Immigration from Around the World
Not all immigrants came to Canada from Europe. Blacks came from Africa as slaves in the 18th and 19th centuries. When slavery ended in Canada, Blacks came here to escape from slavery in the United States.
Asians also immigrated to Canada. Many of the Chinese and Japanese immigrants settled in British Columbia and other parts of western Canada.
After both World Wars, people came as refugees from Europe. More immigrants also came to Canada from Africa, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific Rim. All of these newcomers helped to build Canada's peacetime economy.
Canada's experience during and after World War II raised awareness of the needs of refugees and the need of families to be together. All of this has been reflected in Canada's immigration policies. Many people fleeing civil war, political unrest and natural disasters have come to Canada.
Today, Canada is home to immigrants from every part of the world. People from more than 200 different countries came to Canada. The majority were Asians, Africans, South Americans and Central Americans. One out of every four people in Canada comes from an ethnic background other than English or French.
Serving the Interests of Canadians
Enhancing Canadian Citizenship: New procedures have improved the processing time for routine citizenship applications. Written tests were administered to standardize the assessment of applicants language ability and knowledge of Canada. This has also reduced service delivery times. Building on a new emphasis on community involvement, citizenship ceremonies are increasingly being moved from citizenship courts into communities.
Canadian Language Benchmarks: A national set of standards for describing an immigrant's language learning level were developed in partnership with provincial governments, English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers and administrators, immigrant serving agencies, and ESL learners.
Selection criteria for skilled workers emphasize education, official language ability and labor market adaptability. Redesign of the Business Immigration Program has concentrated on enhancing economic benefit, and minimizing abuse.
Citizenship -- Becoming a Canadian
Once you have been in Canada for at least three years, you may wish to become a Canadian citizen. Canadian citizenship allows you to participate in all aspects of life in Canada. As a Canadian citizen you may:
- vote and run for political office in federal and some provincial elections;
- travel outside Canada on a Canadian passport;
- enjoy full economic rights;
- and be eligible for some pension benefits.
Requirements and Prohibitions
You should check the laws of your former country before you study to become a Canadian citizen. If your former country does not recognize dual citizenship, you could be detained if you return to visit. In some cases this could mean staying to complete compulsory military service. Your Canadian citizenship may not be able to protect you if your country has legal claims on you.
To become a Canadian citizen, you must:
- speak and understand either English or French;
- be 18 years old or older to apply on your own behalf;
- be a permanent resident;
- have knowledge of Canada, including its history and geography;
- have resided in Canada for a total of three of the four years preceding your application;
- understand your rights and responsibilities as a Canadian citizen; and
- take an oath (or affirmation) of citizenship.
A Citizenship Judge will determine whether you meet these requirements.
You cannot become a Canadian citizen if you:
- are considered a risk to Canada's security;
- are under a deportation order;
- are in prison, on parole from prison or on probation; or
- have been found guilty of a serious crime within the past three years.
You do not need a lawyer to help you become a Canadian citizen.
Content on this page is from http://immigration-service.com/
Please follow this link for more detailed information on any required topic related to Immigrating to Canada.
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