Changes to Canada’s Citizenship Act. Starting October 11, 2017, applicants for citizenship in Canada are able to take advantage of the changes to Canada’s Citizenship Act. Some of the latest changes include a physical presence in Canada being reduced to three out of five years and income tax filing requirements also being reduced to three out of five years. Those considering citizenship in Canada should be aware that changes were made earlier this year and more changes are expected to come later this year and in 2018.
Closures in Ireland due to Storm Ophelia. Storm Ophelia, a storm predicted to be the worst storm Ireland has seen in 50 years, hit Ireland yesterday, Monday, October 16, 2017, closing government offices around the country. Various federal agencies were closed on Monday, including the Irish Naturalization and Immigration Service (INIS), Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB), and Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation(DBEI). There may be residual delays as business gets back to normal. Those with appointments scheduled yesterday should contact the relevant agency for rescheduling.