Canada’s PGWP Break For International Students Extended To December 2023

Colin Singer
-
0
Canada’s PGWP Break For International Students Extended To December 2023

International students studying online from abroad are getting an extra four months to qualify for a Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) if they submitted a study permit application no later than the end of August last year.

That allowance, first made in mid-August last year, was to expire on Aug. 31 this year but Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada is extending it through to Dec. 31, 2023.

“Given the unprecedented impact of COVID-19 on international students and the post-secondary sector, temporary policy changes were made to the eligibility requirements for post-graduation work permits for … students enrolled in PGWP-eligible programs in progress in March 2020 (and) students who began PGWP-eligible programs between March 2020 and August 31, 2022,” notes the Canadian immigration department’s website.

“These temporary policy changes to the PGWP … are meant to facilitate the issuance of open work permits to former or current PGWP holders.”

When the measure was introduced last year, Canadian immigration explained it was a transitory measure to encourage international students to come back to Canada as the pandemic was waning.

Read More Canada Immigration News

Canada Immigration Minister Sean Fraser announces 18-Month PGWP Extension
Extra Year For Canada International Students To Take Online Courses And Get PGWP
New Open Work Permits For Canada PGWP Holders and TR to PR Pathway Applicants

The latest word from the IRCC is that the extended allowance will apply only to international students who either have a study permit, have been approved for a study permit or have submitted a study permit application before beginning their program that was eventually approved. Those students must have been enrolled in their programs prior to Aug. 31 this year.

“If a student spent time studying at a designated learning institution (DLI) while outside of Canada, that time begins to count toward the length of the PGWP only after the department receives the study permit application,” notes the IRCC on its website.

Are you an employer looking to hire foreign workers in Canada? Immigration.ca can help through its sister company, skilledworker.com. We provide a comprehensive recruitment package to help you identify and hire the best individuals from abroad. Contact us now.

“As such, time that the student spent studying before IRCC received the study permit application should be deducted from the length of the PGWP.”

Under the temporary measure, international students enrolled in PGWP-eligible programs in March 2020 or who started their programs between March 2020 and Aug. 31, 2022 are exempt from the requirement to complete half of their program of study in Canada.

“Up to 100 per cent of their program can be completed online from outside Canada,” notes the IRCC.

“Up until Dec. 31, 2023, time spent studying outside of Canada can be counted toward the overall length of the PGWP.”

If you are a candidate looking for a Canada job, or an employer looking to recruit foreign talent from abroad, immigration.ca can help. Access our expertise through our in-house recruitment enterprise skilledworker.com, “the leader in foreign recruitment”.

Those students can get up to 100 per cent of the credits for their programs completed online through a PGWP-eligible DLI in Canada until the end of this year without losing their eligibility for a PGWP.

The temporary measure also allows international students who were forced to put their studies on hold or become part-time students due to course cancellations as result of the public health measures in the  winter, spring and summer semesters of 2020 to get a PGWP. Their eligibility is not for the work permit is not affected.

CAQ Not Required For Those Applying For PGWP After Studying At Quebec Schools

International graduates who apply for a work permit, such as a PGWP, before the expiry of their study permit are eligible to work full-time without a work permit while they wait for a decision on their application.

But they are only eligible only provided:

  • they hold a valid study permit at the time of the PGWP application;
  • they have completed a PGWP-eligible program of study;
  • they meet the requirements for working off campus without a work permit, and;
  • they did not exceed the allowable hours of work.

“The student must have been enrolled full-time at a DLI in a post-secondary academic, vocational or professional training program of at least eight months in duration that led to a degree, diploma or certificate,” notes the IRCC.

Foreign nationals who study in Quebec are not required to have a valid Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) when submitting a PGWP application. As the PGWP is an open work permit and is exempt from a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), a valid CAQ or study permit is not required when the PGWP is issued.

All applicants must submit their PGWP application by following the instructions to apply online under this public policy.

When they do so, they must submit:

  • a copy of their passport;
  • a request for consideration under this public policy, including the duration of the work permit they are seeking (maximum of 18 months), and;
  • the $155 work permit fee.

India Lobbied Ottawa For Break For International Students Last Year

Ottawa’s last-ditch attempt to save the school year of many international students last year came roughly a week after India, the biggest source of international students to Canada, put pressure on Ottawa to cut study permit processing times.

“In recent years, Canada has emerged as a preferred destination for Indian students for post-secondary education,” the High Commission of India noted in an advisory last year.

“Currently, more than 230,000 students from India enrolled in post-secondary institutions in Canada are making a positive contribution to the Canadian economy, including through an estimated $4 billion (in American dollars) in tuition fees.” 

Video

At the exchange rate in effect on Aug. 25, that U.S.-$4 billion worked out to almost $5.2 billion in Canadian dollars, or about $22,494 per Indian student in Canada.

In Tuition Fees for Degree Programs, 2021/2022, Statistics Canada noted last year Canadian universities were increasingly dependent on the tuition fees of international students to stay afloat.

“In 2021/2022, the average tuition fees for international undergraduate students in Canada rose 4.9 per cent from a year earlier to $33,623,” noted Statistics Canada.

“This follows a 7.1 per cent gain in 2020/2021. Increasingly, postsecondary institutions have relied on income from international students as part of their revenue stream.”

Are you ready to live and work in Canada? Fill out our free evaluation form to find out if you are eligible.

Become the right candidate with the job you always wanted with our online IELTS and EECP packages at skilledworker.com.

We are accepting international entrepreneurs to join our Start-Up Visa projects in Canada. Read more here.

Manitoba PNP: Province Issues 288 Canada Immigration Invitations In Region-Specific Draw

Colin Singer
-
0
Manitoba PNP: Province Issues 288 Canada Immigration Invitations In Region-Specific Draw

A rare region-specific Canada immigration draw has been conducted through the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program.

The August 31 draw saw 288 invitations issued to candidates currently employed outside the city of Winnipeg.

The lowest-ranked candidate scored 600 points in the draw, conducted under the Skilled Workers In Manitoba category.

Manitoba stated that 127 of the 288 candidates invited had valid Express Entry IDs and job seeker validation codes.

Read More Canada Immigration News

Manitoba Issues 623 Canada Immigration Invitations In New PNP Draw
New Immigrants to Manitoba: 11 Tips To Get You Started
Manitoba PNP Draw: Province Issues 609 Canada Immigration Invitations

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 Regional-specific selection 288 600

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.

 

Immigrate To Canada As A Construction Electrician: All You Need To Know

Colin Singer
-
0
Immigrate To Canada As A Construction Electrician: All You Need To Know

Construction electrician is a targeted Canada job for immigration given the country is predicted to have a shortage of thousands over the next nine years.

The Job Bank job-hunting and career-planning website of the federal government is forecasting Canada will fall short by 8,400 construction electricians, categorized under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 system with the code 72200, by the year 2031.

“For electricians (except industrial and power system) over the period 2022 – 2031, new job openings arising from expansion demand and replacement demand are expected to total 45,600, while 37,200 new job seekers arising from school leavers, immigration and mobility are expected to be available to fill them.

“Although this occupational group has had a balanced market in recent years, projected job openings are expected to be substantially higher to job seekers, creating a shortage of workers over the 2022 – 2031 period.”

Statistics Canada, the federal government’s statistical and demographic services agency, reports the squeeze is already on with employers starting to struggle to find qualified electricians to fill the available jobs.

Read More Canada Immigration News

Canada Certified Skilled Trades Workers Out-Earn Other Immigrants, Study Says
Immigrate To Canada As An Education Counsellor: All You Need To Know
New Immigrants to Prince Edward Island: Seven Essential Tips

“In the third quarter of 2022 … there were 5,275 job vacancies for electricians (except industrial and power systems) in Canada, up by over one-half … or by 1,995 positions compared with the same quarter in 2021,” reports Statistics Canada.

“Nearly all … of the vacancies in the third quarter of 2022 were for full-time positions.”

Foreign nationals with the qualifications and experience to be construction electricians are facing an ideal situation to gain their permanent residence in Canada as the demand for these workers is expected to outstrip the supply.

Are you an employer looking to hire foreign workers in Canada? Immigration.ca can help through its sister company, skilledworker.com. We provide a comprehensive recruitment package to help you identify and hire the best individuals from abroad. Contact us now.

In late July, the Indeed.ca job-hunting website, had 2,983 job listings for a “electrician” job search.

Job Bank is forecasting the job prospects for construction electricians to be good in the provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Saskatchewan and in the Yukon territory in the coming three years. Job prospects are forecast to be moderate in Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, Quebec, and in the Northwest Territories.

Occupation-Targeted Express Entry Draws Offer Foreign Nationals A Pathway To Immigrate To Canada

With Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announcing earlier this year that Canada’s Express Entry system will begin targeting 82 jobs in healthcare, technology, trades, transport and agriculture this summer – including construction electricians – foreign nationals hoping to immigrate to Canada are now looking at a new opportunity to immigrate to Canada.

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

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

If you are a candidate looking for a Canada job, or an employer looking to recruit foreign talent from abroad, immigration.ca can help. Access our expertise through our in-house recruitment enterprise skilledworker.com, “the leader in foreign recruitment”.

In Canada, the median hourly wage for construction electricians is $30.10 but that varies from a low of $18 right up to $46, reveals Job Bank.

Based on a standard, 37.5-hour work week, that means construction electricians can expect to earn up to $89,700 per year in Canada.

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) will now be more responsive to labour market needs.

Video

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

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

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.

Immigration Minister Opened Up 82 Occupations To Targeted Express Entry Draws

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.

Are you ready to live and work in Canada? Fill out our free evaluation form to find out if you are eligible.

Become the right candidate with the job you always wanted with our online IELTS and EECP packages at skilledworker.com.

We are accepting international entrepreneurs to join our Start-Up Visa projects in Canada. Read more here.

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

Colin Singer
-
0
Immigrate To Canada As A Veterinarian: All You Need To Know

Too few students are graduating with degrees in veterinary medicine in Canada and not enough immigrants are arriving to fill the Canada jobs going begging for a lack of qualified candidates.

The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) describes the labour shortage in the field as already severe.

“In Canada, clinic owners and other veterinary employers struggle to hire and retain veterinary professionals while maintaining the highest levels of quality care for their clients,” notes the CVMA on its website.

“Canadian veterinary colleges’ annual graduation rates for veterinarians barely meet the rate of attrition from the profession.”

The Job Bank job-hunting and career-planning website of the federal government is forecasting an additional shortfall of 700 veterinarians, categorized under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 system with the code 31103, by the year 2031.

Read More Canada Immigration News

Long Security Screening Times for Canada Study Permit Applications From Chinese International Students
Canada Certified Skilled Trades Workers Out-Earn Other Immigrants, Study Says
Canada’s Agricultural Sector Increasingly Reliant On Immigrants

“For veterinarians, over the period 2022 – 2031, new job openings rising from expansion demand and replacement demand are expected to total 5,000, while 4,300 new job seekers arising from school leavers, immigration and mobility are expected to be available to fill them,” notes Job Bank.

“The labour shortage conditions seen in recent years is expected to persist into the 2022 – 2031 period.”

Foreign nationals with the qualifications and experience to be veterinarians are facing an ideal situation to gain their permanent residence in Canada as the demand for these workers is expected to outstrip the supply.

In late July, the Indeed.ca job-hunting website, had 835 job listings for a “veterinarian” job search.

Are you an employer looking to hire foreign workers in Canada? Immigration.ca can help through its sister company, skilledworker.com. We provide a comprehensive recruitment package to help you identify and hire the best individuals from abroad. Contact us now.

Job Bank is forecasting the job prospects for veterinarians to be very good, its highest rating, in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Nova Scotia over the next three years and good in Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island and Quebec during that same time period.

With Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announcing earlier this year that Canada’s Express Entry system will begin targeting 82 jobs in healthcare, technology, trades, transport and agriculture this summer – including veterinarians – foreign nationals hoping to immigrate to Canada are now looking at a new opportunity to immigrate to Canada.

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

Veterinarians can earn up to $139,667 annually in Canada, reports Job Bank

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

In Canada, the median annual wage for veterinarians is $85,074 but that varies from a low of $30,229 right up to $139,667, reveals Job Bank.

If you are a candidate looking for a Canada job, or an employer looking to recruit foreign talent from abroad, immigration.ca can help. Access our expertise through our in-house recruitment enterprise skilledworker.com, “the leader in foreign recruitment”.

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) will now be more responsive to labour market needs.

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

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

Video

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.

Immigration Minister Opened Up 82 Occupations To Targeted Express Entry Draws

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.

Are you ready to live and work in Canada? Fill out our free evaluation form to find out if you are eligible.

Become the right candidate with the job you always wanted with our online IELTS and EECP packages at skilledworker.com.

We are accepting international entrepreneurs to join our Start-Up Visa projects in Canada. Read more here.

Immigrate To Canada As A Pilot Or Flying Instructor: All You Need To Know

Colin Singer
-
0
Immigrate To Canada As A Pilot Or Flying Instructor: All You Need To Know

A Canadian Council for Aviation and Aerospace says thousands of qualified candidates are needed for Canada jobs as pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors.

That report, which dates back to 2018, forecasts a need for as many as 7,300 more pilots by 2025.

Job Bank, the federal job-hunting and career-planning website, is forecasting the job prospects for pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors to be “good” in Alberta, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan and Nunavut through to 2031.

The Yukon, though, is where job prospects for these professionals are expected to be the best with Job Bank giving that Canadian territory a ranking of “very good”, its highest.

In British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick and the Northwest Territories, job prospects for pilots, categorized under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 system with the code 72600, are deemed to be “moderate”.

Read More Canada Immigration News

Boost In Number Of New Permanent Residents Through Canada Start-Up Visa
International Students In Canada: Top 10 Most Important Source Countries
Immigrate To Canada As A Deck Officer: All You Need To Know

With Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announcing earlier this year that Canada’s Express Entry system will begin targeting 82 jobs in healthcare, technology, trades, transport and agriculture this summer – including pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors – foreign nationals hoping to immigrate to Canada are now looking at a new opportunity to get their permanent residence here.

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

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

Are you an employer looking to hire foreign workers in Canada? Immigration.ca can help through its sister company, skilledworker.com. We provide a comprehensive recruitment package to help you identify and hire the best individuals from abroad. Contact us now.

The opportunities are there.

There were already 349 job listings for pilots and another eight for flight engineers and flying instructor, posted on the Indeed.ca job-hunting website in July, some of them from employers hoping to hire more than one employee.

Most of the jobs for pilots listed in July on Indeed were in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec.

In Canada, the median hourly wage for cybersecurity specialists is $45.60 but that varies from a low of $22.85 right up to $77.88, reveals Job Bank.

If you are a candidate looking for a Canada job, or an employer looking to recruit foreign talent from abroad, immigration.ca can help. Access our expertise through our in-house recruitment enterprise skilledworker.com, “the leader in foreign recruitment”.

Based on a standard, 37.5-hour work week, that means pilots could expect to earn a top median annual income of $151,866.

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) will now be more responsive to labour market needs.

Immigration Minister Opened Up 82 Occupations To Targeted Express Entry Draws

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

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.

Video

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.

Are you ready to live and work in Canada? Fill out our free evaluation form to find out if you are eligible.

Become the right candidate with the job you always wanted with our online IELTS and EECP packages at skilledworker.com.

New Brunswick Express Entry Draws: Province Issues 259 Invitations to Apply

Colin Singer
-
0
New Brunswick Express Entry Draws: Province Issues 259 Invitations to Apply

New Brunswick brought the total number of Express Entry invitations it has sent out this year to 1,778 by issuing 259 Invitations to Apply (ITA) during July.

The number of ITAs sent out in July in the province was up 114 per cent from the 121 it issued in June and 178.5 per cent from the 93 it issued in May.

The bilingual province in Atlantic Canada does not post the results of its immigration draws but does publish the monthly results of those draws.

The latest monthly results reveal New Brunswick issued 71 ITAs through its Express Entry  Occupations In Demand Connection (OIDC) program and another 58 such invitations through its New Brunswick Employment Connection (EC) program in July as well as 130 through its New Brunswick Student Connection program.

So far this year, the province has sent out 308 ITAs through the NB Employment Connection program, 324 through NB Student Connection, and 257 through NB Occupations In Demand.

Read More Canada Immigration News

New Brunswick Issues 121 Invitations To Apply In June Express Entry Draws
New Brunswick Express Entry Draws: Province Issued 93 Invitations To Apply In May
Quebec and New Brunswick Say They Will No Longer Keep Immigration Detainees In Jails

Since the start of February, New Brunswick has stopped accepting Expressions of Interest (EOI) through its EC program for four categories of workers, those with the  National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes:

  • 62010 – Retail sales supervisors
  • 60030 – Restaurant and food service managers
  • 62020 – Food service supervisors
  • 63200 – Cooks

Those workers can still apply, though, through the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) and New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) Skilled Worker stream.

Applicants under the EC must meet the minimum work experience, language proficiency, and educational requirements and demonstrate proof of sufficient funds.

Under that program, the work requirement is at least one year of full-time paid work (1,560 hours total) or an equal amount of part-time work. That work experience must be in the NOC TEER categories 0, 1, 2 or 3 and must be in the same type of job as indicated on the immigration application.

NB Express Entry Applicants Must Pass A Valid Language Test In French Or English

All applicants submitting an application through that NB Express Entry stream must also have a valid language test in English or French, administered by an agency designated by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

That language test must be less than 18 months old at the time the application is submitted to the province of New Brunswick and the applicant must have obtained a minimum score of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 for English or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) 7 for French.

Applicants who have not graduated from a Canadian educational institution must also provide a copy of an Educational Credential Assessment completed by a designated organization.

Settlement funds are not required for open work permit holders with a minimum one-year work experience in TEER 0,1, 2, or 3 occupations in Canada.

Through the OIDC program, applicants are issued a Letter of Interest (LOI) from the federal Express Entry system and must have a valid Express Entry profile.

Watch Video

Upon receiving that LOI, the applicant can create an Expression of Interest (EOI) in the INB Portal, the province’s immigration portal, and has 45 days from the date of receiving the LOI to do that.

The minimum work experience required under the OIDC is at least one year of full-time paid work (1,560 hours total) or an equal amount of part-time work in occupations with NOC codes in the 0,1,2, or 3 categories.

That work experience can be in Canada or abroad but must be paid work and in the same occupation as used on the immigration application.

Since this is an NB Express Entry stream application, it must also meet the language and educational requirements and the applicant must demonstrate that he or she intends to live in New Brunswick and have sufficient funds to do so.

NB Student Connection Applicants Do Not Need A Valid Job Offer

Settlement funds are not required for open work permit holders with a minimum one-year work experience in Canada.

Those applying through the NB Student Connection program do not need to have a job offer but must have completed their studies within the last six months in a program that qualifies for a Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP), be living in the province, and actively looking for work.

Graduate students in thesis-based programs can apply once that school work has been officially submitted for an evaluation.

The grads applying through this program must also meet the same work experience and language proficiency requirements as for the other two programs and intend to live in New Brunswick.

They do not, however, have to demonstrate proof of funds provided they are already open work permit holders and have the required work experience.

Applicants under this program provide a copy of at least two of the following documents showing successful completion of a PGWP-eligible program of study in New Brunswick within the past six months:

  • final transcripts;
  • diploma or certificate, or
  • a letter of completion from the institution.

Those who have completed their education in Canada do not need to provide Educational Credential Assessments (ECA) but post-grads applying at the point of the submission of their thesis do need to provide such an ECA by a designated organization.

Prince Edward Island Targets Four Job Categories With 22 Canada Immigration Invitations

Colin Singer
-
0
Prince Edward Island Targets Four Job Categories With 22 Canada Immigration Invitations

Prince Edward Island has conducted a new provincial draw, issuing invitations to apply to 22 skilled worker Canada immigration candidates.

The August 31 draw saw invitations issued through the Labour Impact and Express Entry Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP) stream.

Invitations were issued to individuals working in the healthcare, manufacturing, food processing, and construction.

Read More

Top 10 Most In-Demand Jobs in Canadian Province of Prince Edward Island
How to Immigrate to Canadian Province of Prince Edward Island

PEI PNP Immigration Draw

Date Category Invites Issued Minimum Score
31-08-2023 Labour Impact/Express Entry 22 N/A

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.

Watch Video

PEI issued a total of 1,853 invites during 2022, compared to 1,933 in 2021.

Of the 2022 invites, 1,729 went to Labour Impact and Express Entry candidates, with the remaining 124 going to Business Impact candidates.

Prince Edward Island Express Entry Stream

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 TEER category 0, 1, 2 or 3 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 & beverage server;
  • Housekeeping attendant.
  • 6 months of work experience with the Prince Edward Island business offering employment;
  • Current valid Canadian work permit;
  • High school diploma and minimum of 12 years of formal education;
  • Between 21 and 55 years of age;
  • At least 2 years of full-time work experience in the past 5 years;
  • Demonstrate basic proficiency in English or French language;
  • Sufficient settlement funds;
  • Demonstrated intention to settle in Prince Edward Island.

 

Saskatchewan Criticised For Draws For Immigration From Eight Specific Countries

Colin Singer
-
0
Saskatchewan Criticised For Draws For Immigration From Eight Specific Countries

Saskatchewan’s immigration draws aimed at candidates from eight countries through Express Entry and Skilled Worker Occupations-In-Demand of the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) have been criticised.

In six draws in mid-August, the province issued 646 Invitations to Apply (ITA) for immigration to Canada to workers from those countries.

But some public policy experts have lambasted Saskatchewan for doing this.

In an article in The Star, Howard Ramos, a political sociologist at the University of Western Ontario, claimed the practice of inviting foreign nationals to apply from only a select group of countries undermines the Canadian points-based system.

“This is a slippery slope that undoes the progress we’ve had with bringing in a points system,” Ramos reportedly said.

Read More Canada Immigration News

646 foreign nationals recruited by Saskatchewan to immigrate to Canada
How To Immigrate To Saskatchewan As A Truck Driver
Saskatchewan PNP Draw: Province Issues 500 Canada Immigration Invitations

“What is very unique here is they’re being as explicit as they are in terms of saying, ‘We want people from these countries.’”

The political sociologist is concerned Canada may be returning to a practice common until the late 1960s when Canadian immigration favoured immigrants from countries that were culturally similar to Canada and was perceived as excluding Chinese, South Asian and non-European migrants.

Since 1967, the country has had a points-based system which levels the playing field. Today, the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores profiles submitted to the Express Entry pool and ITAs are sent in Express Entry draws based on the candidate’s ranking.

“Canada was a world leader at bringing in a points system, a merit-based, human-capital, skills-based system,” Ramos reportedly said. “And the slippery slope of these kinds of draws goes again to pricing specific countries over skills alone.”

But Saskatchewan immigration counters that the country-specific pilot is merely an attempt by the province in targeting newcomers who are most likely to stay in Saskatchewan. The country-targeted draws under the SINP in August were inspired by the relative success of Saskatchewan in retaining Ukrainians who have arrived in the past year.

Video

In the draws on Aug. 16, the province tried to recruit 35 Irish workers with two draws, 176 workers from Poland, Czechia, Germany, Lithuania, Slovakia, and the Ukraine with two more draws, and 431 workers from India in yet another two draws.

Under Saskatchewan’s EOI selection process, candidates must submit an EOI profile and enter the EOI candidate pool. They are then selected by the province which sends them an ITA in a regular draw and have 60 days to submit a full application.

The Occupation-In-Demand sub-category requires the candidate have a minimum score of 60 points on the SINP points assessment grid, a language score of at least Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4 – although employers and regulatory bodies may ask for greater language proficiency – and have completed one year of post-secondary education, training or apprenticeship comparable to the Canadian education system.

Candidates For Saskatchewan Occupation-In-Demand Immigration Must Have Work Experience

The candidate must have earned a diploma, certificate or degree. Degrees and diplomas obtained outside Canada are subject to an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA).

Candidates must also have at least one year of work experience in the past 10 years in their field of education or training, and in an eligible occupation in NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3.

When necessary, candidates must obtain the appropriate licensure in Saskatchewan as immigration authorities will not process an application without that licensure.

The sub-category also requires proof of settlement funds and a settlement plan – and that applicants pay a non-refundable $300 application fee online.

Under the Saskatchewan Express Entry sub-category, candidates from outside Canada, or with legal status in Canada, qualify for Saskatchewan immigration as long as they are not refugee claimants.

Additionally, Express Entry candidates must:

  • have a profile in the Express Entry Pool, with profile number and job seeker validation code;
  • score a minimum of 60 points on the SINP points assessment grid;
  • provide valid language test results from a designated testing agency matching those in the Express Entry profile;
  • have completed one year of post-secondary education, training or apprenticeship comparable to the Canadian education system and have earned a diploma, certificate or degree.

Degrees and diplomas obtained outside Canada are subject to an ECA.

Express Entry candidates must also have at least one of the following experience requirements in their field of education or training occupation:

  • one year of work experience in the past 10 years in a skilled profession (non-trades);
  • two years of work experience in a skilled trade in the past five years, or;
  • one year of work experience in Canada in the past three years (trades and non-trades).

The work experience must be in a high-skilled, eligible occupation in NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3.

Candidates in this sub-category must also obtain the appropriate licensure in Saskatchewan when their profession is regulated, or is a skilled trade. For skilled trades, a certificate is required from the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission.

Applicants must pay a non-refundable $300 application fee online and have proof of settlement funds and a settlement plan.

Canada ‘Needs Cap On Number of International Student Visas’

Colin Singer
-
0
Canada ‘Needs Cap On Number of International Student Visas’

Columnist Tony Keller in The Globe and Mail says Canada needs to put a cap on the number of international students being admitted to the country per year.

This is in response to what he describes to be a recent deterioration of the international student immigration system, under which candidates are coming to Canada to merely work while enrolled, gain permanent residence, and eventually even citizenship.

Keller furthers his view by writing that although the overarching goal of Canada international student immigration is to benefit and enrich Canada through scarce skills and experience, the student visa system is no longer even aiming at achieving that.

The Globe and Mail piece traces this issue back to the advent of the Trudeau government, which “broke” the immigration system by allowing a “massive shadow immigration stream” of temporary foreign workers – many of who come through the student visa.

Ottawa was not alone in making this change happen, however, and essentially colluded with private industry, educational institutions, and provincial governments to award them their respective interests of minimum-wage labour, international tuition, and lower education budgets.

Read More Canada Immigration News

Long Security Screening Times for Canada Study Permit Applications From Chinese International Students
Man Appears in Vancouver Court After Allegedly Scamming Hundreds of International Students
Applying To Schools In Canada As An International Student

Nevertheless, Keller believes Marc Miller to be recognizing the shortcoming of the system.

Referencing the Immigration Minister’s interview with CBC’s Radio’s The House last Saturday, he points out that Miller sees international student recruitment as an “ecosystem” that is “very lucrative” but has brought “some perverse effects: some fraud in the system, some people taking advantage of what is seen as a backdoor entry into Canada.”

The larger issue at hand, according to Miller, is the “integrity of the system.”

Bringing forth the example of Ontario, the column highlights how the number of foreign students rose from 46,000 to 412,000 between 2000 and 2022, with the “rise under the Doug Ford government” having been “especially vertiginous” and “especially pronounced in the college sector.”

In 2016, less than 35,000 new student visas were issued for admission to Ontario colleges, while the number in 2022 was more than 143,000.

Many of these students attend institutions that are designed for money-minting purposes rather than providing a fruitful education, with some being run by private entrepreneurs and others by entrepreneurial arrangements between public colleges and private operators; while the public institutions provide the credentials, the latter are responsible for “just about everything else.”

This, however, leads to a net loss for Canada. While the country is essentially winning every time a person graduates with a highly skilled degree and works in a field where there is a shortage of Canadian workers, it is getting crowded by immigrants working in low-skilled positions.

Watch video:

This leads to issues such as the housing shortage the country is currently witnessing. More than 800,000 visa students were in Canada last year, compared to less than 200,0000 a decade and a half ago; this is one of the many contributors to the housing supply-demand mismatch.

The first step to solving this problem, as suggested by the piece, is to cap the number of student visas at a number far below Miller’s current tally of 900,000.

The second step would be the creation of a system that prioritizes who receives the limited visas.

Miller’s spokesperson apparently told Keller that the “department is having ‘exploratory discussions’ about creating a ‘trusted institutions’ framework, which would look more favourably on educational institutions meeting a ‘higher standard’ in areas such as ‘international student supports and outcomes.’”

Keller also believes that Ottawa should not allow international students to work while in school, unless it is high-wage work. This would filter in students who genuinely want a Canadian education and not just the citizenship.

Canadian Passport Climbs In World Rankings

Colin Singer
-
0
Canadian Passport Climbs In World Rankings

The Canadian passport has climbed from the eighth spot last year to seventh place in the third quarter of this year in the Henley Passport Index rankings.

The international ranking of passports ascribed the Canadian passport a score of 185, one point less than the document’s score last year, but is now putting it higher in the rankings relative to the passports of other countries.

The 18-year-old Henley Passport Index, which is updated quarterly, uses data from the International Air Transport Authority (IATA) to compare 199 passports for 227 travel destinations and gives 104 rankings for the top ones, reflecting the global mobility afforded by the passports of those nations.

“The total score for each passport is equal to the number of destinations for which no visa is required,” notes the Henley & Partners website.

Canada regularly features among the countries with the world’s most powerful passports, offering visa-free access, which is seen as a measurement of the freedom of citizens of a country, to 185 destinations.

Read More Canada Immigration News

Canada’s New-Look Passport: All You Need To Know
Higher Fines In Ontario For Canada Employers Of Temporary Workers Who Withhold Passports
Canadian Passport Among World’s Most Powerful

The organization’s third-quarter ranking of 2023 of the passports of countries all over the world put the Canadian passport on par with Greece with both countries scoring 185 on the index.

The highest-ranked passports are the one issued by Singapore with a score of 192.

Second place went to Germany, Italy and Spain, each of which received a score of 190.

Third with a score of 189 went to Austria, Finland, France, Japan, Luxembourg, South Korea, and Sweden while Denmark, Irelan, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom took fourth with 188.

Watch video:

Belgium, the Czech Republic, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, and Switzerland scored 187 to come in fifth and Australia, Hungary and Poland narrowly beat out Canada with a score of 186.

Canada, though, did beat out its neighbour to the south, ranking one point and one spot in the rankings above the United States.

Afghanistan’s Passport At The Bottom Of The Heap

The dubious distinction of having the least-desirable passport in the world again went to Afghanistan which got only 27 points to place 104th.

Barely beating out Afghanistan for the worst passport in the world is Iraq, whose passport was given a score of 29 and Syria, with a passport score of 30.

The Canadian passport reached the second spot on The Henley Index in 2014, then slid to sixth place by 2016 and stayed there for four years. The passport then lost ground relative to other passports throughout the world during the pandemic as public health restrictions and border closures severely limited travel to other destinations.

Last year, though, the Canadian passport moved up a notch, to the eighth spot and is now back up to seventh, on its way to securing its pre-pandemic level.

Those countries to which Canadian passport holders can travel visa-free, including those that require a visa only upon arrival, are:

  • American Samoa **
  • Australia **
  • Cook Islands
  • Fiji
  • French Polynesia
  • Guam
  • Kiribati
  • Marshall Islands *
  • Micronesia
  • New Caledonia
  • New Zealand **
  • Niue
  • Northern Mariana Islands
  • Palau Islands *
  • Samoa *
  • Solomon Islands *
  • Tonga *
  • Tuvalu *
  • Vanuatu
  • Armenia *
  • Bahrain *
  • Iraq
  • Israel
  • Jordan *
  • Kuwait *
  • Lebanon *
  • Oman
  • Palestinian Territory
  • Qatar
  • Saudi Arabia *
  • United Arab Emirates *
  • Albania
  • Andorra
  • Austria
  • Belarus
  • Belgium
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Bulgaria
  • Croatia
  • Cyprus
  • Czechia
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Faroe Islands
  • Finland
  • France
  • Georgia
  • Germany
  • Gibraltar
  • Greece
  • Greenland
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Kosovo
  • Latvia
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Malta
  • Moldova
  • Monaco
  • Montenegro
  • Netherlands
  • North Macedonia
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Romania
  • San Marino
  • Serbia
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Ukraine
  • United Kingdom
  • Vatican City
  • Anguilla
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Aruba
  • Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Bonaire; St. Eustatius and Saba
  • British Virgin Islands
  • Cayman Islands
  • Curacao
  • Dominica
  • Dominican Republic
  • French West Indies
  • Grenada
  • Haiti
  • Jamaica
  • Montserrat
  • Puerto Rico
  • St. Kitts and Nevis
  • St. Lucia
  • St. Maarten
  • St. Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Turks and Caicos Islands
  • US Virgin Islands
  • Bangladesh *
  • Brunei
  • Cambodia *
  • Hong Kong (SAR China)
  • Indonesia *
  • Japan
  • Kazakhstan
  • Kyrgyzstan
  • Laos *
  • Macao (SAR China)
  • Malaysia
  • Maldives *
  • Mongolia
  • Myanmar *
  • Nepal *
  • Pakistan **
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • South Korea
  • Sri Lanka **
  • Taiwan (Chinese Taipei)
  • Tajikistan *
  • Thailand
  • Timor-Leste *
  • Uzbekistan
  • Argentina
  • Belize
  • Bermuda
  • Bolivia
  • Brazil
  • Chile
  • Colombia
  • Costa Rica
  • Ecuador
  • El Salvador
  • Falkland Islands
  • French Guiana
  • Guatemala
  • Guyana
  • Honduras
  • Mexico
  • Nicaragua
  • Panama
  • Paraguay *
  • Peru
  • Suriname
  • United States
  • Uruguay
  • Botswana
  • Burkina Faso *
  • Burundi *
  • Cape Verde Islands *
  • Comoro Islands *
  • Djibouti *
  • Egypt *
  • eSwatini
  • Gabon *
  • Guinea-Bissau *
  • Lesotho
  • Madagascar *
  • Malawi *
  • Mauritania *
  • Mauritius
  • Mayotte
  • Morocco
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Reunion
  • Rwanda
  • Sao Tome and Principe
  • Senegal
  • Seychelles *
  • Sierra Leone *
  • Somalia *
  • South Africa
  • St. Helena *
  • Tanzania *
  • The Gambia
  • Togo *
  • Tunisia
  • Zambia *
  • Zimbabwe *

A single asterisk denotes a country in which Canadian passport holders are issued a visa upon arrival, typically at a port of entry like an airport.

A double asterisk denotes a country for which Canadian passport holders must have an electronic travel authorization (eTA) as an entry requirement even though they are visa-exempt. An eTA is electronically linked to the passport and is valid for up to five years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first.

1...464748...246Page 47 of 246

Latest News

© Canada Immigration News