He’s not just an Immigration Professional but he’s an avid Golfer with an almost perfect swing.CEO’s Weekend
The World’s Friendliest Countries
By Beth Greenfield of Forbes.com
They say you can never go home again–and you may not want to after relocating to Canada, Bermuda or South Africa.
These are the countries where it’s easiest to befriend locals, learn the language, fit into the new culture and integrate into the community, according to respondents to HSBC Bank International’s Expat Explorer survey, the results of which were released late last month.
Canada was most welcoming for the second year in a row; more than half of survey-takers there said they’d made friends with locals. In Bermuda 57% have had the pleasure, and the same for South Africa.
To determine the world’s friendliest countries, Forbes looked at the results of HSBC Bank International’s Expat Explorer survey in four categories: ability to befriend locals, success in learning the local language, capacity for integrating themselves into the community, and ease in which they fit into the new culture.
1. Canada
Expats based here typically integrate well within local society, according to the HSCB survey, with 45% claiming they go out with local friends as much as fellow expats–the highest score of all 25 countries.
2. Bermuda
Those who have relocated to Britain’s oldest colony (and beach paradise) report relative ease with local language and cultures.
A culturally diverse nation, this host country proved to be well equipped for welcoming all sorts of foreigners.
4. The U.S.
The results of the survey suggest that ease of learning the local language and adapting to the local culture are areas in which the U.S. fares well in as an expat destination–despite low scores in organizing finances and health care.
5. Australia
One of the main advantages of becoming an expat Down Under, according to the survey, is the ease of setting up in the country.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has published the following Operational Bulletins:
Operational Bulletin 287 –Processing of Work Permit Applications for Temporary Foreign Workers in Quebec
Operational Bulletin 295 –Change in Procedures for Processing Quebec Family Class Applications
Operational Bulletin 296 –Operational instructions related to the participation of members of the Canadian Forces and veterans at citizenship ceremonies
Operational Bulletin 301 –Business Class Applicants: Proof of Language Proficiency
Check out this cool video shot at night in Vancouver…..it is entitled Ode to Vancouver and was used as the opening for a CBC broadcast that was on location for 3 days in Vancouver. It’s short but definitely has the feel of night time in downtown Vancouver.
Please click on the You Tube link and let us know what you think
Dear readers,
After having a productive trip to Monterrey, I am getting excited about offering our professional immigration services to the new Mexican market. In the meantime, I would like to introduce new case approval during my absence, and it is my great pleasure to share my clients’ new case approvals on my blog.
First of all, Rosy, congratulations on your work permit approval at the port of entry. I know it was not easy but we got the approval! Now, please enjoy Vancouver as a resident, you are no longer a visitor in Canada.
My favorite neighbor, Naoko, congratulation on your PR approval! (I got your immigration visa stamped passport on my desk, so I will see you today at 11 am.) Now, you can land as a permanent resident. I know you had to go through very difficult procedures, but finally I proved that my advise was the correct path to follow. Remember, your work permit expired as of yesterday, so you’d better change your illegal status to a permanent resident status immediately.
As for Labor Market Opinion approvals, LMO applications for Ms. Yang and Ms. Choi were approved this morning. I know both of you are currently under the “Implied Status”, but your work permit will be approved very soon since we got the LMO confirmations. I had to deal with Service Canada officer during my stay in Monterrey, so those approvals are very special to me since I remotely managed those cases.
My golf teacher, JW, your “Spouse Sponsorship” has been finally approved. Before I left for Monterrey, I notified you that we got the initial approval, so you could apply for an open work permit while waiting for the PR visa, but after I return, now I have the final approval for you, so you do not need to apply the open work permit since you will get a PR visa on your stamp shortly.
Ms. SJ Kim and Mr. HI Kim, thank you for your updates on your receipt of your immigration visa stamped passports from the Seattle Visa Office. Ms. Soo, you had to go through a longer processing time than other clients, but I appreciate your patient and your continuous referrals.
Lastly, all my pending clients, your flowers will be blooming soon, so please let me know if you have any questions….
Daniel Won, Columnist
Immigration Practitioner
Professor of Immigration Law
