In the first half of March, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) continued to invite candidates through Express Entry (EE) and Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP). In addition to EE and PNP draws, the Government of Canada, as well as all provincial governments announced support for Ukraine and readiness to accept Ukrainian refugees.
Immigrate to Canada through the Express Entry streams
Express Entry is one of the best ways to immigrate to Canada, both for overseas candidates and those who are already in Canada. On March 2, 2022, IRCC issued 1,047 Invitations to Apply (ITA) in the new PNP-targeted draw. So far, Canada issued 4,627 ITAs to eligible candidates through Express Entry. If you plan to immigrate to Canada through the Express Entry portal, do not hesitate to contact us to get assistance.
Provincial Nominee Programs
Ontario, as the most immigrant accepting province, invites applicants via various provincial programs to meet the province’s labour demands. From March 1 to March 15, Ontario held three draws inviting applicants under the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker (EJO FW) and International Student Streams (EJO IS) of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), as well as under the Entrepreneur Stream. To date, more than 7,300 candidates have successfully immigrated to Canada. You can book a time with our legal experts to discuss the options of immigrating to Ontario.
British Columbia follows Ontario for the number of immigrants invited each week. In the first half of March, the province held new draws in the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Tech Program, Skills Immigration and Express Entry British Columbia (EEBC) categories and invited 340 candidates. In addition, Canada’s most westernmost province introduced key changes to the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP). As of March 10, 2022, the province will prioritize healthcare workers and early childhood educators to fill the gaps in the labour market. The province has already started to issue invitations targeting the new priorities and invited 176 healthcare workers and assistants and early childhood educators. BC also announced that the province will continue to conduct general draws for other skilled and semi-skilled workers based on various factors that support government priorities. If you are a healthcare worker or an early childhood educator or you possess any other eligible occupation and want to move to British Columbia do not hesitate to contact us.
Manitoba also attracts more and more candidates every month. On March 10, 2022, the province issued invitations to 120 candidates, increasing the total number of immigrants to the province to 1,500. Manitoba also was one of the first provinces which announced its support to Ukraine and introduced a special immigration measure for Ukrainians and invited 71 Ukrainian citizens who have been affected by ongoing events in Ukraine.
The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) also issued 350 Notifications of Interest to candidates who want to live in the province. As of March 15, there were approximately 500 Alberta Opportunity Stream applications and around 850 Expressions of Interest in the Alberta Express Entry pool. If you want to live and work in Alberta, feel free to contactour immigration lawyers to get help with your application.
Saskatchewan also continued to conduct new rounds of invitations in the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP), including the Entrepreneur Program. The province invited 85 candidates in the regular SINP draw as well as 58 entrepreneurs. In addition, as the province’s response to the events in Ukraine, on March 4, 2022, SINP issued 36 invitations to apply to eligible Ukrainian candidates. So far, Saskatchewan has issued 334 invitations in 2022.
Ottawa introduced new instructions for foreign students and workers
On March 1, 2022, the Canadian Government introduced new instructions for international students who work as research or teaching assistants at facilities located off-campus will have to undergo an immigration medical exam if their on-campus work is considered essential and located in a hospital or any other public health facility.
The Government also extended the public policy allowing visitors in Canada to obtain a work permit. The public policy has been extended until February 28, 2023, to help temporary residents in Canada get an employer-specific work permit, regardless of their arrival time in Canada.
Canada’s latest immigration news for March 2022
International Experience Canada (IEC) continues to accept candidates from all over the world. In the first half of March, Canada admitted 10,961 foreign nationals under the IEC Program. If you live in one of the eligible countries, you can contact us to book an appointment with our consultants and get help with your application.
Prince Edward Island has launched the new Occupations in Demand Stream to tackle the labour shortages in the province and fill the most demanded jobs. The province will accept nurses, truck drivers, construction workers, and cleaners working under four NOCs: NOC 3413, 7511, 7611, and NOC 6731.
From March 6, 2022, IRCC started accepting applications for the permanent Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP). All eligible applicants can submit their applications for permanent residence under the new AIP. This program will help the Atlantic provinces to accept more skilled newcomers. If you are interested in living in one of the Canadian Atlantic provinces, this program may be the best suit for you! Do not hesitate to contact us to get any assistance.
The Government of Canada introduced new immigration streams for Ukrainians who want to come to Canada either temporarily or permanently. The Government launched the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel, to allow an unlimited number of Ukrainians to come to Canada easily, eliminating many of the normal visa requirements. The Government will also introduce a special family reunification sponsorship pathway for permanent residence for immediate and extended family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents. All Ukrainian visitors, workers, and students who are currently in Canada are encouraged to acquire open work permits and remain in Canada. In addition to the Federal Government, all Canadian provinces announced support for Ukraine and are ready to welcome Ukrainian refugees.
Working with Abramovich and Tchern Immigration Lawyers, you will get the best service and reach your immigration goals. If you plan to immigrate to Canada and need assistance do not hesitate to contact us.
