Points are awarded based on the following attributes:
Level and field of education and where they completed their studies.
Proficiency in English or French.
Intention to settle outside of the Greater Toronto Area.
Skill and work experience level, earnings history, other factors relevant to prospects in Ontario job market.
Labour market needs in the province or region of the province.
Masters Graduate Stream
This stream offers an opportunity to obtain permanent residence to international students who obtained a masters degree in Ontario without requiring a job offer.
To be eligible to apply, a candidate must meet the following criteria:
Graduated from a Master’s degree program from an eligible institution in Ontario, that was at least one-year full-time.
Obtained minimum language CLB/NCLC level 7 or above in English or in French.
Resided legally in Ontario for at least one year in the last two.
Have sufficient settlement funds.
Intend to live and work in Ontario.
Must have legal status in Ontario or abroad.
Applications from elsewhere in Canada will not be accepted.
The application must be submitted within two years of completing the requirements to graduate from the master’s degree.
Canada immigration news: Canada’s rate of immigration is skyrocketing this year even beyond the dreams of the Century Initiative, a non-profit organization which wants the country to more than double its population to 100 million by the year 2100.
The latest data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reveals the country welcomed 274,980 new permanent residents in the first seven months of this year.
That puts Canada on track to see immigration hit 471,394 new permanent residents in 2022, or 16.1 per cent more than the record-breaking 406,025 new permanent residents to Canada last year.
Under its Immigration Levels Plan for 2022-2024, Ottawa had planned to welcome 431,645 permanent residents this year, 447,055 next year, and 451,000 in 2024.
At the current rate of immigration, Canada is poised to exceed not only its targets for this year and the next but even the proposed target for 2024 – and that one by 4.5 per cent.
At the Century Initiative, population growth for Canada is touted as vital for the country’s economic growth and prosperity.
“Growing our population to 100 million by 2100 would reduce the burden on government revenues to fund healthcare, old age security, and other services. It would also mean more skilled workers, innovation, and dynamism in the Canadian economy,” notes the organization on its website.
In its 2019 report, For A Bigger, Bolder Canada: Long-term Thinking. Starting Now, the Century Initiative proposed vastly increasing immigration to levels than considered to be so high the organization took pains to point out its plan was not “radical”.
Century Initiative Wants Canada To Welcome 500,000 Residents In 2026
Those targets proposed by the Century Initiative in 2019 were 400,000 new permanent residents in 2022, 420,000 new permanent residents in 2023, another 450,000 in 2024 and 475,000 in 2025.
The organization wanted immigration levels from then onward to be pinned at 1.25 per cent of the Canadian population, up from what was then an immigration rate equal to about one per cent of the population.
That would have meant an immigration target of 500,000 new permanent residents in 2026 based on a then-projected Canadian population of 40 million.
Canada has already almost reached that rate of immigration with the number of new permanent residents projected for this year to exceed 1.23 per cent of the country’s population, determined by Statistics Canada to be slightly more than 38.2 million as of Canada Day last year.
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The Century Initiative considers these levels of immigration to be “neither radical nor unachievable” but points out the higher immigration levels need to be accompanied by more investment in settlement services and better systems to match immigrants to industries, sectors, and places where they are most needed and have the best chance of succeeding.
“Any solution to our suffering workforce numbers and aging demographics will need a large influx of highly-educated professionals, skilled trades-people, general labourers, and those with entrepreneurial experience and spirit,” note the Century Initiative report.
“We need younger immigrants, to bolster the foundations of an aging workforce pyramid and encourage international students who come to Canada to contribute to the dynamism of our educational institutions to stay and apply their skills and talents to Canada’s future.”
Immigration In First Seven Months Of This Year Is Up 135%
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada in 2020, immigration slowed to a trickle with only 184,590 new permanent residents during that entire year.
In the first seven months of this year, immigration is up by 158,050 new permanent residents, or 135.2 per cent, compared to the same period in 2020.
The country’s soaring immigration rate in the first seven months of this year also means 90,305 more new permanent residents, or almost 48.9 per cent more, than the 184,675 during the comparable period last year.
Even though there are still many cases of COVID-19 in Canada with new variants, immigration is up compared to 2019, the last full year before the pandemic.
In the first seven months of this year, Canada welcomed 78,130 more new permanent residents, or almost 39.7 per cent more, than the 196,850 during the comparable period in 2019.
Ottawa seems to be taking the Century Initiative’s message to heart.
Immigration Minister Sean Fraser is reportedly working on two new pathways which should bolster immigration even further.
One will reportedly allow international students to more easily get permanent residence in Canada.
The other, confirmed to be in the works by IRCC staff, will allow undocumented migrants to gain their permanent residence.
New Pathway In The Works For Undocumented Migrants To Get Permanent Residence
The IRCC is working with academic experts and industry stakeholders, including the Canadian Council for Refugees and Migrant Rights Network, on this pathway which could pave the way for the estimated 500,000 undocumented migrants in Canada.
As Canada works on creating that new pathway, the IRCC is building on the lessons it has learnt through its launches of innovative programs which have successfully transitioned individuals in Canada on a temporary status or with no status to permanent residency.
“Most notably, programs such as the Guardian Angels, the Out-of-Status Construction Workers Pilot, and the pathway to permanent residence for temporary workers and international graduates,” explained IRCC spokesperson Michelle Carbert.
The Guardian Angels special pathway was quickly put in place at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, between December 2020 and August 2021, for refugee claimants who were then already providing direct patient care in the health sector.
“Once we confirmed that applicants were eligible and had the required work experience for this program, also known as Guardian Angels, any removal order under which they were referred was suspended until a final decision is made on their candidacy,” said Carbert.
The temporary public policy for Out-of-Status Construction Workers in Toronto is another pathway to permanent residency.
It was launched in 2020 and then extended through to Jan. 2 next year – or until 500 applicants and their family members have been granted permanent residence, whichever comes first.
That pathway recognizes the economic contributions of these workers and aims to address their vulnerability due to their lack of immigration status, said Carbert.
TR-to-PR Pathway Last Year Was Open To Up To 90,000 Applicants
“The government is working with the Canadian Labour Congress, which refers applicants who have a strong likelihood of meeting the eligibility requirements of the public policy to IRCC,” she said. “Eligible applicants may apply for a temporary resident permit and an open work permit to remain and continue working in Canada while their permanent resident application is processed and finalized.”
Last year, the IRCC also launched the one-time Temporary Resident-to-Permanent Resident (TR-to-PR) pathway which was open to accept 90,000 temporary workers and international graduates already in Canada.
Almost 169,000 foreign nationals who had been in Canada with work permits gained their permanent residency last year, making up roughly 41.6 per cent of all new permanent residents to Canada in 2021.
“As we emerge from the pandemic, IRCC will continue to explore new avenues to help more foreign nationals already living in Canada to make this their permanent home,” said Carbert.
In the first six months of this year alone, the IRCC estimates that 30,238 asylum seekers came into Canada and made refugee claims through these unauthorized border crossings, 24,811 of which are still pending.
Last year, an estimated 79,052 such asylum seekers came in at these crossings, with 64,254 of those still pending.
Canada’s strategy for improving pathways for the transition from temporary to permanent residency has been outlined by Immigration Minister Sean Fraser.
Fraser presented details of his five-pillar approach, which will benefit temporary workers and international students, in the Canadian parliament’s routine proceedings on Tuesday, September 20.
It followed a motion introduced in May urging Ottawa to “publicly release a plan to expand economic immigration pathways so workers at all skill levels can access permanent residency and to support greater transitions from temporary resident status to permanent resident”.
The strategy is a crucial part of Canada’s response to its shrinking labour market, caused chiefly by low birth rates and a growing number of retirements among the baby boomer generation.
Fraser’s five pillar approach is summarized below:
Pillar 1: Increased Immigration
Fraser says his plan will use the targets outlined in his most recent Immigration Levels Plan, covering the period 2022 to 2024.
This plan calls for 431,645 new permanent residents this year, 447,055 next year and 451,000 in 2024, giving Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) ample room for newcomers.
The Economic Class proportion of these new arrivals is more than half: 241,850 in 2022, 253,000 in 2023 and 267,750 by 2024.
Fraser is also due to present a new Immigration Levels Plan, to include 2025, before November 1.
Pillar 2: Express Entry Reform
It has already been reported that Canada is set to begin occupation-specific invitations through Express Entry in early 2023.
This follows many of the provinces, which have been conducting such draws for several years.
The changes were made through an update to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, allowing “the minister to respond to labour market needs and regional economic priorities, as well as to increase Francophone immigration by selecting more candidates with specific attributes, such as in-Canada experience”, IRCC said in a publication supporting Fraser’s announcement on Tuesday.
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Express Entry’s Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) is to be reviewed with a focus on points for Canadian work experience and education, language skills and job offers.
IRCC called these changes “the foundation for the next version of Express Entry”.
Pillar 3: Other Economic Immigration Improvements
These changes are intended to help essential workers in high-demand occupations transition from temporary to permanent residence.
The changes include:
Launching the new National Occupation Classification (NOC) 2021, due to happen in November. IRCC says this will expand eligibility to certain in-demand occupations within a number of programs.
Improving access to information to ensure newcomers meet the necessary qualifications and connecting them to federal and provincial programs.
Better ways for essential workers in high demand, such as doctors, to transition from temporary to permanent.
Manitoba has conducted a new draw through the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program, issuing 436 Letters of Advice to Apply to Canada immigration candidates.
The September 8 draw saw LAAs issued through three MPNP streams.
Skilled Workers in Manitoba received 388 LAAs, with the lowest ranked candidates scoring 613 points.
International Education Stream candidates received 41 LAAs.
The remaining 7 LAAs went to Skilled Workers Overseas candidates through a Strategic Recruitment Initiative, with a minimum score of 726.
Manitoba stated that 150 of the 436 candidates had valid Express Entry IDs and job seeker validation codes.
For detailed requirements of all the streams featured in this draw, please see below.
What Were the Details of the Latest Manitoba Draw?
Stream
Sub-Stream
Letters of Advice to Apply
Score of Lowest Ranked Candidate
1) Skilled Workers in Manitoba
388
613
2) International Education Stream
41
–
3) Skilled Workers Overseas
Strategic Recruitment Initiative
7
726
Video
How Do I Qualify For The Skilled Worker in Manitoba Stream?
The Skilled Worker in Manitoba Stream (SWM) is based on the specific needs of Manitoba employers. SWM selects foreign-trained workers with the required skills and nominates them for Canada permanent residence. The stream prioritizes candidates with a strong attachment to Manitoba, with two pathways to Manitoba immigration.
a) Manitoba Work Experience Pathway
For applicants currently working in Manitoba on temporary work permits, through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program or as international graduates from any province. Candidates do not need to be working in In-Demand Occupations.
b) Employer Direct Recruitment Pathway
For applicants from overseas with job offers from approved Manitoba employers.
How Do I Qualify For The Skilled Worker Overseas Stream?
The Skilled Worker Overseas Stream (SWO) includes both a dedicated Canada Express Entry Pathway and a direct provincial pathway.
It is aimed at international skilled workers with skills and training in Manitoba’s In-Demand Occupations. Priority is given to applicants and spouses with close family connections, plus the language proficiency, training and experience to find jobs quickly.
a) Manitoba Express Entry Pathway
For international candidates eligible under another MPNP stream, who also meet Express Entry criteria and have an active Express Entry profile. Candidates need skills, training and experience in one of Manitoba’s In-Demand Occupations, and a strong family connection to the province.
b) Human Capital Pathway
For international skilled workers with skills, training and experience in one of Manitoba’s In-Demand Occupations. Candidates must demonstrate potential to find employment soon after they arrive in Manitoba.
What Are The Requirements For the International Education Stream?
The International Education Stream (IES) is dedicated to international graduates from Manitoba colleges and universities. Under IES, candidates are no longer required to work for six months in their field before applying for an MPNP nomination. It has three pathways:
1) Career Employment Pathway
Eligibility requirements include:
Completed a one-year or longer course from an eligible post-secondary Manitoba institution within three years of submission of application.
Have a full-time job offer in a Manitoba In-Demand occupation related to the completed degree
Resident of Manitoba
2) Graduate Internship Pathway
Masters and Doctoral degree holders who have completed Mitacs Accelerate or Elevate internships can apply for nomination through internships even without a job offer in the province.
3) Student Entrepreneur Pathway
Eligibility requirements include:
Completed a two-year or longer course from an eligible post-secondary Manitoba institution
Six months of business operation experience in Manitoba
A resident of Manitoba since graduation.
No specific minimum personal net worth requirement
Prince Edward Island has conducted a new provincial draw, issuing invitations to apply to 147 skilled workers and entrepreneur Canada immigration candidates.
PEI launched its Expression of Interest system at the start of 2018 and has made monthly draws ever since, with some disruption due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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PEI issued a total of 1,933 invites in 2021, compared to 1,955 in 2020.
Of the 2021 invites, 1,764 went to Labour Impact and Express Entry candidates, with the remaining 169 going to Business Impact candidates.
Prince Edward Island Express Entry Stream
PEI’s Express Entry category considers candidates already in the federal Express Entry Pool for a provincial nomination.
The PEI Express Entry Category features two pathways to Canadian permanent residence, one for candidates with a job offer and one for those without.
Prince Edward Island Labour Impact Category
1) Skilled Worker Stream
This employer-driven stream allows skilled workers with an employment offer in PEI to be nominated for Canadian Permanent residence if they meet the following criteria:
A full-time employment offer from a Prince Edward Island business in an occupation classified as skill level “0”, “A” or “B” of the National Occupational Classification (NOC);
Completion of post-secondary education, with a minimum of 14 years of formal education;
Between 21 and 55 years of age;
At least 2 years of full-time work experience in the past 5 years;
Sufficient proficiency in English or French to occupy the employment offered;
Sufficient settlement funds;
Demonstrated intention to settle in Prince Edward Island.
2) Critical Worker Stream
This category is designed to resolve labour shortages and is open to foreign workers already in PEI with employment in specific critical-demand occupations. The primary criteria for nomination are:
A full time offer of employment from a Prince Edward Island business in one of the following occupations:
Truck driver;
Customer service representative;
Labourer;
Food & beverage server;
Housekeeping attendant.
6 months of work experience with the Prince Edward Island business offering employment;
Current valid Canadian work permit;
High school diploma and minimum of 12 years of formal education;
Between 21 and 55 years of age;
At least 2 years of full-time work experience in the past 5 years;
Demonstrate basic proficiency in English or French language;
Sufficient settlement funds;
Demonstrated intention to settle in Prince Edward Island.
Prince Edward Island Business Impact Category
Work Permit Stream
Individuals applying under the P.E.I. Work Permit Stream must obtain a Canadian work permit and work for a P.E.I. business for a certain amount of time as designated in a Performance Agreement.
After the Performance Agreement is fulfilled, the applicant must make a minimum $150,000 investment in the business and commit to managing the business on a daily basis from within P.E.I.
Previously, Prince Edward Island operated direct permanent residence business streams, but these were closed in September 2018 over immigration fraud concerns.
“Immigration is about people. It’s about starting a new job, reuniting a family and creating a new life in this beautiful country we call home,” says Immigration Minister Sean Fraser.
“As we look to strengthen our immigration system by updating our technology, people—our clients—must be at the centre of all that we do.
“By adding resources where they are needed, and leveraging technology to make processing faster and applying easier for our clients, we can give newcomers and new citizens the welcoming experience they deserve.”
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) vowed to offer foreign nationals the opportunity to apply for permanent residence through its online portal back in January. Alternative formats will still be available for those who require special accommodations.
Ottawa’s permanent residence portal has been available to some applicants as early as the end of March last year.
“This online option gives clients more flexibility to apply from their devices and allows them to receive immediate confirmation that they have successfully submitted their application,” notes the IRCC on its website.
The online portal will become available to most permanent residence programs by the end of October.
COVID-19 Pandemic Spurred IRCC To Move More Quickly Towards Online Applications
Canada’s immigration department greatly sped up its planned move towards online applications during the COVID-19 pandemic as a way to more quickly process applications and allow social distancing and transparency.
After launching its citizenship application status tracker for clients in May last year – a tracker that is going to be expanded to include access to immigration consultants and lawyers this month – the IRCC introduced another application status tracker, this one for permanent residence applications, in February this year.
“By spring 2023, we will have expanded this application status tracker to include seven more permanent residence and temporary residence programs,” the IRCC promises on its website.
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The IRCC has also been offering more online options for citizenship applicants, including virtual ceremonies and online citizenship tests.
“We launched a new tool in August 2021 that allows most citizenship applications to be submitted online,” notes the IRCC.
“The tool is open to applicants aged 18 and over, and has now expanded to allow groups of adults to apply together. IRCC intends to expand this tool to offer online applications for minors under the age of 18 by the end of the year.”
CRPP Replaced By eApp For Refugee Applications This Month
This month, the IRCC also switched out its headache-inducing Canadian Refugee Protection Portal (CRPP) for the new eApp.
Through the eApp, prospective refugees can submit their documents and those of their family members who are also in Canada.
“Applicants will have 90 days to submit a claim once it has been opened,” notes the IRCC. “For privacy reasons, incomplete claims that are not submitted within 90 days will be deleted.”
Those who started but have not yet submitted claims through the CRPP as of Sept. 13 will have until the end of the year.
‘”Individuals requiring accommodations may still make a paper claim. Each request for accommodations will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis,” notes the IRCC.
Canada immigration news: Thousands of migrants and their supporters took to the streets in Canadian cities throughout the country over the weekend to keep up pressure on Ottawa as it develops a new pathway for undocumented migrants to become permanent residents.
In Canada’s biggest city, hundreds protested in the rain on Saturday.
“We have a historic opportunity right now to fix a wrong that has been going on for many, many years,” Syed Hussan, executive director of the Migrant Workers Alliance for Change (MWAC), reportedly told the Canadian Press.
“We want to make sure that Parliament does not in any way delay.”
The protests came only days after Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) confirmed there is work being done to build on existing pilot programs and develop a new pathway for undocumented workers to become permanent residents.
Immigration department officials, though, have so far refused to divulge either what form that new pathway will take, how many applicants it will admit to Canada, or when it might be unveiled.
“We cannot speculate on future program or policy decisions,” replied IRCC spokesperson Michelle Carbert in an e-mail to Immigration.ca.
The IRCC spokesperson would only confirm work is underway and the immigration department is working with academic experts and industry stakeholders, including the Canadian Council for Refugees and Migrant Rights Network.
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Protests were planned for 13 cities during the weekend. including Toronto, Montreal, Edmonton, Vancouver, Fredericton and St. John’s.
Hussan reportedly said Ottawa needs to create this new pathway for the estimated 500,000 undocumented migrants in Canada and to ensure permanent resident status for all 1.2 million migrants with temporary status.
Unions, including some representing journalists, were also present at the protests.
Migrant Tells Crowd Her Family Struggled To Get Healthcare Due To A Lack Of Status
Outside Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland’s downtown constituency office, 19-year-old Merari Borgez reportedly told the crowd about the difficulties her family faced getting healthcare and education as undocumented migrants.
“Living without status is dehumanizing,” she reportedly said. “We don’t want pity. We want action.”
As Canada works on creating that new pathway, the IRCC is building on the lessons it has learnt through its launches of innovative programs which have successfully transitioned individuals in Canada on a temporary status or with no status to permanent residency.
“Most notably, programs such as the Guardian Angels, the Out-of-Status Construction Workers Pilot, and the pathways to permanent residence for temporary workers and international graduates,” wrote Carbert.
The Guardian Angels special pathway was quickly put in place at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, between December 2020 and August 2021, for refugee claimants who were then already providing direct patient care in the health sector.
Out-of-Status Construction Workers Program Extended Through To January 2
“Once we confirmed that applicants were eligible and had the required work experience for this program, also known as Guardian Angels, any removal order under which they were referred was suspended until a final decision is made on their candidacy,” said Carbert.
The temporary public policy for Out-of-Status Construction Workers in Toronto is another pathway to permanent residency. It was launched in 2020 and then extended through to Jan. 2 next year – or until 500 applicants and their family members have been granted permanent residence, whichever comes first.
That pathway recognizes the economic contributions of these workers and aims to address their vulnerability due to their lack of immigration status, said Carbert.
“The government is working with the Canadian Labour Congress, who refers applicants who have a strong likelihood of meeting the eligibility requirements of the public policy to IRCC,” she said.
“Eligible applicants may apply for a temporary resident permit and an open work permit to remain and continue working in Canada while their permanent resident application is processed and finalized.”
Last year, the IRCC also launched the one-time Temporary Resident-to-Permanent Resident (TR-to-PR) pathway which was open to accept 90,000 temporary workers and international graduates already in Canada.
News of the current pathway under development by Immigration Minster Sean Fraser and his team at the IRCC was first broken by the Toronto Star who quoted an anonymous source
With the new pathway, the IRCC is hoping to tap into an already existing trend of temporary residents applying for – and getting – permanent residence in Canada.
Last year, almost 169,000 foreign nationals who had been in Canada with work permits gained their permanent residency, making up roughly 41.6 per cent of all new permanent residents to Canada in 2021.
More Than 30,000 Asylum Seekers Became New Permanent Residents Of Canada In First Six Months
“Additionally, more than 157,000 former international students became permanent residents in 2021, a new record, including more than 88,000 who transitioned directly from a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) to permanent status,” said Carbert.
“As we emerge from the pandemic, IRCC will continue to explore new avenues to help more foreign nationals already living in Canada to make this their permanent home.
“This is an opportunity for us to look at best practices and lessons learned from our previous experiences to ensure the most inclusive and effective public policy.”
In a letter calling on the immigration minister to create a new pathway for undocumented migrants in Canada, Unifor – the same union which represents Toronto Star journalists who broke the story of this new pathway – suggests there may be many more of these people in Canada.
“In order for these permanent residency pathway and regularization programs to make a real difference in the lives of the over 1.7 million migrants currently without secure status in Canada, they must be made as open and accessible as possible,” wrote Unifor national president Lana Payne in that letter dated Aug. 30 this year.
Certainly, many people have crossed the border into Canada at unauthorized border crossings in the past decade or so but official record keeping only goes back as far as 2017.
In the first six months of this year alone, the IRCC estimates 30,238 asylum seekers came into Canada and made refugee claims through these unauthorized border crossings, 24,811 of which are still pending.
Last year, an estimated 79,052 such asylum seekers came in at these crossings, with 64,254 of those still pending.
The Canadian Refugee Protection Portal (CRPP) has been replaced with the new eApp less than a year after it was launched.
The eApp online refugee claim system opened on Tuesday, Sept. 13 as Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC’s) response to the many criticisms of the CRPP.
The CRPP, launched on Oct. 6 last year, quickly drew the ire of both prospective refugees, immigration lawyers and advocates for refugees.
In a letter dated Oct. 27 last year, the Canadian Bar Association’s (CBA) chair of immigration law urged the IRCC to retire the CRPP because of its many barriers to prospective refugees and immigration consultants.
“Many with a legitimate claim to refugee status in Canada are traumatized, suffering from a myriad of physical, psychological and emotional conditions,” stated that letter.
“Computer literacy may be an issue, as well as access to technology and counsel when making the initial claim.
“Barriers preventing the initiation of the refugee claim preclude the claimant from work permit eligibility, further exacerbating settlement issues.”
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Among its failings, the CRPP required those seeking refugee status in Canada to complete their applications in one sitting and have all the exact dates for travel, moves to different addresses, job starts, and years in school.
The former online portal did not allow claimants to list periods of detention of fewer than 24 hours or list English as their first language.
“The portal has numerous technical glitches and frequently denies access. This is particularly challenging for self-represented claimants who may not have the technological knowledge to navigate the system or multiple browsers,” noted the CBA.
The picture painted by the professional association is that of an online portal that was cumbersome and almost impossible for many prospective refugees to properly navigate.
Older Online Refugee Portal Jeopardized Ability To File Claims At All
“The portal requires substantive information in support of the refugee claim, including precise dates and key allegations, simply to initiate the claim,” noted the CBA.
“Many refugee claimants will not yet have access to legal advice, public funding for legal representation, translation services or other services essential to properly pursuing their claim.
“This may lead to inadvertent omissions and subsequent allegations of misrepresentation against claimants, jeopardizing their eligibility.
“Lawyers are not permitted to log in using their own credentials, and instead must use the e-mail and individual password for each refugee claimant. This presents an impediment to claimants obtaining legal advice and representation.”
Immigration lawyers fully supported Ottawa’s goal of putting the refugee claim process online and speeding it up but the CRPP just didn’t work very well.
The IRCC is hoping its eApp will be a marked improvement.
“Through this secure platform, officers will be able to communicate directly with clients or their legal representative,” the IRCC notes on its website.
“Claimants will also have the ability to track the status of their application.
“By making the registration and refugee intake process at inland offices more efficient, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada continue to work toward improving client services and the refugee claim processing.”
Refugee Immigration To Canada Is Up This Year – Even Compared To Before COVID-19
Through the eApp, prospective refugees can submit their documents and those of their family members who are also in Canada.
“Applicants will have 90 days to submit a claim once it has been opened,” notes the IRCC. “For privacy reasons, incomplete claims that are not submitted within 90 days will be deleted.”
Those who started but have not yet submitted claims through the CRPP as of Sept. 13 will now have until the end of the year to do so.
‘”Individuals requiring accommodations may still make a paper claim. Each request for accommodations will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis,” notes the IRCC.
In the first six months of this year, Canada welcomed 20,155 new permanent residents through refugee resettlement programs, putting the country on track to receive 40,310 refugees this year, the latest IRCC data reveals.
That level of immigration through Canada’s refugee programs would be almost double the 20,405 refugees the country welcomed last year and more than four times the 9,235 refugees in 2020.
This year’s level of immigration through refugee processes is even up more than a third compared to the 30,065 refugees Canada welcomed in 2019, the last full year before the COVID-19 pandemic took its toll on international travel and immigration.
Canada immigration news: Canada is working on a new pathway for undocumented workers to become permanent residents, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has confirmed.
But the immigration department is refusing to divulge either what form that new pathway will take, how many applicants it will admit to Canada, or when it might be unveiled.
“We cannot speculate on future program or policy decisions,” replied IRCC spokesperson Michelle Carbert in an email to Immigration.ca.
The IRCC spokesperson would only confirm work is underway and the immigration department is working with academic experts and industry stakeholders, including the Canadian Council for Refugees and Migrant Rights Network.
“IRCC will be informing our future policy decisions based on the lessons learned through recent innovative programs that have tested new approaches and successfully transitioned individuals in Canada on a temporary status or with no status to permanent residency,” wrote Carbert.
The Guardian Angels special pathway was quickly put in place at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, between December 2020 and August 2021, for refugee claimants who were then already providing direct patient care in the health sector.
Watch Video
“Once we confirmed that applicants were eligible and had the required work experience for this program, also known as Guardian Angels, any removal order under which they were referred was suspended until a final decision is made on their candidacy,” said Carbert.
The temporary public policy for Out-of-Status Construction Workers in Toronto is another pathway to permanent residency.
It was launched in 2020 and then extended through to Jan. 2 next year – or until 500 applicants and their family members have been granted permanent residence, whichever comes first.
That pathway recognizes the economic contributions of these workers and aims to address their vulnerability due to their lack of immigration status, said Carbert.
New Pathway To Build On Success Of Pilot Programs To Retain Temporary Residents
“The government is working with the Canadian Labour Congress, who refers applicants who have a strong likelihood of meeting the eligibility requirements of the public policy to IRCC,” she said. “Eligible applicants may apply for a temporary resident permit and an open work permit to remain and continue working in Canada while their permanent resident application is processed and finalized.”
Last year, the IRCC also launched the one-time Temporary Resident-to-Permanent Resident (TR-to-PR) pathway which was open to accept 90,000 temporary workers and international graduates already in Canada.
News of the current pathway under development by Immigration Minster Sean Fraser and his team at the IRCC was first broken by the Toronto Star who quoted an anonymous source
With the new pathway, the IRCC is hoping to tap into an already existing trend of temporary residents applying for – and getting – permanent residence in Canada.
Last year, almost 169,000 foreign nationals who had been in Canada with work permits gained their permanent residency, making up roughly 41.6 per cent of all new permanent residents to Canada in 2021.
“Additionally, more than 157,000 former international students became permanent residents in 2021, a new record, including more than 88,000 who transitioned directly from a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) to permanent status,” said Carbert.
“As we emerge from the pandemic, IRCC will continue to explore new avenues to help more foreign nationals already living in Canada to make this their permanent home.
“This is an opportunity for us to look at best practices and lessons learned from our previous experiences to ensure the most inclusive and effective public policy.”
Number Of Undocumented Migrants Unknown But Estimated At 500,000
No-one knows for sure how many undocumented migrants are living in Canada.
“A guesstimate of about half a million has been proposed nationally, but this number varies among other sources which suggest anywhere from 20,000 to 200,000 undocumented workers,” said a study first published in 2010.
In a letter calling on the immigration minister to create a new pathway for undocumented migrants in Canada, Unifor – the same union which represents Toronto Star journalists – suggests there may be many more of these people in Canada.
“In order for these permanent residency pathway and regularization programs to make a real difference in the lives of the over 1.7 million migrants currently without secure status in Canada, they must be made as open and accessible as possible,” wrote Unifor national president Lana Payne in that letter dated Aug. 30 this year.
Certainly, many people have crossed the border into Canada at unauthorized border crossings in the past decade or so but official record keeping only goes back as far as 2017.
In the first six months of this year alone, the IRCC estimates 30,238 asylum seekers came into Canada and made refugee claims through these unauthorized border crossings, 24,811 of which are still pending.
Last year, an estimated 79,052 such asylum seekers came in at these crossings, with 64,254 of those still pending.
What is the Process for Saskatchewan Expression of Interest?
Submit EOI profile.
Enter EOI candidate pool.
EOI candidates selected.
Invitations to Apply issued via regular draws.
Candidates submit full application within 60 days.
SINP officials assess applications and make decision.
What Are the Requirements for The Occupation-In-Demand Sub-Category?
Score a minimum of 60 points on the SINP points assessment grid;
Have a language score of at least Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4. Employers and regulatory bodies may ask for higher;
Have completed one year of post-secondary education, training or apprenticeship comparable to the Canadian education system. You must have earned a diploma, certificate or degree.
Degrees and diplomas obtained outside Canada subject to an Educational Credential Assessment;
At least one-year work experience in the past 10 years:
In your field of education or training occupation, and
Obtain the appropriate licensure in Saskatchewan if your field so requires, as the authorities will not process an application without the licensure.
Have proof of settlement funds and a settlement plan.
Pay a non-refundable $300 application fee online.
What Are the Requirements for The Saskatchewan Express Entry Sub-Category?
Candidates from outside Canada, or with legal status in Canada, qualify for this Saskatchewan immigration category, provided they are not a refugee claimant.
Additionally, candidates must:
Have a profile in the Express Entry Pool, with profile number and job seeker validation code;
Score a minimum of 60 points on the SINP points assessment grid;
Provide valid language test results from a designated testing agency matching those in the Express Entry profile;
Have completed one year of post-secondary education, training or apprenticeship comparable to the Canadian education system. You must have earned a diploma, certificate or degree.
Degrees and diplomas obtained outside Canada subject to an Educational Credential Assessment;
Have at least one of the following experience requirements in your field of education or training occupation:
One year of work experience in the past 10 years in a skilled profession (non-trades);
Two years of work experience in a skilled trade in the past five years; or
One year of work experience in Canada in the past three years (trades and non-trades).
Have work experience in a high-skilled, eligible occupation in NOC A, B, 0. See the excluded occupations list.
Obtain the appropriate licensure in Saskatchewan where your profession is regulated, or a skilled trade. For skilled trades, a certificate is required from the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission.
Have proof of settlement funds and a settlement plan.
