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How COVID-19 is affecting business at IRCC and Service Canada
Covid-19 Pandemic is affecting every aspect of life in Canada, including immigration rules. These are some of the changes announced by CIC: Are you continuing to process and accept applications? As announced, there are travel restrictions in place. We are continuing to accept and process applications at this time, although foreign nationals, unless exempt, will have their travel restricted until these measures have been lifted. What is the impact on your processing times? While we continue to serve our clients, service disruptions and restrictions due to COVID-19 may have an impact on processing times, and the current posted processing times may not be accurate. What is the impact on temporary foreign workers? IMPORTANT! Workers, students and approved permanent residents who haven’t landed should not travel yet. We’ve announced exemptions but they’re not in place. Travel restrictions are still in effect for these groups. Only Canadian citizens, and permanent residents, and some foreign nationals travelling from the United States (US) who have been in the US for at least 14 days and are asymptomatic, are able to enter Canada by air at this time. As announced on March 20, 2020, all temporary foreign workers will be able to travel to Canada by air or land. They will be exempt from the air travel restrictions announced on March 16, 2020, as well as border restrictions. Those affected by these exemptions should not try to travel to Canada immediately. We will announce when the exemptions are in place, which we anticipate will be early during the week of March 22, 2020. Like all travellers, including Canadian citizens and permanent residents, temporary foreign workers who enter Canada by air or land will undergo the necessary health checks and must isolate for 14 days upon arrival in Canada. In addition, a temporary modification is being made to the Labour Market Impact Assessment process for agriculture and food-processing employers, as the required 2-week recruitment period will be waived for the next 6 months. We are also increasing the maximum allowable employment duration for workers in the low-wage stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program from 1 to 2 years. This will improve flexibility and reduce the administrative burden for employers, including those in food processing. Will I be able to remain in Canada if I am already in the country legally? Yes. Read more here: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/coronavirus-special-measures.html , here, and here. SERVICE CANADA For changes in rules and processes introduced by Service Canada please visit |
Robots replacing Canadian visa officers
Douglas Todd: Robots replacing Canadian visa officers, Ottawa report says Douglas Todd Published: January 9, 2020 Opinion: Canada's Immigration Department is hiding the fact machines are making the call on tens of thousands of visa applications. With far more to come. |
Plans for Municipal Nomination Programs announced
Liberals plan new program to allow communities to pick immigrants Municipal nominee program is meant to help fill local labour needs Kathleen Harris · CBC News · Posted: Jan 02, 2020 4:00 AM ET The federal government plans to bring in a new immigration program that will allow cities and towns to pick newcomers based on local labour needs. |
Parent and grandparent reunification program reopening postponed
Parent and grandparent reunification program reopening postponed as Liberals look at new system 'This will give all interested sponsors the same opportunity to submit,' says Immigration Canada Catharine Tunney · CBC News · Posted: Dec 30, 2019 5:40 PM ET |
Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot program open?
November 14, 2019 CIC has updated their Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot program page information. |
Expansion of Student Direct Stream to support Francophone immigration
Applicants from Senegal and Morocco will get access to a more efficient process for study permits August 30, 2019 – Ottawa – Canada is making the Student Direct Stream (SDS) available to international students coming from Senegal and Morocco, starting September 9, 2019. To be eligible for faster processing through the Student Direct Stream, you must: be a legal resident living in 1 of the following countries:
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New immigration pathway for undocumented construction workers in Greater Toronto
By Nicholas KeungImmigration Reporter Fri., July 26, 2019 Ottawa has unveiled a new program that will offer both an immigration pathway for undocumented construction workers in Greater Toronto and help to address a labour shortage in the city. The pilot has spots for 500 workers — plus their family members — and will open for application on September 3 through the Canadian Labour Congress, which will pre-screen and refer qualified candidates for final assessment by the immigration department. |
New immigration pilot will offer permanent residency to migrant farm-workers
The Liberal government is launching a new three-year immigration experiment that aims to help fill labour shortages in the agri-food sector The Canadian Press July 12, 2019 This new pilot program, which is to begin in 2020, aims to attract and retain migrant workers by giving them an opportunity to become permanent residents. Under this new pilot, temporary foreign farm workers will be able to apply for permanent residency after 12 months and, if they’re approved, will also be allowed to bring their families to Canada. Read more... |
Quebec launches new system to select immigrants
Arrima, an online platform, will select candidates based on employability and language skills. RENÉ BRUEMMER, MONTREAL GAZETTE Updated: June 27, 2019 |
Two new pilot programs for Caregivers in Canada
By Nicholas KeungImmigration Reporter Sat., June 15, 2019 Under two new pilot programs — Home Child Care Provider and Home Support Worker — to be announced Saturday and launched Tuesday, their loved ones can also accompany them to Canada and be offered open work permits and study permits to keep the immediate family together, a privilege only high-skilled migrant workers currently enjoy. ... The new pilots will each have an annual quota of 2,750 principal applicants, for a total of 5,500 per year, plus their immediate family, said immigration officials. |
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