From today (September 08, 2009), Citizenship and Immigration Canada accepts payment of processing fees for the Federal Skilled Worker applications by major credit cards: Visa, MasterCard, American Express.

This long awaited option makes paying fees easier for most applicants, since credit cards are more common and much more convenient than the payment instruments accepted before (bank drafts, certified cheques, money orders).

Now every application under the Federal Skilled Worker immigration class must be submitted with one more form, namely the IMM 5620 Fee Payment Form. This form is required regardless of the payment method being used.

The Canadian government continuously implements various programs for Canadians and permanent residents to update or acquire new skills and, therefore, remain gainfully employed.

There is more good news for those who are willing to successfully adapt to the current downturn labour market conditions. Previously, under the auspices of the Human Resources and Social Development Canada eligible unemployed workers who required skills training to secure employment was given an opportunity to apply for Skills Development Program that provided financial assistance (including living expenses, childcare, tuition, books, disability needs, transportation and accommodation) to obtain the skills they needed to obtain new employment. With all its great advantages, the program has had a drawback as participants were normally required to make a partial financial contribution towards the cost of their training.

In the summer of 2008 the Ontario government launched a provincially-funded program called Second Career Program to help laid-off Ontarians identify and train for new careers in growing sectors.

These new enhancements allow more laid-off workers to participate and take advantage of the training opportunities available, and build new skills for the careers of the future.

The enhancements to Second Career are about ensuring more Ontarians have the opportunities and skills for success, so that they are working in well-paying jobs in a period of economic uncertainty,

announced John Milloy, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities.

Our government will continue to invest in skills and knowledge and to support Ontario families through a time of economic change.

In a nutshell, Second Career provides career planning and financial support specially designed to help laid-off Ontarians participate in long-term training for a new job. Second Career covers the costs of tuition and living expenses up to a total of $28,000 per person. The Second Career Strategy is part of the government’s three-year, $1.5 billion Skills to Jobs Action Plan announced in March 2008. Investing in skills training is a key part of the government's strategic planning of an economic stimulus that is helping Canadian families and businesses deal with the challenges of today's economy.

Russian citizen Mikhail Lennikov is being deported due to his past involvement with the KGB.

He was found to be inadmissible to Canada due to security reasons, namely his membership in a group that had engaged in acts of espionage or subversion against a democratic government. It appears that he was not a mere functionary within the organization as he was assessing informants, and collected intelligence information and was involved in counterintelligence. He made a career and over the years progressed from a rank of Lieutenant to that of Captain.

Lennikov applied for the permanent residence in Canada in 1999 and the Federal Court as a last resort has upheld Citizenship and Immigration position and agreed with the validity of the deportation order. In such cases, there must have been a remedy available to the mishap Russian, namely a request for ministerial relief in the circumstances when the Canadian government is satisfied that a person's presence in Canada would not be detrimental to the national interest. If such a relief is granted, the person is no longer inadmissible based on the above-mentioned ground of inadmissibility.

As of today, Mr. Lennikov’s deportation order has not been enforced as he found the refuge in a Vancouver church and intends to stay there until he is no longer under a threat of deportation.

There is an exciting opportunity for those who are currently working in the US to apply for a fast-track immigration to Canada via the Alberta Provincial Nominee Program.

The eligibility requirements are the following: a candidate must have been working in the United States for a minimum of 1 year and possessed the valid visa (H1-B, H1-B1, H-1C, E-3) at the moment of applying for a provincial certificate up to the moment of issuance of the same; the work experience must have been acquired in one of the eligible occupations.

If a candidate complies with the requirements, he becomes a Provincial Nominee. Then his application is to be processed by the federal government and, having passed health and security checks, an applicant shall be granted a permanent resident status.