Manitoba invites francophone candidates for exploratory visit to the province

With an aim to allow prospective immigrants to build stronger ties with the communities in Manitoba, the province is inviting bilingual francophone candidates to conduct a pre-arranged exploratory visit to the province. During these visits, the skilled worker applicants for provincial nomination from Manitoba can explore the employment opportunities and communities in the province, which would help them make informed decisions regarding settling here. An MPNP interview will be part of all such exploratory visits, which may result in an invitation to apply for provincial nomination from Manitoba.

Though Manitoba has one of the largest francophone populations in Canada, the recent years have witnessed a plunge in their population size. According to the 2016 census of Canada, 46000 people in the province have French as their mother tongue. It means a decline of 3.6 percent compared to the year 2011.

Manitoba is organizing the exploratory visits in association with the Conseil de développementéconomique des municipalitésbilingues du Manitoba (CDEM), which supports economic development of the bilingual communities in the province.

Manitoba government expects that CDEM’s participation will help prospective francophone immigrants to build stronger ties to francophone communities in Manitoba and explore economic opportunities in the province. The MPNP has also updated its candidate screening guidelines with an aim to help facilitate the exploratory visit application processing and selection criteria.

Manitoba Skilled Worker Immigration Stream

The categories under the Manitoba Skilled Worker Immigration stream operate on the basis of an Expression of Interest system. EachExpression of Interest profile is then awarded a score on the basis of a number of eligibility factors. The highest scoring candidates are invited to apply for a provincial nomination from Manitoba. Upon receiving a Letter of Advice to Apply, the candidate may apply for provincial nomination within 60 days. Once the candidate obtains the provincial nomination, they can apply to the Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada(IRCC) for permanent residence in the country.

Are you interested in making Canada your permanent home? Know more about Canada migration and provincial nominee programs by contacting our expert Canada immigration consultants.

525 Express Entry, Occupations In-Demand candidates invited in November 12 SINP draw

In the latest Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) draw held on November 12, a total of 525 Express Entry and Occupations In-demand candidates were invited to apply for provincial nomination. Of the total number of candidates invited in the November 12 SINP draw, 303 belonged to the Express Entry subcategory. The Express Entry candidates who receive provincial nomination will have an additional 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score points added to their total CRS score. They will also receive an invitation to apply for permanent residence in Canada in the subsequent federal Express Entry draw.

The number of invites issued to Occupation In-demand candidates in the November 12 SINP draw was 222. Skilled workers who do not have an Express Entry profile can apply for a provincial nomination through the Occupation In-Demand sub-category of Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP). Neither the Express Entry nor the Occupation In-Demand sub-category of SINP requires the candidate to have a job offer. However, the candidates need to meet certain eligibility criteria that include one year of work experience in an eligible occupation, related to their field of study.

Saskatchewan replaced its limited In-Demand Occupations List with an Excluded Occupations List on September 25. It expanded the number of eligible occupations for both Express Entry and Occupations In-demand sub-categories from 19 to more than 200. Ever since, Saskatchewan has conducted a total of 12 invitation rounds so far and invited 5229 candidates.

In the November 12 SINP draw, candidates with work experience in 94 occupations that included human resource managers, database analysts and administrators, drafting technologists and technicians, and power engineers and power systems operators were invited.

The first step for a candidate to be considered for provincial nomination under either Express Entry or Occupations In-Demand subcategory of SINP is to submit an Expression of Interest. Each of the EoI profile is assessed on the basis of a number of eligibility factors such as age, education, skilled work experience, language proficiency and previous connections to Saskatchewan and awarded a score out of 100. The highest scoring candidates are invited to apply for provincial nomination. The November 12 SINP draw invited candidates with a minimum score of 69. To be selected, the candidates were also required to have their educational qualifications earned from outside Canada assessed.

Talk to our expert immigration consultants to know more about Canada Provincial Nominee Program and migration.

IRCC invites 3600 candidates with minimum CRS score of 472 in latest Express Entry draw!

In the latest Express Entry draw held on November 13, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence to 3600 candidates. The invited candidates have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 472 or above. The CRS cut-off score in the previous Express Entry draw held on October 30 was 475 points.

Tie-break rule was applied in the November 13 draw too, the time stamp given being October 8, 2019 at 10:46:01 UTC. It means the draw prioritized those candidates with a minimum CRS score of 472 and those who had submitted their Express Entry profiles before the said date and time.

The CRS cut-off score of the previous CRS draw held on October 30 was 475, which is so far the highest CRS cut-off score in the year 2019. The reason for this rise in CRS cut-off score is assumed to be the longer time gap occurred between the two consecutive all-program Express Entry draws held on October 30 and October 2. Usually, IRCC conducts all-program Express Entry draws in every two weeks. A longer time gap means more time for the Express Entry pool to be filled with competitive profiles. So the IRCC sets the CRS cut-off score high to select the set number of candidates to apply for permanent residence in Canada.

However, it is expected that the CRS cut-off score would be coming down in the future draws. Candidates with CRS scores below 450 may receive ITAs as happened in January this year when candidates with CRS scores as low as 438 were invited.

As per the Immigration Levels Plan of Canada for 2019-2021, Canada will admit 256000 permanent residents through the federal Express Entry draws and 200000 through provincial nominee programs.

Minimum CRS requirements in the Express Entry draws held this year:

Date	Minimum CRS score	Number of ITAs issued
January 10, 2019	449	3900
January 23, 2019	443	3900
January 30, 2019	438	3350
February 20, 2019	457	3350
March 6. 2019	454	3350
March 20, 2019	452	3350
April 3, 2019	451	3350
April 17, 2019	451	3350
May 1, 2019	450	3350
May 15, 2019(Program-specific)	332	500
May 29, 2019	470	3350
June 12, 2019	465	3350
June 26, 2019	462	3350
July 10, 2019	460	3600
July 24, 2019	459	3600
August 12, 2019	466	3600
August 20, 2019	457	3600
September 4, 2019	463	3600
September 18, 2019	462	3600
October 2, 2019	464	3900
October 16, 2019 (Program-specific)	357	500
October 30, 2019	475	3900
November 14, 2019	472	3600

Interested in Canada immigration through Express Entry? Contact us for more information and guidance

Canada’s highest employment gains in October recorded in British Columbia, Newfoundland

According to a new Labour Force Survey conducted by Statistics Canada, British Columbia and Newfoundland are the provinces that recorded the highest employment gains last month. The survey report shows that Canada added a total of 443000 new jobs during the period between October 2018 and October 2019.

The survey report shows that the overall employment in Canada came down slightly in October with a reduction of 1800 in net jobs. However, the national unemployment rate remained steady at 5.5 percent. This drop is preceded by large employment gains in the months of August and September.

Among the provinces in Canada, British Columbia emerged top by gaining 15000 net jobs in October. The major reason for this increase was the rise in full-time employment among people above the age of 55. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate of the province remained the same, the lowest in the country at 4.7 percent.

Newfoundland and Labrador came second by gaining 2700 net jobs in October. The major reason for this increase was a hike in part-time work among those in the core working-age group of 24-54. In all other Canadian provinces, both the employment level and the unemployment rate remained relatively the same.

The number of new jobs in the public administration sector in Canada increased by 20000 in October. Major gains in this sector were reported from British Columbia, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island. Employment in the sector has grown by over 73000 or 7.6 percent since October 2018.

Other major sectors that witnessed an increase in employment in the month of October were finance, insurance, real estate, rental, and leasing industries. The survey report by Statistics Canada says that an increase of 18000 net jobs in this field is the second such increase in three months. The number of jobs in this field has increased by 64000 since October 2018.

Canada has vast employment opportunities on offer for skilled immigrants. If you wish to make Canada your permanent home, there is no better time than now to take the first step. Start your Canada migration journey by filling our free assessment form.

New immigrants to Canada more likely to find success in business

A recent study conducted by the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) has revealed that new immigrants to Canada are more likely to become successful entrepreneurs than Canadian-borns. According to the study, the businesses started by the new immigrants are also likely to grow faster and create more jobs.

The study further observed that the new immigrants to Canada are twice as likely to take the efforts to turn a business proposal into reality. These may involve starting or acquiring a business or equipment or any other step required to launch a new enterprise.

Canada had 25600 newcomer entrepreneurs in the year 2018, which means a 22 per cent increase since 2006. By 2032, immigrants are predicted to constitute 80 per cent of Canada’s total population growth. It indicates that the number of successful immigrant entrepreneurs would continue to rise in the coming decades too. The study found that the number of new entrepreneurs among women, Millenials and older Canadians was also increasing.

Entrepreneurship for new immigrants to Canada

Though running a business is highly stressful, job satisfaction is high among entrepreneurs in Canada, according to the study. Almost 90 per cent of the entrepreneurs who participated in the study said they were satisfied with what they do. They are motivated to work every day and satisfied in their business progress.

It is not about money alone. Independence, autonomy, flexibility, passion, as well as self-fulfilment, are also important factors that make entrepreneurs happy.

Skills and success in entrepreneurship

Goal-oriented people who are resilient when faced with failures are setbacks are more likely to succeed as entrepreneurs. Starting a new enterprise requires a lot of courage and hard work. If courage cannot be learned, the skills necessary to grow a business can, says the BDC study.

An entrepreneur’s level of satisfaction is strongly connected to their level of managerial and technical skills, found the study. The study assessed the following skills of the entrepreneurs:

Financial management
Sales and marketing
Human resources management
Operations management
Strategic planning

They grouped the 11 managerial skills studied into the following four categories:

Organizational management
Leadership and people management
Innovation
Networking

According to the study, managerial skills in innovation and networking have a positive impact on sales growth. Innovation and organizational management skills also contributed to increasing entrepreneurial satisfaction.

Canada is awaiting new immigrants, both professionals and aspiring entrepreneurs, with a lot of opportunities. If you wish to migrate to Canada, waste no time! Fill our free assessment form to explore your options.

Australia decides to reclassify Perth and Gold Coast as regional cities

The Australian government has decided to reclassify Perth and Gold Coast as regional cities and the decision is beneficial for international students and skilled workers, according to immigration experts. The re-classification would become effective from 16th November 2019.

The Australian government decided to re-classify Perth and Gold Coast to bring down the population pressure on the major Australian cities–Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Almost 70 per cent of the population growth of Australia is attributed to these cities.

The decision has made Perth and Gold Coast more attractive for international students and skilled workers. The changed status of these cities would promote the creation of local jobs in regional areas. Further, international students choosing to study in these cities would be enjoying all the incentives promised to those studying in regional areas. The decision would also help these cities get an increased share of international students and skilled workers.

The benefits the international students enjoy include eligibility for an additional year in Australia on a post-study work visa. It would help them to earn more Australian work experience, income and financial stability after the completion of their studies.

The decision to reclassify Perth and the Gold Coast will have a positive impact on the following visa types:

Subclass 485 (Temporary Graduate Visa)

The international graduates from universities/colleges based in an Australian region can apply for the subclass 485 visa, which is valid for one year for a second time. But the holder must have resided in the regional area when they were holding their first Temporary Graduate Visa. Even while holding their second subclass 485 visa, they need to reside in the same regional area. For example, graduates of the universities in Perth must be living in Perth itself for the validity of the subclass 485 visa.

Subclass 482 (Temporary Skilled Shortage Visa)

The decision has enabled employers in Perth and Gold Coast to nominate international workers on 482 visas in occupations on the Regional Occupation List (ROL). The eligible employees can be nominated for up to four years. However, after three years, the employees may apply for permanent residency through the subclass 186 visa.

Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional Visa)

Subclass 491 visa holders have to live in the designated regional area for three years after which they can apply for permanent residency in Australia via subclass 191 visa.

Subclass 494 (Skilled Employer-Sponsored Visa)

The Skilled Employer-sponsored visa holder may apply for permanent residence in Australia via the 191 visas after living for three years in the designated regional area. This visa allows local businesses in Perth and the Gold Coast to nominate employees for up to five years.

Are you interested migrating to Australia? Contact the expert Australia migration consultants of CanApprove to know everything about Australia migration and your options to move to Australia permanently.

Manitoba PNP draw invites 180 skilled workers, Express Entry candidates, international graduates

In the latest Manitoba PNP draw held on November 7, a total of 180 candidates belonging to the Skilled Worker in Manitoba and Skilled Worker Overseas categories and International Education stream of Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) received invitations to apply for provincial nomination.

Manitoba PNP Expression of Interest

To be considered for provincial nomination from Manitoba through the Skilled Worker in Manitoba and Skilled Worker Overseas categories of Manitoba PNP, the candidate must first submit an Expression of Interest. Each of these EoI profiles is awarded a score out of 1000 on the basis of a number of eligibility factors that include age, work experience, education, previous connection to the province, language proficiency etc. In the draws that are conducted periodically, Manitoba PNP invites the highest scoring candidates to apply for provincial nomination. The selected candidates will receive Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) with which they can apply for provincial nomination to MPNP.

The distribution LAAs in the November 7 Manitoba PNP draw:

Skilled Worker in Manitoba: 133
Skilled Worker Overseas: 24
International Education Stream: 23

Manitoba PNP Express Entry

The Express Entry candidates who receive provincial nomination from Manitoba PNP would receive 600 additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score points and an invitation to apply for permanent residence in Canada in the subsequent Express Entry draw. The Express Entry candidate must have eligible work experience in one of the in-demand occupations of Manitoba, submit a separate Expression of Interest and meet other requirements to be eligible for provincial nomination from Manitoba.

Manitoba PNP Skilled Worker Overseas category

The Skilled Worker Overseas category of Manitoba PNP allows the province to select and nominate eligible candidates with skills that are in demand in Manitoba’s labour market.

To be eligible under this category, the candidate must have an established connection to Manitoba. It can be in the form of close family or friends residing in the province, previous education or work experience in the province or an invitation issued through one of the Strategic Recruitment Initiatives of MPNP. It is not mandatory for the candidate to be residing in Manitoba while applying. The minimum EoI score of the Skilled Worker Overseas candidates invited in the November 7 MPNP draw was 719.

Manitoba PNP Skilled Worker in Manitoba category

To be eligible under this category, the candidate must be working in Manitoba and have a full-time permanent job offer from their employer. The minimum EoI score of the Skilled Worker in Manitoba candidates invited in the latest draw was 560.

Manitoba PNP International Education Stream

International students graduated from Manitoba institutions, with the skills that are in high demand in Manitoba labour market, can apply through the International Education Stream. The three sub-categories of the stream are: Career Employment Pathway, Graduate Internship Pathway, and the Student Entrepreneur Pathway.

Manitoba has so far issued 6911 LAAs through the Skilled Worker in Manitoba, Skilled Worker Overseas and International Education immigration pathways.

Interested in migrating to Canada? Canada PNP gives you multiple options to make your dream come true. Check your eligibility for Canada migration through PNP by filling our free eligibility assessment form

Tech workers in great demand in British Columbia; Vancouver records largest tech job growth in N America

A recent study has ranked Vancouver first in terms of tech job growth rate in the whole of North America. With vast and numerous career opportunities, the city is fast becoming the best immigration destination for tech workers from across the globe.

Vancouver, the most populous city in British Columbia, was found to have the largest tech job growth in a study conducted by the CBRE Group. The study further observed that Vancouver left behind major cities like San Francisco, Seattle and New York in terms of tech job growth.

Vancouver is currently one of the greatest rising markets for the tech industry across Canada and the United States. The city is the best place to settle for technically skilled professionals as it offers great career opportunities and quality living. With a tech growth rate of almost 30 per cent, Vancouver has toppled Seattle from the top position, climbing up 27 spots.

Within the past two years, Vancouver has added a total of 13600 new high-tech software and service jobs, which means almost 55% of the new office jobs created in the city. Toronto is another major centre of the tech industry in Canada, with a job growth rate of 23.9 per cent recorded between 2017 and 2018. The city added 30200 new tech jobs during this period. Montreal is close behind with a growth rate of 11.2 per cent, adding 8800 tech jobs. The tech markets of Ottawa and Waterloo too will be witnessing incredible growth in the near future, according to the study.

Migration options for tech workers

If you are a tech worker who wants to explore the great opportunities in Vancouver or the rest of British Columbia, you can consider a few options. The first one is the Tech Pilot program under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP). Candidates working in one of the in-demand tech occupations of British Columbia can apply for a provincial nomination through this fast-track immigration pathway. However, to be eligible, the candidate must also have a job offer from a British Columbia employer in one of the 29 in-demand tech occupations of the province.

The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) of Express Entry that exclusively targets skilled workers is another great option. Though the candidate does not need a job offer, they must have at least one year of work experience and prove their language proficiency. It won’t be difficult to migrate to British Columbia if you are eligible for any one of the above-said immigration programs.

Tech workers are in high demand in Canada. If you are a tech worker who wishes to make Canada your permanent home, look no further! CanApprove, a registered Canadian immigration consultancy, can help you realize your Canadian dream. Talk to our expert Canada immigration consultants to find the best option for you to migrate to Canada.

Majority of Canadians think immigration to Canada helps country’s economy grow, shows a new survey

A public opinion survey conducted by the Environics Institute has found that eight out of ten Canadians hold the view that immigrants help Canada’s economy grow. A total of 2008 Canadians took part in the survey named Focus Canada, which was conducted between October 7 and October 20, 2019, ahead of the Canadian federal elections held on October 21. The survey has found that the percentage of Canadians who did not agree with the statement “there is too much immigration to Canada,” grew from 59 per cent in April 2019 to 63 per cent in October 2019. At the same time, the percentage of those who agreed with the statement remained the same at 34 per cent.

According to the survey report, “a growing majority of Canadians reject the idea that their country is accepting too many immigrants.” Among the Canadian provinces and territories, support for immigration was found to be growing significantly in Atlantic Canada, the Prairies and Quebec. In Atlantic Canada, the percentage of those who supported immigration was 71 per cent. Among the participants, mainly young Canadians and women were supporters of immigration. The immigration supporters were also mostly highly educated and financially secure. On the contrary, those who held a negative opinion about immigration were mainly those who were concerned about a potential job loss in their household.

In terms of political leanings, the majority of those who held negative views about immigration to Canada were supporters of the Conservative Party. At the same time, a significant majority of the New Democratic Party held positive opinions regarding immigration. When it comes to the Liberals, almost three in four of them supported immigration to Canada.

Eighty per cent of the respondents to the survey supported the argument that “overall, immigration has a positive impact on the economy of Canada,” while 16 per cent disagreed. In Atlantic Canada, 82 per cent of the respondents agreed with the statement while in British Columbia, 84 per cent of the respondents agreed. The percentage of those who agreed with this statement in the Prairies and Alberta was 76.

However, Canadians are increasingly becoming concerned about the integration of immigrants into Canadian society. Around 50 per cent of Canadians believe that “there are too many immigrants coming into this country who are not adopting Canadian values.” This is the highest percentage recorded ever since Focus Canada surveys were introduced in 1993. But in Quebec, the percentage of those who held this opinion came down by six points to 50 per cent compared to the previous survey.

64 per cent of Canadians who participated in the survey did not agree with the statement “Canada accepts too many immigrants from racial minority groups.” This reflects a significant shift in public attitudes since the 1990s when a majority of Canadians agreed with the statement, observed the survey report. The education level of the majority of those who supported this statement was less than a high school diploma and their household income was below CDN $30,000.

Canada needs immigrants with skills and qualifications to contribute to the growth of the country’s economy. Contact us to check your eligibility for Canada migration.

Government to fund 800+ initiatives to help newcomers settle in Canada!

Canada government will fund more than 800 selected initiatives to help newcomers settle in Canada and integrate into the Canadian communities. According to a recently issued media release from the Government of Canada, a total of 824 projects for supporting newcomers settle in Canada and adapt to the new life will receive government funding.

Projects for all regions across Canada have been selected for funding and they are expected to support newcomers settle in Canada and help them participate in the social, cultural, civic and economic life of the country. The Canada government invited proposals for these projects in February 2019 and these 824 projects were selected from all the proposals received.

Canada’s Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen said that when Canada invested in helping newcomers learn the language, find employment, and build a successful life, all of Canada would enjoy the benefits. The initiatives selected for funding are mainly related to:

Language training, workplace-based language instruction
Employment, entrepreneurial services
Support for French-speaking newcomers
Integration of newcomers belonging to vulnerable populations including women, seniors and LGBTQ
Projects to protect the mental health and well-being of newcomers
Projects to enhance local integration and social inclusion in centre, rural and northern areas

Language training projects will help newcomers learn English/French, the official languages of Canada. The courses that will be offered will include online, or in person or in the workplace.

The selected projects related to employment aim to help newcomers in Canada acquire new skills and knowledge so that they can succeed in the Canadian labour market. Newcomers will also be directly connected to private sector organizations and partners, to help them find a good job faster.

Some other initiatives aim to help newcomers make connections with their local communities. Community connection services for French-speaking newcomers who have immigrated to a Francophone minority community come under this category.

The approved projects will start receiving funds on April 1, 2020 and it will continue till March 31, 2025.

All these efforts show Canada’s commitment towards improving its services for newcomers and helping them to settle in Canada. As part of these initiatives, Canada government announced last year that it would invest $1 billion CAD for helping migrants integrate into the Canadian society. Within the next three years, Canada will be admitting one million newcomers.

Canada is planning to welcome more immigrants in the next few years. Do you qualify for migration to Canada? Contact us to know!

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