Mar 1, 2023 | Becoming a Sponsor, Blog, Business Immigration, Canadian Employers, Citizenship, Complete Representation, Express Entry, Family Immigration, Help with Inadmissibility, Immigration, In the News, New Immigration Programs, Permanent Residency, Provincial Nominee Program, Work Permits, Working In Canada
When it comes to immigration, Canada is leading the way. In 2023, the Canadian government will be introducing a number of changes to its immigration system with the aim of welcoming more than 465,000 new immigrants. These changes will make the Canadian immigration system more efficient and effective while providing more opportunities for immigrants to come to Canada. Here are 5 of the major changes that will be taking place in 2023:
1. The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS)
The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) will no longer be used to determine who is eligible for an invitation to apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residency. Instead, the IRCC will be introducing targeted Express Entry draws to assess who is eligible for an ITA. This will help ensure that Canadian immigration is tailored to the country’s specific labour needs.
2. Immigration target
Canada is setting an ambitious immigration target of 465,000 new immigrants in 2023, 485,000 in 2024, and 500,000 in 2025. This is a significant increase from the 401,000 immigrants the country welcomed in 2020, and it is an indication of the country’s commitment to immigration.
3. Time-limited temporary public policies
Canada will also be introducing time-limited temporary public policies for temporary resident to permanent resident pathways, with all admissions anticipated by the end of 2023. This will help ensure that those with temporary status in Canada will have a path to permanency.
4. New travel authorization document
The USCIS is also introducing a new travel authorization document to Temporary Protected Status (TPS) beneficiaries. This will ensure that TPS recipients can travel to and from Canada as needed. This change is particularly important for those who have been living in Canada for some time, as it will allow them to stay connected to their family and friends abroad.
5. Reduce backlogs
Finally, the Canadian government is also looking to significantly reduce backlogs by 2024. This is an important step as it will help ensure that applications are processed in a timely manner and that people are not waiting for years to receive a decision on their application. The government is also investing in technology to help facilitate faster processing times and reduce backlogs. These initiatives, combined with the changes to the immigration system, will help ensure that Canada remains a top destination for immigrants.
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These changes are designed to make Canada’s immigration system more efficient and effective, while also providing more opportunities for immigrants to come to Canada. With these changes in place, the Canadian government is on track to welcome over 1.2 million new immigrants by 2023. This is an exciting time for immigrants looking to make Canada their home and take advantage of all the opportunities the country has to offer.
Check out: Changes to the National Occupational Classification (NOC) and how they affect Express Entry applicants
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Nov 7, 2022 | Canadian Experience Class, Featured, Immigrate to Canada, In the News, New Immigration Programs, Permanent Residency, Working In Canada
Start-up Visa Program For Entrepreneurs
What is the Start-Up Visa Program?
Canada’s Start-up Visa Program targets immigrant entrepreneurs with the skills and potential to build innovative businesses in Canada that can create jobs for Canadians and compete on a global scale.
Want to dive deeper into this program? Find out more here.
Why choose Canada?
There are many reasons why Canada is the best place to build your business as an entrepreneur. Canada’s advantages include:
- A strong economy
- Low taxes and low business costs
- Excellence in research and innovation
- High quality of life
In addition, there are more than 50 Canadian venture capital funds, angel investor groups, and business incubators designated to participate in the program.
Last but not least, entrepreneurs who participated in the program in the first 3 years received over $3.7 million in investment capital from designated entities to help them grow their businesses in Canada.
What are the requirements of this visa for entrepreneurs?
There are four requirements you need to meet to be eligible for a Canadian start-up visa:
- Prove your business is supported by a designated organization
- Meet ownership requirements: You must hold at least 10% of the voting rights attached to all shares of the company. Together with the designated organization, you must hold at least 50% of the voting rights attached to all shares of the company.
- Meet the minimum language requirements (CLB 5 in all areas) in English or French; and
- Show sufficient funds to settle in Canada.
Not sure if you qualify? Don’t know where to start?
If you are still in doubt that whether the Start-Up Visa Program in Canada is for you, take our free online assessment to determine your eligibility. .is super important
Or contact us today! One of your licensed immigration consultants will be happy to help you.
Apr 15, 2021 | Canadian Experience Class, Featured, Immigrate to Canada, In the News, New Immigration Programs, Permanent Residency, Working In Canada
New Immigration Programs Pave Way for Health Care and Essential Workers
Exciting news! The Honourable Marco E. L. Mendicino on on April 14th, 2021 announced that there will be a focus on new pathways for temporary workers in healthcare, essential workers, and international graduates who are already residing in Canada.
“The pandemic has shone a bright light on the incredible contributions of newcomers. These new policies will help those with a temporary status to plan their future in Canada, play a key role in our economic recovery and help us build back better. Our message to them is simple: your status may be temporary, but your contributions are lasting—and we want you to stay.” Says Mendicino.
Effective May 6th 2021, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will launch 6 new pathway streams for permanent residency for over 90,000 health care, essential workers and international graduates who have been actively contributing to Canada’s economy. Including the French-speaking temporary residents, these workers and graduates who are already in Canada possesses the skills and experienced needed to fight through the pandemic and to accelerate Canada’s economic recovery. These new streams will pave the way for thousands of new immigrants to receive Canadian permanent residence status.
IRCC will be accepting applications through the following 3 streams:
- 20,000 applications for temporary workers in health care
- 30,000 applications for temporary workers in other select essential occupations
- 40,000 applications for international students who graduated from a Canadian institution
To be eligible for the three new streams announced, temporary workers must have at least one year of Canadian work experience in a health-care profession or in select essential occupations. International students must have completed an eligible Canadian post-secondary education within the last 4 years, no earlier than January 2017. All workers and graduates will need to meet the language proficiency of at least CLB 4 in English or French and the test results must be no less than two-year-old when application is received.
To promote Canada’s official languages, three additional streams with no application cap for healthcare workers, essential workers and international graduates who are French-speaking or bilingual in English and French. Candidates will need to meet the same requirements for the health-care, essential occupations and graduates in addition to French language proficiency of at least CLB 4 and the evaluation must be no less than two years old when the application is received.
The 6 new streams will remain open until November 5th, 2021, or until they have reached their application cap (not including the French-speaking or bilingual candidate applicants). The announcement of these new streams aims to help achieve Canada’s 2021 immigration Level’s plan, which is expected to welcome 401,000 new permanent residents. The plan will help create jobs and drive long-term growth in Canada. We have already seen the historical federal drawing which invited all 27,332 candidates in the Canadian-Experience Class Express Entry pool. Canada has welcomed over 50,000 new permanent residents thus far.
Need help or want to find out if you qualify?
Call our office today for a Free Consultation.
Apr 23, 2020 | Featured, In the News, Permanent Residency, Temporary Foreign Workers, Tourist Visas, Work Permits
On Wednesday April 22, United States President Donald Trump signed the executive order to suspend immigration into the United States in hopes to prioritize the re-hiring of Americans displaced by the novel Coronavirus. The difference? Canada is still open to immigrants and accepting applications. The new U.S. immigration suspension will last for 60 days and will be reevaluated and extended if deemed necessary.
Foreign nationals who are outside of the United States and are seeking permanent residency (commonly called “green card”) will not be able to apply. It’s important to note that foreign nationals who are already in the United States are exempt from the suspension and will be able to adjust their status or extend their stay.
Children and spouses of U.S. citizens fall into the exemption of the suspension and may continue with their plans to submit their applications for a Green Card. Other foreign nationals such as temporary works in essential positions such as medical personnel, members of the Armed Forces and law enforcement, prospective adoptees are also exempt.
Canada remains wide open and accepting applications of all kinds
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is not immune to the Coronavirus situation. However, they have not stopped accepting applications, despite the skeleton shift and reduced number of visa officers.
Applications can be submitted even if they are incomplete
While the Canadian immigration department has slowed down processing, foreign nationals who are considering applying for permanent residence may still submit their applications. Given that many required services are closed, such as the English testing centres (IELTS, CELPIP), credential evaluation services (WES, and several others), including biometrics centres around the world, Canada will accept incomplete applications. Applicants may submit their applications and will be allowed to submit the missing documentation at a later date.
Extend your status and remain in Canada longer
Individuals who are currently in Canada and wish to apply for an extension of their visitor status, work permit or study permit may do so, and may remain in Canada on “implied status” until a decision is made on the application to extend their stay.
Pause on the processing of non-essential visitor visa applications
To combat processing delays on essential applications such as family reunification, some urgent work permit applications and extensions, Canada has announced that they will not process visitor visa applications for non-essential travel.
Do you need help to stay in Canada? Are you planning to submit your application for permanent residence or family immigration application?
Our skilled and professional team of immigration consultants are here to assist you overcome the hurdle during this uncertain time. Our immigration representatives are up-to-date in all aspects of immigration, including the unprecedented situation surrounding COVID-19 and can help you navigate through the system properly.
We are here for you. Call us today 416-665-3939 or 1-888-808-7338.
Feb 24, 2019 | Caregiver Program, In the News, New Immigration Programs, Permanent Residency, Working In Canada
On Saturday February 23, 2019, the Trudeau government made a much anticipated announcement regarding the foreign in-home caregiver program. Under these new caregiver programs, caregivers will be allowed to bring their spouses and children with them to Canada. These permanent residence programs will be replacing the program which had a limit of 4 years and is due to expire on November 29, 2019.
The new pilot programs, called Home Child Care Provider and the Home Support Worker programs will be opening later in the year with a total limit of 5,500 applications.
For many caregivers who arrived to work in Canada recently, permanent residence was doubtful as the current caregiver pathways to permanent residence expire on November 29, 2019. Caregivers who were unable to complete 24 months of work experience or did not have a post-secondary education credential were not eligible to apply.
The Trudeau government also announced that for those caregivers who are already in Canada, there is now an Interim Program designed to create a path for them to become permanent residents. The Interim Pathway requires a caregiver to have completed at least 12 months of paid work experience as a caregiver and pass minimum English language requirements.
Caregivers now have 4 ways to qualify and apply for permanent residence
- Interim Pathway for Caregivers
- Must have completed at least 12 months of work experience
- Must pass minimum English requirements
- Caregiver for Children Program
- Must have completed at least 24 months of work experience
- Must pass minimum English requirements
- Must have an post-secondary education credential of at least 1 year
- Caregiver for People with High Medical Needs
- Must have completed at least 24 months of work experience
- Must pass minimum English requirements
- Must have an post-secondary education credential of at least 1 year
- Live-in Caregiver Program
- You hold a LCP work permit
- Your employer submitted the LMO/LMIA prior to November 30, 2014
- Completed at least 24 months of full time work
Nov 10, 2017 | In the News, New Laws, Permanent Residency
Good news for families! As of October 24, 2017, the government of Canada has changed the definition of “dependent child” to “under 22 years of age”. Previously, the rules were changed to limit the age to Under 19. This was problematic for many families who had children that were, 19, 20, 21 as those children were not eligible to be included in an application for permanent residence.
As of October 24th, children under the age of 22 may be included in their parents applications, or be sponsored to Canada by Canadian citizen or permanent resident parent. Foreign workers who are planning to come to work in Canada may include their children who are under the age of 22 to accompany them to Canada.
For further information, feel free to call our office to speak with a consultant.
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