Poland Immigration: Latest Information on Travel & Permit Impacts

Posted on April 5, 2021 by Sandy Leave a Comment

Poland’s consular posts are reopening in several countries, subject to local pandemic-related restrictions. The immigration offices and city halls are resuming services but in the backdrop of accumulated case backlog. Poland has also ensured that the immigration status of foreign nationals will not be negatively affected by reduced work hours and/or salary.

In the light of immigration trends returning to normalcy, CanApprove chooses to summarize the current state of travel restrictions, quarantine requirements, and work permit availability in Poland.

Work Permit Applications

Fully online work permit applications are currently possible in selected regions in Poland (like Warsaw) and for selected types of applications (work permit type A for local hires). For all other permit types, the application is still processed only in offline mode.

Applicants can continue to submit immigration applications by mail. Mailed applications take an additional three to four months to process.

Take this free assessment online or get in touch with our immigration consultants to determine your eligibility.

Additional resources to read:

Travel Impacts

Following the recommendations of the European Commission to open the EU internal borders in mid-June, entry restrictions for arriving foreigners are now sparingly applied. The following categories of foreigners travelling to Poland are welcomed:

Travelers from Qatar, Ukraine, and the United Arab Emirates;
Foreigners holding right for temporary or permanent stay in Poland (valid residency card must be in place)
Foreigners who are authorized to work in Poland under the same rules as Polish nationals (EU/EEA/Swiss nationals) if they worked in Poland previously or intend to work after crossing the border
Employees holding the right to work in Poland which can be documented by work permit, seasonal work permit, or statement on intention to hire foreigner if they worked in Poland previously or intend to work after crossing the border
Students who are enrolled for studies and schools in Poland together with their legal guardians (for example parents) – confirmation from school required;
Scientists entering Poland for the purposes of performing research or development work in Poland
Foreigners who obtained a visa in new ‘Poland. Business Harbour’ program dedicated to citizens of Belarus;
Foreign entrepreneurs and foreign entities representatives entering Poland to fulfil economic activities in Poland only upon certain approvals from authorities including Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
Holders of Card of Pole (Karta Polaka);
Foreigners having visa/residence permit from Australia, Canada, Georgia, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia are allowed to enter Poland.
Other foreigners are not listed about if their arrival to Poland is justified for significant reasons.

Quarantine Notes

Travellers coming to Poland from the EU Schengen zone will be subject to mandatory quarantine unless presenting negative results on diagnostic tests for SARS-Cov-2. The test should be done within 48 hours prior to entrance to Poland.

Mandatory 10 days quarantine in Poland applies to individuals coming to Poland from outside the EU Schengen area. However, it shall be waived off if the person crossing the border provides a negative result of a SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic test completed in Poland within 48 hours after the arrival.

For any further assistance on Poland immigration, please check with our consultants.

Reviewing All Nomination Draws for Canada PR in March 2021-min

Monthly Review: Canada PR Nomination Draws in March 2021

Posted on April 3, 2021 by Sandy Leave a Comment

Yet another month passed with encouraging results for immigration candidates.

Closely adhering to its immigration levels plan for 2021-2023, the federal and provincial governments have issued nearly 15,000 invitations to apply for permanent residence in Canada were issued to eligible candidates in March 2021.

This can be seen as a sign of relief and more new aspirants can be expected to immigrate to Canada very soon.

Read Immigration Minister Merco Mendicino as he speaks on the current state of Canadian immigration during the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions.

ITAs For Canada PR Under Express Entry

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

As it manages the application database for three federal immigration programs – the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW), the Federal Skills Trades (FSTP), and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) – aspirants are first required to qualify for individual program requirements. Such eligible profiles are assessed and ranked on a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Core human factors such as age, education, language skills, and work experience are used to calculate a CRS profile score.

The second step will involve the fortnightly nomination draws held by IRCC. The high-ranking candidates based on the CRS score get invitations to apply (ITA) for permanent residence (PR).

Express Entry Draws – March 2021
Nomination Draw Date	Qualifying CRS	ITAs issued
March 08	PNP-specific: 739 points	671
March 17	PNP-specific: 682 points	183
March 18	CEC-specific: 449 points	5,000
March 31	PNP-specific: 778 points	284
April 01	CEC-specific:	5,000

Express Entry has already issued nearly 50,000 ITAs for Canada PR. It is almost half of the expected annual target of 108,800 ITAs in 2021.

Take this free assessment online to determine your eligibility to qualify for Express Entry.

Provincial Nominations To Qualify For Canada PR

Yet another month passed by and Canada immigration remained upbeat with provincial programs issuing nominations to eligible candidates to apply for permanent residence in Canada.

The unique arrangement between the federal and provincial/territorial governments in Canada allows the nomination of foreign candidates separately based on the unique labor demand of each province. Later on, these provincial nominations allow eligible candidates to apply for permanent residence.

Canadian provinces such as Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, Ontario, and Prince Edward Island had remained active by conducting nomination draws to invite eligible candidates to apply for a provincial nomination. Thereon, getting a permanent residence in Canada becomes easier.

Further, candidates with an active Express Entry and a provincial nomination are at an extreme advantage. Under their nomination, they are awarded an additional 600 points towards their overall CRS score. This would effectively guarantee them an ITA for Canada PR in a subsequent Express Entry draw.

Here is an outlook on active Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) in March 2021.

Provincial Nominee Program Draws- March 2021
Province	ITAs issues	Eligible Immigration Streams
Alberta – March 02	200	Candidates invited under the Alberta Express Entry stream needed a CRS score of at least 301. Further, they were also required to have work experience in any occupation that supports the province’s economic development and diversification priorities
March 26	300
British Columbia – March 02	444	Select candidates that include Entrepreneurs, Skilled Workers & International Graduates under the Express Entry BC (EEBC) and Skills Immigration streams. The minimum scores for the largest draw ranged between 83 and 97 points. There was also a separate draw conducted for retail and wholesale trade managers (NOC 0621) and restaurant and food service managers (NOC 0631), where 26 invitations were issued to candidates with scores of at least 118.
March 09 – Tech Pilot Draw	95	Skilled worker and international graduate subcategories needed a qualifying provincial nomination score of 80, in addition to qualifying for one of 29 in-demand tech occupations
March 16	506	428 invitations to apply for provincial nominations were issued to candidates in the Skilled Worker, International Graduate as well as Entry Level and Semi-Skilled sub-categories of SI and EEBC streams in the first draws. The remaining 78 invitations went to candidates having work experience as retail and wholesale trade managers, restaurant and foodservice managers in another draw.
March 23 – Tech Pilot Draw	95	Candidates with a provincial score of 75 points under Express Entry British Columbia (EEBC) and Skills Immigration (SI) categories. British Columbia also announced the extension of its Entrepreneur Pilot program.
March 30	374	330 invitations to apply for provincial nominations were issued to candidates in the Skilled Worker, International Graduate as well as Entry Level and Semi-Skilled sub-categories of SI and EEBC streams in the first draws. There was also a separate draw conducted for retail and wholesale trade managers (NOC 0621) and restaurant and food service managers (NOC 0631), where 44 invitations were issued to candidates with scores of at least 113.
Saskatchewan – March 11	248	International Skilled Worker category through two subcategories: Express Entry, and Occupations In-Demand.
March 24	418
Ontario – March 02	754	Express Entry candidates whose Comprehensive Ranking System scores ranged between 463 and 467. Further, candidates with at least one year of work experience and only in the 10 selected jobs qualified for this draw including nurses, investment managers, and accountants.
March 03	271	Invitations to Express Entry candidates were issued under the Human Capital Priorities stream and having CRS scores between 455 and 467. All the invited candidates went through the Express Entry French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream.
Manitoba – March 11	299	Skilled Workers in Manitoba— 261 invitations with a minimum score of 459; Skilled Workers Overseas — 3 invitations with a minimum score of 728; and International Education Stream— 35 invitations. Further, a total of 20 LAAs went to Express Entry candidates.
March 25	335	Skilled Workers in Manitoba— 285 invitations with a minimum EOI score of 423; Skilled Workers Overseas— 9 invitations with a minimum EOI score of 711; and International Education Stream— 41 invitations with no EOI score requirement. A total of 49 invitations, also known as Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs), went to Express Entry candidates.
Nova Scotia – March 29	329	Express Entry candidates invited Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities Stream
Prince Edward Island – March 18	150	Eligible candidates were invited under Express Entry, Labour Impact and Business Impact categories.

Canada will target at least 200,000 ITAs for Canada PR every year through various economic-class pathways – Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs, various Business Immigration streams. Going by the present trend, we expect the country to surpass its target well before time.

In fact, new studies have found improved retention rates for immigrants in Atlantic Canada, which otherwise was not much popular among immigrants until now.

You may also be interested in reading about the new entrepreneur immigration pathway for international graduates to apply for Canada PR.

As an aspirant to migrate and settle in Canada, now is the best time for you to apply. Further, you are also being informed that any misrepresentation on your visa application can cause a ban of up to five years.

You can avoid it by consulting a genuine immigration consultant like CanApprove.

Talk to our consultant today!

ANALYSIS: How Pandemic Is Shaping The Future Of Canadian Immigration

Posted on March 23, 2021 by Sandy Leave a Comment

It was ironic in the history of Canadian immigration that days after announcing a record immigration plan in March 2020, Canada closed its border as a public safety measure to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

One year has passed since the first public travel restrictions and Canada’s immigration levels had taken a huge hit. As per the official stat, only 184,000 new permanent residents had landed in Canada, the lowest level since 1998.

Canadian Immigration Bounces Back Hard

New Immigration Levels Plan:

Canada’s answer to the lowest level of immigration in 2020 is its new immigration levels plan for 2021-2023. The country is now targeting nearly 1.2 million new immigrants in the next three years to immigrate and settle in Canada.

Increased Immigration to smaller Canadian cities:

Canadian cities such as Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, and Vancouver are popularly known for their significant immigrant population base. However, a recent study by Ryerson University outlines the prospects for immigration in small and mid-sized Canadian cities.

The paper identified a total of 14 smaller urban centers with immigration rates of over 100 per 10,000 residents. They are regions of Regina and Saskatoon in Saskatchewan, Halifax, Charlottetown, Fredericton, Moncton, Swift Current, Winkler, Steinbach, Brandon, Thompson, Brooks, High River, and Wood Buffalo.

Studies have also found median entry wages for new immigrants increasing in Canada.

Record-breaking Express Entry Draws:

During the pandemic, IRCC innovated the Express Entry system by switching program-specific draws. Eventually, IRCC was able to send out invitations to apply for permanent residence to more than 100,000 candidates in 2020.

Following its success, IRCC has only held program-specific Express Entry draws in 2021. That is, candidates who qualify for Canada Experience Class (CEC) and those with prior provincial nominations are only invited for permanent residence. The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) which happens to be the most preferred pathway for foriegn skilled workers without work experience inside Canada has not been considered yet in recent draws.

However, one cannot ignore the unpredictable nature of IRCC Express Entry draws. It was very recently that it held a historic draw issuing nearly 26,000 ITAs for Canada PR. With a target for nearly 108,000 ITAs for Canada PR in 2021, FSWP candidates may soon be considered. Get in touch with our consultants to know your chances.

Provincial Nominee Program (PNPs) increases intake:

Supporting the Express Entry nominations are Canada PNP that is seen active in recent time. The current annual target is to issue over 80,000 invitations to eligible immigrants to apply for provincial nominations.

We have already covered how keen are Canada PNP to welcome new immigrants during the pandemic. Click here to read it.

Canada is actively welcoming Foreign Entrepreneurs:

IRCC intends to accept between 153,600 to 208,500 applications under economic-class immigration programs in 2021. However, the expected target for Business immigration will be around 1,000 eligible applicants. Over and above, Canada PNP is also looking to invite entrepreneurs, self-employed candidates. Ask our consultants to know your best chances and eligibility.

Click here to know the best options for business immigration to Canada in 2021.

Study opportunities in Canada:

Higher education institutions in Canada are keen on welcoming international students back to campus for new courses this fall. The immigration of international students is not only significant for the country’s global outreach but also creates a ready-made talent pool for companies in Canada to hire them with inherited Canadian experience. Click here to know the list of universities that plan to welcome students by this fall.

Read about the high-demand jobs in Canada in 2021.

Throughout the pandemic, the federal government upheld its decision to increase immigration for economic recovery. Immigration of international students, foreign skilled immigrants, business individuals, along with their families is seen as crucial to overcoming demographic challenges due to ageing and the declining birth rate.

However, there’s still no timeline on when the border will re-open and resume normal travel operations to Canada. Until then, we would advise all the immigration aspirants to register their profiles on the Express Entry system or send-out your Expressional of Interests (EOIs) to desirable PNP. You may also work on your skills such as language proficiency to get more profile points and thus increase your chances of immigration.

Take this free assessment now to determine your eligibility. You may also book a free appointment with our experienced immigration consultants to get started!

Canadian Immigration Options For Entrepreneurs in 2021

Best Options For Business Immigration To Canada in 2021

Posted on March 8, 2021 by Sandy Leave a Comment

Canada’s exuberant target to welcome nearly 1.2 million new immigrants over the span of the next three years is overwhelming. The immediate target to welcome upto 401,000 new immigrants in 2021 under economic-class, family-class programs seem realistic.

In this blog, let’s give you an overview of business immigration programs in Canada. However, eligibility for each and every program will be dependent on the case profile.

Choose to take this assessment online or contact our consultants to get started.

Federal Business Immigration Programs

Foreign business individuals, entrepreneurs, investors, senior managerial individuals may qualify for various business immigration programs in Canada.

Those who wish to settle anywhere with their families in Canada but Quebec choose to qualify themselves under the federal business immigration programs. In other words, if you immigrate federally, you may pick Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Halifax, Saskatoon, etc., as your destination.

As a business immigration applicant in 2021, you are assessed and evaluated for immigration by the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) from the beginning to the end.

Canada’s economic immigration includes programs for eligible skilled workers, international graduates, and business applicants, ie. those with a personal net worth & willing to run a business in Canada.

Federal business immigration options fall under Economic Immigration and there are two major options available in 2021:

Self-employed: This option is available to self-employed or world-class professionals in athletics or cultural activities. Your language proficiency in English or French, current personal net worth, and future income expectations are factored in deciding to issue you a visa.

Start-up visa: Foreign entrepreneurs with an innovative business plan and backed by any designated organization can quickly immigrate to Canada. After less than one year in Canada, candidates and their families can transition to permanent residence.

Such individuals may seek temporary residence or eventual permanent residence in Canada. They must demonstrate that their business will bring significant economic, social, or cultural benefits to Canadians.

Provincial Business Immigration Programs

Immigration opportunities for eligible business individuals to settle in a specific Canadian province may be classified into the following categories:

Direct permanent residence
Work-permit first
Quebec immigration options
Provinces that do not support business immigration

Further, let’s briefly discuss the individual provincial business immigration provinces:

British Columbia: It operates three business streams:

Entrepreneur Immigration
Entrepreneur Immigration – Regional Pilot
Entrepreneur Immigration – Strategic Projects

General eligibility requirements include:

Investment of a minimum of $200,000 in the new or existing business.
Create at least one new full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
The net worth of a minimum of $600,000.
Canadian Language Benchmark Level 4 In English or French.
Prior business and/or management experience.

Ontario: It operates two streams namely:

Ontario Corporate Stream: The Ontario Corporate Stream is aimed at established international corporations that want to expand into Ontario or buy an existing Ontario business. Once nominated, an applicant qualifies to apply for Canadian permanent residence.

Ontario Entrepreneur Stream: The Ontario Entrepreneur Stream is aimed at individuals from outside Canada who want to start a business or buy an already existing business in Ontario. Those who are approved for the program will be nominated for Canadian Permanent Residence.

Alberta: It operates two business streams namely:

Alberta International Graduate Entrepreneur Immigration Stream: The Alberta International Graduate Entrepreneur Stream is aimed at international graduates from Alberta post-secondary institutions who want to establish or operate a business in the province.

Alberta Self-Employed Farmer Stream: The Alberta Self-Employed Farmer Stream is managed by the AINP in close collaboration with the Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, and targets applicants with farm management skills and sufficient financial resources to invest in a farming business in Alberta.

Saskatchewan: It operates the following business immigration streams:

Entrepreneur
International Graduate Entrepreneur
Farm Owners/Operators