Manitoba Issues 283 Canada Immigration Invitations In New PNP Draw

Colin Singer
-
0
Manitoba Issues 283 Canada Immigration Invitations In New PNP Draw

Manitoba has issued 283 invitations to apply in a new Canada immigration draw through the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program.

The December 14 draw saw LAAs issued through three MPNP streams.

Skilled Workers in Manitoba candidates who had completed post-secondary studies in the province received 160 LAAs, with a minimum score of 774 points. Candidates with a spouse who had completed post-secondary studies also qualified in this category.

International Education Stream candidates received 62 LAAs.

The remaining 61 LAAs went to Skilled Workers Overseas candidates through a Strategic Recruitment Initiative, with a minimum score of 714.

Manitoba stated that 20 of the 283 candidates invited had valid Express Entry IDs and job seeker validation codes.

In a separate draw on November 30, Manitoba issued 117 invitations as part of its special immigration measures for Ukraine.

Read More Canada Immigration News

Remove Barriers For Internationally-Educated Nurses, Says Manitoba Immigration Minister
Manitoba PNP Draw: Province Issues 268 Canada Immigration Invitations
Manitoba Issues 301 Canada Immigration Invitations In New Provincial Draw

To qualify, candidates must:

  • Be a citizen of Ukraine;
  • have a minimum of CLB 4 in each language band;
  • have established connection to Manitoba (close relative, family-like, community, previous employment or studies in Manitoba);
  • have a valid language test; and
  • score at least 60 points according to MPNP assessment criteria.

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 Completed Post-Secondary Study in Manitoba 160 774
2) International Education Stream 62 –
3) Skilled Workers Overseas Strategic Recruitment Initiative 61 714
4) Special Immigration Measures for Ukraine 117 60

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 business operation experience in Manitoba
  • Resident of Manitoba since graduation.
  • No specific minimum personal net worth requirement

British Columbia Issues 193 Invitations In New PNP Draw

Colin Singer
-
0
British Columbia Issues 193 Invitations In New PNP Draw

British Columbia has conducted a new draw through the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program, issuing at least 193 invitations.

The December 12 draw saw invitations issued in five different categories.

A general draw, which included tech occupations, saw 73 invitations issued through five BC PNP streams for skilled workers and international graduates. Minimum scores ranged from 95 to 116 points.

In a further targeted draw, 61 invitations were issued to skilled workers and international graduates scoring at least 60 points in a draw targeting Early Childhood Educators and Assistants under NOC 42202.

Construction workers, recently added as priority occupations for the BC PNP, received 31 invitations with a minimum score of 75.

A draw targeted at Healthcare workers saw 27 invitations issued to skilled workers and international graduates, also with a minimum score of 60 points.

Finally, a draw aimed at other priority occupations under NOCs 31003 and 32104 saw ‘less than 5’ invitations issued, again with a minimum score of 60. It was listed as ‘less than 5’ to protect the identity of those invited.

Read More Canada Immigration News

Rebound Of Canada’s Parents And Grandparents Program Continues
Applications Now Open For International Experience Canada 2024
Quebec To Employ 1,500 Asylum Seekers In Health Care Industry 

Latest B.C. Immigration Draws

General Draw

Date Category Minimum Score Invitations Issued Description
12-12-23 Skilled Worker 116 73 General draw (includes tech occupations)
Skilled Worker – EEBC 116
International Graduate 116
International Graduate – EEBC 116
Entry Level and Semi-Skilled 95

Targeted Draw

Date Category Minimum Score Invitations Issued Description
12-12-23  

 

 

Skilled Worker, International Graduate

 60 61 Targeted draw: Childcare: Early childhood educators (NOC 42202)
75 31 Construction
60 27 Targeted draw: Healthcare
60 <5 Other priority occupations (NOCs 31103, 32104)

Video:

British Columbia Construction Industry Boosted By New Immigration Measures

Colin Singer
-
0
British Columbia Construction Industry Boosted By New Immigration Measures

British Columbia has boosted its construction sector by including 25 new occupations in the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP).

The occupations in question include a variety of trades, such as welders, plumbers, and electricians. These new additions are a welcome addition to BC’s other focal areas, such as early childhood educators, tech, healthcare occupations, veterinarians, animal health technologists, and vet technicians.

The policy change is testament to the province’s response to the immediate need for skilled labour in the construction industry, as per ConstructConnect’s Journal of Commerce (JOC).

The sector is the top employer in the provincial goods sector and accounts for 10.3 percent ($27 billion) of its GDP, but has been facing a severe labour shortage in recent times, with an eight percent drop in tradespeople over three years, with the average company size shrinking by 10 percent to 6.24 workers.

The BC Construction Association (BCCA) reported of this, in combination with outdated regulations about paying contractors on time, being the potential cause of a major slowdown in the booming business.

Read More Canada Immigration News

British Columbia Prioritises 25 Construction Occupations For Immigration
British Columbia Targets Construction Workers For First Time In PNP Draw
British Columbia PNP Draw: Province Issues 193 Canada Immigration Invitations

“There is this critical shortage of workers across the province, and we need to (do) what we can to send the right messages to those workers and contractors in B.C. that this is the place they should come to live, to work, and to build our province,” told association president Chris Atchison to Global News in October.

He further said that up to 40 percent of workers in the industry are set to retire in the following decade, and that current efforts are not enough.

“Even if we are to meet our targets of attraction and retention, in 10 years time from now we’re still looking at about a 6,000-worker shortage in BC”.

The new regulation thus signals an expansion of previous efforts, which had been deemed insufficient by Atchison. He is happy with the change, but still believes that more needs to be done.

“Is it an appreciated move? Absolutely”, he says. “I talk to my counterparts in other provinces and they wish their PNP systems would be progressive in advancing in the way that B.C. is under the direction of our ministry of municipal affairs.”

However, he adds that “we need way more than that.”

“But it’s also 24 more than we had any month previous. So it’s a step in the right direction. Again, it’s a message to newcomers, it’s a message to industry that the government is paying attention.”

On the same day as the announcement, the first round of the expanded focus was held, in which 12 invitations for Canada PR were sent out under various provincial skills immigration categories and their express entry counterparts.

An additional 12 invitations are to be issued by BC.

Watch Video

Dr. Dave Baspaly, president of the Council of Construction Associations, says that this change is a great signal from the government.

“We’ve got a massive projected skill shortage over the next five years,” he says. “And it is nice to see that we’re recruiting more sharp minds to be able to do the good work that has to happen in our industry.”

Construction is not the only sector to be suffering a shortage, however, with BC trades industries across the board witnessing a labour gap. The province has seen an eight percent drop in tradespeople over the course of three years, with average company size falling by 10 percent to roughly 6.24 workers.

Electrical contractors are another profession that is being affected.

“There’s an enormous amount of demand for electrical workers in British Columbia,” says Matt MacInnis, president of the Electrical Contractors Association of BC.

“Contractors across the province are just barely able to meet that demand right now.”

JOC wrote that MacInnis agrees with Atchison and Baspaly’s assessment of the reform being a step in the right direction. However, he does not believe this to have positive offshoots for the electrical trades, due to the unique accreditation challenges faced by new – especially international – electricians in BC.

The period of adaptation to local licensure codes for BC and other Canadian electrical standards takes time. Moreover, lack of adherence to the Red Seal program may make their skills difficult to assess.

While construction does not have such issues, it has its own woes that have only compounded its troubles, according to JOC, such as rising costs, decreased commercial demand, and challenges in procurement standards and payment practices.

The industry has “lax regulations” surround payment, wrote Simon Little and Richard Zussman for Global News in October, allowing certain contractors to wait for months to receive payment for their services.

BCCA is pushing for the provincial administration to implement “prompt payment” legislation that sets firm timetables.

“Very often right now we have contractors throughout B.C. who may not be being paid for work they have done for 90 up to 120 days, sometimes even 270 days on proper invoices that have been received.

“What we’re seeing in other jurisdictions is upon proper receipt of an invoice for services received that contractors are being paid within a 28-day to 30-day period, which is standard expectations of a civil society, frankly.”

Sechelt Mayor John Henderson told Global News that BC construction’s woes are visible “at the ground level.”

Immigrate To Canada As A Therapist In Counselling: All You Need To Know

Colin Singer
-
0
Immigrate To Canada As A Therapist In Counselling: All You Need To Know

Are you a candidate with skills and qualifications in one of Canada’s 82 jobs for occupation-specific Express Entry draws? We want to help you move to Canada. Please submit your CV here.

A shortage of therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies in Canada provides opportunities for qualified foreign nationals to gain their permanent residence here through occupation-targeted Express Entry system draws.

“As job openings and job seekers are projected to be similar over the 2022 – 2031 period, it is expected that the shortage between labour supply and demand seen in recent years will continue over the projection period,” notes the Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) website.

“Job openings are projected to arise primarily from employment growth. Population growth and the rising share of older people will have an important impact on job creation in this occupational group.”

With Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) changing Canada’s Express Entry system to allow it to target 82 jobs in healthcare, technology, trades, transport and agriculture last summer – including therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies – it opened the door to a new pathway to immigration for them.

Read More Canada Immigration News

Rebound Of Canada’s Parents And Grandparents Program Continues
Applications Now Open For International Experience Canada 2024
Quebec To Employ 1,500 Asylum Seekers In Health Care Industry 

Therapist in counselling and related specialized therapies occupations, categorized under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 system with the code 41301, include:

  • addictions counsellor
  • art therapist
  • bereavement counsellor
  • child and youth counsellor
  • drama therapist
  • family counsellor
  • marriage counsellor
  • movement therapist
  • music therapist
  • psychotherapist
  • registered clinical counsellor
  • registered dance therapist
  • registered marriage and family therapist
  • sexologist

And are closely related to the following jobs:

  • social and community service workers
  • managers in social, community and correctional services
  • social workers
  • career development practitioners and career counsellors (except education)
  • educational counsellors
  • kinesiologists and other professional occupations in therapy and assessment

In May this year, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) made all of these workers eligible for immigration to Canada Express Entry occupation-targeted draws.

The flagship Express Entry selection system had previously only conducted draws based on immigration programs, not by targeting specific occupations.

Occupation-Targeted Draws Aim To Reduce Labour Shortages

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

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

Video

The federal government’s job-hunting and career-planning website, Jobbank, ranks the job prospects of therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies over the next three years as very good, its highest rating, in Ontario and the Yukon and good throughout the rest of the country.

In early November, the Indeed.ca job-hunting website listed 6,983 jobs for therapists across the country.

In Canada, the median hourly wage for therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies is  $29 but that varies from a low of $19 right up to $45, reveals Jobbank.

Based on a 37.5-hour work week, that means these workers can expect to earn up to $87,750 annually in Canada.

FST, FSW and CEC Now More Responsive To Labour Market Needs

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

Under the changes announced at the end of May, the Express Entry streams, including the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program, Federal Skilled Trades (FST) program and Canadian Experience Class (CEC), as well as parts of the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) are now more responsive to labour market needs.

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

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

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

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

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

Driving A Car As A Newcomer To Canada: Everything You Need To Know

Colin Singer
-
0
Driving A Car As A Newcomer To Canada: Everything You Need To Know

Car ownership is a necessity to make your way around Canada – a country known for its vast landscapes and various terrains – with newcomers no exception to the rule.

Considering this fact, immigration.ca has compiled a handy guide for all new Canada temporary or permanent residents, with useful information on who can obtain a driver’s license, how they can proceed with obtaining a driver’s license, and what buying or renting a car in Canada is like.

Who is Allowed to Drive a Car in Canada?

Canada allows all permanent or temporary residents above the age of 16 with a valid provincially or territorially issued driver’s license to drive a car. Additionally, they need to own valid insurance for their vehicle (which covers costs related to damage to the car incurred during an accident) and carry an original copy of the vehicle ownership permit any time they are driving.

Foreigners, including PRs, study permit holders, and work permit holders, can use an international driver’s license (if they possess one) to drive around the country for some time. They are also recommended to carry an International Driving Permit (IDP) from their home country during this period.

Read More Canada Immigration News

Rebound Of Canada’s Parents And Grandparents Program Continues
Applications Now Open For International Experience Canada 2024
Quebec To Employ 1,500 Asylum Seekers In Health Care Industry 

The exact duration of the international license’s validity depends on the province/territory, after which a license from the home province/territory needs to be obtained:

Alberta: 90 days

British Columbia: 90 days

Manitoba: Three months

Newfoundland and Labrador: Three months

New Brunswick: No validity period 

NW Territories: No information available

Nova Scotia: 90 days 

Nunavut: No information available

Ontario: 60 days

Prince Edward Island: Four months

Quebec: Six months

Saskatchewan: 90 days

Yukon: No information available

How to Obtain a Driver’s License as a Newcomer to Canada

Most provinces require new candidates to undergo a “Graduated Licensing Program,” under which they have to give a knowledge written exam. Upon succeeding, they will be eligible for a Learner’s Permit, and will be able to drive accompanied by an experienced driver.

They then have to practice for one year, following which they will be able to take a road test and get an intermediate permit. They can now drive alone (without an electronic device and without any alcohol in their system).

Finally, they will be able to take a full license road test, after one year of driving.

Each province has its own specifications, however.

How to Buy a Car in Canada

Car dealerships and online resources should be your go-to stop for buying a new vehicle. Some trusted websites are AutoTrader, Clutch, Kijiji, and Car Pages.

Buying a car in Canada can be a large financial commitment, which can be financed through a personal payment or loan. Loan providers will often check your credit score, background, and proof of a steady income, so it is important to be prepared to prove your ability to pay back as per the payment schedule.

We will now break down the different ways in which you can finance your car:

1. Loans

Loans can be obtained directly from the dealer, wherein a loan agreement is settled between the purchaser and the car manufacturer, financial institution, or a third, independent party.

The other option for loans is to get them from a financial institution, either through a loan or line of credit.

Those with a good relationship with their financial institution may be able to negotiate a better interest rate on a loan or line of credit than they could through a dealer.

Watch Video

2. Leasing the Car

Leasing a car is the alternative to buying it, and is similar to renting an apartment. Herein, consumers make monthly payments to enjoy temporary, fixed access (usually for a term of three to five years) to the vehicle.

Before entering a leasing agreement, it is important to go over the leasing process and the restrictions that come with them, as per Investopedia.

If the consumer violates the lease’s terms by exceeding the mileage and/or incurring wear and tear to the vehicle, there could be financial consequences for them. On the expiration of a lease, they have the option to buy the car.

3. Rent-to-Own Plan

The government website compares rent-to-own plans to car leases, wherein the consumer agrees to make regular payments for a fixed period of time. They then have the option of returning the car or buying it at the end of the term.

While a car lease involves payments to a third-party financial institution, such as a credit union or bank, a rent-to-own plan relies on payments made directly to the dealership or car rental company.

They are designed for those who have little to no credit, and so the rent paid at the end of the term is usually higher than it would be under a car lease via a dealership.

The rent-to-own company, rather than the consumer, owns the vehicle when they sign up for a plan. They can take the car back or repossess it, then, if the consumer misses their payments. In such a case, the consumer does not receive their money back.

Remove Barriers For Internationally-Educated Nurses, Says Manitoba Immigration Minister

Colin Singer
-
0
Remove Barriers For Internationally-Educated Nurses, Says Manitoba Immigration Minister

Are you a candidate with skills and qualifications in one of Canada’s 82 jobs for occupation-specific Express Entry draws? We want to help you move to Canada. Please submit your CV here.

Barriers to accreditation for internationally-educated nurses hoping to work in Manitoba need to be removed, Immigration Minister Malaya Marcelino says.

“I’m just responding to them and trying to find a way to make this happen. This is the cry of the internationally-educated nurses here in Manitoba and I believe across Canada.

“We’re working diligently to try to remove the unfair barriers to accreditation so these folks can practice and do so safely and have support in place.”

Marcelino was named to the immigration portfolio only about a month ago, picking it up from former immigration minister Jon Reyes.

Earlier this year, the Manitoba government was able to successfully welcome hundreds of internationally-educated healthcare professionals after 90 per cent or those offered jobs during a mission to the Philippines accepted positions in the province.

Read More Canada Immigration News

Canada On Track To Beat Ambitious Immigration Target As Monthly Newcomers Rise 4.3%
Canada’s International Student Program To Be Reformed From January 1, 2024
Canada Aims To Bring In Many More After Surpassing Goal Of 20,000 Afghan Refugees

“More than 300 internationally educated health-care professionals have now accepted job offers to work as registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, or healthcare aides in communities located right across our province,” said Manitoba Health Minister Audrey Gordon.

“Our government is committed to healing our health-are system and building our health human resource capacity, so that more patients have access to the care they need.”

Shared Health provided Letters of Interest (LOI) to 348 candidates who passed interviews in Manila, Cebu or Iloilo during a recruitment mission to the Philippines in February and more than 300 candidates accepted job offers in Manitoba.

Candidates accepted those job offers then began with the immigration and licensing processes and started arriving in Manitoba over the summer and autumn months.

Watch Video

“The desire amongst Filipino health-care workers to live and work in Manitoba remains high,” said Reyes.

“The connections between Manitoba’s local Filipino community and those who remain in the Philippines cannot be overstated. Manitoba is known as an extremely welcoming and friendly province, a place where dreams and success can be achieved through determination and hard work, and a community where the contributions of healthcare workers are valued.”

The University of Manitoba’s faculty of nursing is now working on the development of a virtual clinical competence assessment.

Manitoba’s immigration minister says there’s a shortage of 2,600 nurses in the province but internationally-educated nurses face barriers to accreditation.

Manitoba Facing A Labour Shortage Of 2,600 Nurses

“Obviously we need to prioritize safety and there has to be safety standards, but we have to identify stuff that doesn’t make sense,” Marcelino reportedly said.

Among the barriers are the multiple language tests which internationally-educated nurses have to re-write even if they have already passed them and the requirement by regulatory colleges that such nurses must restart their education if they haven’t practised in two or three years.

“Many of them are out of the scope of practice,” Marcelino said. “To go back to a four-year nursing degree, or start again as a doctor, it’s extremely prohibitive. No one can do that.”

She wants to create a new pathway for internationally educated professionals.

“Once we have this successful pathway in place, I’m going to call on other internationally-educated nurses across Canada to come to Manitoba.”

Quebec To Employ 1,500 Asylum Seekers In Health Care Industry 

Colin Singer
-
0
Quebec To Employ 1,500 Asylum Seekers In Health Care Industry 

Quebec wants to recruit around 1,500 asylum seekers to work in the province’s health care industry over the next three years, Employment Minister Kateri Champagne Jourdain says.

The placement of the workers will be done by two community organizations, one in Montreal and one in Quebec City.

Open positions include patient-care aides, kitchen and maintenance staff, and administrators, applicants to which are expected to hold a valid work permit and have an intermediate level of French.

The Canadian Press’ report on this story detailed that Champagne Jourdain has recognized 1,098 would-be refugees to have expressed their interest in working in the tourism industry, after the launch of a similar program in May that connects asylum seekers with jobs.

This news follows reports of a surge of asylum seekers at Canada’s domestic airports after Ottawa closed an unofficial land crossing and eased some requirements for visitor visa applicants.

Immigration.ca wrote in October that from January to September 2023, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) processed 26,585 asylum claims at airports, which represented a 54 percent increase from 2022’s 17,165 claims.

Read More Canada Immigration News

Quebec Expression Of Interest Draw: Province Issues 1,210 Canada Immigration Invitations
Online Job Offer Validation For Quebec Employers Starting Next Month
New Applications For Quebec Immigrant Investor Program To Be Accepted From January

Most of the claims (17,080) were made at Quebec airports, followed by Ontario (8,735), British Columbia (430), Alberta (320), and Nova Scotia (15).

One of the primary causes for this uptick is Ottawa’s closure of Roxham Road in March, which was a popular land route for asylum seekers. Would-be claimants have since started relying on other entry points into Canada.

Canada’s waiving of some eligibility requirements for visitor visa applicants further contributed to this trend. In particular, asylum seekers now have no obligation to prove the availability of sufficient funds or demonstrate that they will leave Canada when their visas expire.

Put into force on February 28, this policy is set to stay operational till the end of 2023 as a means to clear the immigration application backlog in Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) inventories.

Watch Video

“The accumulated visitor visa inventory is limiting Canada’s attractiveness for tourists and business persons, in addition to keeping families separated. Facilitating the processing of applications currently in the inventory by streamlining eligibility requirements will position Canada for a clean start and a return to pre-pandemic processing times, thereby ensuring our international competitiveness moving forward,” read the IRCC website page on this public policy.

Immigration Minister Marc Miller has commented on the recent surge in asylum seeker numbers by calling it “not a problem that’s going away.”

“Asylum seekers are finding their way into this country. Frankly, I am not going to fault them for it.”

“Getting our act together means a number of things. It means looking at the federal government for investments. We have put a lot of money into the city of Toronto. We are willing to make significant investments in addition, but it doesn’t come without some assurances that the city of Toronto is also doing what it needs to do, and that the province of Ontario is stepping up.”

Rebound Of Canada’s Parents And Grandparents Program Continues

Colin Singer
-
0
Rebound Of Canada’s Parents And Grandparents Program Continues

The Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) jumped in popularity by 27.2 per cent in October, welcoming more new permanent residents to Canada.

The program continued to rebound from its lowest level in eight months in August, the latest data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reveals.

Canada welcomed 2,525 new permanent residents under the PGP in October, up from 1,975 in September and the low of 1,515 seen in August.

After dropping from 3,760 new permanent residents under the PGP in May to 3,630 in June, the monthly number of new PGP arrivals fell to only 2,385 in July – and then to its lowest number of PGP arrivals in August since December last year.

Based on the current trend in the PGP arrivals, the number of new permanent residents coming to Canada under that immigration program could hit 29,910 by the end of this year.

Read More Canada Immigration News

Canada On Track To Beat Ambitious Immigration Target As Monthly Newcomers Rise 4.3%
Canada’s International Student Program To Be Reformed From January 1, 2024
International Students In Canada: Top 10 Most Important Source Countries

That would be 9.7 per cent more than the 27,270 new permanent residents under the PGP last year.

In the first 10 months of this year, the PGP has welcomed three per cent more new permanent residents, or 24,925, than the 24,205 during the comparable period last year.

Canada’s most populous province, Ontario, saw the greatest number of arrivals under the PGP in the first 10 months of this year with 11,805 parents and grandparents settling there.

The other provinces and territories attracted the following number of new permanent residents under the PGP during that period:

  • Newfoundland and Labrador – 50
  • Prince Edward Island – 10
  • Nova Scotia – 175
  • New Brunswick – 45
  • Quebec – 2,200
  • Manitoba – 1,020
  • Saskatchewan – 680
  • Alberta – 4,820
  • British Columbia – 4,080
  • Yukon – 25
  • Northwest Territories – 15
  • Nunavut – 0

PGP Growth Expected To Continue As Immigrations Targets Rise

With growing total immigration to Canada, it seems likely PGP immigration will also rise in the coming years.

Under its 2023-2025 Immigration Levels Plan, Ottawa had set its immigration target for 2023 at 465,000 new permanent residents.

Under the 2024-2026 Immigration Levels Plan, Canada is also planning to welcome 485,000 new permanent residents in 2024, 500,000 in 2025 and then hold the line on immigration in 2026 with another 500,000 newcomers.

That’s a total of 1.485 million immigrants to Canada over those three years.

Under the PGP, applicants pay $1,050 to sponsor a parent or grandparent and the process takes up to 23 months, with the people being sponsored required to provide biometrics after they apply. That processing time includes the time to provide those biometrics.

Watch Video:

Once a Canadian citizen or permanent resident has submitted an interest in sponsoring these relatives, he or she is sent an Invitation to Apply (ITA) and must then submit two applications to the PGP:

  • the sponsorship application, and;
  • the permanent residence application.

If those applications get the green light, the sponsor signs an agreement called an undertaking which starts on the day the sponsoree becomes a permanent resident of Canada.

Among the several requirements which need to be met to determine eligibility to sponsor a parent or grandparent, are:

  • a receipt of an Invitation to Apply;
  • being at least 18 years old;
  • Canadian residency;
  • being a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, or a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act;
  • sufficient funds to support the parent or grandparent;
  • proof of income, although a spouse or common-law partner can co-sign to combine their income with that of the sponsor, and;
  • meeting all other requirements under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.

Sponsors Ink Deal With Government To Financially Support Parents And Grandparents

All sponsors living outside of the province of Quebec, which has its own immigration system, must promise to financially support the sponsorees for a period of time.

This undertaking commits the sponsor to:

  • providing financial support for sponsored family members for 20 years, starting when they become permanent residents;
  • repaying any provincial social assistance (money from the government) sponsored family members get during that time, and;
  • agreeing to certain responsibilities during the undertaking period in a sponsorship agreement.

That sponsorship agreement means that the sponsor will provide the basic needs of the sponsoree, including:

  • food;
  • clothing;
  • utilities;
  • personal requirements;
  • shelter;
  • fuel;
  • household supplies, and;
  • healthcare not covered by public health insurance, such as eye and dental care.

Sponsors Remain Financial Responsible For Relatives Even In Tough Times

The sponsorship agreement is not one to be entered into lightly as it is obliges the sponsor to meet those requirements even in the case of:

  • separation or divorce;
  • family rifts;
  • unemployment;
  • change in finances, and even;
  • death of the main applicant.

Sponsors who live in Quebec must meet that province’s immigration sponsorship requirements after the IRCC approves of the sponsor. The length of the undertaking is 10 years for Quebec.

Due to the need for sponsors to accept responsibility for their parents and grandparents through sponsorship agreements under the PGP, past criminality and serious financial troubles can render a Canadian citizen or permanent resident ineligible for this program.

Applicants may not be eligible to sponsor their parents or grandparents if the sponsors:

  • are in a jail, prison or penitentiary;
  • didn’t pay back an immigration loan or performance bond;
  • failed to make court-ordered family support payments such as alimony or child support;
  • didn’t give the financial support specified under a sponsorship agreement to sponsor someone else in the past;
  • declared bankruptcy and are not discharged;
  • receive social assistance for a reason other than a disability;
  • were convicted of a violent criminal offence, any offence against a relative or any sexual offence inside or outside Canada, or;
  • can’t legally stay in Canada and must leave the country because they received a removal order.

The applicant cannot sponsor his or her spouse’s parents or grandparents, aka their in-laws, but can be a co-signer on that spouse’s application to bring to Canada his or her parents and grandparents.

The PGP program also does not allow a Canadian citizen or permanent resident to sponsor someone who is otherwise inadmissible to come to Canada.

The PGP is restricted to the applicant’s own parents and grandparents, related by blood or adoption.

IRCC Urges Applicants To Keep Their Information Current To Avoid Delays

“In case of divorce, you’ll need to submit separate applications if you sponsor divorced parents and grandparents,” notes the IRCC on its website.

“If your divorced parents or grandparents have a current spouse, common-law partner or a conjugal partner, these people become dependants on the application and can immigrate to Canada with your parents and grandparents, if approved.”

A PGP application can include the sponsor’s own brothers and sisters, or half-brothers and sisters, or step-brothers and step-sisters – but only if they qualify as dependent children of the sponsor’s parents.

Delays in processing can quickly occur when the IRCC is faced with information which is no longer accurate and so Canadian immigration officials encourage applicants to keep their contact information and application details up to date.

Important information which must be updated includes:

  • changes in relationship status;
  • birth or adoption of a child;
  • death of an applicant or dependant;
  • contact information such as e-mail addresses, phone numbers, and mailing addresses.

The applicant is responsible for going into the application and updating it with this information him or herself.

“Don’t mail us changes to your contact or application information,” notes the IRCC. “If you do, we won’t acknowledge your request and we won’t update your application.”

Canadian immigration officials notify applicants under the PGP as soon as they begin to process the application, sending them both an application number and an acknowledgement of receipt of the application.

The IRCC then assesses both the applicant’s eligibility as a sponsor and the person being sponsored for permanent residence.

“If we refuse you as a sponsor, you can choose to have us keep processing the application for permanent residence for your family members,” notes the IRCC.

Choosing to have the IRCC continue processing the application at that point means the sponsor forgoes all fees which have been paid.

By choosing to withdraw the application in the eventuality of being deemed ineligible to sponsor, the applicant can get all of his or her fees back, minus the $75 sponsorship fee.

Once Canadian immigration officials have approved a sponsor under the PGP, they then turn their attention to the people being sponsored to determine their eligibility under the program.

The IRCC will typically request documents from those being sponsored, including:

  • medical exam results;
  • police certificates, and;
  • biometrics.

Letters requesting that biometric information are sent to the parents or grandparents and their dependent children as named in the application and they then have 30 days to provide the biometric information at the closest collection point.

Canada Remains A Major Lure For US Workers

Colin Singer
-
0
Canada Remains A Major Lure For US Workers

Are you a candidate with skills and qualifications in one of Canada’s 82 jobs for occupation-specific Express Entry draws? We want to help you move to Canada. Please submit your CV here.

Canada’s immigration measures such as increasing targets and changing the current system to make room for more newcomers to help with the labour shortage are attracting US workers.

A testament to this trend was Canada’s opening of a pilot program for 10,000 H-1B visa holders in July, as per a Yahoo! Finance report, which allowed them to apply for a three-year open work permit to find jobs north of the border.

The program’s popularity led it to reach its designated cap within 48 hours – an unprecedented billing for US policymakers. Since then, 6,000 US foreign workers have come to Canada.

The reason for this can be traced to the immigration-related grievances faced by employer-sponsored H-1B visa holders, one of them being that the spouses and other family members of H-1B holders have severe restrictions in pursuing their own employment and educational opportunities in the United States.

Immigration.ca covered this story in August, reporting on how H-1B visa holders also face hurdles in launching new businesses, and – while they were especially sought after during COVID-19’s peak – they are since being laid off in droves from leading American multinationals such as Google parent Alphabet, Amazon, and Twitter.

Read More Canada Immigration News

Canada On Track To Beat Ambitious Immigration Target As Monthly Newcomers Rise 4.3%
Canada’s International Student Program To Be Reformed From January 1, 2024
Canada Aims To Bring In Many More After Surpassing Goal Of 20,000 Afghan Refugees

Of the nearly 600,000 H-1B visa holders in the US (who are skilled workers in specialized professions such as tech, and have a temporary work permit for three years), 50,000 were laid off in what was termed the “US Tech Wreck.”

They thus had only 60 days to find a new employer to sponsor them or else they faced deportation.

Canada, however, offers them a safe haven for immigration. The former Canada Immigration Minister Sean Fraser called the grievances faced by US workers an “opportunity” for Canada to fill its STEM shortage, respondent to which he launched the Tech Talent Strategy at Collision 2023.

Yahoo! Finance furthers this point by explaining the two types of workers permits available to those looking to migrate to Canada, namely the “employer-specific work permit” and the “open work permit.”

“If you’re planning to apply for a Canadian work visa, you will want to speak with an immigration lawyer to see which option is better for you,” it writes.

The report also cites Canada’s immigration plan’s bolstered aggressiveness as a reason for US workers looking northward of the border.

Watch Video:

In 2022, Ottawa announced that Canada will aim to bring nearly 1.5 million immigrants by 2025 to help with its labour shortage. Newer visa rules to ease transition to permanent residence may soon thus be introduced.

For US citizens, the process to obtain a Canada work permit is already streamlined; they are eligible to apply for an LMIA-exempt work permit due to the United States-Canada-Mexico-Agreement (USMCA). They have more flexibility with working under the work permit if their current employer offers them a job or if they are entering Canada to make substantial investments or trade in the country.

Americans can also transfer within their current company to a branch based in Canada with an intra-company transfer temporary permit.

Applications Now Open For International Experience Canada 2024

Colin Singer
-
0
Applications Now Open For International Experience Canada 2024

The 2024 season of the International Experience Canada (IEC) program was opened by Immigration Minister Marc Miller on Monday so that nearly 90,000 young people from IEC partner countries and territories can come to Canada and participate.

“Canada benefits when young people around the world participate in International Experience Canada,” said Miller.

“This program will help Canadian employers in their search for talented employees but will also serve to stimulate the tourism sector across the country.

“We also hope that young Canadians will take advantage of the reciprocal aspect of this program to gain work and travel experience from around the world that will serve them throughout their lives.”

Read More Canada Immigration News

Canada On Track To Beat Ambitious Immigration Target As Monthly Newcomers Rise 4.3%
Canada’s International Student Program To Be Reformed From January 1, 2024
Canada Aims To Bring In Many More After Surpassing Goal Of 20,000 Afghan Refugees

Applicants to the IEC can now submit a profile since the process re-opened on Dec. 11.

There are three categories under the IEC:

  • Working Holiday participants receive an open work permit that allows them to work anywhere in the host country to support their travels.
  • International Co-op (Internship) participants receive an employer-specific work permit that allows students to gain targeted experience in their field of study.
  • Young Professionals participants receive an employer-specific work permit to gain targeted, professional work experience within their field of study or career path.

Under the IEC, Canadian and international youth aged 18 – 35 get to work and travel in each other’s countries.

Canada has established youth mobility partnerships with over 35 countries and territories and in 2023, signed new deals with Finland, Iceland and Ukraine and improved existing ones with South Korea and the United Kingdom.

That gave Canadian youth more options than ever to gain international experience by visiting those partner countries.

Watch Video

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) also expanded its use of automation to identify routine applications for streamlined processing, to support the growth of IEC and facilitate work and travel for international youth in Canada.

Youth will be able to participate in the Canada–Ukraine youth mobility agreement once travel to Ukraine becomes safe and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war on that country comes to an end.

Under the IEC, applicants have the option of coming to work and travel in Canada with the help of a Recognized Organization (RO) to help them plan their trip.

These organizations, which usually charge a fee for their services, can help applicants:

  • get information about Canadian culture, languages, laws, taxes, and job opportunities;
  • find transportation, and;
  • provide general support and advice.

Using an RO can help some of those who may want to apply from non-IEC countries come to Canada through the program. Every applicant to the IEC who is using an RO needs to provide a confirmation letter indicating that the organization is helping him or her and upload it to his or her profile.

Seven Recognized Organizations Can Help Iec Applicants Get Work Permits

Here is a list of these recognized organizations, their target markets, the work permit they help provide and the countries in which they operate.

AIESEC Canada

AIESEC Canada is a non-profit organization that helps develop leadership in youth.

Types of work permits:

Young Professionals (employer-specific work permit) for career development

Target market: Youth aged 18 to 30

Eligible to: IEC countries/territories, Brazil, India

Go International

GO International is a Canadian organization that offers work and travel opportunities.

Types of work permits:

Working Holiday (open work permit)

Target market: Youth aged 18 to 35

Eligible to: IEC countries/territories, the United States

International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience (IAESTE)

IAESTE offers opportunities in technical career-related jobs.

Types of work permits:

Young Professionals (employer-specific work permit) for career development

International Co-op (Internship) (employer-specific work permit) for students

Target market: Youth aged 18 to 35

Eligible to: IEC countries and other IAESTE country partners

A-Way to Work/International Rural Exchange Canada Inc.

Through A-Way to Work, the non-profit International Rural Exchange Canada offers paid opportunities to young people in:

  • agriculture
  • hospitality
  • culinary arts
  • tourism
  • horticulture
  • landscaping
  • other sectors

Types of work permits:

Working Holiday (open work permit)

Young Professionals (employer-specific work permit) for career development

Target Market: Youth aged 18 to 35

Eligible to: IEC countries/territories only

Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN)

Memorial University offers internships for students and recent graduates.

Types of work permits:

Working Holiday (open work permit)

International Co-op (Internship) (employer-specific work permit) for students

Target market: Youth aged 18 to 35

Eligible to: IEC countries/territories only

Stepwest

Stepwest offers work experiences ranging from paid ski resort jobs to industry-specific student internships.

Types of work permits:

Working Holiday (open work permit)

Young Professionals (employer-specific work permit) for career development

Target market: Youth aged 18 to 35

Eligible to: IEC countries/territories only

SWAP Working Holidays

SWAP Working Holidays helps with working holidays and young professional work and travel opportunities.

Types of work permits:

Working Holiday (open work permit)

Young Professionals (employer-specific work permit) for career development

Target market: Youth aged 18 to 35

Eligible to: IEC countries/territories, the United States

1...242526...246Page 25 of 246

Latest News

© Canada Immigration News