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NEWS

IRCC reveals the programs that qualify for PGWPs

IRCC has provided updated information on which educational programs now qualify for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).  As of new guidelines released in September, certain international graduates across various study levels who apply for a PGWP after November 1 will be required to meet additional criteria based on their field of study to qualify for the work permit*.  *Note: These field of study requirements do not apply to graduates with a bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD from a university.  Discover your options to study in Canada What are the fields of study eligible for PGWPs?  The eligible fields of study for PGWP align with occupational categories introduced by IRCC in 2023 under the Express Entry system, which are designed to reflect national labor market demands.  The eligible fields include:  Agriculture and Agri-food  Healthcare  Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)  Trades  Transportation  PGWP-eligible programs within these fields are classified and listed using the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), which is Canada’s system for categorizing educational programs, similar to the National Occupational Classification (NOC) used for jobs in Canada.  The table below lists examples of instructional programs eligible for a PGWP in each field of study, along with their corresponding CIP codes:  CIP 2021 Title CIP 2021 Code Field of Study Category Agricultural business and management, general 01.0101 Agriculture and agri-food Animal/livestock husbandry and production 01.0302 Agriculture and agri-food Plant nursery operations and management 01.0606 Agriculture and agri-food Animal health 01.0903 Agriculture and agri-food Agronomy and crop science 01.1102 Agriculture and agri-food Special education and teaching, general 13.1001 Healthcare Exercise physiology 26.0908 Healthcare Physical therapy assistant 51.0806 Healthcare Polysomnography 51.0917 Healthcare Cytotechnology/cytotechnologist 51.1002 Healthcare Computer programming/programmer, general 11.0201 STEM Chemical engineering 14.0701 STEM Engineering mechanics 14.1101 STEM Water, wetlands and marine resources management 03.0205 STEM Computer graphics 11.0803 STEM Electrician 46.0302 Trade Heating, air conditioning, ventilation and refrigeration maintenance technology/technician 47.0201 Trade Machine tool technology/machinist 48.0501 Trade Insulator 46.0414 Trade Plumbing technology/plumber 46.0503 Trade Heavy equipment maintenance technology/technician 47.0302 Transport Air traffic controller 49.0105 Transport Truck and bus driver/commercial vehicle operator and instructor 49.0205 Transport Flight instructor 49.0108 Transport Transportation and materials moving, other 49.9999 Transport How to find your CIP code  International graduates who know the title of their program and wish to find the corresponding CIP code can follow these steps:  Visit the Statistics Canada webpage for the 2021 CIP system (accessible here).  Either enter keywords related to the program in the search bar above the table or browse the available study fields listed in the table.  Both methods will lead to a second table that breaks down the sub-categories for each study field.  Choose the relevant sub-category for your program. If uncertain, use the “display definitions” button to learn more about each category.  Proceed to the relevant sub-category.  On the final table, you will find detailed information about specific instructional programs within the chosen sub-category. If you are unsure, use the “display definitions” function to read more about each program.  Select the relevant program.  The last page will offer detailed information about each instructional program, including examples and exclusions. Note that program titles are general, so the descriptions are crucial for choosing the correct CIP code.  New language requirements for PGWP applicants  In addition to the new field of study conditions, IRCC has introduced language proficiency requirements for PGWP eligibility. These language criteria vary based on the level of education of international graduates. Both changes are summarized in the table below.  Level of Study Language Requirement Field of Study Requirement University bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree CLB 7 in English or NCLC 7 in French in all 4 language areas All fields of study are eligible Any other university program CLB 7 in English or NCLC 7 in French in all 4 language areas Must graduate in an eligible field of study College program or any other program not listed above CLB 5 in English or NCLC 5 in French in all 4 language areas Must graduate in an eligible field of study *Students applying for a PGWP before November 1 of this year do not have field of study requirements but will still need to meet the language criteria listed above. Discover your options to study in Canada

NEWS

Ontario, British Columbia, and Manitoba are inviting candidates to submit applications for provincial nominations 

Three Canadian provinces have extended invitations to candidates this week to apply for their respective Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs).  The PNP, established in 1998, aims to distribute the benefits of immigration more evenly across Canada by sharing immigration responsibilities between the federal government and provincial or territorial governments.  Today, the PNP is a key pathway for skilled workers to immigrate to Canada.  Discover your options to study in Canada Although a provincial nomination doesn’t automatically result in permanent residency (PR), it significantly boosts a candidate’s application. Those in the Express Entry pool who receive a provincial nomination are awarded an extra 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points, almost ensuring they will receive an invitation to apply (ITA) in a future Express Entry draw.  Provincial Immigration Results: October 5-11 Ontario  On October 8, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) sent out invitations to candidates eligible for the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream.  A total of 885 invitations were issued to individuals in skilled trades, with a minimum score requirement of 48.  Additionally, the province invited 841 candidates in a targeted draw under the same stream for priority occupations. To qualify for an invitation, candidates needed a minimum score of 52 and a job offer in a priority occupation. The list of priority occupations, categorized by NOC code, can be found here.  British Columbia  Also on October 8, the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) invited over 173 candidates through the Skilled Worker and International Graduate streams.  The minimum cut-off varied according to industry. The breakdown can be seen below:  Draw type Minimum score Number of invitations Childcare 83 44 Construction 89 25 Healthcare 99 21 Tech 116 83 Veterinary care 80 <5 Manitoba  On October 10, the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) held three separate draws.  The first draw, part of an occupation-specific selection under the Skilled Worker in Manitoba stream, issued 82 invitations to individuals who completed post-secondary education in Manitoba, with a minimum score requirement of 845 points.  On the same day, 114 candidates were invited through the International Education stream.  Lastly, the MPNP held a draw under the Skilled Worker Overseas stream, inviting 38 individuals with a minimum score of 711. Candidates had to be invited by the MPNP under a “Strategic Recruitment Initiative” to be eligible for this draw.  Discover your options to study in Canada

NEWS

“Ontario, BC, Manitoba, & Saskatchewan: New Provincial Nominations Announced!”

Canada has long been a popular study destination for international students due to its well-regarded universities, multicultural population, and availability of international work experience. An applicant’s chances of obtaining permanent residence (PR) in Canada may also be increased by obtaining a Canadian education and qualifying job experience. This is due to the fact that overseas students who complete their studies at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) are eligible for more points under Canada’s Express Entry system, which increases their pooling power. Discover your options to study in Canada However, obtaining an education in Canada does not ensure that one will be granted permanent residence. Although there are various options for graduates to work and settle in Canada, these options depend on a number of variables, such as the candidate’s vocation, abilities, and qualifications. Canada has also been making adjustments to its immigration laws in recent months to better align them with the demands of its labor market. The transfer from a study visa to permanent residency may be more difficult as a result of this and the growingly competitive pool of eligible applicants. Here are some tips to help overseas students earn as many points as possible if they hope to live in Canada in the future. Stay up to date with changing immigration policy Immigration policies in Canada are subject to change depending on the country’s economic needs. For an international student planning on applying for permanent status in the future, it can help to remain informed of eligibility criteria for different programs. For example, earlier this year the government announced that international students who have enrolled in a study program with a curriculum licensing agreement will no longer be eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) upon graduation. This is a style of study program offered by a private college that has been licensed to deliver the curriculum of an associated public college. These programs often have less oversight than those delivered by public colleges. Students who intend to use their PGWP to gain work experience in Canada should find out which academic programs qualify for PGWP after graduation. Select careers that are in demand. Canada introduced category-specific Express Entry lotteries in 2023 with the goal of highlighting in-demand professions and skills. Among these are the following professions: Medical Care STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and math. Exchange Move around Agri-food and agriculture If a certain professional route piques the interest of the students, they can seek qualifications in one of the category-based draws. For example, a student can pursue a career in STEM such as architecture, engineering, data science, or web development to increase their chances at the Express Entry draw. However, these categories are subject to change though and do not guarantee permanent residency. Research Provincial Nominee Programs Every province and territory, with the exception of Quebec and Nunavut, operates Provincial Nominee Programs to attract skilled workers to the province. An overseas student may also check if they are eligible for a province nomination if they believe their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score is insufficient and/or they are not eligible for a category-based draw. There are two ways to immigrate under a PNP: the first is through Express Entry, where qualifying individuals can apply for PR under Express Entry by receiving an extra 600 CRS points from the province (a procedure called as enhanced nomination). Directly via a PNP stream is an additional path (base nomination) Students can choose from more than 80 different province economic stream programs, which makes this an excellent chance for individuals wishing to work and study their way into permanent residence in Canada. That said, PNP criteria may change depending on the province’s economic priorities. Improve both language abilities Canada has two official languages – English and French – and being bilingual has many benefits in the PR process. One way for an international student to increase their CRS score is to maximize the number of points they can receive in their primary language. They can do this by retaking language tests like IELTS or CELPIP (for English) if they don’t hit the highest score the first time. Learning a second language also adds valuable points to a candidate’s CRS score which can help them get an Invitation to Apply (ITA). Apart from that, Canada also launched French language proficiency category-based draws, and there has been a huge focus on these draws in 2024—a trend that is expected to continue in 2025 and 2026. To be eligible, candidates must possess a minimum score of 7 in all four language abilities (reading, writing, speaking and listening) on the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadien (NCLC). Validate all degrees Canada’s Express Entry system awards points for education. If a student has more than one degree, but it is done outside Canada, they could get this validated by one of the designated organizations approved by the Canadian government (like WES). International students can also look at enrolling in an eligible degree or program within the country to improve their prospects. Discover your options to study in Canada

NEWS

Miller: More steps will be taken to control the number of temporary residents.

The Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, Marc Miller, recently spoke with news agency Reuters about a “suite of measures” that will be implemented to further restrict non-permanent residents (those with study or work permits) in Canada. Miller claims that upcoming actions “may involve modifications to [Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs)] and enforcement.” “The days of unrestricted immigration schemes into this nation are rapidly drawing to an end. “This is a significant change,” Miller remarked in the interview. Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration What modifications to the PGWP are under consideration? In order to get input on potential modifications to the PGWP, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) distributed surveys to important post-secondary education stakeholders in June. This poll and the Deputy Minister Transition Binder 2024 indicate that the department is thinking about coordinating PGWP issuance with labor market requirements. The department’s role would be to oversee “students entering occupations in shortage, while reducing access for graduates from other programs” in terms of work permit management. The poll additionally disclosed that the IRCC and Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) collaborated to associate job titles (as classified by the National Occupation Classification (NOC) system) with educational programs (as described in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP)). To further clarify, the IRCC survey cites the example of pertinent NOCs for “carpenters” that are associated with “three programs of study: woodworking/general, carpentry, and construction trades.” A component of a larger scheme The first-ever goal for non-permanent resident temporary residents (NPR) levels was revealed earlier this year by the IRCC and was to be incorporated into the immigration levels strategy for this year. In line with this announcement, the IRCC planned to lower NPR levels in order to stabilize the percentage of these recent immigrants in the Canadian population at 5% during the following three years. In April of last year, NPRs accounted for about 7% of the population. The IRCC has already put in place a two-year quota on international students as part of this strategy, limiting the total number of new post-secondary enrollment to 292,000 this year. In 2025, this cap will be reexamined, and the numbers of international students may change for that year. Furthermore, Minister Miller has stated that he intends to increase the number of “domestic draws” for both federal and provincial permanent residence (PR) pathways. This effectively means that fewer TRs will be allowed to remain in Canada by giving them priority over new PRs from overseas, which could worsen the housing and affordability issues that have been linked to immigration. All of these actions are being taken at a time when Canadians are more interested in immigration than ever before. According to Miller in the Reuters interview, “[Immigration will be] a top issue, if not the top issue, in the next election.” Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration

NEWS, Provinces

Manitoba’s request to renew work permits for a few PNP candidates has been approved by the IRCC.

The Manitoba government has requested that some nominees listed in the province’s Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) have their temporary resident status extended. This request has been granted by Canada’s Immigration Minister, Marc Miller. The nominees, most of whom possess Post Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs), are all expected to have work permits expiring in 2024, according to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Applications for these people are presently being accepted for the Manitoba Skilled Worker Program, an immigration route designed to cover important positions in the province. 6,700 temporary employees may carry on with their work while the province processes their PNP application thanks to the interim arrangement. According to the government, “qualified foreign nationals will obtain an official nomination from Manitoba and ultimately turn into permanent residents” Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration In order to meet the demands of the country’s labor market, the IRCC says it is willing to collaborate with other Canadian provinces and territories to assist in the conversion of additional temporary residents into permanent residents. After the Federation of Ministers Responsible for Immigration (FMRI) meeting on May 10, more details might become accessible. The PNP for Manitoba The first province in Canada to create a PNP was Manitoba. In order to draw immigrants who might otherwise be more inclined to settle in one of Canada’s major cities, such Toronto or Vancouver, the province launched the initiative in 1998. With the exception of Quebec and Nunavut, all Canadian provinces and territories adopted the program as it was so effective in promoting the financial advantages of immigration. Additionally, data indicates that in 2023, 10,000 individuals in Manitoba changed from being workers to permanent residents. The province received 1,560 Expressions of Interest from candidates seeking skilled labor between January and March of this year, and 1,478 of those were approved. According to IRCC data, the PNP accounted for 20% of all admissions of permanent residents in 2022. Furthermore, by the end of 2024, Canada hopes to have admitted 110,000 new permanent residents, and by 2025 and 2026, it expects to have admitted 120,000 per year, according to the Immigration Levels Plan, which sets admission targets for permanent residents each year. Modifications to the levels of temporary residents This measure is exclusive to Canada’s immigration landscape and is consistent with an earlier declared priority for the current year and the years to come. Minister Miller declared on March 21 of this year that he intended to pursue further domestic draws in order to facilitate the conversion of temporary residents into permanent residents. To put it another way, rather than raising the previously unrestricted number of temporary residents that enter Canada each year, IRCC intends to collaborate with recent arrivals to assist them in becoming permanent residents. In 2023, the number of temporary residents in Canada exceeded 2.5 million, accounting for 6.2% of the country’s total population. 157,000 individuals made the switch from temporary to permanent residence in 2023. The modifications to Canada’s thresholds for temporary residents coincide with a period of high living expenses, a burdened healthcare system, and a lack of reasonably priced homes for both citizens and foreigners. In 2023, a number of polls revealed a decline in support for substantial immigration. Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration

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