Ontario Immigration Still Working To Fix Glitch Affecting Masters Graduate Stream

Colin Singer
-
0
Ontario Immigration Still Working To Fix Glitch Affecting Masters Graduate Stream

Ontario immigration says it is continuing to work to solve a technical problem that affecting a recent opening of the popular Masters Graduate Stream.

An Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program statement said the stream would be reopened soon.

The international graduate immigration stream opened on March 5, but only accepted 333 out of a targeted 1,000 applications due to the technical glitch.

Read More

Ontario Receives 333 Of Targeted 1,000 Masters Graduate Stream Applications
Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program Gets 2019 Nomination Allocation Boost
Minimum Score Drops In New Ontario Entrepreneur Stream Draw
Ontario Conducts New Draw Targeting Express Entry Skilled Trades Candidates

“Please note that the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program is working to resolve technical issues that occurred on March 5 during the Masters Graduate Stream opening,” an OINP statement said. 

“We are developing a solution to re-open the Masters Graduate Stream as soon as possible.”

Ontario has advised candidates to continue to monitor its website for future developments.

The Masters Graduate Stream is aimed at candidates who have graduated from a master’s program at an eligible Ontario institution, meet language requirements and have lived in the province for at least one year in the last two. A job offer is not required.

Candidates must register online through the Ontario Immigration Nominee Program e-Filing Portal.

Ontario issued nominations to 1,215 Masters Graduate Stream candidates in 2018, out of an annual total of 6,850 OINP nominations.

Ontario is one of the only provinces running immigration streams for international graduates that do not require a job offer. The other is Quebec under the Quebec Experience Program.

Changes to the Ontario International Masters Graduate Stream in 2017 mean applications are now accepted from candidates living in Ontario or abroad.

Applications from other Canadian provinces or territories are not accepted.

To be eligible to apply for an Ontario nomination as an international student, candidates must:

  • Have completed at least half of their studies in Canada;
  • Be in their last semester of post-secondary studies;
  • Or have completed their studies in Canada within two years.

Masters Graduate Stream: Requirements

  1. Graduated from a master’s degree program at a publicly funded Ontario university and have completed at least one year full time.
  2. Have level 7 or above English or French.
  3. Lived in Ontario for at least one year in the last two.
  4. Have sufficient settlement funds.
  5. Intend to live and work in Ontario.
  6. Must either legally live in Ontario or live abroad. Applications from elsewhere in Canada will not be accepted.
  7. Application must be within two years of date on master’s degree certificate.

Manitoba Draw Focuses On Candidates Already In Province

Colin Singer
-
0
Manitoba Draw Focuses On Candidates Already In Province

Candidates already working in Manitoba were the focus of the latest Manitoba Nominee Program draw.

The draw saw 262 Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) issued through the Skilled Workers in Manitoba stream, with the lowest ranked candidate scoring 433 points.

Elsewhere, 260 LAAs went to candidates for the Human Capital Pathway of the Skilled Workers Overseas stream. 

The lowest-ranked candidate in this category scored 563 points, while also meeting the following requirements:

Either

  • Have a valid Express Entry ID and job seeker validation code, with at least six months of recent experience in an occupation on Manitoba’s In-demand Occupations list

Or

  • Have a close relative in Manitoba or past education or work experience in the province.
  • Have 6 months of recent experience in a Manitoba in-demand occupation.
  • Meet minimum language requirements.

Read More

Canadians Want Citizenship Law Changed To Tackle Birth Tourism, Poll Says
Visa-Free Travel to 184 Countries Makes Canada’s Passport Sixth Most Powerful
Miramichi An Example of How Small Communities Can Use Atlantic Immigration Pilot

Further LAAs were issued through the International Education Stream (44) and via a Strategic Recruitment Initiative under the SWO stream (29). 

Manitoba Draw Details

StreamSub-StreamLetters of Advice to ApplyScore of Lowest Ranked Candidate
1) Skilled Workers in Manitoba 262433
2) International Education Stream 44–
3) Skilled Workers OverseasStrategic Recruitment Initiative29719
 Human Capital Pathway260563

Source: www.immigratemanitoba.com

British Columbia Targets BC PNP Tech Pilot Candidates In New Draw

Colin Singer
-
0
British Columbia Targets BC PNP Tech Pilot Candidates In New Draw
Technology workers were the focus of the latest draw conducted by the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program.

The April 2 draw saw 26 invites issued to candidates through the BC PNP Tech Pilot.

Minimum scores dropped as low as 73 for entry-level and semi-skilled candidates.

Skilled workers through the direct provincial stream required 94 points to qualify, while Express Entry skilled workers needed 100 points.

Read More

Canadians Want Citizenship Law Changed To Tackle Birth Tourism, Poll Says
Visa-Free Travel to 184 Countries Makes Canada’s Passport Sixth Most Powerful
Miramichi An Example of How Small Communities Can Use Atlantic Immigration Pilot

International graduates, meanwhile, required 100 points through the direct provincial stream, and 105 points via the Express Entry stream. 

Did You Get Invited in the April 2 B.C. Immigration Draw?

Date Category Minimum Score Invitations Issued
02-April-19 (Technology only) EEBC – Skilled Worker 100 Total: 26
EEBC – International Graduate 105
SI – Skilled Worker 94
SI – International Graduate 100
SI – Entry Level and Semi-Skilled 73

Source: www.welcomebc.ca

Calls For Newfoundland To Set More Ambitious Immigration Targets

Colin Singer
-
0
Calls For Newfoundland To Set More Ambitious Immigration Targets
Provincial officials have called on Newfoundland & Labrador to be more ambitious with its immigration targets

The maritime province currently welcomes the fewest immigrants in Canada with a total of 1,525 newcomers arriving in 2018.

This represented an increase of 25 percent on 2017. By 2022, the province is targeting 1,700 newcomers.

But officials say this is not enough to tackle the demographic crisis in the province, which has a median age of 46. The median age among new immigrants is 29.

Read More

Newfoundland Immigration Aims To Improve Foreign Credential Recognition
Newfoundland Immigration Wants Expressions of Interest from Entrepreneur Candidates
Newfoundland Opens Expression of Interest System For 2 New Entrepreneur Streams

Among the four Atlantic provinces, the average 2018 intake of new permanent residents was 3,784.

One area in which the numbers are positive for Newfoundland is retention. Its 51 percent retention rate puts it second in the region.

However, the province still lost 3,600 people to inter-provincial migration in 2017-18, figures show, following a loss of 1,430 people in 2016-17.

In the seven years before that, the province had actually made population gains from inter-provincial migration.

The province welcomes immigrants through the Newfoundland & Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP), as well as being part of the employer-driven Atlantic Immigration Pilot (AIP).

The NLPNP nominates individuals to the federal government wishing to obtain Canadian permanent residence. It features the following five streams:

  1. Express Entry Skilled Worker Category.
  2. Skilled Worker Category.
  3. International Graduate Category.
  4. International Graduate Entrepreneur Category.
  5. International Entrepreneur Category.

Meanwhile, the joint federal-provincial AIP operates the following three streams:

  1. Atlantic High-Skilled Program
  2. Atlantic Intermediate-Skilled Program
  3. Atlantic International Graduate Program

Newfoundland is currently looking to improve its system of recognizing the foreign qualifications of new immigrants.

Up to $50,000 in funding is being made available for projects that help the process of credential recognition, from providing pre-arrival services all the way through to after Newfoundland immigrants have secured jobs.

The expression of interest process is open until April 11, 2019.

Credential recognition is viewed as one of the central barriers to integration for new permanent residents, who often find themselves working in lower-skilled jobs when they first arrive in Canada.

Newfoundland is looking for ways to increase numbers of new permanent residence.

Its Department of Education, Skills and Labour is asking for expressions of interest from organizations that can provide credential recognition services.

Canada Invites 3,350 Candidates In New Express Entry Draw

Colin Singer
-
0
Canada Invites 3,350 Candidates In New Express Entry Draw
Canada immigration authorities issued Invitations to Apply to 3,350 candidates in the latest Express Entry draw.

The April 3 draw saw the minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score drop by a point to 451 compared to the previous draw.

A tie-breaking cut-off date of January 9, 2019 at just before 3.35am EST was used for the draw. If more than one profile has the same score, the date the profile was submitted is used to decide which receives an ITA.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada have now issued ITAs to 24,550 candidates in 2019, against a high-skilled immigration intake target of 81,400.

Canada’s immigration ministry broke the record for annual Express Entry ITAs in 2018 with 89,800.

This was the seventh round of invitations under Express Entry in 2019 and 114th overall.

ITAs Issued After 7 Draws

Minimum CRS Scores So Far In 2019

ITAs Issued Per Draw In 2019

What is Express Entry?

Express Entry is an immigration system implemented by Canadian immigration authorities (IRCC) on January 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.

Read More

Canadians Want Citizenship Law Changed To Tackle Birth Tourism, Poll Says

Colin Singer
-
0
Canadians Want Citizenship Law Changed To Tackle Birth Tourism, Poll Says
Nearly two-thirds of Canadians want to see a change in the Canadian citizenship law to discourage birth tourism, according to a new poll.

The Angus Reid Institute survey saw 64 percent of respondents say babies born on Canadian soil should not automatically get citizenship, as is currently the case.

As many as 60 percent supported a change in the citizenship law to discourage expecting parents from deliberately coming to Canada to give birth.

However, more than half of respondents still said the policy of birthright citizenship is a good one.

The poll found older people were more likely to see birth tourism as a problem.

Presentage Who Said Child Should Get Citizenship In Each Scenario

Source: Angus Reid Institute

Read More

Birth Tourism in Canada Much Higher Than Official Figures: Study
Ottawa Says Canada Not Bound to Give Citizenship by Birthplace
Benefits of Canadian Citizenship

The latest figures show Canadian birth tourism numbers could be much higher than official figures suggest.

A study released in November 2018 by Policy Options author Andrew Griffith found that while Statistics Canada reported 313 births to mothers residing outside Canada in 2016, the actual number could be more than five times greater.

“The impact of this practice can no longer be described as insignificant given its effect on the integrity of citizenship and public perceptions that birth tourism is a fraudulent shortcut to obtaining citizenship,” Griffith wrote.

The discrepancy came to light when non-resident birth figures produced by a single health facility – Richmond Hospital in British Columbia – exceeded the officially reported numbers for the whole of Canada.

Griffith used numbers from the from the Discharge Abstract Database (DAD) of the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), which showed there were 3,223 non-resident births in Canada in 2016.

This figure is not representative of birth tourism alone, as it also includes other temporary residents (including corporate transferees and international students) and Canadian expatriates returning to give birth. The total also does not include Quebec, which refused to release the information.

But it does show birth tourism is not only a bigger problem than first thought, it is also a growing problem.

Griffith’s DAD figures show an increase from 1,354 non-resident births in 2010 to 3,628 in 2017.

In 2017, non-resident births accounted for 1.2 percent of all births in Canada.

But why such a large difference between official data and the DAD figures? Griffith writes: “The likely explanation for the discrepancy between hospital financial data and vital statistics agency data is that birth tourists use their real addresses for hospital payments but their temporary Canadian addresses on birth registration forms.”

Griffith offers three potential solutions to help tackle the issue:

1) Make birth tourism grounds for visitor visa refusal

Griffith suggests introducing a question about intent to give birth on the visitor visa form, with visa officers given the power to request a pregnancy test in high-risk cases.

A woman who has not declared her pregnancy could be found guilty of immigration fraud, with the child’s citizenships subsequently obtained fraudulently.

While the approach would create a deterrent, it would be difficult to enforce, Griffith says.

2) Qualified birthright citizenship

Canada could copy Australia’s 2017 move to change its citizenship act to introduce qualified birthright citizenship. This would mean a person born in Canada only gets citizenship “if the parent is either a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident and if the child has lived in Canada for 10 years after birth.”

The downside to this approach would be costly changes to the way births are registered, with parental pictures and proof of residence currently not required.

3) Regulatory and financial approaches

Griffith suggests taking financial action against non-residents who give birth in Canada. “While financial measures do not address objections to birth tourism in principle, they could discourage some birth tourism and would address the cases where birth tourists are not paying their hospital bills,” he writes.

Visa-Free Travel to 184 Countries Makes Canada’s Passport Sixth Most Powerful

Colin Singer
-
0
Visa-Free Travel to 184 Countries Makes Canada’s Passport Sixth Most Powerful
The Canadian passport is the sixth most powerful in the world, allowing holders to travel to 184 countries without a pre-arranged visa.

Canada sits alongside the UK, Belgium, Greece and Ireland in sixth spot on a list headed by the passports of Asian giants Japan, Singapore and South Korea, which boast visa-free travel to 189 destinations.

Top 10 Most Powerful Passports

  1. Japan, Singapore, South Korea: 189
  2. Germany: 188
  3. France, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Sweden: 187
  4. Luxembourg, Spain: 186
  5. Austria, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Switzerland, US: 185
  6. Canada, UK, Belgium, Greece, Ireland: 184
  7. Czech Republic: 183
  8. Malta: 182
  9. Australia, Iceland, New Zealand: 181
  10. Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Slovenia: 180

The so-called ‘power’ of a country’s passport is indicative of its standing among the largest and most developed nations in the world.

Canada regularly features among the countries with the world’s most powerful passports. Visa-free access is seen as a measurement of the freedom of citizens of a certain country.

In the last two years, Canada has added Mexicans, Romanians and Bulgarians to the list of nationalities it allows to enter the country without a pre-arranged visa.

When flying into Canada, holders of visa-exempt passports are required to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization in advance of their travel.

Read More

Data Security and Identity Protection Dominate Immigration Study on Passport App and Virtual Passports in Canada
Canadian Passport Rated World’s 5th Most Powerful
New Canada Passport Rules Aimed at Protecting Children

In 2018, Canada’s federal government made important changes to passport rules with the aim of protecting children under 16 and preventing the document being misused.

Changes include giving power to the Canada immigration minister to issue without the need for an application, or refuse to issue, a passport to a child, if they believe it is in the child’s best interest.

The minister can also cancel a child’s passport if they believe it is in the child’s best interest.

Under the changes, the minister is also given the power to refuse to issue a passport if they believe it will be used by someone other than the bearer.

Gender Neutrality

These changes come after the federal government implemented gender neutrality on passports and other immigration documents in August 2017.

Those who do not identify as male or female can now indicate their gender with an ‘X’.

The move comes after the Canadian Human Rights Act was amended to add gender identity and gender expression to the list of prohibited grounds of discrimination.

The Canadian government says it will work towards a ‘consistent federal approach’ when it comes to gender neutrality.

Rules for Dual Citizens

Dual citizens must make sure they are aware of Canada’s passport rules.

Following the introduction of the eTA in 2016, dual citizens now require a Canadian passport to fly into the country.

When the new rule was introduced, Canadian missions all over the world were inundated with Canadian passport requests. Previously, dual citizens could use the passport of their other country of citizenship.

The eTA rules forced thousands of dual citizens to apply for a Canadian passport.

Canada Citizenship

Canada’s federal government made a number of changes to Canada’s Citizenship Act after Bill C-6 came into force in October 2017.

The foremost change made by Ottawa was to reduce the physical presence requirement for permanent residents to become citizens to three years out of the last five.

Previously the requirement was four years out of the last six.

Changes to the Citizenship Act also included reducing the age range for applicants who must meet the language and knowledge requirements.

A further change allows candidates to count the days spent as temporary residents and protected persons spend in Canada as half days (up to 365 days) towards their physical presence requirement.

What Are the Canadian Citizenship Requirements?

  1. Have unconditional Canadian permanent residence status.
  2. Be physically present for three years out of the preceding five (1,095 days out of 1,825).
  3. Meet income tax filing obligations for three years out of the last five.
  4. Prove adequate knowledge of one of Canada’s official languages (English or French) if aged 18 to 54.
  5. Pass a Canadian knowledge test (if aged 18 to 54).
  6. Not be prohibited due to committing a criminal offence.

Read more on how to get Canadian Citizenship.

Miramichi An Example of How Small Communities Can Use Atlantic Immigration Pilot

Colin Singer
-
0
Miramichi An Example of How Small Communities Can Use Atlantic Immigration Pilot
The small New Brunswick city of Miramichi is being held up as an example of the success of the Atlantic Immigration Pilot.

New immigrants to the community with a population of under 18,000 have risen by 700 percent in two years.

More than 120 newcomers arrived in 2018, compared to 15 in 2016, figures show.

Read More

Canada Extends Atlantic Immigration Pilot For 2 More Years To 2021
New Brunswick Businesses Want Streamlined Atlantic Immigration Pilot to Tackle Labour Shortage
Nova Scotia Looks For Quality Over Quantity Through Atlantic Immigration Pilot

Through the AIP, Miramichi has welcomed people from the Philippines, Africa, the Caribbean, and South America to a city dominated by third-generation Canadians.

Community leaders are being lauded for their use of the AIP, with other cities being urged to follow their example.

Previously, employers were considering cutting hours or closing their businesses due to labour shortages.

But the AIP, launched in 2017 to help attract and retain more skilled immigrants to the Atlantic region, has given businesses new options.

The AIP operates as a partnership between Canada’s federal government and the four provinces in the region: New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island.

It is an employer-led pilot that aims to bring candidates to the region to fill positions for which Canadian citizens and permanent residents are not available.

After an initial period of two years, the AIP was extended in March until 2021.

To hire through the AIP, employers do not need a Labour Market Impact Assessment. Instead, they must meet requirements to become designated to make job offers.

Three programs operate under the Atlantic Immigration Pilot, which target different types of candidates.

1) Atlantic High-Skilled Program

The Atlantic High-Skilled Program is aimed at skilled workers with management, professional or technical/skilled job experience. There are also other requirements. The job offer must last for at least one year.

Read more about the Atlantic High-Skilled Program.

2) Atlantic Intermediate-Skilled Program

The Atlantic Intermediate-Skilled Program is aimed at candidates for jobs requiring a high school education and/or job-specific training. There are also other requirements. The job offer must be permanent.

Read more about the Atlantic Intermediate-Skilled Program.

3) Atlantic International Graduate Program

The Atlantic International Graduate Program is aimed at candidates who have a degree, diploma or another credential from a publicly-funded institution in an Atlantic province. Work experience is not required. The job offer must last for at least one year.

Read more about the Atlantic International Graduate Program.

Open Work Permits Available for Qualified Interim Pathway for Caregivers Applicants

Colin Singer
-
0
Open Work Permits Available for Qualified Interim Pathway for Caregivers Applicants
Candidates who are eligible for Canada’s Interim Pathway for Caregivers have access to an open work permit while their applications are processed.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada guidelines state that applicants with a ‘positive eligibility assessment’ under the IPC are eligible for an open work permit until their permanent residence application is finalized.

Family members of the applicant who are in Canada are also eligible for the open work permit.

Read More

Canada’s New Interim Pathway For Caregivers Is Now Open
Do I Qualify for Canada’s New Interim Pathway for Caregivers?
Canada To Overhaul Foreign Caregiver System With Two New Pilot Programs

Canada’s new caregiver permanent residence pathway opened for three months on March 4, 2019, aimed at candidates who do not qualify under existing programs.

The Interim Pathway for Caregivers is open until June 4, 2019.

It provides a window of opportunity for candidates who came to Canada expecting to qualify to remain here permanently, but then found out they did not.

According to IRCC, the pathway is designed to mitigate some of the confusion caused when changes were made to the caregiver system in 2014 under the previous Conservative government.

The Interim Pathway for Caregivers is separate from the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and the Home Support Worker Pilot.

These will replace the existing Caring for Children and Caring for People with High Medical Needs programs when they expire in November 2019.

Interim Pathway for Caregivers: Eligibility Criteria and Conditions

Candidates must meet the following criteria:

  1. Be authorized to work in Canada on a work permit other than a Live-in Caregiver Program work permit.
  2. Intend to reside in a province or territory other than Quebec.
  3. Has obtained:
    1. a completed Canadian educational credential of at least a secondary school diploma; or,
    2. a foreign diploma, certificate or credential, along with an equivalency assessment — issued within five years before the date of application— that indicates that the foreign diploma, certificate or credential is equivalent to a completed Canadian secondary school diploma.
  4. Has attained a level of proficiency of at least benchmark 5 in either official language for each of the four language skill areas, as set out in the Canadian Language Benchmarks or the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens.
  5. Since November 30, 2014, has acquired one year of authorized full-time Canadian work experience on a Temporary Foreign Worker Program work permit in any combination of the following eligible occupations:
    1. Home child care provider as per the terms of NOC 44112, other than any experience as a foster parent.
    2. Home support worker or related occupation, but not a housekeeper, under NOC 4412.

Submitting an application

All applications for permanent residence under the Interim Pathway for Caregivers must be submitted to the Case Processing Centre in Edmonton. 

Eligibility for processing

There is no cap on the number of complete applications IRCC will accept under the Interim Pathway for Caregivers. IRCC will only accept and process complete applications submitted from March 4, 2019, to June 4, 2019. 

1...244245246Page 246 of 246

Latest News

© Canada Immigration News