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.
Jul 28, 2017 | Business Immigration, Immigrate to Canada, In the News, Investor Immigration, New Immigration Programs, Permanent Residency
The Start-Up Visa Program, which was launched in April 2013, invites immigrant entrepreneurs to bring their business to Canada. The program allows entrepreneurs to obtain permanent residence for themselves and their family. This pilot program was aimed at attracting pioneering foreign entrepreneurs who would contribute to the Canadian economy. After evaluation of the pilot, it has been determined that the Start-Up Visa Program is delivering on its goals to bring innovative companies into Canada, which in turn creates more jobs for middle-class Canadian workers in a range of industries. With the success of the pilot, the government has announced that it will make the Start-Up Visa Program a permanent part of the immigration landscape for 2018.
As of July 15, 117 principal applicants have received permanent residence through the Start-Up Visa Program. This represents 68 start-ups that were launched in Canada as a result of this program. At present, there are more than 50 Canadian venture capital funds, angel investor groups, and business incubators designated to participate in the program. 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 business in Canada.
Innovative entrepreneurs who wish to apply for permanent residence through the Start-Up Visa Program must meet the following minimum eligibility requirements.
- Prove your business is supported by a designated organization;
- Show your business meets ownership requirements;
- Meet the minimum language requirements (CLB 5 in all areas) in English or French; and
- Show sufficient funds to settle in Canada;
If you have an innovative business idea, you may be able to bring this idea with you to Canada. Take our free online assessment to determine your eligibility or contact us today to speak with a licensed immigration consultant.
Jul 19, 2017 | Blog, Immigrate to Canada, Immigration, In the News, Permanent Residency, Skilled Workers, Spousal Sponsorship, Student Visas, Work Permits, Working In Canada
There are many reasons why a person would choose to immigrate to Canada. Some people immigrate in hopes of living a better life and/or to give their children opportunities that may not be so readily available in their country. Some people immigrate because they live in a war-torn country and they fear for their safety and that of their family. Others have family already in Canada and they want to be close to them. Some people choose to immigrate to Canada with their spouse or partner. This process is called Spousal Sponsorship. Then there are those who come to Canada to gain valuable education and/or work experience.
When it comes to quality of life, Canada has most other countries beat. In fact, Canada was ranked #2 best country in the world and #1 in education. Just to compare, the US was ranked 7th best country and 7th in education. Canadians are also “the 6th happiest people in the world, while Americans lag behind at 13th.” And there is a reason why Canadians are so happy. They have universal healthcare, for one. And, relative to other countries, Canada has easier access to education / cheaper degrees, higher press freedom, higher economic freedom, and better prison and justice systems. Canadians also live longer, work less hours, take more days off, and earn more money than Americans. Wow. It’s true. The American dream has moved north.
Let’s talk about immigration policy. The main issue to consider here is that Canadian provinces, unlike US states, have the ability to set immigration policy. Immigration in Canada is a joint effort between the federal and provincial governments. Canada has a program called the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), which allows provinces to choose who they bring in based on economic need. The PNP helps individuals and their families to apply for permanent residence based on set criteria developed by the individual provinces. This is good both for the immigrant, whose application for PR is fast-tracked by a provincial nomination, and for the province, as they are able to bring in workers to meet labor market demand. While many of Canada’s immigration programs focus on skilled worker immigration, the PNP allows provinces to select workers in any occupation, including low or no-skilled occupations, to meet the labor demands of the province. So, if you find yourself to not be eligible for any other economic immigration program, you may find success in one of the Provincial Nominee Programs.
Overall, Canada’s immigration policy is far superior to that of the United States. Canada welcomes immigrants based on merit, which means that individuals who receive permanent residence in Canada are typically well educated and highly skilled. Immigration to Canada is also easier and faster than US immigration for many people. So, if you are a young professional looking for better opportunities in a beautiful country, Canada might just be the best place to go. Or if you are a businessman or woman looking to expand your business or set up a new business, Canada is a great place to do this. Whatever your reasons are, our team of qualified immigration consultants can assist you with all of your immigration needs. To start, take our free online assessment and find out if you qualify for one of Canada’s many immigration programs. If you have any immigration questions, contact us for a consultation today.
Jul 17, 2017 | Blog, Canadian Experience Class, Express Entry, Federal Skilled Trades, Immigrate to Canada, In the News, Permanent Residency, Provincial Nominee Program, Skilled Workers
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.
Jul 5, 2017 | Blog, Express Entry, Immigrate to Canada, In the News, Permanent Residency, Provincial Nominee Program, Skilled Workers
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.
