British Columbia holds yet another Tech Pilot draw.-min

British Columbia Held Tech Pilot Draw Inviting 87 Candidates For Canada PR

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) conducted its Tech Pilot nomination draw on February 23. It resulted in 87 invitations to apply for permanent residence (PR) through the provincial nominations.

All the invitations went to two provincial streams namely Express Entry British Columbia (EEBC) and Skills Immigration (SI). The minimum qualifying score was 5 points lower than the previous Tech Pilot draws in 2021.

British Columbia is the only Canadian province that has been actively nominating immigration candidates under its provincial streams since the start of 2021. The province has now held ten draws, bringing the total number of invitations issued to date to around 1,500 invitations.

Take this free assessment online to determine your chances of immigration to Canada.

Apply Through BC PNP Tech Pilot

Since its launch in 2017, the BC PNP Tech Pilot has benefited thousands of in-demand tech workers and international students.

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

One may apply under the Skills Immigration or Express Entry BC (EEBC) categories in order to fulfill the existing provincial stream condition.

A prior registration under the province’s Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS) is mandatory to initiate the nomination process. All the applicants are invited to apply for provincial nomination based on a pre-determined score which evaluated the level of education, years of direct work experience, and validity of a B.C. employment offer.

This qualifying provincial score in February 23 BC PNP Tech Pilot draw was 75 points.

The major difference between SI & EEBC categories is the way eligible immigration candidates are nominated. EEBC category makes use of the federal Express Entry pool. It consists of applicants qualifying for either one of the three federal programs: Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Federal Skills Trades Program (FSTP), and Canada Experience Class (CEC). Additionally, such candidates are willing to obtain permanent residence through a provincial nominee program.

Further, those who had received provincial nominations receive an additional 600 points towards their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. This is more than enough to guarantee them an invitation to apply for Canada PR in the subsequent federal Express Entry draw.

Here is a comprehensive list of 29 eligible Tech occupations:

Telecommunication carriers managers- NOC 0131
Computer and information systems managers- NOC 0213
Managers – publishing, motion pictures, broadcasting, and performing arts- NOC 0512
Civil engineers- NOC 2131
Mechanical engineers- NOC 2132
Electrical and electronics engineers- NOC 2133
Chemical engineers- NOC 2134
Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)- NOC 2147
Information systems analysts and consultants- NOC 2171
Database analysts and data administrators- NOC 2172
Software engineers and designers- NOC 2173
Computer programmers and interactive media developers- NOC 2174
Web designers and developers- NOC 2175
Biological technologists and technicians- NOC 2221
Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians- NOC 2241
Electronic service technicians (household and business equipment)- NOC 2242
Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics- NOC 2243
Computer network technicians- NOC 2281
User support technicians- NOC 2282
Information systems testing technicians- NOC 2283
Authors and writers- NOC 5121
Editors- NOC 5122
Translators, terminologists, and interpreters- NOC 5125
Broadcast technicians- NOC 5224
Audio and video recording technicians- NOC 5225
Other technical and co-ordinating occupations in motion pictures, broadcasting, and the performing arts- NOC 5226
Support occupations in motion pictures, broadcasting, photography, and the performing arts- NOC 5227
Graphic designers and illustrators- NOC 5241
Technical sales specialists – wholesale trade- NOC 6221

Upon receiving invitations, Tech Pilot candidates have 30 calendar days to apply for the nomination.

If you are looking for better career prospects, immigration as a skilled worker, or entrepreneur, or international student in an advanced economy like Canada is now open!

Further, new studies have shown increased retention rates of immigrants in Canadian provinces. Talk to our immigration experts to know your best chances of settling in Canada.

Book your appointment today!

Atlantic Immigration Pilot Improves Short-Term Outcomes For Immigrants

In a new study conducted by the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) is found to be on the right track to help provinces on the eastern coast of Canada retain immigrants.

The AIP is mainly an employer-driven program that allows foreign talents to immigrate to the four Atlantic provinces without having to get the expensive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LIMA). Atlantic Canada consists of provinces such as New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador.

The study reviewed the performance of AIP from its launch in March 2017 to the end of the 2019-2020 fiscal year and found positive short-term outcomes of immigrants who moved to Atlantic Canada under the AIP.

Improved Retention Rates In Atlantic Canada

Major reasons for immigrants to retain themselves in Atlantic Canada, even after two years of their stay were because:

they liked their community,
the cost of living was affordable, and
they liked their job.

About one-third of respondents also stayed with their family or friends in the province.

The survey also revealed the usefulness of specialized settlement plans meant for immigrants. However, most AIP principal applicants did not know they could access these services for free even though most employers said their organization provided settlement supports.

Further, few respondents did not favor staying in Atlantic Canada mainly because of better pay and work opportunities in another province.

The report also read, “Retention rate in Atlantic Canada were slightly higher among female principal applicants (92%) compared to male principal applicants (89%).”

Source: AIP Review Report

The representation above depicts the retention rates for immigrants in Atlantic Canada under various categories. While immigrants under “base” and “enhanced” Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) streams have shown above-average retention rates, the AIP proved to be significant in improving the positive short-term outcomes for immigrants.

AIP is currently extended until December 2021 and may soon be converted into a permanent immigration program. Take this free assessment online to determine your unique eligibility based on your work profile.

How Will Canada PNP Favour Immigrants In 2021?

Canada PNP is set to make a record in 2021 with over 80,000 allocations to be filled by various streams. January 2021 PNP nominations for permanent residence already issued over 13,000 invitations under specific Express Entry and provincial streams.

Further, any new foreigner with adequate work experience and language proficiency can gain “Canadian experience” by qualifying for temporary visa options like AIP and qualify for Canada PR within 3 years. The “Canadian experience” would typically include work experience in any province, family ties in any province, or study/graduation from any provincial institution.

If you are looking to immigrate to Canada any time soon, you need to consult a reputed and experience immigration lawyer & consultant. CanApprove can help you with all the necessary documentation, counseling, and other legal support.

Book your free appointment with us today!

PEI holds new PNP draw inviting 121 immigration candidates

Latest PNP Draws From PEI Nominates 121 Candidates For Canada PR

The Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP) held its second nomination draws this year on February 18. Compared to the previous PEI PNP draw, there is a decline in the total number of nominations and a slight increase in qualifying scores for business-class immigration.

Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) are unique as Canadian provinces/territories are free to nominate any eligible foreigner to fulfill their local market demand. Such nominations are over and above the federal program intakes under Express Entry, Business Immigration, Family Immigration, and others.

As per the new immigration levels plans, a total of 80000 or more eligible immigrants will become eligible for permanent residence (PR) through the PNP route in 2021.

The details of PEI PNP draws held on February 18, are now open, and here are some important highlights from the official release.

February 18 PEI PNP Draws

The province ended up inviting 121 eligible candidates to apply for provincial nominations under three provincial streams – Express Entry, Labour Impact & Business Impact.

A successful provincial nomination opens avenues to apply for permanent residence in Canada in a quick time.

Here is a good read on how to qualify for PR under Canada PNP?

PEI Express Entry Category

Most of the invitations, 102, went to Express Entry and Labour Impact candidates.

Being an enhanced PNP, the PEI PNP’s Express Entry Category can make use of the federal pool to nominate the desirable candidates.

The federal Express Entry pool is an application database for three economic-class immigration categories: Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and Canadian Experience Class. All candidates in the federal pool are evaluated and ranked accordingly based on a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The scores vary according to their age, work experience, education, and language proficiency in English and French.

However, in order to be considered for a provincial nomination from PEI, interested candidates in the federal pool must separately create an Expression of Interest (EOI) profile with the province. Again, these EOI profiles are given points based on the province’s unique points grid.

The highest-scoring candidates receive invitations to apply through monthly draws.

Once the provincial nomination is secured, Express Entry candidates receive an additional 600 points toward their overall CRS score. It will effectively guarantee an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence in a subsequent Express Entry draw.

Labour Impact Category

Those foreign nations with no Express Entry profile but a valid job offer in PEI, and who have support from their employer are considered for the provincial nomination through the Labour Impact category.

Such candidates fall into the three sub-categories as provided by the province – Skilled Worker, Critical Worker, and International Graduate.

Take this free assessment online to determine your unique eligibility.

Business Impact Category

Eligible candidates with minimum financial resources to prove their net worth and ability to run a business in the province are preferred. These invitations are issued under the Work Permit Stream, which is for foreign entrepreneurs who want to own and operate a business in PEI.

The present PEI PNP draw recommended 19 candidates through the Business Impact Category. They needed a minimum EOI score of 82.

Applying for immigration may seem a simple task but involves meticulous planning, arrangement, and disclosure of important. Sometimes, non-disclosure of important information may even hamper immigration chances. It is recommended to seek help from reputed immigration consultants & lawyers like CanApprove to fulfill your dream to work & settle in Canada.

Book your free appointment with us today!

Why Canada’s 401,000 immigration target for 2021 is achievable

Canadian Immigration 2021: How Realistic is 401,000 Immigration Target?

Canada announced its recovery plan in the post-COVID-19 world by unveiling a new Immigration Levels Plans 2021-2023. The country is targeting to welcome over 1.2 million new immigrants in the next three years.

But naturally, welcoming 401,000 immigrants in 2021 is a steep mountain for the Canadian government to climb. The plan calls for about 60% of immigrants to be welcomed under the economic class including Express Entry, PNP, Business immigration, and about 25% through the family class sponsorship programs.

Based on the latest trend of nomination draws, an encouraging pattern emerges that reinforces the confidence in candidates abroad to apply for Canadian immigration.

Extra-ordinary Nomination Draws Trends

As recently as February 13, 2021, Canada held a rare and historic Express Entry nomination draw resulting in 27,332 invitations to apply for permanent residence. However, only candidates with prior work experience inside Canada, or otherwise CEC candidates, were nominated, keeping in view the ongoing travel restrictions.

The exuberant draw size and astonishingly low qualifying CRS requirement of 75 points raised questions on the uncertainty of the future draws. However, IRCC clarified that some 90% of the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates invited were residing in Canada during the pandemic, and hence, they are less likely than those overseas to face coronavirus-related immigration disruptions.

Even though not a single Express Entry in 2021 nominated candidates under the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), overseas aspirants should not lose their hopes. The fact that IRCC and the various Canadian provinces are still processing immigration applications received from abroad and inviting new candidates who are outside of Canada should reinforce some confidence.

Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) have remained active since the start of 2021. About 80,000 or more new immigrants are expected to receive invitations this year under various PNP streams.

British Columbia, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Manitoba seem to be at the forefront in helping candidates qualify to apply for permanent residence in a quick time.

Canada aims to welcome 103,500 immigrants through the family class this year.

Achieving the family class target is made easier by the fact that immediate families are exempt from travel restrictions. At the same time, IRCC will likely need to expedite spousal applications, which make up the bulk of the family class.

Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino had earlier shown faith in candidates with prior “Canadian experience” to play an important role in post-COVID-19 recovery. Candidates having Canadian experience would mean that they have either family ties in Canada or previous work experience in Canada or had studied in Canada in recent years.

The minister noted to CIC News, “These aspiring Canadians are already established here, possess valuable skills, and are giving back to their communities. They are hard at work in some of the most essential parts of our economy and are ready to build their future in Canada.”

If you are abroad and willing to settle in a western, developed country, Canada should be your first choice. Plan your study, find suitable work opportunities, business opportunities, and settle permanently in Canada in a quick time. Contact CanApprove to get dedicated counselling and documentation, legal support.

British Columbia Invites 494 Candidates In Two Separate PNP Draws

A total of 494 invitations were issued to eligible candidates by British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) in two separate draws held on February 16. All the invited candidates belonged to the Skills Immigration (SI) and Express Entry BC (EEBC) streams of BC PNP.

Further, a total of 459 invitations to apply for provincial nominations were issued to candidates in the Skilled Worker, International Graduate as well as Entry Level and Semi-Skilled sub-categories of SI and EEBC streams in the first draws. The remaining 35 invitations went to candidates having work experience as retail and wholesale trade managers, restaurant and foodservice managers in another draw.

BC PNP in its press release mentioned, “both occupations have a high number of registrants within the BC PNP Skills Immigration Registration System.”

The minimum qualifying scores for these draws ranged between 85 and 104 points.

Lifted The Temporary Suspension Of 31 Occupations

In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, almost every PNP introduced strict measures to avoid letting the pandemic ruin their plans to welcome new immigrants.

British Columbia will now start inviting candidates in the tourism, hospitality, retail and personal services occupations that it has been excluding from recent draws. This announcement is in sync with the overall target to welcome over 80,000 new immigrants in 2021 through various PNP streams.

With nine draws held by BC PNP in 2021, the total number of invitations issued to date equals 1,308 provincial nominations.

Even you may receive such a nomination soon. Take this free assessment online to determine your eligibility.

How To Qualify For Canada PR Under BC PNP?

British Columbia stands to be one of the most popular destinations for foreign skilled immigrants in Canada. The BC PNP has two immigration streams to attract eligible foreign workers namely, Skills Immigration and Express Entry.

Both streams are managed under B.C.’s Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS). Therefore, any interested candidate some apply only through the SIRS in order to accepted for nomination.

All registered candidates are evaluated and ranked based on factors such as education, work experience, and language skills. Further, the highest-scoring candidates from each sub-category are then invited to apply for a provincial nomination to apply for permanent residency in one of the provincial draws.

Additionally, the EEBC stream connects the BC PNP nomination pool to the federal Express Entry immigration application management system. It gives enough flexibility of choice in terms of desirable candidates to fulfill the local labor demand in the province.

The biggest advantage for Express Entry candidates receiving a provincial nomination is that they are given 600 additional points towards their overall Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. It will effectively guarantee an Invitation to Apply (ITA) during the subsequent federal Express Entry draw.

So far, in 2021, IRCC had held 3 PNP-specific Express Entry draws resulting in over 2,000 ITAs for permanent residence in Canada.

If you are interested to migrate to Canada, contact CanApprove to guide you through various immigration options and support you with adequate documentation and legal formalities.

Ontario & Alberta Invites Express Entry Candidates For Canada PR

Express Entry Candidates Make Merry In The Latest Ontario & Alberta PNP Draws

Express Entry candidates who receive successful provincial nominations are in the advantage as they are awarded an additional 600 points towards the overall CRS score.

The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score used to evaluate and rank the registered Express Entry candidate. It is based on core human capital factors such as age, work experience inside/outside Canada, education qualification, language proficiency in English or French among other criteria.

Only the highest-ranking candidates receive invitations to apply (ITA) for permanent residence in Canada in fortnightly Express Entry conducted by IRCC as well as independent Express Entry-linked provincial draws conducted by respective PNPs.

Here are two PNP from Ontario & Alberta that nominated Express Entry candidates to fulfill their local labor demand and offer a chance to qualified candidates to obtain permanent residence in Canada.

1st Tech Draw in 2021 From Ontario

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) held a new PNP draw resulting in 1,186 invitations to eligible candidates. Or otherwise, OINP conducted its first tech draw of the year 2021 on February 16.

Tech draws invite eligible Express Entry candidates having prior work experience in chosen 6 tech occupations. Such occupations include:

Computer and information systems managers (NOC 0213);
Computer engineers (NOC 2147);
Database analysts and data administrators (NOC 2172);
Software engineers and designers (NOC 2173);
Computer programmer and interactive media developers (NOC 2174); or
Web designers and developers (NOC 2175).

Invited candidates have 45 calendar days to submit their detailed application to the province for receiving successful provincial nominations.

In the February 16 OINP draws, invitations to candidates were issued under the Human Capital Priorities stream and having CRS scores between 453 and 467.

Besides you can take this free assessment online to begin your process of applying for Canada PR under any of the 11 Canada PNP.

Alberta Nominate Candidates With Low CRS 301

The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) invited 200 Express Entry candidates to apply for a provincial nomination on February 10.

The latest PNP draw from Alberta had a lower CRS requirement by 60 points than the previous draw held on January 8.

Candidates invited under the Alberta Express Entry stream needed a CRS score of at least 301. Further, they were also required to have work experience in any occupation that supports the province’s economic development and diversification priorities.

Looking at the target to welcome more than 80,000 new immigrants through Canada PNPs in 2021 as well as the present government’s relentless support to immigration, your chances of immigration to Canada seem brighter.

Contact CanApprove to know full details based on your work profile.

An Overview Of Special Coronavirus Measures Among Provincial Nominee Programs min

Canada PNP Keen On Welcoming New Immigrants Even During The Pandemic

Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) has emerged as the next best alternative to the Express Entry system for foreign workers, business individuals & international graduates looking to obtain permanent residence in Canada.

Even during the current travel restrictions owing to the pandemic, Canadian provinces and territories have made adjustments to their immigration programs to welcome new immigrants.

PNPs continued to hold nomination draws amid service closures and travel restrictions in 2020. IRCC, the federal body for immigration affairs, also supported well by holding Express Entry draws where only PNP candidates were nominated to apply for Canada PR.

You may take this free assessment online to determine your eligibility to qualify for Canada PR under various PNP streams.

Here is an overview of special coronavirus measures among Provincial Nominee Programs that affect prospective immigrants.

Alberta

The federal government is only processing Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIA), for selected 27 occupations in Alberta including computer engineers, physicians, and graphic designers, among others. LMIAs will also be processed if they were approved under the Global Talent Stream.

Other changes under AINP include:

Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) holders who submitted an application to the Alberta Opportunity Stream on or after November 1, are eligible to apply even if they are not working in an exempt occupation.
Alberta Express Entry stream candidates can apply for a provincial nomination regardless of their occupation.

You can visit the province’s official COVID-19 page for more information.

British Columbia

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) is still holding weekly immigration draws. In fact, the BC PNP nomination draw was the first in 2021, ahead of IRCC’s Express Entry.

The province has excluding occupations in sectors such as tourism, hospitality, retail, and personal services as a part of their coronavirus measures. The full list of these 31 excluded occupations is available on the BC PNP’s August 31 news release. However, the province will soon reintroduce these excluded occupations, once the pandemic situation subsides.

You can visit the province’s official COVID-19 page for more information.

Manitoba

Prospective immigrants who lost their job and started working again do not have to work for six more consecutive months in order to be eligible to submit an Expression of Interest with the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP).

For more information, you may visit the province’s official COVID-19 page.

Ontario

Ontario is allowing candidates to submit incomplete applications, as long as an explanation letter is attached with it. In 2020 alone, Ontario nominated 8,050 immigration candidates for permanent residence, despite the pandemic.

Ontario will soon switch to the Expression of Interest model to accept applications for the Employer Job Offer Category. It will make immigration to the province a less cumbersome process.

More details are available on the province’s official COVID-19 response page.

Saskatchewan

The province is regular in conducting nomination draws to invite eligible candidates for Canada PR. Under the temporary relaxation rule, eligible nominees under SINP can avail of a six-month extension to apply for permanent residency to the federal government.

More information is available on the province’s COVID-19 page.

Atlantic Canada

It includes the provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland & Labrador.

New Brunswick is temporarily accepting applications from laborers for the Skilled Worker stream, while Prince Edward Island focused on ensuring that immigrants who were already in the province remained on their path to permanent residency.

Nova Scotia is focused on attracting health-care professionals during the pandemic, through the Labour Market Priorities Stream, and the Labour Market Priorities for Physicians stream.

Newfoundland and Labrador are offering a new immigration program for skilled workers. It is specially tailored for graduates of Memorial University, and workers with experience in an in-demand occupation.

Territories

The Yukon Nominee Program does not require foreign nationals to meet the standard of full-time work hours, while the Northwest Territories has a new online portal for immigration applications to be submitted online.

Canada is planning to bring in more than 80,000 new immigrants per year through the PNPs according to the new Immigration Levels Plan for 2021-2023. As an aspirant willing to work and settle in Canada now is your best time to plan.

If you are interested to obtain permanent residence in Canada, get expert legal guidance and documentation support from qualified consultants at CanApprove.

New Draws From Saskatchewan Manitoba Invite Candidates For Canada PR

New PNP Draws: Saskatchewan & Manitoba Invites Over 900 Candidates

Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) has become the second-best alternative, only after the Express Entry system, for foreign skilled workers, international graduates, business individuals to obtain permanent residence in Canada.

In a succession of two days, two Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba has issued over 900 invitations to eligible candidates to apply for provincial nominations.

You may be interested to read>> January 2021 review of nomination draws held for Canada PR.

February 12 Manitoba PNP Draw

Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) held its third draw of 2021 and invited 296 skilled workers and international graduates to apply for provincial nominations through the following three streams:

Skilled Workers in Manitoba ;
International Education Stream ;
Skilled Workers Overseas.

The invitations, otherwise known as the Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) and the Expression of Interest (EOI) score requirement was issued as follows:

Skilled Workers in Manitoba: 240 LAAs and a minimum score of 514;
Skilled Workers Overseas: 23 LAAs and a minimum score of 676; and
International Education Stream: 33 LAAs (no EOI score requirement).

The above streams facilitate the entry of foreigners who can demonstrate their connections with Manitoba, be it work experience/job offer in Manitoba, education in Manitoba, or familial ties in Manitoba.

Any interested candidate must register their EOI with MPNP to receive nominations. Upon registration, the profiles are evaluated out of 1,000 points for their human capital factors as well as the likes of their connections to Manitoba and ranked accordingly.

In addition to it, a total of 20 LAAs went to Express Entry candidates.

Express Entry candidates with successful provincial nominations are now awarded an additional 600 points towards their overall CRS score. This would effectively guarantee their invitation to apply (ITA) for permanent residence in Canada in the subsequent Express Entry draw.

So far, the province has invited a total of 786 candidates in 2021.

Take this free assessment online to know your full eligibility to qualify for permanent residence under Canada PNP.

February 11 Saskatchewan PNP Draw

The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) held a new draw issuing 541 invitations to eligible candidates. These invitations were unequally divided among:

344 invitations through the Express Entry sub-category; and
the remaining 197 invitations to Occupations In-Demand candidates.

All the invited candidates required an Expression of Interest (EOI) score of at least 72 under the SINP’s EOI points grid. This score is based on factors including age, education, work experience, proficiency in English or French, and connections to Saskatchewan, among others.

Additionally, candidates were required to have prior work experience in one of 89 eligible occupations which include:

Corporate Sales Managers,
Data Scientists,
Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Advertising and Marketing Managers, among others.

This was the highest number of invitations issued in a single day by the province so far in 2021.

If you are looking to immigrate to Canada in 2021, contact CanApprove to provide you with quality counseling, guidance, and documentation support for your successful immigration.

Historic Draw: Express Entry Qualifying CRS Fell Down To Mere 75 Points

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held a rare and historic Express Entry nomination draw on February 13, 2021.

Only candidates with prior work experience inside Canada, or otherwise CEC candidates, were nominated to apply for permanent residence (PR), keeping in view the ongoing travel restrictions. The latest draw follows the established pattern of alternate PNP & CEC-specific Express Entry draws. The last draw held on February 10 invited 654 candidates having a prior provincial nomination or other PNP candidates.

The 176th Express Entry draw gave two surprises in the form of exuberant draw size and historic low qualifying scores. It can be inferred that IRCC expects to issue permanent residence to these candidates later in 2021, otherwise, it would not have held such a large draw.

Quick Glance At 176th Express Entry Draw

1. Draw Size: It is the first time in the history of Express Entry nomination draws that almost 27332 candidates were issued invitations to apply (ITAs) for Canada PR at once.

Since its launch in 2015, the largest Express Entry draws ever have issued 5,000 permanent residence invitations. In other words, yesterday’s draw was nearly six times larger than the previous record.

2.Qualifying CRS Score: The historic draw size was made possible by lowering the minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score to as low as 75. Literally, almost every Express Entry candidate met the eligibility criteria of the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) program to receive an ITA for Canada PR.

The latest Express Entry has made the intentions of IRCC clear that it is keen on achieving its target of welcoming 401,000 immigrants in 2021. About 60% of the total target will come through economic class programs including Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs, Business-class programs.

Sometimes candidates opt against entering the pool because they believe their CRS score is too low. The unpredictable nature of Express Entry draws has proved the notion wrong and it is advisable to register one’s profile in the federal pool as soon as possible. Take this free assessment online to determine your eligibility.

Takeaways For Federal Skilled Workers Program (FSWP) Candidates

Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) under the Express Entry system is popular among foreign skilled workers to qualify for permanent residence without prior work experience inside Canada or even without a valid job offer.

However, six Express Entry draws have been conducted so far in 2021 and no FSWP candidates are invited to date. This does not mean that FSWP candidates should stop registered in the federal pool. Sooner or later, IRCC will eventually draw FSWP candidates as was the case last year soon after the start of the pandemic.

A press release issued along with the draw read, “IRCC will continue to accept and process Express Entry applications and looks forward to welcoming skilled workers from abroad when travel resumes.”

FSWP immigrants have long been and will continue to be vital to Canada’s prosperity.

How To Obtain Permanent Residence Through Express Entry?

Canada Express Entry can be a long-drawn two-step process.

The first step involves the registration of one’s profile in the Express Entry system,. Interested candidates must qualify for one of the three programs – the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW), the Federal Skills Trades (FSTP), and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).

All registered profiles are evaluated and ranked based on a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Factors such as age, education, language skills, work experience, previous provincial nominations are used to calculate a CRS profile score.

The next step is to wait for nominations held every fortnight by IRCC. Only high-ranking candidates based on the qualifying CRS score of a particular draw may receive ITAs for permanent residence.

Another way to qualify for Canada PR through Express Entry is by receiving a provincial nomination from any Canadian province. Most PNPs have an Express Entry-aligned PNP stream to nominate candidates already present in the federal database. All the nominated candidates are eligible to obtain the additional 600 CRS points upon receiving a provincial nomination invitation. This would effectively guarantee an ITA for Canada PR.

If you are interested in immigrating to Canada sooner, contact CanApprove and get genuine guidance about immigration visas, documentations, and other legal procedures.

Focussing On Immigration To Address N&L’s Aging & Declining Population

The Canadian province of Newfoundland & Labrador is due for its provincial elections today. Interestingly, all political campaigns leading up to the provincial election saw parties promising to prioritize immigration.

According to various news reports, the Liberal Party in the province has been promising to triple the number of present newcomer levels in the next five years. The Progressive Conservatives are catching up with the promise to focus on high immigration targets if voted to power.

Over these years, the lack of quality job opportunities in Newfoundland & Labrador played a significant role in immigrants favoring provinces like Ontario & British Columbia. Yet the province of Newfoundland and Labrador is looking to boost its immigration efforts through Atlantic Immigration Pilot Programs & other business-class programs. The province may also work on a long-term retention plan by sensitizing local communities towards the immigration of foreign workers.

You may be interested in reading>> Why Canada PNP is the second-best pathway for Canada PR?

How To Immigrate To Newfoundland & Labrador?

Newfoundland & Labrador (NL) are looking to attract and retain new immigrants to address its aging and declining population. There are two main options for any foreigner to work & settle in Newfoundland & Labrador:

One option is to qualify under the NLPNP along the lines of the following five categories:

Express Entry Skilled Worker Category: nominates skilled workers registered in the federal Express Entry pool. Nominated individuals need to have job offers in the province.
Skilled Worker Category: targets individuals who have received a job offer from an employer or those who are already working in the province.
International Graduate Category: recent graduates with a valid Post-Graduate Work Permit and having a job or a job offer in the province may apply.
International Entrepreneur Category: Foreign entrepreneurs who wish to settle in the province and start/purchase a business.
International Graduate Entrepreneur Category: International Graduates willing to start or run a business in the province may apply for Canada PR under this category.

The other option is to qualify under the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program. The employers in Canada’s Atlantic provinces (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island) may hire foreign workers without the need to obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).

There’s only little that can be provided now. Based on an individual’s work profile, the probability of getting an invitation to apply for provincial nomination can be calculated. Why wait any longer when CanApprove is here to evaluate your chances of immigration to Canada.

Book your appointment today and get connected with our qualified consultants.

Australia Reviews Skilled Migration Visa To Welcome More Foreign Workers

Parliamentary Committee To Review Australia’s Skilled Migration Visa Rules

According to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, only a total of 2720 people arrived in Australia in December 2020. But the number of people who arrived in Australia during the same period last year was 34770. Even the number of skilled visa applications came down by about 11 percent during 2019-20 compared to the previous year.

In light of the drastic decline in migration rates owing to the strict implementation of travel restrictions, Australia has now decided to review the skilled migration rules. The country aims to help Australian businesses have enough supply of foreign skilled labor force in the coming years for their faster recovery.

Australia’s immigration Minister Alex Hawke has requested the joint standing committee of the Parliament to review the Australia skilled migration visa rules of the country. This was followed by the comment made by Philip Lowe, Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, who opined that the country’s broader economic growth would be stunted by the slow population growth.

Also, read>> How will Australia Immigration be like in 2021?

The standing committee would submit an interim report on Australia’s skilled migration rules by mid-March. According to the chairman of the Committee Liberal MP Julian Leeser, the inquiry would first focus on whether immediate changes to the skilled immigration rules are required to help the economy recover after the border reopens. He is of the opinion that skilled migration would lead to the creation of more businesses in Australia, thus the revival of the economy.

Did you know? Australia expanded its global tech talent PR program after tripling intake.

ACCI Demands More Foreign Skilled Immigration

The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry(ACCI) has put forth its demand seeking changes in the migration program of the country. While the present government has fixed the cap on permanent skilled migration at 160,000 places a year, ACCI wants it to be raised to the previous 190000 places. It will serve a great deal in reviving the national economy post-pandemic.

“Migrants who are already in Australia on temporary employment visas should also be provided with a pathway for permanent residency”, argued Jenny Lambert, employment director of ACCI.

Our monthly review on important Australian Immigration updates shows that recovery in Australia is picking up the pace. Therefore, start the preparations today to make the most of opportunities that would arise in the post-pandemic period.

Contact CanApprove to know your chances of immigrating to Australia.

654 Express Entry-linked PNP Candidates Receive ITAs For Canada PR

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held its 175th Express Entry draw on February 10, 2021.

In continuation with its pattern of alternative PNP & CEC specific Express Entry nominations draws, IRCC ended up issuing 654 invitation to apply (ITAs) for Canada PR to the registered Express Entry applicants with prior provincial nominations. All the invited candidates had a CRS score of above 720 points.

Comparing the results with the previous January 20, PNP-specific draws, the latest draw saw an increase in draw size and decline in the qualifying CRS cut-off score. Today’s draw CRS score was 21 points lower than that of the previous PNP-specific round of invitations.

No registered candidate qualifying for Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) was considered. It could be due to the ongoing travel restrictions owing to the pandemic. Candidates qualifying for FSWP need not have a prior work experience inside Canada or even a job offer as compared to other programs under Express Entry to qualify for permanent residence.

Despite the disruptions caused by the pandemic, Express Entry had a record-breaking year in 2020. Canada ended up issuing 108,350 ITAs last year as against the target of 91,800 ITAs.

Under the new Immigration Levels Plan, Canada will target at least 110,000 ITAs for Canada PR only under Express Entry draws every year. So far, over 10,000 ITAs have been issued in the month of January 2021.

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

Qualify For Canada PR Through Express Entry

Canada Express Entry is a long-drawn two-step process.

The first step involves the management of the applications for three federal immigration programs – the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW), the Federal Skills Trades (FSTP), and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). Aspirants willing to be considered for Canada PR are required to qualify for individual program requirements before registration.

All eligible profiles are evaluated and ranked based on a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Factors such as age, education, language skills, work experience, previous provincial nominations are used to calculate a CRS profile score.

The second step involves the fortnightly nomination draws held by IRCC. Only high-ranking candidates based on the qualifying CRS score of a particular draw may receive ITAs for permanent residence.

Another way to qualify for Canada PR through Express Entry is by receiving a provincial nomination from any Canadian province.

Canada PNP is the second main pathway to welcome foreign skilled immigrants. It supports the local labor market demands of provinces as well as fulfill the regional aspiration of ushering in development through immigration.

Most PNPs have an Express Entry-aligned PNP stream to nominate candidates already present in the federal database. All the nominated candidates are eligible to obtain the additional 600 CRS points upon receiving a provincial nomination invitation. This would effectively guarantee an ITA for Canada PR.

Here is a hypothetical example of who can qualify for the February 10 Express Entry draw.

“Mohammed and Lana are a married couple, aged 34 and 31 respectively. Both are graduates holding a bachelor’s degree and have similar IELTS scores of 8 in listening and 7 in reading, speaking, and writing. Lana has three years of work experience in Finance while Mohammed has been working as a computer programmer for the last four years. However, both their work experience are outside Canada.

They decided upon their chances of obtaining permanent residence in Canada by entering the Express Entry pool with a CRS score of 421. They also sent their acceptance to be nominated under the Ontario Immigration Nominee Program (OINP). Upon successfully receiving a provincial nomination from OINP, their CRS score increased to 1021 (additional 600 points, as per the guidelines) which guaranteed their ITA for permanent residence in this draw.”

If you think, you are eligible to qualify under Express Entry for Canada PR, contact us for legal and other documentation support.

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