Message from our President

As someone who was born and raised in Canada, one of the things I am most proud of is the welcoming attitude of Canadians towards newcomers and the beautiful mosaic that is our country. I love the positive reinforcement our Solutions team regularly receives from our clients, expressing gratitude for Canada's acceptance of their application for permanent or temporary residence. Each email, photograph, card and review fuels our passion for the work we do.

Solutions has grown substantially since I joined my father in 2006, and I am very proud of our team of 20 consultants, caseworkers and agents who come from all over the world. We feel so lucky to have a job that helps so many families and individuals realize their dreams in Canada. I look forward to welcoming more of our clients to our beautiful country in the near future!

Cari Gombinsky

Immigration and the 2019 Federal Election 

Immigration was a central issue in the October 21, 2019 federal election. Campaigning kicked off with the People’s Party of Canada highlighting immigration as a cornerstone of their proposed policies. Their controversial platform called for reducing the number of new permanent residents in Canada from over 300,000 to less than half the number. In particular, they campaigned on limiting the number of immigrants accepted under the family reunification program, including abolishing the sponsorship of parents and grandparents. They also advocated for limiting the number of resettled refugees and temporary foreign workers in Canada.

Well. the results on election night clearly represent a massive rejection of this anti-immigration rhetoric and reflect the attitude of Canadians towards this important issue. The Liberal party was re-elected for a second term, albeit with a weaker mandate. As a minority government, the Liberals will likely be working with the pro-immigration New Democratic Party to govern Canada moving forward. The People’s Party of Canada's anti-immigration message was roundly rebuked as the party failed to elect a single Member of Parliament and received less than two percent of the votes. The Canadian people have spoken loudly and clearly.

A look at the Environics Institute’s survey on Canadian attitudes about immigration goes a long way to explaining the election results. Approximately two thirds of respondents rejected the idea that there was too much immigration in Canada. According to Keith Neuman, Senior Associate at the Institute, “..general public sentiments about immigrants and refugees have remained remarkably stable, if not improving, over the last couple of years despite events happening in Canada and outside that lead many people to think that sentiments are declining”.  

My Recent Visit to South Africa!

On November 5th, I returned from a wonderful trip to South Africa during which I met with individuals and families who are looking for new opportunities in Canada.  I enjoyed every minute of my time with the many wonderful people whose dreams for the future include making Canada their new home. We look forward to helping them reach their goals. 

While my schedule was filled with meetings and my spare time was extremely limited, I very much appreciated the warmth and spirit of the South African people. Fortunately I was able to squeeze in a tour of Johannesburg and Soweto which was both interesting and enjoyable. My trip was a great success, from a professional and personal point of view, and I am looking forward to a return visit - this time with my wife - sometime in the future. 

Steven Tratner, Manager of Immigration Services

Post-Graduation Work Permit Rules

A Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) is often an important first step towards permanent residency in Canada. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada statistics show that more than 570,000 people held valid permits to study in Canada at the end of 2018, and more than 130,000 people held a valid Post-Graduation Work Permit.

A number of significant changes to the rules for PGWPs were introduced earlier this year. While changes such as these often don't receive a lot of fanfare, they highlight a critical benefit of working with a licensed immigration consultant - knowing that your advisor is up-to-date on all of the current programs available.

Changes to the rules governing PGWPs, effective February 16, 2019:

- Deadline to apply for a PGWP following completion of studies increased from 90 days to 180 days

-  The new requirement to actively pursue their studies allows students to take time off from their schooling as long as they obtain approval from their Designated Learning Institute and return to class within 150 days

- A valid study permit is not required at the time of the PGWP application; a study permit only needs to have been valid “at some point” during the 180 days that graduates from an eligible program have to submit their application

The changes to the PGWP program have made a world of difference to students who wish to stay and gain valuable Canadian work experience following their graduation.

If you have any questions regarding this or any other program, please don't hesitate to contact us by phone or at inquiries@immsol.com

Economic Benefits of Immigration

The following infographic, published by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada paints a vivid portrait of the benefits of immigration to Canada.