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GPAC Student Seminar featuring Mr. Pradyuman Jhala as a Panel Speaker

April 3, 2020

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Gujarat Public Affairs Council of Canada (GPAC) recently conducted a student seminar, focused on new students, who recently arrived in Canada, to give them an overview of the process and procedures, and general knowledge under various, including Canadian immigration process, to educate and onboard them in the Canadian environment.

GPAC is a premier not-for-profit organization, formed with the vision of “Together we will achieve a better and prosperous future; economically, culturally and socially. GPAC is becoming an umbrella organization for Gujaratis in Canada and the key influencing organization between the Gujarat, India & Canadian government.”

Our Senior Practitioner, Mr. Pradyuman Jhala with more than 15 years of practicing in Canadian immigration, was featured as a Panel Speaker in the seminar organized by GPAC, to discuss the immigration context in Canada, especially for students – how they should prepare themselves today, for a good future outlook tomorrow, considering different aspects from education to experience, laws, policies, and processes.

The main purpose was to educate both international and Canadian students, who may not have required information in many topics such as

Consulate Services offered by CGI office – Her Excellency Consul General of India, Toronto Ms. Apoorva Srivastava
Financial Literacy
Tax filing – Tax Guru (Piyush Mody)
Immigration Policies & Advice – Globayan Immigration (Naresh Chavda); SPS Canada
Immigration (Pradyuman Jhala)
Safety, Security and Laws – Chair, Peel Police Services Board (Ron Chatha); Constable (Sunny Deol)
Job markets and Networking – Destination CEO (Meena Dowlwani CHRM)
Health and Wellness
Integrating in Canadian Culture – Save Max Achievers Realty (Don R B Patel, Ashok Patel, Pathik Shukla)
Human Trafficking – Victim Witness Assessment Worker
First Car purchase, license; Uber driving- Formula Honda (Formula Honda Toronto -Vijaykumar Parekh)

The seminar was a good success as it was able to help over 200 students and newcomers in Canada registered for this free event, with in-person interaction with the Panel Speakers, having many years of relevant experience in the field. The program was hosted by President, Dhaval Vediya with the help of the entire board of directors.

You can access the Student Seminar via this link: https://youtu.be/KroJHlZnmX0

SPS Canada Immigration would like to thank the GPAC team for providing this wonderful opportunity to share the experiences from Mr. Pradyuman Jhala, by answering queries and concerns, and providing support and guidance to those in need!

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Best Provincial Nominee Programs for 2020

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Want to start a new chapter of your Canadian life?

Here you will join the tens of thousands of foreign nationals who plan to permanently immigrate to Canada. We break down Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) in this article, detailing the best choices for foreign nationals who wish to come to Canada.

Canada is comprised of 13 provinces and territories. Of these 11 provinces have Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). PNPs enable these territories to select foreign nationals who will meet the province’s specific needs. Almost 80 distinct PNPs exist, each with its own specific eligibility criteria. PNPs let provinces respond towards their own unique needs in terms of immigration. PNPs are also built to address labour force shortages and applicants with experience in high-demand jobs will be targeted.

Most PNPs require applicants to have a connection to the province through past provincial work experience, previous provincial study experience, or a job offer from a provincial employer. There are however a few PNPs that are ideal for foreign nationals who have no connection with the provinces of Canada.

1. Alberta Express Entry

The Alberta Express Entry stream chooses applicants from the federal Express Entry pool and invites the applicants to apply for a provincial nomination. The major advantage of this stream would be that the maximum CRS score is 300, ensuring that more applicants in the pool would have a chance to obtain a provincial Notification of Interest.

Obtaining a provincial nomination would raise the CRS score of a candidate by 600 points, practically ensuring that they will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in the next Express Entry draw for permanent residence.

2. Saskatchewan International Skilled Worker

Saskatchewan International Skilled Worker has two streams that are ideal for candidates outside of Canada. First, the Saskatchewan Express Entry stream, which requires an active Express Entry profile for a candidate to apply. Second, Saskatchewan Occupation In-Demand stream which does not require an Express Entry profile.

Saskatchewan International Skilled Worker Stream brings skilled workers who are capable of filling labour gaps in Saskatchewan’s workforce. If you already have experience in an in-demand job and satisfy the other eligibility requirements, this may be a great opportunity for you. To qualify an applicant must have at least one year of work experience in one of the positions listed on the In-Demand Occupations List of Saskatchewan.

3. Ontario Human Capital Priorities

Ontario is one of the largest provinces in Canada and a popular destination for most immigrants. Toronto is also the major hub for large multi-national companies as well as a growing hub for the tech sector of the country. Ontario’s Human Capital Priorities stream is a great option for those living outside of Canada! This stream emphasizes skilled workers who can fill qualified job positions in the province.

To be considered, an applicant should have an active Express Entry profile with a 400-point or higher CRS ranking. Ontario reviews the profiles and invites certain profiles who meet their eligibility criteria to submit to the PNP. The exact criteria used by Ontario for the selection of candidates have not been made public and changes from time to time.

4. Nova Scotia Labor Market Priorities

With these streams, in each draw, Nova Scotia invites a specific National Occupation Classification (NOC) each year. Though this NOC is not announced in advance, chances are if your NOC comes up in the list there are high chances you might make the cut. For this category, you may not even require a job offer as this stream is aligned with express entry and designed to fill in labor market gaps. Upon receiving an invitation, you will be required to submit your application

5. Manitoba Skilled Worker Overseas

For people with a demonstrated link to Manitoba, the Manitoba Skilled Workers Overseas PNP stream is an alternative. If you do have a relative or friend living in Manitoba, or have Manitoba work experience or have studied in the province of Manitoba, or have participated in one of Manitoba’s strategic recruitment initiatives, then this stream of PNP might be a viable option. To be eligible for this stream you would also require one year of work experience in one of the Manitoba In-Demand Occupation List.

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 Plans to Launch New Immigration Pilot Programs Soon

April 2, 2020

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Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) published its 2020–2021 departmental strategy. In this plan, IRCC highlighted plans for introducing further immigration initiatives aimed at bringing immigrants to regions in Canada that need jobs.

IRCC’s aim to introduce new regional immigration pilot programmes and build on the success of the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) and the Atlantic Immigration Pilot (AIP). The Atlantic Immigration Pilot is a fast-track immigration system that allows designated employers in the four Atlantic provinces of Canada to recruit foreign skilled workers for positions that they could not fill locally. These four provinces include Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador and New Brunswick. The Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot is a community-driven program. It’s designed to spread the benefits of economic immigration to smaller communities by creating a path to permanent residence for skilled foreign workers who want to work and live in one of the participating communities. Both AIP and RNIP represent revolutionary immigration initiatives intended to draw immigrants to regions outside of Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal’s metropolitan areas, who are attracting migrants at a pace that is extremely disproportionate to the rest of the country.

The Municipal Nominee Program (MNP) is the only confirmed immigration pilot project, outlined in the IRCC departmental strategy. The MNP is still in the planning phase, with not yet available descriptions of program requirements and implementation procedures. The Canadian Government, however, has announced plans to accept at least 5,000 immigrants through the MNP in 2020-2021.

An article from the Justin Trudeau’s liberal government website states that:

“We will make it easier for communities to welcome the workers they need most.

While immigration benefits Canada as a whole, not every community – including those experiencing serious labour shortages – is able to make the most of the contributions new Canadians can bring.

To make sure that communities of all sizes are better able to attract and support new Canadians, we will move forward with a Municipal Nominee Program. This program will allow local communities, chambers of commerce, and local labour councils to directly sponsor permanent immigrants.”

The government’s decision to come up with such an immigration pilot plan makes great sense. The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), which is currently the fastest-growing initiative among all economic immigration systems in Canada, has attracted several immigrants to Canada for more than 20 years, selected by provincial governments for their ability to succeed in the provincial economy and community. Settlement trends, however, show that most provincial candidates and their families reside in a given province’s largest city or region. That’s fantastic for just that Metropolitan economy, but this influx of fresh foreign talent could be missed by other communities, and the local communities would find it harder to grow, prosper and reach their true potential.

A Municipal Nominee Program can increase the immigration quota for these municipalities, granting them greater leverage in attracting immigrants. Just like the RNIP, a few select municipalities may recognize potential immigrants who meet particular requirements, usually involving an offer of employment among other adaptability requirements. This will help them attract a lot of highly skilled foreign workers who intends to settle there permanently, which would help them boost that municipality’s economy as well as fill labor shortages in that area, contributing to the overall growth of the economy and reducing disparity in immigration.

SPS Canada is an ICCRC regulated firm with a team of independent and licensed professionals who are trained on the latest legal and immigration processes and to follow the best practice to help you navigate smoothly to complex procedure of migration to Canada.

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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COVID-19 Canadians Abroad: Are you a Canadian Stuck Outside Canada?

April 1, 2020

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As per the Global Travel Advisory Canada, you should be avoiding all the non-essential travels outside Canada until an update is made, to limit the spread of COVID-19. Most of the countries have already enforced travel and border restrictions, including quarantines and movement restrictions. Similarly, airlines have suspended flights, and new restrictions are being imposed every day, which might have severely disrupted your travel plans.

It’s always best to be updated with current changes to keep ourselves in track. Well, despite all the strict restrictions, if you must travel, make sure you note the following that you may

Face difficulties or be unable to return to Canada
Be under strict movement restrictions or quarantines
Have your insurance, but it may not cover all your medical expenses
Be penalized with fines or imprisonment in cases you do not follow restrictions imposed by the authorities
Have difficulty in getting the groceries, water, medication, and medical services

If you are a Canadian who is stuck outside Canada, the government of Canada has facilitated with the COVID-19 Emergency Loan Program for Canadians Abroad, to help Canadians return home.

National Post mentions that there are more than 414,000 Canadians registered with Registration of Canadians Abroad service, which is voluntary, and tells us that we are unknown about how many Canadians are actively trying to return to Canada. Out of 414,000, about 15,000 Canadians in India; 5,510 in Peru; 2200 in South Africa; have registered with the Canadian government.

The Government of Canada has been working with the Canadian airlines and foreign governments, to make arrangement for Canadians wanting to return home.

Financial help for Canadians outside Canada

The government has made available up to $5000 as a loan per person to help them use flights and accommodations and urges that you register with Global Affairs Canada to provide you with information as soon as possible.

At this moment, you must note that you are responsible for the travel decisions you make! If you are still outside Canada, you must find out the travel options available and return as soon as possible.

It is likely that you will experience a sudden increase in prices due to certain limitations. You should attempt to use your own means of financial support for your return, however, if you are impacted and do not have enough sources to arrange your return, the government has COVID-19 Emergency Loan Program for Canadians Abroad.

Even though the program is there for your help, you should attempt to use your own financial means to arrange your return to Canada. But if you are a Canadian, who have no access to the source of funds to return home at this moment then the government of Canada would help you after assessing your situation through the COVID-19 Emergency Loan Program for Canadians Abroad.

This loan program is applicable to Canadians, and only in exceptional cases to the permanent residents outside the country, who are directly affected by COVID. You will be to apply for an emergency repayable loan to arrange your return to Canada and cover the essential but basic needs for the return, and each application will be assessed based on your situation and needs.

Please note that this is the emergency assistance and is a repayable loan.

How to apply for the Emergency Loan Program?

You can contact the nearest office of Government of Canada office or Global Affairs Canada’s 24/7 Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa at +1 613-996-8885 (call collect where available) or email CAN.finances.CV19@international.gc.ca.

If you need assistance for consular emergencies, you can contact the nearest Government of Canada office or Global Affairs Canada’s 24/7 Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa at +1 613-996-8885 (call collect where available) or email sos@international.gc.ca

In this uncertain time, it is also suggested that you register with the Registration of Canadians Abroad, to be informed about urgent and important updates from the government of Canada.

Registration of Canadians Abroad

Registration of Canadians Abroad is a free service, with the purpose to allow government officials to contact you to provide important information during an emergency – natural disaster or civil unrest. You will have access to instructions and important changes and travel updates and advisories for the country you registered, and more to receive!

It is encouraged that you register when you are planning to leave Canada for a vacation or work, or are living abroad, your information is confidential and is only used in accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act.

If you have any questions or concerns about the Canadian immigration process, please use the Assessment Link below and we will be back with answers to your queries.

The struggle for all of us has been very difficult to express in words, in these times, and we are doing our best to keep everyone informed about the current situation.

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Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program: Looking back at OINP 2019 Facts

March 30, 2020

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The OINP draw that took place in March 2020 left many of us drifted from our plans. As we can see that the demand for Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program is extremely high, let’s look at some major updates of the OINP 2019.

In 2019, the province’s nomination allocation was 6650 from the Federal Government.
In November, OINP met its allocation completely because of which Ontario was granted with additional 700 nominations in December.
41 applicants were nominated through NOC C Pilot – a Federal-Provincial partnership that works to increase permanent resident pathways, especially for in-demand lower-skilled workers with job offers.
Together, the total nominations in 2019 were totaled to 7391 principal applicants, including 6340 spouses and dependents, with total of 13,731 new immigrants in the Ontario province.
Nominees in OINP were from over 130 countries, and the highest number of nominations were provided to applicants from India (3587), China (1351) and South Korea (258).

The Tech Draws initiative was launched in 2019, where OINP received a high number of nominations in tech-related occupations, out of which almost 33 percent nominations were received by the individuals with work experience or a job offer as Software Designers and Engineers, Computer Programmers, System Analysts, Tech-Consultants, Interactive Media Developers and more!

In terms of target for francophone immigration, the program surpassed the target of 5 percent and issued 6.1 percent or 452 nominations to those having high proficiency in the French language, mostly under French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream and the Human Capital Priorities Stream.

OINP did not nominate any individuals through its Entrepreneur Stream; almost 7 applicants were in the last stage of the compliance monitoring process, in Ontario, waiting to establish the business in the work permit. It is anticipated that these businesses will be investing over 30 million and would recruit around 136 Ontarians, after establishing their business.

Ontario is currently waiting for the 2020 allocation by the federal government. OINP is being responsive to the Ontario employers and the labor market needs to widen the opportunities and narrow down the gaps, making improvements for program delivery, customer service, and to incorporate feedback for addressing the labor shortages in high-demand sectors.

As of now, due to the current public health considerations, OINP acknowledges that the applicants may experience delays in receiving information and documents from third-parties, contributing to longer processing times. During these times of COVID-19, OINP has been continuing to process applications and issue nominations. Any questions or delays you are facing due to specific circumstances can be reached out at ontarionominee@ontario.ca. Inquiries for the Entrepreneur Stream can be forwarded to business.immigration@ontario.ca, the OINP will be considering all relevant information, during the course of reviewing your application.

SPS Canada Immigration has been operating remotely and facilitated employees with “Work from Home” to protect our employees and clients, and if you have any questions in this crucial time, we will be available through phone calls and emails.

We are doing our best to help with your queries and concerns. Please feel free to Start your Assessment, we will get back to you with answers.

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COVID-19 Major Updates for Permanent Residence and Citizenship Applications

March 27, 2020

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Canada over the past two weeks has introduced a lot of changes to adapt themselves during the coronavirus pandemic. Here is a list of all the updates IRCC has announced in the past two weeks regarding Permanent Residence and Citizenship applications.

Information and updates regarding General Topics under IRCC

1. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, I cannot meet one or several requirements for my future application. Would I face issues?

The government of Canada and IRCC, are yet to announce what measures they would take in special circumstances as we are in right now. We expect the IRCC to come up with generous plans and measures taking into consideration the possible situation of several applicants who due to COVID-19 cannot meet one or several eligibility criteria.

2. I have a one-year work permit and have been laid off. Consequentially I would not meet my one-year work experience requirement. What should I do?

People who have one year of work permit are facing uncertainty as of now as they are getting laid off and IRCC has not yet issued directions on how they will treat such applications in reference to their work experience and permits.

Information and updates regarding Confirmation of Permanent Residence

1. Can I travel to Canada if I have been approved for Permanent Residence?

Yes. Canada agreed to accept applicants who had been approved for permanent residence before Canada announced its travel bans on March 16, 2020, but who had not yet traveled to Canada. If the above is applicable to you, then regularly check the website of the federal government for further details before booking your flight.

Please also keep in mind that the federal government has canceled permanent resident landings appointments until April 13, 2020.

2. Will I be given an extension on my visa expiration date if I have a confirmation of permanent residence, given the current situation.

Yes. If you are unable to travel to Canada at present, let IRCC know by using the web form. Once you can travel again, use the webform again and IRCC will provide more information on restarting the processing of your application.

3. Would my Confirmation of permanent residency and my Permanent Resident Visa be invalid if I am unable to travel?

No. Applicants for permanent residence who are in possession of a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) and a Permanent Resident Visa (PRV) and who inform the IRCC that they are unable to travel will be able to maintain the validity of their documents.

Information and updates regarding Permanent Residence

1. Would I still be able to submit an Express Entry Profile?

Yes. IRCC is still accepting Express Entry Profile submissions. Moreover, the federal and provincial governments are issuing invitations to apply (ITA) to eligible candidates.

2. Will Canada process my application, if I have an ITA but missing a few documents?

Yes. You must submit your application within 90 days of receiving the ITA. If you are missing documents due to the coronavirus pandemic, you can submit a letter explaining why you are missing that document and your application will be put on hold until further notice. Once you are able to secure the said document, you can update the IRCC via the webform.

3. Will Canada give me an extension to fill out my permanent residency application after I receive an ITA?

Yes. Currently, the IRCC has given 90 days to all applicants to fill out the Permanent Residency Application after they receive their ITA. This is 30 days more than the standard 60 days that are given to all applicants who receive an ITA.

4. If I am outside Canada, will my PR Application get refused if I do not submit any important document?

No. If you cannot submit a document due to service disruptions due to the coronavirus pandemic, your application will not be refused, if you inform the IRCC about your situation.

5. Are the landing appointments canceled?

Yes. All in-person Permanent Residence landing appointments are canceled until April 13, 2020. IRCC will keep you informed by mail once you can reschedule your appointment.

Information and updates regarding Citizenship

1. I am a Canadian citizenship applicant. Will my appointment be canceled?

Yes. IRCC announced they will be canceling all citizenship ceremonies, citizenship tests and retests, and itinerant service trips until further notice. If you have returned from an affected country, use the webform to let IRCC know. You will be given an additional 30 days to submit your documents and an additional 45 days for medical opinion forms.

2. Due to service disruption will I be given more time to submit my Police Clearance Certificate, Medicals, biometrics, passport, etc.?

Yes. IRCC may also continue to request additional documents necessary for all citizenship and immigration applications. These may include police certificates, biometrics, passports, medical examinations, etc. Applicants will have 90 days to respond to the request letter for additional documentation. If IRCC sent a request for additional documentation previously, but the applicant was unable to comply, they will be given an additional 90 days to respond. Even though the biometrics instruction letter will continue to say applicants have 30 days to give their biometrics, officers are instructed to allow the applicant 90 days to complete this step.

Various Documents and Requirements for Permanent Residence and Citizenship and various other applications.

1. Can I still give my English Language Test for immigration purposes?

Maybe. IRCC has two officially acceptable designated English language test institutions for immigration purposes – IELTS and CELPIP. We advise you to please refer to their official website for more information regarding how their services are affected amidst COVID-19. In terms of IELTS in Canada, all tests are suspended until further notice.

2. Can I complete an Education Credential Assessment through WES for immigration purposes?

No. Currently, WES has suspended all its in-office operations. Currently WES it’s processing all the documents that are already in process but is not taking any new applications for the moment.

3. Are all medical exams canceled?

Yes. IRCC has issued a notice that starting March 23rd and until further notice, all medical exams are being suspended. Applicants will be given 90 days to submit their documents to IRCC if they are unable to submit their medical exams due to the novel coronavirus.

4. Are all biometrics appointment canceled as well?

Yes. Service Canada has temporarily canceled all in-person appointments. Hence, all biometrics appointments are canceled until further notice. IRCC is still issuing biometrics instruction letters which states to give the biometrics within 30 days of receiving the letter, but applicants will have 90 days to complete this step.

5. Would be possible for me to get the Police Clearance Certificate for immigration purposes?

No. Most of the embassies/consulate general/centers in Canada are not fully functional and may not accept any request for a police clearance certificate. Some may be operational and you can get Police Clearance Certificate by mail or by giving them a call. To know if and when the embassy/consulate general/centers will start accepting applications for Police Clearance Certificate it is best to call them and find out when they will start accepting applications.

Not sure where to begin amidst all the changes that are being updated frequently? We are here to help! Start your Assessment, and we will get back with answers on how you can overcome any immigration issues you’re facing at the moment!

Consult with our Senior Practitioner as they would be able to assess your profile and advise you in the right track. You can 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) for further information.

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Important Updates for Temporary Residents in Canada

March 24, 2020

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Over the past two weeks, the Government of Canada along with the IRCC announced several updates for all temporary residents living in Canada or abroad. We have read through all the rules and updates and laid out for you. This information was last updated on March 24, 2020, and is subject to change.

1. Can you apply for temporary residence if you are not present in Canada?

Yes. According to the IRCC guidelines you can apply for temporary residence even if you are not present in Canada. This can be done online on the IRCC website. Even after submitting the application, you may still not be able to travel to Canada until the travel restrictions have been lifted off.

2. Does the coronavirus pandemic impact the IRCC processing time?

According to the IRCC recent announcements, there may be delays in processing times due to service disruption and restrictions.

3. Should you worry if you have missed your 30-Day deadline for the biometrics appointment due to closure?

IRCC has announced that all biometrics deadlines are updated, and the applicant will have 90 days from the day of receiving the instruction letter to give their biometrics. This will give the applicant ample time to get their biometrics done.

4. Are you in trouble if your temporary status as a visitor, worker or student is about to expire?

If you are currently in Canada, you can extend your status online. You will be allowed to remain in Canada until a decision is made on your new application.

5. Can you flagpole to update your immigration status?

You cannot travel to the Canada-US border to update your immigration status. Under the current travel ban, crossing the border to update your immigration status is deemed as non-essential travel.

6. Will you still be eligible for PGWP if your course of study is being delivered online?

If your course of study is being delivered online due to the coronavirus pandemic, then you will still be eligible for Post-Graduation Work Permit.

7. Can you return to Canada if you have traveled to another country before the travel ban?

IRCC has confirmed that any person holding a valid study or work permit can enter Canada and is exempt from the travel ban.

8. My studies are about to start in spring/summer. Will you be able to enter Canada?

Any student who has a valid study permit or has been approved, will be able to enter Canada as of March 18, 2020.

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) for further information.

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Will Canada Reduce Immigration Levels because of Corona Virus?

March 23, 2020

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Like other nations, Canada appears headed for recession. In addition, weakening economic activity would affect almost every industry, with especially those sectors such as tourism and hospitality bearing major blows. We have also witnessed states declaring an emergency, implementing travel bans, changes to Canadian immigration procedures and the stock market crash.

Despite the country being amidst a crisis, last week, IRCC and the Government of Canada announced its Immigration Levels Plan for 2020 – 2022. Many people may not agree with Canada’s decision, but it is very praiseworthy of Canada to welcome over one million additional immigrants over the next three years.

Indeed, the economy in Canada looks likely to contract in 2020. One might argue that growing immigration is not optimal at this time as immigrants arrive in Canada at a time when the labour market is scrambling to absorb them. Canada’s immigration policies are often designed to improve the economic status of the country years or even decades from now. This implies that even if immigrants arrive during a recession, Canada hopes that these immigrants will spark the economic development of the country.

A big explanation behind this is that by the end of this decade all of the nine million baby boomers in Canada will hit retirement age. Because Canada has a low birth rate, it depends on immigrants to fuel the bulk of its growth in the labour force. Canada has two options to grow its economy, one by labour growth and others by making more efficient use of labour-power.

Hence, even during times of economic hardship it still makes sense to accept high rates of newcomers. Although immigrants arriving in Canada in 2020 will face more difficulties than expected in finding work that suits their talents, education, and job experience, they will soon face the possibilities of working in a country where labour supply will be significantly limited as more baby boomers leave the workforce. It ensures that these immigrants are likely to see more employers vying for their labour, contributing to much better job conditions and wages.

So, let’s hope for a better tomorrow even though the globe is in crisis, nothing lasts forever, and we’re going to move past this challenging time. For the positive tomorrow, if you have any questions related to immigration, simply START YOUR ASSESSMENT, and we will get back to you with answers!

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COVID-19 Canadian Immigration Update: Key Changes Made by IRCC

March 20, 2020

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As the situation gets fluid due to COVID-19 pandemic, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has made some changes in its procedures and deadlines to accommodate the needs of people who have been impacted.

Let’s look at some important updates made by IRCC to help all immigrants affected by COVID-19.

SPECIAL MEASURES

Specials measures from IRCC is implemented to help temporary and permanent residents, and applicants affected by the novel coronavirus (COVID‑19) if

A) you’re a Chinese, Iranian or South Korean national; or

B) you’re in China, Iran or South Korea; and

C) you’re affected by service disruptions or travel restrictions related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19)

Applications are not refused if you are unable to complete the next step due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) for a visitor visa, work permit, study permit, and permanent residence applications, and 90 days will be granted automatically to complete these steps.
Biometrics deadline has been extended to 90 days if you are affected by service disruptions.

GENERAL PROCESSING MEASURES

IRCC states that the applications at this point of time will not be refused for non-compliance.
Applications that are currently in progress at the case processing centres, and Domestic Network of IRCC offices abroad, may experience delays.
Expedited processing of the applications is not foreseen now, however this may or may not change in near future.
Some Visa Application Centres are closed and are operating with minimal essential staff only temporarily.
New applicants have been strongly advised to apply online because of service disruptions due to COVID-19, as there are difficulties in receiving and processing applications submitted by mail or in person at a VAC
Biometric collection services have been suspended until further notice at Service Canada locations.
Considering safety, IRCC has cancelled all citizenship ceremonies, citizenship tests and retests, and itinerant service trips until further notice.
In-person appointments for permanent resident landing and refugee claims have been cancelled until April 13, 2020.

REQUEST FOR DOCUMENTS

Offices may request additional documents required for your immigration and citizenship applications, such as passport, police certificates, biometric, medical examinations, and any other documents that must be issued by Chinese, Iranian or South Korean authorities, until further notice.
Processing Officers are required to send a request letter, allowing 90 days for the applicants to respond.
If a request for the document has already been made previously but the applicant was not able to comply with the deadline then the Officers will bring these applications forward and give an additional 90 days to respond.
The Biometrics Instruction Letter has 30 days to submit from the date the letter was issued, however, Officers will consider 90 days for the applicants to provide their biometrics, even though the deadline is mentioned as 30-days.

TEMPORARY RESIDENCE

Foreign nationals in temporary resident status and whose status is expiring soon can apply for extension to maintain their temporary resident status in Canada, provided that applicants must apply online and meet all requirements, including fees associated.
Foreign nationals whose application for extension is in progress will have the implied status and may remain in Canada until further decision is made on the application.
Foreign nationals whose Temporary Resident status has expired; you may apply for restoration of the status by paying the associated fees.
In cases where restoration is eligible, the Officer will conduct the assessment of applications and the Officer will issue a Visitor Record or an appropriate permit, with the conditions of the restoration status, and the document will be mailed.
However, if the applicant is no longer eligible for restoration, the Minister’s delegate decides on a disposition for the case with the following options – to refer the case to an admissibility hearing or issue a departure order or allow the foreign national to remain.
The IRCC will not be waiving any fees for temporary residence applications or extensions

PERMANENT RESIDENCE APPLICATIONS

New and complete permanent residence applications will be accepted as per normal procedures
If the new applications miss any supporting documents, for example, fees associated, applicants should include an explanation if they are affected by service disruptions. Applications then, can be prompted to be reviewed in 90 days. However, if the application is still incomplete in 60 days, Officers will request the documents giving additional 90 days to respond.
If the applications are incomplete without any explanations or due to reasons other than the service disruptions due to COVID, the applications can be rejected.
Incomplete files due to unavailable documents will be retained in the system and reviewed in 90 days.

CITIZENSHIP APPLICATIONS

Any appointments that are missed for knowledge tests, retests, interviews, hearings, or oath ceremonies will be rescheduled within a reasonable timeframe, once IRCC is notified of the clients who have returned to Canada.
Applicants will be provided with additional 30 days to send the documents to IRCC once the applicants notify the local office of their return from China, Iran or South Korea.
For Medical Opinion form, Officers will be providing additional 45 days upon their return to Canada to comply.
Permanent Residents applying for the citizenship after coming back to Canada from China, Iran or South Korea must meet the physical presence requirements as per the normal procedure. These extra days spent in the countries due to COVID will not be counted as days in Canada.

In this uncertain and difficult time, IRCC has been taking measures to help immigrants with their applications, but its definitely not the time to take anything for granted. If you need more information, please visit IRCC’s official website, it has lots of resources to help you with many questions you may have for your applications.

We are here to help you with any questions you may have for your immigration needs. As of now, we are working remotely to address your concerns, and help you meet your deadlines; you can reach us through Email or Assessment Form.

Let’s be together and help each other in any way we can, to overcome this extreme situation the entire world is facing!

Sources: IRCC

Special measures to help temporary and permanent residents and applicants

General processing measures: COVID-19 program delivery

Temporary residence: COVID-19 program delivery

Permanent residence: COVID-19 program delivery

Citizenship: COVID-19 program delivery

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Will OINP Accept Applications Again for International Student Stream in 2020?

March 6, 2020

spscanada

Well, it’s not a surprise that many of us are left frustrated with the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) application that opened only for a very short duration on March 03, 2020, with the wait times and the OINP system going through technical problems, that turned out to be a big disappointment for most of us! But let’s not get discouraged as the update on March 04, 2020, in Government of Ontario mentioned that the program might open again in 2020.

The Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream is one of the immigration streams under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program, allowing international students with a job offer in Skill Type 0 or A or B, both inside and outside of Canada, to live and work permanently in Ontario province.

On March 3, 2020, OINP started accepting applications for Employer Job Offer: International Student, which was turned down shortly after having technical issues, and then re-opened for both International Student and Foreign Worker streams.

The OINP e-Filing Portal received overwhelming visits and the wait times were even more than the length of time the program was opened for.

OINP received 1332 successful registrations, under Employer Job Offer: International Student and Foreign Worker streams, compared to 2018, where 1254 applicants were able to register.

The candidates who were able to register themselves, now have a total of 14 days to submit their OINP application. Once you are nominated, you will have to apply through IRCC, who will be making a final decision for your permanent residence application. However, the program is still experiencing a high number of users, and it is advised to access the system during off-peak hours between 7 pm – 7 am EST.

The latest update on March 05, 2020, however, mentions that the program is not accepting applications currently. So, it remains unsure if OINP will be accepting more applications but let’s keep the window open as the program gives a little hope for re-opening sometime in 2020.

In the meantime, if you have any questions or confusion regarding the OINP application, we are here to help! START YOUR ASSESSMENT today, and our representative will get back to you and let you know how your immigration issues can be resolved, with proper guidance that lands you on the right track!

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