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The Student Direct Stream program is aimed at international students who apply for a study permit via Designated Learning Institutes (DLI). This is an opportunity for international students looking to study at a Canadian designated learning institution (DLI) and their study permit is processed expeditiously. Eligible candidates can get their study permit application processed by the IRCC within 20 calendar days.

The biggest advantage offered by the SDS is the efficient and fast processing time of 20 days as opposed to 2 months; the time it takes for a normal visa or study permit to be processed.

Under this pathway, the entire application process is online, making it easier for international students to apply. All international students applying need to meet the eligibility of a study permit as set by the IRCC.

In this article, we will include everything you need to know about the SDS program,

including a detailed outline of the application process.

Advantages of moving to Canada as an international student:

As the Canadian government continues to attract international students, the study and work climate is more welcoming and offers advantages over other nations. Canada has a strong hiring employment market due to the current labor shortage. It is a diverse multi-cultural country that welcomes immigrants from all walks of life and has one of the lowest crime rates in the world. It offers an exceptional education system with many social welfare programs that are focused on education and training to help people get highly skilled jobs. It is a beautiful country with a plethora of natural resources and a bustling population of wildlife.

Canada currently has more than 500,000 international students enrolled in the country. This is because Canada offers a world-class education, incredible career opportunities, and permanent settlement in Canada.

Canada offers many advantages that most countries do not offer, including: International students in Canada are allowed to work for 20 hours per week during a semester and have a full-time job during vacation or breaks between semesters. The international student can bring their spouse or common-law partner along with them to Canada. Their spouses and common-law partners can obtain an open work permit, and work for any employer without any hour restriction. They can also bring their children to Canada, and enroll them in a public elementary or secondary school without needing a study permit.

What is a DLI?

A DLI is a program approved by a provincial or territorial government to host international students. A study permit is needed for an international student to study in Canada for more than six months. Students who graduate from Designated Learning Institution (DLI) can complete their studies and work in Canada for three years by obtaining an open post-graduation work permit. International students can also count the time spent on a study permit towards citizenship residency days requirements.

List of eligible countries:

In order to participate in SDS, the candidate should either be from one of the participating countries:

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Brazil
• China
• Colombia
• Costa Rica
• India
• Morocco
• Pakistan
• Peru
• Philippines
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Senegal
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Vietnam

What are the eligibility requirements and required documents for the SDS?

1. Proof of completed ‘Application for Study Permit’ along with an admission or acceptance letter from the Designated Learning Institute.
2. Meet the Language requirements set by the IRCC:

Candidates must have proficiency in English, French, or both. The candidate must pass a language test taken not more than 2 years from the date of application from an IRCC approved agency and meet the minimum language requirements.

A score of IELTS 6.0 or above in English in the following skills:

• Listening
• Reading
• Writing
• Speaking

If the candidate is applying under the French language, they must pass the Test d’Evaluation de Français with the following scores

• expression orale – 310
• compréhension de l’oral – 249
• compréhension de l’écrit – 207
• expression écrite – 310

These scores are equivalent to the Canadian Language Benchmark score of a minimum of 7 points.

3. Show proof of fulfillment of medical assessment by a Panel Physician
4. Proof of full payment of tuition fees for the first year of pursuing the degree along with the receipt from DLI, an official letter of confirmation of payment of the first-year fees and a receipt from the candidate’s bank
5. Show proof of all current secondary / post-secondary education transcripts
6. Complete the Family Information form (if applicable)
7. Provide proof of identity
8. Provide Statutory Declaration of Common-law Union (if applicable)
9. Complete the Custodianship Declaration (if applicable)
10. Fill out the Use of a Representative Form (if applicable)

It is important to keep in mind that a study permit is not equivalent to a visa. To enter the country the candidate will still be required to show an electronic travel authorization that is issued to them by the IRCC along with the study permit.

The application fees for SDS starts from $150 and it is strongly recommended that the candidate submit their application at least three months prior to the proposed date of travel.

What is a GIC and how to obtain it?

A Guaranteed Investment Certificate is a short-term deposit investment issued/sold by Canadian banks or trust companies with an assured rate of interest over the given time period.

While applying for the SDS, the candidate needs to show proof of having approximately $10,000 CAD per year to cover their living expenses. This does not include the tuition fee. This requirement can be fulfilled by purchasing a GIC from the Canadian Deposit Insurance Corporation or from any financial institution listed on the IRCC SDS website.

Upon purchase of the GIC, the candidate gets the following documents:

• GIC certificate
• Letter of attestation
• Investment Balance Confirmation OR
• Investment Directions Confirmation

Until the candidate arrives in Canada, the funds are held by the bank in an investment or student account, with the investment being inaccessible for release to the candidate until their arrival in Canada.

Once they enter Canada, the bank verifies their identity and releases an initial disbursement of the funds to the candidate, with the remaining funds released to the candidate in installments for the next 10 to 12 months.

Immigration Minister Sean Fraser has announced that Canada will be modernizing and improving the passport renewal processes making it simpler and easy to renew lost, stolen, or damaged passports or those passports that have expired more than 15 years ago.

Under the new changes announced, the candidate needs only the following documentation to apply for the renewal process:

• Completed forms with valid documentation (No need to provide proof of citizenship or original documents)
• Two photos
• Two references

This new rule, however, does not apply to those who are applying for a passport for the first time, they will still need to submit all valid documentation for this process.

Quote by Immigration Minister Sean Fraser:

“As international travel resumes, we need to continue to modernize and improve our passport services to make sure we meet the needs of Canadians. Simplifying the renewal process will make it easier and faster for Canadians to get their passports and is another step toward greater modernization while prioritizing the health and safety of Canadians and our employees.”

In January, the Canadian passport had ranked among the most powerful passports in the world according to the Henley Passport Index.

If you are the holder of a Canadian passport, you can travel visa-free to 185 countries and to another 48 countries that only require a visa upon arrival.

Access to travel without a visa is indicative of the freedom of citizens of the country. Before traveling to Canada, holders of visa-exempt passports are required to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization. It costs $7 CAD and can be obtained online.

Dual citizenship is also extremely common in Canada with almost one in 20 Canadians holding more than one passport. Foreign nationals from 49 countries can become Canadian citizens while also retaining their citizenship in their home countries. However, there is no official recognition of dual citizenship by the Canadian government.

A Canadian passport holder with dual citizenship can also visit the country they hold the passport of, without getting a visa. This reduces visa processing fees and other expenses too. Dual citizens, however, will not be exempt from legal obligations to obey all laws with regards to military service, providing for the public education system, and paying taxes.

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 has announced that all applications for the Spousal Sponsorship Program will be processed within 12 months, with the IRCC currently dealing with a massive backlog of 54,683 spousal sponsorship applications that are awaiting a final decision.

The IRCC has also recently launched an online tool and portal for tracking spousal and child sponsorship immigration applications online on their website. This tool can be accessed by applicants and their representatives.

The introduction of this online tool is aimed to minimize delays in the applications and provide relief to candidates by returning processing times to the service standard of 12 months.

The applicant can make changes to their application at any time before the IRCC makes a final decision on it.

Requirements to become a sponsor:

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Be a Canadian citizen, a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act, or a permanent resident
• Be living in Canada (if you are a Canadian citizen living outside Canada, you must show that you plan to live in Canada when your sponsored relative becomes a permanent resident)
• Be able to prove that you are not receiving social assistance for reasons other than a disability, and;
• Should be able to show that you can provide basic needs for yourself, your spouse or partner, your spouse or partner’s dependent child (if applicable), your dependent child (if you’re sponsoring only your dependent child)

When sponsoring a spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner, the length of the undertaking is 3 years from the day the spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner becomes a permanent resident.

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

Employment and Social Development Canada recently announced updates to the Global Talent Stream and High-Wage Stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program that are set to take effect from April 30.

In the announcement, the validity of the LMIA was increased from 9 months to 18 months. This change comes as a relief to foreign workers who have entered Canada on the basis of an LMIA.

Ottawa has also announced that it will end the policy of automatic refusal of LMIA for occupations with low wages in the Retail Trade and Accommodation and Food Services industries in regions that have an unemployment percentage of 6 percent or higher.

Candidates selected under these streams are now allowed to work for an additional year, i.e., three years instead of two.

The limit on the number of Temporary Foreign Workers that can be hired in seasonal industries was also removed. The limit of working days for such workers was also increased from 180 days to 270 days per year.

One of the biggest changes announced was that employers in the following industries can now hire foreign workers up to 30 percent of their workforce, a drastic increase from the 20 percent most industries are now allowed to hire.

1. Construction
2. Hospitals
3. Food Manufacturing
4. Wood Product Manufacturing
5. Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing
6. Accommodation and Food Services
7. Nursing and Residential Care Facilities

The Temporary Foreign Worker Program is an innovative program that allows Canadian employers the ability to temporarily hire foreign nationals in order to fill shortages in Canada’s labor force. It also ensures the rights and protections of these foreign workers.

Under this program, temporary foreign workers can be hired through the following streams:

• Global Talent Stream
• Foreign Agricultural Workers
• High-Wage Workers
• Low-Wage Workers
• In-Home Caregivers
• Foreign Academics

The biggest requirement for a TFWP is the Labor Market Impact Assessment. Any employer or business looking to hire a foreign national through TFWP must first obtain an LMIA demonstrating that they were unable to find a Canadian citizen or permanent resident to fill the position. Only after obtaining this document can the employer officially hire a foreign national, thus enabling the newcomer to apply for a Canadian work permit or PR.

Quote by Minister of Employment, Carla Qualtrough:

“As the needs of Canada’s workforce change, we are adjusting the Temporary Foreign Worker Program to meet them. We’ll continue to work with provinces, territories, and other partners to build the strong, skilled workforce Canada needs to support our growing economy.”

Back in January, Prime Minister Trudeau had emphasized the reduction of application processing times, and addressing the delays that have been impacted by COVID-19. Over 1.8 million applications are still being processed in the IRCC database adding to the backlog.

Trudeau had also asked the Minister to coordinate and partner with the Minister of

Employment in the establishment of a Trusted Employer system for Canadian

companies hiring temporary foreign workers.

In a worrying statement made by Statistics Canada back in January, by 2050, Canada will have lost a significant portion of its working-age individuals and its future workforce. If the labor market approach and policies do not change, this shortage will be crippling for Canada’s economic growth. Immigration is one of the solutions towards reducing shortages but it needs to be streamlined and improved to attract more newcomers to work and settle down in the country.

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 welcomed 108,000 new permanent residents till now, the IRCC announced on the 31st of March.

In January, Immigration Minister Sean Fraser had announced that the goal for the first quarter of the year was final decisions on 147,000 permanent residence applications.

In three months, IRCC and the federal government have worked together to exceed this goal. The Minister also announced updates to the tool for online application processing time.

Quote by Immigration Minister Sean Fraser:

“While navigating unprecedented challenges in Canada’s immigration system, we have kept client experience as our focus, leading to record levels of newcomers in Canada. Helping clients come to Canada quickly, with predictable processing times and efficient communication, remains a top priority for me. Canada is proud to be a destination of choice for so many people around the world, and we will continue to work hard to provide the best experience possible for them.”

Quote by the IRCC in the announcement:

“Most permanent residence and citizenship services will now use dynamic processing times with updated calculations posted weekly based on data from the previous six months. Dynamic processing times for temporary residence services are already in place based on data from the past eight or 16 weeks. These changes will provide realistic and up-to-date information for clients and will reflect the volumes of applications being processed as well as the latest operational realities. They will allow those who want to come to Canada to live, work, and study to make plans based on a more accurate timeline.”

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

Ontario Immigration invited over 618 candidates in four draws held on 30 March. In the draws, ITA’s were sent out through the following streams:

1. Master’s Graduate Stream
2. Foreign Worker Stream
3. In-Demand Skills stream

Only those candidates qualified who created profiles between April 28, 2021, and March 30, 2022.

Name of the stream	No. of Expression of Interest (ITA’s) sent	Minimum CRS score
Masters Graduate Stream	398	39
Foreign Worker Stream	155	23
In-Demand Skills stream	65	21

For the Foreign Worker Stream, candidates from the following occupations were invited:

• NOC 2232 – Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
• NOC 2233 – Industrial engineering and manufacturing technologists and technicians
• NOC 2242 – Electronic service technicians (household and business equipment)
• NOC 2243 – Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics
• NOC 2253 – Drafting technologists and technicians
• NOC 2282 – User support technicians
• NOC 2283 – Information systems testing technicians
• NOC 7201 – Contractors and supervisors, machining, metal forming, shaping and erecting trades and related occupations
• NOC 7202 – Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations
• NOC 7203 – Contractors and supervisors, pipefitting trades
• NOC 7204 – Contractors and supervisors, carpentry trades
• NOC 7205 – Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicers
• NOC 7232 – Tool and die makers
• NOC 7233 – Sheet metal workers
• NOC 7236 – Ironworkers
• NOC 7241 – Electricians (except industrial and power system)
• NOC 7242 – Industrial electricians
• NOC 7251 – Plumbers
• NOC 7271 – Carpenters
• NOC 7281 – Bricklayers
• NOC 7282 – Concrete finishers
• NOC 7284 – Plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers
• NOC 7291 – Roofers and shinglers
• NOC 7293 – Insulators
• NOC 7294 – Painters and decorators (except interior decorators)
• NOC 7301 – Contractors and supervisors, mechanic trades
• NOC 7302 – Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews
• NOC 7303 – Supervisors, printing and related occupations
• NOC 7305 – Supervisors, motor transport and other ground transit operators
• NOC 7311 – Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics
• NOC 7312 – Heavy-duty equipment mechanics
• NOC 7313 – Refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics
• NOC 7314 – Railway carmen/women
• NOC 7315 – Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors
• NOC 7318 – Elevator constructors and mechanics
• NOC 7321 – Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers
• NOC 7333 – Electrical mechanics
• NOC 7334 – Motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle and other related mechanics
• NOC 7371 – Crane operators
• NOC 8255 – Contractors and supervisors, landscaping, grounds maintenance and horticulture services
• NOC 9241 – Power engineers and power systems operators

For the In-Demand Skills Stream, candidates from the following occupations were invited:

• NOC 3413 – Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates
• NOC 4412 – Home support workers and related occupations, excluding housekeepers
• NOC 7441 – Residential and commercial installers and servicers
• NOC 7521 – Heavy equipment operators (except crane)
• NOC 7611 – Construction trades helpers and laborer’s
• NOC 8431 – General farm workers
• NOC 8432 – Nursery and greenhouse workers
• NOC 8611 – Harvesting laborer’s
• NOC 9462 – Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers
• NOC 9411 – Machine operators, mineral and metal processing
• NOC 9416 – Metalworking and forging machine operators
• NOC 9417 – Machining tool operators
• NOC 9418 – Other metal products machine operators
• NOC 9421 – Chemical plant machine operators
• NOC 9422 – Plastics processing machine operators
• NOC 9437 – Woodworking machine operators
• NOC 9446 – Industrial sewing machine operators
• NOC 9461 – Process control and machine operators, food, beverage and associated products processing
• NOC 9523 – Electronics assemblers, fabricators, inspectors and testers
• NOC 9526 – Mechanical assemblers and inspectors
• NOC 9536 – Industrial painters, coaters, and metal finishing process operators
• NOC 9537 – Other products assemblers, finishers, and inspectors

For more information, candidates can visit OINP ( https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontario-immigrant-nominee-program-oinp ) 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

The British Columbia immigration, in its latest draw held on 29 March, issued more than 210 invitations through three categories via the BC PNP.

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.

The first draw invited 161 skilled workers and international graduates from the BC PNP Tech stream who had scored 87 points and above. The second draw targeted healthcare workers and invited 12 candidates who had a minimum score of 75 points. The third draw targeted the specific NOC 4214 – Early Childhood Educators and issued 37 invites to candidates who scored 75 points and above. The fourth draw was held to target NOC’s 3114 and 3213 with less than 5 candidates invited.

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:
BC PNP Tech draw	161	5	87
Draw held for healthcare workers	12	1	75
Draw held for specific NOC 4214 – Early Childhood Educators	37	1	75

The BC PNP has the following subcategories:

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

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

Alberta Immigration invited 350 Express Entry candidates through the AINP to apply for a provincial nomination. The minimum CRS score required to qualify was 325 points. This draw was held on March 22, with results becoming known to the public recently.

The AINP has announced that a lot of applications have been received in the following occupations, meaning they may take longer to process:

• 0621 – Retail and wholesale trade managers
• 0631 – Restaurant and food service managers
• 1221 – Administrative officers
• 1241 – Administrative assistants
• 1311 – Accounting technicians and bookkeepers
• 4214 – Early childhood educators and assistants
• 6211 – Retail sales supervisors
• 6311 – Foodservice supervisors
• 6322 – Cooks
• 7511 – Transport truck drivers

The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program is an economic immigration program that nominates people for permanent residence in Alberta. The Express Entry candidates who are nominated must be skilled, fill job shortages or buy or start a business in Alberta. This program is run by the governments of Alberta and Canada.

On 13 January 2022, Alberta also announced its Accelerated Tech Pathway which provides expedited processing to foreign workers who are currently working for or have a job offer with, an Alberta-based tech industry employer in an eligible tech occupation.

Streams under the AAIP for skilled workers:

• Alberta Opportunity Stream
• Alberta Express Entry Stream (Tech workers can qualify for expedited processing under the Accelerated Tech Pathway)
• Rural Renewal Stream

Streams under the AAIP for entrepreneurs:

• Rural Entrepreneur Stream
• Graduate Entrepreneur Stream
• Farm Stream
• Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream

For more information, candidates can visit AINP ( https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-advantage-immigration-program.aspx ) or contact ICanHelpImmigration Services for a detailed consultationIf 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

Immigration Minister Sean Fraser recently held an interview with ApplyBoard, a Canadian educational technology company that helps international students apply for post-secondary studies abroad.

The virtual interview was conducted on issues relating to applications, processing, and admission of international students into the country. At the end of the interview, the minister also answered questions posed in the chat box by potential applicants.

The Minister also stressed the importance of immigration and the contributions of international students to the Canadian economy while hinting at plans to develop a new pathway to permanent residency for them.

Quotes from the interview:

“Our message to international students and graduates is simple. We don’t just want you to study here. We’re hoping to create pathways that allow you to stay here and make a lasting contribution beyond your academic career. In 2021 alone, we welcomed more than 300,000 international students across Canada. That’s nearly double the number of students from the year before and it’s actually higher than pre-pandemic levels. We believe this is going to be a growth opportunity going forward as well.”

Canada currently has more than 500,000 international students enrolled in the country.

This is because Canada offers a world-class education, incredible career opportunities,

and permanent settlement in Canada.

Nearly 450,000 study permits were issued by Canada in 2021. Canada offers many advantages that most countries do not offer, including

• International students in Canada are allowed to work for 20 hours per week during a semester and have a full-time job during vacation or breaks between semesters.
• The international student can bring their spouse or common-law partner along with them to Canada. Their spouses and common-law partners can obtain an open work permit, and work for any employer without any hour restriction. They can also bring their children to Canada, and enroll them in a public elementary or secondary school without needing a study permit.

In the latest study by QS World University Rankings, Montreal, Vancouver, and Toronto

rank among the best student cities in the world.

Students who graduate from Designated Learning Institution (DLI) can complete their

studies and work in Canada for three years by obtaining an open post-graduation work

permit. A DLI is a program approved by a provincial or territorial government to host international students. A study permit is needed for an international student to study in

Canada for more than six months. International students can also count the time spent on a study permit towards citizenship residency days requirements.

The top 10 countries that were issued study permits in 2021 are:

S. No	Name of the country:	Number of study permits issued:
1	India	217,410
2	China	105,265
3	France	26,630
4	Iran	16,900
5	Vietnam	16,285
6	South Korea	15,805
7	The Philippines	15,545
8	The United States	14,325
9	Nigeria	13,745
10	Mexico	11,550

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