May 31, 2017 | Blog, Canadian Experience Class, Express Entry, Federal Skilled Trades, Immigrate to Canada, Permanent Residency, Provincial Nominee Program, Skilled Workers
May 31, 2017 – Another Express Entry draw was made today, inviting 3,877 candidates from the Express Entry pool to apply for permanent residence. As was expected, the cut-off score of 413 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points is the lowest score we have seen for candidates applying under the Federal Skilled Worker or Canadian Experience Class. Just five days ago, we saw two draws made concurrently, inviting applicants under the Federal Skilled Trades and Provincial Nominee Program. The lowest scores in the last two draws were 199 points for the Federal Skilled Trades Class and 775 points for provincial nominees. When viewed together, these three scores reveal how the CRS cut-off has decreased across all the immigration programs.
With upcoming changes planned to go into effect next week, we can expect to see more qualified candidates receiving Invitations to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence in future draws. As the number of issued ITAs rises, the CRS cut-off scores should continue to decrease. Excellent news for applicants who are just a few points shy of the current CRS score requirement. If you are still falling behind, 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.
Candidates in the Express Entry pool with a score of 413 or higher should have received an ITA from today’s 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 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.
May 27, 2017 | Blog, Canadian Experience Class, Express Entry, Federal Skilled Trades, Immigrate to Canada, Permanent Residency, Provincial Nominee Program, Skilled Workers
May 26, 2017 – Immigration, Refugees, & Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has made an Express Entry draw with two different Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) point requirements for two different programs: Federal Skilled Trades and Provincial Nominee Program. With the lowest scores at 199 for Federal Skilled Trades and 775 for provincial nominees, these are the lowest score requirements we have seen since the start of the Express Entry system in January 2015. Since provincial nominees are awarded 600 points for a nomination, this means candidates with provincial nominations only needed 175 core points to be selected in the most recent draw. A total of 543 candidates in the Express Entry pool received an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence in this draw, with 400 in the Federal Skilled Trades and 143 provincial nominees invited. This last draw was only the third draw of 63 draws – since the program’s inception – to focus on specific immigration programs.
As a result of inviting provincial nominees, we can expect to see lower cut-off scores in the upcoming draws. Additionally, with both the provincial nominees and applicants of the Federal Skilled Trades Program out of the pool, candidates for the Federal Skilled Worker or Canadian Experience Class are more likely to receive invitations in the next Express Entry Draw. If you are a Federal Skilled Worker or Canadian Experience Class candidate, you can look forward to potentially receiving an ITA with a lower CRS score in a future draw.
If you received an ITA in this draw, you now have ninety (90) days from the date you received your invitation 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 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.
May 13, 2017 | Blog, Canadian Experience Class, Express Entry, Federal Skilled Trades, Immigrate to Canada, Permanent Residency, Provincial Nominee Program, Skilled Workers
On May 10, British Columbia held a draw inviting 364 workers and graduates to apply for the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP). Individuals who received an invitation are now eligible to submit their application to the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program. Applicants who receive a nomination will then be able to use this certificate to apply for permanent residence. The province uses a points-based system known as the Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS), which scores and ranks candidates and enters them into a pool for selection.
The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program is broken up into three (3) pathways, further divided into categories. The Skills Immigration Registration System includes two (2) of these three (3) pathways, with a total of five (5) categories. Interested individuals must select one of the following five (5) categories to register for the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program.
Express Entry BC Stream
The Express Entry BC (EEBC) stream allows qualified applicants to expedite their permanent residence application by applying online through the Express Entry selection system. Candidates in the Express Entry pool who attain a provincial nomination certificate will receive 600 Comprehensive Ranking Score (CRS) points and an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence in the subsequent Express Entry draw.
There are two categories for individuals to choose from under this pathway. International skilled workers with a valid job offer from a B.C. employer may qualify for the EEBC – Skilled Worker category. Applicants for this category must have at least two (2) years of work experience in a National Occupation Classification (NOC) skilled occupation (NOC code 0, A, or B) directly related to their offer of employment. The EEBC – International Graduate category is for individuals who graduated from an eligible Canadian university or college within the last three (3) years. Applicants under this category must also have an offer of full-time, permanent employment from a B.C. employer. In addition to the minimum requirements of these categories, applicants must also meet the requirements of one of three federal economic immigration programs – Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Skilled Trades, or Canadian Experience Class – in order to enter the Express Entry pool.
Skills Immigration Stream
There are three (3) categories under which international skilled workers may apply for the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program via SIRS. These ‘base’ programs are not aligned with the Express Entry system so applicants must submit a paper application for permanent residence after receiving their provincial nomination certificate. Applicants under this stream are required to have a valid job offer from a B.C. employer, as well as meeting the minimum requirements of one of the following categories:
- Skills Immigration – Skilled Worker: International skilled workers with a job offer in a NOC skilled occupation (skill level 0, A, or B) and at least two (2) years of relevant work experience may qualify to apply for this category.
- Skills Immigration – International Graduate: This category is for individuals who have graduated from an eligible Canadian educational institution within the last three (3) years prior to applying. Applicants must have a job offer in a skilled occupation (NOC skill level 0, A, or B) OR a semi-skilled occupation (NOC level C or D) with a structured career plan.
- Skills Immigration – Entry Level and Semi-Skilled: International workers in specific occupations in tourism/hospitality, long-haul trucking, or the food processing industry may be eligible to apply under this category. Candidates in the Northeast Development Region of B.C. may apply in any NOC skill level C or D. All applicants under this category must have been working full time for the same employer for at least nine (9) consecutive months prior to applying as well as meeting the minimum language and education requirements.
Other categories of the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program are not associated with SIRS and require a different method of applying. If you are looking to settle in British Columbia but do not meet the requirements of the above listed categories, you may still be eligible to apply under one of the other categories. Contact us to discuss your options.
Want to find out if you are eligible to apply for one of the above-mentioned categories of the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program? Take our free online assessment today to get started on your path to permanent residence.
May 9, 2017 | Blog, Express Entry, Immigrate to Canada, Permanent Residency, Provincial Nominee Program, Skilled Workers
Candidates interested in applying for permanent residence and settling in the province of Nova Scotia may qualify for the Nova Scotia Demand Stream, the Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program’s Express Entry Stream. The Nova Scotia Demand Stream opened on May 8th with two categories for potential applicants. Category B does not require a job offer and is available to applicants who have experience in a target occupation. Applications for category B are not being accepted at this time. However, applicants with a job offer may qualify to apply under category A, which is accepting applications online. The program is expected to close and reopen throughout the years, so it is important that you get your application prepared and submitted quickly.
Applicants in the Express Entry pool, who qualify for the Nova Scotia Demand Stream, will receive an additional 600 Comprehensive Ranking Score (CRS) points and an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence in the next Express Entry Draw. In order to apply under Category A of the Nova Scotia Demand Stream, you must meet the minimum requirements as listed below:
- Score at least 67 points on the Nova Scotia Demand Stream’s six selection factors;
- Have a full-time, permanent offer of employment;
- Have at least 12 months of skilled work experience related to the job offer;
- Have a Canadian high school credential or the equivelant;
- Score a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 or higher; and
- Have the necessary funds to settle successfully in Nova Scotia.
If you are interested in settling in Nova Scotia, take our free online assessment to determine your eligibility or contact us to speak with a qualified immigration consultant.
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.
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.
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