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International Students in the U.S., Canada is your One Genuine Option for Immigration

July 15, 2020

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A piece of difficult news was announced by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on July 6, 2020, for many international students, who were waiting to pursue their courses in the United States – they would either have to leave the country or risk deportation, if the universities they are enrolled have switched to an online-only format, for the upcoming Fall 2020 semester.

This move of U.S. was likely to affect thousands of students, who are either waiting to start their program or have already been in the U.S. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, many universities and colleges have been opting for online classes.

However, a federal judge announced Tuesday, July 14, 2020, that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, has rescinded a July 6 policy that would have forced international students studying in the U.S. to enroll in-person courses to remain rightfully in the country, after Harvard and MIT filed a lawsuit against it, which was supported by 17 more states and hundreds of other universities. Hence, international students can take the full-online course for the fall 2020 semester.

Previously, the policy mentioned that:

Students enrolled in schools for the fall semester that is conducted fully online would not be issued visa and not permitted to enter the country. Currently, active students must depart the country or take other measures, such as transferring to other schools that have implemented in-person programs to attend.

Also, eligible students were permitted to take a maximum of one class or three credit hours online. Institutions offering both online and in-person classes could enroll in more than one class or three credit hours online.

Students in non-immigrant students in the United States were not allowed to take a full course that is conducted online-only and was required to leave the country or take other alternatives to maintain the status, for example, take a reduced course load or get an appropriate medical leave.

All this created anxiety in international students, and as they had few options for the fall semester, and many even considered the alternative of choosing a new country to pursue their studies. If you are still considering alternatives, Canada can be your option.

Moving to Canada

And your decision might just be right! While U.S. has been toughening its rules, Canada has been creating opportunities for many immigrants. For example:

Example 1: International students can work more than 20 hours in the essential industries due to the COVID-19, temporarily.

Example 2: Also, students who cannot travel due to many travel restrictions in place, can pursue their courses online and complete up to 50% of it from their home country, if you are unable to come to Canada sooner. This would still count towards their post-graduate work permit, and time is not deducted for the length of your post-graduate work permit, for the studies completed between fall 2020 and December 31, 2020.

Example 3: Work permits under the essential service industries are being processed sooner, especially for agri-food, agriculture, and health care.

These are just a few examples of how Canada is helping newcomers and immigrants in its land to create opportunities for, even when the world is battling with the outbreak. With these steps to accommodate the needs of many international students, Canada has been well-supported by the immigrants in its ways to overcome the COVID outbreak scenario that left many in jeopardy.

Studying in Canada is one of the many options in Canada, however, there are many more possibilities for immigration and securing a future in the land of immigrants through the express entry, and other provincial programs.

So, if you are considering your alternative, Canada can just be the right place for you! There are various ways to get in Canada, and if you would like to discuss your options for Canada, we are here to help! You can simply start your assessment and begin your pathway for Canadian immigration.

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Ontario’s New Program for Permanent Residence – OINP Regional Immigration Pilot, accepting applications

July 10, 2020

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Starting July 09, 2020, Ontario has started accepting applications for its new program – the regional immigration pilot, with the motif to bring foreign talent to Ontario communities.

The regional immigration pilot provides a new pathway to permanent residence for the prospective Ontario immigrants. Under OINP, foreign workers, international students, and others with the right skills, experience, and education get the opportunity to apply for permanent residence in Ontario.

This OINP Regional Immigration Pilot helps to fill the labor shortages in the rural communities of Ontario and support for its economic growth.

The immigration Pilot offers about 150 nominations under the employer job offer category, which is set for applicants for pilot communities, also giving the opportunity to the employers for marketing and outreach, with dedicated service support for the employers.

Specific criteria have not been set for the pilot as it works under the existing Employer Job Offer streams. So, if you qualify for any of the OINP Employer Job Offer streams, and if your job offer is from the employer within the pilot communities, you can then qualify for the pilot.

Participating communities for OINP Regional Pilot:

The participating communities in the pilot are:

Chatham-Kent
Cities of Belleville and Quinte West
City of Cornwall

Employer Job Offer Stream

The employer job offer category has three streams:

Foreign Worker stream – for skilled workers,
International Student stream – for recent graduates of an Ontario post-secondary institution
In-Demand Skills stream – for workers in specific sectors such as agriculture, construction, trucking, and personal support workers.

Qualifying Criteria:

To qualify for the Regional Immigration Pilot, the applicants must have

A full-time and permanent job offer from signed by the employer located in one of the pilot communities (Chatham-Kent, Cornwall or Quinte West/Belleville), that meets the following:
- A minimum of 30 hours/week and at least 1560 hours in a year
- Must not be seasonal, part-time, subcontractor or an agency position
- Must be in skilled occupation NOC O, A or B
Must meet the low wage level for the occupation in the specific employment region of Ontario, where the applicant will be working
The job offer must align with the employer’s existing business activities and the position must be needed to grow or maintain ongoing activity
The employment activities related to the position must occur primarily in Ontario
Complete the form and sign along with the application

Got more questions about the OINP Regional Immigration Pilot? We have answers! Figure out your pathway to permanent residence by starting your assessment!

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Amendments to Ontario Immigration Act, affecting Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills Stream

July 3, 2020

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As per the information posted on July 2, 2020, OINP updates that the regulations under the Ontario Immigration Act, 2015 have been amended.

Currently, In-Demand Skills Stream is closed and will re-open on July 6, 2020, and the new applications under the Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills Stream, will be processed based on the selection criteria on Ontario Regulation 422/17 (General), as per the amendments, posted on Ontario’s e-Laws website on July 1, 2020.

The amendments have been made to the selection criteria for the Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills Stream, to further enhance the program priorities and regional employer needs.

Amendments:

Expand the Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills Stream eligible occupations with the addition of 13 new manufacturing related occupations on National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes for the employment positions outside the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) only.
This Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills Stream supports the employers facing labour shortages in specific in-demand occupations, for example, agriculture, construction and other low-to-semi-skilled NOC C or D occupations

New additional 13 NOCs:

9411 – Machine operators, mineral and metal processing
9416 – Metalworking and forging machine operators
9417 – Machining tool operators
9418 – Other metal products machine operators
9421 – Chemical plant machine operators
9422 – Plastics processing machine operators
9437 – Woodworking machine operators
9446 – Industrial sewing machine operators
9461 – Process control and machine operators, food, beverage and associated products processing
9523 – Electronics assemblers, fabricators, inspectors and testers
9526 – Mechanical assemblers and inspectors
9536 – Industrial painters, coaters and metal finishing process operators
9537 – Other products assemblers, finishers and inspectors
remove the settlement funds requirement for In-Demand Skills Stream applicants

To ensure that you meet the all criteria before submitting the application, review the Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills Stream webpage. Also, it is suggested that you review the amended regulations on Ontario’s e-Laws website.

New Employer Webpage

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) has a new webpage for the Ontario employers, that provides an overview of the OINP Employer Job Offer streams, with the eligibility criteria and conditions of approvals. The OINP gives employers the opportunity for employment positions, which cannot be filled locally.

Removal of application guides

Application guides has been removed to ensure the consistency and accuracy of program information. The Employer’s guide and the Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills stream guide have been removed from the website, and the content has been added to each stream webpage, which centrally located and accessible.

Any questions about OINP? Feel free to reach us, we are simply few clicks away!

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SINP International Skilled Workers: Expression of Interest (EOI) Selection Results

June 18, 2020

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Saskatchewan announces first PNP draw results since March 26, invites immigration candidates with work experience in 44 in-demand occupations. Saskatchewan’s latest draw on May 28 issued invitations for 252 immigration candidates to apply for a provincial nomination for permanent residence.

The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) invited candidates from the International Skilled Worker category through two subcategories: Express Entry, and Occupations In-Demand.

This is the first Express Entry-aligned Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw out of Saskatchewan since Canada closed its borders to non-essential travel. The previous draw on March 26 was only for Occupations In-Demand candidates.

In the latest invitation round, Saskatchewan issued 127 invitations to candidates who had profiles in the federal Express Entry pool. If candidates in the federal Express Entry pool also filled out an EOI for Saskatchewan, and they scored 78 on the SINP’s Points Assessment Grid they may have been invited in the latest draw.

How the EOI Works?

Saskatchewan’s EOI system allows the province to select immigration candidates that have the potential to thrive in the prairie province. Interested candidates must create an EOI profile and will be assessed on how their work experience, education, language ability, age, and connections to the province demonstrate their capacity to settle into life in Saskatchewan.

Candidates are then given a score out of 100 based on the SINP’s International Skilled Worker Points Assessment Grid.

The highest-scoring candidates are then issued an invitation to apply for a provincial nomination for Canadian permanent residence.

Our team can assist you in helping you understand the rules and process the application. Please contact us by email at support@spscanada.com or Call (1) 905-362-9393 (Canada), +91 9586 226232 (Ahmedabad). Our team will be in touch with you shortly. You can also access your profile through our online assessment tool.

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COVID-19: Essential Temporary Foreign Workers exempted from giving Biometrics

June 15, 2020

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On June 5, 2020, the Government of Canada announced that the temporary foreign workers who are currently playing their major roles, supporting the essential industries are exempted from giving biometrics as a temporary measure. Foreign Workers are combatting the fight against COVID-19, by securing Canada’s food supply, health security and various other aspects of trade and commerce.

As we are aware, there are ongoing service disruptions related to COVID-19, due to which, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has come up with a temporary public policy that exempts foreign workers belonging to specific sectors – agriculture, agri-food and health care from having to give their biometric before arriving to Canada, in cases where the biometric collection sites closest to them are closed.

IRCC mentions that most of the workers coming to Canada have already given their biometrics since they have worked in Canada previously, however, some of the temporary workers as seasonal agricultural workers, will be able to give biometrics at the ports of entry (POEs) to Canada. With that note, the security checks will be continued to perform for ensuring safety of all Canadians.

Foreign Workers who are covered under the policy

If you are a temporary foreign worker whose occupation belongs to the National Occupational Classification (NOC) under the following categories, you are covered from this public policy.

agricultural and agri-food sectors
health-care sector
truck drivers

Things to do before you travel to Canada

You must be aware that there is a mandatory self-isolation in place, you must have a plan to quarantine, include a place where you will not be in contact with individuals for 14 days once you arrive in Canada.
Disobeying will lead to serious consequences for not being intact with the quarantine plan
Employers responsible for housing should provide accommodation, allowing workers to quarantine

Once you arrive in Canada

As you arrive in Canada, you might be asked to provide biometrics at the Port of Entry in Canada
You will be assessed thoroughly to make sure you are in Canada for essential purpose. You should have valid documents with you, a letter of introduction for a work permit, and a valid job offer.
You can start working in Canada after completing the 14-days quarantine period.
Your health, including quarantine plan will be assessed before you leave the port of entry.

If you are not covered by the policy

In case you are not covered by the public policy because your application is still in progress, and your biometric application deadline is near, but, you are not able to give biometrics because the Visa Application Centres (VACs) or other biometrics collection sites are closed, then you do not have to provide biometrics until these sites resumes their service.
This is applicable even if the biometric instruction letter (BIL) states that the deadline is 30 days or 90 days.
Applications that are in progress will not be closed or refused if there are any missing documents due to COVID-19. You will have to keep checking for updates when biometrics collection centres would be open and complete the steps as soon as possible for avoiding any delays.

In the past months, IRCC has already introduced several special measures providing flexibility due to possible disruptions caused by COVID-19. This public policy is another example of such temporary measure to accommodate many foreign nationals facing problems during the pandemic.

Need assistance with your immigration related concerns? Book a Consultant and find your Canada immigration options and answers to all doubts and concerns by scheduling a one-to-one initial consultation meeting with our Senior Practitioner at SPS Canada Immigration.

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Canada’s Agri-Food Pilot, a New Pathway to Permanent Residence for Temporary Foreign Workers

June 3, 2020

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One more good news on the row for the new immigrants – Canada’s new Agri-Food Pilot program is now accepting applications after experiencing a bit delay due to COVID-19.

So, what is the New Agri-Food Pilot?

The Agri-Food Pilot has been launched to address the labour needs of agri-food sector in Canada, specifically for meat and mushroom processing, greenhouse production, livestock-raising, to meet the export targets, where a new industry specific approach will be tested.

This three year pilot program will run until May 2023, starting from May 15, 2020, which will be a pathway to permanent residence for experienced temporary foreign workers in Canada, belonging to specific industries and occupations.

The agriculture and the agri-food industry have been a crucial contributor to the economic growth of the country that supports about one in eight jobs in Canada. In 2018, the agricultural exports reached a new record of $66.2 billion.

IRCC will be accepting 2750 principal applicants and their family members, representing approximately 16,500 new residents in the next three years through the pilot program, till May 14, 2023 as per the media release on IRCC website.

Seems promising? Let’s review the eligiblility criteria.

Eligibility Requirements for Agri-Food Immigration Pilot

Foreign workers must meet the following five requirements to be eligible for the program.

You must have eligible Canadian work experience in one or more of the eligible industries and occupations
A full-time, non-seasonal job offer from a Canadian employer in one of the eligible industries and occupations (outside of Quebec)
Must meet or exceed the language requirements
Must meet or exceed the educational requirements
Have settlement funds (if applicable)
Should maintain temporary resident status (if already in Canada)

1. Work experience

You must have Canadian work experience as follows:

At least 1 year full-time experience in non-seasonal jobs in the past 3 years (at least 1,560 hours),
in one or more of the eligible occupations, listed under one of the eligible industries,
through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program

o Please note that a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) with a minimum 12-month duration is should be submitted by your employer when hiring you.

Open Work Permits

In case you used to have a work permit under Temporary Foreign Worker Program, and now have an open work permit, it can still be counted as an eligible work experience. But, any work experience from your open work permit will not be considered.

2. Job offer

Your job offer must meet the following requirements:

The job must be in an eligible occupation listed under 1 of the eligible industries.
The job must be full time.
The job must be non-seasonal.
Your employment is permanent.
Your job offer must be for a job in Canada outside of Quebec.

3. Language requirements

You should prove your ability in English or French and submit your results that is less than 2 years old when you apply.

4. Educational requirements

For education, you must have at least:

a Canadian high school diploma, or
an educational credential assessment (ECA) report from a designated organization or professional body showing that you completed a foreign credential at the secondary school level or above
The ECA report that is less than 5 years old on the date of your application.

5. Settlement funds

You must prove that you have enough funds to settle in Canada to support yourself and any family members you may have, even if they are not coming to Canada with you.

If you are working in Canada already with a valid work permit when you apply then you the proof of settlement funds is not necessary.

Eligible Industries

The eligible industries classified by North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) under the pilot are:

meat product manufacturing (NAICS 3116)
greenhouse, nursery and floriculture production, including mushroom production (NAICS 1114)
animal production, excluding aquaculture
cattle ranching and farming (NAICS 1121)
hog and pig farming (NAICS 1122)
poultry and egg production (NAICS 1123)
sheep and goat farming (NAICS 1124)
other animal production (NAICS 1129)

Eligible occupations

Occupations listed are classified by the National Occupational Classification (NOC) code. If you’d like review the duties for each occupation, you can search on the National Occupational Classification website.

Below are the eligible jobs for each eligible industry:

Meat product manufacturing (NAICS 3116)

NOC B 6331 – Retail butchers
NOC C 9462 – Industrial butchers
NOC B 8252 – Farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers
NOC D 9617 – Food processing labourers

Greenhouse, nursery and floriculture production, including mushroom production (NAICS 1114)

NOC B 8252 – Farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers
NOC C 8431 – General farm workers
NOC D 8611 – Harvesting labourers

Animal production, excluding aquaculture (NAICS 1121, 1122, 1123, 1124 and 1129)

NOC B 8252 – Farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers
NOC C 8431 – General farm workers

Eligible Occupations and Applications Limit

There is an annual limit for each occupation category as below:

Applications fees will be refunded for those applications that are rejected due to the annual limit reached for each occupation category.

If you meet all the requirements as above, you will be able to submit your application for permanent residence directly, using the application guide and forms available on the official Agri-Food Immigration Pilot webpage.

Labour has been a limiting factor for many of the agricultural industries in Canada, and as mentioned by Canadian Federation of Agriculture or CFA’s President Mary Robinson, in 2014, it was reported that about 26,400 jobs were unfilled, resulting in 1.5 billion loss.

Amidst the COVID-19 news, this good news is a light for many immigrants who are waiting to apply as Temporary Foreign Worker in the agricultural industry.

Do you have more questions about the new Agri-Food Immigration Pilot? We can get back to you with answers, its few clicks away! Simply Start your Assessment or Call (1) 905-362-9393 (Canada), +91 9586 226232 (Ahmedabad) or drop an E-mail at support@spscanada.com (Canada), support.amd@spscanada.com (Ahmedabad).

Source: IRCC, Agri-Food Pilot

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Temporary Foreign Workers Can Start their New Jobs a lot Sooner than Expected

May 15, 2020

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The outbreak of COVID-19 has affected almost every sector in Canada, and both, the temporary foreign workers and the employers have faced challenges due to the rapid change in the job market.

If you don’t know this already, the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) is a program allowing Canadian employers to hire foreign nationals for filling in the temporary labour and skill shortages, in case when qualified permanent residents or Canadian citizens are not available.

As a result of the COVID-19 impact, many temporary workers having employer-specific work permits lost their jobs and left Canada, while some of them are unable to leave due to international travel restrictions in place, and the reduced flights being available.

In this fluid situation, many employers, on the other hand, are facing ongoing labor shortages, such as the agriculture, agri-food, and health care sectors, and need to be accommodated with immediate employees, providing goods and services to Canadians.

Following the existing rule, temporary foreign workers who are willing to change jobs, will have to apply and wait for a new work permit, before they can start their new jobs. But, to fulfill the demand of labor needs in the critical services, the Government has announced a new policy as a temporary measure that drastically reduces the time it takes for a temporary foreign worker to get back to a new job, which is effective immediately from May 12, 2020.

With this new policy in place, temporary foreign workers in Canada, who have a new job offer, usually backed by a labour market test, can start their new jobs while the work permit application is being processed, cutting down the time it takes from 10 weeks or more, to 10 days or less.

Temporary workers who have applied for a new work permit must submit a request to IRCC, which will be reviewed in 10 days and if the request is approved, workers will be notified by an email and can start their new jobs.

To qualify for the new policy, temporary foreign workers must meet the following criteria:

Workers must be in Canada with a valid status
Must have an employer-specific work permit or have been working under a work permit exemption
Must have submitted an application for a new work permit with a valid job offer under either the Temporary Foreign Worker Program or the International Mobility Program

It is to be noted that there is NO CHANGE to the role of the employer in the process of hiring foreign workers. The employer needs to obtain a valid positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), name the worker in a position on the LMIA, and notify Service Canada.

In case of an employer-specific, LMIA-exempt situation, the employer will have to submit an offer of employment through the International Mobility Program Employer Portal.

In 2019 only, around 190,000 employer-specific work permits were issued to foreign nationals as per the news release by IRCC.

How to Change Employers?

Step 1: Apply for Work Permit

Temporary Foreign Workers, if you have an employer-specific work permit and you want to change jobs or employers, you must apply for a new work permit from inside Canada. In most of the cases, you will have to apply online, however, if you cannot apply due to disability or other problems with the online application, you can apply on paper.

Step 2: Fill out the IRCC Web form

Once you apply for the work permit, fill out the IRCC Web form and submit.

Please note the following when you fill the inquiry section:

You must copy the text below that applies to your situation and make sure you fill out the sections in square brackets, including the

dates
name(s) of employer(s)
title of your job
If you applied on paper and don’t know your application number, include your courier tracking number. This will ensure we can find your application.

Step 3: Wait for the IRCC to respond through email

After you’ve submitted the IRCC web form, IRCC will be sending an email confirming that the applicant is able to start the work with a new employer while the application process is complete, and then you can start your new job or work for a new employer.

If you applied online for your work permit, the email should arrive in about 10 business days and if you applied on paper, it may take longer.

If you have other questions, you need to fill out a new IRCC Web form.

Do you have questions about temporary work permit applications? Simply Start your Assessment or Call (1) 905-362-9393 (Canada), +91 9586 226232 (Ahmedabad) or drop an E-mail at support@spscanada.com (Canada), support.amd@spscanada.com (Ahmedabad).

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Canadian Immigration, a Key to Economic Recovery after COVID-19

May 11, 2020

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Canada’s Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino recently participated in a Question/Answer webinar with the Canadian Bar Association to discuss about the COVID-19 impact on Canadian immigration in the near future. As mentioned on CIC News, he shared various updates in this regard in a 60-minute discussion with the Canadian Bar Association’s Immigration Law Section, where he discussed international students, temporary foreign workers and immigration levels in days to come.

Will Canada Accept New Immigrants after COVID-19?

Mendicino mentioned, “Immigration will absolutely be key to our success and our economic recovery.” He also stated, “We continue to rely on immigration, it will be an economic driver, and this will be the North Star of our policy going forward.”

Canada’s long term demographic trends will not change after COVID-19 since the worker-to-retiree ratio is declining, and the country needs immigrants as a factor of economic growth. Also, this is not the first time Canada has been challenged with health and economic challenges, so the country is preparing itself to run despite the challenges, where immigration has a vital role to play.

The Minister said that further planning on the annual immigration levels will be conducted and announced in fall after the consultation of the federal government with the stakeholders.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is currently working remotely, which has impacted the application process, however, the remote operations have been set up for the team to access and the tools required for faster processing.

Temporary Foreign Workers

As a measure o protect and strengthen Canada’s food supply, IRCC is working closely with agriculture and seafood industries and has also been working to expedite work permits, removing barriers to the foreign workers.

He mentioned that certain things are beyond IRCC’s control such as market demand, and it is likely that certain sectors will be observing reduced demand for the products.

International Students

IRCC has recently reformed its Post-Graduation Work Permit, allowing international students whose courses have been moved to online classes, to be eligible for PGWP. IRCC is still consulting with post-secondary stakeholders to figure out ways for students who will be enrolling for the next intake in September, which is a major intake for the Canadian designated learning institutions. Further updates will be announced in this matter.

Well, the decisions are in favor of immigration, which is good news for all you willing to immigrate to Canada through various streams. We are yet to be guided on how the country plans immigration further. In the meantime, if you have any questions, simply Start your Assessment or Call (1) 905-362-9393 (Canada), +91 9586 226232 (Ahmedabad) or drop an E-mail at support@spscanada.com (Canada), support.amd@spscanada.com (Ahmedabad).

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A Guide to Every International Students in Canada affected by COVID-19

May 6, 2020

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Yes, we understand – the situation is fluid and it is one of the hardest-hit times for international students with class interruption, mandatory self-isolation in place, and changed social lifestyle. And if you are new to the country, you must be having difficulties in coping with this overwhelming situation, it’s not the same, bringing many challenges to many international students.

So, here we have created a guide to help the international students with important updates and information, to keep you posted with the support available for you, in these unprecedented times.

If you are an International Student New to Canada

As the COVID-19 threat increased, Canada decided to shut down the borders for non-essential travels, however, it also announced that the international students with a valid study permit and those who have been approved for one are exempted from the travel ban, and the restrictions took effect on March 18, 2020. Students should note that along with the study permit, they must also have a valid travel document – Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA).

If you have the required documents, you can enter Canada, and if you arrive by air, you will have to go through health checkup to make sure you do not have COVID-19 symptoms. Once you enter, you’ll also have to self-isolate for 14 days, which is mandatory.

If you want to travel Outside of Canada

Canada’s Travel Advisory mentions that you should avoid all non-essential travel outside the country at this moment. However, if you must travel back to your home, you should consider if you are allowed to enter in your home country or if you can re-enter Canada once you set off, taking care of the aspects that it does not affect your Post Graduate Work Permit eligibility.

Student Housing

To safeguard the students during this COVID-19 outbreak, student housing has been closed, but, there might be some exceptions for international students to find the accommodations. Some of the hotels have been offering rooms for self-isolation, and the guest should stay inside the room for 14 days, without strolling around, and usually, the foods and linens are left outside the doors. The provinces have also protected tenant’s eviction by suggesting regulations in favor of the tenants.

Pursuing studies

For safety purposes, the schools in the country are closed until further notice, and most colleges and universities are completing their academic responsibilities through online courses. You must, therefore, plan to get ready for a technologically sound environment with a good internet connection and laptop. You’ll have to be prepared with the required devices for attending classes as updated by your respective colleges and universities. Most educational institutions have also canceled the exams, and you are expected to keep in touch with specific colleges and universities about how they have planned further for your academic year during the crisis.

Since most of the international centers in colleges and universities are closed, they have been moved to online support format, answering International students’ queries through emails, calls, and video conferences.

Employment Opportunities

International students in Canada can continue to work as per the conditions on their study permit. In general, full-time students are allowed to work 20 hours a week during the academic term and can work full-time during their academic breaks. However, as a temporary measure, international students in the essential service category only can work more than 20 hours a week for a temporary period, until August 31, 2020.

If you are new to Canada, currently, the country has shut down the non-essential business and is taking step by step approach for reopening the country, starting May 04, 2020. Almost half of the Canadians have reported job loss, which means it is difficult to find jobs at this time, thus, you must come prepared for the challenges this time.

Post-Graduate Work Permit

Students can apply for their Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) once the studies are complete. Even if the classes are moved to online classes, you are still able to apply for your work permit. Your eligibility for PGWP may be affected if you miss a term in your school, or study part-time instead of full-time, so just make sure you follow the rules as required to not miss your PGWP.

Extending Your Stay

You may not have been able to return to your home due to many travel restrictions in place at many countries, and if that’s the case, you can apply to extend your study permit, you are required to restore your status as a student if your study permit is about to expire.

Are you having trouble figuring out the right immigration pathway as an international student? We are here to help and guide you through the process. Simply Start your Assessment or Call (1) 905-362-9393 (Canada), +91 9586 226232 (Ahmedabad) or drop an E-mail at support@spscanada.com (Canada), support.amd@spscanada.com (Ahmedabad).

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Immigration Processing Fees for Permanent Residence Increased from April 30, 2020

May 1, 2020

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This is the first time after the year 2002, the Government of Canada increased the immigration processing fees, effective as of 9:00 AM EDT on April 30, 2020. To adjust to the increasing program and service delivery costs, IRCC (Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada) made changes to most of the economic immigration programs, except for caregivers.

If you filed your application prior to this date and time, your processing fees would be the same as before however, any applications received after 9:00 AM EDT on April 30, 2020, will have to make the new payment, else the applications will be returned to the applicants as incomplete.

The fees for permanent residence have not been increased since the past 18 years, and they do not reflect the rise in inflation. Hence, the changes have been made to balance the cost of service for the newcomers in Canada and the fees paid by them, such that there is also a reasonable balance between the taxpayer and the applicants applying for the Canadian immigration process.

Updated Fees

Fees for principal applicants of the Economic business class (including self-employed, start-up visa, Quebec investor, Quebec entrepreneur, and Quebec self-employed) will increase from $1,050 to $1,575 (an increase of 50%).
Fees for principal applicants of the Economic non-business class will go from $550 to $825 (an increase of 50%). Note: This increase will not apply to fees for principal applicants and their families in the Caregivers programs, which will remain unchanged.
Fees for spouses or common-law partners of all Economic classes will go from $550 to $825 (an increase of 50%).
Fees for dependent children of all Economic classes will go from $150 to $225 (an increase of 50%).
The right of the permanent resident fee will increase from $490 to $500 (an increase of 2%).

In addition to this, the fees are to be adjusted automatically for inflation every 2 years by the applicable Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase, rounded to the nearest $5 for the permanent residence applications starting from 2022, which includes the economic, family and humanitarian programs.

Canada’s fees for immigration are comparatively less expensive than the other countries having similar migration systems, such as New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. So, these changes also ensure that Canada remains competitive in the process and in-line.

Source: IRCC

Do you have any questions or concerns related to immigration, we are here to help. Simply Start your Assessment or Call (1) 905-362-9393 (Canada), +91 9586 226232 (Ahmedabad) or drop an E-mail at support@spscanada.com (Canada), support.amd@spscanada.com (Ahmedabad).

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