Abramovich & Tchern Immigration Lawyers present a weekly news review to keep our clients updated on the latest developments in Canadian immigration. This review covers various topics, including changes to immigration policies, updates on applications and processing times, and news that may impact our clients’ immigration status. By staying informed, our clients can make informed decisions about their immigration journey and feel confident in navigating the Canadian immigration system.
The Minimum All-Program Express Entry Score Dropped Below 500
On August 15, 2023, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held a new all-program Express Entry draw and invited 4,300 skilled candidates. In round #262, the minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score dropped below 500 and was 496 points. The minimum score required for consideration has fluctuated in recent years. Still, the current drop below 500 is significant and may open new opportunities for individuals seeking to make Canada their home. A lower CRS score allows more individuals with a range of skills and experience to become eligible for permanent residency. So far, Canada invited 77,748 candidates via the Express Entry draws in 2023.
Express Entry is a system the Government of Canada uses to process applications for permanent residence from skilled workers. The system was created to make the immigration process more streamlined and efficient and has become the main pathway for skilled workers to immigrate to Canada. It is a points-based system that evaluates applicants based on factors such as age, education, language skills, and work experience. If you are interested in immigrating to Canada via Express Entry and want to know whether you meet the minimum requirement, contact Abramovich & Tchern Immigration Lawyers. We will assist you in preparing your application, ensuring that it is complete and accurate, and increasing your chances of being selected.
Canada Requires More Construction Workers To Address The Labour Shortage In The Sector
Despite Canada exceeding the immigration targets and expecting an influx of skilled immigrants, the construction industry continues to lose thousands of jobs every month. In July alone, the sector saw a 2.8% drop, with a staggering 45,000 jobs lost. This trend is increasing alarmingly, with construction experiencing more job losses than many other major sectors. The problem is further exacerbated by an upcoming wave of retirements, which is expected to create a significant shortage of skilled workers. Additionally, there is currently a housing shortage of millions across the country, which will only likely worsen in the coming years.
According to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, the increasing demand for housing in Canada requires the construction of approximately 3.5 million more homes by 2030. This is a significant challenge for the government and the private sector, as it requires substantial investment in infrastructure and land development. However, Immigration Minister Marc Miller believes that new immigrants can help to alleviate the housing crisis by increasing the demand for new homes and contributing to the economy. By maintaining or even increasing immigration targets, the government ensures there is a steady flow of new residents who can help support the housing market and the broader economy.
Ontario Invited Candidates Under The Human Capital Priorities And Three Employer Job Offer Streams
On August 15 and 16, 2023, Ontario held new invitation rounds and invited candidates under the Human Capital Priorities (HCP) and three Employer Job Offer streams of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). Under the HCP, the province invited 2,835 skilled immigrants. Furthermore, the OINP invited 1,506 candidates under the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream (EJO FW), 853 candidates under the EJO International Student Stream (EJO IS), and 256 candidates under the EJO In-Demand Skills Stream (EJO IDS). In the third week of August, Ontario issued invitations to 5,450 individuals, increasing the total number of invited candidates to 32,147.
The OINP is an immigration program for skilled workers, graduates, and businesspeople who want to live and work in Ontario. The program is designed to help meet the province’s economic and labour needs by attracting foreign talent to fill gaps in the local labour market. The program consists of several streams, each with its eligibility criteria and application process. Successful applicants receive a provincial nomination, which can help them apply for permanent residence in Canada. Abramovich & Tchern Immigration Lawyers help determine eligibility, guide the application process, and offer support throughout the process. Contact us to learn how we can help you with the OINP and other Canadian immigration programs.
The SINP Held Country-Specific Draws And Invited Candidates From Eight Countries
On August 16, 2023, Saskatchewan conducted three country-specific draws in the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP), intending to attract new skilled immigrants. The program invited candidates from different countries, including Ireland, India, Poland, Czechia, Germany, Lithuania, Slovakia, and Ukraine. In particular, the province invited 23 candidates from Ireland under the Express Entry category and 12 candidates under the Occupations In-Demand category. It was a great opportunity for these candidates to get a place in the program and live and work in Saskatchewan. In addition, SINP invited 224 and 207 Indian candidates in the Express Entry and Occupations In-Demand categories, respectively.
Finally, the province invited candidates from Ukraine, the Czechia, Poland, Germany, Slovakia and Lithuania. In particular, 98 candidates were invited under the Express Entry category and 78 through the Occupations In-Demand category. Overall, Saskatchewan’s proactive approach to attracting skilled immigrants and entrepreneurs through the SINP is highly commendable. In 2023 alone, the program invited 5,375 candidates, showing the initiative’s success and the province’s commitment to building a more robust and diverse workforce. If you are also interested in immigrating to Saskatchewan, Abramovich & Tchern Immigration Lawyers can help you with your application. Contact us today to learn more about our services.
Ontario Colleges Have Seen A Considerable Increase In International Student Enrollment
Over the last decade, Canada has seen a significant increase in international student enrolments, especially in Ontario’s public colleges. International enrolment in Canada increased by 179% between 2013 and 2022, while the US saw a 13% increase during the same period. Ontario’s public colleges hosted one-third of all international students in 2022. Colleges have relied on international tuition fees to mitigate underfunding. Public College-Private Partnership (PCPP) has been used to increase capacity but has been scrutinized recently. Five hundred four international students had their admissions revoked due to the PCPP model’s limitations.
The reason for admission revocation is unclear, but it could be linked to a new enrolment cap of 7,500 international students in PCPP programmes, which will take effect from September 2023. Northern College’s international enrolment has been proliferating, which may have led to the oversubscription of admissions offers. IRCC study permits approval trends are used to gauge how many offers of admission colleges can send out, but Northern College’s calculation was off, and they ended up oversubscribing. Going forward, Ontario’s Ministry of Colleges will enforce the terms of its 2023 update to its Binding Policy Directive for Public College-Private Partnerships.
Immigrant Women Pursue Higher Education More Than Men
In Canada, it has been observed that women who have immigrated under economic programs tend to be more successful in graduating from Canadian colleges and universities than men. This may be attributed to the challenges immigrant women often face in having their foreign educational credentials recognized in Canada, which compels them to work harder to achieve their goals. It is also interesting to note that immigrants who had obtained a university education before immigrating are also more likely to get college diplomas or university degrees after arriving in Canada, which may be attributed to their strong academic background and ability to adapt to new learning environments.
Moreover, immigrants who have obtained Canadian postsecondary educational qualifications have a higher earning capacity, with a median employment income ranging between $47,700 and $67,600. According to Statistics Canada, this is comparable to the median employment income of those without such qualifications, highlighting the importance of obtaining Canadian postsecondary education for immigrants to increase their chances of success in the country’s job market. It is important to note that while immigrant women tend to have higher rates of postsecondary education completion, they still face barriers in the workforce, including discrimination and difficulty accessing certain industries.
Canadian Tech Firms Urge IRCC To Raise H-1b Fast-Track Work Permit Limit
Canada’s Tech Talent Strategy is designed to attract highly skilled tech workers from the United States, offering them a fast-track work-permit program. The program has been incredibly successful, with 10,000 H-1B visa-holding tech workers coming to Canada. However, due to the program’s cap of 10,000 permanent residence applications, it was fully subscribed within 48 hours of its launch. As a result, tech employers are now requesting that IRCC expand the program to meet the growing demand.
One of the reasons why the program has been so popular is that H-1B visa holders face several immigration-related grievances when working in the US. For example, they have severe restrictions on their spouses and other family members who may want to pursue their own employment and educational opportunities in the US. H-1B visa holders need help launching new businesses and are often laid off from leading American multinationals such as Google parent Alphabet, Amazon, and Twitter. In contrast, Canada’s Tech Talent Strategy offers a more welcoming environment for highly skilled tech workers, providing them opportunities to work and live in Canada. With the program’s success, many tech workers are eager to move to Canada, and expansion of the program will likely be necessary to meet the growing demand.
Abramovich & Tchern Immigration Lawyers is a trusted law firm that can assist individuals in immigrating to Canada. We provide comprehensive legal services and can help clients with various immigration matters, including temporary and permanent residency, work permits, study permits, and citizenship applications. Abramovich & Tchern Immigration Lawyers is committed to providing high-quality legal services and helping individuals achieve their immigration goals. Contact us today to learn how we can help you immigrate to Canada.
