The March 7 draw targeted two different groups of candidates, with March 4 listed as the date of extraction from the Arrima bank.
In the first group, candidates needed a French language speaking ability of level 7 or higher on the Quebec proficiency scale and to have scored at least 608 on the Quebec Expression of Interest points system.
In the second group, candidates also needed a French language speaking ability of level 7 or higher on the Quebec proficiency scale and a job offer outside the Montreal metropolitan area.
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.
Are you a candidate with skills and qualifications in one of Canada’s 82 jobs for occupation-specific Express Entry draws? We want to help you move to Canada. Please submit your CV here.
Canada is aiming to help internationally-educated nurses more quickly integrate into the country’s healthcare system by injecting $388,000 into a national association’s mentorship pilot program.
“We need a healthy workforce to get Canadians the care they need. That starts with making sure health workers are supported so they can do what they do best: care for Canadians,” said Health Minister Mark Holland.
“This investment will help more internationally-educated nurses (IEN) join the workforce in Canada to help our current workforce and get more nurses into our health care system even faster.”
The new funds are going to the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing’s (CASN) National Nurse Residency Program for a pilot mentorship program for internationally-educated nurses, workshops and training.
“Like CASN’s Nurse Residency Program, the IEN Mentorship Program will be delivered through partnerships with healthcare agencies,” said CASN executive director Cynthia Baker.
“It will support the retention and integration of IENs in Canada’s healthcare workforce by reducing transition stress and culture shock. The IEN mentorship program offers a cost-effective solution that will help healthcare agencies achieve appropriate staffing levels and decrease costs related to human resources.”
The latest funding announcement on March 14 is in addition to the $2.4 million provided by Ottawa to the CASN in April last year for its National Nurse Residency Program to support newly-graduated registered nurses by helping them effectively manage the transition from the classroom to workplace.
“Across Canada, we are facing tremendous pressures in the healthcare system,” said Yasir Naqvi, parliamentary secretary to the minister of health.
“Our government is committed to supporting both the recruitment and retention of this vital workforce and integrating more internationally educated nurses into the workforce is a critical piece of this approach.”
The CASN, which represents more than 450,000 nurses across Canada, promotes nursing education, research and scholarship and its National Nurse Residency Program is a partnership with over 15 employers across Canada, including acute care hospitals, health authorities, specialty hospitals, and long-term care centres.
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Earlier this month, the CASN announced a new toolkit to address the challenges of on-the-job stress, anxiety, depression and even abuse which is causing so many of these healthcare professionals to burn out.
The Nursing Retention Toolkit: Improving the Working Lives of Nurses in Canada program, which came in the wake of growing efforts in Canada to recruit healthcare professionals through immigration programs, focuses on eight core themes with corresponding initiatives that employers of nurses can implement to help improve retention.
The Nursing Retention Toolkit’s eight core themes are:
flexible and balanced ways of working;
organizational mental health and wellness supports;
professional development and mentorship;
reduced administrative burden;
strong management and communication;
clinical governance and infrastructure;
inspired leadership, and;
safe staffing practices.
Nursing Retention Toolkit Recognizes Nurses As The Backbone Of The Healthcare System
“Nurses are the backbone of our healthcare system, yet too many in Canada are struggling with their mental health, experiencing burnout, distress and feeling overworked, and unappreciated, causing them to leave their jobs,” said Dr. Leigh Chapman, Canada’s chief nursing officer.
“This toolkit provides nursing leadership and health system administrators with an opportunity to contribute first-hand to making changes in our healthcare system, including improving mental health and wellness supports for nurses so they can stay mentally, emotionally and spiritually healthy, and so that they can keep caring for us.”
In last year’s federal budget, Ottawa announced plans to invest close to $200 billion to improve healthcare, including support to the healthcare workers retention, recruitment, and planning.
Part of the federal government’s plan to boost the healthcare workforce is an improved foreign credential program for healthcare workers.
In January, Ottawa announced it would invest an extra $86 million into 15 projects across the country to boost the country’s capacity to recognize the foreign credentials of roughly 6,600 internationally-educated health professionals.
“Healthcare workers deliver the care that Canadians need. By bringing in new workers and retaining those who are already there, we can help relieve the labour challenges in our healthcare system,” said Holland.
“This federal funding supports our government’s work with provinces, territories, and stakeholders to have more healthcare workers enter Canada’s workforce and to streamline that process.”
The funded projects aim to:
reduce barriers to foreign credential recognition for internationally-educated healthcare professionals by improving the recognition processes, simplifying steps in credential recognition and offering increased access to practice in the field;
provide internationally-educated healthcare professionals with relevant Canadian work experience in their intended fields, while incorporating wrap-around supports such as childcare and transportation costs, as well as mentoring and coaching, and;
facilitate labour mobility between jurisdictions in Canada for healthcare professionals and internationally-educated healthcare professionals to reduce the systemic and administrative barriers for healthcare professionals who wish to work in other jurisdictions within Canada.
Foreign Nurses Can Immigrate To Canada Under Express Entry Targeted Draws
Canada’s Express Entry system can now target 82 jobs in healthcare, technology, trades, transport and agriculture and so there is now a new pathway to immigration for nurses, orderlies and other healthcare workers.
The majority of Canada’s provinces have also been issuing occupation-specific invitations for several years but the labour shortages in the healthcare system persist.
“Retention and burnout are some of the most pressing issues facing our industry today and we were honoured to have been involved in the development of the toolkit,” said Terri Irwin, chief nursing executive at Trillium Health Partners.
“To invest in nurses, ensuring that they are supported physically and emotionally in reaching their full potential, is to invest in the well-being of our communities for generations to come.”
Residents of Monaco have the highest average income in the world, making it easy for its French-speaking residents to immigrate to Canada through the Quebec Immigrant Investor Program (QIIP).
Canada’s only passive investment immigration program, the QIIP allows foreign nationals to gain their permanent residence in the country by investing in that francophone province.
With population of barely more than 36,000 people, the country on the French Riviera is bordered on the north, west and east by France and the Mediterranean Sea to the south and is one of the jewels of Europe.
Monégasque who want to immigrate to Canada through the QIIP can gain their permanent residence in Canada simply by investing $1 million with IQ Immigrant Investisseurs Inc., a Quebec crown corporation, without having to establish or actively manage a business in the province.
They must additionally pay a non-refundable financial contribution of $200,000 and intend to settle in the French-speaking province of Quebec.
Successful applicants are then issued a selection certificate from Quebec for Canada immigration, which allows them to obtain their Canadian permanent residence following health and criminality checks by federal immigration officials.
The eligibility criteria include:
language proficiency
a legally-acquired personal net worth of $2 million;
two years of suitable management or business experience within the five years preceding the application;
mandatory Residency;
investment of $1.2 million into a passive government-guaranteed investment for a period of five years bearing no interest;
a high school diploma, and;
the intention to settle in the province of Quebec.
Applicants To QIIP Must Demonstrate French-Language Abilities
The French language proficiency requirement is met by applicants by submitting a Certificate of Test Results (TEF, TEF Canada, TEFAQ, TCF, TCFQ) or a recognized French diploma (DELF or DALF) confirming a B2 level in oral French in speaking and listening along with their application to the QIIP.
Applicants can demonstrate that they have legally acquired the minimum net worth of $2 million by showing the net value of their current assets, as well as their history of acquiring funds over the course of their careers with supporting documentation.
That can be demonstrated using bank statements, investor booklets, real estate evaluations, audited financial statements and other pertinent and up-to-date documentation. Grants received less than six months before submitting an application cannot be included in the net worth calculation.
The principal applicant can share this net worth with a spouse or common-law partner accompanying him or her to Quebec.
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Since the intention of the QIIP is to attract business acumen and investment to Quebec, applicants must also have owned or managed by an active trade or business, which may include professional practices, rather than merely have managed investments.
Gray areas under the QIIP include professionals who don’t manage the business, passive real estate investors and investment managers. Developing real estate may qualify while merely owning real estate may not.
“(The applicant must have) … for at least two years in the five years preceding the application for a selection certificate, duties related to the planning, management and control of financial resources and of human or material resources under the investor’s authority; the experience does not include the experience acquired in the context of an apprenticeship, training or specialization process attested to by a diploma,” state the eligibility criteria.
Quebec Selection Certificate Required Under QIIP
Under the QIIP, applicants first apply for an Avis d’intention de sélection du Québec, after receipt of which they can apply for a three-year work permit from federal Canadian immigration officials.
With that Quebec certificate, the principal applicant and their spouse agree to live in Quebec for a period of at least six months within their first two years of receiving work permits – a requirement that can be completed through simultaneous residency or separate periods of six months each.
Once that is completed, the applicant can apply for the actual Certificat de Selection du Quebec (CSQ) from Quebec. As part of this application, the investor needs to establish a clean source of funds and give an interview in French to convince the officer of his or her intention to stay in Quebec.
Once issued a CSQ, they can apply for permanent residence through the IRCC.
Successful applicants are required to make their investment with Investissement Québec for a period of five years at the end of which the capital is returned without interest. The five-year period begins upon issuance of the selection certificate before the applicant has even landed in Canada.
Proceeds from the investment are used to fund various business and social programs within the province of Quebec.
The QIIP allows applicants to finance the bulk of their investment through designated securities brokerage firms and investment banks. Typically, the financing plans require a down payment before the bank loans the balance of up to $1.2 million.
The applicant then deposits that sum with Investissement Québec. The down payment is not refunded at the end of the five-year period. The bank takes fees and interest from the down payment, the immigration agent takes his or her commissions from the down payment.
The University of Prince Edward Island might need to work harder to maintain its international student population after Canada’s cap on study permit applications, its interim president says.
Although the Atlantic Canadian province of Prince Edward Island’s own data shows it could theoretically see an increase in new international students compared to last year if all those who are allowed to enrol in its post-secondary schools next year do so, not all international students attend all the universities to which they are accepted.
“Both international and Canadian students typically apply and are accepted each year at multiple universities,” UPEI interim president Dr. Greg Keefe reportedly told the CBC. “Last year, UPEI made 3,200 offers to international students, and of those, 675 enrolled. This represents a conversion rate of 21 per cent.
“What this new allocation means is that UPEI will have to develop a process to ensure that we distribute the 1,185 offers as prudently as possible so that a higher percentage of those students actually choose to come to UPEI, and we can maintain our international enrolment numbers.”
In January, Immigration Minister Marc Miller set a cap of only 606,250 study permit applications in the coming year for new international students.
“The intent of these Instructions is to ensure the number of study permit applications accepted into processing by the Department of Citizenship and Immigration … within the scope of the instructions does not exceed 606,250 study permit applications for one year beginning on the date of signature,” the Canada Gazette reported on Feb. 3.
“As stipulated in these Instructions, certain categories of study permit applications are excluded from the conditions set out in these Instructions and the associated application cap established by these Instructions.”
Under that cap, Prince Edward Island is being allowed 2,000 new international students for all its colleges and universities. Advanced Learning Minister Jenn Redmond has reportedly said the University of Prince Edward Island will be able to enroll up to 1,185 international students, Holland College another 710 and the Collège de l’Île 105.
Colleges And Universities Say Study Permit Cap Sends The Wrong Message
Throughout Canada, colleges and universities have expressed concern over the move, saying it sends the wrong signal to international students.
President and CEO of the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE) Larissa Bezo said in a webinar organised by The PIE and Student VIP that the cap on study permits is not the way her organizations would have chosen to proceed to address the housing issue.
The CBIE issued a statement in January expressing concern the cap on the number of international students might have serious unintended consequences.
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“This hasty one-size-fits-all solution may jeopardize the benefits of international education that many communities across the country experience and rapidly unravel a strong global Canadian education brand that has taken years to build,” notes the CBIE on its website.
“A 35 per cent reduction in student visas is ultimately a signal to prospective international students around the world that Canada is closing its doors. These measures have the potential to cause irreparable harm to the EduCanada brand, and in a highly-globally competitive market, students may opt to choose other countries instead, well beyond the two-year duration of these measures.”
Five Groups Exempt From International Study Permit Caps
Exempt from this new cap on international study permits are those international students who already have study permits and are seeking to renew them and the family member of a temporary resident who already has either a work or study permit.
Also exempt from the cap on study permits are:
members of the armed forces of a country under the Visiting Forces Act, including a person who has been designated as a civilian component of those armed forces;
officers of a foreign governments sent, under exchange agreements between Canada and one or more countries, to take up duties with a federal or provincial agency;
participants in sports activities or events, in Canada, either as an individual participant or as a member of a foreign-based team or Canadian amateur team;
employees of foreign news companies reporting on events in Canada;
people responsible for assisting congregations or groups in the achievement of their spiritual goals and whose main duties are to preach doctrine, perform functions related to gatherings of their congregations or groups or provide spiritual counselling.
The cap on study permit applications is expected to reduce the number of study permits by more than a third, The Globe and Mail has reported.
“The cap is expected to result in approximately 364,000 approved study permits, a decrease of 35 per cent from 2023,” the immigration minister has reportedly said. “In the spirit of fairness, we are also allocating the cap space by province, based on population.”
As a new immigrant to Canada, the prospect of buying a house may seem overwhelming at first, but with the right information and guidance, it can become a feasible and rewarding endeavor.
Moving to a new country can be both exciting and daunting, especially when it comes to navigating the complexities of purchasing a home.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the essential steps and considerations for purchasing a home in Canada as a new immigrant.
Understanding the Canadian Real Estate Market
Before diving into the home-buying process, it’s crucial to familiarize yourself with the Canadian real estate market. Each province and territory has its own unique market dynamics, so research is key to understanding local trends, property values, and legal requirements.
Key Considerations:
Research the housing market in your desired location, including average property prices and housing trends.
Familiarize yourself with the different types of properties available, such as detached houses, condos, and townhouses.
Understand the role of real estate agents, lawyers, and mortgage brokers in the home-buying process.
Purchasing a home is a significant financial commitment, so it’s essential to assess your financial situation and prepare accordingly.
Steps to Financial Preparation:
Establish a budget: Determine how much you can afford to spend on a home by considering your income, expenses, and savings.
Save for a down payment: In Canada, a down payment of at least 5% of the purchase price is typically required for homes valued up to $500,000.
Build your credit history: A strong credit score is essential for securing a mortgage with favorable terms, so make sure to pay bills on time and avoid excessive debt.
Securing Financing
Once you’ve assessed your financial readiness, the next step is to secure financing for your home purchase.
Mortgage Options for New Immigrants:
Newcomer programs: Some financial institutions offer special mortgage programs designed specifically for new immigrants, which may include lower down payment requirements and flexible eligibility criteria.
Traditional mortgages: New immigrants with established credit history and steady income may qualify for conventional mortgages from Canadian banks and lenders.
Exploring Housing Options
With financing in place, it’s time to explore housing options that align with your budget, preferences, and lifestyle.
Tips for House-Hunting:
Define your priorities: Make a list of must-have features and amenities, such as the number of bedrooms, proximity to schools, and public transportation options.
Work with a real estate agent: A knowledgeable agent can help you navigate the housing market, schedule viewings, and negotiate offers on your behalf.
Attend open houses and property showings to get a feel for different neighborhoods and housing styles.
Making an Offer and Closing the Deal
Once you’ve found the perfect home, it’s time to make an offer and navigate the closing process.
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Steps to Making an Offer:
Submit a written offer: Work with your real estate agent to prepare a written offer outlining the purchase price, deposit amount, and any conditions.
Negotiate terms: Be prepared to negotiate with the seller to reach a mutually acceptable agreement.
Conduct a home inspection: Hire a qualified home inspector to assess the condition of the property and identify any potential issues.
Finalize financing: Once your offer is accepted, finalize your mortgage financing with your lender.
Closing the Deal:
Sign the purchase agreement: Review and sign the purchase agreement with your lawyer or notary.
Pay closing costs: Budget for additional expenses such as legal fees, land transfer taxes, and home insurance.
Take possession of the property: Congratulations! Once all paperwork is finalized, you can officially take possession of your new home.
Conclusion
Navigating the process of buying a house as a new immigrant to Canada may seem daunting, but with careful planning and guidance, it can be a rewarding experience. By understanding the Canadian real estate market, preparing financially, exploring housing options, and navigating the closing process, you can achieve your dream of homeownership in your new country. Remember to seek advice from trusted professionals and take your time to find the perfect home for you and your family. Welcome home!
In 2023, Mexicans represented 18% of total refugee claims in Canada, with conflicting views on approval rates. While government sources claim a majority of Mexican claims are abandoned, withdrawn, or rejected, data suggests increasing approval rates, now surpassing 50%.
The Background
Nationals of Mexico were visa-exempt until 2009, when a TRV requirement was imposed to address significant asylum pressures.
Canada reintroduced a full visa exemption for Mexican nationals in 2016. Since that time, all Mexican nationals are required to apply online for an eTA before flying to Canada. An eTA application seeks less information from an applicant and is less costly than a TRV application. Commensurate with the lower level of risk these clients are assumed to pose, biometrics are not collected, nor are passports systematically inspected by an officer during eTA processing. While the decision to remove the TRV requirement in 2016 has resulted in increased mobility for hundreds of thousands of genuine Mexican visitors, and significant benefits to Canada, it has also generated unsustainable migration challenges.
Record levels of asylum intake have been received from Mexican nationals, reaching over 24 000 claims in 2023 (or 18% of total asylum intake in Canada). Most Mexican claims are made at airports on arrival, an indication that claiming asylum, not visiting, was the true purpose of travel. The majority of Mexican claims are abandoned, withdrawn, or rejected by the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB).
The regulatory amendments remove Mexico from the schedule of countries and territories whose nationals are exempt from the TRV requirement for travel to Canada under the Regulations.
The amendments also add Mexico to the list of countries and territories whose nationals may be eligible to travel to Canada on an eTA if they are travelling by air and have held a Canadian TRV in the last 10 years or hold a valid U.S. non-immigrant visa.
The eTA cancellation provisions are also amended to specify that the eTAs held by Mexican nationals remain valid provided that at the time the regulatory amendments came into force on February 29, 2024, they also hold a valid work or study permit. This protects the ability of existing Mexican students and workers to leave and return to Canada, under the previous policy.
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IRCC is targeting processing Mexican TRV applications within 30 days, although an initial application surge may result in temporary delays.
Discontinuing eTA eligibility for most Mexicans is projected to incur a present value (PV) cost of $1.0 billion over the next decade, covering IT updates and decreased tourism.
Conversely, the anticipated benefit is estimated at $6.6 billion (PV) over the same period, driven by reduced asylum claims costs and CBSA enforcement.
The latest data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reveals the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) helped 11.6 per cent more foreign nationals become new permanent residents of Canada in January than during the previous month.
In January, 1,830 parents and grandparents of immigrants became new permanent residents through the PGP, up from 1,640 new permanent residents in December last year.
But while PGP immigration was up month over month, it was down by 11.6 per cent compared to the same month last year. In January 2023, the PGP welcomed 2,070 new permanent residents.
The monthly rate of immigration under the PGP in January, if projected out to the rest of the year, would see 21,960 new permanent residents arriving in Canada under the program by the end of the year, or 22.4 per cent less than the 28,305 who arrived under the PGP last year.
Canada’s most populous province, Ontario, saw the greatest number of arrivals under the PGP in January this year with 925 parents and grandparents settling there, an increase of 44.4 per cent over the 690 in December.
The other provinces and territories attracted the following number of new permanent residents under the PGP in January:
Newfoundland and Labrador – 0
Prince Edward Island – 0
Nova Scotia – 15
New Brunswick – 5
Quebec – 105
Manitoba – 60
Saskatchewan – 40
Alberta – 330
British Columbia – 350
Yukon – 0
Northwest Territories – 0
Nunavut – 0
Across the country, Nova Scotia saw the biggest gains in PGP immigration of all the provinces in percentage terms in January as the number of new permanent residents through the program rose 50 per cent while its neighbouring province, New Brunswick, saw the biggest drop, 50 per cent, for that same month.
With growing total immigration to Canada, it seems likely PGP immigration will rise in tandem over the coming years.
Under the 2024-2026 Immigration Levels Plan, Canada is planning to welcome 485,000 new permanent residents this year, 500,000 in 2025 and then hold the line on immigration in 2026 with another 500,000 newcomers.
That’s a total of 1.485 million immigrants to Canada over those three years.
Under the PGP, applicants pay $1,050 to sponsor a parent or grandparent and the process takes up to 23 months, with the people being sponsored required to provide biometrics after they apply. That processing time includes the time to provide those biometrics
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Once a Canadian citizen or permanent resident has submitted an interest in sponsoring these relatives, he or she is sent an Invitation to Apply (ITA) and must then submit two applications to the PGP:
the sponsorship application, and;
the permanent residence application.
If those applications get the green light, the sponsor signs an agreement called an undertaking which starts on the day the sponsoree becomes a permanent resident of Canada.
Among the several requirements which need to be met to determine eligibility to sponsor a parent or grandparent, are:
a receipt of an Invitation to Apply;
being at least 18 years old;
Canadian residency;
being a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, or a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act;
sufficient funds to support the parent or grandparent;
proof of income, although a spouse or common-law partner can co-sign to combine their income with that of the sponsor, and;
meeting all other requirements under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.
Sponsors Ink Deal With Government To Financially Support Parents And Grandparents
All sponsors living outside of the province of Quebec, which has its own immigration system, must promise to financially support the sponsorees for a period of time.
This undertaking commits the sponsor to:
providing financial support for sponsored family members for 20 years, starting when they become permanent residents;
repaying any provincial social assistance (money from the government) sponsored family members get during that time, and;
agreeing to certain responsibilities during the undertaking period in a sponsorship agreement.
That sponsorship agreement means that the sponsor will provide the basic needs of the sponsoree, including:
food;
clothing;
utilities;
personal requirements;
shelter;
fuel;
household supplies, and;
healthcare not covered by public health insurance, such as eye and dental care.
Sponsors Remain Financial Responsible For Relatives Even In Tough Times
The sponsorship agreement is not one to be entered into lightly as it is obliges the sponsor to meet those requirements even in the case of:
separation or divorce;
family rifts;
unemployment;
change in finances, and even;
death of the main applicant.
Sponsors who live in Quebec must meet that province’s immigration sponsorship requirements after the IRCC approves of the sponsor. The length of the undertaking is 10 years for Quebec.
Due to the need for sponsors to accept responsibility for their parents and grandparents through sponsorship agreements under the PGP, past criminality and serious financial troubles can render a Canadian citizen or permanent resident ineligible for this program.
Applicants may not be eligible to sponsor their parents or grandparents if the sponsors:
are in a jail, prison or penitentiary;
didn’t pay back an immigration loan or performance bond;
failed to make court-ordered family support payments such as alimony or child support;
didn’t give the financial support specified under a sponsorship agreement to sponsor someone else in the past;
declared bankruptcy and are not discharged;
receive social assistance for a reason other than a disability;
were convicted of a violent criminal offence, any offence against a relative or any sexual offence inside or outside Canada, or;
can’t legally stay in Canada and must leave the country because they received a removal order.
The applicant cannot sponsor his or her spouse’s parents or grandparents, aka their in-laws, but can be a co-signer on that spouse’s application to bring to Canada his or her parents and grandparents.
The PGP program also does not allow a Canadian citizen or permanent resident to sponsor someone who is otherwise inadmissible to come to Canada.
The PGP is restricted to the applicant’s own parents and grandparents, related by blood or adoption.
IRCC Urges Applicants To Keep Their Information Current To Avoid Delays
“In case of divorce, you’ll need to submit separate applications if you sponsor divorced parents and grandparents,” notes the IRCC on its website.
“If your divorced parents or grandparents have a current spouse, common-law partner or a conjugal partner, these people become dependants on the application and can immigrate to Canada with your parents and grandparents, if approved.”
A PGP application can include the sponsor’s own brothers and sisters, or half-brothers and sisters, or step-brothers and step-sisters – but only if they qualify as dependent children of the sponsor’s parents.
Delays in processing can quickly occur when the IRCC is faced with information which is no longer accurate and so Canadian immigration officials encourage applicants to keep their contact information and application details up to date.
Important information which must be updated includes:
changes in relationship status;
birth or adoption of a child;
death of an applicant or dependant;
contact information such as e-mail addresses, phone numbers, and mailing addresses.
The applicant is responsible for going into the application and updating it with this information him or herself.
“Don’t mail us changes to your contact or application information,” notes the IRCC. “If you do, we won’t acknowledge your request and we won’t update your application.”
Canadian immigration officials notify applicants under the PGP as soon as they begin to process the application, sending them both an application number and an acknowledgement of receipt of the application.
The IRCC then assesses both the applicant’s eligibility as a sponsor and the person being sponsored for permanent residence.
“If we refuse you as a sponsor, you can choose to have us keep processing the application for permanent residence for your family members,” notes the IRCC.
Choosing to have the IRCC continue processing the application at that point means the sponsor forgoes all fees which have been paid.
By choosing to withdraw the application in the eventuality of being deemed ineligible to sponsor, the applicant can get all of his or her fees back, minus the $75 sponsorship fee.
Once Canadian immigration officials have approved a sponsor under the PGP, they then turn their attention to the people being sponsored to determine their eligibility under the program.
The IRCC will typically request documents from those being sponsored, including:
medical exam results;
police certificates, and;
biometrics.
Letters requesting that biometric information are sent to the parents or grandparents and their dependent children as named in the application and they then have 30 days to provide the biometric information at the closest collection point.
Ontario has issued 2,639 invitations for Canada immigration in general, skilled trades, and healthcare and technology occupations in a new draw through its Employer Job Offer: International Student stream.
The PNP draw saw three categories of candidates invited through the Employer Job Offer International Student stream.
In a general draw, 1,306 invitations were issued to candidates scoring 72 and above.
In a targeted draw for skilled trades occupations, 649 candidates were invited, with a minimum score of 66 points.
The draw targeted the following occupations:
NOC 22212 – Drafting technologists and technicians
NOC 22301 – Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
NOC 22302 – Industrial engineering and manufacturing technologists and technicians
NOC 22311 – Electronic service technicians (household and business equipment)
NOC 22312 – Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics
NOC 70010 – Construction managers
NOC 70011 – Home building and renovation managers
NOC 70012 – Facility operation and maintenance managers
NOC 72010 – Contractors and supervisors, machining, metal forming, shaping and erecting trades and related occupations
NOC 72011 – Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations
NOC 72012 – Contractors and supervisors, pipefitting trades
NOC 72013 – Contractors and supervisors, carpentry trades
NOC 72014 – Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicers
NOC 72020 – Contractors and supervisors, mechanic trades
NOC 72021 – Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews
NOC 72022 – Supervisors, printing and related occupations
NOC 72024 – Supervisors, motor transport and other ground transit operators
NOC 72100 – Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors
NOC 72101 – Tool and die makers
NOC 72102 – Sheet metal workers
NOC 72103 – Boilermakers
NOC 72104 – Structural metal and platework fabricators and fitters
NOC 72105 – Ironworkers
NOC 72106 – Welders and related machine operators
NOC 72200 – Electricians (except industrial and power system)
NOC 72201 – Industrial electricians
NOC 72203 – Electrical power line and cable workers
NOC 72204 – Telecommunications line and cable installers and repairers
NOC 72205 – Telecommunications equipment installation and cable television service technicians
NOC 72300 – Plumbers
NOC 72301 – Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers
NOC 72302 – Gas fitters
NOC 72310 – Carpenters
NOC 72311 – Cabinetmakers
NOC 72320 – Bricklayers
NOC 72321 – Insulators
NOC 72400 – Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics
NOC 72401 – Heavy-duty equipment mechanics
NOC 72402 – Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics
NOC 72403 – Railway carmen/women
NOC 72404 – Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors
NOC 72406 – Elevator constructors and mechanics
NOC 72410 – Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers
NOC 72422 – Electrical mechanics
NOC 72423 – Motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle and other related mechanics
NOC 72500 – Crane operators
NOC 73100 – Concrete finishers
NOC 73101 – Tilesetters
NOC 73102 – Plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers
NOC 73110 – Roofers and shinglers
NOC 73111 – Glaziers
NOC 73112 – Painters and decorators (except interior decorators)
NOC 73113 – Floor covering installers
NOC 73200 – Residential and commercial installers and servicers
NOC 73201 – General building maintenance workers and building superintendents
NOC 73202 – Pest controllers and fumigators
NOC 73209 – Other repairers and servicers
NOC 73300 Transport truck drivers
NOC 73301 Bus drivers, subway operators and other transit operators
NOC 73400 – Heavy equipment operators
NOC 73402 – Drillers and blasters – surface mining, quarrying and construction
NOC 82031 – Contractors and supervisors, landscaping, grounds maintenance and horticulture services
NOC 92100 – Power engineers and power systems operators
In a targeted draw for those with job offers in health and tech occupations, 684 candidates were invited with a minimum score of 72 points.
The draw targeted the following occupations:
Health occupations
NOC 30010 – Managers in health care
NOC 31100 – Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine
NOC 31103 – Veterinarians
NOC 31110 – Dentists
NOC 31111 – Optometrists
NOC 31112 – Audiologists and speech-language pathologists
NOC 31120 – Pharmacists
NOC 31121 – Dietitians and nutritionists
NOC 31200 – Psychologists
NOC 31201 – Chiropractors
NOC 31202 – Physiotherapists
NOC 31203 – Occupational therapists
NOC 31204 – Kinesiologists and other professional occupations in therapy and assessment
NOC 31209 – Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating
NOC 31300 – Nursing coordinators and supervisors
NOC 31301 – Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
NOC 31302 – Nurse practitioners
NOC 31303 – Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals
NOC 32100 – Opticians
NOC 32101 – Licensed practical nurses
NOC 32102 – Paramedical occupations
NOC 32103 – Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists
NOC 32104 – Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians
NOC 32109 – Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment
NOC 32110 – Denturists
NOC 32111 – Dental hygienists and dental therapists
NOC 32112 – Dental technologists and technicians
NOC 32120 – Medical laboratory technologists
NOC 32121 – Medical radiation technologists
NOC 32122 – Medical sonographers
NOC 32123 – Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists
NOC 32124 – Pharmacy technicians
NOC 32129 – Other medical technologists and technicians
NOC 32200 – Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists
NOC 32201 – Massage therapists
NOC 32209 – Other practitioners of natural healing
NOC 33100 – Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants
NOC 33101 – Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations
NOC 33102 – Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates
NOC 33103 – Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants
NOC 33109 – Other assisting occupations in support of health services
Tech occupations
NOC 20012 – Computer and information systems managers
NOC 21211 – Data Scientists
NOC 21220 – Cybersecurity specialists
NOC 21221 – Business system specialists
NOC 21222 – Information systems specialists
NOC 21223 – Database analysts and data administrators
NOC 21230 – Computer systems developers and programmers
NOC 21231 – Software engineers and designers
NOC 21232 – Software developers and programmers
NOC 21233 – Web designers
NOC 21234 – Web developers and programmers
NOC 21311 – Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)
NOC 22220 – Computer network technicians
NOC 22221 – User support technicians
NOC 22222 – Information systems testing technicians
A further draw through the province’s Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream saw 11 invitations issued through the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot. There was no minimum score.
Latest Ontario Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream Draws
Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream Requirements
To qualify under this stream, applicants must have:
A permanent and full-time job offer under NOC TEER category 1, 2 or 3, Skill Type 0 or Skill Levels A or B that meets low wage levels for Ontario, and in a position that is necessary to the business;
For those already working in the position, the proposed wage must be equal to or greater than the current wage being paid
Either
Graduated or met requirements of a full-time minimum two-year degree from a publicly-funded Canadian college or university; OR
Graduated or met requirements of a full-time minimum one-year post-graduate diploma program from a publicly-funded Canadian college or university.
Completed at least half the studies in Canada;
Apply within two years from the date you completed the above course
To qualify under this stream, applicants must have:
A permanent and full-time job offer under NOC TEER category 1, 2 or 3 that meets the median wage levels for Ontario, and in a position that is necessary to the business;
For those already working in the position, the proposed wage must be equal or greater than the current wage being paid
Two cumulative years of relevant work experience in the previous five years before the date of application;
Relevant mandatory licensing in Ontario, if the position so requires;
Live abroad, or be working, studying or visiting Canada on a valid permit;
Construction workers received 30 invitations with a minimum score of 80 points.
A draw targeted at healthcare workers saw 38 invitations issued to skilled workers and international graduates, with a minimum score of 75 points.
Lastly, veterinary care workers received ‘less than five’ invitations with a minimum score of 75 points. The total was listed as ‘less than five’ to protect the identity of those invited.
Government documents seen by the Toronto Star show Canada considered letting in one million permanent residents in a year before settling on 400,000.
This was proposed as one of three options for how many PRs should be let in, with the pros and cons of each option. The deputy minister was in charge of drafting this plan for consideration by cabinet in 2020, according to the Toronto Star.
The three options were:
Growth via covering up the 2020 shortfall over the next three years, with 401,000 people in 2021 (instead of 341,000), 411,000 in 2022, and 421,000 in 2023;
Maintaining the plan, with 351,000 people in 2021 and 361,000 in 2022, while consulting with Canadians about a steeper growth trajectory in the future;
Exponential levels of growth to see the 2021 target intact and the 2022 target up to 500,000, and one million in 2023.
Cabinet’s ultimate decision – to let in 401,000 PRs in 2021, 411,000 in 2022, and 421,000 in 2023 – was geared towards bolstering economic recovery after COVID-19, but has since received extensive criticism in recent months, in the wake of inflation, housing strains, and healthcare pressures.
“This proposal puts forward options that reflect the Government’s ambition and priorities for immigration,” says the memorandum submitted by then-immigration minister Marco Mendicino.
“All options signal future growth and reflect the continuing importance of immigration, with broad ranges for flexibility amidst uncertainty.”
The 2020 plan had aimed for 341,000 PRs. However, with the pandemic’s closure of the Canadian border, the proposal asked for growth.
“The proposed immigration levels plan aims to protect and enhance Canada’s immigration advantage, leverage it to welcome a growing number of newcomers who will contribute to short-term recovery and long-term growth, and seize the opportunity to help shape and support a future vision for our country,” the plan said.
As per the government, a “forward-looking” plan was to support family reunification, boost francophone communities outside Quebec, and keep Canada competitive on a global stage while addressing regional labor market needs and allowing more international students and foreign workers to become permanent residents.
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While British Columbia and Alberta wanted a pause in immigration growth, Ontario and others wanted “modest, incremental, stable, and managed” increases.
Many critics are taken aback by IRCC’s consideration of letting in one million immigrants.
“Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada was clearly foolish to think that one million was a number that would maintain public support for immigration,” said University of Ottawa law and public health professor Amir Attaran.
“Obviously, we’ve never been close to a million and IRCC wanted cabinet to consider doing something clearly out of precedent. It wasn’t gradualism. It was extremism.”
The cabinet report, however, did make not of possible challenges to the system for processing capacity and infrastructure as the department and its partners, such as the Canada Border Services Agency, would need $4 billion to $6 billion to manage the significant increases in admissions.
It also acknowledged possible increases in pressure on housing, education, and health service infrastructure for provinces and municipalities.
For 2024-2026, the department decided to stabilize immigration levels at 500,000; Canada would thus let in 485,000 PRs in 2024, 500,000 in 2025, and 500,000 in 2026.
