Canadian Immigration News

The latest Express Entry draw for immigration to Canada has resulted in 1,936 candidates in the pool with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 497 being issued an Invitation to Apply (ITA). Unlike the previous draw, which took place on November 30 and only issued ITAs to candidates with a provincial nomination, the December 16 draw was not program specific; all candidates in the pool with at least 497 CRS points received an ITA, regardless of the program they were eligible under or whether or not they had a provincial nomination certificate.

In a move that will likely be greeted with enthusiasm by many, the government of Canada has announced that, effective immediately, the the four-year cumulative duration rule will no longer apply to temporary foreign workers in Canada. This rule, also known as the ‘four-in, four-out’ rule, limited the time some temporary foreign workers may work in Canada to four years.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced changes to the application process for the Parent and Grandparent Program (PGP) for the 2017 application cycle. From January 2017, individuals who wish to sponsor their parent(s) or grandparent(s) for Canadian permanent residence status will first be required to complete an online form indicating their interest in the program to IRCC.

A total of 500 candidates for immigration to British Columbia, Canada have been issued an Invitation to Apply (ITA) to the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) in a draw that took place on December 8, 2016. Candidates who received an ITA may now submit an application for a provincial nomination certificate to the provincial government of BC. With this nomination certificate, they may apply to the federal government for permanent resident status.

Quebec’s Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Diversité et de l’Inclusion (Ministry of Immigration, Diversity and Inclusion, or MIDI) has announced the updated processing fees for applications to Quebec for permanent immigration and temporary stays. The new rates come into force on January 1, 2017.

The Government of Canada has extended a pilot program that enables foreign nationals living in Canada who have applied to immigrate as a spouse or common-law partner of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident to work while they are waiting for the application to be processed. The Open Work Permit Pilot Program, which was originally set to expire on December 22, 2016, has been extended until December 21, 2017.

For the first time since 2009, citizens of Mexico may travel to Canada without having to apply for a visitor visa (Temporary Resident Visa, or TRV) beforehand.

The lifting of the visa requirement on December 1, 2016 means that Mexicans traveling to Canada by air will need an electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) before boarding a flight. Mexicans traveling to Canada over land require neither an eTA nor a TRV; these visitors simply need to present their passport at the Port of Entry (border).

The first draw after recent changes to Canada’s Express Entry immigration selection system came into force has seen only those candidates with a provincial nomination certificate invited to apply for permanent residence. A provincial nomination is not required in order to enter the Express Entry pool or to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence.

Starting in 2017, companies in Canada will be able to bring in highly-skilled international workers quickly and efficiently, with the government to set a two-week processing standard for visas and work permits in certain hiring situations.

The province of Manitoba has conducted the 23rd draw of its 'Expression of Interest' immigration system, part of the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP). The latest draw took place on November 29, with a total of 179 candidates having been issued a Letter of Advice to Apply (LAA) to the MPNP.

Candidates eligible for one the MPNP for Skilled Workers sub-categories are ranked according to a unique points system that awards up to 1,000 points to each candidate. Of these LAAs issued, 150 were issued to candidates in the Skilled Workers in Manitoba sub-category, each of whom had at least 713 points in the MPNP ranking system for skilled workers.