Ontario continues inviting candidates through the OINP streams
On April 4, 2023, the Government of Ontario invited candidates under three streams of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP): the Master’s Graduate Stream, the PhD Graduate Stream, and the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream. The OINP issued 752 invitations to apply (ITAs) under the Master’s Graduate stream, with a minimum score of 52 points. Ontario also issued 131 invitations under the PhD Graduate Stream and six invitations through the targeted draw for the federal Economic Mobility Pathways Project (EMPP) under the OINP’s Foreign Worker stream. In 2023, Ontario invited 11,582 skilled candidates under all streams of the OINP.
The OINP is an immigration program in Ontario that provides a pathway to permanent residence in Canada. The OINP invites highly skilled individuals with the right experience and qualifications to apply for Canadian permanent residence. The OINP is designed to meet the economic needs of Ontario by selecting applicants who can contribute significantly to the province’s economy. Abramovich & Tchern Immigration Lawyers have an extensive background in Canadian immigration law and policy and provide comprehensive guidance on every aspect of the application process. Contact us today to get started!
Start-Up Visa Program is experiencing a successful start in 2023
The Start-Up Visa Program has proven to be a successful initiative for encouraging entrepreneurship and foreign investment in the country. According to IRCC`s data, in January 2023, 50 immigrant entrepreneurs were granted permanent residence through the Start-Up Visa (SUV) program. This is slightly lower than January 2022, which saw 55 entrepreneurs accepted. Among the provinces, Ontario welcomed the most SUV applicants – 20 business candidates, British Columbia accepted 15, Alberta welcomed ten, and Manitoba received five entrepreneurs in January 2023. Under the SUV program, candidates can acquire a work permit supported by the designated Canadian investor before their permanent residence application is processed and travel to Canada before obtaining permanent residence.
The SUV program is designed to attract and select foreign entrepreneurs who have the potential to build innovative companies in Canada. The program works by allowing experienced Canadian venture capitalists, angel investors and business incubators to invest in promising start-up enterprises. In 2023, IRCC expects a sharp increase in applicants as the program becomes more popular among foreign entrepreneurs. The economic benefits of the SUV program are significant, making it an attractive option for prospective immigrants looking to establish their businesses in Canada. As experienced business immigration lawyers, Abramovich & Tchern Immigration Lawyers can help foreign entrepreneurs understand their options and immigrate to Canada under the SUV.
British Columbia invited 175 Skills Immigration candidates under the BCPNP
On April 4, 2023, British Columbia invited Skills Immigration candidates under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP). The province invited 152 candidates in the general draw. In addition, British Columbia invited 17 early childhood educators (NOC 42202) and six healthcare professionals. The province invited a total of 175 candidates in the April 4 draws. The BC PNP conducts regular draws to invite qualified candidates to apply for a provincial nomination. Candidates are chosen from a pool of registered applicants who have submitted a comprehensive expression of interest (EOI) profile and meet the specific criteria of the draw. So far, British Columbia has invited 3,196 candidates in 2023.
The BCPNP is an economic immigration program intended to attract foreign workers and entrepreneurs who can contribute to British Columbia’s economy and create jobs for Canadians. The program offers several nomination categories, each with specific requirements and eligibility criteria. Prospective immigrants must demonstrate that they have qualifications, skills and experience that meet the requirements of one or more categories to be nominated for permanent residence. Contact Abramovich & Tchern Immigration Lawyers for assistance with assessing your eligibility and guidance on the application process, documentation requirements and other important steps in applying for the program.
Alberta announced important changes to immigration pathways
The Provincial Government of Alberta has announced significant changes to immigration pathways under the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) to increase the number of in-demand workers and entrepreneurs who can get permanent residency and immigrate to the province. Based on the announcement, the AAIP has allocated up to 30% of Express Entry spots for the Dedicated Healthcare Pathway to enable more healthcare professionals who have a job offer from Alberta to immigrate to the province. Furthermore, the province of Alberta has made two changes to the AAIP program – the minimum investment requirement for the Rural Entrepreneur Stream has been lowered from $200,000 to $100,000, and the need for a Settlement Organization Endorsement Letter for the Rural Renewal Stream has been removed.
The AAIP will participate in the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP) to allow skilled refugees to immigrate to Alberta using existing economic programs. As of April 4, 2023, the Alberta Express Entry pool had 120 Expressions of Interest and 1,615 Alberta Opportunity Stream applications. In 2023, Alberta issued 1,836 nomination certificates and invited 584 Express Entry applicants to apply for a provincial nomination. If you also want to take advantage of these changes, now is the time to contact Abramovich & Tchern Immigration Lawyers. Our immigration lawyers can help ensure you make an informed decision about your options and maximize your chances of a successful application.
Immigration allocations in New Brunswick have increased by 67%
The Federal Government has increased the number of certificates allocated to New Brunswick in 2023 by 67%, which means they will receive a total of 5,500 certificates. The New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program will have 1,084 additional spaces, and the Atlantic Immigration Program will have 1,116 additional allocations compared to 2022. The government plans to increase further the number of certificates allocated in 2024 and 2025. In addition, the provincial government has introduced a renewed Canada-New Brunswick Immigration Agreement in collaboration with Opportunities NB.
The revised agreement empowers the province to select qualified immigrants for permanent residency and prioritize highly skilled individuals for faster processing through the Provincial Nominee Program in partnership with IRCC. The Canada-New Brunswick Immigration Agreement also shows that New Brunswick is dedicated to helping French-speaking immigrants settle in the province and become involved in the thriving francophone communities there. This is achieved through an increased target for French-speaking immigrant admissions and providing access to resources to support their settlement.
Manitoba invited new candidates in four MPNP draws
On April 6, 2023, Manitoba held the 174th invitation round in the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) and invited skilled candidates in four draws. In this round, the MPNP issued 225 invitations to applicants in an occupation-specific candidate selection through the Skilled Workers in Manitoba (SWM) stream. The province also invited 226 candidates in the regular SWM draw, with a minimum score of 670 points. Manitoba also invited 54 candidates under the Strategic Recruitment Initiative of the Skilled Workers Overseas stream and 61 candidates under the International Education Stream. In total, 566 candidates have been invited, including 157 Express Entry candidates. In 2023, Manitoba invited 3,346 candidates through the MPNP streams.
The MPNP is a provincial immigration program that enables the province of Manitoba to nominate candidates for permanent residency in Canada. The MPNP aims to attract and retain individuals with the skills and qualifications to help Manitoba’s economy grow and prosper. The MPNP assesses potential immigrants based on their work experience, language abilities, education, and other factors to determine whether they qualify for the program. Those who qualify may be eligible to receive a Provincial Nomination Certificate, which will significantly expedite their application process for Canadian permanent residence. If you are interested in immigrating to Manitoba, Abramovich & Tchern Immigration Lawyers can help you understand the MPNP and guide you through the application process.
Canada has released new guidelines regarding the immigration medical exams
On March 6, 2023, the Government of Canada released guidelines on using alternative medical practitioners for completing the immigration medical exam. As per the new operational procedures, some applicants may be exempted from using an alternative medical practitioner if they cannot travel to a panel physician. Applicants within Canada can be exempted if they cannot find a panel physician within a 250 km distance or a 4-hour drive from their residence who can provide services in their preferred official language. Usually, applicants in or outside of Canada must use a panel physician to complete their immigration medical exams. However, under special circumstances, in-Canada applicants can now be exempted from using a panel physician.
Abramovich & Tchern Immigration Lawyers is committed to providing the best quality advice and representation for Canadian immigration matters. Our immigration lawyers are experienced in handling the full range of immigration matters for individuals, families, corporations, and business owners. We understand the complexities of Canadian immigration laws and regulations and provide detailed analysis and advice to help you navigate the application process. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you.
