Moving To Canada (2024)

26/03/2020

Alberta invites candidates with CRS as low as 300 in March draw
The westernmost Prairie Province has released the results of its latest Express Entry-linked provincial nominee program draw

Some hopeful immigrants to Alberta have been invited to apply for a provincial nomination for Canadian permanent residence.

The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) held its latest Express Entry-linked provincial nominee program draw on March 4. A total of 100 candidates with profiles in the federal Express Entry pool who had Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores as low as 300 were invited to apply for a provincial nomination.

Candidates who received Notifications of Interest (NOIs), which is the official name for invitations issued through the Alberta Express Entry Stream, did not need a job offer to be invited. However, they did need to have profiles in the federal Express Entry system.

If successful, the immigration candidates selected in the March 4 draw could receive an additional 600 points toward their overall CRS ranking in a subsequent federal Express Entry draw. Almost a week ago Canada invited 668 candidates with provincial nominations from the Express Entry pool.

Express Entry manages applications for three of Canada’s main economic class immigration programs: Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and Canadian Experience Class.

Candidates who are eligible for Express Entry are ranked on human capital factors such as work experience, education, official language proficiency, and age. They are then given a CRS score.

The highest-scoring candidates are selected to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence in regular Express Entry draws.

How to be eligible for the Alberta Express Entry Stream
Express Entry candidates need to be working in an occupation that supports Alberta’s “economic development and diversification priorities” in order to be eligible for an invitation through this provincial nomination program.

The AINP does not provide a list of eligible occupations.

While it is not necessary to have a job offer to be eligible for this stream, the AINP says it may give priority to candidates who meet the following three criteria:

a job offer and/or work experience in Alberta;
a degree from a Canadian post-secondary institution and a valid job offer; or
a parent, child or sibling already living in the province.
So far this year, Alberta has issued 751 invitations to Express Entry candidates. In 2019, Alberta issued a total of 11,137 invitations through the Alberta Express Entry Stream.

25/03/2020

How to obtain citizenship if your parent is a Canadian
Submitting a “Proof of Citizenship” application if you have a Canadian parent can enable you to become a Canadian citizen, although the process is not a formality.

In the unsettling times in which we find ourselves since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, facilitated routes through which Canadian citizenship may be obtained cannot be ignored.

It is the goal of many individuals around the world to settle permanently in Canada. Although Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) have not yet announced anything to this effect, with the disruption caused by the coronavirus, it is not certain that the processing of permanent residency applications will continue uninterrupted. Therefore, alternative options should be explored and pursued.

One of the easiest, and very often surprising manners in which Canadian citizenship may be obtained applies to those individuals who are fortunate enough to have at least one Canadian parent. In many cases, and often without them knowing it, such individuals might already be Canadian citizens simply by virtue of their parent’s nationality.

The process can help applicants bypass permanent residence requirements
Recognition of this fact, and eligibility for the benefits it entails, is accomplished through an application called “Proof of Citizenship”. In this application, the individual must demonstrate that he or she has a parent who is a Canadian citizen. This means that even if they were born outside of Canada and have never set foot in Canada, that individual could be a Canadian citizen. In such scenarios, the process of acquiring permanent residency, which is usually a pre-requisite for citizenship and can pose many challenges, is bypassed.

This process provides a facilitated and expedited route through which an individual might reap the benefits of Canadian citizenship. This is not a status that is granted lightly and therefore, these cases are usually scrutinized closely in order to ensure eligibility and that the required supporting documentation has been provided.

Canada considers various factors when reviewing the application
Having a parent who is a Canadian citizen does not guarantee that an individual will qualify to apply for Proof of Citizenship as factors such as the process through which citizenship was acquired as well as when the parent(s) became a Canadian citizen play a role in determining eligibility for this application.

Since the application process can be problematic if the appropriate paperwork is not submitted, would-be Canadian citizens are often best served by seeking professional guidance in the context of this application. IRCC has yet to announce any disruption in the processing of these applications. Eligible applicants are therefore encouraged to start the process as soon as possible.

Tips to submit a successful application
Confirming eligibility: As noted above, there are many nuances as it concerns who is eligible for this application and who must pursue other options. Determining definitively that the applicant is eligible for proof of citizenship is essential and can avoid false hopes, wasted time, and wasted application fees.

Acquiring the correct documentation: Collecting and submitting the correct documentation, in the appropriate format is of the utmost importance for any application that confers status in Canada. There are many documents that can attest to proof of eligibility for this particular process but IRCC provides guidelines for the specific documents that are required. These guidelines must be followed to ensure a successful application. Key documents include birth certificates and proof that one of the parents was a Canadian citizen at the time of the applicant’s birth.

Submitting the application in the correct manner: Different applications provide for different methods of submission to which the applicant must adhere if the process is to run smoothly. Some applications may be submitted at the border, while others must be submitted either online or by mail. Knowing how and where to submit your application is key to ensuring the process runs smoothly.

If an applicant has any doubts with regard to the application, it is in his or her best interest to consult qualified and competent Canadian immigration attorneys to ensure that the process is as smooth and problem-free as possible.

25/03/2020

Second Express Entry draw in five days invites candidates with scores as low as 467
The Canadian Experience Class-specific Express Entry draw is the second of its kind since 2015

The Government of Canada has released the details of this week’s Express Entry draw, inviting 3,232 candidates to apply for permanent residence.

Invitations to apply for Canadian permanent residence were issued to Canadian Experience Class program candidates with Comprehensive Ranking Scores (CRS) as low as 467 in a new Express Entry draw held March 23, 2020.

The program-specific draw was the second since 2015 to specifically target candidates in the Canadian Experience Class, which is open to foreign nationals with at least one year of work experience in Canada, among other criteria.

The Canadian Experience Class is one of three Federal High Skilled immigration programs managed by the Express Entry system. The other two are the Federal Skilled Worker Class and the Federal Skilled Trades Class.

The vast majority of Express Entry draws involve candidates from all three classes and today’s draw was one of the rare exceptions to this rule.

The previous Express Entry draw held March 18 only included candidates that had provincial nominations and issued 668 invitations to apply (ITAs). Given Canada’s higher admission targets for its three Federal High Skilled immigration programs in 2020 and 2021, it is expected that Immigration, Refugees Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will hold more frequent and larger draws in the weeks and months to come.

All eligible Express Entry candidates are given a score under the Comprehensive Ranking Scores CRS that is based on factors such as age, education, skilled work experience and proficiency in English or French and are entered into the Express Entry pool.

Unlike all-program invitation rounds, which draw from the entire Express Entry pool and tend to result in higher cut-off scores, niche draws for a specific cohort like Canadian Experience Class candidates can produce lower cut-off scores given they target a smaller pool of candidates.

Today’s cut-off score of 467 was three points lower than the lowest cut-off score this year in an all-program Express Entry draw, which was 470.

The tie-break used by IRCC in the March 23 draw was November 25, 2019, at 14:00:35 UTC. This means that all Canadian Experience Class candidates with a CRS score above 467, as well as those with scores of 467 who entered their profile in the Express Entry pool before this date and time, received an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence.

This draw brings the total number of ITAs issued so far this year through Canada’s Express Entry system to 22,600.

Today’s draw is a reminder of the various ways Express Entry candidates with lower CRS scores may receive an ITA.

Several Express Entry-aligned provincial nomination streams also have lower CRS requirements compared to all-program federal draws.

Express Entry candidates with a provincial nomination receive an additional 600 CRS points and are effectively guaranteed an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residence.

In order to be considered for a nomination through most Express Entry-aligned provincial streams, the first step is to submit an Express Entry profile.

The following are hypothetical examples of candidates who would have obtained an ITA in today’s Canadian Experience Class draw:

Ram is 28 years old and has been working in Canada for one year as a programmer since completing his bachelor’s degree in Canada. Ram wrote the IELTS and scored an 8 in listening, a 7.5 in speaking, a 7 in writing and a 7 in reading. Ram’s CRS of 468 would have been high enough to obtain an ITA during the March 23 Express Entry draw.

Sara is 33, holds a bachelor’s degree and has been working as an IT manager outside of Canada for 6 years. Sara has an advanced English language proficiency and worked in Canada for a year, in 2019. Sara’s CRS score of 472, as well as her eligibility under the CEC, would have allowed her to obtain an ITA in the March 23 Express Entry draw.

24/03/2020

Canada invites 668 Express Entry candidates to apply for permanent residence
Invited candidates had provincial nominations granting them an additional 600 CRS points

The Government of Canada has released the details of this week’s Express Entry draw, inviting 668 candidates to apply for permanent residence.

Invitations were received on March 18, however official details of the draw were released today, March 20. This draw brings the total number of invitations to apply (ITAs) issued so far this year through Canada’s Express Entry system to 19,368.

The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score requirement was 720.

The score requirement may seem high compared to the last Express Entry draw that required a score of 471, however, this draw only included candidates that had provincial nominations aligned with Express Entry.

Despite COVID-19 measures slowing down Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) services, Canada is still striving to meet its immigration targets set for 2020. Many of those are allotted to obtain permanent residence through Canada’s Express Entry system.

Express Entry manages the pool of candidates for Canada’s three Federal High Skilled economic immigration programs — the Federal Skilled Worker Class, Federal Skilled Trades Class and Canadian Experience Class.

Eligible candidates are ranked in the Express Entry pool based on a score awarded under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which provides points for factors such as age, education, skilled work experience and proficiency in English or French.

A set number of the highest-ranked candidates are issued an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residence through regular draws from the Express Entry pool, which typically take place every two weeks.

Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) applied a tie break of March 19, 2020, at 02:04:06 UTC. This means that all candidates with CRS scores above 720, as well as those with scores of 720 who entered their profile in the Express Entry pool before this date and time, received an ITA.

Whereas Canada welcomed 320,000 newcomers in 2018, and 341,000 immigrants in 2019, it is again targeting the admission of 341,000 immigrants this year. New immigration targets were unveiled last week in the federal government’s 2020-2022 Immigration Levels Plan.

The vast majority of Canada’s newcomers are set to arrive under the economic class, with 58 per cent set to arrive through Express Entry programs, the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), Quebec’s programs, and other federal streams such as the Atlantic Immigration Pilot (AIP).

Express Entry candidates with scores below today’s cut-off who want to improve their score may have a number of options for doing so, from improving their language scores to obtaining a provincial nomination for Canadian permanent residence.

Express Entry candidates with a provincial nomination receive an additional 600 CRS points and are effectively guaranteed an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residence.

The last few weeks have seen Express Entry-aligned provincial nominee programs in Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, and Prince Edward Island issue more than 5,000 invitations to Express Entry candidates.

Saskatchewan has now invited more than 1,750 Express Entry candidates through the Express Entry sub-category of its immigrant nominee program since the beginning of the year.

In January, Ontario issued invitations to 954 Express Entry candidates with work experience in six tech occupations.

Alberta selected Express Entry candidates with CRS scores as low as 300 in a selection round held February 20 through the Alberta Express Entry Stream. Earlier selection rounds held through this stream this year have also seen Express Entry candidates with scores as low as 300 invited to apply for a provincial nomination from Alberta.

The following are hypothetical examples of candidates who would have obtained an ITA in the March 18 draw:

Arun and Lisa are married and are each 35 years old. They each hold bachelor’s degrees, have been working as software developers for five years and each has demonstrated an intermediate English language proficiency. They submitted an Express Entry profile with Lisa as the principal applicant and initially had a CRS score of 304. The Canadian province of Alberta invited them to apply for nomination, and their score increased to 904. They received an ITA in the March 18 Express Entry draw.

Jo has been working in Canada as a network technician for a year and a half. He is 38 years old and wrote the CELPIP and scored a 5 in each category. Jo did not have his foreign education assessed and none of his prior foreign skilled work experience took place in the past 10 years. He entered the pool with a CRS score of 125 and obtained a provincial nomination on March 10. His CRS score increased to 725 and he was invited to apply for Canadian permanent residence in the March 20 Express Entry draw.

The first step to being considered for a provincial nomination through one of these streams is to enter a profile in the Express Entry pool.

22/03/2020

Canada and the U.S. provide more information on the status of work permit holders
Despite cross-border travel restrictions that take effect on March 21, it appears some work permit holders will be able to travel between the Canada-U.S. border.

In advance of travel restrictions to be implemented at their border effective tomorrow, on Saturday, March 21, both the Canadian and U.S. government have released more details on who will be included and excluded from the restrictions.

Included in the restrictions are those seeking to travel between the border for non-essential purposes. The Canadian government has defined “non-essential” travel as that which is done for tourism or recreational purposes. Such travellers are forbidden from travelling across the border for the 30-day period following March 21, after which both Canada and the U.S. will review the border restrictions.

The Canadian government’s statement suggests that American and Canadian work permit holders will be deemed as essential travellers, however, this should not be interpreted as an exhaustive waiver for all work permit holders until official confirmation is provided by either the American or Canadian government.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security also released a notice today on the provisions of the travel restrictions.

It states that travel through land ports of entry and ferry terminals along the U.S.-Canada border shall be limited to “essential travel”, which includes but is not limited to:

U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents returning to the United States;
Individuals travelling for medical purposes (e.g., to receive medical treatment in the United States);
Individuals travelling to attend educational institutions;
Individuals travelling to work in the United States (e.g., individuals working in the farming or agriculture industry who must travel between the United States and Canada in furtherance of such work);
Individuals travelling for emergency response and public health purposes (e.g., government officials or emergency responders entering the United States to support Federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial government efforts to respond to COVID-19 or other emergencies);
Individuals engaged in lawful cross-border trade (e.g., truck drivers supporting the movement of cargo between the United States and Canada);
Individuals engaged in official government travel or diplomatic travel;
Members of the U.S. Armed Forces, and the spouses and children of members of the U.S. Armed Forces, returning to the United States; and
Individuals engaged in military-related travel or operations.
The bulletin bold indicates Canadians will be able to travel to the U.S. for work. CIC News will confirm whether this is, in fact, the case as more information becomes available.

19/03/2020

Canada rated top country for quality of life in 2020
Being safe, politically stable, and having a well-developed public health system drove Canada’s quality of life ranking to the top of the Best Countries 2020 list

For the fifth year in a row, people from around the world named Canada as the top country for quality of life.

Out of the countries surveyed, Canada ranked number one overall for being politically stable, number two for having a good job market, and number four for having a well-developed public education system. Global citizens also ranked Canada high for having a well-developed public health system.

The 2020 Best Countries rankings were conducted by U.S. News & World Report. A total of 20,548 people from 36 countries were surveyed on their perceptions of 73 countries. Countries were assessed in nine different categories that were weighted to produce an overall score:

Quality of Life
Entrepreneurship
Adventure
Citizenship
Cultural Influence
Heritage
Movers
Open for Business
Power
Canada came in second place overall, falling behind Switzerland, which came in first overall but did not place on top in any one category.

In the “Citizenship” category, Canada placed second behind Sweden. Countries that scored high in this section were perceived to care about human rights, the environment, gender equality, and religious freedom. They were also seen as progressive, as respecting property rights, being trustworthy, and having well-distributed political power.

In the “Open for Business” category, Canada finished third behind Luxembourg and Switzerland. This category is for countries that are perceived to be “business-friendly”. Countries were assessed based on their level of bureaucracy, manufacturing costs, corruption, tax environment and government practices. Canada ranked high for scoring zero out of 10 for perceived level of corruption and a perfect “10” for transparent government.

18/03/2020

New Brunswick pushing for more immigrants
The bilingual Maritime province is looking to increase immigration to 10,000 newcomers every year; Canadian Press

The Premier of New Brunswick wants to increase the province’s population to one million in 2040.

Premier Blaine Higgs brought up the province’s ageing population and labour market shortage during an annual “state of the province” speech, the Canadian Press reports.

The premiere referred to the province’s population growth strategy released this past summer, which says that nearly 120,000 jobs will become available in New Brunswick over the next decade.

The growth strategy also says that New Brunswick will raise the number of economic immigrants settling in New Brunswick each year to 7,500 by 2024. However, those numbers were set by the federal government, and Higgs told the audience of businesspeople and reporters that the province would be pushing for an intake of 10,000 each year.

He said the province is opening new offices in India and Europe in order to promote New Brunswick immigration to foreign talent and investors.

Immigrating to New Brunswick through Express Entry
Foreign nationals who want to bring their skills, education, and work experience to New Brunswick may qualify for the New Brunswick Express Entry Stream.

The provincial immigration stream is aligned with the federal government’s Express Entry system, which manages applications through three immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and Canadian Experience Class.

In order to qualify for the New Brunswick Express Entry stream, candidates first need to create an Express Entry profile, where they will be given a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score based on their work experience, education, age and language proficiency.

If those in the federal pool receive a provincial nomination from the New Brunswick Express Entry stream they will receive an additional 600 CRS points. This effectively guarantees that candidate an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in a federal Express Entry draw.

Once candidates are in the Express Entry pool, and can meet certain province-specific eligibility requirements they can create an Expression of Interest (EOI) with New Brunswick’s portal.

On occasion, New Brunswick will invite candidates directly from the Express Entry pool in response to labour market needs.

18/03/2020

642,000 international students: Canada now ranks 3rd globally in foreign student attraction
Canada’s international student population has tripled over the past decade to 642,000 in 2019. Canada has moved into third place globally behind the United States of America and Australia.

Canada is now the world’s third-leading destination of international students, with a staggering 642,000 foreign students.

According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) data, Canada’s international student population grew by 13 per cent in 2019 compared to the previous year, marking yet another year of double-digit growth. Overall, 404,000 international students saw their study permits take effect in 2019.

Canada’s international student population has grown six-fold over the past 20 years. In the last decade alone, it has tripled.

Canada’s growth is being fueled by the rise in the global middle-class population, with more students looking to pursue educational, and in some cases, immigration opportunities overseas. According to UNESCO, there are now over five million international students globally, compared with around two million in 2000.

Here at home, Canadian colleges and universities have been left with little choice but to recruit more international students in order to sustain themselves financially. Growth among the main cohort of Canadian-born students entering colleges and universities (individuals between the ages of 18-24) has stagnated over the last decade due to Canada’s low birth rate.

While Canada’s population has grown by 11 per cent over the past decade, the 18-24 cohort has only grown by 4 per cent. As such, Canadian institutions need revenues from international students to fund their rising operating expenses.

Nearly 50 per cent study in Ontario
Ontario is by far the largest beneficiary of foreign students in Canada. In 2019, it hosted some 48 per cent of Canada’s international student population—nearly 307,000 people.

British Columbia is a distant second, with 23 per cent of Canada’s international students—about 145,000 people.

Quebec is third, with 14 per cent of all international students in Canada—87,000 people.

Manitoba and Nova Scotia have high international student populations on a per capita basis, with some 19,000 international students in each province.

Prince Edward Island experienced the strongest growth over the past decade
Over the past decade, the Atlantic province of Prince Edward Island (PEI) has experienced the strongest growth among all provinces and territories. PEI’s international student population has grown nearly five-fold since 2010.

Other provinces that have experienced at least a doubling of their international student populations over this period include Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, Ontario, and Manitoba.

34 per cent of Canada’s foreign students come from India
Some 56 per cent of Canada’s international students come from India and China.

Indian’s account for over one-third of Canada’s foreign students. Given it has a large middle-class population with high levels of English-language proficiency, India has many international students who are eligible for programs offered by Canadian educational institutions.

This has contributed to Canada’s population of Indian students nearly quadrupling over the past five years. Indian students have also benefited from the federal government’s Student Direct Stream, which fast-tracks study permit applications for nationals of India, as well as China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Pakistan, Senegal, and Morocco.

China is second, accounting for 22 per cent of Canada’s international students. The number of Chinese students in Canada has actually stagnated over the past five years, with India overtaking China as the lead source country in 2018. There are several potential reasons for the stagnation, one of which is that China’s strong economic growth is encouraging more of its students to remain at home.

Rounding out Canada’s top 10 international student source countries are South Korea, France, Vietnam, the United States of America, Iran, Brazil, and Nigeria.

Among the top 20 source countries, the strongest growth rates over the past five years have been posted by India, Vietnam, the Philippines, Colombia, and Algeria.

Canada moves into third place globally
The United States currently has an estimated 1.1 million international students. Despite concerns that policies enacted by President Donald Trump may discourage international students from studying in the U.S., the country still boasts many of the world’s best universities, which continue to serve as a major magnet for international students.

Australia ranks second globally, with its nearly 700,000 international students. Canada’s 642,000 international students now rank it third globally, ahead of the nearly 500,000 each hosted by China and the United Kingdom.

Why Canada is so attractive to foreign students
Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE) research shows that international students choose Canada due to the country’s strong quality of education, as well as its reputation as a multicultural and tolerant society.

Some 60 per cent of international students have also reported to CBIE that they are interested in becoming permanent residents of Canada after their studies.

Canada offers international students one of the world’s most competitive packages, allowing them to work while they study, then obtain a post-graduation work permit to gain Canadian work experience, and then offers them more than 80 economic class immigration streams to choose from.

Another consideration is that while international students pay higher tuition than Canadian students, their overall expenses in Canada are lower than in the likes of the U.S., Australia, and the United Kingdom. A major reason for this is the Canadian dollar is weaker than the U.S. dollar, British pound, and the Euro (the European Union is another attractive destination for international students).

$22 billion and over 170,000 jobs thanks to Canada’s international students
Canadian government research estimates that international students contribute some $22 billion annually to the country’s economy and help to sustain over 170,000 jobs.

Beyond this major impact, international students are set to have an even larger impact on Canada’s economy in the decades to come thanks to the over 80 economic class pathways offered through the likes of Express Entry, other federal programs such as the Atlantic Immigration Pilot, as well as the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). These pathways feature dedicated streams for international students and may also award extra points to international students. This is due to federal government research showing that international students who become immigrants have very strong outcomes in the Canadian economy.

As such, more international students are obtaining permanent residence. For example, in 2019, the Canadian Experience Class, which is designed for international students and temporary foreign workers with Canadian work experience, accounted for 34 per cent of those who became immigrants through Express Entry.

This suggests that Canada may actually be understating the positive economic impact that international students are having on the country.

Beyond their immediate $22-billion annual impact, international students who remain in Canada permanently will help to drive economic growth as both workers and consumers for many decades to come.

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