British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program Holds New Tech Draw Issuing 91 Invitations

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) held its second tech draw of 2022. It resulted in invitations to apply for provincial nominations under its new permanent Tech stream.

British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program Tech draw is a fast-track, employer-driven immigration program. It targets international students and in-demand tech workers including engineers to apply for provincial nominations.

January 18 BC PNP Tech draw nominated 91 such tech workers.

The invited candidates must meet the requirements of either Express Entry or Skills Immigration provincial categories to qualify. Both these categories are managed by the Skills & Immigration Registration System (SIRS). Eligible profiles are assessed and evaluated on SIRS based on criteria like age, education, work experience, language proficiency, and others.

Invited candidates had a provincial score of 80 points and above in this draw. This is five points higher than the previous qualifying score of 75 points.

The BC PNP Tech program gives people who choose to live and work in British Columbia a path to Canada permanent residency.

Take this free assessment online to determine your eligibility.

Qualify for Upcoming BC PNP Tech Program

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

Some in-demand tech occupations include:

Web designers & developers,
Graphic designers, and illustrators,
Software engineers and designers,
Civil Engineers,
Mechanical Engineers,
Chemical Engineers,
Software Engineers,
Tech Managers,
Media technicians,
Writers/Editors etc.

Invited candidates will need to submit a complete application within the next 30 days. The province processes most tech applications within two to three months.

Last year, British Columbia upgraded its pilot Tech program into a permanent residence program. It was expected to boost the immigration of in-demand tech workers and international students in the province.

In fact, British Columbia became the only Provincial Nominee Program in 2021 to issue around 12,000 invitations for a provincial nomination. The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program followed up next with just over 10,000 invitations.

So far this month, British Columbia has issued 425 invitations to apply for provincial nomination.

Apply for Canada Permanent Residency

In 2022, Canada is expecting to admit over 241,500 new immigrants through economic-class programs like Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs, or the Quebec programs.

Since the launch of Express Entry in 2015, all the Provincial Nominee Programs have had at least one dedicated stream that selects eligible candidates directly from the federal pool.

A successful provincial nomination will guarantee an invitation to apply for Canada permanent residency in subsequent federal nomination draws. It is because 600 points get added to the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score linked to your Express Entry profile. In fact, Canada has favored candidates with prior provincial nominations for permanent residency in the last two years.

CanApprove recommends you enter the Express Entry pool as earlier as possible to increase your chances of qualifying for Canada permanent residency in near future. The profile is valid for upto two years.

CanApprove is running a dedicated program for Engineers to help them immigrate to Canada. Book your free appointment with CanApprove to find more targeted immigration programs based on your work or academic profile.

Canada Student Visa Holders Form a Major Source of Skilled Workforce in Canadian Economy

Statistics Canada in its new report favors the increased intake levels of international students in Canada. The report analyzes Canada Student Visa holders over the last decade and shows international students to be the growing source of skilled labor in the Canadian economy.

The study found the number of first-time Canada study permit holders to rise from around 75,000 in the mid-2000s to 250,000 in 2019. This quantum leap is consistent with the trend of a greater proportion of international students obtaining the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).

According to the study, over the period 2008 to 2018, the annual number of new Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) holders increased six-fold, from 10,300 to 64,700.

Close to three-quarters of all PGWP holders transitioned to permanent residence within five years of obtaining their PGWP.

PGWP allows Canada to retain international talent in return for the possibility of obtaining an open work permit to stay and work in Canada. This open work permit could end up in permanent residence status in a matter of years’ time. Those with college and master’s level programs had the highest success rate in becoming permanent residents.

The study notes, “On the one hand, the PGWP allows international students who have graduated from a recognized Canadian post-secondary institution to gain work experience in Canada and can provide the necessary job experience required to apply for some permanent residence streams.”

Qualifying for Canada Student Visa After a Long Study Gap

The new study has once again reaffirmed CanApprove’s claim of accommodative policies towards immigrants in Canada. At this point, CanApprove would like to present its readers with some unique and recent case studies.

Mr. Biju Baskaran wanted to study Construction Project Management in Canada and had already got into May intake for the year 2020. However, the pandemic evolved and soon his dreams shattered. He faced not only one but two rejections until last month. CanApprove approached his application with utmost caution and fulfilled relevant gaps making it more appealing to the immigration authorities. For the hard work put in by our documentation team, Mr. Biju got his Canada student visa approved applying for the third time! View his full testimonial here on YouTube.

Ms. Alaina Ahmad is now excited to start her journey at University Canada West in British Columbia after facing one rejection when applied through self. Watch her speak about how this study abroad consultant in Dubai helped her realize her dream.

Similarly, Mr. Sudheesh approached CanApprove in hope of fulfilling his study abroad dream. Even though he had a study gap of over 10 years, he was determined to apply for Canada student visa. Our documentation team made the best possible case for him to make his application present strong. We are glad to announce that he has successfully completed his Post-graduation management course in Business Management from a college in Saskatchewan province. View his full testimonial here on YouTube.

Statistics Canada finds international students to favor Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec after graduation to work and settle in Canada via PGWP.

Finding the Best Study Abroad Consultant in Dubai

The PGWPP allows bridging the gap between a Canadian education and in-country work experience. Further, it can improve the chances of obtaining Canadian permanent residence through programs like the federal Express Entry, the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), or the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ).

To be eligible for the program, candidates must have completed a program of study of at least eight months at an eligible institution in Canada. The duration of the permit is then based on the length of the completed study program, up to a maximum of three years.

As an open work permit, the post-graduation work permit allows international graduates to work in any occupation anywhere in Canada and to change employers at any time.

If you’re looking to upskill yourself, Canadian universities and colleges have a variety of courses to offer. Visit a study abroad consultant in Dubai who has a long & proven history of overseas education consultancy. Choose CanApprove for its two decades of industry experience and expert documentation & review team to help you with immigration formalities.

Connect with our overseas counsellors to fulfil your study abroad dreams.

Book your free appointment here.

Prince Edward Island Holds Scheduled Provincial Nominee Program Draw with 132 Invites

The maritime province of Canada, Prince Edward Island (PEI) held its scheduled Provincial Nomination Program (PNP) draw on January 20. This is the first PEI PNP of 2022 and resulted in 132 invitations to apply (ITA) for provincial nominations. All the invitees were targeted under all three provincial streams: Express Entry, Labour Impact, and Business Impact.

PEI has been one of the most consistent provinces in 2021 after British Columbia & Manitoba in holding its provincial nomination draws. In fact, PEI is the only maritime province in Eastern Canada that releases its draw schedule for the rest of the year in advance.

Apart from provincial streams, federal programs can also help you settle in the province. Prince Edward Island is a part of the federal Atlantic immigration program and the federal government is looking to invite over 6,000 candidates every year to apply for Canada immigration through the program.

January 20 PEI PNP Draw: Highlights

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 121 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 11 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.

Most previous draws this year had a qualifying score of above 80 points.

Apply for Canada Immigration through PNP

The Provincial Nominee Program pathway is considered the second-best alternative to Express Entry to obtain permanent residence.

Provincial Nominee Programs 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.

Currently, top in-demand jobs in Prince Edward Island include:

Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (NOC 3012);
Dental hygienists and dental therapists (NOC 3222);
Licensed practical nurses (NOC 3233);
Information systems analysts and consultants (NOC 2171);
Computer programmers and interactive media developers (NOC 2174);
User support technicians (NOC 2282)
Homebuilding and renovation managers (NOC 0712)
Managers in agriculture (NOC 0821)

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 February 17, 2022.

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

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

Contact CanApprove for the best immigration documentation support. We are a certified consultant by the College of Immigration, and Citizenship Consultant (CICC).

Book your free counseling session to learn more about various immigration programs matching your work profile.

Alberta Provincial Nominee Program Sets Qualifying Score of 327 in First Draw of 2022

The Canadian province of Alberta held its first draw of 2022 on January 05, the draw results of which are being discussed now. The Provincial Nominee Program targeted eligible immigration applicants registered in the Canada Express Entry pool.

The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) issued a new round of invitations to nominate 250 Express Entry candidates for provincial nominations. The western province targeted Express Entry candidates with a slightly high Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 327 points. The average qualifying score in such draws is 300.

All the invited candidates are now one step closer to applying for permanent residence (PR) in Canada through the federal Express Entry system.

Canada PR Through AINP Express Entry Stream

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

Alberta is attracting Chemical Engineers, Metallurgical & Material Engineers, Petroleum Engineers for Canada PR through Canada PNP.

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.

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 labor market.

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 latest Express Entry draw invited a record 1,036 candidates with prior provincial nominations to apply for permanent residency.

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.

Qualifying for Canada Immigration in 2022

Alberta had already invited 6,359 Canada Express Entry candidates in 2021 to apply for provincial nominations, overachieving its annual targets. In 2022 & beyond, the province had already launched a new immigration program to expedite provincial nominations for Canada Express Entry candidates. Click here to get more details.

The AINP has a high volume of applications and Alberta Express Entry submissions in the following occupations including:

6311 – Foodservice supervisors

6211 – Retail sales supervisors

6322 – Cooks

0211 – Engineering managers

3211 – Medical laboratory technologists

1241 – Administrative assistants

1123 – Professional occupations in advertising, marketing, and public relations

2131 – Civil engineers

1221 – Administrative officers

At this moment, you need an expert advice from a genuine consultant. CanApprove is a certified immigration consultant by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultant (CICC). We have over two decades of experience in guiding aspirants to achieve their dream to study, work or settle abroad.

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

Book your free appointment with CanApprove today.

Canada Express Entry: 1036 PNP Candidates Invited to Apply for Canada PR

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) continued to hold PNP-specific Canada Express Entry draw. January 19 draw resulted in a record 1,036 invitations to apply for Canada PR. This Canada Express Entry draw targeted domestic temporary workers or skilled foreign workers with prior provincial nominations.

The increased draw size resulted in a lower qualifying score of 745. However, the cut-off score may still seem higher compared to other program-specific Canada Express Entry draws. It is due to the automatic addition of 600 points to candidates with provincial nominations.

OVERVIEW OF 214th EXPRESS ENTRY DRAWS
Record-breaking Draw Size	1,036 invitations to apply for Canada PR.
Lower Express Entry Cut-off	Minimum CRS score required was 745. Automatic addition of 600 points to their base human capital score, candidates effectively required only 145 points to qualify.
Tie-break rule applied?	IRCC applies the tie-break rule to avoid disputes in the rankings. This is particularly helpful in cases where two or more candidates end up with the same CRS score. No tie-break rule was applied.

This internal briefing memo explains the record-breaking Express Entry PNP-draw size. The immigration department wants to cut Canada Express Entry backlogs by at least half before inviting candidates from other programs, like Federal Skilled Worker Program. Such candidates require no prior Canadian experience to apply for permanent residence.

History of Canada Express Entry Draws

Express Entry draws for Canada PR reinvented itself right after the pandemic. IRCC is focussing on inviting temporary residents to apply for Canada PR. Such candidates either qualified under Canada Experience Class or under any one of the Provincial Nominee Programs.

A departure from the previous Canada Express Entry draws is noticed. IRCC says 42% of invitations in 2020 went to candidates who had Canadian education, up from 28% in 2019.

So, should you plan your higher studies in Canada to easily qualify for Canada PR?

Click here to read our analysis.

Canada Express Entry draws invited nearly 114,431 immigration candidates to apply for Canada PR in 2021. However, since September last year, IRCC has only been holding PNP-only Canada Express Entry draws. All the invited candidates in Canada Express Entry PNP-draw have demonstrated their connection to a province or territory. It is through familial ties, work experience, or study experience in that province or territory.

Apply for Canada PR with Provincial Nomination

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

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

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

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

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

Ms. Alana Ahmed is a working professional with more than 6 years of experience. She entered the Express Entry pool with a CRS score of 200 points. She had also submitted her profile to the Canadian province of Manitoba.

Also, Ms. Ahmed never worked or studied in Canada.

She was soon considered to apply for a provincial nomination. This made her CRS score rise to 800. This is sufficient to receive ITA in this Express Entry draw.

And to sum it up, experts are of the view that the immigration levels in Canada will only increase in the coming years. In fact, Canada is aiming to admit more than 241,500 economic-class immigrants through the likes of Express Entry, the Provincial Nominee Programs, Quebec immigration, among other pathways in 2022.

Take this free assessment online to determine your eligibility for permanent residence in Canada.

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

Manitoba Issues 443 Invitations To Apply for Canada Immigration via PNP

The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program held its first set of provincial nomination draws in 2022. It issued 443 new Letters of Advice to Apply for Canada immigration.

The prairie province of Canada invited a mixed pool of on-shore as well as off-shore candidates to apply for provincial nominations. All the invited Canadian immigration applicants are now one step closer to obtaining permanent residency from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Here are the results from the latest draw:

· Skilled Workers in Manitoba – 357 invitations with a minimum EOI score of 459;

· Skilled Workers Overseas – 53 invitations with a minimum EOI score of 711; and

· International Education Stream – 33 invitations with no EOI score requirement.

· Additionally, about 97 invitations went to candidates registered in the federal Express Entry pool.

Labour Market in Manitoba

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

Did you know?

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

Not only that but immigrants in Manitoba are succeeding! A recent survey reveals some 76 per cent of immigrant respondents were homeowners within five years and 95 per cent of immigrant families settle permanently in the community.

Manitoba is expected to see a rising demand for Civil Engineers (NOC 2131) in the coming years.

Ask CanApprove about its dedicated International Engineering Graduate Program and explore your chances to apply for Canada immigration.

How to Immigrate to Canada through Provincial Nominee Program

Interested applicants are required to register their Expression of Interest (EOI) with the province. Further, the registered profile is evaluated and ranked out of 1,000 points for their human capital factors such as age, education, work experience, language proficiency, as well as their connections to the province.

This will potentially qualify them for receiving LAAs through the Skilled Workers in Manitoba, Skilled Workers Overseas streams or International Education Stream.

Qualify For The Skilled Worker Overseas Stream

The Skilled Worker Overseas Stream (SWO) includes both a dedicated Canada Express Entry Pathway and a direct provincial pathway.

Priority is given to Immigrant Applicants with close family connections, or language proficiency, training, and experience to find jobs quickly

a) Manitoba Express Entry Pathway: For international candidates who have an active Express Entry profile & wish to qualify for provincial nomination. However, having a successful provincial nomination will guarantee an invitation to apply for Canada immigration by virtue of 600 additional CRS points.

b) Human Capital Pathway: For international skilled workers with skills, training, and experience in one of Manitoba’s In-Demand Occupations.

Qualify For The Skilled Worker in Manitoba Stream

The Skilled Worker in Manitoba Stream (SWM) is based on the specific needs of Manitoba employers.

a) Manitoba Work Experience Pathway: For applicants currently working in Manitoba on temporary work permits, through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, or as international graduates from any province.

b) Employer Direct Recruitment Pathway: For applicants from overseas with job offers from approved Manitoba employers.

Requirements For the International Education Stream

The International Education Stream (IES) is for international graduates from Manitoba colleges and universities. The criteria to work for at least six months in their field before applying for an MPNP nomination no longer apply here.

It has three pathways:

a) Career Employment Pathway: Completed a one-year or longer course from an eligible post-secondary Manitoba institution and have a full-time job offer in a Manitoba In-Demand occupation related to the completed degree.

b) Graduate Internship Pathway: Masters and Doctoral degree holders who have completed Mitacs Accelerate or Elevate internships can apply for nomination through internships even without a job offer in the province.

c) Student Entrepreneur Pathway: Completed a two-year or longer course from an eligible post-secondary Manitoba institution and have six months of business operation experience in Manitoba. The best part is no specific minimum personal net worth requirement is mandated.

Last year, Manitoba crossed over 11,000 provincial nominations. The province is expecting to increase the target in 2022. Visit a certified immigration consultant to kick-start your immigration process with confidence!

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

Book a free appointment with CanApprove now!

Essential Travelers Must Be Fully Vaccinated to Enter Canada During Pandemic

Only fully vaccinated groups of travelers, both non-essential or essential, are now allowed to enter Canada. As of January 15, 2022, certain travelers who were earlier exempt from entry requirements will now be allowed to enter Canada during pandemic only if they are fully vaccinated.

The new essential groups of travelers include

Family reunification travelers;
International students 18 years of age and older;
Persons with valid work permits, including temporary foreign workers;
Professional and amateur athletes; and
Essential service providers, including truck drivers.

From September last year, non-essential travelers entered Canada only if they were fully vaccinated. However, some exempt travelers may still enter Canada during pandemic but will be subject to testing, quarantine, and other public health measures.

Some of the exempt groups include foreign nationals who hold a valid Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR), agricultural and food processing workers, marine crew members, people coming to Canada on compassionate grounds. Unvaccinated children of 18 years of age or younger are also included in the exempt list.

At this time, it is not required to have a booster dose to be considered fully vaccinated in Canada. Border officers make the final decision on who can enter the country, and whether incoming travelers have to quarantine.

Use this official online tool to verify your eligibility to enter Canada during pandemic.

What Do New Travel Requirements Mean for Canada Immigration?

To be considered fully vaccinated, travelers must have received the full recommended dose of an approved vaccine.

Canada’s government-approved vaccines include

AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD (ChAdOx1-S, Vaxzevria, AZD1222)
Bharat Biotech (Covaxin, BBV152 A, B, C)
Janssen/Johnson & Johnson
Moderna (mRNA-1273)
Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty, tozinameran, BNT162b2)
Sinopharm BIBP (BBIBP-CorV)
Sinovac (CoronaVac, PiCoVacc)

Travelers must ensure that the final dose is administered at least 14 days before attempting to enter Canada during pandemic. Use of ArriveCAN application is mandated to submit all required COVID-19 information before crossing the border.

The latest travel requirements will not affect the pace of current Canadian immigration. The country had a good run last year. Canada is still continuing to carry forward its ambitious intake plan of admitting over 411,000 new immigrants in 2022.

Certified Canada Immigration Services from CanApprove

Each program has its own eligibility criteria, and depending on what country you are coming from, different document requirements. At CanApprove, you can ask our qualified consultants to suggest to you the most suitable immigration program for qualifying.

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

free assessment,
pre-screening,
documentation assistance,
review on rejections and appeal guidance,
training for embassy interviews,
post-landing services like accommodation & more.

We take immense pride in helping thousands of immigration candidates achieve their dream of immigration abroad for the last two decades. Book your free appointment with us today and get started!

Ontario Fast-tracks Canada Immigration Options for Nurses by the End of March

In a recent press release, Ontario expressed its need for internationally trained nurses to work & settle in the province. The province is now preparing to offer more Canada immigration options for nurses. The Central Canada province is targeting about 6,000 foreign healthcare workers to fill labour shortages by the end of March.

Ontario is the number one Canadian province with the largest number of foreign immigrants in its workforce. The targeted workers here include nursing students, medical students, and other students in the field of health care. The province is sending about 300 of these nurses to 50 high-need hospitals in the province. They will care for patients under supervision while they work toward getting their licence in Ontario.

In 2020, there were 20,678 internationally educated nurses registered and eligible to practice in Ontario. This represented 12.2% of Ontario’s nursing workforce in 2020, up from 10.3% in 2010.

Click here to determine the chances of Canada immigration for nurses.

So far, more than 1,200 internationally educated nurses have applied to the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) and expressed interest in these initiatives.

The College of Nurses of Ontario is the governing body for Registered Nurses (RNs), Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) and Nurse Practitioners (NPs) in Ontario, Canada. Any foreign individual willing to get a license for practice in Ontario must apply through CNO.

Demand for Immigration to Canada at All-time High

Ontario, along with the rest of Canada, had been experiencing nursing shortages since even before the pandemic.

Ontario promised to invest $342 million over the next five years to recruitment initiatives in its 2021 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review: Build Ontario. The multi-million dollar investment is expected to add over 13,000 workers to Ontario’s health care system, including over 5,000 new and up-skilled nurses as well as 8,000 personal support workers.

Canada is currently pursuing an ambitious immigration target plan to invite over 411,000 new immigrants in 2022. While the new immigration levels plan is expect to be release by the end of February, we are expecting the overall target to only increase further. Additionally, the new mandate letter promises more avenues of immigration to Canada in 2022 and beyond.

Learn More About Canada Immigration Options for Nurses

Since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic in March 2020, Ontario launched emergency programs that have added more than 6,700 health care professionals to work in long-term care homes and other care settings in an effort to lighten the load on hospitals.

The present situation is prone to dynamic changes yet Canada remains committed to increasing Canada immigration for nurses. Here is how hiring a certified immigration consultant can help you.

With years of expertise in immigration to Canada, consultants can anticipate situations that can secure your chances of qualifying sooner. Such consultants carefully analyze your current profile and suggest the best immigration options to maximize your chances of qualifying. Their contact networks can help you to study admission in the best Canadian institutions or can match your work skills to a local employer.

CanApprove is a certified immigration consultant by the College of Immigration and CItizenship Consultants (CICC). With industry experience of over two decades, CanApprove can help you fulfil your dream of immigration to Canada. Click here to book your free appointment with us today!

Alberta Expedites Provincial Nominations for Canada Express Entry Candidates

On January 13, the immigration minister of Alberta province, Tyler Shandro, announced a new Accelerated Tech Pathway. Under its Provincial Nominee Program, Alberta is now introducing a new fast-track immigration program for tech workers. Canada Express Entry candidates who work in tech may be its largest beneficiaries.

Alberta had already begun accepting applications to the new program in December. In order to be eligible, tech professionals, on-shore or off-shore, need to have a profile in Canada Express Entry system.

Under this new pathway, tech professionals, especially Engineers from across Canada and overseas can become permanent residents in as little as six months.

You need to have a job offer in an in-demand tech industry occupation in Alberta

This is a good avenue for Canada Express Entry candidates to receive provincial nominations in a quick time. Since 2012, Alberta’s tech sector has grown 233 per cent, as per the latest Alberta Technology Deal Flow Study. The business climate in Alberta is supportive as more than 3,000 technology companies are flourishing in the province.

Get in touch with our expert consultants to match your work skills in Canada and determine your eligibility for immigration.

How to Apply for Accelerated Tech Pathway under Alberta Provincial Nominee Program?

The Provincial Nominee Program offers the second-best alternative pathway to apply for permanent residence in Canada. Follow two simple steps to qualify for this new provincial pathway for Canada PR in quick time:

STEP1: Register a profile in Canada Express Entry system

Express Entry is an application database for three federal immigration programs: the Canadian Experience Class, the Federal Skilled Worker Program, and the Federal Skilled Trades Program. After qualifying for any one of the programs, you will be able to proceed with Accelerated Tech Pathway from Alberta.

The new pathway under Alberta Provincial Nominee Program requires Express Entry candidates to have a job offer, or be currently working for an Alberta-based company in an eligible occupation. The list of eligible occupations are listed below in order of their National Occupational Classification (NOC) code:

Engineers	0211 Engineering managers 0213 Computer and information systems managers 2131 Civil engineers 2132 Mechanical engineers 2133 Electrical and electronics engineers 2147 Computer engineers 2173 Software engineers and designers
Administrators & Academicians	0013 Senior managers – financial, communications and other business services 0131 Telecommunication carriers manager 0601 Corporate sales managers 0112 Human resources managers 1121 Human resources professionals 1223 Human resources and recruitment officers 2161 Mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries 2171 Information systems analysts and consultants 2172 Database analysts and data administrators 2221 Biological technologists and technicians 2232 Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
Designers	0212 Architecture and science managers 0512 Managers – publishing, motion pictures, broadcasting and performing arts 1123 Professional occupations in advertising, marketing and public relations 2174 Computer programmers and interactive media developers 2175 Web designers and developers

STEP2: Apply for Canada Immigration

Upon successful completion, your profile enters the nomination pool of eligible candidates to receive provincial nominations. Based on regular nomination draws, Alberta invites selected applications for provincial nominations. You cannot use a nomination under a different AINP stream to apply.

Once invited, you will then get 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points added to your Canada Express Entry score. While the nomination does not guarantee your permanent residency status in Canada, it can boost you to the top of the Express Entry pool.

Based on a fortnightly nomination draw held by the federal department – Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) – you will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in an Express Entry draw for permanent residency.

Take this free online assessment to know your eligibility.

Plan for Canadian immigration with a certified immigration consultant to secure your chances of qualifying. Book your free appointment with CanApprove to get started!

Saskatchewan Provincial Nominee Program Invites 104 Candidates in First Draw of 2022

Provincial Nominee Program run by Saskatchewan held a new nomination draw on January 12. In its first draw of 2022, the province invited 104 eligible candidates to apply for provincial nominations. They are required to apply for Canada immigration under the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) through two of its immigration streams: the ‘enhanced’ Express Entry & ‘base’ Occupations In-Demand Saskatchewan PNP streams.

‘Enhanced’ Express Entry Stream: Out of the total 104 invitations, 37 invitations went to candidates who already had their profiles in the federal Express Entry pool.

The federal Express Entry pool is a database of interested applicants willing to obtain permanent residence in Canada. Apart from federal economic-class immigration programs, certain streams under the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) can also select candidates from this pool.

Upon a successful provincial nomination, the Express Entry applicant’s CRS score gets an additional 600 points which effectively guarantees an Invitation to Apply for Permanent Residence in Canada.

The ‘Base’ Occupations In-Demand Stream: Remaining 67 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.

January 12 Saskatchewan Provincial Nominee Program Draw: Highlights

An Overview of SINP Draws- January 12, 2022
Category	Minimum EOI score	Total candidates invited
Occupations In-Demand	EOI 68	67
Express Entry	EOI 68	37
Express Entry & Occupations In-Demand candidates invited had Educational Credential Assessments to demonstrate their foreign education was comparable to the Canadian standard. This Provincial Nominee Program draw targeted eligible candidates with work experience in one of six healthcare-related occupations: Medical laboratory technologists, Paramedical occupations, Psychologists, Medical sonographers, Occupational therapists, and Medical radiation technologists.

Qualify for Upcoming Saskatchewan PNP Draws

In fact, towards the end of December 2021, SINP had launched a new International Healthcare Worker Expression of Interest (EOI) Pool. The sole intention of the pool is to connect foreign healthcare workers with job opportunities in Saskatchewan. It makes it much simpler for eligible healthcare workers to apply for Canadian immigration via the PNP pathway.

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 favours 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.

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

Check your eligibility by filling this free assessment online.

How to Apply for Canada Immigration via Provincial Nominee Program in 2022 & Beyond

Provincial Nominee Program across Canada had a prolific year in 2021, despite the travel restrictions. Both British Columbia and Manitoba nominated over 10,000 immigration candidates each for provincial nominations. Saskatchewan nominated about 6,000 candidates last year.

Click here to read about the monthly summary of nomination draws in 2021.

Throughout the year, Canadian immigration remained heavily dependent on the domestic temporary residence to fulfil its annual immigration target of 401,000 new immigrants. Temporary residents like provincial nominees, international student graduates with Canadian work experience were considered for permanent residency in Canada. More eligible candidates with successful provincial nominations obtained permanent residence in Canada in 2021.

Now with the release of the new mandate letter, there are high hopes of increased immigration intakes in the coming months. Consult a certified immigration consultant like CanApprove to determine eligibility based on your work or academic profile.

Click here to book your free virtual appointment with experts at CanApprove today!

Ontario Targets 502 Express Entry Candidates with Work Experience in Any 18 Occupations

Ontario carried on with its provincial nomination streak with a second draw in two days. The provincial nominee program targeted 502 Express Entry candidates on January 12 to apply for provincial nominations.

Invited candidates had already entered the federal pool, having assessed and evaluated with 464-467 scores based on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).

Among the invited candidates included Nurses, Bankers, and Food Service Managers under Ontario Human Capital Priorities Stream.

Earlier this January 11, Ontario held its first Provincial Nominee Program draw of 2022. It resulted in another 1,084 invitations from all Employer Job Offer streams to apply for provincial nominations.

January 12 Provincial Nominee Program Draw – Highlights

This is the first provincial draw of 2022 targeting Canada Express Entry candidates in 18 high-priority, skilled occupations with prior professional experience.

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) issued targeted invitations to apply for provincial nomination under its Express Entry Human Capital Priorities (HCP) stream.

#1 Qualifying Score: OINP targeted Canada Express Entry candidates with a valid Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).

A CRS score is given to candidates based on their human capital factors like age, language proficiency, work experience, and education qualification. The score is given out of 1200 points.

The qualifying CRS score for January 12 draw varied between 464 and 467.

#2 Occupation of invited candidates: All the 502 invited Canada Express Entry candidates had work experience of one year or more in any one of the following occupations:

Healthcare Professionals	Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (NOC 3012) Medical laboratory technologists (NOC 3211) Opticians (NOC 3231) Licensed practical nurses (NOC 3233) Managers in health care (NOC 0311)
Banking Professionals	Banking, credit, and other investment managers (NOC 0122)
Academicians	Mathematicians, statisticians, and actuaries (NOC 2161)
Corporate class	Advertising, marketing, and public relations managers (NOC 0124) Engineering managers (NOC 0211) Corporate sales managers (NOC 0601) Restaurant and foodservice managers (NOC 0631) Construction managers (NOC 0711) Managers in transportation (NOC 0731) Manufacturing managers (NOC 0911) Other administrative services managers (NOC 0114) Other business services managers (NOC 0125) Human resources professionals (NOC 1121) Professional occupations in business management consulting (NOC 1122)

Read how Ontario’s Northern Regions All Set To Attract New Immigrants.

Qualifying for Canada Permanent Residency with Provincial Nominee Program

Issuing invitations for permanent residency is the exclusive domain of the federal government. A provincial nomination may, however, fast-track the total time taken to receive an invitation to apply for Canada Permanent Residency.

Ontario Immigration Nominee Program (OINP) issues provincial nominations to eligible skilled workers under its famous Human Capital Priorities stream. The province also invites candidates already registered in the federal pool under its Tech draw.

Those with provincial nominations like the one from Express Entry Human Capital Priorities (HCP) stream or Ontario Tech Draw or any other stream will get preferential treatment to obtain Canada permanent residency.

The inclusion of additional 600 CRS points makes the entire process of applying for Canada PR through Canada Express Entry even simpler.

Canada had re-invented itself to achieve the ambitious annual immigration target even during the pandemic. Throughout 2020 and 2021, IRCC held program-specific Express Entry draws to invite domestic candidates for Canada permanent residency, either with provincial nominations or prior work experience in Canada.

Simplify your Journey of Canadian Immigration with CanApprove

Canada is attempting to achieve the most ambitious immigration target in its history. As of now, Canada is eyeing nearly 411,000 new immigrants to work & settle. Over 60 per cent of the target is to be met by economic-class immigration facilitated by the Express Entry system, Provincial Nominee Programs, and other pathways.

Getting help from a certified immigration consultant like CanApprove can secure your chances of qualifying for immigration. You can also avail of our immigration services like IELTS preparation, Canada PR services (including help for your Medical Verification documents, Police Clearance Certificate, Proof of Funds documents, and Job Experience supporting document.

We also have tie-ups with 500+ institutions for your study abroad programs in Canada. Our job search assistance and customization of profiles can match your work skills with a suitable employer in Canada.

Take this free online assessment to know your eligibility.

Book a free appointment with our consultants to improve your chances of qualifying for Canada PR.

IRCC Shows Reduced Express Entry & Family Class Canada Immigration Application Backlogs

Canada which remained highly receptive to foreign skilled migration before the pandemic now experiences high Canada immigration application backlogs. While the reason for backlogs in immigration applications are multiple, the spike is certainly caused owing to frequent travel restrictions across the world.

As per an information request to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the total Immigration backlogs stands at 1,813,144 applications, as of December 2021. In October, IRCC reported a backlog of 1,791,936. The backlog includes future citizens, applicants for Canada permanent residency, international students, temporary workers, and visitors. About 10 per cent of total backlogs belong to refugees under Humanitarian and Compassionate/Public Policy.

Despite the pandemic, Canadian immigration is going strong. It has reinvented itself temporarily to specifically target immigration aspirants with prior Canadian work/study experience. IRCC says 42 per cent of invitations in 2020 went to candidates who had Canadian education, up from 28% in 2019.

Before the pandemic, candidates qualifying for Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) remained the most invited category to apply for Canada permanent residency. However, no ITAs for Canada PR have been issued to FSWP candidates for the last 18 months or more. Usually, Canada immigration application under FSWP belongs to off-shore aspirants with no prior work/study experience in Canada.

Economic-Class & Family-Class Immigration Stay Strong

As of December, the Express Entry backlog was around 119,000, compared to October when it was nearly 138,000.

The difference was largely seen in Canadian Experience Class (CEC) applications, which was down to nearly 25,000 applications in December compared to more than 48,000 in October. The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) backlog also went down, 805 in the December queue compared to 931 in October.

The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) backlog increased to about 55,000 in December, whereas it was at nearly 51,000 in October. There was also an increase in the enhanced Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) backlog, 39,000 in December compared to 38,000 in October.

Overall family class applications were down to about 105,000 this past December, compared to more than 111,000 in October. This includes programs like spousal sponsorship, which was down slightly but remains around the 55,000 application mark, and the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP), which was down to about 38,000 compared to more than 43,000.

So, is now a good time to apply for Canadian immigration, despite the bulging backlogs? Get your profile analyzed by our immigration experts today.

Boost Your Canada Immigration Application with CanApprove to Qualify for Canada Permanent Residency

Mass immigration-friendly countries like the USA, Australia has not fully embraced the immigration of new candidates post-pandemic. Smaller, developed countries like Singapore have tiered visa programs suitable only for work permits and temporary resident status. On the other hand, Canada has publicly declared its intention to increase mass immigration of skilled workers, international students in 2022 & beyond to settle there permanently.

The government of Canada treats all immigration applications alike. Applying for Canada immigration on your own can invite a higher risk of visa rejection. Click here to know why.

Certified Immigration Consultant like CanApprove can help you & is highly recommended if you have been:

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

Take this free assessment online to determine your eligibility for Canada PR.

Kick-start your immigration journey today by booking your free appointment with our expert advisors.

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