Annual Allocations To Ontario Set At 8,350 Provincial Nominations in 2021

2021 is already proving to be a significant year for immigration to Canada under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP).

With the latest allocations of immigration targets by the federal government, Ontario is now eyeing to welcome at least 8,350 eligible candidates to apply for permanent residency (PR). Typically, foreign workers with Canadian work experience in occupations relating to National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill level 0, A, B. Such jobs include Managerial positions, Experts in certain fields, Professionals, Supervisors with graduate-level or higher education qualifications.

An additional 250 nominations will be made specifically for temporary foreign workers with a National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill level C. Skill level C jobs are typically desirable for applicants with high school education or specific job training.

Earlier this year, Ontario shifted its intake system to the Expression of Interest (EOI) model. This allows the province to invite & assess applications for immigration from interested candidates in advance and nominate them as per the labor demand need. It goes on to save a lot of processing and evaluation time as well as facilitate quick immigration to Canada.

Provincial Nominee Programs in Canada are designed to nominate desirable candidates autonomously to support its peculiar economic needs.

Interestingly, Ontario is one of the most preferred provinces for immigration. As such, many PNP immigrants succeed in Ontario’s labor market, getting jobs in their first year of landing.

There are two broad classifications of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP):

Base PNPs, like the Employer Job Offer Category, operate independently within the province.
Enhanced PNPs, like the Ontario Express Entry Streams, invite candidates who have submitted profiles to the Express Entry system.

A provincial nomination aids in obtaining permanent residency in quick time, however not to be treated as a guarantee of permanent residency.

Canadian Immigration Under Ontario Provincial Programs

For some Ontario PNPs, you can apply without ever having set foot in Canada such as the Human Capital Priorities Stream. Others require you to have a job offer or at least domestic education as in the case of the Master’s Graduate stream.

One another provincial category is Ontario Tech Draw which selects desirable candidates who are registered under the federal Express Entry pool for provincial nominations.

Only the candidates qualifying for federal programs like the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) are recognized by Ontario’s Human Capital Priority stream for nominations.

Interested candidates need not have a job offer while applying but must have work experience in one of the following Tech-based occupations:

In-demand occupations – Ontario Tech Draws
NOC 0213	Computer and information systems managers
NOC 2147	Computer engineers
NOC 2172	Database analysts and data administrators
NOC 2173	Software engineers and designers
NOC 2174	Computer programmer and interactive media developers
NOC 2175	Web designers and developers

With the launch of an Expression of Interest (EOI) system for programs under its Employer Job Offer Category, immigration candidates who do not qualify under the Express Entry system can improve their chances to receive a provincial nomination.

Applying For Canada PR Through Express Entry

One can bypass the PNP streams and directly apply for Canada PR without the need for obtaining a provincial nomination first.

For the same reason, Canada Express Entry has become the most popular and preferred pathway for permanent residency in Canada. It manages application for three federal economic-class immigration programs such as the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).

Each profile that is registered in the Express Entry pool is assessed and ranked against each other according to the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). It is based on candidates’ age, work experience, educational qualifications, and proficiency in English or French. Additionally, the adaptability skills of a spouse or a job offer in Canada can fetch additional points.

However, candidates without prior provincial nominations will not be eligible for additional 600 CRS points which could guarantee their ITA for Canada PR in upcoming Express Entry draws.

Weigh in your chances of being among the fortunate nominees from the applicants in the province’s Expression of Interest (EOI) pool. Further, Ontario’s Immigration Minister, Vic Fedeli, has lobbied the federal government to allocate nearly 13,300 nominations in 2022. This will only increase your prospects of obtaining permanent residency in Canada.

Take this free assessment online to determine your eligibility.

Contact CanApprove to know more and get started.

New Tech Pilot Pushes Total B.C Nominations in 2021 To 4,438

British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) held a new Tech Pilot nomination draw on May 18.

A total of 82 immigration candidates with work experience in selected occupations received an invitation to apply (ITA) for provincial nomination. These candidates are just one step away from obtaining permanent residency to settle in Canada.

The province issued invitations to eligible candidates under its Express Entry BC (EEBC) and Skills Immigration (SI) categories. All the invited candidates were from Skilled Worker & International Graduate sub-categories who required a minimum provincial score of 80 to qualify.

BC PNP Tech Pilot

The BC PNP Tech Pilot is a fast-track Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) for in-demand tech workers and international students.

The mandatory criteria for qualification under Tech Pilot include:

Registration through Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS) in one of B.C.’s existing provincial immigration streams, EEBC or SI;
A valid job offer of at least 12 months in one of the Tech Pilot’s 29 eligible occupations.

All the registered applicants are evaluated and given a score which is based on the level of education, years of direct work experience and having a job offer in the province.

Express Entry candidates are in an advantageous position as they gain additional 600 points toward their Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score on receiving a successful provincial nomination. This will effectively guarantee an ITA in the upcoming federal Express Entry draw.

Consider Entrepreneur Immigration

The Entrepreneur Immigration – Regional Pilot allows British Columbia to work in partnership with regional communities of less than 75,000 people to welcome approved immigrant entrepreneurs who want to open a new business.

All interested foreign entrepreneurs must complete an exploratory visit to the community where they wish to set up their business and must obtain a community referral before registering for the pilot. Get in touch with our business formation experts to understand the process better.

Further, successful candidates are granted a temporary work permit on the basis of which you can apply for a provincial nomination from British Columbia. Eventually, you can obtain a permanent residence along with your family in a quick time.

Canada Extends Travel Restrictions To June 21

One may wonder if travel restrictions are still in place, how is Canada extending invitations to apply for permanent residency.

The Canadian borders are closed for non-essential travel such as entertainment, shopping, or tourism. However, certain individuals including:

permanent residents and their family members,
temporary foreign workers,
International students attending a learning institution with a COVID-19 readiness plan are exempted.

This opens the scope for immigration authorities to continue with their annual allocation target to issue nominations for permanent residency.

Candidates who are already present in Canada or have prior work/study experience in Canada are being considered for PR nominations. It is expected that more than 1.2 million new immigrants will be welcomed to Canada through various economic-class programs like Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs by 2023.

Once Canada completes the vaccination of over 75% of its population, it will slowly open its borders to the world for non-essential travel. Until then, the travel restrictions are extended to June 21.

After that, it may lead to the resurgence of the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) which happens to be the most preferred pathway for permanent residency. Under it, foreign workers with no previous work experience or job offer in Canada may obtain ITAs in subsequent Express Entry draws.

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

Give us a call to understand your prospects to immigrate to Canada in 2021 & beyond.

Canada Holds A Surprise Express Entry Draw Inviting CEC-Only For PR

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held yet another surprise Express Entry nomination draw on May 20, exclusively targeting candidates with prior work experience in Canada.

The 188th Express Entry is special because of the usually low minimum score requirement since the historic February 13 draw. Interestingly, it only required having a qualifying CRS of 75 points.

May 20 Express Entry draw invited a total of 1,842 candidates who may be eligible for permanent residence (PR) through the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). However, the draw size is certainly lower than the previous CEC-only draw held on May 13.

International students/recent graduates, temporary skilled workers are known to be the largest beneficiary groups under the CEC program.

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.

May 20 draw selected candidates having one of the lowest minimum CRS scores of 397 points.

In the case of two or more candidates being awarded the same CRS score, IRCC applies its tie-break rule to avoid any further disputes in the rankings. This draw invited candidates who had a minimum score of 397 and only if they submitted their Express Entry profile before April 24, 2021, at 12:09:24 UTC.

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

Candidates With Prior Experience Being Preferred

Since the beginning of 2021, Canada has been consistent in holding Express Entry nomination draws which specifically targeted candidates having some experience in Canada. It was either through selecting candidates with provincial nominations or candidates qualifying under the Canadian Experience Class program.

Closely adhering to its annual target of nearly 108,800 ITAs, Canada has already invited upto 68,317 candidates to apply for PR in 2021. Canada will have to give disproportionate importance to the Express Entry-managed programs to achieve an overwhelming target of inviting nearly 1.2 million new immigration by 2023.

Express Entry-managed programs include the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and the Federal Skills Trades Program (FSTP). Applicants having a provincial nomination are effectively guaranteed an invitation to apply for permanent residency.

You Could Be Next!

With this hypothetical example, you may assume your chances of qualifying for permanent residency in Canada.

Majid has a bachelor’s degree and has been working in Canada as a database analyst for just over one year. He is 36 years old and already had a working experience of 6 years, prior to coming to Canada. Considering such factors, Majid’s CRS score of 456 would have been sufficient to qualify for this new draw.

Express Entry draws also consider candidates with no work experience in Canada. Get in touch with CanApprove to know more about your chances of immigrating to Canada.

Parliamentary Report Looks At COVID Impact On Canadian Immigration & Suggest Measures To Implement

The Parliament Committee report on the impact of immigration in Canada made innovative and practical suggestions like making Canadian immigration all-inclusive, digitising the intake system, newer PR pathways for essential workers and more, to implement in the coming term.

The report was presented in the House of Commons on May 13 by Salma Zahid, the committee’s Chair. It is a compilation of the findings of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration from the testimonies of immigrants, lawyers, interest groups and other stakeholders.

Further, the liberal party government at the federal level is supposed to table a response on the report within 120 days. Interestingly, some of the recommendations made in the report to improve Canadian immigration are already in place to a certain extent.

All-Inclusive Approach Towards Immigration

The committee report calls for publishing anonymous processing and application data for all immigration streams, disaggregated by applicants’ race, religion, gender, age, source-country, and parental status.

This is to build an all-inclusive intake system that allows entry into Canada purely based on merits.

The report also suggests the government come up with real-time tracking of immigration applications and provide realistic processing times for individual applicants. Further, officers are also expected to release full records for any application refusal. It will help boost immigration intakes.

The committee has also forwarded a proposal to create an immigration ombudsperson to oversee IRCC and receive complaints.

Recommends Digitalization Of Immigration Intake

Six of the report recommendations call for the digitalization of the immigration system.

The committee believes in digitizing the immigration intake system alongside paper applications fully. The main intent behind this is to make applicants submit all the required documents and signatures online at once, rather than waiting for officials to ask for credentials after applying. It will result in a significant reduction in overall processing times.

The report also recommended holding immigration interviews virtually and issuing visas electronically. Having a scannable barcode for Permanent residency (PR) visas instead of being affixed to physical passports was also one of its recommendations.

Surprisingly, the Canadian government announced $430 million to modernize the immigration system in its latest budget estimates. Such recommendations could be well accommodated within the estimates.

International Student Immigration To Increase

Canada is expected to continue its efforts to welcome and retain more foreign talent in the coming years. The committee has made a strong suggestion to start welcoming International students to enter Canada and study in person.

Get in touch with our overseas education counsellors to know your prospects.

Prioritizing Family Immigration

Despite the concept of dual intent, foreign nationals can apply for both a temporary residence and permanent residence visa; immigration officers have been known to refuse applicants. This is because they are not satisfied that the applicant will leave at the end of their authorized stay.

As a result, many are separated from their spouses for the entire duration of the PR process.

The Parliamentary committee has made an innovative suggestion to create a Super Visa for spousal sponsorship applicants, like Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) applicants.

The report had called for adjusting the minimum financial requirements in the wake of the economic impact of the pandemic for PGP applicants.

Canada is definitely strengthening its approach towards welcoming more foreign talents in the coming years. If you wish to migrate for better career opportunities and high living standards, Canada can be your first choice!

Take this free assessment online to determine your eligibility for various Canadian immigration streams, or call our consultants today!

ontario holds first international student stream

How Ontario Nominated International Graduates To Apply For Canada PR

The Ontario Immigration Nominee Program (OINP) held a new nomination draw on May 18 inviting among the registered candidates in the new Expression of Interest (EOI) pool.

All the 138 invited candidates qualify to apply for provincial nomination under the Ontario Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream. They are those candidates who have recently graduated from any Canadian Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs).

Previously, OINP held its first ‘base’ draw on May 11 following the new intake system. It resulted in 81 candidates with work experience in one of 23 occupations including healthcare workers and skilled trades workers.

International students not just contribute to the local economy but also serve as a large pool of highly educated people. Statistics Canada has captured how well Canada has done to tap this pool by providing easy permanent residence options.

We saw over 30% of international students who got Canadian bachelor’s degrees and almost 50% of international students who graduated with master’s degrees became permanent residents within 10 years after they got their first study permit.

To know more about DLIs that match your academic profile, give us a call here or take this free assessment online.

New EOI-based Immigration Intake

Following the introduction of the ‘two-step immigration’ system, all the 81 invited candidates were selected from the new Expression of Interest (EOI) pool.

To begin your process of qualifying for OINP draws, interested candidates must register their EOI profiles. Upon registration, their profiles will be evaluated and ranked on factors like job skill level, total work experience, education, proficiency in English or French. Study or work experience inside Canada can fetch you additional points.

The invited candidates in the May 18 ‘base’ stream draw required a qualifying EOI score of at least 77. Further, any foreign applicant can qualify under the International Student stream provided:

They have job offers in Ontario before applying.
They must have completed any study program at a Canadian Designated Learning Institution (DLI).
They must demonstrate intent to settle permanently in the province.

On successfully receiving a provincial nomination, candidates are open to apply for permanent residency with the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

It is equally interesting to note that the scoring system under the OINP is different for each nomination stream. Other than skill level and work experience, factors like wage, education, language proficiency, and the region in which you study or work will determine your overall provincial score. Additionally, OINP is at its discretion to allow up to 10 points to respond to labour market needs.

Follow our blogs to know about the trending overseas education study & career options.

Follow more such updates and determine your eligibility for immigration to Canada with CanApprove. Give us a Call today!

British Columbia Extends 379 Invites For Canada PR From Two New PNP Draws

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) on May 11 issued 379 invitations to eligible immigration candidates from the Skills Immigration (SI) and Express Entry BC (EEBC) streams.

These candidates belonged to Skilled Worker, International Graduate as well as Entry Level and Semi-Skilled sub-categories of SI and EEBC streams. They are now one step closer to obtaining a provincial nomination. Further, it will significantly reduce their efforts to gain permanent residency in Canada.

Since February 2021, BC PNP has been innovating with its nomination draws. The province is conducting two separate rounds of invitations every two weeks – the first being a general draw and the second draw targets specific occupations like retail and wholesale trade managers (NOC 0621), restaurant and foodservice managers (NOC 0631).

About BC PNP

The first general draw invited 331 candidates whose provincial scores ranged between 77 and 94 points. While the occupation-specific second draw led to 48 invitations to eligible candidates having a minimum score of 112.

British Columbia aims to attract foreign workers who are in high demand in the province and who wish to become permanent residents in Canada.

In order to be considered for BC PNP nomination draws, interested candidates need to register under the province’s Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS). Such candidates are assigned a score based on factors such as education, work experience, and language skills.

BC PNP also extends special nominations to foreign talent having specific tech-related occupations and work experience. A complete list of 29 eligible occupations under the Tech Pilot can be viewed here.

Additionally, BC PNP has dedicated Express Entry-linked streams that nominate eligible candidates directly from the federal talent pool. One biggest advantage for such candidates is that they receive an additional 600 points to their overall Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. This is enough to guarantee an invitation for permanent residence in subsequent Express Entry draws.

Analyzing the data from provincial draws from British Columbia over the last four months, the province has been consistent in nominating at least 400 invitations in five categories of the BC PNP every two weeks.

This is enough to suggest that Canada is keen on fulfilling its immigration commitments of welcoming over 401,000 new immigration in 2021. More specifically, a target of 80,000 new immigrants in 2021 through PNP alone is set on the right course.

Take this free assessment online to determine your eligibility for upcoming BC PNP draws.

Contact CanApprove to get started with your application for immigration to Canada.

Canada PR Through Express Entry For Married Couples or Common-Law Union

Applying for permanent residency in Canada under the most preferred Express Entry pathway can mean different for partnered immigration candidates than for single applicants.

Canada has been majorly dependent on economic-class immigration programs like the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) to welcome eligible foreign talent to work & settle in the country.

In fact, a report from Statistics Canada shows encouraging outcomes for immigrants in terms of employment rates and wages over the native Canadians.

The federal watchdog, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) employs a tool called the Express Entry system to manage immigration applications under the said three economic-class programs. Since its introduction in 2015, it has led to faster processing and increased intake of foreign skilled talent. Canada has also done well to tap the pool of international student graduates through Express Entry options.

Statistics Canada revealed that over 30% of international students who got Canadian bachelor’s degrees and almost 50% of international students who graduated with master’s degrees became permanent residents within 10 years after they got their first study permit.

Points-based System For Qualification

All the profiles registered under the Express Entry system are compulsorily evaluated and ranked against each other. The overall score obtained forms the basis of the qualification of immigration candidates to apply for Canada PR.

Irrespective of the applicant being single or coupled, they are subjected to this points-based evaluation called Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). However, the way they are assessed and scored may change depending on their status.

A married couple or common-law partners can receive less base points than a single person, but can also gain points from their partner.

Four Components of Comprehensive Ranking System For Couples

Every application for Express Entry involves a Principal Applicant (PA).

It would mean, even if a couple is applying for Canada PR through Express Entry, only one among them shall be evaluated and assigned a CRS score needed for qualification. The couple can choose which partner is the PA as long as both partners qualify for at least one of three Express Entry programs.

PA can include a spouse, common-law partners, or dependent children with the application. One partner will almost certainly have a CRS score higher than the other, and that person would be better suited as the PA.

The scoring system for single PAs and partnered PAs is somewhat different.

To account for your partner, the CRS reduces the number of points the PA can get for various factors by a total of 40 points. However, at the same time, the CRS also allows the PA to earn up to 40 points through their partner’s profile.

There are four components to a CRS score. The total maximum CRS score a person, either single or coupled, can obtain is 1200 points.

1) Core/Human Capital Factors: Age, language proficiency in English or French, education in Canada or abroad can contribute to a maximum score of 460 points for someone in a couple, but 500 points for a single person.

2) Spouse/Partner Factors: Based on your spouse or partner’s language proficiency, educational, or work experience, partner PA can get a maximum score of 40 points.

Obviously, single PAs are not eligible to gain points under this category.

3) Skill Transferability: Canadian work experience or a postsecondary credential can fetch you up to 100 points.

4) Additional Points: Those with prior provincial nominations can gain 600 points which will effectively guarantee them an invitation to apply for Canada PR in subsequent Express Entry draws.

Take this free assessment online to determine your eligibility.

Let’s Understand Better With A Hypothetical Example

Adil and Myra are married.

Adil is 29, has a master’s degree outside Canada, English proficiency of CLB 8 across all four categories, and five years of cumulative work experience including 3 years in Canada. Myra is 32, has a bachelor’s degree from abroad, and English proficiency of CLB 7 across all four categories. She has eight years of cumulative work experience including 6 years in Canada.

Anyone can be PA in the Express Entry application. However, Adil is more likely to score better due to superior language skills, education and most importantly, age.

On a points scale, Adil would obtain 494 with him as the PA of the couple. Myra’s skills would contribute 29 points which are included in this score.

So which is better?

Adil could have obtained 497, just three more points, had he applied as a single applicant. However, if he did the immigration officer may question why his spouse is not accompanying. If the reason is to gain access to more CRS points, his application may not necessarily be acceptable.

If even Adil is saved from scrutiny, he would have to reside in Canada throughout the entire spousal sponsorship process in order to sponsor his wife, Myra which is a time taking process.

Contact CanApprove for more such updates.

Paper based economic class applications go digital

Canada Immigration Update: Paper-Based Economic Class Programs Go Digital

Applying for selected permanent resident (PR) programs in Canada for foreign skilled workers, international graduates, entrepreneurs became fully digital since March 31, 2021.

With the launch of a new online application portal, IRCC has signalled a shift from the previous paper-based mode for select PR programs to improve the overall efficiency of the Canadian immigration system. Experts see it as a precursor to immigration priorities outlined in the budget 2021.

This new portal is available for applicants qualifying for the following programs:

Non-Express Entry (base) Provincial Nominee Program;
Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot;
Agri-Food Pilot;
Atlantic Immigration Pilot.

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

Future of Canadian Immigration is Digital

The introduction of the Express Entry system in 2015 marked a significant step towards the digitalization of Canadian immigration. As a result, hundreds and thousands of foreign immigration candidates made their way into Canada in quick time.

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) that is responsible for issuing permanent residency certificates, setting up immigration targets, and facilitating easy immigration will massively benefit from this procedural change to have a digital application forum. In turn, it is expected that aspirants will now have a clear breakdown of all the documents needed to submit, thereby avoid rejections due to incomplete applications previously in paper-application mode.

Another advantage for immigration aspirants will be reduced processing times. For instance, a PNP applicant submitted through the Express Entry system can expect a processing time of around 6 months whereas a base PNP applicant, that is a paper-based submission can expect to wait 20 months to see their file processed.

With the introduction of the new portal, even the base PNP applicant can reduce its processing time significantly.

Stay in touch with our consultants or follow this space for more such updates on Canadian immigration.

New Express Entry Draws Extend PR Invites To CEC Candidates With CRS 401

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held yet another program-specific Express Entry draw on May 13.

This is the 187th Express Entry draw which targeted only candidates with Canadian work experience. A brief summary of the nomination draw is as below:

Exuberant Draw Size: Even though Canada invited 1,853 less candidates than the previous CEC-only draw, the total draw size of 4,147 ITAs for Canada PR is still encouraging.

All the invited candidates have already demonstrated their work experience of at least one year inside Canada. International students, temporary skilled workers are known to be the largest beneficiary under the CEC program.

Qualifying Score: 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. Those who receive provincial nominations through ‘enhanced’ PNP streams will get an additional 600 points towards their CRS score.

May 13 draw selected candidates having a minimum CRS score of 401 which is slightly higher than the previous CEC-specific draw.

Tie-Break Rule: IRCC applies a tie-break rule to avoid disputes in the rankings in the case where two or more candidates are awarded the same CRS score. This draw invited candidates who had the minimum score of 752 and only if they submitted their Express Entry profile before April 29, 2021 at 11:48:14 UTC.

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

Express Entry in 2021

IRCC has regularly held Express Entry draws in 2021. Only program-specific draws linked to either Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) or c (CEC) have been held so far, thereby ignoring the candidates who qualified under the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP). This may be largely due to the COVID-related travel restrictions internationally.

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 permanent residency based on their age, language proficiency, education, and relevant work experience abroad.

Canada is set to welcome 108,500 new immigrants through Express Entry-managed programs in 2021 alone. So far, more than half, 66,475 Express Entry candidates have been already invited to apply for permanent residency.

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

For more latest updates on Canadian immigration, contact CanApprove.

Canada Invites More Candidates Than Previous PNP-Only Express Entry Draw

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held yet another program-specific Express Entry draw on May 12.

This is the 186th Express Entry draw which targeted only candidates with prior provincial nominations. A brief summary of the nomination draw is as below:

Increased Draw Size: Canada invites 176 more candidates than the previous PNP-only draw resulting in a total of 557 ITAs for Canada PR.

All the invited candidates have already demonstrated their connection to a province or territory and experience to succeed in the labor market by securing a provincial nomination.

Further, they may qualify to receive invitations for permanent residency through the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, or Canadian Experience Class.

Higher Qualifying Score: 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).

May 12 draw selected candidates having a minimum CRS score of 752 which is 35 points higher than the previous PNP-specific draw.

Tie-Break Rule: IRCC applies a tie-break rule to avoid disputes in the rankings in the case where two or more candidates are awarded the same CRS score. This draw invited candidates who had a minimum score of 752 and only if they submitted their Express Entry profile before April 29, 2021, at 10:18:12 UTC.

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

Express Entry in 2021

IRCC has regularly held Express Entry draws in 2021. Only program-specific draws linked to either Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) or Canada Experience Class (CEC) have been held so far, thereby ignoring the candidates who qualified under the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP). This may be largely due to the COVID-related travel restrictions internationally.

Canada is set to welcome 108,500 new immigrants through Express Entry-managed programs in 2021 alone. So far, more than half, 62,328 Express Entry candidates have been already invited to apply for permanent residency.

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

For more latest updates on Canadian immigration, contact CanApprove.

Ontario PNP invites health care and skilled trades workers

Ontario Held Its First ‘Base’ Draws Following Its New Intake System

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) held a nomination draw on May 11, the first after revamping its immigration intake system.

A total of 81 candidates with work experience in one of 23 occupations were issued an invitation to apply (ITA) for provincial nominations. This is necessary to support their final application to secure permanent residency in Canada.

The OINP draw on March 11 targeted 15 specific health care professionals and 8 other skilled trades occupations. All the targeted profiles were required to have a minimum qualifying EOI score of 31 out of 100 points.

May 11 draw also happens to be the first non-Express Entry or ‘base’ provincial draw from Ontario after the introduction of the new Expression of the Interest intake system.

(Note: a detailed list of targeted occupations is tabulated towards the end)

Revamped Immigration Intake System

Following the introduction of the ‘two-step immigration’ system, all the 81 invited candidates were selected from the new Expression of Interest (EOI) pool.

The invited candidates in the May 11 may qualify for the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream. It is open to any foreign national who has at least:

two years of work experience in a relevant skilled occupation,
has an eligible job offer in Ontario, and
intends to settle permanently in the province.

Ontario’s Growth Is Dependent On Immigration

A report prepared by Scotiabank sees an influx of up to $2.9 billion in Ontario’s economy through the rise in newcomers as per the current immigration plans. Additionally, the federal investment of $1million in 2021 in Northern Ontario will boost immigration.

Beyond 2022, immigrants are expected to make up half of the economic growth generated in the province. Without newcomers, Ontario’s GDP could be 20% lower than the present year, about $157 billion.

Some of the most demanding occupations among the invited workers include Software engineers and designers, Computer programmers, Interactive media developers, IT systems analysts, Technology consultants, and Healthcare professionals.

The Ontario Immigration Nominee Program (OINP) allows immigration of foreign workers through Express Entry streams, Tech Pilot streams, Human Capital Priorities Stream.

List of 15 Targeted Health Care Occupations
3012 – Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses	3112 – General practitioners and family physicians	3125 – Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating
3121 – Optometrists	3122 – Chiropractors	3124 – Allied primary health practitioners
3131 – Pharmacists	3132 – Dietitians and nutritionists	3236 – Massage therapists
3215 – Medical radiation technologists	3216 – Medical sonographers	3232 – Practitioners of natural healing
3213 – Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians	3214 – Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists, and cardiopulmonary technologists	3141 – Audiologists and speech-language pathologists

List of 8 Invited Skilled Trades Occupations
7241 – Electricians (except industrial and power system)	7302 – Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews
7312 – Heavy-duty equipment mechanics	7313 – Refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics
7316 – Machine fitters	7318 – Elevator constructors and mechanics
7271 – Carpenters	7291 – Roofers and shinglers

Take this free assessment online to find the perfect immigration stream that suits your work profile.

You may also contact our consultants to clear all your queries about immigration to Canada during the pandemic.

Study-Compares-Immigrant-Employment-Rates-to-Natives

Statistics Canada Examines Immigrant Employment Rates & Wages; The Outcome Seems Encouraging

An official report released recently by Statistics Canada found convergence in the labour market performance between Canadian-born natives and foreign immigrants.

The said decadal study compared immigration and Canada employment rates and wages data between 2000 and 2019. The outcomes are more than encouraging for any prospective immigrants choosing to work and settle in Canada permanently.

Statistics Canada attributed the improved immigrant outcomes in the Canadian labour market to policy changes like the adoption of the ‘two-step’ immigration selection, revision in immigration points scoring system, introduction of the Express Entry system and newer Provincial Nominee Progam (PNP) streams, and economic conditions prevailing in the country.

Improved Outcomes For Immigrants between 2000-2019

The study found immigrant men who had been in Canada for less than 10 years to get jobs faster than Canadian-born men. There was also a marginal improvement in the relative employment rate of immigrant women who had been in Canada for less than five years.

The study observed higher entry-level wages among the immigrants as Canada revised its selection criteria in the early 2000s. Individuals with higher levels of education and higher language proficiency in English or French fare better in Canada.

Candidates who immigrate to Canada under Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) streams tend to earn more than their Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) counterparts.

FSWP candidates do not necessarily need Canadian experience to be eligible for permanent residence. In 2008, Canada created the Canadian Experience Class, allowing temporary workers with eligible work experience to become permanent residents. Then in 2013, Canada created the Federal Skilled Trades Program to focus more on candidates who had more practical experience than formal education.

Take this free assessment online to determine your eligibility for various immigration streams. Further, our consultants are online to discuss any specific concerns regarding your Canadian immigration.

Immigration To Remain Strong Post-Pandemic

Immigration to Canada took a hard hit when the pandemic was first realized by the world. However, Canada held the morale of prospective immigrants high by announcing a series of incentives, including its immigration levels plan for 2021-2023. The country’s annual Budget 2021 even outlined positive implications for immigration.

A total of 1.2 million new permanent residents are to be welcomed in the next three years. Over 60% of the total target will be fulfilled by economic-class programs such as Express Entry, PNP, business immigration streams, study permits.

The trends observed from nomination draws also tell us that Canada is admitting more immigration candidates who are already in the country to apply for permanent residency.

Canadian Immigration will remain strong even in the post-pandemic period because:

favourable economic conditions;
more emphasis on immigrants with Canadian experience;
more support for settlement programs; and
selection based on regional population and labour market needs.

For those looking for better career growth and a higher standard of living, Canada is an ideal choice for immigration. At CanApprove, we offer complete guidance on immigration programs, overseas education opportunities, visa documentation, approval, accommodation support and much more.

Schedule your free appointment today!

Archives: News

Annual Allocations To Ontario Set At 8,350 Provincial Nominations in 2021

Canadian Immigration Under Ontario Provincial Programs

Applying For Canada PR Through Express Entry

New Tech Pilot Pushes Total B.C Nominations in 2021 To 4,438

BC PNP Tech Pilot

Consider Entrepreneur Immigration

Canada Extends Travel Restrictions To June 21

Canada Holds A Surprise Express Entry Draw Inviting CEC-Only For PR

Candidates With Prior Experience Being Preferred

You Could Be Next!

Parliamentary Report Looks At COVID Impact On Canadian Immigration & Suggest Measures To Implement

All-Inclusive Approach Towards Immigration

International Student Immigration To Increase

Prioritizing Family Immigration

How Ontario Nominated International Graduates To Apply For Canada PR

New EOI-based Immigration Intake

British Columbia Extends 379 Invites For Canada PR From Two New PNP Draws

About BC PNP

Canada PR Through Express Entry For Married Couples or Common-Law Union

Points-based System For Qualification

Four Components of Comprehensive Ranking System For Couples

Let’s Understand Better With A Hypothetical Example

Canada Immigration Update: Paper-Based Economic Class Programs Go Digital

Future of Canadian Immigration is Digital

New Express Entry Draws Extend PR Invites To CEC Candidates With CRS 401

Express Entry in 2021

Canada Invites More Candidates Than Previous PNP-Only Express Entry Draw

Express Entry in 2021

Ontario Held Its First ‘Base’ Draws Following Its New Intake System

Revamped Immigration Intake System

Ontario’s Growth Is Dependent On Immigration

Statistics Canada Examines Immigrant Employment Rates & Wages; The Outcome Seems Encouraging

Improved Outcomes For Immigrants between 2000-2019

Immigration To Remain Strong Post-Pandemic

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