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NEWS

“Canada Shines: Ranked Top 10 Globally for Work-Life Balance!”

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According to a survey conducted by the international human resources company Remote HR, Canada is among the top ten nations in the world for work-life balance, or as the report refers to it, life-work balance. Overall, New Zealand, Ireland, Belgium, and Denmark occupied the top four positions, with Canada coming in fifth. Rankings for a number of variables that affect an employee’s work-life balance are included in the data. These include of minimum wage, percentage of sick pay, number of hours worked per week, mandatory yearly leave, and an overall happiness score. Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration Canada achieved an overall score of 72.75 out of a possible 100. It scored high for its relatively short work week (an average of 32 hours for most Canadians), safety, and for being 2SLGBTQ+ friendly. Germany, Finland, Australia, Norway, and Spain rounded out the top ten. Canada’s closest neighbour, the United States, ranked 55 out of 60 in the Remote rankings with a score of 31.82 due to no annual paid vacation or sick leave, non-universal healthcare, and more hours worked per week. The data on average working hours in Canada reported by Remote is supported by the most recent Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) work-life balance rankings where Canada again placed fifth overall. OECD said that “just 3% of employees work very long hours in paid work, much less than the OECD average of 10%.” OECD noted that full-time workers in Canada use 61% of their day (14.6 hours) for personal care. This includes eating and sleeping as well as leisure activities. This is just slightly less than the global average of 15 hours. Canada short on vacation time The Remote report showed that Canada fell short in annual statutory leave and vacation time. The data said that people employed in Canada receive 17 days of annual statutory leave. However, this is not always easy to measure as employment standards in Canada are mandated by provincial governments. For example, in Ontario, Canada’s most populous province, workers in the private sector (meaning those not employed by the federal government or in a federally regulated industry) can spend the first five years in any job with just 10 days (two weeks) of vacation time per year. According to the Ontario Employment Standards Act, minimum vacation entitlement increases to three weeks (15 days) after five years.   Again, this timeline can vary by province. Employees in Saskatchewan are entitled to three weeks of paid vacation after one year of employment, going up to four weeks after ten years. Quebec’s annual vacation entitlement rises from two weeks to three weeks after three years of employment. This does not account for Canada’s federal statutory holidays such as Christmas Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving, Good Friday, and Victoria Day. There are also other public holidays but, in many instances and depending on the province, employees are not automatically entitled to take those days off. It often depends on their employer. Comparatively, in both New Zealand and Ireland, all employees are entitled to four weeks of paid annual vacation after 12 months of continuous employment. Regularly attaining high rankings Canada usually comes up high on international lists. For instance, in January of this year, Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection (BHTP) named it the world’s safest country for travelers, while in late 2023, Givetastic conducted a study that revealed Canada to be the most popular “dream work destination” worldwide. In addition, Canada’s passport is ranked seventh strongest in the world in the most recent rankings released by citizenship and residency consulting firm Henley & Partners. These rankings add to Canada’s appeal as one of the most sought-after destinations for newcomers. In 2023, it welcomed over 470,000 new permanent residents and the Immigration Levels Plan for 2024 targets admitting a further 485,000. While Canada’s immigration minister, Marc Miller, has recently indicated that immigration levels in the near future may look different, he also recognized the economic and social benefits of welcoming newcomers sustainably. Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration

NEWS

“BREAKING: Canada Halts Work Permit Applications for Visitors Inside the Country”

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The ability to apply for a work permit from within Canada has been discontinued as of August 28 for temporary residents in the country on a guest visa. The goal of the August 2020 policy was to help Canadian tourists who were stranded at home due to border closures resulting from the COVID-19 epidemic. They would not need to leave Canada in order to apply for a work permit under the scheme. Additionally, anyone who had held a work permit during the previous year but had converted to a “visitor” immigration status were qualified to “work lawfully in Canada while awaiting a decision on their new work permit application.” Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration The policy’s original expiration date was scheduled for February 28, 2025. However, as “part of our overall efforts to recalibrate the number of temporary residents in Canada and preserve the integrity of the immigration system,” Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said it is eliminating the policy immediately. Applications filed in accordance with the rules before August 28 will still be processed, according to the Department. Suppression of maladaptive behavior The IRCC claims that knowledge of “bad actors were using the policy to mislead foreign nationals into working in Canada without authorization” is a contributing factor in the early rollback. This is related to the department’s continuous initiatives to lower the number of temporary residents and fight pervasive immigration fraud. For instance, it was discovered that 700 Indian overseas students were enrolled in Canadian universities last year as a result of forged admission letters from DLIs. A large number of them had no idea that their letters were fake. As a result, the IRCC now mandates that DLIs confirm each and every acceptance letter within ten days of receiving an application from an overseas student. Additionally, it has limited the amount of foreign students that Canada would take in for the ensuing two year.  Significant adjustments to Canada’s temporary foreign worker thresholds A week of significant adjustments intended at lowering Canada’s numbers of temporary foreign workers coincide with the expiration of the temporary policy permitting certain tourists to apply for a work permit. By September 26, 2024, the Department of Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) will no longer be reviewing applications for certain applicants under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) Low-Wage stream. This announcement was made on August 26. Applicants in Census Metropolitan Areas where the unemployment rate is six percent or greater will be impacted by this. Additionally, the IRCC indicated that the maximum period of employment for workers in the Low-Wage stream would be lowered from two years to one year, and that firms in Canada would only be able to hire up to 10% of foreign workers under the TFWP. Similar to today’s announcement, many of the aforementioned adjustments are reversals of immigration rules that were put in place during the pandemic by the Canadian government in order to address the country’s labor shortage. For instance, during the pandemic, the IRCC and Employment Social Development Canada (ESDC) together implemented interim measures that extended the validity of an LMIA to 12 months and permitted Canadian workers to hire up to 30% of their staff under the TFWP’s Low-Wage stream. Following a joint press announcement by Immigration Minister Marc Miller and Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault last May, IRCC and ESDC started to rescind these pandemic-era restrictions. Minister Miller made the historic announcement at the same press conference that the annual Immigration Levels Plan would now include temporary resident levels, a first for Canadian immigration history. In Canada, immigration has emerged as a major issue. Much of this year has seen declarations about controlling and lowering the number of temporary immigrants living there. Minister Miller also declared this week that he intends to think about adjusting the number of permanent residents in Canada in the upcoming years. Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration

NEWS

“Canada Issues 3,300 ITAs to Canadian Experience Class Candidates in Latest Express Entry Draw!”

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In the second Express Entry draw of the week, Invitations to Apply (ITAs) have been released by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). 3,300 applicants were invited by the government through a Canadian Experience Class (CEC)-only lottery. A minimum score of 507 on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) was required for candidates to be considered. Get a Free Express Entry Assessment Yesterday, the department invited 1,121 candidates in a Provincial Nominee Program-only (PNP) draw. Candidates needed a minimum CRS score of 694 to be considered.  The last round of multiple Express Entry draws took place between August 13-15. The draw on August 15 was a category-based selection draw for those eligible for the French-speaking proficiency category. On August 13, Canada invited 763 candidates in a PNP only draw. Candidate’s needed a minimum score of 690 to be considered. A draw on August 14 was for 3,200 Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates with a minimum score of 509. IRCC has recently developed a pattern of holding multiple draws every other week. Over the past few months especially there has been an increased number of PNP and CEC draws. This is in line with the department’s priority to hold more domestic draws to help reduce the number of temporary residents in Canada while also working toward hitting the permanent resident admissions targets outlined in the Immigration Levels Plan 2024-2026. IRCC is planning to welcome 110,770 newcomers through Express Entry in 2024 and 117,500 in 2025. Candidate’s who recieve ITAs in the later half of the year are more likely to help meet the 2025 target because IRCC has a service standard of six months to process all finalized Express Entry applications. Summary of Express Entry draw results in 2024 Date Draw Type Number of ITAs Minimum CRS 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 What is Express Entry? Express Entry is an application managment system that oversees three prominent economic immigration class programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program and the Canadian Experience Class. Candidates in these programs are evaluated and ranked based on human capital factors using the Comprehensive Ranking System. They receive scores for their occupation, work experience, age, education, language ability and occupation in addition to other factors such as if they are immigrating with a spouse or partner or have a sibling in Canada. The points they receive for each factor are added together and make up an overall CRS score. Those who have the highest scores are the most likely to recievev an Invitation to Apply for permanent residence in Canada in an upcoming Express Entry draw. In May 2023, IRCC also annouced it would begin holding category-based rounds of invitations for Express Entry candidates who meet certain criteria due to their occupation or language abilities. Get a Free Express Entry Assessment

NEWS

“Express Entry: 1,121 PNP Candidates Invited in Latest IRCC Draw!”

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In the most recent Express Entry lottery, Invitations to Apply (ITAs) have been released by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The department held a draw for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) solely, and 1,121 individuals were invited. A minimum score of 694 on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) was required for candidates to be considered. Get a Free Express Entry Assessment Today’s draw is the the fourth of the month. The last Express Entry draw happened on August 15 and was a category-based selection draw for those eligible for the French-speaking proficiency category. Two other draws took place the same week. On August 13, Canada invited 763 candidates in a PNP only draw. Candidate’s needed a minimum score of 690 to be considered. A draw on August 14 was for 3,200 Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates with a minimum score of 509. IRCC has recently developed a pattern of holding multiple draws every other week. Over the past few months especially there has been an increased number of PNP and CEC draws. This is in line with the department’s priority to hold more domestic draws to help reduce the number of temporary residents in Canada while also working toward hitting the permanent resident admissions targets outlined in the Immigration Levels Plan 2024-2026. IRCC is planning to welcome 110,770 newcomers through Express Entry in 2024 and 117,500 in 2025. Candidate’s who recieve ITAs in the later half of the year are more likely to help meet the 2025 target because IRCC has a service standard of six months to process all finalized Express Entry applications. Summary of Express Entry draw results in 2024 Date Draw Type Number of ITAs Minimum CRS 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 What is Express Entry? Express Entry is an application managment system that oversees three prominent economic immigration class programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program and the Canadian Experience Class. Candidates in these programs are evaluated and ranked based on human capital factors using the Comprehensive Ranking System. They receive scores for their occupation, work experience, age, education, language ability and occupation in addition to other factors such as if they are immigrating with a spouse or partner or have a sibling in Canada. Their total CRS score is the sum of the points they receive for each factor. In a future Express Entry draw, the candidates with the highest scores stand the best chance of receiving an invitation to apply for permanent residence in Canada. Additionally, the IRCC announced in May 2023 that it will start hosting category-based invitation rounds for Express Entry applicants who satisfy specific requirements related to their profession or language proficiency. Get a Free Express Entry Assessment

NEWS

AAIP eligibility change in response to Alberta wildfires

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For a limited time, Alberta has suspended the work experience prerequisite for some candidates under the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP). In order to help workers whose current job is impacted by the wildfires find new employment as soon as possible, the Alberta Opportunity and Tourism and Hospitality Streams of the AAIP have temporarily waived the requirement for specific work experience. The Alberta government reports that open work permits from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will be accepted by the AAIP for workers in the wildfire-affected Streams who are looking for work. Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration It is anticipated that the eligibility changes will take effect on July 19, 2024, and end on November 30, 2024. This is a stopgap meant to help people who might lose their jobs as a result of the fires, which happened in an area that is home to many of Alberta’s hotels and resorts. Requirements for work experience Candidates in the tourism and hospitality stream were required, outside of the measure, to have completed seventy-odd hours of work experience in six consecutive months with their current employment. Candidates for the Alberta Opportunity Stream need: a minimum of 18 months’ worth of full-time job experience in their present field in Alberta, or a minimum of 24 months of full-time experience working in their present field in Canada or overseas within the previous 30 months, or both. The experience may have been obtained in Alberta as well as in Canada (outside of Alberta) or overseas. Holders of Post-Graduation Work Permits must have completed at least six months of full-time work experience in Alberta during the previous eighteen months in their present line of work. The lack of explicit work experience requirements for the Rural Renewal and Express Entry pathways will not disadvantage applicants who wish to use them. Additional assistance for individuals impacted by wildfires The modifications are the latest in a string of unique actions taken by the IRCC to assist individuals who are directly impacted by the wildfires. The Alberta government made the following announcement on July 26: Apply for a free replacement of lost, damaged, or destroyed citizenship, immigration, or travel documents (passports included). Extend or reinstate their status as a temporary resident; if you are unable to continue working for your current job, switch from an employer-specific work permit to an open work permit. The lack of explicit work experience requirements for the Rural Renewal and Express Entry pathways will not disadvantage applicants who wish to use them. Additional assistance for individuals impacted by wildfires The modifications are the latest in a string of unique actions taken by the IRCC to assist individuals who are directly impacted by the wildfires. The Alberta government made the following announcement on July 26: Apply for a free replacement of lost, damaged, or destroyed citizenship, immigration, or travel documents (passports included). Extend or reinstate their status as a temporary resident; if you are unable to continue working for your current job, switch from an employer-specific work permit to an open work permit. Applicants will have one year to prove they meet the criteria outlined by the AAIP including finding a new, eligible position if left unemployed by the fires. The Alberta government notes that all other criteria for each stream will still apply, and it will continue monitoring the situation for further updates. Impact of wildfires on Alberta’s economy This summer has seen over 100 wildfires burning across Alberta in the last month. As of now, the fires have claimed 358 of the 1,113 total structures in Jasper, with the evacuation notice only lifted on August 17, 2024. The fires have already disrupted the local economy, particularly the hospitality industry in Jasper, which attracts thousands of tourists and temporary workers every year. With plans to more than double the size of the tourism economy by 2025, the Alberta government’s response to the wildfires aims to support both the businesses and workers at the heart of the hospitality sector. Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration

NEWS

Candidates for Express Entry continue to see favorable economic results.

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Newcomers who immigrate to Canada through an Express Entry-managed program often see a rapid increase in their median employment income during their first five years in Canada. This is according to the 2023 Year-End Express Entry report. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) included data that shows the median income of newcomers through an Express Entry managed program is higher than that of Canadian-borns. The data analyzes the median employment incomes of Express Entry candidates admitted between 2016 and 2021. Get a Free Express Entry Assessment Earnings are continuously rising. Candidates under Express Entry have continuously experienced favorable long-term economic results since the program’s launch in 2015. For instance, the 2023 study revealed that median employment earnings for those accepted in 2016 increased to $58,400 in 2017 and then to $76,800 in 2021 (five years after landing). Additionally, it states that the typical income of newly enrolled students in 2018 was $55,200 in their first year of employment and increased to $70,800 three years later. This demonstrates how quickly newcomer earnings increased. Over the course of the five years, the median employment income for Canadians remained largely unchanged, averaging only $40,870 in 2021 (compared to $38,006 in 2017). Newcomers who enter the country under a federal program for highly skilled workers, like Express Entry, are frequently qualified to fill positions in the labour market in Canada. Based on their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score—which assesses individuals’ in-demand human capital traits such language proficiency, work experience, vocation, age, and education—they are asked to apply for permanent residence status. According to IRCC, persons who have the highest CRS ratings have the best chance of assimilating into the Canadian economy. The IRCC advanced this idea in 2023 by instituting invitation-only rounds of selection based on categories. Rather than receiving an overall high CRS score, Express Entry candidates are invited in these draws based on a particular criteria, usually their job experience. There is currently no information available on the economic effects of these arrivals. In contrast, the median salary of economic immigrants admitted to Canada via a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) stream that is not associated with Express Entry is often lower. According to the report, after a year of admission, the median job wages for the PNP entrance cohorts varied from the mid-$40,000s to the low $50,000s. There is little effect of additional score criteria on income. The survey points out that additional information submitted with an Express Entry application may have an impact on median salaries. On the other hand, unless candidates achieved the maximum possible scores for these traits, additional scoring criteria do not always translate into higher median wages two to three years after admission, according to report data. For instance, it discovered that candidates with a three-year or longer post-secondary certification from a Canadian university who were allowed to Canada in 2019 had somewhat higher median job earnings than those without such a credential. On the other hand, the median salary of individuals admitted in 2019 who held a post-secondary Canadian credential for one to two years was less than that of those who had no post-secondary education in Canada ($51,000 vs. $61,100). For those with siblings living in Canada, the same applied. For those who arrived in 2019, the typical salary two years after arrival was $53,100 for those who had a sibling who was a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, compared to $61,200 for those who did not. Those with pre-arranged employment in other occupations were also found to have higher median incomes than those who did not. For example, those who arrived in 2018 with an “other” job offer had median incomes of $84,500 while those without an arranged employment reported a median income of $60,700. Get a Free Express Entry Assessment

NEWS

The CUAET participants’ deadline to apply for work permits has been extended.

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The Canada Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) program participants now have an extended deadline to apply for a work visa, according to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The current deadline for CUAET participants who are temporarily residing in Canada to apply for an open work permit is March 31, 2025. Nevertheless, these work permit applications will not be free of charge, in contrast to earlier CUAET programs. Depending on the applicant’s biometrics and passport expiration date, the validity of the open work permit may extend up to three years. Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration To be eligible, participants must have been approved under the CUAET measures and arrived in Canada on or before March 31, 2024. CUAET officially stopped accepting new applications on July 15, 2023. Those who were approved had until March 31 this year to arrive in Canada to fully benefit from the supports offered by the program, including fee exemptions. Settlement services for Ukrainians CUAET participants currently in Canada can also still benefit from many free settlement services until March 31, 2025. These include services to help newcomers find employment, learn an official language, prepare for citizenship and others directed at specific groups such as women, 2SLGBTQI, or seniors. Permanent residence pathways for Ukrainians with family in Canada Some Ukrainians may also be eligible for a dedicated pathway to Canadian permanent resident status. IRCC is accepting applications through this pathway until October 22, 2024. There are two categories for eligible candidates however, in both categories the applicant must be able to demonstrate a relationship with a family member in Canada who is already a citizen or permanent resident. This includes a: spouse or common-law partner child (regardless of age) grandchild parent grandparent, or sibling (or half-sibling) In the first category, the applicant must be a Ukrainian national. They must also have a statutory declaration form signed by their family member in Canada explaining the relationship to them. The second category is for the spouse or common-law partner of a Ukrainian national. They must be able to prove that their spouse or partner has immediate family in Canada and that their spouse or partner is unable to leave Ukraine, be missing, have passed away, or be presumed to have passed away. CUAET CUAET was launched in February 2022 as a temporary measure for Ukrainians fleeing unrest in the region following the Russian invasion. Under the measure, Ukrainians and their immediate family members were permitted to stay in Canada as temporary residents for up to three years. After arrival, they could apply for a work permit or study permit without paying fees. This also applied to any Ukrainians already in Canada requiring an extension on their work or study permits According to IRCC data, between March 17, 2022, and April 1, 2024, the department received 1,189,320 applications for the program and approved 962,612. However, the same data shows that less than 300,000 Ukrainians arrived in Canada in that period. Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration

Express Entry

In this week’s third Express Entry draw, the IRCC is inviting 2,000 candidates.

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In the most recent Express Entry lottery, Invitations to Apply (ITAs) have been released by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). In a category-based selection draw for individuals with French language competency, the department extended invitations to 2,000 candidates. A minimum score of 394 on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) was required for candidates to be considered. Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration Following a program-specific draw for 3,200 candidates for the Canadian Experience Class on August 14, this is the third draw of the week. 763 Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates were awarded ITAs in a draw held on August 13. A minimum CRS score of 690 was required. The draws this week come after an exceptionally high number of Express Entry drawings held in July. In nine different drawings, the IRCC awarded almost 25,000 ITAs to hopefuls. This indicates that since the system’s inception in 2015, July has seen the highest number of Express Entry draws of any month. It represents a noteworthy recovery after a sluggish June that saw only one. Two of the four draws held in July were for candidates who satisfied the requirements for French language competency. The other four draws were category-based selection draws. This category’s draw on July 18 has the lowest CRS score of the month (400). ITAs were given to candidates in commerce and healthcare occupations in the other two category-based draws. Three of the five draws that remained were for candidates who were already enrolled in the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), and two of the draws were specifically for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). PNP candidates received the highest CRS score of the month on July 2 (739). The IRCC is meeting its objective of holding more domestic drawings for candidates for permanent residency who are currently residents of Canada, as seen by the number of program-specific draws held after a year of just category-based selection and general draws. This is a part of the department’s declaration that it will endeavor to meet its goal for admissions of permanent residents while simultaneously working to decrease the number of temporary residents in Canada. Summary of Express Entry draw results in 2024 Date Draw Type Number of ITAs Minimum CRS 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 Express Entry: What Is It? IRCC launched Express Entry, an application management system, in 2015 to assist in the selection of economic immigrant candidates who have the best chance of successfully assimilating into Canada’s employment and economy. Applications from three programs are managed by it using the Comprehensive Ranking System: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and the CEC. Based on human capital variables like age, occupation, education, language proficiency, and job experience, the system assesses and ranks candidates. A candidate’s total CRS score is determined by adding the scores for each factor. The best scorers have the best chance of being invited to submit an application for permanent residence. What is category-based selection? Category-based selection rounds of invitations were introduced in May 2023 as a means for IRCC to further target the Express Entry candidates that are likely to either fill an urgent need in the workforce or to help the department reach a demographic target. IRCC says the department decided on the six categories following months of consultations with relevant stakeholders. Categories include: Healthcare occupations Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions Trades occupations, such as carpenters, plumbers, and contractors Transport occupations Agriculture and agri-food occupations French-language proficiency The recently released Express Entry year-end report for 2023 found that candidates in the STEM category received the most ITAs throughout the year (32,111) followed by French-language candidates (15,812). However, according to an Access to Information Request shared with CIC News earlier this year, it is expected that candidates in the French-speaking category will receive the highest number of ITAs in 2024. Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration

Express Entry

PNP candidates are invited to Canada’s most recent Express Entry draw.

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In the most recent Express Entry lottery, Invitations to Apply (ITAs) have been released by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). In a draw linked with the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), the department invited 763 candidates. A minimum score of 690 on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) was necessary for candidates to be considered. Get a Free Express Entry Assessment The lottery that took place today is the first of August and comes after an extraordinary number of Express Entry draws in July. In nine different drawings, the IRCC awarded almost 25,000 ITAs to hopefuls. This indicates that since the system’s inception in 2015, July has seen the highest number of Express Entry draws of any month. It represents a noteworthy recovery after a sluggish June that saw only one. Two of the four draws held in July were for candidates who satisfied the requirements for French language competency. The other four draws were category-based selection draws. This category’s draw on July 18 has the lowest CRS score of the month (400). ITAs were given to candidates in commerce and healthcare occupations in the other two category-based draws. Three of the five draws that remained were for candidates who were already enrolled in the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), and two of the draws were specifically for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). PNP candidates received the highest CRS score of the month on July 2 (739). The IRCC is meeting its objective of holding more domestic drawings for candidates for permanent residency who are currently residents of Canada, as seen by the number of program-specific draws held after a year of just category-based selection and general draws. This is a part of the department’s declaration that it will endeavor to meet its goal for admissions of permanent residents while simultaneously working to decrease the number of temporary residents in Canada. Summary of Express Entry draw results in 2024 Date Draw Type Number of ITAs Minimum CRS 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 What is Express Entry? Express Entry is an application management system introduced by IRCC in 2015 to help select economic immigration candidates who are most likely to integrate into Canada’s economy and workforce successfully. It uses the Comprehensive Ranking System to manage applications from three programs; the CEC, the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). The system evaluates and ranks candidates based on human capital factors such as their age, occupation, education, language ability and work experience. Each factor is assigned a score, and the sum is a candidate’s overall CRS score. Those with the highest scores are the most likely to receive an invitation to apply for permanent residency. What is category-based selection? Category-based selection rounds of invitations were introduced in May 2023 as a means for IRCC to further target the Express Entry candidates that are likely to either fill an urgent need in the workforce or to help the department reach a demographic target. IRCC says the department decided on the six categories following months of consultations with relevant stakeholders. Categories include: Healthcare occupations Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions Trades occupations, such as carpenters, plumbers, and contractors Transport occupations Agriculture and agri-food occupations French-language proficiency The recently released Express Entry year-end report for 2023 found that candidates in the STEM category received the most ITAs throughout the year (32,111) followed by French-language candidates (15,812). However, according to an Access to Information Request shared with CIC News earlier this year, it is expected that candidates in the French-speaking category will receive the highest number of ITAs in 2024. Get a Free Express Entry Assessment

NEWS

British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec invite candidates to apply for provincial immigration

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This week, applicants are being asked to apply for provincial immigration programs in three Canadian provinces. Invitations were sent out by Alberta and British Columbia (B.C.) via their Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). Instead of having a PNP, Quebec has a separate arrangement with the federal government that gives the state the power to choose every candidate for economic immigration. Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration Provincial immigration figures for August 3–9. British Columbia Over 144 individuals were asked by British Columbia this week to submit nomination applications via the BC PNP. 52 applicants were invited by the province in a general draw that took into account applicants from the entry-level, semi-skilled, skilled worker, and international graduate streams. With the exception of Entry-Level and Semi-Skilled candidates, who had to score 110, all candidates needed to receive a minimum score of 132. Additionally, four occupation-specific drawings were held by British Columbia for applicants in the International Graduate and Skilled Worker streams. Among them were: 32 candidates in childcare occupations with a minimum score of 88 29 candidates in construction occupations with a minimum score of 90 24 candidates in healthcare occupations with a minimum score of 101 and; less than five candidates in veterinary care occupations with a minimum score of 80 Alberta On July 30, Alberta conducted a drawing for applicants in the Alberta job offer stream of its Dedicated Healthcare Pathway. A minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 300 or above was necessary for the 54 candidates. Alberta shares the outcomes of these draws in retrospect. Candidates must already have an application in the Express Entry application pool in order to be considered for this stream, which is in line with Canada’s federal Express Entry system. In an upcoming Express Entry draw, applicants who obtain an invitation from the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) will automatically receive an extra 600 CRS points on their application, almost guaranteeing them an ITA. Alberta is also launching a new expression of interest system on September 30, 2024, for worker streams. This new system will replace the current monthly application intake and allow for an ongoing intake of applications. The AAIP says that applicants will be placed in a selection pool and then be invited to apply based on their “candidate ranking and provincial labour market needs and priorities.” Quebec Quebec invited provincial immigration candidates on August 1. Like Alberta, Quebec posts provincial immigration results retroactively. The province invited 1,490 people to apply. They required a minimum score of 580 to be considered in addition to  a level 7 oral proficiency (or higher) in French according to the Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français  (Quebec’s scale of French proficiency levels for adult immigrants) or its equivalent; Candidates may also have been considered if they had a job offer outside of the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal. Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration

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