Immigrate To Canada As A Carpenter: All You Need To Know

Colin Singer
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Immigrate To Canada As A Carpenter: All You Need To Know

In the next eight years, thousands of Canada jobs for carpenters are expected to be available, providing opportunities for foreign nationals with these skills and work experience to gain their permanent residence in Canada through Express Entry programs.

Under the changes announced by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) at the end of May, the Express Entry stream will now be more responsive to labour market needs through occupation-targeted draws.

That includes the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program, Federal Skilled Trades (FST) program and Canadian Experience Class (CEC), as well as parts of the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP)

Carpenter, categorized under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 system with the code 72310, is one of the 82 occupations that will now be targeted under these new Express Entry draws.

Already, there are a lot of opportunities for carpenters in Canada. The Job Bank federal job-hunting and career-planning website listed 1,683 such jobs up for grabs in early June.

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The greatest demand for carpenters at that time was in British Columbia, Ontario and Alberta. Those three provinces together accounted for 1,426 positions, or 84.7 per cent of all these jobs, in early June.

There were then 820 jobs for carpenters in British Columbia listed on Job Bank and another 377 in Ontario as well as 229 in Alberta.

Saskatchewan employers were then looking for 65 people to fill these kinds of jobs, Quebec was looking for 57 carpenters, Nova Scotia 39, Manitoba 36 and New Brunswick 29.

Newfoundland and Labrador employers were looking for 12 carpenters in early June and there were six openings for carpenters on Prince Edward Island.

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Carpenters are in such demand that there were even jobs in the relatively sparsely-populated territories, with three openings for carpenters in the Yukon, one in Nunavut and two in the Northwest Territories.

In the coming years, that demand is only expected to grow and lead to a shortfall of 5,100 workers to fill these positions by 2031.

“For carpenters, over the period 2022-2031, new job openings arising from expansion demand and replacement demand are expected to total 37,900, while 32,800 new job seekers arising from school leavers, immigration and mobility are expected to be available to fill them,” forecasts Job Bank.

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In Canada, the median hourly wage for a carpenter is $30 with that ranging from a low of $19 right up to $40.51, reveals Job Bank.

Based on a standard 37.5-hour work week, that would be $78,994 at the upper end of the annual wage scale for carpenters in Canada.

Until this year, the flagship Express Entry selection system has previously only conducted draws based on immigration programs, not by targeting specific occupations.

Immigration Minister Opens Up Express Entry To Target Occupations To Resolve Labour Shortages

Candidates will need at least six months of continuous work experience in Canada or abroad within the past three years in one of these occupations to be eligible, experience that can have been gained while working in Canada as temporary foreign workers with a work permits or as an international student with a student visa.

“Everywhere I go, I’ve heard loud and clear from employers across the country who are experiencing chronic labour shortages,” said Immigration Minister Sean Fraser.

“These changes to the Express Entry system will ensure that they have the skilled workers they need to grow and succeed. We can also grow our economy and help businesses with labour shortages while also increasing the number of French-proficient candidates to help ensure the vitality of French-speaking communities.”

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Canada first signalled its intention to start occupation-specific draws through Express Entry in June last year, when changes were made to the Immigration, Refugee and Protection Act to allow invitations based on occupations and other attributes, such as language ability.

The majority of Canada’s provinces have been issuing occupation-specific invitations for several years.

Under the changes to the act, the immigration minister is required to consult provinces and territories, members of industry, unions, employers, workers, worker advocacy groups, settlement provider organizations, and immigration researchers and practitioners, before announcing new categories.

IRCC must also report to parliament each year on the categories that were chosen and the reason for the choices.

Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) says the number of occupations facing shortages doubled between 2019 and 2021. From 2018 to 2022, federal high skilled admissions accounted for between 34 and 40 per cent of overall French-speaking admissions outside Quebec, which manages its own immigration intake.

International Student In Canada: How To Extend Your Study Permit

Colin Singer
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International Student In Canada: How To Extend Your Study Permit

International students who want to keep studying in Canada can apply online to extend their study permits and should do so at least 30 days before their current ones expire.

Now, study permits – and extensions of those permits – require that the international student pay a $150 fee.

But Ottawa is temporarily waiving those fees for Syrian, Turkish, Sudanese and Iranian international students.

Syrian and Turkish international students are getting that break on the fees until Sept. 25 because massive earthquakes have caused widespread damage in their home countries.

Iranian international students are being provided with free study permit extensions as Canada helps those foreign nationals due to the gross and systematic human rights violations being committed by the Iranian regime during its brutal crackdown on protestors.

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“Canada will not stand idly by in the face of these aggressions as the Iranian regime continues its ongoing human rights violations,” said Immigration Minister Sean Fraser.

“Our government is continuing to stand up for the people of Iran by making it easier for Iranians who wish to extend their stay here in Canada to be with their families, and allowing them to continue to work and study in safety. We will continue to work closely with the Iranian-Canadian community who is resolved to shed light on the repressive actions of the Iranian regime.”

Ottawa banned senior officials from Iran from entering Canada in early October last year after designating the Iranian regime as one that engages in human rights violations and terrorism.

With those facilitative measures in place, international students from Iran will be able to get study permit extensions for free until the end of next February.

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“No matter why you are here, during this time of great uncertainty for the Iranian people, Canada remains committed to supporting the Iranian Canadian community,” said Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson.

“With these new measures, we hope to ease the hardship they’re currently facing by making it easier for them to stay longer in a place where it is safe to live and work. And perhaps, one day, call home.”

Sudanese international students are also able to get study permit extensions free of charge as Canada provides them with a safe haven in the wake of the fighting between rival factions in their home country.

Study Permit Extension Applications Are Usually Completed Online

“Canada has a proud and long-standing tradition of providing protection to vulnerable people around the world and we are deeply concerned for the well-being of people in Sudan, including Canadians and their family members,” said Fraser.

“We are monitoring the situation closely, and are working to provide support for those seeking safety in Canada.”

Before applying for a study permit extension, an international student should make sure he or she has everything they might need, including a scanner or camera to create electronic copies of all pertinent documents and a valid credit or debit card.

International students are also advised to carefully read the instruction guide before completing their applications as this guide explains how to complete each field on the form.

“Before you can upload your forms, you must answer some questions,” states Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on its website. “We use your answers to create a personalized document checklist for you.”

Fees – for those who need to pay them – will be paid at the end of the application process.

“You need an account to apply online,” notes the IRCC. “You can use your account to: pay your fees; submit your application, and; check your status.”

By applying online, international students save the courier fees and, of course, the mail delivery time as immigration officials then get the application instantly. That may well mean the application will be processed more quickly.

International students are usually required to apply online to extend their study permits but those who suffer from a disability or some other barrier that prevents them from applying online or makes applying online unreliable can be exempted from this requirement and submit a paper application.

The IRCC recommends that anyone who is planning to submit a paper application read this instruction guide and download these documents:

Disabled Students, Those Facing Barriers To Online Application Process Can Submit Paper Applications

In cases where the international student’s study permit has already expired, he or she must restore their student status by selecting both:

  • an initial study permit or extension of study permit, and;
  • restoration of temporary resident status as a student.

“Explain how you lost your status and why you stayed in Canada longer than allowed,” notes the IRCC. “There’s no guarantee that we’ll accept your application (but) you can stay in Canada while we process your applications.”

International students seeking to extend their study permits may need to pay third-party fees for medical exams, police certificates, and language testing.

Once the application is completed, it must be sent to the address on the application package and include the fee receipt and necessary documents.

“If you can’t apply online or use the forms above because of a disability, you can ask for other formats including large print and braille,” notes the IRCC.

Pathway To Canada Immigration Eased For Hong Kongers

Colin Singer
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Pathway To Canada Immigration Eased For Hong Kongers

Canada has removed the educational requirements of the work experience stream of the pathway to immigration for people from Hong Kong.

“In recognizing the extraordinary skills and potential of Hong Kong’s talented individuals, Canada has taken a significant step toward fostering inclusivity and embracing the spirit of opportunity,” said Immigration Minister Sean Fraser.

“Removing the education requirement under Stream B [from August 15] is a win-win situation: it means that we can welcome more Hong Kongers to Canada who need our support, while simultaneously helping Canadian businesses fill labour gaps with workers who already have work experience here.”

In the wake of the crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong by the Chinese government, Canada created two new pathways to permanent residence on June 1, 2021.

Those two pathways include a Stream A, for in-Canada graduates, and a Stream B for individuals with Canadian work experience.

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“Our government recognizes that true talent and valuable expertise are not solely defined by formal education credentials,” said Paul Chiang, the parliamentary secretary to Canada’s minister of housing and diversity and inclusion.

“By removing the education requirement under the Work Experience Stream B for the Hong Kong permanent residence pathway, we are ensuring that qualifications do not become a barrier to those who possess valuable experience and expertise. This change sends a powerful message of welcome and encouragement, reinforcing our commitment to building a diverse and prosperous nation.”

Ottawa’s latest measure to help Hong Kongers jives with its Indo-Pacific Strategy, a plan to deepen Canadian engagement in the Indo-Pacific over the next decade.

The latest move also comes on the heels of other measures taken by Ottawa to encourage immigration from Hong Kong.

In early February two years ago, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) launched a new open work permit to allow eligible Hong Kong residents to gain valuable work experience in Canada and apply for permanent residence more quickly.

This year, that measure was extended and expanded, giving Hong Kong residents until Feb. 7, 2025 to apply.

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“Canada needs more people for economic reasons … and for demographic reasons,” said Fraser. “The reality is that we cannot meet the needs for the market with the existing labour force.”

To be granted permanent residence, applicants must intend to live in any Canadian province or territory other than Quebec. Hong Kong residents who are living in Quebec are advised to consult the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) to learn more about immigration pathways available to them in that province.

As of Apr. 30, 2023, Canada had welcomed 3,122 permanent residents under the permanent residence pathways for Hong Kong residents, including 2,358 under Stream A and 764 through its Stream B.

In the Greater Vancouver community of Richmond, known for its high concentration of Hong Kong immigrants, Richmond Centre MP Wilson Miao called the loosening of the requirements of the Stream B pathway a way to grow Canada’s social diversity.

“This will drive economic growth and foster cultural diversity,” said Miao. “Together, Hong Kong and Canada, are fueling our economy, creating new opportunities, and a hope for strengthened bonds.”

With the extension of the open work permit program earlier this year, the immigration minister said Canada was both showing its support for the people of Hong Kong and helping itself to a skilled workforce.

Open Work Permits Were Created Two Years Ago To Help Hong Kongers Come To Canada

“By extending and expanding Canada’s open work permits for Hong Kongers, we are giving Canadian employers more skilled workers to hire at a time when we need them most and providing valuable work experience, all while also showing our support for the people of Hong Kong,” said Fraser.

That policy allows spouses or common-law partners and dependent children to also apply for a study permit or work permit.

Dr. Anna Victoria Wong, executive director of Community Family Services of Ontario, called the extension of the program a win for Canadian employers looking for skilled workers.

“As a social service agency, we understand intimately the needs of incoming and growing populations,” said Wong. “As a publicly funded provider, we are mindful of the challenges in our local economic and employment sectors.

“We strive to capitalize on the efficient use of resources to align needs from both sides to create a win-win situation for newcomers and for Canada. This policy update serves just that and imports talents that are ready, willing, and able to contribute to the Canadian economy and are supportive of the core values within our charter.”

Candidates hoping to apply for the In-Canada Graduates stream, Stream A, must:

  • hold a valid passport issued by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China or the United Kingdom to a British National (Overseas) as a person born, naturalized or registered in Hong Kong;
  • be physically present in Canada when they apply and get permanent residence;
  • have valid temporary resident status in Canada;
  • intend to live in Canada, in any province or territory other than the province of Quebec;
  • have graduated from a post-secondary designated learning institution in Canada in the three years prior to their application with either a diploma (not graduate or post-graduate) for a program of at least two years, a degree (associate, bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral), or a graduate or post-graduate diploma or certificate for a program of at least one year and with at least 50 per cent of the program completed in Canada (either in person or online).

Those who have a graduate or post-graduate diploma or certificate must also have completed a post-secondary diploma or degree as a prerequisite to this graduate or post-graduate program within five years prior to the start of their graduate or post-graduate program.

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