이다. 여기에 최근 캐나다 법령 개정이 빠르면 2개월 이내에도 이루어진 점을 미뤄 이번 시민권법 개정 시기도 그리 멀지 않았다는 것이 이민 전문가들의 중론이다.

한편 시민권법 개정안이 통과되면 시민권 신청에 필요한 캐나다 의무 거주 기간이 현행 최근 4년 중 3년에서 6년 중 4년으로 늘어난다. 또 영주권 취득에 앞서 취업비자나 학생비자로 캐나다에 거주한 기간은 인정되지 않는다.

또 시민권 시험을 치르고, 언어 능력을 증명해야 하는 신청자의 연령대도 바뀐다. 개정안은 시민권 시험 응시와 언어 능력 증명 자료를 제출해야 하는 신청자의 연령대를 현행 만 18~54세에서 만14~64세로 확대한다.

최성호 기자 [email protected]

02/27/2014

News Release — Cracking Down on Citizenship Fraud: the Strengthening Canadian Citizenship Act

Calgary, February 19, 2014 — Today Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander reinforced the government’s commitment to tackling citizenship fraud through measures proposed in Bill C-24, the Strengthening Canadian Citizenship Act.

Under the new legislation, the government will have the authority to develop regulations to designate a regulatory body whose members would be authorized to act as consultants on citizenship matters. This change will help protect applicants and deter third-party fraud.

Bill C-24 reinforces the value of citizenship by cracking down on fraud and ensuring Canadian citizenship is only offered to those who play by the rules. Proposed measures include:
•stronger penalties for fraud and misrepresentation (a maximum fine of $100,000 and/or five years in prison);
•expanding the grounds to bar an application for citizenship to include foreign criminality which will help improve program integrity; and
•making it an offence for unauthorized individuals to knowingly represent or advise a person on a citizenship application or hearing for a fee.

Quick facts
•Ongoing large-scale fraud investigations conducted by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have identified more than 3,000 citizens and 5,000 permanent residents linked to major investigations—a majority of them related to residence.
•In addition, nearly 2,000 individuals linked to the citizenship fraud investigations have withdrawn their applications.

Quotes

“The government is cracking down on citizenship fraud by enforcing stronger penalties for those who do not play by the rules. Changes to the Citizenship Act reinforce the value of citizenship and will help ensure new Canadians are fully prepared to participate in Canadian life and have a stronger attachment to our country."

Chris Alexander, Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration Minister

“Stronger penalties for those who commit citizenship fraud will protect the integrity of Canadian citizenship. The government's changes to the Citizenship Act reinforce the message that Canadian citizenship is valued around the globe and will be afforded those who recognize that it comes with duties and rights, privileges and responsibilities."

Chris Alexander, Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration Minister

Related products
•News release: Strengthening and Modernizing the Citizenship Act: Reinforcing the value of Canadian citizenship while continuing to move toward a faster and more efficient system
•Blueprint for Citizenship Improvements
•Reinforcing the Value of Canadian Citizenship
•Cracking Down on Citizenship Fraud
•Protecting and Promoting Canada’s Interests and Values
•Extending citizenship to “Lost Canadians”
•A comparative view
•Graphic: Strengthening Canadian Citizenship—Shortening Processing Times
•Graphic: Strengthening Canadian Citizenship—Reducing Canada’s Citizenship Backlog
•Graphic: Reducing Processing Times—Strengthening Canadian Citizenship Act Amendments
•Graphic: Strengthening Canadian Citizenship—Streamlining Citizenship Revocations
•Graphic: Changes to Canada’s Citizenship Fees: A Comparative View—Reducing the Burden on Canadian Taxpayers

Follow us on Twitter (new window to unfollow or login):

twitter.com/CitImmCanada

Contacts

Alexis Pavlich
Minister’s Office
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-954-1064

Media Relations
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-952-1650
[email protected]

Building a stronger Canada: Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) strengthens Canada’s economic, social and cultural prosperity, helping ensure Canadian safety and security while managing one of the largest and most generous immigration programs in the world.

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Date Modified: 2014-02-19

02/27/2014

News Release — Extending Citizenship to Lost Canadians: the Strengthening Canadian Citizenship Act

Halifax, February 21, 2014 — Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander and Peter MacKay, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today reinforced the government’s commitment to extend citizenship to more “Lost Canadians” through measures proposed in Bill C-24, the Strengthening Canadian Citizenship Act.

In 2009, the government implemented changes that restored or gave citizenship to the vast majority of people who had lost it or never received it due to outdated legislation—including to some born before 1947. Yet a small number of “Lost Canadians” such as some first generation children born abroad to war brides and service men were still not eligible for Canadian citizenship.

The proposed amendments in the Strengthening Canadian Citizenship Act include extending citizenship to most of the remaining “Lost Canadians” who were born before the first Canadian Citizenship Act took effect in 1947 as well as to their children who were born outside Canada in the first generation.

Overall, the government’s reforms to the Citizenship Act protect the value of citizenship and ensure the process is faster and more efficient for new Canadians.

Quick facts
•Citizenship would be granted retroactively, dating back to January 1, 1947 (or April 1, 1949 for Newfoundland) or to the year of birth in the case of persons born after January 1, 1947 or April 1, 1949.
•People born or naturalized in Canada before 1947 who subsequently lost their British subject status and did not become citizens on January 1, 1947 would have citizenship automatically given to them.
•British subjects ordinarily resident in Canada prior to 1947 who did not become citizens on January 1, 1947 would have citizenship automatically given to them.
•Children born abroad in the first generation to any parent who was born, naturalized or British subjects ordinarily resident in Canada prior to 1947 would have citizenship automatically given to them.

Quotes

“It is thanks to the hard work, sacrifices and dedication, of all Canadians – those whose families have been here for generations as well as new Canadians, that Canada is now one of the most free and democratic countries in the world. I am proud that our government is now moving to reclaim our remaining “Lost Canadians”, and with this and other changes to the Strengthening Canadian Citizenship Act, we are protecting the value of citizenship for the future.”

Chris Alexander, Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration Minister

“As the world changes and we move to a more globalized and interconnected society, our provisions of who is a Canadian citizen must reflect today’s perspective. By modernizing provisions in the Citizenship Act, our government is strengthening the value of Canadian citizenship. This is really great news for a number of people who will be able to “wake up Canadian” the day these provisions come into force.”

Peter MacKay, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Related products
•News release: Strengthening and Modernizing the Citizenship Act: Reinforcing the value of Canadian citizenship while continuing to move toward a faster and more efficient system
•Blueprint for Citizenship Improvements
•Reinforcing the Value of Canadian Citizenship
•Cracking Down on Citizenship Fraud
•Protecting and Promoting Canada’s Interests and Values
•Extending citizenship to “Lost Canadians”
•A comparative view
•Graphic: Strengthening Canadian Citizenship—Shortening Processing Times
•Graphic: Strengthening Canadian Citizenship—Reducing Canada’s Citizenship Backlog
•Graphic: Reducing Processing Times—Strengthening Canadian Citizenship Act Amendments
•Graphic: Strengthening Canadian Citizenship—Streamlining Citizenship Revocations
•Graphic: Changes to Canada’s Citizenship Fees: A Comparative View—Reducing the Burden on Canadian Taxpayers

Follow us on Twitter (new window to unfollow or login):


twitter.com/CitImmCanada

Photos of Minister Alexander are available.

Contacts

Alexis Pavlich
Minister’s Office
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-954-1064

Media Relations
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-952-1650
[email protected]

Building a stronger Canada: Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) strengthens Canada’s economic, social and cultural prosperity, helping ensure Canadian safety and security while managing one of the largest and most generous immigration programs in the world.



RSS feeds
Subscribe to our RSS feeds to receive instant updates

Subscribe to news
Subscribe to receive CIC news


Photos and videos
Find our multimedia products, such as photos and videos



Date Modified: 2014-02-21

The latest from CIC (). Citizenship and Immigration Canada (Terms: http://j.mp/HOE7sU) / Citoyenneté et Immigration Canada (Conditions : http://j.mp/HeZoxu). Canada