Ontario PNP: 995 International Students and Temporary Workers Nominated

Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) held a new nomination draw on September 21 inviting eligible candidates under its Employer Job Offer stream.

Eligible immigration candidates include those who had already submitted their Expression of Interest (EOI) to the province. It resulted in nominations of foreign workers, international students and also candidates with a job offer in rural communities.

Three nomination draws from OINP resulted in a total of 995 invitations to apply for provincial nominations. A quick review of September 21 PNP draws is as follows:

406 invitations went to candidates who may be eligible for the Foreign Worker Stream. All the invited candidates had a score of at least 37. No specific occupation was targeted nor any location requirement was specified in these draws.
Another 523 invitations were given to applications qualifying for the International Student Stream. All the invited candidates needed an EOI score of at least 61 in order to be invited.
The remaining 66 invitations went to immigration candidates who were registered for the Regional Immigration Pilot. They may qualify for the same two Employer Job Offer streams as above.

A successful provincial nomination can expedite one’s chances of receiving permanent residence in Canada.

OINP Employer Job Offer Category

Ontario offers three Employer Job Offer streams for the nomination of eligible foreign immigrants to apply for provincial nominations:

Foreign Worker Stream, for workers with a skilled job offer in Ontario. Applicants have to be eligible to accumulate the equivalent of two years of work experience in a skilled occupation. Further, they are required to have an eligible job offer in Ontario and intend to immigrate to the province, among other criteria.
International Student Stream, for international students with skilled job offers. Applicants must complete a program at a Canadian Designated Learning Institution and have an eligible job offer in Ontario and intend to immigrate to the province in order to qualify.
In-Demand Skills Stream, for workers in occupations that have labour shortages in Ontario.

Additionally, to qualify for Regional Immigration Pilot, applicants must be eligible for any of the OINP Employer Job Offer streams and their full-time job offer is in one of the participating communities.

New Instructions to Submit a Complete PNP Applications

The province had also released fresh instructions for Express Entry candidates as well as those who submitted profiles to Ontario’s EOI system to apply for provincial nominations. Here are the latest instructions regarding PNP applications:

Mandatory Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for applications under the Express Entry stream. The province has specifically asked applicants to authorize World Education Services (WES) to share a copy of their ECA with the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program. You may take the help of other organizations approved by the federal government for you to consider.
For those applying under an Employer Job Offer stream, you have to submit a PDF copy of the Attestation Form. It should be printed, signed in ink by the applicant, and uploaded to the “Other” tab under Supporting Documents.

Take this free assessment online to determine your eligibility.

The rules keep updating frequently and which is why you may require professional assistance from experienced immigration lawyers to support you with the required documentation. Book an appointment with CanApprove today to get started!

Liberals win Election 2021: How will it improve Canadian immigration?

Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party To Win its Third Straight Canadian Election 2021

Reports from news networks such as CTV and CBC show the Liberal Party headed by Justin Trudeau will form their third consecutive government at the federal level.

The liberal party needs at least 170 seats out of the Canadian Parliament’s 338 seats to form a majority government. A majority government enables the ruling party to implement any legislative changes that they wish without needing the support of opposition parties. News reports are showing us that the liberal party may form their second minority government and will need support from the opposition in order to pass laws and maintain power.

Even in their previous term since 2019, the minority government of Liberals has been successful in enacting their immigration agenda without much controversy or opposition.

How will it Affect Canadian Immigration?

There are more likely to be minimal changes in the current immigration policies. Canada will continue to welcome over 400,000 new immigrants each year and make them eligible to apply for permanent residency.

The Liberal party will look to fulfill their 2019 election campaign promise to end citizenship fees. They will introduce electronic applications to improve applications for family reunification.

The new minority government will look to improve changes in the federal Express Entry system to accommodate more temporary foreign workers and former international students by adding additional points eligibility to the Comprehensive Ranking System.

We may expect more budgetary finance to be allocated to improve Canadian immigration. For instance, Budget 2021 by the same liberal government intends to invest almost $430 million to upgrade its IT infrastructure so it can improve the way it processes immigration applications.

If you’re planning on immigrating to Canada soon, book a free appointment with CanApprove to explore various options on the basis of your work/academic profiles.

Prince Edward Island Invites 143 Candidates To Apply For Provincial Nominations

The maritime province of Canada, Prince Edward Island, has been of the most consistent provinces in 2021 after British Columbia is holding its provincial nomination draws.

On September 16, Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) held its pre-scheduled draw for the month. This is the eighth draw of the year held by the province, bringing the total number of invitations to 1,337 in 2021.

The province issued 143 invitations to apply for a provincial nomination under either one of the three streams: Express Entry, Labour Impact, and Business Impact.

Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) are designed to accommodate the specific and specialized labour market demand of Canada’s provinces and territories. A successful provincial nomination will improve the scope to obtain permanent residence in a quick time.

Take this free assessment online to determine your eligibility to get a provincial nomination.

Highlights On September 16 PEI PNP Draw

Since the launch of the federal Express Entry system in 2015, all the immigration streams under Canada PNP are categorized into two: ‘enhanced’ provincial streams and ‘base’ nomination streams.

A total of 129 invitations went to Express Entry and Labour Impact categories.

In order to be considered for a provincial nomination from PEI, candidates must create an Expression Of Interest (EOI) profile with the PEI PNP. EOI profiles are given points based on the province’s unique points grid. The highest-scoring candidates are then invited to apply through monthly draws.

If a candidate is already registered in the federal Express Entry pool, they could qualify for provincial nomination under the PEI PNP Express Entry category.

Foreigners like Skilled Workers, Critical Workers, and International Graduates with a valid job offer in PEI, and having support from their employer may qualify under the Labour Impact category.

The remaining 14 invitations went to applicants under the Business Impact category. Such candidates are issued invitations under the Work Permit Stream, which is for foreign entrepreneurs who want to own and operate a business in PEI. They required a provincial score of above 72 points in order to receive nominations. All other previous draws had a qualifying score of above 80 points.

Further, fulfilling the predetermined residence requirement in Canada, eligible candidates can apply with the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residency.

The next PEI PNP draw is expected for October 21, 2021.

Here is an interesting read>> How to qualify for permanent residence under Canada PNP?

Contact CanApprove to get the necessary legal and documentation support for immigration. We also provide free counselling sessions to help you choose the best immigration program matching your work profile.

BC invites 464 Skilled Workers and International Graduates for Canada PR

New British Columbia PNP Draws Invites 464 Immigration Candidates For Provincial Nominations

The Canadian province of British Columbia held a nomination draw on September 14 to invite 464 immigration candidates to apply for provincial nominations.

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) continued the trend of holding two draws: one general draw and another occupation-specific draw simultaneously. In the first draw, the province invited a total of 365 candidates under Skills Immigration (SI) and Express Entry British Columbia (EEBC) categories. A mix of candidates belonging to Skilled Worker, International Graduate as well as Entry Level and Semi-Skilled sub-categories of SI and EEBC streams were nominated. The minimum required score for candidates varied by category.

The cut-off scores for Express Entry BC (EEBC) subcategories were: Skilled Worker: 86 and International Graduate: 75.

The cut-off scores for the three Skills Immigration (SI) subcategories were: Skilled Worker: 90; International Graduate: 77; and Entry Level and Semi-Skilled: 69.

The second specialist draw was also conducted under SI and EEBC categories and targeted candidates whose occupation falls under retail and wholesale trade managers (NOC 0621) as well as restaurant and food service managers (NOC 0631). The draw resulted in 99 invitations to apply for provincial nominations with scores of 105.

BC PNP Draws in 2021

The province had issued over 8,500 invitations to apply for provincial nominations. British Columbia issues weekly invitations, including some specifically targeting candidates working in the technology sector.

Upon receiving a successful provincial nomination, candidates can apply for permanent residence in Canada which is issued by the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

In order to apply for a provincial nomination from British Columbia, immigration aspirants must register themselves on the Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS). All the registered profiles are assessed and ranked on factors such as education, work experience, and language skills.

Skills Immigration (SI) category under BC PNP allows eligible foreign workers who usually already have a job offer in B.C. to apply for provincial nomination. However, there are sub-categories that are aligned with the federal Express Entry pool who may not have a job offer in the province:

Skilled Worker Category – for people who have a job offer and several years of experience in a skilled occupation;
Healthcare Professional Category – physicians, nurses, psychiatric nurses, or allied health professionals with job offers in one of 11 eligible occupations may apply for this category;
International Graduate Category – for workers who have graduated from an eligible Canadian university or college in the last three years;
International Post-Graduate Category – Master’s or PhD graduates from eligible B.C. post-secondaries in the natural, applied, or health sciences may apply for this category without a job offer;

There is a separate pathway for entry-level or semi-skilled workers with jobs in tourism, hospitality, food processing, or long-haul trucking. This is the only SI category that does not apply to candidates in the Express Entry system.

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

Book a free appointment with our expert consultants to explore more immigration pathways to qualify for Canadian immigration.

Alberta PNP Invites 500 Express Entry Candidates with CRS Cut Off at 300

Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) held its largest draws ever resulting in 500 Express Entry nomination draws on September 07, now inviting 4,507 Express Entry candidates to apply for a provincial nomination since it resumed invitation rounds in January 2021.

Alberta is allowed to issue 6,250 nomination certificates in 2021.

All the invited candidates were required to have a minimum CRS score of 300 points to qualify. They are now one step closer to applying for permanent residence (PR) in Canada through the Express Entry system.

The federal Express Entry system is an application management database to streamline federal immigration programs that offers direct permanent residency to foreign applicants. It manages applicants under three federal programs – the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).

CanApprove has observed several Canadian immigration aspirants apply for study in Canada and gain work experience through Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP). After gaining full-time work experience of at least one year in Canada, they apply to qualify under CEC for Canada PR.

Alternatively, immigration aspirants look to receive provincial nominations based on their education and work credentials obtained in Canada.

All the registered profiles receive a score based on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Candidates get points for factors including their age, education, work experience, language ability in English or French, and others. The varying degree of scores will help the government determine a prospective immigrant to succeed in Canada’s labour market.

There are two significant advantages of receiving a provincial nomination under AlNP:

Qualifying CRS score remains as low as 300, unlike any other provincial draws,
Those who receive the provincial nomination will automatically get an additional 600 CRS points added to their overall score.

It means that candidates are effectively guaranteed an invitation to apply for permanent residence in the upcoming federal Express Entry draw. As a matter of fact, the previous Express Entry draw targeted 521 candidates with prior provincial nominations to apply for permanent residency.

CanApprove recommends entering the federal Express Entry pool as quickly as possible while preparing to qualify for provincial nominations to secure permanent residency.

Direct Immigration to Canada Through AINP Express Entry Stream

Issuing a permanent residency certificate is the exclusive domain of the federal government.

However, provincial governments provide an alternate pathway for obtaining Canada PR through Canada PNP, one particular case in point is Alberta Express Entry Stream.

Alberta Express Entry stream is classified as enhanced PNP under the AINP. It is exclusively for Express Entry candidates who had already submitted their Expression of Interest (EOI) to Alberta.

Major requirements to receive provincial nominations under this stream include strong ties to Alberta. It includes family ties or graduation from any University or College in Alberta, or those who can support the government’s economic development and diversification priorities.

Candidates are also required to have adequate work experience in an eligible occupation. The AINP only provides a list of occupations that are ineligible for the stream’s requirements.

Take this quick assessment online to determine your eligibility based on your profile.

Visit the official page of AINP or choose to contact our consultants for simplified advice.

Express Entry: 521 PNP-only Candidates with Lowest Qualifying Score 732 Invited for Canada PR

Canada held yet another program-specific Express Entry draw targeting domestic temporary workers or skilled foreign workers with prior provincial nominations.

The 18th PNP-only Express Entry draws in 2021 resulted in a total of 521 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for Canadian Permanent Residence (PR). Canada has been holding PNP-only Express Entry draws alongside CEC-only draws that target temporary skilled workers or recent international graduates with a minimum of one year of work experience in Canada.

In spite of federal elections scheduled for September 20 which could impact immigration policies for the next four years, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) went ahead with the 205th Express Entry nomination draws for Canada PR since 2015.

All the invited candidates in this draw have already demonstrated their connection to a province or territory and experience to succeed in the labour market by securing a provincial nomination. They may qualify to receive invitations for permanent residency through the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, or Canadian Experience Class.

Any prospective candidates that seek to register their profile for consideration under the Express Entry system shall be assessed and ranked based on a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).

Such profiles are evaluated on a total of 1200 points and considers human capital factors like age, education, work experience outside Canada, language proficiency in English/French, spouse adaptability, Canadian study experience, etc.

OVERVIEW OF 205th EXPRESS ENTRY DRAWS
Decreased Draw Size	521 ITAs for permanent residence which is about 114 ITAs more than the previous PNP-only draws.
Lowest CRS Qualifying Score	Invited candidates had a minimum CRS of 732 points which is 32 points lower than the previous qualifying score of 762 points.
Tie-break rule applied?	IRCC applies the tie-break rule to avoid disputes in the rankings in case two or more candidates in the pool end up with the same CRS score. Details on the tie-break rule for this draw was not released.

A provincial nomination is a certificate to immigrate to a certain Canadian province to fulfil its labour shortage demand. The invited candidates are required to reside in places as determined by the province, however, with a permanent residence visa, individuals can now reside anywhere in Canada as per their choice.

Many immigration aspirants are known to choose Canada because of its direct permanent residence pathway. A PR invitation through the provincial nomination route is not a direct pathway, however, can guarantee your permanent residency through the addition of 600 points towards their Express Entry profile CRS score.

Applicants are asked to submit their biometrics or attend an interview or submit more supporting documents after receiving an ITA for Canada PR. Express Entry candidates invited today now have 60 days to apply for permanent residence.

Upon completion, IRCC issues a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR). Applicants with COPR can now plan their travel to Canada.

Ajay is 34 and has been working as a Data Analyst for the last 10 years. He holds a Master’s degree and has scored 7.5 on IELTS for language proficiency. Even though he has never worked or studied in Canada, he entered the federal Express Entry pool and also submitted a profile to the Canadian province of Saskatchewan through the International Skilled Worker with a CRS score of 350.

He received a provincial nomination from the Saskatchewan Express Entry stream which increased his CRS score to 950 which makes him eligible to receive ITA for Canada PR in this draw.

Express Entry Draws in 2021 – crosses annual target of 108,500

The practice of holding alternate CEC-only & PNP-only nomination draws has yielded better results for Canada as it recorded over 108,935 invitations to apply for a permanent residency, surpassing its annual target of 108,500 ITAs.

Canada regularly held fortnightly Express Entry draws in 2021, however, did not favour immigration aspirants who qualified under the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) & the Federal Skills Trades Program (FSTP).

FSWP candidates are mostly foreign skilled workers who do not have work experience inside Canada and do not hold a job offer in Canada. However, they may qualify for direct permanent residency based on their age, language proficiency, education, and relevant work experience abroad.

Click here to get a quick review of nomination draws in the months of January, February, March, April, May, June, July 2021, August 2021.

Take this free assessment online to determine your eligibility for permanent residency.

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

Express Entry: 2000 CEC-only Candidates with Minimum CRS 462 Receive ITAs for Canada PR

Canada held a new program-specific Express Entry targeting more domestic temporary workers or skilled foreign workers with prior work experience in Canada.

Upcoming federal elections on September 20 might have forced Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to conduct a CEC-only Express Entry draw which was expected to be held after September 1 PNP-only draw.

IRCC in its 17th CEC-specific Express Entry draw in 2021 invited 2,000 candidates to apply for permanent residence in Canada. IRCC picked all the invitees from the federal pool who already qualified for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) program. They had at least one year of work experience in Canada.

Any prospective candidate who seeks to register their profile for consideration under the Express Entry system shall be assessed and ranked based on a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).

OVERVIEW OF 204th EXPRESS ENTRY DRAWS
Decreased Draw Size	2000 ITAs for permanent residence which is about 172 ITAs more than the previous CEC-only draws.
Higher CRS Score	Invited candidates had a minimum CRS of 462 points which is 59 points higher than the previous qualifying score of 403 points.
Tie-break rule applied?	IRCC applies the tie-break rule to avoid disputes in the rankings in case of two or more candidates in the pool end up with the same CRS score. No information on the tie-break rule for this draw was released.

Many immigration aspirants are known to choose Canada because of its direct permanent residence pathway. A PR invitation through the experience class program is not a direct pathway. Most international students or foreign workers on temporary work permits choose to apply for PR visas after gaining few years of work experience in Canada.

Applicants are asked to submit their biometrics or attend an interview or submit more supporting documents after receiving an ITA for Canada PR. Upon completion, IRCC issues a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR).

Applicants with COPR can now plan their travel to Canada.

Riji Thomas is in her early 30s and completed her master’s program in business administration in Canada. She graduated in early 2020 and has since been working in Canada as a sales manager. She has excellent scores in IELTS for language proficiency.

Based on her credentials, Riji entered the Express Entry pool with a CRS score of 465 which is high enough to obtain an ITA in this Express Entry draw.

Express Entry Draws in 2021 – double than 2020 levels

The practice of holding alternate CEC-only & PNP-only nomination draws has yielded better results for Canada as it recorded over 100,000 invitations to apply for a permanent residency last year, despite the pandemic.

Even in 2021, Canada has so far issued 108, 414 ITAs for PR, already achieving its annual target of 108,500 Canada PR invitations through Express Entry.

Click here to get a quick review of nomination draws in the months of January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August 2021.

Take this free assessment online to determine your eligibility for permanent residency.

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

Canadian Immigration, What to expect after the federal election

Upcoming Federal Elections Will Shape Canada Immigration for the Next Four Years

In an unprecedented move, the minority government headed by Justin Trudeau announced fresh federal elections a few weeks back, nearly two years ahead of the mandated time.

The Liberal party which constitutes the minority federal government in Canada is confident to gain a majority that they had lost after the 2019 polls. However, some recent public surveys also saw the Conservative party gain equal momentum in terms of public popularity.

Ahead of poll campaigning for September 20 federal elections, all major political parties were seen routing for immigration of foreign skilled workers & international students to complement Canada’s economy & demography.

The following is an overview of the analysis that first appeared on CICnews and is largely based on the outcomes of the 2015 and 2019 federal elections.

How will Canadian Immigration be Affected?

We can expect IRCC and provincial authorities to continue holding nomination draws under the Express Entry programs, Provincial Nominee Programs, and other immigration pathways. No policy decisions will be taken unless the new cabinet and the new government are in place, which could take up to 1-2 months.

The new Prime Minister could issue a mandate letter to their Ministers to carry out tasks in line with the vision outlined in the letter. As Canada recovered from the initial phases of lockdown due to avert major public health crisis, incumbent Prime Minister Trudeau issued a new mandate letter to the Immigration minister Marco Mendicino which called to boost immigration levels and processing time in Canada.

The next big task for the new government could be to table the 2022-2024 Immigration Levels Plan. The incumbent government had earlier rolled out a historic 2021-2023 immigration levels plan and continued work to fulfil it even during the public health crisis owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. If the liberals were to win the consecutive third term, more likely will the same targets to welcome over 400,000 new immigrants each year pass on.

The new government will also be in charge of the federal budget to be tabled to the Parliament every year. The total allocation to immigration departments and works related to improving immigration levels to Canada will depend on the money allocated to it. For instance, budget 2021 introduced by the current government allocated a total of $430 million to update IT infrastructure to improve application processing for the immigration system. This includes the digital processing of applications both at federal and provincial levels to fast track immigration to Canada.

Whichever party comes to power after September 20 elections, the Canadian immigration system will see significant positive changes as the federal government is largely responsible for immigration. Even though the provinces and territories across Canada are seen active in recruiting and settling newcomers, the federal department named Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) national immigration levels as well as allocations for each province, and processing times. It also handles the infamous Express Entry system that is popular among foreign skilled workers without a job offer in Canada to directly obtain permanent residency.

Take this free assessment online to determine your eligibility to immigrate to Canada.

You may even book an appointment with CanApprove to start planning for your immigration.

now is the right time to plan your immigration

Canadian Immigration in Focus as Economy Shows Upward Trend

Canada is showing good signs of recovery in the public health situations as it has now opened its borders to fully vaccinated foreign travellers.

The Canadian economy is also showing signs of recovery to pre-pandemic levels with a consistent rise in employment levels. All these factors are set to contribute to rising immigration levels of foreign skilled workers and international students in Canada.

Canada recovers 90,000 jobs in August

The newest Labour Force Survey released by Statistics Canada notes employment levels in August reach pre-pandemic levels in Canada. August month added another 90,000 jobs in Canada.

Employment increased in regions of Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia. These gains from August and the months prior brought Canada’s employment up to just 156,000 employees short of February 2020 levels.

Total employment in the Construction sector increased for the first time since this past March. Services-producing industries, mostly accommodation & food services and the information, culture and recreation industry continued to see gains in employment.

Interestingly, immigrants who landed in Canada within the past five years continued to rise in employment levels nearly up to 70 per cent. This is six percentage points higher than the August 2019 levels.

Experts see this rise as a consequence of the reduced number of new immigrants admitted in 2020. Subsequently, with the opening of borders to fully vaccinated travellers, Canada’s services sector can add more jobs in the coming months, employing more foreign workers.

Canada had 815,800 job vacancies in June

Another job vacancy report by Statistics Canada indicated 129,100 vacant positions in accommodation and food services jobs in June. Health care and social assistance, retail trade sector in Canada equally saw more openings.

British Columbia and Quebec had the highest job vacancy rates. Manitoba and Nova Scotia had the lowest job vacancy rates. The vacancy rate is the proportion of vacant positions compared to the number of all positions in a sector. In June, Canada’s overall vacancy rate reached 5 per cent

Economist Carrie Freestone suggests that employees are now in a stronger bargaining position to negotiate higher wages and better benefits. Also, the tight labour market may put upward pressure on wages, leading to higher consumer prices.

In-demand Jobs in Manitoba

The pandemic has caused certain Manitoba occupations to be more in-demand than others.

According to a Canadian government study, occupations with their National Occupational Classification (NOC) code that in-demand in Manitoba include:

Graphic designers and illustrators (NOC 5241)
Computer network technicians (NOC 2281)
Insurance agents and brokers (NOC 6231)

Eligible foreign workers who are working in Manitoba such as temporary workers and international students can apply for provincial nominations under the Skilled Worker in Manitoba Stream. Those having an Express Entry profile can make use of the Skilled Worker Overseas Stream through the Manitoba Express Entry Pathway.

In-demand Jobs in Saskatchewan

Even in Saskatchewan, certain occupations experience increased demand and calls for immigration of eligible foreign skilled workers.

According to a Canadian government study, occupations with their National Occupational Classification (NOC) code that in-demand in Manitoba include:

Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (NOC 3012)
Information systems analysts and consultants (NOC 2171)
Power engineers and power systems operators (NOC 9241)
Real estate agents and salespersons (NOC 6232)

Eligible foreign workers with work experience in specific in-demand occupations can apply under various streams of the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP).

You may also use your skilled work experience as part of a permanent residence application through an economic class immigration program. This includes the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), all managed by the Express Entry system.

Take this quick assessment online to determine your eligibility based on your profile.

Book your free appointment with CanApprove to discuss the available options to immigrate to Canada.

British Columbia Issued over 8,000 ITAs for Provincial Nominations in 2021

British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) held a new Tech draws on September 07 to invite immigration candidates working in key tech occupations to apply for provincial nominations.

The province ended up inviting 34 Immigration candidates having work experience and a valid job offer in one of 29 eligible occupations including Web designers & developers, Engineers, Audio technicians, etc. were invited to this draw.

All the invited candidates met the requirements of either Express Entry or Skills Immigration categories, managed by the Skills & Immigration Registration System (SIRS). They were required to have a provincial score of 80 points to qualify in this draw.

British Columbia had now issued 8,100 invitations to apply (ITAs) for provincial nominations, so far in 2021. A successful provincial nomination will guarantee an iTA for permanent residence in subsequent federal nomination draws.

Qualify for BC PNP Tech Program

British Columbia had recently made this pilot Tech program into a permanent residence program. This is expected to boost the immigration for in-demand tech workers and international students in the province.

In order to qualify for the program, candidates need to be registered in one of B.C.’s existing provincial immigration streams and have a valid job offer of at least 12 months in one of 29 eligible occupations to qualify for this stream.

Candidates who are invited to apply for a provincial nomination will need to submit a complete application. Once this is done, most tech applications will be processed within two to three months. After receiving a nomination confirmation from the province, they can apply for permanent residence from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) under the Provincial Nominee Program Class.

29 Eligible occupations for BC PNP Tech

Telecommunication carriers managers- NOC 0131
Computer and information systems managers- NOC 0213
Managers – publishing, motion pictures, broadcasting and performing arts- NOC 0512
Civil engineers- NOC 2131
Mechanical engineers- NOC 2132
Electrical and electronics engineers- NOC 2133
Chemical engineers- NOC 2134
Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)- NOC 2147
Information systems analysts and consultants- NOC 2171
Database analysts and data administrators- NOC 2172
Software engineers and designers- NOC 2173
Computer programmers and interactive media developers- NOC 2174
Web designers and developers- NOC 2175
Biological technologists and technicians- NOC 2221
Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians- NOC2241
Electronic service technicians (household and business equipment)- NOC 2242
Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics- NOC 2243
Computer network technicians- NOC 2281
User support technicians- NOC 2282
Information systems testing technicians- NOC 2283
Authors and writers- NOC 5121
Editors- NOC 5122
Translators, terminologists, and interpreters- NOC 5125
Broadcast technicians- NOC 5224
Audio and video recording technicians- NOC 5225
Other technical and co-ordinating occupations in motion pictures, broadcasting, and the performing arts- NOC 5226
Support occupations in motion pictures, broadcasting, photography, and the performing arts- NOC 5227
Graphic designers and illustrators- NOC 5241
Technical sales specialists – wholesale trade- NOC 6221

Take this free assessment online to determine your eligibility.

If you are planning to migrate to Canada, getting nominated through Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) will assure you permanent residency in Canada. Book your free appointment with CanApprove to know more.

Saskatchewan PNP invites 528 immigration candidates

Saskatchewan Targets 528 Candidates Under the Express Entry and Occupations In-Demand Sub-Categories

Saskatchewan held a new nomination draw on September 8, inviting eligible immigration candidates to apply for a provincial nomination for Canadian permanent residence (PR).

All the candidates have been invited under the ‘enhanced’ Express Entry & ‘base’ Occupations In-Demand Saskatchewan PNP streams. There were only 16 eligible occupations for each category including Chiropractors, Horticulture managers, Medical Radiation Technologists, Medical Sonographers, and more.

‘Enhanced’ Express Entry Stream: Out of the total 528 invitations, 316 invitations went to candidates who already had their profiles in the federal Express Entry pool. Currently, the province has a list of 65 in-demand occupations and targets, eligible candidates, with in-demand skills at that particular time.

The federal Express Entry pool is a database of interested applicants willing to obtain permanent residence in Canada. Originally, the federal pool of candidates manages three of Canada’s main economic-class immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class.

However, certain streams under the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) can select candidates from the pool.

‘Base’ Occupations In-Demand Stream: Out of the total 528 invitations, 212 invitations went to candidates who have specific work skills that are in demand in Saskatchewan.

Those candidates who barely qualify to register a federal Express Entry profile may be nominated under the Occupations In-Demand sub-category.

Interesting Read>> How To Qualify For Canada PR Under Canada PNP?

An Overview of SINP Draws- September 08, 2021
Category	Minimum EOI score	Total candidates invited
Occupations In-Demand	EOI 66	316
Occupations In-Demand candidates invited had Educational Credential Assessments. Not all occupations were selected.
Express Entry	EOI 66	212
Express Entry candidates invited had Educational Credential Assessments. Not all occupations were selected.

Occupations chosen and eligible had the following classification numbers, as per the National Occupational Classification [NOC] :

0911, 0821, 3211, 3234, 9232, 4151, 9212, 3216, 3215, 3143, 8255, 2225, 9226, 0822, 3122, 9231.

How To Get Nominated In Future Saskatchewan PNP Draws?

In order to be considered for nominations under the upcoming Saskatchewan Immigration Nominee Program (SINP) draws, candidates must register their Expression of Interest (EOI) profile with the province which will be valid for one year.

Candidates need to demonstrate their commitment to meaningfully settle in Saskatchewan by demonstrating their work experience, education, language ability, age, and connections to the province.

Saskatchewan gives candidates a score out of 100 according to the International Skilled Worker Points Assessment Grid. The province favors candidates with bilingual capability in both English and French. The highest-scoring candidates are then issued an invitation to apply for a provincial nomination from Saskatchewan.

Regardless of the provincial category, all invited candidates need an EOI score of at least 80 in order to be invited. It is also to be noted that the points requirement is that all the invited candidates must have valid Educational Credential Assessments.

Additionally, candidates already in the federal Express Entry pool need to register another EOI and choose Saskatchewan.

On successfully receiving an invitation to apply (ITA) for a provincial nomination, candidates are awarded an additional 600 points toward their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. It will effectively guarantee an ITA for Canada PR in the subsequent Express Entry draw conducted by IRCC.

The province had already invited nearly 5,000 immigrants in 2021 to submit their applications for provincial nominations. Moreover, throughout 2021, IRCC has been inviting only those candidates for permanent residency who had a prior provincial nomination or work experience in Canada.

Check your eligibility by filling this free assessment online.

Take the first step towards securing Canada PR by booking a free consultation session with us!

Canada is now opening its borders to fully vaccinated tourists

Canada is Now Fully Open to Fully Vaccinated Tourists

Canada is allowing fully vaccinated tourists from all over the world to travel to the country. As of September 7, 2021, Canada is now opening its borders to tourists who are fully vaccinated.

Fully vaccinated travellers are those who need to have received two doses of either the Pfizer vaccine, the Moderna vaccine or the AstraZeneca vaccine, or one dose of the Janssen vaccine. Currently, Canada has not approved any other vaccine that may have been in use elsewhere in the world.

The full border relaxations are followed by allowing fully vaccinated American citizens and permanent residents to enter Canada since August 9, 2021.

The present border & travel relaxations are expected to benefit temporary workers, international students, and other individuals who are travelling for an essential reason. It is also paving the path for more immigration aspirants to actively apply for Canadian immigration.

Things to Note Before Travelling to Canada

Prospective travellers 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.

Travellers 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.

All international flights to Canada will arrive at one of these nine Canadian airports as listed below:

Toronto Pearson International Airport
Montreal-Trudeau International Airport
Vancouver International Airport
Calgary International Airport
Halifax Stanfield International Airport
Quebec City Jean Lesage International Airport
Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport
Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport
Edmonton International Airport

Travel Ban Continues for Travellers from India & Morocco

In addition, flights from India will continue to be banned until at least September 21, and flights from Morocco will be banned until at least September 29.

This is not to suggest that Indians or Morocco nationals cannot enter Canada. They would require to stop at a third country and test negative for COVID-19, before continuing to Canada. The COVID-19 test will need to be conducted within 72 hours before the departure of the final flight to Canada.

Take this free assessment online to explore your Canadian immigration options.

Canada is on track to meet its annual immigration targets. This gives a scope for immigration aspirants to Canada can continue planning for their permanent residency. Book your free appointment with CanApprove to know more.

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