World’s most livable cities in 2019

Three of Canada’s biggest cities are among the 10 most livable in the world in 2019 out of 140 cities surveyed by The Economist Intelligence Unit, a division of The Economist Group. Their annual index evaluates cities around the globe, and ranks them by 30 factors across five umbrella categories (weighed by percentage) — “stability (25%), healthcare (20%), culture and environment (25%), education (10%), and infrastructure (20%).”

Calgary, Alberta, was fifth, Vancouver and Toronto ranked sixth and seventh, the same ranking as last year. For the second year in a row, Vienna, Austria was the most livable city in the world.

According to The EIU 2019, here are the top 10 most livable cities in the world:

1. Vienna, Austria (99.1)

2. Melbourne, Australia (98.4)

3. Sydney, Australia (98.1)

4. Osaka, Japan (97.7)

5. Calgary, Canada (97.5)

6. Vancouver, Canada (97.3)

7. Tokyo, Japan (97.2 tie)

8. Toronto, Canada (97.2 tie)

9. Copenhagen, Denmark (96.8)

10. Adelaide, Australia (96.6)

Happy Friday the 13th!

Today, the dreaded Friday the 13th, is the perfect time for the luckless and superstitious. Make sure to avoid ladders and cracks in the sidewalk, be careful with mirrors, and, of course, remember to watch out for black cats that might cross your path.

Whether your Friday turns out to be freaky or fun, keep calm. Hope you have a lucky day!

Visa Application Centre service changes in Europe, Africa and Middle East

Visa application centres (VACs) have contracts with the Government of Canada to provide visa application support services and biometrics (fingerprints and photographs).

Currently, the following services are offered as a package at VACs in Europe, Africa and the Middle East:

• submitting paper application

• sending documents (such as passport) and returning them to you

• collecting biometrics (fingerprints and photograph) by appointment and/or walk-in

Beginning November 2, 2019, at VACs in Europe, Africa and the Middle East you will be required to:

• pay an extra fee to submit your paper application (fee is different by location)

• make an appointment to provide your biometrics (no more walk-in)

Also, new VAC websites will be launched in October for all VACs in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. The below two VACs will be closed effective November 29, 2019:

• Sofia, Bulgaria

• Podgorica, Montenegro

To find a visa application centre near you click here

Prayers For Peace, Healing On 9/11 Anniversary

"Let us vow to transform our world by transforming ourselves."

9/11 2019

God of all races, nations, and religions, You know that we cannot change others, nor can we change the past. But we can change ourselves.

-Fr. Richard Rohr

Happy Onam 2019

May the colours and lights of Onam fill your home with happiness and joy. Happy Onam 2019.

10 September Two-year pilot to facilitate immigration of certain sponsored family members from lifetime ban now in effect

When a person applies to become a permanent resident, they are required to declare all of their family members (spouse, common-law partner, dependent children, dependent child of a dependent child), even if they are not accompanying the principal applicant to Canada. Also, they also need to be examined in some cases. This has been the norm in order that IRCC has all relevant information to make a decision on their permanent residence application and mainly to ensure that these family members would not make the principal applicant ineligible or inadmissible.

Currently, the consequence for failing to have a non-accompanying family member examined is a lifetime bar on being able to sponsor that family member. These regulations encouraged full disclosure by applicants, to enhance the overall integrity of Family Class immigration, and to protect the health, safety and security of Canadians.

A new two-year pilot began on September 9, and will now allow sponsorship applications for certain family members who would normally be banned from obtaining permanent residence under IRCC regulations.

IRCC will grant an exemption to foreign nationals (people) who meet all of the following conditions:

• The foreign national has applied as a spouse or a common-law partner in the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada class or as a spouse, a common-law partner or a dependent child in the Family Class;

• The foreign national has a sponsor who:

1. Applied for, and was granted permanent residence status as a Convention refugee or a person in similar circumstances; or,

2. Was granted permanent residence after having been determined to be a protected person; or,

3. Was determined to be a member of the Family Class, and was granted permanent residence as a sponsored spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, or dependent child; or,

4. Was determined to be a member of the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class and was granted permanent residence as a sponsored spouse or common-law partner.

• The foreign national, if declared and examined at the time their sponsor immigrated to Canada, would not have made their sponsor ineligible in the class that the sponsor applied for.

The pilot is effective from September 9, 2019, and ends on September 9, 2021.

Quebec – Province promises to help businesses recruit temporary foreign workers

The government of Quebec has announced nearly $21 million to help private businesses recruit and integrate temporary foreign workers as the province struggles with a growing labour shortage.

Labour Minister Jean Boulet, said that “the funding will help cover the costs of companies’ recruitment missions and provide financial assistance of up to $1,000 per worker for relocation.”

Under the plan, Boulet told reporters on Monday he believes the province will aid 2,000 businesses in recruiting temporary foreign workers within the next two years.

Boulet said that “The recruitment of temporary foreign workers is an option that more and more businesses are turning to in their efforts to address labour shortages.”

As part of the plan, the government is also investing $34 million to improve the newcomers’ integration in Quebec.

The additional funding is also being cautiously welcomed by the Comité consultatif personnes immigrants (CCPI), a commission that looks into the labour problems facing immigrants.

The government says its immigration policies will ensure immigrants are properly integrated and that those admitted meet existing labour needs in the province.

Express Entry - Alberta PNP Issues Invitations to 121 Candidates

On August 15th, Alberta issued 121 Notifications of Interest (NOIs) to Express Entry (EE) stream candidates with Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores as low as 400 in its latest draw.

Prior to this on August 7, Alberta issued 35 invitations to candidates who had a CRS score of 352.

The EE stream of Alberta’s PNP is connected to the federal EE system, which means that the candidate must first create an EE profile in order to be considered for a PNP nomination. It is worth mentioning that to be eligible candidates do not require to have a job offer or previous work experience in Alberta. The key is that they should be working in an occupation that supports the economic development and diversification priorities of the province of Alberta.

The Express Entry stream of Alberta PNP gives priority to candidates with:

• A job offers and/or work experience in Alberta;

• A degree from a Canadian post-secondary institution and a valid job offer; or

• A parent, child or sibling already living in Alberta.

Student Direct Stream available to international students coming from Senegal and Morocco

Starting September 9, 2019, the Student Direct Stream (SDS) will be expanded to support Francophone immigration. As a result, students from Senegal and Morocco will get access to a more efficient process for study permits.

By providing fast, reliable processing of study permit applications, Canada is better equipped to compete in attracting the best and the brightest from around the world.

The more efficient SDS process was launched in 2018 for students applying from China, India, the Philippines, Vietnam and Pakistan, with an average processing time of less than 3 weeks.

Canada is a top destination for students seeking both a high-quality international education and employment in their field of study once they graduate. With Canadian education credentials and skilled work experience in Canada, former international students are well positioned for success in applying for permanent residence through Express Entry.

Since 2017, Express Entry candidates with strong French skills have been able to earn additional ranking points. This provides more opportunity for them to successfully transition to permanent residence and contribute to the vitality and growth of Francophone communities outside of Quebec.

Expanding this faster and more efficient application process to prospective students from Senegal and Morocco supports the Canada’s Francophone Immigration Strategy to encourage more young French speakers to choose to study in Canada.

EXPRESS ENTRY DRAW: September 4, 2019

The Express Entry draw of today, September 4th, issued 3,600 invitations to apply (ITAs) and were issued to candidates who had a comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 463.

The score in this draw went up by 6 points from the last draw on August 20th.

Wishing You All a Happy Labour Day!

"The miracle is not that we do this work, but that we are happy to do it".

(Saint) Mother Teresa

Canadian Muslims being denied entry to U.S.

There have been a number of instances where Canadian Muslims have been turned away at the Canada-U.S. point of entry (POE) according to a recent report.

Read the entire article here

Saskatchewan - 150 candidates invited to apply for Express Entry and Occupations In-Demand streams

Recently, Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) issued 150 invitations to apply in the latest draw. The candidates who received the invitation to apply (ITA) were in the Occupations In-Demand and Express Entry categories as follows:

• Occupations In-Demand - 105

• Express Entry – 45

All the candidates had to have a minimum Saskatchewan Expression of Interest score of 78 points from 100 points and was based on education, language proficiency (English/French), work experience and having a family member in the province.

It is worth noting that the minimum expression of interest (EOI) points went up to 78 effective August 15, 2019. In the prior draws in July it was 74 points.

Find out if you qualify to immigrate to Canada by either calling us at 1-905-820-3924 or WhatsApp at 1-416-904-3815, by email at info@onecanadavisa.com or by completing our free on-line evaluation at www.onecanadavisa.com . We will get back to you within one day.

Canada’s New International Education Strategy (2019-2024)

The new International Education Strategy (IES) builds on the attributes that make Canada a powerhouse in international education: strong schools and programs of study in both English and French; peaceful, welcoming and diverse communities; an enviable quality of life; opportunities to work and start careers; and pathways to permanent residency.

The new IES will, in collaboration with the provinces, territories, associations and institutions:

• Encourage Canadian students to gain new skills through study and work abroad opportunities in key global markets, especially Asia;

• Diversify the countries from which international students come to Canada, as well as their fields, levels of study, and location of study within Canada; and

• Increase support for Canadian education sector institutions to help grow their export services and explore new opportunities abroad.

The Minister of International Trade Diversification, James Gordon Carr said in a statement “International education is an essential pillar of Canada’s long-term competitiveness. Canadians who study abroad gain exposure to new cultures and ideas, stimulating innovation and developing important cross-cultural competencies. Students from abroad who study in Canada bring those same benefits to our shores. If they choose to immigrate to Canada, they contribute to Canada’s economic success. Those who choose to return to their countries become life-long ambassadors for Canada and for Canadian values.”

The IES includes a five-year Outbound Student Mobility Pilot program which will help post-secondary students with the costs of study or work abroad. The program also focuses on supporting under-represented students (e.g., Indigenous students, students from less privileged backgrounds, students with disabilities) to develop the skills they need to succeed in an increasingly globalized and changing economy.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will also improve its online services and forms to better connect to people who seek to visit, study or work in Canada. It plans to expand the Student Direct Stream (SDS) and make it available to prospective students from more countries. The SDS enables students who submit electronic applications and meet additional up-front requirements to benefit from quicker processing times.

Canada has world- famous universities such as McGill, in Montreal, and the University of Toronto, both of which are popular with international students. To make sure that Canada will remain one of the world’s top destination for learning, the new (IES) aims to strengthen Canadian international education competitive advantage to enable students to take what they learn and use it to help create jobs.

It is hoped that IES will increase awareness of what Canada has to offer international students and will contribute to Canada’s reputation as a respected centre of international education.

Quebec Introduces New Program to Help Newcomers Integrate

Immigration Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette stated that this program is a key piece to reforming Quebec’s immigration system. Adding that, Quebec is investing $20 million each year in its new “personalized support course” program to help newcomers successfully integrate into Quebec society.

The foreign national (FN) must first obtain a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) to immigrate which is issued by the Diversity and Inclusion (MIDI) ministry. The FN has to then apply to the federal government to become permanent residents.
Upon receiving the CSQ the FN has access to various resources and also has a designated immigration officer assigned to them. When the FN (now a newcomer) arrives in Quebec, they are greeted at the airport and invited to meet with a designated integration assistance officer within a week, and an individualized action plan is created for them.
Basically, there are four steps to this newcomer process:

1. Arrival

2. Francization

3. Integration into the job market

4. Community integration
   
   

Officers will monitor the progress of each immigrant and adjust strategies to provide services tailored to each applicant’s needs, said the government. Training will be offered in terms of francization, recognition of prior learning and information on all regions of Quebec.
Read more about the program here

Prince Edward Island issues 143 invitations in its latest draw

Prince Edward Island (PEI) launched its expression of interest in January 2018, and since then has made regular draws every month.

On August 15th, the PEI provincial nominee program (PNP) issued 10 invitations to applicants in the Business Impact stream, and 133 invitations to the Labour Impact Express Entry stream.

The total number of invitations that have been issued in 2019 stands at 1,065.

As the PEI PNP is linked to the federal Express Entry system, it enables the province to nominate applicants for PR through the FSWC, FSTC and CEC.

Quebec Experience Graduate Stream Applications Temporarily Suspended

The Government of Quebec has announced that the intake of applications to the Quebec Experience Program’s Graduates Stream has been suspended until November 1, 2019. In his ministerial instructions on July 10, 2019, Quebec’s Immigration Minister, Simon Jolin-Barrette has highlighted the key elements of the suspension.

However, there are a couple of exceptions under which the applicants can apply:

1.     Graduates who have a valid work permit as of July 10th, 2019, expiring before November 1, 2019, and are currently living in Quebec.

2.     Applicants who had previous applications terminated with the passing of Quebec’s Bill 9 in June 2019, and were either working or studying in Quebec on a temporary resident visa (TRV).

As this has curtailed international students from applying for the PEQ, students have other choices of either the Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) and the Canadian Experience Class pathways to attain permanent residence (PR).

Do You have a Question in relation to your options, JM Immigration can assist you, call/text 416-904-3815, or send your query to www.onecanadavisa.com.

World Humanitarian Day - 19 August

"From supporting civilians caught up in crisis to addressing disease outbreaks, women humanitarians are on the front lines."

— UN Secretary-General, António Guterres

Celebrated every year on 19 August, World Humanitarian Day is directed towards honoring humanitarian efforts worldwide and propagating the idea of supporting people in crisis. On this day, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OPCA) advocates on behalf of the entire humanitarian community.

Read the article here

Happy World Humanitarian Day!

If each of us reaches out in our own little way in helping to improve the welfare and happiness of people, the world will be a better place.

New Brunswick Occupation List for Express Entry Expanded

New Brunswick added 9 occupations to the New Brunswick Express Entry stream’s priority list (Labour Market Stream). This list now has 19 occupations. The applicants who apply and are selected in the Express Entry Stream are eligible to an additional 600 points, and makes them eligible to receive and invitation to apply (ITA) for permanent residence (PR).

NOC 9461 -Processing and packaging technician

NOC 7237 - Welders and related machine operators

NOC 9536 - Industrial painters

NOC 7231 - Machinist

NOC 7316- Machine fitters

NOC 9526 - Mechanical assemblers

NOC 6552 - Customer service representatives

NOC 6322 - Cooks

NOC 0631 - Restaurant and food service managers

NOC 6311 - Food service supervisors

New Brunswick’s Express Entry Labour Market Stream allows the New Brunswick (NBPNP) to use the federal Express Entry immigration selection system to nominate candidates who meet New Brunswick’s specific labour market needs.

The NBPNP only considers Expressions of Interest to this category from candidates who meet the eligibility criteria for the Federal Skilled Worker Class (FSWC) and who have a score of 67 points out of 100 in the FSWC selection factors.

Saskatchewan’s new Expression of Interest System

Saskatchewan’s new Expression of Interest system for Express Entry, Occupations In-Demand sub-categories has more benefits that the previous first-come, first-served model.

The first-come, first-served model that was used for the international skilled worker sub-categories had prevented many qualified candidates from applying as they missed the date for submitting their applications.
The Occupations In-Demand sub-category is for eligible skilled workers who have the required amount of work experience in one of Saskatchewan’s in-demand occupations.
Applicants who are interested need to register a profile with the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP). They are provided with a ranking score that is based on their answers to questions relating to work experience, education and English or French language proficiency, and a couple other factors.
Applicants who score 60 points on Saskatchewan’s assessment grating are entered into its pool of candidates for the Express Entry and Occupations In-Demand sub-category. Applicants who are selected are invited to apply for a provincial nomination through the usual draws.