Canada Express Entry: IRCC Holds PNP-Only Draws With 893 ITAs For Permanent Residence

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 893 invitations to apply (ITAs) in new Express Entry draws on February 01. Canada invited only Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates having a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 733 to apply for permanent residence.

The latest draw is IRCC’s third Express Entry draw of 2023 and the first program-specific Canada Express Entry draw since July 2022.

OVERVIEW OF 239th EXPRESS ENTRY DRAWS (Program-specific)
Decreased Draw Size	893 ITAs for permanent residence
Lower CRS Qualifying Score	Invited candidates required CRS of 733 points or above. Receiving a provincial nomination increases a candidate’s CRS score by 600 points. Thus, eligible candidates only required 133 points before getting provincial nomination
Tie-break rule applied?	December 09, 2022, at 10:49:57 UTC 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.

Since Express Entry began in 2015, draws have occurred regularly every two weeks on Wednesdays. IRCC continued the trend even during the long pause of draws for Express Entry managed federal immigration programs between December 2020 and July 2022, inviting Express Entry candidates from the Provincial Nominee Program.

IRCC is working to resume regular draws and make it the most preferred immigration pathway for foreign skilled workers once again.

What is Canada Express Entry?

Express Entry is a database management system for three Canadian immigration programs: the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). Additionally, every Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is aligned with Express Entry to nominate eligible candidates.

After the registration of candidates online, their profiles are assessed and ranked based on a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. These 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.

After receiving an ITA for Canada PR, an IRCC officer reviews and decides on your Express Entry application. These candidates are more likely to integrate quickly and have a positive impact on Canada’s workforce and economy.

The approved candidate is now a permanent resident of Canada and one step closer to becoming a Canadian citizen as immigration accounts for as much as 90% of labor force growth in Canada and approximately 75% of population growth.

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

Qualify for Express Entry with Provincial Nomination

There are close to 239,415 applicants in the Express Entry pool as of February 01, 2023, with about 80% of profiles having CRS scores above 300.

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 toward the Express Entry profile CRS score.

Thus, eligible candidates only needed 133 points before getting the provincial nomination to qualify for February 01, 2023, Express Entry draws.

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

Ontario Holds Back-To-Back International Students Draws For Provincial Nominations

The Canadian province of Ontario held back-to-back provincial draws to invite international students under two provincial streams of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) to qualify for Canadian permanent residency.

The first OINP draw on January 24 issued a total of 620 invitations to apply to candidates in the Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream.

While the province also held another draw on January 25 to invite 692 candidates through the Master’s Graduate stream.

All the 1,312 invited candidates required their Expression of Interest (EOI) score to be above 82 in the first draw and above 44 in the second draw to secure their provincial nomination invitations.

Statistics Canada had earlier revealed that three out of every 10 international students transition to permanent residency in Canada within just 10 years of first receiving their study permit. A provincial nomination from OINP is no less than a guarantee to obtain a Canadian permanent residence (PR) visa.

Take this free assessment online to explore your options for immigration to Canada.

About OINP’s Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream

This stream is for international students with a job offer in a skilled occupation. The job offer must be in a skilled occupation at TEER (Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities) category 0, 1, 2, or 3 of the National Occupational Classification (NOC).

About Ontario Masters Graduate Stream

This stream invites candidates who have met the following eligibility:

Must have a master’s degree from an eligible university in Ontario
English or French proficiency: Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 or higher
Must have legally lived in Ontario for at least one year in the past two years

Any aspirants willing to be considered for the Masters Graduate stream must sign up with Ontario’s e-Filing Portal and register their expression of interest (EOI).

All EOI profiles are ranked based on age, education, work experience, and language proficiency among others. The province may also allocate 10 points at its discretion to respond to labor market needs.

Aspirants need not have a job offer to apply, however, they need to apply for the nomination within two years of graduating. Currently, Ontario recognizes only recent graduates from the following universities eligible for nomination:

Algoma University	Brescia University College (Affiliated with the University of Western Ontario)	Brock University
Carleton University	Dominican University College	Huron University College (Affiliated with the University of Western Ontario)
King’s University College at the University of Western Ontario	Lakehead University	Laurentian University
McMaster University	Nipissing University	Ontario College of Art & Design University
Queen’s University	Ryerson University	Royal Military College of Canada
Saint Paul University (Federated with the University of Ottawa)	St. Jerome’s University (Federated with the University of Waterloo)	Trent University
University of Guelph	University of Ontario Institute of Technology	University of Ottawa
University of St. Michael’s College (Federated with the University of Toronto)	University of Toronto	University of Trinity College (Federated with the University of Toronto)
University of Waterloo	University of Windsor	Victoria University (Federated with the University of Toronto)
Western University	Wilfrid Laurier University	York University

Visit a Certified Immigration Consultancy

CanApprove is licensed and registered with the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC). This means you are assured of quality documentation support and genuine immigration advice.

With an industry experience of 25+ years and still counting, we can help you with your Canadian provincial nomination and eventually with your permanent residence pathway.

Book your free appointment with our dedicated overseas education advisors to explore trending study courses in Canada and determine your eligibility for immigration programs.

Canada Witnesses A Strong Hiring Climate and A Return To Pre-COVID Economic Performance

The increase in payroll employment during November 2022 suggests a strong hiring climate in Canada. The sectors which recorded the biggest gains in payroll employment in November 2022 included:

Professional scientific and technical services (+5,600 positions)
Public administration (+4,800 positions)
Finance and insurance (+4,700 positions)
Construction (+4,300 positions)

In total, payroll employment (the number of employees receiving pay or receiving benefits from their employer) saw improvements across 10 out of 15 sectors in November 2022.

An increase in payroll employment is a good indication that businesses are pushing a lively hiring climate and Canada is returning to pre-COVID economic performance. This is expected to open up new opportunities for newcomers to identify which kinds of businesses are experiencing surges in hiring and plan their immigration to Canada.

Take this free assessment online to determine your eligibility to work in Canada.

Canada Continues to Face Labor Shortage

Despite strong growth in payroll employment in November 2022, Canada still faces a high number of job vacancies across multiple sectors. Even though Canada saw a decrease of 151,900 job openings since the record high of 1 million vacancies seen in May of 2022, the job market still suffers from an increased number of job vacancies.

Despite increased payroll hiring, highest performing sectors like Healthcare and social assistance, Construction, Professional, scientific, and technical services continue to face skilled labor demand shortages.

Experts believe that Immigration will be crucial to address these labor shortages, as Canadian demographics currently cannot support filling current job vacancies.

The government is already working in this direction with the ascension of Bill C-19 which would allow IRCC to welcome eligible foreign workers in the federal Express Entry pool based on specific criteria such as the occupations, education, or language ability of candidates) and issue invitations to apply (ITAs) for Canadian permanent residence.

Learn more about provincial nominee programs are welcoming foreign skilled workers with experience in targeted occupations:

How to Plan your Canadian Immigration?

Canadian immigration is no longer an exercise aimed at boosting CRS scores. Aspirants with the required skills must good use of the new opportunity by filling out their applications in a very careful manner under the professional guidance of a certified immigration consultant.

CanApprove is CICC registered with over 25+ years of experience in immigration and overseas education consultancy. Apart from genuine documentation, you may consult us if:

you’ve been rejected previously
you have a potential medical inadmissibility concern
you’re applying through a complex immigration program
you wish to ignore tedious documentation
you may have a unique case in hand.

Book your free appointment to kick-start your immigration journey with our expert advisors.

Canada Becomes More Popular Destination For Immigrants Over The Past Five Years: Gallop Polls

Canada and its liberal immigration policies have yet again been recognized at a global level. For the first time, a recent poll by Gallop has polled Canada as the second most popular destination for potential newcomers after the United States.

Gallup, Inc. is an American analytics and advisory company and is widely known for conducting public opinion polls.

The poll noted that nearly 900 million worldwide wanted to migrate in 2021. Out of which 8% of potential migrants, or about 74 million people worldwide, preferred Canada as their first choice option for immigration.

While Canada has become a more popular destination for immigrants over the past five years, the percentage of migrants willing to prefer other countries like Germany, Spain, France, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Japan was between 3-7%.

Take this online assessment to explore the most suitable immigration programs matching your profile.

Why is Canada Targeting More Foreign-Skilled Immigrants?

Canada has a long history of immigration and it was given a boost with the coming of the Express Entry system in 2015 and dedicated provincial streams aligning with it thereafter. It was now possible for foreign skilled workers to gain permanent residence in Canada without a job offer or Canadian work experience.

Three main factors contributing to rising of foreign immigration in Canada include the labor skill gap, aging demography, and low birth rate.

Canada’s labor force growth is almost 100% dependent on the skilled immigration of foreigners. Canada has currently posted nearly one million job vacancies and a shortage of skilled labor across economic sectors.

Additionally, nine million Canadians are expected to reach the retirement age of 65 by 2030, shifting the worker-to-retiree ratio from 7:1 (50 years ago) to 2:1 by 2035.

Further, Canada is experiencing one of the lowest global birth rates at 1.4 children per woman and is looking to boost its population through the settlement of foreign skilled workers who can contribute positively to the economy and society.

Therefore, Canada is heavily investing in increasing the population by incentivizing the settlement of foreign skilled workers permanently across Canada. In fact, the 2021 Census on immigration confirmed 23% of Canada’s population is or has been, a landed immigrant or permanent resident of the country and it is projected to reach 34% by 2041.

Read our full analysis of current Canadian immigration targets here.

Plan Your Immigration With CanApprove

The poll notes that there is a difference between respondents who would like to leave their home country and those who do so. Many people who would like to immigrate are hampered by circumstances such as finances, family, and job opportunities and are never able to leave their country.

Nonetheless, Canada is witnessing a huge influx of immigrants in Canada over the past few years. The country has even set an ambitious target of welcoming over 800,000 economic-class immigrants in the next three years. Now is a good time to plan your immigration to Canada.

Book your free appointment with a certified consultant like CanApprove to determine your eligibility and immigration options based on your work experience and academic profile.

British Columbia PNP Draws Invites Over 800 Skilled Immigration Profiles For Canada PR

British Columbia held weekly provincial nomination draws throughout the first month of 2023 inviting eligible candidates under the Skilled Worker and International Graduate streams along with the Express Entry option.

The British Columbia PNP Draws (BC PNP) issued over 800 provincial invitations under general draws and skill-based targeted nomination draws throughout January 2023.

The general draws invited about 661 candidates targeting tech occupations, while the skilled-based draw targeted the remaining 160 candidates under Early childhood educators and assistants (NOC 42202) and Healthcare occupations.

All applicants were invited with varying cut-offs ranging from 60 (for skilled-based draws) and 105-82 (for general draws) to apply for provincial nominations.

Take this free assessment online to determine your eligibility to qualify for the upcoming Canada PNP draws.

Qualify for Upcoming BC PNP Draws

Interested candidates must register with the Skills and Immigration Registration System (SIRS) and have their profiles assessed. All eligible candidates are targeted based on one or more of the following factors:

Education – level and field of education and where it was completed
Eligible professional designations in B.C.
Language skills
Occupation
Duration and skill level of work experience
Wage and/or skill level of job offer
Intent to live, work and settle in a specific region
Strategic priorities – factors that address specific labor market needs in B.C. or support government pilot projects and initiatives

The invitations received under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) give interested aspirants a chance to live and work in the province and eventually qualify for Canadian permanent residency.

Any experienced candidate with a minimum of two years of full-time work experience in any skilled occupation (NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3) outside Canada may be invited under the BC PNP Skilled Worker stream.

Additionally, any international student who has graduated from a university or college in Canada within the past three years may be eligible for nomination under the BC PNP International Graduate stream.

BC PNP can also target eligible profiles already registered in the Express entry pool.

Invited candidates will need to submit a complete application within the next 45 days.

How to Apply?

Over 800,000 new immigrants in the next three years are expected to be targeted under economic-class programs like Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs, and the Quebec programs.

The addition of 600 points to the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores linked to the Express Entry profile of candidates with prior provincial nominations guarantees invitations to apply for Canada PR.

Some in-demand tech occupations that may have received provincial nominations include

Web designers & developers (NOC 21233, NOC 21234)
Graphic designers, and illustrators (NOC 52120)
Civil Engineers (NOC 21300)
Mechanical Engineers (NOC 21301)
Chemical Engineers (NOC 21320)
Software Engineers (NOC 21231)
Computer and information systems managers (NOC 20012)
Technical Writers (NOC 51112), and more.

Few healthcare occupations that may have qualified for BC PNP skilled-based draw include

Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (NOC 31301)
Managers in healthcare (NOC 30010)
Dentists (NOC 31110)
Chiropractors (NOC 31201)
Pharmacists (NOC 31120)
Dietitians and nutritionists (NOC 31121)
Audiologists and speech-language pathologists (NOC 31112)
Physiotherapists (NOC 31202)
Psychologists (NOC 31200), and more.

You may need professional assistance in determining the most suitable immigration programs based on your academic and work experience. Fortunately, CanApprove is closer to you in Dubai and rides on its rich legacy of 25+ experience in immigration and overseas education consultancy services.

We are certified by the College of Immigration, and CItizenship Consultants (CICC) to offer genuine immigration advice. Book your free appointment with us to find a suitable immigration pathway to Canada.

“Study and Succeed In New Brunswick” Launched To Increase International Student Retention

New Brunswick announced a new program called Study and Succeed to retain international students after graduation. The new program under Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI) is targeted to increase the availability of skilled labor in the maritime province, amid labor shortage across Canada.

REGI is a national initiative to bolster industrial and technology clusters and innovation ecosystems in regions across Canada. The three-year Study and Succeed in New Brunswick will offer international graduates access to resources, support, and connections to boost the availability of skilled labor in the province.

The previous Study and Stay pilot program had a successful run in 2021 in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island.

The Atlantic Canadian province is investing $1 million to have a Study and Succeed program exclusive to the province. Over the next three years, the Canadian province will take in nine cohorts of 100 international students by 2026 through Study and Succeed in New Brunswick.

Check your eligibility to migrate to Canada through our Canada Immigration Assessment Tool.

Universities & Colleges in New Brunswick for International Students

Interested candidates can obtain undergraduate, postgraduate, or doctoral degrees from Universities while Colleges offer graduate diplomas and certificate study courses. Here are some popular study options available in New Brunswick:

Public Chartered Universities	Public Colleges
Mount Allison University St. Thomas University Université de Moncton University of New Brunswick	New Brunswick Community College Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick New Brunswick College of Craft and Design Maritime College of Forest Technology

Private Chartered Universities

Crandall University
Kingswood University
St. Stephen’s University

Universities Recognized Under the Degree Granting Act

University of Fredericton
Yorkville University

Other Universities

Lansbridge University

Click to view the list of private colleges in New Brunswick.

Numerous options are available for interested candidates. Overseas education consultants at CanApprove are here to help you explore and evaluate your study abroad choices. Give us a call or book a free appointment today!

Qualifying for Canada PR through PNP

Following the reports of the Conference Board of Canada submitted last year, New Brunswick took the new initiative to retain more international graduates. The report also emphasized increasing the scope for international students receiving provincial nominations to apply for Canadian permanent residency.

Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) are the most common way for international students to become permanent residents in Canada. Learn more about it in our most-read blog to explore the journey of international students from admissions to Canada PR.

Moreover, Canadian PNP in 2023 is set to become the leading economic class pathway for PR (preceding Express Entry), accounting for over 100,000 new immigrants annually.

Take the best advantage of the current phase of inviting more immigrants to settle in Canada with CanApprove. We are a certified immigration consultant and overseas education counselor to help you with genuine advice, documentation, and other accommodative services.

PEI Draws Invites 223 Including Express Entry & Entrepreneur Profiles For Provincial Nominations

Prince Edward Island conducts its first provincial Expression of Interest (EOI) draw in 2023 resulting in 223 invitations to apply (ITAs) for a provincial nomination under either one of the three streams: Express Entry, Labour, and Business streams.

January 17 PEI draws issued 216 invitations were issued to Express Entry and Labour Impact candidates and the remaining 7 invitations went to candidates under the Business Work Permit Entrepreneur streams.

The qualifying threshold for business invitations has dropped by 10 points to 62 in this draw under the unique provincial points grid.

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

Qualify for Canada PR Under PEI PNP

PNPs are designed to accommodate the specific and specialized labor market demand of Canada’s provinces and territories. A successful provincial nomination will act in favor of reducing the time taken to obtain permanent residency at a later stage.

To be considered for nominations under PEI PNP provincial draws, candidates must create an EOI profile with the province. 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.

PEI PNP Express Entry & Labout Impact category

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.

PEI PNP Business Impact category

Prince Edward Island also favors the immigration of foreign entrepreneurs to boost its economy. 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.

Further, eligible candidates with a successful provincial nomination can apply to the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residency.

Future of PEI PNP Draws

The division between provincial invitations issued over the last 12 months [February 17, 2022, to January 19, 2023]:

Business Invitations – 6% (121)
Labour & Express Entry Invitations – 94% (1824)

Population growth is seen as important to sustaining the economic growth in Atlantic Canada. Recognizing this, the four Atlantic provinces – Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick – are making significant efforts to welcome and retain more immigrants.

Interestingly, Prince Edward Island is Canada’s smallest province yet has the country’s highest population growth rate. Thus, it enjoys Canada’s highest per capita intake of foreign newcomers.

Other active PNP includes that from British Columbia, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba, and Nova Scotia. You can read about the latest Canada PNP draw updates here.

Contact CanApprove to determine your eligibility and get full documentation support for immigration. We provide free counseling sessions to help you choose the best immigration program matching your work profile.

New Brunswick Announces Immigration Pilot To Address Shortage Of Critical Workers

The Canadian province of New Brunswick runs a Critical Worker Pilot effective from December 2022. The new pilot program is a joint project between the Federal Government and New Brunswick that will also facilitate the settlement of economic immigrants.

New Brunswick Critical Worker Pilot is designed to be an employer-driven stream. The selected employers in New Brunswick will conduct targeted recruitment for skilled workers and therefore candidate applications to the pilot are made through the participant employer.

”Participating employers will greatly benefit from filling critical vacancies and applicants will find meaningful work in a welcoming community,” believes the Minister for Immigration and Opportunities in New Brunswick, Arlene Dunn.

The pilot program is expected to run for five years and is mandated to regularly evaluate the immigration needs and deliver the highest possible outcomes for the province.

Explore more options for Canadian immigration by taking this free assessment online.

Employer Participation in New Brunswick Critical Worker Pilot

Six employers have been selected to work with the new pilot program and they include

Cooke Aquaculture Inc.
Groupe Savoie Inc.
Groupe Westco
Imperial Manufacturing
D. Irving Ltd
McCain Foods

These employers are expected to facilitate language training and support newcomers to have a Canadian secondary education equivalency, in addition, to displaying strong commitments to retain the employees for a long time.

Candidate Participation in New Brunswick Critical Worker Pilot

The new pilot program does not accept direct applications from interested candidates.

There is no requirement under this program to send your resume to the provincial immigration authority of New Brunswick. However, candidates must have a valid job offer from an eligible employer to be considered for provincial nomination.

Eligibility requirements for candidates to receive provincial nomination include:

Must be between 19-55 years of age
A minimum English or French proficiency score of CLB 4 or higher.
Minimum Canadian secondary (high school) diploma or a foreign education with an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report
Must have at least 1,560 hours, over a period of 12 months In the last five years

New Brunswick employers must provide a signed attestation letter as part of the nomination application if any of the above requirements are not met.

Are You Canada PR Ready?

When applying to any of New Brunswick’s immigration streams or pilots, you must be PR Ready.

Being PR Ready means more efficient processing, fewer delays, and a better experience navigating the New Brunswick and Canadian immigration programs. In most cases, this means better chances of receiving an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residence.

Being PR Ready means that you meet all minimum eligibility requirements and selection factors and have all the required documents on hand to prepare and submit a complete and correct application to the Government of New Brunswick and the Government of Canada.

Make the most of this favorable time to plan your immigration to Canada. Book your free appointment with CanApprove to get your profile validated by a professional consultant.

CanApprove is a CICC-certified consultant providing genuine immigration and overseas education services. We are proud to have fulfilled the dreams of thousands of candidates in the last 25+ years and still counting.

Presence of Family Relatives In Alberta Can Fetch You Invitations Under Alberta Express Entry

Alberta updated its eligibility criteria under the provincially-managed Express Entry stream to include candidates who may establish the presence of family relatives in the province.

Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) made the announcement public on January 18, making it easier for candidates in the federal Express Entry Pool to qualify based on the presence of immediate family members like parents, children, brothers, or sisters as permanent residents or Canadian citizens in Alberta.

Until now, AAIP would nominate Express Entry profiles on factors like having a job offer from a company in Alberta, being a graduate of an Albertan post-secondary institution, age, work experience, English or French proficiency, and even family connections in Canada.

The latest addition of family relatives’ eligibility criteria will allow AAIP to conduct partial draws completely based on in-demand occupation and relative factors. The expansion of eligibility criteria under the Alberta Express Entry Stream will expedite the chances of receiving an invitation to apply for permanent residency. The selection criteria for any other nomination stream under the AAIP remain unchanged.

“This is not a family reunification plan,” remarked Minister of Trade, Immigration, and Multiculturism in Alberta, Rajan Sawhney.

The Alberta Express Entry stream will now allocate 25% of its Notifications Of Interest (NOIs) to individuals with both immediate family ties in Alberta and continue nominating those who have experience in any of the in-demand occupations including Early childhood educators and assistants, Trade managers, Accountants, Chemical, Petroleum, Material Engineers and more.

The expansion of eligibility criteria under the Alberta Express Entry Stream will expedite the chances of receiving an invitation to apply for permanent residency. The selection criteria for any other nomination stream under the AAIP remain unchanged.

Find out if you are eligible for Canadian immigration by taking this free assessment online.

Canada PR Through Alberta Express Entry Stream

Currently, Alberta Advantage Immigration Program is managing eight provincial streams for the immigration of skilled workers and entrepreneurs. Interested candidates need to fulfill the following requirements to receive nominations under the Alberta Express Entry stream:

Must have an active profile in the federal Express Entry pool
Must have already given consent to be considered for Alberta provincial nominations
Have a work experience in any of in-demand occupations in Alberta
Have a minimum CRS score of 300

As of January 18, 2023, there are nearly 235,000 Express Entry profiles with CRS score over 300. Alberta is majorly attracting Chemical Engineers, Metallurgical & Material Engineers, and Petroleum Engineers for Canada PR through AAIP.

If you’re interested in exploring more opportunities and planning for your immigration to Canada, consider CanApprove. We are a CICC-certified immigration consultant to help you with the best immigration advice.

Book a free appointment with our consultants to identify suitable programs based on work experience and academic qualifications.

CRS Drops Below 500 In Yet Another Express Entry Draws For Canada PR

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held another Express Entry round of nominations in two consecutive weeks. The second Express Entry draws for Canada PR of 2023 invited eligible foreign nationals qualifying for Federal Skilled Worker, Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Trades, or Provincial Nominee Programs.

January 18 draw invited eligible profiles ranked among the first 5,500 places in the general ranking of the Express Entry pool. The required qualifying CRS score dropped 17 points to 490 in the 238th Express Entry draws since 2015.

Canada express entry provides a direct pathway to skilled workers with enough work experience to qualify for permanent residence (PR). IRCC has already issued 11,000 Express Entry invitations to apply (ITAs) to eligible foreign nationals for Canada PR.

OVERVIEW OF EXPRESS ENTRY LATEST DRAWS #238
Record-breaking Draw Size	5,550 invitations to apply for Canada PR
Decreased Express Entry Cut-off	The minimum CRS score required was 490
Is the Tie-break rule applied?	Profiles registered on or before November 24, 2022, 21:14:59 UTC. This is particularly helpful in cases where two or more candidates end up with the same CRS score.

What is Canada Express Entry?

Once you receive an ITA for Canada PR, an IRCC officer reviews and decides on your Express Entry application. The approved candidate is now a permanent resident of Canada and one step closer to becoming a Canadian citizen.

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

CRS score distribution in the Canada Express Entry pool as of January 18

There are close to 240,013 applicants in the Express Entry pool as of January 18, 2023, with varying levels of CRS scores. There are about 67,800 profiles with CRS scores above 450 in the Express Entry pool and another 49,000 profiles above 400.

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

Further, a successful provincial nomination can boost the Express Entry CRS score by additional 600 points.

Those invited for permanent residence have 60 days to submit their applications to IRCC. IRCC aims to process most applications within 6 months or less in 2023.

Outlook of Canada Express Entry System in 2023

The 2023-2025 annual targets for Express Entry landings (principal applicants, spouses, and dependents) are projected at

82,880 ITAs in 2023
109,020 ITAs in 2024
114,000 ITAs in 2025

IRCC is expected to issue ITAs for Canada PR to eligible candidates with specific work experience, education, or language ability. The occupation group choice would depend on Canada’s prevailing market demand.

This will impact the relevance of CRS scores in some instances and may become less vital in future draws.

Also, read how Self-employed physicians can now apply under Express Entry for PR.

If you’re interested in Canadian immigration through Express Entry, contact a CICC-registered immigration consultant like CanApprove to determine your best chances of qualifying based on your academic profile and work experience.

Book a free appointment with CanApprove to explore immigration programs under Express Entry and boost your CRS scores.

Manitoba PNP Invites 322 Profiles Under The Expression Of Interest System

Manitoba recently held an Expression of Interest (EOI) draw issuing 322 new Letters of Advice to Apply (LAA) for provincial nominations. It is the first provincial draw from the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) in 2023.

January 12 MPNP draw was the 165th provincial draw since 2015 and led to

260 invitations with a minimum score of 734 under the Skilled Workers in Manitoba stream
20 invitations with a minimum score of 713 under the Skilled Workers Overseas stream
42 invitations under the International Education Stream provincial stream.

Among the invited, 27 candidates had active Express Entry profiles, thereby receiving 600 additional points to their CRS score and effectively guaranteeing an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residency in the upcoming Express Entry draws.

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. Profiles with work experience in Health, Business, Finance, Sales, and Administration jobs usually receive provincial nominations from the prairie Canadian province of Manitoba.

Further, EOIs from Skilled Worker Overseas candidates have only been considered if they:

were directly invited by the MPNP under a Strategic Recruitment Initiative, or
have a valid Express Entry profile number and job seeker validation code.

How to Qualify for Upcoming Manitoba PNP Draws?

To qualify for upcoming Manitoba PNP draws, interested applicants must first register their EOI with the province. An EOI is often mistaken for an application, but it is simply an online profile of anyone interested in receiving provincial nominations from the MPNP. The validity of the EOI profile in Manitoba is one year.

An EOI profile is evaluated and assessed for 1,000 points based on core human capital, mainly work experience, education, and language proficiency. Depending on the profile assessment score, you may qualify for receiving LAAs through the following provincial streams:

If you are applying from outside Canada

Skilled Worker Overseas Stream:

Manitoba Express Entry Pathway
Human Capital Pathway

If you are already in Canada on temporary work permits

Skilled Worker in Manitoba Stream:

Manitoba Work Experience Pathway
Employer Direct Recruitment Pathway

If you studied in Manitoba

International Education Stream:

Career Employment Pathway
Graduate Internship Pathway
Student Entrepreneur Pathway

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

Qualifying for Canada PNP with CanApprove

Canada PNP in 2023 will target more immigrants than Express Entry for permanent residency. The PNP targets for 2023-2025 are as follows:

105,500 in 2023
110,000 in 2024
117,500 in 2025

Explore your chances of qualifying for Canada immigration by taking this free assessment online.

If you’re interested in Canadian immigration, CanApprove may help. We are a certified immigration consultant by the College of Citizenship Canada (CICC) with an experience of 25+ years in immigration & overseas education counseling & documentation services. We are now a leading immigration consultant in Dubai promising genuine guidance.

Book your free appointment with us today and kick-start your immigration process with confidence!

New Registration Process For Faster Immigration Of Foreign Nurses In British Columbia

The British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) announced a new pilot registration process for International Educated Nurses aimed at reducing the waiting period to work in the province from 3 years to approximately 4-9 months.

Internationally Educated Nurses (IENs) are foreign-trained nurses who have immigrated to Canada for better career opportunities. IENs in British Columbia will continue to have their nursing skills measured against the competencies required for three professions – registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, and healthcare assistant.

The new registration process is for applicants who submit an application after January 31, 2023. Currently, foreign nurses face many challenges while finding employment in British Columbia’s healthcare system, including a lengthy and costly process to register as a nurse.

The new pathway pilot from BCCNM aims to remove such barriers with support from the provincial government for –

Reducing up-front out-of-pocket costs of application and assessment fees
Assessing for both registered nurse and licensed practical nurse registration through a single application
Providing new financial support and free support for any additional educational attainment required for returning to practice after a period of absence
Demonstrating competency level in English through alternative forms of evidence like demonstrated experience working in an English-speaking healthcare setting or attaining education in English.
Introducing multiple options for credential assessments in addition to the current National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS)

Approximately 700 internationally educated nurses (IENs) and return-to-practice healthcare workers have been referred annually to NNAS for assessment. British Columbia expects to welcome more immigrants as part of its broader Health Human Resources Strategy which was announced earlier on September 29, 2022.

Nursing Professions in British Columbia

BCCNM regulates all nursing professions in the province including Registered nurses (RN), Licensed practical nurses (LPN), Registered psychiatric nurses (RPN), and Nurse practitioners (NP). However, a prior application to the National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS) is a must before you could register under BCCNM to immigrate to Canada as a nurse.

NNAS assesses immigration applications for registration as a nurse based on the following self-explanatory criteria:

Nursing Education
Good character
Fitness to practice nursing
Competence
English language proficiency

The new registration process will simplify competency to test English language proficiency and further introduce multiple assessment agencies to minimize application time delays.

Further, interested aspirants need to qualify for Skills Immigration or Express Entry pathways under British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP). A provincial nomination received under BC PNP gives them a chance to live and work in the province and eventually qualify for Canadian permanent residency.

Take this free assessment online to explore your chances of qualifying for Canadian immigration as a foreign-trained nurse.

Plan your Immigration to Canada as a Nurse

The announcement of BCCNM’s new registration process will help beneficiaries like Jennie Arceno, Monique Wee, and their entire community of International Educated Nurses.

“My journey to becoming a registered nurse in B.C. after practicing for five years in the Philippines was long, exhausting, and expensive. I was inspired to advocate for changes to the system so other IENs wouldn’t have to face the same challenges. The start of this new pathway will surely help more IENs and goes to show how the government is committed to addressing the long waits to get registered,” said Jennie Arceno, registered nurse and IEN.

Monique Wee, another registered nurse, and IEN narrated, “I had to jump through a lot of hoops to get my nursing license in B.C. and get a nursing job. The changes announced today will make the whole process so much easier and more affordable, which will inspire more IENs to practice in B.C. I am glad the B.C. government values us.”

CanApprove may help if you wish to migrate to Canada in search of better career opportunities. We assess your academic and work profile to give you the most relevant assessment of your chances of immigrating to Canada.

Book your free appointment with an expert consultant at CanApprove to kick-start your immigration journey to Canada!

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