Canadian Immigration News

The International Skilled Worker – Express Entry sub-category of the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) has reached its intake quota of 600 new applications for the most recent application intake cycle, which began on May 16. This intake cycle was the longest for some time, as the sub-category has often reached its intake within a couple of days, or even shorter, on previous occasions.

The latest Express Entry draw, which took place on May 17, 2017, saw Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for Canadian permanent resident status issued to 3,687 candidates in the Express Entry pool with a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 415 or above. This is the second time the minimum CRS requirement has dropped to 415, the lowest minimum requirement yet since the system was introduced in January, 2015.

For the first time in over three months, Saskatchewan has reopened its popular International Skilled Worker – Express Entry sub-category of the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP). Up to 600 new applications will be accepted during this intake. In reopening this sub-category, Saskatchewan offers eligible candidates in the federal Express Entry pool a way of obtaining an enhanced provincial nomination certificate.

On May 10, 2017, the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) invited 364 workers and graduates to apply for a provincial nomination certificate. This represents an increase of 77 percent in the number of candidates invited in five sub-categories managed through the Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS), compared to the previous draw on April 19. These individuals have received an Invitation to Apply (ITA) from BC and are now in a position to submit an application for a provincial nomination certificate, with which they may then apply to the federal government for Canadian permanent resident status.

As of May 10, 2017, the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration has resumed receiving online applications to the Nova Scotia Skilled Worker and Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry streams of the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP). On May 9, all online application services of the NSNP were unavailable. While service has resumed for the Skilled Worker and Experience: Express Entry streams, no further applications are being received for the Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry stream.

On May 9, 2017, Nova Scotia's Office of Immigration updated its website to state that 'Currently all Nova Scotia Immigration applications associated with Nova Scotia’s online service are unavailable.' This announcement comes the day after technical issues with the online intake system triggered a pause on the intake of applications to the Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry stream, part of the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP).

The government of Ontario will issue Notifications of Interest (NOIs) to Express Entry candidates who are eligible for Ontario’s Express Entry Human Capital Priorities (HCP) stream on a weekly basis. This stream is part of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP).

Immigration, Refugees and Citzenship Canada (IRCC) has issued Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to 3,796 candidates in the Express Entry pool in its latest draw, which took place on May 4, 2017. Candidates in the pool with Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores of 423 or above at the time of the draw are now in a position to apply for Canadian permanent resident status. Although the minimum required CRS score was slightly higher than that of the previous draw, which took place on April 19, a greater number of ITAs were issued this time around.

As of October 24, 2017, the maximum age of dependent children who may be included in an application for immigration to Canada will rise to include children under the age of 22, who are not themselves married or in a common-law relationship. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) confirmed the change in its official Gazette of May 3, 2017. Currently, the definition of a dependent child covers children under the age of 19 — a regulation that the Canadian government has criticized for being 'too restrictive'.

Nova Scotia has released a new list of target 'opportunity' occupations for its Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry Canadian immigration stream, part of the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP). Of the 16 occupations on the updated list, eight are new, with the remaining eight having also been on the previous list.