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British Columbia PNP draw

Latest British Columbia PNP Draw Issues 175 Invitations to Apply for Canadian Immigration

British Columbia PNP draw held the latest round of nominations on May 17 resulting in over 175 new invitations to apply for Canadian immigration. The westernmost province invited a majority of profiles through the Tech stream in addition to an entrepreneur stream draw and two occupation-specific draws supporting the health and education sector.

All invited profiles either had prior skilled work experience or international graduates with study experience in Canada and were already registered in one of the BC immigration streams to receive the provincial nominations.

British Columbia PNP draw: general stream

The first British Columbia PNP draw issued a total of 154 invitations to apply for provincial nominations that could lead to Canadian permanent residency. All these profiles had to have a qualifying score of 77 and 123 points under the British Columbia PNP general stream.

Some in-demand tech occupations in the British Columbia include

  • Web designers & developers
  • Graphic designers, and illustrators
  • Software engineers and designers
  • Civil Engineers
  • Mechanical Engineers
  • Chemical Engineers
  • Software Engineers
  • Tech Managers

British Columbia PNP draw: occupation-specific draws

The second occupation-specific British Columbia PNP draw targeted two specific occupations:

  • 21 early childhood educators (NOC 4214) with scores of at least 62;
  • unspecified number of healthcare professionals with scores of at least 62; in addition to this, the latest British Columbia PNP draw also invited nurses aides, orderlies, and patient service associates.

The provincial nominee program’s Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS) manages applications under the two skilled immigration programs. Registration and profile assessment based on education, work experience, and language skills form the core selection criteria.

Apply for Canadian Immigration via Provincial Nominee Program

Canadian immigration means a pathway to obtain permanent residency. The “two-step migration” process is now the most preferable pathway for economic-class immigrants to apply for Canadian immigration.

Eligible candidates may qualify for a temporary resident visa and gain work experience in Canada. Based on their Canadian work experience, they may apply for permanent residence either through the provincial nominee program or Canada Experience Class (CEC).

Recent statistics show that the share of those admitted within the provincial nominee program is at 46% and the share of those landing via CEC increased from 8% to 19%, in 2015.

The British Columbia PNP draws nominations are valid for approximately six months from the date of confirmation.

During this time period, you can apply with IRCC under the Provincial Nominee Class and receive an invitation to apply for permanent residence through fortnightly Express Entry nomination draws. You may receive an additional 600 points under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) of the Express Entry system.

In fact, the recent Express Entry draws targeted 545 candidates with prior provincial nominations. All the invites had a minimum CRS score of 753. It meant that they required only 153 points to score on CRS to qualify! The remaining 600 points were to be added automatically for receiving provincial nominations.

So far, British Columbia PNP draws have issued about 3,400 invitations to apply for provincial nominations. With the latest immigration levels plan for 2022, Canada PNPs are targeting to land about 83,500 newcomers this year.

Take this free assessment online to determine your eligibility for provincial nominee programs in Canada.

Check Your CRS Scores

Improve your chances of qualifying for Canadian immigration with a certified consultant like CanApprove. You may book a free appointment with us to explore suitable immigration pathways and determine your eligibility based on work experience and academic profile.

Parents & Grandparents

Proposed Bill Could Improve Canada Super Visa for Parents & Grandparents to Stay Longer

The member of Canadian parliament Kyle Seeback is proposing a new bill to improve the way immigrant parents & grandparents come to Canada. The proposed bill C-242 could bring positive changes to Canada Super Visa.

Canada Super Visa allows parents and grandparents of permanent residents or newly acquired Canadian citizens to visit without having to renew their status. The visas permit multiple entries to Canada over the course of time, presently 10 years.

Much like other Canadian family sponsorship visa programs, Canadians are required to meet minimum income criteria. The parents & grandparents are required to have medical insurance issued by a Canadian company.

Three Changes Proposed to Canada Super Visa

If passed, the bill may allow parents and grandparents to stay for five consecutive years without having to renew their visas, instead of two years presently. The mandatory requirement of purchasing medical insurance from a Canadian insurer could be done away with.

This would allow Canada Super Visa applicants to purchase insurance from other countries, saving them thousands of dollars in insurance costs per year. It could be possible as Canada has a framework for determining which international doctors can give medical clearance certificates. A similar kind of framework could ensure foreign insurers cover the medical costs of their insurees.

Finally, the government could also reduce the threshold income requirements for Canadians wishing to host their parents and grandparents.

As of today, the proposed bill has passed its first and second readings and is now being studied by the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration. The committee conducts studies and makes recommendations to guide immigration policy.

Kyle Seeback is a member of the Conservative Party and also a member of the same Standing Committee. The philosophy behind proposing this bill can be summarized in a few words,

“The view of bringing a parent or a grandparent to stay with you is an economic burden is wrong,” Seeback said, “What I actually found… is that when a parent or grandparent comes it enhances the economic well-being of that family… It can be that they’re providing some reduction of daycare costs because the parent or grandparent is there to help with the family.”

Immigration to Canada is also possible with family members such as spouses and dependent children. Read our blog on guide to spousal immigration to Canada from the UAE to learn more.

IRCC Yet to Invite Applications for the Parents & Grandparent Program (PGP) 2022

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) are yet to decide on opening the application process this year for the Canada family sponsorship visa. Canada is aiming to welcome 25,000 immigrant applications for PGP 2022. Additionally, 60,000 immigrants under the Parents and Grandparents Program will be targeted over the next two years.

About the Parents and Grandparents Program – Canada Family Sponsorship Visa 2022

Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor their parents and grandparents to immigrate to Canada. Parents and grandparents who are approved under this program may obtain permanent residency.

Doors are open to qualifying for Canadian citizenship as well.

Applications for PGP 2022 must fulfil the following conditions:

  • be 18 years of age or older,
  • be Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or status First Nations, and
  • have the means to support the family member they are sponsoring.

Criteria for becoming a successful sponsor may slightly vary in Quebec.

IRCC will process PGP applications in between 20-24 months, even in 2022.

Process Application Through a Certified Immigration Consultant

An application for a family sponsorship visa through a certified Canadian immigration consultant will analyze various Canadian immigration programs and suggest suitable options based on the applicants’ work or academic profile.

CanApprove is duly registered and approved by the College for Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) to provide documentation and other services relating to Canadian immigration. Our immigration consultants can guide you even better based on your work & academic profile.

Take this free assessment online to determine your eligibility to apply for Canadian immigration.

Check Your CRS Scores

Click here to book your appointment today.

Express Entry applications

IRCC Confirms New Canada Express Entry Applications Processing In 6 Months

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is looking to welcome over 110,000 immigrants to Canada every year through the Express Entry route for permanent residency. To incentivize skilled working professionals around the world to plan their immigration, the immigration department has confirmed to process new Canada Express Entry applications in about 6 months.

The Express Entry application processing time of 6 months has been on the agenda for a long to improve Canadian immigration. However, the sudden onslaught caused by the pandemic seemed to prevent the department from implementing it.

With the much-awaited announcement of resuming all-program Canada Express Entry draws in early July, the processing of most new Express Entry applications within six months will be made possible. IRCC has recently confirmed the same.

IRCC is inviting new applications for upcoming Express Entry draws to be held in early July for Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Canada Experience Class (CEC), and Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) candidates.

Enter the Express Entry pool today!

Why Should You Enter Canada Express Entry Pool Ahead of July 2022?

The FSWP is the main pathway to welcome skilled immigrants, while the CEC benefits temporary residents like international recent graduates with a minimum of one year of experience to qualify for PR via Canada Express Entry.

Invitations to apply (ITA) for permanent residency invitations to FSWP candidates have been temporarily paused since December 2020. Since September 2021, Canada has not issued any ITA for CEC candidates as well.

Resuming invitations for these two programs is likely to benefit thousands of eligible candidates with the opportunity to obtain Canadian permanent residence. Some noticeable advantages of entering the Canada Express Entry pool ahead of July 2022 are:

  • Fortnightly Canada Express Entry draws keeps your chances high for provincial nominations.
  • Once you’re nominated from any Provincial Nominee Program, your CRS increases by 600 points, effectively guaranteeing a permanent residence invitation from IRCC.
  • You can take advantage of the tie-breaker rule by getting in the Express Entry pool early.

Job Vacancies To Push Immigration via Canada Express Entry

Statistics Canada reported over 800,000 job vacancies and Canadian employers are keen on addressing the talent shortage with the immigration of foreign skilled workers.

Canada Express Entry will continue to play a prominent role in the country’s immigration system and economy. Now that Express Entry is promising normalcy and most new applications will be processed within six months, employers will have better access to more foreign talent.

Existing Express Entry Processing Time

Temporary suspension of nomination draws from major Canada Express Entry programs resulted in significant application backlogs. This led to an increasing wait time of over 20 months for Non-Canadian Experience Class (CEC) Express Entry applicants.

Immigration Category Program  IRCC Processing Standard
Economic-class Express Entry Canadian Experience Class (CEC) 7 months
Express Entry Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) 27 months
Express Entry Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) 27 months
Express Entry Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) 22 months

Processing times for the over 100 other economic class immigration pathways offered by Canada exceed six months.

Certified Immigration Consultant for Canada PR

You can be among the many immigrants with relevant work experience and not necessarily a job offer in Canada to qualify for Canada Express Entry.

Applying through a certified immigration consultant can boost your chances of qualifying for Canada PR.

CanApprove is a certified immigration consultant in Dubai and is registered with the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC). Choose from a wide of our customized immigration services like

  • Profile Evaluation: we help match your skillset with the right visa eligibility requirements for easy immigration.
  • Arrange documents: we can also help you procure the required documents needed before applying for a visa.
  • Resume Writing: our expert documentation team can create a likeable resume that stands out by the concerned immigration authority.
  • Post-Landing Services: Any kind of settlement assistance like accommodation, community orientation, etc can be customized and arranged.

You even get a dedicated immigration consultant to work exclusively on your case until resolved!

Take this free assessment online to determine your best chances of qualifying.

Check Your CRS Scores

Book your free appointment with CanApprove to learn more about your chances of qualifying for immigration to Canada.

study visas in the UK

New Points-Based Immigration System Pushes More Study Visas In the UK Post-Brexit

Recent statistics from the Home Office show a record number of study visas in the UK post-Brexit. The total number of students applying to pursue higher education in the country through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) has almost doubled since 2019.

The latest figures from Higher Education Statistics Agency show that the UK hosted 605,130 international students in the 2020/21 academic year.

Quoting The Times, a record number of 43,200 UK student visas were approved for Nigerians in 2022. This is a staggering 415 per cent rise in study visas in the UK post-Brexit.

The African country saw the highest increase followed by Pakistan with a 255.9% rise and India with a 164.1% increase in approved UK student visas post-Brexit. Reports suggest that only five per cent of approved study visas in the UK post-Brexit went to students from EU countries.

Reintroduction of a Post-Study Visa Route Rises Demand for More Study Visas in the UK Post-Brexit

Immigration experts believe the driving factor for the increase in study visas in the UK post-Brexit is the reintroduction of the post-study visa route. In fact, the total number of approved UK student visas hit its 600,000 targets a decade earlier than hoped.

The UK is now allowing international graduates to stay for at least two years after completing their degree. As per the latest norms, the international students who have completed an undergraduate or master’s degree can work for about two years, whereas in the case of PhD students, the work duration has been extended to three years.

Contact our overseas education counselors to explore study abroad opportunities in the UK.

What are Study Options in the UK for Middle East Aspirants?

There are plenty of study options in the UK for aspirants from the Middle East. The country is home to prestigious universities with a history of providing quality education for the past 800 years. The UK boasts 90 universities in the recently released QS World University Rankings 2022, securing 4 positions among the list of top 10 varsities.

The UK focuses more on practical and utility-based knowledge over textbook learning which enables students to acquire critical thinking and analytical skills. The education standards of all universities and colleges in the country are regularly assessed by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA), an independent body that keeps a check on the quality assurance and quality enhancement of education.

​​High Potential Individual Visa Route for Student Graduates from May 30

The UK government is set to open a “highly selective” visa scheme for graduates of the world’s top-ranked universities on May 30.

The Home Office will draw a list of top-ranked universities based on renowned rankings like Times Higher Education World University rankings, Quacquarelli Symonds World University rankings, and The Academic Ranking of the World Universities.

The High Potential Individual Visa will last for two years for bachelor’s and master’s grads, and three years for PhD holders. It is expected to enhance the country’s skill base.

New Points-Based UK Immigration System

Post-Brexit, the UK switched to a points-based immigration system to attract migrant workers to move and settle in the country. Such skilled workers will have to qualify for 70 points under the new system.

Having a job offer from an approved employer in the UK for a skilled job and being able to speak English will give 50 points.

They can also gain extra points for having better qualifications (10 points for a relevant PhD, or 20 points for a PhD in science, technology, engineering, or maths) or an offer of a job in which the UK has a shortage (20 points).

Certain jobs in health or education still merit 20 points even if the salary is less than £25,600. The applicant must be paid at least £20,480, and in line with set amounts for particular jobs in the UK’s four nations.

“The implementation of a points-based immigration system has opened up half of all jobs in the UK to foreign workers, by lowering salary and skill thresholds for migrants,” an article from the Times read.

Take this free assessment online to determine your eligibility for Canadian immigration.

Check Your CRS Scores

If you wish to explore your chances of studying or working abroad, CanApprove is the right place to visit. You can book a free appointment to determine your unique chances of qualifying based on your work experience or academic profile.

Latest British Columbia Draw

Latest British Columbia PNP Draw Issues 166 Invitations to Apply for Canadian Immigration

British Columbia PNP draw held the latest round of nominations on May 10 resulting in over 166 new invitations to apply for Canadian immigration. The westernmost province invited a majority of profiles through the Tech stream in addition to an entrepreneur stream draw and two occupation-specific draws supporting the health and education sector.

All invited profiles either had prior skilled work experience or international graduates with study experience in Canada and were already registered in one of the BC immigration streams to receive the provincial nominations.

British Columbia PNP draw: tech stream

The first British Columbia PNP draws issued a total of 126 invitations to apply for provincial nominations that could lead to Canadian permanent residency. All these profiles had to have a minimum score of 85 points under the British Columbia Tech stream.

The BC PNP Tech is an exclusive employer-driven immigration program. It targets international graduates and in-demand tech workers to apply for provincial nominations.

Generally, the Provincial Nominee Program requires eligible candidates to have work experience and a valid job offer. BC PNP Tech program requires immigration candidates to have work experience in one of 29 eligible occupations.

Some in-demand tech occupations include

  • Web designers & developers
  • Graphic designers, and illustrators
  • Software engineers and designers
  • Civil Engineers
  • Mechanical Engineers
  • Chemical Engineers
  • Software Engineers
  • Tech Managers

British Columbia PNP draw: occupation-specific draws

The second occupation-specific British Columbia PNP draw targeted two specific occupations:

  • 20 early childhood educators (NOC 4214) with scores of at least 62;
  • 20 healthcare professionals with scores of at least 62; in addition to this, the latest British Columbia PNP draw also invited nurses aides, orderlies, and patient service associates.

The provincial nominee program’s Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS) manages applications under the two skilled immigration programs. Registration and profile assessment based on education, work experience, and language skills form the core selection criteria.

BC PNP draw: entrepreneurial stream

Nearly after two months, BC provincial nominee program invited less than five profiles under the Entrepreneur Immigration (EI) regional pilot stream. The province is said to take in new applications under this provincial immigration stream from July 2022.

Apply for Canadian Immigration via Provincial Nominee Program

Canadian immigration means a pathway to obtain permanent residency. The “two-step migration” process is now the most preferable pathway for economic-class immigrants to apply for Canadian immigration.

Eligible candidates may qualify for a temporary resident visa and gain work experience in Canada. Based on their Canadian work experience, they may apply for permanent residence either through the provincial nominee program or Canada Experience Class (CEC).

Recent statistics show that the share of those admitted within the provincial nominee program is at 46% and the share of those landing via CEC increased from 8% to 19%, in 2015.

The British Columbia PNP draws nominations are valid for approximately six months from the date of confirmation.

During this time period, you can apply with IRCC under the Provincial Nominee Class and receive an invitation to apply for permanent residence through fortnightly Express Entry nomination draws. You may receive an additional 600 points under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) of the Express Entry system.

In fact, the recent Express Entry draws targeted 545 candidates with prior provincial nominations. All the invites had a minimum CRS score of 753. It meant that they required only 153 points to score on CRS to qualify! The remaining 600 points were to be added automatically for receiving provincial nominations.

So far, British Columbia PNP draws have issued about 3,200 invitations to apply for provincial nominations. With the latest immigration levels plan for 2022, Canada PNPs are targeting to land about 83,500 newcomers this year.

Take this free assessment online to determine your eligibility for provincial nominee programs in Canada.

Check Your CRS Scores

Improve your chances of qualifying for Canadian immigration with a certified consultant like CanApprove. You may book a free appointment with us to explore suitable immigration pathways and determine your eligibility based on work experience and academic profile.

Express Entry proof of funds

Canada Updates Express Entry Proof of Funds Criteria, FSWP & CEC Draws from July 2022

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced an update regarding the minimum Express Entry proof of fund. Any immigration aspirant willing to enter the federal Express Entry pool must disclose the proof of settlement funds to apply for Canadian permanent residency under the Express Entry system.

The announcement also made it clear for the existing applicants in the federal pool to update their proof of funds documents with the latest amounts. The update to the Express Entry profile should be no later than June 08, 2022.

This also serves as an indication that IRCC is gearing up to resume all-program Express Entry draws for FSWP & CEC candidates by July 2022.

Typically candidates with no Canadian job offer are subjected to furnish the details of the below-tabulated amounts to qualify for an invitation to apply for permanent residency.

Total Number of Family Members  Minimum Funds Required in CAD
One $13,310
Two $16,570
Three $20,371
Four $24,733
Five $28,052
Six $31,638
Seven $35,224
Each additional family member $3,586

Express Entry proof of funds is only applicable to candidates without a job offer in Canada and qualifying for two out of three immigration programs under Express Entry: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). Those with a job offer in Canada or qualifying under Canada Experience Class (CEC) are not required to disclose settlement funds.

In case of applicability of tie-break rules, updating Express Entry profiles will not change the date and time of when Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) received the profile. Applicants will keep their previous rank.

What is Express Entry Proof of Funds?

Written proof of settlement funds will have to submit to IRCC after receiving an invitation to apply for permanent residency.

According to the official page, the most important Express Entry proof of funds is an official letter from your bank or financial institution. The letter must typically contain the following:

  • be printed on the financial institution’s letterhead;
  • include the institution’s address, phone number, and email;
  • include your name;
  • list outstanding debts such as credit card debts and loans; and
  • include, for each bank and investment account, the actual numbers, the date each account was opened, the current balance of each account, and the average balance for the past six months.

Also, ensure that disclosed funds are readily available at the time of applying for Canadian permanent residence and above the minimum requirement. The disclosed amount cannot be in the form of borrowed funds or equity. In case of accompanied by your spouse, money could be in a joint account.

Get in touch with our expert consultants to discuss further technicalities unique to your profile.

Express Entry Draws in 2022

In-house immigration consultants at CanApprove see the latest announcement to revise the minimum proof of fund as a build-up to holding the all-program Express Entry draw since 2020.

After the pandemic-related travel restrictions came into force in March 2020, Canada re-innovated to holding program-specific draws. PNP & CEC Express Entry draws facilitated temporary residents to apply for Canadian permanent residency. These programs have high numbers of candidates in Canada who are not necessarily required to provide Express Entry proof of funds.

Canada only held PNP-specific Express Entry draws throughout 2022. The latest draw invited 545 profiles with provincial nominations and a qualifying CRS score above 753 to apply for Canadian permanent residency.

Prior to receiving an invitation, applicants are required to have strong language proficiency in English or French, and education degree of at least graduate level, adequate work experience, and age less than 45 years for a better chance of approval.

Allowing nomination draws for candidates qualifying under FSWP and FSTP would mean the entry of more foreign immigrants without local Canadian work experience. This is in line with the immigration levels plan for 2022-2024 which aims to invite more than 1.7 million permanent residents. Nearly 60 per cent of the total target will be met under the economic-class programs.

Take this free Express Entry assessment to determine your eligibility.

Check Your CRS Scores

You can also contact CanApprove to know more about Canadian immigration and eligible immigration programs suited to your work & academic profile.

IRCC Processing Standards Could Return To Normal By End Of 2022

IRCC Processing Standards Could Return To Normal By End Of 2022

As of April 29, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) had more than 2.1 million applicants waiting on decisions for citizenship, immigration, and temporary residence. 

free assessment
Immigration Minister Sean Fraser appeared recently before the Canadian Parliament’s Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration and made promising remarks on reducing application backlogs and improving IRCC procession standards by end of this calendar year.  

IRCC processing standards refer to the goal that the department sets to process an application, be it citizenship, immigrtaion, or temporary residence like study or work permits. In any case, these standards do not necessarily reflect actual processing times as each application is unique.

Contact our expert immigration consultants to thoroughly analyze your application and tweak them to improve your chances of qualifying for immigration to Canada. 

Faster Immigration to Canada

Minister told the committee that his department is eyeing to return to IRCC processing standards for the majority of visa categories by the end of 2022.

 

“I think we’ll be able to do it – on a majority of lines of business – potentially this calendar year,” Fraser said, “and where we can’t do it, we should be broadcasting those timelines.”

 

Minister also laid out plans for better utilization of the $827 million budget to digitize and transform immigration to Canada. This has already helped IRCC make 156,000 permanent residency applications in the first quarter of 2022 alone. 

Proposed Changes to Express Entry

Minister Fraser hinted at proposed changes to the Express Entry system. In near future, the Express Entry system includes exclusive pathways to permanent residence for international students and temporary foreign workers. There could be occupation-specific Express Entry draws to fill gaps in key sectors. 

IRCC Processing Standards for Various Canadian Visa Categories 

Please refer to the official website or contact our consultants for latest information. . 

Immigration Category Program  IRCC Processing Standard
Economic-class Express Entry Canadian Experience Class (CEC) 7 months
Express Entry Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) 27 months
Express Entry Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) 27 months
Express Entry Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) 22 months
Non-Express Entry aligned PNP 27 months
Quebec skilled worker streams 31 months
Federal Self-employed persons 42 months
Atlantic Immigration Program 14 months
Start-up Visa 31 months
Quebec business class 65 months
Immigration Category Program  IRCC Processing Standard
Temporary Residence Study permit outside Canada 13 weeks
Study permit inside Canada 09 weeks
Study permit extension 75 days online and 156 days by paper
Work permit outside Canada:  Varies by country
Work permit inside Canada (initial application or extension) : 133 days online and 239 days by paper
Parents or grandparents Super Visa Varies by country
Immigration Category Program  IRCC Processing Standard
Family class Spouse or common-law partner living in Canada 16 months
Spouse or common-law partner living outside Canada 19 months
Parents or grandparents  32 months
Dependent child  Varies by country
Adopted child or relative Varies by country

Certified Immigration Consultant for Canada PR

Applying through a certified immigration consultant can boost your chances of qualifying for Canada PR.

CanApprove is a certified immigration consultant in Dubai and is registered with the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC). Choose from a wide of our customized immigration services like

  • Profile Evaluation: we help match your skillset with the right visa eligibility requirements for easy immigration.
  • Arrange documents: we can also help you procure the required documents needed before applying for a visa.
  • Resume Writing: our expert documentation team can create a likable resume that stands out by the concerned immigration authority.
  • Post-Landing Services: Any kind of settlement assistance like accommodation, community orientation, etc can be customized and arranged.

You even get a dedicated immigration consultant to work exclusively on your case until resolved!

Book your free appointment with CanApprove to learn more about your chances of qualifying for immigration to Canada.

Express Entry latest draws

Express Entry Latest Draws Invites 545 Provincial Nominees to Apply for Canada PR

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held a new Canada Express Entry draws on May 11. The federal department issued 545 invitations to provincial nominees or PNP candidates to apply for Canada PR. The Express Entry latest draws targeted domestic temporary workers or skilled workers in the federal pool who already received provincial nominations.

The draw size in the Express Entry latest draws was reduced significantly along with lower qualifying CRS score of 753. A tie-breaking rule was also applied in the latest Express Entry draw.

OVERVIEW OF EXPRESS ENTRY LATEST DRAWS #222
Record-breaking Draw Size 545 invitations to apply for Canada PR.
Lower Express Entry Cut-off The minimum CRS score required was 753.

Automatic addition of 600 points to their base human capital score, candidates effectively required only 153 points to qualify.
Tie-break rule applied? IRCC applies the tie-break rule to avoid disputes in the rankings under the express entry system. This is particularly helpful in cases where two or more candidates end up with the same CRS score.

For this draw, the tie-breaking rule was set for December 15, 2021, at 20:32:57 UTC.

Anybody with work experience in popular in-demand occupations like Health, Business, Finance, Sales, or Engineering/IT has a good chance of qualifying for Canada PR.

Candidates in the Express Entry pool with provincial nominations are eligible for a bonus of 600 CRS points, effectively getting invited to apply for permanent residence in nominations draws like these.

When would be the Next Express Entry Draw?

Since September last year, IRCC has only held Canada Express Entry draws for PNP candidates. This means that most Express Entry latest draws have ignored Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Skilled Trades, and Canada Experience Class candidates.

IRCC conducts an Express Entry draw approximately once every 15 days. Going by the historic and recent draw dates, we can expect the next draw by 26th May 2022.

The federal immigration department is also expected will resume Express Entry Draws for FSWP & CEC in July 2022.

How to Apply for Canada PR as Provincial Nominees?

Immigration aspirants choose Canada because of its direct permanent residence pathway. A PR invitation through the provincial nomination route is not a direct pathway, however, is very effective to secure your chances of applying for Canada PR.

Canada has decided to cut Express Entry admissions in half for 2022 mainly due to increasing backlogs in the FSWP & CEC applications in the pool. However, intake levels will increase up to 111,500 by 2024.

Any prospective candidate who seeks to obtain permanent residence in Canada must register on Canada Express Entry online portal.

All the registered profiles are then assessed and ranked based on a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).

Such profiles are evaluated on a total of 1200 points. The human capital criteria like

  • age,
  • education,
  • work experience outside Canada,
  • language proficiency in English/French,
  • spouse adaptability,
  • Canadian study experience, etc. are considered for evaluation purposes.

In absolute terms, Canada made about 156,000 permanent residence decisions between January 1st and March 31, 2022. In addition, IRCC processed over 100,000 work permit applications in the first quarter of 2022, about 50 per cent more than the same period last year.

Is There a Possibility of Express Entry CRS Score Going Down?

Canada is pursuing one of the most ambitious immigration levels in its history. The country is targeting to welcome 4, 11,000 in 2022, and 421,000 in 2023. This is most likely possible to achieve with a decrease in CRS scores.

IRCC has a history of surprises with dropping the CRS score to mere 75 points and inviting up to 27,332 candidates to apply for Canada PR on 13th February 2021.

Certified Immigration Consultant in Dubai for Canada PR

Applying through a certified immigration consultant can boost your chances of qualifying for Canada PR.

CanApprove is a certified immigration consultant in Dubai and is registered with the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC). Choose from a wide of our customized immigration services like

  • Profile Evaluation: we help match your skillset with the right visa eligibility requirements for easy immigration.
  • Resume Writing: our expert documentation team can create a likeable resume that stands out by the concerned immigration authority.
  • Arrange documents: we can also help you procure the required documents needed before applying for a visa.
  • Post-Landing Services: Any kind of settlement assistance like accommodation, community orientation, etc can be customized and arranged.

You even get a dedicated immigration consultant to work exclusively on your case until resolved!

Take this free assessment online to determine your eligibility for upcoming Express Entry draws and apply for Canada PR.

Check Your CRS Scores

Book your free appointment with CanApprove to learn more about your chances of qualifying in the Express Entry latest draws and immigrating to Canada.

Manitoba PNP Draws

Latest Manitoba PNP Draws Invites 315 including Express Entry Profiles for Canadian Immigration

The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) held a new set of Canadian immigration draws on May 05. The latest Expression of Interest (EOI) Manitoba PNP draws led to 315 new Letters of Advice to Apply (LAA) for provincial nominations. It may further lead to obtaining a Canadian permanent residency.

The prairie province of Canada invited a mixed pool of on-shore as well as off-shore immigration candidates. Most in-demand occupations in Manitoba include Health, Business, Finance, Sales, and Administration jobs.

They qualified for various Manitoba PNP immigration streams while some were also registered under the Canada Express Entry pool to apply for provincial nominations.

Here are the results from the latest draw:

  • Skilled Workers in Manitoba – 249 invitations with a minimum EOI score of 651;
  • Skilled Workers Overseas – 34 invitations with a minimum EOI score of 691; and
  • International Education Stream – 32 invitations with no EOI score requirement.
  • Additionally, about 48 invitations went to candidates registered in the federal Express Entry pool.

What are EOI Manitoba PNP Draws?

An Expression of Interest or simply EOI is another fancy word for your online profile. MPNP maintains a pool of eligible candidates who are willing to receive provincial nominations and qualify for Canada PR.

An EOI profile must not be mistaken to be an application for Canadian immigration itself. The profile is evaluated and assessed for 1,000 points based on core human capital, mainly work experience, education, and language proficiency.

The validity of the EOI profile registered for nominations under any Manitoba PNP draws is one year. Any eligible skilled worker, either on-shore or off-shore, may expect LAAs for provincial nominations.

Did you know?

Each year some 15,000 people from countries all over the world move to Manitoba in search of better career opportunities and a standard of life.

How to Qualify for Upcoming Manitoba PNP Draws?

In order to qualify for upcoming Manitoba PNP draws, interested applicants must first register their Expression of Interest (EOI) with the province.

Depending on their profile assessment score, they may qualify for receiving LAAs through the Skilled Workers in Manitoba, Skilled Workers Overseas streams, or International Education Stream.

If you are applying from outside Canada Skilled Worker Overseas Stream:

1.    Manitoba Express Entry Pathway

2.    Human Capital Pathway
If you are already in Canada on temporary work permits Skilled Worker in Manitoba Stream:

1.    Manitoba Work Experience Pathway

2.    Employer Direct Recruitment Pathway
If you studied in Manitoba International Education Stream:

1.    Career Employment Pathway

2.    Graduate Internship Pathway

3.    Student Entrepreneur Pathway

Ask CanApprove about eligibility under each immigration pathway. Also, enrol in our dedicated International Engineering Graduate Program and explore more options to apply for Canadian immigration.

Labour Market in Manitoba to Plan your Canadian Immigration

Manitoba is one of the western provinces of Canada that is booming with new economic activities but the demography of the province is ageing. The Canadian workforce is now more dependent on foreign skilled workers to apply for Canadian immigration due to a lack of native talents.

However, Canadian immigration can be overwhelming when applied on your own. Here is where a certified immigration consultant like CanApprove can help you.

CanApprove is a certified immigration consultant by the College of Citizenship Canada (CICC). We have industry experience of 20+ years in immigration & overseas education counselling & documentation services. We are now a leading immigration consultant in Dubai promising genuine guidance.

Take this free assessment online to determine your eligibility for Canadian immigration.

Check Your CRS Scores

Click here to book your free appointment today and kick-start your immigration process with confidence!

Low Unemployment Rate

Finding a Job in Canada Easy With Historic Low Unemployment Rate Among Canadian Immigrants

Canada clocked its all-time low unemployment rate of 5.2 per cent in April. The unemployment rate among Canadian immigrants fell to 5.5 per cent, compared to 5.8 per cent in March.

Statistics Canada noted the unemployment rate for people aged 25 to 54 was even lower at 4.3 per cent. As employment is growing faster than Canada’s population, it is opening avenues for off-shore immigrants to find a job in Canada easily.

Unemployment Rate Fell Across the Three Immigrant Cohorts

Statistics Canada made few other observations with respect to the unemployment rate among Canadian immigrants. It made the following observations:

  • PR immigrants within the last five years: The unemployment rate fell to 7.8 per cent among immigrants, compared to 8.3 per cent in April.
  • Immigrants who gained PR between 5 to 10 years ago: it fell to 5.8 per cent compared to 6.3 per cent in March.
  • Immigrants who gained permanent residence 10 years ago or more: It stood at 4.6 per cent in April compared to 4.8 per cent in March.

Employment gains were observed across all provinces, with the largest increases in immigration-friendly regions of Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, and Quebec. The recovery is evident in hard-hit industries like retail trade, accommodation and food services, information, culture, and recreation services.

Read our previous blog on Canadian Immigration Without a Job Offer.

Finding a Job in Canada

Depending on your academic background and relevant work experience elsewhere, the Canadian job market is wide open to foreign skilled talents. Evidently, Canada enjoys a high job vacancy rate with over 800,000 unfilled jobs.

Financial Services: To build a career in retail banking or securities trading, a Canadian securities course certification can help secure a job. Interested in working at leading institutions in Canada? We can help you.

Healthcare: Healthcare is a regulated profession in Canada. You will need to apply and obtain a license before you can practice in Canada. Job opportunities in healthcare also vary across the province, with major demand from Nova Scotia, Manitoba, and British Columbia. Get in touch with our expert consultants to find health careers throughout Canada.

Informational Technology (IT): The Canadian province of Ontario, Quebec welcomes a major part of foreign skilled immigrants having prior experience in IT every year. There are wide options for both short-term contracting and full-time in these regions. Get in touch with our expert consultants to find IT careers throughout Canada.

Technicians: With 2+ years of experience as a Welder and an IELTS score of 5.0 and above, you can immigrate to Canada. Many more work options are open in Canada.

There are bridging programs available for several different professions, from accounting to optometry. Direct PR applicants finding a job in Canada in a field that requires licensing or credentials will be more successful if they go through a bridging program.

Best Immigration Consultants in Dubai

Amid pandemic disruption to international mobility, immigration to Canada kept unemployment rates low by increasingly converting the status of temporary residents located in Canada to permanent residents.

With increased economic activity in Canada on the rise, eligible skilled workers from outside Canada will now be targeted to fulfil the increased job vacancies and qualify for immigration to Canada.

About 1 million new immigrants will be nominated for Canada PR under various economic-class programs including the Express Entry system and Provincial Nominee Programs over the next three years. Thousands of foreign skilled workers, entrepreneurs, and international students will benefit from these immigration-friendly measures.

Additionally, Canada will resume Express Entry draws for FSWP & CEC candidates in July. Learn more about it here.

To make the most of this benevolent period of immigration in Canada, you must consult the best immigrant consultants in Dubai. CanApprove is one such certified immigration consultant in Dubai by the College of Immigration and Consultants (CICC). We offer standard pre-departure and post-arrival immigration services including IELTS preparation assistance, and documentation support for Canada PR.

Take this free assessment online to determine your chances of finding a job in Canada and immigrating to Canada in 2022.

Check Your CRS Scores

Tie-ups with 500+ institutions for your study abroad programs in Canada and dedicated job search assistance, we can match your work & academic skills with a suitable institution or employer in Canada. Book your free appointment with us today.

British Columbia PNP draw

Latest British Columbia PNP Draw Issues 178 Invitations to Apply for Canadian Immigration

British Columbia PNP draw held the latest round of nominations on May 03 resulting in 178 new invitations to apply for Canadian immigration. The westernmost province simultaneously held three separate provincial draws in addition to the general provincial nominee program draw to apply for Canadian immigration.

The eligible candidates included foreign workers and international students who were already registered under the Skills Immigration (SI) and Express Entry BC (EEBC) provincial nominee program streams.

The first general British Columbia PNP draw issued a total of 141 invitations to apply for provincial nominations that could eventually result in Canada permanent residency. Candidates with the minimum provincial scores between 77 and 123 points only received invitations. They include Skilled Workers, recent International Graduates or Entry Levels, and Semi-Skilled workers.

Active profiles in the federal Express Entry pool also received invitations to apply for Canadian immigration under this Provincial Nominee Program draws.

The second occupation-specific British Columbia PNP draw targeted three specific occupations:

  • 28 early childhood educators (NOC 4214) with scores of at least 65;
  • 09 healthcare professionals with scores of at least 65;
  • about five animal health technologists and veterinarians (NOC 3114 and NOC 3213) with scores of at least 65.

The provincial nominee program’s Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS) manages applications under the two skilled immigration programs. Registration and profile assessment based on education, work experience, and language skills form the core selection criteria.

Permanent Residency in Canada via Provincial Nominee Program

The “two-step migration” process is now the most preferable pathway for economic-class immigrants to apply for Canadian immigration.

Eligible candidates may qualify for a temporary resident visa and gain work experience in Canada. Based on their Canadian work experience, they may apply for permanent residence either through the provincial nominee program or Canada Experience Class (CEC).

Recent statistics show that the share of those admitted within the provincial nominee program is at 46% and the share of those landing via CEC increased from 8% to 19%, in 2015.

The British Columbia PNP draws nominations are valid for approximately six months from the date of confirmation.

During this time period, you can apply with IRCC under the Provincial Nominee Class and receive an invitation to apply for permanent residence through fortnightly Express Entry nomination draws. You may receive an additional 600 points under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) of the Express Entry system.

In fact, the recent Express Entry draws targeted a record-breaking 829 candidates with prior provincial nominations. All the invites had a minimum CRS score of 772. It meant that they required only 172 points to score on CRS to qualify! The remaining 600 points were to be added automatically for receiving provincial nominations.

With the latest immigration levels plan for 2022, Canada PNPs are targeting to land about 83,500 newcomers this year.

Take this free assessment online to determine your eligibility for provincial nominee programs in Canada.

Check Your CRS Scores
Improve your chances of qualifying for Canadian immigration with a certified consultant like CanApprove. You may book a free appointment with us to explore suitable immigration pathways and determine your eligibility based on work experience and academic profile.

list of accepted vaccines

Covifenz Added To The List Of Accepted Vaccines in Canada; No More Pre-Entry Tests for Under-12s

Following an official announcement made on April 25, Canada has scrapped the need for pre-entry COVID-19 test results for children below the age of 12 years. In addition to this, Medicago’s plant-based Covifenz vaccine is now added to the list of accepted vaccines in Canada.

Covifenz is made from plant-based proteins that look like coronavirus and uses Glaxo’s adjuvant that contains DL-alpha-tocopherol, squalene, polysorbate 80, phosphate-buffered saline. The other ingredients include potassium phosphate monobasic anhydrous, anhydrous sodium chloride, sodium phosphate dibasic anhydrous, and water for injection.

Oxford’s AstraZeneca and Pfizer’s BioNTech are the two most popular vaccines administered in UAE and are already on the list of acceptable vaccines to travel to Canada.

Here is the full list of accepted vaccines in Canada to enter the country:

  • AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD (ChAdOx1-S, Vaxzevria, AZD1222)
  • Bharat Biotech (Covaxin, BBV152 A, B, C)
  • Janssen/Johnson & Johnson
  • Medicago’s Covifenz
  • Moderna’s Spikevax
  • Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty, Tozinameran, BNT162b2)
  • Sinopharm BIBP (BBIBP-CorV)
  • Sinovac (CoronaVac, PiCoVacc)

Travelers are expected to take recommended doses of any one of nine vaccines before traveling to Canada. Unvaccinated and partially vaccinated children under the age of 12 are no longer required to provide a valid pre-entry test result if they are accompanying a fully vaccinated adult. Children who are less than 5 years old are not required to test, regardless of their vaccination status.

All unvaccinated adult travelers will be tested on arrival and required to undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine period.

Things to Note Before Traveling to Canada

Prospective travelers to Canada may still need to follow certain guidelines before they could land in Canada.

Foremost, Travellers coming to Canada are required to be fully vaccinated at least 14 days prior to their landing in Canada. All the required personal & travel documents must be submitted through the ArriveCAN mobile or web application. Failure to use the ArriveCAN app may also result in a fine of $5000.

Travelers are exempted from quarantine, however, may still be expected to prepare a quarantine plan, if selected at random by the border patrol. Unvaccinated individuals under 12 years old will be allowed to enter Canada without needing to quarantine if their parent or guardian is fully vaccinated and is accompanying them.

  • Pre-arrival requirement: Rapid antigen test at home is not sufficient. Antigen tests must be administered by a healthcare entity no more than 24 hours before arrival. However, PCR tests are valid if taken within 72 hours before arrival.
  • Fully vaccinated travelers: those selected for a random on-arrival test will no longer be required to quarantine while waiting on results.
  • Unvaccinated children traveling to Canada: No requirement of quarantine.
  • Unvaccinated travelers: Mandatory test on arrival and day eight of their 14 days quarantine.
  • There were no changes to the previous guidelines on molecular tests.
  • Use of the ArriveCAN application is mandated to submit all required COVID-19 information before crossing the border.

What do the Latest Travel Relaxations Mean to Apply for Canada Visa?

As Australia will reopen its borders to foreign travelers from February 21 nearly after two years, opportunities for immigration are on the rise.

In 2022 alone, Canada is expected to target about 56 per cent of the total target under the economic class pathways like Express Entry, the Provincial Nominee Program, Quebec Immigration, and more. The target is set to gradually increase in the next three years.

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will let Canada Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) take the center stage in inviting more immigrants to apply for Canada visas in 2022. It is targeting to land about 83,500 newcomers via the PNP this year.

Canada is also targeting about 24 per cent of admissions (about 80,000) through the family class programs like the Spouses, Partners, and Children Program, and another 25,000 under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP).

The country had a good run last year even with much stricter travel restrictions. The latest relaxation in Canada travel requirements will only boost the projected targets to apply for a Canada visa.

Check out our previous blog>> Which Is Better: Canada vs Australia Immigration Points System for Foreign Skilled Workers?

Certified Canada Immigration Services from CanApprove

Each program has its own eligibility criteria, and documentation varies according to your home country. At CanApprove, you can avail of quality Canada immigration services and seek personalized assistance from our qualified consultants. We offer regular updates on Canadian immigration like nomination draws, employment opportunities in Canada or the list of accepted vaccines in Canada, and other travel requirements.

CanApprove is a certified immigration consultant by the College of Immigration, and Citizenship Canada (CICC). We offer the best Canada Immigration services in Dubai with a proven track record. Our standard Canada immigration services support package includes

  • free assessment,
  • pre-screening,
  • documentation assistance for Canada permanent residency programs
  • Study abroad counseling,
  • review on rejections and appeal guidance,
  • training for embassy interviews,
  • post-landing services like accommodation & more.

Take this free assessment online to determine your eligibility to qualify under the most suitable immigration programs.

Check Your CRS Scores

Book your free appointment with us today and get started!

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