Alberta Express Entry Draw: Province Issues 400 Invitations With Minimum CRS Of 340

Colin Singer
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Alberta Express Entry Draw: Province Issues 400 Invitations With Minimum CRS Of 340

Canada immigration news: Alberta has conducted a new draw through the Express Entry-linked stream of the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program, issuing 400 invitations.

The February 1 draw required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score of 340, six lower than the previous draw.

Important requirements for the Alberta Express Entry stream are that candidates have stated an interest in immigrating permanently to the province, and are working in an occupation that supports Alberta’s economic development and diversification.

For full details of the requirements for Alberta Express Entry, please see below.

Read More Canada Immigration News

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Alberta Express Entry 2022 Draws

Draw Date

NOI Letters Sent

CRS Score of Lowest-Ranked Candidate

01-Feb-22

400

340

18-Jan-22

350

346

05-Jan-22

250

327

Source: www.alberta.ca

Video

Alberta reached its federal government nomination limit of 6,250 in 2021. The allocation for 2022 is currently not known.

The province also has 350 Alberta Opportunity Stream applications and 775 expression of interest applications in the Alberta Express Entry pool.

High Number of Applications

Alberta says a high number of AAIP applications have been received in the following occupations, meaning they may take longer to process:

  • 6311 – Food service supervisors
  • 6211 – Retail sales supervisors
  • 1241 – Administrative assistants
  • 6322 – Cooks
  • 0211 – Engineering managers
  • 7511 – Transport truck drivers
  • 3211 – Medical laboratory technologists
  • 1221 – Administrative officers
  • 2131 – Civil engineers
  • 1123 – Professional occupations in advertising, marketing and public relations

What are the Requirements for Alberta Express Entry?

In order to be eligible to receive a notification of interest, candidates must:

  • Have an active Express Entry profile in the federal Express Entry pool.
  • Have stated an interest in immigrating permanently to Alberta.
  • Be working in an occupation that supports Alberta’s economic development and diversification.
  • Have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score of 300 points.

Factors that may improve a candidate’s chances of receiving notification of interest:

  • A job offer from an Albertan employer and/or work experience in Alberta.
  • Having graduated from a Canadian post-secondary institution.
  • Having a relative that is living in Alberta: parent, child and/or sibling.

Factors that decrease a candidate’s chances of receiving notification of interest:

 

Alberta Launches Two New Canada Immigration Streams, Renames Provincial Nominee Program

Colin Singer
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Alberta Launches Two New Canada Immigration Streams, Renames Provincial Nominee Program

Canada immigration news: Alberta has launched two new Canada immigration streams, and renamed its Provincial Nominee Program the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP).

In a February 16 update, the Rural Renewal Stream and the Rural Entrepreneur Stream were added to the existing five streams offered under the newly-named AAIP.

The province also renamed three of its existing streams:

  • The International Graduate Entrepreneur Immigration Stream is now the Graduate Entrepreneur Stream.
  • The Foreign Graduate Start-Up Visa Stream is now the Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream.
  • The Self-Employed Farmer Stream is now the Farm Stream.

No changes were made to program requirements for the existing streams, the province said.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, a former federal immigration minister, launched the revamp at the Fairness for Newcomers Summit in Calgary.

He said: “We’re determined to get more than our share of newcomers.

“Newcomers don’t take jobs away from Albertans but help to create jobs. 

“They create additional demand, they create additional wealth and, very typically, they create additional businesses that hire people.”

Read More Canada Immigration News

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Rural Renewal Stream

The Alberta immigration Rural Renewal Stream allows qualified candidates with a job offer from an Alberta employer to work in a designated rural Alberta community to apply through the AAIP.

Alberta launched the stream to assist with the attraction and retention of newcomers to rural areas in the province.

Communities must apply to be part of the stream. They must have a population of less than 100,000, fall outside the Calgary and Edmonton Census Metropolitan Area and have at least one employer wishing to fill available permanent vacancies.

Candidates must have a permanent, full-time job offer, and meet other requirements related to work experience, language ability, education and settlement funds.

Rural Entrepreneur Stream

The Alberta immigration Rural Entrepreneur Stream targets qualified and capable entrepreneurs who want to start a new or buy an existing business in a rural Alberta community.

Communities must have a population of less than 100,000 and fall outside the Calgary and Edmonton Census Metropolitan Area.

Candidates must conduct an exploratory visit, plus meet work experience, education and language requirements, have a net worth of at least $300,000 and invest at least $200,000. They must own at least 51 percent of a new business or 100 percent if purchasing an existing business, and create at least one job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.

Candidates with an approved Business Application sign a Business Performance Agreement and are issued a work permit. They must then spend at least one year establishing their business in Alberta. Once the business is established and they meet the terms of their BPA, they are nominated for permanent residence.

Canada Welcomed 405,330 New Immigrants In 2021, Official Figures Show

Colin Singer
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Canada Welcomed 405,330 New Immigrants In 2021, Official Figures Show

Canada immigration news: Canada welcomed 405,330 new immigrants in 2021 despite the COVID-19 global pandemic, official figures released Friday reveal.

Ontario was the big winner of the temporary to permanent residency program, welcoming more than half of the new permanent residents to Canada, as the country hit a record-breaking level of immigration.

Read More Canada Immigration News

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A giant magnet for immigration, Ontario once again attracted the lion’s share of those immigrants in 2021 with 198,085, or almost 48.9 per cent of new permanent residents, making that province home.

The second most popular province for immigration last year was British Columbia with 69,270, or almost 17.1 per cent of all new permanent residents to Canada in 2021, and the third most popular province was Quebec which welcomed 50,170 new permanent residents, roughly 12.4 per cent of the total.

New Permanent Residents To Canada In 2021 By Province Or Territory 

A major strategy for Ottawa in hitting those immigration targets last year was the temporary to permanent residency (TR to PR) program and the majority of those newcomers also chose Ontario as their new home.

Ontario Attracts More Than Half Of TR to PR Pathway Immigrants

Under the TR to PR pathway, 12,935 new permanent residents, or almost 54.1 per cent of the new arrivals under that program, settled in Ontario.

The second most popular destination for that temporary program was British Columbia which welcomed 6,085, or 25.5 per cent of those arriving under that pathway. 

And the third most popular province for applicants under that program was Alberta, which got 7.1 per cent, or 1,695, of the 23,885 new permanent residents under the TR to PR pathway in 2021.

The francophone province of Quebec, which operates its own immigration department, was not part of the TR to PR program.

Watch

Although applications to the temporary TR to PR pathway closed last year, there are still many applications left to process by Canadian immigration officials.

In its latest immigration levels plan, the IRCC expects to approve 40,000 new permanent residents to Canada under that pathway this year and another 32,000 in 2023.

After breaking immigration records last year by bringing in more immigrants than ever, Ottawa is setting its sights on even higher levels of immigration for 2022 through 2024.

Last week, Canada announced it intends to welcome more than 1.3 million newcomers over the three years ending in 2024.

Higher Immigration Levels Will Boost Economy

“Immigration has helped shape Canada into the country it is today. From farming and fishing to manufacturing, healthcare and the transportation sector, Canada relies on immigrants,” said Immigration Minister Sean Fraser.

“We are focused on economic recovery, and immigration is the key to getting there. Setting bold new immigration targets, as outlined in the 2022-2024 Levels Plan, will further help bring the immeasurable contribution of immigrants to our communities and across all sectors of the economy.”

Under the immigration levels plan presented by the immigration minister, Canada plans to welcome 431,645 permanent residents this year, 447,055 next year, and 451,000 in 2024.

 Under that previous immigration plan, Canada was to welcome 411,000 new permanent residents in 2022 and 421,000 in 2023.

The federal government says those ever-higher immigration levels are needed to deal with massive labour shortages plaguing the Canadian economy.

 “Despite having regained many of the jobs lost during the pandemic, there are still hundreds of thousands of positions in all sectors waiting to be filled,” Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) noted in a statement.

Massive Canada Labour Shortages Still Plague Many Industries

“Immigration already accounts for almost 100 per cent of labour force growth, and with five million Canadians set to retire by the end of this decade, the worker-to-retiree ratio will drop down to only 3:1. This is a clear sign that we have a strong economic need for increased immigration.”

The majority of the newcomers will be welcomed through Canada’s Economic Class, which includes the popular and successful Express Entry system.

Within the stream, federal high-skilled immigrants, those welcome through Express Entry, will number 55,900 in 2022, 75,750 in 2023 and 111,500 in 2024.

Another 40,000 newcomers will come through the Federal Economic Public Policies stream this year and 32,000 next year. That’s the stream that includes the applications of temporary residents who applied to become permanent residents last year and have still to be processed.

Significant increases will also be seen via the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), with 83,500 newcomers in 2022, 86,000 in 2023, and 93,000 in 2024.

Quebec Targets 21 Jobs In Largest Canada Immigration Draw Of 2022

Colin Singer
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Quebec Targets 21 Jobs In Largest Canada Immigration Draw Of 2022

Canada immigration news: Quebec immigration has targeted 21 jobs its largest Canada immigration draw of 2022 through the Arrima Expression of Interest system.

The February 10 draw saw 523 candidates invited and required a minimum score of 592 in the Quebec Expression of Interest points system. A maximum of 1,320 points are available.

The draw targeted candidates with skills and experience in one of 21 National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes.

Occupations Targeted In Quebec Arrima Draw

NOC code

Occupations

0213

IT systems managers

2147

Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)

2171

IT analysts and consultants

2172

Database analysts and data administrators

2173

Software engineers and designers

2174

Computer programmers and interactive media developers

2175

Web designers and developers

2241

Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians

2281

Computer network technicians

2282

User Support Agents

2283

Computer systems assessors

3012

Registered Nurses and Registered Psychiatric Nurses

3233

Practical nurses

3413

Caregivers/Aids and Beneficiary Attendants

4031

Secondary school teachers

4032

Primary and preschool teachers

4214

Early childhood educators and assistants

5131

Producers, directors, choreographers and related personnel

5223

Graphic design technicians

5241

Graphic designers and illustrators

6221

Technical Sales Specialists – Wholesale

Candidates receiving an invitation have 60 days to submit a full application to the Quebec Skilled Worker Program.

Quebec Expression Of Interest Draws 2022

Date of invitations

Invites Issued

Minimum Score

Date of extraction from Arrima bank

Feb 10, 2022

523

592

Feb 07, 2022 at 6.30am

Jan 27, 2022

322

647

Jan 25, 2022 at 6.30am

Jan 13, 2022

512

602

Jan 9, 2022 at 6.30am

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Video

How Does Quebec Expression of Interest Work?

  1. Candidates submit an online expression of interest profile via Arrima.
  2. Profiles enter into an Expression of Interest pool, where they are ranked against each other using a points system and are valid for 12-months.
  3. The highest-ranking candidates are invited to apply for a Quebec Certificate of Selection under the Quebec Skilled Worker Program via periodic draws.
  4. Candidates receiving an invitation have 60 days to submit a full application.
  5. Approved candidates who receive a nomination certificate (CSQ) may then apply to the federal government for Canadian permanent residence.

Quebec Expression of Interest Points System

The Quebec Expression of Interest points system is used to rank profiles submitted via Arrima to the Expression of Interest bank, with the highest-ranked profiles invited to apply for Quebec immigration under the Quebec Skilled Worker Program.

Candidates and their spouse or common-law partner can score up to 1,320 points based on human capital and Quebec labour market factors.

What Are the Requirements for Quebec Expression of Interest?

The Quebec Expression of Interest points system involves points in two categories, with some including points for the spouse of common law partner of the principal candidate.

  • Human capital factors:
    • French language ability.
    • French and English combined.
    • Age.
    • Work experience.
    • Education.
  • Quebec labour market factors:
    • Work experience in a field with a labour shortage.
    • Qualifications in one of Quebec’s areas of training.
    • Level of Quebec education.
    • Professional experience in Quebec.
    • Professional experience in the rest of Canada.
    • Job offer inside or outside Greater Montreal.

Quebec publishes lists of High Demand Occupations and Areas of Training that weigh considerably in the assessment.

Expect Express Entry to return to normal and more CEC applications ‘soon’, says immigration minister

Colin Singer
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Expect Express Entry to return to normal and more CEC applications ‘soon’, says immigration minister

Business leaders staring down the prospect of continued, massive labour shortages were heartened to learn from Canada’s immigration minister Wednesday the country’s Express Entry system will be returning to normal operations and more Canadian Experience Class (CEC) applications will be accepted soon.

“We don’t have an announcement on the specific date of the next draw but I can reassure you we’re looking at resuming draws in the near term on the Canadian Experience Class for federal skilled workers,” said Fraser on a video conference call with Canadian Club Toronto.

Read More Canada Immigration News

In January, Ottawa temporarily paused the issuance of invitations for new high-skilled immigrants through the federal component of the Express Entry system, then representing a quarter of the planned annual intake, as officials struggled to tackle a growing backlog of applications.

Canada to Welcome 111,5000 Federal Skilled Workers in 2024

Express Entry is an immigration system implemented by Canadian immigration authorities which manage skilled worker applications under federal economic programs. This includes the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, the Canada Experience Class (CEC) and parts of the Provincial Nomination Programs (PNP).

An Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) memo seen by the National Post in January estimated the inventory of high-skilled applications was then at 76,000. Each immigration application represents an average of 2.3 new people in Canada, meaning 76,000 applications equates to 174,800 newcomers.

In his Feb. 16 comments to the Canadian Club Toronto’s Jeanne Lam, who is also president of the online social reading platform Wattpad, the immigration minister stressed the importance of processing that backlog in a timely manner. 

But Fraser also pointed to the newly-released 2022-2024 Immigration Levels Plan which shows Ottawa intends to ramp up the number of new permanent residents coming under Federal High Skilled streams from 55,900 this year to 75,750 in 2023 and then 111,500 in 2024.

“By year three, there will be a record number of federal skilled workers, including through the Canadian Experience Class, welcomed to Canada,” he said. 

“By no means do I want to communicate that there has been any kind of abandonment of what I consider to be one of the most successful immigration programs anywhere in the world.”

The immigration minister went so far as to suggest an expansion and addition of flexibility to the Express Entry system to meet short-term needs.

“Building this flexibility into the Express Entry system is something that I’m personally digging into right now because I think it’s going to enable us to respond in a more nimble way when we do see the pace of transformation is only increasing over time,” said Fraser.

Fraser Wants Express Entry to Be More Adaptable to Changing Needs

The immigration minister said some of the possible opportunities in adapting the Express Entry system are building into it ways to welcome people into smaller communities that have the capacity to absorb people because they have available housing and transit services.

“We can pivot to target sectors that are in the highest demand,” he said. “We can target people who are coming from a particular region that has the kind of educational institutions that will train the workers that we need in strategically-important sectors.”

Despite Canada being in the middle of a chronic labour shortage, IRCC cut its 2022 high-skilled immigration target of 110,500 new permanent residents to roughly half, 55,900, in the latest immigration levels plan.

This reduction is to accommodate Afghan refugees and newcomers through the government’s Temporary Residence to Permanent Residence Pathway, established during the COVID-19 pandemic to help meet record immigration targets.

Ottawa switched the focus of Canada’s immigration system because of COVID-19. Unable to bring in newcomers directly from abroad due to international travel restrictions, IRCC instead began targeting those already in Canada with temporary status. 

The TR to PR Pathway targeted 90,000 applications from skilled workers and international graduates, while the Express Entry system began only issuing invitations to CEC and PNP candidates, 80 per cent of whom were already in Canada.

In 2021, invitations were issued exclusively to CEC and PNP candidates. Faced with a growing backlog, IRCC paused the issuance of CEC invitations and has only invited PNP candidates ever since.

Ottawa Sets Record-Breaking Immigration Goals for Next Three Years

Despite that pause in these applications, Ottawa has set another record-breaking immigration target this year and is hoping to welcome 431,645 new permanent residents. Up to 40,000 of them will be applicants under last year’s TR to PR program whose applications remain to be processed.

Canada is planning to welcome 83,500 new permanent residents through PNPs, 105,000 through family sponsorships, and 76,545 refugees and protected persons.

The Express Entry system was established in 2015 to eliminate the huge backlog and lengthy waiting times under the old first-come, first-served immigration system.

Instead of processing every application in the order it was submitted, the new system allowed Ottawa to select the candidates most likely to be successful and invite them to apply.

Initially, it worked. The backlog was eliminated and processing times were reduced to between six months and a year.

But by setting immigration targets of more than 400,000, Canada’s federal government piled pressure on itself to welcome record numbers of newcomers. As a result, it accepted a tidal wave of applications in 2021 and will accept still more in 2022. 

PEI PNP draw: 123 invitations sent to entrepreneurs and skilled workers

Colin Singer
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PEI PNP draw: 123 invitations sent to entrepreneurs and skilled workers

The second draw of the year under the Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP) saw 123 invitations to apply for immigration to Canada sent out to skilled workers and entrepreneurs Thursday.

The Feb. 17 draw saw 117 invitations issued to Labour Impact and Express Entry candidates, while Business Impact candidates received six invitations.

Business Impact candidates required a minimum score of 67 points.

Read More Canada Immigration News

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.

PEI PNP Immigration Draws 2022

Date

Category

Invites Issued

Minimum Score

Feb. 17, 2022

Labour Impact/Express Entry

117

N/A

Business Impact

6

67

Jan. 20, 2022

Labour Impact/Express Entry

121

N/A

Business Impact

11

72

PEI issued a total of 1,933 invites during 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.

PEI’s Express Entry category operates by considering candidates already in the federal Express Entry Pool for a provincial nomination.

Such a nomination adds 600 points to a candidate’s Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score and effectively guarantees an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian immigration.

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 a 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 and beverage server;
    • housekeeping attendant.
  • six 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 two 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 PEI Work Permit Stream must obtain a Canadian work permit and work for a PEI 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 the province.

Previously, Prince Edward Island operated direct permanent residence business streams, but these were closed in September 2018 over immigration fraud concerns.

Express Entry PNP Record Set with IRCC Sending Out 1,082 ITAs

Colin Singer
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Express Entry PNP Record Set with IRCC Sending Out 1,082 ITAs

In yet another record-breaking Provincial Nominee Program Express Entry draw, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada issued 1,082 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) on Wednesday this week.

The previous record was set Feb. 2 with a draw in which Canada issued 1,070 ITAs requiring a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 674 points, 71 lower than the previous PNP draw.

 Read More Canada Immigration News 

On Wednesday, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) raised the minimum CRS score back up to 710,

The number of ITAs issued in Express Entry draws has been on an upward trajectory this year, with what was then a record number of ITAs, 1,036, issued in January.

Canadian immigration officials are continuing to avoid conducting all-program draws, the last of which took place in December 2020. The IRCC says it is focusing on clearing the current significant backlog before it resumes issuing ITAs in even larger numbers.

Canada has so far issued 3,580 invitations, all to PNP candidates, in 2022.

IRCC issued a record 114,431 ITAs in 2021, all to Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and PNP candidates. It beat the previous record of 107,350 set in 2020.

During the coronavirus crisis, IRCC switched to draws for PNP and CEC candidates, to focus on candidates already in Canada on work or study permits.

The latest draw saw the tie-breaking rule implemented on Oct. 7, 2021 at 6:36:55 EST. If more than one candidate had the minimum CRS score, only those who submitted their Express Entry profiles before this date and time received invitations.

This was the fourth round of invitations under Express Entry in 2022 and 216th overall.

WHAT IS EXPRESS ENTRY?

Express Entry is an immigration system implemented by Canadian immigration authorities (IRCC) on Jan. 1, 2015 which manages skilled worker applications under Federal Economic programs. This includes the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program the Canada Experience Class and parts of the Provincial Nomination Programs.

Stakeholders expect to see continued high numbers of invitations issued as Canada builds towards its target of 431,645 new permanent residents in 2022. CRS scores remain difficult to predict with program-specific draws during the COVID-19 crisis.

With the coronavirus crisis striking in March 2020, Canada switched to program-specific draws aimed at Canadian Experience Class and Provincial Nominee Program candidates. This had the effect of significantly increasing the number of individual draws beyond previous years.

BC PNP Tech Draw: Province Invites 140 Canada Immigration Candidates

Colin Singer
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BC PNP Tech Draw: Province Invites 140 Canada Immigration Candidates

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is inviting 140 skilled workers and international graduates to apply for permanent residency in its latest BC PNP Tech draw.

The Feb. 15 draw featured invitations through four streams with a minimum score of 85 for each stream. 

The featured streams were:

  • SI – Skilled Worker
  • SI – International Graduate
  • EEBC – Skilled Worker
  • EEBC – International Graduate

Read More Canada Immigration News

Did You Get Invited in the Latest B.C. Immigration Draw?

Date

Category

Minimum Score

Invitations Issued

Feb. 15, 2022

SI – Skilled Worker

85

Total: 140

 

SI – International Graduate

85

 

EEBC – Skilled Worker

85

 

EEBC – International Graduate

85

Source: www.welcomebc.ca

Earlier this month, Canada’s westernmost province conducted two draws, on Feb. 8, issuing Canada immigration invitations to a total of 198 candidates through the British Columbia PNP.

In a  general draw, the province issued 188 invitations across five streams, with minimum scores ranging from 77 to 120.

Then, in its second draw on that day, British Columbia targeted two National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes: 0621 for Retail and Wholesale Trade Managers and 0631 for Restaurant and Food Service Managers. In the NOC-specific draw, 10 invites were issued through four streams, all featuring minimum scores of 120.

In the only other draw so far this month, British Columbia immigration issued 126 invitations to skilled workers and international graduates in a BC PNP Tech draw on Feb. 1. It featured invitations through four streams with a minimum score of 80 for each of the four streams. 

Along with Ontario, British Columbia was one of the two provinces that most benefited from a one-time pathway to permanent residency for foreign nationals already living in Canada last year.

Under the immigration levels plan for 2022 through to 2024, announced on Monday by Immigration Minister Sean Fraser, Canada expects to process and admit another 40,000 new permanent residents to Canada under that pathway this year and 32,000 more in 2023. 

That likely means British Columbia will continue to benefit from this temporary to permanent resident pathway for the remainder of this year and well into 2023 even though it is no longer accepting applications. 

Canada relaxes border restrictions for fully-vaccinated travellers starting Feb. 28

Colin Singer
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Canada relaxes border restrictions for fully-vaccinated travellers starting Feb. 28

Fully-vaccinated travellers will once again be able to come to Canada without needing to be tested for COVID-19 – unless they are randomly chosen for such testing – starting Feb. 28 as the country relaxes its public health restrictions.

Those will also no longer need to be quarantined for 14 days – and any of their unvaccinated children under 12 years of age who are travelling with them will also no longer need to self-isolate.

 Read More Canada Immigration News

“For two years now, our government’s actions in the fight against COVID-19 have been based on prudence and science. Today’s announcements are a reflection of the progress we have made against this current Omicron variant,” said Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos on Tuesday.

Unvaccinated Canadian Travellers Still Need to Get Tested and Quarantine

“The return to mandatory random testing of all vaccinated travellers will facilitate travel for Canadians all while helping our public health authorities to detect future changes in COVID-19 importation rates and variants of concern. As we have said all along, Canada’s border measures will remain flexible and adaptable, for potential future scenarios.”

Unvaccinated Canadian travellers will still need to get tested upon arrival, on the eighth day after coming into the country, and quarantine for 14 days. 

With today’s announcement, Ottawa is giving travellers the option of using a COVID-19 rapid antigen test result, taken the day prior to their scheduled flight or arrival at the land border or marine port of entry, or a molecular test result taken no more than 72 hours before their scheduled flight or arrival at the land border or marine port of entry to meet pre-entry requirements. 

Unvaccinated foreign nationals will not be permitted to enter the country unless they meet one of a few exemptions.

In Canada, only 18 airports are currently allowed to receive international flights under the existing public health restrictions. With today’s announcement, all airports in Canada will be able to receive international flights as of Feb. 28.

“The measures we are announcing today are possible in part because Canadians have stepped up, rolled up their sleeves and gotten vaccinated,” said Transport Minister Omar Alghabra. 

Advisory Against Non-Essential Travel Is Being Lifted

“These measures will allow vaccinated Canadians to once again reunite with family and friends and reap the economic benefit that travel provides. We will continue to evaluate our measures and will not hesitate to make necessary adjustments to keep Canadians and our transportation system safe.”

Canada’s advisory against international travel is also being lifted, allowing Canadians to travel outside the country for non-essential reasons. 

Despite the lifting of the restriction on non-essential travel, the federal government is still warning travellers that the risks associated with international travel remain high as the world continues to grapple with the Omicron variant. 

“We are committed to a safe reopening; one that provides predictability, flexibility and shows the world that Canada is one of the safest places to travel,” said Tourism Minister Randy Boissonnault.

The tourism minister praised the Canadian tourism industry for being a world leader in ensuring the safety of travellers while weathering a challenging economic crisis. 

“Let me be clear that the Canadian economy will not fully recover until our tourism sector recovers and today’s measures will help us safely welcome visitors to Canada,” he said.

All travellers, regardless of how long they were away from Canada, still need to submit their mandatory information using the ArriveCAN app, including proof of vaccination in English or French and a quarantine plan prior to arriving in Canada. 

Backlog of applications needs to be cleared before boosting immigration, say applicants

Colin Singer
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Backlog of applications needs to be cleared before boosting immigration, say applicants

The backlog of applications to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) needs to be brought under control before Ottawa starts accepting record numbers of immigrants again, say frustrated applicants.

In the wake of Immigration Minister Sean Fraser’s three-year immigration plan for 2022 through to 2024 announced on St. Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, many foreign nationals who are fed up with the lengthy delays in processing their own applications are taking to social media to voice their displeasure.

Their fear is the processing delays will only get worse if the IRCC starts accepting even more applications in an attempt to boost Canada’s immigration levels to new, record levels.

 Read More Canada Immigration News

Ottawa is now hoping to welcome 431,645 permanent residents this year, 447,055 next year, and 451,000 in 2024. Under the previous plan, Canada was to welcome 411,000 new permanent residents in 2022 and 421,000 in 2023. 

The immigration minister’s new plan boosts immigration levels by 20,000 more new permanent residents for this year and 26,000 more for 2023 than the previous plan. 

Fraser lauded the contributions of immigrants to communities throughout Canada on Monday, saying the arrival of immigrants has helped shape Canada into the country that it is today.

Applicants Call on Ottawa to Deal With Their Applications Before Taking Any More On

In the Twitterverse, though, Ottawa’s openness to foreign nationals hoping to immigrate to Canada was met with considerable criticism over its existing backlog of applications and processing delays.

“How about clearing the backlogs first?” asked one user on Twitter. “There are thousands of applications languishing without being touched for more than six months to a year.”

That Twitter user, who claims to be waiting for a temporary resident visa, lambasted Canada’s immigration department for an apparent lack of sufficient staff to process the current backlogs.

Others with applications submitted to the IRCC agreed. 

“Please, try to work on applied citizenship applications,” begged another Twitter user. “Especially those applications (where the applicant) has (already) taken the citizenship interview and test and been asked for more supporting documents which were submitted … four months ago.”

Frustrated applicants for immigration to Canada repeatedly asked on Twitter for Canadian immigration officials to first deal with their applications before opening the floodgates to more prospective immigrants.

“You guys should first clear backlogs, people who have one to two years of experience under Express Entry,” suggested another user on Twitter. “Why should they have to suffer and wait for that long period of time?”

Canada’s backlog of 1.8 million permanent residence, temporary residence and citizenship applications that are waiting to be processed is an issue that has plagued the current government. 

Express Entry for Federal Economic Programs Stalled Due to Backlogs

In late January, Fraser admitted he did not know when regular Express Entry draws would resume for federal economic programs. Immigration officials are struggling to reduce the inventory before Canadian Experience Class and Federal Skilled Worker invitations can once again be issued.

 And the growing chorus of critics isn’t limited to strangers on social media. Member of Parliament Jasraj Singh Hallan, the Conservative Party’s immigration critic, has also taken the current government to task for the delays in processing applications to the IRCC”

“The massive backlog the Liberal government has created at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada is not only hurting hard-working newcomers, families, immigrants and business owners, it also threatens billions of dollars of much-needed economic growth in Canada,” he tweeted.

In December last year, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland announced Ottawa announced steps Canada is taking to meet this challenge.

According to Freeland, Canada will be spending $85 million this year and in 2023 to both process more applications and reduce processing times in key areas affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“This will help to ensure Canada’s immigration system is well-positioned to help meet Canada’s economic and labour force goals,” said Freeland in statement in December.

Ircc Hired 500 More Employees and Is Using Advanced Data Analytics to Clear Backlog

Her statement also spoke of the importance of immigration when it comes to attracting top global talent, meeting the needs of employers, and addressing labour shortages.

“Immigrants and temporary foreign workers help Canada meet long- and short-term labour market needs, respectively, and international students and visitors are vital to the institutions and businesses they support,” said Freeland.

“They are not only essential to Canada’s economy but also bring fresh perspectives and connect Canada to the world.”

Among the steps Ottawa has already taken to clear its existing backlog of applications with that $85 million is the hiring of 500 additional employees.

They were hired to help the country bring immigration application processing times – and the time to approve study permits, work permits and permanent resident card renewals –  back in line with its service standards by the end of this year.  

Canada is also making more use of advanced data analytics to pre-sort visitor visa applications, cutting the time needed to process them by 87 per cent.

“An IRCC officer will always make the final decision, but this system will improve client service by helping IRCC manage the increasing volume of visitor visa applications,” states the immigration department’s website.

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