Canadian Immigration News

On May 10, 2017, the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) invited 364 workers and graduates to apply for a provincial nomination certificate. This represents an increase of 77 percent in the number of candidates invited in five sub-categories managed through the Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS), compared to the previous draw on April 19. These individuals have received an Invitation to Apply (ITA) from BC and are now in a position to submit an application for a provincial nomination certificate, with which they may then apply to the federal government for Canadian permanent resident status.

As of May 10, 2017, the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration has resumed receiving online applications to the Nova Scotia Skilled Worker and Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry streams of the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP). On May 9, all online application services of the NSNP were unavailable. While service has resumed for the Skilled Worker and Experience: Express Entry streams, no further applications are being received for the Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry stream.

On May 9, 2017, Nova Scotia's Office of Immigration updated its website to state that 'Currently all Nova Scotia Immigration applications associated with Nova Scotia’s online service are unavailable.' This announcement comes the day after technical issues with the online intake system triggered a pause on the intake of applications to the Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry stream, part of the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP).

The government of Ontario will issue Notifications of Interest (NOIs) to Express Entry candidates who are eligible for Ontario’s Express Entry Human Capital Priorities (HCP) stream on a weekly basis. This stream is part of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP).

Immigration, Refugees and Citzenship Canada (IRCC) has issued Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to 3,796 candidates in the Express Entry pool in its latest draw, which took place on May 4, 2017. Candidates in the pool with Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores of 423 or above at the time of the draw are now in a position to apply for Canadian permanent resident status. Although the minimum required CRS score was slightly higher than that of the previous draw, which took place on April 19, a greater number of ITAs were issued this time around.

As of October 24, 2017, the maximum age of dependent children who may be included in an application for immigration to Canada will rise to include children under the age of 22, who are not themselves married or in a common-law relationship. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) confirmed the change in its official Gazette of May 3, 2017. Currently, the definition of a dependent child covers children under the age of 19 — a regulation that the Canadian government has criticized for being 'too restrictive'.

Nova Scotia has released a new list of target 'opportunity' occupations for its Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry Canadian immigration stream, part of the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP). Of the 16 occupations on the updated list, eight are new, with the remaining eight having also been on the previous list.

Certain citizens of Brazil, Bulgaria, and Romania are now able to fly to Canada without first obtaining a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV, also known as a visitor visa). Instead, these individuals must apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), a quicker and cheaper process, before boarding their flight.

https://craftdemo2.canadavisadev.com/administrator/entries/news/9098-intake-limit-reached-ontario-international-masters-graduate-stream?site=default#The International Masters Graduate stream of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) reached its intake limit the same day that it opened, on May 1, 2017. The International PhD Graduate stream, which also opened on May 1, remains open.

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) has again begun accepting applications to the International Masters Graduate and International PhD Graduate streams. This represents the second time in 2017 that these two streams have opened to receive applications. Both streams are popular with international graduates, and offers a route to Canadian permanent residence for eligible individuals.