On November 16, 2022, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) transitioned from its National Occupation Classification (NOC) 2016 system to an updated NOC 2021 version. As part of this transition to NOC 2021, IRCC made 16 occupations newly eligible for Express Entry. Included among those additions are transport truck drivers and bus drivers, two occupations that are pressured by significant […]
Why does Canada have a Black History Month?
Black Canadians, and newcomers, have had a significant impact on how Canada has grown as a country. They have done so in the face of historic systemic racism and other obstacles that many non-racialized immigrants are less likely to encounter. To mark the contributions of Black Canadians, the government began to officially recognize February […]
IRCC launches application tracker for Express Entry and PNP candidates
Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced that they are expanding online application status trackers to four new categories. These status trackers will allow clients to monitor their application and stay informed on any updates regarding actions that may be required to keep their file moving. The new status trackers are for Express Entry candidates in the Federal […]
Why birth rates are low in Canada and much of the Western world
Birth rates are low in much of the western world. For instance, in the United States of America, “the [national] birth rate has fallen by 20%” over the last 15 years. Elsewhere, Greece has seen a 30% decline in births since 2008. Canada is in a similar situation. Canada’s fertility rate currently falls short of the global population […]
Express Entry: How to get a high Comprehensive Ranking System score
The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) is used to rank skilled worker candidates who want to immigrate to Canada through Express Entry. Express Entry is a system that manages applications by Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and is the main way the Canadian government welcomes economic class immigrants. Express Entry manages three separate programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Federal Skilled […]
8 FAQs about Educational Credential Assessments (ECAs) from WES applicants immigrating to Canada
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) requires applicants who are pursuing Canadian immigration pathways, the Express Entry pathway in particular, to submit an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA). Every ECA submitted by a prospective Canadian immigrant is reviewed by IRCC to assess the equivalency of educational credentials (degrees, diplomas, certificates, and so on) earned in other countries, and […]
Canada’s immigration backlog shows little change from January
In an email to CIC News Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reported that the number of applicants in inventory has remained consistent with January data, at just over 2.1 million. The data is current as of January 31-February 1. The inventory across all lines of business has progressed as follows since July 2021: January 2-3 2023: 2,152,220 persons December 3, 2022: 2,243,097 persons November […]
Understanding the Express Entry tie-breaking rule
Express Entry is the Canadian federal government’s top immigration pathway for foreign skilled workers. To help rank and choose between Express Entry candidates with the same Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) introduced a tie-breaking rule that works based on the date and time that “profiles were first submitted to the Express Entry pool.”This rule has […]
Canada extends work permits for Hong Kong residents
Immigration minister Sean Fraser has just announced Canada is expanding its open work permit options for Hong Kong nationals. Speaking from Toronto this morning, the minister said the existing Open Work Permit (OWP) for Hong Kong residents, which was set to expire today, will be extended an additional two years. To be eligible, Hong Kong residents must […]
Some foreign workers in Canada can have their LMIA processed in 10 business days
To help Canadian employers fill labour and skills gaps in their organizations when there are no qualified and available Canadians or permanent residents (PR), Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) operates the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). As a condition of the work permits provided to foreign workers through this program, employers hiring foreign talent must complete a Labour […]