Dear Mr Brown:

I recently heard about a new programme under which international students (high school or college) can obtain permanent residency with their parents after studies in Canada. Is this true? Also, I would like to know the top-paying jobs in Canada.

— NM

Dear NM:Parents of an international student in Canada do not automatically obtain permanent residency by virtue of studies. Also, studying at the secondary school level does not necessarily lead to permanent residency. Please ensure that you work with authorised immigration professionals who are approved to represent or advise you.Unauthorised immigration representativesUnauthorised representatives are individuals or companies who receive a fee for advising or representing a client on immigration matters, who are not members of the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council or a law society. Unauthorised immigration representatives not only contravene the laws of Canada, but they are not even recognised by the High Commission of Canada. Canadian regulations impose penalties on unauthorised representatives who provide, or offer to provide, advice or representation for a fee at any stage of an immigration application or proceeding. Unauthorised Representatives are prohibited from the following activities: • Explaining and/or providing advice on someone’s immigration options;• Providing guidance to a client on how to select the best immigration stream;• Providing guidance on completing and submitting immigration forms, such as a visitor’s visa, work permit or study permit;• Representing a client in an immigration application or proceeding;• Advertising that they are competent to provide immigration advice;• Making interventions on behalf of the applicant during processing; and• Requesting information from the embassy about the progress of the application. Income levels in CanadaIn response to the second part of your query, I will state that the median income in Canada in 2013 was approximately Can$32,000 per year. The top 10 per cent of income earners made approximately Can$90,000 or more per year, while the top five per cent made approximately Can$120,000 or more; and the top one per cent made approximately Can$220,000 or more per year.There are some professions that earn relatively good salaries, such as:• Teachers, for which the median income is Can$83,526, while the top-earning teachers earn more than Can$100,000 per year.• Police officers (in Toronto), who earned a median income of Can$85,585, with top-earning officers making more than Can$100,000.00 per year.Top-paying professionsThe average annual salaries of the highest-paying professions in Canada are:• Specialist physicians – Can$350,000.00 (J$30 million)• Judges – Can$260,000 (J$22.5 Million)• Senior managers of financial, communications, and other businesses – Can$220,500.00 (J$19.1 million)• Senior managers of goods production, utilities, transportation, and construction – Can$205,000.00 (J$17.8 million)• General practitioners and family physicians – Can$180,000.00 (J$15.6 Million)• Dentists – Can$175,000.00 (J$15.2 million)• Lawyers – Can$165,000.00 (J$14.3 million)Please visit jamaica2canada.com for additional information on Canadian Permanent Residence programmes, including Express Entry, the Study and Work progamme, visitor’s visas or appeals, etc.

Dear NM:

Parents of an international student in Canada do not automatically obtain permanent residency by virtue of studies. Also, studying at the secondary school level does not necessarily lead to permanent residency. Please ensure that you work with authorised immigration professionals who are approved to represent or advise you.

Unauthorised immigration representatives

Unauthorised representatives are individuals or companies who receive a fee for advising or representing a client on immigration matters, who are not members of the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council or a law society. Unauthorised immigration representatives not only contravene the laws of Canada, but they are not even recognised by the High Commission of Canada. Canadian regulations impose penalties on unauthorised representatives who provide, or offer to provide, advice or representation for a fee at any stage of an immigration application or proceeding.

Unauthorised Representatives are prohibited from the following activities:

• Explaining and/or providing advice on someone’s immigration options;

• Providing guidance to a client on how to select the best immigration stream;

• Providing guidance on completing and submitting immigration forms, such as a visitor’s visa, work permit or study permit;

• Representing a client in an immigration application or proceeding;

• Advertising that they are competent to provide immigration advice;

• Making interventions on behalf of the applicant during processing; and

• Requesting information from the embassy about the progress of the application.

Income levels in Canada

In response to the second part of your query, I will state that the median income in Canada in 2013 was approximately Can$32,000 per year. The top 10 per cent of income earners made approximately Can$90,000 or more per year, while the top five per cent made approximately Can$120,000 or more; and the top one per cent made approximately Can$220,000 or more per year.

There are some professions that earn relatively good salaries, such as:

• Teachers, for which the median income is Can$83,526, while the top-earning teachers earn more than Can$100,000 per year.

• Police officers (in Toronto), who earned a median income of Can$85,585, with top-earning officers making more than Can$100,000.00 per year.

Top-paying professions

The average annual salaries of the highest-paying professions in Canada are:

• Specialist physicians – Can$350,000.00 (J$30 million)

• Judges – Can$260,000 (J$22.5 Million)

• Senior managers of financial, communications, and other businesses – Can$220,500.00 (J$19.1 million)

• Senior managers of goods production, utilities, transportation, and construction – Can$205,000.00 (J$17.8 million)

• General practitioners and family physicians – Can$180,000.00 (J$15.6 Million)

• Dentists – Can$175,000.00 (J$15.2 million)

• Lawyers – Can$165,000.00 (J$14.3 million)

Please visit jamaica2canada.com for additional information on Canadian Permanent Residence programmes, including Express Entry, the Study and Work progamme, visitor’s visas or appeals, etc.