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. Get a Free Express Entry Assessment Express […]

The post Express Entry: How to get a high Comprehensive Ranking System score  first appeared on CIC News.

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 […]

The post 8 FAQs about Educational Credential Assessments (ECAs) from WES applicants immigrating to Canada first appeared on CIC News.

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 […]

The post Canada’s immigration backlog shows little change from January first appeared on CIC News.

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 post Understanding the Express Entry tie-breaking rule first appeared on CIC News.

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 […]

The post Canada extends work permits for Hong Kong residents first appeared on CIC News.

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 […]

The post Some foreign workers in Canada can have their LMIA processed in 10 business days first appeared on CIC News.

As a newcomer to Canada you will quickly find out the importance of building a good credit score. Financial Institutions and other businesses will generally look at your credit score to determine whether to do business with you or how much money “to lend you”.  Here are some quick examples: To rent a property and […]

The post Why do you need a good credit score as a newcomer to Canada? first appeared on CIC News.

If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and are married or in a relationship with a foreign national, you may sponsor that person to join you in Canada and become a permanent resident, as long as you meet certain eligibility criteria. Sponsor your family for Canadian immigration In order to sponsor your spouse […]

The post Are you eligible for spousal sponsorship? first appeared on CIC News.

U.S. citizens and residents have many immigration pathways available to them that lead to Canadian Permanent Residency. Due in large part to geographic proximity and similarities in work cultures, U.S. residents have had success in finding job opportunities in Canada. Many immigration candidates have leveraged their Canadian work experience to gain permanent residence in Canada. […]

The post Moving to Canada permanently from the U.S: A work-based approach first appeared on CIC News.

Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba have issued invitations to apply to candidates through Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) this week. Most Canadian provinces and territories (except for Quebec and Nunavut) operate their own Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). Through these programs, interested candidates may be invited to apply for provincial nomination. Receiving a provincial nomination can […]

The post Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, and Manitoba hold draws through Provincial Nominee Programs first appeared on CIC News.

Biometrics are the unique physical characteristics of a person that can be used to identify them. In the context of Canadian immigration, biometrics refers to fingerprints and a photograph, which may be a required submission as part of some immigration pathways to Canada (but more on that later). Typically, biometrics will be required by Immigration, […]

The post What are biometrics and why do I need to submit them? first appeared on CIC News.

According to the 2021 Canadian census, which was released in Q4 2022, more than 9 in 10 people who immigrated to Canada between 2016 and 2021 reported being able to conduct a conversation in English or French. Although most recent immigrants (69.4%) reported non-official languages as their mother tongue, 92.7% of people in this group […]

The post Heightened proficiency in English and French among recent immigrants indicates greater potential for success in Canada first appeared on CIC News.

LinkedIn’s recent report on the “20 Canadian roles that are growing in demand” reveals some key insights into professions that are seeing increased hiring in Canada. Learn more about Canadian immigration and discover your options The study analyzed the titles of millions of jobs started by LinkedIn members between January 1st 2018, and July 31st […]

The post The most in-demand occupations in Canada currently first appeared on CIC News.

IRCC held the fourth Express Entry draw of 2023 today. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued invitations to 3,300 candidates with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 489. The draw was only applicable to candidates in the Federal Skilled Worker Program for the first time since Express Entry began in 2015. This […]

The post Canada holds first Federal Skilled Workers-only draw in Express Entry history first appeared on CIC News.

If a Canadian employer wants to hire a foreign national, they must usually receive approval from the Canadian government through a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). The purpose of the LMIA is to ensure that the hiring of a foreign national will not negatively affect workers in Canada. The government must conclude that hiring the […]

The post How Quebec employers can hire foreign workers more quickly first appeared on CIC News.

The Bank of Canada (BoC) recently announced another rise in interest rates, up to 4.5%, or up 25 basis points from 4.25% on December 7, 2022. While this is the smallest rise in interest over the past year, interest rates will stay high for the foreseeable future making larger spending more difficult than previous years. […]

The post The Bank of Canada just raised interest rates again. What does this mean for newcomers? first appeared on CIC News.

IRCC has just announced it has approved the Pearson Test of English for Canadian immigration applications. Beginning in “late 2023”, the Pearson Test of English (PTE) will join CELPIP and IELTS General Training as one of three designated language tests that economic class candidates will be able to complete to demonstrate their English language proficiency […]

The post IRCC approves Pearson Test of English for Canadian immigration applications first appeared on CIC News.

IRCC has held its third Express Entry draw of 2023. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued permanent resident invitations to 893 Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 733. This was the first program-specific Express Entry draw since July 2022. Between July until today, IRCC was holding […]

The post IRCC invites 893 PNP candidates in new Express Entry draw first appeared on CIC News.

Since its implementation in 1998, the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) has helped a plethora of people immigrate to Canada. Candidates looking to apply through the PNP will potentially have two streams of nomination available to them: the regular (base) PNP (separate from Express Entry) or the Express Entry-aligned (enhanced) PNP. Get a Free Canadian Immigration […]

The post Enhanced vs. Base Provincial Nominations—What is the difference? first appeared on CIC News.

Pets are members of the family, and many newcomers wouldn’t think of leaving them behind when they decide to immigrate to Canada. Canada’s rules for importing pets are fairly straightforward and have few requirements. However, this can vary depending on why an animal is being brought to Canada, and what country you are bringing your […]

The post How to bring pets to Canada first appeared on CIC News.

At the moment, no details are available regarding the process that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will utilize for the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) in 2023. A highly sought-after invitation, as of IRCC’s last PGP lottery in October 2022, this program is said to have approximately 155,000 potential sponsors remaining in the pool […]

The post What will the Parents and Grandparents Program look like in 2023? first appeared on CIC News.

Starting today, January 30, family members of some temporary foreign workers (TFWs) will be eligible for work permits. Immigration minister Sean Fraser said that temporarily extending work permits to family members of principal applicants in the temporary foreign worker program (TFWP) and International Mobility Program (IMP). This measure will help Canada combat chronic labour shortages. […]

The post Family of some temporary foreign workers now eligible for Canadian work permits under temporary measure first appeared on CIC News.

Quebec has more immigration authority than any other province and territory in Canada due to its unique francophone status. The Canadian Constitution states that immigration falls under both federal and provincial jurisdiction, but the federal government plays a leading role in immigration. In 1968, Quebec launched its own immigration ministry. Discover if You Are Eligible […]

The post What is Quebec’s immigration strategy? first appeared on CIC News.

Business visitors to Canada are afforded some special work privileges that are not given to all international persons coming to this country for work. One of those privileges is an exemption from requiring a Canadian work permit. Why Canada allows business visitors to come to Canada without work permits Canada’s economic prosperity benefits greatly from […]

The post Working in Canada as a business visitor first appeared on CIC News.

In order to understand foreign cannabis convictions, you must determine whether they have an equivalent in Canadian law. Some foreign convictions that are no longer illegal in Canada, such as possession of limited amounts of cannabis, should not be a problem. Schedule a Free Legal Consultation with the Cohen Immigration Law Firm However, several foreign […]

The post Overcoming a cannabis conviction to enter Canada first appeared on CIC News.