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immigration refugees and citizenship canada

NEWS

“BREAKING: Canada Conducts First Healthcare Express Entry Draw Since July!”

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has recently conducted a new Express Entry draw, issuing Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to eligible candidates. In this healthcare-specific category-based draw, 3,000 ITAs were sent to applicants with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 463. This marks the third Express Entry draw within a single week, following a Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draw on November 19 and a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw on November 18. It is also the second consecutive week of multiple Express Entry draws. Get a Free Express Entry Assessment The previous week saw a total of 1,933 ITAs issued across various categories, including CEC, PNP, and French-speaking candidates.   According to IRCC’s latest Immigration Levels Plan, the federal government is set to increase Express Entry targets for next year, aiming to welcome 124,680 candidates.   Of these, over 82,000 admissions will be allocated to a new category, the In-Canada Focus category. This will predominantly include candidates from the CEC but may also feature those in the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and PNP-aligned streams.   Additionally, 41,700 permanent residence admissions are reserved for the “Federal Economic Priorities” category. This stream targets candidates with expertise in in-demand occupations critical to Canada’s labor market needs. What is Express Entry? Express Entry is Canada’s application management system for three primary economic immigration programs: Canadian Experience Class (CEC) Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)   Applicants are evaluated using the CRS, which awards points based on factors like age, occupation, language proficiency, education, and work experience.   Additional CRS points can be earned for having a sibling in Canada, applying as a couple, or combining Canadian and foreign work or education experience.   Candidates with a provincial nomination under an enhanced PNP stream receive an extra 600 CRS points, significantly increasing their chances of securing an ITA.   Those with the highest CRS scores are most likely to receive an ITA in future Express Entry draws, provided they meet the draw’s specific criteria. Summary of 2024 Express Entry Results The recent draws reflect IRCC’s commitment to meeting Canada’s immigration targets while addressing labor market demands and prioritizing qualified candidates across different streams. Date Draw Type Number of ITAs Minimum CRS November 20 Healthcare occupations 3,000 463 November 19 Canadian Experience Class 400 539 November 18 Provincial Nominee Program 174 816 November 15 French language proficiency 800 478 November 13 Canadian Experience Class 400 547 November 12 Provincial Nominee Program 733 812 October 23 Trade occupations 1,800 433 October 22 Canadian Experience Class 400 539 October 21 Provincial Nominee Program 648 791 October 10 French language proficiency 1,000 444 October 9 Canadian Experience Class 500 539 October 7 Provincial Nominee Program 1,613 743 September 19 Canadian Experience Class 4,000 509 September 13 French language proficiency 1,000 446 September 9 Provincial Nominee Program 911 732 August 27 Canadian Experience Class 3,300 507 August 26 Provincial Nominee Program 1,121 694 August 15 French language proficiency 2,000 394 August 14 Canadian Experience Class 3,200 509 August 13 Provincial Nominee Program 763 690 July 31 Canadian Experience Class 5,000 510 July 30 Provincial Nominee Program 964 686 July 18 French language proficiency 1,800 400 July 17 Canadian Experience Class 6,300 515 July 16 Provincial Nominee Program 1,391 670 July 8 French proficiency 3,200 420 July 5 Healthcare occupations 3,750 445 July 4 Trade occupations 1,800 436 July 2 Provincial Nominee Program 920 739 June 19 Provincial Nominee Program 1,499 663 May 31 Canadian Experience Class 3,000 522 May 30 Provincial Nominee Program 2,985 676 April 24 French proficiency 1,400 410 April 23 General 2,095 529 April 11 STEM occupations 4,500 491 April 10 General 1,280 549 March 26 French language proficiency 1,500 388 March 25 General 1,980 524 March 13 Transport occupations 975 430 March 12 General 2,850 525 February 29 French language proficiency 2,500 336 February 28 General 1,470 534 February 16 Agriculture and agri-food occupations 150 437 February 14 Healthcare occupations 3,500 422 February 13 General 1,490 535 February 1 French language proficiency 7,000 365 January 31 General 730 541 January 23 General 1,040 543 January 10 General 1,510 546 Get a Free Express Entry Assessment

NEWS

“IRCC to Revise Application Fees Starting December 1!”

On December 1, 2024, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will increase application and processing fees for several types of temporary resident applications, including: Applications to restore temporary resident status (for visitors, workers, and students) Applications for authorization to return to Canada Criminal rehabilitation applications (including cases of serious criminality) Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) applications Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration Current fees Application type Current application fees (CAD) Restoration of visitor status $ 229.00 Restoration of student status $ 379.00 Restoration of worker status $ 384.00 Authorization to return to Canada $ 459.55 Inadmissible on grounds of criminality $ 229.77 Inadmissible on grounds of serious criminality $ 1,148.87 Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) $ 229.77 Applicants submitting their applications with the old fees may not need to worry about the fee increase if specific conditions are met. Online Applications: Applications submitted online are received immediately, allowing for instant or near-instant validation of the submission. Mailed Applications: For applications sent by mail, there is typically a delay between when the documents are mailed and when IRCC receives them. If the fee changes during this time, the application is unlikely to be rejected as long as: The full, old fee was paid, A complete application was submitted, and The application was mailed before the fee change took effect. If additional payment is required due to a fee increase, IRCC will provide instructions on how to pay the difference. Paying the Fee Difference for Applications Applicants who submitted applications using the old fee before the fee increase and are required to pay the difference will be given instructions by IRCC. Here’s how to manage this: Calculate the Fee Difference: Determine the difference between the old fee and the updated fee. This also applies to fees for family members included in the application. Make the Payment: Use the “Make an additional payment or pay other fees” option on IRCC’s online payment tool. Enter the total fee difference under “Quantity.” A receipt will be issued for each payment. Multiple receipts can be generated in a single transaction or across separate transactions. Log in or create an IRCC account to complete the payment. Submit the Receipt: Follow the instructions provided in IRCC’s fee adjustment request on how to submit the payment receipt. This process ensures that applications remain valid even if fees change after submission. Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration

NEWS

“IRCC Invites CEC Candidates for the Second Week in a Row!”

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recently conducted an Express Entry draw, issuing Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates. A total of 400 ITAs were issued in a Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draw, with candidates requiring a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 539 to qualify. This draw follows a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw on November 18, which invited 174 candidates with a minimum CRS score of 816. It also marks the second consecutive week of Express Entry draws. Last week, IRCC issued 1,933 ITAs to candidates in the CEC, PNP, and French-language proficiency streams. Get a Free Express Entry Assessment According to IRCC’s latest Immigration Levels Plan, federal immigration targets through the Express Entry system are set to rise in the coming year. The department aims to welcome 124,680 Express Entry candidates in 2025. Of this total, over 82,000 admissions will focus on a new “In-Canada Focus” category, primarily targeting CEC candidates but also including those in the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and PNP-aligned Express Entry streams. The remaining 41,700 permanent resident admissions will be allocated to the “Federal Economic Priorities” category, which prioritizes candidates with experience in high-demand occupations across the Canadian labor market. What is Express Entry? Express Entry is the system used to manage applications for three key economic immigration programs: the CEC, FSWP, and FSTP. Candidates in these programs are evaluated through the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which assigns scores based on factors such as age, education, work experience, language proficiency, and occupation. Additional points are awarded for factors like having a sibling in Canada, applying with a spouse, or combining education and work experience in Canada and abroad. Those with a provincial nomination through an enhanced PNP stream receive an extra 600 CRS points, significantly boosting their chances of receiving an ITA. Candidates with the highest CRS scores are most likely to receive ITAs in upcoming Express Entry draws, provided they meet the specific criteria of the draw. Express Entry in 2024 This year, IRCC has consistently focused on draws targeting various categories, aligning with its strategy to meet Canada’s economic and labor market needs. Date Draw Type Number of ITAs Minimum CRS November 19 Canadian Experience Class 400 539 November 18 Provincial Nominee Program 174 816 November 15 French language proficiency 800 478 November 13 Canadian Experience Class 400 547 November 12 Provincial Nominee Program 733 812 October 23 Trade occupations 1,800 433 October 22 Canadian Experience Class 400 539 October 21 Provincial Nominee Program 648 791 October 10 French language proficiency 1,000 444 October 9 Canadian Experience Class 500 539 October 7 Provincial Nominee Program 1,613 743 September 19 Canadian Experience Class 4,000 509 September 13 French language proficiency 1,000 446 September 9 Provincial Nominee Program 911 732 August 27 Canadian Experience Class 3,300 507 August 26 Provincial Nominee Program 1,121 694 August 15 French language proficiency 2,000 394 August 14 Canadian Experience Class 3,200 509 August 13 Provincial Nominee Program 763 690 July 31 Canadian Experience Class 5,000 510 July 30 Provincial Nominee Program 964 686 July 18 French language proficiency 1,800 400 July 17 Canadian Experience Class 6,300 515 July 16 Provincial Nominee Program 1,391 670 July 8 French proficiency 3,200 420 July 5 Healthcare occupations 3,750 445 July 4 Trade occupations 1,800 436 July 2 Provincial Nominee Program 920 739 June 19 Provincial Nominee Program 1,499 663 May 31 Canadian Experience Class 3,000 522 May 30 Provincial Nominee Program 2,985 676 April 24 French proficiency 1,400 410 April 23 General 2,095 529 April 11 STEM occupations 4,500 491 April 10 General 1,280 549 March 26 French language proficiency 1,500 388 March 25 General 1,980 524 March 13 Transport occupations 975 430 March 12 General 2,850 525 February 29 French language proficiency 2,500 336 February 28 General 1,470 534 February 16 Agriculture and agri-food occupations 150 437 February 14 Healthcare occupations 3,500 422 February 13 General 1,490 535 February 1 French language proficiency 7,000 365 January 31 General 730 541 January 23 General 1,040 543 January 10 General 1,510 546 Get a Free Express Entry Assessment

NEWS

“IRCC Invites PNP Candidates in Latest Express Entry Draw!”

Invitations to apply (ITAs) for the latest Express Entry draw have been sent out by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). 174 ITAs were distributed by the department through a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw. To be taken into consideration, candidates needed to have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 816. Get a Free Express Entry Assessment This is the second week in a row that Express Entry draws have occurred. The previous week issued a total of 1,933 ITAs to candidates in the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) program, PNP candidates, and candidates with French-language proficiency. Federal targets for immigration through the Express Entry system are set to increase next year, per IRCC’s latest Immigration Levels Plan. The immigration department hopes to welcome 124,680 Express Entry candidates to Canada in the next year. In addition, more than 82,000 of these admissions will be dedicated to a new category for Express Entry candidates in Canada, known as the In-Canada Focus category. This category will be comprised primarily of CEC candidates in the Express Entry pool, but may also include candidates in the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and PNP-aligned Express Entry streams. Per the latest Levels Plan, the remaining 41,700 permanent residence (PR) admissions will be reserved for the “Federal Economic Priorities” category. This category will invite candidates in the Express Entry pool who have professional experience in in-demand professions and occupations in the Canadian labour market. What is Express Entry? Express Entry is an application management system for three major economic immigration programs for those seeking permanent residence: the CEC, the FSWP, and the FSTP. Candidates in these programs are evaluated using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which assigns scores based on key factors like age, occupation, language proficiency, education, and work experience. Additional points may be granted for having a sibling in Canada, applying with a spouse or partner, or combining Canadian and international education and work experience. Receiving a provincial nomination through an enhanced PNP stream adds 600 CRS points, greatly boosting the likelihood of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA). Those with the highest CRS scores are the most likely to receive an ITA in upcoming Express Entry draws, as long as they meet the criteria for the specific draw. Summary of Express Entry draw results in 2024 Date Draw Type Number of ITAs Minimum CRS November 18 Provincial Nominee Program 174 816 November 15 French language proficiency 800 478 November 13 Canadian Experience Class 400 547 November 12 Provincial Nominee Program 733 812 October 23 Trade occupations 1,800 433 October 22 Canadian Experience Class 400 539 October 21 Provincial Nominee Program 648 791 October 10 French language proficiency 1,000 444 October 9 Canadian Experience Class 500 539 October 7 Provincial Nominee Program 1,613 743 September 19 Canadian Experience Class 4,000 509 September 13 French language proficiency 1,000 446 September 9 Provincial Nominee Program 911 732 August 27 Canadian Experience Class 3,300 507 August 26 Provincial Nominee Program 1,121 694 August 15 French language proficiency 2,000 394 August 14 Canadian Experience Class 3,200 509 August 13 Provincial Nominee Program 763 690 July 31 Canadian Experience Class 5,000 510 July 30 Provincial Nominee Program 964 686 July 18 French language proficiency 1,800 400 July 17 Canadian Experience Class 6,300 515 July 16 Provincial Nominee Program 1,391 670 July 8 French proficiency 3,200 420 July 5 Healthcare occupations 3,750 445 July 4 Trade occupations 1,800 436 July 2 Provincial Nominee Program 920 739 June 19 Provincial Nominee Program 1,499 663 May 31 Canadian Experience Class 3,000 522 May 30 Provincial Nominee Program 2,985 676 April 24 French proficiency 1,400 410 April 23 General 2,095 529 April 11 STEM occupations 4,500 491 April 10 General 1,280 549 March 26 French language proficiency 1,500 388 March 25 General 1,980 524 March 13 Transport occupations 975 430 March 12 General 2,850 525 February 29 French language proficiency 2,500 336 February 28 General 1,470 534 February 16 Agriculture and agri-food occupations 150 437 February 14 Healthcare occupations 3,500 422 February 13 General 1,490 535 February 1 French language proficiency 7,000 365 January 31 General 730 541 January 23 General 1,040 543 January 10 General 1,510 546 Get a Free Express Entry Assessment

NEWS

“How to Move to Canada from the U.S.: Step-by-Step Guide for 2024”

Americans should prepare for their immigration status in advance if they want to relocate to Canada. Even though Americans with passports are accustomed to having unrestricted access to Canada, they will require the proper authorization in order to work, study, or reside there permanently. When considering a transfer to Canada, Americans may want to take into account these three significant programs: Work permits for CUSMA/USMCA professionals; The Federal Program for Skilled Workers; and The class on the Canadian Experience. Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration Legal Standing to Work or Learn Without permission, it is against the law for foreigners, even US citizens, to work or study in Canada. To work or study in Canada, US residents who are not citizens of Canada must get authorization. One advantage of being visa-exempt is that, unlike foreign people from many other nations, Americans will not need a visa or electronic travel authorization (eTA) in order to enter Canada. There are two main ways to obtain legal status in Canada: Permits, which are temporary; and Permanent residency, which can be renewed indefinitely, provided you spend enough time in Canada. Work Permits for CUSMA/USMCA Professionals Americans who want to relocate to Canada for employment have an edge because to the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA). In order to practice their profession in Canada, US citizens in particular professional disciplines may apply for an employer-specific work visa under this free trade agreement. Medical professionals, scientists, scientific technicians, and management consultants are among the 63 professions that qualify. Getting a CUSMA work permit is a solid way to gain status to work in Canada if you meet the conditions. The responsibilities you perform and how your profession is categorized under Canada’s National Occupation Classification (NOC) determine your profession, which is distinct from your job title. The Temporary Foreign Worker Program and other work permits under the International Mobility Program will provide alternatives for Americans who do not work in CUSMA professions. Because work permits are temporary by nature, you’ll need to renew your permit before it expires in order to maintain your work status. If you do not renew your work permit, you will need to leave Canada upon the expiry of your work permit, unless you obtain some other form of legal status that allows you to remain in the country. Obtaining Canadian Permanent Residency Americans who wish to settle in Canada on a long-term basis may wish to pursue Canadian permanent residency–the equivalent of a green card in the United States. Permanent residency grants many—although not all—of the same privileges as Canadian citizenship. Canadian permanent residents can settle in any province, can enrol in studies, can be eligible for social services and provincial health insurance programs, and can work freely in Canada for any employer. After you’ve been a permanent resident for three years, and have spent enough time in Canada, you can apply for Canadian citizenship. To obtain Canadian permanent residency, a foreign national must first receive an invitation to apply (ITA) for permanent residence from the Canadian immigration ministry, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). One way to receive an ITA is to qualify for a federal economic immigration program, upon which you can become a candidate and enter the Express Entry pool—a management system used by IRCC to determine which candidates to invite for permanent residency. Once you’re an eligible candidate in the pool, you are scored and ranked against other candidates, using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), and top-ranking candidates are invited in periodic draws held by IRCC. Americans seeking Canadian Permanent Residency may want to consider two Express Entry programs: The Federal Skilled Worker Program; and The Canadian Experience Class. Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration The Federal Program for Skilled Workers You must fulfill several standards throughout factoring in order to be qualified for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, including Learning Proficiency in the language; Settlement money; and Experience in the workplace. You can join the Express Entry pool if you qualify for the Federal Skilled Worker program. If you do well enough in the pool, you will have the chance to get an ITA in any draws. The Experience Class in Canada Another government route to permanent residence in Canada is the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). The Federal Skilled Worker Program has more complicated requirements than the CEC. One year of full-time, competent job experience in Canada within the previous three years is the primary prerequisite for CEC. Additionally, you have to be proficient in either French or English. After gaining a year of Canadian work experience, Americans who enter Canada on a work permit—such as a CUSMA professionals work permit—will probably be eligible for CEC. Particular Records for Programs with Express Entry You will need to provide specific papers as part of your Express Entry profile. You should be informed that in order to have a suitable profile, you must prepare two documents specifically for Express Entry in advance: language assessments; and Assessments of educational credentials (ECAs). To prove you have the necessary level of English or French language ability, you will need to take legitimate language tests from an authorized testing organization. Even if you are a native speaker of French or English, you still need to take these tests. You will also need educational credential assessments (ECAs) from an authorized provider if you did not complete your studies in Canada. Your education is evaluated by an ECA based on Canadian credentials. For every degree, you will need an ECA. Employing a Representative You can handle your own profile, candidacy, and (if successfully invited) application, or you can hire a representative. If you choose to use a representative, you should choose a reputable one, and you must fill out special forms declaring your use of a representative. Using a representative without declaring it can invalidate your candidacy and/or application, leading to refusal. Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration

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

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