2010-06-30

全球:Linkedin的重要性及如何利用

谈谈Linkedin的重要性及如何利用

来源: ctr

我最近换新工作,已经签了offer,在等背景调查。新公司的recruiter是通过Linkedin找到我的。这已经是第N次有recruiter或者公司HM通过Linkedin给我发邀请了。我的经验证明Linkedin是拓展职场机会的非常重要的渠道。越来越多的公司把Linkedin当做招募人才的平台,如果能充分利用这个平台,职场晋升会增加很多机会。

Linkedin的功能和工具分几大类,主要的有:

个人介绍: 姓名,目前职位,照片,所在地区
照片很重要。一来中国人容易重名,有照片容易分辨,二来一张职业化的照片给人第一印象很深刻

经历: Current Position, Experience, Education, Summary
这部分应该当做简历来维护,因为如果把这部分放入文本,就是一份基本完整的简历。
写这部分的时候要注意关键字,因为recruiter是根据关键字来筛选对象,看见match程度高的才会私下联系。建议参考同行的profile,把这部分做精致。

推荐 Recommendation
有几个级别比你高的人的推荐,很给profile加分。需要主动请导师上级来写。我看见一些转换工作成功的人,都有新加的推荐,估计是在找工作之前特意请大家写的,而且都是往天上吹,反正不上税。

状态更新
这个跟twitter类似。我经常发布自己的状态,比如最新的publication,参加会议的见闻之类。你network里的人会收到更新提示。经常性的职业化的状态更新,给人很积极的印象,跟混个脸熟一个道理。

工具类
Profile上还可以连接Linkedin Application。我用的有 SlideShare Presentations 利用这个工具可以免费上载三个presentation,在profile的主页就可以浏览。我把自己开会时做的公开的presentation加在上面,让别人更多了解自己的工作能力。

Reading List by Amazon
现在和过去看过的书,及评价。是个展示兴趣的机会。

BlogLink
把其他网上的Blog的top内容显示在profile主页上。我在公司有技术内容的blog,利用这个就可以自动更新profile。

无论利用何种工具,总之就是给别人多了解自己职业发展兴趣爱好的机会,比干巴巴的简历更容易赢得机会。

想要别人能联系到你,在Contact Settings里选择”I’ll accept Introductions and InMail“

祝大家在职场上有更多更好的机会!


http://web.wenxuecity.com/BBSView.php?SubID=career&MsgID=347189


评论:总觉得这些工具弄的没有隐私了;互联起来以前的同事老板现在的同事老板都碰见了。有启发性,不过可能是双刃剑!

2010-06-28

纽西兰:免费个人信用历史查询

下面这个网页可以下载表格:

http://www.vedaadvantage.co.nz/dotAsset/505368.pdf

填完后与身份证明文件一起传真过去就可。

纽西兰:入籍条件

- are at least 16 years old

- are entitled to be in New Zealand indefinitely under the IMMIGRATION ACT 1987 (in practice, this means you must hold a residence permit)

- have been in New Zealand, with an entitlement to be here indefinitely, for at least 1,350 days during the five years before your application, and for at least 240 days in each of those five years

- are of good character

- have knowledge of the responsibilities and privileges of New Zealand citizenship

- have sufficient knowledge of the English language, and

- intend to continue to be ordinarily resident in New Zealand if you are granted citizenship (there are some exceptions to this)


http://www.dia.govt.nz/diawebsite.nsf/wpg_URL/Services-Citizenship-General-Requirements-for-a-Grant-of-New-Zealand-Citizenship?OpenDocument
http://www.howtolaw.co.nz/html/ml108.asp

2010-06-27

加拿大:海外资产报税:你问我答

作者: 涌泉

移民到加拿大的华人,不论是何种类型的移民,大多数都会存在海外资产报税问题。海外资产及收入报税,不只是一个简单的报税问题,还涉及到投资、财产转移等问题,所以,在申报海外资产及收入时,要特别引起注意。

现将有关海外资产报税的常见问题集锦,以期对大家有所帮助。

问:什么样情况下,加拿大移民需要申报海外资产?

答:加拿大税务居民、有限公司和信托公司以及合伙人公司,如果在加拿大境外的海外总资产数额在纳税年度的任何时间超过10万加元,在报税的同时,都必须填写有关表格,声明海外收入。

申报海外资产,并不代表就一定要缴税。这是因为加拿大政府并没有设立个人资产税。只有在这些资产产生收入的前提下,才需要缴纳所得税。

问:是不是所有的海外资产都需要申报呢?哪些不需要申报?

答: 首先, 每一个税务居民所拥有的海外资产只有超过$100,000时才需要申报;再者, 不是所有的资产都属于应该申报的范畴。需要申报的资产包括: 海外的银行存款和现金, 投资于海外的股票债劵 (在此不包括海外附属企业的股票), 海外债权, 海外信托利益, 海外的房地产 (不包括自住的房子) 及其它资产。个人使用的财产如汽车、手饰等是不需要申报的。

下面是需要向政府申报的海外资产:
(1)海外存款
(2)手中持有的海外股票或基金
(3)海外债权
(4)海外信托
(5)海外除自用的房地产
(6)其它资产,比如非经营性质的固定资产等。

部分移民尤其是投资移民,往往拥有海外企业或海外企业股份。根据加拿大税法规定,居民本人以及有血缘关系的家人,如拥有符合以下企业股份超过10%,即需申报:企业价值超过100万加元,或企业总营业额超过25000加元。

不包括在内的海外资产类别:

(1) 为个人自用和活动性商务的物业

(2) 海外联营公司的股票 (另行申报)

(3) 海外联营公司欠款

(4) 个人收藏品, 如珠宝、艺术品、邮票等

问:请问所有价值超过10万加币的海外资产都需要申报吗?

答:不是。不用申报的海外资产包括四类:为个人自用和活动性商务的物业;海外联营公司的股票(另行申报);海外联营公司欠款;个人收藏品,如珠宝﹑艺术品﹑邮票等。

问:海外资产的种类繁多,价值也不断地在发生变化,到底如何 计算其价值?

答:海外资产申报的价值是以移民登陆那天的资本市场价格计算。值得一提的是,加拿大并不对”资产”本身征税(企业资本税除外),而是对这些资本产生的”收入”征税。因此,申报时的资产文件需保留,比如,在离开中国前将房产重新评估,应保留房产评估报告以备日后查用。

申请人的海外资产是在成为加拿大税务居民前合法积累的资产,如您在第一次登陆时已申报了100万加元的海外资产的,那这100万元可以免税。但此后,这100万元资产产生的任何收入,无论持有人身在何地,都必须计入个人的收入,并申报所得税。海外资产的产权、物业的评估书等文件都需要保持完整以备日后所需。

对于商业类的新移民,在移民申请时提交给移民局的资产文件、银行存款及股票记录等也需保留好,用以证明这些财产是在移民加拿大以前已经拥有的,这一点极其重要。

问:移民之前的海外资产价值应如何计算?

答:应根据您移民那一时刻的市场价值计算您移民之前的海外资产,而不是您购买时的价格。

问: 关于海外资产是不是报了就要上税?

答: 拥有资产并不直接产生税务后果, 只有产生收入才会有上税的问题。因此, 加拿大政府有关海外资产申报的政策, 不是对境外的资产征税。它的目的是让加拿大的税务居民如实申报海外收入, 同时认可在海外已缴的税款, 避免在加拿大双重纳税。

问: 申报海外资产时需要提供什么文件吗?

答: 申报海外资产只需在申报表T1135的每个资产栏目下按照不同的金额范围打勾既可。 海外资产的价值不是指市场价值, 而是指成本值, 对于移民来讲成本值就是移民当日的市场值,所以申报者应保留相应的资料, 一旦税务局要求提供时, 可以拿得出来。

问: 新移民应该什么时候开始申报呢?

答: 根据加拿大税法,新移民在第一年报税时,应申报成为税务居民后的全球收入;而在第二年报税时,应申报在海外的资产,第三年申报海外企业。

新移民登陆的第一年不要求申报海外资产, 第二年开始要求申报。也就是说, 2008年报到的新移民, 在2009年4月30日之前报2008年的税时不需申报海外资产, 不需填写T1135表格。

以2008年7月1日以后登陆加拿大的移民为例,在2009年4月30日前,需申报上年度7月1日至12月31日间的全球收入,包括在加拿大以及海外的收入;在2010年4月30日前,需申报海外资产;在2011年3月31日前,需申报海外企业。

问: 新移民应如何正确申报海外资产 ?

答:(1) 一般填报都要委托有执业资格的会计师帮助,或者咨询有关的税务律师。有些华人移民为了省几十元的钱自己弄弄申报,往往得不偿失。

(2) 需要申报的海外资产成本超过10万加元就需要填表了。只需在适当的空格内打勾,在最下栏自行填上该税务年度海外资产盈利收入,不用注明确切银行名称、帐号、地点及存款额等详细资料。

(3) 新移民登陆的第一年免报海外资产,以后每年必须申报。

(4) 海外资产的成本价以移民登陆那天的资本市场价格计算, 所以应该特别记录当日股票、债券、国库券、基金的价格。

问: 不申报海外资产会有什么弊端?

答: 简单来讲, 由于没有申报海外资产, 将来再将这些资产带进加拿大时, 有可能会被当做收入而征税。另外, 作为纳税人也会背上不良的信用记录。

问: 如果不申报海外收入、海外资产以及海外企业会有什么严重后果?

答:报税是每位居民的义务,大家都必须遵守。加拿大的税务法律很严格,新移民需认真对待全球收入及资产申报和纳税的问题,如果出错,可能面临处罚,严重的会被税务局刑事检控,所以资产申报需要委托会计师协助或咨询相关的税务律师。

如果不如实申报海外资产,同时在加拿大又不工作没有收入或者没有足够多的收入,那么在加拿大购房、储蓄就会引起加拿大税务部门的怀疑。即便税务部门没有马上核查,日后也可以追溯。

加拿大和中国有相关税务协定,一旦加拿大税务部门去查证移民在中国的资产状况,中国税务部门有义务配合。多年前就曾有过加拿大国税局越洋侦探前往香港查询移民海外资产的案例出现,所以建议新移民对此一定要从长计议,如实申报。

问:如果某人以礼物的形式赠送给我一些海外资产或我继承了一些海外的遣产,应如何确定这些资产的价值?

答:这些资产的价值应该等同于您在接收礼物或继承遣产的那一时刻的该资产的市场价值。

问:有新移民认为,由於第一次申报海外资产时应该多报 ,这样以后海外资产的所得就可以少交税。例如,汪先生本来有11万海外资产,在登陆第一次申报海外资产时,他申报 15万。汪先生认为,如果这11万元的利息所得为5万元,不过由於申报时为 15万元,实际上他只需要交1万元的资本所得,而不是5万元。这种做法是否可行?

答:由於海外资产申报只需要在一个范围內打勾,所以,灰色地带很多。但是,问题是一旦税务稽查,你必须提供相关的文件。比如,这位汪先生申报 15万元,但是,他必须提供具体15万元资产的构成和收入的证明。

问:对於居住在中国大陆,没有加国移民身份的父母,赠予子女的金钱 ,是否算做子女的海外收入或资产,是否需要申报?

答:赠予子女的金钱不算子女的海外收入或资产,不需要申报。但是,可能需要提供在赠予前资产属於父母的证明。

问:作为技术移民,在海外的自住房屋本不用作为海外资产申报 ,但若移民加国后,把国內的房子卖掉,所得的钱超过10万加幣,若將此笔钱带进加拿大,税务局是否会质疑此笔钱的来源 ,由於此笔钱之前並没有申报,是否会有麻烦?

答:海外的自住房屋本不用作为海外资产申报 。只有保留具体的文件,没有问题。

问:移民来加,由於海外资产低於10万元,所以以前並没有申报过。但在2006 年时,回国后,带入超过10万元,由於此笔钱是向国內的朋友借的,是否要申报?应如何申报?是否要提供借据等支援文件。

答:不需要申报,但是要准备足够的文件以应付可能的税务稽查。

问:夫妻共同移民加国后又离婚,丈夫在中国,妻子和孩子继续在加拿大生活。离婚后,丈夫从中国给妻子匯了一笔钱作为赡养费,这笔钱是否算做妻子的海外资产,是否要申报?

答:不需要。

问:海外资产超过10万元加幣,但在加国为低收入者,若申报了海外资产后 ,是否还能享受到加国的各项福利?

答:要看具体的福利。有的福利和收入有关,不受资产的多少影响;有的收入和资产多少有关,会受到影响。但要注意的是,由海外资产所产生的收入,例如利息等也是收入的一项,在各项福利的评估中,如果涉及到收入一项,海外资产的收入也应考虑在內。如果收入总和加起来超过福利所要求的收入金额,则不符合该福利的申请。

问: 去年我第一次报海外资产, 因为我报晚了, 后来接到税务局的电话说第一次不罚我了, 下次再晚就要罚款。请问罚款会有多少?

答: 海外资产T1135表格的申报期限为每年的4月30日。如果晚报了, 罚款是每天$25, 最多可罚至$2500; 如果是有意识的漏报, 为每月罚款$500, 最多可罚至$12,000; 接到税务局的追讨申报通知书仍未申报者, 罚款高达每月$1,000, 最多可罚到$24,000; 超过24个月逾期不报者, 罚款将按照5%的海外资产成本额来计算。

如果您在申报海外资产的过程中遇到什么困难, 请及时寻求专业会计师、律师的帮助。

问: 我在中国注册有一个公司, 我拥有其中的大部分股份, 有人说我需要向加拿大申报这个公司的收入, 要向加拿大交税, 请问是不是这样?

答: 如果您公司所经营的是活动性生意, 答案应该是否定的。 确切地说, 加拿大政府不要求您将这间公司的收入在加拿大上税。

有关海外附属企业的申报, 实际上申报的是相关的资讯,需要填写的表格为T1134, 此表是一份资讯表, 不是报税表, 这点需要特别搞清楚。既然是资讯表, 就不会由此而产生有什么税要交。

只有个人名下产生的收入才需要交税。如果海外附属公司所从事的属非活动性生意, 赚取的是利息、股息、以及资本性收益等非活动性赢利, 税法上则有其它的规定, 因为较复杂, 在此暂不做介紹。

问: 是不是只要在境外的公司里占有股份就要申报T1134表呢?

答: 加拿大居民与其亲属在海外的公司里占有10%以上的股份, 并且加拿大居民所占有的股份不低于1%时, 就需要申报T1134表格.

T1134表格又分A和B两种, A表比B表略为简单,A表用于加拿大居民与其亲属所占股份不超过50%的情况, B表则用于占控股的情况。

问: 海外附属公司申报都包括哪些内容?

答: T1134A表格需填写海外附属公司的名称、地址、主要经营活动、公司注册及设有固定经营地点的国家名称、股份持有资料、股东是否收到股息或拥有债权等, 并需提供所申报会计年度的财务报表, 如果申报者无法取得财务报表, 应提供公司的税前收入及缴纳的所得税数额.

对于T1134B表, 除了上述资料外, 还需提供公司的收入类别、雇员人数、是否经营投资性的生意以及有无资本性增值与亏损等资料.

问: 海外附属公司申报表是与个人报税表一同递交吗?

答: 个人报税表是在每年的4月30日或之前递交; T1134A 和T1134B表应在海外附属公司会计年底日的十五个月之内递交, 新移民成为加拿大税务居民的第一年免申报。

问: 海外资产申报表是否一定需要有本人的签字?

答: 是的。 同时, 为您报税的专业人士也要在报表上签字。整个报税表也应该是这样, 如果您的税表是由专业人士通过电子传送的, 您则需要签署一份授权书。

问: 在中国交的税也可以拿到加拿大来抵税吗?

答: 可以, 只要有交税的证明就可以。很多人认为在中国已经交了税, 在加拿大报税又要交很多税,其实不一定。

是否仍然需要在加拿大补税, 完全要看已在境外交了多少税, 通过利用个人及配偶的免税额和其它可抵税项目, 实际上并不见得人人都需要再补税。

问:海外资产报税时,还需要注意一些什么问题?

答:根据税法的规定来进行报税是每位居民的义务,大家都必须遵守。从移民个人角度来看,申报这些海外项目会比较繁琐,而且又可能导致缴税,但是如果不这么做,就会有被查出的风险。需要承担由此导致的后果。

试想,如果移民不如实申报海外资产,同时在加拿大又不工作没有收入或者没有足够多的收入,那么在加拿大购房、储蓄就会引起加拿大税务部门的怀疑。即便税务部门没有马上核查,日后也可以追溯。

加拿大和中国有相关税务协议,一旦加拿大税务部门去查证移民在中国的资产状况,中国税务部门有义务配合。多年前就曾有过加拿大国税局越洋侦探前往香港查询移民海外资产的案例出现,所以建议新移民对此一定不要抱有侥幸心理,从长计议,如实申报。

问:对於不申报海外资产会有什么处罚?

答:对於海外资产的申报,对很多人来说是个烦恼。因为很多人对海外资产的申报不瞭解,而且有很多误解。其中,最大的误解是认为一旦申报了海外资产,那么就会被加拿大政府征税。其实,这些资产的本身並不产生税务问题,而是从这些资产上再产生的收入,才需要计入个人的收入申报所得税。

加拿大对於不申报海外资产的处罚是相当严重的,如有海外资产而没有申报,被查出的话,將处以每天25元的罚款。如果有意虚报海外资产金额,將会在今后24个月中处以每月500元罚款。24个月之后,如果还未申报,將会以海外资产总额的5%为罚款。海外资产的申报是每个移民必须认真对待的问题。

附:海外资产申报释疑

(1) 特别注意,海外资产申报并不是要对海外资产本身纳税,而是要对这些资产产生的收入和孽息收税。世界上还没有一个国家对人民的资产直接收所得税,如它们没有变动或获利的话。

(2) 加国政府对税务居民海外资产申报的用意,是让这些资产所产生的所得,日后要并入加拿大所得课税,并非是拥有海外资产就要课税。

(3) 虽然加拿大对海外资产本身不纳税,等到有一天出售了这份资产,它产生了资本利得,其50%的增值仍然要并入个人所得课征所得税。当出售有资本损失(赔本出售),就不会增加所得税,并且可与其它资本利得互抵。

(4) 据实申报是我们应尽的义务。有大量资产的人士要移民加拿大, 事先要对海外资产进行合理的安排, 否则既使在加拿大居住一段时间而以为没有申报或者少报漏报希望侥幸过关的, 在被发现时还会被追缴税款并被罚款和附加利息, 到那时可能就得不偿失, 甚至在加拿大的财产被拍卖补税。


http://blog.51.ca/u-211733/2009/12/16/%E6%B5%B7%E5%A4%96%E8%B5%84%E4%BA%A7%E6%8A%A5%E7%A8%8E%EF%BC%9A%E4%BD%A0%E9%97%AE%E6%88%91%E7%AD%94/

加拿大:关于海外资产申报的若干税务问题

1. 问:有新移民认为,由於第一次申报海外资产时应该多报 ,这样以后海外资产的所得就可以少交税。例如,汪先生本来有11万海外资产,在登陆第一次申报海外资产时,他申报 15万。汪先生认为,如果这11万元的利息所得为5万元,不过由於申报时为 15万元,实际上他只需要交1万元的资本所得,而不是5万元。这种做法是否可行?

答:由於海外资产申报只需要在一个范围內打勾,所以,灰色地带很多。但是,问题是一旦税务稽查,你必须提供相关的文件。比如,这位汪先生申报 15万,但是,他必须提供具体15万资产的构成,和收入的证明。

2. 问:对於居住在中国大陆,没有加国移民身份的父母,赠予子女的金钱 ,是否算做子女的海外收入或资产,是否需要申报?

答:赠予子女的金钱不算子女的海外收入或资产,不需要申报。但是,可能需要提供在赠予前资产属於父母在证明。

3. 问:作为技术移民,在海外的自住房屋本不用作为海外资产申报 ,但若移民加国后,把国內的房子卖掉,所得的钱超过10万加幣,若將此笔钱带进加拿大,税务局是否会质疑此笔钱的来源 ,由於此笔钱之前並没有申报,是否会有麻烦?

答:海外的自住房屋本不用作为海外资产申报 。只有保留具体的文件,没有问题。

4. 问:移民来加,由於海外资产低於10万元,所以以前並没有申报过。但在2006 年时,回国后,带入超过10万元,由於此笔钱是向国內的朋友借的,是否要申报?应如何申报?是否要提供借据等支援文件。

答:不需要申报,但是要准备足够的文件以应付可能的税务稽查。

5. 问:夫妻共同移民加国后又离婚,丈夫在中国,妻子和孩子继续在加拿大生活。离婚后,丈夫从中国给妻子匯了一笔钱作为赡养费,这笔钱是否算做妻子的海外资产,是否要申报?

答:不需要。

6. 问:海外资产超过10万元加幣,但在加国为低收入者,若申报了海外资产后 ,是否还能享受到加国的各项福利。

答:要看具体的福利。有的福利和收入有关,不受资产的多少影响;有的收入和资产多少有关,会受到影响。但要注意的是,由海外资产所产生的收入,例如利息等也是收入的一项,在各项福利的评估中,如果涉及到收入一项,海外资产的收入也应考虑在內。如果收入总和加起来超过福利所要求的收入金额,则不符合该福利的申请。


http://www.ccyai.ca/view.php?tid=19&id=214

加拿大:申报海外资产的证据问题

胡商谈税:申报海外资产的证据问题

看到这一题目,会有人觉得提出这个问题的人是一个外行,因为加拿大海外资产的申报并不要求提供任何证据,只是填写一份简单的表格。本文要说明的是,这种申报时不要求提供证据而实际需要证据支持的规则,就是加拿大税制的奥妙之处。

加拿大的税务申报采用的是自我申报制;而维持自我申报制的支柱之一是纳税人的举证责任,即当纳税人与税局之间发生争议时,纳税人有责任拿出证据来证明自己的说法。

在海外资产申报的问题上,纳税人与税局有可能发生什么争议呢?这方面的争议可分为两类;一类是税局否认纳税人所申报的资产的实际存在;二类是纳税人申报海外资产之后又否认其资产的存在。对于后者,一般读者一定会感到奇怪;纳税人申报之后为什么又要否认其资产的存在呢?这是因为税法对于那些晚报或不报的情形会处以罚款,而一些人收到罚单后,见势不妙又否定资产的存在,以避免罚款。在这种情况下,纳税人要提供理由及事实,证明海外资产是怎样误报的。

当然,有关海外资产的税务纠纷,主要是反映在纳税人坚持海外资产的实际存在,而税局则否。近年来,税局的查税越来越依赖所谓的净资产法(net worth method)或净资产评估(net worth assessment)。净资产法的核心概念,是将纳税人净资产的增长与当年所报的收入进行比较,从而评估出隐瞒未报的收入。面对净资产评估,纳税人往往是声称他在加拿大资产的增长是海外资产转入的结果,并且他也曾申报过该海外资产。然而,海外资产申报只不过是纳税人自己的一种声称而已。因此,税局还要求纳税人进一步证明他曾拥有过海外资产并已转入加拿大。如果纳税人不能证明,税局的净资产评估就被视为有效;而纳税人申报的海外资产也算是白报的。

由此可见,自我申报制要求的是纳税人如实的申报;但万一如果纳税人不如实申报,加拿大税制的完整性及合理性,又通过纳税人的举证责任,得到有效地维护。

至于怎样证明海外资产的存在或需要提供哪些文件证明,海外资产申报表(T1135)将资产分为六大类;不同性质的海外资产决定了不同的证明文件。可以想象,这不是一篇文章可以说明的内容。有兴趣的读者可以参阅由笔者编著并由加拿大税务出版社出版的《加拿大新移民税务策划》的第五章或《加拿大报税指南 2010》的第八章。

胡商谈税由加拿大税务出版社提供。加拿大税务出版社出版各类中文税务书籍,包括《加拿大报税指南2010》,《安省两税合并指南》,《加拿大新移民税务策划》,《加拿大经商税务》,《加拿大实用税务大全》,《加拿大税务非居民》,《海外资产申报》,《税务上诉:模式与方法》(英文)等。


http://immi.yorkbbs.ca/news/2010-02/369498.html

加拿大:OLD AGE SECURITY

The Old Age Security Act permits the inclusion of the OAS
program in social security agreements. These agreements
allow periods of residence and/or periods of contributions
in the other country to be counted as periods of residence
in Canada for eligibility purposes. This may help applicants
satisfy the minimum eligibility requirements for OAS
benefits. For example, someone who has resided in Canada
for less than the 10 years required to receive a partial OAS
pension in Canada would be able to use periods of residence
and/or periods of contributions in the other country to meet
the residence requirement. A similar provision would apply
for someone who has resided in Canada for less than the 20
years needed to receive an OAS pension outside the country.
Some restrictions may apply under some agreements.

Once eligibility for the OAS pension has been established,
the amount of the OAS pension payable is equal to 1/40 of
a full OAS pension for each year of actual residence in Canada
after reaching 18.


http://dsp-psd.pwgsc.gc.ca/Collection/SD18-7-2005E.pdf

2010-06-23

加拿大:多伦多买电脑配件的店

多伦多买电脑配件的店有

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/
http://www.infonec.com/site/main.php
http://www.canadacomputers.com/

注意在 Tiger Direct,同样东西网上购买的价格和店里会有所不同。几次观察下来,发现 Tiger Direct 不如另两家。

2010-06-22

全球:最适合华人居住的城市(2010年)

在参考了2008,2009年中国宜居城市名单,今年的评分增加了杭州等中国城市。

评比标准等同的分为两部分,与华人直接相关的,而全球各色人宜居城市名单排名。下面是华人直接相关项目,每项最高10分:

1,好赚钱 - 华人经商比例很高
2,排华情绪少 - 安全第一(或对华人来讲第二也未可知)
3,全体华人政治地位 - 华人参政情况,华人担任要职情况
4,中华文化对主流文化的影响
5,中文的地位 - 是否是官方语言
6,全体华人经济地位
7,华人生活方便程度 - 是不是有华语广播,华文报纸,唐人杂货店,高质量唐餐馆

全球各色人宜居城市名单排名计分按下面公式计算:MIN(ROUND((140-SCORE+1)/2, 0), (140-100)/2))。

全球:宜居城市(2009)

1 Vienna
2 Zurich
3 Geneva
4 Vancouver
4 Auckland
6 Düsseldorf
7 Frankfurt
7 Munich
9 Bern
10 Sydney
11 Copenhagen
12 Wellington
13 Amsterdam
14 Ottawa
15 Brussels
16 Toronto
17 Berlin
18 Melbourne
19 Luxembourg
20 Stockholm
21 Perth
21 Montreal
23 Hamburg
24 Nürnberg
24 Oslo
26 Canberra
26 Dublin
28 Calgary
28 Singapore
30 Stuttgart
31 Honolulu
32 Adelaide
32 San Francisco
34 Paris
35 Helsinki
36 Brisbane
37 Boston
38 Lyon
39 London
40 Tokyo
41 Milan
41 Kobe
41 Yokohama
44 Barcelona
45 Lisbon
45 Chicago
45 Washington DC
48 Madrid
49 New York City
50 Seattle

美国:宜居城市排名(2009)

1 Louisville, CO
2 Chanhassen, MN
3 Papillion, NE
4 Middleton, WI
5 Milton, MA
6 Warren, NJ
7 Keller, TX
8 Peachtree City, GA
9 Lake St. Louis, MO
10 Mukilteo, WA
11 West Goshen, PA
12 Sammamish, WA
13 Superior, CO
14 Farmington, UT
15 Westerville, OH
16 Acton, MA
17 Newcastle, WA
18 Highland Heights, OH
19 Hopkinton, MA
20 Chaska, MN
21 Montville, NJ
22 Draper, UT
23 Solon, OH
24 Mansfield, TX
25 Ellisville, MO
26 Lenexa, KS
27 Tolland, CT
28 Plymouth Township, MI
29 Liberty, MO
30 Twinsburg, OH
31 Southborough, MA
32 Friendswood, TX
33 Brownsburg, IN
34 New Berlin, WI
35 Suwanee, GA
36 Lino Lakes, MN
37 Easton, MA
38 Grosse Ile, MI
39 Schertz, TX
40 Medina, OH
41 Springboro, OH
42 Urbandale, IA
43 Merrimack, NH
44 Apex, NC
45 Georgetown, TX
46 Hewitt, TX
47 Eldersburg, MD
48 St. John, IN
49 Madison, AL
50 Hanover, NH
51 Richland, WA
52 Rochester, MI
53 Mount Airy, MD
54 Brandon, MS
55 Somers, CT
56 Batavia, IL
57 Simsbury, CT
58 Shrewsbury, MA
59 Jackson, MO
60 River Vale, NJ
61 Pewaukee, WI
62 Ankeny, IA
63 Martinez, GA
64 West Linn, OR
65 Buffalo Grove, IL
66 Hooksett, NH
67 Bixby, OK
68 Saline, MI
69 Scituate, RI
70 Walnut, CA
71 Bountiful, UT
72 Cheshire, CT
73 Glocester, RI
74 Lindon, UT
75 East Lyme, CT
76 Germantown, WI
77 Trumbull, CT
78 Waunakee, WI
79 Lake Oswego, OR
80 Bettendorf, IA
81 West Fargo, ND
82 Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
83 Calera, AL
84 Mechanicsville, VA
85 Alabaster, AL
86 Bryant, AR
87 Clayton, CA
88 Emmaus, PA
89 Cave Spring, VA
90 Helena, AL
91 Glen Carbon, IL
92 Silverdale, WA
93 Tecumseh, MI
94 Glen Allen, VA
95 Concord, NH
96 Lake Mary, FL
97 Owatonna, MN
98 Norfolk, NE
99 Columbus, NE
100 Oviedo, FL

中国:2008宜居城市排行榜

1 杭州
2 香港
3 深圳
4 珠海
5 大连
6 贵阳
7 威海
8 南宁
9 金华
10 曲靖


http://travel.sina.com.cn/news/2009-07-09/094194288.shtml

2010-06-21

中国:2009宜居城市排行榜

1 青岛
2 苏州
3 泰州
4 厦门
5 宁波
6 长沙
7 聊城
8 河池
9 包头
10 信阳

只差一年,十佳全换了,看上去更像大家轮流坐庄。


http://travel.sina.com.cn/news/2009-07-09/094194288.shtml

全球:最适合华人居住的城市(2007年)

评比标准:

1,好赚钱 - 华人经商比例很高
2,排华情绪少 - 安全第一(或对华人来讲第二也未可知)
3,全体华人政治地位 - 华人参政情况,华人担任要职情况
4,中华文化对主流文化的影响
5,中文的地位 - 是否是官方语言
6,全体华人经济地位
7,华人生活方便程度 - 是不是有华语广播,华文报纸,唐人杂货店,高质量唐餐馆


下面是结论:

全球:用ATM机或信用卡来支付开销有利有弊

--1234567-

以往这个有人建议用ATM机或信用卡来支付在国外的开销,这个做法有利有弊。从汇率上讲,这两个方法当然是很合适的,但也存在着不少问题,一是不是所有国外花销点都接受信用卡,也不是在任何地点都找得到ATM机,再有使用信用卡和现金卡如遇到该卡使用区域的限制(有时这个限制来自消费地,又是来自发卡地,当然也有两地的原因都有),就会给使用造成困扰。此外,境外交易要通过国际线路传回美国进行的本币托收,这中间也有国际金融犯罪团伙截取线载信息(如马来西亚,泰国,菲律宾等国就发生过这类事情)进行盗窃的事情。综上所述,建议还是在美国国内外汇银行换取相当部分的欧元,英镑。这样,银行换汇虽按外汇卖出价结算,却不再加收手续费。最不可取的是带着美元在境外外汇兑换点兑换,那样不同兑换点收取的手续费往往十分惊人,例如,在不得已的情况下以差不多一美元兑0.5欧在某黑点兑外汇,而官价当时是0.73。


http://web.wenxuecity.com/BBSView.php?SubID=travel&MsgID=243219

2010-06-20

加拿大:注册成立公司

可以是在联邦注册,也可以在各省注册,费用各不相同。如果跨省运作,则应该在联邦注册。但联邦注册并不意味着可以不用在省里备注。各省的备注费用不同。所以如何减少注册费用,可以好好算一算。

比如,在安省注册费用是$400,备注是$0,年费是$0。在联邦注册费用是$200,年费是$20。于是,在联邦注册同时在安省注册相对最好。

在各省不注册是不行的。最简单的注册方式就是在注册是顺手在省里也备注了。

联邦注册的网址是:www.corporationscanada.ic.gc.ca

注册完了后,你需要相税局注册商业号码和GST,如下:

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pbg/tf/rc1/README.html

税局 Office/mailing address for Toronto Centre:
1 Front Street West
Toronto ON M5J 2X6
Fax: 416-360-8908

纽西兰:银行每月Transaction数目是如何计算的

有的帐户,银行每月 Transaction 数目是有限制的,如果超出了一定的数目,就要额外多付费。那银行每月 Transaction 数目是是如何计算的?在纽西兰银行业,“每月”这个概念并不是自然月,而是从你开户的那个日子算起,而且这个日子是不能改的。如果你记不得那个日子,最好的办法是在任何一个30天内,同时在这个自然月内来考虑 Transaction 的数目。注意如果是在二月,那就只有28天。

加拿大:多伦多国际机场接机航班查询

多伦多国际机场全称是 Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport 或 Toronto Pearson International Airport,缩写是 GTAA。

多伦多国际机场接机航班查询:

http://www.gtaa.com/en/travellers/search_results/?info=arrivals&all=true&submitting=true

请特别注意多伦多国际机场有 Terminal 1 和 Terminal 3 之分。

停车场收费标准:

http://www.gtaa.com/en/travellers/airport_information/parking/parking_rates/

2010-06-19

美国:美国加拿大社会福利协议

这是美国法律。

Totalization Agreement with Canada

An agreement effective August 1, 1984, between the United States and Canada improves Social Security protection for people who work or have worked in both countries. It also helps protect the benefit rights of people who have earned Canadian Social Security credits based on residence and/or contributions in Canada.

Because the Canadian Social Security system includes a special pension plan operated in the Province of Quebec, an additional understanding has been concluded with Quebec to extend the agreement to that province—also effective August 1, 1984. Terms of the U.S.-Canadian agreement and U.S.-Quebec understanding are very similar, and except where otherwise noted, references in this document to the U.S.-Canadian agreement also apply to the U.S.-Quebec understanding.

The agreement with Canada helps many people who, without the agreement, would not be eligible for monthly retirement, disability or survivors benefits under the Social Security systems of one or both countries. It also helps people who would otherwise have to pay Social Security taxes to both countries on the same earnings.

For the United States, the agreement covers Social Security taxes (including the U.S. Medicare portion) and Social Security retirement, disability and survivors insurance benefits. It does not cover benefits under the U.S. Medicare program or the Supplemental Security Income program. For Canada, the agreement applies to the Old-Age Security program and the Canada Pension Plan. The understanding with Quebec applies to the Quebec Pension Plan.

This document covers highlights of the agreement and explains how it may help you while you work and when you apply for benefits.


http://www.socialsecurity.gov/international/Agreement_Pamphlets/canada.html

加拿大:公民申请进度查询

如果你的申请是通过 Canada Post 寄出的 registered letter,你可以在下面的网址查你的申请是否收到:

http://www.canadapost.ca/cpo/mc/default.jsf?LOCALE=en

在你受到第一封信,acknowledgement letter 之前,你将没有能力做任何进度查询。你在收到第一封信后,你可以打电话去 call centre 查询:1-888-242‑2100。

下一步,当 Sydney 受理中心CPC将案子转到你所在的当地移民局,你可以打电话去 call centre 或用下面的 e-CAS 网址查询:

https://services3.cic.gc.ca/ecas/?app=ecas&lang=en

在 e-CAS 网址查询要有 Client ID。通常情况,Client ID 就是你枫叶卡正面的ID。上网查询时,先进入移民部网站 www.cic.gc.ca,点[英文版」(English) 后,点[线上服务」(on-line services),再点[电子客户申请状态」(e-Client Application Status)。

下面是一个网上查询结果的例子:

"Your file was transferred on May 04, 2005 to the Vancouver Citizenship office for the citizenship testing and taking of the citizenship oath. The Vancouver Citizenship office will contact you to write the Citizenship test."


http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/canada/cit-processing.asp

2010-06-18

美国:12个月内约1200名澳洲人被拒入境美国

Standing before the US customs officer who's inspecting your passport, you steal a glance at the exit for passengers going to collect their luggage at the carousel.

But any excitement soon dissolves into a sense of foreboding as the officer directs you down a different corridor — to the Customs and Border Protection rooms.

The scene is played out for countless foreign visitors arriving at US airports every day whose stated travel intentions are deemed to warrant further investigation.

It ends in relief — if a little exasperation — for travellers allowed to continue on their way.

But in the 12 months to May 1, it ended in anguish for 1194 Australians denied entry to the US and put on the first plane home.

That works out to one in every 760 Australian visitors to the US being turned away at the border, according to figures from the US Department of Homeland Security.

YOUR SAY: Readers describe their encounters with US immigration officials.

Over the same time period, just 18 Australians were turned away at New Zealand's border and two nationals never made it past immigration officers in Indonesia.

These countries account for the three most popular overseas holiday destinations for Australians, according to the Bureau of Statistics. So why the relatively stiff standards for travellers to America? Especially as many of us start booking flights to catch the northern hemisphere summer?

Because thousands of tourists (and also students) overstay their visas, only to end up living and working in the US illegally, says the Department of Homeland Security.

"Whether you're travelling to America on a tourist visa or as a tourist on a visa waiver program, the presumption is that everybody is an intending immigrant," New York-based immigration lawyer Noemi Masliah said.

"It's up to the person applying to enter at the border with a visa to overcome that presumption. It's not up to the border protection officers to figure it out. If you cannot overcome the presumption, you'll be turned around."

And US border protection officers have considerable discretion to do so. There are no fewer than 60 grounds of inadmissibility within the US Immigration and Nationality Act.

The most common stumbling block is failing to prove you intend to return home, Ms Masliah said. And pursuing an amorous relationship with an American citizen does not help one's cause, she said, because it raises suspicions you really intend to marry and change your status to permanent resident (something permitted only if the tourist can prove the marriage was not planned but was a spur-of-the-moment event).

It's up to visitors to show they have strong ties to Australia like property ownership or a full-time job or family obligations. "You need to have countervailing evidence that you're going back to your home country," Ms Masliah said.

The trend in paying for tickets online and only printing out a boarding pass for the arriving flight also gets tourists into trouble. "I would highly recommend printing out your return ticket, because the inspectors at the airport like to see it up front and they don't like to go into your mobile phone to see if you have a return ticket somewhere in your email inbox," Ms Masliah said.

Australians who are refused entry may never again travel to the US under the visa waiver program and must instead apply for a visa in advance at a US consulate. The bureaucratic hoops are doubly difficult for people turned away because of an allegation of fraud, Ms Masliah said.


http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/1072615/almost-1200-aussies-turned-away-from-us-border

2010-06-17

加拿大:常用网址和电话号码

报警,火警和救护车号码同美国一样是911。其他常用网址可查 http://baseOF.me。加拿大是可以用电话号码反查地址的,网址是 www.411.ca 和 www.canada411.ca。

加拿大:手机收费

加拿大手机是双向收费的,而且非常贵。如果不常用,可以参加 Rogers 的 Pay As You Go 计划。每月最少$10。如果这还嫌贵,可以考虑到美国 T-Mobile 开通一个的手机,每季最少$10美金。

2010-06-16

加拿大:免费做 Statutory Declaration 的地方

Catholic Cross-Cultural Services, 有几个办事处。是政府认可的专门新移民服务机构,有中文服务,态度极好,而且是免费的。

Toronto 办事处的地址:
Catholic Cross-Cultural Services
10 St. Mary Street, Suite 410
Toronto, Ontario M4Y 1P9

Scarborough 办事处的地址:
Catholic Cross-Cultural Services
55 Town Certer Court, Room 401
City: Scarborough
Postal Code: M1K 5H4
Phone: (416) 757-7010
Fax: (416) 757-7399

Brampton 办事处的地址:
37 George St. N. Suite 403 Brampton, Ont.,L6X 1R5
Phone: (905) 457-7740
Fax: (905) 457-7769

Mississauga 办事处地址:
90 Dundas Street West, Suite 204, Mississauga, ON, L5B 2T5.
Phone:905-272-1703 Amy

加拿大:免费做 True Copy 的地方

1。Legal Aid Ontario Clinics

大家从以下站点都可以查到,结果是一大串的LIST,有电话地址,你要找到你现在住址所在区的这一家,只有它会帮你做,如果你不知道自己是属于哪个社区的,那拿起电话随便打一家,他们会根据你提供的住址告诉你应该找哪家,然后电话去预约先。(记住:Legal Service Ontario 不提供该服务,是 Legal Aid Ontario Clinics,大家不要搞混了)
www.411.ca
www.canada411.ca
www.yellowpages.ca

2。Catholic Cross-Cultural Services. 有几个办事处。是政府认可的专门新移民服务机构,有中文服务,态度极好,而且是免费的。http://www.cathcrosscultural.org/contact.htm

Toronto 办事处的地址:
Catholic Cross-Cultural Services

Scarborough 办事处的地址:
Catholic Cross-Cultural Services
55 Town Certer Court, Room 401
(South of Eglinton)
City: Scarborough
Postal Code: M1K 5H4
Phone: (416) 757-7010
Fax: (416) 757-7399

Brampton 办事处的地址:

Mississauga 办事处地址:
3660 Hurontario Street, 7th Floor
Mississauga, ON L5B 3C4
Phone:905-272-1703 Amy
Fax:(905) 273-4176

3。华资处,活贤社

不过好象一个月只预约办一次,所以大家不一定正好凑得上时间,而且预约也很久。

华资处: 華人諮詢社區服務處(華諮處)-就業資源中心
電話號碼: 416-292-7510
詳細地址: 3850 Finch Ave E Suite 403

活贤社移民服务部
815 Danforth Avenue, Suite 202, Toronto, ON M4J 1L2
(416) 645-6000 ext. 2140 国语服务:2136
WoodGreen Immigrant Services provides friendly and professional multiple services to all newcomers to help them connect with Canadian society and their new way of life
URL: http://www.woodgreen.org
联系信息:
联 系 人: 小汤
联系电话:(416) 645-6000

4。你的家庭医生。

这个可能要看人了。可能有些家庭医生借口和你认识不满两年或什么的不太愿意帮你办。但是我也是才登陆的新移民,就去过我的家庭医生一次,但她也非常乐意帮我办,虽然我后来在其他地方先办好了(但家庭医生没有章盖,是手签的)。ANYWAY,如果你愿意,可以试试。

5。你所在区的 Member of Parliament。他们通常都乐意帮忙。

6。你的开户银行。其他银行我不知道,但我开户的CIBC可以做TRUE COPY。和PERSONAL BANKER聊聊,他一高兴,一般可以不要钱。

7。还有个 Metro Toronto Chinese & Southeast Asian Legal CL 的法律援助机构也做。如果碰巧在你家附近,也可以试试。
http://www.411.ca/business/Ontario/Toronto/Metro-Toronto-Chinese-Southeast-Asian-Legal-CL/2769294.html#ixzz0r8RwN3KE
Phone: (416) 971-9674
180 Dundas St W 308 (Level 17)
Toronto, ON, M5G1Z8

8。不需要翻译的在 Service ontario 可以免费做。

http://fh.rolia.net/f0/c4250/hit/post/1505862.html

加拿大:如何做 True Copy

The following persons can certify your photocopies:

 professional accountant
 chiropractor
 commissioner of oaths
 dentist
 professional engineer
 funeral director
 justice of the peace or judge
 lawyer
 manager of a financial institution
 medical doctor
 member of a provincial legislature
 member of parliament
 municipal clerk
 notary
 designated official of a federal or provincial government department
 official of a foreign embassy, consulate or high commission officially accredited to Canada and authorized to certify documents issued by the officialˇs governement
 minister of religion
 pharmacist
 police officer
 postmaster
 primary, secondary or university teacher
 social worker
 veterinarian

The person who certifies your photocopies cannot be a family member. The person who certifies your photocopy must compare the original document to the photocopy and mark the following on the photocopy:

 their name and signature
 their official position or title
 the name of the original document
 the date they certified the document

They must also write the following statement on the photocopy: "I certify that this is a true copy of the original document."


http://fh.rolia.net/f0/c4250/all/post/1296705.html

2010-06-11

南非:南非华人

  粤籍华人成南非商业翘楚

  第一代移民经营杂货店、洗衣店、蔬菜店、茶馆和餐馆。当时南非法律严格限制中国移民可以从事的经营活动和地点以及他们的生活。

  在南非历史的黑暗时期,中国移民无法得到贸易许可,贸易时间受到限制。在德兰士瓦省(现在的豪登省),中国移民必须事先获得许可后才可以从一个地方旅行到另一个地方(如从比勒陀利亚到约翰内斯堡以及在各省之间)。中国移民勤奋工作,使第二代移民可以接受大学教育,并从事各种职业(如医生和会计师)。

  由于种族隔离制度,大批年轻的华裔于20世纪60年代和70年代离开南非前往加拿大和澳大利亚定居。

  20世纪70年代,由于一项鼓励在所谓的“独立家园”及附近投资的产业政策,来自中国台湾的投资者开始在南非投资。

  这些来自中国台湾的投资者因南非政府投资政策的要求,在南非远离城市的地区和农村地区进行投资。同时,少数来自中国香港的中国人以及华裔南非人也开始在南非投资贸易。

  据估计,到1989年为止,来自中国台湾的商人在南非共设立了大约 150家工厂,投资资本达到3亿美元,生产的产品包括服装、礼品、塑料、餐具、鞋类和电子产品。

  非国大(ANC)1994年执政后,结束了白人统治,曼德拉上任后做出第一件外交决定就是与台湾断绝了外交关系,转而同中华人民共和国建立了全面的外交关系,双方随后便开始进行充满活力的双边贸易。

  新外交关系的影响在南非城市郊区特别明显。约翰内斯堡郊区Cyrildene新出现的唐人街极好地证明了来自中国的新一波移民潮。中国人在南非城市郊区购买了房产,用于居住以及商业目的,如餐馆、茶馆、出售中国货的杂货店和百货店。

  随着近年的发展,不少来自粤港澳的华人成为了南非华人的贸易领袖,这与当年广东人成为南非的祖先,不知是否一种历史的呼应呢?

  广东人率先登陆南非

  至于有史可查的华人登陆南非的现存记录中,第一位登陆南非的也是广东人。据记载,第一位踏上南非土地的这位来自广东的中国人叫“万舟”(Wancho明显是粤语音译),他于1660年搭乘荷兰“阿纳姆”号从巴达维亚(印尼首都雅加达的旧称)出发到达南非。

  自18世纪40年代开始,在好望角居住着十多个中国人,经营餐馆和贩卖蔬菜。从1849年到1882年,英国殖民地开普敦和纳塔尔从中国输入契约劳工。

  从1875年开始,纳塔尔从中国输入工匠和劳工建造英国殖民地的道路、德班的海港和其他公共建设项目。但是,当时的奥兰治自由邦Orange Free State(一个布尔人建立的共和国)禁止亚洲人拥有财产。

  19世纪70年代来到南非的第一批中国人来自广州。19世纪,这些主要来自中国广东的中国移民的后裔成为南非华人。这一直持续到20世纪70年代。

  南非华人不是 1904年到1907年之间在威特沃特斯兰(Witwatersrand)金矿上工作的契约劳工的后裔。这些人在三年期满之后返回了中国。1907年的一项劳动法规定在契约期满后这些中国人必须回国。

  在1904年5月和1910年6月之间,一共有63695名中国工人在金矿工作。定居在“金山”(南非)的中国人主要来自广州南部农村以及广东东北部梅县的乡村。来自广州的中国人主要居住在约翰内斯堡、比勒陀利亚和威特沃特斯兰的广大地区。而来自梅州的中国人则主要居住在伊丽莎白港和东伦敦,而在开普敦和德班仅有少量分布。


http://news.wenxue.com/messages/201006/news-gb2312-1102822.html

2010-06-10

中国:中国加速清理外籍华裔未注销户口

  加拿大一份学术报告指出,中国近期加速清理海外华人在中国户籍,令许多被迫回流的加国华裔活在恐慌中。报告建议,在中国短期不可能承认双重国籍下,中国官方应加速修法,令从海外回流人士重新申请成为中国永久居民,以保障落户工作等相关权利。目前在华居住的加国公民,总数估计达30万人之谱。卑诗大学(UBC)地理系教授何莲恩博士(Elaine Lynn-Ee Ho,译音),上月在《卑诗大都会》(Metropolis BC)期刊所撰写文章《生存在两个世界:中国大陆移民回流及户口国籍两难处境》(Caught between Two Worlds: Mainland Chinese Return Migration, Hukou Considerations and the Citizenship Dilemma)指出,入籍加国的华裔因在加谋生不易,回流中国后往往处于有家归不得境况。中国外交部规定,凡持有两本护照出入大陆的加国公民,将面临强制注销中国户口之虞。

  将面临强制注销户口之虞

  文章指出,加国华裔公民回流中国之后,在国内办理银行开户、买卖房地产都遇上困难,而且要不停申请在中国延期居留。那些还未取消中国户口但有外籍的华裔,多半只能隐藏双重国籍的身分,生活在惶恐中。

  她认为,这批人在加国谋生困难,回流中国又因没有户口,进退维谷。加国学术和政界应设法协助他们,以解决面临的困境。

  可考虑改善户口政策

  赞助这项研究的加拿大亚太基金会指出,目前在中国大陆及香港居住的加国公民,估计达25万至30万人,人数庞大,影响也最大。

  加拿大亚太基金会资深研究员张康指出,不少回流大陆的加国华裔,希望中国当局能够承认双重国籍。而在目前,中国可考虑改善户口政策,惠及自海外回国的华裔,例如要吸引海外人才回流,不妨提供居留证和工作证等,使他们得以安稳地生活。

  他说,在全球化的大趋势下,人口流动势必加强,过去以民族族裔划分国家、以国籍联系的概念,应逐渐淡化,取而代之是多元民族、多重国籍,以利人才发挥所长。


http://news.wenxuecity.com/messages/201006/news-gb2312-1102274.html

加拿大:法院如何判断入籍申请做假

钱路律师事务所

加拿大法院如何判断入籍申请做假

在过去的撰文中,笔者曾多次讨论公民法院及联邦法院的法官是如何审理未住满三年的申请人的入籍申请的法律原则的。笔者的结论是,在过去多年,公民法院和联邦法院的法官在审理这类申请时,分为两派不同观点:一派是以“生活重心”为依据的。根据这派法官的意见,申请人即使没有住满三年,只要其“生活重心”在加拿大,还是有可能得以入籍。另一派是以“实际居住”日为依据的。只要没有住满三年,一律拒绝。

近年来,由于加拿大最高法院的一系列判例的理论体系的最终形成,未住满三年的申请人,想以“生活重心”理论为依据获得公民身份,可能性已经变的很小了。因此,有些申请人就转而用作假的办法。谎报自己在过去三年的居住情况,以获得加拿大的公民身份。

最近,为防止作假谎报的情况的发生,加拿大公民暨移民部于2006年8月2日制定一套内部《作业规则》,详细指导公民部官员,如何审核公民入籍申请材料,杜绝作假的继续发生。

该《作业规则》开宗明义指出,大多数申请人所提供的居住日期表,都是真实的。但有少部分申请人确实存在作假的情况。《作业规则》详细列举了一些应该引起公民部官员注意的疑点,要求公民部官员在发现这些疑点时,及时对申请人的情况作进一步的调查。

《作业规则》提醒公民部官员,在审核入籍申请表时,要注意以下疑点:

一、 申请人对居住时间的申报

1) 对申请人申报的境内居住的时间,应该对比公民暨移民部所能掌握的其他文件。这些文件包括:申请人的移民纸、枫叶卡、护照上的入出境盖章、移民部的电脑记录,以及申请人当时申请枫叶卡时所填报的居住时间的记录。

2) 凡申请人无法充分地罗明过去四年内在境内的居住时间者,或是其所列的居住时间不可能是准确者,重点核查。

二、 注意申请人以往的入籍申请历史

1) 申请人过去曾递交过公民入籍申请,但是由于居住时间的问题曾被拒绝;

2) 申请人过去递交过公民入籍申请,但是后来该申请被放弃或撤消了。

三、 注意申请人的外国护照

1) 如果申请人护照上入出境盖章显示申请人在某一段时间幷没有在加拿大居住,但是,其公民入籍申请表上却显示为在加拿大居住者;

2) 当申请人在入籍考试时,将会被要求出示护照。或者,在面谈时,也需出示护照。如果申请人的护照上显示出其最后的进入加拿大的入境章,或者,从其他国家出境时所盖的出境章是发生在最近几天者;

3) 申请人换了新护照,但是无法提供出过去四年中所使用过的护照者,或者,申请人所持的新护照是在加拿大境外获发的;

4) 申请人在参加入籍考试或面谈时被要求携带护照,而申请人没有携带。

四、 移民部记录

1) 移民部的档案资料显示申请人经常旅行,幷没有在加拿大居住,或者,公民部获得举报,申请人有可能没有在加拿大居住,或者,申请人在海外居住时已经放弃过或准备要放弃加拿大永久居民的身份,或者,申请人曾被海外移民官认定丧失了永久居民身份者;

2) 如果申请人已经被移民部认定,没有满足五年住满两年的要求,因而已经丧失了永久居民身份者。

五、 其他证据

1) 公民暨移民部的电话热线中心(Call Centre)或移民部信息系统收到举报,告知某申请人经常出国旅行,或是告知该申请人根本就没有在加拿大居住者;

2) 申请文件本身看上去不真实或有可能做假者;

3) 申请人在申请表上的签字与申请照片上的签字有明显差异者;

4) 申请表所附的照片是在海外拍摄的,但而申请表却上没有列出申请人在这段时间是在海外;

5) 申请人的雇主没有被列在申请表上,或申请人雇主电话区号不同于申请人的家庭电话区号,或者,公民部无法联络到申请人的雇主;

6) 几个不同的申请人使用的是同一家加拿大公司的公司章程,或者几个不同的申请人所申报的加拿大公司,其董事会成员的名单是相同的;

7) 申请人为自雇者,其雇主证明信是由申请人本人签字,或是由申请人之家庭成员签字者;

8) 几个不同的申请人所填写的居住地址、或家庭电话号码或工作地址相同,但是他们幷没有同时递交入籍申请;

9) 不同的申请上使用了同样的书写字体或打字样式,但是这些申请幷没有一起递加拿大法院如何判断入籍申请做假交给公民部,而且,这些相同格式的申请表上也没有注明申请表是由其他人(特别是专业人员)协助申请人完成填写的(注意,这是指有专业人员协助申请,但专业人员刻意隐瞒自己的身份);

10) 申请表的签字日期恰是申请人在海外逗留的时期;

11) 申请人是为一家加拿大公司在海外工作,而申请人本人或是其亲属是该公司的业主或股东;

12) 申请人的指模卡印制手续是在海外完成的;

13) 申请人的加拿大医疗卡已经过期了。

可以协助公民部核实申请人居住地的证明文件:

一、 护照/旅行文件

必要时,公民部可以要求申请人提供过去四年中所使用过的所有的新旧护照。当申请人来参加入籍考试时,公民部官员必须检查、审核申请人护照上的过去四年中的入出境盖章。如果申请人的护照是过去五年内签发的,或者申请人的新护照是在旧护照没有到期的情况下换发的,那么,公民部应要求申请人提供已注销的旧护照。如果旧护照已经遗失或被窃,公民部可以要求申请人提供警察局相关证明的。(注:公民部官员也应了解,某些国家在换发护照时,旧护照是要被收回的;还有些申请人,例如难民,有可能是没有护照的。)

当公民部官员在审查申请人护照上的入出境盖章时,要非常留意查看加拿大的入境章和其他国家的入境章。其他国家的入境章能显示出申请人从加拿大离境的时间。很多国家在盖章时会使用不用图形的印章来区分入境章和出境章,例如:入境章是椭圆的,而出境章是方型的。在审查申请人的护照上其他国家签发的入境签证时,要特别注意签证的有效期及签证的类别。特别注意的是:由于不是所有国家,包括加拿大,客人离境时在护照上盖入境章,因此,如果申请人护照上没有加拿大的入境章,幷不代表申请人没有离过境。

二、 移民部电脑信息系统资料

如果申请人的移民身份有任何改变,加拿大移民部应负责提供相关信息给公民部及各地移民局。当然,公民部官员也应主动查看移民部电脑信息系统资料的记录以核实申请人所申报的在加拿大的居住时间。

三、 申请人在加拿大受雇状况:包括申请人的薪水单、T4表、收入明细单、税务局的核税单,或者加拿大雇主出具的雇主证明信。

四、 申请人在加拿大的就学证明:包括成绩单、学校报告单、学校的上课记录。

五、 财务报告:如果申请人是自雇人员,需要提供公司的财务报告。

六、 银行帐单:银行帐单可以显示出申请人在加拿大的帐户的使用情况;申请人加拿大法院如何判断入籍申请做假本人的信用卡帐单(注意,不是申请人与家人联名的信用卡)应显示申请人经常在加拿大使用自己的信用卡在加拿大日常购物;注意,如果仅仅是提供银行的证明,表明申请人在银行有帐户存在,或者有固定的帐单的支付,例如电话费、电费,或是互联网的银行操作,都不足以能证明申请人本人是在加拿大居住的。

七、 日常生活证据:包括申请人名下的电话、水电、网络等帐单、手机帐单、保险帐单、租车记录、汽车保险、驾驶执照、看病记录等等都是公民部官员可以参考的文件。但是,注意,以上的这些文件也可能只是证明申请人的家人是住在加拿大,而非申请人本人。

八、 申请人孩子的就学记录:如果申请中包括了未成年孩子,那么有必要查看孩子在加拿大的就学记录,以证明其居住事实是否存在九、 宣誓书:申请人的朋友,同事,或者社区组织可能会提供一些宣誓书来证明申请人在加拿大居住。但是这些宣誓书或证明信的证明效力还是有限的,因为这些人对于申请人实际在加拿大居住的事实,可能幷不非常了解。

九、 政府部门提供的入出境记录:有些国家的入出境管理部门可能会保留所有旅客在其海关入出的记录。碰到这样的情况,公民部可以要求申请人提供在该国的入出境记录以证实申请人所申报的居住事实。

《作业规则》还特别在程序上规定,如果公民法官怀疑申请人没有诚实申报自己在加拿大居住的事实,因而拒绝申请人的入籍申请,下一步的程序是,公民部官员必须将该申请案转送到一个专门的“案件管理机构”。该机构将考虑是否应按公民法第29条对申请人提起刑事起诉。这是一项新的程序。在考虑是否要刑事起诉的前提是,只要公民法官有“怀疑”,就可以考虑是否起诉。同时,《作业规则》明确说明,有作假文件者,情况应通报给移民部。因为,这些人也可能不符合移民法所规定的居住义务。


http://www.rolia.net/forum/forum_showPost.php?tno=411325&pno=3388695&_bno=50&_cno=5050&

2010-06-08

全球:智利与美国等其他国家比较

by admin of allchile.net on Sun May 04, 2008 10:17 am

mistertk, don't worry about your English on the forum. It is still better than most of our members after a few drinks (or sober).

Here is the thing. It is completely normal, and I believe you recognize, that at your age the grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence. Sometimes it really is greener.

I lived in or visited about 25 countries before finally settling down in Chile. The funny thing is, I was fairly sure that Chile was it at about number 19 or 20, but had to check out the rest of South America and then live in the Netherlands, Belgium, and China just for good measure.

Travel goes from being a whole new experience to feeling like a job at some point, and by then you have a real appreciation for which country or culture fits you. Towards the end of my travels I felt like if I visited one more 5,000 year old building or visited another culture that was going to go extinct I was going to puke. I use to get a rush out of the culture shock. In fact I would call it a bit of an addiction. At some point that turned in to culture fatigue.

At your age, I would highly encourage you to get out and see the World. Do some pack packing. It does not matter how much money you spend on University education or what University you go to, you will never get the education you will get from traveling. In fact, once upon a time that was the point of education. It was suppose to teach people about a World they could not visit for themselves. Somewhere that got lost in a rush to crank out working brainless zombies.

Travel while going to the University. One of my favorite ways of financing travel around the world was by using the excuse of going to different University degree programs. It will improve your education overall, and make you more competitive when you do come back to Chile. We know a lot of Chileans that have been out for years and years working and going to school, that are now coming back to Chile because of the opportunities here.

As for the States, it does have a lot of wonderful things. It also unfortunately has a lot of bad things. That is likely what ticks me off about it the most. The price I had to pay for the good things just got too high. Perhaps some day that will be corrected, I just decided I was not going to watch my life pass by waiting for that to happen. I think a lot of the people that move to Chile are in a similar position. The problem with the States is that we are still the best at selling the "american dream" as a product or commodity to the World. Very few really have the American dream in America.

As for consumer debt, in every country it is just another form of slavery. Stay out of it now. Once your in it is very hard to ever get out. The system is designed to keep you in debt. All those paper rich gringos, are now in real trouble because of the mortgage collapse in the States. They payed a heavy price for that American dream, and now are all but certain to never have an opportunity again to obtain it because their credit is destroyed.

As for all those lazy, unmotivated, incompetent people and businesses in Chile there is an up side to that. Remember, for a person that is even kind of motivated there are nearly unlimited opportunities in Chile because of it. A business partner years ago said to me about Latin America, "you don't need a new idea, you just need a good idea". Do something right that is being done half ass in Chile, and you will be rich.

I told this to someone I think before on the forum. To figure out what needs to be done in Chile, spend a week with a pen and piece of paper in your pocket. Every time you see something that annoys you or does not work correctly, write it down. Don't think about it. Just write it down. At the end of the week sit down and go through the list and figure out how you could provide that service or correct that problem, with the least amount of investment on your part (ideally no investment) and get someone to pay you to do it. That is where the money is at. Chances are if something is annoying you, it is annoying every other Chilean also.

Now, from that list figure out which one of those things you would like to do (e.g. rank them by what you would enjoy doing ). There is your short list of real opportunities. You might want to do this for a while over a month or two just to gather more options, but the method should work the same. Even if you never do them, it is very educational exercise in economics. If you try it and it fails, it is even more educational ( the importance of very little investment comes in to play here ). Most people that succeed in business failed at more than 1 before getting it right. I think the average is around seven. In Chile, if you only make half as many mistakes as the other guy, you will be a big success.


http://www.allchile.net/chileforum/topic1419.html

智利:离开智利

离开智利时,无论是空港还是陆路,都必须交回游客卡或出示身份证,不然不让出境。拿身份证出境的人填写与智利公民一样的出境卡。


http://www.allchile.net/chileforum/topic3448.html
http://www.allchile.net/chileforum/topic3322.html
http://www.allchile.net/chileforum/topic3322-15.html
http://web.wenxuecity.com/BBSView.php?SubID=znmz&MsgID=14450

2010-06-05

中国:(1958年)户口登记条例

中华人民共和国户口登记条例

发布部门: 全国人民代表大会常务委员会
发布文号:

第一条 为了维持社会秩序,保护公民的权利和利益,服务于社会主义建设,制定本条例。

第二条 中华人民共和国公民,都应当依照本条例的规定履行户口登记。
  现役军人的户口登记,由军事机关按照管理现役军人的有关规定办理。
  居留在中华人民共和国境内的外国人和无国籍的人的户口登记,除法令另有规定外,适用本条例。

第三条 户口登记工作,由各级公安机关主管。
  城市和设有公安派出所的镇,以公安派出所管辖区为户口管辖区;乡和不设公安派出所的镇,以乡、镇管辖区为户口管辖区。乡、镇人民委员会和公安派出所为户口登记机关。
  居住在机关、团体、学校、企业、事业等单位内部和公共宿舍的户口,由各单位指定专人,协助户口登记机关办理户口登记;分散居住的户口,由户口登记机关直接办理户口登记。
  居住在军事机关和军人宿舍的非现役军人的户口,由各单位指定专人,协助户口登记机关办理户口登记。
  农业、渔业、盐业、林业、牧畜业、手工业等生产合作社的户口,由合作社指定专人,协助户口登记机关办理户口登记。合作社以外的户口,由户口登记机关直接办理户口登记。

第四条 户口登记机关应当设立户口登记簿。
  城市、水上和设有公安派出所的镇,应当每户发给一本户口簿。
  农村以合作社为单位发给户口簿;合作社以外的户口不发给户口簿。
  户口登记簿和户口簿登记的事项,具有证明公民身份的效力。

第五条 户口登记以户为单位。同主管人共同居住一处的立为一户,以主管人为户主。单身居住的自立一户,以本人为户主。居住在机关、团体、学校、企业、事业等单位内部和公共宿舍的户口共立一户或者分别立户。户主负责按照本条例的规定申报户口登记。

第六条 公民应当在经常居住的地方登记为常住人口,一个公民只能在一个地方登记为常住人口。

关联法规:

第七条 婴儿出生后一个月以内,由户主、亲属、抚养人或者邻居向婴儿常住地户口登记机关申报出生登记。
  弃婴,由收养人或者育婴机关向户口登记机关申报出生登记。

第八条 公民死亡,城市在葬前,农村在一个月以内,由户主、亲属、抚养人或者邻居向户口登记机关申报死亡登记,注销户口。公民如果在暂住地死亡,由暂住地户口登记机关通知常住地户口登记机关注销户口。
  公民因意外事故致死或者死因不明,户主、发现人应当立即报告当地公安派出所或者乡、镇人民委员会。

第九条 婴儿出生后,在申报出生登记前死亡的,应当同时申报出生、死亡两项登记。

第十条 公民迁出本户口管辖区,由本人或者户主在迁出前向户口登记机关申报迁出登记,领取迁移证件,注销户口。
  公民由农村迁往城市,必须持有城市劳动部门的录用证明,学校的录取证明,或者城市户口登记机关的准予迁入的证明,向常住地户口登记机关申请办理迁出手续。
  公民迁往边防地区,必须经过常住地县、市、市辖区公安机关批准。

第十一条 被征集服现役的公民,在入伍前,由本人或者户主持应征公民入伍通知书向常住地户口登记机关申报迁出登记,注销户口,不发迁移证件。

第十二条 被逮捕的人犯,由逮捕机关在通知人犯家属的同时,通知人犯常住地户口登记机关注销户口。

关联法规:

第十三条 公民迁移,从到达迁入地的时候起,城市在三日以内,农村在十日以内,由本人或者户主持迁移证件向户口登记机关申报迁入登记,缴销迁移证件。
  没有迁移证件的公民,凭下列证件到迁入地的户口登记机关申报迁入登记:
  (一) 复员、转业和退伍的军人,凭县、市兵役机关或者团以上军事机关发给的证件;
  (二) 从国外回来的华侨和留学生,凭中华人民共和国护照或者入境证件;
  (三) 被人民法院、人民检察院或者公安机关释放的人,凭释放机关发给的证件。

第十四条 被假释、缓刑的犯人,被管制分子和其他依法被剥夺政治权利的人,在迁移的时候,必须经过户口登记机关转报县、市、市辖区人民法院或者公安机关批准,才可以办理迁出登记;到达迁入地后,应当立即向户口登记机关申报迁入登记。

第十五条 公民在常住地市、县范围以外的城市暂住三日以上的,以暂住地的户主或者本人在三日以内向户口登记机关申报暂住登记,离开前申报注销;暂住在旅店的,由旅店设置旅客登记簿随时登记。
  公民在常住地市、县范围以内暂住,或者在常住地市、县范围以外的农村暂住,除暂住在旅店的由旅店设置旅客登记簿随时登记以外,不办理暂住登记。

第十六条 公民因私事离开常住地外出、暂住的时间超过三个月的,应当向户口登记机关申请延长时间或者办理迁移手续;既无理由延长时间又无迁移条件的,应当返回常住地。

第十七条 户口登记的内容需要变更或者更正的时候,由户主或者本人向户口登记机关申报;户口登记机关审查属实后予以变更或者更正。
  户口登记机关认为必要的时候,可以向申请人索取有关变更或者更正的证明。

第十八条 公民变更姓名,依照下列规定办理:
  (一) 未满十八周岁的人需要变更姓名的时候,由本人或者父母、收养人向户口登记机关申请变更登记;
  (二) 十八周岁以上的人需要变更姓名的时候,由本人向户口登记机关申请变更登记。

第十九条 公民因结婚、离婚、收养、认领、分户、并户、失踪、寻回或者其他事由引起户口变动的时候,由户主或者本人向户口登记机关申报变更登记。

第二十条 有下列情形之一的,根据情节轻重,依法给予治安管理处罚或者追究刑事责任:
  (一) 不按照本条例的规定申报户口的;
  (二) 假报户口的;
  (三) 伪造、涂改、转让、出借、出卖户口证件的;
  (四) 冒名顶替他人户口的;
  (五) 旅店管理人不按照规定办理旅客登记的。


关联法规:

第二十一条 户口登记机关在户口登记工作中,如果发现有反革命分子和其他犯罪分子,应当提请司法机关依法追究刑事责任。

第二十二条 户口簿、册、表格、证件,由中华人民共和国公安部统一制定式样,由省、自治区、直辖市公安机关统筹印刷。
  公民领取户口簿和迁移证应当缴纳工本费。

第二十三条 民族自治地方的自治机关可以根据本条例的精神,结合当地具体情况,制定单行办法。

第二十四条 本条例自公布之日起施行。

注:关于领取户口迁移证缴纳工本费项,公安部于1975年9月15日“关于取消户口迁移证收工本费的通知”中已予取消。


http://www.110.com/fagui/law_5496.html

中国:(1972年)因公出国人员注销和恢复户口

关于因公出国人员注销和恢复户口问题给水电部的复函

发布部门: 公安部
发布文号: (1972)45号

现将你部电话所询关于因公出国人员注销和恢复户口的问题,答复如下:.

  一、关于因公出国人员注销户口的问题,仍请按照一九五八年四月公安部三局《关于执行户口登记条例的初步意见》规定的精神办理,机关、团体、学校、企业、事业等单位因公出国六个月以上的,由各单位指定专人向常住地户口登记机关申报、注销户口。临时出国六个月以内的,只办理出国登记,不注销户口(经与商业部联系,出国期间停止粮油等供应;当月粮油已供应的,可不退回)。

  二、关于因公出国人员回国后恢复户口问题,请按照《户口登记条例》的有关规定,凭派出机关(指中央部一级、地方局一级的派出机关所属的主管外事、干部的机构,下同)出具的证件,向常住地户口登记机关申报、恢复户口。

  三、关于因公出国人员回国后因原单位迁移或工作调动的户口登记问题,由所属单位出具证明,连同派出机关发给的证件,向新常住地的户口登记机关申报、登记户口。

  四、关于因公出国人员临时回国的户口和粮食供应问题,经与商业部商议,凭派出机关出具的证明,向所在地户口登记机关登记临时户口,向商业部门领取粮油等供应。

  据了解,现在有不少地区的因公或因私出国人员,不按规定办理注销户口的手续,有的出国超过六个月仍然不注销户口并继续领取粮油等物资供应,是不符合国家户口管理和物资供应规定的。为此,请有关部门和各地公安机关,对出国人员要按照规定认真执行注销和登记户口的制度。

1972年10月30日


http://www.110.com/fagui/law_351601.html

加拿大:更正个人报税项目

更正个人报税项目需要的表格是 T1 Adjustment Request。

表格:http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pbg/tf/t1-adj/t1-adj-08e.pdf

如何在CRA网站上进行修正,按下述步骤操作就可以了:
“Change my return”
“Federal tax Schedule 1”
“review and submit changes”。

2010-06-04

墨西哥:2010年新规定


Tourist, FM-3 and FM-2 permit changes from 2010

In May 2010 an update to the Mexican immigration procedures came in to effect. The FM-T tourist permit was replaced with an FMM permit, and you can no longer get an FM-3 outside Mexico. There are also changes to the rules for FM-2 and FM-3 residence visas (permits), possibly including a change to the FM-3 income proof in some cases.
New Procedures Manual

The new immigration procedures manual was published in Diario Oficial de la Federación 2010-Jan-29 (in Spanish). The main change was to combine an assortment of temporary visas and permits (such as "FM-T tourist visas" - which were really "entry permits") into one general purpose permit, the FMM (Forma Migratoria Múltiple), and to require that permit is returned on exit.
Application of the manual

What follows is what the new procedures manual appears to state (and it likely contains errors where I've mis-read it). Each immigration office can, and does, set local requirements. So this is what could happen, or might happen, if every office followed the letter of the rules. When it doubt, what the local office says IS the law, although none of them should impose extra charges.
FMM Entry/Exit form

FMM permit - entry half is blue, exit half is green The new FMM form replaces the FM-T visa, and is now used for tracking ALL entries and exits.

Here's a larger version of the FMM form (scanned by RiverGirl, thank you). This helps you read the small print, which is very, very small (and poorly translated - no proof reading at all).

It is required to be filled in by all those entering and exiting Mexico (except Mexican citizens), INCLUDING holders of FM-3 and FM-2 visas and the replacement cards. So, it's like the I-94 entry permit that is put into the passport of non-citizens when they enter the US: if you lose it before leaving, expect trouble later.

Mexican citizens have a different form they are required to complete (FTM).

The FMM permit is in two parts, one half is retained by immigration when you enter, and you keep the other (the smaller green bit).

The rules state that you MUST return your half of the FMM form when you leave the country. One half is to record your entry, one half is to record your exit. Nothing is mentioned about multiple entries. It remains to be seen how this is enforced in practice at busy land borders, but the rules (section H 2.2) do state that it must be returned on exit.

The costs of the FMM are not yet clear, early reports say US$22. I'm not aware of any fee being charged for FM3/FM2 holders, that fee is just for tourists. The FMM hasn't been in use long enough yet to see how it's going to work (or not) on land borders for multiple entry.

Here is a 5 minute flash video that is shown on planes arriving in Mexico. Good luck if you're expected to follow all that on a single viewing! To be fair, entering the US (for non citizens) has been worse than this for many years, the Mexicans just seem to be deciding that the US is a good role model (and not wondering why tourism to the US has been in decline most years).

Initial reports from airports like Cancun say it is now taking three times as long to process each arrival.

FM-3 and FM-2 permit

Forma Migratoria de NO Inmigrante The FM-3 (temporary resident) and FM-2 (provisional resident) visas (actually permits) will get a new look, with cards replacing the booklets.

The image alongside is of the Forma Migratoria de no Inmigrante that replaces the FM-3 booklet. The card is in gray, and contains text in both Spanish and English, including in English on the back "the holder of this document is a temporary resident of Mexico".

The white box will contain a photo. There are two signatures on the back, one for the issuer and one for the holder.

On the front, there is an NUE (immigration) number, and space for a CURP number.

The Forma Migratoria de Inmigrante that replaces the FM-2 is similar, but is in salmon pink and the word "no" is missing.

There is a similar card for permanent residents (inmigrado), in blue.

FM-3 and FM-2 visas will no longer be available from consulates outside Mexico. Instead, if you apply there, you will get a sticker in your passport. With that, you apply for an FMM when you enter Mexico, then have 30 days to "exchange" it for an FM-3 or FM-2 in your town of residence. So for most it generally still makes more sense to not bother with consulates and apply once you arrive.
FM-3 income amounts maybe changing

To get an FM-3 (now a forma migratoria de no inmigrante), the rules (still) state you must show an income from sources outside Mexico of 250 times the daily minimum wage in Mexico city, which for 2010 is 57.46 pesos. So that's a monthly income of 14,265 pesos (around $1100). Add half as much again for each dependent.

Previously, you only needed half this amount if you owned (or rented) property in Mexico. From May 2010, this may change. The law new immigration manual rules state there is now NO REDUCTION in the income requirements for an FM-3 if you own a house. In other words, a single person who owns a property must now show an income of around $1100 a month, up from $550. A significant change for those on a low pension, if it is enforced. (This was updated thanks to a comment from Ric Hoffman (below), it appears the law has not changed, but the rules that immigration are supposed to follow now miss out the discount for FM-3, possibly an error?).

For an FM-2, the 50% reduction does still apply. For an FM-2 you need 400 times the minimum wage (21,984 pesos a month, $1750). So for a single person on a low income owning a property switching to an FM-2 (where permitted) would make it easier to meet the income requirement, as it's only $875/mo (the FM-2 itself does cost a little more, but can also lead to immigration which then saves the fees and income test each year).

Again these are just the federal rules and are very likely to be applied differently in each place (they're certainly different in San Felipe). So I would expect a lot of flexibility on how they are enforced, it's unlikely that an existing FM-3 holder would be chucked out if they no longer met the new test (especially if the rules don't match the law).
FM-2 residence rules changing

With an FM-2 (now a forma migratoria de inmigrante), you are expected to be basically a full-time resident in Mexico, and a tax resident, and plan to immigrate. Therefore there are limits on how long you can be out the country.

From May 2010, it is now 2 years absence (up from 18 months) in total in any five years, no more than 3 consecutive years absence, and no more than 5 years in any ten years (section F 2.22). Interestingly the time spent outside Mexico working for a subsidiary of a Mexican company is not considered an absence, so in theory if you're overseeing a new business in Mexico part-time you could work for an US LLC owned by your Mexican corporation while outside the country, and still get the time counted as being in Mexico.

As mentioned above, there is still a 50% reduction in the income requirements for FM-2 holders (unlike FM-3), but it appears to only be for owned property, not rentals. Again this is something that will vary in each immigration office.
Changes in application procedure

Even if you already have an FM-3 or FM-2, you are now required to appear at an immigration office in person to sign your card and apply a thumb-print (at least for the first time, it's not clear if this applies for extensions with the card). You will also need a new set of photos in a new format (it's not yet possible to have the photos taken at the INM office).

In theory you will then collect the card in under three business days, although I expect it will be a while before that target is met as some offices are still waiting for the equipment to issue cards. (it's also possible you can do it in a single trip by entering the details online, see below).

The application form FM1 Formato de Filiación has been replaced with a Formato Básico FB. It seems to still be only in Spanish.
Renewals online

There is a new web-based computer system in place to accept renewal requests and changes of status online (SETRAM). The idea is you can enter the details via the web (initially only in Spanish), check the application status online, and then go pick up documents a few weeks later.

墨西哥:旅游签证

You will need a visa if you are a citizen of:

Afghanistan, Albania, Algiers, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Benin, Bhutan Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Congo, Rep. Dem (Zaire), Cote d'lvoire, Croatia, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Korea, North, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Micronesia, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar (Burma), Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Palestine, Papua New,Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Sahrawi Arab Dem. Rep., Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Salomon Islands, Sao Tome and Principe., Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles Islands, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Stateless Persons, Sudan, Surinam, Swaziland, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, The Bahamas, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Citizens of the following countries do not require a visa:

Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Chile, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lichtenstein, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, Monaco, Norway, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Slovakia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, United Kingdom, Uruguay, United States of America, Venezuela.

What documents will be required?

You can enter Mexico without a visa showing your passport and the "migration Form for Tourists, Transmigrants, Visiting Businesspersons, or Visiting Consultants", which you can obtain from travel agencies, airlines, or at your point of entry into Mexico. This option also applies for permanent legal residents in the USA, Canada or Japan, regardless of nationality.

Under an agreement with Canada and the USA, those countries' citizens may prove their nationality with a passport or other public documents, such as:
- Certified copy of birth certificate.
- Voter registration card.
- Naturalization certificate.

If any of these documents lack a photograph, travelers must prove their nationality with another official identification:
- Driver's license.
- Identification issued by a state or official agency.

Although Canadian and US citizens do not need a passport, the National Institute of Migration recommends one to expedite passage through the point of entry.

Entry requirements for Americans: United States citizens travelling by land or sea must either be in possession of a passport, WHTI-compliant document, or a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license, as well as proof of citizenship, such as an original or certified birth certificate. To enter or re-enter the USA by air a passport or other valid travel document is required. A visa is not required for stays of up to 180 days, if holding a Tourist Card/FMT form issued free of charge by airlines, embassies and at border crossings. Business travellers do not require a visa for up to 30 days if holding a FMTTV form.

Entry requirements for UK nationals: British passport holders must have a passport and carry a Tourist Card/FMT Form. A visa is not required for stays of up to 180 days if holding an endorsed British Citizen passport. If the passport is endorsed British National (Overseas) the visa exemption is for a maximum of 90 days. British passport holders travelling on business can stay visa-free for one month if in possession of a FMTTV form, which can be acquired on arrival. All other passport holders require a visa to travel to Mexico. Travellers must have a return or onward ticket (unless a British Citizen with a Tourist Card or visa), as well as necessary documents for further travel, and sufficient funds.

Entry requirements for Canadians: Canadian passport holders must have a passport, or a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license, as well as proof of citizenship, such as an original or certified birth certificate. A visa is not required for stays of up to 180 days if in possession of a Tourist Card/FMT form issued free of charge by airlines. Business travellers do not require a visa for up to 30 days if holding a FMTTV form. Travellers are required to have the necessary documents for further travel, and sufficient funds.

Entry requirements for Australians: Australian nationals must have a passport. A visa is not required for stays of up to 180 days if in possession of a Tourist Card/FMT form issued free by airlines. Travellers are required to have tickets and documents for a return or onward journey, and sufficient funds.

Entry requirements for South Africans: South Africans require a passport. A visa and Tourist Card/FMT form with consular stamp is required and is valid for 90 days after date of issue and good for one entry only. Travellers are required to have tickets and documents for a return or onward journey, and sufficient funds.

Entry requirements for New Zealanders: New Zealanders must have a passport. No visa is required for a touristic stay of up to180 days, if holding a Tourist Card/FMT form issued by airlines (free of charge). Travellers are required to have tickets and documents for a return or onward journey, and sufficient funds.

Entry requirements for Irish nationals: Irish nationals must have a passport. A visa is not required for stays of up to 180 days if in possession of a Tourist Card/FMT form issued free by airlines. Business travellers do not require a visa for up to 30 days if holding a FMTTV form. Travellers are required to have tickets and documents for a return or onward journey, and sufficient funds.

Passport/Visa Note: All visitors must hold a tourist card (FMT form), which is issued free of charge and obtainable from airlines, Mexican Consulates, Mexican international airports and border crossing points. As part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), all travellers travelling by air outside the United States are required to present a passport or other valid travel document to enter or re-enter the United States.

Visitor's Permits - FMM

Passport holders from countries on Mexico's "no visa required list" do not need to apply for a formal visa to visit Mexico. They may, instead, use a visitor's permit known as a Forma Migratoria Mutiple, or FMM.

If your country does not appear on the no-visa list, you should check with your nearest local Mexican Consulate for details of visa requirements before you travel to Mexico.

For countries that don't need a visa, a Mexican Visitor's Permit (known as a FMM) will need to be filled out in place of a visa. This is a simple form: pick one up from the check-in counter at the airport and fill it out on the airplane before you land or you can acquire one at all land border crossings. If the airline you are traveling with does not have any FMMs at the check-in desk or on-board the plane, don't worry, you can get one when you land in Mexico and fill it out before you line up to have your documents checked and stamped by the officials at the airport.

Visitor's Permit FMM Fee

Mexico charges a fee to all tourists and business visitors arriving in the country. The fee is approximately US$22, and the money collected is handed to the Tourism Ministry to promote Mexican tourism.

Airlines normally collect the permit fee on behalf of the Mexican government and include the cost within the total airfare (under 'taxes and surcharges'), so in the majority of cases, there will be no need for you to pay the fee separately.

If you do not arrive in Mexico by airplane, then you will need to pay Mexico's Visitor's Permit fee separately if you travel beyond the 22 miles/35 km 'free zone' after crossing a land border into Mexico or arriving by sea on a private vessel. If you do this, you will have to complete the FMM Tourist Visa at the immigration check-point and pay the fee separately.

More information:

http://www.learn4good.com/travel/mexico_visa.htm
http://www.wordtravels.com/Travelguide/Countries/Mexico/Visa
http://www.mexperience.com/guide/essentials/entry_req.htm#ReqTourists

加拿大:加拿大人进出美国

加拿大人进出美国不需要USA Arrival-Departure Record (Form I-94).


http://www.consular.canada.usembassy.gov/form_i-94.asp

全球:東南亞:退休者的天堂

梁東屏

我在二零零四年大選後有次回台灣,發現很多朋友都得了選後鬱卒症,主要的原因是選舉結果與原先的期望落差太大,因此覺得台灣沒希望了,想離開;再加上與我年紀相仿的朋友泰半也到了退休的年齡,所以大家的話題很自然就轉到去哪裡退休最好。要去中國大陸的人最多,很多人其實早已在那邊買好房子,去,只是時間的問題,其次則是美國、加拿大、澳洲、紐西蘭……等等。朋友問我將來要到哪裡退休?我答曰根本不準備退休。因為以我的工作來說,是可以做到鞠躬盡瘁,死而後已的。

問題是,我也不想死。我有次勸勉孩子要把握時間,及時努力,就跟他們說,「你們不要以為自己才十五、六歲,其實你們的人生已經過了五分之一了,像爸爸,我的人生也過掉了三分之一」。兩個孩子掐指一算,驚呼,「什麼?你要活一百五十歲啊!」我說,「當然囉,人生這麼有意思,只要有長生不老藥,有多少,我就吞多少」。話雖然這麼說,退休,還是可以探討一下的。

於我而言,東南亞是最佳退休地點,原因如下:

一、黃種人的世界—除了印尼之外,幾乎沒有排華問題,即使是印尼,這些年來在這方面也大有改善。我在美國住了近二十年,老實說,歧視的問題是一直存在的,只是平時潛藏起來,一有事情時,就浮現出來了。

二、生活水準低—除了新加坡之外,生活費用相較之下低得很多,許多西方人乃至於日本人,最近十多年來都流行到東南亞退休,因為他們在本國幾乎無法靠之生活的退休金,拿到東南亞來,卻可以過相當程度的舒適生活。兩年多前印尼巴里島發生爆炸案,兩百多名死者中,澳洲人佔了絕大多數。為什麼?因為很多澳洲人都在巴里島過退休生活。泰國也是一樣,許多西方的退休人士,都跑到泰國過「第二春」的生活,晚上到曼谷的聲色場所看一看,很多都是白人「老芋仔」。

三、與己無關的地方——在一定程度上,你跟當地不會發生可能會造成鬱卒的關係。譬如說你住在新加坡,李顯龍接得了或接不了班,基本上是「他家的事」;又如你住在印尼,美嘉娃蒂當選總統或是尤多約諾當選,都不至於讓你綁著白布條上街,多好。到中國退休?一旦打起來,搞不好呂秀蓮又要問你幫那邊?能不鬱卒嗎?


http://www.mirrorbooks.com/wpmain/?p=32044

泰国:合法—非法—又合法

在東南亞,很多可能的事會變成不可能,不可能的事卻會變為可能。

我在二零零四年八月從新加坡調職到曼谷,興致勃勃藉機旅行,騎著我那輛BMW重型機車從新加坡直上馬來西亞再到泰國赴任。

一路上順利得很,除了新加坡關卡在出境時檢查了護照之外,馬來西亞及泰國的關卡根本理都不理我,就這樣騎車連過兩關長驅直入來到泰國,我在進入泰國時還故意停下來閱讀地圖,「等」移民官員過來「盤查」,可是他們真是對我「視而不見」。我後來還把這個讓自己大惑不解的「奇遇」當作笑話講給朋友聽。

一個月之後,我要出差到印尼採訪總統大選,結果在機場移民關才發現「代誌大條」了。原來我沒有入境記錄,是標準的「非法移民」甚至是「偷渡客」。

機場移民官把我押送回航空公司,航空公司則把已送上飛機的行李追回來。走不了啦。離奇的是,我既然是「非法移民」、「偷渡客」,卻也沒人逮捕我,就這樣又「龍回大海」。回曼谷了。

怎麼辦呢?打聽的結果更讓我魂飛魄散,原來自己真的是「偷渡客」,必須要去移民總局接受盤查,說明怎麼進泰國,然後移民局會將我移送法院,法院則會在判處罰款之後將我交由移民局遞解出境。

問題是,一旦遞解出境,誰也沒法保證我什麼時候可以再回曼谷或甚至於根本回不來了。

這還得了?我的工作在曼谷,房子也才剛剛起租,從新加坡運來的家具還在半途呢。

我真的急了,到處找朋友打聽該怎麼辦?

皇天不負苦心人。我的一位泰國好友找到警界的朋友幫忙,我就按照指示買張機票飛到泰、馬邊界的合艾,由當地警察把我帶到邊境,一個電話之後,來了一位黑不溜丟的馬來人,這個人把我的護照帶過馬來西亞那頭,請馬國移民關補蓋一個出境章。

然後這位警察再開車把我帶過邊界,轉一圈之後回到關卡,拿出已有馬來西亞出境章的護照,大大方方地在泰國關卡蓋章入境。

如此這般,我又合法啦。當然,錢是要花一點的,總好過在泰國移民局留下不良記錄,甚至於還要冒不能再入境的危險。

現在,人是合法了,可是我的摩托車還是「非法入境」的「黑車」。

想辦法吧。在東南亞,沒有什麼是百分之百可能,也沒有什麼是百分之百不可能。

泰国:到了泰國不想走

搬到曼谷之後,新認識了些原先也從台灣來的朋友,大家一致的說法,就是泰國是好地方,來了就不想走。

我搬到曼谷三個月之後,就有同樣的感覺。

當然,每個人想留在泰國的理由並不完全一樣,但是也有些共通的地方。我有位朋友那時剛剛退休回美國。我當時跟他說,為什麼不考慮留在東南亞呢?這邊的生活水準低,機會也會比美國多,日子會比較容易過。可是他一早就規畫到美國退休,兼之還有孩子唸書的顧慮,於是就去了洛杉磯。最近他送電子郵件給我,有些感嘆,因為整天無所事事,生活的壓力也很沈重。他寫著,「你好像是對的,收入少了,還是應該到落後一點的地方」。他其實只講對了一半,泰國並不落後,曼谷除了塞車的問題較為嚴重之外,其他的方便並不輸給美國的都市。至於生活水準低,那真是讓人難以想像。

我到曼谷不久,就決定不在外國人習慣聚居的地方找住處,因為很不喜歡見到那些西方人在當地招搖過市,每個人的手臂上掛著個泰國女郎。這讓我想起三十年前的台灣,美國大兵手臂上吊著個台灣女郎在街上橫著走。所以,我後來找到的住處是位於泰國當地人社區內,旁邊是傳統市場,捷運系統就在數步之遙,不但鬧中取靜而且方便極了。我每天早上出門到市場繞一圈,早、午、晚餐就買齊了,全是料理完竣、地道的泰國菜肴,回到住處配著稀飯、冷凍水餃或麵條,唏哩嘩啦,三餐就解決了,每餐還有水果、甜點呢。這樣,每個月伙食費要多少呢?老實說,由於實在太便宜,我真的沒仔細算過,有次跟在美國的孩子打電話,告訴他們,「爸爸每個月的伙食費好像不到一百五十美金呢」,兩個孩子聽了差點笑翻,一百五十元,還沒我給他們的零用錢多。以至於現在購物時,只要超過一百泰銖(九十台幣),我都會覺得「好貴」。

泰國的另個好處就是可能因為是佛教國家,老百姓出奇的和善,一天二十四小時,任何時間在街上逛,都不會有威脅感,這在東南亞的許多國家是辦不到的。所以,我也不想走了。


http://www.mirror.com/wpmain/?p=32914

2010-06-02

澳大利亚:定去中国的便宜机票

http://www.airchina.com.au/en/index.html
http://www.airfaresflights.com.au/flights/Sydney/

纽西兰:Kiwisaver 的利益

$1,000 kick-start payment

To get your savings off to a good start, the Government will kick-start your account with a tax-free contribution of $1,000.

All new KiwiSaver members qualify for the kick-start payment when they first join.

When a kick-start is paid

The kick-start will be paid into your account about 3 months after Inland Revenue receives:

* your first contribution, or
* notification of your membership.

The kick-start is not a cash payment - it goes straight into your account.

You can only get one kick-start

You can only get it once. If you stop being a KiwiSaver member, for example you move overseas, you won't get another payment even if you return to New Zealand and start another KiwiSaver account.

Member tax credit

To help you save, the Government will match your contributions by up to $1,042.86 each year. This works out to about $20 a week.

Who gets the member tax credit

The member tax credit will be paid each year until you’re eligible to withdraw your savings, provided you’re 18 or over and your principal place of residence is in New Zealand.

To qualify for the member tax credit:

* you must be 18 or over, and
* your principal place of residence must be in New Zealand, except for:
o a government employee who's serving outside New Zealand
o a person who's working overseas:
+ as a volunteer, or for token payment, for a charitable organisation named in the Student Loan Act regulations, and
+ if the work meets one or more of the requirements set out in the Student Loan Schemes Act 1992.

Members of a complying fund are entitled to receive the member tax credit.

How much member tax credit you can get

To get the full member tax credit automatically you have to contribute at least $1,042.86 a year yourself. Employer contributions and government contributions do not count.

If you contribute less than $1,042.86 from your pay, you can make voluntary contributions to ensure you receive the full member tax credit payment from the Government.

Work out how much you'll receive at 4%

Work out how much you'll receive at 2%.

Joining part-way through a year

If you join KiwiSaver part-way through a membership year (1 July to 30 June), you’ll receive a member tax credit for the portion of the year that you've been a member.

When you turn 18, you’ll receive a member tax credit for the portion of the year that you’re 18.

When member tax credit is paid

Your KiwiSaver provider will claim the tax credit on your behalf after 1 July each year. You don’t have to do anything. Your member tax credit will appear in your KiwiSaver account within a month of your provider making the claim.

Your member tax credit does not count as taxable income.

Savings withdrawal to buy your first home

To help you with a deposit for your first home, you may be able to withdraw some or all of your KiwiSaver savings (except for the $1,000 kick-start and member tax credit).

Making a first-home withdrawal

You must have been a KiwiSaver member or member of a complying fund for three or more years. You can only withdraw money to buy your first home - not an investment property.

If you have owned a home before, in some circumstances you may still be eligible to withdraw your savings. Your scheme provider may require you to contact Housing New Zealand to determine if you're in the same financial position as a first home buyer.

How to apply for a first-home withdrawal

You'll need to apply to your KiwiSaver provider if you want to make a first home withdrawal.

First home deposit subsidy

After 3 years of contributing to KiwiSaver, you may be entitled to a first home deposit subsidy. The subsidy is administered by Housing New Zealand.

What the deposit subsidy is worth

The first home deposit subsidy is $1,000 for each year you've been contributing to KiwiSaver, up to a maximum of $5,000 for five years.

If you're a couple buying a house together and you both qualify for a subsidy, you could receive a combined subsidy of up to $10,000.

Getting a deposit subsidy

To be eligible for the first home deposit subsidy, you must:

* have contributed at least 2% of your income to a KiwiSaver scheme, or a complying superannuation scheme, for at least 3 years
* be buying your first home*
* be planning to live in the house for at least 6 months.

Income and house price caps will apply.

* If you've owned a home before, in some circumstances you may still be eligible for the first home deposit subsidy. Housing New Zealand will need to determine that you are in the same financial position as a first home buyer.

To find out more, visit the Housing New Zealand website or call them on 0508 935 266


http://www.kiwisaver.govt.nz/new/benefits/
http://www.kiwisaver.govt.nz/new/benefits/home-sub/

2010-06-01

加拿大:多余的 Dividend Tax Credit 可以退回吗?

The dividend tax credit is a non-refundable tax credit which applies when Canadian dividends are included in income. Foreign dividends do not qualify for the dividend tax credit.

The dividend tax credit for dividends received after 2005 depends on the type of corporation paying the dividend. Most dividends received from Canadian public corporations are eligible for the enhanced dividend tax credit (eligible dividends), while most dividends received from Canadian-controlled private corporations (CCPCs) are eligible for the regular, or small business dividend tax credit. The two types of Canadian dividends are usually referred to as "eligible" or "non-eligible" dividends.


http://www.taxtips.ca/divtaxcredits.htm

纽西兰:多余的 Imputation Credit 可以退回来吗?

If a shareholder receives more imputation credits than the amount of tax they are liable to pay for their dividend income, they cannot claim any excess back as a tax refund. Instead, they can carry it forward to the next tax year.


http://www.ird.govt.nz/business-income-tax/imputation/imputation-basics/