The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) has issued a total of 515 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence under its Saskatchewan Express Entry Subcategory and another 302 ITAs under its Occupations In-demand Subcategory in 2019. These subcategories fall within the Skilled Worker Category for this program, meaning all applicants need to meet the requirements for a skilled occupation in Saskatchewan.

Saskatchewan immigration most recently issued 83 ITAs in a draw on February 27th that was solely Express Entry focused. Keep in mind that the province recently adopted the Expression of Interest (EOI) system in July 2018, which is also used by other regions. This process of submitting interest to the province allows applicants to register their interest in immigrating to a specific province before being asked to apply, which streamlines the process down to eligible applicants.

The Draw 6 March, 2019

On the 6th of March, the province of Saskatchewan issued 70 ITAs for a Provincial Nomination through the Express Entry Subcategory and 68 through the Occupation In-demand Subcategory. Those in the Express Entry category receive 600 points towards their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, fast-tracking them towards permanent residence.

The lowest score under the Saskatchewan Express Entry Subcategory was 67 and the lowest score under the Occupations In-demand Subcategory was 81. These scores are all specific to the province’s points grid system which gives candidates a score out of 100 based on certain criteria.

The pass mark for all those scored under the SINP is 60 out of 100.

Saskatchewan Express Entry

The Express Entry system manages three federal government programs as of 2015, namely the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program and the Canadian Experience Class. The Saskatchewan immigration subcategory of Express Entry is for those who want to live and work in Saskatchewan and are already entered into the Express Entry pool. Applicants need to be eligible for the program and meet all the criteria in order to submit an EOI to this subcategory.

Eligibility

Occupation In-demand

This subcategory of the Skilled Workers Program for Saskatchewan immigration is not linked to Express Entry and is for those who do not have a job offer but are skilled in an in-demand occupation listed by the province. Applicants need to meet the criteria set out by the PNP’s points grid system in order to submit their EOI and apply.

The Provincial Nominee Program is designed to meet the specific needs of the provinces of Canada, rather than Canada in general which is why this subcategory targets only certain in-demand positions. Being eligible for this subcategory also does not mean that you are eligible for all the skilled occupations listed by Saskatchewan which is why it’s important to apply to the stream you are best-suited for.

How Can We Help?

As Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs), we have expertise in the field of immigration policy and can give you sound advice about which of the different programs offered are best-suited to your background.

We’ve all been through the immigration process ourselves and keep up to date with all the changes in policy and regulation so that you are sure to submit all the correct documents in a timely manner and in the proper order. Why not give yourself the best chance possible in receiving your ITA and use a RCIC?

Sign up with our service today to start your journey towards Saskatchewan immigration in Canada. There are more draws happening more frequently than ever before with the federal government needing to meet their goals of integrating over a million internationals into the workforce by 2021. There has never been a better time to join other candidates in paving the way to a new future.

Making plans to immigrate to British Columbia has never been easier with the federal government's Express Entry Program and the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program which allows you to apply directly to the province. Now is also the time to apply as Canada has unveiled plans to introduce more than a million immigrants into its workforce within the next three years. The local workforce has around 38, 830 jobs available currently and they are waiting for outside skilled workers like you to fill them.

The province of British Columbia (BC) is nestled between the Canadian Rockies and the Pacific Ocean, giving residents the best of coastal and inland living in Canada. Venture from the capital of Victoria to the flourishing populous of Vancouver. There are also seven national parks in BC, including Glacier National Park where black bears and grizzlies roam in search of berries. Offering all this and more, British Columbia is ready to welcome you and your family.

Provincial Nominee Program

British Columbia is one of the many provinces that provide their own programs to help skilled workers immigrate in order to fill province-specific positions that are in-demand. However, they also have programs for entrepreneurs as well as Express Entry pathways. If you are successful in achieving a Provincial Nomination, you will be invited to apply for permanent residence. Below is an outline of the different Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) on offer.

Skilled Worker Program

*These occupations are as follows:

• Specialist
• Registered nurse
• Registered psychiatric nurse
• Nurse practitioner
• Diagnostic medical sonographer
• Clinical pharmacist
• Medical laboratory technologist
• Medical radiation technologist
• Occupational therapist
• Physiotherapist
• Midwife

Minimum Requirements

Basic Criteria Skilled Worker Category:

• Offer of employment as a healthcare professional.
• Two years of directly related work experience.
• Language proficiency (depending on the your profession).
• Sufficient funds to settle in BC.

Basic Criteria Healthcare Professional Category:

• Offer of employment.
• Two years of directly related work experience.
• Language proficiency (depending on the your profession).
• Sufficient funds to settle in BC.
• Midwives must have a letter of confirmation from an established practice and be registered with the College of Midwives of British Columbia.

Basic Criteria International Graduate Category:

• Offer of employment.
• Must have obtained a degree/diploma/certificate from a recognized institution in Canada (not more than three years prior to applying).
• Must have credentials/qualifications for the position they are applying for.
• Sufficient funds to settle in BC.
• Meet the language requirements for their profession.

Basic Criteria International Post-graduate Category:

• Must have obtained a master’s or doctorate from a recognized institution in British Columbia (not more than three years prior to applying).
• Sufficient funds to settle in BC.
• Provide other evidence of their intention to settle in BC such as community involvement or family connections.

Basic Criteria Entry Level and Semi-skilled Category:

• Offer of employment.
• Have been employed in an eligible occupation for at least nine months prior to applying.
• Maintain full-time employment during processing.
• Sufficient funds to settle in BC.
• Have completed the necessary education/training for the position.
• Achieve a level 4 on the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) for listening, speaking, writing and reading in English.

Express Entry BC Program

The following programs overlap with those listed above in the Skilled Worker Program but they fall within the Express Entry system which is a fast-track way of immigration that is processed in as little as six months. You would still apply for these pathways through the province but you will be entered into the Express Entry pool with other candidates.

Minimum Requirements

You must first meet the criteria for your desired pathway and then depending on how you score on their Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS), you will be invited to apply for it. This scoring system is specific to the province and measures criteria such as language proficiency, level of education and work experience in your field.

Once you have been invited to apply through the Express Entry system, you will then be scored again according to the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) which awards points based on a similar criteria but works on an entirely separate profile.

CRS Criteria Awards Points For:

• Age
• CLB Language proficiency (English and French)
• Level of Education (In and outside Canada)
• Work Experience (In and outside Canada)
• Arranged employment
• Sibling in Canada
• Your spouse’s profile (if married)

Entrepreneur Program

Even if you are not skilled in a certain profession, you can still achieve permanent residence through starting or own a business in British Columbia.

Minimum Requirements

Basic Criteria Entrepreneur Category:

• Business/work experience of more than three years as a manager/more than four years as a senior manager or combination.
A minimum of two years post-secondary education or experience as an active business owner for at least three years.
• Personal net worth/funds of at least $600, 000 (including all assets and investments).
• Adaptability in BC
• A business proposal which speaks to investment and job creation.
• Candidate needs to be involved in running the business day-to-day.
• Need a residence close to the business.
• Admissibility in Canada.

Basic Criteria Strategic Projects Category:

• Excellent financial records
• Have identified investment opportunities in BC
• Demonstrate that key employees are capable, senior staff
• Make a minimum equity investment of $500, 000
• Create at least three jobs in BC for each foreign employee brought over

Express Entry System

Skilled workers stand a good chance of achieving fast-track immigration through the Express Entry system which was introduced in 2015 to speed up processing times for in-demand occupations across Canada. There are certain of the above PNP’s that work within the Express Entry system but candidates can also decide to settle in British Columbia by applying for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program or the Canadian Experience Class.

The Process

1. Create an online profile through Express Entry stating the program you want to apply through
2. Submit the necessary documents, meeting the criteria of the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS)
3. Your score is measured in the Express Entry pool against other applicants
4. If successful, you are issued with an Invitation to Apply (ITA)

If your goal is to settle in British Columbia, the best way to do this through this system is to apply for the program you are best suited for and then either apply for a Provincial Nomination or simply get a job offer from a Canadian employer that is located in this province. The three pathways will provide a point-of-entry for candidates wanting to immigrate to Canada in general but the rest is up to you.

Other Ways of Immigrating

Other ways of immigrating to Canada and eventually settling in British Columbia include being sponsored by a family member who already lives in BC or choosing to study in the province at a recognized university. The more involved you are in the province in terms of education and work experience, the easier it will be to achieve a successful ITA through one of the programs listed above.

Sign up with our service today to get assistance in navigating the different programs and policies associated with Canadian immigration from trusted Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs). We make the journey towards a new life that much easier by helping you assemble the correct documents, submit on time and apply for the program that is best-suited to your background.

The first Express Entry draw of March 2019 went according to earlier predictions, producing a lower average Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. Another 3, 350 skilled workers were issued with Invitations to Apply (ITAs), making the total for 2019 rise to a significant 17, 850 issued so far. This number is much higher than it was this time last year and will continue to grow in the future. There is still a quota to be met as the government reminds applicants of its plans to introduce a total of overa million people into its workforce throughout the next three years.

What Does Express Entry Mean?

Express Entry is a system that was created in 2015 to fast-track three of the most popular skilled worker/experience programs that the federal government offers, namely the Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Trades and the Canadian Experience Class programs. This process now takes as little as six months to process, meaning that a lot more people are immigrating a lot faster than the other traditional programs (which still exist).

You can begin the process by creating an online Express Entry profile which works with the CRS to score you with points. This criteria determines factors such as age, work experience in Canada and language proficiency, to name a few. You are free to update any information that changes throughout the process but it’s recommended to have everything in order before you begin the process as it is so fast.

Your profile is matched against those of other applicants who are also in the Express Entry pool. If you reach a high enough score, you stand a chance of being drawn from the pool (which generally happens every two weeks) and issued with an ITA. You must apply for permanent residence within 60 days of receiving your ITA. Have a look at our tips for success when you apply to the Express Entry system.

Draw Statistics 6 March 2019

This time around the draw took exactly two weeks to happen again with the last one having taken place on the 20th of February. Since the March Express Entry draw took place in quicker succession than the previous one, the overall CRS score was lower. Frequency of draws results in lower overall scores because there is less time to create probability for more higher scoring candidates to be in the pool at the same time.

For this draw, the minimum CRS score was 454 which is not much lower than than the previous draw but is still attainable. The cut-off was determined using the tie-break rule and the time stamp used was February 11, 2019, at 17:21:27 UTC. This means there was only one space left but the candidate who first entered the pool with the minimum score of 454 on their Express Entry profile was drawn.

Below are hypothetical examples of the kind of profiles that received an ITA after the recent draw:

Hannah is a 26-year-old French-speaking (with a score of 8 for French on the IELTS test) journalist from France with a one-year diploma she achieved in Canada and 6 years work experience in her home country. She has a job offer for a 12-month contract from a Canadian employer. She scored 458 points which just pushed her over the minimum score, allowing her to achieve her ITA.

Alba is a 42-year-old from Saudi Arabia who completed his Master’s Degree in Anthropology in his home country. He has 14 years of work experience in his home country and 2 years of experience working in Canada. He achieved a score of 8 on the IELTS test, bringing his overall CRS to 487. He is married but his wife has no qualifications and is not very proficient in French with a basic understanding of English, so he applied as the primary applicant. The factor that pushed him over the top was a job offer from a recognized Canadian employer.

Improving Your CRS Score

The biggest way to improve your CRS score is by applying for a Provincial Nominee Program. If you are successful in achieving a Provincial Nomination, 600 points are added to your profile which is basically a guarantee of being selected in the next draw. This is because there has never been a score of 600 or higher.

Provinces that offer Express Entry streams such as Manitoba, British Columbia and Prince Edward Island also issued ITAs during these past two weeks, which boosted the final outcome of how many invitations were issued during the draw for March.

Other ways of increasing your CRS score include boosting your Express Entry profile. It’s recommended that you have everything you need before applying but it’s very possible to still improve certain aspects. Consider the following things that can add a few extra points and make the difference between selection and rejection.

Factors to Improve:

• Take a course to improve your skills/education
• Recent proof of work experience including time in Canada
• Inclusion of extra finances or sponsors
• Taking the language test again or brushing up on your speaking/listening/writing/reading ability

Get Issued With an ITA

We are a team of Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) who are very familiar with Canadian immigration policies and the over 70 different programs that are available to applicants. We are all immigrants ourselves, putting us in the best position to provide expert advice about the process. With a few pointers, you can be in the top percentile of Candidates hoping to qualify for permanent residence through Express Entry. Read more about why you should use an RCIC.

Get your ITA as soon as possible with more and more candidates applying and the number of invitations on the rise. It’s crucial to start gathering all your documents in order to be one of the eligible candidates by 2021. If you have a necessary skill that is on the list of in-demand occupations, there has never been a better time to put it to use in beautiful Canada. Get started by signing up with our service today!

Applying to immigrate to Canada can be daunting, especially when it comes to filing the correct documents and entering the right programs. The Express Entry system has made this process a lot quicker by implementing the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which gives you Canada immigration points according to aspects of your profile.

With the help of our services and these useful tips, you can elevate your CRS score enough to be drawn from the Express Entry pool when the next round of Invitations to Apply (ITAs) are extended to successful applicants. The system was introduced in 2015 to speed up their goal of introducing over a million immigrants by 2021. The average CRS score that is drawn from the pool, as it stands currently, ranges between 430 and 460 points which means that candidates who can push their score as close to 500 or over will probably be selected for immigration. If you are worried about the chances of your profile being selected, we’ll show you how to improve your CRS score with the following tips.

Get the Right Credentials

When applying for the programs under Express Entry, you will be asked about your level of education. The higher your level of education, the better you will score. However, if your field is not necessarily recognized as in-demand by the system, have a look at skills courses and programs that offer training or tertiary education in a necessary field in Canada. This way you can increase your points for your newly acquired skills and for your education level.

The highest possible score for this category is 150 if you are unmarried and 140 if you are (because your spouse’s profile then gets a possible 10 points added to yours depending on their level of education). Having studied in Canada at a post-secondary level also adds 50 points to your application if paired with Canadian or foreign work experience, regardless of your spouse.

Consider Your Spouse as the Main Applicant

You can either add your spouse to your profile as a dependant (with no effect on your score) or as a secondary applicant (as a contributor to your score with you as the main member). As a secondary applicant, however, their profile will not count as much as yours and will simply contribute a small percentage towards your score on certain categories. Our advice would be to do a calculation to determine which of you meets the criteria better. It might not always be obvious, especially if they score Canada immigration points very highly in one aspect that can affect the overall score.

Include Siblings Who Are Citizens

Having a sibling in Canada who is currently living in Canada as a citizen or a permanent resident can add a maximum of 15 points to your profile. This may not seem like very much but if the lowest score during the draw is 440 and you score 425 it can make the difference between being successful or not.

Build Up Work Experience

If you are currently thinking of or working in Canada on a temporary work visa, then your profile could really be boosted. Canadian work experience gives you 70 points if you are married (allocating 10 possible points to your partner for the same criteria) and 80 if you are unmarried.

Consider a program such as the Working Holiday Visa if you are between the ages of 18 and 35 (depending on which country you are from). This pathway falls under the International Experience Class (IEC) which includes another two pathways, namely the Young Professionals and International Cop-op Internship options. All three of these allow successful applicants to work in Canada on a gap year, after tertiary studies or while completing studies for 12-24 months, depending on the contract from your Canadian employer.

Improve Your Language Abilities

You will need to submit a score on the Canadian Language Benchmark test which measures your proficiency in French and English. Improve your skills to score a 7 or higher (out of 8) in English while your French-speaking ability can earn you a maximum of 30 points. When paired with a Canadian post-secondary qualification or foreign/Canadian work experience, you can add 50 points to your profile.

Get a Provincial Nomination

A provincial nomination is almost guaranteed to get you drawn from the Express Entry pool (if you meet all the basic requirements for your selected program) because it adds 600 points to your profile.

The process from within the Express Entry pool requires you to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the province of your choice or wait for them to send you a Notification of Interest (depending on the province’s regulations). Once you have this in place, you can create another application with that province. If you meet all the criteria and score above the minimum points for the province’s own point grid system, you will receive your nomination.

Get an Offer of Employment From a Canadian Company

Securing a job offer from a Canadian employer or already working for a Canadian company on a temporary work visa can raise your CRS score by as much as 200 points! For this reason, it’s well-worth it to start looking for employment in Canada even before you apply to your selected program. This also gives you the opportunity to see what kind of occupations there are to suit your skills which may help you qualify better in the long run if you are in-demand in Canada or more specifically in one of its provinces.

How Can We Help?

We are a team of Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants who will assist you in applying for the right program as well as explain everything you need to know about the different policies as they are updated by the federal government. Immigration can be stressful but it doesn’t have to be when you have a helping hand that can give you a higher chance of being successful in receiving your ITA and getting on your way to permanent residence.

Sign up with our services today to find other ways of how to improve your CRS score and submit the best possible profile for your background. By starting with your skills and qualifications you are one step close to immigrating to Canada through a skilled worker program.

There are over 70 different programs to consider when thinking of how to immigrate to Canada. Some of these programs are only suitable for obtaining temporary work visas or working and travelling in the country. The Canadian government has unveiled plans to introduce over a million immigrants into the workforce within the next three years to combat the shortage of skilled and unskilled workers in the economy.

We’ve chosen four main programs that hold a variety of subcategories and streams that focus solely on permanent relocation to Canada which you may be suited to. Let us guide you through the stages of immigration from creating your application to the final stages of receiving your Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence.

Express Entry system

The Express Entry system is a fast-track way of applying for Canadian immigration that was designed for skilled workers who meet the criteria under the Federal Skilled Workers Program, Federal Trades Program and the Canadian Experience Class. Being a successful candidate through this system sees your application being processed in as little as six months.

The Process

1. Find out if you are eligible to apply.
2. Create a profile through the Express Entry system, stating a specific stream you want to be considered for.
3. Meet the criteria under your preferred stream and submit the correct documents.
4. Improve your profile score under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).
5. If your score is high enough, you will be drawn from the pool.
6. You are then issued an ITA after which you have 60 days to complete your application for permanent residence.

Provincial Nominee Programs

Each Canadian province has its own Provincial Nominee Program, many of them with various streams - some streams are linked to the Express Entry system. These programs are for those who are looking to immigrate to Canada in the particular province that they are being nominated by who have skills and experience in a certain field that is in demand within that province. This includes students, business people, skilled workers and semi-skilled workers.

The Process - Paper-based

1. Apply to the province directly.
2. Meet the criteria for the selected program.
3. Wait for a successful Provincial Nomination.
4. From here you are invited to apply for permanent residence.

The Process - Express Entry Linked

1. Create an online Express Entry profile and show the provinces you are interested in.
2. Wait for a Notification of Interest (NOI) from the province.
3. Wait for a successful nomination.

OR

1. Contact your chosen province under an Express Entry stream.
2. Wait for a successful nomination.

Self-employed Visa

The self-employed Program allows candidates to apply to work in Canada under the basis of contributing to the Cultural, Athletic or Agricultural fields in a significant way. For this you will need to substantiate that you have relevant experience and education/skills in that area.

The Process

1. Apply to the program and gather the relevant documents.
2. You will need to submit your biometrics.
3. Pay all the application fees.
4. Meet the medical, criminal and language proficiency requirements.
5. Wait for the result.

Caregivers

The Caregivers program works with four pathways to permanent residence:

• Interim Pathway for Caregivers
• Caring for Children Program
• Caring for People with High Medical Needs Program
• Live-in Caregiver Program

The Process

1. Apply to the program and gather the relevant documents.
2. You will need to submit your biometrics.
3. Pay all the application fees.
4. Meet the requirements, most importantly the licencing and work experience levels.
5. Wait for the result.

Start-up Visa

This visa is aimed at business people with innovative ideas for contributing to the Canadian economy. If you meet all the requirements, you can start a business venture in Canada which could lead to an ITA for permanent residence.

The Process

1. Apply to the selected stream under the Start-up Visa Program.
2. Make sure your business qualifies according to the stream requirements.
3. Adhere to other requirements such as language proficiency and sufficient funds for settling.
4. Get a letter of support from a designated Canadian business.
5. Wait for the results.

Family-sponsorship Programs

This program is extremely popular, resulting in filled quotas by the beginning of each year. You can sponsor relatives who are at least 18 years old to come over to Canada. There are several different streams which you can apply to and all of them have different requirements based on who you are sponsoring.

You need to be

• A Canadian citizen,
• a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act or
• be a permanent resident of Canada.

What Can You Do to Increase Your Chances?

Applicants are always searching for ways to boost their chances of a successful application. We have a few tried and trusted methods of increasing your value as a candidate or simply making it easier to apply with the correct documentation.

Improve Your Profile

No matter what stream you go through, you are certain to have to adhere to a measured criteria. Certain programs such as those under the Express Entry system and Provincial Nomination Programs work with a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). For Express Entry, this score usually needs to be over 300 points to be entered into the pool while certain provinces make use of their own point-system grid that gives candidates a score out of 100.

Basic CRS Criteria:

• Level of education
• Work experience or studies in Canada
• Age
• Canadian work experience
• Language proficiency in French and English
• Letter of employment/Job offer
• Sibling living in Canada as a permanent resident
• Provincial Nomination (not required but asked)

If you can improve on any of these areas such as becoming more proficient in English or French then you can make a dramatic difference in your overall score, thereby increasing your chances of being selected in the next draw of applicants.

Consider Getting a PN with EE

If you are applying to a program that falls under the Express Entry system such as the Federal Skilled Workers Program, creating another application under the Provincial Nominee Program is a smart choice. This is because a successful nomination from a province in Canada adds 600 points to your profile score. As mentioned, the minimum score is around 300 under this system but the average score has not yet exceeded 500, so there is a very good chance of being selected in the draw with these added points.

Use an RCIC

Using a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) can make a world of difference to your application process. We RCICs are well-acquainted with Canadian immigration policy and keep up to date with changing requirements and rules for the different programs on offer.

For this reason, it can increase your chances of being selected to immigrate to Canada because it does away with any errors in documentation or filing while entering you into the correct program from the start. These consultants can also give you extra tips on where you can boost your profile as well as what steps to take next, especially in a fast-track system where applications need to be completed swiftly.

Sign up with us today to find out which programs you are best-suited for. With so many different programs, streams and subcategories to decipher, why not make it easier with some help from a trusted authority on immigration? The sooner you are able to apply and gather the documentation, the quicker you will be on your way to permanent residency in Canada.

February brought with it yet another welcome surprise for 3, 350 skilled workers who received their invitation to apply for permanent residency through the Express Entry draw. This number is only set to increase with larger intakes and a higher frequency of draws lined up for the rest of 2019 with a total of 14, 500 invitations already issued this year. The trends also see a 70% increase in invitations compared to this time last year which means a larger quota has been established.

What Does Express Entry Do?

The Express Entry system (which is linked to the Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Trades and the Canadian Experience Class programs) was created by Canadian immigration authorities in 2015 to speed up the process of immigration to a period of as little as 6 months. This helps the right people enter the workforce faster than they would through a more traditional route.

The Express Entry process starts by creating an online Express Entry profile which asks you questions based on certain criteria such as your age, education, work experience, language skills and other program requirements. This information can be updated by you throughout the process according to new developments (such as a new qualification or further work experience) in your profile.

Based on your answers, you are awarded points according to the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Your score is then compared with other applicants’ scores that are also in the pool before the draw takes place (typically every 2 weeks). The highest-scoring profiles from this draw are then extended an Invitation to Apply (ITA) after which you must complete your application (with all the necessary documents in place) within 60 days to qualify for permanent residence. For help with your application, read our tips for success using the Express Entry system.

The February 20th Draw Statistics

This time around the draw took place after three whole weeks instead of two, setting a president of higher CRS scores in order to qualify. In the future, there will likely be lower overall scores due to more frequent draws, unlike this month where time allowed for only higher scoring candidates to be selected from the pool.

The minimum CRS score for this draw stood at 457. This cut-off was determined using the tie-break rule and the time stamp used was December 6, 2018 12:38:11 UTC. This means only candidates who achieved a higher score than 457 on their Express Entry profile stood a chance of being selected in the draw.

Below are hypothetical examples of the kind of profiles that received an ITA after the recent draw:

Teresa is a 32-year-old linguist with 9 years work experience in this field. She has a three-year degree in Linguistics from a local university in the Bahamas. She only scored a 6 on her IELTS test which examines reading, listening, speaking and writing skills because English is her 3rd language. With a sister already in Canada as well as an offer letter from a Canadian company, her score came up to 259. This was not enough to be drawn but since she applied for a Provincial Nomination and was successful, her score was boosted by 600 points, pushing her total to 859 points.

Ben is a 22-year-old from New Zealand who completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting as well as a postgraduate qualification in the same field at a Canadian university. He has no significant work experience but achieved a score of 8 on the IELTS test, bringing his overall CRS to 496. In this case, Ben’s age scores him more points as he has a long future of possible economic contribution in his field.

How to Improve Your CRS

There are many ways to improve your CRS, the first being through the Provincial Nominee Program. Applying to this program and receiving a nomination from a one of the Canadian provinces automatically adds 600 points to your score. With the average score after a draw (without this nomination) never having surpassed 500, having these points on your side is somewhat of a guarantee of being selected in the next draw. Provinces such as Manitoba, British Columbia and Ontario issued invitations for Express Entry candidates to apply for a provincial nomination during the last three weeks, which boosted the total outcome as well.

Other options to increase your score include improving certain aspects of your profile throughout the process. Strengthening things you can improve such as work experience, education, finances, language proficiency and more can make a massive difference in you CRS. This is where our services are very useful.

We have three RCICs who have all been through the immigration process themselves and have authority to guide applicants through the different programs and scoring systems. Having someone on your side who has intimate knowledge of everything from what documents to procure to which program is best-suited for your background can really push you to the top of this fast-track system. Read more about why you should use an RCIC.

Getting Your ITA

There has never been a better time to try and get your ITA for permanent residence in Canada. This is because of the Canadian government’s plan to introduce over a million immigrants into the workforce by 2021. With the number of candidates being drawn out of the Express Entry pool on the rise, applying to one of the over 70 immigration programs on offer, as soon as possible, is crucial.

Let our RCICs assist you through the rigorous process that is immigration. We’ve helped countless applicants on their journey to Canada by assessing their profiles and guiding them towards the correct programs that are most likely to result in you getting your ITA. Get started by signing up with your service today!

1,526 newcomers are set to call Canada home following the most recent Manitoba immigration draw held on 15 February 2019. The draw issued a total of 444 invitations to apply for a provincial nomination through several Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program categories. Discover how you can get your invitation below.

Manitoba Immigration’s Provincial Nominee Program

Like nearly all of Canada’s provinces and territories, Manitoba has their immigration program called the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP). This program allows the province to invite candidates for Canadian PR (Permanent Residence) in Manitoba if they have the required skills and work experience. Manitoba was the first province to have their own nominee program and has since enjoyed great success with it.

As of today, Manitoba has already issued 1,526 letters of advice to apply for a provincial nomination to eligible candidates, making it one of the most active provincial nominee programs of 2019.

How It Works

Most of Manitoba immigration’s immigration streams work using an Expression of Interest (EOI) system. Basically, this system requires candidates, who are interested in immigrating to Manitoba, to indicate their interest by submitting what is called an EOI to the province.

Your EOI is an online profile created using some of your background and personal information. Once created, your profile is given an EOI score based on your work experience, age, language ability and education among other factors.You are then entered into a pool of candidates where you are all ranked according to your respective EOI scores.

Candidates with the highest ranking profiles get issued Letters of Advice to apply for a provincial nomination in Manitoba through regular draws held by Manitoba Immigration.

If candidates are successful with their provincial nomination application and they are entered into the Express Entry pool, they will earn 600 points towards their Comprehensive Ranking System score, which will guarantee them a spot in the next Express Entry draw.

Results of the Recent Draw

A total of 444 Letters of Advice to Apply were issued to qualifying candidates on 15 February 2019. The draw chose candidates from three of Manitoba Immigration’s nominee program categories - the Skilled Worker Overseas Stream, Skilled Worker in Manitoba Stream and the International Education Stream.

Skilled Worker Overseas Stream

268 letters of advice to apply went to three groups of candidates under the Skilled Worker Overseas Stream. The minimum EOI score cut off for this stream was 570.

The first group were part of Manitoba’s Express Entry linked stream. Candidates needed to have a valid Express Entry ID, job seeker validation code and a minimum of six months recent work experience in one of Manitoba’s in-demand occupations.

The second group had profiles sharing the following information:

• a tie to the province through a close relative, past education or work experience;
• a minimum of six months work experience in one of Manitoba’s in-demand occupations; and
• a Canadian Language Benchmark score of at least 5.

The third group consisted of only 22 candidates who were each issued Letters of Advice to Apply through a Strategic Recruitment Initiative.

Skilled Worker in Manitoba Stream

The Skilled Worker in Manitoba Stream targets candidates who are already in Manitoba as a temporary foreign worker or international graduate who have been offered a job in the province. 120 Letters of Advice to Apply were issued under this stream and the lowest ranked individual had an EOI score of 574.

International Education Stream

This stream was only created last year and has already helped many immigrate to Manitoba. The International Education Stream promises faster permanent residency processing for international students who have graduated from a Manitoban tertiary educational institution and possess the skills and experience the province needs.

A total of 34 Letters of Advice to Apply were issued to candidates under the three pathways - Career Employment Pathway, Graduate Internship Pathway and the Student Entrepreneur Pathway - during the most recent draw.

Want to join them? We can help. Once you sign up for our services, we will determine if you are able to immigrate to Canada through the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program or any of the other immigration programs. It is our mission to match you with the Canadian immigration program best suited to your profile. Let’s get you to Canada. Start today!

We thought 2018 was going to be a great year for Canadian immigration and we were right, over 300,000 candidates were invited to immigrate to Canada. 2019 is already shaping up to be even more impressive. In January alone, Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has already issued 11,150 Invitations to Apply for permanent residence through the Express Entry system, the largest January ITA number of all time!

If you want to immigrate to Canada quickly, you need to become familiar with Canada’s Express Entry system. Here is everything you need to know about Express Entry in 2019, to get to Canada as fast as possible.

What Is Express Entry?

The Express Entry system manages the pool of candidates for several Canadian immigration programs, the Canadian Experience Class, Federal Trades Class and Federal Skilled Worker class. The system was introduced to speed up immigration application processing so that Canada can get skilled workers in its borders quickly. Recently, the IRCC revealed that applications running through Express Entry are processed in six months or less!

To be considered for Express Entry, you will first need to complete an online Express Entry profile. Once you filled in all of your information you will be assigned a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score which takes into consideration factors like your age, work experience, educational background, language ability etc.

Candidates are ranked according to their CRS score in the Express Entry pool. The IRCC then issues ITAs to the highest ranking candidates through regularly Express Entry draws. We typically see a draw every two weeks.

Once you receive an ITA, you need to submit your completed application to the IRCC within 60 days. Failure to do so will return your profile into the Express Entry pool.

Express Entry in January 2019

The total number of ITAs issued through Express Entry in January 2019 is 11,150. Three draws were held during the month. The first on 10 January issued 3,900 ITAs and had a minimum CRS score of 438, the second on 23 January issued 3,900 ITAs and had a minimum CRS score of 443, and the third draw on 30 January issued 3,350 ITAs and had a minimum CRS score of 438.

As you can see from these figures there was a great drop in minimum CRS scores between the last two draws. One of the reasons why CRS scores lower between draws is because of the time between the draws. Only seven days passed between the last draws meaning there wasn’t much time to replenish the Express Entry pool with new candidates. In other words, less competition means lower scores.

Provincial Nominee Programs and Express Entry

Some of the Provincial Nominee Programs’ Express Entry-linked categories also had large draws in 2019.

To be considered for a Provincial Nominee Program’s Express Entry-linked category you will have to meet the requirements for one of the Federal immigration programs and you should have a completed Express Entry profile. You must also submit a Notification of Interest to the province or territory you want to immigrate to Canada. If you meet their requirements they will issue you an invitation to apply for a provincial nomination.

The most popular Express Entry-linked category in January was Ontario’s Human Capital Priorities Stream. However, this stream works differently to the usual Notification of Interest system. Instead of showing your interest in Ontario, the province will search through the Express Entry pool for candidates they want and they will issue them an NOI to apply for a provincial nomination.

The Human Capital Priorities issued 1,439 NOIs in January and the province also issued 470 NOIs to candidates in its Skilled Trades and French-Speaking Skilled Worker streams.

Nova Scotia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, British Columbia and Prince Edward Island also invited Express Entry candidates through their respective Express Entry-linked immigration streams.

Sometimes candidates who do not have CRS points to get an ITA through the Federal Express Entry draws, may have just enough to qualify for one of the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). For this reason you must follow PNP trends and requirements to improve your chances of immigrating to Canada.

Ready to Start Your Application?

If you want to secure an ITA in the coming Express Entry draws, you should start your application as soon as possible. We are here to make the process simple for you. Simply sign up for our services today and we’ll guide you through the process step by step.

Manitoba immigration is shaping up to have one of the top performing Provincial Nominee Programs in 2019. Following the most recent draw held on January 31, a total of 1,082 candidates have been issued Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) for a Manitoban nomination this year!

Do you want to immigrate to Canada? Moving to Manitoba could be your way in. Learn everything you need to know about Manitoba immigration right here.

What Are Provincial Nominee Programs?

The Canadian Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) are province-and territory-specific immigration programs. PNPs allow the provinces and territories of Canada to invite immigrants, who possess the work experience or skill set their territory needs to improve their population and economy, to come live in their borders.

Nearly all of Canada’s provinces and territories have their own PNP and each PNP has diverse subcategories targeting specific individuals. Each of these categories or immigration streams also have a unique set of criteria applicants will have to meet in order to qualify for immigration.

Each PNP also has at least one immigration stream linked to the popular Express Entry system. In this case candidates who have already been entered into the Federal Express Entry pool will have to submit a separate Notification of Interest (NOI) to the province or territory they would to be considered for, for provincial nomination.

One of the greatest benefits of earning a provincial nomination is that you’ll earn an additional 600 points on your Comprehensive Ranking System score, which is used to determine your rank for an Invitation to Apply for permanent residence through the Express Entry system.

Your Manitoba Immigration Options

Manitoba immigration has recently become one of the most popular destination for foreigners who want to move to Canada. Some of the reasons for this popularity include, greater work opportunities and more affordable living. Seeing as Manitoba is particularly generous with issuing LAAs in 2019, Manitoba immigration could be your best chance at Canadian immigration.

The following Manitoba PNP Streams have been particularly popular in 2019.

1 - Skilled Worker Overseas Stream

This stream targets applicants who are closely tied to Manitoba through either:

• Support of family friends or friends;
• Previous education or work experience in Manitoba; or
• An Invitation to Apply issued directly from Manitoba immigration via the Strategic Recruitment Initiative

You need to meet the requirements of either the Manitoba Express Entry or Human Capital Pathway, in addition to scoring at least 60 points on the points assessment grid, to receive an LAA through the Skilled Worker Overseas Stream.

2 - Skilled Worker in Manitoba Stream

This stream targets people who are connected to Manitoba through ongoing employment and sufficient skills, training and education, work experience and language ability. The goal is that candidates will be able to make an immediate and ongoing contribution to the population and economy of Manitoba.

There are two pathways for this stream - Manitoba Work Experience and Employer Direct Recruitment - each comes with their own set of requirements. The great thing about this stream is that there is no scoring system, rather requirements are assessed according to a pass/fail rubric, which makes it much easier to know if you qualify for it.

3 - International Education Stream

You will only be eligible for this stream if you have graduated from a Manitoban tertiary institution. In other words the International Education Stream only targets candidates with a Manitoban education so that they can enjoy a faster pathway to receiving a provincial nomination.

There are three pathways under this stream:

• Career Employment
• Graduate Internship
• International Student Entrepreneur Pilot

Manitoba Immigration Draw Results of January 2019

January saw Manitoba Immigration hold two draws together issuing 1,082 LAAs. In order to be considered for an LAA you will need to meet the requirements of one of the PNP pathways and you need to submit an EOI indicating that you want to move to Manitoba. Candidates with the highest scoring EOI’s receive LAAs in regular draws held throughout the year.

These were the minimum scores required to receive an LAA in January 2019.

If you want to immigrate to Canada, we can help you. Sign up for our services today and we’ll determine which immigration program is perfect for you. Let’s see if you can call Manitoba or any other province in the country your home.

Due to the program’s popularity the Open Work Permit Pilot has been extended for the fourth time since 2014! The Canadian government has extended the program for all partners living in Canada who are currently applying for permanent residency through the Spouse or Common Law Partner in Canada Class.

Originally the program was meant to expire by 31 January 2019, but now it has been extended till 31 July, 2020! This extension gives applicants an additional 19 months to apply!

What Is a Sponsored Partner?

When you immigrate to Canada, you have the chance to sponsor your spouse or partner to the country for permanent residency.

As a sponsor, you must be prepared to look after your partner financially while they live in the country. Your partner must also be over the age of 18 and your relationship must be genuine for a successful application.

The documents you must supply for the application process depends on where your spouse was born, where they have lived, their family background and whether they are immigrating with any dependants (unmarried persons aged under 22 who are children of the applicant).

Essentially you are promising to be responsible for the person’s:

• Health care that is not covered by the local government services;
• Everyday care such as food, clothing and housing;

Even if you and your partner's relationship ends, you will still be responsible for them as their sponsor regardless if they move to another province or become a Canadian citizen. If you run into financial issues, you will still be held financially responsible for your partner or ex-partner.

Please note that the sponsorship program steps differ in Quebec since the province uses its own immigration system.

Requirements for the Sponsorship Program

The documents you need to apply as a sponsor depend on a number of factors. This can be based on:

• Who is sponsoring you;
• What country the sponsored person is living in;
• Where the documents for the application will be handed in

If, for instance, your partner is from India and is currently living there, you would need to supply the following documents for the sponsorship application.

As the sponsor:

• The Application to Sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement and Undertaking (IMM 1344)
• Sponsorship Evaluation and Relationship Questionnaire (IMM 5532)

As the sponsored: Generic Application form for Canada (IMM 0009)

• Additional Dependants Declaration (IMM 0008DEP)
• Additional Family Information (IMM 5406)
• Schedule A Background Declaration (IMM 5669)

Because your sponsored partner is from India, you would need to submit additional documents like the:

• Supplementary Information (IMM 5562);
• Birth Certificates issued by the country;
• Identity documents for an adopted child; and
• Divorce papers

Open Work Permit

What is an open work permit? This document allows you to work in a number of industries and for multiple employers. Please note that this open work permit does not however let you work in employment fields related to child or healthcare or in any occupation that requires medical clearance.

For your partner to qualify for this document they must have temporary resident status as a:

• Student;
• Visitor; or
• Worker

Your partner must also live at the same address as you do. The IRCC (Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada) stated that extending this pilot ensures applicants are able to work, provide for their families and contribute to the Canadian economy while waiting for their permanent resident applications to be processed.

Let us help with your sponsorship application. Discover how you can sponsor your loved ones to Canada.