This is an immigration roundup column to summarize the state of immigration in Canada in April 2024. Currently, Canada's immigration policy is in the process of refining existing programs and addressing overload and other adverse effects. The past month seems to have followed this general direction, with improvements to immigration policies and immigrant selection. Let's take a look at the current status of immigration selection and the various policies announced.
First, the Express Entry general selection was held in two rounds as usual. The selection score increased significantly to 549 points and then decreased again to 529 points. Category draws were also held twice, with the first STEM draw scoring 491 and the fourth French Language Proficiency draw scoring 410. In addition, the BC PNP saw record high scores for both the general draw and the Targeted Draw.
Nova Scotia has suspended selections for the Accommodation and Food Service occupation in the Skilled Worker pathway and the Nova Scotia Experience Express Entry (NSEEE) program as of noon on April 17th. These occupations include motels, hotels, resorts, bed and breakfast accommodations, cottages and cabins with housekeeping services, RV parks and campgrounds, hunting and fishing camps, and various recreation and adventure camps, with NOC codes beginning with 721 or 722. Workers in these occupations will not be able to apply for permanent residence through these pathways for the time being, and it is not yet known when applications will resume.
Since April 30, the government fee for permanent residency has increased. Permanent residence fees are announced every two years in accordance with Citizenship and Immigration Canada regulations, and the increase is adjusted by the cumulative percentage increase in the Canadian Consumer Price Index over the previous two years, rounded to the nearest $5. Permanent residence now costs $575 CAD, an increase of $60 CAD from $515 CAD, and Express Entry FSW, PNP, and other economic categories now cost $950 CAD for the principal applicant and accompanying spouse, an increase of $100 CAD.
In addition, Citizenship and Immigration Canada has revised its federal business programs with the goal of reducing the backlog of permanent resident applications and speeding up processing times. The Startup Visa Program is a pathway for entrepreneurs who are backed by a venture capital fund, angel investor group, or business incubator designated by Citizenship and Immigration Canada to actively support entrepreneurs in Canada. The revisions mean that only applications associated with a maximum of 10 startups per designated organization will be processed each year, with priority given to those backed by Canadian capital or business incubators that are members of the Canadian Technology Network. In addition, the Self-Employed Persons program, which has been plagued by backlogs and has seen its processing time stretched to four years, will pause accepting applications from April 30 until 2026.
A temporary measure that allowed international students to work more than 20 hours per week has expired. Originally, eligible international students studying at Canadian institutions were allowed to work up to 20 hours per week, but as Canada faced a workforce shortage of 1 million people during the coronavirus pandemic, the country temporarily lifted the restriction to ease tensions in the labor market. The measure was first implemented on November 15, 2022, and was initially extended until December 31, 2023, and then once again until April 30, 2024. Currently, the measures expired at the end of April without an extension. Instead, the company plans to change the workweek to 24 hours starting this fall to help students balance their work while focusing on their studies.
As mentioned earlier, April also saw a number of restrictions announced by immigration, including the suspension of the self-employed immigrant program, the suspension of some programs in Nova Scotia, and tighter requirements for startup visas, all of which raised deep concerns that the door to immigration has become even narrower. One of the many reasons for these restrictions, as evidenced by the recent spike in immigration selection scores, is that many applicants are crowding into certain immigration programs and overloading the immigration system, which can be seen as a problem. Therefore, addressing these issues can also be seen in a positive light. Reforming the immigration program will ultimately lead to fewer fraudulent applications and fewer people applying fraudulently, which will help to create a healthier market in the long run. So, I think this pause will create a better immigration market than we have now. So, if you're currently in the process of immigrating, I would recommend that you take the time to find the right fit and make sure that you're using your waiting time effectively.
This is an immigration roundup column to summarize the state of immigration in Canada in April 2024. Currently, Canada's immigration policy is in the process of refining existing programs and addressing overload and other adverse effects. The past month seems to have followed this general direction, with improvements to immigration policies and immigrant selection. Let's take a look at the current status of immigration selection and the various policies announced.
First, the Express Entry general selection was held in two rounds as usual. The selection score increased significantly to 549 points and then decreased again to 529 points. Category draws were also held twice, with the first STEM draw scoring 491 and the fourth French Language Proficiency draw scoring 410. In addition, the BC PNP saw record high scores for both the general draw and the Targeted Draw.
Nova Scotia has suspended selections for the Accommodation and Food Service occupation in the Skilled Worker pathway and the Nova Scotia Experience Express Entry (NSEEE) program as of noon on April 17th. These occupations include motels, hotels, resorts, bed and breakfast accommodations, cottages and cabins with housekeeping services, RV parks and campgrounds, hunting and fishing camps, and various recreation and adventure camps, with NOC codes beginning with 721 or 722. Workers in these occupations will not be able to apply for permanent residence through these pathways for the time being, and it is not yet known when applications will resume.
Since April 30, the government fee for permanent residency has increased. Permanent residence fees are announced every two years in accordance with Citizenship and Immigration Canada regulations, and the increase is adjusted by the cumulative percentage increase in the Canadian Consumer Price Index over the previous two years, rounded to the nearest $5. Permanent residence now costs $575 CAD, an increase of $60 CAD from $515 CAD, and Express Entry FSW, PNP, and other economic categories now cost $950 CAD for the principal applicant and accompanying spouse, an increase of $100 CAD.
In addition, Citizenship and Immigration Canada has revised its federal business programs with the goal of reducing the backlog of permanent resident applications and speeding up processing times. The Startup Visa Program is a pathway for entrepreneurs who are backed by a venture capital fund, angel investor group, or business incubator designated by Citizenship and Immigration Canada to actively support entrepreneurs in Canada. The revisions mean that only applications associated with a maximum of 10 startups per designated organization will be processed each year, with priority given to those backed by Canadian capital or business incubators that are members of the Canadian Technology Network. In addition, the Self-Employed Persons program, which has been plagued by backlogs and has seen its processing time stretched to four years, will pause accepting applications from April 30 until 2026.
A temporary measure that allowed international students to work more than 20 hours per week has expired. Originally, eligible international students studying at Canadian institutions were allowed to work up to 20 hours per week, but as Canada faced a workforce shortage of 1 million people during the coronavirus pandemic, the country temporarily lifted the restriction to ease tensions in the labor market. The measure was first implemented on November 15, 2022, and was initially extended until December 31, 2023, and then once again until April 30, 2024. Currently, the measures expired at the end of April without an extension. Instead, the company plans to change the workweek to 24 hours starting this fall to help students balance their work while focusing on their studies.
As mentioned earlier, April also saw a number of restrictions announced by immigration, including the suspension of the self-employed immigrant program, the suspension of some programs in Nova Scotia, and tighter requirements for startup visas, all of which raised deep concerns that the door to immigration has become even narrower. One of the many reasons for these restrictions, as evidenced by the recent spike in immigration selection scores, is that many applicants are crowding into certain immigration programs and overloading the immigration system, which can be seen as a problem. Therefore, addressing these issues can also be seen in a positive light. Reforming the immigration program will ultimately lead to fewer fraudulent applications and fewer people applying fraudulently, which will help to create a healthier market in the long run. So, I think this pause will create a better immigration market than we have now. So, if you're currently in the process of immigrating, I would recommend that you take the time to find the right fit and make sure that you're using your waiting time effectively.
Justin Shim / Immigration Consultant
info@cannestimm.com, 604-662-3266