“This game-changing new process will help tackle labor shortage& boost our economy” says the Canada’s Immigration Minister, Sean Fraser while announcing the launch of category-based selection draws for Express Entry candidates.

Recently immigration refugees and citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced new selection categories for express entry candidates who will focus on candidates who have strong French language proficiency or work experience in the following fields:

• Healthcare
• Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (stem) professions
• Trades, such as carpenters, plumbers and contractors
• Transport
• Agriculture and Agri-food

When will category-based rounds of invitations start

This summer, category-based drawings are anticipated to start. In the coming weeks, further details should become accessible.

How can i apply with new change in Express Entry?

Express entry was introduced in Jan 2015 with aim of managing the Canadian Immigration applications for certain economic programs. Starting from finding your eligibility, express entry streams are helping a lot of people to make Canada their forever home. 

Applying to Express Entry is a two-step procedure. These procedures use the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to assign a score to candidates. The candidates with the highest overall CRS score were the most likely to receive an invitation to apply for permanent residence.

First, you need to submit your profile with required documents usually consisting of your work experience, language ability, occupation, education and more.

Afterwards, you can submit your whole application with required supporting documents for the IRCC to review after being invited to apply for Canadian permanent residency.

We, at Vashist Immigration, have all the experience and expertise to ensure that you fulfill all the requirements, and you get selected for an express entry.

B.C. invited 74 tech workers to apply for a provincial nomination on September 21. B.C. has now issued over 8,661 invitations to apply for a provincial nomination since the start of 2021. The BC PNP Tech is a stream under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP), through which the invitations were issued. Candidates invited through B.C’s Tech draws have to meet certain criteria of one of British Columbia’s Express Entry BC and Skills immigration categories, which are managed by the Skills and Immigration Registration System (SIRS).

Candidates who received invitations in this draw were from the Skilled Worker and International Graduate subcategories and needed a minimum provincial score of 80. Invited candidates now have 30 calendar days to apply for the nomination. In 2021 so far, British Columbia has issued over 8,661 invitations to apply for provincial nomination. To know more about the PNP draw and other immigration pathways contact us at Vashist Immigration, our licensed consultants will help you with the procedures.

BC PNP Tech program

The BC PNP Tech was launched in May 2017 as a pilot project following a labor market study that found the biggest issue facing B.C.’s technology sector was access to talent. B.C made it a permanent program after the success of the project. The program is built to enable employers in British Columbia’s technology sector to continue to attract and select international talent when there is a dearth of qualified workers locally. The BC PNP Tech is a fast-track immigration pathway for in-demand tech workers and international students. Candidates need to be registered in one of B.C.’s existing provincial immigration streams and have a valid job offer of at least 12 months in one of 29 eligible occupations to qualify for the stream.

Unlike other BC PNP streams, job offers under the BC PNP Tech must be for a minimum of one year, with at least 120 days remaining at the time of application to the BC PNP. It must also be full-time and from an eligible employer in the province. Invitations through the province’s tech program are sent out weekly to the candidates who are top scorers and who meet the eligibility requirements.

Candidates who are invited to apply for a provincial nomination will need to submit a complete application. Once this is done, most tech applications will be processed within two to three months. If they are approved, candidates will receive a nomination confirmation that can be used to apply for permanent residence from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) under the Provincial Nominee Program Class.PNP candidates earn 600 points for their score in the Comprehensive Ranking System and thus have a very good chance of obtaining an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence via Express Entry.

Move to spectacular Canada; know the fastest ways to get there

Canada is a country with a plethora of opportunities in the field of education or job sectors. You name it and you can have it. It has emerged as one of the top destinations for immigrants who want to move to Canada and settle down with their families. The high quality of life and other factors like premium medical facilities attract a large number of people to the country. If you are confused about how to immigrate to Canada, here are few easy ways for you to move to the incredible country:

Express Entry Program

 Express entry is one of the most popular Canadian Immigration Programs that allows immigrants to live and work in Canada as skilled workers. The system allows Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) to assess, recruit, and select immigrants who are skilled and have the relevant qualifications under federal economic immigration programs:

Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)

The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)

The Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

The Express Entry program will also allow individual provinces and territories to use the system to recruit suitable candidates as part of the Provincial Nominee Programs to meet the demands of the labor market.

Family Sponsorship

Reuniting families is an extremely significant part of Canada’s immigration policy. Families in Canada can sponsor their relatives to come to Canada on a permanent basis. To qualify to sponsor your relative, you have to be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. You can also sponsor your spouse and children under the age of 22 (there are some exceptions to this).

LMIA Work Visa

There are several candidates for Canadian immigration, who first get Canadian job offers, apply for a work visa, and then immigrate to Canada. The LMIA involves securing a Canadian job offer, having the Canadian employer apply for an LMIA through Service Canada, and then the applicant can apply for a work permit after the approval of LMIA. This process can lead to Canadian permanent residence.

The Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP)

The PNP route is lately becoming an increasingly popular way to immigrate to Canada. Canadian provinces such as Alberta, Ontario, British Columbia, and others have designed their immigration programs that result in a fast-track process. However, the PNP category generally requires that applicants reside in the respective Provinces after they arrive in Canada. Further, most PNPs require a job offer from a Canadian employer to qualify.

Canadian Investor Immigration

The Investor Category is developed for individuals who have a high net worth like people who owned or managed businesses overseas. Canada allows experienced business people to invest in the Canadian economy so that they contribute to Canada’s overall growth and prosperity. There are two investor programs in Canada: The Federal Investor Program and the Quebec program. Both programs are quite similar and require applicants to have a high net worth and make a large investment in an approved investment fund for 5 years. Investor immigrants can bring their spouses and children as dependents on their applications.

 There are other ways to acquire Canadian immigration such as the CEC category, Humanitarian and Compassionate application, Refugee Claims, as well as the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program. If you are keen on Immigrating to Canada but not sure where to begin, connect with us at Vashist Immigration, our team of competent and authorized consultants will help you with the immigration processes and help you move to your dream destination seamlessly.

Canada regains position with 90,000 jobs in August

Statistics Canada’s Labor Force Survey suggests Canada’s economy is on the path of moving upwards. The employment level of Canada spiked by 90,000 in August. The number of people employed in Canada almost caught up to pre-pandemic levels in August. These gains from August and the months prior brought Canada’s employment up to just 156,000 employees short of February 2020 levels, which is the closest it has come to pre-pandemic levels.

The reflection of labor market conditions during the week of August 15 to 21 is established by Statistics Canada’s data. By this time, most regions in Canada had rolled back public health measures to near-final stages. Along with it, the border had opened up to fully vaccinated tourists from the U.S. For the first time since March 2020, the tourism industry could expand to individuals from the States.

Employment increases were mainly in services-producing industries, mostly in accommodation and food services. The information, culture, and recreation industry also saw significant gains. The number of people working in construction increased for the first time since this past March. Employment was up in Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Nova Scotia. All other provinces had little or no change.

Unemployment was at its lowest rate since the onset of the pandemic at 7.1 percent, though the rate for visible minorities was little changed for the second month in a row. Long-term unemployment dropped almost 7 percent in August but remained 120 percent above pre-pandemic levels. To learn more about the employment opportunities and vacancies available in various sectors and other immigration updates connect with us at Vashist Immigration, our licensed consultants will help you with your queries.

Recent immigrants witness up-trending employment rate

Immigrants who landed in Canada within the past five years continued to see an upward trend in employment to nearly 70 percent, more than six percentage points higher than August 2019. Part of the reason for this is due to the reduced number of new immigrants admitted in 2020. Those who have been in Canada for more than five years had an employment rate of nearly 59 percent, down one and a half percentage points year over year.

Visible minorities witness Employment

In August, the employment rate increased almost five percentage points among Filipino Canadians to about 78 percent. Employment for Black Canadians was down about four percentage points to nearly 72 percent. White Canadians were employed at a rate of almost 71 percent, little changed from the month before.

815,800 job vacancies in Canada in June

As per Statistics Canada’s latest job vacancy report, the country witnessed job vacancies in the service sectors like in food services, which drove up the number of vacant positions in Canada. There were a total of 815,800 job openings in June, a 22 percent increase from May. There was a rise in job openings in accommodation and food services in Canada. As restaurants started reopening in June, there were 129,100 vacant positions in accommodation and food services jobs. There were more openings in this sector than even health care and social assistance, which had the highest number of vacancies the month before. Canada’s retail trade sector came in third place.

June also had the highest job vacancy rate since Statistics Canada started collecting data in October 2020. There is a difference between the job vacancy rate and the number of job vacancies. The vacancy rate is the proportion of vacant positions compared to the number of all positions in a sector. In June, Canada’s overall vacancy rate reached 5 percent. Accommodation and food services also had the highest job vacancy rate of all sectors at more than 12 percent. In restaurants, employers were actively recruiting to fill vacant positions as restaurants began opening up outdoor dining starting in late May. Among the provinces, B.C. and Quebec had the highest job vacancy rates. Manitoba and Nova Scotia had the lowest job vacancy rates. For more information on the job vacancy report and other job opportunity updates, contact us at Vashist Immigration, our licensed consultants will guide you thoroughly.

Labor shortages likely to intensify

Due to the overwhelming economic instability, in 2020, workers held off retiring and switching jobs due to dissatisfaction. These workers may now start quitting their jobs, leading to an increase in the number of vacant positions. Also, many workers in service sectors that were affected by the pandemic may have left their positions due to extended shutdowns.

The report, says a high job-vacancy rate can hinder economic growth. Businesses may be forced to operate at reduced capacity. Employees are now in a stronger bargaining position to negotiate higher wages and better benefits. The tight labor market may also put upward pressure on wages, leading to higher consumer prices. Provinces with the highest job vacancy levels may face challenges hiring for lower-paid positions. Although wages in accommodation and food services were up in June, average wages remained 57 percent below other service-sector jobs. This may explain the increase in food services vacancies and may continue to affect the sector if workers have left permanently.

PEI conducts PNP draw inviting 161 immigration candidates

The Province of Prince Edward Island (PEI) held its regular monthly immigration draw on August 19. This year PEI invited 1,194 through its expression of interest (EOI (system. The province invited a total of 161 immigration candidates through its Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). Around 152 invitations went to Express Entry and Labour Impact candidates. The remaining nine invitations went to Business Impact candidates who had at least 72 points in the province’s immigration system.

This is the eighth draw that has been conducted this year by the province which brought the total number of invitations issued to date 1,194.PNPs allow Canada’s provinces and territories to select immigration candidates who cater to their labor market needs. This is true of Prince Edward Island, which administers the Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP) within federally approved guidelines.

The next PEI PNP draw is likely to be held on September 16, 2021. The PEI PNP’s Express Entry Category is an enhanced PNP, which means it is linked with the federal government’s Express Entry system. To be considered for this stream, candidates need to have a profile in the system. The Express Entry system is essentially an immigration application manager handling the applications for three economic-class immigration programs: Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and Canadian Experience Class.

 Eligible candidates get a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score for their age, work experience, education, and language proficiency in English or French. Express Entry candidates who receive a provincial nomination are given an additional 600 points toward their CRS score and are effectively guaranteed an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence in a subsequent Express Entry draw.

To be considered for a provincial nomination from P.E.I. Express Entry candidates need to create an Expression of Interest (EOI) profile with the PEI PNP.EOI profiles are given points based on the province’s unique point grid. The highest-scoring candidates are then invited to apply through monthly draws.

For more information on PEI PNP draws and other immigration updates, contact us at Vashist immigration, our expert RCIC licensed consultants will guide you through the procedures.

PR cards or Permanent Resident cards cannot be re-issued outside Canada, however, Permanent Resident Travel Documents (PRTDs) can. If a permanent resident of Canada wishes to leave Canada for some time the individual can and if he wants to return, they must present their PR card, which confirms their PR status.

PR cards usually last for five years, although some last for less. If your PR card expires, you need not worry as you have not lost your PR status, but it means that you cannot use the card to re-enter Canada. The only exception is if you are traveling by private car.

A PR card application can be made only from within Canada. Canada. If a person is outside Canada when their PR card expires, they cannot apply for a new one. Instead, they have the option of applying for a Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD). If the PRTD is approved, the PR can then use the PRTD to re-enter Canada. The PRTD is usually valid for six months after it is issued. It can only be used once. As soon as a person is back inside Canada, they should apply for a PR card. A Canadian PR status is mandatory if you want to apply for a PRTD. They must also currently be outside Canada.

Usually, a person applies for a PRTD by mail through the nearest Canadian Visa Application Centre (VAC). The government website provides a searchable list of VACs and other resources for permanent residents overseas.

At the moment, due to COVID-19, some VACs are not accepting PRTD applications. Some VACs may even be entirely closed. The government offers a list of VACs and which services are provided here. If a person is unable to send their application to the VAC, they can apply online. The person must send in their original passport as part of their application. They may be called for an in-person or virtual interview, although this is unlikely. If their application is successful, they will receive the PRTD, which is a counterfoil on the passport.

To find out more about the application of PR cards and PRTD’s contact us at Vashist Immigration, our RCIC licensed immigration consultants will help you.

Quebec recently made public the results of a third invitation exercise via Arrima that happened on August 26. This new round of invitations is the eighth of the year in Quebec and brings to 2,145 the number of candidates who have been invited to apply for permanent selection.

This third round of invitations, held via the Arrima expression of interest system over the past month, was one of the most significant of the year under the Regular Quebec Skilled Worker Program (PRTQ). 585 immigration candidates in total obtained a score of at least 517 in the Arrima basin were invited to submit an application for permanent selection by the Ministry of Immigration, Francization and Integration (MIFI ).

Last month, Quebec had already made two other rounds of invitations through Arrima, on August 12 and August 19, during which the number of invited candidates exceeded 500, which is significantly higher than all other rounds completed this year. The latest invitations sent through Arrima tapped applicants with a valid job offer outside of the Montreal metropolitan area and who work in professions that are currently in high demand in QuebecAfter several months of sending out invitations every month, the province of Quebec seems to accelerate the pace by sending every week a record number of invitations via Arrima. This round of invitations is the eighth of the year for Quebec. A total of 2,145 applicants were invited to apply for permanent selection by the province.

For more information on the Quebec immigration process and the Arrima system, contact us at Vashist Immigration, our licensed immigration consultants will help you with your queries.

Regular Quebec Skilled Worker Program (PRTQ)

The PRTQ is designed for skilled workers who have the best chance of establishing themselves economically in the province. The program is popular with skilled workers and international graduates who wish to immigrate permanently to Quebec for work.

Candidates invited to apply to permanent selection must submit it within six months from the date on which they have provided all the information necessary to process their application. This includes all forms and documents. If successful, candidates will obtain a Quebec Selection Certificate (or CSQ). They can then use this document to apply for permanent residence with the Canadian federal government.

Quebec has a different system of assessment when it comes to people who wish to settle in the province as applicants who wish to settle elsewhere in Canada. The Quebec Immigration programs are managed by the province and are distinct from the Canadian federal programs.

New Brunswick unveiled a new immigration pilot project for international students who graduate from four private career colleges in the province. The pilot aims to facilitate permanent residency for international students who have graduated from one of 19 eligible programs of study. The program starts on April 1, 2022, where international students who graduate from the Atlantic Business College, Eastern College, McKenzie College, or Oulton College and who have studied in one of 19 targeted occupations, will be able to apply to the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

The PNP allows Canadian provinces and territories to identify immigration candidates who can meet their local economic needs. Many PNP streams are maneuvered towards international students, some are specifically tailored for them. Specific details and requirements for the new pilot project will only be available in the fall. However, the government has indicated via a news release that the pilot project is intended for recent graduates of designated learning institutions who are not currently eligible for the federal Post-Graduation Work Permit program. In addition, participation in this pilot program will be limited to designated New Brunswick educational institutions that have held this designation for at least five years and offer eligible programs of study in certain areas.

The new pilot program is a collaboration between Opportunities NB (ONB), which is New Brunswick’s leading business development corporation, and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). For more details about the new pilot program and other programs of New Brunswick, connect with us at Vashist Immigration, our licensed immigration consultants will guide you through the PNP’s and their process.

This latest initiative is in sync with the priorities set by business groups and organizations in the province. Recently an alliance of New Brunswick business organizations presented a set of policy priorities for the upcoming federal election in Canada. The group, made up of the New Brunswick Business Council, boards of trade, the Saint John Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, identified three priority areas where the action is needed by the federal government, including immigration. Among the priorities, the group called on the federal government to allocate more space for immigrants to reach a target of 10,000 immigrants by 2024, with 30 percent being French-speaking; to simplify and speed up the entire immigration process, especially for international students; and to increase investment in settlement services.

During the next decade, the province expects approximately 120,000 New Brunswickers to leave the workforce. Immigration was one of the main drivers of population and labor force growth in New Brunswick before the pandemic. The province welcomed a record 6,000 permanent residents in 2019. By 2020 that number had dropped to 2,740 and between January and June 2021 there were 1,470 new permanent resident arrivals.

British Columbia invited 488 immigration candidates through four Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws held on August 31, 2021. Since the beginning of the year, B.C. has now issued 8,089 invitations to apply for a provincial nomination.

British Columbia has been conducting two separate rounds of invitations for its PNP program each month, since February, The province holds a general draw and a second draw targeting retail and wholesale-retail managers as well as restaurant and foodservice managers. The second draw is due to a high number of people registered in the BC PNP Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS) with these two occupations, the province confirmed in a news release. The additional draws help the province, to balance the needs in all sectors of the provincial labor 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. The 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 69 and 90 points. A total of 467 candidates were invited. A 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 21 invitations with scores of 106. To learn more about the details of the BC PNP draw contact us at Vashist Immigration and our team of dedicated and licensed immigration consultants will guide you with the procedure.

About the BC PNP

The BC PNP essentially looks at attracting 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). 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. After receiving an invitation, you will have 30 days from the date of the invitation to submit a complete application through the BC PNP online.

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. You may receive an additional 600 points under the CRS as a provincial nominee and will then have a score high enough to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) during a subsequent federal Express Entry draw.