(IRCC) presented these slides to immigration representatives including the Canadian Bar Association’s Immigration Law Section in a meeting on October 12, 2022.   What follows is an overview designed to provide a look into the steps IRCC is taking to modernize application management systems. Why Canada has prioritized improving its immigration systems Canada recognizes that […]

In a ceremony that is said to be the first of its kind in Canada, the organized and hosted a permanent residency celebration for over 35 international student alumni on October 26, 2022.  An occasion to honour and acknowledge the achievements and resilience of their former international students, the celebration was attended by the mayor of Calgary, among other key […]

(IRCC) will be transitioning to the 2021 version of the National Occupation Classification (NOC) system today, a change that has been in the works since the announcement on July 27.   This move will cause shifts in eligibility for some of Canada’s 100+ immigration programs, including Express Entry. Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration For instance, while […]

An H-1B visa is a United States work permit that allows foreign born nationals who have specialized knowledge, or fashion models ‘of merit”, to work in the United States.   There are aspects of the H-1B visa program that can cause complications for workers, such as the time limit. Some H-1B visas are valid for up to […]

As of today, international students in Canada are temporarily able to work more than 20 hours per week during the academic year.   Last month, Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced that students would now be allowed to work more than 20 hours a week between November 15, 2022, and December 31,2023. This is a one-time measure […]

Statistics Canada recently posted their citizenship insights from the 2021 census data, with key findings around new and future citizens in Canada.   Schedule a Free Canadian Citizenship Consultation with the Cohen Immigration Law Firm Canada at a glance The main report on citizenship—”A portrait of citizenship in Canada from the 2021 census”—revealed that out of […]

This week, Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan have issued invitations to apply to skilled worker candidates through their Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs).   Most Canadian provinces and territories (with the exception of Quebec and Nunavut) operate their own PNPs. Through these programs, interested candidates may be invited to apply for a provincial nomination. Although provincial nomination is not […]

On November 1, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) released their annual Immigration Levels Plan, which is used to guide their operations and determine the number of newcomers Canada will welcome.   This year’s target of 432,000 new permanent residents (PRs) is the highest ever in Canada’s history. The numbers for 2023 (465,000) and 2024 […]

Canada currently has north of one million job vacancies across the country. These job vacancies are spread throughout nearly every employment sector, which is why Canada has created several programs to aid employers with hiring foreign talent.   One such program, specific to highly skilled foreign professionals in the tech industry, is the Global Talent Stream (GTS). The GTS […]

Citizenship is significant for many reasons, including with respect to making people feel at home and comfortable in Canada.   Citizenship in this country also provides a pathway for us to accomplish key goals including, but not limited to, voting in federal elections, obtaining a social insurance number (SIN) and getting a job. To accomplish […]