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Tag Archives: Quarantine

Mission Ambedkar  /  Blog  /  Quarantine
23 Jul 2020
express entry irccinvited experience

Express Entry: IRCC invited Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates

Categories canada, Canadian Experience, COVID-19, express entry, immigration, immigration news, International Students, IRCC, ITA, News, Permanent Immigration, Permanent Residence, students 0 Comments

Immigration, Refugees & Citizenship Canada (IRCC) invited 3,343 candidates to apply for Canadian permanent residence in Express Entry draw which took place on July 23, 2020. The cut-off CRS score in this draw was 445 targeting only Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates. IRCC) has now issued a total of 57,700 Invitations to Apply (ITA’s) in 2020 through the Express Entry system.

Current cut-off CRS score of 445 is a decrease of 14 points from the previous all program draw on July 8, 2020.   Yesterday, IRCC issued 557 ITA’s to Express Entry candidates nominated through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). The minimum CRS score for these candidates was 687. Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) Candidates receive an additional 600 points in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which is usually sufficient to trigger an invitation to apply (ITA) at the next round of invitations.

Calculate your CRS score with IRCC’s CRS calculator

Express Entry is the application process for skilled workers in Canada or Overseas who want to settle in Canada permanently. Interested Candidates are required to submit an online application to express their interest by creating Express Entry (EE) profile and, providing information about their skills, work experience, language ability, education and some other details. After submitting the profile, candidates get a score to determine their place in the pool using the point-based system called Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The CRS system considers skills, work experience, language ability, education and other factors (e.g. having a sibling in Canada, Canadian education or a valid job offer in Canada, etc.) to award points. Highest ranking candidates from Express Entry pool are regularly invited to apply for Canadian Permanent Residence. Express Entry manages applications for permanent residence under these federal economic immigration programs:

Nearly 110,000 new permanent residents were admitted through Express Entry in year 2019

A total of 109,595 principal applicants and their family members were granted permanent residence through express entry in 2019, compared to 92,229 in 2018. This represents a year over year increase of 19%. The CRS cut off ranged from 438 to 475 in 2019, making an average score of 461. In 2018 the average score was 442. This increase in average CRS cut-off score demonstrates that the express entry pool became more competitive last year. This increase was partially due to a larger pool size, as well as the increased number of candidates selected through a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). PNP recipients automatically receive an additional 600 CRS points toward their overall score.

How minimum CRS score will fluctuate in next draws?

Despite COVID-19 pandemic, total number of ITA’s issued this year so far exceeds the number of invitations issued at the same time last year.  As per Government of Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan for 2020-2022, Canada aims to welcome 341,000 new permanent residents in 2020, 351,000 in 2021, and 361,000 in 2022. Federal Skilled Worker Program candidates represented the largest proportion of all individuals admitted in 2019 with 58,173 admissions, followed by candidates in Canadian Experience Class (30,230) Provincial Nominee Program (20,014) and Federal Skilled Trades (1,178). After coronavirus travel restrictions, IRCC began to hold PNP and CEC specific draws. First all-program Express Entry draw took place on July 15, 2020 since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

We had speculated that IRCC will hold program specific draws in consecutive draws and this is evident from today’s draw when only CEC candidates has been invited. There are several factors and reasons (e.g. unemployment rate, travel restrictions, closure of visa processing offices etc.)  why government is preferring CEC and PNP candidates during this pandemic. Unemployment rate in Canada is historically high, and it will be challenging for a new immigrant to find a job in today’s job market, and get settled in new country. Government’s may prefer to restrict influx of new permanent residents coming outside from country. However, to meet the immigration target for  this year, the Government will prefer to invite candidates who are already in Canada.

IRCC may continue to invite only CEC candidates in consecutive draws. This may be good for several candidates in Canada having low CRS scores. Candidates qualified under CEC & having low scores still have an opportunity to get an ITA in coming months.

Contact us for consultation, assessment or assistance!

12 Jun 2020
Canada Plans To Grant Permanent Residency To Asylum Seekers Working In Healthcare During COVID-19 Outbreak

Canada plans to grant Permanent Residency to asylum seekers working in healthcare during COVID-19 outbreak

Categories canada, Coronavirus, COVID-19, immigration, immigration news, IRCC, News, Permanent Immigration, Permanent Residence, Quarantine, Quebec, Travel 0 Comments

Canadian government is working on a temporary program that would give asylum seekers a pathway to permanent residence if they worked in healthcare during the coronavirus pandemic. This program could be launched in the next few weeks according to Radio Canada reports. Although the number of people who would be benefited is unknown, but it is expected to be in the thousands. Quebec is said to be home to most asylum seekers who could be eligible for the new program.

Eligibility criteria

The eligibility criteria presented by the immigration minister is as follows.

The candidates must:

  • be an asylum seeker, even if the original application had failed, or if the claim is still pending;
  • have requested asylum before the date that the measure will be announced;
  • hold a valid work permit;
  • have worked in the health field; and
  • have worked for at least four weeks, or 120 hours, between January 25, 2020 and until the date of the announcement of the special measure.

However, asylum seekers working in other fields, even if they were essential during the pandemic, are not included in the proposed program.

Calls for recognition

There have been growing calls to recognize the contribution of asylum seekers who have served as “guardian angels” during the pandemic. Since 2017, tens of thousands of people have crossed into Canada from the U.S. at Roxham Road, which leads into Quebec. Advocates raised concern they may not be able to stay in Canada when deportations, which have nearly ground to a halt during the COVID-19 crisis, resume.

Asylum seekers in Quebec

La Maison d’Haïti, a Quebec-based support organization for migrants, estimates as many as 1,000 asylum seekers are currently working in the province’s health sector. Many are still working through the pandemic although some had their claims rejected while other are still waiting on decisions from the government. Still many requests for the regularization of the status of asylum seekers currently on the front lines in care facilities have been submitted to the Government of Quebec based on humanitarian grounds.

Asylum seekers to be benefited

Radio Canada was able to obtain a copy of the presentation made by Immigration Minister to Prime Minister and the Cabinet Committee.  The proposed measure is not just limited to workers in long-term care facilities, but also includes workers in hospitals such as nurses, attendants, housekeepers, security, and others. However, the program proposed must be approved before it can go into effect.

Recruitment of immigrants to work in healthcare part of new Quebec reforms

The Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) government recently announced a plan to recruit immigrants to work as orderlies in the province’s long-term care homes. This also includes a pilot program to provide permanent residence to up to 550 experienced healthcare workers per year.

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11 Jun 2020
Canadian visa application centres (VAC’s) gradually starting to offer services

Canadian visa application centres (VAC’s) gradually starting to offer services

Categories Biometrics, canada, Coronavirus, COVID-19, immigration, immigration news, IRCC, News, Quarantine, Travel, VAC's 0 Comments

In response to changing country conditions, some Canadian visa application centres (VACs) have begun resuming limited services while still ensuring important safety measures are maintained. As some services such as biometrics collection have resumed, it’s important to understand that travel restrictions remain in place. Currently, travelers who are exempt from the travel restrictions or are coming for an essential purpose can travel to Canada. All travelers arriving into Canada must quarantine for 14 days immediately upon arrival.

While the travel restrictions are still in place, completing further steps in the application process, such as providing biometrics when possible, will help expedite processing once travel restrictions are lifted.

Clients can visit IRCC page to find out what services, if any, are available at their nearest VAC, and be sure to pay close attention to instructions they have included. If local VAC has not yet resumed services, visit How COVID-19 is affecting IRCC.

The health and safety of VAC and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) staff, as well as the clients is IRCC’s top priority. IRCC, along with all its government partners, continues to closely monitor the situation and any impacts on clients and our operations.

Common health and safety measures implemented at VACs may include

  • use of hand sanitizer by staff and clients
  • limiting the number of people allowed inside the VAC at any given time
  • checking temperature of staff and clients
  • use of gloves, face masks and face shields by staff
  • frequent cleaning of the VAC

List of VACs reopened for limited services as of June 11, 2020:

  • Tel Aviv, Israel
  • Erbil, Iraq
  • Vienna, Austria
  • Düsseldorf, Germany
  • Abu Dhabi, UAE
  • Tokyo, Japan
  • Osaka, Japan
  • The Hague, Netherlands
  • Rome, Italy

Clients can visit IRCC page often as more VACs gradually begin to resume limited services.

Helpful links

Need help staying in Canada!

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to challenging times in Canada and around the world. Many people are under distress and anxiety. We understand! Can-X is here to help you figure it out, so you can have peace of mind. You could be an international student, worker, or visitor looking to extend your stay in Canada. You may be seeking a pathway to permanent immigration. Or you may be looking to reunite with a loved one. Whatever the reason, contact us to discuss your immigration needs, and we’ll provide our insights and help as much as we can during these difficult times.

We Care!

08 Jun 2020
Family Members can now enter Canada- Justin Trudeau

Family Members can now enter Canada- Justin Trudeau

Categories canada, Common-Law, Coronavirus, COVID-19, immigration, immigration news, News, Spouse, visit 0 Comments

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced today that immediate family members will be able to enter Canada effective June 9, 2020. Foreign nationals, irrespective of which country they are entering Canada from, are eligible to enter Canada if they are an immediate family member of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and do not have COVID-19 or exhibit any symptoms of the virus. However, their visit must be at least 15 days long and they must self-quarantine by law for 14 days upon entering Canada.

Immediate family is defined as:

Spouse or common-law partner ¦ Dependent children ¦ Parent or step-parent ¦ Guardian or tutor

The exemption does not apply to temporary residents in Canada. Only Canadian citizens and permanent residents can be reunited with family.

Immigration minister Marco Mendicino said that this new exemption for families was to bring families closer together, however the federal government would not allow short-term trips. This is meant to protect the health and safety of Canadians.

A Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident can sponsor

  • a spouse, common-law partner or Conjugal Partner for Canadian permanent residence under family class sponsorship program
  • their dependent and adopted children to join them in Canada
  • their parents and grandparents to Canada as a Permanent Residents under parent & grandparent sponsorship

A Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident can also invite parent and grandparent on Super Visa which allows the parents and grandparents of Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents to come to Canada as visitors. The super visa is a multiple-entry visa valid for 10 years.

Contact us for consultation and assistance!

Need help staying in Canada!

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to challenging times in Canada and around the world. Many people are under distress and anxiety. We understand! Can-X is here to help you figure it out, so you can have peace of mind. You could be an international student, worker, or visitor looking to extend your stay in Canada. You may be seeking a pathway to permanent immigration. Or you may be looking to reunite with a loved one. Whatever the reason, contact us to discuss your immigration needs, and we’ll provide our insights and help as much as we can during these difficult times.

We Care!

05 Jun 2020
Canada exempts essential workers from giving biometrics overseas

Canada exempts essential workers from giving biometrics overseas

Categories Biometrics, canada, CBSA, Coronavirus, COVID-19, immigration, immigration news, IRCC, News, Quarantine, TFW, Work Permit 0 Comments

Immigration, Refugees & Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has implemented a temporary public policy exempting essential workers from giving biometrics overseas.

Temporary foreign workers are playing a key role in helping to safeguard the continuity of Canada’s food supply and health security as well as trade and commerce. Due to the ongoing service disruptions related to COVID-19, the Government has put in place a public policy to temporarily exempt foreign workers in certain sectors (e.g. agriculture, agri-food, truck drivers and health-care)  from having to give their biometrics before coming to Canada if the biometrics collection site closest to them is closed.

Most of the workers in essential occupations who are coming to Canada have already given their biometrics, as they have previously worked in Canada. Some exempt workers, such as seasonal agricultural workers, will now be giving their biometrics on arrival at Canadian ports of entry (POEs). Nonetheless, it will continue to maintain the safety and security of the Canadian public by ensuring that biometrics are collected for all TFWs.

What happens when the worker arrives in Canada?

The worker may be asked to give their biometrics at a Point of Entry (POE) in Canada. The worker will also be assessed by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to ensure that they are coming for an essential purpose, for example, they have a letter of introduction for a work permit, and have a valid job offer and can work once they enter Canada.

Once a worker has entered Canada, they must self-quarantine by law for a period of 14 days.

Options for workers who are not covered under the public policy, their application is in progress and still cannot give biometrics

If the visa application centres (VACs) or other biometrics collection sites are still closed, and extension to give biometrics is ending, the applicant will not have to give their biometrics until the biometrics collection sites reopen. This applies, even if the biometric instruction letter (BIL) says that deadline is 30 or 90 days. IRCC has reiterated that no application in progress will be closed or refused because of documents that are missing due to COVID-19.

Need help staying in Canada!

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to challenging times in Canada and around the world. Many people are under distress and anxiety. We understand! Can-X is here to help you figure it out, so you can have peace of mind. You could be an international student, worker, or visitor looking to extend your stay in Canada. You may be seeking a pathway to permanent immigration. Or you may be looking to reunite with a loved one. Whatever the reason, contact us to discuss your immigration needs, and we’ll provide our insights and help as much as we can during these difficult times.

We Care!