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IMPACT – LOW
What is the change? Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada is testing the use of telephone interviews to confirm permanent residency for selected applicants who are already in Canada.
What does the change mean? In the pilot, an approved permanent residence applicant who is already in Canada may receive an email or a message through their IRCC account inviting them to be confirmed as a permanent resident by telephone at a specified date and time. Those confirmed by telephone will then receive their permanent residency confirmation by mail or uploaded to their IRCC account online. The interview will last approximately 15 minutes and the applicant will sign the permanent residence document during the telephone call.
Background: Currently, approved permanent residence applicants in Canada must travel to an IRCC office for an in-person appointment or leave and re-enter Canada for confirmation. The pilot is testing a third option for confirmation that would save approved applicants time and travel expenses.
BAL Analysis: If successful, the IRCC’s telephone confirmation system for permanent residence will make it easier for approved applicants to confirm their permanent residency. BAL will continue monitoring the IRCC’s pilot and inform clients if and when the pilot is considered successful and fully implemented.
This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.
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IMPACT – MEDIUM
What is the change? Canada has removed visa limitations on Bulgarian and Romanian nationals.
What does the change mean? Bulgarian and Romanian nationals no longer need to apply for a visa at a Canadian consulate and may now apply for an electronic travel authorization, or eTA, before traveling to Canada.
Background: Since May, Canada has allowed Bulgarian and Romanian nationals to use the faster eTA only if they held a Canadian visa in the previous 10 years or hold a current and valid U.S. visa. The eTA is now available to all Bulgarian and Romanian citizens.
BAL Analysis: Bulgarian and Romania nationals making business trips to Canada will benefit from the faster eTA procedures.
What is the change? Argentina will waive the visa reciprocity fee for Canadians starting Jan. 1.
What does the change mean? Canadians will no longer need to pay the US$78 online fee before travel, as is currently required. Canadians remain visa-exempt for stays of up to 90 days in Argentina.
Background: In 2008, Argentina imposed reciprocity fees on travelers from Canada, the U.S. and Australia. Argentina removed the reciprocity fee for the U.S. in 2016 and for Australia this year.
BAL Analysis: The removal of the reciprocity fee will facilitate business travel and reduce costs for Canadian business travelers to Argentina.
What is the change? Canada conducted its 17th Express Entry draw of the year Wednesday, issuing 3,202 invitations to apply for permanent residency. The lowest qualifying score was 440.
What does the change mean? The number of invitations issued was lower than it has been in most draws this year, and down by about 200 invitations from the last draw. The minimum qualifying score, while down slightly from the June 28 draw, remained higher than minimum scores in April and May. This is likely in part because of a change in the scoring system that awards more points to Francophone immigrants and those with siblings in Canada.
Background: There have been 17 draws so far this year:
*PNP nominees only
**Federal Skilled Trades Program applicants only.
BAL Analysis: The minimum score remained high when compared with most draws since April, but on the whole this year, Canada continues to issue a high number of invitations to apply for permanent residence. Canada has issued 54,507 Express Entry invitations so far in 2017, compared with 33,782 in all of 2016 and 31,063 in 2015.
This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group and our network provider located in Canada. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.
What is the change? Canada has conducted its 16th Express Entry draw of the year, issuing 3,409 invitations to apply for permanent residency. The lowest qualifying score was 449.
What does the change mean? The number of invitations issued in Wednesday’s draw was lower than it has been in most draws this year, and the minimum qualifying score was up significantly compared with draws in April and May. This is likely because of two factors: (1) a change in the scoring system that awards more points to Francophone immigrants and those with siblings in Canada; and (2) the fact that nearly a month has passed since the last Express Entry draw, leaving more applicants in the pool. Draws had been conducted roughly every two weeks for most of 2017.
Background: There have been 16 draws so far this year:
BAL Analysis: The minimum score was up by 36 points from the last draw, but on the whole this year, Canada continues to issue a high number of invitations to apply for permanent residence. Canada has issued 51,305 Express Entry invitations so far in 2017, compared with 33,782 in all of 2016 and 31,063 in 2015.
What is the change? The Canada Border Services Agency has said that certain port-of-entry applications made at checkpoints on the Rainbow, Queenston-Lewiston and Peace bridges in Southern Ontario will not be accepted from Friday to Monday.
What does the change mean? The change will only apply to so-called “flagpoling” cases, where a temporary resident leaves Canada briefly for the purpose of re-entering to submit an application for a work or study permit or for confirmation of permanent residence. Applications that do not involve flagpoling will continue to be accepted. Authorities will also continue to accept applications (whether they involve flagpoling or not) on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays and at other border crossings or at airports.
Background: The Canada Border Services Agency has said it is piloting the flagpoling project to help ensure that resources are focused on security and trade priorities during high-volume periods. The CBSA previously indicated that changes similar to these would be put in place in May, but implementation was delayed. CBSA has now confirmed that border application procedures have been implemented at the Rainbow, Queenston-Lewiston and Peace bridges in Southern Ontario.
BAL Analysis: Travelers should take note of the change and only plan on submitting flagpole applications at checkpointsoints on the Rainbow, Queenston-Lewiston and Peace bridges on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays. Even then, applications may take longer to process if submitted at these locations, so submitting applications at inland checkpoints may be a better option.
IMPACT – HIGH
What is the change? Canada launched its Global Skills Strategy program Monday, aiming to help select companies more easily recruit workers in recognized professions.
What does the change mean? The program’s overarching goals include: (1) identifying companies that make significant investments in the Canadian economy; (2) exempting certain jobs from standard recruiting requirements; (3) setting a two-week period for processing time for visas and work permits for qualifying applicants; and (4) introducing new short-term work authorization exemptions.
Background: Canadian officials announced plans for the new Global Skills Strategy in March, but provided few details on how the program would work. Officials provided more information Monday, saying:
BAL Analysis: The Global Skills Strategy has the potential to significantly help qualifying companies recruit high-skilled, in-demand workers. Both the faster processing times and the short-term work authorization will make it easier for eligible companies to meet workforce demands.
What is the change? Canada has conducted its 15th Express Entry draw of the year, issuing 3,877 invitations to apply for permanent residency. The lowest qualifying score was 413.
What does the change mean? The draw followed two smaller draws last week in which a total of 543 invitations to apply were issued to applicants in the Federal Skilled Trades and Provincial Nominee programs. The number of invitations issued in Wednesday’s draw was on par with standard draws conducted so far in 2017, and up significantly compared with draws in 2015 and 2016. The minimum qualifying score of 413 was the lowest qualifying score to date, not counting last week’s draw exclusively for applicants in the Federal Skilled Trades Program. The low minimum score indicates that a wide pool of candidates continues to be accepted.
Background: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada made changes to the Comprehensive Ranking System in November. The changes benefit candidates with a valid job offer that is not supported by a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment, provided that the employee has worked for the employer for a year and the job is in NOC 0, A or B occupations. The new scoring system also benefits candidates who have completed post-secondary education in Canada. Additional changes to the scoring system are set to go into effect in June, and they should help attract Francophone immigrants and those with siblings in Canada.
There have been 15 draws so far this year:
BAL Analysis: Wednesday’s draw continued the trend of high numbers of invitations and low minimum qualifying scores since the new scoring system was introduced. Canada has issued 47,896 Express Entry invitations so far this year, compared with 33,782 in all of 2016 and 31,063 in 2015.
What is the change? Canada has conducted its 12th Express Entry draw of the year, issuing 3,687 invitations to apply for permanent residency. The lowest qualifying score was 415.
What does the change mean? The number of invitations issued was on par with other draws conducted so far in 2017, and up significantly compared with draws in 2015 and 2016. The minimum qualifying score of 415 was the lowest qualifying score to date (tied with the minimum score in the April 19 draw), indicating that a wide pool of candidates continues to be accepted.
There have been 12 draws so far this year:
BAL Analysis: Wednesday’s draw continued the trend of high numbers of invitations and low minimum qualifying scores since the new scoring system was introduced. Canada has issued 43,476 Express Entry invitations so far this year, compared with 33,782 in all of 2016 and 31,063 in 2015.
What is the change? Canada has conducted its 11th Express Entry draw of the year, issuing 3,796 invitations to apply for permanent residency. The lowest qualifying score was 423.
What does the change mean? The number of invitations issued was on par with other draws conducted so far this year, and up significantly compared with draws in 2015 and 2016. The minimum qualifying score of 423 was one of the lowest qualifying scores to date, indicating that a wide pool of candidates continues to be accepted.
Background: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada made changes to the Comprehensive Ranking System in November. The changes benefit candidates with a valid job offer that is not supported by a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment, provided the employee has worked for the employer for a year and the job is in NOC 0, A or B occupations. The new scoring system also benefits candidates who have completed post-secondary education in Canada. Additional changes to the scoring system are set to go into effect in June, and they should help attract Francophone immigrants and those with siblings in Canada.
There have been 11 draws so far this year:
BAL Analysis: Thursday’s draw was the fourth draw in a 30-day period after draws had been conducted roughly every two weeks for most of 2016 and 2017. The draw continues the trend of high numbers of invitations and low minimum qualifying scores since the new scoring system was introduced.