The Senate of Canada issued a new report on international student program
The Canadian Senate issued a report on improving the international student program in Canada. The report highlights integrity challenges within the program. It suggests various recommendations, including a national review of financial sustainability, increased...
Minimum wages increase in six Canadian provinces
The minimum wage in six Canadian provinces will increase on October 1, 2023. British Columbia and Quebec have already raised their minimum wages this year, while the federal minimum wage went up on April 1. The minimum wage is the lowest wage rate set by provinces and...
British Columbia issues 225 invitations to skilled candidates under the BCPNP
On September 19, 2023, the Government of British Columbia held new invitation draws under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) and invited qualified Skills Immigration candidates. In the general draw, BC invited 147 candidates. The minimum score for...
Ottawa held a new all-program Express Entry draw
On September 19, 2023, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 3,200 Invitations to Apply (ITA) to candidates under the Express Entry draw #263. In this draw, IRCC invited candidates under all immigration programs. In the latest round of...
Canada has been ranked as the second-best country in the world
Canada is ranked 2nd in the world overall in the 2023 Best Countries ranking by U.S. News, up from 3rd place in 2022. U.S. News analyzed ten sub-categories and surveyed over 17,000 people from 36 countries before ranking 87 countries. Canada ranked in the top five for...
The BCPNP invited 222 Skills Immigration candidates
On September 6, 2023, the Government of British Columbia held new invitation draws under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) and invited qualified Skills Immigration candidates. In the general draw, BC invited 160 candidates. The minimum score for...
New Brunswick invited new candidates through the NBPNP streams
The provincial Government of New Brunswick issued new Invitations to Apply (ITAs) through the three Express Entry streams of the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP). The province issued 58 ITAs under the New Brunswick Employment Connection stream, 130...
Canada extended measures for PGWP distance learning
The government of Canada extended measures allowing international students using the distance learning option to pursue their higher education in Canada to be eligible for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). The measures introduced on October 6, 2022, and set to...
Ontario invited new candidates under the Masters Graduate stream
On August 30, 2023, the Ontario Immigration Nominee Program (OINP) issued 772 invitations to apply (ITAs) to potential candidates in the Expression of Interest system pool for the Masters Graduate stream. Candidates who received an invitation had a minimum score of 44...
Canadian banks disagree with the Federal Government’s approach to the affordable housing crisis
The Canadian banks expressed their disagreement with the Federal Government's approach to addressing the country's affordable housing crisis. In 2015, Canada welcomed 352,325 international students; this year, that number is expected to reach about 900,000....
IRCC announced a new update for Student Direct Stream applications
The Canadian Government updated the eligibility requirements for the Student Direct Stream (SDS) language test results. The new requirements align with the Ministerial Instructions effective August 10, 2023. The Government will accept additional academic tests from...
Canada’s immigration system is outdated
Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller has stated that the current immigration system is outdated and needs to be modernized to reduce processing times and clear the backlog of applications. However, a shortage of immigration staff is not the leading cause of the...
The new immigration minister will rethink policies for international students
As housing and living costs for international students have risen sharply, the federal government is now reviewing international student immigration. This comes after Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Minister Marc Miller's openness to reconsidering...
IRCC will modernize the International Student Program
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will modernize its International Student Program by implementing a Trusted Institution Framework by 2024. This framework will create a two-tiered structure with post-secondary institutions being assessed against...
Canada published new data on immigration inventories and backlogs
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) updated the data on immigration inventories and backlogs. According to the last update, there were 2,274,600 applications for permanent residence, temporary residence, and citizenship approvals in all IRCC...
The Federal Government may consider placing a limit on the number of study permits
The Federal Government of Canada may reconsider capping the number of international students to enter the country, as it has caused "explosive growth" in rental markets and costs. Housing and Infrastructure Minister Sean Fraser said that the study permit program is a...
Ottawa provided clarification for temporary residence permit applications
The Government of Canada announced program delivery instructions for temporary residence permits (TRP) made within Canada. The update clarifies that the TRP fee exemption under paragraph 298(2)(a) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR) does not...
SINP invited candidates from eight countries
On August 16, 2023, Saskatchewan conducted new rounds of invitations in the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) and invited candidates residing in Ireland, India, Poland, Czechia, Germany, Lithuania, Slovakia, and Ukraine. The province invited 23 candidates...
BC released the new BCPNP Statistical Report and Year in Review 2022
On August 15, 2023, the Government of British Columbia released the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) Statistical Report and Year in Review for 2022. The BCPNP has been producing an annual statistical report since 2017. The report has been expanded...
Ontario invited candidates under three Employer Job Offer Streams
On August 15, 2023, the Government of Ontario held new draws in the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream (EJO FW), International Student Stream (EJO IS) and In-Demand Skills Stream (EJO IDS) of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). The province issued...