Canada Express Entry is a points-based application management system used by the federal government to manage applications for immigration. These applications are filed for 3 federal high-skilled immigration programs namely CEC, FSTP, and FSWP.
The applicants to Canada Express Entry have their profiles added to a candidate pool that’s accessible to both federal and provincial governments. Every candidate profile is ranked by CRS with scores assigned. Factors like age, education, work experience, and skills in Canada’s official language are considered to decide the scores.
When provincial governments choose and nominate Express Entry candidates through PNP draws, they automatically add 600 extra points to their original CRS scores. This way, the candidates get a higher score that will increase their chances to get an ITA to the near surety in a forthcoming federal immigration draw.
For a provincial nomination, these candidates need to create an EOI profile with the provincial PNP involved. The EOI profiles are given scores on the province’s unique points grid.
The highest-scoring Express Entry candidates are invited by IRCC to apply for a Canada PR visa when they take part in regular invitation rounds. Those who are invited can officially apply for Canada immigration.
Here’s a summary of Canada PNP draws conducted in April 2022.
April 5, 2022 – British Columbia PNP draw: 198 immigration candidates invited
General Draw
Date
No. of Invitations
Category
Min. Score
Details
April 5, 2022
131
Skilled Worker
110
General draw (tech occupations included)
Skilled Worker – EEBC option
125
International Graduate
98
International Graduate – EEBC option
109
Entry Level and Semi-Skilled
77
NOC-specific draw
April 5, 2022
43
Skilled Worker, International Graduate
70
Early childhood educators & assistants (NOC 4214)
14
Skilled Worker, International Graduate,
Entry Level and Semi-Skilled
70
Healthcare jobs (barring the ones listed below)
<5
Entry Level and Semi-Skilled
70
Healthcare assistants (NOC 3413)
<5
Skilled Worker, International Graduate
70
Other priority occupations (NOC 3114, NOC 3213)
April 7, 2022 – Manitoba PNP draw: 223 invitations issued to immigration candidates
Draw #142
SKILLED WORKERS IN MANITOBA STREAM
of LAAs (invitations) issued: 156
Ranking score of the invited candidate who scored the lowest: 739
INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION STREAM
of LAAs issued: 34
SKILLED WORKERS OVERSEAS
of LAAs issued: 33 (individuals directly invited under a Strategic Recruitment Initiative by the MPNP)
Ranking score of the invited candidate who scored the lowest: 683
Of the 223 LAAs issued in this draw, 30 went to Canada immigration candidates who made the declaration of having a valid Express Entry ID as well as a job seeker validation code.
April 12, 2022 – British Columbia PNP draws: 160 invitations issued to immigration candidates
Date
No. of Invitations
Category
Min. Score
Targeted Draw Details
April 12, 2022
124
International Graduate, Skilled Worker
87
Tech
24
International Graduate, Skilled Worker
70
Early childhood educators & assistants (NOC 4214)
7
International Graduate, Skilled Worker,
Entry Level & Semi-Skilled
70
Healthcare
<5
International Graduate, Skilled Worker
70
Other priority occupations (NOC 3213, NOC 3114)
April 14, 2022 – Alberta PNP draw: 250 immigration candidates invited for nomination
Date of draw
No. of NOI (Notification of Interest) letters issued
Lowest CRS score of a candidate who got an NOI
April 14, 2022
250
356
April 19, 2022 – British Columbia PNP draws: 174 invitations sent to apply for nomination
General draw
Date
Category
Min. Score
No. of Invitations Issued
April 19, 2022
Skilled Worker
110
147
Skilled Worker (EEBC)
125
International Graduate
98
International Graduate – EEBC
109
Entry Level and Semi-Skilled
77
Targeted draw
Date
Category
Min. Score
No. of Invitations Issued
Details
April 19, 2022
International Graduate,
Skilled Worker
70
20
Targeted draw: Childcare: Early childhood educators (NOC 4214)
International Graduate, Skilled Worker, Entry Level & Semi-Skilled
70
7
Targeted draw: Healthcare
International Graduate, Skilled Worker
70
<5
Targeted draw:
Other priority occupations (NOC 3213, NOC 3114)
April 21, 2022: Manitoba PNP draws: 303 invitations issued to immigration candidates
Draw #144
SKILLED WORKERS IN MANITOBA STREAM
of LAAs (Letters of Advice to Apply) sent: 201
The lowest rank of any candidate invited: 707
INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION STREAM
of LAAs (Letters of Advice to Apply) sent: 41
SKILLED WORKERS OVERSEAS STREAM
of LAAs (Letters of Advice to Apply) sent: 61 (directly invited under a Strategic Recruitment Initiative by the MPNP)
A Canberra Matrix round of invitations was conducted on April 29, 2022. Here’s the result of the latest draw conducted for Australia immigration.
Canberra residents
Matrix nominating 457 / 482 visa holders
Subclass 491 nomination: 0 invitation
Subclass 190 nomination: 1 invitation
Matrix nominating Small Business Owners
Subclass 491 nominations: 2 invitations
Subclass 190 nominations: 3 invitations
Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations
Subclass 491 nomination: 51 invitations
Subclass 190 nomination: 43 invitations
Overseas applicants
Matrix nominating Critical Skill Occupations:
Subclass 491 nomination: 71 invitations
Subclass 190 nomination: 7 invitations
About Canberra Matrix
Canberra matrix is a SkillSelect EOI points-based system. It’s been devised for the purpose of granting nomination for ACT state for visa subclasses 190 and 491.
The Canberra Matrix is a weighted points system. This connects with applicants capable of creating/have created a positive economic contribution to the ACT and/or have shown a genuine commitment to the ACT. Such candidates have a higher possibility of being ranked and getting invited to apply for an ACT nomination.
Steps in submitting the Canberra Matrix
The Canberra Matrix is submitted for ACT nominations for Subclass 491 and ACT Subclass 190. You must be knowledgeable about the criteria and decide which Subclass you are opting for to get ACT nomination. You have to be sure that you are eligible to claim Matrix points.
Here are the steps in the submission of Canberra Matrix:
Enter your personal information.
Choose which pathway (Subclass 491 or Subclass 190) you want to apply for ACT nomination.
Choose “overseas applicant” or “Canberra resident” from the options.
Select “yes” or “no” for “Doctorate Streamlined nomination”.
In case Doctorate Streamlined is “yes”, submit the Matrix.
Complete the Canberra Matrix.
Make sure that your supporting documents have to prove that the claims you laid in the application for Matrix points are true on the date of submission of the Matrix.
After submitting the Matrix, you will get an email summarizing the Matrix score claimed. The Matrix can’t be withdrawn or updated after submission.
As per rules for Australia immigration, the automatic expiration of the Matrix will happen 6 months after the submission date in case an invitation is not issued. After a Matrix lapse, it can’t be reactivated.
“Can I convert a US visit visa or US tourist visa to a work/student visa?” is a question many who are planning a visit to the USA or are already in the USA on a visit visa will have in mind. It sounds like a stealthy question and so will it to DOS (Dept. Of State).
When you apply for a temporary visa like a US visit visa or a tourist visa, you would already have communicated to the US government that your true intention is to pay a brief visit to the USA. So, it needs to be a very strong and genuine reason for you to give to the US government for converting your tourist visa into a work or study visa. Often, this effort is scrutinized thoroughly and with suspicion by the DOS.
A change in status in this manner is in most cases will possibly be taken as a deliberate and preconceived intention on your part. In case it happens that your preconception is deemed misleading, it could lead to your being permanently barred from entering the USA.
What exactly is treated as conspicuous about your change of status?
A short-term visa like a US Visit Visa will have a validity of not more than 6 months. You know this when you apply for a visa and you communicate to the US consulate that you are visiting the country for a short period. You communicate the same at the US port of entry and with the interviewing officer.
So, if you apply for a change of status to a work/study visa from US Visit Visa within 90 days of entering the USA, the DOS finds that to be indicative of a presumption of misrepresentation. You will then have the heavy responsibility to prove that you didn’t make a misrepresentation of your true intention to travel to the USA when you got the visa or when interviewed at the port of entry.
And even if you applied for the change of status after 90 days, you may not be spared on the benefit of the doubt and you will need to explain your change of mind to the DOS.
So, having said all this, now let’s see how it’s possible for you to change your status from a visitor visa to a work/student visa.
Changing status from a B1/B2 visa to H1B/F1 visa
The B1/B2 visa is a non-immigrant visa with temporary validity that lets you travel to the USA for either tourism or business purposes. With this visa, you can travel to the USA to
Conduct business to negotiate a contract or attend business meetings
Settle a relative’s estate
Attend a conference relevant to education, a profession, or current business endeavor
Visit family
Engage in tourist activities or go on a vacation
Attend or take part in events viz. Classes or concerts, as long as no payment or credit is given to you as the attendee
Receive medical treatment
You cannot do the following with this visa:
Study
Do paid performances or any professional performance in front of an audience that pays for the event
Have long-term employment at a US firm
Work as foreign press or work in film, print journalism, radio, or other information media
Arrive as a crewmember on an aircraft or ship
Obtain permanent residence in the USA
The F1 visa is a student visa issued by the US. It’s a non-immigrant visa that lets international students come to the USA and study at institutions certified by the SEVP (Student and Exchange Visitor Program).
Now, to change status from B1/B2 visa to H1B/F1 visa, you have to be knowledgeable about the 90-day Rule.
What’s the 90-day Rule?
The Rule states that if you are a temporary visa holder who changes your intention/reason to stay in the country through marriage or visa status change within 90 days of coming to the USA, it’s automatically presumed that you have misrepresented your original intentions.
With this rule in play, you must avoid any issues by presenting a convincing reason to the DOS.
If you are converting your B1/B2 visa to H1B, you should first find an employer who is ready to sponsor you for an H1B visa. The US employer can petition for you until April of the year that follows. This can be done during the H1B lottery process.
If you are converting your B1/B2 visa to an F1 visa, you must prove that your intention to change your visa status is genuine. You should also have met the following eligibility conditions while entering the US on a B1/B2 visa:
You shouldn’t have committed any crime that would otherwise take away your eligibility
You were lawfully admitted into the US on a non-immigrant visa, a B2 or a B1 visa
You have been successful in keeping your status, and your visa status hasn’t met its expiry as yet
You are not deemed inadmissible into the USA under US law and have not been granted any waiver in inadmissibility
The forms and documents mentioned below are required to file an application for changing your visa status from “visitor” to “student”. They have to be filled out and mailed to USCIS.
Form I-539 – Application for the extension/change of nonimmigrant status
Form I-20 – Certificate of Eligibility for nonimmigrant student status
Evidence of financial stability – Copies of tax returns, bank statements, and any sponsor’s financial status
Proof that demonstrates that you have significant ties to your home
Additional documents that show your original intent to go back to your home country when you did have a B1 visa.
In case your request for a visa status change is denied, you may have to go back to your home country and lodge a fresh request for an H1B or F1 visa.
If you are willing to migrate to US, talk to Y-Axis, the leading immigration and career consultant in the UAE.
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A proposal has come from the EU Commission to digitize the process of applying for a Schengen Visa. The new recommendations include replacing the visa sticker and the possibility of online submission of applications for visas via the EU online visa platform.
There’s a new pact on migration and asylum drawn up between the EU countries. The objective is to fully digitize visa procedures before 2025. The aim is to improve the visa process by bringing down the costs involved. It’s also intended to decrease the burden on the EU member states and applicants along with improving the security in the Schengen area.
There’s an effort made to harmonize as well as unify visa application procedures within the Schengen area. When these efforts take effect, the practice of many applying for a Schengen visa while the original intent is to immigrate to a particular country.
With digitization, you can do the following regardless of the Schengen country you are intending to visit:
Apply for a Schengen visa online
Pay the fee for a visa via a single EU platform
With the new system, the sooner the visa application is received, the platform will figure out which country has the task of examining the visa application. Besides this, the platform will also give you updated information on the short-stay visas in the Schengen area. Information on all the necessary factors including procedures and requirements for visa application and processing.
Digitizing the visa process will also save the need for applicants to go to the consulates once all the visa procedures are carried out online. Now, visiting the consulate will only be necessary for first-time applicants who need to collect their biometric data.
Besides the increased ease of the process, the new system will include state-of-the-art security features. The advantages include:
A safer visa imprint system than the conventional sticker
Assurance of safeguarding fundamental rights of the applicants at all times
Ylva Johansson, the Commissioner for Home Affairs has welcomed the proposal for the new system. Also applauding the new initiative was Margaritis Schinas, Vice-President for Promoting our European Way of Life.
A discussion on the proposal for digitization of the Schengen visa process presented by the Commission is due in the Council and Parliament. A 5-year period is given for the EU Member States to transition to the online visa platform.
If you are willing to migrate to Europe, talk to Y-Axis, the leading immigration and career consultant in the UAE.
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Here’s another fresh update from the Canadian province of Ontario. In the series of immigration draws conducted by the province to fill its requirement for skilled talents, the latest one happened on April 28, 2022. The Ontario PNP draw was specifically targeted at Canada immigration candidates who have proficiency in the French language.
Here are the details of the draw:
Date/time of issuance of NOIs
No. of NOIs issued
Range of CRS score
Profiles creation date in Canada Express Entry system
April 28, 2022
301
460-467
April 28, 2021 – April 28, 2022
About the OINP (Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program)
The OINP conducts regular searches of IRCC’s Express Entry pool so that they can find candidates suitable for the province’s requirements. These are candidates who will possibly meet the criteria laid out for one of Ontario’s Express Entry immigration streams.
Suitable candidates will get an NOI (Notification of Interest) in their IRCC online account. However, this doesn’t mean that the candidate qualifies for one of OINP’s immigration streams.
Once candidates receive an NOI, they may submit an application for provincial nomination online to the OINP. For this, they have to qualify under the Ontario Express Entry stream for which their NOI was issued. They have to submit their application no later than 45 calendar days counted from the date of receiving the NOI.
Canada Express Entry is a points-based application management system used by the federal government to manage applications for immigration. These applications are filed for 3 federal high-skilled immigration programs namely CEC, FSTP, and FSWP.
The applicants to Canada Express Entry have their profiles added to a candidate pool that’s accessible to both federal and provincial governments. Every candidate profile is ranked by CRS with scores assigned. Factors like age, education, work experience, and skills in Canada’s official language are considered to decide the scores.
When provincial governments choose and nominate Express Entry candidates through PNP draws, they automatically add 600 extra points to their original CRS scores. This way, the candidates get a higher score that will increase their chances to get an ITA to the near surety in a forthcoming federal immigration draw.
For a provincial nomination, these candidates need to create an EOI profile with the provincial PNP involved. The EOI profiles are given scores on the province’s unique points grid.
The highest-scoring Express Entry candidates are invited by IRCC to apply for a Canada PR visa when they take part in regular invitation rounds. Those who are invited can officially apply for Canada immigration.
Abstract: Ontario has issued 1034 NOI for immigrant workers in Canada.
Highlights:
Canada held a draw for the stream of Express Entry Skilled Trades.
The scores in the draw ranged from 300 to 461.
The candidates needed to submit their application 12 months before the date of the draw to qualify.
On April 26, 2022, Canada conducted a draw for the Skilled Trades stream of the Express Entry. It issues 1034 NOIs or Notification of Interest to the immigrant workers.
The draw invited applicants who scored between 300 to 461 in the CRS or Comprehensive Ranking Score.
The details of the Express Entry Skilled Trades draw is given in the table below:
Date
NOIs
CRS Score Range
26-Apr-22
1,034
300-461
24-Mar-22
471
350-600
24-Feb-22
818
359-600
27-Jan-22
1,032
381-461
Stream of Skilled Trades
The Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream is aimed at international skilled trades workers who have experience in the agricultural and construction sectors. More sectors might be included for it to be expanded in the future.
To be eligible, the candidates must have:
Existing application in the system of Federal Express Entry.
A minimum of 12 months of paid work experience in Ontario in the last two years before the NOI in the National Occupation Classification is issued.
Proof of certification or license if your occupation requires it.
Valid work permit
Required level of proficiency in English or French
Abstract: Canada plans to resume draws for all programs.
Highlights:
Canada plans to resume draws for all programs from July 2022.
The least score in the draw was 722.
In the previous draw, IRCC invited 787 candidates from the pool of PNP.
On April 27, 2022, Canada conducted an Express Entry draw. In this draw, it invited 829 applicants from the PNP pool. The applicants can now apply for Canada PR or permanent residency in the country.
The minimum score in this draw was 722. Since the candidates were from the PNP or Provincial Nomination Program pool, additional 600 points were given to them. If the extra points were not considered, then the least score would have been 122.
The details of the draw held in April 2022 are given in the table below.
Dates
Number of Candidates Invited
Lowest Score
April 13, 2022
787
782
April 27, 2022
829
772
Draws for CEC and FSWP to Resume
The Immigration Minister of Canada, Sean Fraser, has said that the invitations for FSWP or Federal Skilled Worker Program and CEC or Canadian Experience Class candidates will resume in July 2022. The draws for the ITAs or Invitation to Apply will be facilitated through the Express Entry pool.
Additionally, the new applications in the Express Entry pathway will be processed soon. The processing might take a standard time of six months.
Prior to the pandemic, IRCC conducted only PNP draws sparsely. IRCC or Immigration, Refugees, Citizenship Canada used to invite candidates with a high score to apply for immigration irrespective of the program they are eligible for.
IRCC plans to include 55,000 new immigrants as permanent residents through Express Entry
When the pandemic started, IRCC invited only CEC candidates to reach its target of immigration numbers. Due to travel restrictions during the pandemic, the CEC candidates who were already present in Canada. The strategy facilitated Canada to add a record-breaking 405,000 permanent residents in the previous year.
The resumption of draws for FSWP and CEC candidates is resumed at a time when the country is witnessing low rates of unemployment and a high number of job vacancies.
Are you a skilled foreign national for Canada looking for Canada immigration in pursuit of better career opportunities and higher living standards? If yes, the knowledge of Canada immigration and its permanent residence pathways is necessary for you.
In that context, you must first be introduced to the 2 major pathways for selection to immigrate to Canada: Canada Express Entry and Canada PNP.
Understand Canada Express as a system of managing applications for Canada immigration of potential immigrants like you. You will create a profile in that system to be seen and accepted for immigration. Skilled professionals like you will be submitting all information about your skillset and other details like age, education, work experience, and English/French language proficiency to the Canada Express Entry candidate pool. When the draw happens, those who score the highest for their credentials will get invited to apply for a Canada PR visa.
Next is Canada PNP (Provincial Nominee Program). This is an immigration program specific to each Canadian province/territory. When a province needs foreigners with a certain skill set, they will check in either the pool of Canada immigration candidates belonging to Express Entry or take direct applications. It all starts when you show interest to immigrate to Canada and settle in a particular province. If you are an ideal candidate, the province will nominate you for permanent residence and grant you 600 points to help you advance in the selection of candidates during a federal Express Entry draw.
In Canada Express Entry, there are 3 economic immigration categories under which candidates can apply for Canada PR:
CEC (Canadian Experience Class)
FSTP (Federal Skilled Trades Program)
FSWP (Federal Skilled Worker Program)
Let’s see how immigration happens under the FSWP category, the most popular Canada immigration program.
FSWP (Federal Skilled Worker Program)
This program is aimed at helping skilled workers having foreign work experience in order to immigrate to Canada. These are foreign nationals who want to permanently immigrate to Canada.
The minimum requirements for you to apply for a visa under this program are related to:
Language ability
Skilled work experience
Education
Without meeting these 3 minimum requirements, you cannot apply for a visa under this program.
Once you meet all the minimum requirements, the assessment of your visa application will be done on the basis of factors like:
Age
Work experience
Education
English and/or French language skills
Whether you have a valid job offer
Adaptability (how prepared you are likely to settle in Canada)
These factors are evaluated and given scores on a 100-point grid. The minimum points required to immigrate via FSWP is 67.
Besides the proof of all the factors mentioned above, you must also present the proof of funds to immigrate to Canada. This means that you have to show documents that prove that you have sufficient money to settle yourself and your family members if any in Canada. You aren’t expected to use money in Canadian government schemes to meet your living expenses in Canada.
You are required to collect and keep your essential documents to create a profile in Express Entry. They include:
A valid passport/travel document
Your language test results
Proof of Canadian education you had or an assessment report for your foreign educational credentials for the purposes of immigration in one of these cases:
You want to score points for the education you received outside Canada
You are filing an application via the FSWP
Your provincial nomination (in case you have one)
A written job offer from an employer in Canada (in case you have one)
Proof of work experience
Certificate of qualification in a trade occupation issued by a province/territory in Canada (in case you have one)
Once you create a Canada Express Entry profile, you can participate in Canada federal Express Entry draws. If you receive an invitation from IRCC to apply for a Canada PR visa, you can do so along with submitting the following documents:
The details of the Alberta PNP draw conducted on April 14, 2022, were released recently. There were 250 Canada immigration candidates who received invitations to apply for a provincial nomination. They were selected via the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program’s Express Entry-linked stream.
Here are the details of the draw:
Date of draw
No. of NOI (Notification of Interest) letters issued
Lowest CRS score of a candidate who got an NOI
April 14, 2022
250
356
The draw opened the opportunity for deserving immigration candidates to apply for a provincial nomination that will earn them an advantage in getting a Canada PR visa via a federal immigration draw. These candidates will be ahead in line with 600 additional CRS points assigned to them, to get invited to apply for Canada PR.
Selection via Alberta PNP in Express Entry Stream
Regular review of existing immigration candidates in the federal Canada Express Entry pool is done by the AAIP. On the basis of the available profile information in the Canada Express Entry portal, the AAIP conducts immigration draws to choose candidates from the pool. They are then invited to file a completed application to the AAIP.
Canada Express Entry is a points-based application management system used by the federal government to manage applications for immigration. These applications are filed for 3 federal high-skilled immigration programs namely CEC, FSTP, and FSWP.
The applicants to Canada Express Entry have their profiles added to a candidate pool that’s accessible to both federal and provincial governments. Every candidate profile is ranked by CRS with scores assigned. Factors like age, education, work experience, and skills in Canada’s official language are considered to decide the scores.
When provincial governments choose and nominate Express Entry candidates through PNP draws, they automatically add 600 extra points to their original CRS scores. This way, the candidates get a higher score that will increase their chances to get an ITA to the near surety in a forthcoming federal immigration draw.
For a provincial nomination, these candidates need to create an EOI profile with the provincial PNP involved. The EOI profiles are given scores on the province’s unique points grid.
The highest-scoring Express Entry candidates are invited by IRCC to apply for a Canada PR visa when they take part in regular invitation rounds. Those who are invited can officially apply for Canada immigration.
