vivien lee immigrationNo Comments

Navigating Canada’s Evolving Immigration Landscape: Understanding Category-Based Selection

Navigating Canada’s Evolving Immigration Landscape: Understanding Category-Based Selection

Canada’s immigration system is dynamic, adapting to the nation’s evolving economic and social needs. One of the most significant recent developments is the implementation of category-based selection within the Express Entry system. This strategic shift by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) aims to address specific labor shortages and bolster key sectors of the Canadian economy.

What is Category-Based Selection?

Traditionally, the Express Entry system has primarily relied on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to select candidates. While the CRS remains a crucial factor, category-based selection introduces a targeted approach. IRCC now identifies specific categories of candidates with in-demand skills, experience, or language abilities, and conducts targeted draws.

Why Category-Based Selection？

This new approach allows Canada to:

  • Address Labor Shortages: By prioritizing candidates with expertise in high-demand sectors, IRCC can help fill critical workforce gaps.
  • Support Economic Growth: Targeted selection ensures that Canada attracts skilled professionals who can contribute to the country’s economic prosperity.
  • Promote Francophone Immigration: Category-based draws support the growth of Francophone communities outside Quebec.

Key Categories

IRCC has identified several key categories, including:

  • Healthcare and social services: Addressing the need for doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals.
  • STEM occupations: Attracting talent in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
  • Trade occupations: Filling shortages in skilled trades like carpentry and plumbing.
  • Agriculture and agri-food occupations: Supporting Canada’s vital agricultural sector.
  • Education occupations: filling the needs of teachers and childcare educators.
  • French-language proficiency: Prioritizing candidates who can contribute to Francophone communities.

What This Means for Prospective Immigrants

If your skills and experience align with one of the targeted categories, your chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence may increase. It is now more important than ever to:

  • Ensure your Express Entry profile is accurate and up-to-date.
  • Stay informed about the latest category-based draws.
  • Consider improving your language proficiency, especially in French.

Staying Informed of Canadian Immigration Policies

The Canadian immigration landscape is constantly evolving. It is crucial to stay informed about the latest changes and updates.

Book a Consultation with Us

Navigating the complexities of category-based selection can be challenging. If you believe your skills and experience align with one of the targeted categories, or if you have any questions about your eligibility, we encourage you to book a consultation with us. We can provide personalized guidance and support to help you achieve your Canadian immigration goals. Contact us today to schedule your consultation and take the first step towards your future in Canada.

vivien lee immigrationNo Comments

Canadian Immigration News Roundup: January 2025

Canadian Immigration News Roundup: January 2025

It’s a new year and with it comes a whole host of immigration news from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Here’s a summary of the latest updates to keep you informed:

Express Entry:

  • CEC-focused draws continue: IRCC kicked off 2025 with an Express Entry draw inviting 4,000 Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates. This signals a continued focus on individuals already residing in Canada.
  • Changes are coming: While details remain scarce, IRCC has indicated that changes to Express Entry are expected in 2025. These changes may impact program categories, eligibility criteria, and the overall process. Stay tuned for further announcements! Make sure to get proper immigration advice to avoid detrimental mistakes.

Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs):

  • PNP candidates get open work permit extension: Good news for PNP candidates! The policy granting open work permits to those waiting for their PNP applications to be processed has been extended. This allows individuals to work while their application is in progress.
  • Provinces begin 2025 nominations: Several provinces have started issuing invitations to apply for provincial nominations.

Family Sponsorship:

  • Restrictions on Open Work Permits for families: Starting January 21, 2025, spouses of only certain international students and foreign workers will be eligible for an open work permit. This change aims to ensure the integrity of the temporary resident program.

Other important updates:

  • Study permit allocations revealed: IRCC has released the breakdown of study permit allocations by province for 2025.
  • Low-wage LMIAs restricted in certain regions: Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) for low-wage positions will not be processed in specific regions across Canada.

This is for informational purposes only. For legal immigration advice or assistance, consult a professional.

Stay up to date:  Schedule an Immigration Consultation with us. Remember immigration policies can change frequently. Always consult reliable sources and seek professional advice.

Want to know more about Canadian immigration? Make sure to get legal immigration advice from trusted authorized representatives.

Contact Vivien Lee Immigration for expert guidance and personalized assistance. With over three decades of Canadian immigration experience, we can help you navigate the complexities of immigration and challenges of frequent changes in Canadian immigration policies. Let us assist you in your immigration journey.

Connect with Vivien Lee Immigration and book a Consultation:

vivien lee immigrationNo Comments

Canada improves fairness for applicants by ending post-graduation work permit “flagpoling”

From: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

News release

June 21, 2024—Ottawa—A safe and secure flow of goods and people across the Canada–United States border is critical to North America’s economy and the close person-to-person ties that Canadians and Americans enjoy. That’s why we continue to look for ways to make it easier and faster to cross the border without compromising the integrity of our immigration system.

Today, the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced that foreign nationals can no longer apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) at the border, effective immediately. This measure will help reduce what is known as “flagpoling.” Flagpoling occurs when temporary residents of Canada bypass the normal wait times involved in applying for a work or study permit online by leaving the country and then immediately re-entering to receive same-day immigration services.

Flagpoling uses significant resources at the border, taking officers away from enforcement activities, causing delays for travellers and slowing down the movement of goods. From March 1, 2023, to February 29, 2024, PGWP applicants represented about one fifth of the foreign nationals who attempted to flagpole.

The Government of Canada is taking measures to encourage applicants to apply in Canada rather than flagpole. We continue to improve processing times, and are moving toward a more integrated, modernized and centralized working environment to help speed up application processing globally.

The change announced today increases fairness amongst applicants and is another step that the Government of Canada is taking to reduce flagpoling. We’ll continue to look for ways to reduce flagpoling so our shared border with the US runs smoothly and efficiently, benefitting both our nations.

vivien lee immigrationNo Comments

Bill C-71, An Act to amend the Citizenship Act (2024)

 

(Remarks delivered on May 23, 2024 in Ottawa, ON. delivered by the Minister of Immigration)

Today we introduced Bill C-71.

The proposed legislation will extend citizenship by descent beyond the first generation in a way that is inclusive and upholds the value of our citizenship. If passed, the Bill extends automatic citizenship to anyone who was born outside of the country to a Canadian parent before the legislation comes into force.

We also introduced amendments to respond to issues raised at Parliamentary committees, as well as in the courts. They will restore citizenship to those we call “Lost Canadians.” That could be someone who was never able to become a citizen, or lost citizenship, because of previous and outdated legislative provisions. While the Government previously brought forward changes that fixed the status of most Lost Canadians, a small, impacted cohort remained.

These changes will address most, if not all, of the Lost Canadians and their descendants, seeking to regain their citizenship. The changes also address the status of Canadian descendants who were subject to the first generation limit.

Today’s legislation also proposes clear rules for acquiring Canadian citizenship by descent. Once it becomes law, the first-generation limit will no longer be valid and individuals will have to prove that they have a substantial connection to our country.

Under the new legislation, children born abroad to a Canadian citizen who was also born outside of Canada will be a Canadian citizen from birth, if their parent can demonstrate they have a substantial connection to Canada.

As long as a Canadian parent who was born outside of Canada has accumulated three years of time spent in Canada before the birth of the child, they will be able to pass down their citizenship to their child.

Finally, we wanted to take this opportunity to continue to minimize differential outcomes, as much as possible, for children born abroad and adopted by Canadians, compared to children born abroad to Canadians. Any child adopted abroad by a Canadian parent before the coming into force date of the legislation will be able to access a grant of citizenship, even if they would have previously been excluded by the first generation limit.

And for children born abroad and adopted by Canadian citizens, the same test will apply once the legislation comes into force. If the adoptive parent who was born outside of Canada can demonstrate their substantial connection to Canada, the adopted child will be able to access a grant of citizenship.

Bill C-71 will restore citizenship to those who had lost it, and it will create a clear and consistent process for the future for our rules for citizenship by descent.

The amendments build on the good work the House of Commons and Senate have done on Bill S-245, while improving on the proposals in the Senate Public Bill, and comprehensively addressing the issues raised by the Courts.

Canadian citizenship is part of our identity, something that connects us around shared values of democracy, equality and inclusion. With today’s legislation, we are working to provide a better Citizenship Act.