Archive - June 2021

Alberta PNP draw invites 184 Express Entry candidates for nomination

On June 17, 2021, Quebec issued invitations to 69 immigration candidates to apply for permanent selection.

The permanent selection for Quebec immigration means that the province has chosen the candidate as suitable for immigration to the province. However, until a Canada PR visa is granted by the federal government, that person can’t become a Canadian permanent resident.

The MIFI sent invitations to the candidates under the RSWP. They had filed an EOI in Arrima, Quebec’s online registration portal.

After a candidate file an EOI, they are up for scrutiny to be considered for a CSQ, Once the candidate receives a CSQ he/she can apply for Canada PR.

Candidates invited in this latest round of invitations held by Quebec also required to have a job offer that was deemed valid.

Quebec has its own system to manage its immigration programs. The selection of immigration candidates is done on the basis of selection criteria and related processes that are different from the Canada immigration programs.

What is Arrima?

Arrima came into the picture in 2018 when it was applied in the Quebec immigration process. It’s an online system used to manage the applicant pool for the RSWP. Arrima also simplifies the process of an application intake which was based on a “first-come, first-served” approach previously.

Candidates aged 18 years and above with interest in moving to Quebec via the RSWP need to create an EOI profile in Arrima first. Then, they get added to a candidate pool.

Then steps in MIFI, which invites the most qualified candidates. Their qualification is decided on the basis of current labor requirements of the provincial market as well as the candidate’s potential to merge into the Quebec society.

Candidates invited to apply for permanent selection have 60 days in the normal course to file a complete application for immigration, present all other required documents, and pay the required fees.

Planned Immigration Levels

Quebec and Canada’s federal government have their commitment to increase immigration targets for the years to come. Quebec aims to welcome up to 47,500 newcomers in 2021, while Canada aims to bring in over 400,000 immigrants under various immigration programs it has over the coming year.

If you are looking to Study, Work, Visit, Invest or Migrate to Canada, talk to Y-Axis, the World’s No.1 Immigration & Visa Company.

If you found this blog engaging, you may also like…

Note:

PR – Permanent Residence/Permanent Resident

EOI – Expression of Interest

IRCC – Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

MIFI – Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration

CSQ – Quebec Selection Certificate

6,000 wannabes up for Canada PR, invited in Express Entry draw

June 25, 2021

Alberta PNP draw invites 184 Express Entry candidates for nomination

June 24, 2021, was another day for Canada to hold an Express Entry draw that invited 6,000 immigration candidates to apply for Canada PR. The ITA was sent through the CEC stream. The CRS score required of the candidates was 357, which was the second-lowest cut-off score ever for a CEC-only draw.

The fall in CRS requirement has been continuing in CEC-only draws. This coincided with IRCC seeking even more candidates already residing inside Canada. IRCC expects this approach to help achieve its goal of bringing in 401,000 new immigrants in 2021.

CEC candidates possess at least a year of experience or work in Canada in a skilled occupation. They also have a minimum intermediate skill level in the English or French language.

In this Express Entry draw, IRCC stipulated a cut-off time for the tie-break rule as a mandatory administrative requirement. Candidates with a minimum score got invitations only if they had submitted their Express Entry profile prior to February 17, 2021, at 10:15:50 UTC.

All-program draw by IRCC

When the COVID-19 pandemic was spreading, IRCC resorted to holding only immigration draws, specifically for PNP and CEC streams. These candidates were more likely to be in Canada already. The quick availability of these candidates in comparison to overseas candidates facing travel restrictions was utilized by IRCC while conducting an Express Entry draw.

Till June 21, 2021, immigration candidates who are approved to be permanent residents had no way to travel to Canada, so that they could complete their immigration process by landing in the country.

Currently, Canada’s travel restrictions are slowly getting lifted even while its border is closed to those on non-essential travel. In the days to come, more travel restrictions could be lifted.

We could hope that IRCC will resume its all-program draws sooner in the second year of 2021. There are 2 reasons for this.

Firstly, there’s the possibility that the people invited for Canada PR in an Express Entry draw in the latter half of 2021 will have their process of permanent residency completed by the end of 2021. This should be read with Canada’s ambitious immigration plans to achieve which IRCC will have to conduct more all-program draws this year itself.

Secondly, much lower COVID-19 disruptions are expected in the months to come. Canada has started lifting its travel restrictions too in tandem with the improvement in the pandemic situation in other countries! Canada will possibly see a larger number of immigrants physically entering the country in order to complete the process of Canada immigration. With waning disruptions, IRCC will possibly be in a better position to take Express Entry candidates abroad into consideration.

Current developments

The federal government has plans to bring in record-breaking numbers of new immigrants in a span of 3 years from now. The number of new immigrants who arrive in Canada in 2021 only through immigration programs managed by Express Entry is supposed to be 108,500.

In 2021, Canada has already invited close to twice the number of Express Entry candidates as was seen at the same time in 2020. The historic February 13 draw contributed immensely to this. In that draw, IRCC invited all candidates in the Express Entry pool eligible for CEC. Their number came to 27,332 people in all. Close to 87% of the invited candidates on that day filed an application for Canada PR before the deadline of 90 days.

In 2021, IRCC has issued 88,715 ITAs so far.

The score requirements of immigration draw differ between CEC-only and PNP-only draws.

PNP candidates are granted 600 extra CRS points when provincially nominated. CEC candidates have no competition going on for invitations from other programs. Hence, IRCC allows cut-off scores to decrease further.

If you are looking to Study, Work, Visit, Invest or Migrate to Canada, talk to Y-Axis, the World’s No.1 Immigration & Visa Company.

If you found this blog engaging, you may also like…

Note:

PR – Permanent Residence/Permanent Resident

CRS – Comprehensive Ranking System

PNP – Provincial Nominee Program

ITA – Invitation to Apply

IRCC – Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

CEC – Canadian Experience Class

Alberta PNP draw invites 184 Express Entry candidates for nomination

June 23, 2021

PEI PNP issues invitations to 113 immigration candidates, offers nomination

On June 22, 2021, an Alberta PNP draw invited 184 Express Entry candidates. They were issued invitations to apply for a provincial nomination.

The AINP sent invitations to candidates who possibly had the eligibility to qualify for the Alberta Express Entry stream.

The candidates required to have a profile in the Express Entry system. They also had to have a minimum score of 300.

So far in 2021, Alberta has issued invitations to 2,284 Express Entry candidates. The invitation rounds were resumed in January 2021 after being out of action due to COVID-19.

Lately, an Alberta PNP draw has been typically focused on inviting only candidates already present in the province. But now, the province is even considering candidates who have received a job offer in the province or are already in an occupation that will contribute to the province’s diversification and development.

In 2021, Alberta’s cap for issuing ITAs is 6,250 nomination certificates. However, the province is in no need to send its share of provincial nominations for a particular year.

Working of the Alberta Express Entry Stream

Alberta Express Entry System is an enhanced PNP. An enhanced PNP is where a provincial government is allowed to search the Express Entry candidate pool maintained by the federal government to find profiles of individuals with eligibility for the Alberta Express Entry stream.

Firstly, the candidate creates a profile in the Express Entry system. Via that system, the candidate’s application is managed for the 3 High-Skilled programs of the federal government namely FSTP, CEC, and FSWP.

An eligible candidate gets a CRS score based on an evaluation that considers factors like education, age, work experience, and skills in the English/French language. Candidates with the highest CRS scores are invited via immigration draws conducted by IRCC so that they can apply for Canada PR.

One can immigrate to Canada via the Express Entry system without a nomination from a Canadian province. But, for people with lower CRS scores, PNP serves as a pathway to take Candidates who are provincially nominated are granted 600 extra CRS points. That increases their chances of coming in the frontline to get selected in the next federal immigration draw.

Nomination from Alberta: Eligibility criteria

The candidate must have work experience in an occupation deemed eligible.
Many who apply under the Alberta Express Entry stream work as transport truck drivers, cooks, and food service supervisors among others.
The candidate must have an interest in settling in the province of Alberta.
Chances of getting selected increase if the candidate has experience working in Alberta or a job offer in the province. So is an education in Canada.
If the candidate has a parent, sibling, or child in Canada permanent resident or a Canadian citizen in Alberta, he/she has a better chance.

With Alberta PNP draw, the province is cutting a pathway for skilled international candidates to arrive and contribute to the economic development of the province and its priorities for diversification.

If you are looking to Study, Work, Visit, Invest or Migrate to Canada, talk to Y-Axis, the World’s No.1 Immigration & Visa Company.

If you found this blog engaging, you may also like…

Note:

PR – Permanent Residence/Permanent Resident

CRS – Comprehensive Ranking System

PNP – Provincial Nominee Program

ITA – Invitation to Apply

IRCC – Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

FSWP – Federal Skilled Worker Program

FSTP – Federal Skill Trades Program

AINP – Alberta Immigration Nominee Program

BC PNP holds a PNP draw on June 22, invites 395 immigration candidates

June 23, 2021

Many work in Canada opportunities in construction to be up for grabs

British Columbia periodically invites registrants who have scored the highest in each immigration category to file applications to the BC PNP. This is followed by BC nominating successful applicants so that they can apply to IRCC for Canada PR.

On June 22, 2021, BC PNP conducted a provincial draw. Here’s how the invitations were sent under various categories:

Skills Immigration & Express Entry BC

Date	No. of Invitations	Category	Min. Score	Misc. Details
June 22, 2021	341	Skills Immigration (SI)		NOC 0621 and 0631 draw conducted separately.
		International Graduate	85
		Skilled Worker	93
		Entry Level & Semi-Skilled	75
		Express Entry BC (EEBC)
		International Graduate	85
		Skilled Worker	92
June 22, 2021	54	Skills Immigration (SI)		ITAs issued to NOCs 0621, 0631 only.
		International Graduate	109
		Skilled Worker	109
		Express Entry BC (EEBC)
		International Graduate	109
		Skilled Worker	109

The number of ITAs and the frequency of draws are decided on the basis of annual allocations of nominations set by IRCC. Canada’s ability to process visa applications on time is also a factor that the decision is based on.

Under BC PNP Tech, weekly invitations are issued to registrants who are qualified with job offers that are deemed valid in key occupations in the technology sector. The invitations sent to registrants are what Tech draws refer to.

A candidate could be eligible to apply for a visa even if his/her occupation isn’t part of the list of key technology occupations. For this, they have regular draws conducted by BC PNP that invites qualified individuals in different occupations. Their selection will be based on the annual allocation of ITAs and the processing capacity of the program.

Categories that need invitations

BC PNP invites registrants in the following categories:

Express Entry BC
- International Graduate
- Skilled Worker
Skills Immigration
- International Graduate
- Skilled Worker
- Entry Level and Semi-Skilled
Entrepreneur Immigration
- Regional Pilot
- Base Category

It’s to be noted that the following applicants under the EEBC and Skills Immigration streams needn’t have an ITA:

Healthcare Professional
International Post-Graduate

They can apply directly through BC PNP online.

If you are looking to Study, Work, Visit, Invest or Migrate to Canada, talk to Y-Axis, the World’s No.1 Immigration & Visa Company.

If you found this blog engaging, you may also like…

Note:

PR – Permanent Residence/Permanent Resident

BC – British Columbia

PNP – Provincial Nominee Program

ITA – Invitation to Apply

IRCC – Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

FSWP – Federal Skilled Worker Program

FSTP – Federal Skill Trades Program

CEC – Canadian Experience Class

EEBC – Express Entry BC

SI – Skills Immigration

Those with a valid COPR can now travel to Canada

June 23, 2021

SINP invites 255 immigration candidates in Saskatchewan PNP draw

Valid COPR holders are allowed to land in Canada from June 21, 2021.

The Canadian government announced this stating that travelers to Canada must have a valid COPR to complete their landing in the country.

As for holders of expired COPR, IRCC is working to reissue new COPRs.

What is a COPR?

Those who have received approval from IRCC for Canada immigration will be issued a COPR. It’s proof that the individual has met the criteria set by IRCC for its immigration program. It also shows that the person has paid the requisite fees, and cleared security, criminality, and health screenings. With a COPR, they will be permitted to travel to Canada where they can begin their new life.

However, the COVID-19 travel restrictions have led to the inability to travel to Canada for 23,000 COPRs.

Till now, only those individuals holding a valid COPR issued on or before March 18, 2020, were eligible for exemption from the travel restrictions imposed by the Canadian government. Others could only arrive in Canada if they met other travel exemptions or if they were residents of the US, moving to settle in Canada as a PR.

The Canadian government has emphasized the directive that anyone holding an expired COPR mustn’t attempt to travel to Canada until a new COPR is issued to them by IRCC.

The validity of a COPR is up to 1 year. It’s connected to the applicant’s passport and his/her medical examination for immigration.

COPR holders must follow the travel rules of Canada upon arrival. This includes the requirement of self-quarantine for 14 days after arrival in Canada. However, the federal government has also made the announcement that fully vaccinated individuals will be exempt from the requirement of entering a quarantine.

If you are looking to Study, Work, Visit, Invest or Migrate to Canada, talk to Y-Axis, the World’s No.1 Immigration & Visa Company.

If you found this blog engaging, you may also like…

Note:

PR – Permanent Residence/Permanent Resident

IRCC – Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

COPR – Confirmation of Permanent Residence

Many work in Canada opportunities in construction to be up for grabs

June 22, 2021

OINP holds another PNP draw that invites 940 immigrants-to-be

There are jobs in the thousands now expected to be available in the Canadian construction industry in the coming decade. Canada is on a mission to attract immigrants to work in Canada, filling these new jobs, as is evident from a report released by BuildForce Canada.

The construction industry in Canada will soon face a big challenge. The country will have to recruit over 309,000 new skilled workers so that the retirees are replaced and the demand is met without issues.

Buildforce Canada is a national organization that dedicates itself to developing a highly-skilled workforce for the construction industry in Canada. Though it expects to fill all those jobs to be filled by Canadians, some of them will be requiring skilled foreign workers too.

The organization expects that Canada’s construction industry will have a shortage of around 81,000 workers to work in Canada by 2030.

The under-representation of immigrants in the construction industry is soon expected to change. The requirement of foreign workers in the construction industry is expected to be more noticed in British Columbia.

To attract more foreigners to work in Canada in its construction industry, changes in the Canada immigration policy are required.

If you are looking to Study, Work, Visit, Invest or Migrate to Canada, talk to Y-Axis, the World’s No.1 Immigration & Visa Company.

If you found this blog engaging, you may also like…

PEI PNP issues invitations to 113 immigration candidates, offers nomination

June 22, 2021

SINP invites 255 immigration candidates in Saskatchewan PNP draw

In the PEI PNP draw held by Prince Edward Island on June 17, 2021, 113 immigration candidates were invited to apply for a provincial nomination. The distribution of the invitations happened as follows:

Express Entry & Labor Impact categories – 101 invitations
Business Impact category – 12 invitations

This draw was the sixth draw held by PEI PNP in 2021. In total, PEI has issued 905 invitations in 2021 so far. Of these 816 invitations were from the Express Entry and Labor Impact streams while 89 invitations were from the Business Impact stream.

PNPs are what Canadian provinces and territories use to find immigration candidates who are skilled and qualified enough to meet the province’s labor market requirements. Even Prince Edward Island uses its PEI PNP under federally approved guidelines to achieve this purpose.

Canada immigration to PEI has seen a dip over the span of a year owing to travel restrictions triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the ambitious immigration plans of the federal government are expected to make up for the shortfalls in 2021. Canada is targeting to bring in 80,800 new immigrants this year via PNPs.

About PEI PNP Express Entry Category

The Express Entry category of PEI PNP is an enhanced PNP. So, it has a link with the Express Entry system of the federal government.

The Express Entry system manages visa applications for 3 economic-class Canada immigration programs namely: CEC, FSWP, FSTP.

Candidates with eligibility are given a CRS score for factors such as their work experience, age, language skills in English/French, and education.

Express Entry candidates who get a provincial nomination are granted 600 extra CRS points on their original CRS score. This way, they effectively get the assurance that they will get an ITA for Canada PR in an upcoming Express Entry draw.

For a candidate to be given a chance for PEI’s provincial nomination, Express Entry candidates must create an EOI profile with the PEI PNP.

On a unique points grid, these EOI profiles are given points. The candidates who score the highest are then invited to file applications via draws conducted monthly.

About Labour Impact category

This category is meant for foreign nationals with a valid job offer received from an employer in PEI. The category is divided into 3 streams namely Critical Worker, International Graduate, and Skilled Worker.

Candidates belonging to this category have to submit an EOI so that they could be considered for a provincial nomination via the Labour Impact category.

About Business Impact category

Candidates of the Business Impact category must meet the requirement of the minimum provincial score so that they can go ahead with filing their applications. The score differs in every draw. The invitations sent in in June 17 draw were issued to candidates under the Work Permit Stream. This stream is meant for foreign entrepreneurs who are willing to own and run a business in PEI.

If you are looking to Study, Work, Visit, Invest or Migrate to Canada, talk to Y-Axis, the World’s No.1 Immigration & Visa Company.

If you found this blog engaging, you may also like…

Note:

PR – Permanent Residence/Permanent Resident

CRS – Comprehensive Ranking System

EOI – Expression of Interest

PNP – Provincial Nominee Program

ITA – Invitation to Apply

FSWP – Federal Skilled Worker Program

FSTP – Federal Skill Trades Program

CEC – Canadian Experience Class

PEI – Prince Edward Island

Manitoba PNP welcomes 141 skilled immigration candidates and graduates

June 22, 2021

SINP invites 255 immigration candidates in Saskatchewan PNP draw

Manitoba PNP issued invitations to 141 immigration candidates on June 17, 2021. These candidates were invited to apply for a provincial nomination from Manitoba for Canada PR.

Candidates who are skilled workers had to have their profiles created in Manitoba’s EOI system so that they are eligible to be invited. Here are the results of the draw in a summary:

International Education Stream: 22 invitations – No minimum EOI score
Skilled Workers Overseas: 24 invitations – Minimum EOI score was 703
Skilled Workers in Manitoba: 95 invitations – Minimum EOI score was 430

Express Entry candidates received 10 LAAs (invitations).

About immigration programs in Manitoba

A skilled worker outside Canada can immigrate to settle in the Canadian province of Manitoba. For this, the candidate has to register an EOI with the Manitoba PNP. Then, the candidate will be in a position to get an LAA via the Skilled Workers Overseas and Skilled Workers in Manitoba streams.

Manitoba then uses a 1,000-point scale to rank the candidates in the EOI pool. Their scores are determined on the basis of their human capital factors as well as their connections to the province.

Foreign candidates must demonstrate connections to Manitoba via previous experience of living/working in the province, close family ties, or an invitation via one of the SRIs of Manitoba. To be eligible, they don’t need to live in Manitoba while applying.

If international students who graduate from an institution in Manitoba can demonstrate that they are having in-demand skills, they can get an LAA under the International Education Stream.

Express Entry candidates to Manitoba

Express Entry is Canada’s system of managing Canada immigration applications to its economy class immigration streams namely CEC, FSTP, and FSWP. This is an alternative to the PNP immigration process. Here you can directly apply to the federal government.

In case a candidate does not have a high Express Entry score to qualify for immigration, the option available for them is the PNP. Manitoba PNP is the PNP system that is designed to bring in skilled immigrants to Manitoba.

A suitable candidate will be found in the Express Entry pool and given a provincial nomination. The nomination will increase the Express Entry candidate’s CRS score by 600 points. This will ensure that in an upcoming federal draw, the candidate will have an almost assured chance of winning a selection to immigrate to Canada.

Though Manitoba PNP can nominate immigration candidates to Manitoba, the sole right to grant Canada PR rests with the federal government.

If you are looking to Study, Work, Visit, Invest or Migrate to Canada, talk to Y-Axis, the World’s No.1 Immigration & Visa Company.

If you found this blog engaging, you may also like…

Note:

PR – Permanent Residence/Permanent Resident

CRS – Comprehensive Ranking System

EOI – Expression of Interest

PNP – Provincial Nominee Program

ITA – Invitation to Apply

FSWP – Federal Skilled Worker Program

FSTP – Federal Skill Trades Program

CEC – Canadian Experience Class

SRI – Strategic Recruitment Initiative

SINP invites 255 immigration candidates in Saskatchewan PNP draw

June 17, 2021

canada immigration