The Border Updates

In my blog you will know about immigration updates about various countries such as Australia, Canada, Uk etc.

[theborderupdates]

Australia’s Coalition pledges strict student caps to tackle “immigration mess”

With just months until Australia’s federal election – though the exact date remains unknown – Opposition Senator Sarah Henderson took the stage in Canberra, addressing university leaders gathered at the Universities Australia Solutions Summit.

Henderson reinforced the party’s position that “Australian students must come first”, as she reminded attendees of party leader Peter Dutton’s pledge to deliver tougher international student caps than what is sought by the current government.

According to Henderson, this cap would be focused on “excessive numbers of foreign students in metropolitan cities, particularly Melbourne and Sydney where two thirds of foreign students live and study”.

“But our approach will ensure you have long term certainty, underpinned with proper consultation, with special consideration for the regions where foreign students are integral to local economies,” she told universities.

Henderson was a vocal critic of the government throughout Senate hearings which hit the headlines in 2024 as the Albanese government sought to pass legislation which would cap international enrolments at provider level. The bill remains parked in Senate after it was blocked by the Coalition who said it did not go far enough to cut international student numbers.

“In the two years since I first addressed your summit, we expected bumps along the road. But this has been one wild ride. I don’t think anyone could have imagined what was to come – the Albanese government lurching from crisis to crisis leaving higher education providers in considerable turmoil,” said Henderson.

“Regrettably, the government opened the floodgates to record levels of international students, fuelling the housing crisis, and then hit the sector with a botched student cap, which has caused real damage to regional universities.”

Henderson highlighted Australia’s record 849,000 international students – an 8.3% rise since December 2023 – warning of growing pressure on housing, infrastructure, and services. However, research suggests international students are unfairly blamed for the country’s housing crisis.

“The uncontrolled surge of international students is a direct result of Labor’s ‘Big Australia’ policy – an immigration mess,” she continued.

The uncontrolled surge of international students is a direct result of Labor’s ‘Big Australia’ policy – an immigration mess Sarah Henderson, shadow education minister

“This of course is driving the rivers of gold at some members of the Group of Eight – but the regional universities continue to suffer from Ministerial Direction 107 and now 111,” she said, referencing new visa processing directive Ministerial Direction 111 which replaced MD 107 in December.

A day earlier, education minister Jason Clare addressed conference attendees, defending MD 111, which sees departmental officials prioritising student visas for each provider until they reach 80% of their cap figure, also known as their net overseas student commencement number. These numbers were handed down under the government’s thwarted National Planning Level for 2025.

“At one Group of Eight university, where foreign student revenue was $1.45 billion in 2023, international students comprise 50% of the total student population. The proportion of foreign students is frequently much higher in post-graduate courses,” said Henderson.

“For too long, universities have relied on a business model which yielded them eye watering revenues which are not sustainable or in line with expectations of the Australian community. We need to get the balance right. Every country has a responsibility to run its migration program in the national interest,” she added.

On the same day as Henderson addressed universities, Universities Australia CEO Luke Sheehy, speaking at the National Press Club of Australia, reminded parliamentarians that international education is Australia’s biggest export outside of mining.

“It’s an additive industry, not an extractive one. It pays for essential services. It supports 250,000 jobs. It funds vital university research and critically – it subsidises the education of Australian students,” he said.

“This means Australian taxpayers pay less. That’s why it’s crazy to even think about curtailing it.

“Let’s also not forget what international students add to our workforce and our communities. They work in the hospitality, retail, tourism and health sectors while they study. And they strengthen Australia’s cultural fabric and links to the outside world.”

Sheehy noted that the Reserve Bank of Australia recently warned that federal policies to limit international students are weakening education exports.

“International education should be above politics. Instead, we’re told that all of this is worth less than a few votes at the ballot box. That’s a very bitter pill to swallow,” he said.

Source: THE PIE NEWS

[theborderupdates]

Key Takeaways From the Recent Announcements Made by Canada, UK and Australia Regarding Student and Work-Visas

While students benefit from higher education in these countries, they also make significant contributions towards the economy of these nations. In 2022, international students contributed $17.5 billion to the Australian economy, $16.5 billion to the Canadian economy and over $50 billion to the UK economy. For 2022-2023, the contribution of international students to the US economy was a staggering $40 billion.

In recent years, the changing geopolitical and economic landscape has resulted in western nations and Australia changing their approach towards immigration.

First, western nations and Australia have sought to alter the composition of the international student pool by reducing their dependence upon a few of countries. This has been attributed to a deterioration of ties between US, UK, Australia and China and a growing realization in these countries that excessive dependence upon Chinese students is detrimental. One of the reasons for US and UK wanting to reduce their dependence upon Chinese students is the access which they get to sensitive technology. In the US, there has been a focus on reducing the intake of Chinese students into STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Management) subjects. There has also been concern in these countries regarding the impact on academic freedom as well as political interference. A British Member of Parliament (MP) belonging to the Labour Party while commenting on UK’s excessive dependence upon Chinese students remarked: “It’s not ideal that one country dominates the international student community from their own point of view or for others, nor is it good for our universities because there’s always the potential for them to pull the plug at any time.”

Anglosphere countries are trying to make up for the possible short fall in students from China by attracting international students from other countries. Here it would be pertinent to point out, that several Chinese students have begun to pursue higher education in Hong Kong instead of the West.

It is unlikely however, that the number of Chinese students will drastically drop significantly given the revenues they contribute and given the fact that several Chinese students still aspire to get high quality education in the west. Several education experts as well as academics have also criticised policies restricting the inflow of Chinese students arguing that this is counter-productive not just from an economic stand point, but also because it would impact innovation.

Focus of Western Countries and Australia on Attracting Talent

Another growing focus of countries has been to attract skilled workers and to check the unfettered inflow of students – especially to institutions with questionable educational credentials. In this context, three recent developments are important. First, Canada recently announced an increase in the cost of living for international students applying for post graduate work permits.

Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Marc Miller, announced on Dec. 7, 2023 that the cost-of-living financial requirement for study permit applicants would be raised to Canadian $20,635 (equivalent to around US$15,000) from Canadian $10,000 (equivalent of around $7,400) with effect from Jan. 1, 2024. One of the primary reasons for this step is that several international students join Canadian institutions which do not have high academic standards which according to the minister are “churning out diplomas”. This move is also being attributed to rising cost of living in Canada, though it will not be sufficient. Given the fact, that Canada is a popular destination for students from India – especially states like Panjab and Haryana — this move is unlikely to have any impact in the short run.

Second, Australia announced some changes in its student and work visa. On December 11, 2023, Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil stated that with an eye on bringing down immigration numbers the visa regulations for international students and low-skilled workers would be made more stringent. Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, had said that migration numbers needed to be brought down, and the present system was dubbed as “broken”. Net immigration to Australia had peaked to 510,000 in 2022-2023. The Australian government released its ‘migration strategy’. Some of the important changes which will have a bearing on international students are; first, international students will require higher International English Language Testing Schemes (IELTS) scores for student and temporary graduate visas, greater scrutiny of certain applications, and significant changes in the temporary work visa.

Third, UK too has made some important announcement. First, the salary threshold for foreign work visas has been increased. Visa rules for dependents of those on foreign work visas will be toughened and those enrolled in non-research graduate programs will be unable to bring their dependents beginning January 2024.These changes have been introduced with the aim of reducinget migration to 300,000 according to James Cleverly, UK Home Secretary.

Impact on India

Countries like India, which account for a significant percent of the international student pool, are likely to be impacted by these changes. It is important for all stakeholders – governments, business and academia – to work together and come up with a clear economic vision, whereby there are employment and entrepreneurship opportunities so that students are not compelled to migrate due to push factors. It is also important to sensitize prospective students and migrants to these changes. Several states like Kerala have also introduced schemes for expats who want to start set up businesses and start-up ventures. 

Students, from the developing world, seeking greener pastures abroad should also explore education and career opportunities in Non-western countries especially in countries like UAE which are encouraging foreign talent to give a boost to their R&D and innovation through the green visa and golden visa. 

In conclusion, while the recent announcements by three Anglosphere countries are unlikely to have any impact in the nearer term on the inflow of international students, it is important for prospective students and those seeking career opportunities to keep a close watch on changes related to student and immigration visas, and to remain in sync with the changing landscape by equipping themselves with the required information and skills.

Source: https://thegeopolitics.com/key-takeaways-from-the-recent-announcements-made-by-canada-uk-and-australia-regarding-student-and-work-visas/

[theborderupdates]

New Canadian Immigration Rules Hit Marriages in Punjab

Last week, Pallavi Sharma, a sprightly young woman in her early 20s, found her dreams of studying abroad shattered. Pallavi, who successfully cleared her IELTS with a score of 6.5 bands in September last year, had been eagerly planning to pursue an undergraduate program in a Canadian university.

Her engagement last month added another layer to her journey, as her fiancé was set to sponsor her student visa. However, a recent announcement by Canada’s immigration minister, Marc Miller, has thrown a wrench into her well-laid plans.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Pallavi expressed her disappointment, saying, “After completing class 12, I pursued a diploma in computer applications and cleared IELTS with 6.5 bands. Due to financial constraints, my family explored the option of a spouse visa, where the boy wanted to go abroad. Everything was arranged, and I even got engaged. But the new regulations state that spouses of students in undergraduate programs cannot obtain an open work permit. Without financial support from my fiancé’s family, there is no way I can pursue my dreams. My family doesn’t have the means to pay my fees.”

Pallavi’s story echoes the concerns of others in the state facing similar challenges. Gurpreet Singh Plaha, a resident of Dholewal area in Ludhiana, had plans to send his spouse to Canada in the May intake. However, in the absence of an open work permit, his aspirations have now been dashed. Plaha, who is single, says he was in the process of tying the knot with an ‘IELTS-pass’ girl.

Of late, such ‘IELTS weddings’ had become a new route to Canada in Punjab. A study titled “A study on overseas migration from Rural Punjab: Trends, Causes, and Consequences,” by Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) from 1990 to 2022 revealed that 9.51% of Punjabis migrated abroad on a spouse visa. Notably, over 50% of these migrants were males. The gender-wise distribution showed that males (53.16%) outnumbered females (46.89%). This shift was attributed to a new trend of ‘contract marriage’ initiated by men with women obtaining high IELTS bands for study visas who would later sponsor their husbands on spousal open work visas.

It is commonplace for families to place matrimonial advertisements seeking IELTS-passed girls, with the groom’s family covering the wedding expenses, sending the girl to Canada, and bearing the financial burden—often exceeding 25 lakhs. Jagseer Singh Jhumba from Jhumba village in Bathinda highlighted this trend, stating, “It was a gateway to enter Canada.”

Amrit Saini, who lives near the bus stand in Ludhiana, shared, “My parents were in talks with a family whose daughter had cleared IELTS for a diploma course starting in May intake. The new rules from Canada have put a spanner in my plans now.”

The new regulations specify that spouses of students enrolled in undergraduate programs will not be eligible for an open work permit. This permit will only be applicable to spouses in master’s, doctoral, law, or medicine courses.

The ramifications are far-reaching, for immigration agencies as well. Nitin Chawla from Kapri Education and Immigration Services Inc. in Ludhiana noted, “This will significantly impact not only local immigration consultants but also students whose dreams hinge on flying to Canada. Many immigration consultants’ offices had a substantial portion, around 80%, of files related to spouse visas. Now, with the end of open work permits for spouses of undergraduate students, survival will be challenging for numerous immigration and IELTS institutes.”

The practice of using immigration consultants as informal marriage bureaus is not uncommon, with consultants facilitating alliances between boys and IELTS-passed girls. However, a consultant from Moga revealed, “In many cases, girls used to ditch the groom, and in numerous instances, couples would divorce after obtaining permanent residency in Canada.”

Nitin Chawla from Kapri Education and Immigration Services Inc. commented on the current scenario, stating, “For the past two months, consultants have seen a significant downturn in business. The federal government’s allocation of students to provinces, followed by provinces assigning quotas to universities and colleges, means no files can be processed until March 31, 2024, leading to automatic rejections.”

Vinay Hari, a prominent immigration and career consultant in Punjab, asserted that the new rules would put an end to the practice of sending boys to Canada based on IELTS-passed girls. He mentioned, “Spouses can only obtain an open work permit if the partner is enrolled in master’s or doctoral courses. This move by the Trudeau government is aimed at winning the confidence of local voters, especially with elections approaching.”

Hari urged students to reconsider their motives for going to Canada, emphasizing the importance of contributing to Punjab’s economy. He noted, “The market for master’s or professional courses is relatively small in Punjab. This correction was necessary, and many planning marriages with IELTS-passed girls will now pause their plans.”

Devpriya Tyagi, MD of Rightway Airlink Immigration Consultants, clarified that the new rule doesn’t affect students already in Canada on study visas, but it will impact those enrolling from September 1, 2024. Tyagi mentioned, “The IELTS institutes and immigration consultants are adopting a wait-and-watch strategy. The announcements aim to filter the type of students reaching Canada.”

The trend of groom’s families paying for the IELTS exam of the girl, often from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, is widely known. Unfortunately, incidents of suicides and police complaints have been reported when girls refused to call grooms after reaching Canada or when couples divorced after obtaining permanent residency.

While students in masters or doctoral courses can still call their spouses with open work permits, the numbers are expected to be minimal from Punjab. Devpriya added, “Students must study in public colleges or universities to secure work permits. Those in public-private campuses will no longer be eligible for work permits.”

Nitin Chawla concluded, “The Trudeau government’s previous relaxations are being rolled back, reflecting on their collapsing system. In response to the announcements, an immigration consultant in Ludhiana has promptly put one branch of his IELTS institution up for sale, signaling the immediate impact on businesses.”

Chawla emphasized a shift in the trend, urging boys to take charge of their education, pass IELTS, and pursue bachelor’s courses independently. “The era of significant demand for IELTS-passed girls is over, at least in the near future,” he declared.

Source: The Indian Express

[theborderupdates]

Foreign Student Crackdown Could Force Hundreds of Colleges to Close

Up to 200 vocational colleges teaching foreign students could be forced to close by the Albanese government’s crackdown on student visas being used as a back door to secure jobs in Australia, a group of colleges has warned.

A letter drafted by a breakaway group of private vocational colleges, seen by The Australian Financial Review, says one in five such institutions could go bankrupt next year if proposed reforms to restore integrity to the system go ahead.

The letter, which is signed by a “group of private VET colleges”, estimates that about 200 small providers of the 1000 vocational colleges registered to teach international students are highly vulnerable to a proposal to suspend colleges if visas are refused to at least 50 per cent of students they have recruited.

A glut of colleges could “become distressed or in more severe cases collapse altogether” once the measure comes into force, it warns.

“If such harsh measures are implemented with the sector without justifiable clause [sic], there will be a widespread provider collapses [sic] which may impact on thousands of students and the entire TPS (tuition protection scheme) and the potential financial impact on the Australian economy will ripple for quite some time to come,” the letter reads.

The government has been grappling with a massive blowout in the number of temporary migrants, especially international students, entering Australia in the past year.

The number of student visa holders hit an all-time high of 660,765 at the end of June. That figure was 203,000 more than at the beginning of the year.

Shonky agents

While students are also providing cheap labour for unskilled jobs in hospitality, aged care and cleaning, the surge in numbers is putting additional pressure on the already-hot rental market.

It has also coincided with reports of corrupt and devious practices by shonky education agents, colleges and people using student visas as a back door to jobs.

Currently, about 90 per cent of visa applications from countries including India, Bangladesh and Nepal to study a vocational course are refused.

The draft letter argues the “abnormally high rejection rate of applications seem totally baseless”.

The reform needs legislative changes and would be in place next March at the earliest.

The draft letter blames the media for exposing corrupt practices, the regulator for registering 200 new colleges since the pandemic, with another 100 awaiting registration, and the government for introducing the changes.

‘Mickey Mouse programs’

“Providers are facing severe revenue shortfalls and unhealthy competition from the more unscrupulous providers in the market, thus making (the) entire sector unsustainable,” the letter says.

However, Phil Honeywood, chief executive of the International Education Association of Australia, said colleges that offered questionable courses, particularly in leadership and business, should be put under the most scrutiny.

“Such Mickey Mouse programs make a mockery of providers which are genuinely delivering training in skill shortage areas,” Mr Honeywood said.

Over the past three months, the federal government has announced a raft of changes designed to stop widespread rorting of the student visa system.

Among the issues the government is trying to bring a halt to are poaching of students from genuine education establishments to dodgy colleges, many of which are shopfronts with little or no teaching resources and provide a means for so-called students to access the jobs market.

The changes included requiring all prospective students to show they have at least $24,500 in savings, and closing a loophole that allowed students to jump from one course to another in the first six months, which drove a flood of students from high-quality universities into questionable colleges.

The vocational education regulator, the Australian Skills Quality Agency, was also given additional powers to stamp out unethical and dishonest behaviour by increasing scrutiny of suspect colleges. Education agents will be banned for receiving commissions for poaching students.

Government data shows the number of visa applications to study a vocational course was a record high of 136,000 in 2022-23. The previous record was 103,000 in 2019-20.

Source: FINANCIAL REVIEW

[theborderupdates]

How to Immigrate to Canada From the Philippines

The Philippines is one of the top five leading countries of new immigrants to Canada.

Currently, there are over 900,000 people of Filipino origin living in the country. Canada has become a popular destination for Filipinos due to the many economic opportunities it offers, the internationally recognized education system and the highly developed healthcare system.

Canada aims to welcome 465,000 new permanent residents by the end of 2023. This target is set at 500,000 by 2025.

Filipinos are in a good position to be selected as economic class immigrants due to their high levels of English proficiency, education, and professional work experience. Economic class immigration is the most popular way to immigrate to Canada, and has over 100 pathways.

The Federal Skilled Worker Program

The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) is a pathway under economic immigration that allows a candidate with foreign work experience to apply for permanent residency, even if they do not have a connection to Canada or a job offer in Canada.

The FSWP targets foreign skilled workers who are most likely to be successful in Canada because of their prior work experience, education and language ability. To be eligible for the program, candidates must have:

One year of continuous full-time or equivalent paid work experience in the past 10 years in a skilled occupation classified under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) TEER category 0, 1, 2, or 3;

Validated language ability equivalent to Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 in English or French across all abilities (reading, writing, listening, and speaking); and

A Canadian educational credential (certificate, diploma, or degree) or foreign credential and Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report.

At least 67 points on IRCC’s six immigration selection factors.

Enough money for you and your family to settle in Canada.

The FSWP is one of three programs managed by Express Entry. Express Entry is the federal government’s application system that manages the FSWP, the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).

When submitting an application in the Express Entry system, candidates will be ranked based on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The CRS considers individual factors, like age, education, language skills and work experience, and will assign you a score out of 600. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will then invite those candidates with the highest scores to apply for permanent residence.

IRCC has also recently launched new category-based draws for Express Entry candidates. Candidates will be chosen under the category-based draw if they have a strong French language proficiency or have work experience in the following professions:

Healthcare

STEM professions

Trades, such as carpenters, plumbers and contractors

Transport

Agriculture and agri-food

IRCC has recently held healthcare and STEM draws, as well as a draw inviting those with a strong French language proficiency to apply for permanent residence.

Provincial Nominee Program

The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is a popular option for candidates looking to immigrate to Canada from the Philippines. The PNP allows each province and territory (except for Nunavut and Quebec) to create and implement their own immigration pathways based on their labour and job market vacancies and demographic needs.

The provinces and territories can nominate foreign skilled workers to immigrate to their provinces through the PNP. Each province has their own eligibility criteria that a candidate must meet to be nominated by that province.

Candidates can apply directly to the province. However, candidates who are also in the Express Entry pool can be invited to apply for nomination. If a candidate is nominated through Express Entry, they receive an additional 600 CRS points, which essentially secures an invitation to apply for permanent residence in a future draw.

Caregiver Pilot Program

There are pilot work permit programs dedicated to caregivers. The Home Child Care Provider Pilot and the Home Support Worker Pilot offer permanent residence to caregivers who have eligible work experience for at least 12 months, language ability and eligible Canadian or foreign education.

The Home Care Provider Pilot requires that you care for a child below the age of 18 in your home or your employers, while the Home Support Worker Pilot requires you take care of someone who needs help from a home support worker, either in your home or your employer’s home.

IRCC sets out the following information about work experience criteria for the pilots:

Effective April 30, 2023, you need to have at least 12 months of full-time work experience within the 36 months of applying to a pilot

The work experience must fall under National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes 4411 or 4412

Your work experience must be in one of these jobs, it cannot be a mix of both jobs

You need to demonstrate your job matched the NOC job description and you completed most of the main duties

Your work experience does not need to be 12 months in a row. It just needs to be 12 months total

Full-time work is defined as at least 30 hours of paid work each week

Regional pilot programs

There are other pilots such as the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot, which works with small and remote communities in Ontario, Western Canada and the three territories to attract and retain foreign workers.

To be eligible for the RNIP, a candidate must meet the federal criteria as well as the requirements established by the participating community where they plan to settle. The federal criteria are:

Have a recommendation from one of the designated communities

Have one year of continuous work experience in the past three years (a minimum of 1,560 hours)

OR

Have graduated from a publicly funded post-secondary institution in the recommending community

Have a genuine job offer to work in one of the designated communities

Meet the language threshold for the NOC skill type/level of the job being offered

Have sufficient funds to settle and support themselves and their family in the community

Have an intention to live in the community

The Atlantic Immigration Program offers permanent residence to skilled workers that want to settle in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador or Prince Edward Island.

To be eligible for the AIP you must:

Have qualifying work experience unless you are an international student that graduated from a recognized post-secondary institution in Atlantic Canada.

Meet the educational and language criteria

Show you have enough settlement funds. You do not need to show proof of settlement funds if you are already living and working in Canada with a valid work permit.

If you meet all the above criteria, you can start looking for a job with a designated Atlantic Canada employer.

Study permits

Canada is a popular destination for international students because of its high quality and affordability of education, the opportunity to work while studying and the opportunity to get permanent residency upon graduation.

Canada welcomed 551,405 international students from 184 countries in 2022, a record high. Of that number, 23,380 were Filipino students.

To study in Canada, you must first be accepted to Canadian designated learning institution. You can then apply for your study permit. After graduating, international students may be eligible to remain in Canada for up to three years on a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).

Finally, Canadian education can be advantageous to candidates seeking permanent residency, as many immigration programs value candidates with Canadian education and work experience.

The Student Direct Stream (SDS) is a program that makes the process of applying for a study permit faster and more efficient. The SDS currently serves residents of 14 countries, including the Philippines. Canada aims to process all study permit applications through the SDS in 20 calendar days.

Work permits

To work in Canada, foreign workers generally need a work permit. Canadian work permits are divided into two programs: the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and the International Mobility Program (IMP). The difference between the two programs is that the TWFP requires a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), while the IMP does not.

An LMIA proves to the Canadian government that hiring a foreign worker will either have a positive or neutral effect on the Canadian job market. It is the employer’s responsibility.

Source: CIC NEWS

[theborderupdates]

Conditions for Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visas, AEWVs updated

The government of New Zealand has announced changes to the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa and Accredited Employer Work Visa.

Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa changes:

Beginning Oct. 9, qualification requirements for the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa will be replaced with a simplified points system that sets clear skills requirements for residence and offers several ways for individuals to demonstrate their skill level.

Accredited Employer Work Visa changes:

Individuals who are unable to show they are on a pathway to residence will be able to stay in New Zealand for up to five years on an AEWV.

Individuals must live outside of New Zealand for at least 12 months if they have lived in New Zealand for five years continuously on an AEWV to be eligible to apply for another AEWV.

Beginning in November 2023, the validity of AEWVs will be extended from three to five years to align with the introduction of the five-year maximum continuous stay limit for AEWV holders.

Source: https://www.bal.com/bal-news/new-zealand-conditions-for-skilled-migrant-category-resident-visas-aewvs-updated/

[theborderupdates]

Exploring the Extraordinary Benefits of Canadian Immigration to the Great White North

Canada, often referred to as the Great White North, is a land of stunning natural beauty, a thriving multicultural mosaic, and boundless opportunities. Its allure as an immigration destination rests not only on its breathtaking landscapes but also on the countless advantages it offers to newcomers. Canadian immigration is a doorway to a world where economic prosperity, top-tier healthcare, world-class education, and a society built on tolerance and diversity converge to create an enviable quality of life. In this article, we'll delve into the myriad benefits that beckon immigrants to Canada, making it one of the most coveted immigration destinations worldwide.

To gain further insights into Canadian Immigration, please visit the website.

Canada, known for its breathtaking landscapes, cultural diversity, and high quality of life, has consistently ranked as one of the top destinations for immigrants worldwide. The benefits of Canadian immigration extend far beyond just scenic beauty. They encompass economic opportunities, social services, cultural enrichment, and a welcoming environment. In this article, we'll explore the numerous advantages of immigrating to Canada.

Economic Opportunities

Strong Economy: Canada boasts a robust and stable economy, characterized by low inflation rates, a well-developed financial sector, and strong international trade ties. This provides immigrants with a fertile ground for career advancement and financial stability.

Employment Opportunities: Canada faces skill shortages in various sectors, creating a demand for skilled workers, professionals, and entrepreneurs. The Canadian government has implemented various immigration programs to attract and retain foreign talent, such as the Express Entry system and Provincial Nominee Programs.

High Wages and Benefits: Workers in Canada often enjoy competitive wages and numerous employment benefits, including healthcare, parental leave, and retirement plans, contributing to a high standard of living.

Quality Healthcare

Canada's universal healthcare system is often cited as a key reason for immigration. Under this system, all residents have access to medical services without financial burden. It provides a sense of security for immigrants and their families, ensuring they receive quality healthcare when needed.

Education

Canada is renowned for its world-class education system. Immigrant families benefit from access to high-quality schools, colleges, and universities. Moreover, the Canadian government often subsidizes education, making it more affordable for residents and permanent residents.

Multiculturalism

Canada is celebrated for its cultural diversity and inclusive society. Immigrants are welcomed with open arms, and multiculturalism is ingrained in the national identity. This promotes tolerance, acceptance, and a sense of belonging for newcomers.

Safety and Security

Canada consistently ranks among the safest countries in the world. Its low crime rates, effective law enforcement, and strict gun control laws contribute to a secure environment for immigrants and their families.

Social Services

Canadian immigrants have access to various social services, including unemployment benefits, disability support, and housing assistance. These services help newcomers integrate into society and provide a safety net during difficult times.

Natural Beauty and Quality of Life in Canada

Canada's vast and varied landscapes, from the Rocky Mountains to pristine lakes and lush forests, offer outdoor enthusiasts endless opportunities for adventure and recreation. The country's clean air, clean water, and low population density contribute to a high quality of life.

Citizenship and Passport

Canada offers a clear path to citizenship for permanent residents who meet certain criteria, which can lead to the acquisition of a Canadian passport. This provides a sense of security, as Canadian passport holders enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to numerous countries worldwide.

Strong Legal System

Canada's legal system is highly regarded for its fairness and transparency. Immigrants can trust in the rule of law, which protects their rights and interests.

Economic Prosperity

Canada's commitment to economic growth and innovation translates into numerous opportunities for immigrants. The country continually invests in research and development, creating a dynamic and innovative environment.

Conclusion

The benefits of Canadian immigration are multifaceted, encompassing economic stability, quality healthcare, education, cultural enrichment, safety, and a high quality of life. Canada's welcoming attitude towards immigrants, commitment to diversity, and strong social support systems make it an attractive destination for people seeking a better future. For those considering immigration, Canada stands as a beacon of hope and opportunity on the global stage.

[theborderupdates]

US Visa Renewal: Easier Path for Indian Skilled Workers

The US administration is set to streamline the US visa renewal process, particularly relevant for H1B visa holders. Visa processing is needed following the grant of an H1B petition, This initiative is expected to largely benefit Indian skilled workers, who constitute a significant proportion of H1B workers. L1 visa holders will also benefit.

H1B Visa: An Overview

The H1B visa is a non-immigrant work visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. Technology companies are the primary beneficiaries of this type of visa, hiring numerous employees each year from countries like India and China.

According to a report, Indian citizens constituted 73 percent of the nearly 442,000 H-1B workers in fiscal year 2022. These numbers demonstrate the significant role Indian professionals play in the US technology sector.

What's Changing in the Visa Renewal Process?

Currently, foreign workers on H1B visas have to travel abroad to renew their visas. However, the new initiative will allow a small number of these workers to renew their visas within the US. This move will be particularly beneficial for Indian workers, a significant number of whom are H-1B visa holders.

This pilot visa initiative was announced by the State Department on Thursday (June 22), timed to coincide with the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi's state visit to the US. However, in reality this program had already been announced a long time ago.

Implications for Indian Professionals

The new visa renewal process is expected to bring several benefits for Indian professionals.

Reduced Rush for Visa Interviews

One of the primary benefits is that it will ease the rush for visa interviews in consulates abroad. This initiative will assist in clearing the backlog of US visa applications at US embassies in India.

Laid Off Tech Professionals

The recent wave of layoffs by tech companies has left many H-1B visa holders jobless. Under the current rules, these professionals have to find a new job within a 60-day grace period or return to their home country. The changes may not be so helpful to these group of people.

The Role of the Biden Administration

The Biden administration has been keen on fostering a deeper relationship with India, and streamlining the US visa process is a part of this initiative. However, it has faced challenges in getting the US Congress to reform the immigration policy.

Despite these obstacles, the administration is determined to improve visa access for Indians, with a focus on the H-1B and L-1 visas.

Challenges and Concerns

While the new initiative is a positive step, it does not address the fundamental issues with the H-1B visa program, such as the quota being heavily oversubscribed. There have also been concerns about preferential treatment towards India, overlooking serious human rights abuses in the country.

The Road Ahead

The changes proposed by the US administration are part of a pilot scheme, which may be scaled up in the coming years. It will also apply to workers with L-1 visas, used by professionals transferred within their company to work in the US.

The move is being closely watched by Indian professionals and the technology industry. If successful, it could pave the way for more comprehensive immigration reforms in the future.

It's worth noting that the US visa process is complex and constantly evolving. Therefore, it's crucial for professionals planning to work in the US to keep themselves updated about the latest changes and requirements.

workpermit.com helps with US Work Visa: L1, H1B, E2, and O1 Visas

There are various types of US visas that individuals can apply for, depending on their circumstances. Some of the most common employment-based visas include:

L1 visa: This visa is for intracompany transferees who work in managerial or executive positions or have specialized knowledge.

H1B visa: This visa is for specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise in specialized fields.

E2 visa: This visa is for investors who have made a significant investment in a US business and, management or essential skills employees.  Only certain nationalities can apply.

O1 visa: This visa is for individuals with extraordinary abilities in the arts, sciences, education, business, or athletics.

Source: workpermit.com

[theborderupdates]

Canada’s Population Will Hit 40 Million Friday and Is Growing at a ‘Record-Setting Pace'

Despite setbacks during COVID-19, Canada’s population is now growing at a “record-setting pace” and will soon pass the 40 million mark, reads a new update from Statistics Canada.

According to StatCan’s real-time population clock, Canada’s numbers will hit the 40 million mark just before 3 p.m. EST Friday, the organization said.

Patrick Charbonneau, chief of StatCan’s Centre for Demography, told the Star: “Canada is now reaching the 40 million mark, which is a milestone — and we're seeing that growth almost in all 13 provinces and territories”

Canada is “by far the fastest-growing among G7 countries, which has been the case for at least two decades,” he continued. While the nation’s peers are bracing for population decline, Canada’s growth sits at 2.7 per cent — the highest level it’s been since 1957, StatCan said in a news release Thursday. Between January 2021 and 2022, Canada added over a million new people for the first time in its history.

The overwhelming majority of this is a result of temporary and permanent international migration, which accounted for 96 per cent of 2022’s 1,050,110 new people, according to StatCan. Should the trend continue, Canada’s population could hit 50 million by 2043.

“Since 1995, the majority of (Canada’s) population growth is coming from immigration,” Charbonneau said. “This is due to the fact that the population is ageing — so we're recording more deaths and we're also seeing less births than before.”

As a result, Canada has ramped up its efforts to draw in immigrants and fresh talent in recent years to combat labour shortages and to care for the ageing population, Charbonneau said. Lately, Canada has also seen a swell in “temporary immigration” — people entering the country using “workers permits, student permits or asylum seekers, for example,” he continued. Growth briefly faltered between 2020 to 2021 as a result of border restrictions made to slow COVID-19, but the numbers soon picked back up. In 2021, more than 8.3 million people — 23 per cent of the total population — was a landed immigrant or permanent resident in Canada. That’s the largest proportion since Canada’s Confederation in 1867, StatCan said.

Source: TORONTO STAR

[theborderupdates]

Australia and India Have Signed a New Migration Deal. Here’s What We Know

A new migration deal signed between Australia and India has been praised for creating more opportunities for young people and early career professionals in both countries.

The migration deal was one of two deals signed during Narendra Modi's first visit to Australia in nine years, adding to a flurry of deals completed in the last year. An interim bilateral trade agreement has been in operation for five months, with plans to expand the scope and finalise the deal by the year's end. That deal aims to boost bilateral trade to $100 billion.

India is Australia's sixth largest trading partner with two-way trade in goods and services valued at $46.5 billion in 2022. The 10-page migration agreement outlines new options for visa applicants to extend or apply for visas to boost labour mobility for students, graduates, academics, professionals and short-stay arrivals. There are also provisions to crack down on irregular migration and people smuggling.

Also contained in the deal is a new pilot program, known by the acronym MATES, for university graduates and early-career professionals in India to come to Australia on a two-year visa without sponsorship.

What Have Anthony Albanese and Narendra Modi Said About the New Deal?

Announcing the migration and green hydrogen agreements earlier this week, Mr Modi said it showed a new "depth" and "maturity" to the bilateral relationship.

"In the language of cricket, our ties have entered the T20 mode," he told reporters on Wednesday.

He said the relationship was built on a common set of democratic values, and strengthened through trust and respect.

"The Indian community in Australia is a living bridge between our countries." The Indian community in Australia is the fastest-growing migrant group in Australia, increasing five-fold in the last 20 years. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, just under 60,000 people arrived in Australia from India in 2021-22. Close to 784,000 Australians have Indian ancestry — 3.1 per cent of the total population.

After the United Kingdom, the Indian-born population is the second largest migrant community in Australia, equivalent to 9.5 per cent of Australia's overseas-born population.

Mr Albanese said he wants to see all aspects of the bilateral relationship grow.

"Now we want to see more connections — more Australian and Indian students living and studying in each other's countries, and bringing those experiences home," Mr Albanese said on Tuesday, after announcing a new Centre for Australia-India Relations to be based at Parramatta in western Sydney.

How Significant Is the Deal?

Analysts and Indian-Australian leaders have welcomed the deal, saying it reflects an expansion of the bilateral relationship to recognise the increased migration activity between India and Australia.

The former chair of the Australia India Business Council, Sheba Nandkeolyar, said the deal is a win for both countries.

"Mr Modi has been very overt about the fact that India has a lot to offer the world. He has said that India is literally going to be the workforce for the world — whether it be doctors, engineers, STEM, technology, " she told SBS News.

"It's going to benefit Australia greatly to have even more talented, capable, educated, professionally qualified people. As the Indian-Australian community grows, it is becoming really critical to get Australia and India to strengthen areas of co-operation." Analyst Teesta Prakash from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute said Mr Modi was being very strategic in his support for the new migration deal.

"It highlights how the increase in migration is now driving the relationship. And a lot of it has to do with the fact that prime minister Modi is now really trying to organise his foreign policy through a domestic lens," she said.

"The newer migrant arrivals are younger than migrants who moved to Australia 10 or even 20 years ago. As you saw with the rock star reception he received in Sydney, it shows the Indian diaspora are still very much connected to the motherland, as it were. [The deal] highlights he is pushing for a positive agenda for migrants who have more recently arrived from India to Australia."

What Are the Added Visa Options?

More accommodating conditions and rules have been outlined in the Migration and Mobility Partnership Arrangement covering short-stay arrivals, students, graduates, researchers, professionals and those seeking training visas for workplace-based opportunities.

From 1 July this year, Indian graduates of Australian tertiary institutions on a student visa can apply to work and pursue professional development without visa sponsorship for up to eight years.

Australian nationals wanting to conduct research in a public or private research or a higher education institute in India, can apply for an S-5 visa in India for a period of three years or for the duration of the project.

There is also a standalone new pilot program MATES (Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early-professionals Scheme) that will have an annual cap of 3,000 places for four years. The list of eligible educational qualifications covers renewable energy, mining, engineering, ICT, artificial intelligence, FinTech, AgriTech, with scope for more areas to be added at a later date by a joint working group.

Bodean Hedwards is the co-chair of the Australia India Youth Dialogue (AIYD), an initiative that has for the past decade supported emerging leaders from each country to come together annually to deepen bilateral ties.

Around 300 leaders have participated over the years. Annually, 15 youths from each country meet and collaborate.

"I think what this will really do is help young people see the opportunity," she told SBS News.

"It will provide another pathway for young people to not only go and study there, but also then to go work with Indian businesses. It just fosters this collaboration. And this is what we see happen at the AIYD. We see these incredible collaborations addressing some of the big issues that the Australia-India relationship is going to have to address. Be that climate change, be that food and water security.

"We need more people to be going backwards and forwards between the two countries, if we are going to be able to address some of those big challenges that are currently ahead of us." Andrew Deuchar, a scholar with the Australia India Institute, said the expanded options are exciting to see, but added the implementation will be important.

"I think there is a lot to be excited about. The closer linking between two countries - I think there's so much to learn from each other," he said.

"But for that potential to be realised, we have to think seriously about what we're going to do to harness the strengths and capacities to ensure that when international students and new migrants are here, they're able to contribute in ways that they value. And that would be good for Australia in economic terms, but also socially and culturally."

What Comes Next?

Australia's Department of Home Affairs and India's Ministry of External Affairs will oversee the implementation of the agreement — covering visa activity and also combating people smuggling and irregular migration.

A joint working group will be established to develop a protocol on implementation to "ensure diversity, fairness and equity of access…and integrity" of the MATES scheme.

The group will also review the annual cap and list of eligible educational qualifications.

The provisions on MATES will be incorporated in the overarching economic trade agreement (Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement) that both countries are seeking to finalise by the year's end.

Source: SBSNews

[theborderupdates]

Moving to Canada: Essential Tasks to Complete in Your Home Country Before Leaving

Before you start your new life in Canada, it’s important to wrap up essential things in your home country so you don’t have to worry about them later. Whether it’s disposing of personal belongings or consolidating your finances, some tasks can take weeks or months to complete while others can only be done in person, so make sure you plan accordingly.

In this article, we provide a checklist of essential tasks to complete in your home country before moving to Canada, along with indicative timelines for when you should begin working on them.

Six Months Before Moving to Canada

Check the Validity of Your Passport

You’ll need a valid passport to travel to Canada, so check its expiry well before your planned travel date. If you’re moving to Canada permanently, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) advises renewing your passport if it’s valid for six months or less from the day you apply for permanent residence. You can then update your new passport information in your PR application.

If you’re coming to Canada as a temporary foreign worker or international student, the length of your work or study permit cannot exceed the remaining validity of your passport.

Regardless of the immigration program you’ve qualified for, if your passport will expire soon, it’s best to get it reissued while you’re still in your home country. This way, you can avoid the hassle of renewing it through your country’s embassy in Canada a few months after arriving. Each country has different timelines for passport renewal, so be sure to apply several months before your expected travel date.

Get an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA

Most newcomers moving to Canada as permanent residents or work permit holders get their educational credentials assessed for their immigration application. If you filed your immigration application as a couple or family and were not the primary applicant, you might not have submitted an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for immigration purposes.

However, if you plan to work in Canada, you should still consider getting an ECA before your move. Canadian employers may ask for an ECA before offering you a job, to validate that your foreign degree, diploma, or certificate is valid and equivalent to a Canadian credential.

It can take several months to get an ECA from a designated organization or professional body, such as the World Education Services (WES) or the International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS). You’ll have to contact (or maybe even visit) your school, college, or university and request them to send your credentials and transcripts to the designated organization.

Budget for Your Life in Canada

The cost of living in Canada can be quite high, especially if you plan to live in a major city like Toronto or Vancouver. To make your transition to Canada as smooth as possible, you should try to bring enough money to cover your living expenses in Canada for six months. Often, it takes newcomers a few months to find a suitable job in Canada, and you may need to rely on savings from back home until then.

If you’re moving to Canada as a permanent resident, you likely already have enough saved to show the required proof of settlement funds (unless you have a Canadian job offer or are immigrating through the Canadian Experience Class program). However, that may not always be enough to cover your living expenses for six months. Use Arrive’s cost of living in Canada calculator to estimate the cost of living in your future city and set savings goals to make up for the difference.

There’s no set timeframe for when you should start saving. That will depend on how much you earn and can comfortably set aside for the future, as well as the average monthly living expenses in your future city in Canada. If you’ll be supporting your family back home when you move to Canada, be sure to budget for those payments as well, so you have some time to find a suitable job after you arrive. If you plan to sell your assets, such as your car or home, before your move, you can account for that money in your budget as well.

Three Months Before Moving to Canada

Give Notice of Resignation to Your Employer Back Home

Depending on the terms of your employment contract, you may need to give notice of resignation to your employer and serve out the notice period. Usually, notice periods range between three months and two weeks, so revisit your contract or speak to your company’s HR department before giving your notice.

Even though you’re moving to a different country soon, you should try to leave your current job on a positive note. This might mean fulfilling the terms of your contract, completing any projects you are working on, and helping make the transition easier for your replacement.

Avoid burning bridges with your employer, as most Canadian employers will contact your former managers or co-workers as part of their employment background or reference checks. You should also get your employment history letter, a letter of recommendation, or references from your manager before leaving, as these will be helpful when you start your job search in Canada. You can also ask your employer to give you an endorsement on LinkedIn.

Get Your Driver’s License Extract

A driver’s license extract is essentially a letter from your regional transportation authority confirming that you had a valid driver’s license and proves the length of your driving history in your home country. If you have two or more years of driving experience in your home country, getting an extract can make the process of getting a full driver’s license in Canada much faster.

For instance, in Ontario, a driving extract with over two years of experience allows you to appear for a G road test immediately after passing the G1 knowledge test (by skipping the G2 road test and waiting period). So you can potentially get a full license in a few weeks or months instead of the typical two-year process. Depending on the country you come from, some auto insurance providers can take into account your foreign driving experience, thus giving you access to much more affordable rates.

Depending on your local regulator, it can take a few weeks or months to get your driver’s license extract, so the sooner you get this process started, the better.

Gather Other Official Documents

In addition to the paperwork you included in your immigration application, you may need other official documents for various aspects of your life in Canada. If you don’t have all your essential documents, including your educational transcripts, marriage certificate, employment letters, health records, or your children’s birth certificates, vaccination records and school records, now is the time to apply for these and start collecting all your paperwork.

It’s also a good idea to make copies of your paperwork, including your passport and proof of identity, just in case the originals get misplaced or damaged after your move.

One Month Before Moving to Canada

Consolidate Your Finances

With roughly four weeks left before your move, it’s time to consolidate your finances and get your financial paperwork in order. Start by taking inventory of your financial position and making a list of all the bank accounts and financial products you currently have. Before you move to Canada, you may want to close some bank accounts you won’t need, cancel your credit cards and insurance products, and repay your loans in full.

It might be a good idea to keep one or more bank accounts active, especially if you don’t want to transfer all your money to Canada at once, or want to keep some money invested or saved in your home country. Check the banking regulations in your country, as you may be required to convert your accounts to non-resident accounts. If you plan to visit home frequently, consider keeping a debit or credit card active so you can make purchases easily.

If you have a systematic investment plan (SIP), you may want to close the investment and withdraw your funds before your move. Alternatively, set up automatic transfers and leave some funds in your bank account to keep your investments running. Be sure to check the financial regulations in your home country beforehand to see if you’re allowed to continue investing as a non-resident.

You may also want to leave some savings for your family at home. Instead of making weekly or monthly transfers once you’re in Canada, set up recurring transfers or add them as joint holders to your bank account.

Be sure to get up-to-date bank statements and letters closer to your departure date to show proof of funds at the border. If you haven’t already opened a Canadian bank account, you can book an appointment to speak to an RBC Newcomer Advisor and get that process started.

Decide Which Items You Want to Take

Although it might be too early to pack, you should decide which items you want to take and start preparing accordingly. Newcomers can bring many personal items into Canada without paying additional taxes, but some items may be prohibited. So check the government’s regulations on what you’re allowed to bring into the country and any rules that apply to what you’ll be importing.

For instance, if you plan to bring your pet to Canada, your pet may need to be tested, treated, quarantined, or vaccinated before you arrive. Certain categories of pets require an import permit, which can take time to get.

Dispose of Items You Can’t Bring With You

It’s unlikely that you’ll bring everything you’ve accumulated during your life in your home country to Canada. Once you’ve identified items you don’t want to take with you, the next step is to decide whether you want to give them away to friends or family, sell, donate, or scrap them.

Selling or disposing of some items, such as large pieces of furniture, your vehicle, and electronics can take time. If you’re selling your car, you’ll also need to get the ownership transferred and cancel your car insurance. Remember to dispose of items you’ll need while you’re still living in the home, such as your fridge or bed, closer to your moving-out date.

Arrange for Any To-Follow Goods to Be Shipped

If you intend to bring furniture or other large items to Canada, you’ll likely need to make shipping arrangements in advance so your items can arrive soon after you land. You should compare quotes from various shipping companies to get the best deal, both in terms of cost and estimated delivery date.

Also, you’ll have to fill out the BSF186A (or B4A) “goods to follow” form and provide details of the items that you’re getting shipped to Canada separately. When you land in Canada, you’ll need to get this form stamped by a customs officer in order to claim your goods later without paying any duties or taxes.

Get Up-To-Date on Your Health Checkups

Don’t forget to schedule visits to your doctor, dentist, or ophthalmologist before leaving your home country. In addition to your regular check-up, make sure you’re up-to-date on your vaccinations, get prescriptions and refills for any ongoing medication, and collect a copy of your medical and dental records. If you’re moving to Canada with children, you’ll need their vaccination records for school admissions.

Although essential healthcare services are free for new permanent residents (and even for temporary residents in some provinces), some provinces have a waiting period before you’re eligible for provincial health plans. Be sure to check the situation in your province or territory and find out how and when you can register for healthcare coverage.

Regular dental and vision care is usually not covered by provincial insurance, so you may want to get checkups and last-minute treatments done in your home country (such as dental fillings or new prescription glasses). These treatments can be quite expensive in Canada unless you’re insured. Most Canadians purchase add-on insurance for vision and dental care or are covered by employer’s insurance, but these insurance types have coverage limits and you may still be responsible for a portion of the cost.

Get Ready to Vacate Your Home

Although you’ll need someplace to stay right until your move, preparations for vacating your home can take time. If you’ve been living in a rental property, you’ll need to give notice to your landlord before moving out. (Depending on your rental contract or lease agreement, you may need to give more than one month’s notice.) You’ll also have to clear any pending rent or other payments, and at the time of leaving, you’ll need to hand over the keys and get your security deposit (if any) back.

If you still have a few more months left on your lease/rental term, speak to your landlord and see if they’ll agree to let you end your lease early. If not, you may have to pay the remaining months’ rent or, depending on the norms in your country, find someone to take over your lease. It’s also a good idea to check if the leaving date can be flexible in case of any last-minute changes to your travel plans.

If you own your home, vacating it can take more time, especially if you want to lease the property or sell it before your move. Make sure you account for sufficient time and start looking for suitable tenants or buyers a few months before your departure date.

There may be situations where you need to vacate your rented or owned home before your departure to Canada. In such a scenario, you’ll have to arrange temporary accommodation, such as living with family or friends, or booking a hotel, for your last few days or weeks. You’ll likely have your luggage for Canada with you at that time, so make sure you have enough space to store it.

Cancel Recurring Payments

Make a list of all the subscriptions or recurring payments you currently have and the ones you’ll need to cancel before you leave. These may include subscriptions to grocery or food delivery services, streaming services, and physical or digital newspapers, as well as your cable, internet, and phone plans (if you don’t want to keep your SIM active).

Some subscriptions may continue running to the end of your monthly term after you cancel, while for others, you may be able to stop the service immediately and get a refund for the remaining term. Try to phase out your cancellations so you have access to necessary subscriptions until your departure date. You may even be able to cancel some plans after you arrive in Canada.

Tips Icon Tip: Check if you’ll need your phone number to receive one-time passwords or authorization codes for your banks or other ongoing services. If you do, consider switching to a prepaid or pay-as-you-go plan instead of a postpaid one to save money.

One to Two Weeks Before Moving to Canada

Gather or purchase items you’ll need during your initial weeks With only a few days to go, it’s time to start packing in earnest. In addition to the belongings you already have, you may want to purchase items you’ll need during your first few weeks in Canada.

If you’re moving to Canada during the winter months, weather-appropriate clothing should be high on your list of purchases. Most newcomers prefer to buy their winter wardrobe after arriving in Canada, but you may still need jackets, sweaters, gloves, wool socks, and shoes that’ll keep you warm for at least your first few days.

If you’ll be living in an Airbnb or temporary accommodation during your initial weeks, it’s a good idea to check if they have a fully-equipped kitchen and if toiletries are provided. If you need specialized utensils to cook your native food, such as a wok or pressure cooker, you may want to purchase them in your home country. These items aren’t always easy to find in Canada or may be significantly more expensive.

Try to think of other things you use regularly and carry enough for at least a week’s use, so there’s no urgency to find stores nearby as soon as you arrive.

Purchase Travel Insurance

Travel insurance protects you against unforeseen incidents that may happen during your trip. Typically, it insures you for trip disruption, delays or cancellations, lost baggage, or emergency medical expenses incurred during your travel.

If your province has a waiting period for provincial healthcare, you should consider getting extended medical coverage so you’re covered during your initial months in Canada.

Spend Time With Family and Friends

Once all your essential tasks are complete and organized, be sure to spend some quality time with your family and friends. You may not get a chance to see them face-to-face for several months or even years. However, you can always stay in touch via phone, video calls, or email, so don’t despair.

Your last few weeks and months at home will be extremely busy. However, with proper planning, you can avoid last-minute challenges and complete all the essentials before your move. If you cannot accomplish some of these tasks while you’re still at home, don’t worry, you might be able to complete them remotely later or during your trips back home.

Source: arrive

[theborderupdates]

Fruit Farm Calls for Employee-Sponsorship Channel in New Pacific Visa

For the last three years, Quinnita Billy and her husband, George, have been returning to Australia in the harvesting season to work on farms.

“When we are here it’s like a homeland, especially when we see all of our Vanuatuan friends living and working with us,” she said from her current farm residence in Gayndah, Queensland.

“Back in Vanuatu most people do farming, so the work is not a problem for us.”

Billy and her husband have been employed on farms around the country, where they have come and gone on a seasonal basis as per the conditions of their Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (Palm) visa.

Her employer, Red Rich Fruits, said they worked hard to retain skilled and experienced workers like the Vanuatuan couple.

The company’s director, Matt Palise, said he had hoped that the new Pacific Engagement Visa, announced in February, would provide further incentive for businesses like them to be an employer of choice for migrant workers. Instead, the 3,000 visas per year are allocated at random via a ballot system.

“Rather than a random lottery, we would like to see an employer-sponsored scheme that helps to reward the workers who are committed to building a life in the country and reduce the likelihood of workers defecting to the city,” Palise said.

“We’ve got a lot of workers who have been with us for years, who are committed to being a part of the Red Rich Fruits family, and we would love to be able to offer them a permanent visa.”

More Security for Workers, Less Control for Industry

According to an agricultural commodities report by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, released on Tuesday, the proportion of Palm workers as a percentage of all contract farmer workers jumped from 58% in 2019-20 to 82% in 2021-22, and the growth is expected to continue.

The productivity of seasonal workers is 20% higher than people on working holiday visas, Abares said, and that is also expected to increase because the Palm scheme now allows workers to remain in Australia for up to four years. Returning seasonal workers, it said, are 15% more productive than new seasonal workers.

But the new visa has slightly different aims than the Palm scheme.

A spokesperson for the minister for international development and the Pacific, Pat Conroy, said the new Pacific engagement visa was focussed on growing Australia’s Pacific and Timor-Leste diaspora, enhancing people-to-people links, and encouraging greater cultural, business and educational exchange.

“This is separate and in addition to the existing Pacific Australia Labour Mobility [Palm] scheme, which is the main Pacific migration vehicle to help fill workforce shortages in regional Australia,” they said.

This was echoed by Stephen Howes, an economics professor at Australian National University, who said it was good that the new Pacific engagement visa was not tied to a specific employer.

“I think the agricultural sector is well looked after in terms of dedicated visas, they’ve already got this, they’ve got three dedicated to them,” Howes, who is also the director of the ANU’s Development Policy Centre, said.

Laurie Berg, a law professor at UTS, agreed. Berg specialises in the rights of temporary migrant workers in Australia. She warned that employee-sponsored visas could leave workers even more vulnerable to exploitation.

“I think there are concerns that arise around exploitation, especially where they are dependent on employers for accommodation, which can lead them to feel tied to that employer, and fearful about leaving the job,” Berg said.

Employees are paid on hourly rates and also charged $120 a week for their accomodation and bills.

The farming operations manager, Tim Teague, said the on-site accomodation allowed them to retain expertise and a workforce that genuinely wanted to be there.

Teague manages Billy and her husband on one of the company’s farms in Gayndah.

“They are a pleasure to work with, they always sing and dance,” he said. “They make farming fun.

“And we see it in their work too. After you get through the initial costs of housing them and bringing them in they are far more efficient workers than backpackers.”

Palise said the company had invested heavily in housing and transport for their workers, a process that he said was made more challenging by government regulation. This included strict rules for constructing any new accomodation facilities, and unique specifications for building employee housing.

He said the checklist for providing this support to workers was extensive. “Are there enough houses? Do you have enough vehicles? And then even if you do have a combination? Can you get it approved?”he said.

“This is the major challenge facing us whether it’s the [Pacific] engagement visa scheme, or the Palm scheme.

“The government needs to provide an incentive for businesses to be able to build those houses and facilities to be able to have these workers.”

Howes said employee-sponsored visas needed to have strict regulations to protect employees. “Of course, [Palms] has issues, and it is a highly regulated program, but our studies have shown in general workers are treated well thanks to this,” he said.

Of all litigation filed with the Fair Work Ombudsman in 2021-22, 26% involved the treatment of migrant workers.

Source: The Guardian

[theborderupdates]

Lessons From Australia: UK’s Migration Law Set to Repeat Mistakes

Plans by the United Kingdom to detain and deport asylum seekers who arrive on its shores by unauthorised means, such as in small boats, is a replica of Australia’s notorious Operation Sovereign Borders, activists, lawyers and refugees in Australia say.

The UK’s proposed Illegal Migration Bill, they say, will be ineffective against people smugglers, like the Australian policy, and will also destroy the lives of people seeking asylum through indefinite detentions and a disregard for human rights.

Immigration detention in Australia is akin to “torture”, Ian Rintoul, a political activist and spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition in Sydney, Australia, told Al Jazeera.

“Detention centres [in Australia] are commonly understood now – famously understood – to be the factories of mental illness,” Rintoul said, referring to depression and other illnesses many asylum seekers and refugees in Australian immigration detention have developed.

Though the UK says its bill is designed to stop people smuggling and push asylum seekers into safe and legal routes to enter the UK, immigration detention will be the first port of call for processing asylum seekers who arrive by irregular means in the UK.

Plans are now under way to convert former Royal Air Force bases in Essex and Lincolnshire into detention centres to accommodate those who will be detained under the UK bill, which does not specify a time limit on how long asylum seekers can be held.

Clause 12 of the proposed bill states that an asylum seeker may be detained for as long as is “reasonably necessary” to decide what should be done about their asylum claim.

This leaves the way open for indefinite, arbitrary detention, similar to what often happens in Australia, said Alison Battisson, an Australian human-rights lawyer and director of the Human Rights for All organisation.

“There will be a [movable] feast… which is: your detention will come to an end if and when we remove you or we make some other administrative decision that allows you to stay,” Battisson said.

This limbo is the main anguish of indefinite immigration detention, said Battisson, who works with refugees across Australia’s immigration detention system.

Immigration detention centres in Australia are also extremely violent and drug problems are prevalent, she added.

“In some cases, [some] detention centres are run by certain criminal gangs. So it’s an incredibly frightening place to be,” she told Al Jazeera.

“You have no any idea about your future”, said Hossein Latifi, a refugee who spent nine years in Australian immigration detention and was only released early last year.

“Those people, they never committed any crime. They came for safety and freedom and a better future,” he said.

Throughout his years in Australian detention, Latifi had no indication of when it would end.

Unlike an inmate in prison, he did not have a sentence with a set release date. The not knowing was incredibly damaging to his mental and physical health, he said.

“You become [a] very depressed person.”

“You don’t want to talk to your family. You don’t want to talk to anybody,” he said. “Just one question in your mind… when I’m going to be out of this place.”

Now released on a bridging visa, Latifi said he will never forget what happened to him.

“You won’t feel the same again that you felt before detention,” he said. “You don’t forget it.”

Legal Incompatibility

Indefinite detention is illegal under international laws the UK and Australia are signatories to, but both countries have chosen to ignore their legal obligations.

In the case of the UK, the proposed Illegal Migration Bill breaks international and domestic law, yet the government is going ahead with its implementation.

“The government effectively admits that this bill is going to breach people’s human rights and the European Convention on Human Rights,” says Alison Pickup, Director of UK organisation Asylum Aid. “It’s also incompatible with the Refugee Convention,” Pickup said.

According to Pickup, the bill is “being rushed through parliament on a very expedited timescale”. This could be because the government wants to push forward a distraction from all of the other very real problems the UK is facing, she said, from COVID to the cost of living crisis.

“This bill is a piece of performative cruelty,” she said. ”We’re [also] going to have a general election next year. So the timing, getting legislation through, getting it passed, [is] potentially dictated by an electoral timetable.”

Deportations and Votes

In Australia, politics has also been a key driver behind asylum policy.

Officially, detention in offshore facilities of refugees and asylum seekers who arrive by boat to Australia is a mechanism for preventing people smuggling. But many argue this is just a front for an inherently discriminatory policy that wins votes.

Both of Australia’s main political parties, the more left-leaning Labor and centre-right Liberal Party, have created fear around asylum seekers arriving by boat and used tough immigration policies to win over voters, Behrouz Boochani – an award-winning author, former refugee and now political commentator – told Al Jazeera in an earlier interview.

A key part of Australia’s Operation Sovereign Borders involves sending asylum seekers to a third country while their claims for asylum are processed.

The UK bill echoes this to an extent, mandating that asylum seekers be removed from the UK to a safe third country. They will then become the responsibility of the country that accepted them.

Australian lawyers and activists have argued that the UK’s parliament has not put enough consideration into how safe the countries to which they will send asylum seekers are. A similar lack of foresight has put refugees and asylum seekers in Australia in incredibly dangerous situations.

Tamim, a refugee, is being held in Nauru, a small Pacific island where Australia sends asylum seekers – along with Papua New Guinea (PNG) – when they arrive in the country.

The 35-year-old Bangladeshi political refugee has asked the Australian government for resettlement countless times but received no indication of when his immigration detention may end.

Life on Nauru, he said, is fraught with danger.

“A lot of [things are] happening here. The Nauruan people… don’t like refugees to stay here,” he said.

The abuse and neglect of detainees, in what human rights group Amnesty International has described as Nauru’s “open-air prison”, have been well documented, as has the danger of living on Nauru and PNG as a refugee or asylum seeker.

“Those places very quickly became extremely unsafe for the people being processed there,” said Battisson, “and that was because there was a perception by the local communities there … that the refugees coming there were dangerous.”

Tamim has been attacked and robbed by Nauruan locals three times, he said.

The police promised to pursue suspects but it has now been two years and there has been no result, said Tamim.

Ever More Perilous Journeys

The UK bill is expected to stop asylum seekers from making the journey to the UK on small boats like the one Tamim came to Australia in.

Rintoul said the bill will only give rise to the same people making different and more perilous journeys “to try to avoid detection”.

“We will perhaps see more people at the backs of containers at the risk of being smothered, smuggled across the channel, or they will be left in dangerous circumstances in refugee camps or other places throughout Europe,” he said.

Tamim did not have the luxury of applying for a refugee visa to Australia. He had to leave Bangladesh in a rush, with a people smuggler arranging a continuous route from his country to Australia. There was no other option, he said.

Latifi’s story was similar. He said everything happened too fast and there was no time to plan.

“I was just try[ing] to get out of that situation,” Latifi said. “So it was very quick.”

Rintoul said that if there were reasonable, formal ways to get protection, refugees – such as Latifi and Tamim – would not get on to boats.

“People don’t need to get on a small boat to take trips across the channel if there [is] a formal way for them to get protection,” he said.

“If there was a way that Britain took 10,000 people a month from France, people wouldn’t be on little boats.”

Source: AL JAZEERA

[theborderupdates]

"A New Era in Australian Immigration Policy: Granting Permanent Visas to Long-Term Refugees"

The Australian government's decision to grant permanent visas to thousands of refugees who have been living in Australia for years is a significant development in the country's immigration policy. For many years, Australia has been criticized for its harsh and inhumane treatment of refugees, particularly those who arrive by boat.

A Positive Shift: Australian Immigration New Policy

However, this decision is a positive step towards a more compassionate and equitable approach to Australian immigration. Under the new policy, around 6,000 refugees who arrived in Australia by boat between 2012 and 2013 will be eligible for permanent residency, enabling them to fully integrate into Australian society and plan for their future.

The announcement has been welcomed by human rights organizations and refugee advocacy groups, who have long been calling for Australia to adopt a more compassionate approach to immigration. This decision will not only provide a sense of stability and security for these refugees but also allow them to access basic rights and services, such as healthcare, social welfare, and citizenship.

Despite the positive response, the decision has also sparked controversy and debate, with some arguing that it sends the wrong message to people smugglers and could encourage more asylum seekers to attempt the dangerous sea journey to Australia. However, the government has emphasized that its priority is to provide a safe and secure future for those who have already made the journey to Australia, and to ensure that they are able to fully participate in and contribute to Australian society.

The Impact of Australian Immigration Policy

Overall, this decision represents a significant shift in Australian immigration policy, towards a more compassionate and inclusive approach. It is a reminder of the importance of empathy and solidarity in times of crisis and a reflection of the resilience and perseverance of those who have sought safety and protection in Australia.

The decision to grant permanent visas to thousands of refugees who arrived in Australia between 2012 and 2013 marks a significant change in Australia's immigration policy. These refugees, who have been living in Australia on temporary visas for almost a decade, have been in a state of limbo, unable to fully integrate into Australian society or plan for their future. The temporary visas have also prevented them from accessing many basic rights and services, such as healthcare, social welfare, and citizenship.

The new policy will provide stability and security for these refugees, allowing them to plan for their future in Australia and fully participate in society. It is a recognition of their contribution to Australian society, as many have been working, studying, and volunteering in their local communities. The decision will also allow them to access basic rights and services that they have been denied for years.

The Mixed Reactions to Australia Immigration Policy to Grant Permanent Visas to Refugees

The announcement has been met with mixed reactions, with some arguing that it sends the wrong message to people smugglers and could encourage more asylum seekers to attempt the dangerous sea journey to Australia. However, the government has emphasized that its priority is to provide a safe and secure future for those who have already made the journey to Australia, and to ensure that they are able to fully participate in and contribute to Australian society.

This decision represents a significant shift in Australian immigration policy, towards a more compassionate and inclusive approach. It is a step towards addressing the longstanding criticisms of Australia's treatment of refugees and asylum seekers. The government's decision to grant permanent visas to thousands of refugees is a positive development, providing hope and a brighter future for those who have endured years of uncertainty and insecurity.

[theborderupdates]

A Guide to Nunavut, Canada Immigration

Nunavut is a vast territory located in Canada's northernmost region, home to a diverse indigenous population and breathtaking natural landscapes. If you are interested in immigrating to Nunavut, there are several immigration pathways available for different categories of people. Immigrating to Nunavut, Canada, can offer several benefits, including job opportunities, high standard of living, unique culture and lifestyle, permanent residency, and access to Canadian citizenship. In this article, we will provide a complete guide to Nunavut immigration, including information on eligibility criteria, application procedures, and useful tips.

Nunavut Immigration Categories

There are several immigration categories available for those who wish to immigrate to Nunavut. The most common categories include:

1.      Express Entry

Express Entry is a program that allows skilled workers to immigrate to Canada quickly. To be eligible, you must meet certain criteria, including age, education, language proficiency, and work experience. If you qualify for Express Entry, you can apply for permanent residency in Nunavut.

2.      Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)

The Nunavut Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is designed to attract skilled workers, business owners, and investors to the region. To be eligible, you must meet the program's criteria, which includes language proficiency, education, work experience, and adaptability. If you are nominated, you can apply for permanent residency in Nunavut.

3.      Family Sponsorship

If you have a close family member who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, they may be able to sponsor your immigration to Nunavut. To be eligible, you must meet certain criteria, including relationship status, financial stability, and health requirements.

4.      Business Immigration

If you are an entrepreneur or investor who wishes to start or invest in a business in Nunavut, you may be eligible for the Business Immigration Program. To be eligible, you must meet certain criteria, including net worth, business experience, and the ability to invest in Nunavut.

Nunavut Immigration Requirements

To immigrate to Nunavut, you must meet certain requirements, which vary depending on the immigration category you are applying for. In general, you must:

Meet the age requirement (usually between 18 and 45 years old)

Have a clean criminal record

Be in good health

Demonstrate proficiency in English or French

Have sufficient funds to support yourself and any dependents

Meet the education and work experience requirements of your chosen immigration program

Nunavut Immigration Application Procedures

The application process for immigrating to Nunavut varies depending on the immigration category you are applying for. In general, the process involves the following steps:

1.      Determine Your Eligibility

Before you begin the application process, you must determine which immigration category you are eligible for. You can use the Canadian government's online tool to determine your eligibility for Express Entry or the Nunavut PNP.

2.      Prepare Your Documents

Once you have determined your eligibility, you will need to gather the required documents, which may include passports, birth certificates, education and work experience certificates, language test results, and police clearance certificates.

3.      Submit Your Application

You can submit your immigration application online or by mail. You will need to pay the application fee and provide all the required documents.

4.      Wait for a Decision

Once your application has been submitted, you will need to wait for a decision. The processing time varies depending on the immigration category and the volume of applications being processed.

5.      Obtain Your Visa

If your application is approved, you will receive a visa that allows you to immigrate to Nunavut. You will need to make travel arrangements and prepare for your new life in Nunavut.

Useful Tips for Nunavut Immigration

Here are some useful tips for immigrating to Nunavut:

1.      Research the Region

Before deciding to immigrate to Nunavut, it's essential to research the region's climate, culture, and way of life. Nunavut is a unique and remote area, and it's important to understand what to expect before making the move.

2.      Connect with Local Communities

Nunavut has a diverse and vibrant indigenous population, and it's essential to connect with local communities to gain a better understanding of the region's culture and way of life.

3.      Improve Language Skills

Language proficiency is a crucial requirement for immigration to Nunavut. It's recommended to improve your English or French language skills to enhance your chances of success.

4.      Prepare Financially

Immigrating to Nunavut can be expensive, so it's important to prepare financially. You will need to have sufficient funds to cover your living expenses and any unexpected costs.

5.      Seek Professional Assistance

Navigating the immigration process can be complex, so it's recommended to seek professional assistance. A licensed immigration consultant or lawyer can help you understand the process, assess your eligibility, and guide you through the application process.

6.      Network and Build Relationships

Networking and building relationships with local businesses and organizations can help you gain a better understanding of the job market in Nunavut and increase your chances of finding employment.

7.      Be Patient

The immigration process can take time, so it's important to be patient and stay positive. Stay informed about the status of your application and follow up with the immigration authorities as necessary.

Immigrating to Nunavut, Canada, can be a life-changing experience for those who are eligible and prepared for the unique challenges and opportunities that come with living in this remote and beautiful region.

[theborderupdates]

New Zealand Launches New Visa for Workers to Aid in Flood Recovery

The New Zealand government is introducing a new Recovery Visa to fast-track the entry of workers who are needed to aid the country in recovering from recent weather-related disasters.

"The Recovery Visa means overseas specialists needed to support the recovery efforts can come here immediately," said Immigration Minister Michael Wood.

The visa will cover migrant workers are able to provide the following support:

providing emergency response

immediate clean-up

assessing risk or loss

infrastructure, building and housing stabilisation and/or repair (including planning functions)

work that directly supports the recovery (e.g., producing relevant materials for road rebuild, transport drivers, etc)

"The visa will last for up to six months. The fee will be refunded for successful applicants, making it free for those who come here," Wood said.

The government said it is expediting Recovery Visa applications with an aim to accomplish them within seven days.

The new visa comes after New Zealand was battered by flooding during the Auckland Anniversary weekend and following the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle.

Similar visa pathways were previously introduced in New Zealand following the Christchurch and Kaikoura earthquakes, Wood said in a media release.

What It Means for Employers

Employers will need to complete a Recovery Visa Employer Supplementary Form to confirm that the role they are filling supports the country's recovery from recent extreme weather events, according to Immigration NZ.

"This visa is not available to industries providing indirect support (e.g., businesses in the affected areas facing an increased demand for services) or to backfill vacancies of people leaving roles to work on the recovery," the agency said.

It further clarified that the Recovery Visa is not limited to roles in the North Island, noting that some direct support industries are also based in the South Island.

Business, Union Reactions

Businesses and unions across New Zealand welcomed the government's initiative on a Recovery Visa.

Business NZ, however, said the criteria needs to be broad to support all aspects of recovery.

"Firms need to be able to put forward the right person for the job at hand and businesses need flexibility to respond to the circumstances they are facing," Business NZ chief executive Kirk Hope said in a statement. "The recovery and getting businesses and communities back on their feet will take longer than six months, and firms need to be able to plan for recovery efforts while ensuring they don’t fall further behind on other critical projects and work. Those on work visas in-country need the opportunity to move to where their skills are needed."

The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (NZCTU) also called for the protection of the workers who will be granted entry through the pathway.

"Protections were not applied well enough to people who arrived here as RSE (Recognised Seasonal Employer) workers. We need to do more to ensure all Recovery Visa workers are safeguarded from exploitation," NZCTU president Richard Wagstaff said in a statement. 

Further Measures

In addition to introducing a Recovery Visa, the government said it is also providing further support to Immigration New Zealand to speed up visa processing.

"The Public Service Commission is working with Immigration New Zealand to bring in additional medical assessors and identity specialists as additional resource from across the private and public sector to support overall visa processing timeframes," Wood said. "These skills will be made available to Immigration as they are freed up elsewhere. It's important however to stress they will not be pulled from the immediate Cyclone response."

Wood also clarified that the introduction of Recovery Visas will "not change global workforce shortages that are still at play."

"We need to accept the visa may not see the same level of uptake of those in the past – but we understand how important it is to do all we can to relieve pressure on business," he said. "As we gain a greater understanding of the scope and specialist skills required for the recovery, we will look to introduce further initiatives to support access to additional offshore labour."

Previously, the government announced grants for businesses to help them recover following the weather-related disruptions.

Source: https://www.hcamag.com/nz/specialisation/immigration/new-zealand-launches-new-visa-for-workers-to-aid-in-flood-recovery/437843

[theborderupdates]

Canada Express Entry: Record 21,000 Invites Issued in 3 Weeks, CRS Cutoff Lowest in Over 2 Years

The Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has conducted another all-program Express Entry draw, marking the third consecutive week of such a draw. A total of 7,000 invitations to apply (ITAs) for permanent residence were issued this time, and that would make a total of 21,000 ITAs in a matter of three weeks. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off score has also come down sharply. This time it was 481, the lowest requirement for an all-program draw since the December 23, 2020 draw, where the score was 468.

To be eligible for the Express Entry programs (Federal Skilled Worker Program, Canadian Experience Class, and Federal Skilled Trades Program), candidates must meet specific criteria, such as language skills, education, work experience, and age. Once a candidate uploads their profile onto IRCC’s website, they are given a CRS score based on these criteria, and the highest-scoring candidates receive ITAs during IRCC’s biweekly draws. IRCC has not adhered to a predictable draw schedule in recent months, such as holding two draws in consecutive weeks on March 15 and March 23, which were tied for the largest all-program draws ever, issuing 7,000 ITAs each.

Upon receiving an ITA, candidates have 60 days to submit their completed permanent residence application to IRCC. IRCC aims to process these applications within six months.

Immigration Levels Plan 2023-2025

Under the Immigration Levels Plan 2023-2025, IRCC intends to welcome almost 83,000 immigrants via the Express Entry program in 2023. This target will increase to 109,000 in 2024 and 114,000 in 2025.

Canada has made the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) its leading economic class immigration pathway since last year. Each province and territory has its own PNP, allowing them to identify and nominate candidates that meet their specific economy’s needs. The PNP admissions target is nearly 106,000 immigrants in 2023, 110,000 in 2024, and almost 118,000 in 2025.

Recently, several provinces announced their new PNP allocations, with Ontario now able to nominate up to 18,000 immigrants in 2025.

The PNP operates through Express Entry, meaning eligible candidates who enter the Express Entry pool can receive an invitation from a province or territory to apply to their PNP. Those approved under a PNP stream gain an additional 600 CRS points, increasing their chances of receiving an ITA for permanent residence.

Source: mint