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Русский Canada Invites 3,900 Express Entry Candidates to Close on Annual ITA Record
December 12, 2018 – Canada immigration authorities have issued 3,900 Invitations to Apply for the sixth consecutive Express Entry draw, and seventh in 2018.
The December 12 draw saw a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score of 445, the same as the previous draw.
The draw brings the total ITAs issued in 2018 to 85,900. The record for a single year is 86,023, set in 2017.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has a high-skilled immigration intake target of 74,900 for 2018.
This was the 26th round of invitations under Express Entry in 2018 and 105th overall.
IRCC can now set an exact number of invitations to be issued.
Where the number of candidates with the lowest score surpasses the number of invitations permitted, authorities give priority to the profiles that have been in the Express Entry pool the longest.
Thus, if more than one candidate has the lowest score, the cut-off is based on the date and time they submitted their Express Entry profiles.
The highest number of candidates invited in a single draw since the change is 3,900.
Why Did Express Entry Change?
The new format allows immigration officials greater control to implement a more fine-tuned method for choosing an exact number of candidates to be issued an ITA. The previous system did not allow this.
Despite the latest change, the latest draw continued the trend under the Express Entry System where the lowest CRS score was well below 500.
It was the 35th draw since immigration authorities substantially modified the Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System on June 6, 2017.
What is Express Entry?
Express Entry is an immigration system implemented by Canadian immigration authorities (IRCC) on January 1, 2015 which manages skilled worker applications under Federal Economic programs. This includes the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Skilled Trades Program the Canada Experience Class and parts of the Provincial Nomination Programs.
Stakeholders expect to see near 30 draws and more than 80,000 invitations issued in 2018, with a majority of draws featuring CRS scores below 450 to enable Canadian immigration authorities to meet targeted annual immigration levels for 2018.
Read More
- The 9-Month Review: Canada Express Entry Sees Busiest Quarter Of 2018 With 22,800 ITAs Issued
- First Half 2018 Express Entry Results Shows Consistency in Required CRS Scores
- 2018 Express Entry First Quarter Review
- Canada Immigration: 2017 Year in Review
- 2016 Express Entry Year-End report
What Can Employers Do to Recruit Foreign Workers?
Employers are encouraged to consider securing an LMIA or nomination under provincial nomination programs (PNPs) to ensure long term retention of employees.
At immigration.ca we provide Canadian employers with unparalleled immigration legal services and recruitment of foreign nationals through our in-house Global Recruiters of Montreal, GRNMontreal.com and skilledworker.com. We bring qualified candidates to Canada in the shortest time possible. Employers in a wide range of industries can directly benefit from our unique position as one of Canada’s leading immigration firms in the industry, with a strong on-line presence, to meet both their recruitment and immigration requirements.
Interested employers wishing to seek our assistance are invited to contact us here for further information.
What Should Candidates Do Next?
It is expected that the majority of applicants to be issued ITAs in 2018 will require a CRS score well under 450 points, enabling a significant number of applicants to receive permanent admission to Canada without a job offer or nomination under a provincial immigration program. However, securing an approved offer of employment is highly recommended. Watch our Facebook livestream video on how to find jobs in Canada from overseas.
We offer all our individual clients with excellent employment services as well as a 60-minute Live, Face-to-Face LinkedIn tutorial on how to find jobs in all areas of Canada.
Find out whether you qualify to Canada by completing our free online evaluation. We will provide you with your evaluation results within 1-2 business days.
Resources:
- Immigration.ca News Articles – A daily news source outlining the latest developments in immigration, employment and the economy with commentaries by Attorney Colin Singer.
- At skilledworker.com we are dedicated to developing long-term strategic alliances with client companies and candidates alike. We strictly adhere to our guiding principles of honesty, integrity and confidentiality.
Colin R. Singer is immigration counsel for www.immigration.ca and Managing Partner of Global Recruiters of Montreal, GRNMontreal.comas well as skilledworker.com. He is one of Canada’s foremost senior corporate immigration attorneys. Colin is internationally recognized as an experienced and recommended authority on Canadian immigration and foreign recruitment. In addition to being licensed human resources professional, he is a licensed Canadian lawyer in good standing with the Quebec Law Society for more than 25 years and is authorized by the Canadian government in all immigration matters.
Interested employers: Kindly contact us here to receive further information.
Interested candidates: Find out whether you qualify to Canada by completing our free on-line evaluation. We will provide you with our evaluation within 1-2 business days.
Read more news about Canada Immigration by clicking here.
- Published in 2018, Canada Immigration News Articles, Express Entry
Tackling Canada’s Technology Sector Shortage Using Global Talent Stream
Attracting, hiring and retaining the right talent is essential for the growth of technology firms in Canada. For years, Canadian technology companies struggled to attract the right candidates to fill vacancies that would ultimately help them expand and grow. The all-too common story saw businesses identify international skilled workers, start the paperwork, but the processing would take so long, the in-demand talent would be lured elsewhere.
This is why, in 2017 the Global Talent Stream was introduced by the federal government. The aim of the program was to boost the skilled talent pool in Canada. The program was introduced with an initial 2-year timeline, during which time high growth firms can gain access to highly sought after skilled foreign workers.
Find out if you qualify for Immigration to Canada by completing our free online evaluation HERE!
Why Canada has a technology talent shortage
Canada’s has several renowned universities offering highly marketable degrees in technology-based programs. However, many of the top graduates have traditionally been lured away to Silicon Valley to work for U.S. technology giants. With Donald Trump cracking down on immigration this is changing.
Reports show that by 2020 the country will experience a shortage of almost 220,000 tech workers due to inadequate supply to match the ever-growing demand, according to the Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC).
The problem with the old system
Previously, and with few exceptions, technology talent came in through the same general streams as other skilled workers. For work permits, that meant the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and the cumbersome Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) process.
The LMIA is the document that proves the lack of a suitable Canadian candidate at the going rates, for a position. Processing could take up to a year, often too long for in-demand skilled workers to hang around. Even the LMIA-exempt positions covered under the International Mobility Program could see lengthy processing times for a number of reasons.
What the GTS changed
The launch of the Global Talent Stream in June 2017 saw government policies committed to processing applications inside Canada in two weeks for the most in-demand positions. The Global Talent Stream is part of a broader Global Skills Strategy, which also includes work permit exemptions for managers, professionals and researchers.
It also saw commitment to a more client-focused approach by the federal government, guiding employers through the application process.
Operating as part of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, the GTS has two distinct streams:
- Category A, featuring a list of designated partners who refer businesses for access to the GTS;
- Category B, featuring a list of target occupations covered under the GTS.
See chart for GTS occupations.
The GTS is part of the broader Global Skills Strategy, under which two more important work permit changes were made:
- Access to two-week processing for certain LMIA-exempt work permits issued through the International Mobility Program;
- Short-term work permit exemptions for 15, 30 or 120 days for managers, professionals and researchers.
Global Skills Strategy Work Permit Exemption: Requirements
Whether applying at a visa off or Port of Entry, a candidate must provide documents to show the short-term exemption applies. These documents should include:
- Formal job offer
- Letter from employer describing duties, NOC code and period of employment
Researchers also require the following documents:
- Letter from qualifying institution describing duties, research to be completed and NOC code.
- Proof of educational qualifications to establish academic excellence.
- Description of how a candidate will add value to the research project.
Why the launch of GTS was particularly well timed
Just as Canada launched the GTS, Trump stepped up his immigration crackdown in the U.S.
There have been no formal changes to the H-1B visa for skilled workers, but U.S. officials have made it much more difficult to obtain this visa. Paperwork requirements are more onerous and processing times lengthy. It appears U.S. officials are following instructions to create hurdles and delay the process of issuing visas.
For skilled worker candidates considering their options, they now have Canada with its newly launched two-week work permit processing, or the U.S. with an anti-immigration president and a deliberately bogged down system.
Has the GTS been successful?
Businesses hailed the arrival of the GTS and are calling for it to be extended beyond the current two-year pilot, which expires in June 2019. It was recently expanded to include three new occupations on its one-year anniversary.
More than 2,000 workers have been approved to Canada since the program launched in Q3 2017. Thousands of workers are expected to come to Canada under the program with their families, who also qualify for two-week processing. Most will make the transition to permanent residence once they are here. This can be done relatively quickly through the Express Entry system for workers with such in-demand skills.
Watch Our Video “Tackling Canada’s Technology Sector Shortage Using Global Talent Stream”:
Find out if you qualify for Immigration to Canada by completing our free online evaluation HERE!
By helping technology firms add the right talent in order to support overall growth, this program ultimately helps to create a much larger pool of new jobs including Canadians. In order to create the Global Talent Stream, the federal government spoke to several Canadian tech CEOs to discover how to make the most efficient program that would tackle the problem of talent shortage head on. The next natural step would be to continue working with the heads of tech companies and other innovators and resourceful members of the industry to make this pilot program a permanent fixture.
Other actions that the federal government can take include working with innovators to develop a national talent-retention strategy, and promotion of science, technology, engineering and math education in all academic institutions that are publicly funded.
Be One of the 1 Million New Immigrants Coming to Canada over Next 3 Years!
Interested employers: Kindly contact us here to receive further information.
Interested candidates: Find out whether you qualify to Canada by completing our free on-line evaluation. We will provide you with our evaluation within 1-2 business days.
Read more news about Canada Immigration by clicking here.
- Published in 2018, Canada Immigration News Articles
Details of New Parents and Grandparents Program Coming Soon
December 11, 2018 – Canada’s immigration department says details of the 2019 Parents and Grandparents Program will be released soon.
The program will reopen in January 2019 with a first-come, first-served process, moving away from an unpopular lottery system that has been in place since the start of 2017.
“Family reunification is a top immigration priority for the Government of Canada,” a statement said.
“The Parents and Grandparents Program continues to be very popular, with high demand for sponsorship from Canadian citizens and permanent residents.
“Details on the 2019 intake system will be released in the coming weeks.”
Canada plans to accept 20,000 completed applications in 2019, up from a target of 17,000 in 2018.
The immigration levels plan released in October 2018 gives a target of 20,500 parent and grandparent admissions in 2019, rising to 21,000 in 2020 and 2021.
Read More
Canada To Accept 20,000 Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship Applications in 2019 Under First Apply Immigration System
Canada Announces Second Lottery Draw For Parents and Grandparents Program
Stinging Criticism of Canada’s Parent and Grandparent Program
Since 2017, names have been selected at random from all those who submitted an interest to sponsor.
Families complained that the randomized process gave them no way of knowing if they would ever be selected to reunite with their loved ones.
The process faced stinging criticism from potential sponsors, candidates and other stakeholders.
IRCC officials, including Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen, defended the system, saying it was designed to make the process fairer.
However, they have now accepted the lottery system has not worked by changing it to an online version of the previous first-come, first-served process.
How Will the Parents and Grandparents Program Change In 2019?
| 2019 Process | 2018 Process |
| 1) Application window to open in January for submission of ‘interest to sponsor’ forms. 2) Sponsors to be issued invitations to apply in the order ‘interest to sponsor’ forms are submitted. 3) Those issued invitations have 90 days to submit a complete application. | 1) Application window to open in January for submission of ‘interest to sponsor’ forms. 2) Sponsors are drawn at random from all those who submitted ‘interest to sponsor’ forms. The government conducted two draws in 2017 and two in 2018. 3) The sponsors drawn are issued invitations to apply, with 90 days to submit a full application. |
How Many Parents and Grandparents Does Canada Admit?
Canada plans to welcome 20,000 parents and grandparents in 2018, 20,500 in 2019 and 21,000 in 2020 and 2021, as per the multi-year immigration levels plan released in October 2018.
How to Sponsor a Relative for Canada Immigration
Interested employers: Kindly contact us here to receive further information.
Interested candidates: Find out whether you qualify to Canada by completing our free on-line evaluation. We will provide you with our evaluation within 1-2 business days.
Read more news about Canada Immigration by clicking here.
- Published in 2018, Canada Immigration News Articles
Canada Adopts UN Global Compact on Migration of Refugees
December 11, 2018 – Canada has adopted the United Nations Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration of refugees after dismissing critics who claimed the document threatens sovereignty on immigration.
Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen made the announcement in Morocco on Monday saying the move will help ‘harness the contributions of newcomers and to ensure their successful integration.’
The 36-page Global Compact features 23 objectives for how to treat migrants humanely and efficiently.
It lays out how countries can work together to help deal with growing global migration.
Prior to signing the document, Canada’s Conservatives had raised fears it could lead to Canada losing the right to make decisions on who enters the country.
Read More
Thousands of Americans Crossing Canada Border as Asylum Seekers Flee Trump Policies
Canada’s 2018 Irregular Border Crosser Numbers Eclipse First 9 Months of 2017
Syrian Refugees in Canada Face Integration Challenge
“It gives influence over Canada’s immigration system to foreign entities,” said Conservative leader Andrew Scheer.
“It attempts to influence how our free and independent media report on immigration issues and it could open the door to foreign bureaucrats telling Canada how to manage our borders.
“Canadians, and Canadians alone, should make decisions on who comes in our country and under what circumstances.”
But Hussen hit back at the claims, saying they were politically motivated, accusing the Conservatives of ‘discarding facts.
‘Useful Framework’ for Migration
The immigration minister said the Global Compact would help form a ‘useful framework’ for migration, enhancing cooperation and communication.
He also stressed it was not legally binding, and that many of the objectives set out in the compact were already being done in Canada.
Canada has been actively engaged in the development of the compact.
The majority of the almost 200 action items reflect Canadian practices and are aligned with the compact’s objectives and commitments.
The objectives of the agreement include the promotion of ‘independent, objective and quality reporting of media outlets’ by ‘sensitizing and educating media professionals on migration-related issues and terminology’.
It says media outlets promoting intolerance and racism should have funding withdrawn.
Sovereignty Affirmed
Meanwhile, the compact also includes wording affirming the sovereignty of countries in terms of setting their own immigration policies.
Experts say the Global Compact represents a positive step in bringing government and the private sector together to make better lives for refugees.
Given immigration is a sensitive subject with the rise of protectionism in the US through Donald Trump and the UK through Brexit, the negative reaction was to be expected.
But, in reality, the compact serves to set out a framework, and does not impose obligations.
Other objectives include:
- Collection of accurate data to help develop policies.
- Working to minimize the factors that cause people to become refugees.
- Ensuring refugees and migrants are treated fairly in terms of recruitment and working conditions, and access to basic services.
- A stronger response to people trafficking.
Hussen said: “Comprehensive national migration systems can help drive innovation, economic growth, and social stability.
“Our government believes that this Global Compact is not only an effective way to address the challenges that migration can bring, but is also an opportunity for nations to harness the contributions of newcomers and to ensure their successful integration into new countries.”
Interested employers: Kindly contact us here to receive further information.
Interested candidates: Find out whether you qualify to Canada by completing our free on-line evaluation. We will provide you with our evaluation within 1-2 business days.
Read more news about Canada Immigration by clicking here.
- Published in 2018, Canada Immigration News Articles, Uncategorized
Ontario Continues Weekly French Speaking Skilled Worker Draws
December 11, 2018 – Ontario immigration has conducted its latest weekly draw under the provincial French Speaking Skilled Worker stream.
The December 6 draw saw 45 candidates issued with Notifications of Interest for Ontario immigration.
Candidates needed to have submitted Express Entry profiles between January 1 and December 6 to qualify for the draw.
It was the 43rd draw of 2018 for the FSSW stream, with NOIs for Ontario immigration issued to a total of 1,596 candidates.
Read More
Ontario Immigration Granted Increased 2018 Nomination Allocations
40 Express Entry Candidates Invited Through Ontario French Speaking Skilled Worker Stream
Ontario Conducts Significant Draw Aimed At Skilled Trades Candidates
There is no minimum points requirement for the stream. Candidates must have a minimum of Canadian Language Benchmark 7 in French and 6 in English to qualify.
Ontario recently announced it had been granted an increase to its nomination allocation for 2018.
The province had earlier revealed it had reached its initial federal government nomination allocation of 6,600 candidates.
What Are The Details of The Latest FSSW Stream Draws?
| Date | NOIs Issued | Express Entry profile submission date |
| 6-Dec-18 | 45 | Jan 1 to Dec 6 2018 |
Source: OINP
What Are The Requirements For The Ontario Express Entry: French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream?
To qualify applicants must have:
- Pending application under the Federal Express Entry system;
- Minimum of 1-year of full time, or full time equivalent work experience under NOC occupation level 0, A or B;
- Canadian equivalent Bachelors degree, Masters degree or PhD;
- Minimum CLB level 7 in TEF exam (French); AND minimum CLB 6 in IELTS exam (English)
- Intention to reside in the Province of Ontario.
The OINP began publishing information about specific draws at the beginning of 2018.
There have now been 43 French Speaking Skilled Worker draws in 2018.
Ontario has also conducted several Human Capital Priorities, Skilled Trades and Entrepreneur Stream draws this year.
Ontario NOIs Issued So Far in 2018
| Human Capital Priorities Stream (HCP) | 3,719 |
| French Speaking Skilled Worker Stream (FSSW) | 1,596 |
| Skilled Trades Stream (ST) | 1,626 |
| Entrepreneur Stream | 149 |
Source: www.ontarioimmigration.ca
The OINP is currently accepting applications for all but one of its immigration streams.
Status of Ontario Streams
| Immigration Stream | Status |
| Human Capital Priorities (Express Entry) | Open |
| French-Speaking Skilled Worker (Express Entry) | Open |
| Skilled Trades (Express Entry) | Open |
| Employer Job Offer | Open |
| International Student (Masters Graduate) | Closed |
| International Student (PhD Graduate) | Open |
| Investor Immigration (Corporate) | Open |
| Investor Immigration (Entrepreneur) | Open |
Source: www.ontarioimmigration.ca
Interested employers: Kindly contact us here to receive further information.
Interested candidates: Find out whether you qualify to Canada by completing our free on-line evaluation. We will provide you with our evaluation within 1-2 business days.
Read more news about Canada Immigration by clicking here.
- Published in 2018, 2018, Canada Immigration News Articles, Ontario-news
New Saskatchewan Draw Sees Lower Minimum Scores, 743 Invited
December 10, 2018 – Minimum scores edged down as Saskatchewan immigration conducted a new draw under its Expression of Interest system.
The December 6 draw saw invitations to apply issued to 743 candidates through the province’s Occupations In-Demand and Express Entry streams.
Through the Occupations In-Demand stream, 532 candidates were invited with a minimum score of 61 points.
Express Entry candidates required the same minimum score, with 211 candidates invited.
Read More
Saskatchewan Immigration 2018 Expression of Interest Draws
Saskatchewan Significantly Steps Up Numbers In New EOI Draw
How to Qualify under the New Saskatchewan and Quebec Expression of Interest Immigration Systems
All of the EOI candidates invited had Educational Credential Assessments, which is required for Saskatchewan applications.
The province says it plans to conduct a minimum of one draw per month going forwards.
Saskatchewan has now conducted seven draws under the EOI system.
The previous draw, on November 23, saw a record 514 invites issued under both the Occupations In-Demand and Express Entry streams. The lowest-ranked candidates scored 64 and 63 points respectively.
Saskatchewan Expression of Interest Draws
| Draw date | Category | Minimum score | Invites issued | Other considerations |
| 6-Dec-18 | Express Entry | 61 | 211 | Invited Candidates had Educational Credential Assessments |
| Occupations In-Demand | 61 | 532 | Invited Candidates had Educational Credential Assessments | |
| 23-Nov-18 | Express Entry | 63 | 247 | Invited Candidates had Educational Credential Assessments |
| Occupations In-Demand | 64 | 267 | Invited Candidates had Educational Credential Assessments | |
| 01-Nov-18 | Express Entry | 60 | 255 | Invited Candidates had Educational Credential Assessments |
| Occupations In-Demand | 61 | 671 | Invited Candidates had Educational Credential Assessments | |
| 10-Oct-18 | Express Entry | 60 | 359 | Invited Candidates had Educational Credential Assessments |
| Occupations In-Demand | 63 | 494 | Invited Candidates had Educational Credential Assessments | |
| 27-Sep-18 | Express Entry | 65 | 225 | Invited Candidates had Educational Credential Assessments |
| Occupations In-Demand | 66 | 213 | Invited Candidates had Educational Credential Assessments | |
| 20-Sep-18 | Occupations In-Demand | 75 | 140 | Invited Candidates had Educational Credential Assessments |
| 21-Aug-18 | Express Entry | 68 | 466 | Invited Candidates had Educational Credential Assessments |
What is the Process for Saskatchewan Expression of Interest?
- Submit EOI profile.
- Enter EOI candidate pool.
- EOI candidates selected.
- Invitations to Apply issued via regular draws.
- Candidates submit full application within 60 days.
- SINP officials assess applications and make decision.
What Are The Requirements For The Occupation-In-Demand Sub-Category?
- Score a minimum of 60 points on the SINP points assessment grid;
- Have a language score of at least Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4. Employers and regulatory bodies may ask for higher;
- Have completed one year of post-secondary education, training or apprenticeship comparable to the Canadian education system. You must have earned a diploma, certificate or degree.
- Degrees and diplomas obtained outside Canada subject to an Educational Credential Assessment;
- At least one-year work experience in the past 10 years:
- In your field of education or training occupation, and
- In an occupation in NOC A, B, 0 included on the in-demand occupation list.
- Obtain the appropriate licensure in Saskatchewan if your field so requires, as the authorities will not process an application without the licensure.
- Have proof of settlement funds and a settlement plan.
- Pay a non-refundable $300 application fee online.
What Are The Requirements For The Saskatchewan Express Entry Sub-Category?
Candidates from outside Canada, or with legal status in Canada, qualify for this Saskatchewan immigration category, provided they are not a refugee claimant.
Additionally, candidates must:
- Have a profile in the Express Entry Pool, with profile number and job seeker validation code;
- Score a minimum of 60 points on the SINP points assessment grid;
- Provide valid language test results from a designated testing agency matching those in the Express Entry profile;
- Have completed one year of post-secondary education, training or apprenticeship comparable to the Canadian education system. You must have earned a diploma, certificate or degree.
- Degrees and diplomas obtained outside Canada subject to an Educational Credential Assessment;
- Have at least one of the following experience requirements in your field of education or training occupation:
- One year of work experience in the past 10 years in a skilled profession (non-trades);
- Two years of work experience in a skilled trade in the past five years; or
- One year of work experience in Canada in the past three years (trades and non-trades).
- Have work experience in a high-skilled occupation in NOC A, B, 0 included on the in-demand occupation list.
- Obtain the appropriate licensure in Saskatchewan where your profession is regulated, or a skilled trade. For skilled trades, a certificate is required from the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission.
- Have proof of settlement funds and a settlement plan.
- Pay a non-refundable $300 application fee online.
How To Qualify Under Saskatchewan’s New Expression of Interest System
What Is The Saskatchewan In-Demand Occupations List?
| National Occupation Classification (NOC) | Occupations |
| 2154 | Land surveyors |
| 3111 | Psychiatrists |
| 3215 | Medical Radiation Technologists |
| 3234 | Paramedics |
| 4151 | Psychologists |
| 4212 | Social and community service workers |
| 4214 | Early childhood educators and assistants |
| 3211 | Medical laboratory technologists |
| 3216 | Medical sonographers |
| 2123 | Agricultural representatives, consultants and specialists |
| 6331 | Meat cutters |
| 7201 | Contractors and supervisors, machining, metal forming, shaping and erecting trades and related occupations |
| 7204 | Contractors and supervisors, carpentry trades |
| 7311 | Industrial mechanics |
| 7312 | Heavy-duty equipment mechanics |
| 7321 | Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics |
| 7322 | Motor vehicle body repairers |
| 7237 | Welders |
| 7384 | Recreation Vehicle Service |
| 0822 | Managers in horticulture |
| 8252 | Agricultural service contractors, farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers |
| 0821 | Managers in agriculture |
Interested employers: Kindly contact us here to receive further information.
Interested candidates: Find out whether you qualify to Canada by completing our free on-line evaluation. We will provide you with our evaluation within 1-2 business days.
Read more news about Canada Immigration by clicking here.
- Published in 2018, 2018, Canada Immigration News Articles, Saskatchewan-news
Want Your Canada Immigration Application to Succeed? Hire a Lawyer
December 10, 2018 – New figures prove that hiring an immigration lawyer is a candidate’s best chance of success when applying for a Canada immigration visa.
Just 10.4 per cent of temporary resident applications prepared by lawyers were rejected in 2017, compared to more than 18 per cent prepared by immigration consultants.
The figures show candidates are almost better off representing themselves than hiring an immigration consultant, with 19.3 per cent of self-completed applications failing.
Significantly lower failure rates for immigration lawyers should come as no surprise.
Read More
Why Hire an Immigration Lawyer?
Ottawa Set to Defend its Biggest Case Involving Unlicensed Canadian Immigration Consultants
Ottawa Provides Update on Immigration Consultant Regulation Investigation (Audio)
Attorneys have completed years of education, have an established code of ethics and are strictly regulated.
To becoming a registered immigration consultant, practitioners must only complete a one-year accredited program and meet language requirements.
The regulatory body – the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC) – is beset with problems and a lack of professionalism.
A 2017 report by the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration recommended the ICCRC be disbanded and regulation of consultants taken on by the federal government.
Too often so-called ‘ghost’ consultants who are not properly qualified are allowed to slip through the net.
This leads to complex court cases that often threaten the legal status of Canadian immigrants who unwittingly hired the services of unregistered consultants.
Immigration lawyers are also often left to pick up the pieces after candidates have failed in their applications using a consultant.
Without needing to navigate such difficult cases, the success rate for lawyers could be even higher.
The data shows that of 342,154 temporary visa applications in 2017, 86 per cent of candidates chose to represent themselves.
A further six per cent chose to use consultants, while five per cent used lawyers.
What Is the Difference Between Hiring a Lawyer and Hiring a Consultant?
A consultant is any person called on to give advice. A lawyer (attorney, barrister or solicitor) is licensed to perform legal functions. These may include:
- Drafting documents,
- Interpreting and applying laws,
- Giving legal advice,
- Representing clients in court.
The practice of law is regulated by each of the provinces. A lawyer must have the following credentials:
- Bachelor of law degree from recognized university,
- Law admission examinations,
- Training under practicing lawyer.
The conduct of lawyers in Canada is regulated by the Professional Order of Lawyers (POL).
POL rules cover areas including:
- Separate trust bank accounts for client fees,
- Obligations of lawyers towards clients,
- Performance of mandates.
Breaking these rules can result in the loss or suspension of a lawyer’s license.
Anyone charging a fee to give advice on immigration must be a member of one of the following:
- Provincial or territorial law society
- Chambre des notariés du Québec
- Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC), which replaced the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants (CSIC) in 2011.
The admission process for licensed immigration consultants in Canada is far less rigorous. Immigration consultants do not need the same education, nor are they scrutinized to the same standards.
A client not happy with a lawyer can raise a formal complaint with the POL, which has a fund to provide compensation for irregularities.
Interested employers: Kindly contact us here to receive further information.
Interested candidates: Find out whether you qualify to Canada by completing our free on-line evaluation. We will provide you with our evaluation within 1-2 business days.
Read more news about Canada Immigration by clicking here.
- Published in 2018, Canada Immigration, Canada Immigration News Articles, Profile
Canada Unemployment Drops To Lowest Since At Least 1976
December 9, 2018 – Canada unemployment is the lowest it has been in at least 42 years, according to the latest federal government figures.
A stellar November saw unemployment drop to 5.6 per cent, the lowest since comparable figures became available in 1976, Statistics Canada says.
The drop of 0.2 percentage points comes after 94,100 jobs were added in November, meaning employment growth of 219,000 in the last year, driven entirely by full-time jobs.
Provincially, there were employment increases in eight out of 10 provinces in November, with Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland & Labrador showing slight decreases.
What Are The Labour Force Survey Highlights?
| Unemployment rate (%) | 5.6 |
| Employment rate (%) | 61.7 |
| Labour force participation rate (%) | 65.4 |
| Number unemployed | 1,124,800 |
| Number working | 18,799,100 |
| Youth (15-24) unemployment rate (%) | 10.8 |
| Men (over 25) unemployment rate (%) | 5.0 |
| Women (over 25) unemployment rate (%) | 4.7 |
Source: Statistics Canada
Employment among workers aged 25 to 54 rose 49,000 across the month, with women contributing 32,000 and men 17,000 jobs.
Core-aged women saw unemployment drop to 4.6 per cent, and men to 4.7 per cent.
Employment in the core age-group has now risen 208,000 in the last year.
Employment also rose in the 55 and over category, by 39,000, although unemployment rose to 5.5 per cent as more people looked for work.
The 15 to 24 age-group, meanwhile, saw little change in their employment in November.
If you are a candidate looking for a Canada job, or an employer looking to recruit foreign talent from abroad, immigration.ca can help. Access our expertise through our in-house recruitment enterprises, www.grnmontreal.com and our newest asset, www.skilledworker.com, “the leader in foreign recruitment”.
Provincial Canada Jobs
Quebec saw employment rise by 26,000 in November, with an unemployment rate of 5.4 per cent.
The French-speaking province saw notable increases in professional, scientific and technical services, plus educational services.
Employment increased by 24,000 in Alberta, with the unemployment rate dropping a full percentage point, from 7.3 per cent to 6.3 per cent. Over the last 12 months, employment has risen 59,000 in the oil-rich province.
Which Canadian Province Has the Lowest Unemployment?
| Jobs change August | Unemployment rate (%) | |
| 1) British Columbia | 15,900 | 4.4 |
| 2) Quebec | 25,800 | 5.4 |
| 3) Saskatchewan | 5,500 | 5.5 |
| 4) Ontario | 20,200 | 5.6 |
| 5) Manitoba | 2,600 | 5.7 |
| 6) Alberta | 23,700 | 6.3 |
| 7) Nova Scotia | 200 | 7.0 |
| 8) New Brunswick | 1,700 | 7.9 |
| 9) Prince Edward Island | -200 | 8.5 |
| 10) Newfoundland & Labrador | -1,300 | 12.2 |
| CANADA | 94,100 | 5.6 |
Source: Statistics Canada
Ontario saw an increase of 20,000 Canada jobs, with an unemployment rate of 5.6 per cent. Canada’s largest province has added 66,000 jobs in the last year.
British Columbia still leads the way with an unemployment rate of 4.4 per cent after adding 16,000 jobs in November. The western province has added 43,000 jobs in the last 12 months.
Another 5,500 more people found jobs in Saskatchewan in November, for an unemployment rate of 5.5 per cent.
Manitoba, meanwhile, added 2,600 jobs and has an unemployment rate of 5.7 per cent.
What Are Canada’s Top Technology Occupations?
Canada’s Top Performing Industries
The professional, scientific and technical services sector added 26,000 jobs in November, spearheaded by Quebec and Ontario.
Further gains of 19,000 jobs were seen in health care and social assistance, focused in Ontario and Alberta. In the last year, employment has grown 57,000 in the industry.
Gains were also seen in construction (15,000), business, building and other support services (15,000), transportation and warehousing (9,000) and agriculture (7,100).
Canada’s November gains were driven by the private sector, adding 79,000 jobs, while the public and self-employed sectors saw little change.
Interested employers: Kindly contact us here to receive further information.
Interested candidates: Find out whether you qualify to Canada by completing our free on-line evaluation. We will provide you with our evaluation within 1-2 business days.
Read more news about Canada Immigration by clicking here.
- Published in 2018, Canada Immigration News Articles
Indian IT Professionals: Here Is How You Can Move to Canada in 2019
December 7, 2018 – If you are an Indian IT professional working in the USA and considering your future options, you could change your life in 2019 by moving to Canada.
Qualified IT professionals are in high demand in Canada’s economy, and the federal government has shaped immigration policies to make up the shortfall.
Important technology occupations remain unfilled for more than a year in some cases. If you are a qualified and experienced IT professional, the pathway to a Canadian work permit,Canadian permanent residence and Canadian citizenshipis clear.
In this article, we will lay out how we can help you move to Canada, how much you can expect to earn and highlight some of the most difficult to fill technology occupations.
Why Should Indian IT Professionals Move to Canada From The USA?
1) Canada is more immigrant-friendly
Canada is aiming to increase immigration to 350,000 newcomers per year by 2021. The majority of these newcomers will be in the Economic Class, with technology workers among the most in-demand. While Donald Trump clamps down on work visas and green cards in the US, Canada is making it easier for IT professionals to get work permits, with two-week processing via the Global Talent Stream.
2) Canada needs IT professionals
Canada is trying to overcome a shrinking labour force and aging population, and one of the ways it is doing this is through immigration. At the same time, Canada’s economy has changed and the labour force is lacking the IT skills businesses need to grow. This is why Canada is courting Indian IT professionals with fast visa processing and a clear pathway to permanent residence and citizenship.
3) Canada has a quality education system
Canada has several established colleges and universities, as well as a top-quality publicly-funded high school system that rivals the US in terms of quality of education. Tuition fees when it comes to higher education are much lower than the US for international students, and lower again for permanent residents and citizens. Moving your family to Canada from the US could be the best decision you ever made in terms of opportunities for your children.
4) Canada has publicly-funded healthcare
The US has well-documented problems with access to its healthcare system, but there are none of the same issues in Canada. Permanent residents get access to publicly-funded healthcare, and work permit holders can too, depending on certain factors. This represents piece of mind that you and your family will be covered in case of emergency. Here is all you need to know about healthcare for new immigrants.
5) Canada has a safe and secure society
Canada has a democratically-run, safe and secure society with significantly lower crime than the US. By choosing Canada. IT professionals are not just choosing a job, but a whole new quality of life.
How Qualified IT Professionals Can Move to Canada
Qualified IT professionals can come to Canada in two main ways:
- Through applying directly for permanent residence;
- By coming to Canada as a temporary resident on a work permit, before transitioning to permanent residence.
1) Through applying directly for permanent residence
Skilled workers applying directly for permanent residence mainly come through Express Entry.
Canada Express Entry manages the intake of skilled workers to the main federal economic programs, plus certain provincial streams.
Federal Economic Immigration Programs
Candidates wishing to come to Canada through one of these programs must first register a profile in the Express Entry pool.
This profile is given a score against a Comprehensive Ranking System, with the highest scoring profiles receiving an Invitation to Apply in regular draws.
Draws usually happen every two weeks.
There are many ways in which candidates can boost their score while in the Express Entry Pool, including by securing a qualified job offer in Canada, worth 200 or 50 points, depending on the skill level.
Qualified IT professionals are in demand in Canada, meaning the Express Entry system is geared towards accepting them.
What Is Canada’s Top Technology Occupations?
2) By coming to Canada as a temporary resident on a work permit, before transitioning to permanent residence
Increasingly, IT professionals are coming to Canada on a temporary work permit before making the transition to permanent residence.
The federal government launched the Global Talent Stream in June 2017 to specifically target technology occupations.
Candidates with a job offer get their Labour Market Impact Assessment, work permit and Canada visa processed in two weeks if they qualify for the GTS.
It has given Canadian technology start-ups an important advantage when competing for the best overseas hires.
Once candidates are in Canada and working through the GTS – which is operated under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program – they can apply for permanent residence through Express Entry.
Where in Canada Are the Best Salaries for IT Professionals?
Canada is a vast country, with established technology is many of its major cities.
Below are some of the most popular technology jobs with salary information.
1) IT Project Manager
2) Software Developer
3) Database Analyst
4) Java Developer
5) Web Developer
6) Computer Network Technician
7) Business Analyst
Top 10 Canada Occupations for IT Professionals Employers Are Desperate to Fill
Advertisements in the top 10 hardest to fill occupations are consistently live for more than 60 days, showing how employers desperate to get the right people in have to be patient.
If you are qualified in one of these positions, you could move to Canada in a matter of weeks.
Canada’s Hardest to Fill Technology Vacancies
| Job title | NOC Code | Percentage of vacancies open for 60 or more days | |
| 1 | Computer Vision Engineer | 2147 | 56 |
| 2 | Penetration Tester | 2147, 2171, 2281 | 51 |
| 3 | Ruby on Rails Developer | 2147, 2171, 2172 | 43 |
| 4 | Operations Engineer | 2141, 2147 | 41 |
| 5 | Release Engineer | 2173 | 40 |
| 6 | C Developer | 2175 | 37 |
| 7 | Machine Learning Engineer | 2132 | 37 |
| 8 | System Engineer | 0211 | 35 |
| 9 | Chief Engineer | 0211 | 34 |
| 10 | Security Engineer | 2171 | 33 |
Source: Indeed
How We Can Help IT Professionals Move to Canada
At immigration.ca we offer our international clients top to bottom assistance in both immigration and employment. We provide individual clients with extensive legal counsel drawing on our more than 60 years of in-house combined professional experience.
For employment, we give all our individual clients a comprehensive job search service through our in-house recruitment enterprises, www.skilledworker.com and www.grnmontreal.com.
We will empower you on how to raise your profile including your CRS score in the Express Entry Pool.
We do this by giving our clients extensive contacts to 500 Canadian employers, conducting a comprehensive job search which includes a live face-to-face tutorial on how to harness the power of LinkedIn, and revising their digital, online profiles to maximise their hiring opportunities.
In short, we teach you how to find a job in Canada from overseas.
How We Can Help Employers Looking to Hire IT Professionals
If you are an employer looking to recruit foreign talent from abroad, immigration.ca can help. Access our expertise through our in-house recruitment enterprises, www.grnmontreal.com and our newest asset, www.skilledworker.com, “the leader in foreign recruitment”.
From technology workers in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec, long-haul truck drivers in the Prairies and doctors in Nova Scotia we are able and ready to help with your search for the right staff to get your business grow.
Interested employers: Kindly contact us here to receive further information.
Interested candidates: Find out whether you qualify to Canada by completing our free on-line evaluation. We will provide you with our evaluation within 1-2 business days.
Read more news about Canada Immigration by clicking here.
- Published in 2018, Canada Immigration News Articles, Canadian Work permit
Computer Network Technicians Among Canada’s Most In-Demand Skilled Workers
December 7, 2018 – Robust and reliable computer networks are crucial to the day-to-day running of a successful business, making qualified Computer Network Technicians some of the most sought-after skilled workers in Canada.
Responsibilities include establishing, operating and maintaining computer networks. They are the people offices turn to when the system goes down.
A recent study of the hardest to fill technology jobs in Canada saw Penetration Tester come out as the second hardest to fill position. This role falls under the Computer Network Technician National Occupation Classification of 2281.
Computer Network Technician: Employment Requirements
Candidates are required to complete a college program in a field related to computer science, network administration or web technology.
Some certification or training by specific software vendors may be required by some employers, while only Saskatchewan requires registration with a regulatory body.
In terms of salaries, the highest averages are available in Calgary ($119,200), Toronto ($117,700) and Vancouver ($117,200).
Meanwhile, the lowest peak earnings are seen in Halifax ($98,000) and Quebec City ($106,100).
For entry level positions, salaries again peak in Calgary at $67,600 and are lowest in Halifax at $52,000.
How We Can Help Computer Network Technicians Move to Canada
At immigration.ca we offer our international clients top to bottom assistance in both immigration and employment. We provide individual clients with extensive legal counsel drawing on our more than 60 years of in-house combined professional experience.
For employment, we give all our individual clients a comprehensive job search service through our in-house recruitment enterprises, www.skilledworker.com and www.grnmontreal.com.
We will empower you on how to raise your profile including your CRS score in the Express Entry Pool.
We do this by giving our clients extensive contacts to 500 Canadian employers, conducting a comprehensive job search which includes a live face-to-face tutorial on how to harness the power of LinkedIn, and revising their digital, online profiles to maximise their hiring opportunities.
In short, we teach you how to find a job in Canada from overseas.
How We Can Help Employers Looking to Hire Computer Network Technicians
If you are an employer looking to recruit foreign talent from abroad, immigration.ca can help. Access our expertise through our in-house recruitment enterprises, www.grnmontreal.com and our newest asset, www.skilledworker.com, “the leader in foreign recruitment”.
From technology workers in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec, Long-haul truck drivers in the Prairies and doctors in Nova Scotia we are able and ready to help with your search for the right staff to get your business grow.
Interested employers: Kindly contact us here to receive further information.
Interested candidates: Find out whether you qualify to Canada by completing our free on-line evaluation. We will provide you with our evaluation within 1-2 business days.
Read more news about Canada Immigration by clicking here.
- Published in 2018, Canada Immigration News Articles, Skilled Immigration Visa
