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.
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.
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.
We’ve made significant progress in reducing backlogs and modernizing our services. We’ve digitized applications, hired new employees, streamlined processes, & harnessed automation technologies to increase efficiency. Processed 2X as many applications this year – a total of 4.8M! https://t.co/AlAWt1DdSE
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.
Invitation to Apply for Permanent Residence Canada (ITA)
If you are interested in becoming a Permanent Resident of Canada, you will need to be invited through an Invitation to Apply (ITA). This ITA is a document issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). After receiving an ITA, applicants will have the chance to apply for Canadian permanent residence and bring their accompanying family members, such as their spouse or common-law partner and any dependent children, along with them.
Step-by-step process of getting an Invitation to Apply (ITA) to immigrate to Canada:
1. Create an Express Entry profile to enter the Express Entry pool.
The first step involves submitting information about your skills, language ability, education, and work experience. If you meet the criteria for immigration to Canada, you will be placed in the Express Entry pool.
2. Receive a valid job offer from a Canadian employer or a nomination from a Canadian province or territory.
To be eligible for an Invitation to Apply (ITA), you must have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer or a nomination from a Canadian province or territory.
3. Receive a Comprehensive Ranking System score.
You will then be given a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score based on the information in your Express Entry profile. The CRS score is used to rank candidates based on their skills and other factors.
4. Receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) if your score is above the cut-off threshold score.
If your CRS score is higher than the cut-off threshold score for that specific Express Entry draw, you will receive an ITA.
5. Submit a complete application for permanent residence (APR) in your online account.
Once you receive an ITA, you will have 60 days to submit a complete application for permanent residence (APR) in your online account. This involves providing documents such as passport, language test scores, job offer letter, and more.
6. Receive a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) and/or a Permanent Residence Visa.
After your application is approved, you will receive a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) and/or a Permanent Residence Visa.
7. Live and work in Canada as a Permanent Resident.
Finally, once you have your permanent residence visa, you can travel to Canada and live and work as a Permanent Resident.
What Should You Do After You Receive an ITA
If you have received an Invitation to Apply (ITA), you have only 60 days to put together and submit all of your required supporting documents. To ensure that you’re ready to apply and make the most of the two-month period, it is important to begin collecting and organizing the necessary documents ahead of time.
In case you are unable to submit your application within the 60-day period, you will have the option to re-enter the Express Entry pool and start the process over.
How to Get an Invitation to Apply for Permanent Residence
To receive an ITA, you must first be eligible to immigrate by meeting the minimum requirements for the Express Entry pool. The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score is used to assess a candidate’s eligibility.
The CRS score ranks an individual based on:
Skills
Education
Language ability
Work experience,
and other factors.
Invitations to apply (ITA) will be given to those with a minimum CRS score or higher of that specific Express Entry draw.
July 12, 2017 – The most recent Express Entry draw invited 3,202 candidates from the Express Entry pool to apply for permanent residence. As was expected, the cut-off score of 440 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points is lower than the score of the last draw, made on June 28th. This recent draw is the second one since changes to the Express Entry system were made. These changes gave more points to candidates in the pool who have siblings in Canada and those who had French language skills. As a result of these changes, we saw the CRS cut-off score increase slightly between the May and June draws. In addition to the updates, there was a 3-week delay between these two draws, which likely resulted in more candidates with higher CRS scores entering the pool. While the current score is still higher than the draws we saw earlier in the year, we can expect the scores to continue to decrease in upcoming draws. Note that this most recent score is nine points lower than that of the last draw.
The Express Entry system has become the most popular method of applying for economic immigration to Canada. So far this year, a total of 54,487 candidates have received an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence. This number is larger than the total number of ITAs issued in all of 2016. Individuals who are interested in applying for permanent residence to Canada should definitely look into the Express Entry system.
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 current economic immigration 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.
Candidates in the Express Entry pool with a score of 440 or higher should have received an ITA after this recent draw. After receiving your invitation, you have ninety days to submit your completed application for permanent residence. To prevent delays or refusal of your application, it is important to prepare your application thoroughly and accurately. Our immigration consultants can help you determine what information is required and what documents you need to provide.
If your score is lower than 440, it may be possible to improve your score. We can help you discover ways to improve your score and increase your chances of receiving an ITA in an upcoming draw. Take our free online assessment to determine your eligibility and we will contact you to discuss your options moving forward.
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.
Last week, the province of Ontario announced that it would welcome individuals with skilled work experience in a targeted Information and Communications Technology (ICT) occupation. Now, they have released a list of the targeted occupations.
Candidates will be selected from the Express Entry pool as part of the Human Capital Priorities (HCP) stream of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program. Candidates with work experience in one of the targeted ICT occupations may be eligible to receive Notifications of Interest (NOI) from the province of Ontario, even with a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of less than 400. Typically, under this program, candidates are required to have a CRS score of at least 400 in order to receive an NOI, which is an invitation to apply for a provincial nomination. Those who receive a provincial nomination also get an additional 600 CRS points and will likely receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence in the next Express Entry draw.
The following list of occupations was released by the province of Ontario:
NOC 0131: Telecommunication Carriers Managers
NOC 0213: Computer and Information Systems Managers
NOC 2133: Electrical and Electronics Engineers
NOC 2147: Computer Engineers (Except Software Engineers and Designers)
NOC 2171: Information Systems Analysts and Consultants
NOC 2172: Database Analysts and Data Administrators
NOC 2173: Software Engineers and Designers
NOC 2174: Computer Programmers and Interactive Media Developers
NOC 2175: Web Designers and Developers
NOC 2241: Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technologists and Technicians
NOC 2281: Computer Network Technicians
NOC 2282: User Support Technicians
NOC 2283: Systems Testing Technicians
NOC 5224: Broadcast Technicians
NOC 5241: Graphic Designers and Illustrators
If your work experience does not fit in one of those listed occupations, you may still be eligible to apply for a provincial nomination under the Human Capital Priorities stream of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program. However, you will be required to have at least 400 CRS points and meet the requirements of the program.
Whether or not you fall under one of the targeted occupations, the first step towards obtaining a provincial nomination through the HCP stream is to create an Express Entry profile. Individuals who are interested in immigrating to and settling in the province of Ontario should contact us to discuss your options. We can help you prepare your online Express Entry profile as well as preparing your permanent residence application, in the event that you have already received an invitation to apply. Take our free online assessment to see if you qualify to apply for permanent residence through the Express Entry system.
June 8, 2017 – Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has updated the Express Entry pool in several ways. As of June 6, candidates in the pool receive additional points for French language as well as having siblings in Canada. But that is not the only change made on June 6th. In addition to this, IRCC has introduced a new feature, which ranks candidates with tied Comprehensive Ranking Score (CRS) scores based on the date and time they submitted their profile. Thus, candidates who submitted their profiles earlier will be ranked higher. Updating your profile will not change the date, but if you remove your profile or if your profile expires and you subsequently create a new profile, you will be ranked according to the date of your new profile.
This update allows IRCC to better manage the number of candidates that receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA). In all previous draws, all candidates who had the minimum CRS points received an ITA and were then able to apply for permanent residence. In future draws, candidates will be ranked based on their CRS scores as well as the date they created their profile. This way, IRCC will send invitations only to the top ranked candidates. So if the cut-off CRS score is 410 and the maximum number of invitations is 4,000 then only the top ranking candidates will receive an ITA. If so many candidates have the same CRS score, those who submitted their profile earlier will receive invitations. The rest will remain in the pool and will be eligible to receive an ITA in a subsequent draw.
What this means for you is that you should prepare your Express Entry profile right away. 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.
Changes to the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program include a new Express Entry stream for skilled trades workers, streamlined Employer Job Offer Stream, and updated Entrepreneur Stream.
The new Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream was launched on May 31, 2017 and is currently accepting applications from skilled workers who have experience in an eligible skilled trade. Interested individuals must have an online profile in the Express Entry pool and indicate a desire to settle in the province of Ontario or “all provinces and territories.” Applicants must meet the minimum requirements of the federal Canadian Experience Class in addition to the requirements of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program. Eligible candidates will receive a Notification of Interest (NOI) from Ontario via their online account. Only those who receive an NOI are eligible to apply for the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program under the Skilled Trades Stream.
In addition to the new stream, Ontario has also streamlined the application process for international students and foreign workers with a job offer. The Employer Job Offer Stream replaced the employer driven streams, making the applicant more responsible for their application instead of the employer. Applications for the Employer Job Offer Stream of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program are currently being accepted online.
Finally, an update to the Entrepreneur Stream of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program was implemented, which lowers the minimum language level requirement and awards more points for applicants who wish to establish a new business or buy an existing business outside the Greater Toronto Area.
Read more about the requirements of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program and take our free online assessment to see if you qualify to apply under any of the above streams. If you are interested in settling in the province of Ontario and need help with the application process, contact us to speak with a qualified immigration consultant. Our team will assess your qualifications and discuss your options with you. Applications are currently being accepted for each of these three streams so contact us today to get started on your application.
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