News direct from the British Consulate in Calgary

English: no original description

English: no original description (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

News direct from the British Consulate in Calgary

 

Press Release: Tuesday 6 August 2013

 

TRANSFER OF OVERSEAS PASSPORT APPLICATIONS TO THE UK

CHANGES TO PASSPORT SERVICES FOR BRITISH NATIONALS

The British Government is making important changes to the passport service for British nationals living overseas. From 12 August 2013, the application process will be centralised and British nationals in Canada should submit their passport application to Her Majesty’s Passport Office in the UK.

This important change follows reviews by the National Audit Office and is designed to achieve economies of scale, greater security and consistency in decision making. All British passports have enhanced sophisticated security features designed to reduce the likelihood of identity theft and passport fraud.

Notes for Editors

Before 12 August, British nationals living in Canada submitted passport applications to a regional processing hub in Washington, United States. From 12 August, information on the UK Government website will advise British nationals on the new passport application process.

All the information required to make an application will be found at https://www.gov.uk/overseas-passports. Applicants will be required to send their applications to the Passport Customer Service Centre in Durham. There will be no change to processing times.

Fees charged to British nationals applying overseas are based on the current costs of providing the service. As overseas volumes are much less than UK volumes it is harder to gain efficiencies overseas. That is why we have taken the decision to repatriate the issuing of passports to British nationals overseas to the UK. Once this has been completed Her Majesty’s Passport Office will be seeking to create closer alignment between the two sets of fees.

 

For further information:

Nathan Skolski

Head of Media and Public Affairs

Nathan.skolski@fco.gov.uk

Tel: 613-364-6131

Cell: 613-327-0928

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Why Emigrate to Canada? Top 5 Reasons

Canada is a country found in North America that consists of ten provinces with three territories, and it is considered as the second largest country in the world. Though it is the second largest country, its population rate is still considered to be one of the lowest in the world. This fact, however, doesn’t stop Canada from flourishing and becoming one of the best places to live in. That is why immigration to Canada been very popular and for a good reason. Here are the top 5 reasons: why emigrate to Canada.

Economy

The main reason as to why emigrate to Canada is because of the economy. The economy of Canada is so advanced; thus, most of its citizens enjoy a high quality of life based on world standards. Canada is highly incorporated into the global market through trade, with more than 30% of its GDP completely dedicated to export. Canada is considered to have the lowest debt in the G-8 economic partnership of industrialized nations. The labor and employment ratio in Canada is one of the highest in the world, which can be very convenient for immigrants, citizens and permanent residents

Healthcare

Healthcare in Canada is one the best in the world as well. Canada provides its citizens and permanent residents the needed healthcare without considering their income level. Most provinces in Canada provide healthcare free of charge since the healthcare system is funded mostly by the government and private companies. Senior citizens avail pharmaceutical products for free. There is also an extensive social security that provides for unemployment insurance, senior citizen pension and family allowance.

Education

The educational system in Canada is highly advertized internationally. Canada offers free primary and secondary education and college education is funded. Canada specializes and spends more on education compared to other nations. Universities and Colleges in Canada have great reputation internationally due to the high quality of their graduates.

Culture

Culture in Canada is one of the most diverse in the world. The population in Canada is composed of residents from all walks of life. The immigration rate in Canada is also one of the highest in the world and it is no mystery why the culture is so diverse. Majority of the population is of European ancestry, but a minority of Asian and Slavic descents are also noticeable.

Crime Rate

Crime rate in Canada is one of the world’s lowest. Compared to its neighboring countries, Canada’s crime record is significantly lower. This may be the result of the countrywide gun laws, fair justice system and community policing. This would make Canada safe and secure for its residents.

Why emigrate to Canada? These are some of the reasons why. The climate in Canada may mostly be bitter winter but that can’t stop anyone from enjoying the benefits of migrating to this great country. Canada is one of the oldest and best destinations for immigration for some time now. Overall, Canada can provide any immigrant with a bright future due to its healthcare system, quality education, low crime rate, diverse culture and most of all a great economy.

The Best Places to Live in Canada

Canada is renowned as one of the best countries to emigrate to. This is due to its great economy, extensive healthcare system, highly regarded education system, and low crime rate. Still, as Canada is the second largest country in the world, finding the right place for you could be a difficult task.  Here are some of the best places to live in Canada.

Considered to be one of the best places to live in Canada is Toronto. Toronto is the largest city in Canada and is known to be the business capital of Canada. Since it is one of the centers for businesses, it provides more employment than other places which is suitable for immigrants and its citizens. Toronto rates as one of the most livable cities in the world. With a large population, Toronto is proclaimed as one of the most diverse in terms of culture. With this great proportion of population and a wide array of culture, Toronto is by far one of the safest cities to live in.

Another great place in Canada is Ottawa. As the capital city of Canada, Ottawa is home of federal agencies and embassies from foreign countries. It is known to be one of the places to have more highly educated workforce as compared to other cities. This city is also home of large electronic and telecommunication companies which provides employment for its citizens. On top of that, Ottawa is also known to be one of the least expensive cities in Canada. Most of all, Ottawa is considered to be the cleanest city in Canada.

Vancouver can also be one the lead destinations in Canada for UK immigrants. This city has been known to be included in various rankings in the previous years as one of the world’s most livable places. The city has one of the mildest climates in Canada and is considered as the greenest city in Canada. Vancouver is surrounded by water and snowy mountains, which means that there is always a lot of things you can do in this city. The government of Vancouver is very particular about the environment. Despite of the need for constant development, it is still conscious about the environment as it encourages a green platform that includes the development of green buildings and technology. You might want to be in this city for a long time as it seeks to be the greenest city by 2020.

Calgary is another hot contender, as it typically ranks in the TOP 5 of  The Economist’s World’s Most Liveable Cities 2011. Calgary is in the province of Alberta, which enjoys the benefits of the Oil and Gas business, e.g. higher average income, low un-employment and lowest provincial Tax rate in the country at just 5%. Also know for its ‘blue skies’, Calgary ranks highest for most days of sunshine, in Canada, at average 333 days/year. Being just an hour from the Rocky Mountains, it does get its fair share of snow- but with the warming Chinook winds that come in, and its blue skies, make the winter’s more tolerable.

These are only some of the best places to live in Canada but generally, Canada provides its immigrants and permanent citizens the best quality of life. This is because of the economic advantage brought about by their superb healthcare system, terrific economy and astounding educational system. With the healthcare system, citizens get to avail free healthcare and medicine. The economy of Canada is one of the best in the world that 30% of its GDP is through export. In terms of labor and employment, Canada is by far one of the best in the world as it provides its citizens the right employment and the opportunity to achieve their ideal quality of life. The educational system of Canada is well renowned globally and provides its graduates with the competence needed to be at par with the best in the world.

5 Tips for Moving to Canada from UK

Canada is the second largest country in the world. It has been known to be one of the leading countries for people who want to migrate and enjoy the quality of life it provides. With the great advantage of a great economy, extensive healthcare system, low crime rate and one of the best education systems in this side of the globe, it’s not a mystery why Canada is one of the most livable countries to migrate to. Here are some pointers to remember when moving to Canada from UK.

1. Familiarize Yourself with Canada

When moving to Canada from UK you should first familiarize yourself with your destination. Canada is one big country and it would be wise to know specifically where you’re going. You should know the living conditions in that specific place like the landscape, the various people you may encounter and the climate. Choosing the right settlement is a major factor that may determine your future and quality of life. Make sure that your destination can provide you with the right living condition, job opportunities and the right climate that will suit your lifestyle. Before moving out, make sure to take note of at least three destinations in Canada and do your research.

2. Plan a Research Trip

Once you have determined your destination spots, take time to either make a quick trip or visit the place. This will provide you with an overview of what to look forward to in the future. By doing this you will be able to familiarize yourself with the living conditions and you might be able to see job opportunities that will suit you.

3. Prepare Yourself Mentally

Once you have picked and arrived at your chosen place of settlement, prepare for some changes to happen. The feeling of stress and homesickness will be prevalent for the first few months. To overcome this, try to interact more with people in your community, this will make adaptation more quick and easy. Try to enjoy every bit of everyday in your new place. Prepare for culture shock as it will happen since the diversity of people can be overwhelming.

4. Obtain Your Health Card

Now that you are completely settled in, it is best to avail of the services that Canada has to offer. Once you have gotten a job and your children are all settled in your school of choice, make sure to avail of the health insurance that Canada provides. Get a health card so that you and your family can avail of Canada’s extensive healthcare system. There may be some slight variations in Canada’s healthcare system, depending on the province, but it is worth getting one as you may never know when you might need it.

5. Be Prepared

It is never too much to be too prepared as it is a good insurance for all, especially when moving from another country. Do your research well and prepare for things to come. Start by learning basic facts about Canada like the weather, holidays, currency, taxes and simple information that may help your day to day life in Canada.

 

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