Express Entry: Historic Day As Canada Holds Category-Based Draws For Healthcare Workers

Highlights

IRCC targeted 500 healthcare workers with a minimum CRS of 476
Invited candidates required 6 months or more work experience in Canada or abroad.
35 different healthcare occupations are eligible to qualify for Canada PR under June 28 draw.

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held its first-ever category-based Express Entry draw on June 28, targeting 500 healthcare workers to apply for permanent residency.

Eligible foreign workers must have ranked among the first 500 profiles and have at least six months of work experience in Canada or abroad in one of 35 eligible healthcare occupations. The minimum qualifying score based on the CRS (comprehensive ranking system) was 476

June 28 marks the 252nd Express Entry since 2015 and the sixteenth overall.

Canada considered older registered profiles in the federal pool, keeping the tie-breaker cut-off date of November 12, 2022. The tie-break rule is beneficial in cases where two or more candidates end up with the same CRS score.

Eligible Healthcare Occupations for Express Entry Draws

IRCC had earlier included six new categories for newly targeted Express Entry draws. Healthcare occupations make up the largest number of eligible occupations, 35 in total:

Audiologists and speech-language pathologists
Chiropractors
Dentists
Dieticians and nutritionists
Education counselors
General practitioners and family physicians
Instructors of persons with disabilities
Kinesiologists and other professional occupations in therapy and assessment
Licensed practical nurses
Massage therapists
Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations
Medical laboratory technologists
Medical radiation technologists
Medical sonographers
Nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates
Nurse practitioners
Nursing coordinators and supervisors
Occupational therapists
Optometrists
Other assisting occupations in support of health services
Other practitioners of natural healing
Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating
Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment
Paramedical occupations
Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants
Physician assistants, midwives, and allied health professionals
Physiotherapists
Psychologists
Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists, and cardiopulmonary technologists
Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine
Specialists in surgery
Therapists in counseling and related specialized therapies
Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists
Veterinarians

IRCC can target category-based Express Entry draws from 6 categories:

healthcare
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions
trades, such as carpenters, plumbers, and contractors
transport
agriculture and agri-food
strong French language proficiency

Canada Faces Shortage of Healthcare Workers

The move comes as Canada is facing a shortage of healthcare workers. The country’s aging population and growing economy are putting a strain on the healthcare system, and the government is looking to attract more skilled workers to help fill the gap.

To be eligible for the category-based draw, healthcare workers must have a valid Express Entry profile and meet the minimum requirements for the occupation they are applying for. They must also have a language proficiency score of at least CLB 7 in English or French.

Those who hope to receive an ITA in the targeted draws must first enter the Express Entry pool. IRCC will continue to hold all program draws and program-specific draws as needed.

If you are a healthcare worker who is interested in immigrating to Canada, you can learn more about your eligibility and best chances by contacting a consultant.

Contact a licensed immigration consultant like CanApprove to determine your best chances of qualifying based on your academic profile and work experience.

Claim your free consultation from us to explore immigration programs under Express Entry and boost your CRS scores.

Alberta Opens Doors To Nearly 600 Skilled Immigrants With Recent Express Entry Draws

The Government of Alberta has invited nearly 600 candidates to apply for permanent residency through the Express Entry-linked stream of the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) in seven recent draws.

The draws, which took place between May 9 and June 15, 2023, saw invitations issued to candidates in a number of different categories, including:

Skilled workers with an Alberta job offer
International graduates with an Alberta degree
Entrepreneurs with a business plan to create jobs in Alberta

The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score required to receive an invitation in the recent draws ranged from 307 to 372.

Earlier, Rajan Sawhney, Minister of Trade, Immigration, and Multiculturalism reaffirmed, “Alberta needs more immigrants. We need them to help grow our communities, address labor shortages in key sectors and help continue Alberta’s economic success.”

Date	NOIs Sent	Who Were Invited?	Lowest CRS
08-Jun-23	150	Agriculture occupation French as a first language	382
01-Jun-23	117	Family connection Primary occupation in demand	304
30-May-23	20	Agriculture occupation Alberta job offer	342
23-May-23	5	Designated Healthcare Pathway Alberta job offer	401
11-May-23	119	Family connection Primary occupation in demand	311
09-May-23	175	Tourism and hospitality occupation Alberta job offer	444

Primary Occupations In Demand in Alberta

Some occupations are in demand because they are essential to the Alberta economy. They require a variety of skills and experience, and they offer good salaries and benefits.

If you are considering immigrating to Alberta, these are some of the occupations that you may want to consider.

Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
Transport truck drivers
Retail and wholesale trade managers
Retail sales supervisors
Store shelf stockers, clerks and order fillers
Accounting and related clerks
Heavy-duty equipment mechanics
Shippers and receivers
Administrative officers
Other customer and information services representatives
Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics
Restaurant and food service managers
Hairstylists and barbers
Construction managers
Dispatchers
Web designers and developers
Concrete finishers
Physiotherapists
Floor covering installers
Roofers and shinglers
Human resources and recruitment officers
Purchasing managers
Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists, and cardiopulmonary technologists
Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)
Bricklayers
Audiologists and speech-language pathologists
Accounting technicians and bookkeepers
Allied primary health practitioners
Glaziers
Health information management occupations
Pulp mill machine operators
Telecommunications line and cable workers
Transportation route and crew schedulers

About the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program

The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) is a government-sponsored program that helps attract and retain skilled immigrants to Alberta. The AAIP offers a number of different immigration streams, including the Express Entry-linked stream, the International Graduate Stream, and the Entrepreneur Stream.

The Express Entry-linked stream is the most popular stream in the AAIP. Applicants who are invited to apply for permanent residency through the Express Entry-linked stream are not required to have a job offer in Alberta, but they must meet certain eligibility requirements, such as having a valid work permit or a study permit.

The International Graduate Stream is designed for international graduates who have graduated from an eligible Alberta post-secondary institution. Applicants who are invited to apply for permanent residency through the International Graduate Stream must have a valid work permit and meet certain other eligibility requirements.

The Entrepreneur Stream is designed for entrepreneurs who have a business plan to create jobs in Alberta. Applicants who are invited to apply for permanent residency through the Entrepreneur Stream must have a valid work permit and meet certain other eligibility requirements.

If you are interested in immigrating to Alberta through the AAIP, you can learn more about the program and the eligibility requirements on the Alberta Immigration website.

You may also claim your free appointment with CanApprove to get started!

Canada Promotes Francophone Immigration With New Legislation

Canada passed a new law to promote Francophone immigration. The law modernizes the Official Language Act to recognize that French, as an official language of Canada, is being threatened and must be protected.

Bill C-13, the Official Languages Act (OLA) Amendment Act, was passed on June 8, 2023, and relevant parts to Canadian immigration include:

Part 1 introduces, for the first time, immigration into the OLA.

This means that the federal government is now required to consider the impact of immigration on the vitality of Francophone communities outside Quebec.

Part 2 amends the OLA to strengthen the federal government’s commitment to promoting and protecting the French language.

This includes measures to increase the number of Francophone immigrants to Canada, to improve access to French-language services, and to support the development of Francophone minority communities.

Part 3 makes technical amendments to the OLA.

Who are Francophone Immigrants in Canada?

Francophone immigrants are people who come to Canada to live and work and who speak French as their first language. They come from all over the world, but the majority come from Africa, Europe, and the Americas.

Here are some of the benefits of Francophone immigration to Canada:

Francophone immigrants contribute to the diversity and richness of Canadian culture.
They bring with them new skills and ideas that can help to boost the Canadian economy.
They help to strengthen the French language in Canada.
They help to build bridges between Canada and other Francophone countries.
If you are a Francophone immigrant, Canada is a welcoming country where you can build a new life and contribute to the country’s future.

Recent Measures to Attract More Francophone Immigrants to Canada

In 2022, Canada met its target of 4.4% of Francophone immigrants outside Quebec. This means that more than 16,300 new immigrants have settled in Francophone minority communities across Canada. This is a significant increase from the 2,800 Francophone immigrants who settled outside Quebec in 2006.

The government of Canada is committed to promoting Francophone immigration. In 2019, the government launched the Francophone Immigration Strategy, which aims to attract 40,000 Francophone immigrants to Canada each year by 2023.

The strategy includes a number of measures to make it easier for Francophone immigrants to come to Canada, including:

Increasing the number of Francophone immigration streams under the Express Entry system.
Providing additional points for French language skills in the Express Entry system.
Raising awareness of Francophone immigration opportunities among potential immigrants.
Supporting the development of Francophone settlement services.
These measures are helping to ensure that Canada continues to be a welcoming destination for Francophone immigrants.

Learn more about your eligibility and opportunities in Canada. Claim your free appointment with our expert immigration counselors here!

Express Entry: IRCC Issues 4,800 ITAs For Canada PR In Its 250th Draw Since Launch

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held the first Express Entry draw of June 2023. June 08 draw issued 4,800 invitations to apply (ITA) under all Express Entry programs for Canadian permanent residence (PR).

This meant that eligible foreign nationals must be ranked among the first 4,800 in the federal pool to be invited to make an application. The minimum qualifying score based on the CRS (comprehensive ranking system) of the lowest-ranked candidate invited is 486.

The latest round of invitations marks the 250th Express Entry draw since its launch in 2015 and is the fifth all-program Express Entry of 2023 and fourteenth overall.

Canada considered all the newly registered profiles in the federal pool, keeping the tie-breaker cut-off date close to May 19, 2023. The tie-break rule is beneficial in cases where two or more candidates end up with the same CRS score.

Who Can Apply for Express Entry?

Candidates from the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) were eligible for this Express Entry round of invitations.

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.

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

Canada Announces New Categories for Express Entry Draws

IRCC is expected to target those Express Entry profiles with a strong French language proficiency or the following work experience later this summer:

healthcare
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions
trades, such as carpenters, plumbers, and contractors
transport
agriculture and agri-food

Those who hope to receive an ITA in the targeted draws must first enter the Express Entry pool. IRCC will continue to hold all program draws and program-specific draws as needed.

Now that the 2023-2025 annual targets for Express Entry landings (principal applicants, spouses, and dependents) are projected to touch over 100,000 each year, it is your best time to start planning for immigration to Canada.

Contact a licensed immigration consultant like CanApprove to determine your best chances of qualifying based on your academic profile and work experience.

Claim your free consultation from us to explore immigration programs under Express Entry and boost your CRS scores.

Australia Migration Planning Level For 2023-24 Raises To 190,000 Places, Allocating 72% In The Skilled Migration Stream

Australia announced its new Migration Planning Levels as part of the federal budget for 2023-24 on May 9. The 2023-24 Migration Program is designed to address the growing concerns about skill shortages, and aging demography and facilitate easier immigration of specialists that are difficult to find or develop in Australia.

The Program has the following composition:

Skill stream (137,100 places) including Employer Sponsored, Skilled Independent, Regional, State/Territory Nominated, Business Innovation & Investment, Global Talent (Independent), and Distinguished Talent visa categories.
Family stream (52,500 places) including 40,500 Partner visas and 3,000 Child visas categories.
Special Eligibility stream (400 places).

The new financial year in Australia will begin on 1 July 2023 and end on 30 June 2024.

Increased Allocations Under Employer-Sponsored Category

The increase in places for employer-sponsored visas will more likely to benefit those already in Australia on temporary employer-sponsored visas. Australia has also announced an increase in the minimum salary for temporary employer-sponsored visas to around AUD70,000 after being left at around AUD53,000 for almost ten years.

It is encouraging to note that the Partner & Child visa categories will be managed on a demand-driven basis and are not capped. However, international student visa holders will face a capped fortnightly work hour limit of 48 hours starting from July 1, 2023, except for students working in the aged care sector.

Australia had previously announced an additional two years of post-study work rights to Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa holders with select degrees. This will become operational from 1 July 2023.

Introducing a New 3-Tier Skilled Migration

Australian Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil had earlier reviewed many flaws in the Australian immigration system, terming it “not fit for purpose”. Following this Australia is expected to introduce major changes in the next 3-6 months targeting more skilled immigrants.

All skilled visa applicants will be processed based on the following tiered system:

Light touch – the first tier will be streamlined for high-earning workers.
Mainstream – the second tier will be a mainstream skilled pathway focussing on middle-income earners.
Essential – the third one will be for the essential industries, which will reorganize the country’s intake of low-earning migrants.

The new 3-tier skilled migration system will help reduce the number of visa subclasses and further simplify the migration process to Australia.

Australia is certainly planning to efficiently manage its immigration levels for better economic progress on par with major skilled immigration destinations like Canada. If you’re looking to plan your immigration anytime soon, consider visiting CanApprove for expert advice. Claim your free consultation here.

Canada Announces Launch of Category-based Selection Draws

Canada’s Immigration Minister Sean Fraser has announced the launched of category-based Express Entry draws. So, the Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada(IRCC) will be focusing on candidates with strong French language proficiency as well as work experience in any of the following fields:

Healthcare
Professions in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics(STEM)
Trades including carpenters, plumbers and contractors
Transport
Agriculture and agri-food

According to the minister, allowing the IRCC to invite more skilled workers in these targeted professions will support Canada’s commitment to welcoming in-demand professionals into communities across the country. It is expected that draws under the new categories will be starting later this summer.

Why new Express Entry categories?

Canada is facing severe labour shortage across different industry sectors. By introducing new changes including category-based Express Entry draws, Canada is trying to make effective use of immigration as a solution to this labour shortage crisis. Also, the government aims to ensure the vitality of French-speaking communities, by welcoming more French-proficient immigrants to the country.

The categories for Express Entry draws were chosen based on labour market information and projects as well as the inputs received by the IRCC from provinces, territories and other stakeholders across the country.

Each year, the IRCC will report to the Parliament on factors such as

The categories chosen in the previous year
Why and how they were chosen
The instructions to establish a category
The number of invitations issued for each category

In order to receive invitation in a category-based draw, the candidate must meet all the requirements for that particular draw. In category-based draws, candidates in the Express Entry pool who meet the category requirements will be ranked and the top-ranking candidates will be invited to apply for permanent residence.

Canada Express Entry

Canada Express Entry was launched in January 2015 with an aim to manage applications for immigration under the three federal economic immigration programs of Canada, which are the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program and Canadian Experience Class. It is one of the easiest and fastest pathways for skilled workers to migrate to Canada.

Do you wish to know more about Canada Express Entry immigration? Connect with CanApprove now!

Ontario’s Top Five Latest Announcements To Boost Nursing And Engineering In Canada

Ontario is among the most populous province in east-central Canada. The capital city of Ottawa is densely populated with skilled immigrants, however, the province is dealing with acute labor shortages in several sectors.

In order to address the growing concerns, the government of Ontario has identified entry barriers to filling vacant jobs, thereby making it easier for other newcomers to work in regulated fields like Nursing and Engineering in Canada. Here are the top five announcements from the provincial government of Ontario to address the labor shortage in the province and boost immigration to Canada.

Ontario Professional Engineers (PEO), the apex body for licensing of engineering professionals in Canada, has now removed the Canadian work experience requirement for overseas skilled Engineers.
Ontario eases accreditation for newcomers in regulated professions, such as nursing, by adjusting language proficiency policies.
The recently passed provincial legislation will allow nurses from other Canadian jurisdictions to work in the province without having to register with the applicable health regulatory colleges. Further, Internationally educated nurses may register in a temporary class and begin working sooner while they work towards full registration.
Ontario will invest $342 million over the next five years in improving the Canadian immigration of nurses.
IRCC has doubled the immigration allocations for Ontario PNP to over 18,000 annual intakes by 2025.

Not just experienced professionals, but young international students who are planning on studying abroad may choose Canada.

A recent report noted that over 30% of international students who got Canadian bachelor’s degrees and almost 50% of international students who graduated with master’s degrees became permanent residents (PR) within 10 years since they got their study permit.

How will it Boost Immigration to Canada?

Minister McNaughton says removing the Canadian work experience requirement for engineers in Ontario will help qualified professionals enter the profession they are trained for.

Roydon Fraser, president of Ontario Professional Engineers said that 60% of the license applications received each year are from internationally trained engineers. He says that removing the Canadian work experience requirement will ensure that qualified international engineers will be licensed more quickly.

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

Canada Immigration Programs for Engineers & Nurses

Canada is eyeing welcoming nearly 1.5 million new immigrants in the next three years. Over 60% of the said target is expected to be achieved with the help of economic-class immigration programs.

Some of the most prominent provincial immigration pathways for internationally-trained Engineers in Canada are:

Ontario Tech Pilot
British Columbia Tech Program
Alberta Express Entry stream
Manitoba Skilled Workers Overseas stream
Saskatchewan Occupation-In demand

Here is a list of some of the PNP pathways for nurses.

Ontario invites nurses to apply through its Human Capital Priorities Stream.
British Columbia offers a Healthcare Professional category under its Skills Immigration and Express Entry pathways.
Saskatchewan has recently launched an International Health Worker EOI pool specifically for nurses.
Nova Scotia’s Labour Market Priorities Stream occasionally holds draws inviting nurses to apply for a provincial nomination.
New Brunswick’s Internationally Educated Nurses (IEN) program is a pathway for foreign nurses who can speak English or French

Foreign skilled workers even without any work experience inside Canada may stand a chance to qualify for permanent residency through the Express Entry system. It will depend upon their age, education, work experience outside Canada, and language proficiency in English or French.

Otherwise, a provincial nomination after gaining adequate work experience in Canada can quicken your process of obtaining permanent residency.

CanApprove has been the regional leader in providing trusted immigration and overseas education consultancy for more than two decades. We can help you expedite your visa documentation process, career counseling, overseas education counseling, pre-departure & post-arrival immigration support, and much more.

Book your free appointment with our expert consultants today.

Fourth PNP-Only Draws With 589 ITAs For Canada Permanent Residency

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 589 invitations to apply (ITAs) in this year’s fourth PNP-only Express Entry draws on May 10. Canada only invited candidates with prior provincial nominations and a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 691 to apply for permanent residence (PR).

This is IRCC’s twelfth Express Entry draw of 2023 and the fifth overall program-specific draw following February 01, February 16 & March 01 PNP-only draws and February 02 FSWP Express Entry draws.

OVERVIEW OF 248th EXPRESS ENTRY DRAWS (PNP-Only)
Decreased Draw Size	589 ITAs for permanent residence
Decreased CRS Qualifying Score	Invited candidates required CRS of 691 points or above. Receiving a provincial nomination increases a candidate’s CRS score by 600 points. Thus, eligible candidates only needed 91 points before getting provincial nomination
Tie-break rule applied?	March 08, 2023 at 16:42:17 UTC

IRCC applied 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.

The latest date of the tie-break rule indicates more recently applied candidates too got a fair chance to qualify for Canada PR.

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

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 positively impact 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.

Click here to read the updated proof of fund requirements for Express Entry candidates applying in 2023.

Qualifying for Express Entry is Easier with Provincial Nomination

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, it can guarantee your permanent residency through the addition of 600 points toward the Express Entry profile CRS score.

Thus, eligible candidates only needed 91 points before getting the provincial nomination to qualify for May 10 PNP-only Entry draws.

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

IRCC Pushes New Profiles In The Latest Express Entry Draw With 3,500 ITAs For Canada PR

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) ends April 2023 with another all-program Express Entry draw 247. April 26 draw resulted in 3,500 invitations to apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence (PR).

The latest Express Entry draw 247 on April 26 had lower qualifying score points than the previous all-program Express Entry draw. The latest round of invitations is the sixth all-program Express Entry in 2023 and the eleventh overall.

Canada considered all the newly registered profiles in the federal pool, keeping the tie-breaker cut-off date close to April 22, 2023. The tie-break rule is beneficial in cases where two or more candidates end up with the same CRS score.

OVERVIEW OF EXPRESS ENTRY LATEST DRAWS #247
Decreased Draw Size	3,500 invitations to apply for Canada PR
Increased Express Entry Cut-off	The minimum CRS score required was 483 (3 points lower than the previous)
Tie-break rule applied	Profiles registered on or before April 22, 2023, 19:46:58 UTC

Who Can Apply for Express Entry?

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.

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

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

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

To assist PGWP holders, immigration minister Sean Fraser recently announced an 18-month open work permit extension. In this context, the recent extension to Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs), the regularity of all program draws will benefit candidates in the Canada Experience Class (CEC).

If you’re interested in Canadian immigration through Express Entry, contact a licensed 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.

Saskatchewan To Add 12 Physician Assistant Positions To Retain More Healthcare Workers

The Canadian province of Saskatchewan introduced new legislation on March 30, 2023, to include newly licensed professions for Physician Assistants to practice in the province.
The introduced Medical Professional Amendment Act, 2023 supports the $1.3 million investment in the 2023-24 Budget to create 12 Physician Assistant positions across the healthcare system for the first time.

This initiative is part of a nearly $100 million investment by the Government of Saskatchewan to support the Health Human Resource Action Plan and continue to recruit, train, incentivize, and retain more nurses, doctors, laboratory technicians, and other healthcare workers.The legislation will come into force upon proclamation.

Who are Physician Assistants in Canada?

According to the Ministry of Health, Physician Assistants (PAs) are health professionals who have taken additional advanced training at one of the recognized programs in Canada. They practice medicine under the supervision of a licensed physician, often within a multidisciplinary health team.

Physician assistants have been licensed to work in Ontario and Manitoba, and they could work in Saskatchewan but were not regulated. With the new provincial legislation, Saskatchewan may also assume the power to regulate Physician assistants under the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan.

“This is a vital step in effectively introducing PAs into the province at a critical time when the healthcare system has been stretched to the limit,” remarked Canadian Association of Physician Assistants (CAPA) Saskatchewan director Todd Bryden.
Read more>> How To Immigrate And Work As A Doctor In Canada 2023?

Impact on Canadian Immigration

The new legislation is yet formalize into an official act and it is premature to conclude any evidence of impact on Canadian immigration.

However, the provincial Health Minister Paul Merriman said, “We are making key investments in 2023-24 to recruit, train, incentivize and retain more health care workers, including physicians, nurses, and other health professionals.”

The increase in demand for healthcare professions in Canada, especially Saskatchewan in 2023-24 will most likely be fulfilled through immigration.

Also, learn more >> How To Migrate to Canada as a Registered Nurse?

If you’re a healthcare worker outside Canada with three or more years of experience, consider this new opportunity. You can determine your eligibility for immigration through our free assessment online.

You may also book one-to-one counseling with our immigration experts to learn more about your chances of Canadian immigration.

Express Entry: First Draw In April Issues 3,500 ITAs Having CRS Above 486 For Canada PR

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held the first all-program Express Entry draw of April, issuing 3,500 invitations to apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence (PR).

April 12 Express Entry draw had a higher qualifying score points than the previous all-program Express Entry draw. The latest round of invitations is the fifth all-program Express Entry in 2023 and the tenth overall.

Canada considered older registered profiles in the federal pool by keeping the tie-breaker cut-off date as close to July 19, 2022. The tie-break rule is beneficial in cases where two or more candidates end up with the same CRS score.

OVERVIEW OF EXPRESS ENTRY LATEST DRAWS #246
Decreased Draw Size	3,500 invitations to apply for Canada PR
Increased Express Entry Cut-off	The minimum CRS score required was 486 (5 points higher than previous)
Tie-break rule applied	Profiles registered on or before July 19, 2022 11:05:24 UTC

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.

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

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

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

In light of recent extension to Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs), the regularity of all-program draws will benefit candidates in the Canada Experience Class (CEC).

To assist PGWP holders, immigration minister Sean Fraser recently announced an 18-month open work permit extension.

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

Third All-Program Express Entry Draw In A Row Lowers CRS & Invites 7,000 Profiles For Canada PR

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held another all-program Express Entry draw on March 29, resulting in another huge draw size of 7,000 invitations to apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence (PR).

IRCC lowered the qualifying points by three points to CRS 481, in comparison with last week’s Express Entry draw. The latest round of invitations is the fourth all-program Express Entry in 2023 and the ninth overall.

Canada considered newly registered profiles in the federal pool by keeping the tie-breaker cut-off date as close to February 14, 2023. The tie-break rule is beneficial in cases where two or more candidates end up with the same CRS score.

OVERVIEW OF EXPRESS ENTRY LATEST DRAWS #245
Record-breaking Draw Size	7,000 invitations to apply for Canada PR
Lower Express Entry Cut-off	The minimum CRS score required was 481
Tie-break rule applied	Profiles registered on or before February 14, 2023, 07:35:00 UTC

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.

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

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

Outlook of Canada Express Entry System in 2023

IRCC has invited a total of 21,000 candidates over the past two weeks. Three back-to-back all-program Express Entry weekly draws reinforce increasing opportunities for FSWP candidates.

FSWP provides a direct pathway to eligible skilled workers with enough work experience to qualify for PR without a job offer or prior experience in Canada.

Since January 18, Canada had been targeting program-specific Express Entry draws for permanent residence (PR). 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

The passage of Bill C-19 will further allow IRCC 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.

Archives: News

Express Entry: Historic Day As Canada Holds Category-Based Draws For Healthcare Workers

Highlights

Eligible Healthcare Occupations for Express Entry Draws

IRCC can target category-based Express Entry draws from 6 categories:

Canada Faces Shortage of Healthcare Workers

Alberta Opens Doors To Nearly 600 Skilled Immigrants With Recent Express Entry Draws

Primary Occupations In Demand in Alberta

About the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program

Canada Promotes Francophone Immigration With New Legislation

Who are Francophone Immigrants in Canada?

Recent Measures to Attract More Francophone Immigrants to Canada

Express Entry: IRCC Issues 4,800 ITAs For Canada PR In Its 250th Draw Since Launch

Who Can Apply for Express Entry?

Canada Announces New Categories for Express Entry Draws

Australia Migration Planning Level For 2023-24 Raises To 190,000 Places, Allocating 72% In The Skilled Migration Stream

Increased Allocations Under Employer-Sponsored Category

Introducing a New 3-Tier Skilled Migration

Canada Announces Launch of Category-based Selection Draws

Ontario’s Top Five Latest Announcements To Boost Nursing And Engineering In Canada

How will it Boost Immigration to Canada?

Canada Immigration Programs for Engineers & Nurses

Fourth PNP-Only Draws With 589 ITAs For Canada Permanent Residency

What is Canada Express Entry?

Qualifying for Express Entry is Easier with Provincial Nomination

IRCC Pushes New Profiles In The Latest Express Entry Draw With 3,500 ITAs For Canada PR

Who Can Apply for Express Entry?

Outlook of Canada Express Entry System in 2023

Saskatchewan To Add 12 Physician Assistant Positions To Retain More Healthcare Workers

Who are Physician Assistants in Canada?

Impact on Canadian Immigration

Express Entry: First Draw In April Issues 3,500 ITAs Having CRS Above 486 For Canada PR

Outlook of Canada Express Entry System in 2023

Third All-Program Express Entry Draw In A Row Lowers CRS & Invites 7,000 Profiles For Canada PR

Outlook of Canada Express Entry System in 2023

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