Weekly Immigration updates for Canada - French draws | Refugees are invited for IRCC Survey | Family Sponsorship for Canada

 

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has conducted its fourth Express Entry draw this month, issuing invitations to apply (ITAs) to 3,200 candidates based on French language proficiency. 

To be eligible in this draw, candidates needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 420. This draw follows a series of three draws held from July 2-5. 

On July 2, IRCC invited 920 candidates in a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)-specific draw, requiring a minimum CRS score of 739. 

Subsequently, two category-based selection draws took place: one on July 4, which issued 1,800 ITAs to candidates in trade occupations, and another on July 5, inviting 3,750 healthcare occupation candidates. 

July has been a particularly active month for Express Entry draws. IRCC generally holds draws bi-weekly, with two to four draws each month. The last month to see four draws was April, and February remains the busiest month of the year so far with six draws. 

French-proficiency draws are projected to account for 30% of all ITAs issued in category-based selection draws this year. So far, IRCC has issued 15,600 ITAs to candidates in this category.

We’re excited to bring you the latest insights from our esteemed RCIC in our new video: "Proving Your Arranged Marriage for Sponsorship in Canada." This comprehensive guide is a must-watch for anyone navigating the complex world of sponsorship applications. 

In this video, our licensed RCIC delves into the essential steps to effectively prove your arranged marriage to Canadian immigration authorities. You'll learn about the critical documentation needed, the importance of genuine relationship evidence, and tips on how to present your case convincingly. Whether you’re at the beginning of your journey or in the midst of the application process, this video provides invaluable information that can help streamline your path to a successful sponsorship. 

Why is this video crucial for you? 

1. Expert Guidance: Gain insights from a licensed professional with years of experience in immigration matters. 
2. Step-by-Step Instructions: Understand exactly what documents and evidence are needed. 
3. Success Tips: Learn practical advice to enhance the strength of your application. 

Don't miss out on this opportunity to get expert advice for free! Watch our video now and take the first step towards a successful sponsorship application. 

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is launching an online survey to gather insights from government-assisted refugees about their experiences with the Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP). This feedback will help IRCC identify successful initiatives and areas needing improvement, enabling them to enhance the RAP to better support newcomers to Canada.

 

Survey Details

Participation in the survey is both voluntary and confidential. The collected information will be used exclusively to refine IRCC’s programs and services, and responses will not influence any past, current, or future applications with IRCC.

 

Starting the week of July 15, 2024, IRCC will email survey invitations to all government-assisted refugees (principal applicants only) who became permanent residents between March 1, 2022, and July 31, 2023. The survey, available in English, French, Arabic, Dari, Kinyarwanda, Pashto, Somali, Swahili, and Tigrinya, takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. The deadline for completion is July 28, 2024.

 

Invitation Details

Survey invitations will be emailed from IRCC <noreply@qemailserver.com>. The survey link will begin with “https://ircc.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV” and will not include any attachments. For any questions, an email address will be provided.

 

IRCC thanks all participants for their valuable input to improve settlement and resettlement services.

More newcomers can now qualify for provincial nomination through Ontario’s Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills Stream, part of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP).

On July 4, the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training, and Skills Development announced the addition of 35 National Occupation Classification (NOC) codes to the list of eligible occupations for Expressions of Interest (EOIs) under this stream. These include:

1. NOC 14400 - Shippers and Receivers
2. NOC 14402 - Production Logistics Workers
3. NOC 65320 - Dry Cleaning, Laundry, and Related Occupations
4. NOC 74200 - Railway Yard and Track Maintenance Workers
5. NOC 74203 - Automotive and Heavy Truck and Equipment Parts Installers and Servicers
6. NOC 74204 - Utility Maintenance Workers
7. NOC 74205 - Public Works Maintenance Equipment Operators and Related Workers
8. NOC 75101 - Material Handlers
9. NOC 75119 - Other Trades Helpers and Labourers
10. NOC 75211 - Railway and Motor Transport Labourers
11. NOC 75212 - Public Works and Maintenance Labourers
12. NOC 85102 - Aquaculture and Marine Harvest Labourers
13. NOC 94101 - Foundry Workers
14. NOC 94102 - Glass Forming and Finishing Machine Operators and Glass Cutters
15. NOC 94103 - Concrete, Clay, and Stone Forming Operators
16. NOC 94104 - Inspectors and Testers, Mineral and Metal Processing
17. NOC 94112 - Rubber Processing Machine Operators and Related Workers
18. NOC 94120 - Sawmill Machine Operators
19. NOC 94121 - Pulp Mill, Papermaking, and Finishing Machine Operators
20. NOC 94123 - Lumber Graders and Other Wood Processing Inspectors and Graders
21. NOC 94142 - Fish and Seafood Plant Workers
22. NOC 94143 - Testers and Graders, Food and Beverage Processing
23. NOC 94200 - Motor Vehicle Assemblers, Inspectors and Testers
24. NOC 94202 - Assemblers and Inspectors, Electrical Appliance, Apparatus, and Equipment Manufacturing
25. NOC 94203 - Assemblers, Fabricators, and Inspectors, Industrial Electrical Motors and Transformers
26. NOC 94205 - Machine Operators and Inspectors, Electrical Apparatus Manufacturing
27. NOC 94211 - Assemblers and Inspectors of Other Wood Products
28. NOC 94212 - Plastic Products Assemblers, Finishers, and Inspectors
29. NOC 95100 - Labourers in Mineral and Metal Processing
30. NOC 95101 - Labourers in Metal Fabrication
31. NOC 95103 - Labourers in Wood, Pulp, and Paper Processing
32. NOC 95104 - Labourers in Rubber and Plastic Products Manufacturing
33. NOC 95106 - Labourers in Food and Beverage Processing
34. NOC 95107 - Labourers in Fish and Seafood Processing

Job offers must be outside the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), except for NOC 75119 - Other Trades Helpers and Labourers. These changes followed consultations with provincial stakeholders in Fall 2023.

Eligibility Criteria

The Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Occupations Stream addresses urgent job vacancies in Ontario. The job offer must be full-time, with at least 1,560 hours per year and a minimum of 30 hours per week. Candidates need at least nine months of paid, full-time work experience in Ontario in the same NOC code as their job offer, gained within three years before applying.

 

Candidates must also have a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark score of four in reading, writing, listening, and speaking in either English or French, and a Canadian high school diploma or equivalent. If the job is in a licensed profession, candidates need a license from the relevant provincial regulatory authority.

Family-class immigration applicants may experience significant changes in circumstances after submitting their application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Changes can include alterations in the sponsor’s financial status or the birth of a new family member.

 

In these and other situations, IRCC has established procedures for sponsors and applicants to follow in addressing such changes.

 

Adding a New Family Member to an Application

The process for adding a family member to an existing application varies based on their relationship to the sponsor.

 

1. Dependent Child of the Sponsor - Sponsors do not need to undergo another minimum necessary income (MNI) assessment to add a dependent child. However, sponsors must pay any new applicable fees, such as application processing fees, and ensure that the new family member passes any required medical and background checks.
2. Newborn Child - If a family-class applicant has a newborn child after receiving a permanent resident (PR) visa but before officially becoming a Canadian PR, they can add their child to the application by paying the applicable processing fee. A medical examination for the child is also required as part of the process.
3. Change in Principal Applicant - This change can occur if the principal applicant dies after the application is submitted. In such cases, the surviving spouse or partner may be processed as the new principal applicant if they are a family class member in their own right, such as a parent or grandparent of the sponsor. Stepparents or step-grandparents may also be eligible based on humanitarian and compassionate grounds at IRCC’s discretion.

 Upon eligibility determination, IRCC will request the sponsor to submit updated versions of two forms:

- Application to Sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement and Undertaking (IMM1344)

- Generic Application Form for Canada (IMM0008)

 

No additional fees are required for this change.

 

Change in Sponsor’s Circumstances

IRCC may pause issuing PR visas if a sponsor’s ability to meet sponsorship requirements needs reassessment. If new information suggests the sponsor no longer meets the income test, their income may be re-evaluated. Sponsors can submit additional documents to prove their financial situation still qualifies them to act as a sponsor. Evidence should cover the 12 months preceding the officer’s receipt of new information.

 

IRCC will issue PR visas only if the sponsorship undertaking remains in effect after reassessment.

 

Changes in Relationship Status for Spouses, Common-law Partners, and Conjugal Partners

Changes in relationship status during the application process, such as transitioning from common-law partners to spouses after marriage, must be reported to IRCC. This ensures that the relationship remains genuine and meets Canada’s legal requirements.