International Student In Canada: How To Extend Your Study Permit

Colin Singer
-
0
International Student In Canada: How To Extend Your Study Permit

International students who want to keep studying in Canada can apply online to extend their study permits and should do so at least 30 days before their current ones expire.

Now, study permits – and extensions of those permits – require that the international student pay a $150 fee.

But Ottawa is temporarily waiving those fees for Syrian, Turkish, Sudanese and Iranian international students.

Syrian and Turkish international students are getting that break on the fees until Sept. 25 because massive earthquakes have caused widespread damage in their home countries.

Iranian international students are being provided with free study permit extensions as Canada helps those foreign nationals due to the gross and systematic human rights violations being committed by the Iranian regime during its brutal crackdown on protestors.

Read More Canada Immigration News

International Students In Canada: How To Change Schools
Canada Simplifies Immigration Process For Internationally-Trained Doctors
Prince Edward Island Has Multiple Opportunities For Internationally Trained Truck Drivers

“Canada will not stand idly by in the face of these aggressions as the Iranian regime continues its ongoing human rights violations,” said Immigration Minister Sean Fraser.

“Our government is continuing to stand up for the people of Iran by making it easier for Iranians who wish to extend their stay here in Canada to be with their families, and allowing them to continue to work and study in safety. We will continue to work closely with the Iranian-Canadian community who is resolved to shed light on the repressive actions of the Iranian regime.”

Ottawa banned senior officials from Iran from entering Canada in early October last year after designating the Iranian regime as one that engages in human rights violations and terrorism.

With those facilitative measures in place, international students from Iran will be able to get study permit extensions for free until the end of next February.

Video

“No matter why you are here, during this time of great uncertainty for the Iranian people, Canada remains committed to supporting the Iranian Canadian community,” said Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson.

“With these new measures, we hope to ease the hardship they’re currently facing by making it easier for them to stay longer in a place where it is safe to live and work. And perhaps, one day, call home.”

Sudanese international students are also able to get study permit extensions free of charge as Canada provides them with a safe haven in the wake of the fighting between rival factions in their home country.

Study Permit Extension Applications Are Usually Completed Online

“Canada has a proud and long-standing tradition of providing protection to vulnerable people around the world and we are deeply concerned for the well-being of people in Sudan, including Canadians and their family members,” said Fraser.

“We are monitoring the situation closely, and are working to provide support for those seeking safety in Canada.”

Before applying for a study permit extension, an international student should make sure he or she has everything they might need, including a scanner or camera to create electronic copies of all pertinent documents and a valid credit or debit card.

International students are also advised to carefully read the instruction guide before completing their applications as this guide explains how to complete each field on the form.

“Before you can upload your forms, you must answer some questions,” states Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on its website. “We use your answers to create a personalized document checklist for you.”

Fees – for those who need to pay them – will be paid at the end of the application process.

“You need an account to apply online,” notes the IRCC. “You can use your account to: pay your fees; submit your application, and; check your status.”

By applying online, international students save the courier fees and, of course, the mail delivery time as immigration officials then get the application instantly. That may well mean the application will be processed more quickly.

International students are usually required to apply online to extend their study permits but those who suffer from a disability or some other barrier that prevents them from applying online or makes applying online unreliable can be exempted from this requirement and submit a paper application.

The IRCC recommends that anyone who is planning to submit a paper application read this instruction guide and download these documents:

Disabled Students, Those Facing Barriers To Online Application Process Can Submit Paper Applications

In cases where the international student’s study permit has already expired, he or she must restore their student status by selecting both:

  • an initial study permit or extension of study permit, and;
  • restoration of temporary resident status as a student.

“Explain how you lost your status and why you stayed in Canada longer than allowed,” notes the IRCC. “There’s no guarantee that we’ll accept your application (but) you can stay in Canada while we process your applications.”

International students seeking to extend their study permits may need to pay third-party fees for medical exams, police certificates, and language testing.

Once the application is completed, it must be sent to the address on the application package and include the fee receipt and necessary documents.

“If you can’t apply online or use the forms above because of a disability, you can ask for other formats including large print and braille,” notes the IRCC.

Pathway To Canada Immigration Eased For Hong Kongers

Colin Singer
-
0
Pathway To Canada Immigration Eased For Hong Kongers

Canada has removed the educational requirements of the work experience stream of the pathway to immigration for people from Hong Kong.

“In recognizing the extraordinary skills and potential of Hong Kong’s talented individuals, Canada has taken a significant step toward fostering inclusivity and embracing the spirit of opportunity,” said Immigration Minister Sean Fraser.

“Removing the education requirement under Stream B [from August 15] is a win-win situation: it means that we can welcome more Hong Kongers to Canada who need our support, while simultaneously helping Canadian businesses fill labour gaps with workers who already have work experience here.”

In the wake of the crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong by the Chinese government, Canada created two new pathways to permanent residence on June 1, 2021.

Those two pathways include a Stream A, for in-Canada graduates, and a Stream B for individuals with Canadian work experience.

Read More Canada Immigration News

Canada’s Hong Kong Open Work Program Extended By Two Years 
Hong Kongers Snap Up Canada Open Work Permits And Permanent Residence Visas
Record Numbers Of Hong Kongers Immigrating To Canada

“Our government recognizes that true talent and valuable expertise are not solely defined by formal education credentials,” said Paul Chiang, the parliamentary secretary to Canada’s minister of housing and diversity and inclusion.

“By removing the education requirement under the Work Experience Stream B for the Hong Kong permanent residence pathway, we are ensuring that qualifications do not become a barrier to those who possess valuable experience and expertise. This change sends a powerful message of welcome and encouragement, reinforcing our commitment to building a diverse and prosperous nation.”

Ottawa’s latest measure to help Hong Kongers jives with its Indo-Pacific Strategy, a plan to deepen Canadian engagement in the Indo-Pacific over the next decade.

The latest move also comes on the heels of other measures taken by Ottawa to encourage immigration from Hong Kong.

In early February two years ago, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) launched a new open work permit to allow eligible Hong Kong residents to gain valuable work experience in Canada and apply for permanent residence more quickly.

This year, that measure was extended and expanded, giving Hong Kong residents until Feb. 7, 2025 to apply.

Watch Video

“Canada needs more people for economic reasons … and for demographic reasons,” said Fraser. “The reality is that we cannot meet the needs for the market with the existing labour force.”

To be granted permanent residence, applicants must intend to live in any Canadian province or territory other than Quebec. Hong Kong residents who are living in Quebec are advised to consult the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) to learn more about immigration pathways available to them in that province.

As of Apr. 30, 2023, Canada had welcomed 3,122 permanent residents under the permanent residence pathways for Hong Kong residents, including 2,358 under Stream A and 764 through its Stream B.

In the Greater Vancouver community of Richmond, known for its high concentration of Hong Kong immigrants, Richmond Centre MP Wilson Miao called the loosening of the requirements of the Stream B pathway a way to grow Canada’s social diversity.

“This will drive economic growth and foster cultural diversity,” said Miao. “Together, Hong Kong and Canada, are fueling our economy, creating new opportunities, and a hope for strengthened bonds.”

With the extension of the open work permit program earlier this year, the immigration minister said Canada was both showing its support for the people of Hong Kong and helping itself to a skilled workforce.

Open Work Permits Were Created Two Years Ago To Help Hong Kongers Come To Canada

“By extending and expanding Canada’s open work permits for Hong Kongers, we are giving Canadian employers more skilled workers to hire at a time when we need them most and providing valuable work experience, all while also showing our support for the people of Hong Kong,” said Fraser.

That policy allows spouses or common-law partners and dependent children to also apply for a study permit or work permit.

Dr. Anna Victoria Wong, executive director of Community Family Services of Ontario, called the extension of the program a win for Canadian employers looking for skilled workers.

“As a social service agency, we understand intimately the needs of incoming and growing populations,” said Wong. “As a publicly funded provider, we are mindful of the challenges in our local economic and employment sectors.

“We strive to capitalize on the efficient use of resources to align needs from both sides to create a win-win situation for newcomers and for Canada. This policy update serves just that and imports talents that are ready, willing, and able to contribute to the Canadian economy and are supportive of the core values within our charter.”

Candidates hoping to apply for the In-Canada Graduates stream, Stream A, must:

  • hold a valid passport issued by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China or the United Kingdom to a British National (Overseas) as a person born, naturalized or registered in Hong Kong;
  • be physically present in Canada when they apply and get permanent residence;
  • have valid temporary resident status in Canada;
  • intend to live in Canada, in any province or territory other than the province of Quebec;
  • have graduated from a post-secondary designated learning institution in Canada in the three years prior to their application with either a diploma (not graduate or post-graduate) for a program of at least two years, a degree (associate, bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral), or a graduate or post-graduate diploma or certificate for a program of at least one year and with at least 50 per cent of the program completed in Canada (either in person or online).

Those who have a graduate or post-graduate diploma or certificate must also have completed a post-secondary diploma or degree as a prerequisite to this graduate or post-graduate program within five years prior to the start of their graduate or post-graduate program.

British Columbia Issues At Least 203 Canada Immigration Invitations In New PNP Draws

Colin Singer
-
0
British Columbia Issues At Least 203 Canada Immigration Invitations In New PNP Draws

British Columbia has issued at least 203 invitations in new draws through multiple streams of the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program.

The July 11 draws were split into two categories: general and targeted.

In the general draw, which included tech occupations, 152 invitations were issued through five BC PNP streams for skilled workers and international graduates. Minimum scores ranged from 87 to 109 points.

In the targeted draw, a further 35 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.

A draw targeted at Healthcare workers saw 15 invitations issued to skilled workers and international graduates, also with a minimum score of 60 points.

A batch of less than 5 invitations went to skilled workers and international graduates in a draw aimed at other priority occupations under NOCs 31103, 32104, also requiring 60 points. The number was recorded as less than 5 to protect the identity of those invited.

Read More Canada Immigration News

British Columbia Issues 137 Canada Immigration Invitations In New PNP Draws
British Columbia PNP Draws: Province Issues 181 Canada Immigration Invitations
British Columbia PNP Draws: Province Issues At Least 145 Canada Immigration Invitations

Latest B.C. Immigration Draws

General Draw

Date Category Minimum Score Invitations Issued Description
11-07-23 Skilled Worker 106 152 General draw (includes tech occupations)
Skilled Worker – EEBC 106
International Graduate 109
International Graduate – EEBC 109
Entry Level and Semi-Skilled 87

 

Targeted Draw

Date Category Minimum Score Invitations Issued Description
11-07-23 Skilled Worker, International Graduate 60 35 Targeted draw: Childcare: Early childhood educators (NOC 42202)
Skilled Worker, International Graduate 60 15 Targeted draw: Healthcare
Skilled Worker, International Graduate 60 <5 Targeted draw: Other priority occupations (NOCs 31103, 32104)

 

Video:

Canada Targets Remote Working Digital Nomads With New Tech Talent Strategy

Colin Singer
-
0
Canada Targets Remote Working Digital Nomads With New Tech Talent Strategy

Canada Immigration Minister Sean Fraser has hailed a generational opportunity for economic growth with digital nomads soon able to come here for up to six months and work remotely in tech roles.

“We’re actually creating a pool of talent of people who will be able to stay in Canada in the long term,” said Immigration Minister Sean Fraser.

“When I think about the 10, 20 and even 30-year horizon, rather than the next few months or even the next election cycle, there’s no question in my mind that having more talent for tech entrepreneurs and professionals in this country is going to be a very good thing half a generation from now.”

Through its Tech Talent Strategy to lure temporary workers in the tech sector in the United States north of the border to fill jobs going begging for a want of qualified employees, Canada is also reaching out to digital nomads the world over.

Digital nomads, defined as people who travel freely while working remotely using technology and the internet, are a hot commodity for both tech companies and traditional companies’ tech departments.

=Read More Canada Immigration News

Canada Aims To Lure H-1B Visa Tech Workers From The United States With New Work Permit Stream
Serious Labour Shortages Mean Employers In Canada Increasingly Recruit Tech Workers Abroad
Immigration Hassles In U.S. Mean Tech Workers Are Choosing Canada

Canada is already a top destination for digital nomads.

Last year, United Kingdom-based Circle Loop, a provider of a cloud-based VoIP solution which provides phone systems accessible via desktop and mobile devices, published its Digital Nomad Index and ranked Canada as the number one destination for digital nomads.

Building on Canada’s popularity with digital nomads, the immigration minister announced in June that Canada will be launching a digital nomad strategy that will allow these highly-skilled foreign workers to come to the country and work remotely.

“(That digital nomad strategy) will allow people who have a foreign employer to come live in Canada for up to six months, live and spend money in communities in this country and, should they receive a job offer while they’re here, we’re going to allow them to continue to stay and work in Canada,” Fraser said at the Collision Conference in Toronto in June.

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.

That digital nomad strategy will reportedly not cap the number of people who can come, live and work in Canada.

Through immigration, Canada is hoping to boost its tech sector.

“With Canada’s first-ever immigration Tech Talent Strategy, we’re targeting newcomers that can help enshrine Canada as a world leader in a variety of emerging technologies.”

Developed in collaboration with Canada’s tech, start-up and business communities, the Tech Talent Strategy will lead to the creation by July 16 of an open work permit stream specifically targeted for those foreign nationals working in the United States with H-1B specialty occupation visas, a visa widely used by Silicon Valley companies to bring in highly-skilled immigrants.

Open Work Permit Stream Will Attempt To Lure H-1B Visa Holders In The US To Canada

That stream will also provide work and study permit options for the workers’ family members.

This measure is to remain in effect for one year, or until Canada’s immigration department receives 10,000 applications, with only principal applicants and not their accompanying family members counting towards the application cap.

Under the Tech Talent Strategy, an Innovation Stream is to be developed under the International Mobility Program (IMP) to attract even more highly-talented foreign nationals to Canada.

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”.

That Innovation Stream, which is to be launched by the end of this year, is to include:

  • employer-specific work permits for up to five years for workers destined to work for a company identified by the federal government in Canada as contributing to the country’s industrial innovation goals, and;
  • open work permits for up to five years for highly-skilled workers in select in-demand occupations.

The Tech Talent Strategy also promises a return to the 14-day service standard for work permits under the Global Skills Strategy.

The federal government intends to also create a STEM-specific draw under a category-based selection to issue additional Invitations To Apply (ITA) through the Express Entry system.

Since many immigrant entrepreneurs set up tech-related companies, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is also tweaking the Start-Up Visa (SUV) program with even more spots for foreign nationals who want to immigrate to Canada under this program every year through to 2025.

Under the changes being made to the SUV, applicants will be able to apply for work permits of up to three years sometime later this year. They currently can only get one-year work permits. And the new open work permits for SUV applicants will also be available to each member of the entrepreneurial team.

Video

“We’re prioritizing applications that are supported by venture capital, angel investor groups and business incubators and have capital committed, along with applications that are supported by business incubators who are members of Canada’s Tech Network,” notes the IRCC on its website.

In Canada, the information and communications technology sector employed nearly 720,000 Canadians and accounted for more than 44 per cent of all private research and development spending in 2021. The IT sector was responsible for more than 15 per cent of Canada’s overall economic growth between 2016 and 2021.

New Rules In Ontario For Agencies Bringing In Canada Temporary Foreign Workers

Colin Singer
-
0
New Rules In Ontario For Agencies Bringing In Canada Temporary Foreign Workers

Ontario is clamping down on temporary help agencies and demanding they get licensed by January next year in a bid to stop the exploitation of temporary foreign workers.

Temporary Help Agencies (THA) and recruiters, some of whom have been illegally paying foreign nationals less than the minimum wage and denying them basic employment rights, will have to get a licence to operate in the province as of Jan. 1, 2024.

“While temporary help agencies are vital to Ontario’s businesses and jobseekers looking to get their foot in the door, for too long they have operated in a grey zone that allows criminals to prey on vulnerable workers,” said provincial Immigration Minister Monte McNaughton.

“Our government’s licensing system will ensure law-abiding businesses can have confidence in the THAs and recruiters they work with and that those who abuse workers face the harshest fines in Canada and are banned from operating in our province.”

The roughly 2,300 placement agencies and temporary help business locations in Ontario in December 2022 employed about 114,000 full-time employees last year.

Read More Canada Immigration News

Canada Jobs Growth In June Led By Ontario, Nova Scotia And Newfoundland
Ontario Targets Tech Occupations With 748 Canada Express Entry Invitations
Newly-Arrived Canada Immigrants To Be Paid To Train As Truck Drivers In Ontario

But the sector is known to be fraught with exploitation.

In 2020-21, ministry inspections on THA use on farms and in food processing plants, storage and warehousing operations and retirement homes found $4.2 million was owed to more than 10,000 employees even as the businesses who benefited from that labour remained unaware of these violations of the provincial labour laws.

With the coming changes, both businesses and jobseekers will be able to check the ministry’s online database before working with a THA or recruiter, to see if they have met the province’s stringent licensing requirements.

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.

It will be against the law for companies to knowingly use unlicensed businesses for staffing and those who hire deceitful recruiters will be required to repay workers for any illegal fees charged to them.

THAs and recruiters will need as of the new year to provide $25,000 in the form of an irrevocable letter of credit that can be used to repay owed wages to employees. Offenders could face up to a $50,000 penalty based on repeat violations, the highest amount in Canada.

Industries that rely heavily on temporary foreign workers welcomed the beefed-up protections for their workers, saying it will protect a key component of their workforce.

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”.

“These workers are essential to the operations of greenhouse vegetable farms, and ensuring their safety and protections are vital to the continued operations of our sector,” said George Gilvesy, chair of the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG) industry association.

Chris Bloore, president and chief executive officer of the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario, echoed those sentiments.

“Recruiters and temporary help agencies are critical to helping tourism and hospitality businesses access the skilled workers they need to thrive in Ontario year-round,” said Bloore.

Human Rights Organizations Applaud Beefed-Up Protections For Temporary Foreign Workers

“This new and robust licensing system is a welcome tool to protect some of the most essential workers in our industry and to support businesses in choosing reputable recruitment partners.”

Human rights organizations also applauded the move to add more protection for temporary foreign workers.

“The Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking supports Ontario’s efforts to bring greater accountability to the recruitment industry,” said Julia Drydyk, the organization’s executive director.

“The new registry will help instill transparency and ensure the government has more information to protect foreign nationals from fraudulent recruiters. This initiative is one of many important steps that we need to take to combat labour trafficking and abusive labour practices in this province.”

Video

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) data reveals Ontario is by far the most popular destination for foreign nationals coming to work in Canada through the International Mobility Program  (IMP) and Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).

Last year, Ontario was the destination of choice for almost a third, 30.3 per cent, of all foreign nationals coming to Canada through the TFWP. The province welcomed 41,185 temporary foreign workers through that program in 2022.

Ontario also benefited from the arrival of 180,080 foreign nationals, or almost 38.7 per cent of the total number who arrived through the IMP, that year.

The two programs together allowed Ontario employers access to a labour force of 221,265 foreign nationals. That’s roughly the same as the entire population of Oakville.

THAs and recruiters who apply for a licence, which will have to be renewed annually, before Jan. 1 next year will be allowed to continue operating until they receive a decision from the province on their application.

But if a licence or licence renewal is refused, the applicant will have only 30 days to cease operating as a THA or recruiter.

Ontario also toughened its Working for Workers Act, 2023 earlier this year to give the province the means to slap the biggest fines in Canada on business people who withhold the passports of their temporary foreign workers.

“Anyone who preys on vulnerable members in our community has no place in our society,” said McNaughton.

“If you think you’re going to deny someone’s basic human rights by withholding their passport, we’re going to hit your pocketbook, and you will be behind bars for a long time. We will continue to use every tool in our toolbox to ensure Ontario is a province where hard work pays off and big dreams come true.”

Under that law, which has been sent for a third reading, withholding a foreign national’s passport or work permit could lead to fines ranging from $100,000 to $200,000 for every worker whose rights are violated.

Ontario Set To Start Slapping Some Of The Biggest Fines On Employers Who Infringe On TFW’s Rights

In addition to the per-passport penalties, those found guilty of breaking the proposed law would be liable to either a fine of up to $500,000 or up to a year in prison – or both. Corporations convicted would be liable to fines of up to $1 million.

The Working for Workers law, which would be the third iteration of this law which has had previous versions in each of the last two years, also includes proposed changes to protect remote workers during mass terminations and expands the number of reasons for which reservists can take military leave.

The act would also force construction sites to have women’s-only washrooms and boost cancer coverage for firefighters.

Megan Walker, the now-retired executive director of the London Abused Women’s Centre, says the proposed legislation will send a strong message to those who exploit migrant workers.

“The government is giving migrant workers back their human right to have control over their own documents including their passports,” said Walker.

Since November 2021, Ontario created a new unit to ferret out human trafficking and this has already led to criminal charges, occupational health and safety and employment standards prosecutions, orders and other compliance activities.

In its first year of operation, the unit received over 300 tips, initiated investigations and helped 3,500 workers recover over $400,000 in wages.

York Regional Police chief Jim MacSween says he and his investigators in the force’s human trafficking section are eager to see this new legislation come into effect.

“This legislation … will provide us with another tool to fight labour trafficking and the exploitation of vulnerable people in our community,” said MacSween. “This new law will allow our officers to hold individuals and companies accountable for their actions.”

Experience As A Temporary Foreign Worker Is Often A Stepping Stone To Permanent Residency

Under the Express Entry system, immigrants can apply for permanent residency online if they meet the eligibility criteria for one of three federal immigration programs, the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FST), and Canada Experience Class Program (CEC), or a participating provincial immigration program.

Candidates’ profiles then are ranked against each other according to a points-based system called the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The highest-ranked candidates will be considered for an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence. Those receiving an ITA must quickly submit a full application and pay processing fees, within a delay of 90-days.

Through a network of Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP), almost all of Canada’s ten provinces and three territories can also nominate skilled worker candidates for admission to Canada when they have the specific skills required by local economies. Successful candidates who receive a provincial or territorial nomination can then apply for Canadian permanent residence through federal immigration authorities.

Immigrate To Canada As A Welder Or Machine Operator: All You Need To Know

Colin Singer
-
0
Immigrate To Canada As A Welder Or Machine Operator: All You Need To Know

The shortage of welders for Canada jobs is so severe it could become a crisis for the industry, says a welding industry organization that provides certification, management systems registration and training.

“The Canadian welding industry is experiencing a shortage of welding professionals in several provinces and sectors due in significant part to an aging Canadian population, a lack of young people being attracted to the skilled trades and the reduced focus on skilled trades training in secondary and post-secondary institutions,” reports the CWB Group.

“If this shortage is not quickly addressed, it may inevitably lead to a crisis in the industry and its ability to be globally competitive in the future.”

With labour market surveys revealing there is likely to be strong growth in the welding sector in Canada over the next few years, that demand for welders is going to present opportunities for skilled foreign workers who want to immigrate here under economic programs.

“Shipbuilding, oil and gas, manufacturing and many other sectors are facing recruitment challenges – skills gaps and skills shortages – including a need to replace 20 – 30 per cent of their workforce through retirement over the next 10 years,” notes CWB Group.

Read More Canada Immigration News

Immigrate To Canada As Dentist: All You Need To Know
Canada Jobs: Top 15 Opportunities For 2023
Are You a Canadian Employer Hiring a Foreign National? Here are 10 Things to Consider

Job Bank, the federal government’s job-hunting and career-planning website, is forecasting a shortfall of roughly 900 welders in Canada over the coming eight years.

“For welders and related machine operators, over the period 2022-2031, new job openings arising from expansion demand and replacement demand are expected to total 17,700, while 16,800 new job seekers rising from school leavers, immigration and mobility are expected to be available to fill them,” states Job Bank.

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.

Prospects for welders are forecast to be particularly good in Alberta, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Saskatchewan during that time period.

The Job Bank website already had 827 job postings for welders in early July and that means opportunities for foreign nationals hoping to get their permanent residence here through Express Entry occupation-targeted draws.

Welders Can Now Immigrate To Canada Under Express Entry Programs

Under changes announced by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) 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 through occupation-targeted draws.

“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.”

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”.

Welders and related machine operators, categorized under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 system with the code 72106, is one of the 82 occupational groups that will now be targeted under these new Express Entry draws.

That opens up opportunities for foreign nationals to immigrate to Canada through the Express Entry system if they can land any of the jobs available for welders and related machine operators in Canada.

In Canada, the median hourly wage for these jobs is $26 but that varies from a low of $19 per hour right up to $42 per hour, reveals Job Bank.

Based on a standard 37.5-hour work week, that would be $81,900 at the upper end of the annual wage scale for welders and related machine operators.

Provincial Nominee Programs Have Been Issuing Occupation-Specific Draws For Years

Until this year, 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.

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.

Quebec Targets Tech, Engineering, Health and Education Jobs With 1,218 Canada Immigration Invites

Colin Singer
-
0
Quebec Targets Tech, Engineering, Health and Education Jobs With 1,218 Canada Immigration Invites

Quebec immigration has targeted tech, engineering, health and education occupations in a new draw through the Arrima Expression of Interest system.

The June 29 draw targeted three categories of candidates with 1,218 invitations.

The first category targeted tech occupations with a minimum score of 584 in the Quebec Expression of Interest points system, who also needed an oral French language speaking ability of level 7 or higher on the Quebec proficiency scale.

In the second category, engineering, health and teaching occupations with a minimum score of 592 were targeted, also requiring level 7 oral French.

The specific occupations targeted in the first two categories are listed below.

Candidates with a job offer outside of the Montreal metropolitan area were targeted in the third category. There was no minimum score for these candidates.

Read More Canada Immigration News

Quebec Targets 1,006 Candidates With High French Proficiency Or A Job Offer
Quebec and New Brunswick Say They Will No Longer Keep Immigration Detainees In Jails
Immigrate To Quebec As A Truck Driver: All You Need To Know

Quebec Expression Of Interest Draws 2023

Date of invitations Invites Issued Minimum Score Date of extraction from Arrima bank
29-06-23 1,218 584/592 June 26, 2023 at 6.30am

Occupations Targeted: Tech Draw (2016 NOC)

  • 0213 Computer and information systems managers
  • 2147 Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)
  • 2171 Information systems analysts and consultants
  • 2172 Database analysts and data administrators
  • 2173 Software engineers and designers
  • 2174 Computer programmers and interactive media developers
  • 2175 Web designers and developers
  • 2241 Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians
  • 2281 Computer network technicians
  • 2282 User support technicians
  • 2283 Information systems testing technicians
  • 5223 Graphic arts technicians
  • 5225 Audio and video recording technicians
  • 5241 Graphic designers and illustrators

Occupations Targeted: Engineering, Health, Education Draw (2016 NOC)

  • 2131 Civil engineers
  • 2132 Mechanical engineers
  • 2133 Industrial engineering and manufacturing technologists and technicians
  • 2141 Industrial and manufacturing engineers
  • 2143 Mining engineers
  • 2231 Civil engineering technologists and technicians
  • 2232 Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
  • 2233 Industrial engineering and manufacturing technologists and technicians
  • 3012 Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
  • 3233 Licensed practical nurses
  • 3413 Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates
  • 4031 Secondary school teachers
  • 4032 Elementary school and kindergarten teachers
  • 4214 Early childhood educators and assistants

Video

How Does Quebec Expression of Interest Work?

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

Quebec Expression of Interest Points System

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

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

What Are the Requirements for Quebec Expression of Interest?

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

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

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

International Students In Canada: How To Change Schools

Colin Singer
-
0
International Students In Canada: How To Change Schools

International students in Canada can change their college, university or other program, but they must inform Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

In early July, Canadian immigration officials reminded international students of that obligation and laid out the process for them to inform Ottawa of any such changes.

“Finally, clear messaging that students must be meeting their study permit conditions before changing schools,” responded one Canadian on Twitter.

“Too many people were getting off the plane and changing programs. What was the point of writing a letter of intent if they could change as soon as they arrived?”

International students can, of course, still change their programs or schools – their Designated Learning Institution (DLI) – once they are actively studying in Canada but immigration officials must be informed.

Read More Canada Immigration News

Genuine Canada International Students In Fake Acceptance Letters Scandal Will Not Be Deported
Think-Tank Says Too Many International Students Refused Study Permits For Quebec
Canada The Favourite Destination For International Students, Beating Australia and US

“You need to contact us if you are a post-secondary student changing schools (or) have a co-op work permit and you’ve changed post-secondary schools to another co-op program or need to change conditions on your study permit,” notes the IRCC on its website.

Making that simple change on their accounts is a free service.

Canada’s immigration department may sometimes ask those with study permits to confirm their student status.

“If you have a study permit, you may receive an email from us. The email address will end in @cic.gc.ca. You must follow the instructions in that email, by the date indicated, to confirm you’re enrolled and actively studying in Canada,” notes the IRCC.

Watch Video

When an international student changes schools, the college or university reports him or her to the IRCC as no longer being registered to study there.

A failure to notify Canadian immigration officials when changing from one school to another is seen by the IRCC as breaking the conditions of the study permit and can lead to deportation and being denied work permits or study permits in the future.

Avoiding those unpleasant consequences is as easy as going online and submitting a new letter of acceptance using the IRCC’s web form and paying all the fees for a new application.

“You don’t need a representative to change your DLI in your online account, even if you used one to apply for your study permit initially. You just need the study permit application details,” notes the IRCC.

That means an international student who wants to notify the IRCC of a change of schools needs:

  • an online account;
  • his or her study permit number, which begins with the letter “S” at the top right of the permit;
  • the new school’s DLI number, which can be found on the list of DLIs;
  • the student’s new student identification number, which is found on the acceptance letter sent by the new school, and;
  • the start date at the new school.

Process To Notify The IRCC Of A Change Of School Can Be Completed Online

Here’s how to notify the IRCC of a change of school.

The student must first sign into his or her online account. Then, the student clicks on “Transfer from DLI number” under the section “Designated Learning Institution Student Transfer.”

Once that is done, the student enters his or her student permit application number and clicks “Search for my application.”

At this point in the process, the international student may be asked to provide further details about his or her original study permit application for identification purposes.

The next step is to enter the new school’s DLI number, the international student’s new student ID number, and the start date at that new school. Then, click “Submit transfer.”

“Review the details of your transfer,” suggests the IRCC. “If all the information is correct, click ‘Confirm Transfer.’”

The system will send the international student a confirmation that the request has been completed.

“This confirms that you’ve notified us that you’ve changed post-secondary schools,” notes the IRCC. “Click ‘Go to main account page’ to return to your account. You can now sign out.”

International students who have valid study permits do not need to change or apply for a new permit if they are only moving between school levels, including:

  • primary to high school;
  • high school to post-secondary;
  • post-secondary to high school, or;
  • any other move between school levels.

But, if a study permit is about to expire, the international student of course needs to apply for an extension.

“If your permit has already expired, you must restore your status as a student at the same time as you apply to extend your study permit,” notes the IRCC.

“You must apply to restore your status within 90 days of losing it. You can’t continue or restart your studies until you have status as a student again and we’ve extended your study permit.”

International students in high schools can only move to other DLI secondary schools,

And those studying in the francophone province of Quebec must get an attestation of issuance of a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ).

“You should contact the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) if you’re already studying in Quebec and want to change your: educational institution; program, (or) level of study,” notes the IRCC.

Immigrate To Canada As Dentist: All You Need To Know

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

Job Bank, Canada’s job-hunting and career-planning website, ranks the anticipated job prospects for dentists across the country as “good” to “very good”, its highest ranking, over the coming eight years.

“For dentists, over the period 2022 – 2031, new job openings arising from expansion demand and replacement demand are expected to total 13,500, while 10,500 new job seekers arising from school leavers, immigration and mobility are expected to be available to fill them,” notes Job Bank.

That’s an anticipated 3,000 jobs for dentists that will be going begging for a want of qualified candidates to fill those positions.

“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.”

Read More Canada Immigration News

Immigrate To Canada As A Plumber: All You Need To Know
More New Permanent Residents Through Canada’s Start-Up Visa In First Four Months Of 2023
Canada Simplifies Immigration Process For Internationally-Trained Doctors

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 dentists – 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 80 job listings for dentists, categorized under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 system with the code 31110, posted on Job Bank in late June, some of them from employers hoping to hire more than one employee .

The Indeed.ca job-hunting website turned up 1,481 responses for a job search using the word “dentist” but, admittedly, many of those jobs were for dental assistants and hygienists.

Most of the jobs for dentists listed on Job Bank, 56.5 per cent, were in Canada’s most populous province, Ontario.

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 annual income for dentists is $118,394 but that varies from a low of $30,128 annually right up to $261,517, reveals Job Bank.

The highest incomes for dentists are in Alberta where these medical professionals can earn up to $344,374 annually.

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 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.

Watch Video

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.

Canada Jobs Growth In June Led By Ontario, Nova Scotia And Newfoundland

Colin Singer
-
0
Canada Jobs Growth In June Led By Ontario, Nova Scotia And Newfoundland

Canada saw a net employment gain of 60,000 filled positions in June, up by 0.3 per cent over the previous month, as young and middle-aged men landed a lot more full-time Canada jobs.

Women didn’t fare as well even though the country added a total of 110,000 full-time jobs.

“Employment gains in June were concentrated among young men aged 15 to 24, up 31,000 jobs, and men aged 25 to 54, up another 31,000 jobs,” reports Statistics Canada.

“Employment among women of all age groups was little changed in June.”

Wholesale and retail trades added 33,000 jobs, the manufacturing  sector 27,000 jobs, healthcare and social assistance another 21,000 jobs and transportation and warehousing by 10,000 positions, the June Labour Force Survey says.

Read More Canada Immigration News

Newly-Arrived Canada Immigrants To Be Paid To Train As Truck Drivers In Ontario
International Students In Canada: Top 10 Most Important Source Countries
More New Permanent Residents Through Canada’s Start-Up Visa In First Four Months Of 2023

“Meanwhile, declines were recorded in construction, which shed 14,000 jobs, educational services, down by 14,000 jobs and agriculture which shed 6,000 jobs,” notes Statistics Canada.

The net increase in employment in June was the biggest such improvement for workers in Canada since January and that was enough to push up the employment rate, the proportion of the population aged 15 years old and more who are employed, up 0.1 percentage points to 62.2 per cent in June.

“Employment gains in June were all in full-time work, which saw an increase of 110,000 jobs, as the number of people working part-time fell by 50,000,” notes Statistics Canada.

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.

Average hourly wages in June were up a relatively modest 4.2 per cent, or $1.32 to $33.12, on a year-over-year basis.

“This was the slowest year-over-year growth in average hourly wages since May 2022,” notes Statistics Canada. “From February to May 2023, year-over-year growth in average hourly wages had hovered between 5.1 per cent and 5.4 per cent.”

Even as more workers landed jobs – and more full-time jobs – the Canadian labour market also witnessed a rise in unemployment in June.

Unemployment Nudges Up To 5.4%

“The unemployment rate rose 0.2 percentage points to 5.4 per cent in June, following a similar increase of 0.2 percentage points in May,” notes Statistics Canada.

“The increase brought the rate to its highest level since February 2022 when it was also 5.4 per cent. There were 1.1 million people unemployed in June, an increase of 54,000, or 4.9 per cent, in the month.”

Despite the bump up in unemployment, that rate remained below its pre-COVID-19 pandemic average of 5.7 per cent recorded in the 12 months prior to February 2020, Statistics Canada reports.

On the unemployment lines, core-aged men and women, those between the ages of 25 and 54, are faring equally with both men and women feeling the pinch of a 4.4 per cent unemployment rate.

Following an increase of 0.7 percentage points in May, the unemployment rate of young women aged 15 to 24 rose by a full percentage point in June to reach 10.5%, its highest level since October 2022.

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”.

Among teens and younger adults, those aged 15 to 24, young men are faring worse, with an unemployment rate of 12.5 per cent in June for young men while the comparable rate for young women was 10.5 per cent. The situation, though, has worsened for young women in the past few months with an increase of 0.7 per cent in their unemployment rate in May and a full percentage point bump up in June.

Those June employment numbers for June are partly a reflection of students being slower to land summer jobs this year compared last year.

Last year, 56.7 per cent of teenaged girls and young women who planned to return to school had landed jobs in June. This year, only 53.4 per cent of them did, less than the pre-pandemic average of 54.3 per cent for the month.

“The decline in June follows a slow start to the summer job season for young women in May,” reports Statistics Canada.

Female Students Landed Fewer Summer Jobs In June This Year

“On a year-over-year basis, the employment rate of female returning students aged 15 to 24 had declined 4.4 percentage points to 49.1 per cent in May 2023.”

Teenaged boys and young men returning to school did not see a drop in their employment numbers this June but, then again, their employment rate was already significantly lower than that of their female counterparts.

“The employment rate among male returning students aged 15 to 24 was little changed at 49.9 per cent on a year-over-year basis in June,” notes Statistics Canada. “The rate was slightly above the pre-pandemic average of 48 per cent for the month from 2017 to 2019.”

Watch Video

Canadian employers hoping to attract workers through economic immigration can recruit them through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and the International Mobility Program (IMP).

The Global Talent Stream (GTS), a part of the TFWP, can under normal processing situations lead to the granting of Canadian work permits and processing of visa applications within two weeks.

Employers can also bring in foreign nationals to fill available positions through the Express Entry system, which receives immigration applications online.

It powers the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FST), and Canada Experience Class Program (CEC) which all draw from the Express Entry pool of candidates. Those with the required Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores are then sent Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in regular draws.

1...585960...246Page 59 of 246

Latest News

© Canada Immigration News