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In its year-end immigration report 2018, the federal government of Canada has revealed that more than 92000 immigrants were admitted to Canada through its Express Entry system – showing a 41% increase over the year before.

The Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) year-end report 2018 further shows that 51% of Express Entry candidates who received Invitations To Apply (ITAs) for Canada Permanent Residence in 2018 were between the age of 20 and 29 years.

The findings in IRCC year-end report 2018 shows 89,800 admissions through the Express Entry system had Software Engineer as a common occupation. Information Systems Analysts and Consultants and Computer Programmer stood as the second and third most common occupation respectively, among the applicants who received ITAs.

Eligible candidates under the Express Entry pool of candidates are ranked based on a scoring system known as Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). CRS points are mainly based on applicants’ age, education qualifications, work experience and language proficiency. Regular draws that are conducted every two weeks issue invitations to apply for Canada Permanent Residence to candidates who have CRS points above the cut-off score for each draw.

The IRCC data also shows that out of 89,800 admissions through the Express Entry system in 2018 alone were divided among the three program streams as follows:

The candidates who received provincial nominations received an additional 600 CRS points in Express Entry. In 2018 alone, a total of 10,802 Express Entry candidates with provincial nomination were issued ITAs – an increase of 2069 additional nominations from the year before.

The spike in immigration admissions under the three programs managed by the Express Entry system- the Federal Skilled Worker Class, Federal Skilled Trades Class and Canadian Experience Class- shall continue to rise each year till 2021. The exuberate rise in admissions is also in line with the increasing targets under the various Provincial Nominee Program in Canada which was nearly 55000 in 2018 and is only set to increase coming each year.

The year-end report notes that the provinces of Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and British Columbia performed exceptionally well in welcoming the overseas immigrants. All the mentioned provinces saw an increase in admissions of new permanent residents with Ontario experiencing a year-over-year increase of 3,082.

The report also noted that 122, 247 applicants in 2018 were divided among the mentioned provinces as follows:

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Find out if you are eligible to enter the Canada Express Entry pool or immigrate to Canada under Provincial Nominee Program by contacting us now!

Graduates in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) now hold a better chance of obtaining Permanent Residency Visa in Canada or Australia. This opportunity comes in the backdrop of stricter immigration policies set by developed western countries like the USA.

Australia and Canada are now the top nations for immigrants for their standard of life, higher education opportunities, and exciting career options in emerging IT industries and other skilled professions. Both Australia and Canada are home to fast-growing IT and related industries. This provides an exciting employment opportunity for overseas STEM graduates to make a better living out of their skills.

According to the US News and Report rankings, Canada tops in the quality of life that it offers to its immigrants whereas Australia stands seventh on this parameter. Canada is ranked second for its citizenship value, while Australia is at the eighth position on the same parameter.

Applying for Permanent Residence Visa as a STEM graduate in Canada or Australia has been made easier and more welcoming this year. Various provinces in Canada, including Saskatchewan, Ontario, Alberta, Nova Scotia, Manitoba and British Columbia have increased nomination targets in 2019 as compared to previous years. The provinces such as Ontario, Alberta, and Manitoba, in their respective Provincial Nominee Programs, give special preference to IT professionals. All these developments are in line with the federal policy of the Canadian government to invite over 400,000 immigrants by 2022.

The recent changes made to the point-based immigration system of Australia have increased the prospects of overseas STEM graduates to immigrate easily to the country. The new notification will enable STEM graduates to get an additional 10 immigration points, which in turn will improve their probability of getting an invitation to apply for Permanent Residence in Australia. The other changes to immigration system include awarding additional points to applicants with skilled spouse, applicants without a spouse, applicants having a spouse with a certain level of language proficiency and applicants nominated by a State government or sponsored by a family member residing in Australia.

We provide reliable advice and timely assistance for easy immigration to Canada or Australia. Our experienced immigration consultants help process your application for Permanent Residence Visa to Canada or Australia in quick time. Start your immigration process and get a free assessment for Canada or Australia immigration by contacting us now!

As per the three new changes introduced by the Government of Quebec to the Quebec Skilled Worker Program on June 26, the candidates need to submit their complete application for Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) within 60 calendar days.

Earlier, under the Quebec Skilled Worker Program, invited candidates could apply for the Quebec Selection Certification (CSQ) within 90 calendar days. In effect to the June 26th notification issued by the MIDI- Immigration, Diversity and Inclusion Ministry of Quebec province, the invited candidates will now have to file their completed application within 60 calendar days.

The reduction in the application deadline by one month is seen as a move to speed up the immigration process of skilled workers from all across the globe.

Extended Validity of Expressions of Interest

The other new changes to Quebec’s immigration process include extended validity of six months on Expressions of Interest (EOIs) in the Quebec Skilled Worker Program. The EOI of candidates even if they had declined the invitation to apply for the Quebec Selection Certification will remain in Quebec’s immigration database of candidates until full validity. All three notified changes are said to take effect immediately.

Quebec Skilled Worker Program allows the province to welcome highly educated and skilled workers from foreign countries to settle down in Quebec and benefit from the contributions made.

Quebec Select Certificate (CSQ)

CSQ is not to be confused with a Permanent Residence Visa. It is an official document that is issued by the Quebec immigration authorities to the holders declaring Quebec as their place of settlement. Once the immigrants get hold of CSQ, they are open to apply for Canada Permanent Residence Visa which is regulated by the federal Immigration authorities.

A CSQ can be obtained by any aspiring foreign immigrants through one of the following programs run by the Quebec Immigration, Diversity and Inclusion Ministry:

• Quebec Skilled Worker Program
• Quebec Entrepreneur Program
• Quebec Self-Employed Person Program
• Quebec Experience Class
• Quebec Investor Program

Quebec is a land of opportunities for skilled workers to enhance their living economically as well as socially. Contact us for a free assessment on Canadian immigration today!

The Express of Interest (EOI) draw held on June 20th issued 450 invitations to eligible candidates under the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP). Among the total 450 invitations, 133 invites went to Express Entry candidates.

Also known as Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs), the invitations were extended to three streams that are part of the MPNP, which are Skilled Workers in Manitoba, Skilled Workers Overseas, and International Education Streams.

A total of 323 invites were issued under the Skilled Workers Overseas Stream, while Skilled Workers in Manitoba stream candidates got 101 invites. LAAs issued to International Education stream candidates amounted to 26.

Minimum Expression of Interest draw score:

In order to be considered for a provincial nomination, filling up of EOI is the mandatory step to be followed.

EOI contains candidates’ details like age, educational qualification, work experience, language proficiency and established connection to Manitoba based on which, a relevant score is computed.

In the June 20th draw, minimum EOI draw score was 475 for Skilled Workers in Manitoba stream candidates, 599 for skilled workers overseas candidates and 704 for candidates selected through strategic recruitment initiatives under MPNP.

What is the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program?

MPNP aims to attract a targeted group of immigrants to Manitoba province in Canada. For the LAAs issued under the Skilled Worker Overseas on June 20th draw, the candidates fulfilled the criteria of a minimum of six months experience in any one of the occupations listed under Manitoba’s In-demand occupation list and minimum language proficiency of CLB/NCLC 5.

Among those received LAAs under the Skilled Worker in Manitoba stream were foreign workers and international graduates, who were offered permanent and a full-time job opportunity in Manitoba.

Get authentic and reliable immigration advice on Canada immigration from our expert team of consultants. Contact us now!

The Immigration Minister of Quebec province in Canada, Simon Jolin-Barrette, for the first time indicated plans to issue invitations under the Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP) recently.

“We heard and listened to the different needs in all regions of Quebec as well as those of the economic community. Immigration is one of the solutions to Quebec’s labour shortages and we will ensure that immigrants who choose to settle here will be able to participate fully in Quebec society.”, said Jolin-Barrette emphasising on addressing the problem of labour shortage in Quebec.

The minister further added that thousands of rejected applications to the QSWP following the introduction of new reforms to the immigration laws earlier this month shall be invited, and his ministry is giving priority to the 3,700 candidates who are already in Quebec.

The provincial government of Quebec shall further prioritize the following applicants for the first batch of invitations:

• Candidates who had applied for a Quebec Selection Certificate (QSC) under QSWP;
• Candidates at the time of submitting their Express of Interest (EOI) were temporary residents of Quebec as of June 16, 2019;
• Should be holding a legitimate job offer from an employer-based out of Quebec.

Quebec Skilled Worker Program applicants who had undertaken EOI through Arrima portal only shall be considered for the invite. It is estimated that nearly 100,000 EOIs has been filed since the launch of Arrima.

Arrima that was launched last September is an online portal to receive EOI under Quebec’s Skilled Worker Program. The online-based EOI system replaced the erstwhile first-come-first-serve approach to be considered for CSQ.

The aspiring candidates are awarded a score based on several factors like age, education, language proficiency, work experience after making an entry on the Arrima portal. Based on the score, the immigration ministry invites eligible candidates for CSQ. CSQ can later be used to apply for a permanent residence program under the federal immigration ministry.

Some measures to streamline the immigration process for the employers were also discussed as the Immigration minister provided information on a new feature to be inducted in Arrima portal next year.

The new feature will give employers direct access to potential candidates that are willing to immigrate to Quebec for economic reasons.

It is now the best time to look out for immigrating to Quebec. Contact us for expert and reliable advice on the same.

In the latest express entry draw held on June 26th, the Government of Canada invited 3350 Express Entry candidates for the Canadian permanent residence programme.  

The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off score was reduced to 462 from 465 in the recently held express entry draw on June 26th. 

CRS cut-off score that peaked at 470 on the May 29th draw has seen two consecutive reductions in the CRS cut-off score in the draws held on June 12th and June 26th respectively. 

The main source of skilled foreign workers in Canada is attributed to its Express Entry System. Eligible candidates, with or without a job offer, are arranged into the Express Entry pool and then ranked based on the individual CRS scores. 

CRS in Canada is dependent on age, education, skilled work experience and language proficiency. Consecutive lowering of CRS cut-off score sent positive soft signals to the skilled workers globally.  

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) applied the Tie-break rule in the June 26th draw with the time stamp May 11 2019, at 17:40:54 UTC. 

It means that the eligible candidates with CRS scores above 462 and those who had submitted their Express Entry profiles before the said time stamp were shortlisted and invited for the Canadian permanent residence programme.

June 26th express entry draw was the 13th such draw this year and there is many more to come. It was also the 120th draw since Canada launched the Express Entry system in 2015. 

With the latest draw, the total number of invitations has reached 41,800 this year alone. The analysts expect 2019 to be another great year in the history of the Express Entry system. It is also expected for the CRS cut-off score to come down further in the upcoming draws.

CRS cut-off in the Express Entry draws for the year 2019: 

If you are interested in Canadian immigration through Express Entry, feel free to contact us for more information and guidance. 

The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) conducted the latest International Skilled Worker draw on June 20 in which 479 candidates with work experience in one of the five targeted occupations were invited to apply for provincial nomination. The candidates selected in the draw belonged to the Express Entry and Occupation In-Demand sub-categories of SINP. To qualify under both of these subcategories, the candidates are supposed to have work experience in one of the in-demand occupations of Saskatchewan.

The following occupations were targeted in the June 20 SINP draw:

• Accounting technicians
• Architectural technologists and technicians
• Bakers
• Paramedical occupations
• Medical laboratory technologists

Out of the total 479 invitations issued in the latest draw, 268 were issued to Express Entry candidates. The remaining 211 invitations were issued to candidates of the Occupation In-Demand sub-category of SINP.

SINP Expression of Interest

The first step to be considered under either the Express Entry or the Occupation In-Demand sub category of the SINP is to submit an Expression of interest. The Expression of Interest includes information regarding all the basic eligibility factors such as education, work experience and language proficiency. Based on these factors, each profile is awarded a score out of 100. Saskatchewan invites the highest scoring candidates to apply for provincial nomination in the regular draws. The minimum score of candidates invited in the June 20 draw, in both sub-categories, was 68.

Saskatchewan has so far issued 1166 invitations to Express Entry candidates and 1407 invitations Occupation In-Demand candidates in 2019. The Express Entry candidates who are nominated by Saskatchewan will obtain 600 additional CRS score points, which would ensure them an invitation to apply for permanent residence in Canada in the subsequent Express Entry draw.

Canada Provincial Nominee Programs are a great option for potential immigrants to migrate to the country. Contact us if you want to know more about Canada PNPs.