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Living together after marriage is something most husbands and wives take for granted but for those born in different countries; it is a privilege which is not always easily gained. If your chosen country of residence does not allow automatic access (such as many places in the EU for example) then in order to set up home together you will need to apply for a spouse visa.
A spouse visa is a type of permit which typically grants the right to reside, but often comes with a long list of conditions which must be met in advance. Unfortunately, simply being married often isn't sufficient to qualify for a spouse visa. The first concern for many countries before agreeing to issue a spouse visa is whether the relationship is legitimate or whether it is just a front to help someone enter the country. You may therefore be required to provide proof that you are indeed a 'real' couple, including attending interviews, before the spouse visa is granted. Although the country you want to live in will provide you with a list of necessary documents there are some extra steps you can take to help increase your chances of getting the spouse visa application agreed. This includes providing extra evidence of your relationship; this might include items such as a telephone bill showing regular telephone calls between you over an extended period of time. Such evidence by itself will not be compelling enough to get the spouse visa automatically granted but it will help form part of an overall picture which will show your cause is genuine.
Although determining the nature of your relationship may be a primary concern, there may also be additional conditions. For example, a spouse visa may not be granted unless you are earning a certain level of income and have sustained this for a period of time, often around six months. The financial requirements to qualify to sponsor a spouse visa may increase further if you have children or other dependents. There may also be requirements for the foreign spouse such as being able to speak the native language to an acceptable level. This could require the individual to sit a formal test to prove this. Once granted, a spouse visa is usually not permanent but can be extended. There is usually a limit on the number of times extension can be granted but after this the right to reside permanently can be requested, followed later by naturalization if so desired.
*Conditions Apply
B.C. has now issued 5249 invitations to apply for a provincial nomination since the beginning of the year.
British Columbia invited 373 immigration candidates in two Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws held June 8, 2021.
B.C. has been conducting two separate rounds of invitations under its PNP program since February. There has been a general draw and a second draw targeting retail and wholesale trade managers as well as restaurant and foodservice managers. There is a high number of people registered in the BC PNP Skills Immigration Registration System with these two occupations, and the province is seeking to balance the needs in all sectors of the provincial labour market.
Candidates from the Skills Immigration (SI) and Express Entry BC (EEBC) streams of the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) received invitations in the general draw.
More specifically, invitations were issued to those from the Skilled Worker, International Graduate as well as Entry Level and Semi-Skilled sub-categories of SI and EEBC streams.
The minimum scores for that draw ranged between 76 and 93 points. A total of 323 candidates were invited.
The separate draw was also conducted under SI and EEBC categories and targeted candidates whose occupation falls under NOC 0621 or NOC 0631. The draw resulted in 50 invitations with scores of 110 .
So far this year, B.C. issued a total of 5249 invitations through various BC PNP streams.
The BC PNP aims to attract foreign workers who are in high demand in the province and who wish to become permanent residents of Canada.
The BC PNP has two immigration streams, Skills Immigration and Express Entry, both of which are divided into sub-categories. These streams are managed under B.C.’s Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS). In order to apply through the SIRS, you are first required to register an account. Once this is done, you will be assigned a score based on factors such as education, work experience, and language skills.
The highest-scoring candidates from each sub-category are then invited to apply for a provincial nomination to apply for permanent residency when British Columbia conducts one of its regular draws.
If you received an invitation you will have 30 days from the date of the invitation to submit a complete application through the BC PNP online system.
Once you submit a complete BC PNP application package you will be notified of the province’s decision within approximately two to three months. If your nomination is successful, you become eligible to apply to Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent resident status under the Provincial Nominee Class.
The nomination is valid for approximately six months from the date of confirmation.
As a provincial nominee, you may receive an additional 600 points under the CRS and therefore have a score high enough to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) during a subsequent federal Express Entry draw.
The Health minister wants to loosen quarantine rules for exempt travellers who are fully vaccinated for the first phase of easing travel restrictions.
Canadians and exempt travellers who are fully vaccinated will soon have an amended quarantine requirement when arriving from abroad.
Health Minister Patty Hajdu told reporters that travellers who are already exempt from travel restrictions, will not have to quarantine for the full 14 days if they have received a second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine within 14 days of arrival.
The health minister did not give a firm date for when these measures would go into place but suggested “early July” as long as case counts continue to decline. Hajdu said the general ballpark estimate is the first week of July, but the federal government is still consulting with the provincial governments, as well as the departments of public safety and immigration.
Hajdu also said only vaccines that have been approved in Canada will be accepted. Currently, Canada has approved four vaccines: Astra Zeneca, Johnson and Johnson, Pfizer, and Moderna. Hajdu added that Health Canada will be assessing other vaccines in the future.
Hajdu said that Canada will proceed with a phased approach to adjusting border measures, agreeing with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau‘s previous statements.
Travellers will still have to provide a negative PCR COVID test upon arrival to the border, as well as a suitable quarantine plan while they wait for the result. They could be released in as little as one day provided the test result is negative.
Travel restrictions and mandatory quarantine rules have been in place since Canada went into lockdown in March 2020. The three-day hotel stays quarantine has been a rule since this past February.
Last month, shortly after restrictions were rolled over to June 21, Canada’s COVID-19 Testing and Screening Expert Advisory Panel called for the end of the hotel quarantine rules for all travellers. They said it is not clear if the hotel quarantine even works.
Government officials have been hinting that border restrictions could ease toward the end of June or July. Trudeau had previously said Canada was in no rush to reopen the border, in line with recent public opinion studies. This past week, however, Trudeau has been saying that Canada is looking into a phased-in approach to allowing cross-border travel.
The government has not released an official date for the reopening of the border.
IRCC invited Canadian Experience Class candidates and set the CRS cut-off requirement at 454.
IRCC held its second Express Entry draw this week on January 21.
Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 4,626 permanent residence invitations to candidates of the Canadian Experience Class. The Comprehensive Ranking Score (CRS) cut-off requirement was 454.
Today’s CRS cut-off score was seven points lower than the previous CEC-specific draw held on January 7, which had a CRS cut-off score of 461.
Express Entry has been Canada’s primary way of managing skilled worker applications since 2015.
As identified under its new 2021-2023 Immigration Levels Plan, IRCC is seeking to welcome some 110,000 Express Entry immigrants per year. Canada came close to this mark last year, when it had a record-breaking year for Express Entry, issuing a total of 107,350 permanent residence invitations. The Canadian government continues to stress that welcoming high levels of skilled immigrants during and after the COVID-19 pandemic will remain vital to supporting a strong economy.
There are two steps to the Express Entry process. First, skilled worker candidates need to see if they are eligible for at least one of the following programs: Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and Canadian Experience Class.
Candidates who are eligible for one of these programs can enter the Express Entry pool by submitting their profile onto IRCC’s website. IRCC will award them a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score that is based on criteria such as their age, education, work experience, language experience, among other human capital factors.
In the second step, IRCC operates Express Entry draws usually every two weeks and issues Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence to candidates based on IRCC’s policy goals and CRS cut-off requirements.
Today’s draw is the fourth of 2021. IRCC held a draw for Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates on January 20.
Candidates who receive a provincial nomination through Express Entry get an additional 600 CRS points which essentially guarantees they will obtain an ITA.
IRCC is yet to hold an all-program draw in 2021.
The return to PNP- and CEC-specific draws is a strong sign that IRCC will rely heavily on Express Entry candidates currently in Canada to try and achieve its immigration targets for 2021. At the same time, it does appear strongly likely that FSWP and FSTP candidates will also be considered for Express Entry draws in 2021, even during the coronavirus pandemic. Last year, IRCC held PNP- and CEC-specific draws when the pandemic began but ended 2020 by holding numerous all-program draws, enabling FSWP and FSTP candidates to also obtain ITAs.
The following hypothetical candidate received an ITA today:
Arjun is 28, single, and a business analyst. He holds a bachelor’s degree from India and a master’s degree from Canada. Arjun has worked in Canada for the past three years. He obtained IELTs scores corresponding to CLB 8 in writing and CLB 9 in reading, listening, and speaking. Arjun’s CRS score of 474 would have been enough to receive an invitation in today’s draw.
IRCC issues invitations to 374 Express Entry candidates with CRS cut-off of 741.
Canada held its third Express Entry immigration draw of 2021 on January 20.
Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) invited 374 Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates with a minimum score of 741.
Express Entry is the main way Canada welcomes skilled workers who want to obtain Canadian permanent residence. Under the 2021-2023 Immigration Levels Plan, Canada aims to welcome an average of 110,000 immigrants under Express Entry per year. IRCC uses Express Entry to manage skilled worker applications for the following three programs: Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and Canadian Experience Class.
Express Entry is a two step process. In step one, candidates who are eligible under at least one of the three aforementioned skilled worker programs upload their profile onto IRCC’s website. They then get a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) based on their human capital such as their age, education, language skills, and work experience.
In step two, IRCC holds Express Entry draws approximately every two weeks and issues Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence to candidates with the highest CRS scores. If a candidate receives an ITA, they can go ahead and submit a permanent residence application to IRCC.
Candidates can receive an additional 600 CRS points if they receive an invitation through an Express Entry-aligned Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). This effectively guarantees they will successfully receive an ITA for permanent residence.
The PNP is the second main way Canada welcomes skilled worker immigrants. Most of Canada’s provinces and territories operate their own immigrant selection systems through the PNP to welcome skilled newcomers who can help address their local labour market needs. Candidates who meet the selection criteria of an Express Entry-aligned PNP stream are eligible to obtain the additional 600 CRS points assuming they receive a provincial nomination invitation.
Express Entry had a record-breaking year in 2020 despite the coronavirus pandemic. Canada issued 108,350 ITAs last year and targets are set to increase over the coming years as Canada looks to welcome more immigrants to support its post-COVID economic recovery.
Canada held its first two Express Entry draws of 2021 on January 6 and January 7. These were program-specific draws. The January 6 draw invited 250 PNP candidates while the January 7 draw invited 4,750 CEC candidates. IRCC held program-specific draws at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020 with the rationale such candidates were more likely to be able to avoid COVID-related disruptions. However, Canada concluded 2020 with all-program draws which enabled FSWP and FSTP candidates to also obtain ITAs.
IRCC has issued 5,374 ITAs to date, more than the number it issued at the same time in 2020. The figure is poised to increase further with a CEC-only draw anticipated later this week.
Today’s draw saw IRCC issue more invitations and reduce the CRS cut-off score compared with the last PNP-only draw that took place on January 6. In that draw, the cut-off score was 813.
The following is a hypothetical scenario of a candidate who received an ITA today:
Alex is 32, single, and a registered psychiatric nurse. He holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing and received IELTS scores corresponding to CLB 7 in all four categories. He has five years of work experience in Russia and recently received an offer of full-time, indefinite employment with a hospital in Vancouver. British Columbia then nominated Alex as part of its Express Entry British Columbia (EEBC) Health Care Professional stream. Alex’s CRS score before he received his provincial nomination (PN) was 320, but with the PN he gained an additional 600 points. His CRS score of 920 qualified him for an ITA in today’s draw.
Canada held another Express Entry draw on January 7, the second invitation round held in two days.
Invitations were issued to a total of 4,750 Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates. A Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 461 was enough to ensure an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
Results of the draw were released today, January 8, 2021.
Two days ago, Canada kicked off the new year issuing invitations to Express Entry candidates who have provincial nominations.
A total of 250 candidates were invited by Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in the January 6 draw and they needed a minimum score of 813.
Candidates who have received nominations from an Express Entry-aligned Provincial Nominee Program (PNPs) automatically get 600 points added to their overall score, which is why the score requirement is relatively high compared to other rounds of invitation.
It may still be too early to tell whether IRCC will return to organizing only program-specific draws, as it did last year in the midst of the pandemic and when Canada first closed its borders.
IRCC was holding CEC program-specific draws between March and August. They would take place shortly after PNP-specific draws, and the number of ITAs from the two draws combined usually added up to a round number. Towards the end of 2020, IRCC returned to all-program draws, with some of the highest numbers of invitations ever issued and gradually declining CRS cut-off scores.
Express Entry is a system that the federal government uses to manage applications for Canada’s three main economic-class programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Federal Skilled Trades Class (FSTC) and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
Most provinces also have immigration streams that are aligned with the Express Entry system.
In the Express Entry system, candidates are ranked based on their CRS score that considers multiple factors including their age, work experience, education and proficiency in French or English. In some cases, the date and time at which the Express Entry profile was created is also a ranking factor.
Unlike all-program invitation rounds, which draw from the entire Express Entry pool and tend to result in higher cut-off scores, program-specific draws like the one specifically targeting CEC candidates today can produce lower cut-off scores given they involve a smaller pool of candidates.
Today’s draw saw the tie-break rule implemented. The tie-break rule is used to rank candidates who have the same CRS score (at the cut-off) based on the date and time the profile was created.
The tie-breaking rule for today’s draw was implemented for September 12, 2020, at 20:46:32 UTC. This means that candidates with a CRS score of 461 were only invited if their profile was submitted before this date and time.
This draw brings the total number of invitations issued in 2021 so far to 5,000.
Canada has targeted the arrival of some 110,000 Express Entry immigrants per year under its 2021-2023 Immigration Levels Plan.
Candidates who wish to submit their Express Entry profile may still do so despite any coronavirus-related restrictions in place. IRCC continues to accept submissions to the Express Entry system.
The following is a hypothetical scenario of someone invited in today’s draw:
Flory is 30 and a nurse, with a bachelor’s degree and three years of nursing experience in the Philippines. Her husband Olaf is a 31-year-old welder, with a one year certificate and five years of work experience. They have each worked in Canada for five years in their occupations. Flory has a sister named Fiona who is a Canadian permanent resident. Flory obtained a CLB 9 across all four language testing levels (reading, writing, listening, and speaking). Olaf scored a CLB 8 in reading and writing and a CLB 9 in listening and speaking. With Flory as the Principal Applicant, they received a CRS score of 482, resulting in them successfully receiving invitations to apply today.
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has held its 2020 Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) lottery.
The lottery was set to take place by the end of 2020, but was delayed due to the global coronavirus pandemic, among other reasons, according to IRCC.
Those who have been drawn from the lottery have 60 days to submit their sponsorship application to IRCC, however IRCC will provide extensions due to COVID-related delays.
According to a CBC report, IRCC will be gradually inviting sponsors who have been drawn from the lottery over the next 10 days.
The launch of the 2020 PGP was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. IRCC then opened the interest to sponsor window between October 13 and November 3. During this period, Canadian citizens and permanent residents were able to indicate their desire to IRCC to sponsor their parents and grandparents to obtain permanent resident status.
Sponsors who were drawn from the lottery have 60 days to submit their sponsorship application and supporting documents to IRCC. However, in its invitation letters to sponsors, IRCC states:
If you can’t get a supporting document due to service disruptions from COVID-19, include an explanation and/or proof you can’t submit it within the 60-day deadline in your application package. If you still don’t have it after the 60 days, you’ll get a 90-day extension. You should submit these documents as soon as you are able to get them.
The eligibility criteria for PGP sponsorship includes:
IRCC has stated it will announce details on the 2021 PGP in the first half of the New Year. It will use a lottery system once again. This means that sponsors will be provided with a window to indicate their interest to sponsor on IRCC’s website, and then IRCC will hold another lottery. The 2021 PGP will be three times bigger than the 2020 PGP intake, as IRCC has said it will accept up to 30,000 applications.
The Canadian immigration department is giving temporary residents another chance to extend their stay in Canada.
Temporary residents who had valid status on or after January 30, 2020, but whose status expired on or before May 31, 2021, will have until August 31, 2021, to apply to restore their status, according to the Canadian government’s webpage.
This is an extension of a public policy that went into place on July 14 that was originally just valid until December 31, 2020. It affects workers, students, and visitors who were in Canada when their status expired. Normally, they would have 90 days to apply to restore their status. However, due to service disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic, affected individuals now have until the end of August to send in their applications, if they meet certain conditions.
In order to be eligible for the new policy, applicants need to have been in Canada with valid status between January 30, 2020, and May 31, 2021. They must have remained in Canada since entry and lost their temporary status during this period. They also need to have paid the application processing fees for restoring their temporary resident status.
The policy also extends to work permit holders with job offers to work while their application is in processing. This could apply to their work permit application or their restoration. If temporary workers are approved under this policy, they may be allowed to start their employment while waiting on a decision to restore their status or get a work permit.
In order to be eligible for this interim work authorization, foreign nationals need to have submitted an employer-specific work permit and restoration application and paid all fees. They must have held a valid work permit in the 12 months before the date on which they sent in their restoration application. They intend to work for the employer or occupation listed in the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or the LMIA-exempt offer of employment included in their work permit application. They have filled out an IRCC webform to apply for the public policy and they have requested that the exemption be applied until a decision is made on their work permit application.
Here is a hypothetical example of someone who may apply for an interim work authorization, based on the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) webpage.
Min’s permit expired on December 30, 2020, and she fell out of status. She then submitted a restoration and work permit application within 90 days of losing her status, on March 1, 2021. As a result of the public policy, she is able to work while IRCC is processing her work permit application.
However, it would not apply in this hypothetical example.
Oscar is a work permit-exempt worker who is restoring his status and applying for a work permit with a job offer. But, he did not hold a valid work permit in the 12 months preceding the date on which he submitted his application. So, he would not be eligible for the interim work authorization.
Travellers can leave before the end of their quarantine under certain conditions
Travellers to Canada may be allowed to leave before the end of their 14-day quarantine period, but they are required to stay in quarantine until they travel.
Anyone traveling to Canada is required by law to quarantine themselves for a period of 14 days. This includes Canadian citizens and permanent residents, and is in effect as part of a measure to curb the spread of COVID-19.
According to an email sent to CTV News from a representative for the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), travellers may leave before the end of the two weeks if they remain in quarantine until they leave the country.
All travellers are required to have a quarantine plan. This plan must show how they intend to quarantine for 14 days when they arrive in Canada, and must detail how they will obtain essential items such as groceries or medicine during their quarantine period.
“If they don’t have a plan nor the intention to stay for 14 days, they should not travel to Canada as they may not be allowed to enter the country,” the email said.
Those who exhibit symptoms of COVID-19 may be turned away at the Canadian border, even if they are exempt from Canada’s travel restrictions.
However, this does not apply to Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and persons registered under the Indian Act. According to the PHAC website, they “may enter Canada by right and don’t need an exemption to border restrictions.”
Immediate family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents who wish to come to Canada and stay less than 15 days must have a non-discretionary reason.
In some cases, the federal government may grant travellers in quarantine limited release for compassionate reasons, such as attending a funeral or a loved one’s final moments. However, these travellers must receive approval for the limited release, before travelling.
For travellers who wish to leave Canada before the end of their 14 day quarantine, but are showing COVID-19 symptoms, they must wait until they are asymptomatic, or hold a medical certificate that shows a negative COVID-19 result.
All travellers to Canada who are granted entry must quarantine for 14 days. Failing to follow this procedure may result in six months in prison, or up to CAD $750,000 in fines.
Travellers must stay in their place of quarantine and self-isolate. They must have a plan to access necessary items, such as groceries, food and medicine, without leaving. They must also not use any common areas. In addition, they are not allowed to welcome guests, even if they stay two metres apart.
Those who are in quarantine may only leave if they had a medical emergency or if they had received pre-approval prior to travelling to Canada.
If travellers live with others, they must have their own bedroom and their own bathroom. They must also have limited interactions with people they live with, keep their distance, and clean common areas after every use. If they intend on having close contact, not wearing a mask and not practicing physical distancing with other members of the household, then other household members must also quarantine.
Canada will now require arriving travellers to obtain a negative COVID-19 test three days before arriving. The test must be a PCR test, which is currently considered the most effective coronavirus test.
In addition, there will be more border officials at Canada’s ports of entry to ensure those arriving understand the new rules. This is according to public health minister Bill Blair, who also stated that this does not replace the 14-day quarantine requirement. The details are still being finalized and more information is expected to be available next week.
It is required by law that all those arriving in Canada must quarantine for 14 days. This means that they must stay indoors at all times and have a plan on how they will obtain groceries, food and medicine. Those who break quarantine rules may face up to six months in prison or up to CAD $750,000 in fines.
However, some travellers may be allowed to break quarantine if they obtain approval from the government prior to travelling to Canada. Usually, this is for compassionate reasons, such as attending a funeral, or spending time with a loved one during their last moments.
Christian Dubé called on federal authorities to intensify COVID-19 screening of arriving travellers. The province had also previously closed non-essential stores.
It is also a response to the surge of COVID-19 cases across the country. There has been an increasing number of cases as winter crept in, with over 550,000 total cases as of December 29.
Canada has begun administering COVID-19 vaccines earlier this month, when Canada received its first batch of the Pfizer vaccine. The Moderna vaccine has also started making its way into Canada.
So far, just over 70,000 Pfizer vaccinations have been administered across Canada, according to a vaccine tracker created by a University of Saskatchewan student, based on provincial updates.
The nominations were issued through a Tech Pilot draw targeting four streams of the BC PNP.
British Columbia invited 58 immigration candidates with a job offer in the technology sector to apply for a provincial nomination for permanent residence.
The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) Tech Pilot draw held on December 29 selected candidates under the Express Entry BC and Skills immigration categories.
Selected candidates were from the Skilled Worker and International Graduate subcategories and they needed a minimum provincial score of 80.
The BC PNP Tech Pilot is a fast-track immigration pathway for in-demand tech workers and international students. It operates through B.C.’s existing provincial immigration streams.
Features of this pilot project include a concierge service for employers, weekly draws for tech workers, priority processing of applications, and flexibility in the length of job offers.
In order to be considered eligible for this immigration program, candidates need to have a valid job offer of at least 12 months in one of the Tech Pilot’s 29 eligible occupations.
To apply for the Skills Immigration or Express Entry BC categories candidates must first create a profile through the BC PNP’s online portal called the Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS). British Columbia introduced the Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS) in 2016. SIRS is a points-based system that ranks eligible candidates according to a score based on factors such as education, work experience, proficiency in English and the type of job offer they have received.
The highest-scoring candidates in each Skills Immigration and Express Entry BC category that uses SIRS are invited to apply for a provincial nomination through regular draws from their respective candidate pools.
Skilled Worker and International Graduate subcategories of the Express Entry BC are linked to the federal Express Entry system and allow the BC PNP to nominate skilled worker candidates with an Express Entry profile.
Express Entry candidates who receive a nomination from British Columbia will be given an additional 600 points toward their Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score and are effectively guaranteed an Invitation To Apply (ITA) in a future federal Express Entry draw.
British Columbia is the third largest province in Canada in terms of size and population. It is home to the very prosperous city of Vancouver, superbly located in the Lower Mainland, as well as many charming small and medium-sized towns.
An overview of Express Entry performance in 2020.
It was the biggest year in the Express Entry system’s history despite the hits Canada took to immigration levels in 2020.
Canada finished off the year issuing 107,350 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to Express Entry candidates. This was the highest invitation total since the Express Entry system was introduced in 2015 to manage the pool of candidates for Canada’s three Federal High-Skilled immigration programs— the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) and Canadian Experience Class (CEC)— as well as some of its Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP).
Canada’s immigration department, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held 36 invitation rounds in 2020. This is 10 more than last year because in the early weeks of the pandemic IRCC was holding draws that only targeted CEC and PNP candidates. This was done in an effort to prioritize Express Entry candidates who were already in Canada.
2020 broke records in both biggest and smallest Express Entry draws ever. The smallest draw was a PNP only draw on April 15, where just 118 invitations were issued. Toward the end of the year, Canada started handing out 5,000 ITAs at a time. The increase in draw sizes may be an effort to reach next year’s immigration target of 401,000 new permanent residents. Those who apply for permanent residence after receiving an ITA are typically given a decision in six months, so those candidates who got ITAs towards the end of the year will start to become permanent residents in 2021.
Out of the 401,000 new immigrants expected for next year, Canada has allocated 108,500 to come through an Express Entry-managed program in 2021. These targets only go up in subsequent years, maxing out at 113,750 in 2023.
The increase in targets is due to the low admission levels Canada saw in 2020. Travel restrictions in Canada and around the world made it difficult for many to make their landing in Canada.
The year started off with consistently increasing draw sizes. The largest in the first quarter was on February 19, when IRCC issued 4,500 invitations.
There was a PNP-only draw on March 18, the same day Canada’s travel restrictions first went into effect. That draw only rendered 668 ITAs. This would be the first in a new pattern of Express Entry draws, where IRCC would hold a small PNP-only draw followed by a larger CEC-only draw. The two draw sizes would add up to a round number, oftentimes between 3,600 and 3,900.
There was one all-program draw in July, and another in August. Canada went back to holding consistent all-program draws in September. From then, the numbers climbed from 4,200 to a record-breaking 5,000 ITAs per draw.
There was only one Federal Skilled Trades draw in 2020. A total of 250 skilled trades workers were invited on August 6.
The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score cutoff is determined by how many top-scoring candidates Canada decides to invite in any given round. The date and time of when the candidate entered the pool is a factor when IRCC applies the tie-break rule to candidates who are tied for the minimum CRS cutoff.
In all-program draws, it doesn’t matter what program candidates are in. IRCC just invites the top scoring candidates. PNP-specific draws typically have higher score requirements because having a provincial nomination automatically awards candidates an additional 600 points toward their CRS score.
CEC draws have lower score requirements because they are not competing with other high-scoring candidates in the FSWP or the PNP. FSTP draws have lower CRS cutoffs because Canada only invites a few at a time, and they make up a much smaller portion of the Express Entry pool of candidates.
The lowest CRS cutoff score for 2020 was 415, and it was a FSTP draw. The lowest CEC score requirement was 431 on June 25.
The CRS requirement dropped to 468 on December 23 for an all-program draw. Canada has not seen a CRS requirement for an all-program draw this low since October 2019.
In order to reach the targets for next year, Canada will have to approve about 8,946 Express Entry candidates per month. At two draws per month, that’s about 4,473 candidates.
To account for candidates who may no longer want to come to Canada, or who do not get approved, Canada will have to invite upwards of 4,500 candidates per draw in 2021.
Here is the spousal and common-law partner sponsorship process in a nutshell.
So you’re ready to sponsor your spouse or common-law partner for Canadian immigration.
If you are applying with your partner who is living with you in Canada, the process has slightly different steps than if you were applying from abroad. The Spouse or Common-Law Partner in-Canada class is for Canadian citizens and permanent residents who are already living together in Canada and want to keep it that way.
The foreign national partner needs to have valid immigration status in Canada as a student, worker, or visitor. They should also apply under this class if they plan on getting an Open Work Permit so that they can work while they wait on their application to be processed.
The first step for Canadians who want to sponsor their spouse or common-law partner is to make sure you are eligible. You have to be a Canadian citizen, First Nation, or permanent resident over the age of 18. You will also have to show that you can provide basic needs for yourself as well as the person you are sponsoring and any dependent children. There are some other factors that could render you ineligible, like if you were ever convicted of a violent crime for example.
At the same time, your partner also has to be eligible to be sponsored. They too must be over the age of 18, and pass background, security, and medical checks. The federal government also says your relationship must be “genuine” and not just based on getting permanent residency status.
Canada provides an application guide online, as well as a document checklist for people going through the process. Once everything is complete, you can submit your application. If the government determines that it is incomplete, they will return it.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) takes about 12 months to process spousal sponsorship applications, including a two or three month wait period while they ensure that the application is complete.
During the processing period, IRCC may ask the person who is applying for permanent residence to submit their biometrics. They will have 30 days to send them in. They may also ask for more information, or an in-person interview at any time. Those being sponsored will also be given 30 days to have a medical exam.
IRCC allows you to track and update your application status online.
When the immigration department makes a decision on your application, they will send you instructions about the final steps your spouse or common-law partner needs to take to become a permanent resident. They will have to go to a port of entry to meet an immigration officer for a landing interview. IRCC will send them instructions on what documents they need to bring, as well as the time and place of their interview.
Once the landing process is done, your spouse or common-law partner is officially a permanent resident. The only thing left to do is wait for the permanent resident card to come in the mail.
CAQ applications are suspended for institutions that are being audited or investigated by the Quebec Ministry of Higher Education.
Quebec’s Ministry of Immigration, Francization, and Integration (MIFI) will not accept new Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) applications from students going to the 10 designated learning institutions (DLIs) that are under investigation starting December 30.
CAQs are required by most individuals who want to study in Quebec.
Applications submitted before this date, but are still in processing, will be suspended. This decision will be in effect until March 31, 2021.
The following 10 DLIs are under investigation, according to the MIFI government website:
These institutions are under investigation for their recruitment strategies, MIFI told CIC News in French by email:
Questionable recruitment practices for international students at some educational institutions have come to light in recent weeks. In order to preserve the integrity of the Foreign Student Program, it has been decided to suspend the receipt and processing of applications for temporary selection for studies submitted by foreign nationals admitted or enrolled in one of the educational institutions subject to an audit or investigation by the Ministry of Higher Education.
DLIs are educational institutions approved by the Quebec government to welcome international students and such students are then eligible to obtain Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs).
PGWPs are coveted because they enable international students to gain skilled work experience they can go on to use to be eligible to apply for Canadian permanent residence. Options such as the Quebec Experience Program and Express Entry’s Canadian Experience Class are among the many skilled worker immigration streams across Canada that facilitate permanent residence pathways for former international students who hold a PGWP.
Quebec has more latitude than any other province or territory in Canada with respect to enabling private educational institutions to be DLIs. This is due to Quebec’s special status within Canada. As a result, with few exceptions, the overwhelming majority of private institutions that are DLIs are found in Quebec.
British citizens will need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) if they wish to work in Canada starting January 1, 2021.
Nationals from the United Kingdom will continue to be processed under the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) until the end of 2020. This means they will continue to be LMIA-exempt until then.
Last month, Canada and the United Kingdom signed a new transitional post-Brexit trade agreement called the Canada-U.K. Trade Continuity Agreement (TCA). As the United Kingdom formally leaves the European Union, it was important to strike a new deal between Canada and the U.K. so as not to disrupt trade between the two countries. In fact, a study by Global Affairs Canada found that without a deal, the gross domestic product of both countries would have decreased and that over 2,000 Canadian jobs would have been lost.
The ratification of the deal is expected to go into effect in early 2021. This means that British citizens will require an LMIA starting January 1 until the ratification of the Canada-U.K. TCA is confirmed. They will also have the option of working in Canada if they meet the requirements of an LMIA-exempt work permit category.
The new Canada-U.K. TCA essentially replicates many of the terms that were part of CETA. This allows more time for both Canada and the U.K. to consider the terms they wish to have permanently. In addition, this means that British citizens will continue to be LMIA-exempt under the new deal.
Before hiring a foreign worker, Canadian employers need to demonstrate to the Canadian government that there is a need to hire a foreign worker to fill a specific job. This is achieved by obtaining an LMIA document. A positive LMIA means that there is indeed a need to hire a foreign worker. In some cases, some work permits do not need an LMIA. This is usually the result of free trade agreements such as the CETA, and the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA, formerly NAFTA).
There are also some LMIA-exempt open work permits that are available for workers who do not yet have a job offer, such as post-graduate work permits that are available to international graduates, as well as spousal open work permits.
Open Work Permits allows holders to work for any employer in Canada, whereas closed work permits allow holders to only work for one specific employer.
The Express Entry cutoff score dipped below 470 for the first time in an all-program draw this year.
Candidates needed a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of at least 469 in order to be invited in the November 25 invitation round. A total of 5,000 invitations were sent to Express Entry candidates, which ties this draw for the largest number of Invitations to Apply (ITAs) issued in a single draw.
Express Entry is Canada’s immigration application management system for three federal economic-class programs: Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and Canadian Experience Class.
Candidates in these programs, as well as some Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) are given a score based on the CRS. Points are awarded depending on a candidate's human capital factors such as age, education, work experience, and language ability in English or French.
The highest scoring candidates receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence in an Express Entry invitation round.
The new draw brings the total number of ITAs issued in 2020 to 97,350. This year is shaping up to be a new record-breaking year for Express Entry, as the number of ITAs issued to date is the highest it has ever been. The previous Express Entry draw saw a record-breaking 5,000 ITAs, and pushed the number of invitations issued this year past the target.
The large number of ITAs is in line with Canada’s commitment to welcome over 400,000 new immigrants in 2021, most of them coming through the Express Entry system.
In case of a tie between candidates, IRCC applies the tie-breaking rule. So, for this draw, candidates who had a CRS score of 469 or more, needed to have submitted their Express Entry profile before October 15, 2020, at 08:50:10 UTC in order to receive an invitation.
This year, the CRS requirement has typically hovered above 470 for all program draws. The Federal Skilled Trades Program-only draw on August 6 invited trades workers with a CRS of 415, and previous Canadian Experience Class-only draws dipped into the 440s. PNP-only draws have higher requirements because Express Entry candidates who receive a provincial nomination are automatically awarded an additional 600 CRS points. PNPs offer alternative pathways to permanent residence for Express Entry candidates who have a lower CRS score.
The following are hypothetical examples of people who may have been invited in today’s draw.
Aakanksha and Kulwant and married and are 29 and 35 respectively. They each wrote the IELTS and scored an 8 in listening and reading, a 7.5 in writing and a 7 in speaking. Aakanksha holds a master’s degree and has been working as an accountant for three years. Kulwant holds a bachelor’s degree and has been working as a programmer for six years. Neither Aakanksha nor Kulwant has ever worked or studied in Canada. They entered the Express pool with Aakanksha as the principal applicant. Aakanksha’s CRS score of 476 would have been high enough to get an ITA in the November 25 Express Entry draw.
Ekemma is 30 years old and was been working as a financial manager for three years. She holds a bachelor’s degree and has an advanced English language proficiency as well as an intermediate French language proficiency. While Ekemma has never worked or studied in Canada, her CRS score of 478 would have been high enough to get an ITA in the November 25 Express Entry draw.
Canada is looking at offering more permanent residence pathways to foreign nationals who are already in the country.
Following the announcement that Canada would welcome over 400,000 immigrants per year over the next three years, Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino told Bloomberg that the federal government will make an announcement on this soon.
The immigration minister said it is important for Canada to identify how it can accelerate pathways to permanent residence for international students, temporary foreign workers, and asylum seekers already in the country. This is necessary to alleviate the economic challenges Canada is currently facing in part due to lower immigration levels caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The decline in Canada’s immigration levels has slowed population, labour force, and economic growth.
Both permanent and temporary residents have dropped significantly this year. After a net increase of more than 190,000 temporary residents in 2019, the first half of 2020 has seen that number decrease to 18,221. Permanent resident numbers are down 60 percent year-over-year according to government data from August.
Based on its current pace, Canada is set to welcome only 200,000 or so permanent residents this year, which is much less than the 341,000 it targeted prior to the coronavirus pandemic. This has already slowed Canada’s total population growth, which was just 0.1 percent in the second quarter of 2020. Canada’s population usually grows by over one percent per year.
Mendicino told Bloomberg that making temporary residents permanent will address Canada’s short-term needs to respond to coronavirus. He also said it will help address Canada’s long-term demographic challenges, which include an aging population and a low birth rate. These two factors mean that more gaps will be created in the labour market as the older population retires. With a low natural growth rate, Canada will need immigrants in order to sustain the population and ensure that open positions in the labour force are filled.
The government will look at the foreign talent that is already in Canada in order to find the asylum seekers, students, and workers who have the skills that align with essential services in the economy, Mendicino told Bloomberg.
He also said that students from other countries are “particularly attractive” as potential counter forces to the effects of an aging population. Because of this, the government is making it easier for them to work in Canada.
For example, Canada is allowing online study at a Canadian designated learning institution between May 2020 and April 2021 to count towards future Post Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility. The PGWP is coveted among international students because it enables them to gain the Canadian work experience they often need to be eligible for a range of economic class immigration programs. These programs include Express Entry’s Canadian Experience Class, the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), and the Quebec Experience Program.
Canada has also recently opened up its borders to students who are enrolled in classes at post-secondaries that have coronavirus readiness plans.
There are two major benefits to offering more PR pathways to existing students, foreign workers, and asylum seekers in Canada. In the short run, this will offset the temporary decline in immigration caused by the pandemic, which will support economic growth. In the long run, it will benefit Canada because immigrants with Canadian experience tend to have strong labour market outcomes.
The combination of having Canadian education, work experience, social and professional networks, and fluency in English and/or French results in quicker labour market integration and high wages in the long term.
This has been shown in numerous studies conducted by Statistics Canada, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), and other researchers. As a result, selection criteria used by IRCC, provinces, and territories under the PNP, and by Quebec give preference to candidates with Canadian work and study experience.
The minister did not hint at what the changes may entail, but his options may include one or more of the following:
The minister and IRCC have not provided any other indications on what reforms they have in mind, so stakeholders will need to await official word from the federal government.
The new portal allows employers to have direct access to potential candidates already in Québec or abroad and to benefit from personalized support offered by an immigration advisor.
A new feature of the Employer Portal allows businesses to recruit immigrant job seekers in Quebec and abroad using data from the Arima system.
Quebec’s Minister of Immigration, Francization and Integration, Nadine Girault, made the announcement on November 5.
It was also on that date that the new functionality of the Employer Portal, a service offered by the Quebec Ministry of Immigration, was made available to businesses.
Designed to facilitate the selection of the people who best meet current labour market needs in the province, the new feature will allow businesses to go directly to the ministry’s website, consult the profiles of immigration candidates, offer them a job and help initiate the immigration process.
Companies registered in the Registraire des Entreprises Québec (Enterprise Register) will be able to recruit immigrants or people from ethnocultural minorities established in Quebec, international students who have graduated from Quebec with a post-graduate work permit, or temporary or permanent workers from abroad.
“By making profiles of immigration candidates available to companies, they can more quickly identify the people who best meet their labour needs,” the Ministry of Immigration, Francization and Integration (MIFI) wrote in an e-mail to CIC NEWS.
“The navigation in the Portal is ergonomic and allows the company to view results that are displayed in real-time when it selects its various search criteria. In addition, the interface allows users to save and download their search results and identify their favourites so they can quickly get in touch with them.”
When there is a match between employers and immigration candidates, companies will also be able to benefit from a personalized assistance service to help them choose the right immigration program and go through the various steps involved. This personalized support program is offered by the department’s regional immigration and international recruitment advisors and is available in all administrative regions of Quebec.
The Employers’ Portal is a free service that has been operational since June 27, 2019. “Since that time, a company can obtain personalized and local support by a Ministry advisor to access the Employers’ Portal. The new version of the Employers’ Portal, which includes an interface allowing companies to search independently, has been accessible since November 5, 2020,” the MIFI said.
To access the employers’ portal, companies must first create a profile in Arrima, Quebec’s online Expression of Interest management system, after which they will be able to request online assistance. Once this request has been submitted, companies will receive a personalized response from a Ministry advisor within five working days. Once this step has been completed and access granted, companies will be able to conduct independent research, store the results and contact candidates.
While the portal will make it possible to more quickly identify the people who best meet their labour needs, it “will not speed up the immigration process under a temporary or permanent immigration program,” the MIFI wrote.
The added feature on the portal is primarily a recruitment tool designed to address the province’s long-standing labour shortages and to ensure economic recovery post-COVID-19.
“Intensifying efforts to recruit international talent is a priority for our government and is an integral part of a strong economic recovery,” said Minister Girault in a press release.
“With the launch of the Employers’ Portal’s online interface reserved for businesses, as well as the resumption of international recruitment activities, the government is acting proactively. We are supporting businesses more effectively and acting in a more targeted manner.”
On October 29th, Girault tabled the 2021 Quebec Immigration Plan before the National Assembly. Quebec plans to welcome up to 47,500 new immigrants in 2021, to which will be added 7,000 immigrants from an expected 2020 deficit. The province will not be able to reach the immigration levels it has set for itself this year due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on immigration to Quebec.
Some important guidelines for international students en route to Canada are now available on the government website.
The federal government has released a guide for international students who are coming to Canada and navigating travel restrictions.
It’s called “COVID-19: a guide for international students in Canada arriving from abroad.” The government outlines the roles and responsibilities of DLIs, provinces and territories, and the government of Canada in supporting international students.
The guide is aligned with health advice from the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Here are some of the important points. International students can view the guide on the government webpage.
Any international student or their accompanying family members with symptoms of COVID-19 will not be allowed to board their flight. If symptoms show up upon arrival in Canada, a health Canada officer will perform screening and the person may not be allowed to enter, or transported to a hospital for a medical examination.
International students are allowed to come to Canada to go to school at an institution that has a coronavirus-readiness plan. The list of approved institutions is kept up-to-date on the government webpage.
International students need a study permit or study permit approval, but this is not a travel authorization in and of itself. IRCC will communicate with students once the travel authorization has been granted. This authorization may be canceled if there are any changes in circumstances at their school, or the province or territory.
In order to be given access to come to Canada, international students need to show the border services officer that they are entering Canada for non-discretionary purposes and that they are studying at one of the approved DLIs, among other requirements. International students may be refused entry if they do not meet these requirements.
Immediate family members may be allowed to accompany international students. This would include students’ spouses, dependent children, or their legal parent or guardian if they are a minor. Family members must also show border officers that they are traveling for a non-optional, non-discretionary reason, such as helping the student get established in Canada.
International students and their accompanying family members must quarantine for 14 days upon the arrival. They need to wear a mask or face covering during travel, including their place of quarantine.
Before coming to Canada students need to make a quarantine plan. Border officers will also consider this plan when determining if the student can enter the country.
While in quarantine, students should ensure that they have individual accommodations and that they monitor themselves for symptoms. They should avoid public and shared spaces. They also need to arrange to have access to basic necessities like food and medicine. In addition to physical distancing, they need to avoid contact with people who are at higher risk for severe illness, such as older adults, and people with underlying medical conditions, or who are immunocompromised.
Places with shared living accommodations, such as hostels, are not acceptable for quarantine or isolation. International students living with other people, such as with a host family or homestay provider, will need to self-isolate from other members in the accommodation or home. This means having a separate bedroom and washroom if possible. It also means physical distancing from other household members and frequently disinfecting surfaces.
Minors must also undergo mandatory quarantine. Parents or guardians must ensure that appropriate arrangements have been made for their child before they leave for their home country.
Also, international students are asked to confirm their eligibility for health-care coverage and Canada. If they are not covered, they can get private insurance that includes COVID-19 coverage before departure.
The penalties for breaking quarantine can include a fine of up to $750,000 and six months in jail. If someone causes bodily harm or risk of imminent death as a result of breaking quarantine, they can be fined up to $1 million, and face imprisonment of up to three years.
Canada has held its largest Express Entry draw ever on November 18, 2020.
A total of 5,000 invitations were issued in this draw, bringing immigration candidates one step closer to Canadian permanent residence.
Candidates needed a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of at least 472 in order to receive an invitation to this round.
Candidates in these programs, as well as some Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), are given a score based on the CRS. Points are awarded depending on a candidate's human capital factors such as age, education, work experience, and language ability in English or French.
The highest-scoring candidates receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence in an Express Entry invitation round.
In case of a tie between candidates, IRCC applies the tie-breaking rule. So, for this draw, candidates who had a CRS score of 472 or more, need to have submitted their Express Entry profile before October 27 at 06:18:11 UTC in order to receive an invitation.
The new draw brings the total number of ITAs issued in 2020 to 92,350. This year is shaping up to be a new record-breaking year for Express Entry, as the number of ITAs issued to date is the highest it has ever been.
A large number of ITAs is in line with Canada’s commitment to welcome over 400,000 new immigrants in 2021, most of them coming through the Express Entry system.
The following are hypothetical examples of people who may have been invited in today’s invitation round.
Tania is 34 years old, holds a bachelor’s degree, and has been working as an accountant for six years. She wrote the IELTS and scored a 7.5 in listening and a 6.5 in every other ability. Tania does not have Canadian experience. She recently entered the Express Entry pool and obtained a CRS of 333. Last month, she obtained a provincial nomination from Saskatchewan which increased her CRS to 933 and allowed her to secure an ITA in today’s Express Entry draw.
Salome is 28, single, and an investment analyst. She obtained a master’s degree in her home country, then spent three years working there, followed by two years working in Canada. Salome has scored CLB 7 for English reading and writing and CLB 8 for English speaking and listening. Salome’s CRS score of 478 would qualify her for today’s draw.
s the U.S. counts votes to determine the winner between President Donald Trump and former Vice-President Joe Biden, it is worth taking a look at how the election result will impact Canada’s immigration system and the desire of those looking to move to Canada from the U.S.
One may intuitively believe that a Trump win will help Canada in the war on global talent while a Biden win will restore the U.S.’ place as the most attractive destination in the world for global talent.
Irrespective of the final outcome, however, Canada will continue to have significant advantages over the U.S.
The election result will not change the math problem that the U.S. has.
The U.S. has a population of roughly 330 million people, of whom about 160 million are workers. In recent decades, it has welcomed about 1.1 million immigrants per year. About 10 percent are welcomed as skilled workers, 70 percent under the family class, and 14 percent as refugees.
This means the U.S. has welcomed about 0.3 per cent of its population as immigrants while its per capita intake of skilled workers as a share of its labour force is around 0.07 percent (110,000 skilled worker immigrants divided by 160 million workers).
Read full:-
https://www.cicnews.com/2020/11/the-impact-of-the-u-s-election-on-canadian-immigration-1116243.html#gs.k86lde
Manitoba has now issued 4,273 invitations to PNP candidates so far this year.
Manitoba issued 205 invitations to immigration candidates on November 5.
The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) invited skilled workers and international graduates through three immigration streams:
The invitations, also known as Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs), were distributed as follows along with their Expression of Interest (EOI) score requirement:
Out of the 205 LAAs issued, seven went to Express Entry candidates. The MPNP says they will refuse any of these candidates who do not have a valid Express Entry ID, a job seeker validation code, and verifiable experience in an occupation on Manitoba’s In-demand Occupations list.
The MPNP only considered Skilled Worker Overseas candidates in this draw if they were directly invited under a strategic recruitment initiative.
https://www.cicnews.com/2020/11/manitoba-pnp-draw-issues-205-invitations-1116273.html#gs.k86em5
Canada held its latest Express Entry draw on November 5.
A total of 4,500 invitations went to Express Entry candidates with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score requirement of 478.
French-speaking candidates are eligible for more CRS points in this draw. Recently, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced that French-speaking candidates now get 25 additional points for their language skills, up from 15, and bilingual candidates will now get 50 points, up from 30.
Typically, IRCC holds Express Entry draws every two weeks, but this draw was delayed in order to make the update on all of the affected profiles in the Express Entry pool.
Read full article:-
https://www.cicnews.com/2020/11/express-entry-4500-itas-issued-in-new-draw-1116152.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter-20201105#gs.k8608c
Canada saw a record-low fertility rate last year, according to new Statistics Canada data.
Canada’s low fertility rate is a major reason why Canada announced on Friday a historic Immigration Levels Plan 2021-2023 that will see it now target over 400,000 new immigrant admissions per year.
The total fertility rate in 2019 was 1.47 birth per woman over the course of her reproductive life. Populations need at birth rate of at least 2.1 births per woman, but Canada has not met this threshold since 1971. This means that the number of babies being born is not enough for the current population to replace itself.
There were 372,038 live births in Canada last year, excluding Yukon. The proportion of baby boys was slightly higher at about 51.3 percent, which is consistent with previous years.
Whether or not the pandemic caused a baby slump in Canada will be more evident in the summer of 2021, in the months of July and August when birth rates are typically highest.
https://www.cicnews.com/2020/11/canada-sees-record-low-fertility-rates-same-year-as-record-breaking-immigration-levels-1116180.html#gs.k1qed3
This week’s Express Entry draw did not happen due to the recent Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score changes made by the federal government.
https://www.cicnews.com/2020/10/why-canada-did-not-hold-an-express-entry-draw-this-week-1016207.html#gs.k196ht
As we look forward to 2021 we have some great news for students in regards to scholarships from Western Sydney University. We would like to announce the scholarship program for 2021, which has changed and will be offered to a significantly larger number of students than previously.
Summary of changes:-
Francophone and French-speaking Express Entry candidates are now eligible for more points toward their immigration application.
Canada’s immigration minister, Marco Mendicino, announced that French-speaking and bilingual candidates will receive additional points under the Express Entry system.
French-speaking candidates will now receive 25 additional points for their language skills, up from 15. Bilingual candidates will now get 50 points, compared to 30 from before.
Canada aims to admit 4.4 percent of French-speaking immigrants outside of Quebec by 2023. This new initiative is meant to help Canada reach this target once travel restrictions eventually ease, according to a government media release.
Canada will aim to welcome 401,000 immigrants in 2021, another 411,000 in 2022, and 421,000 in 2023.
Read Full Article:-
https://www.cicnews.com/2020/10/canada-to-release-2021-2023-immigration-levels-plan-1016133.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter-20201021#gs.jjrreu
Some Designated Learning Institutions are now able to welcome new international students
Canadian schools with coronavirus readiness plans can start accepting new study permit holders, as of October 20.
Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) are now able to accept international students irrespective of the date the study permit was obtained. DLIs are colleges, universities, and other educational institutions approved by the government to welcome international students.
Before, the only international students that could travel to Canada were those who held a valid study permit as of March 18, 2020, the date that Canada’s coronavirus travel restrictions took effect.
To be able to enter Canada as a student, you must meet these two requirements:
Your travel to Canada will be considered essential if you have all of the required documents and your DLI is on the approved list.
As a student, your travel to Canada won’t be considered essential if:
Students still need to quarantine for 14 days once they arrive in Canada.
In order to welcome new international students, DLIs needed to have a coronavirus readiness plan approved by their province or territory. Plans should describe how they manage the mandatory quarantine period for students, including arrangements for transportation to the student’s quarantine location.
Discover your options to study in Canada
They must also provide information and support to international students about how they can get the items they need for their quarantine, like food, medicine, and health insurance.
International students can contact their school directly if they have questions about their readiness plans.
Only students who are going to approved DLIs are allowed to travel to Canada. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) says more institutions will be added to the list of approved DLIs. The IRCC webpage has a complete list of approved DLIs, and will update as more come available. Canada will also remove DLIs if they no longer meet their provincial or territorial public health requirements.
Students who are not going to an approved DLI will not be allowed to board their flight if they try to travel to Canada.
Family members of students may not travel to Canada before the student.
All post-secondary DLIs are approved to open to international students in Quebec, however the government still recommends to check their list.
There are 39 post secondaries open in Alberta, and British Columbia. There are 10 Manitoba schools, 13 in New Brunswick, three in Newfoundland and Labrador, 14 in Ontario, five in Prince Edward Island, seven in Saskatchewan, and one in the Yukon.
Post-secondary schools are not approved to reopen to international students in Nova Scotia, Nunavut, or North West Territories.
Primary and secondary schools in Canada follow the health regulations set out by their province or territory.
All primary and secondary schools are approved to reopen to international students in Quebec.
All public and private primary and secondary schools are approved to reopen in the provinces of New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Manitoba, and British Columbia.
Primary and secondary schools are closed to international students in the provinces and territories of: Alberta, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Yukon, Nunavut, Nova Scotia, North West Territories, as well as Newfoundland and Labrador.
Read full article:- https://www.cicnews.com/2020/10/canada-is-now-sending-work-and-study-permits-by-mail-1015970.html#gs.hclqrh
Could international students return to Australia before Christmas? There’s no definite answer at the moment, but the South Australian government is reportedly ironing out the final logistics of a pilot programme that would see some 300 international students returning to South Australia.
The state hasn’t committed to a renewed timeline since the announcement of the pilot programme in late August but South Australia’s 46th Premier Steven Marshall has indicated that he would like to launch the trial before Christmas, according to SBS Punjabi. “Our CBDs around the country are looking pretty forlorn with no international travellers, no international students and many people working from home,” said Stevens to ABC Radio, via SBS Punjabi. “And we have got to be putting strategies in place to address that and one of the things that we put forward in South Australia is proof of concept with up to 300 students be[ing] repatriated into South Australia before Christmas,” he added.
The state government is reportedly waiting for the federal government’s approval of the proposal, a spokesperson was previously quoted saying. “The South Australian government is still working closely with the Commonwealth and relevant agencies to ensure a pilot programme provides a safe return for up to 300 international students,” the spokesperson said.
Previously, Education Minister Dan Tehan had said that “it’s very hard to tell” when students will be able to start coming into the country. According to SBS Punjabi, it is understood that the Morrison government is expected to prioritise finding a resolution on internal border bans and caps on international arrivals before giving its consent to South Australia to fly back its international students.
Australia is fielding increased calls to bring back international students to its shores safely soon. In the UK, universities are already looking into using charter flights to bring international students affected by the pandemic into the country. Recently, Queen’s University Belfast had chartered a plane to bring 369 Chinese students back to Belfast, Northern Ireland to reduce anxiety and stress about traveling for the new semester, reported CGTN.
https://www.cicnews.com/2020/09/canadas-immigration-minister-56000-study-permits-approved-in-first-stage-0915852.html#gs.gzv60z
READ FULL ARTICLE:-
https://www.cicnews.com/2020/09/canadas-current-support-measures-for-international-students-a-summary-0915724.html#gs.g964k2
Canada has updated employer compliance rules to specify that foreign workers can still work without a SIN card as long as they are in the process of getting one.
Read Full Article:- https://www.cicnews.com/2020/09/employers-must-pay-wages-to-foreigners-who-dont-have-social-insurance-numbers-0915606.html
Immigrants negatively affected financially amid COVID-19 pandemic
An immigrant-focused financial recovery plan should be at the forefront of Canada’s post-pandemic goals.
read the full article:- https://www.cicnews.com/2020/09/canadas-post-pandemic-economic-recovery-must-be-immigrant-focused-0915666.html#gs.ftq8xk
The province invited skilled workers, international graduates, and entrepreneurs to apply for a provincial nomination
https://www.cicnews.com/2020/09/british-columbia-issues-over-430-invitations-in-new-pnp-draw-0915627.html#gs.elhfhw
https://www.cicnews.com/2020/08/canada-introduces-more-study-and-work-permit-flexibility-0815599.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter-20200826#gs.dz22sl
https://www.sbs.com.au/language/english/international-students-stuck-in-india-will-not-be-returning-to-australia-anytime-soon-barry-o-farrell
https://www.cicnews.com/2020/08/visitors-can-now-apply-for-work-permits-from-within-canada-0815572.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter-20200825#gs.dvpeae
Read full article
https://www.sbs.com.au/language/english/australia-set-to-open-borders-to-international-students-other-visa-holders-may-have-to-wait-longer?fbclid=IwAR3322ZBG6AvA0hoxsKCMZleVU3MwbpKuqaCz7joQej8b9eYLnlniyM0Mss
#breakingnews #news #covid #latestnews #australia_visa #Visa #studyvisa #study_in_australia #studyabroad #visa #studentvisa #immigration #internationalstudents
Exclusive: Premier Daniel Andrews’ message for temporary visa holders, international students stuck in India
https://www.cicnews.com/2020/08/express-entry-crs-drops-2-points-from-previous-all-program-draw-0815096.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter-20200805#gs.c85tmv
https://www.sbs.com.au/language/english/update-on-student-visa-changes-visa-application-fee-waiver-available-from-august-5?fbclid=IwAR3yD7Y72hIIH78bn_i_91gPP9ymFQL6EacY0DP95CE5adwKJ4GJyjW9aGQ
https://www.cicnews.com/2020/07/exclusive-canada-may-lift-international-student-travel-restrictions-0715163.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter-20200729&fbclid=IwAR2Gh6rK1ktDvk8u3412fD43QbLXQzXqzI848n4arGGVJ1P-p_Fvciwqt8o#gs.bzzi3f
The new measures include: ???? Providing priority study-permit processing for students who have submitted a complete visa application online, to ensure that study permits are processed as quickly as possible for applications submitted before 15th Sept. 2020. ????Allowing students to count the time spent pursuing their studies online abroad towards their eligibility for a post-graduation work permit, if they have submitted a study permit application and received Approval In Principle and if at least 50% of their program is completed in Canada. ????Providing reassurances to international students who cannot submit all of the documentation needed to complete processing of their visa applications, and who choose to pursue programs through distance learning, by implementing a temporary 2-stage approval process. The temporary stages for approval are "Approval-In-Principle" and "Eligibility/Admissibility": ???? "Approval-In-Principle" stage will include showing that the applicant has been accepted at a Canadian learning institution, have the available funds, and are otherwise eligible for the study permitwill be notified of a first-step approval. ????Once the Approval-In-Principle is issued, applicants can begin studying online abroad and have that time count towards their post-graduation work permit, provided they meet other criteria and that they eventually receive full approval of their study permit. ????An applicant will receive final approval once they have met all eligibility and admissibility requirements, including submitting biometrics and necessary documents such as an immigration medical exam and a police certificate. Only once final approval is received will an applicant be able to travel to Canada.
A recent study shows that immigrants that have Canadian experience have maximum chances when it comes to applying to PR. As per the survey the year 2018, 59% of new economic class principal applicants were those that had onshore Experience in Canada. The CEC and PNP programs are highly rated options for students to apply for PR in Canada. Students have a large ratio of people that gain PRs and hence have an upper hand if they have obtained a full-time qualification or have work experience beforehand. When a person comes to Canada as a student or worker and then turns into a PR, the term referred to is a Two-step process. This two-step process is very beneficial for the employers as well as it is easier to match peoples skills to the demand in the market. It is easier for employers to match applicants with a certain set of skills to the job that best suits them. Most of the immigrants who follow this process are earning more annually than immigrants with no Canadian experience, they have more chances to achieve their goals as compared to other applicants. So its highly recommended to the recent graduates from India to choose their courses wisely after doing thorough research. Don't op opt for courses which have fewer hours of study or our considered easy but opt for those courses which you feel are high in demand. Due to the advancement of technology one can easily search occupations high in demand. For more information book an appointment with us.
Dear Sir / Madam, Greetings from Magic Lamp International Group.!! We would like to inform you that the Canadian High-Commission in India has organized a webinar for the students on the Study Permit processing during this COVID-19. Please be advised that new measures have been introduced to support international students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of these measures include providing priority processing for students who have submitted a complete study permit application and counting time on online studies towards the post-graduate work permit based on an approval-in-principle on their study permit. For more details, please visit: To help you better understand the impact of these changes, IRCC-New Delhi is hosting a webinar on July 23rd for international students from India. The webinar will include a brief presentation followed by a Q&A session. Date: Thursday, July 23, 2020 Time: 2:00 pm IST Webinar Link: www.bit.ly/397jdsE Kindly share this invitation with any prospective students from India Thank You Magic Lamp International Group.
We are delighted to inform you that the Australian government has confirmed that students undertaking online studies will be eligible for post-study work visa. This official media release is available on the following link: https://ministers.dese.gov.au/tudge/supporting-international-students-support-australian-jobs
The International Student Support Package is designed to support international students currently residing in South Australia and facing financial hardship. The South Australian Government has demonstrated its commitment to our international student community, by announcing a new $13.8 million International Student Support Package. Visit https://studyadelaide.com/en/issp to know more.
Dear Applicants, If you are in Australia on Temporary Visa & your Visa is about to Expire, Please Contact Us, we can help you in this process All our services will be free of charge For further details contact us on 📲M: +91-9417042151 📠 Office Whatsapp- 6283051342 📩 Email Id: magiclampadmissions@gmail.com , magiclampbathinda@yahoo.com 🌐 Website: http://magiclampinternational.in/
Do not travel overseas at this time. This is the highest advice level. #Smartraveller #COVID19
Dear student's Please don't pay your tuition fee to colleges/ Universities overseas until the status is cleared. If your Visa is approved please don't consider traveling overseas as this may put you in trouble. Almost all the universities/ colleges are closed until further orders. So please take care of your hard-earned money
A travel ban will be placed on all non-residents and non-Australian citizens coming to Australia, effective from 9 pm on Friday. In making the announcement on Thursday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison explained the delay was to enable people currently preparing to arrive in Australia to make other arrangements, while not trapping travelers currently mid-flight. “We believe it is essential to take (this) further step,” he said. “I have been consulting with the New Zealand Prime Minister on (this) ban.” New Zealand placed the same ban on non-residents entering its country on Thursday. “These arrangements will enable over the next 24 hours or so for people to make other arrangements if they were intending to come to Australia,” Morrison said.
COVID-19: The Consular Section of the Consulate General of Canada in Chandigarh is cancelling all appointments from March 19, 2020 until further notice. Canadian citizens are advised to forward their passport and citizenship applications by mail (High Commission of Canada, 7/8 Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, 110021) or to leave it in the drop box of the consular section. If you need a Canadian passport urgently, please write to india.consular@international.gc.ca.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Wednesday declared a “human biosecurity emergency” and said the country’s citizens should abandon all overseas travel because of the coronavirus epidemic that he warned could last at least six months. This essentially rules out all Australian players, coaches, etc from the IPL which had been postponed to mid-April. The formal declaration gives the government the power to close off cities or regions, impose curfews and order people to quarantine, if deemed necessary to contain the spread of the virus. The upgrade in official advice to an unprecedented “Level 4: Do not travel” to any country in the world, was accompanied by a ban on any non-essential indoor gatherings of more than 100 people
On Monday, March 16, Canada announced it is closing its borders to most people who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents. Exceptions will be made for immediate family members of Canadians, U.S. citizens, aircrew members, and diplomats. The federal government has stated it will provide the public with more information on the status of those who possess valid study and work permits and who are currently overseas. At this time, it is unknown whether such individuals will be allowed to return to Canada. Border restrictions will not apply to cargo and goods transportation. In addition, airlines have been instructed to check all boarding passengers for symptoms of COVID-19, and no one who presents symptoms will be allowed to fly to Canada. Starting Wednesday, March 18, only four Canadian airports will be open to international flights: Toronto Pearson International Airport, Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, Calgary International Airport, and Vancouver International Airport. For now, flights from the U.S., Mexico, the Caribbean, as well as Saint-Pierre and Miquelon will not be affected by this measure. Domestic flights within Canada will also be unaffected.
With Chinese student enrollments likely to fall due to the ongoing travel restrictions imposed by the Govt. of Australia due to Corona Virus, some believe students from India may be able to fill the gap in times to come. “India is the second-largest source of overseas students in Australia accounting for 15 per cent of total enrolments as per figures released in December 2019, behind China which accounted for 28 per cent.So due to the latest circumstances, if students from China are unable to return to Australia to continue or start with their sessions, Australia may have to look at India to fill in the gap in times to come and we may even see some relaxation in admission criteria from private universities. There is a real possibility that the Department of Home Affairs may revisit the assessment levels for Indian students and put them back into a low-risk category as opposed to the current high-risk category. Even if India is considered as a low-risk country, this would not mean that the students will not have to fulfil the admission criteria. They would still have to prove that they are very much genuine and have good academics to study in Australian universities.
With Chinese student enrolments likely to fall due to the ongoing travel restrictions imposed by the Govt Of Australia due to Corona Virus, some believe students from India may be able to fill the gap in times to come. “India is the second-largest source of overseas students in Australia accounting for 15 per cent of total enrolments as per figures released in December 2019, behind China which accounted for 28 per cent.So due to the latest circumstances, if students from China are unable to return to Australia to continue or start with their sessions, Australia may have to look at India to fill in the gap in times to come and we may even see some relaxation in admission criteria from private universities. There is a real possibility that the Department of Home Affairs may revisit the assessment levels for Indian students and put them back into a low-risk category as opposed to the current high-risk category .Even if India is considered as a low risk country , this would not mean that the students will not have to fulfil the admission criteria. They would still have to prove that they are very much genuine genuine and have good academics to study in Australian universities.
Canada will welcome more than one million new permanent residents in the next three years. This was unveiled today in the federal government’s 2020-2022 Immigration Levels Plan. Canada continues its approach to gradually increase immigration levels. This is likely to give stakeholders time to adequately plan to support a larger population. Whereas Canada welcomed 320,000 newcomers in 2018, and 341,000 immigrants in 2019, it is again targeting the admissions of 341,000 immigrants in 2020. It is aiming to welcome an additional 351,000 in 2021, and another 361,000 in 2022. The plan provides Canada with the scope to welcome up to 390,000 immigrants in 2022. The most significant revelation from the announcement is Canada’s target for 2022 since today is the first time such information has become publicly available. In 2017, Canada reintroduced multi-year levels plans after the first attempt between 1982-1984 was disrupted by a recession. The return to multi-year plans is meant to help stakeholders such as urban planners forecast what steps they need to take to support the economic and social integration of newcomers.
Coronavirus a pandemic: India shuts doors for outsiders, under self imposed quarantine India on Wednesday suspended all tourist visas till April 15 in a bid to contain spread of coronavirus. Read more at: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/coronavirus-a-pandemic-india-shuts-doors-for-outsiders-under-self-imposed-quarantine/articleshow/74582547.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
The novel coronavirus outbreak, now referred to as COVID-19, has gripped major news outlets over the last couple of months and shaken confidence in the world economy in recent days as nations battle the spread of the virus and protect its citizens. The Australian Government was relatively quick to respond including implementing travel restrictions for people from mainland China and international travellers who have spent time in mainland China within the previous 14 days with few exceptions and quarantining returning Australian citizens and permanent residents. This is despite the detrimental economic effects on Australia’s tourism and education sectors that substantially rely on Chinese visitors and students. Amid the upheaval, the Department of Home Affairs (Home Affairs) have created various fact sheets for those affected, including: People in and outside Australia whose visa may be affected by travel restrictions, such as if their visa has or is about to expire, those with visa conditions that may prevent further applications in Australia, and Bridging visa holders; Affected Student visa holders in and outside Australia. Immediate family members of Australian citizens and permanent residents; and Education providers. With extended travel restrictions, there are potentially disastrous situations for affected visa holders. How disastrous depends of course on their situation and ultimately how flexible Home Affairs will be when applying policy to those affected when workarounds are sought. Student visa holders who cannot return to Australia to commence or resume their courses should contact their education provider and seek to defer their studies to avoid their student visa being cancelled for non-compliance with visa condition 8202, which requires visa holders to be enrolled and satisfy course progression. The issue with deferring studies will be that they may be required to seek a further student visa to complete their studies and therefore need to lodge another student visa application. A common misconception with student (and other) visas is that Immigration can “extend“ the duration of a granted student visa, which is simply not possible. Another outcome of COVID-19 is the addition of four new legislative instruments to account for visa applicants for visitor and student visas who have had their visas cancelled as a result of not meeting the more stringent border control measures that were implemented on 1 February 2020. Due to visa cancellations as reported by Home Affairs, to allow these visitors, students and student guardians to be granted the visas they held at arrival, legislative instruments were created this week to define them a class of person for a Subclass 600 – Visitor visa and Subclass 500 – Student visa or Subclass 590 – Student Guardian visa, and when applying, the visitor visa application charges and student visa and student guardian application charges are nil. This requires the applicants to be in Australia, to have held their respective visa that was cancelled under section 116(1)(e) of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) as a result of the risk in relation to Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) designated by the World Health Organisation (WHO), essentially COVID-19, and who makes this application within 3 months of their visa being cancelled. Section 116 is a discretionary visa cancellation power used on situation-specific grounds and generally where the visa holder was never entitled to hold that visa or no longer is entitled to hold that visa. Section 116(1)(e) is used to cancel a visa if the presence of the visa holder is, may, or might be a risk to the health, safety or good order of the Australian community or a segment of the Australian community; or the health or safety of an individual or individuals. Given the wide possibilities of what can be constituted safety and to whom the risk could involve, this power as suggested by policy can cancel a visa when criminal charges have been brought to a visa holder or a conviction obtained for offences such as family violence, child exploitation and drug manufacturing. Specifically on health grounds, aside from active tuberculosis or public advocates against government policy such as anti-vaxxers, and if not refused a visa beforehand, it would take a deadly infectious disease or virus like COVID-19 to be grounds for visa cancellation and not simply the common cold.
Invitation totals went down from the February 19 draw's record-breaking 4,500 ITAs. Canada has now sent out a total of 18,700 invitations this year. The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score requirement went up slightly to 471 this round. Go to CIC News for more information on this draw.
You have applied for a Student visa to study in Australia but unfortunately in some situations your application for Australian student visa refused, this can happen with any type of visa and for many different reasons. A lot of people are probably wondering why their student visa has been rejected by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection. Many factors can come into an Australian Student visa being refused. An International Students Australian Student visa refused or rejected may happens for various reasons such as: there is not enough information provided to prove the claims in the application; If the information provided is incorrect or has false statements made in the application; when the applicant does not meet Australia’s health or character requirements; if the applicant does not meet the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirements and the intentions to study are not genuine: insufficient funds in applicants bank account or lacking the required amount of funds required to be able to live in Australia for the term of their studies; bank balances are erratic and not stable, bank balances should be settled for at least 3 – 6 months. .The amount of funds required is based on your study tuition, and the assessment level of your home country. Some Student visa applicants are required to provide the results of an English language test (IELTS). When the applicant does not meet the required score, the visa will may also be rejected, the test result must be achieved before applying for the visa. Age may also be one of the factors for a student visa refusal, there is no actual age limitation to apply for a Student visa, although they might question the GTE for the application to be genuine if the applicants age differs with the common age of the grade of the study applied to. Sometimes the interview session from the Department of Immigration and Border Protection results in the visa not being granted as the student seemed tense or did not answer all questions honestly when asked and the purpose of intended stay will be considered to be not genuine. A previous record of the applicant’s visa history may cause Australian Student Visa Refused i.e. if the applicant has stayed illegally in Australia or a country other than Australia.
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India has witnessed the fastest increase in applications for student visas to the UK among the top three countries sending the most students. India is only behind China in number of student visas, while the US stands at the third spot.
Canada added 31,000 jobs to the economy this past October, as unemployment fell for the fifth consecutive month.
Statistics Canada’s latest Labour Force Survey results reflected the week of October 10 to 16. That week, many provinces had implemented proof-of-vaccine initiatives. Ontario, B.C., and Quebec had lifted capacity limits and replaced them with proof-of-vaccination requirements.
Employment gains in a number of industries were offset by declines in others. For example, the retail trade industry grew for the first time since June, but losses of employment in accommodations and food services slowed some of the growth.
Unemployment fell for the fifth month in a row, down to 6.7 per cent in October. It was the lowest it has been in 20 months, but not quite down to the pre-pandemic rate of 5.7 per cent in February 2020.
While it appears the economy is headed in the right direction, some experts are saying ongoing labour shortages are stunting economic recovery.
Nathan Janzen, senior economist at RBC, said the number of unemployed workers is less than what it would take just to get employment in accommodation and food services back to pre-pandemic levels. The strong growth in industries like professional, scientific, and technical jobs, makes it seem there may not be enough workers to fill positions in hard-hit industries.
Also, fewer workers returned to their jobs in accommodation and food services, manufacturing, and retail trade after facing a period of unemployment. This suggests that not all industries have recovered equally from the pandemic.
“[Labour markets] have still not fully recovered from the shock of 2020, but they are getting closer, and reports of labour shortages are not likely to dissipate any time soon.” Janzen wrote in a report.
Leah Nord, senior director of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, also says the job vacancies will be difficult to fill, and there is no “silver-bullet-fix” to shortages of talent.
“We won’t reach sustainable economic growth without building inclusive and sustainable talent pipelines,” Nord said in a media release, “Canada needs a serious plan to address its structural workforce challenges, which were well entrenched before COVID, before we can find reason to celebrate.”
The number of very recent immigrants to Canada has increased in recent months, after slowing to a near standstill in 2020. Although last year Canada only welcomed 184,000 newcomers, this year Canada has already admitted 267,000 new permanent residents.
Statistics Canada considers “very recent immigrants” to be those who have lived in Canada for five years or less. By October, there were more very recent immigrants compared to 2019, and they were more likely to be employed. The employment rate among this group of immigrants was at 71 per cent, which is nearly six percentage points higher than October 2019.
Immigrants who had been in Canada for more than five years had an employment rate of nearly 60 in October, which is down less than one percentage point from October 2019. The Canadian-born population had an employment rate of 61 per cent on the dot.
After almost two years of shutdowns, international travel is getting back in business.
But in the wake of COVID-19 there are more complications for passengers before check-in.
Most countries now require a certificate to prove you have tested negative to COVID-19 before you board your flight.
Some require PCR testing, others a simple rapid antigen test and a select few countries require a pin-prick blood antibody test.
Greg Granger from Histopath Diagnostic Specialists gave A Current Affair an exclusive tour of one of the pop-up clinics now installed at Sydney Airport's international terminal.
Clinics are also open at the international terminals in Melbourne and Brisbane airports.
"All that's required when you get to the airport is to have the simple test, have a coffee, wait for an hour to an hour and a half and those results will be sent to them and then they can book in as they would normally," Mr Granger said.
"It's very critical to ensure that the test that you have is within the required time.
"There are people that have forgotten or they just weren't sure of what the requirements were or they have done the wrong test so we were able to find these people and get that express service done for them.
"These are people who would have missed their flight."
He is encouraging travellers to check the requirements of their destination country as the rules can change from week to week.
"This space is very dynamic, it changes all the time so we encourage travellers to make sure they are doing their research, to make sure they're up to date with what the requirements are for their destination."
The Histopath airport testing clinics are offering on-the-spot PCR tests for $79 and rapid antigen tests for $59, with results delivered within 90 minutes.
There are other clinics around Sydney offering same-day PCR test turnarounds, all with varying prices from $100 up to $300:
Medlab
$100
4Cyte
$120
Sonic
$145
Clinical Labs
$300
Healius
Dr Chris Douglas oversees the Histopath lab at Sydney International Airport and said it has capacity to process thousands of tests per day.
"Those specimens we see coming through from the clinic, they'll come in here, they'll be loaded into these machines. It's a very quick process, a very streamline process," he said.
"They're PCR machines which are very high-tech and produce a result very quickly.
"We also actually test for influenza A and B as well. The instrument provides that test and interestingly in the thousands of travellers we've done already, we've not found any influenza."
Passenger Leigh Maxwell was on her way from Sydney to Canada via San Francisco on Sunday and thought she was well prepared with a negative COVID-19 certificate three days before departure.
However she was informed at the departure gate that her test was not valid because it was conducted three days before her flight left, not three days before entry into Canada.
"I went and had it done on Thursday, like you do, paid $100, like you do," she said.
"So I had everything in order, came to the airport ready to check-in and he said, 'well the COVID test isn't valid for Canada because I'm stopping in San Francisco'.
"It's all very complicated."
Ms Maxwell said she was thankful to be able to conduct a last-minute test at the airport.
"The test results came in pretty quickly, it was about half an hour after I got it done," she said.
"They sent it as a text and I just popped back to get a hard copy."
South Australia is just hours away from opening its borders, with the state government's entry website already sent more than 25,000 applications.
As of 12.01am, interstate visitors will be allowed to enter the state provided they are fully vaccinated and have applied through the government's EntryCheckSA process.
Quarantine requirements depend on where a person has arrived from. International visitors or domestic arrivals from areas deemed "high risk" will need to quarantine for seven days
Most interstate arrivals will need to take a COVID-19 test in the 72 hours prior to arriving in South Australia.
Premier Steven Marshall said that the state had been working on becoming COVID-ready for "months".
"A lot of people have been waiting for this day. They've been dislocated from friends and family and of course they've been dislocated from business opportunities," Mr Marshall said.
South Australia's current double-dose vaccination rate is 77.4 per cent, shy of the state's anticipated 80 per cent target to open state borders.
Police reinforcements have been sent to the state's land borders, as authorities expect hundreds of residents to enter the state via road after midnight.
Find out which vaccines we recognize for the purpose of travel to Australia.
Check this page regularly to stay up to date. Advice may change.
We approve COVID-19 vaccines for use in Australia. This includes checking if they meet our high safety, quality, and effectiveness standards.
We also recognize some vaccines that are used in other countries, but not approved for use in Australia.
We recognize all vaccines that are provisionally approved for use in Australia for incoming travellers. These include:
Need more information about our approval process? Find out how we assess COVID-19 vaccines.
As of 1 November 2021, we recognize the following vaccines for the purpose of travel to Australia:
Read What I need to do before I travel(link is external) on the Department of Home Affairs website and COVID-19 vaccinations(link is external) on smartraveller.gov.au.
Need more detailed information? Download our full report: COVID-19 vaccines not registered in Australia but in current international use - TGA advice on 'recognition' (1.6Mb).
