May 5, 2017 | Blog, Canadian Experience Class, Express Entry, Federal Skilled Trades, Immigrate to Canada, Permanent Residency, Provincial Nominee Program
May 4, 2017 – Another Express Entry draw has been made today, inviting 3,796 applicants and their families to apply for permanent residence. Candidates in the Express Entry pool with a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 423 or more have received an Invitation to Apply (ITA) and now have 90 days in which to submit their application for permanent residence.
This score is slightly higher than the last draw on April 19th, which was the lowest score ever at 415. This increase in the cut-off might be a source of concern for some, but as per Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), we can expect to see this score get lower over time. It might be worth noting that the last 3 draws were made approximately one week apart, while this recent draw was made a full 2 weeks after the last one. This might account for the increase in score if more candidates – with higher CRS scores – entered the pool during those two weeks. If you did not meet the threshold this time, you still have a shot in the next draw. You may also be able to increase your score. Contact us to speak with an immigration consultant about how to increase your CRS score in preparation for the next draw.
Did you receive an ITA? This means you are now eligible to apply for Canadian permanent residence. Applicants who received an invitation can choose to include their spouses or common-law partners and any dependent children in their PR applications. Keep in mind that you must submit your complete application with all required documents within 90 days of receiving your ITA. To prevent delays or refusal of your application, it is important that you prepare your application accurately. Our immigration consultants can help you to determine what information is required and what documents you need to provide. If you need help preparing and submitting your permanent residence application or if you are interested in entering the Express Entry pool before the next draw, contact us to speak with a licensed immigration consultant.
Not sure if you qualify? To qualify for Express Entry, you must meet the minimum requirements of one of three economic programs. The first step to determine your eligibility is to complete our free online assessment. Our team of consultants will review and assess your qualifications to determine if you meet the requirements for an Express Entry application. If you are eligible you will be able to proceed with the next step towards making an application. This assessment will rank your minimum language requirement, skilled work experience and education level.
May 3, 2017 | Blog, Family Immigration, Immigrate to Canada, Permanent Residency
Currently, families immigrating to Canada under an economic, family, or refugee/humanitarian program are able to include their dependent children on their applications, as long as the child is under 19 years of age and not married or in a common-law relationship. Prior to August 2014, dependent children aged 21 and under were eligible to be included in their parents’ application for permanent residence. Now, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has made the decision to return to the previous definition of dependent child. Beginning Oct. 24, 2017, applicants will be able to include dependent children who are under 22 years of age in their application for permanent residence.
The purpose of this change is to help families stay together through the immigration process. According to IRCC data, adult children often remain dependent on their parents for both financial and emotional support as they work on gaining an education and work experience of their own. By keeping families together, Canada is helping these young adults to gain valuable experience through post-secondary education without the added burden of being independent or being away from their families. These young adults may not be eligible to apply for permanent or even temporary status on their own merits. Thus, allowing them to be included in their parents’ applications will make the transition easier on the entire family. In many cases, these young adults help their family by watching younger children, thus allowing their parents to work. They may also help the family by working themselves. Thus, keeping families together is beneficial for the entire community. By making this change, Canada holds true to its promise of reuniting families and keeping them together.
Children who are unable to financially support themselves due to a physical or mental illness can also be included in their parents’ permanent residence applications, regardless of age.
For more information about Canada’s many immigration options, click here.
If you have any questions about this change or any other inquiries, contact us to speak with an immigration consultant.
To determine your eligibility for permanent residence, take our free online assessment.
Apr 28, 2017 | Blog, Express Entry, Immigrate to Canada, Permanent Residency, Provincial Nominee Program
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) – Ontario’s Provincial Nominee Program – aims to help the province meet labour market demands by fast-tracking permanent residence (PR) applications for skilled workers. It has been announced that the program will issue Notifications of Interest (NOI) to religious workers under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program Human Capital Priorities Stream. Qualified applicants must meet the minimum requirements of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program and have a profile in the Express Entry pool. Notifications of Interested will be issued to individuals whose occupations are listed in National Occupation Classification (NOC) code 4154 (Professional occupations in religion) or 4217 (Other religious occupations).
Occupations listed under NOC 4154 – Professional occupations in religion:
- Archbishop
- Bishop
- Cardinal
- Chaplain
- Evangelist
- Granthi
- Imam
- Minister
- Moderator – Religion
- Pastor
- Priest
- Rabbi
Occupations listed under NOC 4217 – Other religious occupations:
- Brother / Sister – Religion
- Christian Science Practitioner
- Deacon
- Missionary
- Monk
- Nun
- Pastoral Animator
- Religious Education Worker
- Salvation Army Field Worker
Additional job titles listed under these NOC codes may also be included. To see if your job matches one of the eligible job titles for this program, contact us or take our free online assessment to determine whether you qualify for the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program.
Apr 5, 2017 | Canadian Experience Class, Express Entry, Federal Skilled Trades, Immigrate to Canada, In the News, Permanent Residency, Provincial Nominee Program, Skilled Workers
April 5, 2017 – This morning, Immigration, Refugees & Citizenship Canada (IRCC) made an Express Entry draw inviting 3,753 candidates to apply for permanent residence. Candidates in the Express Entry pool with 431 or more Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points received an Invitation to Apply (ITA). This is ten points lower than the previous draw and is the lowest score requirement seen since Express Entry was first introduced in January 2015. This decrease in the CRS points requirement means that more candidates are now eligible to apply for Canadian permanent residence.
Did you receive an ITA? This means you are now eligible to apply for Canadian permanent residence. Applicants who received an invitation can choose to include their spouses or common-law partners and any dependent children in their PR applications. Keep in mind that you must submit your complete application with all required documents within 90 days of receiving your ITA. To prevent delays or refusal of your application, it is important that you prepare your application accurately. Our immigration consultants can help you to determine what information is required and what documents you need to provide. If you need help preparing and submitting your permanent residence application or if you are interested in entering the Express Entry pool before the next draw, contact us to speak with a licensed immigration consultant.
How to apply for Express Entry
Individuals who wish to enter the Express Entry pool to possibly receive an ITA in the next draw will need to first determine that they are eligible for one of the three current economic programs. The first step to determine your eligibility is to complete our free online assessment. Our team of consultants will review and assess your qualifications to determine if you meet the requirements for an Express Entry application. If you are eligible you will be able to proceed with the next step towards making an application. This assessment will rank your minimum language requirement, skilled work experience and education level.
Candidates who meet the minimum requirements of the following economic programs may make an application to the Express Entry pool:
Certain Provincial Nominee Programs allow candidates to apply through the Express Entry pool. You may be required to enter the pool before or after receiving a nomination, depending on the requirements of the provincial program. If you meet the requirements of a Provincial Nominee Program, we can assist you in the process of entering the Express Entry pool and submitting an application to the province of your choice. Applicants who receive a nomination from a province will receive 600 CRS points, increasing their chance of obtaining an ITA in the next round of invitations.
Mar 31, 2017 | Canadian Experience Class, Express Entry, Immigrate to Canada, In the News, Permanent Residency, Skilled Workers
Canada’s Express Entry system allows for faster processing of permanent resident applications for qualified applicants of key economic immigration programs. Foreign workers in high-skilled positions may be eligible to apply under the Express Entry system if they meet the minimum requirements of one of the economic immigration programs. These programs include the Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Skilled Trades, and some of the Provincial Nominee Programs.
Improvements to the Express Entry system will go into effect on June 6, 2017 and will award more Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points to candidates with strong French language skills and those who have siblings in Canada. The current Express Entry system awards points for either English or French, with a maximum of 136 points for first language and 24 points for second language. From June 6 on, additional points will be rewarded to French speakers, up to 30 extra points for those who also have English language skills.
Currently, no CRS points are awarded to applicants for having siblings in Canada. With this update, having a sibling who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident age 18 or older could earn you 15 additional points. Siblings must share at least one parent – mother or father – with the principal applicant or their spouse / common-law partner.
In addition to the addition of extra CRS points for language and siblings, applicants to the Express Entry system will no longer be required to register for Job Bank. Currently, applicants who do not have either a job offer or a provincial nomination are required to create a Job Bank account before they are placed in the Express Entry pool. This will no longer be the case as qualified applicants will now be automatically placed into the pool upon submission of their Express Entry profile. Those candidates without a job in Canada will have the option of registering for Job Bank to start their job search after submitting their online profile to Express Entry. Canadian employers will still be able to use the Job Bank – and other Express Entry recruiting methods – to search for potential candidates.
These updates to the Express Entry system will benefit qualified applicants, employers, and Canada as a whole. Allowing high-skilled workers to earn more CRS points means a higher chance of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence. Candidates with high French language ability are an asset to Canadian communities, especially for those who test high in both of Canada’s official languages. Having a sibling in Canada increases overall well-being and health of an individual as well as their adaptability. Allowing candidates to enter the pool without first having to register for Job Bank will increase their opportunity for receiving an ITA. Thus, these changes will be beneficial for everyone involved.
Our immigration consultants can assess your eligibility and determine how many CRS points you have. We will also guide you in increasing the number of points you have in order to obtain an ITA. Take our free online assessment to see if you meet the requirements for Express Entry and contact us to discuss your options for immigrating to Canada.
Mar 30, 2017 | Immigrate to Canada, In the News, Investor Immigration, Permanent Residency, Why you need an immigration specialist
International business people interested in investing and settling in the province of Quebec will be delighted to know that the Quebec Immigrant Investor Program (QIIP) is set to reopen this year on the 29th of May. Foreign investors who meet the requirements of the Quebec Immigrant Investor Program will be granted permanent resident status for themselves and their family. This allows foreign investors to live, work, and do business anywhere in the country and allows your children to study in Canada as residents. The reopening of the program will allow 1,900 applications between May 29, 2017 to February 23, 2018. Foreign investors who are interested in the Quebec Immigrant Investor Program should get started on preparing your application right away so that it is ready to submit when the program reopens.
Foreign investors interested in applying must meet the following minimum requirements:
- Have a legally obtained minimum net worth of $1.6 million CAD;
- Be prepared to invest $800,000 CAD in Quebec through an authorized financial intermediary;
- Have at least two (2) years of legitimate, full-time business management experience in the five (5) years preceding your application; and
- Intend to settle in the province of Quebec.
In addition to these minimum requirements, Quebec investor applicants will also be assessed on several other factors including age, education, work experience, language, and adaptability. Our immigration consultants can aid you in determining whether you meet all of the requirements of the Quebec Immigrant Investor Program. We will assist you in properly preparing your complete application and guide you in collecting all the necessary documentation. Due to the limited number of applications being accepted this year, it is very likely that the program will reach capacity soon after opening. Thus, it is crucial that you begin preparing your application as soon as possible. Errors on your application could cause you to miss the window. With our help, you can prevent this from happening. Give us a call today to discuss your eligibility and find out how we can help you.
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