British Columbia 160 invitations issued in the new SI and EEBC of the BCPNP draws On February 22, 2022, British Columbia held two rounds in the Skills Immigration (SI) and Express Entry British Columbia (EEBC) categories of the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP). In the general draw, BC issued...

Canada Welcomes Record Immigrants from Hong Kong According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), a record number of 12,484 open work permits were issued to Hong Kong residents from March 2017 through June 2022. Last year, the Government of Canada introduced two new pathways for Hong Kongers to immigrate...

Canada to welcome more out-of-status construction workers in the GTA on January 20, 2023, the Government of Canada announced that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) would create pathways for out-of-status migrants, to help Canadian employers to deal with critical labor shortages in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). In 2019,...

Last year, the number of family members reunited with their loved ones in Canada through the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) skyrocketed - more than doubling its previous record set before the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the newest records from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), an impressive 27,195 new...

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is still receiving proposals for new Investor streams, which aim to provide immediate economic benefit to Canada. However, according to the last issue of Lexbase, these plans all fall short of addressing the risks that are always involved with investor initiatives. Based on Canada's...

The immigration court has ruled that visa officers do not have the discretion to alter the eligibility criteria of the Post-Graduate Work Permit Program (PGWP) on humanitarian or compassionate grounds. On June 14, 2022, reviewing the application of an applicant failing to fulfill the requirements of the PGWP, the Federal...

Canada introduced new instructions for International Mobility Program on January 30, 2023, the Government of Canada introduced a new program delivery update for the International Mobility Program (IMP). The government reformatted instructions regarding the labor market impact assessment (LMIA) exemptions under work designated as per paragraph R205(c)(ii) – administrative codes...

On February 22, 2022, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) conducted a new round of invitations in Ontario’s Express Entry Human Capital Priorities Stream. In this draw, OINP issued 773 targeted Notifications of Interest (NOIs) to candidates who possess work experience in one of the in-demand occupations.  The CRS Express...

The Ontario Practice Ready Assessment Program PRA 2023, Ontario has revived its plans for a program that accelerates the recruitment of foreign-trained doctors. The self-regulating body for Ontario's medical profession proposes a 12-week program for internationally trained physicians in Ontario in a submission submitted to the minister of health in...

On January 26, 2023, the City of Greater Sudbury held a new round of invitations for the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP). In this round, Sudbury considered 24 candidates.  The lowest score of these draws was 250 points, 70 points more than in the previous draw. All applicants had...