Saskatchewan Immigration announced a new pilot program set to accept applications from 15 January 2022, called the “Hard to Fill Skills” Pilot to fill labor demand in occupations like heath, hospitality, agriculture, construction, manufacturing, retail and ag-tech.
In the announcement made on 25 November, this program will help SINP in recruiting international workers for over 23 in-demand entry level occupations which may require on the job training.
Quote by Immigration and Career Training Minister Jeremy Harrison:
“The demand for labor in our province is strong, and it’s only going to increase with the significant economic projects recently announced in Saskatchewan. This new Hard-To-Fill Skills Pilot is progress on our autonomy discussions with the federal government and is going to help provide employers with greater access to international options to recruit workers. This is in addition to record investments into training and up-skilling our provincial workforce, as we enter a period of strong growth coming out of the global pandemic.”
Requirements for the Hard to Fill Skills Pilot Program:
Have a full-time, permanent offer of employment and SINP job approval letter for an eligible occupation from a registered Saskatchewan employer.
Meet a minimum Canadian Official Language proficiency level.
Meet the minimum educational and work experience requirements, which includes having at least one year of work experience in the same occupation as the job offer or six-months work experience in that job in Saskatchewan.
There is no specification on the language requirement, or the NOC codes eligible.
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
Canada has put an indefinite ban on incoming travel from seven countries i.e., South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, and Eswatini. This is to curb the spread of the new COVID-19 variant, Omicron which is believed to have over 20 mutations and is highly resistant to vaccines (source: WHO)
In an announcement made by Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos on 26 November, Canada has banned travel from these seven countries and implemented a number of new measures which include:
Banning entry of all foreign travelers who have traveled through these seven countries in the last 14 days.
All travelers to Canada must take a COVID-19 test on arrival, and wait for the result at an assigned hotel. Quarantine for 14 days is mandatory no matter what the test result is.
Canadian citizens and permanent residents who have traveled to these countries will have to present a negative PCR test upon arrival in Canada. The test must be taken in the connecting country, no less than 72 hours before arrival in Canada.
The WHO has labeled Omicron a ‘variant of concern’ but has criticized imposing travel bans on southern Africa, saying such an action “attacks global solidarity.” Travel bans have been imposed by several countries, with many of them being indefinite.
The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, said:“With the Omicron variant now detected in several regions of the world, putting in place travel bans that target Africa attacks global solidarity. COVID-19 constantly exploits our divisions.
In the latest update as of 30th November, 12 am CST, Australia, Israel, Belgium, Hong Kong, Germany, Britain, Switzerland, and Canada have confirmed cases of the variant in their respective countries.
Quote by Canada health chief Dr. Theresa Tam:
“One area of mutations is in the spike receptor-binding domain, where the virus attaches itself and invades our cells, which could signify a potential for increased transmissibility of the virus. The other area of mutations is in what is referred to as the antigenic supersite because it is a target for our body’s defensive or neutralizing antibodies.”
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
The IRCC, on its recently held draw on 24th November, has sent invites to 613 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 737 (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 2021, the IRCC has targeted on inviting Express Entry candidates from Provincial Nominee Class and Canadian Experience Class. This is the 6th draw in a row that IRCC has held that is PNP specific.
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.
contact ICanHelpImmigration Services for a detailed consultation.
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Alberta Immigration invited 200 Express Entry candidates through the AINP to apply for a provincial nomination. The minimum CRS score required to qualify was 343 points. This draw was held on 9 November, with results becoming known to the public recently.
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.
It has also been announced that a large inflow of applications has been received in the occupations mentioned below. This means that the applications for these NOC codes may take longer to process:
S.no
Name of the occupation:
NOC code:
1.
Food service supervisors
6311
2.
Transport truck drivers
7511
3.
Retail sales supervisors
6211
4.
Cooks
6322
5.
Administrative assistants
1241
6.
Administrative officers
1221
7.
Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers
9462
8.
Early childhood educators and assistants
4214
9.
Retail and wholesale trade managers
0621
10.
Restaurant and food service managers
0631
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 300
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
British Columbia Immigration issued 357 invitations in its latest draw via the BC PNP. In the draw held on 23 November, 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:
0621 for Retail and Wholesale Trade Managers
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
258
5
71-97
NOC specific draw held to target two NOC occupations
99
4
103
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 offers when applying for BC PNP Tech must be full-time for a duration of 365 days or more.
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
The launch of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants is a major change to the regulation and working of Canada’s immigration consultation industry which helps immigrants move and settle down comfortably.
This modern administrative College has improved powers for permitting, oversight, examination, and authorization of migration and citizenship experts in Canada and abroad. It sets instructive, educational, proficient practice and upholds an ethical benchmark for all its licensees. It is the institution that guarantees competent and ethical counsel for all immigrants and sets a standard for authorized immigration consultants to be commendable of their trust.
The College’s role, its statutory authority, and its powers are set out in:
The College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants Act,
Anyone who wants to provide Canadian immigration or citizenship advice or representation for a fee (or for any other benefit) must be one of the following:
If someone is not already a lawyer or a notaire, they must have a license from the College to work as a Regulated Canadian immigration consultant.
History of the College:
The College is the self-regulatory organization that has now replaced the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC).
ICCRC was started in 2011 by the Federal Minister of Citizenship and Immigration under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and the Citizenship Act.
The College is governed by a Board of Directors comprising 4 licensees of the College and 5 public representatives appointed by the Minister.
Regulation of practice of the RCIC’s and RISIA’s:
The College regulates the practice of RCICs and RISIAs in the public interest and ensures clarity and transparency in their working. All immigration consultants who provide immigration, citizenship, or visa services, in Canada or abroad, must comply with the rules and regulations of the College.
The RCICs (Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants) and RISIAs (Regulated International Student Immigration Advisors) who are current members will automatically become licensees of the new establishment. Under the new College, licensees will be required to undergo a CPD (Continuing Professional Development) and practice assessment every year in order for the College to determine the standard upheld by the licensee.
Under the new rules, starting from July 2022, an RCIC-IRB class of license is also required for those who wish to represent clients during tribunals held by the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada.
Quote by John Murray, President & CEO of the College:
“The federal mandate of the College is based upon the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants Act (S.C. 2019, c. 29, s. 292) and is a result of months of research, consultation, and preparation in addition to an Act of Parliament. It is the dawn of a new era in regulation of the immigration consulting profession”
Quote by the Honorable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship:
“The Government of Canada works to protect the integrity of our immigration system. Part of this means ensuring consultants are properly licensed so that applicants who use their services can count on high-quality advice. The opening of this College is an important milestone, and I look forward to its success in supporting the renewal of Canada’s population and workforce.”
The College will continue to regulate by:
Licensing and authorizing immigration consultants that provide immigration, citizenship or visa services.
Providing a latest and up to date Public Register of licensees that can be used by immigrants all over the world to access information on RCICs and RISIAs registered with the College.
Supporting learning of RCIC’s and RISIA’s by providing resources to foster ongoing education
Investigating complaints registered against RCICs and RISIAs whose conduct fails to meet the standards of the College and disciplining those who breach the Code of Professional Conduct by sanctioning licensees.
Establishing a Compensation Fund which aims to help people that have been adversely affected by the activities of a licensee.
Undertaking public awareness to promote the role of the College and the regulation of the profession to the public, the media and to stakeholder organizations across Canada and abroad.
Working with the federal government to continually strengthen regulation in the public interest.
The College works on a principle of self-regulation. This is to protect the interests of Canadians and newcomers to Canada by ensuring that Canadian immigration and citizenship consultants operate ethically and competently. It also helps Canada facilitate immigration and provide protection to refugees.
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
As Canada gets back on track and opens its borders, the Canadian federal government has laid out its plan regarding travel to and from the country and announced updates regarding its border and travel restrictions.
Quote by Minister of Health Jean-Yves Duclos:
“Health and safety will always remain at the forefront of any decision our government makes in the fight against COVID-19. The upcoming changes to Canada’s border testing and entry requirements reflect the next stage in our government’s approach as we align with the improving vaccination rates both here in Canada and around the world. The situation at our borders remains closely monitored, with officials and experts continuing their work to evaluate the measures in place and recommend necessary adjustments as required.”
Quote by Immigration Minister Sean Fraser:
“Requiring foreign nationals to be fully vaccinated adds another important layer of protection at the border. Many foreign nationals and international students arriving in Canada are already fully vaccinated, and the measures announced today will help ensure that Canadians remain protected against COVID-19 as the economy reopens and international travel returns.”
In an announcement were made by the IRCC on November 19, the following updates were announced to Canada’s travel policies:
For travelers undertaking short trips of less than 72 hours across the land or air border: Testing requirements have been removed. They no longer need to provide a pre-entry molecular test provided they can prove that they were away from the country for less than 72 hours.
For travelers undertaking trips of more than 72 hours across the land or air border: Travelers have to show a pre-entry molecular test taken 72 hours before arriving, regardless of their vaccination status. PCR tests / Antigen tests are no longer accepted
Addition of vaccines to the list of acceptable vaccines: The following vaccines have been added to the list of accepted vaccines. 1. Sinopharm, 2. Sinovac, 3. COVAXIN.
Vaccination mandatory for travel: A PCR test is no longer accepted unless the traveler is under the special medical exemption. Starting from 30 November, proof of vaccination is mandatory for travel. After 15 January, partially vaccinated or unvaccinated travelers can only enter Canada if they are exempted. Exempted groups include:
New permanent residents arriving in Canada
Agricultural workers
Food processing workers
Marine crew members
Those entering on compassionate grounds
Resettling refugees
Dependent children under age 18 (Exemptions apply)
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
In the latest draw, the Prince Edward Island immigration has issued invitations to 188 skilled worker and entrepreneur candidates. On November 18, the province issued invitations through three streams. They are as follows:
Labour Impact stream
Express Entry stream
Business Impact stream
The summary of the draw is as follows:
Name of the stream:
The number of invites issued:
The minimum score required to qualify:
Labour Impact and Express Entry
172
N/A
Business Impact
16
67
The anticipated dates of upcoming draws are as follows:
November 18
December 16
The PEI Express Entry Category has two pathways towards Canadian permanent residence, they are as follows:
Skilled Worker Stream
Critical Worker Stream
The Express Entry category operates by considering applicants who are already in the Express Entry Pool for a provincial nomination which adds 600 points to a candidate’s CRS score. This guarantees the candidate an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian immigration.
Graduates of publicly funded designated learning institutions in Canada are eligible to apply for a Post Graduate Work Permit upon graduation. PGWP holders who are seeking nomination under Express Entry are required to meet a minimum of nine months work experience with a PEI employer prior to being considered for immigration pathways if you:
hold a PGWP and graduated from an institution outside of PEI
have a spousal open work permit as a result of a spouse’s study permit from an institution outside of PEI
have a minimum of four months prior to the expiry of your PGWP at time of submission of Expression of Interest
Requirements for Skilled Worker Stream:
have a full‐time, non-seasonal (permanent or minimum of two years) job offer from a PEI employer in a high skilled occupation defined by the National Occupation Classification (NOC) skill level 0, A, or B
have at least two years of full‐time work experience in the past five years
have a valid work permit to be working in Canada
have legal status in country of residence
have successfully completed a post‐secondary degree or diploma (minimum two year program)
be between the ages of 18 and 59
have sufficient English and/or French language ability to perform the job offered. Language ability can be verified by one of the following: o a language test from an IRCC-approved testing institute within the past two years with a minimum score of CLB/NCLC 4; or o PEIW-02: Workforce Job Offer Form indicating employer is comfortable with the employee’s proficiency in English and/or French to perform tasks associated with the job position being offered
have sufficient financial resources for the applicant and family to pay all immigration costs (including travel expenses) to be able to establish in PEI
demonstrate a genuine intention to settle in PEI.
Requirements for Critical Worker Stream:
have a full‐time, non-seasonal (i.e. permanent or minimum of two years) job offer from a PEI employer in an intermediate-skilled position, defined by the National Occupation Code (NOC) skill level C or D
have worked a minimum of six months full‐time for the PEI employer
have a valid work permit and legal status in Canada
possess a minimum education of secondary school diploma
be between the ages of 18 and 59
have a minimum two years of full‐time work experience or relevant education in the past five years
provide a language test from an IRCC-approved testing institute within the past two years with a minimum score of CLB/NCLC 4
have sufficient financial resources to pay all immigration costs (including travel expenses) for you and your family to be able to establish in PEI
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
In the latest draw, the Prince Edward Island immigration has issued invitations to 188 skilled worker and entrepreneur candidates. On November 18, the province issued invitations through three streams. They are as follows:
Labor Impact stream
Express Entry stream
Business Impact stream
The summary of the draw is as follows:
Name of the stream:
The number of invites issued:
The minimum score required to qualify:
Labor Impact and Express Entry
172
N/A
Business Impact
16
67
The anticipated dates of upcoming draws are as follows:
November 18
December 16
The PEI Express Entry Category has two pathways towards Canadian permanent residence, they are as follows:
Skilled Worker Stream
Critical Worker Stream
The Express Entry category operates by considering applicants who are already in the Express Entry Pool for a provincial nomination which adds 600 points to a candidate’s CRS score. This guarantees the candidate an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian immigration.
Graduates of publicly funded designated learning institutions in Canada are eligible to apply for a Post Graduate Work Permit upon graduation. PGWP holders who are seeking nomination under Express Entry are required to meet a minimum of nine months’ work experience with a PEI employer prior to being considered for immigration pathways if you:
hold a PGWP and graduated from an institution outside of PEI
have a spousal open work permit as a result of a spouse’s study permit from an institution outside of PEI
have a minimum of four months prior to the expiry of your PGWP at time of submission of Expression of Interest
Requirements for Skilled Worker Stream:
have a full‐time, non-seasonal (permanent or minimum of two years) job offer from a PEI employer in a high skilled occupation defined by the National Occupation Classification (NOC) skill level 0, A, or B
have at least two years of full‐time work experience in the past five years
have a valid work permit to be working in Canada
have legal status in country of residence
have successfully completed a post‐secondary degree or diploma (minimum two-year program)
be between the ages of 18 and 59
have sufficient English and/or French language ability to perform the job offered. Language ability can be verified by one of the following: o a language test from an IRCC-approved testing institute within the past two years with a minimum score of CLB/NCLC 4; or o PEIW-02: Workforce Job Offer Form indicating employer is comfortable with the employee’s proficiency in English and/or French to perform tasks associated with the job position being offered
have sufficient financial resources for the applicant and family to pay all immigration costs (including travel expenses) to be able to establish in PEI
demonstrate a genuine intention to settle in PEI.
Requirements for Critical Worker Stream:
have a full‐time, non-seasonal (i.e., permanent or minimum of two years) job offer from a PEI employer in an intermediate-skilled position, defined by the National Occupation Code (NOC) skill level C or D
have worked a minimum of six months full‐time for the PEI employer
have a valid work permit and legal status in Canada
possess a minimum education of secondary school diploma
be between the ages of 18 and 59
have a minimum two years of full‐time work experience or relevant education in the past five years
provide a language test from an IRCC-approved testing institute within the past two years with a minimum score of CLB/NCLC 4
have sufficient financial resources to pay all immigration costs (including travel expenses) for you and your family to be able to establish in PEI
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
Saskatchewan Immigration invited 633 candidates via two streams in its latest draw. In the draw held on September 27th, specific NOC codes were targeted through the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP).
In the Occupations In-Demand stream, candidates received 208 invitations, and the Express Entry candidates received 425 invites. The minimum score for both streams was 65 points on the SINP points assessment grid.
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
Requirements for the Occupation in Demand Sub-Category are as follows:
Score at least 65 points on the SINP points assessment grid
Should score at least 4 points on the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB). Employers and regulatory bodies may ask for higher
The candidate should have at least one year of work experience in the past decade in the selected field of education or training occupation and should be working in an eligible occupation in NOC A, B, 0.
The candidate should have completed one year of post-secondary education (diploma or degree), training, or apprenticeship equivalent to the Canadian education system.
Degrees and diplomas obtained outside Canada are subject to an Educational Credential Assessment at the discretion of the officer
Have proof of settlement funds and a settlement plan ready.
The candidate should obtain the appropriate licensure in Saskatchewan if his/her field so requires, as the authorities will not process an application without the licensure.
Pay a non-refundable $300 application fee online.
Requirements for the Express Entry Sub-Category are as follows:
The candidate should have a profile in the Express Entry Pool, with profile number and job seeker validation code inputted.
Should score a minimum of 60 points on the SINP points assessment grid
Have at least one of the following experience requirements in your field of education or training occupation: One year of work experience in the past 10 years in a skilled profession (non-trades) OR Two years of work experience in a skilled trade in the past five years OR One year of work experience in Canada in the past three years (trades and non-trades)
The candidate should provide valid language test results from a designated testing agency matching those in the Express Entry profile
The candidate should have completed one year of post-secondary education, training, or apprenticeship comparable to the Canadian education system.
Degrees and diplomas obtained outside Canada subject to an Educational Credential Assessment
Must have work experience in a high-skilled, eligible occupation in NOC A, B, 0.
Have proof of settlement funds and a settlement plan ready
Should obtain the appropriate licensure in Saskatchewan where the candidate’s profession is regulated or a skilled trade.
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
