New Brunswick is putting the brakes on many applications for work permits by foreign nationals who are not already living and working in that province because of the economic downturn triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic.  “Covid-19 continues to impact New Brunswick’s economy in an unprecedented way. Businesses have reduced services, laid off staff, and in some cases have closed,” states...

Manitoba immigration issued 199 invitations across three provincial streams in a new draw through the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program. The July 16 draw saw LAAs issued to skilled workers and international graduates. Skilled Workers in Manitoba received 157 LAAs, with the lowest-ranked candidates scoring 475 points. International Education Stream candidates received 21 LAAs. The remaining 21 LAAs went to Skilled Workers Overseas candidates...

Saskatchewan immigration targeted Occupations In-Demand and Express Entry candidates in a new Expression of Interest draw, issuing invitations to 502 candidates. The July 29 Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program draw featured invites targeting 43 occupations.  Occupations In-Demand candidates received 248 invitations, while Express Entry candidates received 254. Both streams required a minimum score of 70 points. The draw was the 16th since the...

British Columbia immigration has issued invitations to 12 candidates across two provincial streams in a new Entrepreneur Immigration draw. The July 28 British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program draw featured invites through both the general Entrepreneur stream and the Entrepreneur Immigration Regional Pilot. Candidates for the general category received 7 invites with a minimum score of 125 points. Regional Pilot candidates received 5...

An American tech company worth $1.5 billion is threatening to move jobs out of the United States and into Canada because of U.S. President Donald Trump’s ban on guest worker visas. In a bid to get Americans back to work quickly, Trump issued a presidential proclamation on June 22 to prevent some categories of foreign workers from entering the country. Among...

A new BC PNP Tech Pilot draw saw 34 invitations issued to skilled workers and international graduates in 29 targeted occupations. The July 28 draw featured invitations through four streams of the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program.  Minimum scores were 80 for all four streams. The featured streams were: SI – Skilled Worker SI – International Graduate EEBC – Skilled Worker ...

Canada remains committed to boosting immigration in the long term despite the COVID-19 pandemic grounding planes and closing borders. "Although we've had a disruption this year due to COVID-19, now is the time, more than ever, to work together to attract, welcome and retain new Canadians,” said Trevor Holder, Canada’s minister of post-secondary education, training and labour and co-chair of...

A recent intake period for the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream saw Ontario immigration receive 1,300 applications.  The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) stream opened on the morning of July 21 and closed again a few hours later, with the intake limit met. Ontario could not confirm when the popular stream would next open. “The OINP will continue to monitor intake of applications...

Ottawa is relaxing Canada study permit rules for international students for the coming school year to allow them to begin their courses online from their home countries during the COVID-19 pandemic.  The federal government has introduced a new 2-step process for students starting this fall who may have to begin their courses online due to coronavirus restrictions. The process involves approval...

A new BC PNP Tech Pilot draw saw British Columbia immigration issue 62 invitations to skilled workers and international graduates. The July 21 draw featured invitations through four streams of the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program.  Minimum scores were 80 for all four streams. The featured streams were: SI – Skilled Worker SI – International Graduate EEBC – Skilled Worker EEBC...