UK IMMIGRATION NEWS

10th December 2021:

Canada conducts its biggest Express Entry draw

Canada conducted an Express Entry draw on December 10 where it invited a total of 1,032 candidates to apply for a PR visa. for permanent residence. The minimum score required for this draw was 698 points.

The invited candidates had earlier received a nomination through a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) which added 600 points to their base human capital score.

The IRCC has been holding PNP draws since September of this year. This is the seventh draw in a row. The previous Express Entry invited 613 candidates where the required score was 737 points.

10th December 2021:

British Columbia PNP now allows you to immigrate to Canada without a job offer

If you have done your graduation in any science subject from an eligible institution in British Columbia, you can get a Canadian permanent residence without a job offer.

Science graduates can be eligible for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) called the Skills Immigration – International Post-Graduate category.

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) gives priority to immigration candidates under this category to those who have completed a master’s or doctorate (PhD) degree in the following science programs:

• Agriculture
• Biological and biomedical sciences
• Computer and information sciences and support services
• Engineering
• Engineering technology
• Health professions and related clinical sciences
• Mathematics and statistics
• Natural resources conservation and research
• Physical sciences

To be considered for this category, your application must be submitted to BC PNP within three years of the date on your official transcript.

07th December 2021:

Ontario invites 1186 PNP candidates in latest draw

The province of Ontario invited 1,186 immigration candidates to apply for a provincial nomination on December 7.

In this draw, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) issued invitations to candidates who had profiles in its Expression of Interest (EOI) system.

The invited candidates may be eligible for either one of three streams under the Employer Job Offer category: Foreign Worker, International Student and In-Demand Skills. Some of the invitations were issued to candidates registered under the Regional Immigration Pilot.

The candidates invited under the Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills stream had work experience in the National Occupational Codes (NOC) below:

Health and agricultural occupations:

• NOC 3413 – nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates
• NOC 4412 – home support workers and related occupations, excluding housekeepers
• NOC 8431 – general farm workers
• NOC 8432 – nursery and greenhouse workers
• NOC 8611 – harvesting laborers
• NOC 9462 – industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers

Manufacturing (outside the GTA only):

• NOC 9411 – machine operators, mineral and metal processing
• NOC 9416 – metalworking and forging machine operators
• NOC 9417 – machining tool operators
• NOC 9418 – other metal products machine operators
• NOC 9421 – chemical plant machine operators
• NOC 9422 – plastics processing machine operators
• NOC 9437 – woodworking machine operators
• NOC 9446 – industrial sewing machine operators
• NOC 9461 – process control and machine operators, food, beverage and associated products processing
• NOC 9523 – electronics assemblers, fabricators, inspectors and testers
• NOC 9526 – mechanical assemblers and inspectors
• NOC 9536 – industrial painters, coaters and metal finishing process operators
• NOC 9537 – other products assemblers, finishers and inspectors

07th December 2021:

British Columbia invites 318 candidates through PNP draw

British Columbia invited 318 immigration candidates through Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws which were held on December 7.
The province conducted two draws through the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) and the candidates were invited from the Skills Immigration (SI) and Express Entry BC (EEBC) streams.

Invitations were issued to candidates from the Skilled Worker, International Graduate as well as Entry Level and Semi-Skilled sub-categories of SI and EEBC streams.

267 candidates received invitations through a general draw. The minimum score requirements for them were between 71 and 100 points, based on the program for which they are eligible.

The other draw targeted candidates whose occupation falls under NOC 0621 (retail and wholesale trade managers) or NOC 0631 (restaurant and food service managers). In this draw 51 invitations were issued to candidates with minimum scores of 103.

The province has issued over 11,000 invitations through various BC PNP streams till date in 2021.

02nd December 2021:

British Columbia issues 89 invitations in latest tech draw

The province of British Columbia invited 89 tech workers to apply for a provincial nomination on November 30.

The invitations were issued through the BC PNP Tech. The BC PNP is an economic immigration pathway for experienced, high-demand foreign workers. The program gives people who choose to live and work in British Columbia a path to permanent residence.

In order to be invited candidates must meet British Columbia’s Express Entry BC and Skills immigration categories, managed by the province’s Skills and Immigration Registration System (SIRS).

Candidates who received invitations in this draw belonged to the Skilled Worker and International Graduate subcategories and needed a minimum provincial score of 78.

Invited candidates should apply for the nomination within 30 days.

The province has so far issued around 11,000 invitations to apply in 2021.

01st December 2021:

Canada extends PGWP eligibility for students of online study programs

Canada had made significant changes to the requirement for Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) for foreign students attended online classes due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

The PGWP helps foreign students gain work experience in Canada after completing their course of study at a specified learning institute. The PGWP is valid for three years, depending on the study program’s duration.

Online classes are not usually considered for a PGWP application but due to the travel restrictions imposed by the Coronavirus pandemic, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) had  decided to allow foreign students to study online in their country and still be able to apply for a work permit after graduation.

Under this rule, students will be able to start their online programs at Canadian universities and complete up to 100 percent of their program overseas, and then receive their PGWP to work in Canada after completing their studies.

The IRCC had agreed not to deduct the duration of the PGWP for the period students spend on the course from outside the country.

Based on this change, an international student could begin his course online and still be eligible for a PGWP of three-year duration provided he comes to Canada by August 31, 2022. The deadline for coming to Canada was earlier December 31, 2021. The student must complete a qualifying educational program at Designated Learning Institute (DLI) of at least two years in duration.

Study programs must be offered by an approved Designated Learning Institution (DLI) and must meet all other PGWP criteria. A program can be as short as eight months. After August 31, 2022, any time spent studying outside of Canada, as well as any time spent studying before applying for a study permit, does not count toward the term of a PGWP.

The length of your study period is critical both for establishing PGWP eligibility and deciding how long your PGWP will be valid. The validity of the PGWP matches the length of your study program if it was more than eight months or less than two years. The PGWP might last up to three years if the study program was longer than two years.

Know More: Canada extends eligibility for Post-Graduation Work Permit

30th November 2021:

Saskatchewan launches a new immigration pilot program

The province of Saskatchewan has introduced a new pilot program called the Hard-To-Fill Skills Pilot which will allow employers in the province to recruit international talent for certain in-demand occupations. The jobs that will come under this pilot will include entry-level positions which will require on-the-job training. The sectors with the highest number of job openings in Saskatchewan include health, manufacturing, agriculture, ag-tech, construction, hospitality, and retail.

According to Jeremy Harrison, Immigration and Career Training Minister in the province, “The demand for labor in our province is strong, and it’s only going to increase with the significant economic projects recently announced in Saskatchewan. This new Hard-To-Fill Skills Pilot—developed in Saskatchewan for Saskatchewan—is progress on our autonomy discussions with the federal government and is going to help provide employers with greater access to international options to recruit workers. This is in addition to record investments into training and up-skilling our provincial workforce, as we enter a period of strong growth coming out of the global pandemic.”

The workers who are nominated through this Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) stream will get support from their employers and community. The pilot is scheduled to launch in December 2021.

To be eligible for this program, the candidates must:

Have a full-time, permanent job offer from a registered Saskatchewan employer, as well as a SINP job approval letter for an appropriate occupation.

Meet a minimal level of proficiency in a Canadian official language.

Meet the minimal educational and work experience criteria, which include at least one year of experience in the same occupation as the job offer or six months in that position in Saskatchewan.

Currently, the press release does not specify which occupations are eligible, the requisite amount of schooling, or the exact language competency.

Employers must demonstrate that they have made significant efforts to hire domestically before they can utilize the pilot for recruitment. They must also demonstrate the necessity for and benefit to their organization, as well as meet standards for providing workers with settlement assistance.

Know More: Saskatchewan announces new immigration pilot program

25th November 2021:

Alberta invites 200 Express Entry candidates in latest draw

In a provincial draw conducted on November 9, the province of Alberta invited 200 Express Entry candidates to apply for a provincial nomination. The draw conducted under the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) invited candidates who had a minimum score of 343 points in the Express Entry system.

The latest draw is the first one with a higher cutoff score than 300 points, which is the minimum points required to be eligible for the Alberta Express Entry Stream.

Since January 2021, the province of Alberta has invited 6,359 Express Entry candidates to apply for a provincial nomination. Alberta is allowed to issue 6,250 nomination certificates for 2021, but the number of invitations issued so far is more. In view of this, the province may have finished issuing invitations for the current year.

Know More: Alberta PNP: Another 200 receive invitations to apply, CRS 302

Canada invites 613 Express Entry candidates in latest draw

In a draw held on November 24, Canada invited 613 Express Entry candidates to apply for permanent residence.

The invited candidates had earlier received nominations through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). The minimum cut-off score was 737 considering the fact that 600 points will be automatically added to their score since they have a provincial nomination.

This is the sixth PNP-specific Express Entry draw held by the IRCC.

24th November 2021:

Alberta releases details of its November 24 draw

In a draw held on November 24, the province of Alberta invited 100 Express Entry candidates to apply for a provincial nomination on November 24. The score requirement was 350 points.

Till date in 2021, Alberta has issued 6,094 nomination certificates.

On December 7, the province had approximately 400 Alberta Opportunity Stream applications and 825 expression of interest applications in the Alberta Express Entry pool, based on information from the government website.

22nd November 2021:

Newfoundland and Labrador conduct its first PNP draw

The province of Newfoundland and Labrador recently released details of their first three draws under the Priority Skills Newfoundland and Labrador stream. Till date in 2021, the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) have invited a total of 663 candidates to apply for a provincial nomination. The Priority Skills Newfoundland and Labrador is a new Provincial Nominee Program which is for highly educated and highly skilled immigrants who have experience that cannot be gained by local training and recruitment.

The program was developed to assist in the alleviation of local labour shortages. Newcomers must have at least one year of work experience in one of Newfoundland’s in-demand occupations to be eligible. It is also open to post-graduates who have finished a Master’s or Doctorate degree at Memorial University in the past three years.

The program works on the basis of an Expression of Interest (EOI). Interested candidates submit an expression of interest (EOI) and are invited to apply through the province’s online portal.

If an invited candidate meets all of the criteria for either the Skilled Worker or Express Entry Skilled Worker categories, they will get a provincial nomination. This nomination will be used to support a subsequent application to the federal government for permanent residence in Canada.

To be considered, candidates must have a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of at least five. The language test results must be less than 12 months old. They must also be at least 21 years old and desire to stay in the province permanently.

Know More: 

Prince Edward Island invited 188 immigration candidates in latest draw

Prince Edward Island conducted its immigration draw on November 18.

In this draw, the Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP) invited 188 immigration candidates. Among the invitations 172 were sent to apply for a provincial nomination.

Most of the invitations, 172, went to Express Entry and Labour Impact candidates. The remaining 16 invitations went to Business Impact candidates who had at least 67 points in the province’s immigration system.

PEI holds one Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) invitation round per month. The total number of invitations issued so far this year is now 1,729.

Know More: Canada’s Prince Edward Island Province Invites 188 in Latest PNP Draw

Manitoba invites 426 candidates in latest provincial draw

Manitoba held a provincial draw on November 18 in which the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) invited 426 immigration candidates belonging to three Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs):

• Skilled Workers in Manitoba — 376 invitations with a minimum EOI score of 464;
• Skilled Workers Overseas — 22 invitations with a minimum EOI score of 726; and
• International Education Stream — 30 invitations with no EOI score requirement.

In this draw 68 invitations went to candidates in the Express Entry system.

Know More: Manitoba invites 426 in the first MPNP draw of October 2021

19th November 2021:

Saskatchewan invites 633 immigration candidates in latest provincial draw

Saskatchewan conducted a provincial draw on November 18 where it invited 633 immigration candidates.

The draw was conducted after a gap of nearly two months. The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) invited candidates to apply through two of its immigration streams in this draw. In this draw, 425 candidates may be eligible for the SINP’s Express Entry subcategory while 208 candidates may be eligible for the Occupations In-Demand sub-category.

The lowest-scoring candidate from each sub-category had 65 points on Saskatchewan’s Expression of Interest (EOI) ranking system.

The draw contained 14 eligible occupations for each category. The invited candidates had to provide Educational Credential Assessments.

Know More: Saskatchewan Holds the Biggest SINP Draw of 2021

British Columbia invites 87 tech workers in latest draw

The province of British Columbia invited 87 tech workers to apply for a provincial nomination in a draw held on November 16.

The invitations were issued through the BC PNP Tech, a stream that comes under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP).

In the tech draw, the candidates are required to meet the requirements of one of British Columbia’s Express Entry BC and Skills immigration categories, which are managed through the Skills and Immigration Registration System (SIRS).

The selected candidates were from the Skilled Worker and International Graduate subcategories and had to have a minimum provincial score of 75.

The candidates will have to send their nomination within 30 calendar days.

The province has issued over 10,500 invitations so far in 2021.

Know More: British Columbia invites 87 in BC PNP Tech Pilot draw

Quebec invites 33 immigration candidates in  Arrima draw

In a draw held on November 11, the province of Quebec invited 33 immigration candidates to apply for permanent residency.

This was the first round of invitation for the month of November under the Quebec Regular Skilled Worker Program (QSWP).

The selected candidates received invitations from the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI).  The candidates should have filed an expression of interest (EI) in the Arrima pool.

This draw also selected candidates who had a valid job offer outside the Montreal metropolitan area. This is Quebec’s 12th draw for 2021 and also the second smallest draw of the year. Till date, the province has invited a total of 3,256 candidates to apply for permanent selection by the province through Arrima.

Know More: 33 candidates in latest Quebec’s Arrima draw

11th November 2021:

Canada invites 775 candidates in latest Express Entry draw

On November 10, Canada held an Express Entry draw where it invited 775 Express Entry candidates to apply for permanent residence.

The invited candidates had previously received nominations through a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). Since these candidates automatically get 600 points added to their CRS score, the points required for this draw was 685.

This draw had the second-lowest cut-off score in this category ever since the IRCC started holding PNP-only draws in March 2020. The lowest score was 682 points in a draw held on March 2021.

Know More: Express Entry PNP only draw with Second-lowest CRS score

Alberta invited 248 Express Entry candidates in October draw

Alberta conducted a draw under the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) on October 26. The province invited 248 Express Entry candidates to apply for a provincial nomination.

The draw invited candidates who had scores of at least 300 in the Express Entry system.

This is the sixth successive draw where the cutoff score was 300, which is the minimum score needed to be eligible for the Alberta Express Entry Stream.

Alberta has so far invited 6,158 Express Entry candidates in immigration draws held since January 2021.

Know More: Sixth time in row, Alberta invites Express Entry candidates with minimum scores

10th November 2021:

British Columbia invites 340 candidates through its PNP program in its latest draw

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) welcomed 340 applicants to submit for a nomination by BC for Canada PR on November 9, 2021. On the same day, two independent draws were held.

The BC PNP issued its prior batch of invitations on November 2, 2021. British Columbia issues weekly invites under the Canadian PNP.

Candidates must meet the requirements of both the BC PNP and the federal Express Entry programs to be able to apply under the EEBC. This will help to process their federal permanent residency application quickly.

Know More: British Columbia Invites 340 in the Latest Round of PNP Invitations

Manitoba issues 421 invitations in latest provincial draw

Manitoba held a provincial draw on November 1. In this draw the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) invited 421 immigration candidates belonging to three Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs).

The invitations were issued under the following streams:

• Skilled Workers in Manitoba — 350 invitations with a minimum score of 460;
• Skilled Workers Overseas — 38 invitations with a minimum score of 713; and
• International Education Stream — 33 invitations with no score requirement.

In this draw, 75 invitations went to candidates in the Express Entry candidates.

Know More: Manitoba PNP Invites 421 in Latest Round of Invitations

Saskatchewan invites 65 immigration candidates through its entrepreneur category

Through the Saskatchewan PNP’s Entrepreneur category, the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) welcomed 65 Canada immigration applicants on November 4, 2021.

An individual may live in Saskatchewan through the SINP Entrepreneur Program if they start, buy, or own a business in the province.

This is the third Entrepreneur draw by the province in 2021.

Know More: Saskatchewan PNP Holds Largest Entrepreneur Draw of 2021

29th October 2021:

Quebec plans to welcome 52,500 permanent residents in 2022

In its new immigration plan announced recently, Quebec has indicated that it could admit up to 52,500 new permanent residents in 2022 in its new immigration plan.  Immigrants will be invited to Quebec in 2022 through the province’s economic immigration programs, including the Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP) and the Québec experience program (PEQ).

The immigration plan for 2022 indicates that 49,500 to 52,500 immigrants will be invited across all categories, and an additional 18,000 admissions to reach the admission targets that were not met by the federal government in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This means that more than 70,000 newcomers could be admitted to the province of Quebec in 2022.

Quebec is expected to welcome up to 28,800 skilled workers and up to 4,300 business immigrants through the economic category. This would include investors, entrepreneurs, and the self-employed.

The rest of the permanent resident invites are expected to arrive through family reunification, refugees, and other immigration programs.

The Quebec Immigration Department presents an annual plan for immigration numbers. It shows how many new permanent residents the province plans to welcome in the following year, as well as the categories to which they will be invited.

Know More:

Canada invites 888 Express Entry candidates in latest draw

Canada invited 888 Express Entry candidates to apply for permanent residence in a draw held on October 27.

The IRCC invited candidates who had a minimum CRS score of 744 points. The invited candidates automatically had 600 points added to their score because they had a provincial nomination from a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

This is the third largest PNP draw so far in 2022. The largest was 1,002 Express Entry candidates invited in a draw held on June 23, and the second largest one was 940 in a draw held on June 9.

Know More:

28th October 2021:

Ontario invites 1406 Express Entry candidates in latest provincial draw

In a provincial draw held on October 27, the province of Ontario invited 1,406 Express Entry candidates who had a professional background in technology.

The province invited Express Entry candidates who are eligible for Ontario’s Express Entry Human Capital Priorities Stream. The candidates were required to have a profile in the Express Entry system with a CRS score between 455 and 467 points.

Candidates also had to have at least one year of work experience in one of the following occupations:

Computer and information systems managers (NOC 0213);

Computer engineers (NOC 2147);

Database analysts and data administrators (NOC 2172);

Software engineers and designers (NOC 2173);

Computer programmer and interactive media developers (NOC 2174); or

Web designers and developers (NOC 2175).

Candidates with foreign education should submit an Educational Credential Assessment. The invited candidates have 45 calendar days to submit their application for Ontario’s Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

Know More: 1,406 Express Entry candidates – Biggest PNP draw by Ontario

British Columbia invites 358 candidates through its PNP draw

In its PNP draw held on October 26, the province of British Columbia invited 358 immigration candidates.

The draw invited candidates from the Skills Immigration (SI) and Express Entry BC (EEBC) streams of the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP). Invitations were also issued to those from the Skilled Worker, International Graduate as well as Entry Level and Semi-Skilled sub-categories of SI and EEBC streams.

The minimum scores required for the draw was between 68 and 91 points. A total of 306 candidates were invited under this category.

As part of the PNP program, British Columbia has been conducting a separate round of invitations twice a month since February. Because of the large number of candidates from specific labor market sectors who registered with the province’s Skills Immigration Registration System, these drawings are being held (SIRS).

Candidates whose occupations fall under NOC 0621 (retail and wholesale trade managers) or NOC 0631 (restaurant and food service managers) were targeted in separate draws under the SI and EEBC categories. In this draw 52 invitations were sent with scores of 104.

The province has so far issued10,000 invitations through various BC PNP streams in 2021.

Know More: British Columbia invites 358 to apply for BC PNP nomination for Canada PR

Quebec invites 23 candidates to apply for PR visa

In a draw held on October 21, the province of Quebec invited 23 immigration candidates to apply for permanent selection. This was the first round of invitations under the Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP).

The candidates received invitations to apply for PR visa from the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI). They were required to have filed and Expression of interest through the Arrima pool.

In this round, candidates who had a valid job offer in the Montreal Metropolitan area or live in Quebec as a diplomat, or are a consular official or a UN representative or represent any intergovernmental organization operating in the province were invited.

This is Quebec’ 11^th draw for 2021and the smallest one so far for this year because the earlier ones had invited over 500 candidates.

Know More:

27th October 2021:

Alberta invites 293 Express Entry candidates in latest provincial draw

The province of Alberta released details the immigration draw that was conducted on October 12.

In this draw, the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) invited 293 Express Entry candidates with a minimum score of 300 points to apply for a provincial nomination.

This is the first draw by the province in October.  During the month of September, the province held four Alberta Express Entry stream draws each with minimum score requirements of 300. The province issued 1,610 invitations in September alone.

With this draw, Alberta has invited 5,910 Express Entry candidates to apply for a provincial nomination since January 2021.

Know More: 293 immigration candidates in New Alberta PNP draw

23rd October 2021:

Prince Edward Island invites 204 immigration candidates in a provincial draw

Prince Edward Island held its scheduled immigration draw on October 21.

Through this draw, the Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP) invited 204 immigration candidates to apply for a provincial nomination.

Among the invitations, 195 went to Express Entry and Labour Impact candidates. The remaining nine invitations went to Business Impact candidates who had a minimum score of 72 points in the province’s immigration system.

This is the tenth Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw held by the province bringing the total number of invitations issued in this year to 1,541.

The next PEI PNP draw is likely to be held on November 18, 2021.

Know More:

Manitoba invites 459 candidates in latest provincial draw

The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) invited 459 immigration candidates belonging to three Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). Here are more details on the draw:

• Skilled Workers in Manitoba — 388 invitations with a minimum score of 375
• Skilled Workers Overseas — 39 invitations with a minimum score of 716
• International Education Stream — 37 invitations with no score requirement

94 invitations went to candidates in the Express Entry system.

Know More: Manitoba Invites 459 to Apply for MPNP Nomination for Canada PR

22nd October 2021:

British Columbia invites 85 tech workers in the latest provincial draw

The province of British Columbia invited 85 tech workers to apply for a provincial nomination in a draw held on October 19.

The invitations were issued under the BC PNP Tech program, a stream under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP).

Candidates invited through the province’s tech draws must meet the eligibility requirements of one of British Columbia’s Express Entry BC and Skills immigration categories, which are managed through the Skills and Immigration Registration System (SIRS). The invited candidates in this draw were from the Skilled worker and International graduate subcategories and their minimum score requirement was 75 points.

The candidates have to apply for a nomination within 30 days. The province has issued nearly 10,000 ITAs till date in 2021.

Know More: British Columbia invites 85 in latest BC PNP Tech draw

Ontario issues 546 invitations in three EOI draws

The province of Ontario held three rounds of invitations on October 20, where it invited 546 immigration candidates to apply for a provincial nomination.

Candidates with profiles in the Expression of Interest (EOI) pool were invited in this draw.

The invited candidates had qualifications in either the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream, for the Masters Graduate stream, and for the PhD Graduate stream.

Candidates who may be qualified for the Foreign Worker Stream under the Economic Mobility Pathways Project received four targeted invitations.

In addition, the OINP  invited 479 international student graduates to apply for the Masters Graduate stream and 63 for the PhD Graduate stream.

The invited candidates should have submitted a profile in Ontario’s EOI system. Each stream had its own score requirement:

• Masters Graduates needed a score of at least 35; and
• PhD Graduates needed a score of at least 25.

Foreign nationals with an eligible work offer from a company in Ontario can apply for the Ontario Foreign Worker Stream under the Employer Job Offer category. Candidates do not need to be residents of Canada to apply, as long as they complete the eligibility standards.

Candidates must have the equivalent of two years of work experience in a skilled occupation, have a qualifying job offer in Ontario, and plan to immigrate to the province, among other requirements, to be considered.

Anyone interested in applying for this PNP stream must first create an EOI profile on the Ontario website.

A profile will be added to the EOI pool after it has been registered. Ontario will award it a grade based on its performance.

 To be considered for the Masters Graduate or PhD Graduate stream, candidates must first register with Ontario’s e-Filing Portal and then submit an expression of interest for the graduate stream of their choice.

The province of Ontario then asks eligible people to apply for a provincial nomination, which is the first step toward permanent residency in Canada.

To apply, you do not need a job offer, but you must submit your application within two years of graduating.

Ontario evaluates EOI profiles according to a set of human capital indicators that the province has determined are significant in identifying immigrants with the ability to succeed. Candidates are awarded points based on the skill level of their job offer as well as their work experience in Canada.

For each stream, the OINP scoring system is distinct. It considers wage, education, official language proficiency, and the region of study or work, in addition to skill level and work experience. In addition, the province has the option of allocating 10 points to respond to labour market demands.

Know More:

Alberta releases details of Sep 30 draw

The province of Alberta recently released the details of its September 30 immigration draw.

In this draw, the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) invited 275 Express Entry candidates with scores of at least 300 to apply for a provincial nomination.

In the month of September, the province held four Alberta Express Entry stream each with minimum score requirements of 300. The total number of invitations was 1,610.

The province has now invited 5,617 Express Entry candidates to apply for a provincial nomination from January 2021. The province is allowed to issue 6,250 nomination certificates this year.

Nova Scotia invites 330 Express Entry candidates through two draws

The province of Nova Scotia held two draws on October 7, where it invited 330 Express Entry candidates with skilled work experience.

In one draw, 286 people were invited. The candidates had to have a job offer in Nova Scotia, and at least one year worth of work experience in a skilled occupation. They also needed a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of at least 5 in English.

In the second draw, the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) invited 44 carpenters and who had at least two years of skilled trades experience, and a CLB 5 in English. Both of these draws were held under the Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities stream.

Invited candidates from both categories can apply for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) before November 6.

Manitoba invites 426 candidates from three provincial programs

The province of Manitoba held a draw on October 7 where the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) invited 426 immigration candidates across three Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). Here are more details:

Skilled Workers in Manitoba — 350 invitations with a minimum EOI score of 446

Skilled Workers Overseas — 21 invitations with a minimum EOI score of 729

International Education Stream — 55 invitations with no EOI score requirement.

In this draw, 84 invitations went to candidates in the Express Entry system.

British Columbia invites 400 immigration candidates in latest provincial draw

British Columbia invited 400 immigration candidates through four Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws that were held on October 12.

In these draws, candidates from the Skills Immigration (SI) and Express Entry BC (EEBC) streams of the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) were invited.

Invitations were issued to those from the Skilled Worker, International Graduate as well as Entry Level and Semi-Skilled sub-categories of SI and EEBC streams.

The minimum scores for these draws ranged between 69 to 91 points. A total of 308 candidates were invited in this draw.

The province has been holding two separate draws for its PNP program, one is a general draw and the second one targets retail and wholesale retail managers and restaurant and foodservice managers. The province conducts the second draw in consideration of the large number of people registered with the BC PNP Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS). 101 invitations with scores of 104 were issued in this draw.

The province also sent out invitations to Entrepreneur Immigration (EI) candidates. A total of 10 invitations were sent to those in the EI-base category and less than five in the EI-regional pilot category.

The province has issued nearly 10,000 invitations through various BC PNP streams in 2021 so far.

6th October 2021:

Ontario invites 486 Express Entry candidates to apply for provincial nomination under its PNP

The province of Ontario held a new Human Capital Priorities Stream (HCP) stream draw on October 6.

In this draw, 486 candidates were invited, who will be eligible for a provincial nomination to support their permanent residency application provided they meet the eligibility requirements for the program.

In this draw, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) invited Express Entry candidates with Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores between 463 and 467.

The OINP invited candidates only if they had work experience in one of the following 18 occupations:

NOC 0114 – Other administrative services managers

NOC 0122 – Banking, credit and other investment managers

NOC 0124 – Advertising, marketing and public relations managers

NOC 0125 – Other business services managers

NOC 0211 – Engineering managers

NOC 0311 – Managers in health care

NOC 0601 – Corporate sales managers

NOC 0631 – Restaurant and food service managers

NOC 0711 – Construction managers

NOC 0731 – Managers in transportation

NOC 0911 – Manufacturing managers

NOC 1121 – Human resources professionals

NOC 1122 – Professional occupations in business management consulting

NOC 2161 – Mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries

NOC 3012 – Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses

NOC 3211 – Medical laboratory technologists

NOC 3231 – Opticians

NOC 3233 – Licensed practical nurses

The invited candidates had to have at least one year of work experience in the above occupations in order to get a nomination which will put them on top of the list to get an ITA for permanent residency.

The OINP has so far invited 4,851 candidates in 2021.

Ontario invites 162 EE candidates under its French-Speaking Skilled Worker (FSSW) stream

The province of Ontario invited 162 Express Entry candidates to apply for a provincial nomination on October 7.

The invited candidates will be eligible to immigrate to Canada through Ontario’s Express Entry French-Speaking Skilled Worker (FSSW) stream. The candidates are required to have a profile in the Express Entry system with a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score between 461 and 467.

The FSSW is an enhanced Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) stream, and is aligned with the Express Entry system.

The invited candidates will have 45 days to apply online for their provincial nomination.

This is the fourth FSSW draw for 2021 and brings the total number of invitations issued through this stream to 651.

To be eligible for the FSSW, you must first create a profile in the Express Entry system. This program is for persons who meet the Canadian Experience Class or Federal Skilled Worker Program’s eligibility requirements.

Candidates must have a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of 7 in French and 6 in English to be considered. The OINP will look at candidates’ finances to see if they have enough money to cover settlement costs in Ontario, among other things.

Know More: Ontario invites 486 Express Entry candidates under HCP Stream

30th September 2021:

Canada invites 761 PNP candidates in latest Express Entry draw

In an Express Entry draw held on September 29, Canada invited 761 Express Entry candidates to apply for permanent residence. The candidates invited in this draw had previously received nominations under a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), which means they will have 600 points added to their base Express Entry score. Due to this fact, the minimum qualifying score for this draw was 742 points.

In 2021, the IRCC has invited more Express Entry candidates to apply for permanent residence compared to earlier. In 2020, the IRCC issued 107,350 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) through the Express Entry system. Till date, in 2021 the IRCC has issued more than 108,000 invitations, even though there are three months left to go in the year.

Know More: Canada invites 761 PNP candidates through 19th Express Entry draw

British Columbia invites 422 candidates in latest immigration draw

The province of British Columbia invited 422 immigration candidates in two Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws held on September 28.
Since February, British Columbia has been conducting two separate rounds of invitations for its PNP program every month. The province has been holding two separate draws for its PNP program, one is a general draw and the second one for the large number of people registered with the BC PNP Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS) and to balance the labor market in the province.

As for the general draw, candidates from the Skills Immigration (SI) and Express Entry BC (EEBC) streams of the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program received invitations.

In this draw, invitations were issued to candidates from the Skilled Worker, International Graduate as well as Entry Level and Semi-Skilled sub-categories of SI and EEBC streams.

The minimum scores for that draw were between 69 and 90 points. The draw invited a total of 368 candidates. A second draw was held under the SI and EEBC categories, focusing on candidates with NOC 0621 or NOC 0631 as their vocation. The draw issued 36 invites with a combined score of 105.  So far this year, the province has issued more than 9,083 invitations through various BC PNP streams.

Know More: British Columbia invites 422 to apply for BC PNP nomination

29th September 2021:

Alberta releases details of two Express Entry draws held in September

Alberta released the details of its two rounds of invitations for Express Entry candidates.

The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) conducted one draw on September 14, where it invited 385 immigration candidates were invited to apply for a provincial nomination. The required score for candidates was 300 points to be eligible for invitations.

In another draw held on September 21, the AINP invited 450 Express Entry candidates with scores of at least 300.

With these draws, Alberta has now invited 5,342 Express Entry candidates to apply for a provincial nomination since January 2021.  The province is allowed to issue 6,250 nomination certificates in 2021.

Know More:

24th September 2021:

Canada announces opening of parents and grandparents program for 2021

The IRCC has announced that it started issuing invitations for the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) 2021.

Under this program, 30,000 Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be invited to sponsor their parents and grandparents.

The IRCC will issue the invitations during the next two weeks. The invited sponsors will have to submit their completed sponsorship applications within 60 days to the IRCC.

If the application is approved, the sponsored parents and grandparents will become Canadian permanent residents and be eligible for all its associated benefits including free health care.

Those who have received the sponsorship invitations must meet the eligibility criteria for the PGP 2021. These include:

You must be at least 18 years old, a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, or a member of status First Nations.

You must also show that you have the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) to IRCC (MNI). Your notifications of assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for the tax years 2020, 2019, and 2018 must be submitted.

Residents of Quebec must show that they have met the province’s sponsorship income standards in the previous year.

Sponsors must sign an undertaking agreement with both IRCC and Quebec. During the undertaking time, sponsors are obliged by law to reimburse any social assistance received by their parents or grandparents. Non-Quebec residents have a 20-year tenure, while Quebec residents have a 10-year period.

 Know More: Super Visa Application for Parents and Grandparents of Canadian PRs

Saskatchewan issues 41 invitations through its entrepreneur stream draw

The province of Saskatchewan recently conducted an entrepreneur stream draw on September 2 where it issued 41 invitations with a minimum score requirement of 110 points. The next draw is planned for November 4.

Even if candidates have equal scores, they are selected based on the following factors:

• Official language ability.
• Those with businesses planned for a key economic sector.
• Completion of an exploratory visit.

Know More:

Nova Scotia conducts business immigration draw

The province of Nova Scotia immigration conducted a business immigration draw on September 13 where it issued 30 invitations through the Nova Scotia nominee program.

In this draw, 28 invitations were issued through the Entrepreneur stream, with a minimum score of 120 points while two invitations were issued through the International Graduate Entrepreneur stream, where the minimum score requirement was 57 points.

Know More:

22nd September 2021:

Quebec makes skilled workers eligible for Bridging Open Work Permit

In a draw held on August 31, 2021, temporary foreign workers residing in Quebec have been selected as skilled workers, and are eligible, under certain conditions, to apply for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP).

Holders of a BOWP can work for any employer while waiting for the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to process their permanent residence application.

Eligibility conditions for the Bridging Open Work Permit include:

• Submit a Quebec skilled worker application for permanent residence as the principal applicant
• Must have received an acknowledgment of receipt (AOR) from IRCC on receiving the permanent residence application
• The application must have passed the completeness check

Among its features, a completeness check entails an IRCC officer ensuring that the applicant has submitted all necessary forms, information, evidence, signatures, and fees that are required under a given program.

The principal applicant’s spouse or common law partner is also eligible to obtain an open work permit if they are included on the permanent residence application.

The purpose of the policy is to give skilled workers selected by Quebec the support they need to remain employed in the province while they await permanent residence.

Know More: Ontario PNP draw invites 995 workers and international students

Ontario invites 955 candidates for provincial nomination

Ontario held a provincial draw on September 21, where 955 candidates were invited for a provincial nomination.

Candidates who had profiles in the Expression of Interest (EOI) pool were invited under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) invited candidates who had profiles in the Expression of Interest (EOI) pool. The candidates should have qualified for one of two Employer Job Offer streams.

406 candidates were invited under the Foreign Worker Stream. The required score was a minimum of 37 points. Since this was a general draw, there were no targeted occupations, or location requirements for this draw.

523 candidates were invited to apply under the International Student Stream. The minimum score requirement was 61 points.

The OINP also sent out 66 invitations to immigrants who had registered for the Regional Immigration Pilot and who would be eligible for the same two Employer Job Offer streams. Foreign workers received 36 invitations, while international students received 30.

Know More: Ontario PNP draw invites 995 workers and international students

20th September 2021:

PEI invites 143 candidates in monthly provincial draw

The province of Prince Edward Island conducted its monthly immigration draw on September 16.

In this draw, a total of 143 immigration candidates were invited through its Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

Out of these 129 invitations went to Express Entry and Labour Impact candidates. The rest of the nine invitations went to Business Impact candidates who had a minimum score of 72 points.

This is the eighth draw of 2021 by the province. The total number of invitations issued so far in 2021 is 1,337.

Know More: PEI invites 143 immigration candidates through PNP draw

16th September 2021:

Canada invites 521 Express Entry candidates in latest draw

In an Express Entry draw held on September 15, Canada invited 521 Express Entry candidates to apply for permanent residence.

The invited candidates had previously received a nomination under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), which means they had 600 points added to their base Express Entry score. As a result, the CRS score for this draw was732 points in order to be invited.

The invited candidates have 60 days to apply for permanent residence.

In the year 2021, the IRCC has only held PNP and Canadian Experience Class (CEC) Express Entry draws. This draw has been the 18th PNP-specific draw of the year.

Know More: Second PNP Express Entry draw in September invites 521 PNP candidates

British Columbia invites 464 immigration candidates in two provincial draws

The province of British Columbia held two draws on September 14, through its Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

In these draws, 365 Skilled Worker and International Graduate candidates received invitations to apply for a provincial nomination under the province’s Express Entry BC (EEBC) and Skills Immigration categories in a general draw. The minimum required score for candidates under these categories were:

Skilled Worker: 86

International Graduate: 75

The invited candidates in this category should have already submitted profiles under Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada ‘s Express Entry system. The cut-off scores for the three Skills Immigration (SI) subcategories were:

Skilled Worker: 90

International Graduate: 77

Entry Level and Semi-Skilled: 69

Apart from this draw, in order to meet the aspirations of the high number of registrants under the BC PNP Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS) in certain occupations, the province held an additional draw to balance the needs in all sectors of the provincial labor market. The separate draw was conducted

under SI and EEBC categories and was aimed at candidates whose occupation falls under NOC 0621 or NOC 0631. 99 invitations were issued to candidates with a minimum score of 105 points.

So far in this year, the province has issued over 8,500 invitations to apply for provincial nominations. The province holds weekly draws that target candidates working in the technology sector.

Know More: British Columbia invites 464 in latest round of BC PNP invitations

15th September 2021:

Canada invites 2000 candidates in latest Express Entry draw

In an Express Entry draw held on September 14, Canada invited 2,000 Express Entry candidates to apply for permanent residence on September 14.

The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) invited Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates with a minimum score of 462. The invited candidates have to apply for permanent residency within 60 days.

IRCC has focused its efforts on immigration applicants who are already in Canada in order to reach its 2021 immigration targets despite travel limitations.

Because Canadian experience is a crucial eligibility element, the majority of CEC candidates in the Express Entry pool apply from within the country. Candidates for the CEC must have at least one year of full-time work experience in a skilled occupation in Canada.

Over the years, the IRCC has increased the number of ITAs to nearly double the normal figure. With a higher number of invitations, the IRCC is likely to reach its target of inviting 108,500 newcomers through the Express Entry system in this year.

Know More: First CEC draw in September: Invites 2,000 Express Entry candidates

Ontario invites 691 international students for provincial nomination

The province of Ontario invited 691 international student graduates to apply for a provincial nomination on September 14.

In this draw, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) invited 627 international student graduates to apply for the Masters Graduate stream, and 64 students who are eligible for the PhD Graduate stream.

In order to be eligible for the draw, the invited candidates should have submitted a profile in Ontario’s Expression of Interest (EOI) system. In this draw, each stream had its own score requirement:

Masters Graduates-minimum score 35 points

PhD Graduates- minimum score 16 points.

With this draw, Ontario has issued its third and largest Masters Graduate stream draw after the province adopted an EOI system for its Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) that do not already use the Express Entry system. It was the second draw for the PhD Graduate stream.

Know More: Ontario PNP invites 691 from PhD Graduate and Masters Graduate streams

Alberta invites 500 Express Entry candidates in latest draw

The province of Alberta invited 500 Express Entry candidates to apply for a provincial nomination in a draw held on September 7.

This was the province’s largest draw till date. The Invited candidates were registered with the Express Entry system, and they had to have a minimum score of 300 points to qualify under the Alberta Express Entry stream.

So far in2021, the province of Alberta has invited 4,507 Express Entry candidates to apply for a provincial nomination.

Know More: Latest Alberta PNP draw invites 500 Express Entry candidates

09th September 2021:

British Columbia invites 34 tech workers in latest BC PNP tech draw

The province of British Columbia invited 34 tech workers to apply for a provincial nomination in a tech draw held on September 7.

The invitations were issued through the BC PNP Tech, a stream under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP).

In order to be invited under this stream, the candidates must meet the requirements of any one of British Columbia’s Express Entry BC and Skills immigration categories, which are managed by the Skills and Immigration Registration System (SIRS).

The invited candidates in this draw were from the Skilled Worker and International Graduate subcategories and the minimum score requirement was 80 points.

The candidates should apply for the nomination within 30 days.

British Columbia has issued over 8,100 invitations for provincial nomination so far in 2021.

Know More: British Columbia invites 34 tech candidates in latest BC PNP draw

Saskatchewan invites 528 PNP candidates in latest draw

Saskatchewan held a provincial draw on September 8 where the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) invited 528 candidates to apply for one of two immigration programs. Among the invited candidates 316 will be eligible for the SINP’s Express Entry subcategory, and 212 candidates will be eligible for the Occupations In-Demand sub-category.

The lowest-scoring candidate from each sub-category had 66 points under the Saskatchewan’s Expression of Interest (EOI) ranking system. There were 16 eligible occupations in this draw for each category.  Candidates from both the groups were also required to submit their Educational Credential Assessments to prove that their foreign education was comparable to the Canadian standard.

Know More: 528 immigration candidates were invited in SINP Draw

04th September 2021:

British Columbia invites 488 candidates in latest provincial draws

The province of British Columbia invited 488 immigration candidates through four Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws that were held on August 31, 2021.
Since February, British Columbia has been conducting two separate rounds of invitations for its PNP program every month. The province has been holding two separate draws for its PNP program, one is a general draw and the second one targets retail and wholesale retail managers and restaurant and food service managers. The province conducts the second draw in consideration of the large number of people registered with the BC PNP Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS).

As for the general draw, candidates from the Skills Immigration (SI) and Express Entry BC (EEBC) streams of the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program received invitations.

In this draw, invitations were issued to candidates from the Skilled Worker, International Graduate as well as Entry Level and Semi-Skilled sub-categories of SI and EEBC streams.

The minimum scores for that draw were between 69 and 90 points. The draw invited a total of 467 candidates. A second draw was held under the SI and EEBC categories, focusing on candidates with NOC 0621 or NOC 0631 as their vocation. The draw issued 21 invites with a combined score of 106.  So far this year, the province has issued more than 8,000 invitations through various BC PNP streams.

Know More:

Manitoba issues 602 invitations in the latest provincial draw

In a draw held on September 2, Manitoba invited 602 immigration candidates to apply for a provincial nomination.

The invited candidates can now get a nomination from the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP). Once they receive it, the nomination will act as a support for application to Canadian permanent residence and they will be able to apply as Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates.

The break up for invitations in the latest draw is as follows:

• Skilled Workers in Manitoba— 463 invitations with a minimum EOI score of 445;
• Skilled Workers Overseas— 84 invitations with a minimum EOI score of 698; and
• International Education Stream — 55 invitations with no EOI score requirement.

The draw also issued 101 invitations or  Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs), which went to Express Entry candidates.

Know More: Manitoba issues 602 LAAs in latest MPNP draw

02nd September 2021:

Canada invites 635 PNP candidates in latest Express Entry draw

In an Express Entry draw conducted on September 1, the IRCC invited 635 Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates to apply for permanent residence.

The minimum score cutoff for this draw was 764 points. All the candidates in this draw had a provincial nomination worth 600 points in the Express Entry system. The IRCC has issued106,414 ITAs so far in 2021.

Due to the nature of CEC and PNP-only draws, the minimum score criteria have fluctuated. Because CEC drawings are limited to a single group of applicants, the cutoffs are usually lower.  With their provincial nomination, PNP candidates automatically receive 600 points, hence PNP draw scores will always be larger than any other sort of Express Entry draw. Since June, PNP draws have fluctuated from the low 740s to the high 760s.

Know More: Canada invites 635 PNP candidates through Express Entry draw

Alberta releases details of its two biggest draws in 2021

The province of Alberts released details of the biggest draws held in 2021. In a draw held on August 23, the AINP issued 450 invitations to Express Entry candidates. The minimum CRS score for this draw was 300 points.

In another draw held on August 30, the province issued 400 invitations to Express Entry candidates where the minimum score was 301 points.

Till date in 2021, the province has invited 4,007 Express Entry candidates to apply for a provincial nomination.  The province is allowed to issue 6,250 nomination certificates in 2021.

Know More: 

Quebec releases details of August 26 draw

Quebec has released the results of a third draw that was conducted on August 26. This is the third round of invitations conducted under the Arrima expression of interest system in August and was the largest of the year under the Quebec Regular Skilled Worker Program (QSWP).

In this round, the province invited 585 immigration candidates for permanent residence with a score of at least 517 in the Arrima pool by the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI).

Quebec has already conducted two draws through Arrima in August, more specifically on August 12 and August 19.

The latest draw invited candidates who had a valid job offer outside the Montreal metropolitan area and working inoccupation currently in demand in the province. Here is the list of targeted occupations included in the draw:

• Computer and information systems managers (NOC 0213);
• Electrical and electronics engineers (NOC 2133);
• Industrial and manufacturing engineers (NOC 2141);
• Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) (NOC 2147);
• Information systems analysts and consultants (NOC 2171);
• Database analysts and data administrators (NOC 2172);
• Software engineers and designers (NOC 2173)
• Computer programmers and interactive media developers (NOC 2174);
• Web designers and developers (NOC 2175);
• Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians (NOC 2241);
• Computer network technicians (NOC 2281);
• User support technicians (NOC 2282);
• Information systems testing technicians (NOC 2283);
• Producers, directors, choreographers and related occupations (NOC 5131);
• Graphic arts technicians (NOC 5223);
• Graphic designers and illustrators (NOC 5241);
• Technical sales specialists – wholesale trade (NOC 6221).

This is the eighth draw by Quebec in 2021. With this draw, a total of 2,145 candidates have now been invited to apply for permanent residence.

26th August 2021:

Quebec invites 502 immigration candidates in its latest Arrima draw

The province of Quebec has invited 502 immigration candidates in a draw held on August 19 to apply for permanent residence.

The invitations were issued under the Quebec Regular Skilled Worker Program (QSWP) by the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI).

In order to get an invitation, the candidates must have registered Expression of Interest (EOI) in Quebec’s online registration portal, Arrima.

This draw has been held a week after the province held its biggest Arrima draw of the year.

The invitations were issued according to the needs of Quebec’s labor market. The draw invited candidates with a score of at least 548 points. Their occupation must also figure in the list of targeted occupations. These occupations, as well as their corresponding National Occupational Classification (NOC) code, are listed below:

• Computer and information systems managers (NOC 0213);
• Electrical and electronics engineers (NOC 2133);
• Industrial and manufacturing engineers (NOC 2141);
• Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) (NOC 2147);
• Information systems analysts and consultants (NOC 2171);
• Database analysts and data administrators (NOC 2172);
• Software engineers and designers (NOC 2173)
• Computer programmers and interactive media developers (NOC 2174);
• Web designers and developers (NOC 2175);
• Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians (NOC 2241);
• Computer network technicians (NOC 2281);
• User support technicians (NOC 2282);
• Information systems testing technicians (NOC 2283);
• Producers, directors, choreographers and related occupations (NOC 5131);
• Graphic arts technicians (NOC 5223);
• Graphic designers and illustrators (NOC 5241);
• Technical sales specialists – wholesale trade (NOC 6221).

So far in 2021, a total of 1,562 candidates have now been invited to apply for permanent selection by Quebec.

Know More: Arrima draw in Quebec invited 502 candidates

Ontario holds its second masters graduate stream draw

Ontario conducted its second Masters Graduate stream draw on August 25. The invited candidates were required to have a minimum Expression of Interest (EOI) score of at least 37 which is slightly lesser than the score requirement for the first draw which was 39 points. The invited candidates can apply within14 days and pay the $1,500 application fees.

This program was launched by the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) earlier this month.

Under this program, international students who have graduated with a master’s degree from an eligible Ontario institution can register for immigration through this  program. Candidates need not have a job offer to apply but must apply for the nomination within two years of graduation. Graduates of the following universities are eligible for this stream:

• Algoma University
• Brescia University College (Affiliated with the University of Western Ontario)
• Brock University
• Carleton University
• Dominican University College
• Huron University College (Affiliated with the University of Western Ontario)
• King’s University College at the University of Western Ontario
• Lakehead University
• Laurentian University
• McMaster University
• Nipissing University
• Ontario College of Art & Design University
• Queen’s University
• Royal Military College of Canada
• Ryerson University
• Saint Paul University (Federated with the University of Ottawa)
• Jerome’s University (Federated with the University of Waterloo)
• Trent University
• University of Guelph
• University of Ontario Institute of Technology
• University of Ottawa
• University of St. Michael’s College (Federated with the University of Toronto)
• University of Toronto
• University of Trinity College (Federated with the University of Toronto)
• University of Waterloo
• University of Windsor
• Victoria University (Federated with the University of Toronto)
• Western University
• Wilfrid Laurier University
• York University

Know More: 326 Masters Graduates were invited under Ontario PNP draw

British Columbia invites 74 tech candidates to apply for provincial nomination

The province of British Columbia invited 74 immigration candidates who are tech workers in a draw held on August 24.

The invitations were issued through the BC PNP Tech, which is part of the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP).

The invited candidates must meet the requirements of one of British Columbia’s Express Entry BC and Skills immigration categories, which are managed by the Skills and Immigration Registration System (SIRS).

The invited candidates in this draw belonged to the Skilled Worker and International Graduate subcategories and had to have a minimum provincial score of 80 points. The invited candidates should apply for a nomination within 30 days.

Know More: British Columbia PNP invites 74 in latest Tech draw

24th August 2021:

PEI invited 161 immigration candidates in its monthly provincial draw

The Canadian province of Prince Edward Island conducted its regular monthly immigration draw on August 19 where it invited 161 immigration candidates through its PNP program.

Among the invitations, 152, went to Express Entry and Labour Impact candidates. Nine invitations were issued to Business Impact candidates who had  a  minimum score of 72 points in the province’s immigration system. This is the eighth draw of 2021 held by the province. The  total number of invitations issued till date is 1,194.

Know More: PEI PNP Draw Invites 161 Immigration Candidates

19th August 2021:

British Columbia invites more than 435 candidates under four PNP draws

The province of British Columbia invited more than 435 immigration candidates by conducting four Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws held on August 17.

From February this year, the province has been holding two separate draws for its PNP program, one is a general draw and the second one targets retail and wholesale retail managers and restaurant and foodservice managers. The province conducts the second draw in consideration of the large number of people registered with the BC PNP Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS).

As for the general draw, candidates from the Skills Immigration (SI) and Express Entry BC (EEBC) streams of the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program received invitations.

In this draw, invitations were issued to those from the Skilled Worker, International Graduate as well as Entry Level and Semi-Skilled sub-categories of SI and EEBC streams.

The minimum scores for this draw were between 73 and 91 points where a total of 363 candidates were invited.

The province also conducted a separate draw under SI and EEBC categories a which targeted occupations that fall under NOC 0621 or NOC 0631. A total of 64 invitations with scores of 106 were issued in this draw.

Eight invitations were issued under the Entrepreneur Immigration Base Category and less than five invitations through the Entrepreneur Immigration Regional Pilot category.

The province has issued more than 7527 invitations through various PNP streams so far in 2021.

Canada invites 463 PNP candidates in latest Express Entry draw

In the latest Express Entry draw held on August 18, Canada invited 463 PNP nominees to apply for permanent residence.

The eligibility requirement was a minimum score of 751 points with a nomination from an Express Entry-linked PNP. As you are aware, a provincial nomination alone is worth 600 points. The candidates should have submitted their profiles before April 13^th 2021, to receive an invitation.

Know More: 463 PNP candidates were invited through Express Entry linked Provincial Nominee Program

Ontario announces first round of invitations for Masters Graduate and PhD Graduate streams

The province of Ontario conducted its first round of invitations for the Masters Graduate and PhD Graduate streams on August 18, approximately two weeks after changing the intake system for the two provincial immigration programs.

In these draws, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) invited 479 international student graduates to apply for a provincial nomination.

Among these 402 candidates were invited to apply for the Masters Graduate stream. The invited candidates ought to have an Expression of Interest (EOI) scores of at least 39 to qualify for an invitation.

Under the PhD Graduate stream, the province invited 77 candidates with EOI scores of 17 and above.

Know More: Ontario includes Masters Graduate and PhD Graduate streams under EOI

18th August 2021:

Alberta invites 396 Express Entry candidates in the latest Express Entry draw

The province of Alberta invited 396 Express Entry candidates to apply for a provincial nomination in a draw held on August 10. This was the biggest draw of the year so far.

In this draw, the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) invited candidates with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of at least 300.

The selected candidates can now apply for a provincial nomination through the Alberta Express Entry stream.

As compared to the previous provincial draw held by Alberta’s PNP, more candidates were invited in this draw, but the CRS requirement remained the same.

Since January 2021, Alberta has invited 3,157 Express Entry candidates to apply for a provincial nomination. Alberta can issue 6,250 nomination certificates in 2021.

Know More:

17th August 2021:

Manitoba invites 275 candidates in latest provincial draw

The province of Manitoba held a provincial draw on August 12 where it invited 275 immigration candidates to apply for a provincial nomination.

The invited candidates are now eligible to apply for a nomination from the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP). Once they receive it, they can apply for Canadian permanent residence.

Here are the details of the latest draw:

• Skilled Workers in Manitoba— 238 invitations with a minimum EOI score of 454;
• Skilled Workers Overseas— 6 invitations with a minimum EOI score of 719; and
• International Education Stream — 31 invitations with no EOI score requirement.

In this draw, 36 invitations or Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) were issued to Express Entry candidates.

Know More: Manitoba PNP draw invites 275 immigration candidates

12th August 2021:

Ontario province invites 48 immigration candidates in latest draw

In a draw held on August 11, the province of Ontario issued invitations to 48 immigration candidates to apply for a provincial nomination. This was the second draw for the In-Demand Skills stream under the new intake system.

The new EOI system of Ontario will replace the old first-come-first-served model. This means that interested candidates can register at any time for the opportunity to receive an invitation from Ontario. There was no score requirement for this draw.

The candidates who were invited had to be eligible for the In-Demand Skills stream, and must have job offers in the following occupations, listed by sector in order of their National Occupational Classification (NOC) code:

Health and agricultural occupations:

• NOC 3413 – nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates
• NOC 4412 – home support workers and related occupations, excluding housekeepers
• NOC 8431 – general farm workers
• NOC 8432 – nursery and greenhouse workers
• NOC 8611 – harvesting labourers
• NOC 9462 – industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers

Manufacturing (outside the Greater Toronto Area only):

• NOC 9411 – machine operators, mineral and metal processing
• NOC 9416 – metalworking and forging machine operators
• NOC 9417 – machining tool operators
• NOC 9418 – other metal products machine operators
• NOC 9421 – chemical plant machine operators
• NOC 9422 – plastics processing machine operators
• NOC 9437 – woodworking machine operators
• NOC 9446 – industrial sewing machine operators
• NOC 9461 – process control and machine operators, food, beverage and associated products processing
• NOC 9523 – electronics assemblers, fabricators, inspectors and testers
• NOC 9526 – mechanical assemblers and inspectors
• NOC 9536 – industrial painters, coaters and metal finishing process operators
• NOC 9537 – other products assemblers, finishers and inspectors

Candidates who received an invitation should apply for a provincial nomination within14 days. This will support their application for a PR visa.

Know More: Ontario PNP invites 48 candidates related to health, agriculture, and manufacturing

Manitoba invites 375 candidates in recent provincial draw

Manitoba released details of its provincial draw held last month. (July 29). The draw held under the EOI system invited 375 candidates in the following streams:

Skilled Workers in Manitoba

• Number of Letters of Advice to Apply issued: 285
• Ranking score of lowest-ranked candidate invited: 400

International Education Stream

• Number of Letters of Advice to Apply issued: 43

Skilled Workers Overseas

• Number of Letters of Advice to Apply issued: 47 who were invited directly by the MPNP under a Strategic Recruitment Initiative
• The ranking score of lowest-ranked candidate was 708

Among the 375 LAAs issued to candidates, 42 were issued to candidates who had an Express Entry ID and a job seeker validation code.

Know More: Manitoba invites 375 in MPNP EOI Draw #123

11th August 2021:

Ontario includes Masters Graduate and PhD Graduate streams in its EOI system

Graduates with job offers residing in Ontario can now register for an opportunity to get a provincial nomination through two more immigration programs offered by the province.

The streams that have been added to Ontario’s Expression of Interest stream are the Master’s Graduate and PhD Graduate streams. The other three programs that use the EOI system include: In-Demand Skills, International Student, and Foreign Worker.

Candidates from the two new streams can apply for immigration to Ontario at any time. Ontario ranks candidates’ profiles using the EOI system, which uses a score matrix. Candidates are awarded points based on their educational background, employment experience, and intended destination in Ontario, among other things.

Candidates that register for the EOI system are not guaranteed an invitation to seek for a provincial nomination. In Ontario’s EOI pool, profiles are valid for 12 months. Registrants may be contacted by the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) at any time to apply for a nomination.

Know More: Ontario includes Masters Graduate and PhD Graduate streams under EOI

09th August 2021:

Quebec introduce new measures to hire and retain temporary foreign workers

The province of Quebec announced new measures that will make it easier to hire temporary foreign workers. The province has arrived at an agreement with the Canadian federal government authorities to adopt three new measures that will help employers and businesses facing labor shortages. With this, Quebec becomes the first province to reach such an agreement. The three new measures include:

1. The Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) will become more flexible and become conducive for hiring foreign workers.
2. Giving access to an open work permit for some holders of the Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ) who have applied for permanent residency in Quebec.
3. Work permit will be given to holders of a CSQ from abroad who are looking for permanent residence.

Companies who want to hire foreign workers can currently do so at a rate of 10% of their workforce. This amount will be raised to 20% in the future.

Certain temporary foreign employees can work in Quebec in whatever job they want while they wait for permanent residence.

An open work permit will be available to workers who have a CSQ in the skilled worker category and a receipt confirming that their application for permanent residence has been accepted by the federal government.

The work permit will be valid for an initial period of 24 months, with the option to renew for another 12 months. It will include a stipulation that the place of employment be restricted to Quebec.

Know More:

07th August 2021:

Saskatchewan invited 452 candidates in recent provincial draw

The province of Saskatchewan held a provincial draw on August 5 where it invited 452 immigration candidates to apply for a provincial nomination.

The invitations were sent to candidates who are eligible for a nomination from the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP), especially from the International Skilled Worker category. Among the invited candidates,171 may be eligible for the SINP’s Express Entry subcategory, and 281 through the Occupations In-Demand sub-category.

Regardless of the category, the invited candidates were required to have an Expression of Interest (EOI) score of minimum 73 points in order to be invited. They were also required to submit their Educational Credential Assessments to prove that their foreign education was comparable to Canadian standards. Another eligibility requirement was work experience in one of the 65 in-demand occupations listed on the government webpage.

Know More: Saskatchewan invites 452 in the first SINP draw of August 2021, minimum EOI 73 requirement

06th August 2021:

Canada invites 3000 immigrants in latest Express Entry draw for CEC candidates

In an Express Entry draw held on August 5 Canada invited 3,000 candidates to apply for permanent residence. The invited candidates were required to be eligible for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and needed a CRS score of at least 404 points.

Only those candidates who had submitted their profiles before August 3, 2021 were eligible for this draw.

This was a CEC only draw in line with IRCC’s trend of holding only CEC and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) Express Entry draws.

Candidates for these programs are mostly from Canada or have ties to the country. Because Canadian work experience is one of the immigration program’s core eligibility criteria, the vast majority of CEC candidates are already in Canada. 90% of candidates in the Express Entry pool, are in Canada.

Domestic applicants are preferred by Canada because they are less likely to face coronavirus-related challenges. Holders of a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) were unable to enter Canada and complete their immigration process until June 21.

In addition, the government immigration targets for 2021 have been set at a new high of 401,000.  IRCC has admitted 143,000 new permanent residents across all programs in the first half of this year. Canada will need to land roughly 43,000 newcomers each month to meet its aim of 401,000 newcomers by 2021.

Know More: 

Alberta invited 148 Express Entry candidates in recent provincial draw

In a draw held on July 27, the province of Alberta under the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) invited 148 Express Entry candidates with CRS score of at least 300.

The invited candidates can now apply for a provincial nomination through the Alberta Express Entry stream.

So far this year Alberta has invited 2761 Express Entry candidates to apply for a provincial nomination. The province can issue 6,250 nomination certificates in 2021.

Know More: Alberta PNP releases details of latest AINP draw held

05th August 2021:

Canada invites 512 candidates in latest Express Entry draw

Canada conducted an Express Entry draw on August 4 where it invited candidates who have already received provincial nominations. In this draw the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) invited 512 candidates with scores of at least 760 points.

The high score requirements are due to the fact that those who have a provincial nomination will automatically get 600 points.

In this draw, only those candidates who had submitted their profile before March 5, 2021 were invited.

Since the beginning of 2021, IRCC has only held Express Entry draws for the PNP and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). The IRCC has made an attempt to admit people who are already living in Canada.

Despite the fact that PNP candidates are not necessarily in Canada, at least not in the same numbers as CEC candidates, it makes sense for the federal government to cooperate with its provincial partners.

PNP applicants are less concerned about travel constraints. This is due to the fact that on June 21, Canada opened its border to approved permanent citizens. Those who are invited today may have to wait months for their Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR), which is the final document required to become a landed permanent resident in Canada.

Know More: 

British Columbia invites 374 candidates in latest provincial draw

British Columbia has invited 374 candidates in a provincial draw held on August 3.

From February of this year, the province has been conducting two separate rounds of invitations twice every month as part of its PNP program.

The province holds a general draw and a second draw which targets retail and wholesale trade managers as well as restaurant and food service managers.

This second draw, according to information supplied by the government, is owing to a large number of people with these two vocations registered in the BC PNP Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS). The government hopes to balance the demands in all areas of the provincial labor market by hosting these additional draws.

In this draw, invitations were issued to those from the Skilled Worker, International Graduate as well as Entry Level and Semi-Skilled sub-categories of SI and EEBC streams.

The minimum scores for this draw were between 74 and 91 points. A total of 361 candidates were invited in this category.

A separate draw was also conducted under SI and EEBC categories and was aimed at candidates whose occupation falls under NOC 0621 or NOC 0631 where 13 invitations with scores of 107 were given.

The province has issued a total of 7041 invitations through various BC PNP streams so far this year.

Know More: British Columbia issues 374 invitations in 2 BC PNP draws held the same day

Manitoba invites 375 candidates in provincial draw

In a draw held on July 29, the province of Manitoba invited 375 immigration candidates to apply for a provincial nomination.

The candidates invited in this draw can now apply for a nomination under the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP).  Once they receive a nomination, they can apply for Canadian PR.

Here are the details of the categories under which the candidates were invited and the required EOI score:

• Skilled Workers in Manitoba— 285 invitations with a minimum EOI score of 400;
• Skilled Workers Overseas— 47 invitations with a minimum EOI score of 708; and
• International Education Stream — 43 invitations with no EOI score requirement.

42 invitations or Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs), were sent to Express Entry candidates.

Know More: Manitoba invites 375 in MPNP EOI Draw #123

28th July 2021:

Manitoba invites a record number of Express Entry candidates in latest provincial draw

The province of Manitoba invited a record number of 1,140 Express Entry candidates to apply for a provincial nomination on July 27 which is the highest number so far in a single draw. The cutoff score for this draw was 557 points.

The number of invitation s in this draw was higher than the previous record-breaking draw when the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) invited 1,017 Express Entry candidates on June 28 this year.

The invited candidates were invited from the Skilled Workers Overseas stream. The candidates should have already submitted a profile to Manitoba’s Expression of Interest (EOI) system and were required to have an EOI score of minimum 557 points to receive the Letter of Advice to Apply (LAA).

This score is as per Manitoba’s EOI scoring matrix.

Know More:

British Columbia invites 59 candidates in latest tech draw

British Columbia invited 59 immigration candidates who are working in key technology occupations to apply for a provincial nomination on July 27.

The invitations were submitted through the BC PNP Tech program which is part of British Columbia PNP.

Invitations were issued through the B. C’s Tech draws where candidates are required to meet the requirements of any one of British Columbia’s Express Entry BC and Skills immigration categories, which are managed by the Skills and Immigration Registration System (SIRS).

Candidates invited in this draw belonged to the Skilled Worker and International Graduate subcategories and needed a minimum provincial score of 80.

The candidates should apply for a nomination within 30 days.

Know More: British Columbia invites 59 candidates in latest BC PNP Tech draw

28th July 2021:

Ontario invites 1,031 candidates in new Express Entry draw

The province of Ontario conducted a draw on July 27 where it invited 1,031 Express Entry candidates with work experience in one of 18 occupations.

The invited candidates had profiles in the Express Entry system with a CRS score between 458 and 467.

The candidates invited under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program and are eligible for the Express Entry Human Capital Priorities Stream (HCP).

In this draw, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) invited those candidates who had work experience in one of the following 18 occupations listed in order of their National Occupational Classification (NOC) code:

· NOC 0114 – Other administrative services managers

· NOC 0122 – Banking, credit and other investment managers

· NOC 0124 – Advertising, marketing and public relations managers

· NOC 0125 – Other business services managers

· NOC 0211 – Engineering managers

· NOC 0311 – Managers in health care

· NOC 0601 – Corporate sales managers

· NOC 0631 – Restaurant and food service managers

· NOC 0711 – Construction managers

· NOC 0731 – Managers in transportation

· NOC 0911 – Manufacturing managers

· NOC 1121 – Human resources professionals

· NOC 1122 – Professional occupations in business management consulting

· NOC 2161 – Mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries

· NOC 3012 – Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses

· NOC 3211 – Medical laboratory technologists

· NOC 3231 – Opticians

· NOC 3233 – Licensed practical nurses

The invited candidates are required to have at least one year of work experience in any one of the above occupations to receive a provincial nomination. If they receive an invitation, they will be the first in line to receive an ITA for Canada PR.

Know More: Ontario PNP invites 1,031 Express Entry candidates in latest OINP draw

23rd July 2021:

Canada conducts Express Entry draws where it invites 4500 candidates

In an Express Entry draw held on July 22, Canada invited 4,500 Express Entry candidates for Canadian permanent residence.

The required score for this draw was at least 357 points. The invited candidates are required to be eligible for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) in order to be invited. They should have submitted their profiles before February 14, 2021 to get the invitation.

Know More: Express Entry: 4,500 invited with minimum CRS 357 requirement

Saskatchewan invites 280 immigration candidates in new provincial draw

In a draw held on July 21, Saskatchewan invited 280 immigration candidates to apply for a provincial nomination.

The draw invited candidates who are eligible for a nomination from the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP), especially from the International Skilled Worker category. Among the invited candidates, 84 may be eligible for the SINP’s Express Entry subcategory, and 196 through the Occupations In-Demand sub-category.

The eligibility requirements to be invited for the draw are an Expression of Interest (EOI) score of at least 77, ECAs and work experience in one of the 63 in-demand occupations listed on the government webpage.

Know More: Saskatchewan PNP invites a total of 280 in latest SINP draw

22nd July 2021:

Ontario invites 115 candidates in latest provincial draw

Ontario held a provincial draw on July 21 where it invited 115 bilingual Express Entry candidates. The candidates selected in this draw are eligible to immigrate to Canada through the province’s Ontario’s Express Entry French-Speaking Skilled Worker (FSSW) stream. The candidates are required to have a profile in the Express Entry system and have a CRS score between 461 and 467.

The FSSW is aligned with the Express Entry system. Candidates invited in this draw ought to have an Express Entry profile created after July 21, 2020. Apart from this, candidates should have a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of at least 7 in French, and 6 in English. They should also enough funds to support themselves.

Know More: Ontario invites 115 from the FSSW stream in latest OINP draw

Canada invites 462 candidates in latest Express Entry draw

Canada has invited 462 Express Entry candidates to apply for permanent residence on July 21. The invited candidates should have received a nomination from a PNP earlier. The score cut-off for this draw is 734 points. Provincial nominees will already have 600 points added to their CRS score.

Candidates who had submitted their Express Entry profile before April 11, 2021 were invited to this draw. Like all previous Express Entry draws, this draw focused on PNP candidates.

Know More: Latest IRCC Express Entry draw invites 462 to apply for Canada PR

British Columbia issues 383 invitations in its PNP draw

In a draw held on July 20, the province of British Columbia issued 383 invitations to immigration candidates.

From February, the province has been conducting two separate draws under its PNP program twice a month. The province holds a general draw and a second draw targeting retail and wholesale trade managers as well as restaurant and food service managers.

In this draw, candidates from the Skills Immigration (SI) and Express Entry BC (EEBC) streams of the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) received invitations.

The focus was on candidates from the Skilled Worker, International Graduate as well as Entry Level and Semi-Skilled sub-categories of SI and EEBC streams.

Know More: British Columbia invites 383 to apply, EI – Base category temporarily suspended

Alberta invites 181 Express Entry candidates in recent draw

Alberts invited 181 Express Entry candidates through its Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) with a CRS score of at least 301 points in a draw held on July 14. The invited candidates can now apply for a provincial nomination through the Alberta Express Entry stream.

Since January 2021, Alberta has invited 2,613 Express Entry candidates to apply for a provincial nomination so far.

Prince Edward Island invites 127 candidates in latest provincial draw

Prince Edward Island held a provincial draw on July 15 where it invited 127 immigration candidates. Of these 118 invitations went to Express Entry and Labor Impact candidates while none invitations went to Business Impact candidates who had a minimum score of 60 points.

For PEI, this is the seventh draw of the year. PEI has so far invited 1,032 candidates, out of these 934 were from the Labour Impact and Express Entry streams while 98 were from the Business Impact stream.

Know More: Canada’s Alberta invites 181, minimum CRS 301 requirement

20th July 2021:

Canada to open borders to vaccinated travelers from all nations from September 7

On September 7, the border will reopen to properly vaccinated travelers from all nations.

Fully vaccinated travelers are no longer required to undergo on-arrival and day-eight testing, but they may be tested at the border at random.

Travellers must have the recommended dosage of a vaccination licensed for use in Canada to be deemed “fully vaccinated.”

At least 14 days before entry, the final injection must have been obtained. It makes no difference where travelers got their vaccinations. The following vaccine manufacturers are currently accepted in Canada: Astra Zeneca, Pfizer, Moderna, and Janssen (Johnson & Johnson). All results must be submitted in French or English, or a certified translation will be required by border officials.

Know More:

19th July 2021:

Ontario conducts its first In-Demand Skills Stream draw

Ontario conducted its first In-Demand Skills stream draw based on its new intake system. 54 candidates were invited for a provincial nomination with a score of minimum 11 points.

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) also conducted a draw for the Regional Immigration Pilot where one candidate was invited. There is no EOI score requirement for candidates under this stream.

Invited candidates are required to have work experience in one of the following occupations:

Health and agricultural occupations:

• NOC 3413 – nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates
• NOC 4412 – home support workers and related occupations, excluding housekeepers
• NOC 8431 – general farm workers
• NOC 8432 – nursery and greenhouse workers
• NOC 8611 – harvesting laborers
• NOC 9462 – industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers

Manufacturing (outside Greater Toronto Area only):

• NOC 9411 – machine operators, mineral and metal processing
• NOC 9416 – metalworking and forging machine operators
• NOC 9417 – machining tool operators
• NOC 9418 – other metal products machine operators
• NOC 9421 – chemical plant machine operators
• NOC 9422 – plastics processing machine operators
• NOC 9437 – woodworking machine operators
• NOC 9446 – industrial sewing machine operators
• NOC 9461 – process control and machine operators, food, beverage and associated products processing
• NOC 9523 – electronics assemblers, fabricators, inspectors and testers
• NOC 9526 – mechanical assemblers and inspectors
• NOC 9536 – industrial painters, coaters and metal finishing process operators
• NOC 9537 – other products assemblers, finishers and inspectors

The invited candidates can apply for nomination within 14 days under Ontario’s Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

Know More: Ontario PNP holds its first In-Demand Skills stream draw as part of new EOI system

16th July 2021:

Canada announces new open work permit for essential workers and international student graduates

Immigrants on a temporary resident status in Canada who had applied for one of the recently launched pathways to permanent residence will be eligible for an open work permit till their application is finalized from July 26.

This announcement was made by the Canadian immigration minister recently. This means that the applicants need not worry about their temporary work or study permit expiring before their PR application is approved by the IRCC. They can apply for the open work permit till they get a decision.

Without the open work permit, this category of PR applicants will have to leave Canada once their temporary permit expires. Now with the open work permit they can legally stay in Canada till December 31, 2022.

According the Canadian immigration minister, “Our new path to permanent residence for 90,000 essential workers and international graduates is a major step forward—the size, speed and scope of which is unprecedented. This new open work permit ensures that those who have been playing critical roles throughout the pandemic can continue their extraordinary service.”

Eligibility conditions

Applicants must demonstrate the following in order to be considered for this one-time open work permit:

• Have applied for permanent residency through one of the new channels;
• During the time of their application, they were authorized to work;
• Possess a valid work permit that will expire in the following four months;
• At the time their open work visa application is submitted, they have temporary residence status, maintained status, or are eligible to restore their status;
• Are in Canada at the time their application for an open work permit is submitted;
• Were employed in any occupation when their application for permanent residency was submitted; and
• At the time their application was filed, they met the language requirements of the stream in which they applied.

The applicant’s spouse or common-law partner, as well as dependent children over the age of 18, are eligible for the open work visa if they are also in Canada.

15th July 2021:

Quebec introduces a new scoring system for its Arrima Expression of Interest bank

The immigration authority in the province of Quebec has introduced a new scoring system which will help to rank profile that are registered with the Arrima Expression of Interest bank.

The new system will be effective from July 14, 2021 is related to points in two categories:

1. Human capital factors:

• French language ability.
• French and English combined.
• Age.
• Work experience.
• Education.

2. Quebec labor market factors:

• Work experience in a field with a labor shortage.
• Qualifications in one of Quebec’s areas of training.
• Level of Quebec education.
• Professional experience in Quebec.
• Professional experience in the rest of Canada.
• Job offer inside or outside Greater Montreal.

The Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration (MIFI) has said that the new system will help to provide a better response to labor market needs and determine a candidate’s integration potential.

Know More:

14th July 2021:

British Columbia invited 56 candidates in latest tech draw

British Columbia conducted a draw under its tech program where it invited 56 immigration candidates. The draw was conducted on July 13. The candidates invited in this draw belonged to the following categories:

Skilled Worker

International Graduate

EEBC – Skilled Worker

EEBC – International Graduate

The minimum score required for this draw was 80 points.

Know More: British Columbia invites 56 in latest BC PNP Tech draw

Manitoba invited 277 candidates in latest draw

The province of Manitoba invited 277 immigration candidates to apply for a provincial nomination on July 9.

Here are further details of the draw:

Skilled Workers in Manitoba— 201 invitations with a minimum EOI score of 445;

Skilled Workers Overseas— 53 invitations with a minimum EOI score of 703; and

International Education Stream — 23 invitations with no EOI score requirement.

Apart from this 48 Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) were issued to Express Entry candidates.

The invited candidates have a chance to get a nomination from the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP).

Know More: Manitoba invites 277 in latest MPNP draw

Nova Scotia launches PNP targeting international graduates

The province of Nova Scotia has launched a new Provincial Nominee Program stream specifically for international graduates.

At present, the International Graduates in Demand stream of the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) is open to workers with a permanent job offer in one of two National Occupational Classification codes:

1. NOC 3413: Nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates.

2. NOC 4214: Early childhood educators and assistants.

To be eligible for this stream, the candidates must have job offer from a Nova Scotia employer which is related to their field of study, they must have also completed at least half of their course in the province.

Ontario holds largest EOI draw till date

In a draw held by the province of Ontario, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) invited a total of 1,685 candidates who had profiles in the new Expression of Interest (EOI) pool.

The invited candidates could qualify for one of two Employer Job Offer streams. This draw saw the largest number of invitations issued through the Employer Job Offer streams till date in 2021.

In this draw, 1,211 invitations were issued to candidates who may be eligible for the Foreign Worker Stream. The required score for this draw was at least 33 points. This was a general draw indicating that there were no targeted occupations, nor location requirements for this draw.

The draw also invited 431 candidates to apply for a nomination in a general draw through the International Student Stream. The required EOI score for candidates was at least 62 points to get an invitation.

In this draw, 43 invitations were issued to immigration candidates who were registered for the Regional Immigration Pilot and had a chance to qualify for the same two Employer Job Offer streams.

Know More: Ontario PNP invites a record 1,685 through the EOI system in the same day

13th July 2021:

Canada has the highest vaccination rate among countries with more than 10 million people

While Canada was initially lagging behind other countries during the initial days of vaccination against Coronavirus, it has picked up in vaccination numbers and has now emerged as a leader in the percentage of the population who are vaccinated against COVID-19 with at least one dose.

Till date, 58 percent of the total population in the country have been vaccinated with at least one dose. This means Canada ranks the highest among countries with 10 million and above in population who have vaccinated their residents.

Know More: Canada ranks #1 in COVID-19 vaccination among countries with 10+ million population

9th July 2021:

Saskatchewan invites 295 candidates in latest immigration draw

The province of Saskatchewan conducted a provincial draw on July 8, where it invited 295 immigration candidates to apply for a provincial nomination.

Candidates who were eligible for a nomination under the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP), and belonged to the International Skilled Worker category were invited in this draw.

Out of the invited candidates 99 could be eligible under SINP’s Express Entry subcategory, while 196 candidates could be eligible under the Occupations In-Demand sub-category.

The eligibility conditions for this draw were the candidates had to have an Expression of Interest (EOI) score of at least 80 to get an invitation. They also had to have Educational Credential Assessments and work experience in one of the 62 in-demand occupations listed on the government website.

Know More: Saskatchewan invites 295 in latest SINP draw

Canada invites 4,500 CEC candidates in Express Entry draw

On July 8, Canada invited 4,500 Express Entry candidates to apply for permanent residence. The candidates required a score of 369 to be eligible for the draw.

The cutoff score was higher compared to the previous CEC round where the score requirement was 369.

This was the smallest CEC draw since May 20^th this year. Candidates who submitted their invitations before June 10 were invited for this draw.

Know More: Express Entry: Another 4,500 receive invitations to apply for Canada PR

Canada invites 627 PNP candidates in Express Entry draw

On July 7, Canada issued 627 invitations for permanent residence to Express Entry candidates. The invitations were issued to PNP candidates who had to have a score of at least 760 points. But PNP candidates will have 600 points added to their score, so the lowest scoring candidate will have 160 points.

Candidates who had submitted their Express Entry profile before June 14, 2021 were invited to this draw.

Know More: Express Entry: Latest draw invites 627 with a PNP nomination

1st July 2021:

Canada invites a record number of Express Entry candidates in the second quarter of 2021

An assessment of the number of invitations issued to immigration candidates in the second quarter of 2021 shows that a record-breaking number of 44,591 immigration candidates were issued ITAs to apply for permanent residence through the Express Entry system. This was higher compared to the 44,124 invitations issued in the first quarter of 2021.

By the end of June 2021, the IRCC has issued a total of 88,715 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residents breaking the previous record set in 2017.

The EE draws in the second quarter of 2021 are characterized by large draws with low CRS cut-off scores.

Every draw in 2021 has been program specific, the pattern followed has been a PNP draw followed by a CEC draw.

The IRCC has adopted this strategy to invite candidates who are most likely to be in Canada at the time of the draw because it has been difficult to invite candidates who are staying overseas due to travel restrictions imposed due to the Coronavirus pandemic. In May this year about 95 percent of CEC candidates and 30 percent of PNP candidates were in Canada.

Compared to the first quarter of this year, the IRCC has conducted more draws in the second quarter, 14 as compared to 10. The size of the draws was also huge. However, there were very few all program draws held during the pandemic, as a result Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) candidates were not included in the draws this year.

The CRS cutoff scores were lower with the increase in the size of the draws. The CRS scores for CEC candidates has been going down since May with the CRS requirement for the latest draw being 357 points.

With the removal of COVID related travel restrictions and rapid progress in vaccination numbers, we can hope to see more of all-program draws in the second half of 2021.

Know More: Canada immigration update: All Express Entry draws in June 2021

30th June 2021:

IRCC rolls back 60-day time frame for Express Entry candidates with invitations to submit their PR application

The IRCC has announced that Express Entry candidates will once again have 60 days to submit their PR application from the date they receive an invitation to submit their PR application.

From June 29, the IRCC has decided to roll back its earlier decision which allowed applicants 90 days to submit their application from the date they receive their application. This measure was taken in view of COVID-19 restrictions.

The return to the 60-day time period will help the IRCC to process a higher volume of applications.

However, Express Entry candidates who received their invitations before June 29, 2021 will still have 90 days to submit their PR application. The 60-day timeframe will only apply to Express Entry candidates who will be invited in the coming weeks.

IRCC issues instructions for those with expired COPRs

The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has released instructions for those with expired Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) holders for renewing their documents so that they can travel to Canada.

Due to Coronavirus-related travel restrictions many COPR holders had to wait for the border to reopen to further proceed with their immigration to Canada. The Canada border reopened on June 21. During this period many COPR holders realized that their documents had expired. The IRCC has come out with instructions for such people.

Those with expired COPR will get an email from an official in the immigration department about their application in which they will have to conform if they still wish to come to Canada.

In such cases, the IRCC will ask them to submit new medicals and other updated information. If the applicants do not respond, but later wish to enter Canada as a permanent resident, then they will have to reapply.

Know More: IRCC updates guidelines for permanent resident applicants

26th June 2021:

BC invites 395 immigration candidates in two PNP draws

The province of British Columbia held two PNP draws on June 22 where it invited 395 immigration candidates. The province has been issuing separate rounds of invitations under its PNP program since February this year. In these rounds of invitations, one is a general draw and the second draw targets wholesale trade managers and restaurant and food service managers.

B.C. has been conducting two separate rounds of invitations under its PNP program since February. The province holds a general draw and a second draw targeting retail and wholesale trade managers as well as restaurant and food service managers.

This second draw, according to information supplied by the government, is owing to a large number of people with these two vocations registered in the BC PNP Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS). The government hopes to balance the demands in all areas of the provincial labor market by hosting these additional drawings.

In this round of draws candidates belonging to the Skills Immigration (SI) and Express Entry BC (EEBC) streams of the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) were invited.

In this draw, specific invitations were issued to candidates from the Skilled Worker, International Graduate as well as Entry Level and Semi-Skilled sub-categories of SI and EEBC streams.

The minimum scores for the draw were between 75 and 93 points in which a total of 341 candidates were invited.

The draw conducted under SI and EEBC categories focused on candidates whose occupation falls under NOC 0621 or NOC 0631. The draw issued a total of 54 invitations with scores of 109 points.

B.C. has issued a total of 5730 invitations through various BC PNP streams, so far for this year

Know More: British Columbia PNP invites 395 in 2 draws held the same day

25th June 2021:

Canada invites 6000 candidates in latest Express Entry draw

Canada held another Express Entry draw on June 24 where it invited 6000 candidates to apply for permanent residency through the Canadian Experience Class or CEC. The CRS score requirement for this draw was 357.

The CRS score for this draw was 357 which was the second lowest for the CEC only draw, an earlier draw held in February this year had a CRS score of 75.

CRS score requirements continue to fall in the CEC only draws as the IRCC is looking to invite up to 401,000 new immigrants this year.

Read More: Canada’s Express Entry latest draw invites 6,000 with Canadian experience

24th June 2021:

Canada invites 1002 PNP candidates in latest Express Entry draw

In the latest Express Entry draw, Canada invited 1,002 immigration candidates to apply for permanent residence.

The invited candidates had previously received a PNP nomination. The cut-off score for this draw was 742 as the candidates will automatically get 600 points added to their score. So, candidates require only 142 points to be selected for the draw. Only those candidates who submitted their applications before February 18 2021 were invited to this draw.

In order to get around the travel restrictions imposed by the pandemic Canada has been holding PNP and CEC specific draws where the candidates are most likely to be living in Canada. The travel restrictions are likely to be eased in the coming weeks.

Know More:

Ontario invites 583 Express Entry candidates in latest provincial draw

In a draw held on June 23, the province of Ontario invited 583 Express Entry candidates to apply for a provincial nomination.

The invited candidates had profiles in the Express Entry system with CRS scores ranging between 464 and 467.

Candidates who had work experience in one of the following 10 occupations were invited in this draw:

Banking, credit and other investment managers (NOC 0122);

Advertising, marketing and public relations managers (NOC 0124);

Other business services managers (NOC 0125);

Corporate sales managers (NOC 0601);

Financial auditors and accountants (NOC 1111);

Financial and investment analysts (NOC 1112);

Human resources professionals (NOC 1121);

Professional occupations in business management consulting (NOC 1122);

Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (NOC 3012); and

Business development officers and marketing researchers and consultants (NOC 4163).

The invited Express Entry candidates were required to have at least one year of work experience in one of these occupations to get the provincial nomination.

Know More:

Quebec invites 69 candidates for permanent residency in new Arrima draw

The province of Quebec invited 69 immigration candidates to apply for permanent selection on June 17.

The invited candidates came under the Regular Skilled Worker Program (RSWP) and had filed an Expression of Interest (EOI) in Quebec’s online registration portal, Arrima.

The candidates were also required to have a validated job offer.

This is the fifth draw by Quebec for 2021. The province has been issuing rounds of invitations every month for this year. A total number of 545 candidates have now been invited to apply for permanent selection in 2021.

Know More: 

23rd June 2021:

Alberta invites 184 Express Entry candidates in latest provincial draw

The province of Alberta held a provincial draw on June 22, where it invited 184 Express Entry candidates to apply for a provincial nomination. The invited candidates are now eligible for the Alberta Express Entry stream.

The invited candidates were required to have a profile in the Express Entry system with a score of at least 300. This is the second draw of the province for this month with the same minimum score requirement. The previous draw was conducted on June 5.

So far in 2021, Alberta has invited 2,284 Express Entry candidates to apply for a provincial nomination.

Apart from inviting candidates living and working in the province, the province is now keen on inviting candidates who have a job offer in Alberta or have experience in an occupation which has the potential to contribute to the economic development of Alberta.

Know More: Alberta PNP invites 184 in the latest AINP draw

22nd June 2021:

PEI invites 113 candidates in latest immigration draw

The province of Prince Edward Island held a PNP draw on June 17 where it invited 113 immigration candidates.

Out of the 113 invitations, 101 were issued to Express Entry candidates and Labour Impact candidates while the remaining 12 went to Business Impact candidates who had to have a minimum of 20 points.

This is the sixth draw held by the province for this year. The province has so far invited 905 candidates out of which 816 were from the Labour Impact and Express Entry streams and 89 from the Business Impact stream.

Know More: Prince Edward Island PNP holds monthly draw as per 2021 schedule

Valid COPR holders can now travel to Canada

Confirmation of Permanent Residence or COPR holders are now allowed to enter Canada. Since March 2020, when Canada imposed coronavirus travel restrictions, more than 23,000 COPRs have been issued.

Those who have been approved to immigrate to Canada by IRCC are given a COPR. This indicates that the person has satisfied the program’s requirements, paid their fees, and passed health, security, and criminality screenings. They can travel to Canada to start their new life.

However, according to Canadian government data, a total of 23,000 COPRs have been unable to go to Canada since March 2020 due to travel restrictions imposed due to the pandemic.

Til this announcement, only those individuals who got their COPR before March 18 2020 could travel to Canada. Those who got their COPR after this date could come to the country if they were eligible under any one of the travel exemptions or were residents of the US moving to Canada to settle down here permanently.

COPRs are only valid for a year. They are linked to the applicant’s passport and medical examination for immigration. Many people have been unable to travel to Canada because of the Coronavirus or because they do not meet one of Canada’s travel restrictions. Their COPR has now expired as a result of this. Those with expired COPRs are advised not to travel to Canada right now and instead apply to the IRCC for a new COPR to travel to the country.

Know More: IRCC updates guidelines for permanent resident applicants

17th June 2021:

Ontario invites 940 international students and temporary workers in latest PNP draw

The province of Ontario held a new immigration draw on June 16, where it invited 940 candidates to apply for a provincial nomination.

Candidates who had profiles in the new Expression of Interest (EOI) pool were invited in this draw. The candidates could also be qualified in any one of the two Employer Job Offer streams.

Out of the 940 invited candidates, 569 were eligible for the Foreign Worker Stream. The required score was at least 38 points. This draw required no targeted occupations or location requirements.

The remaining 371 candidates were invited to apply for nomination under the International Student Stream. The required EOI score for this category was at least 66 points.

Foreign nationals who have an eligible job offer from an employer in Ontario are eligible for the Ontario Foreign Worker Stream. Candidates need not be in Canada while making the application provided they meet the eligibility requirements.

Eligibility requirements include two years of work experience in a skilled occupation, an eligible job offer in Ontario and intention to immigrate to the province.

Know More: Ontario PNP invites 940 in latest EOI draw

Saskatchewan issues 255 invitations in latest provincial draw

The province of Saskatchewan conducted a draw on June 15 where it issued 255 invitations.

The invitations were sent to candidates eligible under the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP), especially those who applied under the International Skilled Worker category. Among the invited candidates, 103 may be eligible for the Express Entry sub-category while 152 are eligible for the Occupations-in-demand sub-category.

In the past few months, the province has issued 250 invitations on an average every two weeks.

Candidates had to have an EOI score of at least 82 points in order to be invited. Other requirements included having an ECA and work experience in any one of the 55 in-demand occupations that appear in the government webpage.

Know More: Saskatchewan PNP invites 255 to apply in latest SINP draw

British invites 72 candidates in tech draw

British Columbia invited, in its latest provincial draw held on June 15 invited 72 immigration candidates working in the IT sector to apply for a provincial nomination.

The invitations were issued through the BC PNP Tech program which is part of the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP). The invited candidates must meet the requirements of any one of British Columbia’s Express Entry BC and Skills immigration categories, which are managed by the Skills and Immigration Registration System (SIRS).

The candidates invited in this draw were from the Skilled Worker and International Graduate subcategories and were required to have a minimum provincial score of 80.

Know More: British Columbia holds the second Tech draw of the month

11th June 2021:

Canada conducts CEC draw with low cut-off scores

The IRCC conducted an Express Entry draw on June 10 where it invited 6000 CEC candidates with minimum CRS score of 368.

The invited candidates had at least one year of skilled work experience and proficiency at the intermediate level in either English or French.

Candidates who had submitted their Express Entry profile before April 28 2021.

Canada has been conducting CEC-only draws with historically low score cut offs as per recent trends.

Since the beginning of the year, Canada has prioritized candidates who are more likely to already be in the country. Candidates staying overseas and were authorized for a PR visa after March 18, 2020, are unable to go to finish their permanent residency landing because to current travel restrictions.

Canada invites 940 candidates in latest PNP linked Express Entry draw

On June 9, Canada conducted an Express Entry draw, where it invited 940 candidates to apply for permanent residence. The invited candidates had previously received a nomination from the PNP. This is the reason the cutoff score for this draw was set at 711 which is relatively high considering the fact that PNP candidates in the Express Entry pool will automatically get 600 points added to their CRS score so that the lowest scoring candidate will just need 111 points.

This draw invited only those candidates who had submitted their Express Entry profile before February 16.

The previous PNP draw invited only 500 candidates and the score requirement for the draw was 713 points.

Latest Draws: Express Entry: Another PNP-specific draw held, 940 invited

British Columbia invites 373 immigration candidates in two separate PNP draws

British Columbia invited 373 immigration candidates in two separate Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws which were held on June 8.

Since February, B.C. has been holding two distinct rounds of invitations under its PNP program. A general draw was held, as well as a second draw for managers in the retail and wholesale trades, as well as restaurant and foodservice managers. These two occupations have a large number of people enrolled in the BC PNP Skills Immigration Registration System, and the government is working to balance the numbers.

In the general draw, candidates from the Skills Immigration (SI) and Express Entry BC (EEBC) streams of the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) received invitations in the general draw.

In this draw, specifically invitations were issued to those from the Skilled Worker, International Graduate as well as Entry Level and Semi-Skilled sub-categories of SI and EEBC streams.

The minimum scores for this draw were between 76 and 93 points where 323 candidates were invited.

Another separate draw conducted under SI and EEBC categories invited candidates whose occupation falls under NOC 0621 or NOC 0631. In this draw 50 invitations were issued with the required score of 110 points.

The province has issued a total of 5249 invitations through various BC PNP streams so far in 2021.

Latest Draws: British Columbia PNP invites 373 candidates, 50 from NOC 0621 & NOC 0631

8th June 2021:

Manitoba issues 142 invitations in its recent provincial draw

The province of Manitoba invited 142 immigration candidates to apply for a provincial nomination on June 7. The invited candidates are likely to get a nomination from the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP). If they do so they can apply for permanent residence.

Here is the breakup of the invitations issued under the various categories of the MPNP:

· Skilled Workers in Manitoba— 95 invitations with a minimum EOI score of 375

· Skilled Workers Overseas— 25 invitations with a minimum EOI score of 703

· International Education Stream— 22 invitations with no EOI score requirement.

Apart from this, 13 invitations or Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs), were issued to Express Entry candidates.

Latest Draws: Manitoba PNP: 13 Express Entry candidates among 142 invited

Alberta invites 191 Express Entry candidates in the latest draw

The province of Alberta held a draw on June 5, where it invited 191 Express Entry candidates to apply for a provincial nomination.

The invited candidates will be eligible to apply under the Alberta Express Entry stream.

The invited candidates required a score of at least 300 points to get an invitation. The previous draw held by the province had a score requirement of 301 points.

In the draws held so far by the province in 2021, the number of invitations issued to Express Entry candidates stands at 2,100.

Latest Draws: Alberta PNP: CRS drops to 300 in the latest AINP draw

3rd June 2021:

British Columbia invites 68 candidates in the latest provincial draw

In a draw held on June 1, the province of British Columbia invited 68 workers belonging to the technology and information technology sector to apply for a provincial nomination.

The invitations were issued under the province’s Tech Pilot program, which is part of the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP).

To be eligible for this category, candidates must meet the requirements of one of British Columbia’s Express Entry BC and Skills immigration categories, both of which are managed by the Skills and Immigration Registration System (SIRS). The invitations in this draw went to candidates from the Skilled Worker and International Graduate subcategories and needed a minimum provincial score of 80. The invited candidates can apply for a nomination within 30 days of receiving the invitation.

Manitoba invites 404 Express Entry candidates in latest draw

The province of Manitoba invited 404 Express Entry candidates in a new draw held May 27.

The Express Entry candidates invited under the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) will now be eligible for the Skilled Workers Overseas stream.

The invited candidates are required to have a minimum Expression of Interest (EOI) score of 601 if they have to get an invitation. This score is tabulated based on Manitoba’s EOI scoring matrix. It is not the same as the federal Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) for Express Entry. There was no CRS requirement for this draw.

The candidates who received an invitation can now apply for a provincial nomination form Manitoba. These candidates will already have 600 CRS points because of this nomination which will increase their chances of being selected for an ITA for permanent residence in the next Express Entry draw.

Ontario invites 986 Express Entry candidates in latest draw

In a draw held on June 1, the province of Ontario invited 986 Express Entry candidates to apply for a provincial nomination. The required scores were as low as 300.

The candidates invited under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) can be eligible for a nomination through the Ontario Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream.

The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores for these candidates were between 300 and 379. These candidates had submitted their profiles between June 1, 2020 and June 1, 2021.

These candidates are most likely to get an ITA for permanent residence because they already have 600 CRS points due to this nomination. The invited candidates can apply for a nomination within 45 days.

Government of Canada makes changes for Express Entry applicant to meet IME requirements

The Government of Canada has made some changes to the way applicants can meet an Immigration Medical Examination (IME) requirement for Express Entry application submission due to COVID-19 restrictions. The IME is required as part of the application for permanent residence.

If you and your family are currently residing in Canada, before applying for permanent residency, you must obtain a medical exam by a panel physician. Medical exams are also required for your accompanying or in-Canada family members.

As soon as you receive your invitation to apply, you should complete your medical assessment. Your exam results must be valid when you file your permanent residence application, and as soon as you are granted permanent residence in Canada.

As a result, it’s a good idea to finish the exam as soon as possible after submitting your online application. If your health is a concern, your permanent residency application will not be approved. It will be rejected if your health is a threat to the public health or safety of Canadians or if it would put an undue strain on Canada’s health and social services.

If you are outside Canada and applying online and have had a medical exam as part of another category’s application and/or completed an IME within the previous 12 months, you can send a copy of the results.

1st June 2021:

Canada invited 5,956 immigration candidates in latest Express Entry draw

Canada conducted a new Express Entry draw on May 31, where it invited 5,956 candidates to apply for permanent residence.

Candidates needed a score of at least 380 to be eligible for this draw according to the IRCC. This draw invited candidates who qualified for permanent residence under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). The eligibility requirements for invited candidates included at least one year of skilled work experience in Canada and intermediate language skills in either English or French.

This was the third largest Express Entry draw so far. This draw also had the second-lowest Comprehensive Ranking Score (CRS) in 2021.

29th May 2021:

Quebec invites 90 foreign worker candidates in provincial draw

In a provincial draw held on May 27, Quebec invited 90 immigration candidates to apply for permanent residence.

The draw held by the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) invited candidates under the Regular Skilled Worker Program (RSWP) who had filed an Expression of Interest (EOI) in Quebec’s online registration portal, Arrima.

This draw saw two categories of candidates being invited, one was those who had a validated job offer and the second category was aimed at those staying in Quebec as a diplomat, consular officer, United Nations representative, or a representative of any intergovernmental organization with operations in the province, and their staff.

This is the fourth draw of the year held by Quebec. The other draws were held on January 26, March 30, and April 29. With this draw, a total of 476 candidates have been invited so far for PR visa in 2021.

27th May 2021:

Canada invites 500 candidates in PNP linked Express Entry draw

In an Express Entry draw held on May 26, Canada invited 500 candidates who had a nomination from the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). The minimum score requirement for this draw was 713. The candidates would have already received 600 points because of their PNP nomination.

This draw invited 57 fewer candidates compared to the previous PNP only draw. The required score is also less by 39 points.

In this draw, the IRCC invited only those candidates who had submitted their Express Entry profile before April 06, 2021.

Ontario invites 64 skilled workers in latest provincial draw

The province of Ontario invited 64 skilled workers to apply for a provincial nomination on May 25.

Candidates who had a profile in the Expression of Interest (EOI) were invited through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP).

The invited candidates were registered for the Regional Immigration Pilot. They can now apply for the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream.

This is the third EOI draw of Ontario since the launch of its new application intake system in April.

Ontario conducts EOI draw

The province of Ontario conducted a new Expression of Interest draw on May 26 where it issued 158 Invitations to Apply through the Employer Job Offer: International Student stream.

In this draw, the ITAs were issued under two criteria.

The first criteria was a general draw which saw 147 ITAs issued and the required minimum score was 73 points.

The second criteria was a targeted draw through the Regional Immigration Pilot in which 11 ITAs were issued. There was no minimum score published.

The invited candidates had submitted their profiles between April 28 and May 26, 2021.

Alberta invites 250 Express Entry candidates in its recent provincial draw

Alberta invited 250 Express Entry candidates in a provincial nomination draw held on May 18.

The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) requirement for this draw was 301.

This was the 10th draw of the year held through the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP).

Since the beginning of 2021, Alberta has invited 1,909 Express Entry candidates to apply for a provincial nomination with this draw.

If the invited candidates are eligible for nomination through the Alberta Express Entry stream, they will get an additional 600 CRS points to their overall Express Entry score. They will most likely be invited to apply for permanent residence in Canada after that.

26th May 2021:

Manitoba invites 232 candidates in latest draw

The province of Manitoba held a provincial draw on May 25 where it invited 232 candidates through the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP).

The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) of Manitoba consists of the following streams:

Skilled Workers in Manitoba

International Education Stream

Skilled Workers Overseas

The MPNP requires that candidates should have previously submitted an Expression of Interest (EOI) profile.

Here is a breakup of the invitations issued in this draw:

Skilled Workers in Manitoba— 166 invitations with a minimum EOI score of 415

Skilled Workers Overseas— 46 invitations with a minimum EOI score of 703

International Education Stream— 20 invitations with no EOI score requirement.

The remaining 20 invitations went to went to Express Entry candidates.

Saskatchewan makes EOI selections to invite 269 candidates

Saskatchewan through its SINP made EOI selections where it invited 269 candidates through its EOI selections. The candidates had Educational Credential Assessments.

The following NOCs were included in this draw:

0711, 0712, 0714, 0731, 7201, 7202, 7203, 7205, 7231, 7232, 7234, 7237, 7242, 7243, 7245, 7246, 7271, 7281, 7282, 7283, 7291, 7294, 7301, 7302, 7304, 7305, 7311, 7312, 7313, 7321, 7322, 7333, 7335, 7371, 7381, 7384

21st May 2021:

Prince Edward Island invites 155 immigration candidates in latest provincial draw

Prince Edward Island held a PNP draw on May 20 where it invited 155 immigration candidates.

Out of these 138 invitations were issued to Express Entry and Labour Impact candidates. The rest of the invitations were issued to Business Impact candidates who had a minimum point threshold of 80.

Canada has a surprise CEC draw with a considerable low score

Canada held an Express Entry draw for CEC candidates on May 20 with a surprising low score of 397. This draw had the second-lowest score requirement of 2021 so far. An earlier draw held in February had a score requirement of 75 points.

The IRCC invited 1842 candidates in this draw. Candidates who had submitted their profiles before April 24 were invited in this draw.

British Columbia invites 82 candidates in latest tech pilot draw

The province of British Columbia held a new PNP draw on May 18.

A total of 82 invitations were issued in this draw based on the province’s Tech Pilot program under its Express Entry BC and Skills Immigration categories.

The candidates who were invited under these categories had to have a minimum provincial score of 80.

The candidates can apply for a provincial nomination within 30 days. The province has so far issued a total of 4,438 invitations through various BC PNP streams in 2021.

Ontario invites 138 candidates in the first International Student stream draw

In a provincial draw held on May 18, the province of Ontario invited 138 international students to apply for a provincial nomination. In this draw, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) invited candidates who had profiles in the new Expression of Interest (EOI) pool.

These candidates may qualify for the Ontario Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream.

In order to be invited, the candidates will require an EOI score of at least 77. They also should have job offers in Ontario.

The Ontario International Student Stream under the Employer Job Offer category is a stream open to foreign nationals who have an eligible job offer from an employer in Ontario.

The other eligibility requirements are that the candidates must have completed a study program at a Canadian Designated Learning Institution. They must have an eligible job offer in Ontario, and must intend to migrate to the province.

14th May 2021:

Canada invites 4,147 candidates in latest Express Entry draw

On May 13, Canada held another Express Entry draw where it invited 4,147 candidates with a score requirement of 401 points. The candidates invited in this draw must be eligible for the Canadian Experience Class which requires that they have at least one year of skilled work experience in Canada and have the required language proficiency in either English or French.

This draw invited candidates who had submitted their applications before April 29, 2021.

A total of 66,475 candidates have been invited so far in 2021 through the Express Entry system.

13th May 2021:

Canada invites 557 Express Entry candidates in latest draw

In an Express draw held on May 12, Canada invited 557 Express Entry candidates to apply for a PR visa.

The candidates who were invited needed a score of at least 752 in order to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA). The other requirement was they should have previously received a nomination from a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). This will

automatically get 600 points added to their score. This is the reason the score requirement was so high for this draw. Apart from this, candidates who had submitted their Express Entry profile before April 29, 2021 were only invited for this draw.

The Express Entry draws held so far in 2021 have invited Express Entry candidates only through the PNP, and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). This is due to the COVID-related travel restrictions which restricts the submission of invitations to candidates living outside Canada,

Canada aims to invite 108,500 new immigrants in 2021 through Express Entry-managed programs.  A total of 62,328 Express Entry candidates have been issued invitations so far in 2021.

British Columbia invites 379 immigration candidates in two separate provincial draws

The province of British Columbia held two Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws on May 11 where it invited 379 immigration candidates.

The province has been conducting regular PNP draws since February where it has held two separate rounds of invitations every two weeks. The two draws are one general draw and another for retail and wholesale trade managers and also restaurant and foodservice managers.

In this round, candidates from the Skills Immigration (SI) and Express Entry BC (EEBC) streams of the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) were issued invitations in the general draw.

Invitations were issued to candidates from the Skilled Worker, International Graduate as well as Entry Level and Semi-Skilled sub-categories of SI and EEBC streams.

12th May 2021:

Latest Ontario PNP draw focuses on healthcare workers and trades workers

The province of Ontario held its first Employer Job Offer draw on May 11 which is almost two weeks after the launch of a new immigration intake system. The candidates invited in this draw had work experience in one of 23 occupations.

In this draw, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) invited 81 candidates who had profiles in the new Expression of Interest (EOI) pool. These candidates may qualify for the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream.

The candidates selected for this had to have an EOI score of at least 31, and job offers in one of 15 health care occupations, or eight skilled trades occupations.

Foreign nationals are eligible for the Ontario Foreign Worker Stream under the Employer Job Offer category provided they have a job offer from an employer in Ontario. They are not required to apply from within Canada, if they meet the eligibility requirements.

Other eligibility requirements are two years of work experience in a skilled occupation, an eligible job offer in Ontario, and intention to immigrate to Ontario.

 Alberta holds a provincial draw with lowest CRS score in the past 12 months

In a provincial draw held on May 5, the province of Alberta invited Express Entry candidates with a score of 300 to apply for a provincial nomination.

250 immigration candidates were invited in this draw. The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score requirement was 300 which was the lowest since May 2020.

The province has so far invited 1,659 Express Entry candidates to apply for a provincial nomination in 2021.

10th May 2021:

Manitoba releases details of latest provincial draw

Manitoba conducted an immigration draw on May 6, the details of which were released last week.

In this draw, Manitoba invited 150 candidates, who are now eligible to apply for a provincial nomination through the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP).

In its provincial draws, the province invites immigrants to apply through any one of the following three Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) streams: Skilled Workers in Manitoba, International Education Stream, and Skilled Workers Overseas.

If candidates want to be invited through the Skilled Worker streams, they should have previously submitted an Expression of Interest (EOI) profile. Here is a break-up of the invitations issued in this draw.

• Skilled Workers in Manitoba— 104 invitations with a minimum EOI score of 400;
• Skilled Workers Overseas— 29 invitations with a minimum EOI score of 703; and
• International Education Stream— 13 invitations with no EOI score requirement.

In this round, 14 Express Entry candidates received Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs), went to Express Entry candidates.

7th May 2021:

Saskatchewan invites 259 immigration candidates in latest provincial draw

In a provincial draw held on May 6, the province of Saskatchewan invited 259 immigration candidates to apply for a provincial nomination for PR visa.

The invitations went to candidates who would be eligible for a nomination under the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP), specifically from the International Skilled Worker category. Among the invited candidates, 136 may be eligible for the SINP’s Express Entry subcategory, and 123 may be nominated through the Occupations In-Demand sub-category.

The invited candidates required an EOI score of at least 70 in order to be invited. The candidates were required to submit their Educational Credential Assessments and were required to have work experience in one of the 63 in-demand occupations mentioned on the government website.

Canada opens applications for six new immigration pathways for temporary residents

Canada opened six new immigration pathways for temporary residents in Canada on May 6. The government published an application guide for these programs on May 5. Here are the details of the immigration programs and their intake cap:

1. Workers in Canada – Stream A for health care workers (20,000 applications)
2. Workers in Canada – Stream B for essential non-health care workers (30,000 applications)
3. International graduates (40,000 applications)
4. Workers in Canada – Stream A for French-speaking health care workers (no cap)
5. Workers in Canada – Stream B for French-speaking essential non-health care workers (no cap)
6. French-speaking international graduates (no cap)

The applications for these streams will be open till November or till the applications fill up whichever is earlier.

Canada has introduced these immigration pathways to help the country meet its immigration target of 401,000 new PR visa permits for 2021. Owing to the travel restrictions due to the pandemic Canada is aiming to convert temporary residents to permanent residents through these immigration pathways and help in the country’s economic recovery.

5th May 2021:

Quebec invites 83 immigration candidates in latest provincial draw

In a draw held on April 29, the province of Quebec invited 83 immigration candidates to apply for permanent residency. In this draw, the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) invited candidates who belonged to the Regular Skilled Worker Program (RSWP) and had filed an Expression of Interest (EOI) in Quebec’s online registration portal, Arrima.

The categories of candidates invited in this draw included:

• those with a validated job offer
• those residing in Quebec as a diplomat, consular officer, United Nations representative, or a representative of any intergovernmental organization with operations in the province, and their staff.

This is the third draw held this year by Quebec. The previous draws were held on March 30 and January 26. A total of 386 candidates have now been invited to submit an application for permanent selection by the province in 2021.

Ontario invites 102 bilingual Express Entry candidates in a provincial draw

In a draw held on May 4, the province of Ontario invited 102 bilingual Express Entry candidates to apply for a provincial nomination.

The candidates selected in this draw could become eligible to immigrate to Canada through Ontario’s Express Entry French-Speaking Skilled Worker (FSSW) stream. To be eligible for this draw, the candidates are required to have a profile in the Express Entry system with a Comprehensive Ranking System score between 458 and 467.

The FSSW is a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) stream which is aligned with the Express Entry system. Candidates who received a Notification of Interest in this draw should have created an Express Entry profile between May 4, 2020 – May 4, 2021.

The invited candidates will have to apply online for their provincial nomination within 45 days.

British Columbia invites 84 immigration candidates for provincial nomination

In a draw held on May 4, the province of British Columbia invited 84 immigration candidates to apply for a provincial nomination on May 4.

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) Tech Pilot invited candidates under the Express Entry BC and Skills immigration categories for this draw.

The invited candidates were from the Skilled Worker and International Graduate subcategories and needed a minimum provincial score of 80.

Till date, the province has invited 3,977 immigration candidates in 2021. The invited candidates should apply for a nomination in 2021.

30th Apr 2021:

Canada invites 6000 candidates in latest Express Entry draw

In an Express Entry draw held on April 29 Canada invited 6,000 candidates to apply for permanent residence.

The IRCC has invited candidates with scores of at least 400. These candidates belonged to the CEC category and are likely to be eligible for permanent residency.

The score of 400 was the second lowest score ever for a CEC-specific draw. It was 17 points lower than the previous CEC specific draw.

This draw invited only those candidates who had submitted their Express Entry profile before April 24, 2021 as per the tie-break rule.

The IRCC draws held so far in 2021 focused on only two types of program-specific Express Entry draws, with focus on immigrants who are already in the country- candidates belonging to the CEC category and those in the PNP category.

With this draw the number of ITAs issued so far in 2021 comes up to 61,771. This number is higher than the number of invitations issued in the same time last year.

29th Apr 2021:

British Columbia invited 362 candidates in two provincial draws

British Columbia conducted two PNP draws on April 27 where it invited 362 immigration candidates.

Of the two draws, the first draw was a general draw, and the second draw targeted retail and wholesale trade managers as well as restaurant and food service managers.

In the general draw, candidates from the Skills Immigration (SI) and Express Entry BC (EEBC) streams of the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) were given invitations.

Candidates belonging to the Skilled Worker, International Graduate as well as Entry Level and Semi-Skilled sub-categories of SI and EEBC streams were given invitations.

In this draw where a total of 348 invitations were issued, the minimum scores ranged between 78 and 95 points.

In the separate draw where 14 invitations were issued for applicants whose occupation falls under NOC 0621 or NOC 0631, the score requirement was 113.

The province has so far issued 3,893 invitations to apply through its PNP in 2021.

28th Apr 2021:

Alberta invites 200 Express Entry candidates in latest provincial draw

Alberta, in its latest provincial draw held on April 20 invited 200 Express Entry candidates to apply for a provincial nomination.

The invited candidates required a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score requirement of 301 points. This was one point lesser than the score cutoff for the previous draw.

Candidates who are eligible for the nomination through the Alberta Express Entry stream will get an additional 600 CRS points added to their total score in the Express Entry system which will get them an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residence.

The Express Entry applications are managed through the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP), which manages the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) for immigrants wishing to move to Alberta.

Manitoba invites 367 immigration candidates in latest provincial draw

In its latest provincial draw, Manitoba invited 367 immigration candidates to apply for a provincial nomination. Most of the candidates were skilled workers already living in the province.

The candidates were invited through the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP). Majority of the invited candidates would be eligible for the Skilled Worker in Manitoba stream. Most of the candidates are temporary foreign workers and international student graduates who have job offers in skilled occupations in the province.

Candidates were also invited under the following two streams:

International Education Stream

Skilled Workers Overseas

Here is a break-up of the number of invitations and the EOI score under the various streams invited in this draw:

• Skilled Workers in Manitoba— 301 invitations with a minimum EOI score of 440;
• Skilled Workers Overseas— 11 invitations with a minimum EOI score of 721
• International Education Stream— 55 invitations with no EOI score requirement.

34 invitations or Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs), went to Express Entry candidates in this draw.

26th Apr 2021:

Saskatchewan issues 269 invitations in new immigration draw

The province of Saskatchewan conducted a new Expression of Interest draw, on April 22 where it issued 269 invitations to apply across two streams under its SINP immigration program.

In this draw, candidates under occupations in demand who had the skills and experience in any one of the 61 National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes received 139 invitations, they also had a minimum score of 70 points.

The remaining 130 invitations went to Express Entry candidates with skills and experience in the same NOC codes. They also required a minimum score of 70 points.

23rd Apr 2021:

Canada announces two new PR pathways for international graduates

Canada announced two new permanent residence pathways specifically for international students who are most likely to have the required skills that will help in Canada’s economic revival post the pandemic.

The policies regarding the new immigration pathways will be implemented between May 6 2021 and November 5 2021.

Candidates must be residing outside Quebec or must be wishing to reside outside Quebec in order to be eligible.

The first pathway is for international students who have graduated with a Canadian credential. The country is looking at accepting 40,000 applications through this temporary program.

The second pathway is limited to international graduates who can speak French and there is no limit on the number of intakes. The reason is there is a shortage of skilled workers who are fluent in French and are living in other provinces or territories apart from Quebec.

Eligibility conditions for English-speaking international graduates

• Candidates must have graduated no earlier than January 2017 from a Canadian designated learning institution.
• They should have some kind of educational background. This may be a university diploma, a college diploma, a trade/technical school diploma, or a Quebec CEGEP diploma.
• Graduates with a degree, diploma, credential, or attestation from a trade/technical program may also be eligible.
• At the time of application, candidates must be working in Canada with a valid permit or have some job authorization.
• They must have a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of 5 in either English or French.
• Candidates must be legal residents of Canada and must meet admissibility criteria.

Eligibility criteria for French-speaking and bilingual international graduates

• Candidates must meet all of the above criteria, with the exception that they must have an intermediate level of French in all four language skills: reading, writing, speaking, and listening.

21st Apr 2021:

British Columbia issues 90 invitations in latest provincial draw

The province of British Columbia invited 90 immigration candidates to apply for a provincial nomination on April 20. The candidates were invited under the B.C. invited 90 immigration candidates to apply for a provincial nomination on April 20.

The candidates invited under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) Tech Pilot draw were issued invitations under the Express Entry BC and Skills immigration categories.

The invited candidates belonging to the Skilled Worker and International Graduate subcategories had to have a minimum provincial score of 80.

The province has so far invited 3,531 immigration candidates in 2021.

Candidates who received an invitation now have 30 calendar days to apply for the nomination.

Manitoba invites a total of 399 Skilled Workers Overseas and Express Entry candidates in latest draw

The province of Manitoba conducted an unusual draw on April 19. The draw was conducted through the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) where 399 candidates who may be eligible for the Skilled Workers Overseas stream were invited.

Usually, Manitoba holds three Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws at a time, where only a few Express Entry candidates are invited. Surprisingly this draw did not include any Skilled Workers in Manitoba or any International Education Stream candidates.

Apart from this, the draw had different Expression of Interest (EOI) score requirements which was determined by the fact whether the candidates were invited through strategic recruitment initiatives, or if they already had an Express Entry profile.

Here are the details of the latest MPNP draw:

• 30 candidates were invited under a strategic recruitment initiative with a minimum EOI score of 703
• 369 candidates were invited under a strategic recruitment initiative with a minimum EOI score of 708

As for Express Entry candidates, they will become eligible to receive the provincial nomination if their profile is still valid when the MPNP assesses their application.

The candidates invited in this draw have 60 days to apply for a provincial nomination from the date they receive their Letter of Advice to Apply (LAA).

17th Apr 2021:

Canada invites 6000 candidates in latest Express Entry draw

 Canada held an Express Entry draw on April 16 where it invited 6,000 Canadian Experience Class candidates to apply for permanent residence. The required CRS score for this draw was 417 points.

The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) had issued 1,000 more invitations compared to the previous CEC-only draw. The score requirement was 15 points lesser than the previous draw.

The draw held on Friday right before the weekend is a rare event since Express Entry draws are usually held during the week so that immigration candidates get more time to put together their permanent residence applications.

This was also the second-largest draw in Express Entry’s history.  In fact, the three largest EE draws have taken place within the last few months as the IRCC has increased the volume of its draw sizes to make up for the decline in immigration to last year due to the coronavirus pandemic. The highest number of invitations issued so far was when 27,332 candidates were invited on February 13.

Candidates who had submitted their Express Entry profile before March 1, 2021 were invited in this draw.

16th Apr 2021:

Prince Edward Island invites 156 candidates in latest provincial draw

The province of Prince Edward Island issued a total of 156 invitations through the Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP) in a draw held on April 15.

Among the invitations, 140 went to Express Entry and Labour Impact candidates. Business Impact candidates who had a minimum point threshold of 75 received the remaining 16 invitations.

PEI’s Express Entry category is linked to the Federal Express Entry system and if candidates want a provincial nomination from PEI, they must first create an EOI profile with the PNP.

considered for a provincial nomination from P.E.I., Express Entry candidates need to create an EOI profile with the PEI PNP. The province will invite the highest scoring candidates through monthly draws.

As for the Labor Impact category, it is for those candidates who have a valid job offer in the province. It has three categories- Skilled Worker, Critical Worker, and International Graduate.

14th Apr 2021:

Alberta invites 200 Express Entry candidates in latest provincial draw

The province of Alberta held a provincial draw on April 6, where it invited 200 Express Entry candidates to apply for a provincial nomination.
The candidates were invited through the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP). The selected candidates were invited to apply under the Alberta Express Entry stream. The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score requirement for this draw was 302, which was one point more than the previous two draws.

To be eligible for Alberta’s Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw, candidates should have a profile in the Express Entry system.

The Alberta Express Entry stream is targeted at Express Entry candidates who have strong ties with Alberta, and can contribute to its economic development. Due to the pandemic situation, the province is considering the application of candidates who are already living and working in the province.

Ontario invites 529 tech candidates in recent provincial draw

The province of Ontario invited 528 Express Entry candidates whohad tech experience to apply for a provincial nomination on April 13.

The invited candidates were required to be eligible under Canada’s Ontario’s Express Entry Human Capital Priorities Stream. They were required to have a profile in Canada’s Express Entry system with a Comprehensive Ranking Systemscore rangingbetween 456 and 467.

Another eligibility factor was that they had to have one year of work experience in any one of the following occupations:

• Computer and information systems managers (NOC 0213);
• Computer engineers (NOC 2147);
• Database analysts and data administrators (NOC 2172);
• Software engineers and designers (NOC 2173);
• Computer programmer and interactive media developers (NOC 2174); or
• Web designers and developers (NOC 2175).

Candidates with a foreign education may have to submit an Educational Credential Assessment. The selected candidates will have 45 calendar days to submit their application for Ontario’s Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

12th Apr 2021:

Quebec commits 246 million dollars in its budget to promote development of immigrants

In its budget for 2021-22, the province of Quebec has made a significant increase in its immigration spending in a bid to bring about economic recovery.

The budget presented by Quebec Finance Minister, Eric Girard, has earmarked an additional amount of246 million dollarsin the next three years to help the Ministère de immigration, de la Francization et de l’Intégration (MIFI) to recognize the skills of immigrants and promote regional immigration based on labor market needs.

The amount allocated to immigrants will also help the government to support immigrants who are learning French and will help to attract and retain international students in Quebec.

According to Nadine Girault, Quebec’s Immigration Minister, “The budget presented by the Government of Quebec demonstrates the importance of immigration in government priorities.’’ She also said, ‘’Attracting and integrating immigrants into communities, particularly those located in the regions, allows businesses to benefit from qualified workers and thus counter the labor shortage in several economic sectors.”

Manitoba invites 243 immigration candidates in latest draw

In its recent provincial draw held on April 8, Manitoba invited 243 Canadian immigration candidates to apply for a provincial nomination on April 8.

The invited candidates can apply for a provincial nomination through the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP). Once they receive a nomination, they can apply for a PR visa.

Manitoba invites immigrants to apply through one of its three PNPprograms. Here are thedetails forthis draw:

• Skilled Workers in Manitoba— 208 invitations with a minimum EOI score of 456;
• Skilled Workers Overseas— 14 invitations with a minimum EOI score of 708; and
• International Education Stream— 21 invitations with no EOI score requirement.

Apart from this, 15 invitations, also known as Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs), were issued to Express Entry candidates.

9th Apr 2021:

Saskatchewan invites 279 candidates in latest provincial draw

Saskatchewan held a provincial draw on April 8 where it invited 279 candidates to apply for a provincial nomination inviting immigration candidates to apply for a provincial nomination on April 8.

The invitations were sent to eligible candidatesbelonging to the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP), more specifically from the International Skilled Worker category. Among the invited candidates, 146 may be eligible for the SINP’s Express Entry subcategory while 133 candidates could be nominated through the Occupations In-Demand sub-category.

To qualify for an Expression of Interest (EOI), the candidates need to have a score of at least 70. They also required anEducational Credential Assessment. Another requirement was that they needed to have work experience in any one of the 58 in-demand occupations which is listed on the government webpage. Among the eligible occupations are medical laboratory technicians, social workers, and educational counsellors.

The Occupations In-Demand sub-category is available for immigration candidates who do not have an Express Entry profile. This sub-category is for those who do not have a job offer in the province but have experience in a high-demand occupation.

To apply for immigration, the candidates are required to create an EOI profile through the SINP’s online application system.

7th Apr 2021:

British Columbia invites 80 candidates in the recent Tech Pilot draw

The province of British Columbia sent out 80 invitations to apply (ITAs) for a provincial nomination for a PR visa in a draw held on April 6.

The draw held under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) Tech Pilot draw had selected candidates under the Express Entry BC and Skills immigration categories.

The candidates who were from the Skilled Worker and International Graduate subcategories were required to have a minimum provincial score of 80.

The BC PNP Tech Pilot is focused on in-demand tech workers and international students and offers a fast-track immigration option for these immigrants.

5th Apr 2021:

Canada invites 5000 candidates in latest Express Entry draw

In an Express Entry draw conducted on April 1 Canada invited 5,000 candidates to apply for permanent residence visas.

The invited candidates had to be eligible for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and were required to have a score of at least 432 in order to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA). The CRS score was 17 points lesser than the CEC only draw held earlier.

Candidates who had submitted their Express Entry profile before February 16, 2021 were only invited for this draw.

While Canada’s borders are still closed to non-essential international travel, the government is keen to meet its immigration target of welcoming 401,000 for 2021, which includes a majority of economic class immigrants who will arrive through Express Entry linked programs.

To meet its immigration targets, Canada has been holding immigration draws targeting candidates who are already in the country and CEC candidates are likely to be in Canada with one year of full-time work experience when they submit their profiles for Express Entry which makes them highly eligible for EE draws.

Quebec invites 208 immigration candidates in new draw through Arrima

The province of Quebec invited 208 immigration candidates to apply for PR visas in a draw held through Arrima on March 30.

The candidates were invited under the Regular Skilled Worker Program (RSWP)and had filed an Expression of Interest (EOI) in the Arrima portal.

The invited candidates belonged to the following two categories:

• Candidates with a valid job offer
• Candidates who reside in Quebec as a diplomat, consular officer, United Nations representative, or a representative of any intergovernmental organization with operations in the province, and their staff.

This draw is the second one in this year by Quebec. The first draw held in January issued 95 invitations.

1st Apr 2021:

Quebec announces permanent pilot program for immigration applicants

Quebec announced the inauguration of a pilot program for Orderlies on March 31.

The pilot program, with a validity period of five years will select around principal applicants every yearwho work as orderlies annually.

The aim of this program is to help the province meet its shortage of healthcare workers.

The application for intakes into this program can be made between March 31 and September 31.

This is the second permanent immigration pilot program launched by Quebec in March. On March 24, Quebec officially opened applications for the food processing workers pilot program.Through this program, temporary foreign workers can apply forpermanent residency of they have eligible jobs in the food processing sector.

Quebec plans to open a third pilot program for workers in the artificial intelligence, information technology and visual effects sectors on April 22, in this year.

Quebec plans to issue the Quebec Selection Certificates (CSQ) for up to 1,650 principal applicants which will include their family members through the three pilots every year. To qualify for the programs, applicants must be working in the eligible sectors.

Canada invites 284 candidates in latest Express Entry draw

Canada held an Express Entry draw on March 31, where it issued284 invitations to immigrants to apply for permanent residence.

The invited candidates had a nomination from aProvincial Nominee Program (PNP) to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA). The CRS score for this draw was 778.

Though the required score may seem high, especially compared to the previous draw where the cutoff score was 449, PNP candidates will automatically get an additional 600 points added to their score once they receive a provincial nomination.

Only those candidates who had the required score and had submitted their Express Entry profiles before March 16, 2021 were eligible for this draw.

Subsequent to this draw, the number of ITAs issued by IRCC this year has exceeded last year’s levels.  Till date for 2021, Canada has issued 44,124 invitations to Express Entry candidates while the number for last year in the same period was 22,600.

31st Mar 2021:

Alberta invites 300 Express Entry candidates in latest provincial draw

Alberta conducted a draw on March 26, where itinvited Express Entry candidates to apply for a provincial nomination.

The candidates received invitations through the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP). In this draw a total of 300Express Entry candidateswere invited to apply for the Alberta Express Entry stream. The required CRS score was 301.Candidates were required to have a profile in the Express Entry system on order to be invited.

This PNP stream is for Express Entry candidates who have strong ties with Alberta who have strong ties to Alberta. The province is considering only those candidates who are already living and working in Canada and are working in an eligible occupation for this draw.

30th Mar 2021:

Nova Scotia issues invitations to French-speaking candidates in latest draw

The province of Nova Scotia held a provincial draw on March 29 where it invited French-speaking candidates through its Express Entry-linked Labour Market Priorities stream.

In this draw Letters of Interest or LAAs were issued to candidates who had selected French as their first official language and had a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score of 9 or higher in all abilities of the language (reading, writing, listening and speaking).

The candidates were also required to have a CLB score of at least 7 or higher in English in all the four language abilities. Other requirements were a bachelor’s degree or having finished a program of three years or more at a university, college, trade or technical school.

The candidates were also required to have a valid Express Entry number and have the minimum criteria to be accepted in the Express Entry pool.

27th Mar 2021:

Manitoba invites 355 candidates in latest provincial draw

Manitoba held a provincial draw on March 25 where it invited 355 Canadian immigration candidates to apply for a provincial nomination.

The draw is part of Manitoba’s regular invitations to immigration candidates who can apply through any one of the following immigration streams:

Skilled Workers in Manitoba

International Education Stream

Skilled Workers Overseas

Here is a breakup of the invitations issues under the three streams:

• Skilled Workers in Manitoba— 285 invitations with a minimum EOI score of 423
• Skilled Workers Overseas— 9 invitations with a minimum EOI score of 711
• International Education Stream— 41 invitations with no EOI score requirement.

In this draw, 49 invitationsor Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs), were also issued to Express Entry candidates.

Ontario continues high rate of provincial nominations despite the pandemic

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) nominated 8,054 principal applicants in 2020, who along with their spouses and children amounted to a total of 15,303 nominations. Though a nomination does not mean they necessarily moved to Ontario, but it means the province supported their immigration applications to the federal government, which ultimately makes the decision on whether or not they get permanent residency status.

The OntarioProvincial Nominee Program (PNP) is aimed to meet the labor market needs of the province by providing an opportunity to gain a PR visa for those foreign workers who wish to move to Ontario. 2020 saw the province issue a high number of nominations to tech workers and employees in skilled trades, because these sectors required a high number of workers.

In the provincial draws held by Ontario last year, the nominations went to immigrants with a job offer or work experience in the following occupations:

• Software engineers and designers
• Computer programmers
• Interactive media developers
• IT systems analysts
• Technology consultants

Apart from this around 20 percent of the nominees had experience in a skilled trade. The OINP had issued more than 1,100 nominations under the Express Entry: Skilled Trades stream.

Among the nominees, less than half of them had a job offer in Ontario before getting their provincial nomination.

26th Mar 2021:

Saskatchewan invites 418 candidates in latest immigration draw

The province of Saskatchewan held a new provincial draw on March 24 where it invited418 candidates to apply for a provincial nomination.

Candidates eligible for a nomination from the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP),especially from the International Skilled Worker category were eligible for the draw. Out of the 418 invited candidates 183 may be eligible for the SINP’s Express Entry subcategory while 235 candidates will be nominated through the Occupations In-Demand sub-category.

Irrespective of the stream, the candidates are required to have an Expression of Interest (EOI) score of at least 70 to get an invitation. They also require anEducational Credential Assessments to prove that their foreign education is equal to Canadian standards.

The candidates are required to have work experience in one of the 78 in-demand occupations that is mentioned on the government webpage. Among the eligible occupations are medical laboratory technicians, social workers, educational counsellors etc.

The Occupations In-Demand sub-category is an option available to immigration candidates who do not have an Express Entry profile. This is for highly skilled workers who have experience in an in-demand occupation in the province but do not have a job offer in the province.

To apply under this sub-category candidates will have to create an EOI profile in the SINP’s online application system.

25th Mar 2021:

British Columbia invites 95 candidates on tech pilot draw

In a provincial draw held on March 23, British Columbia issued 95 invitations. This was a Tech Pilot draw held through the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP), under the Express Entry BC and Skills Immigration categories.

The selected candidates belonged to the Skilled Worker and International Graduate subcategories and had to have a minimum provincial score of 80.

The BC PNP Tech Pilot is a fast-track immigration program designed to bring IT workers and international students to Canada. It operates through B.C.’s existing provincial immigration streams.

The province also announced the extension of the Entrepreneur Immigration (EI) Regional Pilot until March 31, 2024.

19th Mar 2021:

Canada invites 5000 candidates in latest Express Entry draw

In an Express Entry draw held on March 18, Canada invited 5000 candidates to apply for a PR visa. The invited candidates are required to meet the eligibility conditions for the Canadian Experience Class or the CEC and must have a score of 449 in order to get an Invitation to Apply or ITA.

Apart from this, CEC candidates must have one year of full-time work experience in Canada and the required language skills.

Candidates who had submitted theirExpress Entry profile before February 19, 2021 were only included in this draw.

The draw targets CEC candidates because around 77 per cent of Express Entry candidates staying at present in Canada are eligible for the CEC, according to the latest date from the IRCC.

The focus on candidates already staying in Canada helps the government to meet its immigration targets in spite of the travel restrictions that prevents immigration applicants staying overseas to come to Canada immediately.

The previous Express Entry draw was held on March 17 where PNP candidates received ITAs to apply for PR visa.

Prince Edward Island issues 150 invitations in its most recent provincial draw

The Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP) held a draw on March 18 where it issued a total of 150 invitations.  Of these 140 invitations went to Express Entry and Labour Impact candidates. Business impact candidates received the other ten invitations.

The minimum point threshold was 70 for this draw.

In case candidates wish to qualify for a provincial nomination, they must create an Expression of Interest profile with the PEI PNP.

Candidates are given a score based on the unique points grid of PEI. The highest scoring candidates get an invitation to apply through the draws held every month.

18th Mar 2021:

Canada invites 183 candidates in latest Express Entry draw

The Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) invited 183 Express Entry candidates to apply for permanent residence on March 17. The CRS score requirement for this draw was 682. Though the CRS score may appear high, it is to be noted that all the invited candidates had previously received a PNP nomination.
It is well known that Express Entry candidates who have received a provincial nomination get 600 points added to their CRS score. So, for this draw those with an original CRS score of 82 and a provincial nomination would have qualified for the draw.

However, these candidates should have submitted their Express Entry profile before March 4 of this year.

This is the second PNP specific Express Entry draw in a short span of time. The previous one was held on March 4 where 671 PNP candidates were sent invitations to apply for a PR visa.

15th Mar 2021:

Manitoba invites 299 candidates in latest provincial draw

The province of Manitoba has invited 299 immigration candidates under the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP)to apply for a provincial nomination in a draw held on March 11.

This is the fifth draw held by MPNP in 2021. In the latest draw, Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) were issued to Skilled Workers and International Graduates under the following streams provided the candidates meet the minimum Expression of Interest (EOI) score requirements:

• Skilled Workers in Manitoba— 261 invitations with a minimum score of 459
• International Education Stream— 3 invitations with a minimum score of 728
• Skilled Workers Overseas— 35 invitations

The draw also issued 35 LAAs to Express Entry candidates.

In order to receive a provincial nomination for Manitoba, you must apply under the MPNP where it is possible to receive an LAA through theSkilled Workers in Manitoba and Skilled Workers Overseas streams.

The province ranks the candidates on the basis of 1000 points where points are awarded based on the human capital factors and the connecting factors to the province.

In order to select candidates who will meet the labor market needs of Canada, the MPNP has the Skilled Workers Overseas Category and Skilled Workers in Manitoba streams.

13th Mar 2021:

Saskatchewan holds a provincial draw to invite 248 candidates

The province of Saskatchewan held a draw on March 11under the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) where it invited 248 principal applicants to apply for a provincial nomination.

The invited candidates were from the International Skilled Worker category. Among the 248 invitations 72 may be eligible through the SINP’s Express Entry subcategory, and 176 may be eligible through the Occupations In-Demand sub-category.

The candidates required an Expression of Interest (EOI) score of at least 71 to get an invitation.They also needed to have an Educational Credential Assessments to display that their foreign education was equivalent to the Canadian standard.

The invited candidates also had to have work experience in one of the 70 in-demand occupations listed by the government. The eligible occupations include purchasing agents and officers, social and community service workers, as well as educational counsellors.

British Columbia issues 95 invitations in latest provincial draw

British Columbia held a provincial draw on March 9 where 95 invitations to apply for a PR visa was issued.

The draw held under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) Tech Pilot draw issued invitations under the Express Entry BC and Skills immigration categories.

The selected candidates belonged to the Skilled Worker and International Graduate subcategories needed a minimum provincial score of 80.

This is the 12^th draw by the province is far this year bringing the total number of invitations issued so far to 1926.

The invited candidates should apply for the nomination within 30 days.

5th Mar 2021:

Ontario issues 126 invitations in new provincial draw for French-speaking Express Entry candidates

The province of Ontario held a provincial draw on March 3 where it invited French speaking Express Entry candidates to apply for a provincial nomination. In this draw the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)had invited 126 candidates through the French-Speaking Skilled Worker (FSSW) stream.

The invited candidates were required to have a profile in the Express Entry systemand have a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score between 455 and 467.

The candidates were selected from the pool of candidates who had created profiles between March 3, 2020, and March 3, 2021.

Invited candidates have 45 days to send their provincial nomination application. The earlier draw held on January 13 by Ontario issued 146 invitations.With this draw, the total number of invited candidates in 2021 is 271.

To check your eligibility for an invitation, see if you meet the requirements for theCanadian Experience Class or the Federal Skilled Worker Program in order to get the nomination.  Based on the program you are assesses for, your eligibility will be reviewed. You must also meet the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of at least 7 in French, and 6 in English. You should also have proof that you have enough funds to settle in Ontario.

Nova Scotia invites 118 candidates in latest immigration draw

Nova Scotia conducted a business immigration draw on February 24 where it issued 43 invitations through the Nova Scotia Nominee Program, where it invited candidates belonging to the Entrepreneur stream. The lowest ranked candidate had a score of 118 points.

Nova Scotia immigration has conducted a new business immigration draw targeting Entrepreneur Stream candidates.

The draw, which took place on February 24, saw 43 invitations issued through the Nova Scotia Nominee Program, with the lowest-ranked candidate scoring 118 points.

27th Feb 2021:

Manitoba issues 207 invitations in latest provincial draw

In a provincial draw held on February 12, Manitoba invited 207 immigration candidates to apply for a provincial nomination.

This is the fourth draw held by Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP). The draw invited Skilled workers and international graduates through the following three streams:

• Skilled Workers in Manitoba
• International Education Stream
• Skilled Workers Overseas

The score requirement for the three categories for the Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) and the Expression of Interest (EOI) was as under:

• Skilled Workers in Manitoba: 158 LAAs and a minimum score of 457
• Skilled Workers Overseas: 21 LAAs and a minimum score of 698
• International Education Stream: 28 LAAs (no EOI score requirement)

Out of the 207 invitations five went to Express Entry candidates.

Canada announces special immigration provisions for citizens of Hong Kong

Canada has announced that it has created special immigration pathways for Hing Kong citizens in view of the immigration shortfall caused due to Covid-19.

The residents of Hong Kong are preferred by Canada because they are highly educated and are fluent in English.

Canada launched an open work permit provision for the residents of Hong Kong that allows them to work for any employer in Canada. All these factors make them ideal to immigrate to Canada.

The main eligibility criteria to obtain the work permit include:

• Valid passport issued by either the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) or the United Kingdom to a British National Overseas (BNO)
• Completed graduation in the last five years either with a university degree or a diploma

Residents of Hong Kong who are currently in Canada can apply online for the open work permit without having to leave Canada. Residents staying outside Canada can also apply but their arrival may be delayed due to Covid-19 restrictions.

27th Feb 2021:

Canada decides to open IEC pools for certain countries by March 1

Canada has decided to open its International Experience Canada (IEC) pool for certain categories of candidates from March 1. Candidates who are selected can work in Canada. The IEC is open to young adults of foreign countries who have drafted reciprocal agreements with Canada

The age criteria to apply for the program depends on the country of origin but it is usually between 18 to 35 years. The fact is work permits issued under the IEC do not require a LMIA.

There are three different categories under the IEC –Working holiday, Young professionals and International co-op.

Generally working holiday visa holders do not require a job offer to come to Canada but this has changed due to the current travel restrictions where everyone coming to Canada right now require a job offer and a Letter of Introduction.

The table below gives details of the IEC pools that are scheduled to open by March 1. The quotas signify how many profiles will be selected from the IEC pool for each country.

Here are more details about each IEC category.

Working Holiday

Participants under this category have an open work permit before they come to Canada so that they can work for any employer and in any location in Canada based on their interests.

Young Professionals

To apply under the Young Professionals Pathway, applicants should have a professional job offer that falls under National Occupation Classification (NOC) Skill Levels 0, A, or B.

The work permit specifies the name of the employer. It must be a paid job. This category is designed to hone professional skills.

International Co-op

The International Co-op category is designed for students who are required to do an internship or work placement in Canada to complete their studies. Participants have to work for the same employer and the same location during the duration of their work permit.

Participants under all the three categories will have to undertake Covid-19 test and go through the mandatory quarantine.

26th Feb 2021:

Saskatchewan invites 299 candidates in latest provincial draw

The province of Saskatchewan held a provincial draw on February 25, inviting candidates to apply for a provincial nomination for Canadian permanent residence.

The draw held under the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) sent out invitations to 299 candidates belonging to the International Skilled Worker category.

Candidates who were eligible for the SINP’s Express Entry subcategory were invited to this PNP draw.

The invited candidates had to have an EOI score of at least 70 to be invited. They were required to have work experience in one of the 70 in-demand occupations that appeared in the government webpage.

These eligible occupations included medical administrative assistants, retail and wholesale buyers, and geological engineers.

In this draw, invitations were sent onlyto candidates who had profiles in the federal Express Entry pool.

If the candidates from the federal Express Entry pool hadalso filled out an EOI for Saskatchewan, and had a score of 70 points on the SINP’s Points Assessment Grid, they had better chances of being invited in the latest draw.

25th Feb 2021:

Sudbury selects 11 candidates under the RNIP program

The city of Sudbury in Northern Ontario has successful recommended 11 candidates in the first year of the launch of the Rural & Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP).

The selected candidates and their families include a total of 25 members can now apply for Canada PR.The RNIP is aimed at bringing skilled workers from abroad into smaller communities.

The federal immigration pilot program is for a five-year period which aims to help smaller communities thathave aging populations and labor shortages by bringing in immigrants. Eligibility requirements for communities to use the program are:

• Their population must be 50,000 or less and be located at least 75km from the core of a Census Metropolitan Area or
• They must have a population of up to 200,000 people and be far away from other larger cities, based on the Statistics Canada Remoteness Index.

In Sudbury, candidates are put in a pool and ranked based on a points-based system like the federal Express Entry system.

The program covers 20 target occupations which aim to bring in n skilled workers for the mining supply and services and tourism sectors. Applications from any sector will also be accepted provided the candidates are already living in Sudbury.

Quebec releases new list of occupations eligible under LMIA

Quebec has released a new list of occupations that are eligible under the facilitated Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) process.

The list basically covers all the occupations in Quebec that will meet the labor needs of the province.

These include occupations that were removed from last year’s list while new ones have been added. These new occupations include- telecommunication carriers managers, computer and information systems managers, home building and renovation managers, and geoscientists and oceanographers, among others.

Quebec’s List of Occupations for  Facilitated LMIA is decided by Emploi-Québec in collaboration with ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI),  and is based on Canada’s 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) system.

 British Columbia selects 87 candidates for provincial nomination in latest draw

Under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) Tech Pilot draw invitationswere issued to 87 candidates under the Express Entry BC and Skills immigration categories.

Invited candidates belonged to theSkilled Worker and International Graduate subcategories. The   minimum provincial score was 75, which is five points lower than the previous Tech Pilot-specific draws of 2021.

The selected Tech Pilot candidates can apply for a provincial nomination within 30 days.

24th Feb 2021:

Canada invites every CEC candidate in latest Express Entry draw

In the latest Express Entry draw held on February 13, the IRCC confirmed that it had invited every eligible candidate in the Express Entry pool who had qualified under the CEC program.

In this draw 27,332 CEC candidates were invited to apply for permanent residence. The number of invitations was nearly six times more than the previous Express Entry draw where the number of ITAs issued was 5000.

The eligibility requirements for candidates wishing to apply under CEC are:

• One year of full-time work or two years of part time work experience in Canada
• Minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of 7 for managerial or professional occupations (NOC 0 or A), or CLB 5 for technical jobs and skilled trades (NOC B)
• Completed a post-secondary degree in Canada

The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score for the Feb 13 draw was 75, which is again a first. The IRCC did not use the tie-breaker rule in this draw.

This draw reiterated the fact that Canada is focusing on immigrants who are already in Canada to meet its immigration targets in spite of travel restrictions. Canada needs immigrants to sustain its population growth and meet the shortage in the labor market caused by retiring baby boomers.

23rd Feb 2021:

Quebec’s community support programs get a financial boost to welcome more immigrants to its La Belle province

In order to make Quebec’s La Belle province more conducive to welcome immigrants, Quebec is investing around 8 million dollars in its community support program called the Programme d’appui aux collectivités (PAC).

According to Quebec Immigration Minister Nadine Girault, “With the PAC, we are adding to the tools we can use to welcome and promote the sustainable establishment of immigrants and their families in our regions.”

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic immigration declined in Canada last year with Quebec being no exception.

Quebec’s immigration minister also invited proposals within its PAC that will help newcomers to feel at home. For this purpose, non-profits and co-ops are being asked to submit proposals which will support the integration of immigrants and help them settle down in the province.

Along with this announcement, the province of Quebec has published a new guide where there are details of all the processes and procedures to be followed by prospective permanent residents if they wish to apply for any immigration program to settle down in La Belle Province.

The guide declares that foreign nationals and their family members who are above 18 years of age who are coming to Quebec should demonstrate that they know about the democratic values and Quebec values as given in the Quebec Charter of human rights and freedoms.

22nd Feb 2021:

Quebec releases new immigration guide

The province of Quebec has published a new guide where there are details of all the processes and procedures to be followed by prospective permanent resident if they wish to apply for any immigration program to settle down in La Belle Province.

The guide which is published in French is titled the Guide des procédures d’immigration (GPI), the Immigration Procedures Guide.

This guide has replaced the older Regulations for immigration to Quebec (Regulations for the selection of foreign nationals) and contains all the details of the Quebec Immigration Act and Regulations for Immigration to Quebec.

 Canada releases list of hotels for travelers to stay during the mandatory quarantine requirement

The Canadian government has released the list containing names of some of the approved hotels where international air travelers can stay for the mandatory quarantine requirement.

According to new rules, from February 22, international air travelers to Canada must take a COVID-19 test upon arriving in the country and must stay is government approved facility till they get the test results which will take up to three days.

These hotels are located in the four Canadian cities where international air travelers can arrive: Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal.

18th Feb 2021:

PEI issues 121 invitations in latest provincial draw

Prince Edward Island conducted a provincial draw on February 18 where it issued a total of 121 invitations. Out of these 102 went to Express Entry and Labor impact candidates while the rest went to Business Impact candidates.

The minimum point threshold for the draw was 82.

Canada to abolish the processing of TFWP visas reserved for owner operator category candidates

Canada’s immigration authorities have decided to do away with the processing of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) which was reserved for candidates in the owner/operator category.

From April onwards, these candidates will be assessed on the same basis as other applicants to the TFWP program

Candidates in this category are at present exempt from using the advertising and recruitment requirements for getting a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).

But according to the Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), this exemption is being removed, “as part of regular policy reviews to ensure the TFWP continues to work within its intended purpose, and is only used by employers to fill a position when qualified Canadians or permanent residents are not available.’’

Candidates belonging to the owner operator category qualify for a work permit when they buy a business and move to Canada. They should have a controlling interest in the business by either being a sole proprietor or a majority shareholder.

Canada launches program to support the U. N’s 2030 agenda for sustainable development

Canada launched a program called the Moving Forward Together – Canada’s 2030 Agenda National Strategy, in support of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the U. N’s agenda aim to end poverty, protect the planet and promote a peaceful and prosperous life for its people. The SDGs require closer cooperation between governments, civil society, and the private sector.
Canada’s program in support of these SDGs was launched by the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, Ahmed Hussen, and the Minister of International Development Karina Gould.
The Canada government announced a sum of around 11.3 million dollarsin funding to 32 organizations that will work to achieve these goals.

16th Feb 2021:

British Columbia invites 494 immigration candidates in two separate draws

British Columbia invites 494 immigration candidates in two separate PNP draws held on February 16.

In this draw, 459 invitations went to candidates from the Skills Immigration (SI) and Express Entry BC (EEBC) streams. Candidates from the following sub-categories of these streams were invited to the draw:

• Skilled Worker
• International Graduate
• Entry Level and Semi-Skilled

The minimum scores for this drawwerebetween 85 and 104 points.

The rest of the 35 invitations were issued to candidates who worked as retail and wholesale trade managers andrestaurant and food service managers. The province

Included these candidates in this draw because a high number of them were registered with the BC PNP Skills Immigration Registration System.

The province said that it will start including candidates in the tourism, hospitality, retail and personal services occupations which were not included in therecent draws.

Till date the province hasheld nine draws and the total number of invitations issued is 1,308 in 2021.

Ontario issues 1186 NOIs in latest Express Entry Tech draw

The province of Ontario issued 1186 Notifications of Interest (NOI) in a new Tech Draw through its Express Entry Human Capital Priorities stream held on February 16.

The invited candidates had a CRS score between 466 and 467.

The Ontario Tech Draws target the following six technology occupations:

• 0213 – Computer and information systems managers
• 2147 – Computer engineers
• 2172 – Database analysts and data administrators
• 2173 – Software engineers and designers
• 2174 – Computer programmer and interactive media developers
• 2175 – Web designers and developers

Canada extends travel restrictions

Canada has extended its travel restrictions until March 21 for travelers from the U.S., and until April 21 for travelers from other countries. After the previous travel restrictions that were extended in January, Canada has imposed stricter controls on the border.

International flights can land at only four Canadian airports. Apart from this, incoming passengers must take a Covid-19 test on arrival and wait for the test results at a government approved hotel.

People from the U.S who come to Canada by land will have to provide a negative Covid-19 test on arrival. The test should have been taken 72 hours prior to crossing the border.

As for quarantine requirements all travelers must quarantine for 14 days on arrival in Canada. Quarantine requirements have been extended up to April 21. Essential travelers such as truck drivers, emergency services providers, and others who cross the Canada-U.S. border regularly for work, are exempted from the COVID-19 test and the quarantine requirement.

IRCC invites 27,332 candidates in latest Express Entry draw

In a surprising move, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted an Express Entry draw unusually on Saturday (February 13) where it invited 27,332 Express Entry candidates to apply for permanent residence.

It was the biggest Express Entry draw till date ever since the introduction of the Express Entry draw in 2015. The maximum invitation issued in Express Entry draws so far have not exceeded 5000. This draw is nearly six times bigger than the previous draws.

Another surprising fact in this draw was candidates with a CRS score as low as 75 were invited to the draw. With such a low CRS score, this draw invited almost every candidate eligible for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) program.

This draw indicates that Canada is keen to meet its immigration target for 2021 which is set at 401,000 for 2021.

The IRCC chose to invite only CEC candidates in this draw since most of them are already in Canada and it will be easy for them to complete their PR process compared to those candidates who are staying outside the country.

This draw is also a message to every candidate to enter the Express Entry pool in spite of the fact that more CEC and PNP candidates are getting invitations compared to FSWP or FSTP candidates. Those with low CRS scores also stand a chance considering the fact that this draw invited candidates with a CRS score as low as 75.

Manitoba invites 296 candidates for provincial nomination

The province of Manitoba invited 296 immigration candidates in its latest Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw that was held on February 12.

In this third draw of 2021 of the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP), Skilled workers and international graduates were invited under the following streams:

• Skilled Workers in Manitoba
• International Education Stream
• Skilled Workers Overseas.

The score requirement for candidates to obtain the Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) and the Expression of Interest (EOI) was as under:

• Skilled Workers in Manitoba: 240 LAAs and a minimum score of 514
• Skilled Workers Overseas: 23 LAAs and a minimum score of 676
• International Education Stream: 33 LAAs (no EOI score requirement)

In this draw, 20 LAAs went to Express Entry candidates.

Alberta invites 200 Express Entry candidates in latest provincial draw

The province of Alberta held a provincial draw on February 10 where it invited 200 Express Entry candidates to apply for a provincial nomination. The selected candidates are required to apply under the Alberta Express Entry stream and needed a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 301.

The selected candidates had their profile registered in the Express Entry system.

13th Feb 2021:

International students doing their course online can still earn a PGWP

Canada has introduced a new regulation that will allow international students who will finish their entire post-secondary education online to be eligible for an open work permit valid for three years after graduation.

This underlines Canada’s commitment to make it easy for international students to access the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) even during the Coronavirus pandemic.

This move reiterates Canada’s commitment to not let international students miss out on opportunities in spite of the pandemic and at the same time not let the country lose out on the benefits these students bring to Canadian economy and society.

This announcement comes after the Canadian government announced that the PGWP can be renewed for up to 18 months by international students. In normal circumstances the PGWP cannot be renewed or extended.

The new measures announced by the government will be eligible to students studying under a PGWP eligible program and within the duration between spring 2020 and fall 2021. It also applies to international students whose study program was underway in March 2020 when the first lockdown was announced in Canada.

These privileges will be applicable to international students who meet all the other PGWP eligibility criteria and possess an approved study permit.

12th Feb 2021:

The province of Saskatchewan held a draw under its Express Entry and Occupation In-Demand immigration sub-categories where it issued 541 invitations to immigration candidates to apply for a provincial nomination for permanent residence.

The invitations were issued on February 11 by the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP).

Out of these invitations 344 were from the Express Entry sub-category, and the rest of 197 invitations went to Occupations In-Demand candidates.

Using the SINP, the province of Saskatchewan can nominate immigration candidates who have the required skills for the province’s labour market.

The invited candidates had their ECAs a

Invited candidates had Educational Credential Assessments. They also needed an Expression of Interest (EOI) score of at least 72 under the SINP’s EOI points grid. This score is based on factors including age, education, work experience, proficiency in English or French and connections to Saskatchewan, among others.

11th Feb 2021:

Canada invites 654 candidates in latest Express Entry draw

In the latest Express Entry draw held on February 10, Canada invited 654 Express Entry candidates to apply for permanent residence. The minimum CRS score required for this draw is 720.

The high CRS score was due to the fact that candidates with a provincial nomination were only invited in this draw. Candidates who have secured Express Entry-aligned PNPs will automatically get 600 points added to their overall score.

However, the CRS score was 21 points lower than the PNP specific draw held on January 20 this year.

Till date, the IRCC has issued 10,654 ITAs by conducting four program-specific draws in 2021.

10th Feb 2021:

British Columbia issues 74 invitations in Tech Pilot draw

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) Tech Pilot draw issued 74 invitations to immigration candidates on February 9 to apply for a provincial nomination for PR visa.

Invitations were issued to candidates under the Express Entry BC and Skills immigration categories.

The selected candidates belonged to the Skilled Worker and International Graduate subcategories had to have a minimum provincial score of 80.

The minimum score in the low 80s is a continuation of the trend in Tech Pilot draws from the beginning of this year.

To be eligible for the BCPNP tech pilot program, candidates should be registered with one of the province’s immigration streams and must have a valid job offer for at least a year in any one of the pilot program’s 29 eligible occupations.

4th Feb 2021:

British Columbia invites 208 candidates in a provincial draw

The province of British Columbia held a provincial draw through its Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) on February 2. In this draw 208 invitations were issued to Skilled Worker and International Graduate candidates under the Express Entry BC (EEBC) and Skills Immigration categories.

The cut-off scores for the subcategories under the Express Entry BC were:

· Skilled Worker: 104

· International Graduate: 100

To qualify for this draw, candidates should have already submitted profiles under Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada’s Express Entry system. An invitation to apply for a provincial nomination will add another additional 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points which will increase their chances of getting an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence under IRCC’s Express Entry system.

The cut-off scores in the draw for the three Skills Immigration subcategories were:

· Skilled Worker: 98

· International Graduate: 98

· Entry Level and Semi-Skilled: 79

740 invitations have been issued by the BC PNP in 2021 so far.

2nd Feb 2021:

Alberta issues 100 invitations in latest Express Entry draw

The province of Alberts held a draw on January 28 under the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) where it issued 100 invitations to Express Entry candidates, who had a minimum score of 360 on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). These candidates can now apply for a provincial nomination under the Alberta Express Entry Stream.

Ontario invites 283 candidates under Express Entry stream

Ontario invited 283 immigration candidates belonging to the Express Entry pool to apply for a provincial nomination, on February 2.

The candidates had a CRS score between 466 and 467.

The candidates were invited under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). The draw invited Express Entry candidates to apply for provincial nomination provided they have work experience in any one if the following occupations:

Banking, credit and other investment managers (NOC 0122)

Advertising, marketing and public relations managers (NOC 0124)

Other business services managers (NOC 0125)

Corporate sales managers (NOC 0601)

Financial auditors and accountants (NOC 1111)

Financial and investment analysts (NOC 1112)

Human resources professionals (NOC 1121)

Professional occupations in business management consulting (NOC 1122)

Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (NOC 3012)

Business development officers and marketing researchers and consultants (NOC 4163)

The candidates who have been invited must prove they have a minimum of one year of work experience in one of these occupations. A provincial nomination will

help these candidates get a chance to apply for immigration in an Express Entry draw of the future.

30th Jan 2021:

Quebec conducts its first Arrima draw for 2021

The Canadian province of Quebec issued invitations to 95 immigration candidates under the Regular Skilled Worker Program on January 26. The invitations were issued to candidates who had filed an Expression of Interest (EOI) in Arrima n Quebec’s online registration portal.

The draw issued invitations to two categories of candidates. In the first category candidates were required to have a validated job offer while the second category comprised of individuals who were staying in Quebec as a diplomat, consular officer, representative of the United Nations or any government organization with operations in Quebec. The draw might have also included individuals who are members of staff of such officials since these occupations come under Section 26 of the Quebec Immigration Regulation.

Candidates who wish to immigrate to Quebec under the Regular Skilled Worker Program (RSWP) must first submit their EOI through the Arrima portal. Their profiles are then reviewed by the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) which then issues invitations to candidates who meet specific criteria and are eligible to meet the labor market needs in Quebec.

27th Jan 2021:

British Columbia issues 81 invitations in latest PNP draw

The province of British Columbia invited 81 immigration candidates to apply for a provincial nomination for a PR visa on January 26.

The invitations were issued through the Express Entry BC (EEBC) and Skills Immigration streams.

Candidates with a profile under the Express Entry system can apply under the EEBC stream.

Skilled and semi-skilled workers whose occupations are in high demand in the province of B.C can apply under the SI stream.

Skilled Worker, and International Graduate were the subcategories under which candidates were invited through the BC PNP Tech Pilot. In order to get a nomination, candidates ought to have job offers in an eligible tech occupation. The minimum score required to be eligible for this draw was 80 in all categories.

23rd Jan 2021:

Saskatchewan invited 502 candidates in recent PNP draw

The province of Saskatchewan held a provincial draw on January 2021 where it invited 502 candidates to apply for provincial nomination for Canadian PR visa.

The candidates were invited under the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) from the International Skilled Worker category under two subcategories: Express Entry, and Occupations In-Demand.

Under the SINP the province nominates immigration candidates who have the required skills required

for the province’s labor market. The distribution of invitations under the sub-categories were as under:

· Express Entry-189

· Occupations in demand-313

Candidates who had work experience in one of 79 occupations were invited in this nomination round.

Prince Edward Island conducts first PNP draw for 2021

Prince Edward Island held its first PNP draw for 2021 on January 21 where it invited 211 candidates. 196 of these invitations went to Express Entry and Labor Impact candidates. The remaining invitations went to candidates under the Business Impact category.

The minimum point threshold for Business Impact candidates in this draw was 80 to receive a provincial nomination.

22nd Jan 2021:

21st Jan 2021:

Canada conducts its third Express Entry draw for 2020

In its third Express Entry draw for 2021 held on January 20, the Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) invited 374 Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates to apply for PR visa. The minimum score required for this draw was 741 points.

The previous two Express Entry draws of 2021 were held on January 6 and January 7. Both these draws were program-specific draws. In the January 6 draw 250 PNP candidates were invited while in the January 7 draw 4,750 CEC candidates were invited. IRCC has issued 5,374 ITAs so far in 2020 which is more than what it had issued at the same time in 2020.

British Columbia issues 195 invitations on latest PNP draw

The province of British Columbia invited 195 immigration candidates through a provincial nominee program draw held on January 19.The invitations were issued to candidates under the Skills Immigration (SI) and Express Entry BC (EEBC) streams, and more specifically to candidates under the Skilled Worker, International Graduate as well as the Entry Level and Semi-Skilled categories.

The minimum scores required for this draw was between 80 and 106 points.

The EEBC category is applicable to candidates who have a valid profile in the federal government’s Express Entry system.

Nova Scotia holds its first Express Entry draw for 2021

In a draw held on January 19, the province of Nova Scotia invited immigration candidates to apply for a provincial nomination through its Labor Market Priorities stream. However, the number of invitations was not disclosed.

The stream is linked with Express Entry so the candidates must have a valid profile in the federal Express Entry system.

This draw targeted candidates with the primary occupation as a financial officer. The previous draw targeted programmers and media developers, automotive industry workers as well as nurses.

Candidates must have received a Letter of Interest from the NSNP through Express Entry to receive an invitation. Invited candidates must also have met the minimum requirement of work experience for the Express Entry stream for which they are qualified, and must have sufficient money to settle in Nova Scotia and pay the required fees.

Alberta conducts a provincial draw after a long gap

In a PNP draw held on January 8, Alberta invited eligible candidates with Express Entry profiles to apply for a provincial nomination for permanent residence.

A total of 50 candidates eligible under the Alberta Express Entry Stream were invited in this draw under the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP). The CRS score requirement was 406 points.

Express Entry candidates have the opportunity to receive an invitation from Alberta as well as other provinces with Express Entry-aligned PNPs to apply for a provincial nomination. They must have work experience in an eligible occupation that supports the economic development and diversification priorities of the province, they must have work experience.

15th Jan 2021:

Manitoba holds its first PNP draw of 2021:

In its first PNP draw for 2021, Manitoba invited 272 immigration candidates to apply for a provincial nomination on January 14.

The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) invited candidates under the skilled workers and international graduates’ categories to apply to any one of the following immigration streams:

· Skilled Workers in Manitoba

· International Education Stream

· Skilled Workers Overseas

The invitations also known as Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) had the following Expression of Interest (EOI) minimum scores:

· Skilled Workers in Manitoba— 236 LAAs with a score of at least 461

· Skilled Workers Overseas— 7 LAAs with a score of at least 722

· International Education Stream— 29 LAAs, no EOI score requirement

In the 272 LAAs that were issued, 18 were sent to Express Entry candidates. To be eligible, candidates are required to have the following:

· A valid Express Entry ID

· A job seeker validation code

· Verifiable experience in an occupation on Manitoba’s In-demand Occupations list

In this draw candidates under the Skilled Worker Overseas candidates were considered provided they were directly invited under a strategic recruitment initiative.

Ontario conducts a first round of invitations for 2021:

Ontario held its first round of invitations of 2021 on January 13 where it issued 484 invitations to immigrant applicants under two provincial streams.

In this draw, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) issued expressions of interest (DI) to candidates belonging to the French-speaking Skilled Worker and Skilled Trades streams.

These two streams are aligned with the federal Express Entry system. Applicants ought to have their profiles in the Express Entry pool in order to get a DI. They should have created their Express Entry profile between January 13, 2020 and January 13, 2021.

The applicants should be residing in Ontario and have at least one year of full-time work experience, or equivalent part-time work experience in a skilled trade that appears in Canada’s National Occupational Classification (NOC).

The invitees in this round had a score between 434 to 460 in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).

12th Jan 2021:

IRCC completes the process of sending out invitations for PGP 2020

The Canadian government has sent out all the invitations to apply for the 2020 Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP). The invitations were sent to sponsors who had submitted the sponsorship form in the 2020 application window. The IRCC had held its PGP 2020 lottery around two weeks back and had sent out invitations in a period of ten days.

The invitations were sent out on a random basis according to the IRCC and it aims to collect 10,000 completed applications for the PGP for the year 2020.

Sponsors who received the invitation will now have 60 calendar days to submit a complete application to bring in their parents or grandparents to Canada.

Saskatchewan holds its first provincial draw for 2021

The province of Saskatchewan held a provincial draw on January 7, inviting 385 immigration candidates to apply for a provincial nomination for Canadian PR.

Under the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) the province invited candidates from the International Skilled Worker category through two subcategories: Express Entry, and Occupations In-Demand. The candidates also had work experience in select occupations. The break-up of the invitations was as under:

· Express Entry sub-category-148

· Occupations In-Demand category-237

To get an invitation, candidates from both sub-categories ought to have submitted their Expression of Interest (EOI) profiles with the SINP. They had to have a minimum score of 71 points to get an invitation. The invited candidates also had Educational Credential Assessments.

The province invited candidates who had work experience in one of 79 selected occupations.

9th Jan 2021:

Canada holds second Express Entry draw for 2021

In the course of a week Canada held another Express Entry draw on January 7. The earlier one was held on January 6.

In this draw a total of 4750 invitations were issued to Invitations were issued to a total of 4,750 Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates. The CRS score required for this draw was 461 points.

Government of Canada introduces new policy for international students

Under a new policy issued by the Canadian government today, former international students with an expired or expiring Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) will be able to apply for a new work permit.

The change in policy will help the PGWP holders gain more time to get the required work experience that they need to be eligible for Canadian immigration. The government has introduced this policy to help PGWP holders who have lost their jobs or have had their work hours reduced due to the pandemic.

The new open work permits will have a validity of 18 months and will allow former international students to stay in Canada and search for work.

Applicants must meet the following criteria to be eligible for the work permit:

· Their PGWP must have expired on or after January 30, 2020 or they must have a PGWP that expires in 4 months or less from the date of application

· They must be in Canada

· They must have a valid temporary status

The application process will be applicable from January 27 to July 27, 2021.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has said that 52,000 graduates with expiring or expired PGWPs will benefit from this policy.

Ministerial Instructions respecting invitations to apply for permanent residence under the Express Entry system #172 –January 7, 2021

Canadian Experience Class

See full text of Ministerial Instruction

Number of invitations issued: 4,750Footnote*

Rank required to be invited to apply: 4,750th or above

Date and time of round: January 7, 2021 at 14:15:32 UTC

CRS score of lowest-ranked candidate invited: 461

Tie-breaking rule: September 12, 2020 at 20:46:32 UTC

8th Jan 2021:

Saskatchewan has conducted EOI selection rounds of the draw as on 7th January 2020 through the SINP’s EOI system.

Invited Candidates had Educational

9241

7th Jan 2021:

Ministerial Instructions respecting invitations to apply for permanent residence under the Express Entry system #171 – January 6, 2021.

Provincial Nominee Class

See full text of Ministerial Instruction

Number of invitations issued: 250

Rank required to be invited to apply: 250th or above

Date and time of round: January 6, 2021 at 14:39:02 UTC

CRS score of lowest-ranked candidate invited: 813

Tie-breaking rule: November 2, 2020 at 11:11:52 UTC

If more than one candidate has the lowest score, the cut-off is based on the date and time they submitted their Express Entry profiles.

British Columbia invites 168 candidates to apply for provincial nomination

British Columbia has invited 168 candidates to apply for a provincial nomination for permanent residence on January 5.

The invitations were issued through the Express Entry BC (EEBC) and Skills Immigration streams.

Immigration candidates were invited under the following sub-categories

· Skilled Worker

· International Graduate

· Entry-Level

· Semi-Skilled

The sub-categories in the draw and the minimum scores required were:

· Skills Immigration: Skilled Worker: 95

· Skills Immigration: International Graduate: 95

· Skills Immigration Entry-Level and Semi-Skilled: 77

· Express Entry BC: Skilled Worker: 99

· Express Entry BC: International Graduate: 99

IRCC holds 2020 Parents and Grandparents Program immigration lottery

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recently held its 2020 Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) lottery.

The lottery was supposed to take place by the end of 2020, but was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Thise who have been selected in the lottery will have 60 days to submit their sponsorship application to IRCC, but can get an extension due to COVID-related delays.

Over the next ten days, IRCC will invite sponsors who have been drawn from the lottery.

1st Jan 2021:

Quebec announces changes for immigration applications

The province of Quebec has decided to increase its immigration processing fees which will be effective January 1, 2021.

Quebec will implement the following fee increases:

• The fee has risen from $812 to $822 for principal applicants who are applying as skilled workers
• The fee has risen from $176 to $174 for each family member accompanying the principal applicant
• The fees for validating or evaluating the impact of a permanent job offer on the Quebec labor market has increased from $202 to $205
• Fees for principal business immigration applicants, including investors from Quebec, entrepreneurs from Quebec and self-employed workers from Quebec, have risen from $15,763 to $15,962 and from $1,099 to $1,113 for the last two categories
• Fees for temporary staff and applications for international students have increased from $202 to $205
• Comparative assessments for studying outside Quebec have increased from $121 to $123

The fees referred to above are related to the cost of processing a request to immigrate to Quebec. You may be expected to pay other fees linked to your file when you complete an immigration application, including, for example, the cost of supporting documentation, translations or language tests.

Masters:

23rd Dec 2020:

25th Nov 2020

British Columbia invites 360 candidates for provincial nomination in latest draw

The province of British Columbia (B.C.) invited 360 immigration candidates to apply for a provincial nomination for PR visa on November 25.

The invitations were issued under the Express Entry BC (EEBC) and Skills Immigration streams.

The subcategories for invitations included the Skilled Worker, Entry Level and Semi-Skilled, and International Graduate subcategories.

The provincial score requirements for the various categories are as under:

• Skills Immigration: Skilled Worker: 93 points
• Skills Immigration: International Graduate: 94 points
• Skills Immigration Entry-Level and Semi-Skilled: 75 points
• Express Entry BC: Skilled Worker: 92 points:
• Express Entry BC: International Graduate: 93 points

B.C. holds draws every week through the above two Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) categories and streams.

To apply under these categories, the applicants must first create a profile through the BC PNP’s online portal and register under its Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS).

Applicants are evaluated and then given a score based on factors such as level of education, work experience, proficiency in English and location of employment.

Applicant who subsequently get a provincial nomination to apply for permanent residence under the PNP.

Express Entry candidates who receive a provincial nomination from British Columbia will gain an additional 600 points to add to their CRS score.

Express Entry cutoff score drops below 470 for first time in 2020 

The Express Entry cutoff score dropped below 470 for the first time in an all-program draw for 2020.

In the latest draw held on November 25, candidates were required to have a score of at least 469 points. The draw saw a total of 5000 invites issued in this round which makes it the largest number of ITAs issued in a single draw.
Candidates with the highest scores will receive an ITA to apply for a PR visa. With this draw, the total number of ITAs issued in 2020 comes to 97,350. 2020 has seen the highest number of ITAs issued till date pushing the number of invitations past their target.

Newfoundland and Labrador announce new immigration pathway

Newfoundland and Labrador’s provincial government announced a new immigration pathway on November 18, which will seek to retain newcomers who are already staying in the province.

The new immigration pathway, called the Priority Skills Newfoundland and Labrador, under the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP), will cater to highly educated and highly skilled candidates with work experience in specialized industries such as technology. The program  is expected to begin from January 2021.

The program seeks to address the labor shortage in the province especially in high-growth sectors.

Individuals who have a Masters or PhD from Memorial University and have graduated within the last three years and have completed a degree related to information and communication technology, ocean technology, healthcare, agriculture and aquaculture are eligible to apply for the program.

Professionals with work experience in high-demand occupations are also eligible.

Oct 5 2020

Quebec holds its largest draw of 2020

In the largest draw to be held by Quebec in 2020 so far, 365 invitations were issued – on September 24, 2020 – to immigration candidates for applying for permanent selection.

Oct 1 2020

Manitoba nominated 1,089 through the MPNP in July and August

The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program [MPNP] provides Canadian immigration pathways to skilled workers, recent graduates as well as businesspeople, for settling in and economically establishing themselves in Manitoba as permanent residents, along with their families.

Oct 1 2020

Third consecutive all-program Express Entry draw held by Canada

Canada has just held the third consecutive all-program Express Entry draw, inviting another 4,200 Canada immigration candidates to apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada [IRCC] for permanent residence.

Express Entry Draw #164 was held on September 30, 2020 at 12:37:25 UTC.

Sep 28 2020

Saskatchewan invites 535 in latest SINP draw

In the latest draw held on September 24, 2020, the province of Saskatchewan has invited 535 immigration candidates with work experience in any of the 81 in-demand occupations.

Those invited can now apply to the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program [SINP] for a provincial nomination.

Sep 28 2020

Manitoba PNP invites 189 in EOI Draw #99

In the latest Provincial Nominee Program [PNP] draw to be held by the province, Manitoba has invited a total of 189 candidates to apply for a provincial nomination through the MPNP. Of the 189 Letters of Advice to Apply [LAAs] issued by the MPNP in Manitoba’s Expression of Interest Draw #99 on September 24, 2020, 18 invitations went to candidates that had declared a job seeker validation code along with a valid Express Entry ID.

Sep 24 2020

Tech Pilot draw by BC PNP invites 74 candidates

The latest Provincial Nominee Program [PNP] draw by the province of British Columbia in Canada was another of the BC PNP Tech Pilot draws.

On September 22, 2020, as many as 74 immigration candidates were invited to apply for a provincial nomination through the BC PNP. The minimum score required was 80 across all the 4 categories included.

Sep 23 2020

A record number of invitations issued by PEI PNP in latest draw

Prince Edward Island’s Provincial Nominee Program [PEI PNP] has issued a record-breaking 345 invitations in the latest draw held on September 17, 2020. While 313 candidates got invitations through Labour Impact and Express Entry categories, another 32 entrepreneurs were invited through the Business Impact: Work Permit Stream.

Sep 18 2020

British Columbia invites 407 to apply for provincial nomination

The province of British Columbia has issued 407 invitations through a BC Provincial Nominee Program [BC PNP] draw held on September 15, 2020. As per the official website, “the BC PNP issued invitations to apply to qualified registrants in Skills Immigration and Express Entry BC categories”.

Sep 17 2020

Another all-program Express Entry draw invites 4,200 to apply for Canada PR

In the second all-program Express Entry draw to be held within a span of 2 weeks, Canada has invited another 4,200 immigration candidates in the latest Express Entry Draw #163 held on September 16, 2020 at 07:25:09 UTC. 472 was the minimum CRS score required.

Sep 12 2020

MPNP: 212 candidates advised to apply for a provincial nomination

In the latest Expression of Interest Draw #98 on September 10, 2020, the province of Manitoba has invited 212 immigration candidates to apply for a provincial nomination through the MPNP. Those successful in securing a provincial nomination get a step closer to applying to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada [IRCC] for Canadian permanent residence.

Sep 12 2020

BC PNP issues 67 ITAs in latest Tech Pilot draw

The province of British Columbia in Canada has held its latest Tech Pilot draw through the BC Provincial Nominee Program [BC PNP]. 67 Invitations to Apply [ITAs] were issued in the BC PNP Tech Pilot draw on September 8, 2020.

Sep 4 2020

Canada holds largest EE draw since February this year

In the latest Express Entry Draw #162 held on September 2, 2020 at 14:17:32 UTC, the Canadian government has invited 4,200 immigration candidates to apply for permanent residence. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System [CRS] score required was that of CRS 475.

1st Sep 2020:

British Columbia invites 430 candidates in latest PNP draw

British Columbia had invited more than 430 immigration candidates to apply for a provincial nomination for Canada permanent residence in a draw held September 1.

In this draw, invitations were sent to candidates in the Skilled Worker and International Graduate categories in the Express Entry BC (EEBC), Skills Immigration (SI) as well as those in Entrepreneur streams.

Candidates with a valid profile in the federal government’s Express Entry system are eligible for the EEBC category, which is Canada’s main immigration pathway for skilled immigrants who are hoping to get a Canada PR.

The SI category is for skilled and semi-skilled workers whose occupations are in high demand in British Columbia.

The minimum score requirements in this draw for each of these categories were:

• SI – Skilled Worker: 94
• SI – International Graduate: 98
• SI – Entry Level and Semi-Skilled: 76
• EEBC – Skilled Worker: 94
• EEBC – International Graduate: 98

*Please note that Quebec does not operate a Provincial Nominee Program, but instead manages its own provincial immigration program.

29th July 2020

Saskatchewan invites 502 immigration candidates its latest PNP draw

Saskatchewan held its largest PNP draw after the outbreak of Coronavirus pandemic where 502 immigration candidates were issued invitations on July 29.

In the latest draw, the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) invited candidates from the International Skilled Worker category through two subcategories: Express Entry, and Occupations In-Demand.

To qualify for this draw, candidates from both sub-categories are required to have submitted their Expression of Interest (EOI) profiles with the SINP.

Apart from this, candidates have to prove their commitment to building a life in Saskatchewan by showcasing their work experience, education, language ability, age, and connections to the province.

The SINP uses these five factors mentioned above to assess candidates and give them a score out of 100 on the International Skilled Worker Points Assessment Grid. Candidates with the highest score are then issued an invitation to apply for a provincial nomination from Saskatchewan.

The minimum score required in this draw was 70 for both sub-categories.

Out of the 502 invitations, 254 invitations were issued to candidates who had profiles in the federal Express Entry pool.

29th July 2020

Ontario holds tech draw to invite Express Entry candidates

Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) held its third tech draw this year where invitations were issued to immigrants who had work experience in any one of the six in-demand occupations.

The draw held on July 29 was the largest draw of this year. 1,288 invitations were sent out in this draw to candidates who could be eligible for the Express Entry Human Capital Priorities stream. Candidates had to have a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score between 463 and 477 in order to be invited.

Though the candidates did not need a job offer to receive an invitation, they needed to have at least one year of work experience in any one of the following occupations:

• Computer and information systems managers (NOC 0213)
• Computer engineers (NOC 2147)
• Database analysts and data administrators (NOC 2172)
• Software engineers and designers (NOC 2173)
• Computer programmer and interactive media developers (NOC 2174)
• Web designers and developers (NOC 2175)

They also needed to have a profile in the Express Entry system.

Candidates who received the Notification of Interest (NOI) now have 45 calendar days to submit their application for the provincial nomination. 

29th July 2020

British Columbia issues 46 invitations in Tech Pilot and Entrepreneur draws

British Columbia issued invitations to apply to 46 immigration candidates for a provincial nomination for permanent residence on July 28.

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) Tech Pilot issued invitations to 34 candidates under the Express Entry BC and Skills Immigration categories.

Selected candidates were from either the Skilled Worker or the International Graduate subcategories and they needed to have a minimum provincial score of 80.

To be eligible for the BC PNP, candidates are required to have a valid job offer of 12 months duration in any of the Tech Pilot’s 29 eligible occupations.

To apply for the Skills Immigration or Express Entry BC categories candidates have to first create a profile through the BC PNP’s online portal and register under its Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS). Applicants are evaluated and issued a score based on the following factors: education, work experience, proficiency in English and location of employment.

28th July 2020

Canada decides to make the spousal open work permit pilot permanent

Canada is making the Open Work Permit Pilot (OWPP) a permanent program, so the spouses and common-law partners of Canadians can continue to work while waiting for a decision on their permanent resident status.

The program began in December 2014 and was set to expire on July 31, but in place of setting another expiry date, Canada is now extending the program until the regulatory changes have been completed to make the pilot a permanent policy.

The OWPP is applicable for inland spousal and common-law sponsorship applicants. Inland sponsorship is for couples who are already living together in Canada. The partner who is applying for immigration needs to already have temporary status in Canada either as a worker, student, or visitor.

The foreign partners of Canadians can apply for the open work permit after they have applied for permanent residence through family-class sponsorship.

Openwork permits are not related to specific employers, this work permit allows foreign workers to work for any employer in Canada provided they meet the occupation’s qualifications.

In order to be eligible for an OWPP, immigration candidates need to meet the following requirements:

• Send an application for permanent residency under Spouse Common-Law Partner Class
• Have a Canadian citizen or permanent resident spouse or common-law partner who has submitted an application for sponsorship on their behalf
• Stay with their sponsor at the same address
• Have a legal temporary resident status in Canada

Individuals applying under the OWPP can submit the work permit application at the same time as their permanent residence application.

When applicants have already submitted their application for permanent residency, they may also apply the OWPP application separately.

July 23rd, 2020:

Canada issues 3,343 invitations in latest Express Entry draw

On July 23, Canada held an Express Entry draw where invitations were issued to 3,343 Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates. The CRS score for this draw was 445 points.

This was 14 points higher than the previous CEC-specific draw held on June 25, which had a CRS cut-off score of 431. The increase in points is because there were more candidates in the Express Entry pool this time.

With this draw, the total number of invitations issued in 2020 comes to 57,700.

The number of invitations exceeds the number of invitations issued at the same time last year.

July 22nd, 2020:

Canada sends 557 invites to PNP candidates

Canada invited 557 provincial nominee program (PNP) candidates in an Express Entry draw held on July 22, 2020.

With this Canada has now invited 54,357 immigration candidates so far in this year.

Candidates who had received a nomination from a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) were invited in the latest draw. The CRS score for this draw was 687 points. This is the lowest CRS requirement for a PNP-specific draw so far in 2020.

The selected candidates had previously received their provincial nomination and were given 600 additional points to add to their overall CRS score.

July 21st, 2020:

British Columbia issues 62 invitations to candidates under the BC PNP Tech Pilot

British Columbia issued 62 invitations to apply for a provincial nomination to BC PNP Tech Pilot candidates on July 21.

The BC PNP Tech Pilot is a fast-track immigration pathway that caters to in-demand tech workers and international students.

Candidates invited to this program are required to have a job offer valid for at least a one-year duration. The job should be in any one of the pilot’s 29 in-demand occupations.

In the latest draw invitations were issued to candidates in the Skilled Worker and International Graduate categories of the Express Entry BC (EEBC) and Skills Immigration streams.

Candidates in all the subcategories needed to have a minimum provincial score of 80.

The province has so far held 15 tech draws in 2020, in which more than 1,500 people have received provincial nominations.

July 17th, 2020:

PEI invites 194 candidates in two draws held in July

Prince Edward Island invited a total of 194 immigration candidates in two invitation rounds held in the month of July. The first draw was held on July 10, where eight Labor Impact and Express Entry candidates were invited to apply for a provincial nomination.

The second draw held on July 16 invited 157 candidates from the Labor Impact and Express Entry categories.

This is the subsequent draw after the previous one held in March. The next one is scheduled in August.

July 16th, 2020:

Manitoba issues 174 invitations in latest PNP draw:

The Canadian province of Manitoba held its PNP draw on July 16 where it issued 174 Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) to immigration candidates.

The LAAs were issued to Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) candidates under the following streams:

• Skilled Workers in Manitoba: 134
• Skilled Workers Overseas: 11
• International Education Stream: 29

Out of the 174 candidates, 18 of them had profiles in the federal Express Entry system.

Manitoba has issued LAAs to 2,634 candidates in 2020.In order to receive an LAA immigration candidates have to register an Expression of Interest (EOI) with the MPNP under the Skilled Workers in Manitoba and Skilled Workers Overseas categories.

Manitoba’s system ranks such candidates out of 1,000 points for human capital characteristics such as their English or French language skills, education, work experience, Manitoba connections, and other factors.

This draw required the candidates to have a score of at least 430 points to obtain an LAA under the Skilled Workers in Manitoba stream. The candidates under the Skilled Workers Overseas candidates needed a minimum score of 811 points.

July 15th, 2020:

British Columbia issues 320 invitations in its latest PNP draw

The Canada province of British Columbia held its PNP draw recently on July 14 where it issued 320 invitations to its Express Entry BC (EEBC) and Skilled Immigration (SI) candidates.

Candidates in the Skills Immigration stream were invited through the stream’s Skilled Worker, International Graduate and Entry Level and Semi-Skilled categories.

The minimum required provincial points for this draw was between 76 and 98, depending on the category.

These were the minimum scores for each of the categories:

• SI – Skilled Worker: 98
• SI – International Graduate: 98
• SI – Entry Level and Semi-Skilled: 76
• EEBC – Skilled Worker: 98
• EEBC – International Graduate: 98

Candidates who applied through the Express Entry BC stream had a federal Express Entry profile and were also registered in the province’s Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS).

Quebec holds second Arrima draw of 2020

Quebec held its second draw under the Arrima program on June 18. It invited seven candidates to apply for the Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ).Those requiring an invitation had to file an expression of interest with Quebec’s Ministry of Immigration, Francization, and Integration (MIFI) before December 17, 2019. They should be either a temporary resident of Quebec when they applied, or have a work or study permit in the province at the time.

Candidates must first send an Expression of Interest via Arrima to immigrate to Quebec under the Regular Skilled Worker Program. Next, MIFI will review the profile bank and grant invitations to those meeting specific requirements based on Quebec’s labor market needs.

Arrima was launched in 2018 to handle the Regular Skilled Worker Program’s bank of applicants after the program was moved from a paper-based “first-come, first-served” applicant approach to an Expression of Interest system.

July 8th, 2020:

British Columbia issues 57 invitations in the latest Tech Pilot draw

British Columbia held a new Tech Pilot draw on July 7 where it issued 57 invitations to immigration candidates.

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) Tech Pilot was launched in 2017 with the intention to help Canadian employers to hire immigrants belonging to the Information Technology (IT) sector and to help in the immigration process of foreign tech workers and international students.

The BC Tech Pilot issues invitations to eligible candidates on a  weekly basis which contains a valid one-year job offer in any one of the program’s specified occupations.  The latest draw saw invitations issued to candidates in the Skilled Worker and International Graduate categories of the Express Entry BC (EEBC) and Skills Immigration streams.

 The selected candidates had to have a minimum provincial score of 80.

This is the 14th Tech Pilot draw so far in 2020 with the most recent draws taking place on June 9 and June 23.

Canada issues 3,900 ITAs in all-program Express Entry draw

Canada has resumed all-program Express Entry draws and is now issuing invitations to apply to Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) candidates.

Canada’s first all-program Express Entry draw since March 4 has issued 3,900 invitations to apply (ITAs) for permanent residence. Candidates needed a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of at least 478 to be invited in the July 8 invitation round.

Since the coronavirus was labelled a pandemic and Canada introduced travel restriction to prevent its spread, Express Entry draws have been limited to Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) and Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates. This left FSWP and Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSTP) candidates in limbo.

Most CEC candidates are already in Canada and therefore are not affected by Canada’s current travel restrictions. PNP candidates continue to be invited because they are required to meet the labor market needs of provinces. This left out FSWP candidates in these draws. The latest draw changed the trend.

This is the 22nd draw of 2020 and the total number of ITAS issued till date is at 53,800.

Alberta issues 187 invitation through its AINP program

Alberta province through its Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) issued 187 invitations to candidates who may be eligible through the Alberta Express Entry Stream. The CRS score for this draw was 3030 points.

Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, only those candidates within Alberta are being invited for a nomination.

To qualify for the draw, candidates need to have work experience in an eligible occupation that supports the economic development of the province. Eligibility requirements for candidates to be invited for the draw are:

• Must be currently working in Alberta, even if they are working from home
• Must have a work permit allowing them to work in their current job
• Must have a job that is full-time, paid, meets the provincial minimum wage and is an eligible occupation

Alberta has so far issued 1,785 invitations to Express Entry candidates.

29th July 2020

Saskatchewan invites 502 immigration candidates its latest PNP draw

Saskatchewan held its largest PNP draw after the outbreak of Coronavirus pandemic where 502 immigration candidates were issued invitations on July 29.

In the latest draw, the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) invited candidates from the International Skilled Worker category through two subcategories: Express Entry, and Occupations In-Demand.

To qualify for this draw, candidates from both sub-categories are required to have submitted their Expression of Interest (EOI) profiles with the SINP.

Apart from this, candidates have to prove their commitment to building a life in Saskatchewan by showcasing their work experience, education, language ability, age, and connections to the province.

The SINP uses these five factors mentioned above to assess candidates and give them a score out of 100 on the International Skilled Worker Points Assessment Grid. Candidates with the highest score are then issued an invitation to apply for a provincial nomination from Saskatchewan.

The minimum score required in this draw was 70 for both sub-categories.

Out of the 502 invitations, 254 invitations were issued to candidates who had profiles in the federal Express Entry pool.

29th July 2020

Ontario holds tech draw to invite Express Entry candidates

Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) held its third tech draw this year where invitations were issued to immigrants who had work experience in any one of the six in-demand occupations.

The draw held on July 29 was the largest draw of this year. 1,288 invitations were sent out in this draw to candidates who could be eligible for the Express Entry Human Capital Priorities stream. Candidates had to have a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score between 463 and 477 in order to be invited.

Though the candidates did not need a job offer to receive an invitation, they needed to have at least one year of work experience in any one of the following occupations:

• Computer and information systems managers (NOC 0213)
• Computer engineers (NOC 2147)
• Database analysts and data administrators (NOC 2172)
• Software engineers and designers (NOC 2173)
• Computer programmer and interactive media developers (NOC 2174)
• Web designers and developers (NOC 2175)

They also needed to have a profile in the Express Entry system.

Candidates who received the Notification of Interest (NOI) now have 45 calendar days to submit their application for the provincial nomination. 

29th July 2020

British Columbia issues 46 invitations in Tech Pilot and Entrepreneur draws

British Columbia issued invitations to apply to 46 immigration candidates for a provincial nomination for permanent residence on July 28.

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) Tech Pilot issued invitations to 34 candidates under the Express Entry BC and Skills Immigration categories.

Selected candidates were from either the Skilled Worker or the International Graduate subcategories and they needed to have a minimum provincial score of 80.

To be eligible for the BC PNP, candidates are required to have a valid job offer of 12 months duration in any of the Tech Pilot’s 29 eligible occupations.

To apply for the Skills Immigration or Express Entry BC categories candidates have to first create a profile through the BC PNP’s online portal and register under its Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS). Applicants are evaluated and issued a score based on the following factors: education, work experience, proficiency in English and location of employment.

28th July 2020

Canada decides to make the spousal open work permit pilot permanent

Canada is making the Open Work Permit Pilot (OWPP) a permanent program, so the spouses and common-law partners of Canadians can continue to work while waiting for a decision on their permanent resident status.

The program began in December 2014 and was set to expire on July 31, but in place of setting another expiry date, Canada is now extending the program until the regulatory changes have been completed to make the pilot a permanent policy.

The OWPP is applicable for inland spousal and common-law sponsorship applicants. Inland sponsorship is for couples who are already living together in Canada. The partner who is applying for immigration needs to already have temporary status in Canada either as a worker, student, or visitor.

The foreign partners of Canadians can apply for the open work permit after they have applied for permanent residence through family-class sponsorship.

Openwork permits are not related to specific employers, this work permit allows foreign workers to work for any employer in Canada provided they meet the occupation’s qualifications.

In order to be eligible for an OWPP, immigration candidates need to meet the following requirements:

• Send an application for permanent residency under Spouse Common-Law Partner Class
• Have a Canadian citizen or permanent resident spouse or common-law partner who has submitted an application for sponsorship on their behalf
• Stay with their sponsor at the same address
• Have a legal temporary resident status in Canada

Individuals applying under the OWPP can submit the work permit application at the same time as their permanent residence application.

When applicants have already submitted their application for permanent residency, they may also apply the OWPP application separately.

July 23rd, 2020:

Canada issues 3,343 invitations in latest Express Entry draw

On July 23, Canada held an Express Entry draw where invitations were issued to 3,343 Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates. The CRS score for this draw was 445 points.

This was 14 points higher than the previous CEC-specific draw held on June 25, which had a CRS cut-off score of 431. The increase in points is because there were more candidates in the Express Entry pool this time.

With this draw, the total number of invitations issued in 2020 comes to 57,700.

The number of invitations exceeds the number of invitations issued at the same time last year.

July 22nd, 2020:

Canada sends 557 invites to PNP candidates

Canada invited 557 provincial nominee program (PNP) candidates in an Express Entry draw held on July 22, 2020.

With this Canada has now invited 54,357 immigration candidates so far in this year.

Candidates who had received a nomination from a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) were invited in the latest draw. The CRS score for this draw was 687 points. This is the lowest CRS requirement for a PNP-specific draw so far in 2020.

The selected candidates had previously received their provincial nomination and were given 600 additional points to add to their overall CRS score.

July 21st, 2020:

British Columbia issues 62 invitations to candidates under the BC PNP Tech Pilot

British Columbia issued 62 invitations to apply for a provincial nomination to BC PNP Tech Pilot candidates on July 21.

The BC PNP Tech Pilot is a fast-track immigration pathway that caters to in-demand tech workers and international students.

Candidates invited to this program are required to have a job offer valid for at least a one-year duration. The job should be in any one of the pilot’s 29 in-demand occupations.

In the latest draw invitations were issued to candidates in the Skilled Worker and International Graduate categories of the Express Entry BC (EEBC) and Skills Immigration streams.

Candidates in all the subcategories needed to have a minimum provincial score of 80.

The province has so far held 15 tech draws in 2020, in which more than 1,500 people have received provincial nominations.

July 17th, 2020:

PEI invites 194 candidates in two draws held in July

Prince Edward Island invited a total of 194 immigration candidates in two invitation rounds held in the month of July. The first draw was held on July 10, where eight Labor Impact and Express Entry candidates were invited to apply for a provincial nomination.

The second draw held on July 16 invited 157 candidates from the Labor Impact and Express Entry categories.

This is the subsequent draw after the previous one held in March. The next one is scheduled in August.

July 16th, 2020:

Manitoba issues 174 invitations in latest PNP draw:

The Canadian province of Manitoba held its PNP draw on July 16 where it issued 174 Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) to immigration candidates.

The LAAs were issued to Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) candidates under the following streams:

• Skilled Workers in Manitoba: 134
• Skilled Workers Overseas: 11
• International Education Stream: 29

Out of the 174 candidates, 18 of them had profiles in the federal Express Entry system.

Manitoba has issued LAAs to 2,634 candidates in 2020.In order to receive an LAA immigration candidates have to register an Expression of Interest (EOI) with the MPNP under the Skilled Workers in Manitoba and Skilled Workers Overseas categories.

Manitoba’s system ranks such candidates out of 1,000 points for human capital characteristics such as their English or French language skills, education, work experience, Manitoba connections, and other factors.

This draw required the candidates to have a score of at least 430 points to obtain an LAA under the Skilled Workers in Manitoba stream. The candidates under the Skilled Workers Overseas candidates needed a minimum score of 811 points.

July 15th, 2020:

British Columbia issues 320 invitations in its latest PNP draw

The Canada province of British Columbia held its PNP draw recently on July 14 where it issued 320 invitations to its Express Entry BC (EEBC) and Skilled Immigration (SI) candidates.

Candidates in the Skills Immigration stream were invited through the stream’s Skilled Worker, International Graduate and Entry Level and Semi-Skilled categories.

The minimum required provincial points for this draw was between 76 and 98, depending on the category.

These were the minimum scores for each of the categories:

• SI – Skilled Worker: 98
• SI – International Graduate: 98
• SI – Entry Level and Semi-Skilled: 76
• EEBC – Skilled Worker: 98
• EEBC – International Graduate: 98

Candidates who applied through the Express Entry BC stream had a federal Express Entry profile and were also registered in the province’s Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS).

Quebec holds second Arrima draw of 2020

Quebec held its second draw under the Arrima program on June 18. It invited seven candidates to apply for the Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ).Those requiring an invitation had to file an expression of interest with Quebec’s Ministry of Immigration, Francization, and Integration (MIFI) before December 17, 2019. They should be either a temporary resident of Quebec when they applied, or have a work or study permit in the province at the time.

Candidates must first send an Expression of Interest via Arrima to immigrate to Quebec under the Regular Skilled Worker Program. Next, MIFI will review the profile bank and grant invitations to those meeting specific requirements based on Quebec’s labor market needs.

Arrima was launched in 2018 to handle the Regular Skilled Worker Program’s bank of applicants after the program was moved from a paper-based “first-come, first-served” applicant approach to an Expression of Interest system.

July 8th, 2020:

British Columbia issues 57 invitations in the latest Tech Pilot draw

British Columbia held a new Tech Pilot draw on July 7 where it issued 57 invitations to immigration candidates.

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) Tech Pilot was launched in 2017 with the intention to help Canadian employers to hire immigrants belonging to the Information Technology (IT) sector and to help in the immigration process of foreign tech workers and international students.

The BC Tech Pilot issues invitations to eligible candidates on a  weekly basis which contains a valid one-year job offer in any one of the program’s specified occupations.  The latest draw saw invitations issued to candidates in the Skilled Worker and International Graduate categories of the Express Entry BC (EEBC) and Skills Immigration streams.

 The selected candidates had to have a minimum provincial score of 80.

This is the 14th Tech Pilot draw so far in 2020 with the most recent draws taking place on June 9 and June 23.

Canada issues 3,900 ITAs in all-program Express Entry draw

Canada has resumed all-program Express Entry draws and is now issuing invitations to apply to Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) candidates.

Canada’s first all-program Express Entry draw since March 4 has issued 3,900 invitations to apply (ITAs) for permanent residence. Candidates needed a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of at least 478 to be invited in the July 8 invitation round.

Since the coronavirus was labelled a pandemic and Canada introduced travel restriction to prevent its spread, Express Entry draws have been limited to Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) and Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates. This left FSWP and Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSTP) candidates in limbo.

Most CEC candidates are already in Canada and therefore are not affected by Canada’s current travel restrictions. PNP candidates continue to be invited because they are required to meet the labor market needs of provinces. This left out FSWP candidates in these draws. The latest draw changed the trend.

This is the 22nd draw of 2020 and the total number of ITAS issued till date is at 53,800.

Alberta issues 187 invitation through its AINP program

Alberta province through its Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) issued 187 invitations to candidates who may be eligible through the Alberta Express Entry Stream. The CRS score for this draw was 3030 points.

Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, only those candidates within Alberta are being invited for a nomination.

To qualify for the draw, candidates need to have work experience in an eligible occupation that supports the economic development of the province. Eligibility requirements for candidates to be invited for the draw are:

• Must be currently working in Alberta, even if they are working from home
• Must have a work permit allowing them to work in their current job
• Must have a job that is full-time, paid, meets the provincial minimum wage and is an eligible occupation

Alberta has so far issued 1,785 invitations to Express Entry candidates.

June 25th, 2020:

Canada issues 3,508 invitations in latest Express Entry draw

Canada held an Express Entry draw on June 25 in which 3,508 invitations were issued to CEC candidates and their families for permanent residence.

The Invitations to Apply (ITAs) were issued to CEC candidates with a CRS score of 431. This is the lowest CRS score after the Express Entry draw in May 2017 which had a CRS score of 413.

This draw comes a day after 392 ITAs were issued to Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates on June 24. The total number of ITAs issued in the past two days now comes to 3,900.

The number of ITAs issued so far in 2020 now comes to 49,900.

Prince Edward Island holds three PNP draws in June

The province of Prince Edward Island invited 90 immigration candidates in three draws held under the PEI Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP) in June.

The first draw was held on June 10 where it invited nine Express Entry and Labor Impact candidates. The second draw held on June 18, issued 10 invitations for candidates in the same categories.

In the third draw held on June 23, a total of 91 invitations were issued. This draw invited 20 Business Impact candidates and 71 Labor and Express Entry candidates.

June 24rd, 2020:

Canada issues 392 invitations in latest Express Entry draw:

Canada held another round of Express Entry draw on June 24 where 392 candidates with provincial nominations were invited. The CRS score for this invitation round was 696 and above.

This draw used a tie-break rule to invite candidates who had submitted their profile before April 23, 2020.

In spite of the travel restrictions announced by Canada for the Coronavirus pandemic, Express Entry draws continue to be held in which provincial nominees and Canada’s Experience Class candidates are being targeted.

Till date, the government of Canada has held 15 draws and issued more than 10,000 ITAs for PR visas.

The immigration targets for this year are on track and more ITAs were issued this year than for the same time last year. Till date 46,392 PR applicants have been issued.

June 23rd, 2020:

British Columbia invites 87 candidates in latest Tech Pilot draw:

In its latest Tech Pilot draw British Columbia invited 87 immigration candidates with a job offer in its tech sector to apply for a provincial nomination towards permanent residence.

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) Tech Pilot draw held on June 23 issued invitations to candidates registered under both Express Entry BC and Skills immigration categories.

Selected candidates belonging to the Skilled Worker and International Graduate subcategories had to have a minimum provincial score of 80.

The minimum score in the latest draw was keeping with the score trends for Tech Pilot draws since the beginning of May.

British Columbia has held six PNP draws so far in June in which 729 candidates have been selected.

June 18th, 2020:

Ontario holds two Express Entry draws in a span of two days:

Ontario has held two Express Entry draws in a span of two days. The first draw held on June 17 targeted skilled workers in the Express Entry stream.

The 758 invitations were issued under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) to candidates who may be eligible for the Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream. This was the largest number of candidates who were invited through this stream in a single draw since January 18, 2018.

The invited candidates have work experience as a tradesperson and a profile in the Express Entry pool. The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score for this draw was 400.

In the second draw held on June 18, invitations were sent to bilingual candidates in the Express Entry system to apply for a provincial nomination.

The draw saw a total of 143 Express Entry candidates being given Notifications of Interest (NOIs). Candidates with CRS scores between 424 and 436 were invited. They also had to meet the eligibility requirements for Ontario’s Express Entry French-Speaking Skilled Worker (FSSW) stream.

Candidates from both these draws needed to have profiles in the federal Express Entry system, where applications under various streams such as Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class are covered.

June 16th, 2020:

British Columbia issues 276 invitations in its latest PNP draw

In the latest draw held on June 16, British Columbia invited 276 Skills Immigration and Express Entry candidates to apply for a provincial nomination.

The invitations were sent to candidates under the Skilled Worker and International Graduate candidates in both the Express Entry BC (EEBC) and Skills Immigration streams.

The minimum score requirements for the draw was between 80 and 103 for the five EEBC and Skills Immigration (SI) categories that were involved.

The minimum scores for the categories were as under:

SI – Skilled Worker: 100

SI – International Graduate: 100

SI – Entry Level and Semi-Skilled: 80

EEBC – Skilled Worker: 100

EEBC – International Graduate: 103

EEBC candidates must be registered under both the federal Express Entry system and B.C.’s Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS) to receive an invitation.

British Columbia has held three draws in June so far with the last one held on June 7.

June 12th, 2020:

Alberta’s latest PNP draw had a CRS score of 300

The Alberta Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw held on May 27 under the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) issued 148 invitations to candidates who are eligible for a provincial nomination through the Alberta Express Entry Stream. The CRS score required for this draw was 300 points. Candidates needed to have a profile in the federal Express Entry system.

Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the AINP has decided on the following criteria for candidates to receive a nomination. They must:

Be Currently working in Alberta
Have a work permit for their current job
Have a full-time job in an eligible occupation
Candidates who were working full time before the Coronavirus pandemic, and those working in a regulated occupation but cannot meet licensure requirements will have their application on hold for 60 days.

Alberta has issued 1,746 invitations to Express Entry candidates till date for 2020.

Quebec adopts priority processing for 23 occupations in-demand

To help local employers during the Coronavirus pandemic, the Canadian province of Quebec is doing away with the requirement to obtain the Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) if they want to hire foreign workers.

Due to the labor demands brought on by the pandemic, this LMIA requirement has been removed for the following 23 out of the 24 priority occupations:

Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (NOC 3012)
Specialist physicians (NOC 3111)
General practitioners and family physicians (NOC 3112)
Allied primary health practitioners (NOC 3124)
Pharmacists (NOC 3131)
Medical laboratory technologists (NOC 3211)
Medical laboratory technicians and pathologists’ assistants (NOC 3212)
Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists (NOC 3214)
Other medical technologists and technicians (except dental health) (NOC 3219)
Licensed practical nurses (NOC 3233)
Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment (NOC 3237)
Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates (NOC 3413)
Other assisting occupations in support of health services (NOC 3414)
Light duty cleaners (NOC 6731)
Butchers, meat cutters and fishmongers-retail and wholesale (NOC 6331)
Agricultural service contractors, farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers (NOC 8252)
General Farm Workers (NOC 8431)
Nursery and Greenhouse Workers (NOC 8432)
Harvesting labourers (NOC 8611)
Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers (NOC 9462)
Fish and seafood plant workers (NOC 9463)
Labourers in food, beverage and associated products processing (NOC 9617)
Labourers in fish and seafood processing (NOC 9618)
IRCC provides updates on who can travel to Canada

The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) released an update on June 12, which provided guidelines on who can travel to the country despite the travel restrictions due to the Coronavirus pandemic. These restrictions came into effect from March 18 but the government has been providing information to immigrants and their authority to enter the country. Recently the government announced that it is flexible to allow immediate family members to enter Canada.

The IRCC  has announced that foreign nationals can enter Canada only for non-optional and non-discretionary reasons. Foreigners who wish to travel to Canada must give a valid reason for the trip.

Immediate family of Canadian citizens or permanent residents will be deemed to be travelling for non-discretionary or non-optional reasons if their trip to Canada is at least 15 days long and they are either travelling with or will reunite with their family member.

The immediate family members of Canadian citizens or permanent residents can be considered that they are travelling for non-discretionary or non-optional purposes if their journey to Canada is at least 15 days long and they are either traveling with their family members or will reunite with them in Canada.

There must be evidence provided by immediate family members and temporary residents that their travel to Canada is non-optional. Such travelers other than those form the US must obtain an authorization letter from the IRCC.

These relations come under the bracket of immediate family members as defined by the IRCC:

Spouses or common-law partners
Dependent children
Grandchildren
Parents or stepparents
Guardians or tutors
Immediate family can enter Canada if they meet the following criteria:

The trip to the country must be at least 15 days long, however, the IRCC is offering flexibility for trips under 15 days.
The immediate family members must self-quarantine for 14 days once they enter Canada
They have no symptoms of COVID-19
The trip is non-optional and non-discretionary
They are coming to Canada to be with their immediate family members
IRCC recommends that immediate family members must have the following documents:

Documents that prove that their immediate family member is a Canadian citizen or a PR visa holder
Documents that prove their relationship to the family member (e.g., marriage certificate or proof of common-law status, birth certificate, confirmation of permanent residence for the family class, etc).
June 11th, 2020:

Canada issues 3,559 ITAs in latest Express Entry draw:

In the Express Entry draw held on June 11, 3,559 invitations were issued to CEC candidates. The cut-off score for this draw was 437 which is three points lower than the previous CEC draw held on May 28.

The latest draw was the largest CEC-specific Express Entry draw since May 1st, and the second largest after Canada introduced special measures in the middle of March due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

The CRS points for Express Entry draws continue to go down as the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is inviting a higher number of CEC-specific candidates.

The IRCC has held thirteen Canadian Experience Class and Provincial Nominee Program draws in the last two months.

Canada proposes permanent residence to asylum seekers working in healthcare:

Canada’s s federal government is thinking of implementing a temporary program that will provide permanent residence to asylum seekers if they have worked in the healthcare sector during the Coronavirus pandemic.

The program is most likely to be launched in the next few weeks. The proposal to grant permanent residence will be extended to workers in hospitals such as nurses’ aides, security staff and others. However, asylum seekers working in other fields who might have been part of essential services during the pandemic will not be included in the proposed program.

June 10th, 2020:

British Columbia invites 87 candidates in latest PNP draw

British Columbia held a new Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw on June 9 where 87 candidates were invited to apply from the Express Entry BC and Skills Immigration categories.

The score requirement for each category was 82.

British Columbia recently announced that it is extending the Tech Pilot for another year till 2021.

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) Tech Pilot provides a pathway to permanent residence for foreign tech workers who have job offers in one of 29 eligible occupations in the province.

June 8th, 2020:

British Columbia extends its Tech Pilot program by another year:

The Canadian province of British Columbia has decided to extend its tech pilot program till June 2021.

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) Tech Pilot provides a pathway to permanent residence for foreign tech workers who have job offers in one of 29 eligible occupations in BC. Other eligibility requirements include that the job offer must be valid for a minimum of one year and at the time of application 120 days must be remaining,

The job offer must be for a minimum of one year, and there must be at least 120 days remaining at the time of application.

The BC PNP holds Tech Pilot draws almost every week to reduce the waiting time for workers and their BC employers.

In order to apply for the Tech Pilot program, immigration candidates must first create a profile through the BC PNP’s online portal and register under its Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS). They can apply either under the Skills Immigration or Express Entry BC immigration categories.

June 5th, 2020:

Latest Manitoba PNP issues 124 invitations

The province of Manitoba held its 91st Expression of Interest (EOI) on June 4. 124 immigration candidates were invited to apply for a provincial nomination for Canadian permanent residence.

The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) gave the Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) to eligible candidates in the following streams:

Skilled Workers in Manitoba: 84
Skilled Workers Overseas: 21
International Education Stream: 19
With this draw, the total number of LAAs issued to immigration candidates this year comes up to 2,154.

Out of the 124 LAAs issued, nine went to candidates who had profiles in the Express Entry pool.

Candidates will have to register an EOI with the MPNP if they want to be invited to apply for a provincial nomination from Manitoba through both the Skilled Workers in Manitoba and Skilled Workers Overseas categories. In the latest draw, candidates invited under the Skilled Workers in Manitoba Stream had a score of 523 while candidates invited from the Skilled Workers Overseas Stream had a score of 703.

June 3rd, 2020:

Latest Ontario PNP Draw Invites 699 Express Entry Candidates:

In its latest PNP draw held on June 3, Ontario invited 699 Express Entry candidates with work experience in one of nine occupations to apply for a provincial nomination on June 3.

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) draw invited candidates who may be eligible for the Express Entry Human Capital Priorities Stream (HCP).

Candidates with work experience in the following nine occupations were issued Notifications of Interest (NOIs) in this invitation round:

Financial managers (NOC 0111)
Other administrative services managers (0114)
Advertising, marketing and public relations managers (0124)
Financial auditors and accountants (NOC 1111)
Other financial officers (NOC 1114)
Professional occupations in business management consulting (NOC 1122)
Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (NOC 3012)
Other primary health practitioners (NOC 3124)
Dieticians and nutritionists (NOC 3132)
In this draw, Express Entry candidates with a minimum one year of work experience in Canada and with a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score between 358 and 439 received an invitation. Candidates with international work experience needed CRS scores between 471 and 500.

Apart from this, the candidates were required to have profiles in the federal Express Entry system.

June 3rd, 2020:

British Columbia conducts largest PNP draw till date

British Columbia held its largest PNP draw on June 2. In this draw, 241 Skilled Worker and International Graduate candidates received invitations to apply under the province’s Express Entry BC (EEBC) and Skills Immigration categories. The minimum required score was different for each category.

The cut-off score for Express Entry subcategories were:

Skilled Worker: 105
International Graduate: 105
The cut-off score for the three Skills Immigration subcategories were:

Skilled Worker: 105
International Graduate: 105
Entry Level and Semi-Skilled: 81
Due to the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic, British Columbia excluded several sales and service occupations from the draw.

Entrepreneur Streams

The province also invited candidates to its entrepreneur streams for the first time in nearly two months. A total of 29 invitations were issued under the BC PNP’s Entrepreneur Immigration Base Category in this draw. The cut-off score for this draw was 121.

The aim of the Base Category is to welcome existing entrepreneurs who wish to either start or take over a business. Candidates are assessed based on factors such as their professional experience, net worth, employment, business strategy and how much investment they expect to make.

Apart from this, the province also issued 9 invitations to Entrepreneur Immigration — Regional Pilot candidates with a cut-off score of at least 118 points.

May 29th, 2020:

Latest AINP draw of Alberta invites 191 Express Entry candidates to apply for a provincial nomination

In the latest PNP draw, the province of Alberta under The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) invited 191 Express Entry candidates to apply for a provincial nomination for permanent residence.

The score requirement for this draw was 300 points for the candidates to receive a Notification of Interest (NOI) from Alberta.

Alberta only recognizes applicants for a provincial nomination if they already live in the province and work there. Normally, getting an NOI via the Alberta Express Entry Stream doesn’t require a job offer to receive an invitation through the Alberta Express Entry Stream.

Alberta provides some flexibility for PNP applicants who are unable to submit all documents because of service delays arising from the pandemic. The AINP is ready to accept copies of documents, and if the applicant meets the necessary requirements their file will be kept for 60 calendar days

Quebec introduces a slew of changes in the Quebec Experience Program

The government of Quebec has introduced changes to its Quebec Experience Program. It will launch two new pilot programs, as well.

Launched in 2010, the QEP is a popular stream that offers a quick path to permanent residence for temporary foreign workers and Quebec-residing international students.

Four objectives for QEP reforms

Better integration into the labor market

More efficiency in the selection process to meet the province’s labour market needs

French-language proficiency to facilitate economic and social integration

Strong program integrity

Workers and students require more work experience

In order to help foster integration into its labor market and culture, Quebec is now adding more job experience standards under the QEP.

Temporary foreign workers (TFWs) will also need to obtain at least 36 months of full-time work experience in the 48 months preceding their permanent residency application. Students will now need 12 or 24 months of Quebec job experience to be eligible.

Knowledge of French for spouses

Quebec states that under the QEP, spouses of principal applicants will need to demonstrate spoken French knowledge. This is to ensure they can integrate into the province. This provision will come into force one year after the reforms are implemented.

French certificate courses no longer valid

Certificates of successful completion of specialized intermediate-level French courses offered by Quebec institutions will no longer be valid.

Change in processing times

The QEP had a 20-day processing period, but the province now undertakes to process applications within a maximum of six months.

Two pilot projects for nurse’s aides and tech workers

In addition, Quebec will come out with two new immigration pilot projects for nurses’ aides and tech employees.

Saskatchewan invites 252 candidates in latest PNP draw

The province of Saskatchewan held it’s latest PNP draw the latest draw on May 28 where it issued invitations for 252 immigration candidates to apply for a provincial nomination for permanent residence.

The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) invited candidates from two categories-the International Skilled Worker category through two subcategories: Express Entry, and Occupations In-Demand.

This is Saskatchewan’s first Express Entry-aligned Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw since Canada closed its borders to non-essential travel. The previous March 26 draw was for in-demand Occupation candidates only.

 Candidates from both subcategories had to apply Expression of Interest (EOI) profiles with the SINP in order to be included in this draw. The minimum score requirement for those draws was 78 for both sub-categories.

May 28th, 2020:

May 28 Express Entry draw issues 3,515 ITAs

The latest Express Entry draw held on May 28 issued 3,515 invitations to Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates with Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores of 440 or higher.

This draw was the largest CEC specific EE draw since May 1st  and the second biggest after the implementation of restrictions due to Coronavirus in the middle of March.

The draw also continued the trend of decreasing CRS score requirements which was seen in the last six draws. This trend could be possibly due to the regular frequency of draws that the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has been conducting in the last two months.

The shorter intervals between draws can also have an impact on the CRS cut-off score because this means that fewer candidates will have time to submit their profile in the Express Entry pool.

The cut-off score of 440 in this draw was 7 points lesser than the previous CEC draw on May 15 which had a CRS score of 447.

May 27th, 2020:

Canada issues 385 ITAs in latest Express Entry draw

Canada held an Express Entry draw on May 27 where it issued 385 invitations to apply (ITAs) for candidates who had earlier received a provincial nomination.

This is the sixth PNP draw from the Federal Express Entry system after the implementation of special measures for Coronavirus on March 18.

Canada has been holding Express Entry draws that alternate between targeting PNP and Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates.

The latest draw applied the tie-break rule. Candidates with a CRS score of at least 757 who submitted their profile before April 27, 2020 at 10:19:01 UTC, received an ITA in this round.

The good news is that despite travel restrictions, the number of ITAs issued so far this year have exceeded those in the same period last year. Including the latest draw, a total of 38,585 Express Entry candidates have been invited to apply for permanent residence in 2020.

May 26th, 2020:

British Columbia invites 133 candidates in the latest Tech Pilot draw:

In the latest Tech pilot draw held on May 26, British Columbia invited 133 immigration candidates to apply for a provincial nomination for permanent residence. The invitations were issued to Skilled Worker and International Graduate candidates under the Express Entry BC (EEBC) and Skills Immigration categories. The minimum required score in both the categories was 80.

The B.C tech pilot program invites tech workers with a valid job offer in one of 29 in-demand technology occupations to apply for permanent residence.

Candidates for EEBC must have profiles under both B.C.’s Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS) and the federal Express Entry system.

May 23rd, 2020:

Nova Scotia invites nurses in latest PNP draw

The Canadian province of Nova Scotia held a new Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw on May 22, where nurses were invited to apply for a provincial nomination for Canadian permanent residence under the Labor Market Priorities Stream.

The Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) while releasing details on eligibility criteria for the draw, did not mention the number of invitations that were issued. The eligibility criteria included:

At least three years of work experience as a registered nurse or registered psychiatric nurse, which is NOC 3012 in Canada’s National Occupational Classification index.

A Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score of at least eight or higher in English or French in all language abilities.

Candidates should have a bachelor’s degree or have completed a post-secondary program of at least three years.

Candidates should have their profiles in the Express Entry system in order to be considered for a provincial nomination from Nova Scotia through the Labor Market Priorities Stream.

May 20th, 2020:

May 20th, 2020:

• Skilled Worker: 110

• International Graduate: 110

• Skilled Worker: 100

• International Graduate: 103

• Entry Level and Semi-Skilled: 81

May 15th, 2020:

Latest Express Entry draw see CRS scores drop again

In the latest Express Entry draw held on May 15, 3371 invitations were issued to CEC candidates. The CRS score for the draw was 447 points.

The score was the lowest since January 19. The previous draw which had the lowest score was held on May 1 with a CRS score of 452.

The May 15 draw was within a 24-hour span of the previous draw held on May 14 where 529 ITAs were issued.

The latest draw continues a trend where the CRS score has decreased in the last four CEC draws. This may be explained by the frequency of draws and the regular interval between them.

Canada now accepting applications for Agri-food immigration pilot program

The Canadian government is now accepting applications for the Agri-food Immigration Pilot.

The pilot is intended to tackle Canadian employers’ labor-related needs in meat processing, mushroom and greenhouse production, and livestock-raising industries. Under the new pilot, temporary visa holders who already work in these fields in Canada will be eligible to apply for permanent residency.

For the next three years under the pilot, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will accept up to 2,750 principal applicants and their family members annually. Applications are accepted from now until 14 May 2023.

Canadian agri-food companies have called on the federal government to help them recruit the labor force they need to function. The planned launch date for the pilot was planned for at the end of March but was postponed because of the global Coronavirus pandemic.

May 13th, 2020:

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC ) have provided the official data on the Permanent Resident admissions in February 2020.

In February, Canada has admitted 25,925 newcomers.

A quarter of them originated from India – 6,525 (25.2% of the total).

May 11th, 2020:

IEC visa holders exempt from travel restrictions

The government of Canada has announced that some of the international workers who have the International Experience Canada (IEC) visa are no longer under the Coronavirus induced travel restrictions.

IEC participants with a valid job offer and a port of entry letter of introduction can now enter Canada according to the IRCC.

IEC visa holders coming to Canada at this time are required to self-quarantine for 14 days and need to inform the authorities of their quarantine plan.

The IEC visa is given to persons between 18-35 years of age allowing them to Work in Canada for 1 to 2 years.

May 8th, 2020:

British Columbia issues 237 invitations for a provincial nomination in the latest draw

British Columbia issued 237 invitations for provincial nomination. The draw held on May 7 invited Express Entry candidates, skilled and semi-skilled workers, and international student graduates.

The Express Entry invitation invited candidates under two subcategories:

• Skilled Worker – required provincial score 108
• International Graduate – required provincial score 106

The three subcategories that were invited under the Skills Immigration stream were:

• Skilled Worker – required provincial score 102
• International Graduate – required provincial score 106
• Entry-Level and Semi – skilled-required provincial score 83

Coronavirus restrictions have affected the occupations invited for this round. Several sales and service occupations were exempted in the draw.

May 7th, 2020:

Manitoba issues 123 invites to candidates for a provincial nomination

The province of Manitoba invited 123 candidates for the provincial nomination on May 7.

The invited candidates had their profiles included in the Expression of Interest (EOI) pool and belonged to three of Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) streams. 14 of these candidates had a valid Express Entry profile.

The Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) issued in this draw were distributed as under:

• Skilled Workers in Manitoba: 94
• Skilled Workers Overseas: 14
• International Education Stream: 15

The MPNP has issued 1,931 LAAs so far in 2020. This is the 89th draw of Manitoba since the program began in April 2014.

May 6th, 2020:

PNP draws continue in Canada despite Coronavirus 

Many provinces in Canada are continuing their provincial nominee programs to bring immigrants to their region. A provincial nomination brings immigration candidates one step closer to getting a PR visa in Canada.

Despite the temporary travel restrictions imposed by Canada due to Coronavirus many provinces here continue to hold invitation rounds. Here is a roundup of the PNP draws held recently.

Ontario

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) held three draws in the last few days in the month of April.

These draws targeted entrepreneurs, French speakers and skilled tradespersons in certain occupations. These are the details of the draws held recently.

In a draw held on April 22, the province of Ontario issued 26 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) through its Entrepreneur stream.

The invitations were issued to candidates scoring between 132 and 200 points.

On April 29, the OINP issued invitations to 190 candidates in 14 skilled trades occupations.

The draw has chosen candidates with experience in in-demand occupations in Ontario. This draw selected candidates with a valid Express Entry profile.

Ontario held an Express Entry draw on April 30 and invited 307 French-speaking Express Entry candidates. The draw comes under the French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream.

Alberta

The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) has conducted eight draws so far this year, three were held after the introduction of Coronavirus measures.

But the province has introduced certain temporary measures as a result of the pandemic.

As part of the measures, the AINP is ready to accept copies for all required documents which include copies of signatures on forms. The AINP will confirm the authenticity of the signatures and other documents through a phone call or by e-mail.

Even though the AINP continues to hold draws, it will consider only candidates who are currently living and working in Alberta for provincial nomination. 

Saskatchewan

The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SNIP) held five draws his year under the inviting candidates the Express Entry and Occupation In-Demand streams.

The latest draw was held on March 26 where it invited 205 candidates to apply for a PR visa.

The special measures for Coronavirus allow SINP nominees to request an extension of six months to apply for a PR visa.

British Columbia

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) continues to hold draws regularly, inviting candidates who have job offers in the province especially those in the tech sector.

British Columbia issued 311 invitations to immigration in the PNP draw held on March 30. The invitations were issued under two immigration categories: Express Entry BC and Skills Immigration.

The province invited 75 Skills Immigration and Express Entry candidates through its Tech Pilot program held on April 29.

However, the provincial draws removed some occupations in keeping with the Coronavirus measures in the province.

Manitoba

The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) has held three draws since travel restrictions were in place due to Coronavirus. Candidates were Skilled Worker in Manitoba, Skilled Worker Overseas, and International Education immigration categories. The MPNP has issued 1,808 Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) to immigration candidates till date for this year.

Nova Scotia

The Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program (NSPNP) held its first draw of the year on April 27. The draw selected candidates who had selected French as their first official language and who had a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score of 8 or higher in French in all the four language abilities. Selected candidates also had to have a CLB score of at least 6 or higher in English.

May 4th, 2020:

Alberta continues to process immigration applications but imposes certain conditions

Alberta continues to accept and process applications under the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) during the Coronavirus pandemic. But the province has introduced certain temporary measures as a result of the pandemic.

As part of the measures, the AINP is ready to accept copies for all required documents which include copies of signatures on forms. The AINP will confirm the authenticity of the signatures and other documents through a phone call or by e-mail.

Applicants can submit incomplete applications under the following conditions:

• Application submitted after April 29
• Meet the selection criteria for the AINP stream
• Provide a written explanation of the reasons why the application is incomplete
• Have proof that they have made a request for the documents or that the issuing authority is not operating due to Coronavirus
• When applying for the Alberta Opportunity Stream, they include results of language testing or evidence of having registered for a language test on or before October 29, 2020
• When applying for the Alberta Express Entry Stream, they include valid results of language tests and an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)

Applicants who submitted on or before April 29 who are unable to submit documents must also:

• Provide a written statement as to why they are unable to submit the necessary documents
• Include proof that the document has been requested or that the issuing party is not operating due to the Coronavirus pandemic

Alberta Express Entry Stream

Selection draws and nominations under Alberta Express Entry Stream will continue as usual.

However, currently, only candidates who live and work in Alberta will be considered for nomination.

Alberta Opportunity Stream

Candidates who work from home because of the social distancing rules of the government may still be eligible for nomination under the Alberta Opportunity Stream.

If applicants perform only some of the job duties, they will still be eligible if they expect to return to their normal job duties after the pandemic has ended.

Nomination

All candidates are expected to notify AINP and Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) of any changes in their jobs, address, email, telephone number, or family status, even after nomination.

If the circumstances of a nominee’s employment change due to the Coronavirus pandemic, he or she will be given 60 calendar days to fulfill their employment requirements once again in order to retain their nomination.

The nomination will be canceled if the nominees move to another province.

May 1st, 2020:

CRS score for EE draws drops to its lowest so far this year:

On May 1st the Canadian government had issued 3,311 ITAs to Express Entry candidates through a program-specific draw. Candidates under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and the minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score for these candidates was 452.

This is the lowest CRS score so far in 2020 which was three points below the CRS score of the April 16th draw where the CRS score was at 455.

In another EE draw for candidates under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), the minimum CRS score was 692.

Students with Quebec Acceptance Certificates expiring very soon granted an extension:

The Government of Quebec has decided to automatically extend Quebec Acceptance Certificates (CAQ) issued to foreign students which were due to expire between April 30, 2020, and December 31, 2020.

The Ministry of Immigration, Francization, and Integration (MIFI) made the announcement recently. It said the decision was in response to the concerns raised by its education sector partners during the current pandemic.

“This decision is intended to facilitate the steps that must be taken by foreign students who were in the process of completing their study program but who must extend their stay in Quebec due to the current health state of emergency and the temporary interruption of their courses,” states the Quebec Immigration Ministry website.

Most individuals intending to study in Quebec must receive a CAQ before applying for a research permit with the Canadian federal immigration authorities.

Quebec’s Immigration Ministry aims to avoid penalizing foreign students who would not have been able to complete their study program as expected due to the coronavirus crisis in the winter or summer of 2020. The extension of the CAQs will help these students renew their study permits with the federal government as they need not undergo a CAQ renewal process.

Apr 30th, 2020:

Ontario invites 307 Express Entry candidates under the French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream:

Ontario held an Express Entry draw on April 30 and invited 307 French-speaking Express Entry candidates. The draw comes under the French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream. This is the second OINP Express Entry-linked draw in the past two days, and the largest draw for this year.

Selected candidates will be permitted to immigrate to Canada through Ontario’s Express Entry French-Speaking Skilled Worker (FSSW) stream.

With 307 Notifications of Interest (NOIs), this is the biggest FSSW draw yet for this year. 242 candidates had been invited to apply for a provincial nomination for Canadian permanent residence in the first draw held on January 9.

Ontario issues 190 invitations to immigration candidates in 14 Skilled trades Occupations:

On April 29, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) issued invitations to 190 candidates in 14 skilled trades occupations.

The draw has chosen candidates with experience in in-demand occupations in Ontario to help companies hire workers with expertise in the specific Skilled Trades. This draw selected candidates with a valid Express Entry profile.

British Columbia invites 75 immigration candidates in its weekly Tech Pilot draw:

The province of British Columbia invited 75 Skills Immigration and Express Entry candidates to apply for a provincial nomination for permanent residence through its Tech Pilot program held on April 29.

Under the Tech Pilot program, invitations are issued to eligible foreign tech workers who have a valid job offer in any one of the 29 in-demand technology occupations in the province.

In the latest draw invitations in both the Express Entry BC (EEBC) and Skills Immigration streams were sent to Professional Worker and Foreign Graduate candidates. 85 was the minimum score needed for candidates in both the streams.

Apr 29th, 2020:

Canada issues 589 ITAs to Express Entry candidates with a provincial nomination:

In the latest Express Entry draw, Canada issued ITAs to 589 candidates with a provincial nomination. The CRS requirement for this draw 692. Since the candidates would have already had 600 points due to a provincial nomination, the actual CRS requirement would have been only 92 points.

This is the lowest CRS requirement for a PNP Express Entry draw so far for this year.

Despite the Coronavirus pandemic, Canada is continuing with its Express Entry draws. In fact, there were more invitations issued to Express Entry candidates in the first quarter of this year than in the first quarter of the previous two years. The IRCC has issued 8,389 ITAs in April. This is the greatest number of ITAs issued in a single month.

Even though the Canadian government is not regularly holding draws like earlier to slow down the spread of Coronavirus invitations have consistently been issued. The government of Canada has held seven Express Entry draws since March 18th, and invited provincial nominees and Canadian Experience Class immigration program candidates.

Sudbury holds its first RNIP draw:

Sudbury, Ontario held its first Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) draw on April 23, providing ITAs for a community recommendation for Canadian permanent residence.

Sudbury is the largest city in Northern Ontario with a population of nearly 165,000. All the 11 communities participating in the RNIP have their own method of selecting immigration candidates. Sudbury uses a points-based system, like other immigration programs in Canada. The Sudbury RNIP selects the highest-ranking candidates from the pool of applicants and gives them ITAs.

Sudbury’s RNIP program was launched on March 23. The program is for foreigners and their families who want to live in Sudbury long-term. Candidates must have secured an offer of employment in an eligible occupation in an eligible industry.

The system is for foreigners and their families who wish to stay long term in Sudbury. Candidates must have secured an offer of employment in an eligible occupation from an eligible industry.

Apr 27th, 2020:

Ontario issues 26 ITAs through its entrepreneur stream:

In a draw held on April 22nd, the province of Ontario issued 26 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in its second draw of 2020 through its Entrepreneur stream.

The invitations were issued to candidates scoring between 132 and 200 points. In the earlier draw under this stream, which was held on February 26, 20 candidates were issued ITAs.

This is the fourth draw after the minimum eligibility requirements for the program were changed. The changes include:

Required net worth for the business within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) was lowered from 1 million USD to 80,000 USD and outside the GTA it was lowered from 800,000 USD to 400,000 USD.

The minimum investment for the planned GTA company was lowered from 1 million USD to 600,000 USD and from 500,000 to 200,000 USD outside of the GTA.

An applicant now must have 24 months of experience over the last 60 months. He was earlier expected to have 36 months’ experience within the same time frame.

These changes are expected to attract more entrepreneurs and business owners to set up business in Ontario.

Nova Scotia invites Express Entry candidates for nomination through its Labour Market Priorities Stream:

The Canadian province of Nova Scotia has invited Express Entry candidates to apply for a PR visa through its Labour Market Priorities Stream on April 27.

This latest draw is aimed at Express Entry candidates who had selected French as their first official language and who have a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score of 8 or higher in French in all the four language abilities.

Selected candidates also had to have a CLB score of at least 6 or higher in English in all four language abilities and either a bachelor’s degree or a completed three-year or more program at a university, college, or technical school.

Candidates also had to have a valid Express Entry number and meet the minimum requirements to be admitted into the pool.

The number of candidates receiving letters of interest and the minimum score for the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) has not yet been confirmed.

Apr 25th, 2020:

Apr 23rd, 2020:

BC invites 91 in Tech Pilot draw

On April 21, British Columbia sent 91 invitations to apply to immigration candidates that had job offers in 29 key technology occupation in the province. The minimum SIRS score requirement was 85.

Apr 17th, 2020:

British Columbia issues 271 invitations in its latest PNP draw

British Columbia issued 271 invitations for immigration candidates to apply for a provincial nomination for permanent residence on April 16.

The province of British Columbia under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) issued 271 invitations to immigration candidates. The invitation round was affected by coronavirus measures that have impacted B.C. businesses, as a result, candidates belonging to 34 occupations were not included in the latest draw.

The 271 candidates who were selected in the latest round belonged to both the Skilled Immigration and Express Entry BC stream.

In the Skilled Immigration stream, candidates were invited from the Skilled Worker, International Graduate, and Entry Level and Semi-Skilled sub-categories. The score requirements were:

• Entry Level and Semi-Skilled candidates-85
• Skilled Worker, International Graduate-100

Express Entry BC candidates who secure invitations already had their profiles in the federal Express Entry system. These were the sub-categories and the required points:

• Express Entry BC Skilled Worker-105
• International Graduate sub-categories-102

Apr 16th, 2020:

Canada’s latest Express Entry draw has the lowest CRS score for 2020

Canada held an Express Entry draw on April 16 where 3,782 ITAs were issued to Canadian Experience Class (CEC) program candidates and their families. The CRS score required for the draw was 455 points.

This Express Entry followed the one held on April 16 which issued 118 ITAS to PNP candidates. The total number of ITAs issued in the past two days now comes to 3,900.

The April 16th draw was the fourth one to exclusively invite candidates under the CEC program in the history of Express Entry.

Apr 15th, 2020:

Canada conducts another Express Entry draw

Canada held another Express Entry draw on April 15 where 118 invitations were issued to immigration candidates. The CRS score for this draw was 808. Candidates that were invited had previously received provincial nominations. As a result, an additional 600 points were added to their total score.

Apr 14th, 2020:

Ontario province is accepting applications from internationally trained doctors to fight Coronavirus

The Canadian province of Ontario is accepting applications from international medical graduates to practice in the country. Medical graduates within the past two years can now apply for a temporary license that will allow them to work in Ontario. They can practice in the province for 30 days and can even work for longer if their license is renewed.

Apr 10th, 2020:

CRS drops by 22 points in the latest EE Draw:

In the latest Express Entry draw held on April 9, Canada invited 606 Express Entry candidates with an ITA for a Canadian Permanent Resident Visa. The CRS score for this invitation round was decreased by 22 points compared to the previous PNP draw held on March 18.

This draw was the second in less than a month which targeted PNP candidates.

Latest Manitoba draw invites 153 candidates:

The latest Manitoba draw held on April 9 invited 153 immigration candidates to apply for an MPNP provincial nomination.

The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) invited candidates who had filed an EOI in any of its three immigration streams.

Here is the distribution in the number of invitations also known as Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs), under each stream:

Skilled Workers in Manitoba: 123

Skilled Workers Overseas: 16

International Education Stream: 14

Government of Canada issued 3294 ITAs in the latest draw:

Canada conducted an Express Entry draw on April 9, the second draw on the same day, and issued 3,294 invitations in the latest round. The minimum CRS score for this draw was 464 points. The ITAS was issued to Canadian Experience Class candidates.

Apr 7th, 2020:

Changes in Government Services for Quebec Immigrants

Quebec is still processing applications form immigration candidates for temporary and permanent visas. However, many services of the immigration department have undergone changes due to the Coronavirus crisis.

Many immigrants who are having a work or study permit will be wondering how the Coronavirus pandemic will affect the fate of their application to be selected form the province. Answers to some common questions in their mind:

Can those with a CSQ apply for a PR visa? Yes, the Quebec Certificate of Selection (CSQ) holders can apply for permanent residency in Canada. Canada is still accepting permanent residency applications, which will not be rejected due to missing documents. Applicants will then be given another 90 days to complete the application.

What about those unable to work because of Coronavirus? Both the governments of Canada and Quebec have promised financial aid to support people who have lost their jobs or are under self-isolation due to coronavirus.

Quebec offers the Temporary Aid for Workers Program those who are unable to work because they either have Coronavirus or because they are at risk and have to isolate themselves.

Can I apply for CSQ under the PEQ if I have lost my job due to Coronavirus? No, having a job is a prerequisite to apply for permanent selection as a temporary foreign worker through the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ).

However, the 12 months of full-time job experience needed to apply for the PEQ need not be a continuous stretch of time. You have 24 months to accumulate the necessary work experience.

Apr 7th, 2020:

Alberta Conducts Fourth Express Entry Draw:

Alberta conducted the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) on March 18. In the draw, 136 candidates were given ITAs for PR visas. They were invited to apply through the Express Entry System.

The candidates invited through the Alberta Express Entry Stream, did not require to have a job offer. However, they were required to have their profile in the Express Entry System.

Candidates invited in the latest Alberta draw can now apply for a provincial nomination from AINP.

Alberta has issued 887 invitations to Express Entry candidates in the draws held so far this year.

March 31st, 2020:

Manitoba issues 226 new invitations in its latest PNP draw held on March 26.

In a draw held on March 26, the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) issued 226 new invitations to immigration candidates to apply for a nomination for a PR visa. The MPNP is an indication that the provinces are determined to hold PNP draws despite the Coronavirus pandemic.

The Manitoba draw invited 226 candidates from three different streams.

• Skilled Workers in Manitoba: 168
• International Education Stream: 20
• Skilled Workers Overseas: 38

Saskatchewan invites 205 immigration candidates in its latest PNP draw.

Saskatchewan held its latest PNP draw on March 26 where it invited 205 candidates to apply for a Canada PR visa.

Candidates for this draw did not need to have a job offer but they need to have had one year of work experience in an eligible occupation that is related to their field of study.

British Columbia issues 311 invitations in the PNP draw held on March 30.

British Columbia issued 311 invitations to immigration in its latest PNP draw held on March 30. The invitations were issued under two immigration categories: Express Entry BC and Skills Immigration.

The minimum score requirements for this draw was between 102 and 105.

March 24th, 2020:

Canada conducts Express Entry draw under the  CEC class:

March 21st, 2020:

March 17th, 2020:

March 12th, 2020:

Alberta invites Express Entry candidates in latest draw with CRS scores of 300

Alberta conducted its fourth Express Entry draw on February 20 by inviting a total of 150 Express Entry candidates to apply for provincial nomination leading to permanent residence. The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) invited a total of 150 Express Entry candidates with a CRS score as low as 300.

The AINP candidates need not necessarily have job offers in the province to get an invitation under the Alberta Express Entry Stream, but they need to have their profiles in the Federal Express Entry system.

To get an invitation, Express Entry candidates need to be working in an occupation that supports Alberta’s “economic development and diversification priorities”. The AINP does not have a list of eligible occupations for candidates.

Latest British Columbia PNP Immigration Draw issues 332 invitations

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) issued 332 invitations in its latest draw on March 10. The invitations were issued across five BC PNP streams. The points required under different streams were:

• Direct provincial skilled workers -102 points
• Skilled workers under Express Entry-110 points
• International graduates through direct provincial streams-106 points
• Entry-level and semi-skilled workers-83 points

March 5th, 2020:

Canada issues 3,900 invitations in its fifth Express Entry draw

Canada conducted a new Express Entry draw on March 4. The draw issued invitations to 3,900 candidates. The CRS score requirement for this draw was 471. This is a one-point increase from the previous draw which was held on February 19. This is the fifth Express Entry draw this year and brings the total number of invitations issued this year to 18,700.

Two Ontario Employer Job Offer opens two streams for a brief period

Ontario opened applications for two streams under its Employer Job Offer category. It was open only for a brief period. The two streams were International Student and Foreign Worker streams. Under this category, immigrants with a job offer can apply for a provincial nomination for Canada PR. Candidates can apply either in Canada or from abroad provided they have been hired for a permanent position with an Ontario employer.

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) reports that they received 1,322 registrations in this round of application intakes.

March 5th, 2020: Please be informed that IRCC (Immigration, Refugees & Citizenship Canada) has conducted 5th Draw under the Federal Skilled Worker Program on 04/Mar/2020. Please find below the draw details:

Source link for draws: NOTE: Candidates from the Federal Skilled Trades Program, were eligible for this round of invitations. March 4th, 2020:

EOI Draw #84

MPNP under the Expression of Interest System – Draw #84 – February 27, 2020

SKILLED WORKERS IN MANITOBA

• Number of Letters of Advice to Apply issued: 161
• Ranking score of lowest-ranked candidate invited: 499

INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION STREAM

• Number of Letters of Advice to Apply issued: 32

SKILLED WORKERS OVERSEAS

• Number of Letters of Advice to Apply issued: 24 who were invited directly by the MPNP under a Strategic Recruitment Initiative
• Ranking score of lowest-ranked candidate invited: 707

Of the 217 Letters of Advice to Apply issued in this draw, 20 were issued to candidates who declared a valid Express Entry ID and job seeker validation code.

March 4th, 2020:

The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) has come out with its new EOI draw on February 27th, 2020. This is Manitoba 84th EOI draw under which a total of 217 invitations will be given to three streams.

Skilled Worker Overseas

Out of 217 invitations, 24 letters to advice to apply issued under the stream of Skilled Worker overseas who were directly invited through Manitoba PNP under a strategic recruitment initiative. Candidates with a minimum of 707 lowest ranked score are invited to apply for Manitoba nomination. In order to apply, aspirants must have an established connection in Manitoba like their close friends, family relative, and education or Skilled work experience of Manitoba.

Skilled Worker in Manitoba

Under the stream of Skilled workers in Manitoba, the total number of letters issued is 161 and the minimum point score is 499. Candidates from a stream of skilled workers in Manitoba must be working in the province or acquired a full-time permanent job offer letter from the employer.

March 2nd, 2020:

Manitoba issues 217 invitations in the latest draw

In the latest draw for Manitoba PNP, 217 invitations were sent to candidates. This was the 84th draw of the PNP. The invitations also are known as Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) went to candidates of the following immigration three streams:

• Skilled Workers in Manitoba: 161
• Skilled Workers Overseas: 24
• International Education Stream: 32

Out of the total number of LAAs issued in this draw, 20 went to candidates belonging to the Express Entry system.

• The score requirements were as under:
• Skilled Workers in Manitoba: 499
• Skilled Workers Overseas: 707

The Skilled Workers Overseas category is designed to help the province nominate skilled foreign workers who can support the province’s labor market.

Feb 28th, 2020:

Saskatchewan issues 576 invitations in its latest draw

The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) issued a total of 576 invitations to apply (ITA) to Express Entry candidates and Occupations In-Demand categories on February 27.

The SINP uses these five factors for candidate assessment and gives them a score out of 100 on the International Skilled Worker Points Assessment Grid.

Candidates with the highest score are given an ITA for a provincial nomination for Canadian permanent residence.

The minimum score required in the latest draw was 69 for both the sub-categories.

Candidates do not require a job offer to get an ITA from SNIP. But they need to have at least one year of work experience in an eligible skilled occupation related to their field of study.

Feb 26th, 2020:

QUEBEC RELEASES DETAILS OF IT’S FIRST EXPRESSION OF INTEREST DRAW (2020) – ARRIMA PROCESS

Quebec immigration has released details of the first 2020 draw through the ARRIMA Expression of Interest system. On 16th January 2020 draw, 23 invitations were issued.

Candidates receiving an invitation have 60 days to submit a full application.  This was the first draw of 2020. Quebec issued a total of 2,072 invitations in nine draws in 2019.

Quebec Immigration- ARRIMA Process January 16, 2020 Draw

Quebec Immigration – ARRIMA Process – Expression Of Interest Draws 2019

Feb 26th, 2020:

Canadian employers can now make the LMIA online

Canadian employers who are looking at hiring temporary workers will now be able to manage their Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) application through an online portal.

The online portal was started as a pilot project in response to the demand from Canadian business leaders to improve the current LMIA process for employers. The pilot program will allow employers registered under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP)to register for online access through which they can manage their accounts, conduct transactions and contact Service Canada, according to the government of Canada.

The portal will provide guidance to employers on how to complete their LMIA application and track its progress.

Quebec publishes its list of occupations for 2020

The government of Quebec published its list of occupations for simplified processing under LMIA. Employers need not advertise an open position for these positions before they hire a foreign worker. The list considers the labor requirements for all the regions in Quebec.

116 new occupations have been added and nine have been removed in the new list. The newly added occupations include human resources and investment managers, architects, dentists, and bakers, etc.

Feb 22nd, 2020:

Prince Edward Island PNP issues 153 invitations in its latest draw

The Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP) issued invitations to 153 immigration candidates on February 20. The candidates belonged to the Express Entry, Labor Impact, and Business Impact categories.

Out of the 153 invitations, 10 went to candidates belonging to the Business Impact category.

Post-Graduation Work Permit applicants are eligible to work after traveling outside Canada

International student graduates from Canada will no longer be required to remain in Canada while their Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) is being processed. They can now leave Canada but still, be eligible to work full-time once they return.

International students are required to apply for their PGWP before their study permit expires if they are wishing to work full-time. The approval of the PGWP can take up to 90 days.

Feb 21st, 2020:

Quebec issues 23 invitations under Arrima:

Quebec’s immigration ministry has issued 23 invitations in the latest selection round for candidates who have submitted applications under Quebec’s Regular Skilled Worker Program.

To get an invitation, candidates will have to file an Expression of Interest (EOI) with the Ministry of Immigration, Francization, and Integration (MIFI). The MIFI held the draw through its Arrima portal on January 16.

The candidates selected in the latest round belonged to the 16,000 pending applications that were cancelled during the Quebec immigration reforms that took place in June 2019.

Candidates wanting to immigrate to Quebec under the Regular Skilled Worker Program must first submit their EOI through Arrima. The MIFI will then review the applications and submit the invitations.

Feb 20th, 2020:

Canada issues 4,500 invitations in its largest Express Entry draw so far

Canada issued 4,500 invitations in its largest Express Entry draw. The invitations issued on February 19 also reduced the CRS score to 470, which was a decrease of two points from the previous draw held on February 5.

The Canadian government needs to issue a larger number of invitations in every draw to meet this year’s target of 85,800 ITAs for new permanent resident admissions. This is the fourth draw for 2020 and brings the total number of ITAs issued this year to 14,800.

Feb 19th, 2020:

IRCC announces new changes in fund requirements for immigration applicants

The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has recently announced its yearly update of its requirements of its proof of funds for the Express Entry system and the Educational Credential assessment requirements.

Immigration candidates who need to provide proof of funds will have to update their Express Entry profile to prove that they have the required funds. If they cannot prove that they have the required funds, then their profile will be removed from the Express Entry pool.

Candidates who have already received the ITA and are submitting their application must indicate that they are meeting the new fund requirements.

The IRCC has also indicated that it will accept only the Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) issued for immigration in its latest update. Presenting the wrong type of ECA will lead to the application being rejected.

Feb 17th, 2020:

As of March 3, 2020, Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) application intake thresholds will no longer be used for accepting new applications, except for the Farm Owner and Operator Category.

We do not want any of the clients ready with all the required documents to miss an opportunity to file a SINP EOI. Please inform your clients to provide the required documents to file an Expression of Interest for the SINP Provincial Nominee Program.

For more information, please see the Maximum Number of SINP Applications link:

Feb 15th, 2020:

Please find below PNP updates for the first half of February 2020, for your reference:-

Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP):

On February 13, 2020, the OINP issued targeted Notifications of Interest (NOIs) to candidates who may qualify for Ontario’s Express Entry Human Capital Priorities (HCP) Stream.

The OINP targeted candidates with a CRS between 467 and 471, and work experience in the following NOC codes:

• 0111 Financial managers
• 0114 Other administrative services managers
• 0124 Advertising, marketing and public relations managers
• 0601 Corporate sales managers
• 0621 Retail and wholesale trade managers
• 0651 Managers in customer and personal services, n.e.c.
• 1111 Financial auditors and accountants
• 1114 Other financial officers
• 1122 Professional occupations in business management consulting
• 3012 Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses

For more information on this draw, please visit the (OINP) – Express Entry Human Capital Priorities (HCP) Stream page:

SASKATCHEWAN

Saskatchewan has conducted EOI selection rounds of the draw as on 13th February 2020 through the SINP’s EOI system.

The applicants who successfully complete an Expression of Interest profile automatically receive a rank score based on a number of criteria. You can find the criteria for the EOI point score in the SINP point assessment grid in the link:

International Skilled Workers subcategories:

Express Entry – Total Invitation Issued: 277

Lowest Rank Score to invite: 70 Points

Occupation In-Demand – Total Invitation Issued: 369

Lowest Rank Score to invite: 70 Points.

The following NOCs have been included:

0013, 0014, 0016, 0111, 0112, 0113, 0114, 0121, 0122, 0125, 0132, 0212, 0213, 0421, 0601, 0621, 0631, 0651, 0711, 0712, 0714, 0731, 0811, 0821, 0822, 0912, 1114, 1121, 1211, 1212, 1215, 1221, 1222, 1223, 1224, 1225, 1226, 1241, 1242, 1243, 1251, 1252, 2134, 2144, 2148, 2161, 2233, 2234, 2242, 2252, 2253, 2254, 2263, 2264, 2272, 2281, 2282, 2283, 3211, 3212, 3214, 3215, 3219, 3223, 3234, 4021, 4033, 4151, 4152, 4161, 4163, 4164, 4165, 4166, 4167, 4169, 4211, 4212, 4214, 4214, 4215, 4216, 6221, 6235, 6316, 6321, 6331, 6332, 6342, 7201, 7204, 7231, 7234, 7241, 7242, 7244, 7246, 7251, 7294, 7311, 7313, 7315, 7322, 7335, 7384, 9212, 9232

MANITOBA – EOI Draw #83

MPNP under the Expression of Interest System Draw #83 – February 13, 2020

SKILLED WORKERS IN MANITOBA

Number of Letters of Advice to Apply issued: 182
Ranking score of lowest-ranked candidate invited: 525

INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION STREAM

Number of Letters of Advice to Apply issued: 33

SKILLED WORKERS OVERSEAS

Number of Letters of Advice to Apply issued: 27 who were invited directly by the MPNP under a Strategic Recruitment Initiative
Ranking score of lowest-ranked candidate invited: 611

Of the 242 Letters of Advice to Apply issued in this draw, 15 were issued to candidates who declared a valid Express Entry ID and job seeker validation code.

NEW BRUNSWICK – Upcoming National and International Recruitment Events

Source Link :-

Please note that there is no “Connection to New Brunswick” for the purposes of the NB Express Entry stream—that policy was ended in 2018.

Feb 14th, 2020:

Ontario issues invitations to Express Entry candidates from 10 skilled occupations

Ontario invited 486 Express Entry candidates to apply for a provincial nomination for a permanent residence visa on February 13. The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) needed a CRS score of 467 and 471. The draw targeted 10 different NOCs. Candidates were not required to have a job offer for the invitation but needed to have work experience in the occupations mentioned in the NOC.

Manitoba sends out invitations for its Provincial Nominee Program

Manitoba in its latest PNP issued invitations to 242 candidates on February 13. This is Manitoba’s second draw in two weeks. The invitations or LAAS were issued to candidates in the following provincial streams:

Skilled Workers in Manitoba: 182
Skilled Workers Overseas: 27
International Education Stream: 33
Out of the 242 LAAs, 15 went to Express Entry candidates.

Feb 13th, 2020:

Claresholm, Alberta, is now accepting immigration applications through the RNIP

The town of Claresholm located in Alberta province invited applications for its Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) on February 11.

Claresholm will recommend up to 20 immigrants and their families for permanent residence in 2020.

This town is the latest community to open its doors to immigration candidates. The five other communities which are now accepting applications through the RNIP include:

• Brandon, Manitoba
• Altona/Rhineland, Manitoba
• Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
• Vernon, B.C.
• Claresholm, Alberta

The Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot is intended to encourage immigrants to settle in 11 earmarked rural areas which are facing labor shortages. Candidates should have an eligible job offer in any one of the participating communities to qualify for the RNIP.

Feb 12th, 2020:

India contributes 25 percent to immigrant intake in Canada for 2019

Out of the record 341,000 immigrants who arrived in Canada in 2019, 25 percent of them belonged to India. Around 86,000 Indians got their permanent residence in 2019. After India was China which contributed to 9 percent of immigrants followed by the Philippines which accounted for 8 percent. The other two in the top 5 nations were Nigeria and the US.

India’s share of immigrants to Canada has increased significantly over the years. The country’s share was only 14 percent in 2014.

India has become Canada’s leading source of immigrants owing to the following reasons which meet Canada’s immigration selection criteria:

• Has the second largest population in the world which means a larger pool of immigrants
• Significant middle-class population
• Aspiring migrants with a competent level of education and English proficiency

Feb 6th, 2020:

In the latest Express Entry draw held on February 9, the government of Canada issued 3,500 invitations to apply for Canada PR visas to Express Entry candidates.

The minimum CRS score in the latest draw was 472, which was an increase of one point from the previous draw held on January 22.

With the latest draw, the total number of ITAs issued this year comes up to 10,300. The target for the new PR admissions for this year through the three Federal programs is expected to rise to 85,800 ITAs this year and 88,800 in the next year.

Feb 4th, 2020:

Manitoba’s New Provincial Immigration Draw includes three streams

In the latest draw held on January 30, Manitoba issued 181 Letters of Advice or LAAs to Apply for applicants. The latest draw saw LAAs was issued across three MPNP streams.

Skilled workers received 124 LAAs and the lowest score of candidates was 548 points.

Skilled workers oversea received 39 LAAS and the lowest-ranked candidate score was 679 points.

This was the 82nd draw by Manitoba under MPNP.

Jan 30th, 2020:

British Columbia Immigration issues invitations to 284 Candidates in the latest draw:

27th, Jan 2020:

British Columbia Issues 58 Immigration Invitations in its latest Tech Pilot draw

In the latest British Columbia PNP Tech Pilot draw, 58 invitations were issued. Invitations were issued through four

British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program streams. They were:

• SI – Skilled Worker
• SI – International Graduate
• EEBC – Skilled Worker
• EEBC – International Graduate

Under the Tech pilot program, candidates in 29 targeted occupations received priority processing. All the four streams required a minimum score of 90 points.

22th, Jan 2020:

Canada invites 3,400 Express Entry candidates in the January 22 Express Entry draw

In the latest Express Entry draw held on January 22, the government of Canada issued 3,400 invitations to candidates for permanent residency. Incidentally, the cut-off CRS score for this draw was 471 which is a reduction of 2 points from the minimum score of the previous draw held on January 8.

The IRCC has issued a total of 6,800 invitations in the two draws held in January under the Express Entry system for 2020.

Alberta invites Express Entry candidates with CRS scores of 350 in its first draw of 2020

In its first draw held on January 9, the Canadian province of Alberta issued 150 invitations for provincial nomination. These notifications of interest (NOIs) were issued to candidates belonging to the federal Express Entry pool. Candidates with a score as low as 350 were given NOIs.

22th, Jan 2020:

IRCC (Immigration, Refugees & Citizenship Canada) has conducted 2nd Draw under the Express Entry System on 22nd Jan 2020

Please find below the draw details:

Source link for draws:

21th, Jan 2020:

Manitoba issues 249 invitations to immigration candidates in its latest round

In the latest immigration draw of Manitoba, skilled workers from the province and abroad were invited for the draw. The province issued 249 Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) to candidates in the following three streams which were distributed as under:

• Skilled Workers in Manitoba: 192
• Skilled Workers Overseas: 34
• International Education Stream: 23

Out of the 249 invites, 22 went to candidates from the Express Entry pool.

Prince Edward Island sends out 123 invites in its first 2020 draw

In its latest immigration draw held on January 16, Prince Edward Island issued invitations to immigration candidates.

This is the province’s first draw of the year. The province issued 123 invitations to candidates in the Express Entry, Labor Impact, and Business Impact categories.

The 110 candidates who were invited through the Express Entry and Labor Impact categories can now apply for a nomination for Canadian permanent residence.

21th, Jan 2020:

Prince Edward Island had announced its first draw below are the details for your reference:

Source Link of PEI Draw:-

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND CONTACT:    

Email – immigratepei@gov.pe.ca

Phone: +1 902 6203628

Fax: 9023685886

Address: P.O. Box 2000, Charlottetown, PE, Canada C1A 7N8

The Office of Immigration reviews the Expression of Interest system consistently and will invite individuals to apply to the PEI Provincial Nominee Program each month. The following is the anticipated draw schedule*:

January 16, 2020

February 20, 2020

March 19, 2020

April 16, 2020

May 21, 2020

June 18, 2020

July 16, 2020

August 20, 2020

September 17, 2020

October 15, 2020

November 19, 2020

December 17, 2020

* The Office of Immigration reserves the right to modify the schedule based on program requirements.

Anticipated Invitation to Apply Schedule for 2020

16th, Jan 2020:

Saskatchewan has conducted EOI selection rounds of the draw as on 13th January 2020 through the SINP’s EOI system.

The applicants who successfully complete an Expression of Interest profile automatically receive a rank score based on a number of criteria.

You can find the criteria for the EOI point score in the SINP point assessment grid in the following :

International Skilled Workers subcategories: 

Express Entry

• Total Invitation Issued: 125
• Lowest Rank Score to invite: 69 Points

Occupation In-Demand

• Total Invitation Issued: 109
• Lowest Rank Score to invite: 69 Points.

The following NOCs have been included:

 0013, 0014, 0016, 0111, 0112, 0113,  0114, 0121, 0122, 0125, 0131, 0212,  0213, 0601, 0621, 0651, 0711, 0821,  1114, 1121, 1211, 1212, 1215, 1221,  1223, 1225, 1241, 1242, 1243, 1254,  1311, 2134, 2172, 2174, 2221, 2233,  2234, 2253, 2263, 2281, 2282, 3211,  3215, 3219, 3234, 3237, 4011, 4021,  4033, 4152, 4161, 4163, 4165, 4211,  4214, 4215, 6222, 6235, 6315, 6316,  6321, 7235, 7334, 7381, 9241

16th, Jan 2020:

Ontario invites 954 Express Entry candidates in latest tech draw

Ontario conducted a tech draw on January 15 and sent out 954 invitations to Express Entry candidates who had eligible work experience. They were sent ITAs to apply for a provincial nomination for Canadian permanent residence. These candidates had a CRS score between 460 and 472.

Candidates selected in this draw were required to have work experience in any one of the following six occupations:

• Software engineers and designers (NOC 2173)
• Computer programmers and interactive media developers (NOC 2174)
• Computer engineers (NOC 2147)
• Web designers and developers (NOC 2175)
• Database analysts and data administrators (NOC 2172)
• Computer and information systems managers (NOC 0213)

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) launched these Tech Draws in 2019. They were created to help Ontario tackle the workforce needs of its tech sector.

Ontario is a major tech hub in Canada with Toronto, Ottawa and Waterloo being the major sectors.

For more information on this draw, please visit the OINP Tech Draw page:

14th, Jan 2020:

Below is the procedure and processing fees to apply for Indian PCC.

Apply for a Police Clearance Certificate from the Passport office. The website lists what information and documents you need.

Online Form Submission:

Step 1 Register through the Passport Seva Online Portal. (Click on “Register Now”  link on the Home Page).

Step 2 Login to the Passport Seva Online Portal with the Login ID created in Step 1.

Step 3 Click “Apply for Police Clearance Certificate” link.

Step 4 Fill in the required details in the form and submit.

Step 5 Click the “Pay and Schedule Appointment” link on the “View Saved/Submitted Applications” screen to schedule an appointment.

Online Payment has been made mandatory for booking appointments at all PSK/POPSK/PO.

Online Payment can be made using any one of the following modes:

Credit/Debit Card (MasterCard and Visa)

Internet Banking (State Bank of India (SBI) Associate Banks and Other Banks)

SBI Bank Challan

Step 6 Click the “Print Application Receipt” link to print the application receipt containing Application Reference Number (ARN)/Appointment Number.

Note: Carrying printout of Application Receipt is no longer required. An SMS with your appointment details is also accepted as proof of appointment during your visit to Passport Office.

Step 7 Visit the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK)/Regional Passport Office (RPO) where appointment has been booked, along with original documents.

e-Form Submission

Step 1 Download the e-Form through the “Download e-Form” link available on the Home Page.

Step 2 Fill the downloaded e-Form and click the Validate and Save button in it.This will generate an XML file, which will be required later for uploading in the system.

Step 3 Register through the Passport Seva Online Portal. (Click on “Register Now”  link on the Home Page).

Step 4 Login to the Passport Seva Online Portal with the registered Login Id.

Step 5 Upload the XML file (generated in Step 2) through the “Upload e-Form” link.Do not upload the PDF form at this stage as only XML file is accepted by the system.

Step 6 Click the “Pay and Schedule Appointment” link on the “View Saved/Submitted Applications” screen to schedule an appointment.

Online Payment has been made mandatory for booking appointments at all PSK/POPSK/PO.

Online Payment can be made using any one of the following modes:

Credit/Debit Card (MasterCard and Visa)

Internet Banking (State Bank of India (SBI) Associate Banks and Other Banks)

SBI Bank Challan

Step 7 Click the “Print Application Receipt” link to print the application receipt containing Application Reference Number (ARN)/Appointment Number.

Note: Carrying printout of Application Receipt is no longer required. An SMS with your appointment details is also accepted as proof of appointment during your visit to Passport Office.

Step 8 Visit the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK)/Regional Passport Office (RPO) where appointment has been booked, along with original documents.

Documents required to be submitted:

• Passport in original with self-attested photocopy of its first two and last two pages, including ECR/Non-ECR page (previously ECNR) and the page of observation , if any , made by Passport Issuing Authority and validity extension page, if any, in respect of short validity passport.
• Proof of Present Address (if address is different from the one mentioned on passport).

Processing fees:  500/- INR

Validity of Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)–  6 Months

In how much time will Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) be issued?

14th, Jan 2020:

Please find the below steps  to apply for Certificate of Conduct – Germany PCC.

Application to issue a certificate of conduct: 

A certificate of conduct for personal purposes (private certificate of conduct)

If you’re not a citizen of Germany and If you live outside of Germany

There are 2 ways you can apply:

1. For personal appearance:

Federal Office of Justice

Visitors Service, Adenauerallee 99 – 103, 53113 Bonn

Opening times:

Monday – Wednesday: 7.30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Thursday: 7.30 a.m. – 3.30 p.m.

Friday: 7.30 a.m. – 2.00 p.m.

2. By mail–send your application to Federal Office of Justice at:

Bundesamt für Justiz

Referat IV 2, 53094 Bonn

Information and documents you need

• Applicable fees
• Application form (available in German, French and English)

Fees

The fee for each certificate of conduct is 13 €. Payment may be effected by sending a cheque, or by transfer to the account of the Federal Office of Justice given below:

Deutsche Bundesbank – Cologne Branch –

IBAN No.: DE49370000000038001005

BIC/swift No.: MARKDEF1370

Purpose:  (file reference of the event – if known – or the forename and the surname of the person making the application)

All cheques must be made out in Euro and be drawn on a German bank. Fees levied by foreign banks for cashing a (foreign) cheque are to be added to the fee for the certificate of conduct. Questions relating to payments by cheque and their fees can be answered by the respective foreign bank.

Special notes and considerations

For more information on fees, processing times, how to apply online, how to obtain an electronic signature or to download the forms, please go to the website of the Federal Office of Justice.

Your police certificate will be mailed to your residential address (even if you live abroad). It cannot be sent to a third party.

Police certificates issued before February 2019 are in German only. You must give us a certified English or French translation of your certificate. New German police certificates are now in German, English and French, and do not need to be translated.

German law restricts who can request a police certificate on your behalf.

If you apply from overseas, you must have your personal data and signature confirmed by a German diplomatic representative, a foreign authority or a notary, or you must provide a certified photocopy of an official document.

If your certificate contains entries and you live abroad, the Federal Office of Justice will forward your police certificate to the German embassy or consulate where you live and you will be invited to come and look at the document in person. You must give your consent to allow the German embassy/consulate to send this document to the responsible Canadian visa office.

14th, Jan 2020:

Please find the steps how to obtain Police certificates online application – United Kingdom and change in the processing fees.

Step 1:  Documents requirement : 

• Upload two different official proofs of your current address;
• Upload a recent passport style colour photograph;
• Upload copies of your passport(s) / travel document / official photographic identity document;
• Upload copies of any necessary legal documents e.g. Power of Attorney, authorization document, signed letter of authority etc (if applicable);
• Provide a valid e-mail address
• Pay by credit or debit card

Note: The documents referred to in points 1 to 4 above must be saved on your computer to be uploaded to the application form. Each document must be no more than 2MB in size and in JPG, GIF, TIF or PDF file format (passport photograph must be in JPG, GIF or TIF only).

Step 2:  Complete the online Application form : 

Once you start the online process you will not be able to save your application and return to complete it later on. If you exit the application or your session is inactive for more than 20 minutes your data will be deleted and you will have to start the application again.  

Step 3:  Proofs of address: 

It is important that you provide copies of TWO different official proofs of your current address which must clearly show your name and address, and must both be dated within the last six months. The documents must be saved on your computer to be uploaded electronically. Valid proofs of address include:

• Bank statements
• Utility bills
• Phone bills
• Letter from your doctor or dentist
• Letter from your school or college

Letters from your doctor, dentist, school or college should be signed and dated on company headed paper. 

Step 4:  Passport(s) / travel document / official photographic identity document: 

You must provide copies of your passport(s) / travel document / other official photographic identity document. Copies of your passport(s) / travel document must clearly show your photograph, personal information, expiry date, nationality, machine readable zone, extension pages and signature (if applicable). Copies of other official photographic identity documents should show as many of these features as possible.

Step 5:  Passport photograph : 

You must provide one recent passport style photograph that clearly identifies you (the applicant). This photograph will be included on your Police Certificate. Your photograph should meet the same standards required for a UK passport (approximately 45mm x 35mm). To view guidance on acceptable photographs, please check

Your photograph must be no more than 2MB in size and in JPG, GIF or TIF file format.

Please note that your application must be endorsed by a suitable individual. As part of our endorsement process we may need to contact your endorser to confirm your identity. You must provide your endorser’s email address as we may send your passport photograph to your endorser as part of our check.

Step 6: Type of Services and processing fees: 

There are two service options available for your Police Certificate:

• Standard service – £55.00 (Previously £ 45.00) (10 working days, not including dates of receipt or dispatch)
• Premium service – £95.00 (Previously £ 80.00) (2 working days, not including dates of receipt or dispatch)

Step 7: Payment :

To apply online you will need to make your payment to the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire via the World pay payment service using a debit or credit card. We accept the following card types only

Note: Third party applications :  

ACRO can only supply personal data to the individual to whom it relates. If you are making an application on behalf of someone else (this is known as a ‘third party application’) you will need to provide a signed letter of authorisation from the person whose data is being requested plus proofs of identity that show the true applicant’s signature in detail. Valid proofs include a copy of the passport, driving licence or identity card. You must have scanned copies of these documents saved to your computer or device and upload them when prompted.

14th, Jan 2020:

Please find below the procedure to apply for the PCC- Italy and change in the application processing fees.

The client must apply for two certificates-

Certificate of outstanding criminal proceedings (Certificato dei Carichi Pendenti)
Certificate from the Judicial Records Register (Certificato del casellario giudiziale – General Certificate)- Only General Certificates are accepted.
(Criminal Certificates and Civil certificates are not accepted).

Completed Form #3 – Judicial Records Register – Outstanding Criminal Proceedings application form (completed by yourself or your representative) – complete one form for each: form #3 attached in this mail
Outstanding Criminal Proceedings (Art. 27 T. U.) (For the Certificate of outstanding criminal proceedings).

General Certificate (Article 24 tu): contains the definitive provisions in criminal, civil and administrative matters (summarizing the criminal and civil certificates).

You should apply in person or by mail for a Certificate from the Judicial Records Register (Certificato del casellario giudiziale – General Certificate) at your nearest Judicial Records Office (Ufficio del Casellario Giudiziale), which are attached to every Office of the Prosecutor of the Republic (Procura della Repubblica). Only General Certificates are accepted (Criminal Certificates and Civil certificates are not accepted). You must bring your valid identity document. If you apply by mail, you must send a copy of your valid identity document with your application.

Outstanding Criminal Proceedings (Art. 27 T. U.) (For the Certificate of outstanding criminal proceedings):

You should apply in person or by mail for a Certificate of outstanding criminal proceedings (Certificato dei Carichi Pendenti) at your nearest Office of the Prosecutor of the Republic (Procura della Repubblica). You do not need to go to the office closest to where you were born or where you live, however your certificate will only cover criminal proceedings and appeals at that office.

Representative:

If you cannot apply in person for either or both certificates, you may authorize someone to apply on your behalf. Your representative must bring his/her valid identity document.
Completed Form #5 – Appointment of Proxy (only if using a representative)- Attached in this mail.

If you are not a citizen of the European Union and you do not have a passport, you must show a copy of your permit of stay (permesso di soggiorno).

Request:

The request must be presented by the interested party, or by a person delegated by him, with a valid identification document, using the appropriate model.
The interested party can submit the request in person or by post and in this case must attach a copy of his valid identification document.
Non-EU citizens without a passport must present a copy of the residence permit.

The certificates in the introduction can be booked online (see Practical sheet – Online reservations for box certificates).

Special cases:

for minors , the application must be submitted by the parental authority if the minor has not turned 16
for interdicts , the application must be presented by the guardian, who must show the nomination decree
the person detained , or inserted in a therapeutic community, can forward the request by post or through a delegate or, if no documents, with a request signed by the director or by the prison office.
for the request coming from abroad , see Practical file – Judicial records certificate and pending charges requested from abroad.
The certificate is valid for 6 months from the date of issue.

Costs:

Each certificate requested involves the following payments:

Total cost of € 23.74 (previously 19.84) of which € 3.87 (previously € 3.84) for certificate fees and € 16.00 per stamp
for the certificates requested urgently will need to match another € 3.87 brand (previously € 3.84)

The stamp-exempt certifications provide for the payment of only stationery fees (€ 3.87, doubled for urgency) previously € 3.84

The certificate is valid for 6 months from the date of issue.

The Office of the Judicial Register of the Public Prosecutor’s Office is located at the Court of Rome:

The opening times for users are as follows:

MONDAY – 9.00 / 15.00
TUESDAY – 9.00 / 13.00
WEDNESDAY – 9.00 / 13.00
THURSDAY – 9.00 / 15.00
FRIDAY – 9.00 / 13.00

NB during the summer (with dates to be defined) the office observes the opening hours from 9.00 to 13.00.

Any requests for information can be directed to the E-mail box: casellario.procura.roma@giustizia.it

14th, Jan 2020:

SINP International Skilled Workers:

Please note that the SINP limits the selection of EOIs by occupation so that nominees with positive employment prospects in Saskatchewan are selected and nominations do not exceed employment demand.

The size and frequency of EOI Selections will be determined by the needs of the SINP application inventory. Selections will take place on a monthly basis, at a minimum. The dates of the selections will not be posted before they take place.

14th, Jan 2020:

Employment gains in December 2019 led by Ontario and Quebec according to latest Labour Force Survey

According to the Labour Force Survey, a monthly report brought out by Statistics Canada to provide an overview of the labor market in Canada, Ontario and Quebec were the top provinces for employment gains in December 2019.

57,000 employees were added to the private sector in the month. The accommodation, food services and construction sectors saw the most employment intake during the month.

The growth in in the accommodation and food services industry was at 25,000 with most jobs in the province of Quebec. 25,000 jobs were added to the construction and public administration sectors in Ontario.

13th, Jan 2020:

1. Department which facilitates the arrival of immigrants provides protection to refugees and offers programming to help newcomers settle in Canada:  

• IRCC (Formerly known as CIC): Immigration, refugee & citizenship Canada
• CIC: Citizenship & Immigration Canada.

2. List of federal economic programs:

• FSW: Federal skilled workers
• FST: Federal skilled trade
• CEC: Canadian experience class
• PNP: Provincial nominee program

3. ECA (Education credential assessment) is used to verify if a foreign degree, a diploma is valid and equal to Canadian academics. Below are the designated organizations responsible for issuing ECA reports: 

• CES: Comparative Education Service – University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies
• ICAS: International Credential Assessment Service of Canada
• WES: World Education Services
• IQAS: International Qualifications Assessment Service
• ICES: International Credential Evaluation Service
• MCC: Medical Council of Canada
• PEBC: Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada

4. Language tests accepted by IRCC: 

• CELPIP: Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program
• IELTS: International English Language Testing System
• TEF: Test d’évaluation de français

5. Different terms used in express entry program: 

• CRS: Comprehensive Ranking System
• NOC: National occupational classification
• ITA: Invitation to apply
• PCC: Police clearance certificate
• POF: Proof of funds
• RPRF: Right of Permanent Residence Fee
• PPR: Passport request
• LMIA: Labor market impact assessment
• UCI: Unique client identifier
• VACs: Visa application centers
• CLB: Canadian language benchmark
• COPR: Confirmation of permanent residence
• AOR: Acknowledgement of receipt
• CIO: Centralized Intake Office
• CHC: Canadian High Commission
• HRSDC: Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
• RPA – Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
• GCMS: Global Case Management System
• e-APR: Electronic application for permanent residence
• MIs: Ministerial Instructions
• PER: Positive eligibility review
• MEC: Minimum entry criteria
• IRPA: Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
• ELN: Employer Liaison Network
• PER: Positive eligibility review

6. Acronyms used after landing in Canada:

• RCMP – Royal Canadian Mounted Police
• SIN -Social Insurance Number
• ESDC: Employment and Social Development Canada
• PRC: Permanent Resident Card
• CBSA: Canada Border Services Agency

11th, Jan 2020:

Saskatchewan invites 308 candidates in its latest draw

Saskatchewan issued 308 invites to immigration candidates for its provincial nomination program in the latest draw held on January 9. This was the first draw of the year for the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP). Invitations were submitted to candidates both in the Express Entry and Occupations in demand streams.

The SINP issued 142 invitations to candidates with profiles in the Federal Express Entry pool. The rest of the invites were made under the occupations in-demand sub-category.

The invites were issued to candidates in 82 occupations, the occupations include managers in agriculture, administrative officers, and electronic service technicians for household and business equipment.

10th, Jan 2020:

10th, Jan 2020:

Saskatchewan has conducted EOI selection rounds of the draw as on 9th January 2020 through the SINP’s EOI system.

International Skilled Workers subcategories:

Express Entry

Total Invitation Issued: 142

Lowest Rank Score to invite: 69 Points

Occupation In-Demand

Total Invitation Issued: 166

Lowest Rank Score to invite: 69 Points.

The following NOCs have been included:

0013, 0111, 0112, 0113, 0114, 0121, 0122, 0125, 0131, 0213, 0421, 0423, 0601, 0621, 0631, 0651, 0711, 0714, 0731, 0821, 0912, 1114, 1121, 1211, 1212, 1215, 1221, 1222, 1223, 1225, 1226, 1241, 1242, 1243, 1251, 1252, 1254, 1311, 2148, 2172, 2174, 2221, 2233, 2234, 2242, 2253, 2263, 2264, 2281, 2282, 3211, 3212, 3215, 3 234, 4011, 4021, 4033, 4151, 4161, 4163, 4164, 4165, 4166, 4167, 4212, 4214, 4214, 6221, 6235, 6321, 6331, 6332, 7236, 7237, 7246, 7281, 7312, 7313, 7321, 7322, 8211, 9213

10th, Jan 2020:
British Columbia issues 173 Immigration Invitations in its first draw of 2020

British Columbia issued 173 immigration invitations to candidates who had a score between 85 to 110 points in the first draw of 2020 through the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP).

The draw held on January 7 issued invites through five BCNCP streams for skilled workers and international graduates. BC’s entry-level and semi-skilled stream recorded the lowest minimum score for entry-level and semi-skilled streams with 85 points.

Skilled workers in the province’s direct provincial stream required 100 points while applicants under the Express Entry linked stream required 110 points.

Ontario issues first round of invitations for 2020 under its French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream

Ontario issued its first invitations for 2020 for its Express Entry linked programs in 2020 by inviting 242 candidates to apply through its French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream.

Ontario’s French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream gives rights to the province’s immigrant nominee program, the OINP, to search the Express Entry pool for candidates who meet the stream’s eligibility requirements.

Candidates applying under this program must be able to understand, read, write and speak French at CLB level 7 or higher. They must also have a CLB level of 6 or higher in English.

10th, Jan 2020:

The recent change in the IRCC website is creating hiccups for us in search of the required information. One such area which is of daily need is to send/find Roles’ confirmation to clients or check for NOC when required.
With the current site to search NOC is having a huge lag alternatively. So, the following link can be used to check for NOC.

https://noc.esdc.gc.ca/Search/AdvancedSearch/74af960e195c4b37a0040ffdfc7b2037

Step 1: Select Structure Search
Step 2: Select Broad Occupational Category and chose an Occupation Code starting with numerals 0,1,2,3 etc
Step 3: Optional to select Skill Level
Step 4: Click Search

For example: For 2173 Select numeral 2 and click search. It will display all the codes pertaining to the series starting with 2.

9th, Jan 2020:

WES – World Education Services of Canada has updated the charges for Standard Mail via Canada Post – $10.00, previously it was $7.00.

Please find the screenshot below for your references:

9th, Jan 2020:

Canada held Express Entry Draw #134 on January 8, 2020. This is the first draw to be held in 2020.

3,400 invitations were sent to apply for the permanent residency of Canada. The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score was 473. This was the minimum CRS score that a candidate had to have for being eligible for receiving an invitation in this round.

8th, Jan 2020:

CANADA IMMIGRATION LEVELS PLAN FOR 2020-2021 – Canada is targetting at welcoming 341,000 newcomers in 2020 and 350,000 in 2021.

PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS PROGRAM CHANGES EXPECTED BY APRIL AT THE LATEST – It is expected that the federal government will announce their intake process plans for the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) by April 2020 at the latest. While the federal government has an annual target of welcoming about 21,000 immigrants under the PGP, managing the intake process has proven to challenge for many years now given demand far exceeds the supply of available immigration spots. It is likely the federal government will roll out a new process that seeks to avoid previous intake process shortcomings

MUNICIPAL NOMINEE PROGRAM – This program will allow local communities, chambers of commerce and local labour councils to directly sponsor permanent immigrants. At least 5,000 new spaces will be dedicated for this program for the financial year 2020.

ATLANTIC IMMIGRATION PILOT – As per the ministerial instruction of 2020 AIP is going to be permanent and in a process of creating 5,000 new spaces open for immigration.

CITIZENSHIP FEES TO BE WAIVED IN 2020 – IRCC is planning to remove the visa fees of CAD $ 630 for the candidate who is applying for the Citizenship claim.

7th, Jan 2020:

Saskatchewan Changes method of selection for Entrepreneur Stream Candidates

Saskatchewan immigration has changed its method of selection for applicants to its Entrepreneur stream for the next Expression of interest draw scheduled for January 7, 2020.

The province will prioritize three selection factors in order to filter candidates with the same score on the Entrepreneur stream points grid. These three factors are:

1. Official language ability
2. Those with businesses planned for a key economic sector

3. Completion of an exploratory visit

These three factors were selected because it was believed to be important to a candidate’s ‘future economic success’ in the province.

Recent Saskatchewan EOI Draw Targets 96 Jobs With 595 Invitations

In the latest Expression of Interest draw, Saskatchewan immigration issued 595 invites that targeted 96 National Occupational Classification codes.

The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program draw on December 20, 2019, sent invites through both the province’s Express Entry and Occupations In-Demand streams.

The number of invites was 304 for Express Entry candidates, while Occupations In-Demand candidates received 291 invites.

Both the streams registered a minimum score of 69 points.

6th, Jan, 2020:

find the below steps, how to obtain a PCC- FBI (United States). Below is the link for your reference.

How to Submit a Request

The FBI offers three options for requesting your Identity History Summary or proof that one does not exist.

Option 1: Electronically Submit Your Request Directly to the FBI 

Step 1: Go to www.edo.cjis.gov.

Step 2: Follow the steps under the “Obtaining Your Identity History Summary” section. If you submit a request electronically directly to the FBI, you may visit a participating U.S. Post Office location to submit your fingerprints electronically as part of your request. You may go to any of the 28 participating U.S. Post Office locations nationwide upon completion of your request. Additional U.S. Post Office locations are expected to be added in spring 2020. Additional fees may apply.

Option 2: Submit Your Request Directly to the FBI via the Mail 

Step 1: Complete the Applicant Information Form.

• If the request is for a couple, family, etc., each person must complete and sign a form.
• Include a complete mailing address. Please provide your telephone number and e-mail address, if available.
• Your results will be provided on standard white paper and returned to you by First-Class Mail via the U.S. Postal Service.
• Self-addressed envelopes will not be accepted. This includes pre-paid Priority Mail, FedEx account numbers, United Parcel Service, etc., foreign postage coupons, and requests to forward correspondence to the Department of State for the apostille process.

Step 2: Obtain a Set of Your Fingerprints

• Your fingerprints should be placed on a standard fingerprint form (FD-258) commonly used for applicant or law enforcement purposes. The FBI will accept FD-258 fingerprint cards on standard white paper stock.
• You must provide a current fingerprint card. Previously processed cards or copies will not be accepted.
• Your name and date of birth must be provided on the fingerprint card.
• You must include rolled impressions of all 10 fingerprints and impressions of all 10 fingerprints taken at the same time (these are sometimes referred to as plain or flat impressions).
• If possible, have your fingerprints taken by a fingerprinting technician. This service may be available at a law enforcement agency. The FBI recommends that red or purple ink not be used for fingerprinting.
• Fingerprints taken with ink or via live scan are acceptable. If your fingerprints are taken via a live scan device, a hard copy must be generated so the fingerprint card can be mailed to the FBI.
• To ensure the most legible prints possible, refer to the Recording Legible Fingerprints page. If fingerprints are not legible, the fingerprint card will be rejected. This could cause delays in processing and could also result in additional fees.
• The name on your response letter will match the name indicated on the fingerprint card when your application, payment, and fingerprint card are submitted via the mail.
• If the last four digits of your Social Security number are needed on your response letter, then please ensure the full nine-digits or last four digits of your Social Security number are on the fingerprint card when submitting your request.
• For more information, refer to the Recording Friction Ridges module.

Step 3: Submit Payment

• Option 1: Pay by credit card using the Credit Card Payment Form. Don’t forget to include the expiration date of the credit card that you are using.
• Option 2: Obtain a money order or certified check for $18 U.S. dollars made payable to the Treasury of the United States. Please be sure you sign where required.
• Important note: Cash, personal checks, or business checks WILL NOT be accepted and sending any of these will delay processing of your request.
• Payment must be for the exact amount.
• If the request is for a couple, family, etc., include $18 for each person.
• The FBI will provide one sealed response for each request received. You may make as many copies as needed upon receipt of your response. Note: If you need additional sealed responses mailed to the same address or separate address, you must submit an additional request with another payment of $18 for each sealed response requested. Also, if you need additional copies of your response that do not need to be in a sealed envelope, you may make as many copies as needed upon receipt of your response.
• If you are unable to pay the $18 fee, your request for a waiver of the fee must include a claim and proof of indigence, such as a notarized affidavit of indigence.
• The FBI will not accept additional payment to expedite your request.

Step 4: Review

• Review the Identity History Summary Request Checklist to ensure that you have included everything needed to process your request.

Step 5: Mail the Required Items Listed Above

Mail the required items listed above—signed applicant information form, fingerprint card, and payment of $18 U.S. dollars per person—to the following address:

FBI CJIS Division – Summary Request
1000 Custer Hollow Road
Clarksburg, WV 26306

What Happens Next

If we find no Identity History Summary on file, you will receive a response by First-Class Mail via the U.S. Postal Service indicating that you have no prior arrest data on file at the FBI. If you do have an Identity History Summary on file, you will receive your Identity History Summary or “rap sheet” by First-Class Mail via the U.S. Postal Service.

Note:  Please Note: If any of the above items are missing or incomplete, the request will be returned. Additional items sent not required for processing will not be returned. Allow approximately 10 – 12 weeks for processing, upon receipt to the FBI. Time may vary according to the number of application received by FBI at a particular time.

4th, Jan 2020:

Launch of PNIP postponed in several Canadian communities

Five of the 11 communities participating in the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) that were all set to begin accepting applications on January 1 have postponed it to at least another month.

The five communities that postponed the program are:

• North Bay, Ontario

• Timmins, Ontario

• Claresholm, Alberta

• Vernon, British Columbia

• West Kootenay, British Columbia

Apart from this, Sudbury, Ontario, which was supposed to commence the pilot on November 1 has still not started accepting applications. 

The Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) was started with an intention to help rural and remote Canadian towns recruit foreign workers to their communities. 

Till date the RNIP has been launched in the following communities:

• Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

• Brandon, Manitoba

• Altona/Rhineland, Manitoba

3rd, Jan 2020:

Canada increases settlement funds requirement for two Express Entry programs

The Canadian federal government has increased the settlement fund for certain categories of skilled workers if they want to migrate to Canada.

Skilled workers wishing to Migrate to Canada must prove that they have the required funds in order to qualify without a job offer under Express Entry programs such as the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) or Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). The amount of funds will be determined by the number of family members included in the application.

These funds are however not required for those applying under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and prospective migrants with a valid job offer.

3rd, Jan 2020:

MCC has revised ECA payment; this is with effect from 03rd Jan 2020.

Registration Fee:

All candidates are required to pay a one-time, non-refundable account fee of $290 (2019) – $298 (2020).

Document Fee:

A $170 (2019) – $175 (2020) fee is charged per each medical credential document submitted for source verification.

Translation Fee:

A $140 (2019) – $140 (2020) fee is charged per page to be translated (non-refundable).

Cancellation and Reimbursement Fee:

Only if the document has not yet been processed by MCC then a cancellation and reimbursement can be requested against document fee. An administration fee of $55 (2019) – $56 (2020) will be withheld.

ECA Report Fee:

Education Credential Assessment report fee: $108 (2019) – $111 (2020)

Source: https://mcc.ca/examinations/examination-service-fees/

2nd, Jan 2020:

Quebec introduces ‘values test’ for immigrants

From January 1, 2020, migrants looking to move to Quebec, will have to take a values test when applying for a PR visa. Candidates will have to get what the government terms as an Attestation of learning about democratic values and the Quebec values expressed by the Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms.

Every applicant to the Quebec Selection Certificate must pass the values test except those who are under the age of 18 and those with permanent physical and cognitive impairment.

 The values test applies to the following Quebec Immigration programs:

• Quebec Skilled Worker Program
• Quebec Experience Program
• Entrepreneur Program
• Self-Employed Program
• Investor Program

Express Entry system performance in 2019

The Express Entry system for Canada Immigration finished with 85,300 invitations to apply or ITAs for 2019. Though this was lesser compared to the numbers in 2018. However, it was the second highest numbers sine the Express Entry System was introduced in 2015. The IRCC conducted 26 draws for the program in 2019.