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 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.

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.

Skilled Workers and International Graduates Receive Nominations From British Columbia

British Columbia (B.C.) is the only Canadian province that has been actively nominating immigration candidates under its Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) since the start of 2021.

February 9 BC PNP Tech pilot draw issued 74 invitations to eligible candidates under the Express Entry BC (EEBC) and Skills Immigration (SI) categories.

Such eligible candidates who belonged to the skilled worker and international graduate subcategories needed a qualifying provincial nomination score of 80, as has been the case for Tech pilot draws.

Further, such candidates can apply with Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence.

Take this free assessment online to determine your eligibility for various streams under Canada PNP.

Qualify For BC PNP Tech Pilot

The BC PNP Tech Pilot was launched in 2017 to fast-track the immigration process for foreign tech workers and international students. Now, any eligible foreigner with a valid one-year job offer in one of the program’s specified 29 occupations can receive a provincial nomination for Canada PR. Additionally, the candidates will have to qualify for any one immigration stream – EEBC or SI streams.

To qualify for EEBC or SI stream, candidates will first have to send their Expression of Interest (EOIs) through its Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS). It is a point-based system that assesses applicants’ skilled and scores them on factors like level of education, work experience, proficiency in English, and employment offer in British Columbia. The candidates are scored out of a maximum of 200 points.

Why Immigrate To Canada Now?

Express Entry candidates can boost their Comprehensive Ranking System score by additional 600 points through a successful provincial nomination. It is enough to qualify for an invitation to apply for permanent residence in Canada in the subsequent Express Entry draw.

Canada needs to support its economy, aging demography, and improve its population rate. It hopes to seek a solution in increasing the immigration levels in the upcoming years.

So far, IRCC has issued 10,000 ITAs for Canada PR through Express Entry draws and aims to issue over 110,00 ITAs by the end of 2021. Additionally, the new Immigration Levels Plan for 2021-2023 calls for over 60% intake through 80+ economic-class immigration streams – Federal Skilled Workers Programs, Canada Experience Class, Provincial Nominee Programs, Business Immigration programs, etc.

Foreign skilled workers with/without work experience in Canada, international students aspiring to study and settle in Canada, and foreign entrepreneurs looking to establish their business in Canada are most likely to benefit.

The fact that Canada is the most preferred migrant destination, ahead of Australia and the USA is no less a reason to migrate to Canada!

Book your free consultation and kickstart your immigration plans now!

29 Eligible Tech Occupation- BC PNP Tech Pilot

So far in 2021, BC PNP has 6 draws through its various PNP categories and streams and invited close to 1,000 candidates to apply for a provincial nomination.

Here is the occupation list which is eligible to qualify under the Tech Pilot draw:

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

Median Entry Wage For New Immigrants To Canada Hits A Record

Statistics Canada made an encouraging finding that immigrant wages were on the rise before the pandemic, for some groups even surpassed Canadian-born workers.

The median entry wage for new immigrants to Canada hit the highest in 2018, revealed a report of Statistics Canada published on February 1.

New immigrants were now reported to have a median entry wage of $30,100 in 2018. The same group had a median entry wage of $26,500 in 2017 for immigrants who landed in 2016.

Quoting the report, “Pre-admission experience, which can provide immigrants with language skills and knowledge of the job market, can help immigrants settle more quickly than those with no pre-admission experience.”

Check out our analysis of the present & future of Canada’s Immigration System.

Reasons For Higher Median Entry Wage

Immigrants with a study and work permit had the highest median entry wages with $44,000, while those with a work permit had only $39,100. A very encouraging fact for aspirants looking to work & settle in Canada is that both of these groups surpassed Canadians in median entry wages.

The report observed that certain socioeconomic characteristics of the immigrant candidate determined the record median entry wage in Canada. Such factors include language proficiency in English or French, prior work experience, and category of admission among others.

Immigrant outcomes also differed depending on what country they came from. Those from Iran, Egypt, and Algeria saw the highest increases in the median wage.

The report also showed that about 87% of immigrants who had prior work experience in any of the Canadian provinces before obtaining permanent residence preferred to stay in the province of admission. Ontario had the highest provincial retention rate, followed by Alberta and British Columbia.

In Canada, the overall retention rate after 10 years was 85.4 percent.

If you are looking to immigrate to Canada for work, study, or setting up a business, now is a great time to plan. Explore your visa options and build a strong immigration application with CanApprove. You may fill this free online assessment form to let our consultants guide you better.

BC PNP nominates Entrepreneurs, Skilled Workers, and International Graduates for Canada PR

BC PNP Draws: 216 Candidates Including Entrepreneurs Invited

British Columbia opens provincial nominations to 216 select candidates that include Entrepreneurs, Skilled Workers & International Graduates.

All the invitations to apply for provincial nominations went under two ‘enhanced’ & one ‘base’ category: Express Entry, Skills Immigration & Entrepreneur streams.

B.C. holds draws through its various PNP categories and streams on a weekly basis.

With the February 02, 2021, provincial draws, BC PNP has already issued 740 candidates who could later qualify for Canada PR.

Any candidates looking for a provincial nomination to work & settle in British Columbia must first register under its Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS). Here the applicants are evaluated and issued a score based on factors such as level of education, work experience, proficiency in English, and location of employment.

Further, take this free assessment online to determine your eligibility for qualifying for a provincial nomination.

Entrepreneur Immigration

British Columbia activated its entrepreneur stream for the first time in two months.

The province aims to welcome eligible entrepreneurs who either wish to start a business or take over one. They are assessed & evaluated based on criteria such as their business experience, net worth, education, business plan, and the amount of investment in the province.

A total of 8 invitations with a qualifying cut-off score of 122 were invited. Contact our business advisors to get started.

BC PNP Express Entry Stream

Since the launch of Express Entry in 2015, most of the provincial nominee program streams have been aligned with the federal Express Entry pool. It allows these programs to pick & nominate eligible candidates from the federal pool for provincial nominations.

Candidates with a successfully provincial nomination also receive an additional 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points which will effectively guarantee them an invitation to apply (ITA) for permanent residence in a subsequent Express Entry draw.

February 02, 2021, BC PNP draws had a qualifying cut-off score for Express Entry BC subcategories:

Skilled Worker: 104
International Graduate: 100

BC PNP Skills Immigration Stream

Candidates who already have a job offer in British Columbia may qualify for permanent residence under this stream.

There are five categories under SI, four of them are aligned with the federal government’s Express Entry system:

Skilled Worker Category – for people who have a job offer and several years of experience in a skilled occupation;
Healthcare Professional Category – physicians, nurses, psychiatric nurses, or allied health professionals with job offers in one of 11 eligible occupations may apply for this category;
International Graduate Category – for workers who have graduated from an eligible Canadian university or college in the last three years;
International Post-Graduate Category – Master’s or Ph.D. graduates from eligible B.C. post-secondaries in the natural, applied, or health sciences may apply for this category without a job offer.

There is Entry Level and Semi-Skilled Worker Category – for entry-level or semi-skilled workers with jobs in tourism, hospitality, food processing, or long-haul trucking, or those in entry-level or semi-skilled positions living and working in the Northeast Development Region of British Columbia. This is the only SI category that does not apply to candidates in the Express Entry system.

The cut-off scores for the three Skills Immigration subcategories in the February 02 draws were:

Skilled Worker: 98
International Graduate: 98
Entry Level and Semi-Skilled: 79

Immigration laws and present travel restrictions are dynamic. You may need to consult a licensed immigration consultant for the latest update. Get in touch with CanApprove for all your immigration, business setup & education abroad needs.

Monthly Review: Australia Immigration & New Opportunities

Travel restrictions for foreigners in Australia are still in place. However, the updated Border Force Commissioner’s Guidelines have been updated to allow certain exemptions for temporary visa holders, business visa, immediate family members of Australian citizens or permanent residents.

Further, almost all of Australia’s State and Territory Migration programs have restarted or will recommence shortly. This complements the desire of the federal government to continue the immigration of eligible candidates to rebuild its economy post-pandemic.

Here we look at the latest news from January 2021.

You might be further interested in reading >> How Will Australia Immigration Be Like in 2021?

State Migration Program Updates For January 2021

Except for South Australia State Nominations, every other state program has been reopened for inviting eligible foreigners to work & settle in Australia.

Priority For Business Migration

Queensland State Nomination: Business and Skilled Migration Queensland (BSMQ) has reopened their 491 and 190 program from 1 February 2021. However, there is no occupation list information.

The ‘491 Small Business Owner’ program and Business Migration program are already open. BSMQ will prioritise businesses which are located in regional areas. Contact our business overseas advisors to get started.

New South Wales State Nomination: The NSW Government has already begun accepting applications for:

Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) streams, and
the Business Talent (Permanent) visa (subclass 132) Significant Business History stream

Additionally, the Skilled Migration program is open, with invitation rounds focusing on applicants who are already in NSW who have nominated selected health, ICT, and engineering occupations.

Skilled Worker Nominations

Tasmania State Nomination: The Tasmanian program opened at 1pm on 29 January 2021. About 40% of skilled visa nomination places have been used. Read the full story here.

Western Australia State Nomination: The WA Government issued their first round of invitations on 15 January 2021, with a total of 349 places as follows:

178 invitations for a 190 visa
171 invitations for a 491 visa

The vast majority of applications went to EOIs in the ‘Graduate Stream – Higher Education Graduates’ (PhD, Masters, Bachelor degree graduates).

Victoria State Nomination

The Victorian State Government has a set timetable for submission windows and when invitations will be issued. According to their website, the next window will be open from 9 am on 2 February to 5 pm on 8 February (Eastern Daylight Savings Time).

Dates for the following rounds in March, April, and May have also been published.

COVID Testing for Travel

All travellers to Australia are required to undertake a COVID-19 test within 72 hours prior to departure. Negative test results must be presented to the flight crew before boarding.

Nominations Only Open For On-Shore Candidates

On-shore candidates are those already present in Australia and awaiting permanent visa options.

Northern Territory State Nomination: Currently open to onshore applicants currently living in the NT.

Australian Capital Territory State Nomination: The ACT program is focused on those already living and working in the territory, in occupations on their ‘Critical Skills List’. The next matrix selection round will be on or around 9 February 2021.

Immigration policies and travel requirements are highly dynamic and subjected to change without notice. Hence, we strongly recommend obtaining advice on your individual situation from a Registered Migration Agent.

CanApprove is a regional leader in immigration, legal & overseas education consultancy. Talk to one of our consultants today or take this free assessment and get to know your chances of study, work & settle in Australia.

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