Interim Pathway for Caregivers Reopens Again

The interim pathway for caregivers is a pathway to permanent residence for temporary foreign worker caregivers and their family members. Applications are currently being accepted until October 8, 2019.

This pathway is for caregivers who have:

• language skills of at least a CLB 5 in English or French; and

• 12 months of full-time work experience in Canada since November 30, 2014 in a relevant occupation; and

• a minimum of a Canadian high school diploma or non-Canadian educational diploma, certificate or credential that’s equal to a Canadian high school diploma.

You must have Canadian work experience as a:

• home child care provide

• home support worker

• or a mix of both

Also, your work experience must have been gained while working in the TFWP.

If you are unsure if the Interim Pathway for Caregivers is the right pathway for you, call/text/email JM Immigration Consultancy to help you determine which pathway you may be eligible to apply for.

Canada-bound visitors barred from flights on advice of Canada border agents on the increase

Twice as many visitors in 2018, 7,208 travelers, as compared to 2017, 2,873 travelers, visiting Canada were not allowed to board a flight to Canada.

The reason was ‘improper documents’, however, many were from countries where visas were not required.

Read the complete article here

BC: Licensing recruiters to protect foreign workers

Recruiters who help provide employment in B.C. for foreign workers will have until October 1, 2019, to get a license.

The licensing requirement will give better protection to workers new to Canada, including people who enter under the Temporary Foreign Workers Program (TFWP) and are more vulnerable to abuse in the workplace.

Recruiters who operate without a license could face a penalty of up to $50,000, be imprisoned for up to one year or face both.

FACTS:

• In 2017, the federal government issued approximately 47,620 work permits for foreign nationals destined for B.C., of which 16,865 were issued under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.

• In 2019, Statistics Canada estimated that there were 101,945 unfilled positions in B.C. during 2019’s first quarter, up 10% from the same quarter in 2018.

• Manitoba and Saskatchewan have similar licensing requirements for recruiters of foreign workers.

Read the complete article here

Farm workers now have a pathway to permanent residence

The agriculture sector has been facing continual labour shortages and to mitigate this problem the federal government has launched a pilot program to enable farm workers obtain permanent residency.

Emphasizing the importance of the agriculture sector, Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen stated that one out of eight jobs was sustained by the agriculture sector.

Read the article here

Stricter driving fines come into effect in August

Stricter laws imposing harsher penalties and fines are being introduced to crack down on the distracted driving problem. Statistics shows that distracted driving claims more lives than impaired driving in provinces like Ontario and British Columbia.

Read the article here

EXPRESS ENTRY DRAW: June 26, 2019

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 3,350 invitations to apply (ITAs) to applicants in the Federal Skilled Workers Program to apply for Permanent Residence (PR). The cut off score was 467, which was 3 points less than the cut-off score of May 29th, of 470.

Candidates in the pool are ranked by using a points-based system called the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The highest-ranking candidates are selected from the pool and are invited to apply for permanent residence (PR).

Each invitation round have instructions that are:

• posted online at the time of the invitation round

• used by the Express Entry system to invite candidates from the pool

The instructions specify:

• the date and time of the invitation round

• the number of candidates that will get an invitation to apply

• the immigration program(s) which are included in the round, e.g., Federal Skilled Workers, Federal Skilled Trades.

If more than one candidate has the lowest score, the cut-off is based on the date and time they submitted their Express Entry profiles.

Contact JM Immigration (www.onecanadavisa.com) to find out if you are eligible to enter the Express Entry pool of qualified candidates.

Employers’ monopoly on temporary foreign workers to end

In today’s communique in The Canada Gazette, the federal government stated that it will give temporary foreign workers flexibility and the freedom to work for any employer with-in a specific sector, e.g., agriculture. As abuse has been rampant in low-wage jobs, the open work permits would prevent temporary foreign workers from being exploited.

Read the complete article here

World Refugee Day

Show your solidarity with refugees by joining and taking a step with refugees. Join here.

New: Home Child-Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot

On June 18, 2019, IRCC launched the Home Child-Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot. These pilots replace the Caring for Children and Caring for People with High Medical Needs pilots. Applications received under the Caring for Children and Caring for People with High Medical Needs pilots received on or after June 18, 2019, will not be accepted.

Applicants under the Home Child-Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot can apply from within or outside Canada. Applicants may also apply with or without at least 24 months of qualifying work experience.

• Applicants applying without 24 months of qualifying work experience are issued an occupation-restricted open work permit once they pass select eligibility and admissibility requirements.

• Applicants who have 24 months of qualifying work experience, and who meet all the other eligibility requirements, may be eligible for a bridging open work permit.

Accompanying family members (spouses and dependants) are also eligible to accompany the principal applicant to Canada. Applications for work permits and study permits for accompanying family members must be sent along with the principal applicant’s permanent residence application.

Protecting Immigrant Workers from Abuse and Violence

Effective June 4, 2019, workers who have an employer-specific work permit and are being abused by their employer will be able to apply for an open work permit. This will allow them to leave that employer immediately, maintain their status and find another job.

Read the complete article here

Canada ends the Designated Country of Origin practice

On May 17, 2019, Canada removed all countries from the designated country of origin (DCO) list. The DCO had 42 countries listed and applicants were subjected to a 6-month bar on work permits, a bar on appeals at the Refugee Appeals Division, limited access to the Interim Federal Health Program and a 36-month bar on the Pre-Removal Risk Assessment.

Read the complete article here

International Students

Is it a crime to work hard?. That is what Jobandeep Sandhu, and international student did. He now faces deportation for working over 20 hours a week.

Read the full article here

Canada removes all countries from the designated country of origin list

The Government of Canada has removed all countries from the designated country of origin (DCO) list, with effect from May 17, 2019.

Foreign nationals (FN) from the 42 countries on the DCO list were previously subject to a 6-month bar on work permits, a bar on appeals at the Refugee Appeals Division, limited access to the Interim Federal Health Program and a 36-month bar on the Pre-Removal Risk Assessment.

Read the entire article here

Immigration program – Global Talent Stream set to redefine Canada’s high-tech industry

Many companies in Canada have in one way or other become a technology company and are sourcing IT professionals. Many of the programs now issue foreign nationals a two-year work permits thus affording them the opportunity for permanent residence (PR).

Read the complete article in Toronto Star here

Labour Force Survey April – 107,000 new jobs created in Canada

Edmonton

According to Labour Force Survey, Statistics Canada, employment rose by 107,000 in April, particularly in part-time for youth. There was an increase in employment for youth aged 15 to 24, people aged 55 and older, and women in ages of 25 to 54. The increased employment in April was driven by more employees in the private sector (+84,000), while there were also gains in public sector employment (+23,000). There was no change in the number of self-employed.

Employment increased in Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, and Prince Edward Island. It declined in New Brunswick, and was little changed in the other provinces.

Employment in Ontario rose by 47,000 in April, primarily due to gains in part-time work among people aged 15 to 24.

In Quebec, employment increased by 38,000 in April, and the unemployment rate declined by 0.3 percentage points to 4.9%, the lowest rate since comparable data became available in 1976.

Employment in Alberta rose by 21,000 in April. Gains were primarily spread across several services-producing industries.

In Prince Edward Island, employment rose by an estimated 800 and the unemployment rate was little changed at 8.6%.

In New Brunswick, employment declined by 3,900 as gains in part-time work were more than offset by decreases in full-time employment.

Read the complete article here

International Student faces deportation for working too many hours

International students in Canada can work if their study permit allows them to work on or off campus.

They can work off campus, without a work permit, if they meet the following requirements:

• have a valid study permit

• are full-time students

• are enrolled in a post-secondary academic program

• have started studying

• their study program is at least 6 months long and leads to a degree, diploma or certificate

An international student from India was arrested and faces deportation for working over the stipulated 20 hours per week during his regular academic semester.

Read the complete article here

International Students – Visa Issues

The bulk of the students coming to Canada are from India and China, South Korea, France and Vietnam.

However, students from certain countries are unable to obtain visas due to the inherent process of obtaining a Student Permit.

Read the article here

Harry and Meghan welcome Baby Sussex

Prince Harry announced on Monday his wife had given birth to a boy and was ecstatic at becoming a father for the first time.

Baby Sussex is the first mixed-race child born to a senior member of the royal family in centuries, and is a reflection of modern Britain with its culturally diverse population.

Speaking from Windsor on Monday, the Duke said: "I'm very excited to announce that Meghan and myself had a baby boy this morning, a very healthy baby boy."

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