PATIALA: Opening up a fresh chapter in blossoming immigration scenario in the Malwa region of Punjab the global leader in resettlement and immigration consultancy, World Wide Immigration Consultancy Service, WWICS, Saturday  inaugurated the Patiala branch of WWICS here.

Aimed at catering to a growing population of Punjabis from Malwa belt aspiring to immigrate and settle in countries like Canada, Uk and US, the new branch will provide solutions to the Malwaiites who form a major proportion for Punjabis settled abroad. Sangrur, Barnala, and Patiala areas will be substantially catered to by the latest WWICS' Patiala branch.

Addressing media persons on the occasion of inaugural ceremony Col B S Sandhu, CMD, WWICS informed that the WWICS which is headquartered in Toronto will provide consultancy to communities like Businessmen, farmers and students.

While spelling the possibilities of immigration in Malwa Col Sandhu added that 50% of the Punjabi settled abroad are from Malwa which otherwise also constitutes 55 % area of Punjab. Malwa which has a huge number of qualified professionals is a hinterland in that sense, quipped Col Sandhu. Almost 15000 of estimated 30000 Punjabis immigrating to Canada are from Malwa during last ten years. Businessmen and farmers constitute a substantial part of aspiring Punjabis going abroad even as 6000 students have shifted in these years. With study option emerging as the latest rage on immigration front Canada remains the hot destination with teachers, nurses, accountants, engineers, doctors, dentists and lawyers in high demand. 

Friendlier and compatible immigration policy and laws being passed in the Canadian parliament are weighing heavily in favour of Indian professionals, informed Lt Col Sandhu. While referring to the recent 'Post Graduate Work Permit Program' introduced by Canada, Col Sandhu said that transition to Canada via education route has seen a major fillip with the recently incorporated provisions in the immigration policy where by international students in Canada would now be able to get a work permit for up to 3 years without even a job offer available to them. This, asserted Sandhu, is a path breaking aspect as the gestation period for getting work permit would considerable shorten by several months, if not years.

Immigrating to Canada is now just a 4-5 months process via education route which essentially means that one can work and earn up to $1000 (Canadian) a week by working for a stipulated 20 hours a week during study.

Consequently you get a work permit even if a job is not readily available after passing out and permanent residency status is taken for granted later on. Thus the whole proposition of applying for studies and pursuing a course in Canada along with simultaneous working option becomes highly attractive for even a genre of professionals whose visa and immigration applications are waiting in the pipeline for years now.

Col Sandhu informed that the conditions have also been considerably favourable for investors and businessmen who can invest a capital up to Rs 50 lakh in any venture in Canada. In such cases, even tests like IELTS need not be qualified. Similarly, in countries like Czech Republic, an investment of barely Rs 15 lakh can get you a business visa in a matter of 8-10 months followed by Permanent Residency status.