Follow our immigration blog for the latest news and information on immigration in Canada. In this week’s blog, we discuss the new draws and updates on the provincial nominee programs, as well as the legislation changes. Abramovich & Tchern Immigration Lawyers are here to keep you informed!
IRCC held the largest all-program Express Entry draw since July 2022
On September 14, 2022, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held the largest all-program Express Entry draw and issued 3,250 Invitations to Apply (ITA). In round #231, the cut-off score was still high – 510 points. In 2022, IRCC invited 24,288 candidates through Express Entry. The Government of Canada has already stated that it would likely bring in major changes to the Express Entry system in 2023, allowing them to target individuals with particular work experience, education, or language ability categories.
Express Entry is a Canadian immigration system that allows skilled workers from other countries to move to the country permanently. The name refers to the online system which manages applications for three programs: the Canadian Experience Class, the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Federal Skilled Trades Program. It uses a points-based system to assess and score potential candidates, with the highest-scoring candidates being invited to apply for permanent residence. An individual who wants to come to Canada as a skilled worker has to create an online profile and enter into a pool of candidates. Invited candidates are given 60 days to submit a complete application. If you want to apply for permanent residency in Canada or have been issued an ITA and need assistance with your application, contact our immigration law firm. We can help you with every step of the process and ensure that your application is complete and error-free.
Northwest Territories and New Brunswick announced new updates
The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) announced that it changed the eligibility requirements for the Employer Driven stream of the Northwest Territories Nominee Program. GNWT’s amendments are meant to make processes more straightforward and user-friendly while providing employers with greater flexibility. The provincial government announced that as of September 12, 2022, the Employer Driven guidelines have been updated with new instructions for employment, job advertisement assessment process, language requirements, education and work experience.
New Brunswick’s government has committed to prioritizing immigration applications under the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP). Certain professions in the healthcare sector, information technology industry, as well as francophone graduates of New Brunswick will be prioritized over other candidates to assist alleviate the immigration backlog. According to the provincial government, applications that do not fit any of the above categories will be processed at a later date, and delays in processing may be expected.
The percentage of international students in college postgraduate credential programs has grown in the recent years
According to the newest Statistics Canada study published on September 12, 2022, international students, particularly those from India, boosted the proportion of foreign students in college postgraduate credential programs ten-fold from 1,800 to 17,700 over the course of 2017-2019. The report illustrates that the primary motivators for the significant increase in foreign students enrolling in Canadian programs were immigration and obtaining permanent residency. Within five years of graduation, 80% of international students studying in Canada had obtained permanent residence.
Different motives may drive international students to pursue a Canadian education. Many people want a Canadian credential to help them acquire permanent resident status and obtain high-quality employment in Canada. Others desire to study abroad for the pleasure of learning or enhancing their job prospects at home. If you also consider Canada as your study destination but are struggling to apply for an educational institution or study permit, you can contact our professional immigration lawyers to assist you with the process.
British Columbia invited more early childhood educators and healthcare workers
On September 13, 2022, the Government of British Columbia invited up to 300 qualified Skills Immigration candidates under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP). In the general draw, BC invited 251 candidates. In addition, the province invited 27 early childhood educators (NOC 4214) under the childcare-targeted draw. In the Healthcare-targeted draw, BC invited around 15 healthcare professionals and assistants (NOC 3413). Finally, less than 5 invitations have been issued for NOCs 3114 and 3213. The province issued approximately 6,840 invitations in 2022.
On September 16, 2022, British Columbia announced a technical update on the transition to NOC 2021 for the BC PNP. The provincial government will pause the Skills Immigration online registration system from October 12, 2022, until November 16, 2022, to ensure a smooth transition and make additional program changes. Registrations for all Skills Immigration will be removed from the pool on October 12, 2022, and anyone desiring to stay registered will have to resubmit their registration when it reopens on November 16, 2022.
Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Prince Edward Island held new draws
On September 14 and 15, Manitoba held new invitation rounds in the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP). The province invited 9 Ukrainian candidates, increasing the total number of invited Ukrainians to 154. In addition, in round #156, MPNP issued 436 Letters of Advice to Apply (LAA) in the Skilled Workers in Manitoba, Skilled Workers Overseas streams and the International Education Category. 150 of these LAAs were issued to Express Entry candidates. In 2022, the MPNP invited 5,242 individuals, including 1,095 Express Entry candidates.
On September 15, 2022, Saskatchewan and Prince Edward Island also conducted new rounds of invitations. The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) invited 326 candidates under the Express Entry and Occupations In-Demand categories and increased the number of immigrants to 8,564. Prince Edward Island issued 147 ITAs under the Labour Impact and Express Entry streams, as well as the Business Work Permit Entrepreneurs stream. The province will hold the next draw on October 20, 2022. This year, PEI invited 1,259 candidates.
Spousal Sponsorship immigration to hit a record high in Canada
This year, Spousal sponsorships are facilitating more immigration to Canada. According to IRCC, in the first half of 2022, 34,870 new permanent residents arrived through these programs. This represents a projected 8.2% increase from last year. If the current trend holds, 69,740 new permanent residents could arrive in Canada by late 2022 – an increase of 5,300 from the number of immigrants who came to the country under these programs last year.
The Government of Canada backs families and allows Canadian citizens or permanent residents to bring their family members to Canada. The majority of spousal sponsorship applications are submitted by individuals who wish to sponsor a spouse or dependent children. The Spousal Sponsorship Program is for people who want to sponsor a spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner. Our experienced immigration lawyers would take care of all the details so that you can begin enjoying life in Canada together as soon as possible.
Ottawa introduced a new refugee claim portal
On September 13, 2022, the Federal Government introduced a new online asylum application portal. The Canadian Refugee Protection Portal, which will be phased out and replaced by the new system, was used to submit claims for refugees in Canada. The new secure platform will enable officials to communicate directly with claimants or their legal representatives while also allowing applicants to track the progress of their claims.
Individuals who started a claim in the Canadian Refugee Protection Portal before September 12, 2022 but have not yet submitted it will be able to submit their applications until December 31, 2022. Candidates requiring special support can still fill out a paper claim since each request for accommodation will be individually examined.
If you are looking for experienced immigration lawyers to help you with your visa or permanent residency application, Abramovich & Tchern Immigration Lawyers is the right place to approach. We have helped countless clients from all over the world successfully navigate the often complex and confusing Canadian immigration system. We understand that the immigration process can be daunting, which is why we will be with you every step of the way. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you with your Canadian immigration application!
