LEPROSY IN INDIA

LEPROSY - INDIA (05): (ANDHRA PRADESH) INCREASED INCIDENCE ********************************************************** A ProMED-mail post ProMED-mail is a program of the International Society for Infectious Diseases Date: Sat 21 Dec 2013 Source: The Times of India Times News Network (TNN) [edited] Leprosy is increasing alarmingly in Andhra Pradesh with the government doing little to check the bacterial infection from spreading, experts said as a staggering 8285 cases were reported in the state during 2012-13. As many as 239 new cases were detected in Hyderabad in the same period. Health department officials said Andhra Pradesh now figures among the top 12 states with the highest caseloads of leprosy in the country. The proportion of new paediatric cases in the state was also among the highest in the country, experts said. Data from the National Leprosy Eradication Programme shows that out of the total new cases, a substantial 911 cases (11.34 per cent) are of children, officials said. Experts said the numbers have gone up particularly in the last 2 years. During 2011-12, 7820 cases were detected, they pointed out and attributed the situation to the state government's apathy towards the health issue, so much so that it is now regaining ground. "We could not identify these cases well in time," said Dr Michael Sukumar, a WHO consultant who is working with the state leprosy cell [in Hyderabad], underscoring a situation when agencies are sometimes helpless when local governments fail to read health warnings.

INDIA :Supreme Court declares HOMOSEXUALITY ILLEGAL.

With 1.2-Billion expect increase in Refugee applications based recent Legal ruling.

CANADA 2014 IMMIGRATION PLAN

Canada's 2014 immigration plan to 'drive economic growth' Canada has announced its immigration plan for 2014. Total immigration will remain between 240 and 265,000. Of these, 63% will be economic migrants. 68,000 will be in the family stream and 28,400 will be humanitarian entrants. Two visa programmes will be significantly expanded; the Canadian Experience Class and the Provincial Nominee Program. The Canadian Experience class enables people who have completed a year’s skilled worked in Canada to apply for a Canadian permanent resident visa. 15,000 CEC visas will be issued in 2014. The Provincial Nominee Program will also be expanded. This program allows Canadian provinces and territories to nominate immigration candidates for permanent residence. 44,000 to 47,000 permanent resident visas will be issued under the PNP in 2014, up from 41,000 in 2012. Many provinces are seeking graduates. Skilled workers and tradespeople with valid Canadian trades certificates are also much in demand.

ProMed:MYCO.LEPRAE in soil

Infect Genet Evol. 2012 Jan;12(1):121-6. doi: 10.1016/j.meegid.2011.10.023. Epub 2011 Nov 11. Dynamics of Mycobacterium leprae transmission in environmental context: deciphering the role of environment as a potential reservoir. Turankar RP, Lavania M, Singh M, Siva Sai KS, Jadhav RS. Source Stanley Browne Laboratory, TLM Community Hospital, Nand Nagari, Delhi 110093, India. Abstract Leprosy is a disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. Various modes of transmission have been suggested for this disease. Transmission and risk of the infection is perhaps related to presence of the infectious cases and is controlled by environmental factors. Evidence suggests that humidity may favor survival of M. leprae in the environment. Several reports show that non-human sources like 'naturally' infected armadillos or monkeys could act as reservoir for M. leprae. Inanimate objects or fomites like articles used by infectious patients may theoretically spread infection. However, it is only through detailed knowledge of the biodiversity and ecology that the importance of this mode of transmission can be fully assessed. Our study focuses here to decipher the role of environment in the transmission of the disease. Two hundred and seven soil samples were collected from a village in endemic area where active cases also resided at the time of sample collection. Slit skin smears were collected from 13 multibacillary (MB) leprosy patients and 12 household contacts of the patients suspected to be hidden cases. DNA and RNA of M. leprae were extracted and amplified using M. leprae specific primers. Seventy-one soil samples showed presence of M. leprae DNA whereas 16S rRNA could be detected in twenty-eight of these samples. Samples, both from the environment and the patients, exhibited the same genotype when tested by single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) typing. Genotype of M. leprae found in the soil and the patients residing in the same area could help in understanding the transmission link in leprosy. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

FEDERAL COURT DECISIONS

Garcia Arreaga c. Canada (Citoyenneté et Immigration) - 2013 CF 977 - 2013-09-25 [ Français ] Sandoval Aramburo c. Canada (Citoyenneté et Immigration) - 2013 CF 984 - 2013-09-26 [ Français ] Singh v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration) - 2013 FC 988 - 2013-09-26 Rangel Gomez v. Canada (Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness) - 2013 FC 1008 - 2013-10-02 Rezmuves v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration) - 2013 FC 973 - 2013-09-23

FEDERAL COURT DECISIONS

Case name Ganeshan v. Canada (Citoyenneté et Immigration) Date 2013-08-01 Neutral citation 2013 FC 841 File numbers IMM-6624-12

FEDERAL COURT DECISIONS

Case name Balasubramaniam v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration) Date 2013-06-21 Neutral citation 2013 FC 698 File numbers IMM-4243-12

FEDERAL COURT DECISIONS

Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration) - 2011 FC 1435 - 2011-12-08 Begum v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration) - 2013 FC 824 - 2013-07-29 Eshraghian v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration) - 2013 FC 828 - 2013-07-29 Samiullah v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration) - 2013 FC 836 - 2013-07-31 Grinbergs v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration)

MONTREAL ATTORNEY DAVID COHEN

CANADA IMMIGRATION NEWSLETTER Volume 17, No. 09, September 2013 1. Quebec Immigration Regulations Challenged in Court On August 1, 2013 new immigration regulations came into effect, which significantly changed the selection criteria under the Quebec Skilled Worker program. Not only did the changes apply to applications submitted after August 1st but also to be the vast majority of files submitted prior to that date. Tens of thousands of applicants will be affected. Many of them have waited patiently in line for a number of years and many of them will no longer qualify. To make matters worse, most of them will not be refunded their Quebec government processing fees. Read full story 2. Changes to Alberta Programs Create Greater Opportunities for Applicants On Friday, September 13th, the Province of Alberta announced a number of changes to its Provincial Nominee Program. These changes will help make immigration to the province more accessible for many prospective applicants. Read full story 3. Biometric Requirements for Certain Nationalities Now in Force The Canadian Government now requires biometric data from certain visitors, students, and temporary workers. This requirement, originally announced in the Budget plan for 2008, began its first phase on September 5th, 2013. Read full story 4. Working While Studying in Canada: Options for Students There are a number of possible options for international students to work while pursuing their programs of study in Canada. Depending on a student's situation, s/he may be eligible to work on-campus, off-campus, or as part of an internship or co-op program. Read full story

FEDERAL COURT DECISIONS

Spencer v. Canada (Attorney General) - 2008 FC 1395 - 2008-12-18 Alleyne v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration) - 2009 FC 96 - 2009-02-03 Samad v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration) - 2011 FC 324 - 2011-03-17 Trainor v. Canada (Attorney General) - 2011 FC 484 - 2011-04-20 Diabate v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration) - 2013 FC 129 - 2013-02-06 Canada (Attorney General) v. Cruden - 2013 FC 520 - 2013-05-21 Nimako v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration) - 2013 FC 540 - 2013-05-24 S. C. v Canada (Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness) - 2013 FC 491 - 2013-06-04 Gordon v. Canada - 2013 FC 597 - 2013-06-04 Nagy v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration) - 2013 FC 640 - 2013-06-11 Zero Spill Systems (Int’l) Inc. v. 614248 Alberta Ltd. (Lea-Der Coatings) - 2013 FC 616 - 2013-07-18 Clover International Properties (L) Ltd. v. Canada (Attorney General) - 2013 FC 676 - 2013-06-18 Uribe Meneses v. Canada (Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness) - 2013 FC 713 - 2013-06-26 Gharialia v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration) - 2013 FC 745 - 2013-07-03 Mikhail v. Canada (Attorney General) - 2013 FC 724 - 2013-06-28 Xi v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration) - 2013 FC 796 - 2013-07-18 Bela v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration) - 2013 FC 784 - 2013-07-12 Carrera v. Canada (Public Safety) - 2013 FC 798 - 2013-07-18 Pararasasingam v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration) - 2013 FC 805 - 2013-07-22 Ganeshan v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration) - 2013 FC 841 - 2013-08-01 Gil Aguilar v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration) - 2013 FC 843 - 2013-08-01 Drobina v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration) - 2013 FC 837 - 2013-07-31 Mbaioremem v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration) - 2013 FC 791 - 2013-07-15 Campos v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration) - 2013 FC 882 - 2013-08-19 River Road Hutterian Berthren v. Canada (Agriculture) - 2013 FC 857 - 2013-08-12 Mah v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration) - 2013 FC 853 - 2013-08-09 Fischer v. Canada (Attorney General) - 2013 FC 861 - 2013-08-12 Lakeland Bank v. The Ship "Never E Nuff" - 2013 FC 864 - 2013-08-12 Khan v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration) - 2013 FC 891 - 2013-08-22 Mollajafari v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration) - 2013 FC 906 - 2013-08-27 Jerome v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration) - 2013 FC 893 - 2013-08-22 Riczu v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration) - 2013 FC 888 - 2013-08-21 Liu v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration) - 2013 FC 917 - 2013-08-29 Luanje v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration) - 2013 FC 792 - 2013-07-16 Michelin v. Caw - 1996-12-19 Gebre v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration) - 2013 FC 672 - 2013-06-18 Xuan v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration) - 2013 FC 673 - 2013-06-18 Alade v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration) - 2013 FC 845 - 2013-08-01 Zahedi v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration) - 2013 FC 931 - 2013-09-03 Balakrishnan v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration) - 2013 FC 944 - 2013-09-12 Murillo Taborda v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration) - 2013 FC 957 - 2013-09-17 Nashed v. Balakrishnan - 2013 FC 943 - 2013-09-10 ABB Technology AG v. Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. - 2013 FC 947 - 2013-09-11 Diallo c. Canada (Citoyenneté et Immigration) - 2013 CF 959 - 2013-09-17 [ Français ] Magan v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration) - 2013 FC 960 - 2013-09-18 Khan v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration) - 2013 FC 633 - 2013-06-13 Varco Canada Limited v. Pason Systems Corp. - 2013 FC 750 - 2013-08-12 Kambiri v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration) - 2013 FC 930 - 2013-09-04 Liu v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration) - 2013 FC 914 - 2013-08-29 Pinto v. Bronfman Jewish Education Centre - 2013 FC 945 - 2013-09-11 The Carbon Trust v. Pacific Carbon Trust - 2013 FC 946 - 2013-09-11 Morin c. Canada - 2013 CF 670 - 2013-06-18 [ Français ] Hall v. Canada (Attorney General) - 2013 FC 933 - 2013-09-04 Sotomayor v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration) - 2013 FC 962 - 2013-09-18 Domaines Pinnacle Inc. v. Beam Inc. - 2013 FC 831 - 2013-07-30 Chieu v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration) - 1996-12-18 Ward v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration) - 1996-12-19 Canada (Attorney General) v. Krever - 1996-12-18 De Leon v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration) - 1996-12-16

FEDERAL COURT DECISIONS

Pulido Barron c. Canada (Citoyenneté et Immigration) - 2013 CF 867 - 2013-08-15 [ Français ] Palmerino c. Canada (Revenu national) - 2013 CF 919 - 2013-08-30 [ Français ] Guerrier v. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) - 2013 FC 937 - 2013-09-06 Flores Et Al v. Canada (The Minister Of Citizenship And Immigration) - 2013 FC 938 - 2013-09-06 Sandra Mcewing Et Al v. Canada ( The Attorney General Of Canada) - 2013 FC 953 - 2013-09-16 Alexander v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration) - 2013 FC 844 - 2013-08-01 Connelly c. Société de communication Atikameckw-Montagnais - 2013 CF 909 - 2013-08-28 [ Français ] Latifi v. Canada (Attorney General) - 2013 FC 939 - 2013-09-06 Lapostolle c. Canada (Procureur général) - 2013 CF 895 - 2013-08-20 [ Français ] Radonjic v .Canada Revenue Agency - 2013 FC 916 - 2013-08-29 Sylvester v. Canada ( Attorney General) - 2013 FC 904 - 2013-08-27 Martinez Gonzalez v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration) - 2013 FC 898 - 2013-08-23 Rahman v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration) - 2013 FC 877 - 2013-08-16 Johnson v. Warkworth Institution Disciplinary Court (Independent Chairperson) - 2013 FC 905 - 2013-08-27 Gvozdenovic v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration) - 2013 FC 851 - 2013-08-09 Dayebga v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration) - 2013 FC 842 - 2013-08-01 Henguva v. Canada (The Minister Of Citizenship And Immigration) - 2013 FC 912 - 2013-08-28 Wu v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration) - 2013 FC 838 - 2013-07-31 Palogan v. Canada (The Minister Of Citizenship And Immigration) - 2013 FC 889 - 2013-08-21

BRAZIL: LEPROSY - 30,000 NEW CASES YEARLY

PRO/EDR> Leprosy - Brazil: thalidomide use, birth defects Inbox x promed@promedmail.org 02:39 (11 hours ago) to promed, promed-edr LEPROSY - BRAZIL: THALIDOMIDE USE, BIRTH DEFECTS ************************************************ A ProMED-mail post ProMED-mail is a program of the International Society for Infectious Diseases Date: Tue 23 Jul 2013 Source: BBC News Magazine [edited] A new scientific study seen exclusively by the BBC indicates that the drug thalidomide is still causing birth defects in Brazil today. It's been given to people suffering from leprosy to ease some of their symptoms, and some women have taken it unaware of the risks they run when pregnant. Thalidomide was 1st marketed in the late 1950s as a sedative. It was given to pregnant women to help them overcome morning sickness, but it damaged babies in the womb, restricting the growth of arms and legs. About 10 000 thalidomide babies were born worldwide until the drug was withdrawn in the early 1960s. In most countries the thalidomide children became thalidomide adults, now in their 50s, and there were no more thalidomide babies. But in Brazil the drug was re-licensed in 1965 as a treatment for skin lesions, one of the complications of leprosy. Leprosy is more prevalent in Brazil than in any other country except India. More than 30 000 new cases are diagnosed each year -- and millions of thalidomide pills are distributed. Researchers now say 100 Brazilian children have injuries exactly like those caused by thalidomide. "A tragedy is occurring in Brazil... it is a syndrome which is completely avoidable," says Dr Lavinia Schuler-Faccini, a professor at the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. But campaigners, doctors and leprosy sufferers say the drug is vital. They believe the benefits outweigh the risks. Schuler-Faccini and other researchers from the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul in Porto Alegre looked at the birth records of 17.5 million babies born between 2005 and 2010. "We looked at all children with limb defects and those with the characteristic defects of thalidomide," Schuler-Faccini says. We compared the distribution of thalidomide tablets with the number of limb defects and there was a direct correlation. The bigger the amount of pills in each state the higher the number of limb defects." In the same 2005-2010 period, 5.8 million thalidomide pills were distributed across Brazil. "We had about 100 cases in these 6 years similar to thalidomide syndrome," says another of the research team, Dr Fernanda Vianna. "We couldn't evaluate each case, we cannot say that all are cases of thalidomide syndrome, but this type of defect is very rare." Poor health education and widespread sharing of medicines may [also] be to blame, she says. "[A patient] said that the doctor didn't tell him that women couldn't take it. He said they didn't tell him anything about it." There are strict regulations around the drug. It can only be prescribed to a woman who is taking 2 forms of birth control and agrees to regular pregnancy tests. There are clear warnings on the packets and there is a picture of a child damaged by thalidomide. But leprosy is a disease of the poor, in areas where health care is patchy and education is inadequate. The Amazon region, where access to the health system can be difficult, is particularly hard hit. And plenty of people in Brazil argue that thalidomide should continue to be used. "Nowadays there is a myth about thalidomide," says Mariana Jankunas, production coordinator at FUNED, a state-owned manufacturer of the drug. "I think with information and publicity about the benefits that thalidomide brings to patients, this myth can be overcome, because the benefits outweigh the risks." Doctors who prescribe the drug agree. "It is the best drug," says Dr Francisco Reis, from the Leprosy Clinic at Curupaiti Hospital near Rio de Janiero. When I tell him that many people may be shocked to hear thalidomide is still being used he responds: "You have the ghosts of thalidomide in the 50s, but you should forget those ghosts." He introduces us to one of his patients, Tainah, who shows us how the medicine has reduced the debilitating lesions on her arms. "I know that I need the medicine," she tells us. She says she understands that if she doesn't take contraceptive pills she could get pregnant and give birth to a disabled child. Brazil is a country of enormous inequalities where 20 per cent of the population live below the poverty line. Overcrowded housing and poor health systems are common to both rural areas and the slums of the cities -- places where leprosy thrives. Where the disease is most common, thalidomide will continue to be prescribed and the risk of babies being born terribly injured will remain. Artur Custodio from Morhan, the national leprosy campaign group, recognises that the medicine is dangerous, but says it is cars that cause most injuries and disabilities in Brazil. "We don't talk about banning cars, we say we should teach people how to drive responsibly," he says. "It's the same thing for thalidomide." [byline: Angus Crawford] -- communicated by: ProMED-mail [Erythema nodosum (EN) is an inflammatory immunologic reaction in the subcutaneous fat to a variety of stimuli that results in tender, red subcutaneous nodules. EN is most common on both shins, but it may also occur on other areas of the body (buttocks, calves, ankles, thighs, and arms). Conditions associated with EN include streptococcal infection, tuberculosis, sarcoidosis, histoplasmosis, coccidioidomycosis, ulcerative colitis, Behcet's disease, or drug reactions; as well as Hodgkin lymphoma, renal cell carcinoma and carcinomas of colon, pancreas and uterine cervix. EN also occurs as an immune response to the antigens of _Mycobacterium leprae_, the organism that causes leprosy and is called erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL). ENL occurs most often in patients with lepromatous leprosy, and occasionally in borderline-lepromatous leprosy. It occurs during the course of treatment, and also occurs in untreated cases (). ENL presents with sudden appearance of tender, red nodules that are often accompanied by fever; pain; general malaise; muscle, bone and joint pain; and may involve other organs, including the eyes, nerves, lymph nodes, testes, kidneys, liver, and spleen. Mild ENL may last for about 2 weeks and be followed by a reaction-free period of a month or 2; severe ENL may persist for years. Thalidomide has been considered the treatment of choice for ENL, except in premenopausal women (), because use of the drug in pregnancy is associated with severe birth defects -- for example, missing or abnormal legs, arms, feet and hands; spinal cord defects; cleft lip or palate; absent or abnormal external ears; heart, kidney, and genital abnormalities; and abnormal formation of the digestive system. However, because of poor understanding of the risks involved by patients and perhaps health care workers, and widespread sharing of medicines, a resurgence of thalidomide-damaged babies is occurring in Brazil, as detailed in the news report above. There are several other treatments for ENL, including the oral drugs prednisolone and clofazimine. However, a Cochrane Review of 13 randomized controlled trials that involved 445 participants and assessed betamethasone (1 trial), thalidomide (5 trials), pentoxifylline (1 trial), clofazimine (3 trials), indomethacin (2 trials), and levamisole (1 trial) found these trials were too small and poorly performed to identify important clinical differences (). The World Health Organization (WHO) has published a statement on the use of thalidomide in leprosy (): "Several controlled studies done in the 1970s have demonstrated that prednisolone is more effective in controlling ENL and associated neuritis. In addition, it was demonstrated that clofazimine, an anti-leprosy drug introduced on a small scale in the early 1960s, had anti-inflammatory action. Studies showed that clofazimine is the drug of choice for the management of chronic, recurrent ENL reactions, as it had both anti-reaction and anti-leprosy effects. "The drug clofazimine is now a component of the multidrug therapy (MDT), introduced by WHO in 1981 as the standard treatment for leprosy and now supplied free of charge to all patients worldwide. The presence of clofazimine in the combination has significantly reduced the frequency and severity of ENL reactions. "Because of its known teratogenic [causing malformations of an embryo or fetus] effects, WHO does not recommend the use of thalidomide in leprosy. Experience has shown that it is virtually impossible to develop and implement a fool-proof surveillance mechanism to combat misuse of the drug. Today, a number of thalidomide babies continue to be born each year, reflecting regulatory insufficiency and widespread use under inadequate supervision." - Mod.ML

IMMIGRATION NEWSLETTER

Same day UK Visa application - Call us on 0344 991 9222 Comprehensive immigration reform in the US came a step closer on 28th June when the Senate passed a comprehensive immigration reform act. The Act still needs to be passed by the House of Representatives to become law. The Act would create a 'pathway to citizenship' allowing many of the US’s 11.5m illegal immigrants to become citizens. It would also greatly increase the number of H-1B temporary work visas available and allow many foreign graduates of US universities with advanced degrees to apply for US green cards. The House of Representatives will vote on the bill in July. It will need at least 60% support to become law. Even if all 201 Democrats support the bill to make up the 261 voltes needed at least 60 Republicans must also vote for the bill. Many Republicans oppose reform so this is not assured. The mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has said that illegal immigrants who have been in the UK for twelve years should be given citizenship. Speaking on a London radio station, Mr Johnson said that, in reality, people are never deported after being in the UK for twelve years anyway, so it would be better to allow them to work legally and pay taxes. Last week, a Conservative MP, Nadhim Zahawi, who came to the UK as an immigrant, made the same suggestion. The UK government plans to make people coming to the UK from outside Europe on work, student or family visas lasting over six months to pay a new annual ‘healthcare levy’ of about £200. People who come to the UK on visitor visas will not have to pay a levy but will be required to pay for their treatment if they are treated by the UK’s National Health Service. Although foreign nationals are already meant to pay for NHS treatment, this requirement is not always enforced. Mr Hunt said that he hopes the changes will help prevent ‘benefits tourism’. Dr Claire Gerada, chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners, said she feared the changes might contribute to the spread of tuberculosis and HIV. Do you need help with your visa application for Australia or Canada? We can help you. In Australia we can help with 189, 190 and 489 visa applications. In Canada we can help the Federal Skilled Worker visa and Federal Skilled Trades Program applications. In the US we can help with H-1B and L-1 visas. We can also help with UK Tier 1 and Tier 2 applications and with many other visas for countries around the world. We are registered with the immigration authorities worldwide and have 25 years of experience. Give us a call today. One of the UK's most senior civil servants has told a committee of MPs that immigration staff will be made redundant in 2015 because of budget cuts. Mark Sedwill, the permanent secretary to the Home Office, said that the Home Office budget would be cut by 7.7%. He said that he did not know how many staff would lose their jobs. The UK immigration authorities have come under much criticism recently for repeated failures to issue visas on time. They have also failed to deal with a backlog of over 300,000 asylum cases. It is likely that the cuts will have an impact on performance. The US Supreme Court recently ruled that Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) 1996 is unconstitutional. This will mean that same-sex spouses can now be sponsored for US family-based immigrant visas just like heterosexual spouses. DOMA was passed in 1996 with bipartisan support. Section 3 denied legal rights to same-sex spouses. On 26th June, the Supreme Court ruled that DOMA is unconstitutional. The Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano, has directed US immigration to change their procedures so same-sex couples can apply for family-based immigrant visas in the same way as heterosexuals.

START-UP BUSINESS CLASS

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April 2013

Citizenship and Immigration Canada Publishes Ministerial Instructions Establishing the Start-Up Business Class Henry J. Chang Introduction As previously reported, on January 24, 2013, the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism (the “Minister”) announced that Citizenship and Immigration Canada (“CIC”) would launch a Start-Up Visa Program to recruit innovative immigrant entrepreneurs who will create new jobs and spur economic growth.1 On March 30, 2013, CIC published Ministerial Instructions (the “Instructions”) in the Canada Gazette, which formally establish the new Start-Up Business Class.2 CIC also published Chapter 27 of the Overseas Processing Manual (“OP 27”), which provides further details regarding the processing of such applications.3 An overview of the Start-Up Business Class is provided below. Start-Up Business Class Defined Pursuant to Section 14.1 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (“IRPA”)4, the Instructions establish the Start-Up Business Class as a subgroup of the broader Economic Class described in Subsection 12(2) of IRPA. According to Subsection 2(2) of the Instructions, foreign nationals are members of the Start-Up Business Class if they: Have obtained a commitment from: One or more designated angel investor groups, confirming that they are collectively investing a total of at least $75,000CAD in a qualifying business; or One or more designated venture capital funds, confirming that they are collectively investing a total of at least $200,000CAD in a qualifying business; Have attained a level of proficiency of at least benchmark Level 5 in either English or French for the four language skill areas (reading, writing, listening, speaking), as set out in the Canadian Language Benchmarks and the Niveaux de Compétence linguistique canadiens, as demonstrated by the results of an evaluation conducted by an organization or institution designated by the Minister for the purpose of evaluating language proficiency under Subsection 74(3) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (“IRPR”)5; Have completed at least one year of post-secondary education during which the applicant was in good standing at the educational institution, whether or not the applicant obtained an educational credential; and Have in the form of transferable and available funds, unencumbered by debts or other obligations, an amount that is equal to one half of the amount identified (in the most recent edition of the publication concerning low income cut-offs published annually by Statistics Canada under the Statistics Act for urban areas of residence of 500,000 or more) as the minimum amount of before-tax annual income necessary to support the foreign national and his or her family members. According to Subsection 2(4) of the Instructions, no more than five foreign nationals may seek permanent residence as members of the Start-Up Business Class, pursuant to the same business venture. Read more › Read full newsletter online Read full newsletter as PDF Our Immigration Law Group As legal advisors to both corporate and individual clients, Blaney McMurtry's Immigration Law Group provides legal advice covering all aspects of inbound Canadian and United States immigration law; its members are licensed to practice law in both Canada and the United States. Further, as immigration law is under federal jurisdiction in both countries, we are capable of representing clients regardless of their intended destination. More > Forward to a Friend Know someone who might be interested in this newsletter? Forward to a Friend »     Newsletter Sign-Up Interested in another area of law? Stay informed by signing up for other Blaneys' newsletters. Newsletter Sign-Up »     Connect With Us  Facebook  Twitter  LinkedIn  Browse our RSS feeds

Blaneys on Immigration is a publication of the Immigration Law Group of Blaney McMurtry LLP.
Editor: Henry J. Chang

START-UP BUSINESS CLASS

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April 2013

Citizenship and Immigration Canada Publishes Ministerial Instructions Establishing the Start-Up Business Class Henry J. Chang Introduction As previously reported, on January 24, 2013, the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism (the “Minister”) announced that Citizenship and Immigration Canada (“CIC”) would launch a Start-Up Visa Program to recruit innovative immigrant entrepreneurs who will create new jobs and spur economic growth.1 On March 30, 2013, CIC published Ministerial Instructions (the “Instructions”) in the Canada Gazette, which formally establish the new Start-Up Business Class.2 CIC also published Chapter 27 of the Overseas Processing Manual (“OP 27”), which provides further details regarding the processing of such applications.3 An overview of the Start-Up Business Class is provided below. Start-Up Business Class Defined Pursuant to Section 14.1 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (“IRPA”)4, the Instructions establish the Start-Up Business Class as a subgroup of the broader Economic Class described in Subsection 12(2) of IRPA. According to Subsection 2(2) of the Instructions, foreign nationals are members of the Start-Up Business Class if they: Have obtained a commitment from: One or more designated angel investor groups, confirming that they are collectively investing a total of at least $75,000CAD in a qualifying business; or One or more designated venture capital funds, confirming that they are collectively investing a total of at least $200,000CAD in a qualifying business; Have attained a level of proficiency of at least benchmark Level 5 in either English or French for the four language skill areas (reading, writing, listening, speaking), as set out in the Canadian Language Benchmarks and the Niveaux de Compétence linguistique canadiens, as demonstrated by the results of an evaluation conducted by an organization or institution designated by the Minister for the purpose of evaluating language proficiency under Subsection 74(3) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (“IRPR”)5; Have completed at least one year of post-secondary education during which the applicant was in good standing at the educational institution, whether or not the applicant obtained an educational credential; and Have in the form of transferable and available funds, unencumbered by debts or other obligations, an amount that is equal to one half of the amount identified (in the most recent edition of the publication concerning low income cut-offs published annually by Statistics Canada under the Statistics Act for urban areas of residence of 500,000 or more) as the minimum amount of before-tax annual income necessary to support the foreign national and his or her family members. According to Subsection 2(4) of the Instructions, no more than five foreign nationals may seek permanent residence as members of the Start-Up Business Class, pursuant to the same business venture. Read more › Read full newsletter online Read full newsletter as PDF Our Immigration Law Group As legal advisors to both corporate and individual clients, Blaney McMurtry's Immigration Law Group provides legal advice covering all aspects of inbound Canadian and United States immigration law; its members are licensed to practice law in both Canada and the United States. Further, as immigration law is under federal jurisdiction in both countries, we are capable of representing clients regardless of their intended destination. More > Forward to a Friend Know someone who might be interested in this newsletter? Forward to a Friend »     Newsletter Sign-Up Interested in another area of law? Stay informed by signing up for other Blaneys' newsletters. Newsletter Sign-Up »     Connect With Us  Facebook  Twitter  LinkedIn  Browse our RSS feeds

Blaneys on Immigration is a publication of the Immigration Law Group of Blaney McMurtry LLP.
Editor: Henry J. Chang

MONTREAL: D.COHEN Esq. NEWSLETTER

Attorney David Cohen newsletter@canadavisa.com via netcommunity1.com	19:28 (17 hours ago)
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CIC NEWS CANADA IMMIGRATION NEWSLETTER

1. Canada Seeks to Attract Immigrant Entrepreneurs In today's globalized marketplace, one successful entrepreneur can revitalize the economy of an entire town, province, or even country. Whether large or small, entrepreneurs are an important key to the economic welfare of any community. Read full story 2. Canada's World-Class Settlement Services As many current and future immigrants know, receiving a Canadian Permanent Resident visa is only the first step in a long and transformative journey. Thankfully, the Canadian government, as well as many Canadians themselves, are well-prepared to help guide newcomers through every step of the settlement process. Read full story 3. Canada's Connect with Canadavisa on Social Media Did you know that you can connect with Canadavisa on different social media websites? As part of our ongoing efforts to better serve our friends and users around the world, Canadavisa and Attorney David Cohen have established a presence on a variety of domains. Find, "Like", and "Friend" us today! Read full story 4. Canadian Immigration News Briefs for Mid-April 2013 Controversy Stirs Over RBC Foreign Worker Hires New Immigrant Guide Released by Citizenship & Immigration Canada Entrepreneur Start-Up Visa Launched April 1st Read full story

UK IMMIGRATION GHETTOS

Government figures have revealed the cities and towns across the UK where thousands of migrants are making their home

from UK DAILY MAIL

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2303259/Migrant-map-UK-Zimbabweans-love-Leicester-people-China-set-home-Glasgow.html#ixzz2POjar9UU
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Immigration & Welfare State.

From UK DAILY MAIL

by Author David GOODHART.

The root problem with separatist multiculturalism is that minority Britons are encouraged to identify first as a member of that minority and only second, if at all, as a citizen. And this has made it harder for ordinary Britons to think of some minorities, and especially Muslims, as part of the same community as them, with common experiences and interests.
The problem with mass immigration is that, without integration, it damages the internal solidarity of a country such as ours. 
And if values and lifestyles become more diverse, it becomes more difficult to sustain the legitimacy of the welfare state.
Most of us are no longer asked to risk death for our country, but we are asked to pay around one third of our income into a common national pool and, in return, the state manages large bits of infrastructure for us — such as defence, transport, energy, public services, welfare and so on.
For this to work, the modern citizen is expected to conform to a thicket of rules and regulations. And in order to sustain this level of sharing and co-operation, we need at least some sense of ‘emotional citizenship’, the belief that, despite many different interests, we’re also part of the same team.
I fear that large-scale, poorly managed immigration is endangering this social contract. 
Britain is a welfare democracy. Existing citizens have rights of national ownership. Extending the idea of equal citizenship to millions of outsiders raises the problem of how to reconcile the special rights of existing citizens with those of new ones.
It is a problem we ignore at our peril.

• Adapted from The British Dream by David Goodhart, to be published by Atlantic Books on April 1, 2013 at £20. © David Goodhart. To order a copy for £14 (including p&p), call 0844 472 4157.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2297776/SATURDAY-ESSAY-Why-Left-epic-mistake-immigration.html#ixzz2OMB8nnmR
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Toronto CONNECT LEGAL Charity for Immigrant Small Business.

170 BLOOR ST. WEST at Avenue Road (in same building as PARK HYATT - BLOOR STREET ENTRANCE)

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for our Volunteer Lawyer Matching Program, (FIFTY FREE HOURS)you must:

• Be an immigrant who has been granted permission to remain in Canada;
• Have been in Canada for 10 years or less;
• Be operating or launching a viable business;
• Be unable to afford legal services as determined by our economic guidelines; and
• Complete an application and provide all required documentation.

Please click here to download an application form. You can submit the application form, with the supporting documents, to info@connectlegal.ca.

Note: Connect Legal reserves the right to determine which applicants it accepts. Factors considered include the viability of your business, your participation in a formal business program and/or the nature of the legal expertise required.

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Business Viability

Please be advised that we favour those applicants who are already enrolled in or completed formal business support programs. If you are not in such a program, you may still be eligible, but we will need to see indicators that your business is at a stage where a donation of volunteer lawyer services is warranted. Some of the things which we look for include the following:
1) Business is already up and running receiving revenue
2) Applicant has a highly developed business plan
3) Applicant has invested money in the business
4) Applicant has strong references from potential clients
5) Applicant has employees
6) Other factors
We are happy to discuss this with you in more detail over the phone before you fill out the application. Please contact us at info@connectlegal.ca or 416-964-3933.

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Economic Guidelines

To qualify for Connect Legal's pro bono legal assistance, your gross household annual income must not exceed the figures below depending on the size of your household:

Household Size	Maximum Annual Household Income (Gross)
1 person	$36,000 / year
2	$54,000 / year
3	$61,992 / year
4	$73,992 / year

If you have any question about the income guidelines, please contact us.

UK: KOSOVO PSYCHOPATHIC REFUGEE

From DAILY MAIL

Refugee poster boy unmasked as drugs gang boss behind plot to flood the country that gave him refuge with £1.2m of cocaine

• Arben Dumani was 10 when he escaped worn-torn Kosovo with his family
• He was interviewed by the media about starting a new life in Glasgow
• But 13 years on, it has emerged he is the boss of a drugs smuggling gang
• Dumani, now 23, was jailed for 12 years at the Glasgow High Court
• Gang members Albert Memia, Fabion Ponari, and Gjeorgj Pjetri, also jailed 

By Grant Mccabe
PUBLISHED: 22:23 GMT, 5 March 2013 | UPDATED: 01:06 GMT, 6 March 2013

Jailed: Kosovan refugee Arben Dumani, 23, became the boss of a gang plotting to smuggle drugs into the UK - just 13 years after being granted refuge to live in the country

He came to Britain as a ten-year-old schoolboy, escaping his war-torn Kosovan homeland to a promising future in a safe new home.
But yesterday, 13 years after arriving, child refugee poster boy Arben Dumani was unmasked as the boss of a drugs gang behind a plot to flood the country that gave him refuge with £1.2m of cocaine.
Unrepentant Dumani stood in the dock as prosecutors described a drug dealing enterprise involving him and with his three henchmen as on a ‘virtually industrial scale’.
During a dawn raid on a safe house in Glasgow last year, officers seized over 2kg of the Class A drug and substances and equipment used to bulk out the pure drugs.
The mob helped bring about their own downfall by taking mobile phone photos of themselves snorting cocaine laid out to spell their names.
The four – all originally from Eastern Europe – were sentenced to a total of 30 years and six months at the High Court in Glasgow yesterday.
Detective Chief Superintendent Athol Aitken said: ‘This serious organised crime group, led by Arben Dumani, was involved in the importation of cocaine with an estimated street value of £1.2million.
‘This was a significant quantity of drugs that would have caused untold harm to Scottish communities and I welcome the court result which will ensure the individuals involved are held accountable for their crimes.’
Dumani was just 10 when he and his relatives escaped the horrors of their Kosovan homeland for a new life in Glasgow.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2288685/Arben-Dumani-Refugee-poster-boy-unmasked-drugs-gang-boss-plot-flood-country-gave-refuge-1-2m-cocaine.html#ixzz2MieahCT3
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Germany fears "immigrant invasion"

From DAILY MAIL

Germany rejects Romania and Bulgaria's bid to roam Europe without passport amid fears of 'immigrant invasion'

• Romania and Bulgaria expected to apply to join EU's Schengen area
• 'Germany will veto it and they will fail,' says interior minister Friedrich
• Mayor of Duisburg has warned against flood of Romanian immigrants

By Allan Hall
PUBLISHED: 12:49 GMT, 4 March 2013 | UPDATED: 14:00 GMT, 4 March 2013

Germany will veto Romania and Bulgaria's bid to join the Schengen passport-free zone if the Eastern European countries push for membership this week.
Interior minister Hans-Peter Friedrich warned both nations that if they insist on entry into the scheme 'Germany will veto it and they will fail.'
The countries are expected to apply to join the group in a meeting on Thursday, but their bid has been undermined by fears non-Europeans could bribe their way in to the countries and then travel elsewhere in the EU with ease.
It is strong language from a politician well versed in more diplomatic speak, but Germany is undergoing an invasion of immigrants from both countries with many cities experiencing extreme social tensions as a result.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2287852/Romania-Bulgaria-WONT-join-EU-passport-free-zone-Germany-vows-veto-Schengen-bid-corruption-fears.html#ixzz2Ma9Gsh3t
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UK: IN & OUT

From DAILY MAIL

The decline (immigration) was driven by a drop in the number of immigrants coming to Britain, which fell from 589,000 to 515,000, while the number of migrants leaving the country rose from 342,000 to 352,000, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2285912/Net-immigration-Britain-falls-year-crackdown-routes-abuse-rife.html#ixzz2MDAOANdp
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TORONTO 200,000 ILLEGALS given RIGHTS to SERVICES.

Toronto Left-wing City Council gives Civic Rights to 200,000 ILLEGALS. More pressure on FREE Hospital services  with average 4-7 hour wait in Emergency  clinics.

UK:Lawyer TEVFICK SOULEIMAN guilty of 2,000 marriage scams

From UK DAILY MAIL

 Solicitor and three immigration advisors guilty of running £20m fake marriage scam that allowed 2,000 foreign men live in Britain

• Gang flew in brides from eastern Europe and created 'touching love stories'
• Racket went on for almost a decade as group pocketed thousands
• Source describes scam as 'largest marriage fraud ever committed in the UK'

By Anna Edwards and Arthur Martin
PUBLISHED: 16:51 GMT, 14 February 2013 | UPDATED: 00:06 GMT, 15 February 2013

Souleiman claimed he had no knowledge of the scam which involved Eastern European brides and forged documents, but was convicted after a trial

A law firm made £20million in  Britain’s biggest sham marriage racket which let up to 2,000 illegal immigrants stay in the country.
Solicitor Tevfick Souleiman, 39, and three colleagues flew women in from eastern European countries within the EU to marry non-EU citizens.
Most couples met on the day of the wedding and needed an interpreter to translate their vows. Some of the grooms were Albanian career criminals suspected of murder, drugs trafficking and money laundering.
The criminals would pay the law firm around £14,000 to arrange marriages. Often they would use fake identity documents to evade police at home.
Souleiman and his colleagues Cenk Guclu, 41, Furrah Kosimov, 29 and Zafer Altinbas, 38, made up ‘love stories’ to fool officials.
Last night a source told the Mail the ruse allowed ‘dangerous criminals to operate’ in Britain. ‘We believe this to be the largest marriage fraud ever committed in the UK,’ the source said. 
The scam was run between January 2004 and February 2012. Several brides were flown in each day and taken to registry offices across the country. They were paid off and told never to contact the ‘husbands’ again. 
At the Old Bailey yesterday Souleiman and Guclu were found guilty of receiving proceeds of crime and Kosimov guilty of money laundering.
Souleiman claimed he had no knowledge of the scam, while immigration adviser Cenk Guclu, 41, tried to blame workmate Furrah Kosimov, 29, but was also found guilty.
Kosimov, who went on the run before the case got underway, was convicted in his absence. Altinbas had earlier pleaded guilty to his role in the illegal plan.

Tevfick Souleiman and Zafer Altinbas (right) were discovered to be part of a racket that created 'sham marriages' in order to obtain British passports

All three were found guilty of conspiracy to breach immigration law.
As the verdicts were announced a woman sobbed so loudly in the public gallery that Judge John Bevan QC had her removed from the court.
Soulemain blew kisses to supporters from the dock as he was found guilty.
The gang ran their empire from the offices of Souleiman's Souleiman GA law firm in north Londo.
At one point they were flying in several brides a day on budget airlines including Ryanair and Aero Lithuania.

Cenk Guclu tried to blame workmate Furrah Kosimov for the crime

The women would be housed in an east London tower block before being taken to registry offices across the country.
Once married, their non-EU husbands would have the right to live in the UK and claim benefits because of their new status - and would usually be allowed to remain in the country if they separated.
'That is the point of a sham marriage,' said prosecutor Nicholas Mather.

 

More...

• Churchman jailed for stealing dementia sufferer's £61,000 life savings to spend on gambling sprees and his daughter's wedding
• Credit union boss stole £44,000 of savings from elderly and poor to fund his holidays in Spain

'That’s why it is a business, because people want to come and live and work in this country.
'Normally if one was coming from a non-EU country there would be complicated and difficult steps one would have to go through in order to be able to live and work in this country.
'Generally, people can’t do that. We don’t have open borders in this country, except so far as EU countries are concerned.
'So in many cases these people who engage in sham marriages would have no chance at all of passing through the immigration system, either because they don’t have the right skills or the right income.'
Forged affidavits containing details of the couples’ supposed courtships were also included.
In one, Albanian Alban Spaho described how he met his Bulgarian bride-to-be Petya Zlatanska while on a day out with friends in 2008.
The affidavit said: 'We went to a cafe where our friends left us alone to get on with it.
'Petya was a bit shy but I eventually persuaded her to let me take her out.
'We didn’t go to any of the usual Bulgarian or Albanian places in north London but instead went to a really nice place in the West End.
'After three months I realised I wanted to be with her all the time and asked her to marry me.’
Another client recalled how he met his bride in a nightclub and proposed after a romantic Valentine's Day meal.
The were scripted by the lawyers, with some couples only coming face to face at the registry office on the day they were married.
The racket was busted when suspicions were raised about the number of couples marrying at Cambridge Registry Office, despite having no links to the city.
Police raided Souleiman GA’s offices and a lock-up rented by Kosimov, which contained thousands of files about the couplings.
They had so many clients they ran out of bogus addresses and listed several couples as living in the same home.
Many applicants also claimed to work at a takeaway store called Kebab Town.
The enterprise proved lucrative, with bank records showing thousands of pounds being paid into personal accounts belonging to Guclu and Altinbas.
Souleiman studied immigration law since the age of 15 and specialised in the Ankara Agreement, which allows Turkish citizens limited rights to live and work in the UK.
He was raking in a salary of nearly £50,000 after tax from legitimate work, the vast majority of which involved clients of Turkish origin.
The gang will be sentenced on Monday.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2278688/Fake-marriages-Solicitor-3-immigration-advisors-guilty-20m-scam-allowing-1-000-foreign-men-live-UK.html#ixzz2KyWoy2Bg
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