The public policy provides an exemption from the requirement to apply for restoration within 90 days of losing temporary resident status for all foreign nationals (former workers, students and visitors) in Canada. The period of 90 days has been extended for foreign nationals who had valid temporary resident status on or after January 30, 2020, but whose status expired on or before May 31, 2021. They will have until August 31, 2021, to apply to restore their status. If it’s been more than 90 days since your status expired you have until August 31, 2021, to apply to restore your status if you had a valid status on or after January 30, 2020, and your status expired on or before May 31, 2021. More information on the website of IRCC
Articles by admin
Express Entry: Additional points for skilled workers with strong French Language skills
On 2020-10-27 IRCC announced that French-speaking and bilingual candidates will receive additional points under the Express Entry system. Express Entry is an online system used to manage applications for permanent residence from skilled workers. More information on the IRCC website.
Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship Program 2020 opens in October for three weeks
Over a 3-week period, from 12 p.m. EDT on October 13, 2020, to 12 p.m. EST on November 3, 2020, Canadians and permanent residents who wish to sponsor their parents and grandparents to come to Canada will have an opportunity to submit an interest to sponsor form online. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will randomly select potential sponsors and send them an invitation to submit an application. Selected applicants will have 60 days to submit their application.
Details on for instance minimum income requirements are yet to be announced.
More information on the IRCC website here.
Update on travel restrictions announced
Although the travel restrictions are strengthened and will remain in place, the Government of Canada announced that a process is being introduced to support enhanced family reunification, including those in long-term exclusive relationships, international students and entry for compassionate reasons. The details of this new process will be published on October 8, 2020.
Agri-Food Pilot
The pilot provides a pathway to permanent residence for experienced, non-seasonal workers in specific industries and occupations. The pilot will run until May 2023.
The requirements are very specific and only candidates with at least 1-year work experience while on a work permit supported by an LMIA in one of the eligible occupations in the past three years and with a job offer for a non-seasonal job in one of the eligible industries can apply.
For more details on the eligible occupations and eligible industries read more on the IRCC website.
Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship 2020 postponed until further notice
IRCC will focus on responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and therefore announced the delay of the opening of the 2020 Parents and Grandparents (PGP) Program to accepting new applications. The opening of the program was expected in April but given the present circumstances, however, IRCC will temporarily defer the launch of 2020 intake until further notice.
Read the full ICC notice here.
New exemptions to Canadian Travel Ban-UPDATE
UPDATE On March 26 IRCC updated the new measures on their website.
———————————————————————————————————————————
In addition on the earlier announced exemptions on the travel restrictions, IRCC announced today, March 20, 2020 the following exemptions:
- seasonal agricultural workers, fish/seafood workers, caregivers and all other temporary foreign workers
- International students who hold a valid study permit, or had been approved for a study permit, when the travel restrictions took effect on March 18, 2020
- permanent resident applicants who had been approved for permanent residence before the travel restrictions were announced on March 16, 2020, but who had not yet travelled to Canada
This and more measures were announced today. The complete and up-to-date information can be found on the IRCC website.
Coronavirus special measures-UPDATED
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has put special measures in place to help you if you are affected by travel bans or disruptions in services due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). For the exact measures and update visit the website of IRCC.
IRCC is working on solutions and will provide more details on their website. Given the reduced capacity, IRCC prioritizes to keep Canadians safe and healthy and get Canadians back into the country. We also see that most services have been reduced to email and online contact.
CBSA/POE made also changes in its services. They do not longer process work permit or study permit applications. They still print study permits and work permits when these are approved. Meaning that when you are already in Canada you can still go to the border with your approval letter. But you cannot flagpole to get a new work permit. You should apply online! You might want to apply at least 3 months before the expiration of your current permit to keep your provincial health program coverage.
When you are outside Canada and you have a work permit or study permit approval letter you cannot travel to Canada under the current travels ban unless you fall under one the exemptions.
Also when you are already a worker or student and currently outside Canada, you also cannot travel to Canada unless you fall under one of the exemptions.
ESDC- Service Canada is still working on LMIA’s but slower.
PNP’s- are also still operating but face-to-face contacts are suspended. There are no deadline extensions currently. So if you think of applying make sure that you have all the documentation ready.
Parents and Grandparents Intake 2020 postponed
Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada announced that the intake of permanent visa applications for the parents and grandparents sponsorship program will be postponed. The Department will need more time to complete the development of a new application intake management process for the parents and grandparents sponsorship program, to be implemented in 2020. The Minister intends to issue further instructions relating to the intake management process for the parents and grandparents program by April 1, 2020, at the latest. IRCC encourages interested potential sponsors and stakeholders to stay up to date on PGP 2020 by visiting IRCC’s website and social media channels: Facebook and Twitter.
Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot
The Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot is a community-driven program and designed to help employers hire people from outside Canada for hard-to-fill jobs. The so-called Economic Development Organizations in the 11 elected communities can recommend applicants for this pilot based on criteria, that will reflect the following considerations:
(a) whether the applicant intends to reside in the community, or within a reasonable commuting distance of the community;
(b) whether the applicant has a genuine offer of employment in an occupation or an industry sector that is in demand in the community;
(c) whether the applicant has the required skill set for that occupation;
(d) whether the applicant’s skill set is required in the community; and
(e) whether the applicant has a connection to the community.
With the recommendation the applicant can apply for permanent residency.
There are other requirements: such as work experience, education and language proficiency related to the employment being offered. See the eligiblity requirements on the IRCC website.
Details how to apply and which in demand occupations and skills sets will be awarded with a recommendation are yet to be announced.
The Economic Development Organizations that are selected are the following:
| Brandon Immigration Pilot Board | An area in Manitoba bounded by a radius of 55 km centred on latitude 49°50′35.4″ North and longitude 99°57′01.6″ West |
| Claresholm Economic Development Committee | An area in Alberta bounded by a radius of 25 km centred on latitude 50°01′12.6″ North and longitude 113°35′00.6″ West |
| Community Futures Development Corporation of Central Kootenay | In British Columbia, an area bounded by a radius of 35 km centred on latitude 49°34′13.1″ North and longitude 117°14′10.4″ West and an area bounded by a 35 km radius centred on latitude 49°06′49.3″ North and longitude 117°32′55.6″ West |
| Community Futures Development Corporation of the North Okanagan | In British Columbia, an area bounded by a radius of 40 km centred on latitude 50°15′54.6″ North and longitude 119°16′29.4″ West, excluding the census subdivision of Kelowna (City), as defined by Statistics Canada |
| Greater Sudbury Development Corporation | The census metropolitan area of Greater Sudbury in Ontario, as defined by Statistics Canada |
| Moose Jaw & District Chamber of Commerce | The census agglomeration of Moose Jaw in Saskatchewan, as defined by Statistics Canada |
| North Bay Chamber of Commerce | An area in Ontario bounded by a radius of 45 km centred on latitude 46°18′31.4″ North and longitude 79°27′45.4″ West |
| Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation | The census agglomeration of Sault Ste. Marie in Ontario, as defined by Statistics Canada |
| 10018513 Manitoba Ltd. (commonly known as Supporting Entrepreneurs through Economic Development in the Rhineland, Plum Coulee, Gretna, and Altona) | An area in Manitoba bounded by the Canada-United States border, Road 18 West, Road 18 North, Meridian Road, Road 6 North, and Road 6 East |
| Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission | The census metropolitan area of Thunder Bay in Ontario, as defined by Statistics Canada |
| Timmins Economic Development Corporation | The census agglomeration of Timmins in Ontario, as defined by Statistics Canada |
