Bhanot & Associates

Visa Application Centres are re-opening in India VACs in India will begin to schedule limited biometrics appointments as of November 20 in: Delhi, Chandigarh, Jalandhar, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Bengaluru. Visa application centres to re open in India The Canadian government has just announced that its Visa Application Centres (VACs) in India will resume services tomorrow, on November 20, 2020.... In a new tweet, the government stated it will schedule limited biometrics appointments in Delhi, Chandigarh, Jalandhar, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Bengaluru. It will prioritize international students and family class applicants. Resuming biometrics is the last remaining major obstacle for those in India who are exempt from Canada’s coronavirus travel restrictions. While international students have been exempt from Canada’s travel restrictions as of October 20, Indian students who have not submitted biometrics before could not travel to Canada. The same could be said for family class and skilled worker immigrants who are also exempt from the travel restrictions. Now that VACs in India are resuming services, those who are exempt from Canada’s travel restrictions will be able to submit their biometrics so they can complete their immigration application processes in support of their eventual arrival to Canada. The government further included on Twitter that it will not accept walk-in clients at VACs. Rather, appointments must be booked in advance and you can only visit your VAC if you are attending your own scheduled appointment. If Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued a unique Biometric Instructions Letter (BIL) to you, you will receive more instructions to your email ID on file about how to schedule your biometric appointment. The government concluded by saying more appointments will gradually become available each week as it phases in services. India is by far Canada’s leading source of immigrants and international students. In 2019, Canada welcomed over 85,000 immigrants from India, which was one-quarter of the over 341,000 new permanent residents admitted by Canada. Last year, Canada hosted 220,000 international students which is more than one-third of the over 640,000 international students in Canada in 2019. Biometrics are usually required for foreign nationals that are looking to obtain a visitor visa, study permit, work permit, permanent residence, a visitor record, refugee or asylum status, or are seeking an extension to their study or work permit. They need to submit their fingerprints and photograph and also pay a fee. The purpose of biometrics is to enable Canada to confirm the identify of foreign travellers when they enter the country.

Alberta launching two new immigration pathways Alberta has two new PNPs for international student graduates who want to start a business in the province...... The Parents and Grandparents Program 2020 closes next week..... Alberta launches new immigration streams International graduates from Alberta post-secondaries will have two new options to immigrate to Canada....Continue reading

Canada to re-open parents and grandparents immigration program October 13 Parents Grandparents Program Canadian citizens and permanent residents will soon be able to apply to sponsor their parents and grandparents to immigrate to Canada....Continue reading

Visitors can now apply for work permits from within Canada The new temporary policy will benefit temporary residents with job offers and Canadian employers, IRCC says. International visitors who are currently in Canada with a job offer can now apply for a work permit without having to leave the country.... The new policy goes into effect immediately, according to an Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) media release. It will benefit temporary residents who are already in Canada with a job offer, but it does not apply to anyone arriving in Canada as a visitor after today, August 24. Visitors who meet the eligibility criteria are able to apply to the new temporary immigration policy, which includes Super Visa holders, business visitors, and people who came to Canada through a Global Skills Strategy work permit exemption. Contact a lawyer to help you and your employer with the work permit process. Before today, people applying for their work permits as temporary residents would usually need to apply for their initial work permits before coming to Canada. If they already had visitor status when they were approved for a work permit, they would need to leave the country and return in order to activate the permit. The policy also benefits Canadian employers who are hiring foreign workers, some of whom have faced ongoing labour shortages throughout the pandemic. Canada encouraged temporary residents who stayed in Canada to maintain legal status. Given that air travel has been restricted around the world, some visitors have been unable to leave, and some foreign workers had to change their status to visitor because their work permit was expiring and they weren’t able to apply for a new work permit because they didn’t have a job offer. Applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria: valid status in Canada as a visitor on August 24, 2020, with the intention to stay in Canada; a job offer; an application for an employer-specific work permit supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or an LMIA-exempt job offer submitted no later than March 31, 2021; and meet all other standard admissibility criteria. Applicants who meet all these criteria, and who had a valid work permit in the past 12 months, will be able to begin working for their new employer before their work permit has been fully approved. IRCC says work permit applicants can contact them via their web form to apply for work authorization while waiting on their new permits. Please contact me for your any query! Thanks & Regards Sudhir Bhanot (R.C.I.C.) Commissioner for Oaths Director of Operations Bhanot & Associates 67 Saddlelake Way N.E. Calgary, AB, T3J 0V1 Phone : 403-542-4569, 403-263-4236 E_mail : [email protected] ****One Stop For All of Your Immigration Needs **** https://www.facebook.com/Bhanot-Associates-1825662721055566/

CRS falls to 300 in latest Alberta PNP draw The CRS cutoffs in the Alberta Express Entry stream have been on a downward trend since April 1 Alberta Express Entry drawAlberta has released the details of the Alberta Express Entry Stream draw held on May 13. The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) invited 191 Express Entry candidates to apply for a provincial nomination for permanent residence....Continue reading

Express Entry: CRS drops again in 2nd draw in 24 hours The May 15 Express Entry draw has the lowest CRS requirement for Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates since January 2019. Express Entry Draw #147Canada’s Express Entry draws are seeing a downward trend in score requirements for Canadian Experience Class (CEC)-specific draws, as the May 15 draw had the lowest points cut off for this cohort since January 2019....Continue reading

Canada allocates $50 million for temporary foreign workers to complete self-isolation period Funding will help Canadian employers to implement the mandatory 14-day isolation period required of all travellers arriving from abroad Temporary Foreign WorkersCanada is providing funding so that employers who have hired foreign workers can comply with mandatory coronavirus measures for new arrivals.... The $50 million is intended to help employers meet the current health regulations to keep foreign workers safe during their two-week quarantine. Employers and temporary foreign workers share the responsibility of preventing the spread of COVID-19. Work permit holders are still allowed to come to Canada because of their integral role in the food sector. Get help with Canadian work permits Like all new travellers to Canada, foreign workers must quarantine or isolate for 14 days as soon as they reach the Port of Entry. The government is strengthening that measure as of April 15. Any returning travellers who are asymptomatic, who can’t explain a credible quarantine plan, will be forced to spend the two weeks in a hotel. Employers are expected to provide workers with transportation and accommodations as well as access to food and basic sanitation supplies. The government will provide employers with up to $1,500 for each temporary foreign worker, to ensure public health requirements are being fully met. The funding is conditional on employers not being found in violation of the 14-day protocols or any other public health order, a government media release says. This program will be available as long as the Quarantine Act is in force and the isolation protocol is followed. Employers and workers who do not comply could face fines, jail time or both. Before the pandemic, the food sector was already challenged by significant labour shortages. Each year, the agricultural sector receives about 60,000 foreign workers, and yet around 15,000 jobs remain vacant. Fruit and vegetable farms, as well as fish, seafood, and meat processing plants, are reliant on temporary foreign workers. Foreign workers in the agricultural sector account for more than 60 per cent of all who come to Canada under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. Temporary foreign works have long been key to our food supply, Marco Mendicino, Minister of Immigration, said in a press release. We will work with farmers and food processing employers to ensure they get the workers they need and that plans are in place to meet mandatory isolation requirements. Need assistance with the Temporary Work Permit application process? Contact me [email protected] or 403-542-4569

International students: if you hold or have been approved for a study permit for a program starting in May or June 2020, and those classes are being offered onl...ine due to #COVID19, you can begin your program online from outside Canada and complete up to 50% of it from outside Canada. This time will be counted towards Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWP) eligibility. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3aElQlM

Coronavirus and Canada immigration 2020: What you need to know Here are common questions and answers on how coronavirus has impacted Canada’s immigration policies over the past week Canada’s immigration policies and procedures have undergone daily changes over the past week as Canada seeks to contain the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19)....Continue reading

Post-Graduation Work Permit applicants now allowed to work after travelling outside Canada International student graduates who are waiting on a Post-Graduation Work Permit decision may now leave Canada and maintain their eligibility to work full time once they return Post Graduation Work PermitInternational student graduates will no longer need to remain in Canada while their Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) is in process.... As of February 21, graduates who are eligible to work full time without a work permit will be able to maintain their ability to work legally in Canada even if they leave and re-enter the country. International students must apply for their PGWP before their study permit expires in order to be allowed to work full time. It can take upwards of 90 days for a PGWP decision to go through. In order to work in Canada without a work permit, PGWP applicants must satisfy the following requirements: They held a valid study permit at the time of the PGWP application. They have completed their study program and obtained a degree, diploma or certificate. They were full-time students enrolled at a designated learning institution in a post-secondary, vocational or professional training program of at least six months in duration. They did not work more than 20 hours per week during their study program. If the federal government refuses the application for a work permit, the graduate must then stop working as soon as he or she is informed by the immigration ministry. PGWP and Canadian permanent residence After completing a study program, certain international students may be eligible to stay and work in Canada with a PGWP. If their application for a work permit is approved, international student graduates can work in Canada for a period of eight months to three years. If the ultimate goal is to settle in Canada, work experience gained through a PGWP can greatly facilitate a graduate’s path to Canadian permanent residence through the Express Entry system. Express Entry is an application management system for Canada’s three main economic class immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and Canadian Experience Class. Immigration candidates who are eligible for an Express Entry-managed program are ranked according to factors deemed to determine their success in the Canadian labour force. A candidate’s age, official language proficiency, education, and work experience all go towards their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. Those with high CRS scores are more likely to be selected for an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence through regular Express Entry draws. Canadian work experience is highly valuable towards a candidate’s overall CRS score. Please contact me at (403) 542-4569 or email at [email protected] for your immigration news.

Canada now operates more than 80 economic class immigration programsthe most in its history In 2020, Canada will welcome nearly 200,000 economic class immigrants through over 80 programs. Even if they do not meet recent Express Entry cut-off scores, there are several important reasons why candidates should still apply for immigration to Canada. Since May 2019, candidates under Canada’s Express Entry system have tended to need a Comprehensive Ranking Score above 460 points to...Continue reading

Canada Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot Through the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot The Government of Canada works with small and remote communities in Ontario, Western Canada and the three territories to attract and retain foreign workers. The Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot is community-driven, which means participating communities take the lead in attracting new immigrants and matching them with local job vacancies, promoting a welcoming community, and conne...Continue reading

Alberta invites another 148 Express Entry candidates to apply for provincial nomination CRS minimum rose to 400 in November 6 selection round The latest draw through Alberta’s Express Entry-aligned immigrant nominee stream turned out 148 invitations to apply for a provincial nomination for Canadian permanent residence. ... Express Entry candidates selected in the November 6 draw needed a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of at least 400 to receive an invitation, among other requirements. The federal Express Entry system manages the pool of candidates for Canada’s three main economic immigration categories: the Federal Skilled Worker Class, Federal Skilled Trades Class, and the Canadian Experience Class. Express Entry candidates are given a CRS score based on human capital factors such as age, work experience, education and language ability as well as additional factors such as a provincial nomination. A provincial nomination is worth an additional 600 CRS points and effectively guarantees that a candidate will be issued an Invitation to Apply (ITA) from the Government of Canada. In order to be considered for a provincial nomination from Alberta, candidates must have a profile in the federal Express Entry system. Who’s eligible for the Alberta Express Entry Stream? The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) manages the Alberta Express Entry Stream, which allows the AINP to search the Express Entry pool for eligible candidates. The AINP says Express Entry candidates who can demonstrate strong ties to Alberta, or who can support the province’s economic development and diversification objectives, may be asked to submit an application for a provincial nomination. While a job offer is not required in Alberta, it could improve one’s chances of being invited. The AINP says it is more likely to issue invitations to Express Entry candidates who: Have an Alberta job offer and/or work experience; and/or Graduated from a Canadian post-secondary institution; and/or Have a relative living in Alberta such as a parent, child and/or sibling. The following factors may decrease a candidates likelihood of being selected: The Express Entry profile expires within three months Express Entry candidates are working in an occupation on the Alberta Opportunity Stream Ineligible Occupations List, as well as the list of High-wage and low-wage occupations in the province of Alberta, and any occupation that already has a high volume of submissions across all AINP streams. Contact me at (403) 542-4569 or [email protected] to find if you are eligible

Alberta invites 374 Express Entry candidates in latest selection round Minimum CRS score rises to 400 in September 25 draw Alberta’s latest Express Entry selection round invited 374 candidates with Comprehensive Ranking System scores as low as 400 to apply for a provincial nomination for Canadian permanent residence. ... Details of the September 25 draw were published today by the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP). The AINP is a component of Canada’s Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), which allows participating provinces and territories to nominate an allotted number of Economic-Class immigration candidates for Canadian permanent residence each year. All provinces and territories that take part in the PNP have at least one stream that is linked to Canada’s Express Entry system, which manages the pool of candidates for Canada’s three main skilled worker immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Class, Federal Skilled Trades Class, and Canadian Experience Class. The draw capped a September in which the AINP conducted three selection rounds through its Alberta Express Entry Stream and invited 852 Express Entry candidates to apply for a provincial nomination. The Alberta Express Entry Stream allows the AINP to search the federal Express Entry pool for skilled foreign workers with strong ties to Alberta or who are working in an occupation that supports the province’s economic development and diversification priorities. Candidates are not required to have a job offer in Alberta, but the AINP says having one may increase the likelihood of a candidate being invited. A provincial nomination results in an additional 600 points under Express Entry’s Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). A candidate’s CRS score determines their ranking in the Express Entry pool and the additional 600 points from a provincial nomination effectively guarantee an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residence. The lowest-ranked Express Entry candidate invited in the AINP’s September 25 selection round had a CRS score of 400. This score was higher than previous AINP selection rounds, which have seen candidates with scores as low as 300 selected. However, a minimum score of 400 is still significantly lower than the cut-off score in the latest federal Express Entry draw, which was 464. The 374 invitations issued on September 25 brought the total number of Express Entry candidates invited by the AINP in 2019 to 6,088. Please contact me for any of your immigration needs @ 403-542-4569 or by email [email protected]

First steps underway for promised Alberta rural immigration programs, government says Premier Jason Kenney promised two new programs on campaign trail, saying they could bring 40,000 newcomers to rural communities by 2024 Consultations will begin later this year on two Alberta immigration programs that were promised by the province’s new premier, Jason Kenney, during the recent general election. The province’s immigration department is currently working on program design and...Continue reading

Canada now issuing temporary resident permits to out-of-status victims of family violence Program aims to protect vulnerable foreign nationals by giving them legal immigration status in Canada. Newcomers to Canada experiencing family violence can now apply for a fee-exempt temporary resident permit that will give them legal immigration status in Canada. New rules governing the permits for out-of-status foreign nationals facing family violence took effect July 26 and allow for...Continue reading

Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIPP) The Atlantic Immigration Pilot is a fast-track immigration program that allows employers in Canada's four Atlantic provinces Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island to hire foreign nationals for jobs they haven’t been able to fill locally. Introduced in 2017, the federal government and its provincial government partners aim to welcome more than 7,000 newcomers and their families to the Atlant...Continue reading

Andre Iguodala is playing through the pain for Stephen Curry.

Apply through the Student Direct Stream. Your spouse, common law partner and dependent children may also be able to get faster processing with your application. Contact me ASAP @ 403-542-4569 (regular or WhatsApp) or [email protected] through the Student Direct Stream. Your spouse, common law partner and dependent children may also be able to get faster processing with your application. Contact me ASAP @ 403-542-4569 (regular or WhatsApp) or [email protected]

IRCC is now inviting interested sponsors to apply to Parents and Grandparents Program Canada has a target of 20,000 complete applications for 2019.The Government of Canada is now issuing invitations to apply to its Parents and Grandparents Program. Canada’s Parents and Grandparents Program allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents over the age of 18 to sponsor their parents and/or grandparents for Canadian permanent residence.Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Cana...da (IRCC) said invitations are being issued in the same order that Interest to Sponsor forms were received during the submission period held on January 28. The first invitations were issued April 24 and IRCC said that it will take a few days to send all potential sponsors their invitations. Invitations will be sent to the email address used on the Interest to Sponsor form. However, IRCC said it is possible that some invitations could end up in the junk mail folder, so be sure to check there. Interested sponsors who receive an invitation from IRCC will have 60 days from the date of their invitation to submit a complete sponsorship application. IRCC has a target of 20,000 complete applications to its Parents and Grandparents Program for 2019. If necessary, IRCC has said that it may conduct other invitation rounds to meet its 2019 target. Application process Interested sponsors who receive an invitation to apply must submit two complete applications the application to become a sponsor and the application from their parents or grandparents for Canadian permanent residence. IRCC said it must receive both applications at the same time. If you receive an invitation to apply to the Parents and Grandparents Program, you may email [email protected] or call at 403-542-4569 to learn about the next steps regarding your application

Canada invites 3,350 Express Entry candidates to apply for permanent residence Cut-off score drops two points in March 20 Express Entry invitation round The Government of Canada issued 3,350 invitations to apply for Canadian permanent residence to Express Entry candidates in a draw held March 20. ... The cut-off Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score in today’s draw was 452, a reduction of two points over the minimum score in the previous Express Entry draw held March 6. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has now issued a total of 21,200 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in 2019 through the Express Entry system. This is an increase of 6,700 over the 14,500 ITAs that Canada had issued at this same point in 2018 a year that saw IRCC issue a record 89,800 invitations to Express Entry candidates. It is expected that IRCC will set a new ITA record this year given Canada’s higher 2019 and 2020 admissions targets for the three Federal High Skilled economic immigration categories managed by the Express Entry system the Federal Skilled Worker Class, Federal Skilled Trades Class and Canadian Experience Class. Candidates who meet the eligibility requirements for these categories are entered into the Express Entry pool and issued a ranking score based on factors such as their age, education, work experience and proficiency in English or French. IRCC then invites a set number of the highest-scoring candidates to apply for Canadian permanent residence through regular draws from the pool. The tie-break in the March 20 draw was set at February 7, 2019, at 9:59:25 UTC. This means that all candidates with a CRS score of 452 or above who entered their profile in the Express Entry pool before the selected date and time received an ITA in this invitation round. The cut-off CRS score has now dropped twice over the last two invitation rounds, which may have resulted from the fact IRCC only allowed two weeks to elapse between draws in both instances. Larger draw sizes can also have an impact on the cut-off CRS score. Given IRCC’s higher admissions targets for 2019 and 2020, it is possible that we will see bigger draws in the second quarter of the year. Please contact me at (403) 542-4569 or by email [email protected]

New PEI draw more than doubles number of immigration candidates invited last month Express Entry candidates among 199 immigration candidates invited to apply for a provincial nomination in February 21, 2018 draw February 22, 2019 By CIC News The province of Prince Edward Island has invited 199 economic immigration candidates to apply for a provincial nomination for permanent residence in a draw held February 21. The invitations more than doubled the 91 issued in the province...’s January draw. A total of 170 candidates in Prince Edward Island (PEI)’s Express Entry and Labour Impact categories received invitations in the February 21 draw. Another 29 entrepreneur candidates were invited through PEI’s Business Impact: Work Permit Stream. The PEI PNP has an Express Entry category that is aligned with the federal Express Entry system, which manages the pool of candidates for three of Canada’s main economic immigration categories the Federal Skilled Worker Class, Federal Skilled Trades Class and Canadian Experience Class. Express Entry candidates who would like to be considered for a provincial nomination from PEI must first complete a separate Expression of Interest (EOI) profile with the PEI PNP. These profiles are given a score based on factors such as education, work experience and proficiency in English or French and the highest-ranked candidates are invited to apply for a provincial nomination through monthly draws. Express Entry candidates who obtain a provincial nomination are awarded an additional 600 points toward their Express Entry ranking score. PEI’s Work Permit business stream is for eligible foreign entrepreneurs with business ownership or eligible management experience who would like to invest in and run a business in PEI. PEI welcomes EOIs from candidates in the federal Express Entry pool who do not have a job offer in the province. However, those living and working in PEI have been prioritized. The PEI PNP’s Labour Impact Category is not aligned with the Express Entry system and is divided into three EOI-based streams Skilled Workers (in PEI and outside Canada), International Graduates and Critical Workers. Candidates for these streams must be working in PEI or have an eligible full-time, long-term job offer from an employer in the province, among other criteria. PEI’s Work Permit business stream is for eligible foreign entrepreneurs with business ownership or eligible management experience who would like to invest in and run a business in PEI. Contact me at (403) 542-4569 or by email [email protected]

Canada starts 2019 with 3,900 Express Entry invitations..... The Government of Canada issued 3,900 ITAs for Canadian permanent residence on January 10 under express entry. The Government of Canada conducted its first Express Entry draw of 2019 on January 10, issuing 3,900 invitations to apply for Canadian permanent residence to candidates with scores of 449 or above. ... The draw was the largest yet for a first draw of the year through the Express Entry system, which was introduced in 2015 to manage the pool of candidates for Canada's three Federal High Skilled economic immigration categories. Candidate profiles are assigned a score based on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which awards points for factors including age, education, work experience and proficiency in English or French. The highest-ranked candidates are then drawn from the pool through regular invitation rounds and issued an invitation to apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence. Under Canada’s new multi-year immigration levels plan, the federal government plans to welcome more Federal High Skilled candidates as permanent residents in 2019 than it did last year. Canada has an admissions target of 81,400 through these programs for 2019, compared to 74,900 last year. The vast majority of candidates admitted to Canada through the Federal High Skilled category have their applications for permanent resident status processed through the Express Entry system. Today’s minimum score of 449 was 10 points higher than the previous invitation round on December 19, a result of the three weeks that elapsed between draws. Longer periods between draws mean more candidates can enter the Express Entry pool or take steps to increase their existing scores. IRCC used its tie-break rule in the January 10 draw. The time stamp used was January 2, 2019, at 11:40:53 UTC. This means that all candidates with a CRS score above 449, as well as those candidates with scores of 449 who entered their profile in the Express Entry pool before the selected date and time, received an ITA in this invitation round. Invited candidates have 60 days from the date of receiving their ITA to submit a complete Canadian permanent residence application to the Government of Canada. Please contact me at (403) 542-4569 or by email at [email protected]

New parents and grandparents sponsorship 2019: The Government of Canada has listened to feedback from clients, stakeholders and the public to identify improvements needed in the Parents and Grandparents (PGP) Program specifically, the application process. That is why the government is streamlining the intake process to enhance client experience. Here’s how the new process will work: Step 1: Potential sponsors indicate their interest. Under the new process, as in previous ye...ars, the interest to sponsor form will be available online in January, so eligible potential sponsors can let us know they wish to sponsor their parents and grandparents. However, in 2019, the enhanced version of the interest to sponsor form will require potential sponsors to upload a copy of a status in Canada document. Requiring all potential sponsors to submit a status in Canada document will help IRCC detect duplication and possible fraud within the system. The interest to sponsor form will open at noon EST on January 28, 2019. The form will remain available on IRCC’s website until we receive a specific number of complete interest to sponsor forms. At that point, the form will no longer be accessible. Step 2: Invitations to sponsor are sent. Once the interest to sponsor period has ended and the form has been removed from our website, we will review all submissions and remove duplicates. We will then invite interested potential sponsors to submit a complete application to sponsor their parents and grandparents, in the order we received their interest to sponsor forms. This process will continue until the cap is reached. In 2019, we’ll accept 20,000 complete applications. Step 3: Applications are submitted. Those who are invited to apply will be given 60 calendar days for IRCC to receive their complete application. Those who submit an interest to sponsor form and receive a confirmation number, but do not receive an invitation to apply in 2019, will have their form retained by IRCC for consideration in 2020. Please contact me by phone at 403-542-4569 or by email [email protected]

Canada’s parents and grandparents sponsorship program will reopen in late January Canada’s parents and grandparents sponsorship program will reopen to expressions of interest in late January 2019, the Government of Canada has announced. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) provided the update in a tweet and said details of the next opening will be released in the coming weeks.... The Parents and Grandparents Program, known as the PGP, allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents over the age of 18 to sponsor their parents and/or grandparents for Canadian permanent residence. In 2018, the program reopened to expressions of interest on January 2, but IRCC tweeted that this won’t be the case in the new year. IRCC expects to process up to 20,000 applications through the PGP in 2019. Invitations to apply will be issued to the first 20,000 eligible sponsors who submit an Interest to Sponsor form and meet the program’s requirements. This first-come, first-served approach to accepting applications replaces the controversial randomized lottery process that IRCC introduced last year and later scrapped. Many had criticized the randomized approach as unfair to those who had been waiting for years to sponsor their parents and/or grandparents. IRCC said the decision to revert to a first-come, first-served approach was a result of listening to stakeholders and clients and would both streamline access to the program and improve client experience. Using this modified intake process will give the government more flexibility in the application process, ensuring that we receive as many applications as possible, IRCC said. If you receive an invitation to apply to the Parents and Grandparents Program, you may email [email protected] to learn about the next steps regarding your application!

Saskatchewan invites 251 international entrepreneurs The Government of Saskatchewan has conducted its first draw of 2018 for its Provincial Nominee Program's Entrepreneur Stream.... A total of 251 international entrepreneurs were invited to apply for a provincial nomination in the draw, which took place on January 17, 2018. Candidates in the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP)'s 'Expression of Interest' pool who had 80 or more points were invited to apply. This stream, which is also referred to as the SINP Entrepreneur Category, allows successful applicants to start, obtain or partner in a business in Saskatchewan and actively manage it while residing in the province with their accompanying family members, if applicable. Successful applicants first receive a temporary work permit, allowing them to work in Saskatchewan. They can then apply for permanent residence after fulfilling the terms of a Business Performance Agreement. Among the eligibility criteria for entrepreneur candidates is a minimum net worth requirement of $500,000 CAD and an equity investment requirement of $200,000 (this figure is raised to $300,000 if the investment is made within the cities of Saskatoon or Regina). There are additional requirements for the business, which must have the potential for creating economic benefit to Saskatchewan, as assessed by a SINP immigration officer. Eligible candidates are assigned a score out of 160 upon entry into the SINP Entrepreneur pool of candidates. The SINP's unique points grid has a strong focus on local labour market needs and business innovation. For example, candidates who plan an investment in a key economic sector may obtain more points, as do candidates who conduct an exploratory visit to Saskatchewan for at least five working days with evidence of contact with relevant business personnel. Other factors include one's age, level of education, language ability, entrepreneurial experience, and more besides. Three more draws are scheduled to take place for this category this year on April 18, July 18 and October 17. Recent SINP Entrepreneur Program Expression of Interest (EOI) Selections January 17, 2018 Points range Total Invitations Issued 80 or above 251 To learn more about your Canadian business immigration options, please contact me at [email protected]

Government Clarifies Which Entrepreneurs May Apply for a Work Permit The government of Canada has issued confirmation regarding the categories of entrepreneurs and self-employed persons who may obtain a work permit before becoming permanent residents of Canada. In cases where an applicant has received a nomination under a business category or is self-employed and the permanent residence application has not yet been processed, a C11 work permit may be authorized as an initial ...Continue reading

Sponsor your parents and grandparents Second round of invitations On September 6, 2017, Canada started inviting a second round of potential sponsors to submit an application. ... You may be able to sponsor your parent or grandparent to become a permanent resident under the Family Class if you’re at least 18 years old and a: Canadian citizen or person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act or permanent resident of Canada If you sponsor your parent or grandparent to come to Canada as a permanent resident, you must: support them financially when they arrive make sure they don’t need social assistance from the government provide for your own essential needs and those of your parent or grandparent The first step toward becoming a sponsor is to submit an online Interest to Sponsor form. This form was available between January 3, 2017, and February 2, 2017. If you didn’t submit this form, you can’t participate in the 2017 selection process. Earlier this year, Canada invited 10,000 individuals to submit an application to sponsor their parents and grandparents by August 4, 2017. Since CIC didn’t receive 10,000 complete applications, they invited a second round of potential sponsors to submit an application. They randomly selected individuals from the list of people who submitted the Interest to Sponsor form at the beginning of the year. If you were already selected during the first round of invitations, you were not invited again. They removed the confirmation numbers for the first round of invitations from this page. IRCC advises individuals who may be invited to check their email, including the ‘junk’ folder, next week while invitations are being issued. Only those who are invited will be contacted. At this time, it remains unknown whether these criteria will remain the same for the 2018 version of the PGP. Super Visa The PGP is not the only option for bringing parents and grandparents to Canada. The Super Visa is a multiple-entry visa that allows parents and grandparents to enter Canada as long-term visitors. Super Visa holders may stay in Canada for up to two years on initial entry, and the visa is valid for up to 10 years. If you receive an invitation to apply to the PGP, you may contact us to learn more about the next steps regarding your application--- Sudhir Bhanot 403-542-4569 [email protected]

Manitoba province in Canada has Invited 40 Candidates to Apply to Business Immigration Stream in July, 2017 Govt. of Manitoba issued 40 Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) in July, 2017 under the Manitoba Business Stream (MPNP-B) -- part of the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP). Candidates invited to apply had between 89 and 97 points under the unique MPNP-B points grid. The MPNP-B allows Manitoba to recruit and nominate qualified business people with the intent and ab...ility to reside in the province and make a significant investment in a new or existing business and hold an active managerial role. Manitoba’s MPNP-B promotes the province’s economic growth as it is designed to retain successful business owners and professionals with executive-level experience. Potential applicants are first required to register under a unique Expression of Interest (EOI) system, whereby they submit their intention to apply to the program. Much like the federal Express Entry system, interested applicants begin the process by creating an online profile on the MPNP website. The profiles of candidates are then placed into the MPNP-B EOI pool and are assigned a score based on responses provided. the highest-ranked candidates are invited to apply by receiving a LAA from the MPNP. After receiving a LAA, candidates have 60 days to submit their application to the program. Over the same period through July, 31 applications were received, including applications submitted under the Farm Strategic Recruitment Initiative (FSRI). The FSRI initiative targets applicants who will live on a farm in rural Manitoba and manage the everyday operations of the farm. To find out if you are eligible to immigrate to Canada as a business person, please contact me by e-mail: [email protected]

Changes to Canada’s Express Entry CRS Coming inJune, 2017 Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced that, as of June 6, 2017 French speakers and candidates with a sibling in Canada will receive additional points under the Express Entry. In addition, registration in the Canada Job Bank will become voluntary. The CRS in its current form will continue to be used in order to rank and select candidates in the pool, and it is expected that IRCC will continue...Continue reading

Express Entry CRS Requirement Falls to New Record Low Canada's Express Entry immigration system continues to give candidates the opportunity to immigrate to CanadaAnother 3,611 candidates for immigration to Canada and their accompanying family members are well on their way to Canada following the latest Express Entry draw, which took place on February 22. The number of Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points required in order for candidates to receive an Invitation to Apply... (ITA) was 441, marking a new record. This point threshold means that a greater variety of candidates may now submit an application for Canadian permanent residence. The new record low means that it is possible for a candidate educated up to Bachelor’s Degree level only, who has no Canadian work or study experience, as well as no additional points for a provincial nomination or a job offer, to obtain an ITA, if he or she is only evaluated for one language. Take Ramandeep, a 29-year-old single candidate with advanced English ability. He is educated up to Bachelor’s Degree level, with no other post-secondary education credential. He has completed three years of skilled work abroad, and has never worked or studied in Canada. He doesn’t have a job offer or a provincial nomination, but his other factors mean that he is awarded 441 CRS points, enough for him to obtain an ITA in the latest draw. Like Ramandeep , Seema is also 29 years old with advanced English ability, a Bachelor’s Degree, and three years of skilled work experience abroad. She has also never worked or studied in Canada. However, she has an accompanying spouse who has advanced English ability and is also educated at a Bachelor’s level. These factors give her 443 CRS points. Even though these are hypothetical scenarios, it is candidates like these who are now in a position to immigrate to Canada as landed permanent residents well before the end of 2017. Although some invited candidates may have entered the pool over recent weeks and months, others may have initially entered the pool long before the CRS requirement began to decrease substantially through the fall and winter months. The significant decrease in the CRS threshold over recent months has come in the wake of improvements to the Express Entry system that came into effect on November 19, 2016. Among other changes, the number of points awarded for a qualifying job offer was reduced from 600 to either 50 or 200 points, depending on the position offered. As a result, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) predicted that ‘A reduction of points to candidates with arranged employment means the CRS cut-off will decline.’ Based on recent draws, it would seem that IRCC’s predictions are coming true. To find out if you are eligible to immigrate to Canada permanently, contact me at 403-542-4569 or email me at [email protected]

Express Entry Draw Has Lowest CRS Requirement of All Time The latest draw, which took place on February 8, having the lowest Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) point requirement of all time. Candidates with 447 or more CRS points received an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence. Moreover, this was the largest draw of all time; a total of 3,664 ITAs were issued. This draw was also the first ever draw in which candidates with CRS scores below 450 were issued an I...TA. This latest Express Entry draws for immigration to Canada have seen a decrease in the CRS point requirement. The latest trends in Express Entry, however, show that the CRS requirement may continue to decrease in future draws. While there is no way of predicting exactly how futures draws may look, representatives from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (IRCC) have stated that ‘It can be expected that in general the low score for rounds will continued. Among the changes made at that time was a reduction in the number of CRS points awarded for a qualifying job offer, from 600 points down to 50 or 200 points, depending on the position offered. IRCC stayed that, as a result, ‘A reduction of points to candidates with arranged employment means the CRS cut-off will decline,’ adding that that it wanted to ‘balance the Comprehensive Ranking System to put greater weight on human capital, skills and experience. This latest Express Entry draws for immigration to Canada have become larger, with more Invitations to Apply issued than ever before. Candidates in the Express Entry pool, as well as individuals thinking of creating an Express Entry profile, can contact me at 403-542-4569 or e-mail me [email protected] See more

Canadian Residency Obligations Canadian permanent residents must meet certain residency obligations or they may lose their permanent resident status. Two years ...of "residency days" must be accumulated in every five-year period. Residency days need not be consecutive and may be accumulated inside or even outside Canada in the following ways: Inside Canada: By physical presence Outside Canada: By accompanying a spouse/common-law partner who is a Canadian citizen, or As a child accompanying a parent, or By employment on a full-time basis with a Canadian enterprise or the Public Service of Canada, or By accompanying a Canadian permanent resident who is outside Canada and who is employed on a full-time basis by a Canadian enterprise or the Public Service of Canada as the employee's spouse/common-law partner or child. The calculation of residency days for a person who has been a Canadian permanent resident for more than five years will be limited to the five years immediately preceding the examination. Persons who have been Canadian permanent residents for less than five years must demonstrate that they will be able to meet the residency requirement during the five-year period immediately following their becoming a Canadian permanent resident. Canadian permanent residents who plan to re-enter Canada by common carrier (plane, train, bus, boat) will have to show their Canadian Permanent Resident Card or Temporary Travel Document before boarding. Canadian citizenship is voluntary and may be applied for after three (soon to be four) years of residence in Canada. Canada recognizes multiple citizenship.

More changes on the way!

Nearly Half of Canada’s Population May be Immigrants and Their Children by 2036 A- comprehensive report financed by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) projects that up to half of the Canadian population could be first generation immigrants and their children by the year 2036. The study, which was released by Statistics Canada, states that the proportion of immigrants in Canada’s population could reach 30 percent by 2036 compared to 20.7 per cent in 2011 w...hile around in one in five would be the child of an immigrant, up from 17.5 percent in 2011. Multiculturalism will progress as always.Immigrants from Asia are expected to make up the majority of immigrants in Canada by 2036 (up from 45 percent to between 55 and 58 percent), while the percentage born in Europe would decline to between 15 percent and 18 percent, down from 31.6 percent. The proportion of immigrants from Africa would continue to increase to around 11%. Canada would also continue to be a land of many languages. Multilingualism is an everyday reality, and this shows no signs of changing. By 2036, almost 30 per cent of the population (between 10.7 and 13.8 million people) will have a first language other than English or French, though proficiency in these languages continues to be important in professional, social, and academic life in Canada. Currently, around one in five people in Canada have a first language that is neither English nor French. The most religiously diverse areas in Canada would remain as such over the next quarter century. Cities such as Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton, which had a large proportion of immigrants among their population in 2011, would continue to be diverse. Indeed, an increasing share of the national population is likely to identify as belonging to no religion. The three primary areas of residence for immigrants would remain Toronto (between 33 and 39 percent), Montreal (around 14 percent) and Vancouver (around 13 percent). Other cities across the country, including Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg and others, are also likely to see a higher share of immigrants among their populations than they do today. According to all the scenarios, by 2036 the vast majority of people in Toronto potentially up to 81.4 percent would be an immigrant or the child of an immigrant, up from 74 percent in 2011. In Vancouver, this share can be expected to reach between 69 and 74 percent. To find out if you are eligible to immigrate to Canada permanently, contact me at 403-542-4569 or email me at [email protected] The full report is available on the Statistics Canada website.

Dual Canadian citizens need a valid Canadian passport If you are a dual Canadian citizen used to travelling to or transiting through Canada by air with a non-Canadian passport, you will no longer be able to do so as of November 10, 2016. You will need a valid Canadian passport to board your flight. If your country needs you to enter and exit that country using a passport issued by its government, you will still need a valid Canadian passport to board your flight to Canada. Make sure to carry both passports when you travel. Exception: If you are an American-Canadian dual citizen with a valid U.S. passport, you don’t need a Canadian passport to fly to Canada. However, you will still need to carry proper identification and meet the basic requirements to enter Canada.

New ‘Interest to Sponsor’ Form for Parent and Grandparent Program is available now: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has unveiled the new ‘Interest to Sponsor’ form for the popular Parent and Grandparent Program (PGP). The form went live on January 3 & will be available until 12 p.m. EST on February 2, 2017. Through the PGP, Canadian citizens and permanent residents may sponsor their parents and grandparents to immigrate to Canada as Canadian permanent resi...dents. New PGP ‘Interest to Sponsor’ form for Individuals looking to sponsor their parent(s) or grandparent(s) will provide the following information on the new form: Last name(s) (also known as family name, surname); Given name(s) (also known as first name); Date of birth; Country or territory of birth; Main home address; Postal Code; and Email address Once this information is provided, the potential sponsor may then electronically sign and submit the form. Individuals completing the form are not asked to provide any information about the parent(s) or grandparent(s) they are looking to sponsor. After the form has been submitted, a confirmation page will be presented. This page will include a confirmation number, which should be noted and kept by the potential sponsor who completed the form for his or her records. Sponsors will be chosen at random from among those who complete the online form. On or after February 2, IRCC will select up to 10,000 individuals from the pool of potential sponsors who submitted the form. These individuals will be notified by email and will have 90 days to submit their complete application, including supporting documents. Individuals who are not selected for this application cycle will also be contacted, and will have the option to indicate their interest in applying in 2018. To find out if you or your family members are eligible for the Parent and Grandparent Program based on the eligibility criteria for the most recent application cycle, please call me at 403-542-4569 or e-mail [email protected]

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CRS Requirement further decreases after Recent Changes to Express Entry JANUARY 21, 2017 January 11 draw has lowest Comprehensive Ranking System cut-off point in nearly a year...Continue reading