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Syed Khan – December 28, 2021

 Immigration boosted Nova Scotia’s population by 6,170 in 2021 and helped the province surpass 1 million people in population figures. The top countries that newcomers arrived from are India, China, Philippines, the UK and Philippines. The province is credited with having the highest retention rate for any Atlantic Canadian provinces at 71%.

Nova Scotia immigration also announced a $2.5 million marketing campaign to attract immigrants and Canadians living in other provinces to settle down in Nova Scotia. This campaign aims to encourage more people to move to the Atlantic Canadian province and fix serious labor shortages. Nova Scotia welcomed new immigrants this year despite the border and travel restrictions, many of them who moved here from other provinces.

Quote by the provincial Immigration Minister Jill Balser:

“We need to encourage more people to move to Nova Scotia to help us fill labor gaps, rebuild our economy, and set a bold new course for business and financial growth. A marketing campaign will help us tell our story, show off our natural assets and demonstrate to the world why Nova Scotia is such an amazing place to study, work, live and raise a family.” ( Investment Supports Efforts to Attract Newcomers and Build Nova Scotia’s Economy)

In the results published by an online study in July, 75 percent Nova Scotians are of the opinion that the province should work towards bringing in more immigrants from outside the country. 92 percent of them would like the province to hire medical doctors from overseas.

The province hopes to invite and welcome 25,000 newcomers every year by introducing new immigration pathways and resolving the labor shortage. The province also launched a number of new pathways to immigration this year including the International Graduates in Demand stream of the NSNP.

TD Economics, in its latest report on provincial economic outlook, forecasted that the economy of Nova Scotia will grow by over 4.2% in 2021 and 2.4% in 2022.

Quote by Premier Tim Houston:

“Reaching the one million mark is a significant moment in our province’s history. After years of a declining population, the world is learning how special Nova Scotia is. We have momentum and are growing. We all benefit from this growth with a greater tax base, new businesses and jobs, greater diversity and culture and improved infrastructure. I ask our citizens, employers, communities, schools and workplaces to open their arms to new Nova Scotians and provide a warm welcome to all who choose our spectacular province as their home.”

The full press release by Nova Scotia Immigration can be read here ( https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20211216003 )

If you are looking to Study, Work, Visit or Migrate to Canada, talk to I Can Help Immigration Services, Canada’s No.1 Immigration & Visa Company to get the best help you need

Syed Khan – December 27, 2021

British Columbia Immigration issued 243 invitations in its latest draw via the BC PNP. In the draw held on 21 December, candidates were invited in two draws.

The first draw was a general one that invited candidates from all sub-streams of the BC PNP. The second draw invited candidates from two specific NOC codes:

1. 0621 for Retail and Wholesale Trade Managers
2. 0631 for Restaurant and Food Service Managers

The summary of the draws is as follows:

Type of Draw:	No. of Invites issued:	No. of Streams included:	Minimum CRS score required to qualify:
General Draw	194	5	74-106
NOC specific draw held to target two NOC occupations	49	4	106

The four streams under the NOC specific draw are as follows:

• SI – Skilled Worker stream
• SI – International Graduate stream
• EEBC – Express Entry BC Skilled Worker stream
• EEBC – Express Entry BC International Graduate stream

The BC PNP offers interested candidates three ways to apply for PR. Each pathway is categorized into several different categories candidates can apply in. Choosing the category depends on your NOC skill level, work experience, type of job, etc.

Till now, in 2021, British Columbia Immigration has invited 10,000 candidates through various BC PNP streams.

The Skilled Worker Stream of BC PNP targets skilled and semi-skilled workers in high-demand occupations in the province. It functions on a points-based invite system.

About the BC PNP Tech draw:

• This draw was first launched in 2017 as a pilot project in response to the fast-growing demand for talent in BC’s technology sector.
• It was made a permanent program in June 2021.
• The stream targets skilled workers and aims to expand the province’s pool of skilled workers.
• Invitations are issued on a weekly basis to candidates who qualify and who have a valid job offer in one of the 29 eligible occupations.
• The minimum duration of the job offered when applying for BC PNP Tech must be full-time for a duration of 365 days or more.

For more information, candidates can visit BC PNP ( https://www.welcomebc.ca/Immigrate-to-B-C/B-C-Provincial-Nominee-Program ) or

contact ICanHelpImmigration Services for a detailed consultation.

If you are looking to Study, Work, Visit or Migrate to Canada, talk to I Can Help Immigration Services, Canada’s No.1 Immigration & Visa Company to get the best help you need

Syed Khan – December 26, 2021

The IRCC, recently held its largest ever draw on 22 December, and has sent invites to Express Entry candidates to apply for PR. All these invitations were sent to candidates nominated via the PNP.

The applicants are ranked in the pool using the CRS, a points-based system. The candidates who scored the maximum CRS points are then invited to apply for permanent residence. The minimum cut off score to qualify was 720 (with the nomination). If more than one candidate has the lowest score, the cut-off is based on the date and time they submitted their Express Entry profiles.

Each invitation round has a set of instructions that are posted online at the time of the round and which are used by the IRCC to invite candidates from the Express Entry pool. The instructions include:

• The date and time of the invitation round
• The number of candidates to get an ITA
• The list of immigration program(s) included in the round

All throughout this year, the IRCC has targeted on inviting Express Entry candidates from Provincial Nominee Class and Canadian Experience Class.

The IRCC uses the Express Entry system to choose skilled workers based on their skills and ability to contribute to Canada’s economy. It manages applications for three economic immigration programs:

• Federal Skilled Worker Program
• Federal Skilled Trades Program
• Canadian Experience Class

Provinces and territories can also recruit candidates from the Express Entry pool through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) to meet local labor market needs.

For more information, candidates can visit the IRCC website ( https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/works.html ) or

contact ICanHelpImmigration Services for a detailed consultation.

If you are looking to Study, Work, Visit or Migrate to Canada, talk to I Can Help Immigration Services, Canada’s No.1 Immigration & Visa Company to get the best help you need

Syed Khan – December 25, 2021

The upcoming 2022 draw dates for Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program have been published and the draws will take place on 6th January, 3rd March and 5th May. This program comes under the Entrepreneur category which targets candidates that have a minimum net worth of $500,000.

The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) is a way to immigrate to Canada. Through the SINP, the Province of Saskatchewan:

• Invites residency applications from non-Canadians who want to make Saskatchewan their home
• Nominates successful applicants to the federal government for permanent residency in Canada

Requirements for the Entrepreneur Category of the SINP:

• Minimum net worth of $500,000 legally acquired.
• Minimum of three years of entrepreneurial or relevant management experience.
• Investment of at least $300,000 in Regina or Saskatoon, or $200,000 in any other Saskatchewan area.
• Include a Business Establishment Plan confirming figures in expression of interest, and including at least one third ownership of a company in Saskatchewan, unless investment is $1 million or higher.
• Have the commitment to be active in day-to-day management of business.
• Create two or more jobs for Canadian citizens or permanent residents if the business is located in Regina or Saskatoon.

For more information, candidates can visit Saskatchewan PNP ( https://www.saskatchewan.ca/residents/moving-to-saskatchewan/live-in-saskatchewan/by-immigrating/saskatchewan-immigrant-nominee-program/how-to-apply-to-the-sinp ) or

contact ICanHelpImmigration Services for a detailed consultation.

If you are looking to Study, Work, Visit or Migrate to Canada, talk to I Can Help Immigration Services, Canada’s No.1 Immigration & Visa Company to get the best help you need

Syed Khan – December 24, 2021

The IRCC and Minister of Immigration Sean Fraser have announced that the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program, launched in 2017 is going to be turned into a permanent Canada immigration program. This will come into effect from 1st January 2022.

This program can bring 6,000 new immigrants to Canada every year. From 2017 – 2021, over 9,800 candidates have been invited through the program in sectors like healthcare, food servicing, manufacturing.

In the report titled, Evaluation of the Atlantic Immigration Pilot, released by the IRCC last year, it has been noted that this program has been very successful in retaining immigrants in Atlantic Canada.

Quote from the report:

“Retention within the first year in Canada was highest among AIP principal applicant respondents, with 94 percent reporting that they were living in Atlantic Canada at the time of the survey, compared to 88 per cent for Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)-Express Entry principal applicants and 86 per cent for PNP principal applicants”

Quote by Immigration Minister Sean Fraser:

“Over the past few years, the Atlantic Immigration Pilot has made an incredible difference in communities across our region, it has brought us the resource we need most: more people. They’re skilled, they’re young and they’re staying. Now, we’re doubling down on what works by making it permanent, so we can continue attracting the best and brightest to our region and build a vibrant, prosperous future for Atlantic Canada.”

The pilot will close and be converted to the permanent program on 31st December but candidates can still accept applications with valid endorsements until March 5, 2022. They will be able to start submitting entirely new applications from March 6, 2022.

The three programs under the AIP are:

• High-Skilled Program
• Intermediate-Skilled Program
• International Graduate Program

If you are looking to Study, Work, Visit or Migrate to Canada, talk to I Can Help Immigration Services, Canada’s No.1 Immigration & Visa Company to get the best help you need

Syed Khan – December 23, 2021

Alberta Immigration has announced that it has fulfilled its Immigration Nomination allocation of 2021 through the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program. In an announcement made on 20 December, the province said that it had invited a total of 6,250 AINP candidates in 2021, thus completing the number allotted to it by the IRCC.

However, 475 applications under the Alberta Opportunity Stream and 775 applications under the Alberta Express Entry pool are still left. The province is accepting applications for the same. Alberta will resume accepting applications for the AINP in January. 

Alberta Immigration provides a list of ineligible occupations rather than a list of eligible occupations. Candidates who have work experience in occupations like food service supervisors, transport truck drivers, and cooks are the ones who mostly apply for this stream.

Steps to apply for the stream:

• The candidate should make an Express Entry profile on the website
• They should receive an NOI from Alberta Immigration when they apply via an Express Entry profile.
• The candidate checks their criteria and submits an application.
• Complete applications go into a pool of eligible applications for consideration for processing

The candidate receives a Notification of Interest if they:

• have an active Express Entry profile in the federal Express Entry pool
• have stated an interest in immigrating permanently to Alberta
• are working in an occupation that supports Alberta’s economic development and diversification
• have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score of 350

Adaptability Factors that increase chances of a candidate receiving an NOI:

• Has an Alberta job offer and/or work experience
• Is a graduate of a Canadian post-secondary institution
• Has had a parent, child, brother, and/or sister who is a permanent resident living in Alberta, or a Canadian citizen living in Alberta

Factors that decrease candidate’s likelihood of receiving an NOI:

• Candidate’s Express Entry profile expires in 5 months or less
• Candidate works in an occupation on the list of high-wage and low-wage occupations in the province of Alberta set out on the online Government of Canada Refusal to Process a Labor Market Impact Assessment list on the Alberta Opportunity Stream Ineligible Occupations list
• The candidate has a high volume of submissions across all AINP streams

Express Entry has three Federal High Skilled programs under it:

• Canadian Experience Class
• Federal Skilled Worker Program
• Federal Skilled Trades Program

For more information, candidates can visit AINP ( https://www.alberta.ca/ainp.aspx ) or contact ICanHelpImmigration Services for a detailed consultation

If you are looking to Study, Work, Visit or Migrate to Canada, talk to I Can Help Immigration Services, Canada’s No.1 Immigration & Visa Company to get the best help you need

Syed Khan – December 22, 2021

Saskatchewan Immigration recently announced that it will target 21 occupations in the healthcare sector and help qualified candidates fill these job vacancies through the International Healthcare Worker Expression of Interest pool. This program will be held through Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP).

The list of occupations eligible under this program are:

NOC code	Name of the Occupation
1252	Health Information Management Practitioner
3012	Registered Nurse and Registered Psychiatric Nurse
3131	Pharmacist
3124	Nurse Practitioner
3122	Chiropractors
3142	Physical Therapist
3215	Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist, Medical Radiation Technologist, Nuclear Medicine Technologist
3214	Respiratory Therapists, Cardiopulmonary Function Technologist, Perfusionist
3211	Combined Laboratory & X‐Ray Technologist, Clinical Genetics Technologist, and Medical Laboratory Technologist
3143	Occupational Therapist
3237	Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment
3234	Emergency Medical Technician
3413	Continuing Care Assistant
3212	Medical laboratory technicians and pathologists’ assistants
3223	Dental technologists, technicians and laboratory assistants
3233	Licensed Practical Nurse
3217	Cardiology Technologist and Cardiovascular Technologist, Electro neurophysiology Technologist
3216	Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer, Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
3141	Audiologist and Speech Language Pathologist
3219	Pharmacy Technician
4151	Psychologist (Masters and PhD)

Through the SINP, the Province of Saskatchewan:

• Invites residency applications from non-Canadians who want to make Saskatchewan their home
• Nominates successful applicants to the federal government for permanent residency in Canada

SINP offers applicants:

●      Competitive application processing times

●      Assistance from provincial immigration officers who can explain requirements

The process to apply is as follows:

• Create and submit the EOI profile
• Enter in the EOI candidate pool
• The Immigration selects the candidates who pass requirements
• Invitations to Apply are then issued via regular draws
• Candidates submit full applications within 60 days
• SINP officials assess applications and make decisions

For more information, candidates can visit Saskatchewan PNP ( https://www.saskatchewan.ca/residents/moving-to-saskatchewan/live-in-saskatchewan/by-immigrating/saskatchewan-immigrant-nominee-program/how-to-apply-to-the-sinp ) or

contact ICanHelpImmigration Services for a detailed consultation.

If you are looking to Study, Work, Visit or Migrate to Canada, talk to I Can Help Immigration Services, Canada’s No.1 Immigration & Visa Company to get the best help you need

Syed Khan – December 21, 2021

Manitoba PNP, in its December 16 draw, issued 349 Letters of Advice to Apply (LAA’s), to skilled workers and international graduates. The LAA’s were issued through three MPNP streams. This was the 132nd draw in the history of MPNP that spans over 20 years. The summary of the draw is given below:

Name of MPNP stream:	The number of LAA’s issued:	The minimum score required to qualify:
Skilled Workers stream	296	447
International Education Stream	40	N/A
Skilled Workers Overseas via a Strategic Recruitment Initiative	13	712

About the streams:

The Skilled Worker in Manitoba Stream

It is based on the specific requirements of hiring Manitoba employers. This stream targets the selection of foreign-trained workers having required skills and nominates them for Canada PR. The stream has two pathways to Manitoba immigration.

a) Manitoba Work Experience Pathway

b) Employer Direct Recruitment Pathway

The Skilled Worker Overseas Stream

It is a stream aimed at International SW’s with skills that fit in with Manitoba’s In-Demand Occupations. Applicants and spouses with close family connections, google language proficiency, training, and experience to find jobs quickly, all of the above points give the candidate a priority. It includes both a Canada Express Entry Pathway and a direct provincial pathway.

a) Manitoba Express Entry Pathway

b) Human Capital Pathway

The International Education Stream

This focuses on international graduates from Manitoba colleges and universities. Under the stream, applicants are no longer required to work for six months in their field before applying for an MPNP nomination.

a) Career Employment Pathway

b) Graduate Internship Pathway

c) Student Entrepreneur Pathway

If you are looking to Study, Work, Visit or Migrate to Canada, talk to I Can Help Immigration Services, Canada’s No.1 Immigration & Visa Company to get the best help you need

Syed Khan – December 20, 2021

Canada has announced that it will reimpose PCR test requirements for citizens and permanent residents that travel outside Canada for less than 72 hours. They will need to show a negative test on arrival back in Canada. It has also announced that it will lift the travel ban previously imposed on 10 countries.

These measures were announced by Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos in Canada’s latest attempts to curb the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19. Canada has been on edge with more than 7,000 new COVID-19 cases recorded this week, a worrying rise since May.

It was also announced that these new measures will come into effect from           December 21, and Canadian airports have expanded their testing capacities to 20,960 tests daily.

The countries on the travel ban list were:

• Namibia
• Malawi
• Egypt
• South Africa
• Nigeria
• Mozambique
• Botswana
• Zimbabwe
• Lesotho
• Eswatini

Quote by Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos:

“There is still a lot we don’t know about the Omicron variant, but we do know it is spreading fast. Because we can never be too vigilant when it comes to the safety and health of Canadians, we are updating our travel and border measures and are also working hand in hand with provinces and territories to help slow down the spread of the variant in communities across the country.”

Quote by Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra:

“The Government of Canada continues to take quick action based on science, to protect the health and safety of Canadians throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. We must all work together to contain the spread of COVID-19 and this Omicron variant by following public health advice and getting vaccinated. We will not hesitate to introduce measures, as required, to keep travelers and transportation workers safe.”

The list of accepted vaccines has also been updated. The list is as follows:

1. Pfizer
2. Moderna
3. AstraZeneca
4. COVAXIN
5. Johnson & Johnson
6. Sinopharm
7. Sinovac

The full public health statement by the Canadian government can be read here: ( https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/news/2021/11/remarks-from-the-chief-public-health-officer-on-november-26-2021.html )

If you are looking to Study, Work, Visit or Migrate to Canada, talk to I Can Help Immigration Services, Canada’s No.1 Immigration & Visa Company to get the best help you need.

Syed Khan – December 19, 2021

The British Columbia immigration, in its latest draw held on 15 December, issued 11 invitations through BC PNP’s general Entrepreneur Immigration stream. The minimum score required to qualify was 118 points. The Entrepreneur Immigration stream is aimed at experienced entrepreneurs who wish to settle down in the province and who can support innovation and economic growth in the province.

This stream is designed to target experienced entrepreneurs who can support innovation and economic growth in the province. It has three categories:

• Base
• Regional Pilot
• Strategic Projects

Requirements for the BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigration Category are as follows:

• Establish an eligible new business aligned with the priorities of the referring community
• Have appropriate business and/or management experience
• Have a personal net worth of at least CAD $300,000 legally obtained
• Make an eligible personal investment of at least CAD $100,000 in the business
• create at least one new full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
• Demonstrate a minimum language proficiency of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4 in English or French or both
• Have, or be eligible for, legal immigration status in Canada
• Have been lawfully admitted in the country where you currently live

List of ineligible businesses under the BC PNP:

• an immigration-linked investment scheme pursuant to Provincial Immigration Programs Regulation section 6(e) and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR) section 87(5)(b) and as defined in IRPR 87(9)
• any business where the terms of investment include a redemption option pursuant to IRPR 87(6)(d)
• any business that may be a passive investment pursuant to IRPR 87(6)(c)
• bed and breakfasts, hobby farms and home-based businesses
• payday loan, cheque cashing, money changing and cash machine businesses
• pawnbrokers
• tanning salons
• DVD rental stores
• coin-operated laundries
• automated car wash operations
• scrap metal recycling
• businesses selling used goods (excluding businesses that provide value-added services such as repairs, refurbishing or recycling)
• real estate development/brokerage, insurance brokerage or business brokerage
• businesses involved in producing, distributing or selling pornography or sexually explicit products or services, or providing sexually oriented services
• any other type of business that by association would tend to bring the BC PNP or the Government of British Columbia into disrepute

For more information, candidates can visit BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigration stream website ( https://www.welcomebc.ca/Immigrate-to-B-C/Entrepreneur-Immigration ) or

contact ICanHelpImmigration Services for a detailed consultation.

If you are looking to Study, Work, Visit or Migrate to Canada, talk to I Can Help Immigration Services, Canada’s No.1 Immigration & Visa Company to get the best help you need