IMMIGRATION NEWS

I. MAJOR CHANGES - BACKGROUND INFORMATION On Thursday, September 18, 2003, The Honourable Denis Coderre, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada, announced an adjustment to the pass mark for federal skilled worker applicants.

He also proposed new measures for assessing certain economic class applicants who applied under the former Immigration Act, 1976 but who were adversely affected by transitional measures following implementation of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) on June 28, 2002.

Effective immediately, all new skilled worker applicants and those currently in the system whose Applications for Permanent Residence in Canada were filed on or after January 1, 2002 and who have not yet received a selection decision, will be assessed with a pass mark of 67 (rather than 75, which was the pass mark in existence from June 28, 2002 to September 17, 2003).

Additionally, the Minister is proposing to amend the IRPA transition regulations to allow for all skilled worker and business immigration applicants who applied before January 1, 2002 to be assessed under the selection criteria of the former Immigration Act, 1976 and Immigration Regulations, 1978. Applicants who do not qualify under the former Immigration Act, 1976 and Immigration Regulations, 1978 would then be given a second chance to qualify and will also be assessed under the current IRPA and Immigration Regulations, 2002.

II. HOW DOES THIS AFFECT YOU?

A. NON-CLIENTS

(a) Individual received a conditional favourable assessment from Canadian Immigrarion Group between June 28, 2002 and September 17, 2003

If you are not/never were a client of Canadain Immigration Group and were conditionally assessed by the firm between June 28, 2002 and September 17, 2003 as having anywhere between 67 and 74 points, Canadain Immigration Group assessment of your eligibility to immigrate to Canada in the Independent/Skilled Worker Class is no longer conditional but, rather, UNCONDITIONAL, and Canadain Immigration Group's 100% money-back guarantee applies IN FULL*. Therefore, you may wish to reconsider your decision not to apply for Permanent Residence in Canada and, instead, proceed with your proposed Canadian Immigration plans with Canadain Immigration Group assistance.

* Subject to there being no issues surrounding medical and/or criminal inadmissibility to Canada

(b) Individual received an unconditional favourable assessment from Canadain Immigration Group between June 28, 2002 and September 17, 2003

If you are not/never were a client of Canadain Immigration Group and were unconditionally assessed by the firm between June 28, 2002 and September 17, 2003, Canadain Immigration Group positive assessment of your eligibility to immigrate to Canada in the Independent/Skilled Worker Class remains intact as it was determined by the firm at the time of your initial assessment that you met or surpassed the former 75 point pass mark (and, consequently, the current 67 point pass mark). That assessment remains unchanged. Therefore, you may wish to reconsider your decision not to apply for Permanent Residence in Canada and, instead, proceed with your proposed Canadian Immigration plans with Canadain Immigration Group assistance.

(c) Individual received a negative assessment from Canadain Immigration Group between June 28, 2002 and September 17, 2003

If you are not/never were a client of Canadain Immigration Group and were negatively assessed by the firm between June 28, 2002 and September 17, 2003 as having insufficient points to be eligible to apply for Permanent Residence in Canada in the Independent/Skilled Worker Class, Canadain Immigration Group's negative assessment of your eligibility to immigrate to Canada remains intact as it was determined by the firm at the time of your initial assessment that you had below 67 points. That assessment remains unchanged.

B. CLIENTS/FORMER CLIENTS

(a) Individual applied for Permanent Residence in Canada before January 1, 2002 but has not yet received a selection decision from Citizenship and Immigration Canada

If you are a client/former client of Canadain Immigration Group and your Application for Permanent Residence in Canada was filed BEFORE January 1, 2002 but no selection decision has yet been rendered in your case by Citizenship and Immigration Canada, you will be assessed by Citizenship and Immigration Canada under the FORMER Immigration Act, 1976 and Immigration Regulations, 1978 (the legislation under whichCanadain Immigration Group initially assessed your eligibility to immigrate to Canada in the Independent/Skilled Worker Class) and you will be required to meet a pass mark of 70 points (NOT 75 or 67) based on the selection criteria that existed under the former legislation:

If you do not qualify under the Immigration Act, 1976 and Immigration Regulations, 1978, you will also be assessed by Citizenship and Immigration Canada in accordance with IRPA and the Immigration Regulations, 2002 and, if the assessment is favourable (i.e. you meet or surpass the pass mark of 67 points based on the current selection criteria (see the graph in Paragraph B(c), below)), your Application for Permanent Residence in Canada will be approved in principle.

(b) Individual applied for Permanent Residence in Canada before January 1, 2002 and was either refused by Citizenship and Immigration Canada OR withdrew Application

If you are a client/former client of Canadain Immigration Group and your Application for Permanent Residence in Canada was filed BEFORE January 1, 2002 but your Application for Permanent Residence in Canada was subsequently assessed and refused by Citizenship and Immigration Canada in accordance with IRPA, the Immigration Regulations, 2002 and the pass mark of 75 points OR you voluntarily withdrew your Application for Permanent Residence in Canada, you have the right to have your case reassessed by Citizenship and Immigration Canada in accordance with the PREVIOUS Immigration Act, 1976 and Immigration Regulations, 1978, whereby a pass mark of only 70 points must be met based on the selection criteria set out in the graph in Paragraph B(a), above.

If you do not qualify under the Immigration Act, 1976 and Immigration Regulations, 1978, you will also be assessed by Citizenship and Immigration Canada in accordance with the selection criteria and new pass mark under IRPA and the Immigration Regulations, 2002 and, if the assessment is favourable (i.e. you meet or surpass the new pass mark of 67 points), your Application for Permanent Residence in Canada will be approved in principle.

(c) Individual applied for Permanent Residence in Canada after January 1, 2002 but has not yet received a selection decision from Citizenship and Immigration Canada OR individual has not yet applied for Permanent Residence in Canada

If you are a client of Canadain Immigration Group and your Application for Permanent Residence in Canada was filed AFTER January 1, 2002 but no selection decision has yet been rendered in your case by Citizenship and Immigration Canada OR you have not yet applied for Permanent Residence in Canada, you will be assessed by Citizenship and Immigration Canada under the CURRENT IRPA and Immigration Regulations, 2002 selection criteria ONLY and you will be required to meet a pass mark of only 67 points and NOT 75 points based on the selection criteria that exist under the current legislation:

(d) Individual applied for Permanent Residence in Canada on or after January 1, 2002 and before June 28, 2002 and was refused by Citizenship and Immigration Canada

If you are a client/former client of Canadain Immigration Group and your Application for Permanent Residence in Canada was filed ON OR AFTER January 1, 2002 but BEFORE June 28, 2002 and was subsequently assessed and refused by Citizenship and Immigration Canada in accordance with IRPA, the Immigration Regulations, 2002 and the pass mark of 75 points, it would appear as though you have the right to have your case reassessed by Citizenship and Immigration Canada in accordance with the IRPA and the Immigration Regulations, 2002; however, a pass mark of only 67 points need be met.