Category Archives: canada immigration

Extended work and study permit measures for Ukrainians in Canada.

Ukrainians and their family members who were approved under the Canada–Ukraine authorization for emergency travel, and who arrived in Canada on or before March 31, 2024, can now apply for an open work permit until March 31, 2025.

Under these extended measures, they can apply to get a new open work permit that’s valid for up to 3 years, apply to extend a current open work permit or apply for a new study permit, subject to standard fees.

In addition, all Ukrainian temporary residents and their family members in Canada can access free settlement services until March 31, 2025.

An update on an important change pertaining to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).

Ministers Address Systemic Abuse in the LMIA Program

LMIA: The long-overdue requirement for modifications to stop system abuse;

Since Ministers are actively contemplating additional modifications to solve persistent issues and enhance the program’s efficacy, the program has recently taken center stage. Speaking out against systemic abuses by Canadian businesses, the Ministers of Immigration, Employment, Workforce Development, and Official Languages have also weighed in.

Steps Taken to Stop TFWP Abuse

Minister Boissonnault targeted Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) abusers with a series of measures during a news conference on August 6th on behalf of Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), which is handling LMIA applications. In particular, these were:

Stricter Rules for Employers

Restricting temporary foreign workers—including those in the “dual intent sub-stream” who plan to apply for permanent residency—by a constant 20%. More rigorous regulations will also apply to employers employing the dual intent stream: – Tighter supervision over the issue of Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) and inspections, especially in high-risk locations.

  1. Potential hikes in the LMIA price to pay for further processing and integrity efforts.
  2. Enforcing employer eligibility requirements, which could involve more stringent requirements like a minimum number of years in business or taking into account an employer’s history of layoffs.
  3. Introducing restrictions and declining to process applications for the TFWP’s low-wage stream, particularly for employers in particular sectors and industries that have a history of abuse.

Starting on September 30, a new immigration EOI system in Alberta.

Updates on the New AAIP: On September 30, 2024, the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) will launch a new Expression of Interest (EOI) system, which will revolutionize the way applications are chosen.

The purpose of this change is to improve efficiency and better match Alberta’s labor market requirements with the immigration process.

In order to show their interest in coming to Alberta, candidates use the EOI system, a points-based selection process.

Candidates will be added to a selection pool akin to the Express Entry pool upon submitting an EOI.

From time to time, AAIP will select applicants from this pool and invite the top performers who fit the demands of the local labor market to submit an application for immigration.

A new Canada PR pathway is currently being developed for TEER 4 and 5 jobs.

Canada is about to propose major changes to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations in a bold attempt to update its economic immigration framework for Canada PR.

The Forward Regulatory Plan: 2024–2026 project seeks to establish a new permanent economic class for workers in occupations classified as Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities (TEER) 4 and 5.

These modifications, which are scheduled for pre-publication in the fall of 2024, are expected to increase the range of backgrounds and experiences among permanent residents, providing many foreign workers who are now employed in Canada with new opportunities.

Newest Express Entry Draw: 964 Invitations to Permanent Residency

The eighth Express Entry lottery of the month awarded 964 invitations to apply (ITAs) for permanent residency today.

All candidates in the pool having a provincial nomination and a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 686 or higher were eligible to enter the Express Entry draw today.

We might see more draws on Wednesday or Thursday, most likely for STEM or Canadian Experience Class (CEC), since it’s Tuesday and this is a PNP-only draw.