IMMIGRATION TO CANADA🇨🇦🇨🇦

Canada’s study-work-immigrate advantage Canada is now home to nearly 600,000 international students — triple what it was 10 years ago November 13, 2019  By  Kareem El-Assal Canada’s international student population is booming, tripling over the past decade to 570,000 people in 2018.  Canada now ranks as the fourth-leading host country for international students, behind the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia, according to ICEF. Canada’s higher intake is due to the global explosion of international students. UNESCO estimates there were 5.3-million international students in 2017 compared with two million in 2000. The consensus is this figure will continue to rise due to the growth of middle-class populations in emerging markets, which is fueling the spike in international students. Study permit holders in Canada with a valid permit on December 31 Why choose Canada? Canada is currently attractive due to its weak dollar. While international student tuition is higher ...

Saskatchewan issues 525 invitations to Express Entry and Occupations In-Demand candidates Over 5,200 skilled workers have been invited for a provincial nomination to Saskatchewan since job criteria overhaul November 13, 2019  By  CIC News Saskatchewan held another Express Entry and Occupations In-Demand draw November 12, this time inviting 525 skilled workers to apply for a provincial nomination for permanent residence. The  Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program  (SINP)’s Express Entry sub-category is linked to the federal government’s   Express Entry system , which manages the pool of candidates for three of Canada’s main economic-class immigration programs: Federal Skilled Worker Class, Federal Skilled Trades Class and Canadian Experience Class. A total of 303 Express Entry candidates were invited to apply in the November 12 draw. Express Entry candidates who apply for and receive a provincial nomination from Saskatchewan are awarded an additional 600 points ...

New Express Entry draw invites 3,600 candidates to apply for Canadian permanent residence Canada has now invited 75,300 Express Entry candidates to apply for permanent Residence in 2019 November 13, 2019  By  Alexandra Miekus ,  Stephen Smith ,  Bella Siddiq ,  Shelby Thevenot  And  Noah Turner The Government of Canada invited 3,600 Express Entry candidates to apply for permanent residence in a new draw held November 13. Today’s draw brings the total number of invitations to apply (ITAs) issued so far this year through Canada’s  Express Entry system  to 75,300. The minimum required  Comprehensive Ranking System  (CRS) score in today’s draw was 472. This is a three-point decrease from the previous draw, which was held October 30 and had a cut-off score of 475. The  Express Entry system  manages the pool of candidates for Canada’s three Federal High Skilled economic immigration categories — the   Federal Skilled Worker ...

Pre-November 1 Quebec Experience Program criteria now in effect Outcry over rules introduced November 1 forced government to restore earlier criteria November 15, 2019  By  CIC News International graduates who apply to the Quebec Experience Program will once again be assessed based on the criteria that were in place prior to November 1, 2019. This change became effective on November 14. The  Quebec Experience Program  ( Programme de l’expérience québécoise, or PEQ)  is a popular fast-track immigration program that allows eligible international graduates of Quebec schools and temporary foreign workers living and working in the province to apply for permanent residence selection. New criteria introduced November 1 were  widely denounced  as unfair to applicants already living in Quebec, forcing the province’s Immigration Minister, Simon Jolin-Barrette, to backtrack and restore the previous requirements. The focus of the furore over the new criteria were ...

Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program inviting francophones for exploratory visits  Manitoba is making an effort to attract and integrate francophone newcomers November 15, 2019  By  Shelby Thevenot Manitoba is opening its doors to help prospective immigrants build stronger ties to francophone communities in the province. The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) is accepting requests from bilingual francophone candidates interested in conducting a pre-arranged, “exploratory” visit to the province. These visits allow potential  Skilled Worker applicants  to research employment opportunities and communities in the province in order to make an informed decision on immigrating to Manitoba. Skilled Worker candidates do not require a connection to Manitoba in order to be considered and all exploratory visits include an MPNP interview that could result in an invitation to apply for a  provincial nomination for Canadian permanent residence. Manitoba has one of ...

Quebec could admit up to 44,500 new permanent residents in 2020 59 per cent of new immigrants to Quebec to arrive through economic immigration programs October 30, 2019  By  CIC News Pour lire cet article en français,  cliquez ici. Quebec could admit 44,500 new permanent residents and issue 24,700 new selection certificates in 2020, the province’s immigration ministry announced Wednesday.  The majority of new admissions to Quebec in 2020 — 59 per cent — are expected to come through the province’s economic immigration programs, including the  Quebec Skilled Worker Program  (QSWP). The province’s immigration ministry said its targets for 2020 respond to Quebec’s labour needs “while respecting its capacities for welcoming and integrating” the new arrivals. The levels, which provide for an increase of 2,700 over its maximum of 41,800 newcomers this year, reflect the governing Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ)’s promise to progressively increase immigration levels t...

Quebec suspends immigrant investor program until July 2020 New quotas for Entrepreneur, Self-Employed Worker programs announced October 31, 2019  By  Shelby Thevenot The Quebec Immigrant Investor Program, which allows investors to obtain Canadian permanent residence with a $1.2 million investment, has been suspended until July 1, 2020.  The suspension takes effect Friday, November 1, 2019. Quebec’s Immigration Minister, Simon Jolin-Barrette,  attributed the suspension  to the fact nearly 20,000 applications for permanent residence through the  Quebec Immigrant Investor Program  have yet to be processed. The minister said his department will use the suspension period to review the program, which has been controversial. Critics say it allows wealthy individuals to effectively purchase Canadian permanent residence and citizenship while supporters say it helps fund essential programs in Quebec. The Government of Canada cancelled a similar program in 2...

Processing time for applications to federal Self-Employed Persons Program now down to 22 months Program allows individuals with relevant experience in athletics or arts and culture to apply for Canadian permanent residence November 1, 2019  By  CIC News The processing time for applications to Canada’s Federal Self-Employed Persons Program is now down to 22 months — a major improvement from the seven years it was taking just a few years ago.    The  Self-Employed Persons Program  allows eligible individuals with relevant experience in athletics or arts and culture to apply for Canadian permanent residence. The program covers a wide range of professions, from practising artists and athletes to behind-the-scenes occupations such as choreographers, set designer, coaches and trainers.  Librarians, archivists, conservators and curators, and freelance journalists are also eligible, among  numerous other professions . Experience is considered relevan...

Quebec Experience Program reopens for graduate applications New Quebec immigration measures also go into effect today November 1, 2019  By  Shelby Thevenot International graduates can once again submit applications for a permanent residence selection certificate through the Quebec Experience Program (Programme de l’expérience du Québec, PEQ). Quebec’s Immigration Ministry (MIFI) reopened the PEQ’s graduate stream November 1 after suspending it in July. Temporary foreign workers with eligible work experience in Quebec can continue applying to the PEQ as before. New PEQ eligibility criteria now in effect for graduates and workers New and pending applications for both the graduate and temporary foreign worker streams of the PEQ will now have to meet updated eligibility requirements that were  announced earlier this week . International students who completed a program of at least 900-hours (one year) in Quebec can now apply to the PEQ as long as they have at least ...

Quebec updates Area of Training List The list is revised periodically to reflect Quebec's economic and employment needs November 1, 2019  By  Stephen Smith ,  Shelby Thevenot And  Gabriel Dumitrascu Quebec’s Immigration Ministry published its updated Area of Training List on Friday, November 1. The  new list  replaces the previous Area of Training List that was published August 2, 2018, and the ministry said the updated version applies to all applications submitted before or after November 1. The list is used by the Government of Quebec to determine eligibility to the  Quebec Experience Program (PEQ)  and to assign points when determining who receives a Quebec Selection Certificate (Certificat de sélection du Québec, or CSQ). A CSQ is required in order to immigrate to Quebec as a permanent resident. Quebec revises the list periodically to reflect its economic and employment needs. The document is divided into five sections (A to E), with areas of ...

Saskatchewan invites 858 Express Entry and Occupation In-Demand candidates Saskatchewan has now issued 4,704 invitations in past six weeks November 1, 2019  By  CIC News Saskatchewan ended October with another big draw for immigration candidates in its Express Entry and Occupation In-Demand sub-categories.  The 858 invitations issued October 31 continued a six-week string of major draws through these popular  Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program  (SINP) pathways, neither of which requires a job offer in Saskatchewan or Canadian work experience in order to be eligible. The SINP’s  Express Entry sub-category  is linked to the federal  Express Entry system , which manages the pool of candidates for Canada’s three Federal High Skilled immigration categories — the Federal Skilled Worker Class, Federal Skilled Trades Class and Canadian Experience Class. The  Occupation In-Demand  sub-category is open to immigration candidates who do not have...

Canada Business and Investment Immigration Overview Canada offers the most established and widely-used investment based immigration programs conferring permanent resident status. The Canadian confederation system of government and the country’s social norms offer a “European alternative” to the more unabashed capitalism of the USA. Canada offers European-style social benefits with fairly high levels of taxation and unparalleled quality of life. Under the Canadian model, business immigrants can enjoy the benefits of a national health care program, affordable first-class education and a national pension system that provides measurable annual income upon retirement. Business immigration offering permanent admission to Canada comprise of the  Quebec Immigrant Investor Program (QIIP) ,  Quebec Entrepreneur program ,  Quebec Self-Employed , several  Provincial Nominee Entrepreneur programs , the  Federal Immigrant Investor  Venture Capital (IIVC) Pilot Program an...

Quebec Immigration Overview The province of Quebec administers its own immigration programs with selection criteria that are distinct from those of federal and other provincial immigration programs.   The Quebec Ministry of Immigration (MIDI) selects candidates considered most likely to successfully settle in the French-speaking province. Foreign nationals wishing to settle permanently in Quebec must undergo a two-step immigration process. 1. They must be selected by the Ministère de l’immigration, de la Diversité et de l’Inclusion (MIDI), Quebec’s immigration authority.   Selected applicants will receive a Quebec Certificate of Selection (CSQ). This is an official document issued by Quebec immigration authorities to attest that the candidate has been selected by the province. It is not a visa, so it cannot be utilized to enter into Canada. According to the Regulations of August 2 nd  2018, a CSQ is valid for 24 months or until a decision has been rendered by the Immigrat...

Canada Provincial Nominee Immigration Programs Overview Under a shared jurisdiction between Ottawa and the provinces, Canada operates a two-tiered immigration system, offering programs for skilled workers, at both federal and provincial levels. Through a network of Nominee Programs (PNP), almost all of Canada’s ten provinces and three territories can nominate skilled worker candidates for admission to Canada with the specific skills required by their local economies. Successful candidates who receive a provincial or territorial nomination can then apply for Canadian permanent residence through federal immigration authorities. This is an important component of all provincial programs. Many provinces also run their own categories under the  Canada Express Entry System . As a result, the provinces have an increasing role in the selection of economic immigration. In some instances, candidates who do not qualify under one of the  federal programs  may qualify for admission to ...

Immigration to Canada Overview The Canadian government through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (|RCC)  admits 300,000 immigrants to Canada annually , mainly under the  Family Class  and the Economic Class. The Economic Class comprises of professionals and skilled workers under the  federal skilled worker program, federal skilled trades , the  Canadian experience class , the  provincial nominee class  and the  Quebec skilled worker class . The Economic Class also includes business, investment-based programs. IRCC manages skilled worker, economic class immigration programs using the  Express Entry system .  Applicants who  meet basic criteria , submit an online profile to the express entry pool known as an expression of interest, under one of the above 3 federal Canada immigration programs or a participating provincial immigration program. The profiles of candidates in the pool are ranked against each other, under a...

Canada Tops 71,000 ITAs For 2019 With New Express Entry Draw 2019-10-30 – Canada immigration authorities have passed 71,000  Invitations to Apply for  Express Entry  in 2019 with a new draw issuing ITAs to 3,900 candidates. The October 30 draw saw a minimum  Comprehensive Ranking System  score of 475, 11 points higher than the previous all-program draw. The increased CRS score is a result of it being four weeks since the previous all-program draw, which took place on October 2. The program-specific  Federal Skilled Trades  draw that took place on October 16 saw lower-scoring profiles drawn from the pool. Higher-scoring profiles have therefore built up over four weeks, resulting in a higher minimum score. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has now invited 71,700 candidates in 2019, against a high-skilled immigration admission target of 81,400. IRCC broke the record for annual Express Entry ITAs in 2018 with 89,800. The draw saw the tie-breakin...