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Canada creates almost 1 Million jobs in June

Record Rise in Canadian Employment Rate Instils Confidence in Future Permanent Residents

Easing down of travel restrictions around the country has signalled the recovery of the Canadian economy. As Canadians and permanent residents returned back to work in the months of May and June, the labour market recorded over 1.24 million people gaining employment. 

With a staggering rise of 40% in the labour market since the lockdown, the overall unemployment rate in Canada dropped from 13.7% in May to 12.3% in June.

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Among the Canadian provinces that majorly benefitted from this recovery was Ontario whose employment increased by 378,000 followed by Quebec with 248,000 and then British Columbia employing 118,000. 

Travel restrictions imposed in Canada to slow the spread of COVID-19 pandemic upended the economic and social life. A report published by Statistics Canada revealed that a total of 3 million people lost their jobs due to the lockdown and another 2.5 million were absent from work due to related reasons in the months of February and April. 

But with labour force participation showing the signs of revival, there is optimism about the potential of finding a job in Canada. It should also instil confidence in aspiring immigrants and future permanent residents who are currently overseas.

Apart from recovery in the job market in Canada, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) have also resumed all-program Express Entry draws to apply for permanent residence in Canada. This gives a chance for candidates under the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and the Federal Skilled Trades Class (FSTC) who mostly remain outside Canada. Since the lockdown, IRCC only held program-specific draws for candidates qualifying for Canadian Experience Class or Provincial Nominee Programs. 

The latest job statistics may encourage immigrants to expect a stronger job market once they have obtained permanent residence in Canada. Get in touch with CanApprove to know your eligibility and various other programs for immigration to Canada. 

Canada's economic and social success is built

Canada’s Population Growth Would Depend Entirely On Immigration For Strong Economy

A new study suggests Canada keep immigration as a priority to remain competitive in the global economy. The observation comes in the backdrop of declining new birth rate and the country’s increasing preference for sustaining its working-age population through immigration. 

Immigration is already held responsible for most of Canada’s population growth. Statistics Canada reported that about 82 per cent of the population growth in the year 2019 came from the arrival of immigrants.  

“For high-income countries with fertility rates lower than the replacement level, the most immediate solution is liberal immigration policies,” a study conducted by the Lancet wrote. 

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Should Canada’s openness to immigration continue, the researchers at the Lancet shows that sustained population growth and workforce expansion will accompany economic growth. It is already paving way for better work opportunities and a high standard of living for skilled immigrants. Which is why we at CanApprove consistently emphasis on the benefits of immigrating to Canada.

Take this free assessment to know your eligibility and explore various other options for immigration to Canada. 

Canadian Immigration Pathways For Tech Workers, Entrepreneurs/Investors

Tech sector in Canada has seen tremendous growth in recent years. ICT companies have been actively recruiting talent even during the COVID-19 pandemic. In view of robust demand for foreign talent in Canada, the country offers dedicated programs to Tech workers for permanent residence in Canada. In order to qualify for any program, Candidates are required to maintain a strong core human capital which includes age, education qualification, work experience, proficiency in English or French. 

Express Entry encompasses all types of skilled workers looking to immigrate permanently in Canada. Tech workers are the major occupation group that constitution most applications under it. The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) is the easiest and quickest route to apply for foriegn tech talents. 

Canadian provinces through their Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) can nominate any foriegn worker meeting its specific labour demands. Some provinces like Ontario, British Columbia runs their own Tech pilot programs to invite Tech workers to apply for provincial nomination. A provincial nomination brings them a step closer to obtaining permanent residence in Canada.  

In the case of business entrepreneurs/investors, they are required to make a minimum value of monetary investment and submit business proposals depending on their preferred location. Various PNPs from Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec offers investment programs of choice. 

The current Travel restrictions in Canada imposed to slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has caused uncertainties among thousands of aspiring immigrants. Yet Canada has consistently welcomed a liberal stance to continue immigration through regular conduct of Express Entry and PNP nomination draws. Now is the best time for aspiring candidates outside Canada to improve your skill assessment and language proficiency scores. Get in touch with our immigration consultants to get the latest updates on Canada immigration. 

Immigration

Revisiting Canada Immigration between 10 July – 17 July

A lot happens over a week in the Canadian immigration landscape. Canada is on the road to recovery from the pandemic and is in need of immigrants to build a stronger economy and society. The resumption of all-program Express Entry draws, active Provincial Nominee Programs all point to the same. Here are some top highlights that may interest aspiring immigrants looking to work and settle permanently in Canada.  

Provincial Nominee Program Draws

Four Canadian provinces were seen active this week issuing provincial nominations to eligible candidates. A provincial nomination takes them a step closer to applying for permanent residence in Canada. Among the nominated were also candidates who are registered under the federal Express Entry system.

Province Immigration Streams Number of nominations issued
Manitoba Skilled Immigration in Manitoba 174 
Skilled Workers Overseas
International Education
Express Entry category
Prince Edward Islands Labour Impact  194 
Express Entry category
Business Impact
British Columbia Express Entry BC 320
Skilled Immigration Categories
Quebec Skilled Worker Program 7
Alberta Express Entry category 187

 

Additionally, Alberta released the results of its draw held June 17 inviting Express Entry candidates with the minimum CRS score as low as 303. Despite the current travel restrictions in Canada, the provinces still nominated candidates who would immigrate at a later date.  

Take this quick free assessment to know your eligibility and various immigration options to Canada. 

Relief for International Students 

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) made significant changes keeping in mind the upcoming September 2020 academic year. 

Even though the travel restrictions are still in place in Canada, International students can resume their study programs online. The announcement by IRCC addresses the same concern by prioritizing the processing of study permits for those who have submitted their application online. Also, it looks to address how time spent studying online would account towards Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). 

 

Canadian Job Market Remains Vibrant

The recovery in the Canadian labour market is visible as over 1 million jobs were created since the imposition of travel restrictions on March 18. The figure that was just 290,000 in May 2020 saw a surge in June 2020 as 953,000 job seekers were absorbed by the market. 

With a good recovery trend posed by the labour market recovery, the Canada unemployment rate continues to fall. This is also a great reason why one should continue planning for Canada immigration even in such uncertain times brought upon us due to COVID-19 pandemic. 

For more such updates and to plan your Canada Immigration, contact our immigration consultants today!  

Manitoba

Latest Manitoba PNP issues 174 LAAs for Provincial Nomination

July 16 Expression Of Interest (EOI) draw conducted by Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) invited Student Graduates and Skilled Workers both in Manitoba and abroad to apply for a provincial nomination.

Manitoba’s 94th nomination draw issued a total of 174 Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) to eligible candidates under three categories: Skilled Workers in Manitoba, Skilled Workers Overseas and International Education Stream. 

Candidates registered under the federal Express Entry system and having given Manitoba as their preference of choice for Provincial nomination were also considered. 

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Receiving LAAs for Provincial nomination makes it easier to apply for permanent residence in Canada. Stream-wise MPNP draw results are as follows:

Candidates who qualified under Skilled Workers Overseas required to score a minimum of 811 points on the Manitoba EOI system. Similarly, Candidates qualifying under Skilled Workers in Manitoba required a minimum score of 430 points. 

Manitoba EOI system 

Every province in Canada has autonomy to select and manage candidates according to their specific labour demand. One such system followed by Manitoba is Expression of Interest (EOI). 

Interested candidates are ranked and scored out of 1,000 points which is based on human capital factors like proficiency in English or French, education, work experience, degree of Manitoba connections among others. 

Manitoba connections can be established by demonstrating presence of family or close friends in Manitoba, previous study or work experience in the province. 

A full-time permanent job offer from an employer in Manitoba is required to be eligible for the Skilled Workers category. On the other hand, International students who graduated from an educational institution in Manitoba may receive an LAA under the International Education Stream. 

In the year 2020 alone, Manitoba has managed to nominate nearly 2500 candidates to apply for permanent residence in Canada. While the actual immigration to Canada is dependent on slowing the spread of contagion and relaxing the associated travel restrictions, CanApprove advises to continue planning for Canada immigration. One can begin by improving their skill assessment and language proficiency scores. For more such updates, contact our expert immigration consultants.

British Columbia invites 320 candidates under Express Entry and Skilled Immigration categories

British Columbia Releases Latest PNP Draw Results!

The Canadian province of British Columbia (B.C.) released the results of the latest nomination round held July 14. The province issued 320 invitations to Express Entry BC (EEBC) and Skilled Immigration (SI) candidates with minimum required provincial points ranging between 76 and 98. 

The federal Express Entry system is used to manage the applications for permanent residence in Canada. Their eligibility depends on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. A CRS score is based on factors like age, education, work experience, and proficiency in English or French. 

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Various Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) including BC PNP has a dedicated stream linked to the Express Entry system. It assists the province in nominating eligible candidates according to the labour demand in the province. Getting a provincial nomination effectively qualifies the candidate to apply for permanent residence in Canada.   

The Skilled Immigration categories under BC PNP include Skilled Worker Category, Health Care Professional Category, International Graduate Category, Entry Level and Semi-Skilled category. 

The minimum scores required for candidates to qualify in the July 14 draw were as follows:

  • Skilled Immigration – Skilled Worker: 98
  • Skilled Immigration – International Graduate: 98
  • Skilled Immigration – Entry Level and Semi-Skilled: 76
  • Express Entry BC – Skilled Worker: 98
  • Express Entry BC – International Graduate: 98

Express Entry candidates are usually ranked based on their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. But for the consideration under EEBC, candidates are issued points according to the Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS).  

How to get nominated from British Columbia PNP?

Candidates having their profiles registered in the federal Express Entry system are also required to register in SIRS. Whereas to qualify for Skilled Immigration category under BC PNP, candidates must only be registered in the SIRS.

SIRS is a points-based system designed for the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP). It helps the province prioritize those candidates who demonstrate their skills to support the province’s economy. A candidate is scored out of a maximum 200 points and it is based on Economic Factors (120 points) and Human Capital factors (80 points) 

Additionally, BC PNP offers provincial nominations to such international investors/entrepreneurs who wish to actively participate in the British Columbian economy. The British Columbian Entrepreneur Stream is an ideal immigration pathway to obtain a permanent residence in Canada. 

Get in touch with our expert consultants for the latest updates on Canada Immigration.

Canada international student changes

Canada Announces Major Changes To Help International Students

Much to the anxiety among the international students on the prospects of studying abroad, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has recently made changes in study permit and how time spent studying online would account towards Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). 

In a news release issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the following measures were listed to help international students: 

  • IRCC will prioritize the processing of study permits for students who have submitted a completed application online.
  • Introduction of the temporary two-stage approval process for international students to begin their Canadian education program online in time for the fall 2020 academic year. It may benefit students who can not yet submit a completed study permit application. The relief is available till September 15, 2020
  • IRCC will consider adding the total time duration spent on online education towards the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility. This is extremely beneficial for students who aspire to get permanent residence after their education in Canada. However, students who have submitted a study permit application and if at least 50 per cent of the program is completed in Canada are eligible to claim relief.

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Attracting students for September 2020 Academic Year 

IRCC looks to provide relief for international students seeking admissions in the upcoming fall 2020 academic year. The recently released changes will help who begin their programs online this September at a Canadian designated learning institution (DLI).

Take this free assessment to know if you are eligible to study in Canada in fall 2020

Getting a pre-approval for study permit will enable IRCC to process applications quickly. The approval-in-principle stage requires the candidates to submit their letter of acceptance and testify the available funds eligible for study in Canada. Once the approval-in-principle is issued, applicants can begin studying online from a remote location. 

The final approval stage verifies all the admissibility requirements, including medical examination, police certificate. Once approved, the applicant can travel to Canada. However, it would depend on how the COVID-19 situation and any associated travel restrictions will evolve. 

International students contribute economically and socially to Canada’s progress. They bring in about $22 billion annually to the economy as well as help to further enrich Canadian society. International students are allowed to work for up to three years in Canada on a PGWP. 

The amount of work experience that they gain in Canada can help them get permanent residence and eventually citizenship. Popular pathways like Express Entry, the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), are available for international students who aspire to settle in Canada fora better career opportunity and high living standards. IRCC pegs this figure at 60,000 every year.  

Contact our immigration consultants to get the latest updates on Canada Immigration and know how to qualify for the same.

Canada Immigration

Green Shoots Emerges As Canada Welcomed 11k Permanent Residents in May!

The world wants to return back to their normal lives doing normal activities amidst the present contagion. Taking a cue, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) hinted on the recovery of Canada Immigration by welcoming nearly 11,000 new permanent residents in the month of May, this year. 

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Dramatic rise in immigration levels from April

The current travel restrictions imposed since March 18 has obvious impacts on the immigration landscape of Canada. The month of April saw the lowest number of invitations issued to eligible candidates (4,130 newcomers)) for permanent residence as Express Entry and Provincial Nominee Programs continued its nomination draws. 

Come May, permanent resident admissions rose about 165 per cent compared to April, even though there were only “virtual arrivals”. ‘Virtual’ because of the new arrivals belonged to candidates already in Canada who are transitioning from a temporary status to permanent status. Also, candidates who were approved or permanent residence before March 18 were exempted from the current travel restrictions. 

It also worthy of mentioning the efforts of Officials who were able to maintain the numbers by processing nearly 5,000 virtual arrivals in a week in June. 

 

NEW PERMANENT RESIDENTS IN CANADA
Month Year- 2020 Year-2019
January 24,700 18,645
February 28,895 20,250
March 18,595 27,060
April 4,130 26,900
May 10,955 33,015

It is clear from the above table that the year 2020 was all set to become yet another remarkable year in terms of rising skilled immigration levels. But soon followed the unprecedented travel restrictions since March 18 to slow the spread of contagion. Despite the signs of recovery, immigration numbers still remain low compared to pre-travel restrictions. 

 

Although Canada is increasingly on the verge of missing its target of welcoming 341,000 new permanent residents in 2020, IRCC will strive harder to achieve it. Its intention was made clear by the resumption of All-Program Express Entry draws on July 8. There could also be a possibility of revising the 2021 immigration target to a higher number. Either way, the prospects of Canada Immigration is looking brighter. 

Immigration consultants at CanApprove can suggest you the most suitable immigration programs depending on your work and personal profile. Contact CanApprove to plan your Canada Immigration today!

Ontario Opens New Pathway To Permanent Residence in Canada

Ontario Opens New Pathway To Permanent Residence in Canada!

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) is now accepting intake applications for its Regional Immigration Pilot. In order to qualify, candidates must meet the required criteria for anyone of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program Employer Job Offer streams. 

Until recently, Expression of Interests (EoIs) for two streams: Foreign Workers & International Graduates under Employer Job Offer category was paused leaving only In-demand Skills stream open to accept applications. The latest announcement appears to have opened a new pathway for foreign talent under all streams in Employer Job Offer category. 

canada immigration

The three Ontario communities that are open to Regional Immigration Pilot include Chatham-Kent, Cornwall, Quinte West/Belleville. 

OINP has allocated 150 nominations for this two-year pilot. The pilot will help foreign & highly skilled immigrants get lucrative jobs in small and rural Ontario communities. Further, it shall also provide an opportunity to easily qualify for permanent residence in Canada. 

Qualify for OINP Employer Job Offer streams

Foreign Workers stream for skilled workers, International Student stream for recent graduates from Ontario institutes and In-Demand Skills stream for sectors like agriculture, construction etc. come under the Employer Job Offer category. These are non-Express Entry aligned streams of OINP. 

Candidates must have a full-time and permanent job offer from employers in Ontario in order to qualify for the category. It is not necessary for the applicant to be living in Canada at the time of applying. However, one must ensure:
  • Occupation for which job offer in Ontario is secured is classified as “skilled” under Canada’s National Occupation Classification (NOC) Type/Level 0, A, or B. 
  • Have at least two years of cumulative full-time work experience, either in Canada or abroad, at the time of applying.

Get the latest updates on Provincial Nominee Programs using our PNP Finder tool. 

Contact our expert consultants for further assistance on Canadian immigration.

Immigration

Revisiting Canada Immigration between 3 July – 10 July

Canada Immigration has always stood the test of time and has warmly embraced the immigration of several skilled workers. The preceding week from 3 July- 10 July had few major developments concerning candidates who aspire to settle and obtain permanent residence in Canada. 

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First All-Program Express Entry Draw since March 4

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) resorted to all-program Express Entry for the first time since the present travel restrictions in Canada were put in place on March 18. 

July 8 draw considered all candidates in the pool including Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and the Federal Skilled Trades Class (FSTC). 

IRCC issued a total of 3900 ITAs to candidates having a minimum required Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 478. Until now, the draws would consider candidates only under Canadian Experience Class or Provincial Nominee Programs. 

A CRS score is majorly based on factors like age, education qualification, work experience, language proficiency apart from others.  

 

British Columbia invites Tech workers and International Students 

British Columbia issued 57 invitations with a minimum provincial score of 80. The invited candidates were qualified under Skilled worker and International Graduate categories of the Express Entry B.C. and Skills Immigration streams.

Additionally, Alberta released its PNP draw results conducted on June 17. Close to 187 candidates having a required CRS cut-off score as low as 303 got nominated. They are now a step closer to apply for permanent residence in Canada. 

Candidates with provincial nominations add up to 600 points to their overall CRS score. It would effectively guarantee them an ITA for permanent residence in a subsequent Express Entry draw.

Take this Free Assessment and know your eligibility for Canada Immigration. 

Quebec relaxes rules for PEQ program

Earlier in the month of May, Quebec announced changes to the Programme de l’expérience québécoise (PEQ or Quebec Experience Program) rules. The provisions related to the immigration of International students and Temporary foreign workers were made stringent. 

However, according to the latest announcement International students who graduated from a university or college in Quebec, would now need 12 months of Quebec work experience to be eligible for the PEQ. The same in the case of a temporary foreign worker is 24 months. 

New Report showing 1 Million Job Creation in June

The new report released by Statistics Canada showed economic recovery in June as employment increased by a record 953,000 people. It revealed an increase in employment in provinces like Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec. The latest job statistics should be good news to immigrants as they can expect a stronger job market in Canada in the new normal. 

Canadian Citizenship rules

Couples who adopt foreign children will now be able to pass down their Canadian Citizenship as per the recent rulings by the Supreme Court of Quebec. Prior to the ruling, only genetically related children of Canadian citizens were able to gain citizenship. 

Permanent residents in Canada can apply for Canadian Citizenship after living and working in Canada for over 5 years. The country is open to immigrants in search of better work opportunities and a high standard of living. Now even you can explore various options of immigration to Canada by contacting CanApprove. 

CRS cut-off score 303

Latest Alberta Express Entry draw sets a required CRS cut-off score of 303

The details of the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw conducted on June 17 by Alberta province was recently released. Over 187 eligible candidates who had agreed for a provincial nomination while registering their Express Entry profiles are said to be nominated under Alberta Express Entry stream. They are now a step closer to getting a permanent residence in Canada. 

June 17 PNP draw was conducted by the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) inviting 187 candidates in the federal Express Entry pool. Such candidates needed a minimum required Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of as low as 303.

CRS cut-off score 303

The current travel restrictions to lower the risk of the COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on AINP. The provincial authorities are only considering candidates who are already in Alberta for nominations. However, it is subjected to change once the travel restrictions are relaxed by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). 

With the latest AINP draw in place, the province of Alberta has nominated nearly 1,785 Express Entry candidates to apply for permanent residence in 2020. While the total count of invitations to Express Entry candidates in 2019 were around 6,884, Alberta is yet to release the provincial nomination allocations for 2020 which would have enabled us to get a better picture of the future. 

Take this free assessment to know your eligibility and various other program streams for immigration to Canada. 

How to qualify for the Alberta Express Entry Stream? 

Canada Express Entry system manages applications for three federal immigration streams – Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and Canadian Experience Class. Such applications are ranked in accordance with a unique scoring methodology called the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).  A CRS awards point out of 1200 for human capital factors including age, work experience, education, and proficiency in English or French among others.  

Eligible candidates who score above the minimum required CRS which is determined in every nomination round are extended an invitation to apply for permanent residence in Canada. 

Candidates are also allowed to apply for various Express Entry-linked PNP immigration streams including the Alberta Express Entry stream. Additionally, up to 600 points is added to the overall CRS score on a successful provincial nomination, effectively making them eligible to receive a permanent residence in Canada.  

AINP streams do not require a job offer in order to qualify for permanent residence in Canada. However, having a job offer or relevant work experience in the province will be an added advantage. In addition to it, a degree from a Canadian post-secondary institution or a family member already living in the province shall improve your chances for consideration by the province. 

Travel restrictions in Canada are notified to continue until July 31 and may extend beyond. In such a scenario, one may wonder if they should continue planning for immigration to Canada. However, the regular conduct of Express Entry and Provincial Nominee Program draws, the processing of applications by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, a public call by the Immigration Minister to “Come To Canada” is keeping the spirits of liberal immigration policies in Canada high. 

CanApprove advises all aspirants to continue working on their skill assessment and language proficiency tests to improve their CRS scores. Contact our immigration consultants for the latest updates on Canada Immigration.

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