Canada has done exceedingly well to avert a major public health crisis while opening its doors to foreign immigration in a quick time.
However, reports from Toronto Star noted more than 561,000 permanent residency applications to process, 748,000 temporary residence applications, and 376,000 citizenship applications. Furthermore, applications that did not enter into the system and sitting in the mailroom are yet to be included in the calculations.
So is this the right time to aspire for Canadian immigration?
New Minority Government at the Federal Level
The Liberal Party headed by Justin Trudeau has formed a new government at the federal level for the third time in a row. The new minority government is relying on improving the immigration of foreign skilled workers and international students to boost the country’s economic activities.
The outgoing Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino had a prolific two terms, however, ending with uncertain Canadian immigration policies owing to the unexpected public health crisis.
Sean Fraser, the lawyer turned politician, will now inherit pandemic challenges and election promises related to immigration.
Sean Fraser got into politics to create opportunities in his home community, Nova Scotia. Citing the famous Ivany Report that discussed Nova Scotia’s economic growth strategy with immigration in focus, Fraser argued a robust immigration strategy to replenish the Atlantic region’s population.
As a result, Atlantic Canada got the Atlantic Immigration Pilot (AIP), which will soon be a permanent program. Studies from Statistics Canada suggest that AIP has been successful in improving immigrant retention in the region.
With the new government in place, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will look into ways to implement the significant election promises:
- Reduce processing times that have been impacted by COVID-19 to under 12 months.
- Improve applications for family reunification by introducing electronic applications.
- Decide when to resume Express Entry draws that include Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) candidates.
- Expand pathways to permanent residence for temporary foreign workers and former international students through the Express Entry points system
Study Abroad in Canada
The flexible pathway to Post-Graduation Work Permit right after completing a study course in Canada and its follow up to obtain Permanent Residence (PR) is attracting several international students to migrate to Canada.
If students from India alone were to be taken into account, data from Canadian High Commission in Delhi noted that nearly 100,000 study permits were issued in the first four months of 2021, as compared to 66,000 in 2020 and 96,000 in 2019, during the same time period.
After gaining at least one year of work experience in Canada, interested candidates can qualify under the Canada Experience Class (CEC) program and look forward to obtaining Canada PR through the Express Entry system.
| Students now prefer to study in countries with flexible mobility and visa issuance policies. Canada seems to match their requirement well. |
Permanent Residence in Canada
Foreign skilled worker immigration has taken a definite priority post-pandemic. Canada is favouring more temporary residents to apply for permanent residence which was not the case before.
Prior to travel restrictions in Canada, a significant number of foreign skilled workers qualified under the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) through the Express Entry system for Canada PR.
Such candidates did not require a prior work experience in Canada nor a job offer. They would receive invitations to apply for Canada PR based on their work experience, academic background, language proficiency in English or French, age among other factors.
Express Entry draws for Canada PR in 2021 included candidates qualifying under Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) and Canadian Experience Class (CEC) alone. IRCC is yet to resume Express Entry draws that include Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) candidates.
| Given the rising levels of vaccination globally and new Immigration Minister in place, IRCC may announce Express Entry draws including FSWP candidates soon. |
How Can An Immigration Consultant Help?
While it is true that visa approvals are taking longer than usual, it is still the right time to start planning for your Canadian Immigration.
Even though IRCC has not considered a single candidate from FSWP, it has exceeded the annual target of 108,500 nominations for Canada PR through Express Entry in 2021. All Provincial Nominee Programs are actively nominating eligible candidates to meet the provinces’ labour market demand. Occupations in healthcare, engineering, and management fields are still in good demand.
Canada kept its immigration levels target unchanged even after the pandemic threatened to disturb it indefinitely. The country will invite 401,000 new immigrants each year till 2023 and over 60 percent of the target will be met by economic-class immigration programs. Such programs include the Express Entry system, Provincial Nominee Programs, Business Immigration, Study permits for International students.
Applying through an ICCRC-certified consultant like CanApprove gives you a distant advantage of:
- career counselling to settle abroad,
- guidance to pick the most suitable immigration program,
- well-scrutinized documentation for a minimum to nil rejection.
Not only that but you can also avail of settlement services like accommodation and more after reaching Canada.
CanApprove is providing free counselling sessions for immigration aspirants who wish to study or work & settle abroad in Canada. Book your slot today!
