Here is the essential Canadian immigration news for the third week of August. This blog will discuss the latest on the Express Entry draw, provincial nominee programs, and more! Do not forget to follow Abramovich & Tchern Immigration Lawyers for more updates and Canadian immigration news!
IRCC held the largest Express Entry draw of 2022
Express Entry is a very popular immigration pathway for skilled newcomers in Canada. on August 17, IRCC held the largest draw of 2022 and issued 2,250 Invitations to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence. For this draw, the Comprehensive Ranking System score cut-off was 525 points. There was no specific program indicated for this draw which means that candidates from the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and Federal Skilled Worker Program were eligible to receive an invitation. In 2022, IRCC issued 18,288 ITAs under the Express Entry streams.
Express Entry is an electronic submission system for skilled workers who want to become permanent residents of Canada. Candidates fill out an online profile, after which the Canadian government will determine if they’re eligible for a program managed by Express Entry. Candidates who meet the eligibility requirements are accepted into the Express Entry pool and assigned a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. The CRS score is based on factors such as a candidate’s age, education, work experience and language skills. The Canadian government selects the highest-scoring candidates from the Express Entry pool every two weeks and gives them an ITA to apply for permanent residence. If you also want to immigrate to Canada via Express Entry and need assistance, our professional immigration lawyers can help you reach your goals!
Ontario invited 28 investors under the Entrepreneur Stream
On August 16, 2022, Ontario invited 28 business candidates under the Entrepreneur Stream of the Ontario Immigration Nominee Program (OINP). In 2022, the province invited 82 business candidates to apply for the provincial nomination. The Ontario Entrepreneur stream is the only the Business Stream of the OINP, Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) run by the province of Ontario.
This stream is intended for experienced business owners or senior business managers who want to settle in Ontario. Applicants must establish a new firm or purchase an existing firm in which they take part in day-to-day management responsibilities. The business must also make a significant investment in the province, create new jobs for Canadian citizens or permanent residents, and meet specific criteria related to the ownership stake, net worth and personal equity. Successful applicants will receive a provincial nomination from Ontario, which will allow them to apply for permanent residence in Canada through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Experienced business owners can get in touch with our immigration experts to learn more about the possible ways of immigration to Ontario.
The Canadian Government will accept new language certificates for citizenship applications
The Government of Canada announced that applicants who have the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) or Cours de langue pour les immigrants au Canada (CLIC) certificates, which indicate Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) levels, may use them as proof of language abilities in their Canadian citizenship applications. Following security procedures, LINC and CLIC certificates may be sent to clients via email as of September 1, 2022.
The Government of Canada is committed to making the citizenship process simpler and more efficient while ensuring that applicants meet all requirements for citizenship. This change will help streamline the citizenship application process by eliminating the need for some applicants to take a separate language test to show proof of their language ability. Applicants who do not have a LINC or CLIC certificate will still be required to take a language test approved by Citizenship and Immigration Canada as part of their citizenship application.
The Government of Alberta updated the AAIP inventory
On August 15, the Government of Alberta updated the inventory of the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP). According to the update, there were approximately 1,130 Alberta Opportunity Stream applications and 335 Expressions of Interest in the Alberta Express Entry pool. Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) handed out 6,250 certificates of nomination to Alberta in 2021 as part of the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program. The AAIP has already given all 6,250 certificates this year. So far, no nomination limits have been published for 2022. As of now, Alberta has invited 2,320 hopefuls for 2022.
The AAIP is a way for many skilled workers, foreign graduates, and entrepreneurs to relocate to Alberta permanently. The AAIP consists of eight different streams, four for workers and four for entrepreneurs. The Opportunity Stream, the Express Entry Stream, the Accelerated Tech Pathway, and the Rural Renewal Stream are all for those seeking employment in Alberta. As for entrepreneur options, there is the Rural Entrepreneur Stream, Graduate Entrepreneur Stream, Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream, and the Farm stream. If you think you may be eligible for one of these streams, contact our lawyers to evaluate your chances.
More foreign nationals invited to British Columbia under the BCPNP
On August 16, 2022, the Government of British Columbia issued new invitations under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) and invited 228 qualified skilled candidates, including Tech workers, and early childhood educators (NOC 4214), healthcare workers and healthcare assistants (NOC 3413). Candidates who received an invitation had a valid job offer from a British Columbia employer in an eligible occupation. In addition, candidates must meet all other eligibility requirements of the program, including having legal status in their country of residence, sufficient financial resources and meeting minimum language requirements. This year, the provincial government has issued a total of 5,677 invitations.
The BCPNP is a group of immigration pathways that allows foreign nationals and international students to become permanent residents of British Columbia. The PNP is developed to attract skilled workers, entrepreneurs, and investors to the province. The province has a number of immigration channels grouped into two categories: British Columbia Skills Immigration and British Columbia Entrepreneur Immigration. There are five categories under the Skills Immigration Stream: Skilled Worker, Healthcare Professional, International Graduate, International Post-Graduate, and Entry Level and Semi-Skilled Worker. The first four of these are linked with Express Entry, which is a federal immigration system. The BCPNP offers three categories of Entrepreneur Immigration: the Entrepreneur Immigration – Base Category; the Regional Pilot; and the Strategic Pilots.
Canada is continuing to assist immigrants and refugees in Latin America
On August 16, the Government of Canada announced that under the Global Compact for Migration, it will assist Latin American migrants and refugees who are facing difficulties with increased human mobility and face abusive recruitment tactics, a lack of social protection, as well as a dearth of labour markets. Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), congratulated the International Labour Organization (ILO) on completing its first capacity-building project that was sponsored by Canada. This project focused on helping Venezuelan refugees and migrants in Latin America to improve their socio-economic integration.
The Global Compact for Migration is a United Nations initiative that aims to enhance cooperation on international migration to “ensure that migration works for everyone.” It emphasizes the negative impact of irregular migration while also recognizing the positive influence of migrants and the benefits of regular pathways and well-managed immigration systems. The Global Compact on Refugees is a framework for leading toward more comprehensive and holistic responses to refugee situations, as well as more predictable and sustainable assistance for refugees and host communities. This involves making it possible for refugees to obtain long-term third-country solutions, as well as helping hosting nations distribute the burden more equitably.
SINP issued 668 invitations to Express Entry and Occupations In-Demand candidates
On August 18, Saskatchewan conducted new rounds of invitations in the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) and invited 668 candidates in the Express Entry and Occupations In-Demand categories. In this draw, the province invited candidates under 18 different NOCs. So far, Saskatchewan has invited 4,922 candidates. If you would like to learn more about your options for immigrating to Canada, contact us today and one of our immigration lawyers will provide you with expert advice on the best programs for you.
The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program was designed to speed up the immigration procedure for skilled workers, entrepreneurs, farmers, and students who may contribute to the province’s economy. The SINP has four main categories for newcomers who wish to apply for permanent residency (PR): International Skilled Worker: for foreign skilled workers who want to work in the province; Saskatchewan Experience: for foreign workers who have a valid work permit and work experience in Saskatchewan for at least six months; Entrepreneur: for international students and graduates from a Saskatchewan university or college and entrepreneurs who wish to start a business; and Farm Owner and Operator: for farmers who want to start a farm in Saskatchewan.
Abramovich & Tchern Immigration Lawyers are here to help you with all aspects of your immigration journey. We understand that the process can be complex and stressful, but we will be with you every step of the way. Our team of experienced lawyers, paralegals, and support staff can assist you with a temporary visa, permanent residence, or citizenship. We can also help with appeals and judicial reviews before the Immigration Appeal Division and Federal Court of Canada. Contact us today to discuss your individual needs – we are here to help!
