Applying for Canada Permanent Residence along with your Spouse

Posted on October 19, 2021 by Sandy 2 Comments

The new federal government and economic recovery in Canada have re-ignited hopes for the improvement of family immigration to Canada.

Canada is likely to welcome around 80,000 immigrants per year under the spousal, partner, and children category.

Any newly acquired permanent residence for Canadian citizens of foreign origin may sponsor their foreign Spouse (legally married), Common-law/Conjugal partners (not legally married but has been living with you for at least 12 consecutive months) to obtain Canadian permanent residence.

Sponsoring your Spouse for Canada PR

If one of the partners is above 18 years old and is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, they can sponsor the other partner for Canada PR.

Such applicants must submit two applications to Immigration, Refugees, and the Citizenship Canada (IRCC):

the sponsorship application and
permanent residence application.

IRCC asks you to submit both applications together.

Step 1: Confirm you meet the eligibility criteria to sponsor with CanApprove	2: Get the application package from IRCC’s website
3: Pay all required fees on IRCC’s website. Like processing, right of permanent residence, and biometrics fees	4: Mail both applications together to IRCC

Sponsors must demonstrate their financial adequacy to take care of a partner to be sponsored for at least three years. Sponsor is not allowed to sponsor another person for the next five years after they obtain Canada PR.

The standard processing time is 12 months.

If you are applying with your partner who is living with you in Canada. The process has slightly different steps than if you were applying from abroad.

The Spouse or Common-Law Partner in-Canada class is for Canadian citizens and permanent residents who are already living together in Canada and want to obtain permanent residence.

However, under the Outland Spousal or Common-Law Partner Sponsorship, Canadians or permanent residents may sponsor their spouse or common-law partner for permanent residence in Canada, regardless of their place of residence.

Express Entry for Married Couples or Common-Law Union

A married couple or common-law partners can receive fewer base points than a single person, but can also gain points from their partner.

A couple applying for Canada PR, either within Canada or outside Canada, through Express Entry, will necessarily have to assign only one among them as a Principal Applicant (PA) for assessment and evaluation based on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).

The couple can choose which partner is the PA as long as both partners qualify for at least one of three Express Entry programs, i.e. the Federal Skilled Workers Program, the Federal Skilled Trade Program, and the Canadian Experience Class.

PA can be accompanied by a spouse, common-law partners, or dependent children.

The scoring system for single PAs and partnered PAs is somewhat different.

The CRS reduces the number of points the PA can get for various factors by a total of 40 points. However, the CRS also allows the PA to earn up to 40 points through their partner’s profile.

For more details, read our previous blog on Canada PR through Express Entry For Married Couples or Common-Law Union.

Canada provides an application guide online, as well as a document checklist for people going through the process. We advise you to go through it.

However, a significant advantage of applying through an immigration consultant like CanApprove will lessen your documentation compliance burden apart from full support to explore various options depending upon your unique profile.

Take this free assessment online to determine your eligibility.

Book your appointment with CanApprove today.

Monthly Review: Canada PR Nomination Draws in September 2021

Posted on October 4, 2021January 22, 2024 by Sandy Leave a Comment

The Liberals are forming a new federal government for the third consecutive time and are set to increase more skilled immigration in upcoming years.

And why is foreign immigration to Canada important?

If one is to understand the importance of immigration in building the Canadian economy & support the ageing demography, the recent election campaigning in Canada was not centred on whether the country should accept immigrants, but how Canada can best welcome them!

Canada is recovering fast and with the opening up of its borders to international travellers, the country is eyeing to meet its annual immigration target of up to 400,000 new immigrants.

During the month of September’21, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held four program-specific Express Entry resulting in about 4,000 invitations to apply (ITAs) for Canada PR. Meanwhile, the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) issued over 6,500 ITAs to eligible immigration candidates.

Experts on immigration view these developments as a sign of relief as more new aspirants can be expected to immigrate to Canada in near future.

Canada Permanent Residence Under Express Entry in September 2021

Somewhere in the whole nomination draws in 2021, the preference for candidates under Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) is still being sidelined. Usually, foreign skilled workers who have adequate work experience but outside Canada are considered under the FSWP category.

The federal Express Entry provides a direct immigration pathway for skilled foreign workers even without a job offer or work experience in Canada to obtain permanent residence (PR).

Throughout the year 2021, Canada preferred Express Entry candidates only under CEC or PNP categories.

Express Entry Draws – September 2021
Draw Number	Nomination Draw Date	Qualifying CRS	ITAs issued
#203	September 01	PNP-specific: 764 points	635
#204	September 14	CEC-specific: 462 points	2,000
#205	September 15	PNP-specific: 732 points	521
#206	September 29	PNP-specific: 742 points	761

Clearly, IRCC emphasized more candidates with provincial nominations to apply for permanent residence in September’21.

Canada Express Entry is a long-drawn (maximum one-year validity) two-step process.

All registered 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).

Active Provincial Nominations for Canada PR in September 2021

The unique arrangement between the federal and provincial/territorial governments in Canada, except in Quebec & Nunavut, allows the nomination of foreign candidates separately based on the unique labour demand of each province. These provincial nominations allow eligible candidates to apply for permanent residence.

Further, candidates with an active Express Entry were extremely benefitted as provincial nomination will give them a chance to gain 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.

ONTARIO: About 1,751 invitations to apply for provincial nominations were issued throughout the month. Eligible candidates under various streams like the Master’s Graduate and Ph.D. Graduate streams, the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker and Employer job offer: International Student streams, In-Demand Skills stream and also, the Regional Immigration Pilot.

Typically, foreign workers with Canadian work experience in various occupations fitting the categories under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill level 0, A, B may qualify for such streams.

BRITISH COLUMBIA: Nearly 994 candidates were invited to apply for the provincial nomination throughout the past month. These provincial nominations were issued through the Express Entry British Columbia, and Skills Immigration streams.

With the turning of the tech pilot program into a permanent immigration program, aspirants can expect more nominations of specific foreign tech workers to immigrate to Canada.

ALBERTA: The province issued 1,335 ITAs over three Express Entry-linked draws in September’21.	MANITOBA: The province of Manitoba held a draw under Skilled Workers in Manitoba, International Education Stream, and Skilled Workers Overseas streams, issuing up to 1,252 Letters of Advice to Apply.
SASKATCHEWAN: The province invited nearly 919 candidates under provincial draws through the Express Entry and Occupations In-Demand sub-categories of the International Skilled Worker Category. Additionally, 41 invitations were issued under the Entrepreneur stream draw.	PRINCE EDWARD ISLANDS: The province went as per its pre-scheduled draws inviting 143 eligible candidates under Express Entry, Labour and Business Impact candidates.

The provincial nomination draws from Nova Scotia were seen active during the month. The province held new business immigration draws under the Entrepreneur stream and Internation Graduate Entrepreneur stream, resulting in 30 nominations.

Here’s a quick review of our previous editions of monthly nomination draws review:

Monthly nomination draws January 2021,
Monthly nomination draws February 2021,
Monthly nomination draws March 2021,
Monthly nomination draws April 2021.
Monthly nomination draws May 2021,
Monthly nomination draws June 2021.
Monthly nomination draws July 2021.
Monthly nomination draws August 2021.

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

Book your free appointment with CanApprove to get genuine immigration advice based on your work and academic profile.

Top In-Demand Jobs in Nova Scotia because of COVID-19

Posted on September 27, 2021 by Sandy Leave a Comment

A recent study released by the Government of Canada examines occupational employment trends in Nova Scotia arising from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Over these years of liberal immigration phase in Canada, the province has welcomed a good share of foreign skilled workers & international students to study, work & settle in Canada permanently.

Based on the same government-sponsored study, let’s look into the most in-demand jobs in Nova Scotia and various ways of immigrating to the province to qualify for permanent residence.

Healthcare Jobs in Nova Scotia

Even though the demand for healthcare workers & professionals was high owing to the ageing population, the pandemic has resulted in a sudden surge in demand. The province will meet this increase in demand with the intake of foreign immigrants.

Some of the in-demand healthcare jobs in Nova Scotia:

Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (NOC 3012);

Licensed practical nurses (NOC 3233);

Massage therapists (NOC 3236);

Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates (NOC 3413).

Engineering Jobs in Nova Scotia

Among various engineering fields, Nova Scotia is seeing an increased preference for foreign immigrants who have work experience in the computer and information systems field. Some of the in-demand engineering jobs in Nova Scotia:

Information systems analysts and consultants (NOC 2171);

Software engineers and designers (NOC 2173);

Computer programmers and interactive media developers (NOC 2174);

User support technicians (NOC 2282).

Business & Finance Admin Jobs in Nova Scotia

Foreign skilled immigrants with work experience in administrative works have been recommended by Nova Scotia for provincial nominations. As many jobs in this field can be conducted remotely, the demand remains the same even after the pandemic.

Some of the in-demand admin jobs in Nova Scotia:

Financial auditors and accountants (NOC 1111);

Administrative officers (NOC 1221);

Administrative assistants (NOC 1241);

General office support workers (NOC 1411).

How To Apply For Canada PR Through Nova Scotia?

Come 2021, the province seems to focus on attracting foreign talent with specialized skills or occupations that match identified labour shortages. Further, the province seeks to retain international students after they graduate from any institution in the province.

Any eligible foreigner can apply for receiving a provincial nomination from Nova Scotia in two ways: the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP), and the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP).

Eight different immigration streams under the NSNP:

‘Enhanced’ PNP streams –

Nova Scotia Experience: for candidates with their profiles registered in the federal Express Entry pool and work experience in Nova Scotia for at least one year;
Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities: for candidates with their profiles registered in the federal Express Entry pool and who meet specific labor market needs;
Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities for Physicians: for candidates with their profiles registered in the federal Express Entry pool and who have a job offer as a family physician or specialist physician;

‘Base’ PNP streams –

Physician Stream: for physicians who have a job offer in Nova Scotia and are not in the Express Entry system;
Skilled Worker Stream: for skilled workers who have received a job offer in the province;
Occupation In-Demand Stream: for workers with a job offer in an occupation that is deemed “in-demand;”
Entrepreneur Stream: for individuals who wish to start a business in the province; and
International Graduate Entrepreneur Stream: for international graduates who wish to start a business in the province.

To apply under the AIP, candidates must have a job offer from a designated employer and must have an individualized settlement plan. Atlantic Canada consists of four provinces: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island.

If you’re planning to immigrate to Canada anytime soon, now is a good time. You can seek help from CanApprove, a leading immigration & overseas education consultant since 1998. Avail of our proven services to ensure approval of immigration applications in quick time.

Take this free assessment online to determine your eligibility based on your specific profile.

Book your free appointment with one of our advisors today!

When is the right time to enter Canada Express Entry pool

Entering the Federal Express Entry Pool Now Far Outweigh the Risks

Posted on September 23, 2021 by Sandy Leave a Comment

Canada has given its mandate to the liberal party to form a government at the federal level for the third consecutive term. Even though it will be yet another minority government led by the liberal party, we can expect Canadian immigration to only improve further.

With Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan 2021-2023 eyeing over 400,000 immigration candidates every year and travel relaxations, foreign skilled workers, international students can start planning for their immigration to Canada soon.

Ever since the launch of the Express Entry system in 2015, it has become the main way for Canada to process skilled worker immigration applications. Canada remains to be the only G7 country to offer a direct pathway to permanent residence (PR) to eligible foreigners even without a job offer or previous study/work experience in the country.

The Express Entry system manages the applications of immigration candidates qualifying for any one of the three federal programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), the Federal Skills Trades Program (FSTP) for semi-skilled foreign workers, and few linked provincial nomination streams.

FSWP made up nearly half of all Express Entry immigrants per year prior to the coronavirus pandemic. Desirable economic-class immigrants are chosen on their basis of age, work experience, education, and language proficiency.

Given the situation, you may want to adopt a “wait and watch” approach about entering the Express Entry pool now. But CanApprove has always observed Canada values skills and talents and will be receptive to foreign skilled immigration, no matter how hostile the global situation be.

Top Reasons to Enter Federal Express Entry Pool Now

In the uncertainty over FSWP draws, the only real risk of entering the Express Entry pool now is that your official language test score will expire in about two years if you do not receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) within this time period. However, you can always retake the test and update the latest score upon expiry.

But CanApprove still thinks now is a good time to enter the Express Entry for the following reasons:

Chance to receive a provincial nomination: Great chances are that your Express Entry profile may qualify for one of the linked Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP). A successful provincial nomination can result in up to 600 additional CRS points that will effectively guarantee an invitation to apply for permanent residence in the upcoming federal Express Entry draws.

For instance, IRCC has conducted over 18 Express Entry draws so far in 2021, inviting candidates with provincial nominations alone. Click here to get a quick review of nomination draws in the months of January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August 2021.

Match with suitable employment opportunities: Registering your profile in the federal pool can help you match with suitable employment opportunities even before you’re invited to apply for permanent residence. This could result in eligible job offers that can add 50 or 200 CRS points.

While the additional CRS points cannot guarantee you an ITA for Canada PR, but they sure will help your chances. Upon receiving an ITA, you will be in good standing to quickly integrate into the Canadian labour market through your pre-arranged employment.

Uncertainty over ITAs for FSWP candidates: Throughout 2021, IRCC has not nominated any immigration candidates qualifying under the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) stream. However, this is not to suggest that IRCC will never consider the popular FSWP stream.

Express Entry draws by design are unpredictable and were introduced to be competitive by giving advantage to the highest-scoring candidates and responsive to the needs of Canadian provinces and employers. In an unprecedented move earlier on February 13, 2021, IRCC held a historic draw inviting nearly 27,332 immigration candidates with Canadian Experience and a minimum qualifying CRS of 75 points! The previous record was 5,000 ITAs.

Given the nature of Express Entry nomination draws, IRCC may begin to invite FSWP candidates anytime once again. By virtue of being in the pool, you may potentially be the beneficiary of an unconventional draw like the one we saw on February 13.

Eventually, IRCC will re-open its doors to FSWP candidates and expand its nomination draw sizes to accommodate more foreign immigrants. You can check your eligibility and explore various immigration options with CanApprove.

We are a leading immigration consultant and have been offering genuine and trusted immigration, overseas education consultancy for over two decades. Book your free appointment with our expert consultants to discuss your prospects on the basis of your academic and work profile!

Settlement Services remain one of many reasons for easy immigration to Canada

Free Settlement Services: One Other Reason To Plan for Canada PR

Posted on September 14, 2021 by Sandy 2 Comments

Until now, you may have known Canada to boost immigration levels by setting a historic target of welcoming over 400,000 new immigrants each year until 2023. These could majorly include economic-class immigrants with/without job offers and international students who are willing to settle in Canada permanently.

But did you know?

Individuals who have been selected (pending verifications), inside or outside Canada, to become permanent residents (PR);
Non-permanent residents and foreign nationals who have been selected by employers under the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program;
Non-permanent residents who have received confirmation of a complete Application for Permanent Residence under the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot;
Eligible persons include both the principal applicant and eligible dependents (spouse and children);

The above category of immigration candidates is eligible to avail themselves of the free Settlement services in Canada to successfully integrate into Canadian society.

Canadian government-funded settlement services remain to be one of the many reasons why immigration to Canada is so attractive.

Even though many immigrants do not know about these services, the settlement services have so far been proven to help the majority of the newcomers to access genuine information to settle & integrate well within the society.

The Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) offer services to help you prepare to live in Canada. In-person services are offered in major out-migrant regions like China, India and the Philippines.

These services help you get information about life in Canada, such as healthcare, housing, and transportation. They can also refer you to more specific community services, depending on your needs. IRCC also has a list of services to help you prepare to work in Canada. There are some industry-specific resources for those working in architecture, engineering, trades, finance, tech, construction, nursing and others.

Click here to know more about the province-specific settlement services.

Various Settlement Services Offered by Canada to Newcomers

In order to fulfil the objective of promoting the successful integration of permanent residents into Canada, the following types of services are offered to newcomers:

Needs assessments help immigrants identify what services they need to know about Canadian society and how to get them.
Information services supply information about securing life essentials such as housing, healthcare, social services, and transportation. It shares information with you on your rights and obligations. Even though most newcomers get information from their friends, these services are genuine sources of information.
Language training helps immigrants develop language skills as it is a crucial area to immigrants’ success in Canada.
Employment services help immigrants prepare for working in Canada. It provides information on specific settlement needs in career, education, language, social programming, finances, and more. It will also put you in touch with employment agencies and provide career search assistance.
Community services help immigrants meet friends and get involved in local activities.
Support services referring to translation, child care, and transportation, assist in completing forms and applications, and others.

You may visit the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website to learn more about free newcomer services near you.

Thanks to the active community on the internet, finding information on Canadian immigration for newcomers is less of a barrier these days. However, many can be misled. Canada recommends seeking such information from a genuine settlement worker or certified immigration consultants who can help teach you how systems work in Canada so that you have a better understanding of how best to use the information and resources you find.

CanApprove is officially a registered & approved immigration consultant by ICCRC. By virtue of this certification, CanApprove is legally authorized to support immigration aspirants to Canada with guidance, documentation and counselling support that also includes post-landing services.

Get a free assessment of your immigration profile and find the best pathway to migrate to Canada.

Book your free appointment here to meet expert counsellors at CanApprove and explore various options based on your work/academic profile to immigrate to Canada.

Study in Canada is Rewarding, Study in Canada

Study in Canada is Rewarding, Excellent Scope to Obtain Permanent Residency

Posted on September 4, 2021 by Sandy Leave a Comment

It is rhetoric now to answer the question of why study in Canada.

Canada enjoys a dominant position in world affairs by virtue of being a part of the G7 advanced economies. The world-class infrastructure to support the immigration of foreign skilled workers, international students make it an exciting destination to settle permanently.

The unique arrangement between the federal government and the provinces/territories allow each Canadian province and territory to identify and invite immigration candidates who can meet their local economic needs. In this process, many Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) streams are geared towards international students, some are even dedicated to them.

In this blog, we look to summarize various pathways available for International students to obtain permanent residence in Canada.

To know your eligibility, take this free assessment online.

New Brunswick Launches New Immigration Pilot for International Graduates

The pilot aims to facilitate permanent residency for international students who have graduated from one of 19 eligible programs of study.

New Brunswick has unveiled a new immigration pilot project for international students who graduate from four private career colleges in the province.

Starting April 1, 2022, New Brunswick will extend provincial nominations to international students who graduate from four private career colleges in the province. These colleges include:

Atlantic Business College,
Eastern College,
McKenzie College, or
Oulton College.

Additionally, they are required to complete their study in one of 19 targeted occupations.

The press release made a note that the new immigration pilot will benefit recent graduates of designated learning institutions who are not currently eligible for the federal Post-Graduation Work Permit program.

All eligible designated learning institutions are expected to offer the following career courses for International students in Canada:

social and community service workers;
early childhood educators and assistants;
educational assistants;
health-care aides;
home support workers;
licensed practical nurses;
paramedics and related occupations;
medical laboratory technologists;
medical laboratory technicians and pathologists’ assistants;
medical administrative assistants;
computer programmers and interactive media developers;
web designers and developers;
computer network technicians;
user support technicians;
accounting technicians and bookkeepers;
payroll clerks;
shippers and receivers;
supply chain and logistics supervisors; and
production logistics co-ordinators

This new initiative is in line with the priorities set by business groups and organizations in the province. Specific details and requirements for the new pilot project will only be available in the fall.

”With the increased competition for skilled labour, the potential to transition international students into permanent residents is crucial”, recognises both the business community and the provincial government.

The usual route for International graduates from New Brunswick is to qualify for New Brunswick Skilled Worker Stream. This program is for foreigners who have a job offer from a New Brunswick employer. It is not specifically for international student graduates, but they do allow people who completed a one-year program at a New Brunswick post-secondary to skip the one-year work experience requirement.

Other Provincial Level Programs for International Students

Ontario is one of the preferred immigration destinations for skilled foreign workers to work & settle in Canada. The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Progam (OINP) has two streams dedicated to international student graduates: the Master’s Graduate Stream, and the PhD Graduate Stream. The good part is neither of these programs does not require you to have job offers in order to apply for provincial nominations.

British Columbia is another preferred immigration destination. The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program ( BC PNP) has a number of options for international graduates through the Express Entry British Columbia stream and the Skills Immigration stream. If you are eligible for the International Post-Graduate Category, you need not require a job offer to apply.

The Canadian Province of Manitoba has an International Education Stream for people who graduated from a post-secondary institute in the province. It accepts applications for provincial nominations under three sub-categories: Career Employment Pathway, Graduate Internship Pathway, and the Student Entrepreneur Pathway

Saskatchewan is not behind with a dedicated stream for Experience Category students who recently graduated from an eligible Canadian post-secondary. You need a full-time job offer from a Saskatchewan employer to qualify.

Similar dedicated provincial streams for International graduates with a job offer is offered by Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador. The job must be in your field of study.

Graduates Showing Interest in Entrepreneurship

For international graduates with an aptitude in entrepreneurship can benefit from Nova Scotia’s International Graduate Entrepreneur Stream. You need to have at least two years of full-time study at a Nova Scotia university or college. You need to have operated your own business in the province for at least one year and intend to make Nova Scotia your new home.

Newfoundland and Labrador graduates who want to run a business in the province can apply under the International Graduate Entrepreneur Category and get nominated for a provincial nomination.

A successful provincial nomination may be valid for up to 6 months and eligible candidates can apply to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residency within this time period.

Federal Level Immigration Program for International Graduates

A most common route to settle in Canada is by graduating from any Canadian learning institution and apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit, which comes with a time validity of 3 years. Most PGWP holders choose to enter the Express Entry pool by qualifying for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) after gaining at least one year of work experience.

Recent estimates from Statistics Canada has revealed that Canada was able to retain & transform more than 50% of international students who completed their under-graduation degree from Canadian learning institutions into a permanent resident in the last decade.

Another route to obtain permanent residency By international student graduates is through the Atlantic Immigration Pilot. It is expected to become a permanent program in 2022.

Graduates including International students from eligible institutions in Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick may be able to apply for the Atlantic International Graduate Program. This program allows graduates to apply for permanent residence without having any previous work experience.

You can book a free appointment with us to plan a tailor-made strategy to immigrate to Canada.

Canada nominates over 10,000 immigrants for Provincial Nominations & Permanent Residence in August 2021.

Monthly Review: Canada PR Nomination Draws in August 2021

Posted on September 1, 2021 by Sandy Leave a Comment

Canada needs immigration.

And why are we painting such an optimistic picture to you?

Canada is heading for a fresh federal poll on September 20, two years ahead of its mandated time. In all their election campaigns, major Canadian political parties are rooting for immigration.

If one is to understand the importance of immigration in building the Canadian economy & support the ageing demography, the election campaigning in Canada is not centred on whether the country should accept immigrants, but how Canada can best welcome them!

Canada has now opened up its borders to international travellers, starting this September 9. It is even more encouraging to note that Canada welcomed over 35,000 new immigrants in the month of June 2021, the first of its kind since the imposed travel restrictions to curb the spread of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

This is viewed by expert immigration lawyers as a sign of relief as more new aspirants can be expected to immigrate to Canada very soon.

IRCC held four program-specific Express Entry resulting in over 7,000 invitations to apply (ITAs) for Canada PR, the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) issued over 3,400 ITAs for provincial nominations, in August 2021.

Permanent Residence Under Express Entry in August 2021

The federal Express Entry provides a direct immigration pathway for skilled foreign workers even without a job offer or work experience in Canada to obtain permanent residence (PR).

In the year 2019, before the current pandemic exploded the scenes, Canada created a record nomination through Express Entry draws by inviting over 1 million foreign skilled workers for the first time in its history. Data from Statistics Canada reveal that more candidates from the FSWP category were preferred.

Canada repeated the same feat in 2020, however, more candidates qualified under CEC & PNP categories.

Express Entry Draws – August 2021
Draw Number	Nomination Draw Date	Qualifying CRS	ITAs issued
#109	August 04	PNP-specific: 760 points	512
#200	August 05	CEC-specific: 404 points	3,000
#201	August 18	PNP-specific: 751 points	463
#202	August 19	CEC-specific: 403 points	3,000

Canada Express Entry is a long-drawn (maximum one-year validity) 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).

Active Provincial Nominations for Canada PR in August 2021

With improved retention rates for immigrants and employers seeking more immigrants in Atlantic Canada, which otherwise was not much popular among immigrants, Canadian immigration through Provincial Nominee Programs and Express Entry is gaining much steam.

BRITISH COLUMBIA: Over 900 candidates were invited to apply for the provincial nomination throughout the past month. These provincial nominations were issued through the Express Entry British Columbia, Skills Immigration streams.

With the turning of the tech pilot program into a permanent immigration program, aspirants can expect more nominations of specific foreign tech workers to immigrate to Canada.

ONTARIO: The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) nominated 875 candidates in various EOI streams: In-demand streams, Masters Graduate, PhD. Graduate, Entrepreneur streams. Ontario is now eyeing to welcome at least 8,350 eligible candidates to apply for permanent residency (PR) in 2021.

Typically, foreign workers with Canadian work experience in occupations relating to National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill level 0, A, B. Such jobs include Managerial positions, Experts in certain fields, Professionals, Supervisors with graduate-level or higher education qualifications.

ALBERTA: The province held its biggest draw inviting candidates for 396 provincial nominations through its Express Entry stream. Officials from the province have reportedly spoken to media persons confirming that the AINP has now removed the temporary criteria adjustments made to the Alberta Express Entry Stream in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.	MANITOBA: The province of Manitoba held one draw through the following three streams: Skilled Workers in Manitoba, International Education Stream, and Skilled Workers Overseas in August. A total of 275 Letters of Advice to Apply were issued of which 36 were issued to candidates who declared a valid Express Entry profile.
SASKATCHEWAN: The total tally of nominations is nearly double that of last month. The province invited nearly 948 candidates over four provincial draws through the Express Entry and Occupations In-Demand sub-categories of the International Skilled Worker Category.	PRINCE EDWARD ISLANDS: The province went as per its pre-scheduled draws inviting 161 eligible candidates under Express Entry, Labour and Business Impact candidates.

That being said, Canada is still far away from reaching its ambitious annual immigration intake levels of 401,000 new applicants. It is expected for Canada to invite at least over 40,000 new immigrants from August to December to fulfil this annual immigration target.

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

Here’s a quick review of our previous editions of monthly nomination draws review:

Monthly nomination draws January 2021,

Monthly nomination draws February 2021,

Monthly nomination draws March 2021,

Monthly nomination draws April 2021.

Monthly nomination draws May 2021,

Monthly nomination draws June 2021.

Monthly nomination draws July 2021.

Get a free assessment of your immigration profile and find the best pathway to migrate to Canada.

Book your free appointment today!

Reality Check: How is it like moving to Canada in the post-pandemic era?

What is it like Immigrating to Canada Post-Pandemic?

Posted on August 31, 2021 by Sandy Leave a Comment

Nothing has changed.

Canada is still open-heartedly welcoming the immigration of skilled foreign professionals, international students, business entrepreneurs and their families. Canada remains the only G7 country to offer a direct immigration pathway to apply for permanent residence (PR) to such economic-class immigrant aspirants.

Even as Canada is heading towards a federal poll on September 20, two years ahead of its stipulated time, all major Canadian political parties are routing for immigration. If one is to understand the importance of immigration in building the Canadian economy & support demography, the election campaigning in Canada is not centred on whether the country should accept immigrants, but how Canada can best welcome them.

Canada has already set an ambitious immigration level plan to target over 1.2 million new immigrants over the next three years. With these parallel developments in mind, let’s analyze the issues that are plaguing the current immigration system.

Impact of COVID on Canadian Immigration

COVID-19 pandemic had disproportionately affected every sector. Immigration in Canada was significantly impacted, however, Canada increased its economic class selection criteria and transitioned more temporary residents to permanent residence to meet its annual immigration targets. They did it by regularly conducting program-specific Express Entry draws (CEC-only and PNP-only) and other Provincial Nominee Program draws.

While Canada remains on track to welcome over 401,000 new immigrants by the end of 2021, there is a significant risk involving some newcomer segments such as women and family class immigrants.

Additionally, Canada has not conducted even a single Express Entry draws for the Federal Skills Worker Program (FSWP) candidates. The FSWP is the most preferred direct immigration program among skilled foreign workers with work experience and who wish to apply for permanent residence.

With Canada doing away with most of the travel restrictions measures, immigrant aspirants can soon expect an all-program Express Entry, considering FSWP candidates for PR nominations.

Check out our previous blog >> How will travel relaxations aid immigration to Canada?

Innovation from Canada Provincial Nominee Programs

Canada PNPs have shown more resilience in inviting new immigrants to apply for provincial nomination. They held industry and occupation-specific draws that are meant to respond to very specific labour market needs. Since February 2021, British Columbia PNP has been issuing specific provincial draws. The same approach is followed by Ontario PNP & Saskatchewan PNP.

Canada may follow this new approach in its Express Entry draws which will help address skilled worker shortages in key areas across Canada such as in technology, health care, and agri-food.

Those immigrant aspirants who wish to count their self-employed work experience within Canada to apply under Express Entry still remain difficult as Immigrant, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada still believes it is difficult to verify self-employment in Canada.

Check out how all major political parties in Canada are rooting for immigration.

Coming to the immigration of international students, Canada is open to the entry of international students for the upcoming fall semester, ie. September-December. Canadian public universities are also open to receiving new admissions from international students to immigrate to Canada next year.

You can take this free assessment online to explore your Canadian immigration options.

If you are looking to immigrate abroad for a better career opportunity, a higher living standard or for higher education, Canada must be your top priority. Book your free appointment with CanApprove to get a tailored made immigration strategy based on your academic & work profile.

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.

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!

Tag: COVID-19