Here is the most important Canadian immigration news for the first week of August. This blog will discuss the latest on Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs, the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot program and more! Follow Abramovich & Tchern Immigration Lawyers for more updates and Canadian immigration news!
IRCC held the third all-program Express Entry draw
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) regularly issues Invitations to Apply (ITA) under the Express Entry system both for overseas and in-Canada candidates. On August 3, 2022, Canada held the third all-program Express Entry draw and invited 2,000 candidates. The lowest score in the round remained pretty high. Candidates had to score 533 points or higher to be invited to apply for immigration to Canada. So far, IRCC issued 16,038 ITAs to eligible candidates via Express Entry in 2022.
Express Entry is Canada’s main immigration system that ranks eligible applicants against one another before inviting the top-scoring ones to apply for Canadian permanent residency. Candidates are assessed based on their age, education level, language proficiency, employment history, and other criteria. Under Express Entry, individuals and families wishing to reside in Canada may become new permanent residents in less than one year. If you also want to apply for Canadian permanent residency, you can contact our immigration lawyers to see if you’re eligible and check on how to begin the process.
Canada updated guidelines for PGWP-holders and TR2PR applicants
On August 2, IRCC released revised new rules for foreign nationals with expired or expiring post-graduate work permits (PGWP) and those interested in the temporary resident to permanent residence (TR2PR) pathways. The Government responded by creating a time-limited public policy to enable eligible PGWP applicants to apply for an open work permit within a 6-month intake period. Since the suspension of Express Entry ITAs for the Federal High-Skilled streams, those who have already applied to TR2PR pathways will also be able to obtain an open work permit.
International students who complete a Canadian education program are eligible for post-graduation work permits. PGWPs allow the holder to work for any employer in Canada and as many hours as they want. PGWPs are valid for between eight months and three years which makes them an excellent way to gain Canadian work experience. When an applicant performs job duties in Canada, it opens up a world of possibilities for obtaining Canadian permanent residency. As for the TR2PR program, it was established in response to the coronavirus pandemic, allowing temporary workers and foreign graduates to become Canadian permanent residents more quickly. It is now closed, having received 90,000 applications over six months to meet Canada’s yearly immigration targets.
The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program issued 120 invitations to eligible candidates
On July 29, Alberta held a new round in the Alberta Express Entry Stream and issued 120 Notifications of Interest to candidates with a score of 473 points or above. In 2022, the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) has already invited 2,320 Express Entry applicants to apply for a provincial nomination in the Alberta Express Entry. IRCC determines the number of nominations AAIP can issue each year. IRCC provided 6,500 nomination certificates to the province for 2022. So far, Alberta has issued only 3,877 nomination certificates.
The AAIP, previously known as the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program, is an immigration program that allows skilled professionals, graduates, and entrepreneurs from all over the world to live in Alberta permanently. A certificate of nomination is awarded to successful applicants. The applicant, as well as his or her family members, can apply to IRCC for Canadian permanent residency using this certificate. If you find yourself eligible for the AAIP and want to settle in Alberta, our immigration experts can help you with the application process and increase your chances of success.
Canadian provinces demand the Federal Government raise the nomination allocations
Canada’s labour shortage has been ongoing for several years, with various industries and sectors feeling the effects. These shortages are having an extensive impact on businesses across the country, hindering their ability to expand and thrive. The lack of workers is also hampering Canada’s economic growth. In order to address these labour shortages, Canada’s provincial and territorial immigration ministers are calling on the Federal Government to speed up visa processing times and increase provincial and territorial immigration nomination allocations so that companies in every region of Canada may hire more people.
When IRCC attempted to handle a rising number of applications that had hit 2.62 million in mid-July, Canadian immigration ministers called for even more immigrants than the current maximum allowed under Canada’s outstanding immigration targets plan. The ministers argue that this is required to address the country’s significant labour shortages.
British Columbia continues to invite candidates under the BCPNP
On August 3, the Government of British Columbia invited up to 174 qualified early childhood educators, healthcare and tech workers under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP). On March 10, 2022, British Columbia made crucial changes to the BCPNP Skills Immigration stream, focusing on IT professionals, healthcare workers, and early childhood educators. The province also holds general draws for other skilled and semi-skilled individuals who fulfill program criteria based on a variety of factors that support government objectives. This year, the BCPNP has already issued 5,274 invitations.
The province of British Columbia uses the British Columbia Provincial Nomination Program to recruit qualified individuals. Through BCPNP, the province determines who is best suited for its labour market and economy. The candidates chosen by BCPNP are eligible to obtain a nomination certificate, which allows them to immigrate to Canada permanently. If you want to immigrate to Canada as soon as possible, British Columbia might be the right choice as the BCPNP is well-known for faster application processing times. At the same time, most of its streams require obtaining a job offer from the local employers.
Canada launched a new pathway for permanent residence for extended family members of victims of Ukrainian and Ethiopian air disasters
On August 3, the Government of Canada launched a new pathway for permanent residence for extended family members of the victims of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 (ET302) and Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 (PS752) who are currently outside of Canada and wish to immigrate to Canada to support their families. According to the new instructions, to ensure that extended family members are linked to the deceased family member, the person who is residing in Canada will have to submit a statutory declaration.
This public policy will be effective until August 2, 2023. In addition, in memory of the victims of Flight PS752, the Government will establish a scholarship program and award around $25,000 in scholarships to each beneficiary. The Canadian Government is also considering establishing a comparable scholarship program to commemorate the victims of Flight ET302.
Canada updated the guidelines for the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot
On August 5, 2022, the Government of Canada presented revised instructions for the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) on application evaluation against selection criteria. The guidelines clarify the new sections of confirmation of community recommendation, education, qualifying employment experience, and job offer requirements. Furthermore, the Government has published a new section on the RNIP’s website requiring foreign nationals residing in Canada at the time of their permanent residence visa application to have valid temporary resident status.
The RNIP is a government-led initiative that was created to increase economic immigration to small and rural Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia by providing a path to permanent residency for skilled foreign workers. The RNIP is a community-driven initiative inspired by the Atlantic Immigration Program, which aims to allow foreign workers of varying skill levels to settle permanently in eligible areas throughout Canada’s rural and northern regions. As of August 2022, there are eleven participating communities across five provinces that accept immigrants under the RNIP.
We – Abramovich & Tchern Immigration Lawyers – are a prominent Canadian law firm specializing exclusively in Canadian immigration law. Our team of experienced lawyers and professionals provides comprehensive legal services to individuals, families and businesses seeking to move to Canada. We are dedicated to providing our clients with personalized attention and high-quality service. Contact us today to find out how we can help you achieve your immigration goals.
