The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with an aim towards streamlining the H1-B visa process to attract and retain top talent has announced new rules. The new rules will come into effect from January 17, 2025 will help US companies fill critical job positions efficiently.

The key updates to this visa program, include:

• International students on F-1 visa will be able to transition to H1-B visa by maintaining lawful status and employment.
• Quicker processing of H1-B applications for individuals who were previously approved for that visa.
• Requiring employers to establish that they have a valid job in a speciality occupation and provide supporting documentation.
• Making the program strong by having USCIS conduct inspections and impose penalties for non-compliance.

This is good news, specially for talent from India, since a robust H1-B system means that they will benefit the most. In 2023, Indians made up 72% of the total 386,000 visas issued.

Canada's Immigration minister Marc Miller announced a change this week which aims to remove the points given to candidates for holding an LMIA-based job offer. Though it is still unclear when this will take effect. As of date, candidates with an LMIA receive 50 points which counts towards their CRS score in the Express Entry system.

In the second Express Entry draw announced yesterday for Provincial Nominee Program candidates this month, 1085 invitations were sent out to qualifying candidates to apply for PR. The cut-off CRS score jumped up by 22 points compared to the draw of December 2^nd.

The CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate was 727.

If you would like to migrate to Canada then call our office for a free consultation and follow our blog to get the latest updates on foreign education and immigration.

Canada has announced a new immigration program, the Rural Community Immigration Class, which provides permanent residency option to qualifying individuals. This pathway allows for individuals who have a valid temporary resident status and can establish themselves economically in any of the designated rural communities, except in Quebec province to submit an application.

The applicant is required to show an offer of employment from a designated employer for full-time work without an end date and at least 75% of the work must be in the designated rural area. The applicant must also have at least one year of full-time (or equivalnet part-time) work experience in an occupation listed under NOC. Also the applicant must have a valid certificate of recommendation from an economic development organization, which is granted to applicants with the required work experience and wage requirements.

Australia has announced that it is replacing the Temporary Skills Shortage visa with the new Skills in Demand (SID) visa, effective December 7, 2024. The SID visa comes with a new skilled occupation list called Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL).

The new SID visa allows holders to stay in Australia for up to 4 years. The visa also provides a streamlined process for foreign workers and the employers looking to find quality talent for their organizations. The SID visa provides a clear pathway to permanent residence since work experience with an approved employer count towards PR. The applicants for the SID visa must demonstrate one year of work experience in their field of work and have the smae English language requirements as the TSS medium-term stream. Also the CSOL has more than 450 occupations listed in sectors such as construction, health, agriculture, and IT.

In what is a great opportunity for foreign workers, Greece is looking for 300,000 skilled and unskilled international workers to fill in unfilled jobs across various sectors. The demand is in sectors such as IT, hospitality, construction, manufacturing.

In order to attract top talent in their respective fields to contribute to the economic growth of the country, Greece has streamlined it's immigration policies. The different kinds of visas available for foreign workers and their eligibility requirements are:

• EU Blue Card - This visa is designed for skilled individuals in fields of IT and engineering. The applicant is required to have a Bachelor's degree or equivalent, a job offer in the country, and salary on par with the natoinal threshold.
• National visa - This visa is designed for both skilled and unskilled individuals looking for long-term employment in the country for positions like chefs, electricians and plumbers.
• Seasonal Work Visa - This visa is for individuals looking for temporary jobs in agriculture, hospitality and tourism.

There are many job options available for individuals with various levels of skills and the ease of getting a visa offers great opportunities.

In another Express Entry draw for candidates proficient in French language, a total of 800 invitations were issued. This draw saw the cut-off CRS score drop by 12 points compared to the previous draw held last month for the same category.

The CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate was 466.

If you would like to migrate to Canada then call our office for a free consultation and follow our blog to get the latest updates on foreign education and immigration.

Canada announced an Express Entry draw yesterday for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates which saw a considerable drop, of 111 points, in the cut-off CRS score compared to the previous draw. Invitations were sent out to 676 eligible candidates to apply for PR.

The CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate was 705.

If you would like to migrate to Canada then call our office for a free consultation and follow our blog to get the latest updates on foreign education and immigration.

IRCC has announced that starting December 1, 2024 it will be increasing the inadmissibiity fees across certain categories such as:

• Restoration of temporary resident status
• Authorisation to return to Canada
• Criminal rehabilitation
• Temporary resident permit

Applications submitted before the fee increase effective date will not be impacted as long as the fee is paid, the application is complete and mailed before the effective date. Any payment, if required, will be informed by the IRCC.

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has anounced that it has eased it's post-study work (PSW) visa rules for international students making it an attractive higher study destination. As per the revised rule, students who completed 30 week PostGraduate Diploma and progress directly to a Masters degree will now be eligible to apply for the PSW visa. Earlier, students who went for the Masters without completing the full duration of the 30 week diploma were not eligible for the PSW visa.

This update is welcomed by the international student community and makes New Zealand an alternative choice amid falling number of study applications to Canada.

Following the announcement in April 2024, allowing international students in Canada to work for 24 hours per week while their classes are in session, the new regulations came into effect on November 15, 2024. This is an increase from the previous allowance of 20 hours per week. The 24-hour cap is to allow students to gain work experience without affecting their academic outcomes.

This cap applies only to those students who are working off-campus, while students can work any number of hours if they are working on-campus and off-campus during academic breaks when the classes are not in session.

The IRCC in Canada announced that it has flagged 10,000 student acceptance letters as being fraud in 2024. This came to light after enhanced verification measures were implemented in 2023 following an incident where some international students from India faced deportation after submitting fraudulent acceptance letters provided to them by an unlicensed consultant. The enhanced measures requires the insitutions to to authenticate the acceptance letters online which matches with the student visa applications submitted both within and outside Canada.

IRCC is investigating 2000 cases which involves students from China, India and Vietnam, of which 1485 cases involved submission of fraudulent documents. The government is working to implement a system which protects the interests of genuine students while weeding out fraud applicants.

In another Express Entry draw announced yesterday, for the third consecutive day, 3000 candidates in Healthcare occupations were invited to apply for PR. This draw for Healthcare occupations comes after a while, the last was announced in July of this year. The cut-off CRS score for this draw jumped up by 18 points from the previous one.

The CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate was 463.

If you would like to migrate to Canada then call our office for a free consultation and follow our blog to get the latest updates on foreign education and immigration.

In another Express Entry draw announced yesterday, the second one for Canadian Experience Class this month, saw a total of 400 invitations sent out to aply for PR. The cut-off CRS score dropped by 8 points from the CEC draw announced last week.

The CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate was 539.

If you would like to migrate to Canada then call our office for a free consultation and follow our blog to get the latest updates on foreign education and immigration.

In the second Express Entry draw announced this month for Provincial Nominee Program candidates, 174 invitations were sent out to applicants who had received a nomination from a province.

The CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate was 816.

If you would like to migrate to Canada then call our office for a free consultation and follow our blog to get the latest updates on foreign education and immigration.

Canada announced a category-based draw in the Express Entry yesterday for applicants with French language proficiency. This draw saw 800 invitations sent out and the cut-off CRS score jump by 34 points from the draw announced last month.

The CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate was 478.

If you would like to migrate to Canada then call our office for a free consultation and follow our blog to get the latest updates on foreign education and immigration.

Recently, Canada has been in the news by announcing some key changes to it's immigration policies such as plan to reduce immigration numbers for 2025, and ending the 10-year tourist visa validity and the SDS program for students. Looking back at the Express Entry draws for this year, it is quite clear that skilled workers who do not have a nomination from the provinces, or work experience in Canada, or are not skilled in one of the listed categories are finding it difficult to score enough CRS points to be invited to apply for PR.

As of November 12, 2024 the CRS score distribution of candidates in the Express Entry pool looks like:

CRS score range	Number of Candidates
601-1200	120
501-600	16,625
451-500	64,425
401-450	56,597

The draw for the General category this year saw the cut-off CRS score be consistently above 500, making it difficult for candidates in the general category outside of Canada to qualify for PR.

Canada announced a draw in the Express Entry yesterday for applicants in the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). This draw saw 400 invitations sent out and the cut-off CRS score saw a small jump of 8 points from the draw announced last month for CEC.

The CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate was 547.

If you would like to migrate to Canada then call our office for a free consultation and follow our blog to get the latest updates on foreign education and immigration.

Germany has updated it's EU Blue Card policy which will take effect in 2025, the policy will make it easy for skilled workers to live and work in Germany and is exciting news for candidates with tech skills in India. Earlier, candidates had to deal with complex visa applications and high minimum-salary thresholds which have been done away with, in addition to an increase in the list of eligible professions and allowing freshers to apply as well.

The minimum annual salary requirement has been considerably lowered to € 45,300 and for jobs in high-demand fields such as IT, engineers, and healthcare it is even lower at € 41,042.

There is good news for candidates who have graduated from a university in the last 3 years, being eligible to apply with the minimum salary threshold of € 41,042. This will allow fresh graduates to start their careers abroad right after graduation.

Germany will allow skilled tech professionals who do not have a university degree, however have at least 3 years of relevant professional experience to apply for the Blue Card.

Additionally, by making the visa application process simpler with faster processing times, it is now easy for professionals to jump into their new jobs without having to go through the lenghty and nerve-wracking application process.

This move highlights a shortage of skilled talent in Germany in the high-demand fields and the country is taking steps proactively to correct this. It also benefits the skilled workers with relevant education and experience to live and work in an EU nation and further their career.

In a decision which has far reaching impact, more so for international students from India, Canada has announced that it will end the popular Student Direct Stream (SDS) program effective immediately in an attmept to address the country's ongoing housing and job crisis. Images of thousands of international students lining up for a single job opening in a QSR, serve as a reminder of the grim reality which the international students have to live through on a daily basis.

The SDS program was announced in 2018 by IRCC to fast-track the study permit applications for students from various countries which included India. The program allowed students who met the eligibility requirements of the program to have their study permit applications processed faster. This move will have a profound impact on international students from 14 countries who were allowed to participate in the program.

Applications which have been submitted by 12:30 AM as of November 9, 2024 will be allowed to be processed under the SDS program. The main reason for this change in policy stems from the increase in pressure on the country's housing, high cost of living, shortage of jobs, and healthcare system.

In a major overhaul to its visa policy, Canada announced that it is ending the practice of issuing tourist visas with a validity period of 10 years. The new guidelines allow the immigration officers to decide whether to issue single-entry or multiple-entry visa and use their judgement to determine the validity of the visa.

This move comes at a time when the current government is facing low approval ratings because of acute housing shortage and high cost of living. Canada expects about a million people to leave the country voluntarily as their visas expire in the coming years.

Looking at the Express Entry draws announced this year and analyzing the types of the rounds, we see that the General rounds have consistently seen a cut-off CRS score above 500, with the lowest being 524. Also, the last General draw was announced on April 23,2024.

The types of the rounds have been primarily in Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and the category-based selection which indicates that candidates with Canadian work experience or those with specific skills, education and work experience to meet the province's economic requirement are being invited to apply for PR.

The category-based selection is driven by information about the labour market from the provinces and territories and aims to fill in the labour shortage in the country through targeted immigration. Currently, the active categories are:

• French-language proficiency
• Healthcare occupations
• Science, Technology, Engineering and Math occupations
• Trade occupations
• Transport occupations
• Agriculture and agri-food occupations

So choosing the right program to apply under will boost your chances of getting invited to apply for PR. Call us today to discuss your profile and our expert team will guide you all the way to fulfill your dream of migrating to Canada.

Germany is fast becoming a choice among professionals to live and work, with being part of the EU and providing a high standard of living, strong economy and excellent working conditions. The Opportunity card offers candidates belonging to non-EU countries to enter the country and seek suitable employment without showing proof of having permanent employment. This card is granted to candidates who are skilled workers or score at least 6 points in the points system.

The Opportunity card allows the candidate to work part-time (20 hours per week) as a trial and stay in Germany for a period of 1 year, during which their sole focus should be to find a job. It is possible to get a 2 year extension on the Opportunity card by applying at the local Foreigners Registration Office.

The basic requirements to apply for the Opportunity card are:

• German language skills at A1 or English language skills at A2 level
• At least 2 years of vocational training or a recognized university degree
• Demonstrate financial independence through a part-time job or an employment contract

No points are awarded for meeting these basic requirements.

The points are distributed in the following manner:

• 4 points- recognition of a foreign professional qualification or permission to practice a regulated profession such as teacher, nurse, engineer.
• 3 points- five years of professional experience in the last seven years as well as two years of professional training before the work experience. Candidates who demonstrate a German language skill at B2 level may also get awarded these points.
• 2 points- vocational training followed by two years of professional experience, in the last five years. Also, candidates below 35 years of age or demonstrating German language skills at B1 level are awarded these points.
• 1 point- candidates with age less than 40 years and have previously stayed in Germnay for at least 6 months (tourist visa stays do not count) are awarded this point. This point is also awarded to candidates who demonstrate English language skill at C1 level, German language skill at A2 level, had their vocational training or university degree in an area which is listed in Germany's labour shortage, or applying with your spouse.

The Opportunity card provides an easy, secure and legal way to enter Germany and live and work there immediately for successful applicants.

Australia annouced that it will be launching a new Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early-Profesisonals Scheme (MATES) before the end of 2024. The scheme aims to fill the jobs in fields such as IT, renewable energy, and others where there is a shortage of skilled workers. With 3000 visas up for grabs annually, this is a great opportunity for young Indians to gain work experience in Australia.

This scheme will benefit both the countries by strengthening the ties between the two countries by offering young Indian professionals a cance to work in Australia while helping to grow in diverse fields such as:

• Renewable Energy
• Mining
• Engineering
• Information Technology
• Artificial Intelligence
• Finance Technology
• Agriculture Techonlogy

To be eligible for this work visa, the applicants must meet the folowing criteria:

• Age 30 years or younger at the time of the application
• Demonstrate English language proficiency by haing IELTS score of 6 overall with no band less than 5
• Possess at least a Bachelors degree or higher from a recognized eligible institute
• Degree in one of the fields listed above

Only 3000 visas will be issued every year and an applicant is allowed to apply only once. One more benefit of this visa is that the spouse and children are eligible to accompany the primary applicant with the spouse allowed to work as well.

Germany is tackling a serious shortfall in its labour market across multiple occupations, which comes as a good news for international skilled professionals. Germany needs about 400,000 new skilled workers each year to tackle the labour shortage and it aims to do so by easing up on the work visa requirements for key in-demand occupations. The highest in-demand occupations are:

• Transportation and Machinery
  • Drivers
  • Railway Operators
  • Machine Operators
• Skilled Trades
  • Cabinet Makers
  • Food Preparers
  • Electronics Mechanics
  • Electricians
  • Plumbers and Fitters
• Construction and Industrial Jobs
  • Construction Supervisors
  • Spray Painters and Varnishers
  • Bricklayers
  • Forestry Workers
  • Firfighters
• Administrative and Clerical Roles
  • Clerks
• Healthcare
  • Dental Assistants and Therapists
  • Nursing Associate Professionals
  • Medical Technicians
  • Physiotherapists
• Engineering and Technology
  • Engineering Technicians
  • Application Programmers
  • Software Developers
  • System Analysts
• Education and Social Services
  • Early Childhood Educators
  • Primary School Teachers
  • Audiologists and Speech Therapists

This provides a fantastic opportunity for skilled professionals with valid work experience in the above occupations to move to Germany.

Canada has announced that it will reduce the immigration numbers for 2025 by 20%. The government announced the immigration plan for the next 3 years:

• 2025: Target 395,000 which went down from the previously announced target of 500,000
• 2026: Target 380,000 which went down from the previously announced target of 500,000
• 2027: Target 365,000

In addition to this, this year's plan has also cut targets for the Provincial Nominee Programs by almost 50%:

• 2025: Target 55,000 down from the previous target of 110,000
• 2026: Target 55,000 down from the previous target of 120,000
• 2027: Target 55,000

The only program which saw an increase in the targets was the Federal High Skilled program which come under the federal Express Entry.

Germany has increased the work visa quota for Indian professionals to 90,000 from the previous quota of 20,000. This move aims to fill the labour shortage in IT and healthcare sectors. The country is currently facing a huge labour shortage with 570,000 job vacancies being unfilled and the new visa policy is in line to alleviate this problem. Though the IT sector has been impacted the most, the in-demand occupations are:

• Doctors, Nurses and Medical Tecnicians
• Software development, Cybersecurity, Data Analysts
• Mechanical, Electrical, and Civil Engineers

The eligibility criteria for candidates to obtain the work visa are:

• Have a valid job offer from a German employer
• The applicant must have relevant education and work experience which matches the job
• Proficiency in German language, though not required, increase the chances of success specifically in jobs where English may not necessarily be used.
• Applicants will have to meet a minimum salary threshold which depends on which sector the job secured.
• Applicants must demonstrate that they have adequate health insurance, either through their employer or individually.

This is an excellent opportunity for Indian professionals who have the necessary qualifications to move to Germnay and gain valuable experience.

IRCC announced an Express Entry category-based draw for candidates with skilled trade work experience. Invitations were sent out to 1800 applicants.

The CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate was 433.

If you would like to migrate to Canada then call our office for a free consultation and follow our blog to get the latest updates on foreign education and immigration.

The Australian government has introduced a NAtional Planning Level cap on the number of international students to be enrolled each year starting from January 1, 2025. This quota has been set at 270,000 and will be distributed among public & private universities and vocational training institues. The distribution of the quota will be:

Type of Institute	Number of Enrolments
Public Universities	145,000
Private Universities and NUHEPs	30,000
Vocational Education and Training institutes	95,000
TOTAL	270,000

Non-University Higher Education Providers

Additionally, the Australian government has also made the eligibility criteria stricter for obtaining the study visa. These changes include:

• Genuine Student Requirement which aims to assess a students eligibility and intentions to pursue higher education in Australia through specific questions in the visa application.
• The English proficiency requirements have also been updated as:

  Type of Visa	Previous IELTS requirement	New IELTS requirement
  Student Visa	5.5	6
  ELICOS	4.5	5
  University Foundation/ Pathway courses	5	5.5
  Temporary Graduate Visa	6	6.5

• Changes have been announced for post-study work visas as well. Graduates who are able to secure a job in the skilled sector in the post-study period may be eligible to apply for the new 4-year Skills In-Demand visa.

IRCC announced an Express Entry draw for candidates with Canadian work experience, the second CEC draw this month. Invitations were sent out to 400 applicants and the cut-off CRS score remained unchanged from the previous draw.

The CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate was 539.

If you would like to migrate to Canada then call our office for a free consultation and follow our blog to get the latest updates on foreign education and immigration.

The Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is an important document for foreign workers who want to apply for a work permit to be able to work in Canada. IRCC introduced a new work permit under the innovation stream, under which LMIA-exempt work permits may be issued by specific employers. This will allow foreign nationals elgible to apply for LMIA-exempt work permit if hired by one of the following companies, the job opportunities currently offred are also listed below:

Company	Based in	Hiring for
Ada Support Inc	Toronto	Toronto, Remote
AlayaCare	Montreal	Montreal, Toronto
CellCarta	Montreal	Montreal, Remote
Clarius Mobile Health	Vancouver	Vancouver
Clio	Burnaby	Calgary, Toronto, Vancouver, Remote
Lightspeed Commerce	Montreal	Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Remote
Duchesnay Pharmaceutical Group	Montreal	Currently not hiring
Vive Crop Protection	Mississauga	Currently not hiring

If you would like to migrate to Canada then call our office for a free consultation and follow our blog to get the latest updates on foreign education and immigration.

New South Wales has opened its registration for the NSW State Migration Program for the year 2024-25. Under this program, skiled migrants can submit applications with the priority sectors being:

• Construction (infrastructure and housing)
• Renewables (net zero and clean energy)
• Care Economy (aged care, disability services, early childhood care)
• Digital and Cyber (various industries)
• Education (teachers)
• Agriculture and Agri Food
• Advanced Manufacturing

The International Experience Canada (IEC) program is a work permit program which allows th eyouth from more than 30 countries which have bilateral Youth Mobility Agreements with Canada to temporarily live and work in Canada. The 2024 target for this program was 90,000 applications. Intersted candidates for this program have until October 21, 2024 to submit their applications.

The work permit allows youths in the age range of 18 to 30 or 35 years (depending on the country), to live and work in Canada. Candidates who meet the eligibility criteria are required to submit an application to the IEC profile pool to be considered. Candidates from some countries are allowed to apply for the work permit more than once. There are three streams under which the candidates can apply:

• International Co-op - Citizens from eligible countries secure a co-op placement to work as an intern with a Canadian company and then apply for an IEC.
• Young Professionals - Candidates are allowed to work for a single employer and are issued employer-specific LMIA if they have secured a job offer.
• Working Holiday - This stream allows candidates to work for most employers in Canada for a duration of up to 2 years.

IRCC announced the updated requirements for some international students, which programs will be eligible for Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). These new guidelines require students completing their studies, who will apply for PGWP after November 1, 2024 to meet additional requirements to be eligible for the work permit. These requirements, however do not apply to students who will be graduating from a university Bachelors, Masters or PhD programs.

Students who graduate from eligible fields of study which match the categories listed in the Occupation-based Express Entry categories will be eligible to apply for the PGWP. These categories are:

• Agriculture and Agri-food
• Healthcare
• Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics
• Trade
• Transport

In the third Express Entry draw announced this week, 1000 invitations were sent out to candidates demonstrating French language proficiency.

The CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate was 444.

If you would like to migrate to Canada then call our office for a free consultation and follow our blog to get the latest updates on foreign education and immigration.

IRCC announced an Express Entry draw for candidates with Canadian work experience. Invitations were sent out to 500 applicants and the cut-off CRS score went up by 30 points compared to the draw held last month.

The CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate was 539.

If you would like to migrate to Canada then call our office for a free consultation and follow our blog to get the latest updates on foreign education and immigration.

IRCC announced an Express Entry draw for candidates nominated under the Provincial Nominee Program. Invitations were sent out to 1613 applicants and the cut-off CRS score went up by 11 points compared to the PNP draw held last month.

The CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate was 743.

If you would like to migrate to Canada then call our office for a free consultation and follow our blog to get the latest updates on foreign education and immigration.

IRCC announced an Express Entry draw for candidates with Canadian work experience. Invitations were sent out to 4000 qualifying applicants with the cut-off CRS score up by a mere 2 points compared to the previous CEC draw held on August 29.

The CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate was 509.

If you would like to migrate to Canada then call our office for a free consultation and follow our blog to get the latest updates on foreign education and immigration.

In the Express Entry draw announced yesterday for candidates with French language proficiency, a total of 1000 invitations were issued. The cut-off CRS score saw a significant jump of 52 points from the previous draw for French language proficient applicants held about a month ago.

The CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate was 446.

If you would like to migrate to Canada then call our office for a free consultation and follow our blog to get the latest updates on foreign education and immigration.

In the first Express Entry draw announced this month, 911 invitations were issued to candidates under the Provincial Nominee Program. This draw saw jump of 38 points from the previous PNP draw held last month.

The CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate was 732.

If you would like to migrate to Canada then call our office for a free consultation and follow our blog to get the latest updates on foreign education and immigration.

Canada announced another Express Entry draw, the second for Canadian Experience Class this month. 3300 invitations were issued and the cut-off CRS score dropped marginally by 2 points from the previous draw.

The CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate was 507.

If you would like to migrate to Canada then call our office for a free consultation and follow our blog to get the latest updates on foreign education and immigration.

Canada announced yet another Express Entry draw for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) with invitations sent out to 1121 candidates. The cut-off CRS score remained above 690, going up 4 points compared to the last draw.

The CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate was 694.

If you would like to migrate to Canada then call our office for a free consultation and follow our blog to get the latest updates on foreign education and immigration.

On the third consecutive day another draw was announced yesterday, in the category-based round for candidates with French language proficiency. A total of 2000 invitations were issued and the cut-off CRS score did not change significantly from the previous draw for the same category.

The CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate was 394.

If you would like to migrate to Canada then call our office for a free consultation and follow our blog to get the latest updates on foreign education and immigration.

Another Express Entry draw was announced for the Canadian Experience Class following the one for PNP announced a day before. The draw saw a total of 3200 invitations sent out.

The CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate was 509.

If you would like to migrate to Canada then call our office for a free consultation and follow our blog to get the latest updates on foreign education and immigration.

In the Express Entry draw announced yesterday for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), 763 invitations were issued. The cut-off CRS score went up by 4 points compared to the previous PNP draw held last month.

The CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate was 690.

If you would like to migrate to Canada then call our office for a free consultation and follow our blog to get the latest updates on foreign education and immigration.

The new Labour Party government has announced that it has decided to keep the minimum income threshold for British Nationals and permanent residents who want to bring their family in to the UK at £29,000. It has shelved the planned increment until the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) completes a review of the impact that the increment will have on the families.

The previous Conservative government led by the then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, in a bid to curb migration, had announced that the minimum income required of British nationals and permanent residents to sponsor visas for spouses or parents will rise from £18,600 to £29,000 in April 2024 and then be followed by another increment to £38,700. This would have had a major impact on families in low income group.

In the 9^th Express Entry draw announced this month, this was the 2^nd draw for Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates. It saw a total of 5000 invitations sent out and the CRS score drop by 5 points from the previous draw for CEC.

The CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate was 510.

If you would like to migrate to Canada then call our office for a free consultation and follow our blog to get the latest updates on foreign education and immigration.

In the Express Entry draw announced for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), the third such draw for PNP this month, invitations were sent out to 964 applicants. Currently as of July 30, 2024 there are 1000 candidates with CRS score in the range 601-1200 in the Express Entry pool.

The CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate was 686.

If you would like to migrate to Canada then call our office for a free consultation and follow our blog to get the latest updates on foreign education and immigration.

The province of British Columbia has annnounced that it will launch three new streams in it's PNP which will be introduced in 2025. The proposed launch date for these streams is January 2025. The three streams are classified into different academic levels:

• Bachelor's stream
• Master's stream
• Doctorate stream

The applicants to these streams will have to meet the eligibility criteria:

• Graduated with a degree from an eligible post-secondary institution in Canada within the last 3 years. Note that graduates with a diploma or certificate will not be eligible for these streams.
• Have a minimum of CLB 8 in an approved language test. For IELTS, this translates to a score of 6.5 in Reading, 6.5 in Writing, 7.5 in Listening, 6.5 in Speaking.
• Job offer requirement differs for each academic level graduate:
  • Bachelor's stream graduates must have an eligible full-time job offer with no declred end date.
  • Master's stream graduates must have a full-time job offer lasting at least 1 year in a skilled occupation.

It is worth noting that unlike some other streams, there is no specific list of occupations for these new streams.

If you would like to study abroad or migrate to Canada then call our office for a free consultation and follow our blog to get the latest updates on foreign education and immigration.

An Express Entry draw was announced yesterday, making it the third draw announced in as many days. This draw targeted the appicants who are proficient in French language, making this the second draw this month for French language proficiency. This draw saw a total of 1800 invitations sent and the CRS score dropped by 20 points compared to the previous one.

The CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate was 400.

If you would like to migrate to Canada then call our office for a free consultation and follow our blog to get the latest updates on foreign education and immigration.

Invitations were sent out yesterday to applicants of Canadian Express Entry for the Canadian Experience Class(CEC). This draw saw a total of 6300 invitations sent out. The CEC is for skilled workers who have Canadian work experience of at least 1 year full-time or an equivalent duration in part-time work and have met the minimum requirements for the language ability.

The CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate was 515.

If you would like to migrate to Canada then call our office for a free consultation and follow our blog to get the latest updates on foreign education and immigration.

In another Express Entry draw announced yesterday for the Provincial Nominee Program, the second for PNP this month, a total of 1391 invitations were issued. The CRS score saw a considerable drop of 69 points compared to the PNP draw held earlier this month.

The CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate was 670.

If you would like to migrate to Canada then call our office for a free consultation and follow our blog to get the latest updates on foreign education and immigration.

In a news release last month, IRCC announced new and enhanced caregiver pilots, which will allow caregivers to come to Canada despite the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and the Home Support Worker Pilot coming to a close. The new pilot programs aim to provide the home care workers with PR on arrival in Canada. Also the caregivers will be able to work for companies which provide temporary care for individuals who are semi-independent or recovering from an illness or an injury. This new provision will enable the caregivers to find relevant work and get PR as soon as they arrive in Canada.

The candidates who would like to apply for PR through this pathway will have to meet the criteria outlined below:

• a minimum of CLB 4 (language test)
• Canadian equivalent of a high school diploma
• have recent and relevant work experience
• receive a full-time offer for ome care job

If you would like to migrate to Canada then call our office for a free consultation and follow our blog to get the latest updates on foreign education and immigration.

Canada has announced another category-based draw close on the heels of the previous two draws, this was targeted for applicants with French language proficiency. A total of 3200 invitations were issued and the CRS score saw a marginal jump of 10 points with 1800 more invitations issued compared to the previous draw for the same category.

The CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate was 420.

If you would like to migrate to Canada then call our office for a free consultation and follow our blog to get the latest updates on foreign education and immigration.

Canada announced another Category-based draw following the one for trades occupation announced yesterday. This latest draw targeted the healthcare occupations with 3750 invitations issued. The CRS score saw a jump of 23 points from the draw held in February for the same category.

The CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate was 445.

If you would like to migrate to Canada then call our office for a free consultation and follow our blog to get the latest updates on foreign education and immigration.

In another Express Entry draw announced today for the Category-based selection, specifically the Trades occupations. This draw, which is the first announced this year for trade occuoations, saw a total of 1800 invitations issued.

The CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate was 436.

If you would like to migrate to Canada then call our office for a free consultation and follow our blog to get the latest updates on foreign education and immigration.

IRCC announced yet another Express Entry draw today for the Provincial Nominee Program following one announced in June, with a total of 920 invitations issued. The CRS score shot up considerably by 76 points as compared to the last draw.

The CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate was 739.

If you would like to migrate to Canada then call our office to schedule an appointment and discuss your profile. Our experienced team will find the right program for you to apply.

IRCC has announced that they have designated a new professional body which will evaluate the educational qualifications of architects who want to imigrate to Canada, and issue an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA).

For professional indivdiuals who want to migrate to Canada, they have to get their foreign degrees assessed by a designated body, which ensures that they are equivalent to Canadian credentials. The Canadian Architectural Certification Board has been designated for this task for Architects who have a NOC 21200 code to issue ECAs. The ECAs also serve, for the architects, get their licence to practice in Canada.

Note that if an applicant's primary NOC code is 21200 and they have obtained an ECA from another designated body before October 31, 2024 and it is still valid, then it will stil be accepted.

If you would like to migrate to Canada then call our office to schedule an appointment and discuss your profile. Our experienced team will find the right program for you to apply.

Canada has announced that effective immediately, no Post-Graduation Work Permits(PGWP) will be issued at the border crossings. This move was implemented to curtail a practice known as flagpoling in which foreign nationals leave the country and re-enter on the same day to avail immigration services at the border and thus avoid the long processing times for the services. This practice of flagpoling takes a toll on both the time and effort of the immigration officers at the borders who get distracted from more crucial work of enforcing the laws to protect the citizens of the country.

If you would like to migrate to Canada then call our office to schedule an appointment and discuss your profile. Our experienced team will find the right program for you to apply.

IRCC announced another Express Entry draw today for the Provincial Nominee Program following one announced last month, with a total of 1499 invitations issued. The CRS score went down by 13 points as compared to the last draw.

The CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate was 663.

If you would like to migrate to Canada then call our office to schedule an appointment and discuss your profile. Our experienced team will find the right program for you to apply.

IRCC announced another Express Entry draw today for the Canadian Experience Class with a total of 3,000 invitations issued. To be eligible for CEC a candidate is required to have at least 12 months of full-time or an equivalent amount of part-time skilled work experience in Canada.

The CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate was 522.

If you would like to migrate to Canada then call our office to schedule an appointment and discuss your profile. Our experienced team will find the right program for you to apply.

After more than a month, IRCC announced an Express Entry draw for the Provincial Nominee Programs. This was the first PNP draw for this year and it saw a drop of 100 points from the previous PNP draw held on October 24, 2023. A total of 2,985 invitations were sent out.

The CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate was 676.

The Express Entry pool as of May 29, 2024 stands at:

CRS Score Range	Number of Candidates
601-1200	2,918
501-600	14,211
451-500	63,353

If you would like to migrate to Canada then call our office to schedule an appointment and discuss your profile. Our experienced team will find the right program for you to apply.

The Canadian government has issued a new guideline which impacts visitors to the country on a temporary visa. The Minister of Immigration, Mr. Marc Miller announced that Police Clearance Certificates will not be required for all those individuals who enter the country as temporary residents, which include temporary workers and international students on study visa. He also stated that this certificate may only be requested if it was deemed that additional security screening of an individual was necessary.

If you would like to study or migrate to Canada then call our office to schedule an appointment and discuss your profile. Our experienced team will find the right program for you to apply.

Yukon is the smallest territory located in northwest Canada and is sparsely populated. It is home to Mount Logan, the highest peak in Canada as well as mountains, glaciers, trails and lakes.

With a population of about 40,000 the territory is in need of foreign workers to fill the gaps in the workforce for both skilled and semi-skilled jobs. The Yukon Nominee Program consists of several pathways for foreign nationals to apply for and acquire Canadian PR.

• Yukon Skilled Worker - This stream enables foreign skilled workers who have job experience and an offer of employment from an employer in Yukon to apply for Canadian PR.
• Yukon Express Entry - This stream enables foreign workers who have a valid profile in the federal Express Entry pool and an offer of employment from an employer in Yukon to receive a provincial nomination from Yukon thus getting expedited processing of their applications.
• Yukon Critical Impact Worker - This stream enables employers in Yukon a chance to nominate foreign workers having at least 6 months of experience in jobs which come under NOC C or D. Applicants who meet this criteria and have a valid job offer from an employer in Yukon may receive a nomination from the territory and apply for Canadian PR.
• Yukon Business Nominee - This stream enables individuals who have business and entrepreneurial experience, have a personal net worth of CAD $500,000 and are willing to invest CAD $300,000 in owning and operating a business in the Yukon to apply under this stream. Nominated applicants will receive a 2 year work permit from IRCC, and on meeting the requirements of the territory they may apply for Canadian PR.
• Yukon Community Pilot - This pilot stream was created with an aim to fill the requirements of the economic and labour market shortages in the Yukon. Under this pilot the territory will invite skilled workers to fill gaps and recruit top talent in the labour market, with eligible candidates receiving a location restricted 2 year open work permit. To be eligible for the work permit, the candidates must have 2 or 3 job offers which are non-seasonal, in the same participating community, which add up to 30 hours per week and the wage must meet or exceed the minimum wage.

This wraps up our series of blogs detailing the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) of each province/ territory of Canada. This should give you a fair idea of what each program entails though there are many eligibility requirements which vary according to the programs.

If you would like to migrate to Canada then call our office to schedule an appointment and discuss your profile. Our experienced team will find the right program for you to apply.

Saskatchewan is a province located in western Canada with US bordering it in the south and is one of the main agriculture centres in Canada. The province offers a number of immigration pathways for foreign nationals to get Canadian PR.

• SK International Skilled Worker - This program consists of three immigration streams enabling foreign workers who have the skills to integrate in to the province's workforce:
  • SK Express Entry - This stream enables candidates who have a profile in the federal Express Entry pool and demonstrate skills in an occupation which is not listed in the Excluded Occupation List and have at least 1 year of work experience at NOC level 0, A or B. Qualifying candidates may then submit an Expression of Interest to the province to apply through this stream. Candidates are ranked based on the SINP Points Assessment Grid and the best profiles will receive an invitation to apply.
  • SK Employment Offer - This stream enables candidates who have an offer of employment from an employer in the province and have a high score on the SINP Points Assessment Grid to be invited to submit an application for Canadian PR.
  • SK In-Demand Occupations - This stream enables candidates who at least 1 year of work experience in NOC level 0, A or B in one of the province's in-demand occupations list and have a high score on the SINP Points Assessment Grid can submit an Expression of Interest. Candidates with the best profiles will be invited to submit an aplication for Canadian PR.
• SK Experience - This program consists of five immigration streams enabling foreign workers who have work experience in the province, they should have a job offer from an employer in Saskatchewan.
  • SK Existing Work Permit - This stream is for foreign workers who are already working for a Saskatchewan employer on a valid work permit for 6 months before applying and have a job offer from them. They should be employed in the province in NOC 0, A or B level jobs or in designated trades.
  • SK Health Professionals - This stream is for foreign health workers like doctors, nurses, and other health professionals who are already working with a provincial health authority and also have a full-time job offer with them. There are different requirements depending on each health occupation.
  • SK Hospitality Sector Project - This stream if for foreign workers who are working for a Saskatchewan hospitality employer for 6 months and have a full-time job offer to continue.
  • SK Long-Haul Truck Driver Project - This stream is for foreign workers who are working for a Saskatchewan trucking company for 6 months on a valid work permit and have an offer of employment from them.
  • SK Students - This stream is for international students who have graduated from a designated post-secondary institution in Canada with 1 year of education and have been working in the province for at least 6 months.
• SK Entrepreneur - This program enables foreign business owners or senior managers who have experience managning a business and want to live and work in the province. Applicants are required to either start a new business or purchase an existing business in the province and manage it's daily operations. After 6 months of successfully operating a business, they may be nominated for PR. Candidates are required to submit an Expression of Interest in the SINP online portal and will be awarded a score based on their profile. The candidates with the highest score will then be invited to submit an application for PR.
• SK Farm Owners and Operators - This stream targets foreign farm owners who have experience in operating a farm and wish to purchase and operate a farm in Saskatchewan. Due to the nature of this stream, each application will be personalized depending on which type of farm the candidate wants to operate. Each applicant should have a personal net worth of CAD $300,000 and provide a Good Faith Deposit of CAD $75,000.

If you would like to migrate to Canada then call our office to schedule an appointment and discuss your profile. Our experienced team will find the right program for you to apply.

Quebec is a province located in central Canada with Ontario to the west and Newfoundland and Labrador to it's northeast. It is the only province in Canada which has French as one of it's official language. Since Quebec has acquired considerable autonomy in deciding the immigration procedures, the candidates are selected by the province and admitted to the province at the federal level. Selected candidates receive a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) from the province after applying for one of the immigration programs:

• Quebec Skilled Worker Program - This program requires applicants to demonstrate a minimum amount of skilled work experience and it is point-based, with applicants requiring to have a minimum score to meet the eligibility requirements. Each eligible applicant must submit an EoI in the online Arrima portal. Applicants are not required to have knowledge of the French language.
• Quebec Experience Program - This program requires applicants to have work experience in the province either as a temporary foreign worker or as an international student. The applicant to this program must be legally residing in Quebec and demonstrate advanced French language oral skills.
• Quebec Investor Program - This program requires applicants to have net assets worth at least CAD $2 million and be able to invest at least CAD $1.2 million with an approved intermediary.
• Quebec Entrepreneur Program - This program requires applicants with the skills and experience along with funds to start and manage a business in Quebec or purchase an existing business to manage it.
• Quebec Self-employed - This program is designed for applicants who have been self-employed for 2 years and have net assets worth at least CAD $100,000 to migrate to Quebec and start work in their own field.

If you would like to migrate to Canada then call our office to schedule an appointment and discuss your profile. Our experienced team will find the right program for you to apply.

Ontario is a province in east-central Canada which borders USA and the great lakes. It is home to the nation's capital city of Ottawa and the province's capital of Toronto. It is one of the most popular destination for immigrants to move to being the primary economic hub, and it is also known for the natural diversity like forests, provincial parks, fur of the five great lakes and the world famous Niagra Falls.

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) requires applicants to register in either the Expression of Interest system or the Express Entry system, which informs the OINP that the applicant wishes to be invited. The OINP offers 9 streams for applicants to qualify for Canadian PR:

• Human Capital Priorities - Express Entry - This stream enables highly qualified applicants from the federal Express Entry pool to be nominated for PR. To be nominated, the candidate must have an active profile in either the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) or the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). The province will send a Notification of Interest (NoI) to qualified candidates.
• French-speaking Skilled Worker - Express Entry - This stream is for the canddiates from the federal Express Entry pool who demonstrate proficiency in both French and English languages. The candidate must have an active profile in either the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) or the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and the province will send a NoI to qualified candidates.
• Skilled Trades - Express Entry - This stream enables the province to nominate skilled workers who are already in Ontario and have work experience in the province in a skilled trade. The candidate must have a profile in the federal Express Entry CEC system. The province will send a Notification of Interest (NoI) to qualified candidates.
• Masters Graduate - This stream targets graduates of the Masters program from a designated institution in Ontario, who intend to live and work in the province.
• PhD Graduate - This stream targets graduates of the PhD program from a designated institution in Ontario, who intend to live and work in the province
• Foreign Workers - This stream enables those foreign nationals who have skilled work experience and have a valid job offer from an employer in the province to get an invitation to submit an application for Canadian PR.
• International Student with a Job Offer - This stream is for those foreign nationals who have a valid Canadian education credential and also a job offer from an employer in the province.
• In-Demand Skills - This stream targets those foreign nationals who possess Ontario work experience in one of the province's In-demand ocupations and have a valid job offer from an employer in the province. The jobs which feature in the in-demand occupations are Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates, Home support workers and related occupations, excluding housekeepers, Residential and commercial installers and servicers, Transport truck drivers, Heavy equipment operators, Construction trades helpers and labourers, General farm workers, Nursery and greenhouse workers, Harvesting labourers, Industrial butchers, meat cutters, poultry preparers, related workers.
• Ontario Entrepreneur - This stream targets foreign entrepreneurs who have significant net worth and proven record of running a successful business, and want to open new business in Ontario. If the business is sucessful, then the applicant will get a nomination to apply for Canadian PR.

If you would like to migrate to Canada then call our office to schedule an appointment and discuss your profile. Our experienced team will find the right program for you to apply.

The province of Nova Scotia is one of the three Maritime and one of the four Atlantic provinces located on the eastern coast of Canada. It has stunning beauty with a picturesque coast of over 13,000 km and has a rich culture. The province offers numerous programs to attract top talent to fill jobs in the market and make valuable contributions to the economy and the community overall.

• NS Demand: Express Entry - This stream enables highly skilled individuals who either have a job offer from an employer in the province or have 12 months of full-time work experience in one of the province's in demand occupations (Financial auditors and accountants, Other financial officers, Professional occupations in advertising, marketing, and public relations, Administrative assistants, Accounting technicians and bookkeepers, Civil engineers, Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses, Licensed practical nurses, College and other vocational instructors, Paralegal and related occupaitons, Social and community service workers).)
• NS Experience: Express Entry - This stream enables highly skilled individuals who have at least a year of work experience working in Nova Scotia in a highly skilled occupation, and intend to live and work in the province permanently.
• NS Skilled Worker - This stream enables the employers in the province to hire foreign workers and recently graduated international students with skills which are in demand in the province. A skilled worker with a job offer from a NS employer can apply for immigration using this stream.
• NS Physicians - This stream specifically targets individuals with a valid job offer from a Nova Scotia health organization to apply for PR.
• NS Entrepreneur - This stream is to enable foreign nationals who have experience owning and operting their own business or senior business managers who intend to invest in and operate a business in the province. Applicants to this stream should have significant net worth and be willing to start a new business or purchase an existing one in the province. Upon successfully operating their business for a year, applicants become eligible to be nominated for PR.
• NS International Graduate Entrepreneur - This stream enables recent graduates from colleges or universities of Nova Scotia who have either started their own business or purchased an existing one, have been operating it for at least a year, and intend to live in NS permanently to qualify for a nomination from the province.
• NS Labour Market Priorities - This stream selects candidates from the federal Express Entry pool who meet the provincial labour market requirements, which means that only candidates who receive a Letter of Interest from the province may apply for PR.
• NS Occupations In Demand - This stream targets foreign workers who have permanent full-time employment in Nova Scotia in an in demand occupation. Currently the occupations include Nurse Aides, Light duty cleaners, Transport Truck Drivers, Heavy equipment operators, Construction trades helpers and labourers. These occupations are based on labour shortage in the workforce and are bound to change.

If you would like to migrate to Canada then call our office to schedule an appointment and discuss your profile. Our experienced team will find the right program for you to apply.

The Northwest Territories of Canada include the regions of Dehcho, North Slave, Sahtu, South Slave, and Inuvik. The landscape consists of forests, mountains, and islands of the Canadian Arctic archipelago. The major contributor to the economy is mining, with diamonds being the main focus. There are several streams available to immigrate:

• Employer Driven Stream - As the name suggests, this stream allows employers to hire foreign nationals for jobs which cannot be filled by Canadians or PRs. To apply through this stream the applicant needs to get a job offer from an employer in NWT, and once the job offer is received, the employer will need to contact the province and apply for one of the three categories: Entry Level/ Semi skilled occupations, Skilled worker, or NWT Express Entry.
• Business Stream - This stream enables foreign nationals who intend to start a new business, purchase an existing business, or invest in an existing business in NWT and operate it. Depending on whether the business is located within or outside the boundary of Yellowknife, the amount of personal net worth and minimum investment differs.
• Francophone Stream - This stream enables foreign nationals who speak both French and English, and have a valid job offer from an NWT employer to apply for immigration. Applicants are expected to prove the minimum language requirements by taking an approved test.

If you would like to migrate to Canada then call our office to schedule an appointment and discuss your profile. Our experienced team will find the right program for you to apply.

Newfoundland and Labrador is a province of Canada which lies on the easternmost coast and is one of the four Atlantic provinces. Generally the province has cold but not severe winters and summers are warm.

The province offers several nomination programs to attract skilled workers and postgraduates to build on it's economy, like Express Entry Skilled Worker, Skilled Worker, and International Graduate streams.

• Express Entry Skiled Worker - This stream enables foreign skliied workers who intend to settle in the province and meet the eligibility requirements. The applicants should have created a profile in the Express Entry pool and have a job offer from an employer in the province in a position which is classified in TEER 0,1,2, or 3. The employer must provide an LMIA to support the hiring of the foreign worker.
• Skilled Worker - This stream enables foreign skilled workers of all NOC skill levels who have a job offer from an employer in the province to apply for provincial nomination. The applicants must demonstrate that they possess the necessary skills to meet the job requirements.
• International Graduate - This stream enables international students who have graduated from an eligible Canadian post-secondary institution from a program which is at least 2-year diploma or degree or a 1-year post-graduate degree. Candidates must be working in Canada on a PGWP with at least 6 months validity left.
• International Entrepreneur - This stream enables foreign nationals who have the funds and management experience to own and operate a business in the province. Candidates need to demonstrate work experience of at least 2 years as an owner-operator or 5 years as a senior business manager. They should also have a personal net worth of CAD $600,000 and be willing to make an investment of CAD $200,000 in a new business or purchase an existing one.
• International Graduate Entrepreneur - This stream enables inernational students who have graduated from a 2-year post-secondary program and possess at least 1 year of experience owning and operating a business in the province.

If you would like to migrate to Canada then call our office to schedule an appointment and discuss your profile. Our experienced team will find the right program for you to apply.

New Brunswick is an eastern province of Canada and one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. It has abundant natural resources like rivers, mountains, pine forests, and the beautiful Bay of Fundy where tourists come from all over the world for whale-watching.

The province offers many PNP programs with the aim of attracting foreign nationals to fill labour shortages and make valuable contributions to the local economy. There are several streams available for applicants who meet the eligibilty criteria:

• New Brunswick Express Entry Stream - This stream is connected to the federal Express Entry system, which means that the applicant will have to create an Express Entry profile. It provides an immigration pathway for foreign workers with the necessary skills, education and work experience and want to live in the province permanently.
• New Brunswick Strategic Initiative Stream - This stream is geared towards the French-speaking foreign nationals who have the required skills, education, and work experience to contribute to the province's economy and who are willing to live and work there permanently. Applicants are required to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the province, note that all EOIs submitted before March 12, 2024 need to be withdrawn and submitted again.
• New Brunswick Private Career College Graduate Pilot Program - This pilot stream is to provde an immigration pathway for international graduates from selected 1-year and 2-year study programs which lead to careers in any of Education and Social Development, Health, IT and Cybersecurity, Business Administration, and Supply Chain & Logistics. This pilot program enables new graduates from specific private career colleges in the province that are not eligible for PGWP program to apply for Canadian PR.
• New Brunswick Skilled Worker Stream - This stream is for foreign nationals who possess the skills, education, and work experience required to contribute to the province's economy. In addition to meeting the eligibility requirements, each applicant must have an letter of employment from an employer in New Brunswick and intend to live and work in the province permanently.
• New Brunswick Business Immigration Stream - This stream is an economic immigration pathway, which means that applicants are required to make an investment in the province. Foreign entrepreneurs who have business experience and are ready to own and actively operate a business and also intend to live in the provine permanently are encouraged to apply.
• New Brunswick Critical Workers Pilot - Ths is an employer-driven stream which means that applications to the pilot program will be processed by the participating employer. The employers are selected based on their past participation in provincial and federal programs and their ability to support their employees in settling, enhancing their skills, and language training.

If you would like to migrate to Canada then call our office to schedule an appointment and discuss your profile. Our experienced team will find the right program for you to apply.

Manitoba is Canada's fifth most populous province, bordered by Ontario on the east and Saskatchewan to the west. The province boasts of a varied landscape of lakes and rivers, mountains, forests and prairies. It is especially noted for its northern polar bear population.

The Manitoba PNP has a number of pathways to enable foreign nationals to get Canadian PR. The immigration pathways are divided into four streams:

• Workers in Manitoba - This stream enables foreign nationals who have a job offer from their employer for a full-time and permanent position and already live in Manitoba when they apply. Candidates are required to submit an online profile, and based on this profile are assigned a score and ranked against other candidates. The highest ranking candidates will receive a Letter of Advice to Apply.
• Skilled Workers Overseas - This stream includes three streams which enable foreign nationals with the necessary skills and experience to make valuable contribution to the province's workforce. This stream is highly competitive and only candidates with good qualifications are selected.
• International Education Stream - This stream enables international students who have recently graduated from a post-secondary institution in Manitoba to apply. This stream further contains three streams which allows applicants to receive a nomination from the province and apply for Canadian PR.
• Business Investor Stream - This stream enables foreign nationals who are willing to invest in a new business in the province. This stream also furthr contains two streams, one for entrepreneurs who are experience business owner-operators and the second for individuals who have experience owning and operating a farm and have the funds and desire to operate a new farm in Manitoba.

If you would like to migrate to Canada then call our office to schedule an appointment and discuss your profile. Our experienced team will find the right program for you to apply.

British Columbia is a province located on the west coast of Canada and is famous for it's uncomparable natural beauty, with the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. The BC PNP offers foreign nationals multiple pathways to migrate to the province and become Canadian permanent residents. The programs are designed to attract foreign workers who can fill jobs in sectors with labour shortages and entrepreneurs.

The immigration streams are divided into two main categories:

• British Columbia Skills Immigration - This stream allows foreign nationals who have the required skills and work experience to secure employment in the BC workforce. The programs offered under this stream are:
  • British Columbia Skilled Worker - This program nominates those immigrants who have an offer of empoyment and are likely to make a contribution to the BC workforce. Though applicants are not required to have an Express Entry profile to be eligible, those who do may have their application processed faster.
  • British Columbia Healthcare Professional - The BC Health Authority nominates those immigrants who have an offer of employment from a public health authority in BC and who will make major contributions in the healthcare labour sector. Applicants are not required to have an Express Entry profile to be eligible, however they may benefit from applying through Express Entry profile for faster processing.
  • British Columbia International Graduate - This program nominates immigrants who have completed a post-secondary education in Canada and have an offer of employment. Applicants are not required to have an Express Entry profile to be eligible, however they may benefit from applying through Express Entry profile for faster processing.
  • British Columbia Internation Post-Graduate - This program nominates immigrants who have recently completed a graduate level of education from a designated institution in BC. Applicants are not required to have an Express Entry profile to be eligible, however they may benefit from applying through Express Entry profile for faster processing.
  • British Columbia Entry Level and Semi-Skilled Worker (ELSS) - This program nominates immigrants who can demonstrate work experience in a semi-skilled profession in BC and have an offer of employment from a BC employer. This job offer does not require the support of an LMIA.

• British Columbia Entrepreneur Immigration - This stream allows foreign nationals or foreign companies with a successful track record of owning, managing and investing in a business. It allows foreign individuals with high net worth and companies with high annual revenue numbers to migrate to BC. The programs offered under this stream are:
  • British Columbia Entrepreneur - This program is for experienced business owner-opertors or senior business managers who want to work and live in BC. Successful applicants are required to open a new business or purchase an existing one and be involved in managing the day-to-day operations. On successfully operating the business for 550 days, the entrepreneur may be nominated for a PR.
  • British Columbia Entrepreneur Regional Pilot - This program is for experienced entrepreneurs who are willing to invest in and manage a business in one of the participating communities in BC. The applicants need to be referred by one of the program's participating communities.
  • British Columbia Strategic Projects - This program is for foreign companies who are successful and would like to establish a branch office in BC. On completion of a certain duration successfully operating the office, the foreign staff in the office may be nominated for PR.

If you would like to migrate to Canada then call our office to schedule an appointment and discuss your profile. Our experienced team will find the right program for you to apply.

The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) is a federal immigration program and is employer-driven. What this means is that it enables the designated employers to recruit foreign workers and international students who have graduated from a Canadian institution to meet the labour demands of the market.

The AIP is a pathway to obtain permanent residency for applicants who want to live and work in one of Canada's four Atlantic provinces - New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland and Labrador. The program allows employers to hire qualified candidates in jobs for which they were unable to find suitable local candidates.

In order to apply to the AIP, each candidate must demonstrate their eligibility in the following areas:

• Work Experience - In the last 5 years, the candidate must have at least 1560 hours of paid work experience. This work experience should be at one of the TEER 0,1,2,3,or 4 categories.
• International Graduates - A candidate does not need to meet the work experience criteria if s/he is an international graduate who was a full-time student and took at least 2 years of studies from a DLI in one of the four Atlantic provinces.
• Educational Requirements - A candidate must demonstrate one of these:
  • If s/he has a job offer in TEER 0 or 1 category, then they must have a one-year Canadian post-secondary educational credential or higher, or the equivalent from outside Canada.
  • If s/he has a job offer in TEER 2,3, or 4 category, then they must have a Canadian high school diploma , or the equivalent from outside Canada.
  For all education which was completed outside of Canada, an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report is required to be submitted which was done less than 5 years ago.
• Language Requirements - Each candidate must meet the minimum language requirements based on the TEER category which applies to their job offer. This can be either Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) or Niveaux de competence linguistique canadiens (NCLC). The minimum language requirements for job offers in TEER 0,1,2, or 3 category are CLB/ NCLC 5 and for job offers in TEER 4 are CLB/ NCLC 4.
• Settlement Funds - Each candidate must show that they have sufficient money to support themselves and their family members when they arrive in Canada. The amount to be shown depends on the size of the family and it also includes anyone the candidate supports but is not immigrating with them. If the candidate is already living and working in Canada on a valid work permit, then they do not need to show the proof of funds.

If you would like to migrate to Canada then call our office to schedule an appointment and discuss your profile. Our experienced team will find the right program for you to apply.

IRCC announced another Express Entry draw for applicants with French language proficiency, a day after the General category draw was held. The cut-off CRS score took a jump of 22 points.

The CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate was 410.

If you would like to migrate to Canada then call our office to schedule an appointment and discuss your profile. Our experienced team will find the right program for you to apply.

In an Express Entry draw announced for the General category, 2095 invitations were issued. This draw saw the cut-off CRS score drop by 20 points from the previous draw for the General category, though it is still hovering above the 500 mark.

The CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate was 529.

If you would like to migrate to Canada then call our office to schedule an appointment and discuss your profile. Our experienced team will find the right program for you to apply.

Alberta is a province which is a part of western Canada and is one of the three prairie provinces. It is famous for it's natural landscapes which includes the majestoc Rocky Mountains and vast prairies. It has a thriving economy which is largely driven by the vast reserves of natural gas. The two popular cities in the province are Calgary and Edmonton, both offering diverse cultral experiences and bustling urban life. Alberta offers a high quality of life amidst it's beautiful natural surroundings.

The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) was introduced to drive the economic immigration in the province by nominating individuals, who possess the necessary skills to address job shortages or intend to open a new business or purchase one in the province, for PR in Alberta. The program mainly supports two streams in the Express Entry pool: skilled workers and entrepreneurs.

Skilled Workers These streams are for foreign skilled workers who currently reside and work in Alberta or intend to do so:

• Tourism and Hospitality Stream - This stream is for qualified foreign workers who live and work in Alberta with a job offer from an Alberta tourism and hospitality employer.
• Alberta Opportunity Stream - This stream is for qualified foreign workers who are employedg in Alberta and have an offer of employment stating that they will be working full-time.
• Alberta Express Stream - This stream allows the province to nominate candidates who demosntrate strong ties to the province and can support economic development and have an active Express Entry profile based on certain selection criteria.
• Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway - This stream allows qualified candidates who are working in one of the 38 tech occupaitons or have a job offer from a tech industry employer in Alberta

Entrepreneurs These streams are for entrepreneurs who plan to reside in Alberta and either purchase an existing business or open a business within the province:

• Rural Entrepreneur Stream - This stream is for foreign entrepreneurs who would start a business or purchase an exisitng business in a rural Alberta community by submitting an Expression of Interest.
• Farm Stream - This stream is for foreign workers who have experience owning and operating a farm and have the financial resources to operate a farm in Alberta. Candidates are required to submit a detailed plan outlining their plan on how they intend to operate a farm in Alberta.
• Graduate Entrepreneur Stream - This stream is for international graduates from one of Alberta's post-secondary institutions who want to start and operte a business in Alberta. Graduates are ranked based on Expression of Interest and the highest ranked graduates are invited to submit a detailed business plan.
• Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream - This stream is for foreign graduates who have recently graduated from a foreign post-secondary institution and intend to start and operate a business in Alberta.

If you would like to migrate to Canada then call our office to schedule an appointment and discuss your profile. Our experienced team will find the right program for you to apply.

For many people who dream of migrating to Canada via the Express Entry General category, it is tougher than before given the high cut-off CRS score in recent months. However, there are other options to migrate to Canada for individuals who have a specific set of skills and work experience.

This option is the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), which is a path each province offers to individuals to migrate to that particular province if they meet their requirements. While the Express Entry is a federal program, PNP is a province-specific program which allows each province to nominate individuals via PNP based on their labour market requirements. Applicants to PNP are required to submit supporting documents to the province to support their application. These programs are categorized as below:

• Alberta Provincial Nominee Program
• Atlantic Immigration Program 2024
• British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program
• Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program
• New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program
• Newfoundland Provincial Nominee Program
• Northwest Territories Provincial Nominee Program
• Nova Scotia Nominee Program
• Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program
• Quebec Provincial Programs
• Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program
• Yukon Provincial Nominee Program

We are starting a series of blogs to explain the features of each of these programs and their requirements.

If you would like to migrate to Canada then call our office to schedule an appointment and discuss your profile. Our experienced team will find the right program for you to apply.

IRCC annnounced another Express Entry draw, this one was for STEM occupations in which 4500 invitations were issued. The last draw for STEM occupation was held in December 2023 and the cut-off CRS score saw a jump of 10 points. The list of occupations which are included in the STEM category are listed below.

• Architects
• Architecture and Science Managers
• Business Systems Specialists
• Civil Engineers
• Computer and Information System Managers
• Computer Engineers (except software engineers and designers)
• Computer System Developers and Programmers
• Cybersecurity Specialists
• Data Scientists
• Database Analysts and Data Administrators

The CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate was 491.

If you would like to migrate to Canada then call our office to schedule an appointment and discuss your profile. Our experienced team will find the right program for you to apply.

IRCC has announced the final list of number of study permit (SP) allocation for all the provinces and explained how it arrived at the numbers. Each province will receive a fixed number of study permits which could be issued to international students through their private and public colleges and this number of permits will be based on the population of each province. Some provinces received a top up to the number of study permits based on other criteria.

Province/ Territory	SP Allocations	Projected SP approved
Alberta	40,894	24,537
British Columbia	83,000	49,800
Manitoba	18,652	9,140
New Brunswick	14,651	5,567
Newfoundland and Labrador	3,153	1,419
Northwest Territories	333	200
Nova Scotia	20,378	7,744
Nunavut	333	200
Ontario	235,000	141,000
Prince Edward Island	2,312	1,202
Quebec	117,917	43,629
Saskatchewan	15,054	7,226
Yukon	417	250
Total	552,095	291,914

Early this year, in January IRCC had announced some changes which affected the international students. One such announcement was that the partners and spouses of international students are eligible for SOWP only if their sponsor is enrolled in a Masters or Doctoral program at a university or polytechnic institution effective March 19, 2024.

This means that partners and spouses of international students enrolled in undergraduate programs will not be eligible to apply for SOWP. There is an exception to this rule in that spouses of international students who are enrolled in one of the following undergraduate programs at a university can apply for the SOWP:

• Bachelor of Law or Juris Doctor
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing
• Bachelor of Educattion
• Bachelor of Engineering
• Doctor of Dental Surgery
• Doctor of Medicine
• Doctor of Optometry
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
• Pharmacy

Partners or spouses who are eligible for SOWP must submit documents proving their relationship to their sponsor along with one document which proves their sponsor is enrolled in one of the degree programs.

With an intent to protect international students from malicious entities and provide them with an enriching educational experience, the Canadian government has announced measures to limit the number of international students into the country in 2024. Canada has decided to set an intake cap on international student study permits issued and for 2024 the cap is expected to allow approximately 360,000 approved study permits. This is a considerable decrease of 35% from 2023, and to ensure fairness individual territorial and provincial caps have been established.

In addition to this, the eligibility criteria for the PGWP will be changed to align with developing a sustainable path for international students.

• Starting September 1, 2024, international students who begin a study program at a private college that has been licenced to deliver the curriculum of an associated public college will no longer be elligible for the Post Graduate Work Permit.
• Also graduates of Masters program will be elligible to apply for a 3 year work permit with an aim to provide them with an opportunity to gain work experience and potentially transition to permanent residence.

In coming weeks open work permit will only be available for spouses of international students enrolled in Masters and Doctoral programs. The spouses of international students in other levels of study will no longer be available.