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The latest IRCC and Canadian immigration policy updates from LMIA’s to Alberta PNP are getting stricter, and Saskatchewan is pulling the plug on all its entrepreneur applicants. All recent news from Canadian immigration just proves one point – immigration is becoming more and more difficult and the SUV program is becoming more popular.
Do you want to become a PR in Canada? At INGWE we can support you! Get a FREE email assessment with one of our licensed immigration consultants. We speak over +8 languages and we have helped applicants from +50 countries in their immigration path to Canada. Fill out our form, click here.
The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) was previously one of the best programs in the western provinces for applicants looking for Canadian PR. The process was easy and the eligibility was very relaxed – even for ICT work permit holders.
However, Alberta realized that it was just too easy, and in March of this year released its new long list of employer eligibility criteria.
Here is a high-level overview of the major changes:
* Business should have been in operation for a minimum of 2 years continuously.
* Minimum revenues should be $400,000 for the last fiscal year (with specific exemptions covered below).
* Minimum 3 full-time employees in Alberta (no mention of whether they should be Canadian or not).
* Restricted nomination ratios - in case an employer does not have the minimum revenues of $400,000 but has 2 or more years of operational history. (The AAIP can cap employers on how many nominations they are allowed.)
* Individuals listed as directors or shareholders of the company cannot be nominated.
* No home-based addresses or businesses allowed to nominate foreign workers for PR.
The AAIP’s Alberta Opportunity Stream is still on pause until further notice.
The AAIP nomination timeline is now 6 months, as opposed to the 45 days stated last year.
Do you want to become a PR in Canada? At INGWE we can support you! Get a FREE email assessment with one of our licensed immigration consultants. We speak over +8 languages and we have helped applicants from +50 countries in their immigration path to Canada. Fill out our form, click here.
As per the Service Canada announcement last week, effective May 1, 2024:
* New Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) will be valid for six months (a decrease from 12 months) to ensure accurate labour market needs.
* All employers identified in the 2022 Workforce Solutions Road Map, in industries such as hospitality, food and wood manufacturing, among others, will have a reduction from 30% to 20% of their total workforce allowed to come in through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, under the low wage stream, with an exception for the construction and health care sectors.
* Employers will need to include in their recruitment efforts and reports asylum seekers with valid work permits who are inside Canada.
Employers will also need to update and revise the prevailing wage of existing Temporary Foreign Workers who are working under an LMIA closed work permit on an annual basis – even if the LMIA was approved 6 months ago or 2 years ago. If the TFW is still working for them they need to adjust to the new prevailing wage. This means the minimum is the ‘median’ wage for that specific NOC position in the specific region of where the work site is.
This will make LMIAs less attractive for businesses and employers in Canada – no more long-validity LMIAs and tighter restrictions on low-wage LMIAs and general recruitment efforts for both high-wage, low-wage, and PR-supported LMIAs.
If you have an employer who is looking to hire you and either you or they need help going through the LMIA or Provincial Nomination process or any other work permit-based program, reach out to our specialized B2B team at our office in Canada. You can also apply for a FREE email assessment using this link.
Why was the Saskatchewan Entrepreneur program the most famous and sought-after program in the Far East? It was the ONLY Entrepreneur/business program in the whole country that did not require any proof of language as an eligibility criterion for Permanent Residency after running the business in this province. Ninety-eight percent of all applicants under this program and Expressions of Interest were from China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, and similar countries due to this language exemption. However, this all changed on March 14th when the SINP overhauled the entire program and now has upfront language requirements of CLB 5. It was a shock for the entire industry and Far Eastern clients who had existing EOI profiles in the SINP system. It seems like SINP was fed up and decided to stop this flow of business entrepreneurs with little or no English or French ability.
The other major changes to the Saskatchewan PNP Entrepreneur stream are:
* Mandatory exploratory trip.
* Mandatory proof of language requirement of CLB 5 upfront.
* Minimum 12 months duration as per the Business Performance Agreement to run/ operate the business in Saskatchewan (instead of the original 6).
* More restrictions on eligible businesses, and succession planning of min 5 years operational business of previous owners.
* Geographic distance of max 50KM from the operating business for the applicants and their family members to reside in.
* In-person interviews are 100% mandatory now.
Based on the above changes for the SINP Entrepreneur stream, we expect the number of applicants to drop drastically. We doubt Saskatchewan will have more than 2-3 applicants per year under this program with the new changes. Most of the new entrepreneur applicants will shift to PEI, Nova Scotia (with their new rural investment), Alberta Rural, and finally to Ontario & BC because they don’t need upfront proof of language for these 2 provinces.
We are still waiting for the Ontario PNP to re-launch its entrepreneur streams, as they are now temporarily closed.
Are you interested in applying for the Canada Investor Visa? At INGWE we are EXPERTS and we can support you throughout the process, we have licensed business immigration professionals ready to help. Get a FREE email assessment, click here.
Family physicians with overseas experience and a valid Express Entry profile may receive invitations specifically for Nova Scotia’s Practice Ready Assessment Program (PRAP), and work in under-serviced areas of the province. Applicants will need to meet the criteria for licensing eligibility and the Practice Ready Assessment Program criteria – which may also include an interview. Based on a successful application they may be invited to sit on the exam for the final licensing. This program is not an Express Entry stream to PR – but rather an invitation to apply under the PNP in Nova Scotia.
Do you want to become a PR in Canada? At INGWE we can support you! Get a FREE email assessment with one of our licensed immigration consultants. We speak over +8 languages and we have helped applicants from +50 countries in their immigration path to Canada. Fill out our form, click here.
You won’t have a chance of being invited by the OINP if you don’t have minimum 72 points and are not in a low-skilled in-demand occupation. Keep in mind no invitations for bakers or cooks were completed for the Skilled Trades.
Interestingly enough the OINP also reported its last year’s results and only 3 applicants were nominated for PR under the Entrepreneur program for the province – which indicates how unsuccessful the program has been in the past years. It is currently paused and with an anticipated re-launch during 2024. The top nominated countries under the OINP were #1 India, #2 China, #3 Nigeria, #4 Iran, #5 Pakistan, #6 Philippines, #7 Bangladesh, #8 Brazil, #9 South Korea, #10 Portugal (the only European country on the list).
Do you want to become a PR in Canada? At INGWE we can support you! Get a FREE email assessment with one of our licensed immigration consultants. We speak over +8 languages and we have helped applicants from +50 countries in their immigration path to Canada. Fill out our form, click here.
In the ever-changing world of Canadian immigration, the majority of these latest updates seem to be creating more roadblocks than straight pathways. As always, our staff is updated, informed and equipped to help you navigate the hurdles. Every week we have success stories and client feedback that attests to our expertise and skill in helping clients move through the changing immigration landscape.
If you’re thinking about immigrating whether permanently or temporarily - you’re at the right place! Our team speaks over +9 languages, and we help applicants from over 50 different countries during their immigration process. Get a FREE email assessment, click here.
If you’re ready to apply and would like a 1-on-1 session with me or one of immigration team members at INGWE, you can also book a session directly using this consultation link.
