Looking at the May immigration update, we can see that Canada's immigration programs continued to move in the same direction as in the past. However, there were a few updates related to immigration that were announced, so let's take a look at what happened in May.
May saw the first selection of Express Entry PNP applicants since October of last year, with 3,000 CEC applicants receiving invitation letters with a score of 522. Meanwhile, the BC PNP held five rounds of selection, just like last month. On the 1st, 16th, and 28th, the general selection and Targeted Draw were announced together, while the 9th and 24th saw Targeted Draw invitations, including Tech. Tech, which had three selections, saw an increase in scores from last month with scores of 120 and 122, while Childcare, Healthcare, and Veterinary care were all announced across all five selections, with Childcare scoring 93, Healthcare scoring in the 100s, and Construction scoring 93. Meanwhile, General Draw was announced three times and scored 131, down one point from last month's 132.
Some other notable news included an update to the Saskatchewan SINP Express Entry category and the exclusion list for the required occupation category. On May 1, 2024, Saskatchewan updated the list of occupations that are excluded from selection for the provincial occupation of need and Express Entry program subcategories. The list of excluded occupations included 158 occupations, of which eight were added with this update. These include sheriffs and bailiffs, correctional services officers, code enforcement officers, cosmetologists and related occupations, freight truck drivers, bus drivers and other transit operators, pest controllers and fumigators, and heavy equipment operators. On the other hand, veterinarians and veterinary technicians, who were previously on the exclusion list, have been removed from the list with this update, making them eligible to apply for the program again. In addition, NOC TEER 4 and 5 occupations are also not eligible to apply through this route. However, if you are in an occupation on the exclusion list, you can still apply for the program through other SINPs outside of the SINP Express Entry category.
Updated criteria for proof of settlement funds for Express Entry in Canada. Some Canadian Express Entry programs require proof of settlement funds as part of the process of obtaining permanent residency. This is an important factor in helping immigrants settle and stabilize in Canada, and the government updates this figure annually based on 50% of the low-income total. This year, Citizenship and Immigration Canada has released the new updated settlement funding amounts on their website. The new thresholds will be effective May 28, 2024. Applicants to Express Entry's Skilled Worker (FSW) and Skilled Trades (FST) programs who require proof of settlement funds will need to update their settlement funds in their Express Entry profile if their previously submitted proof of funds does not meet the changed funding amounts.
Rural and Francophone Community Immigration Pilot Program Opens for Community Applications Community applications for the new Rural and Francophone Community Immigration Pilot will open on May 21, 2024 and run until July 2, 2024. Community economic development organizations across Canada that want to attract new immigrants and skilled workers through this program can apply for one or both pilots. To be approved to apply, these organizations must submit an application on behalf of their community and demonstrate how the new immigration program will strengthen the local economy. From the communities that apply, Citizenship and Immigration Canada will select up to 15 communities for the pilot based on economic need, the availability of services and programs to help newcomers, and the capacity of economic development organizations to work with Citizenship and Immigration Canada. The selected communities will be announced in the coming months, and training will begin this fall.
In other news, as of May 30, Flagpoles will be able to obtain visas inside the border without the hassle of crossing the border into the U.S. and then re-entering the country. With the exception of British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec, flagpoles will no longer be available at the borders of other provinces and territories. In addition, each border will have designated hours and numbers of applicants, so you will only be able to apply for a visa during the designated hours and within the designated number of applicants, so you will need to check the hours at each border to make sure you arrive on time.
May continued the trend in immigration programs of announcing additional details or periodic updates to previously announced policies. Although there are relatively few new reforms added, it can be interpreted that the reforms of the immigration program that have been ongoing for the past period are continuing in a certain direction. Also, as the pilot program has begun accepting applications, we are curious to know which regions will be designated as the pilot program operating regions, so we look forward to the follow-up news.
Looking at the May immigration update, we can see that Canada's immigration programs continued to move in the same direction as in the past. However, there were a few updates related to immigration that were announced, so let's take a look at what happened in May.
May saw the first selection of Express Entry PNP applicants since October of last year, with 3,000 CEC applicants receiving invitation letters with a score of 522. Meanwhile, the BC PNP held five rounds of selection, just like last month. On the 1st, 16th, and 28th, the general selection and Targeted Draw were announced together, while the 9th and 24th saw Targeted Draw invitations, including Tech. Tech, which had three selections, saw an increase in scores from last month with scores of 120 and 122, while Childcare, Healthcare, and Veterinary care were all announced across all five selections, with Childcare scoring 93, Healthcare scoring in the 100s, and Construction scoring 93. Meanwhile, General Draw was announced three times and scored 131, down one point from last month's 132.
Some other notable news included an update to the Saskatchewan SINP Express Entry category and the exclusion list for the required occupation category. On May 1, 2024, Saskatchewan updated the list of occupations that are excluded from selection for the provincial occupation of need and Express Entry program subcategories. The list of excluded occupations included 158 occupations, of which eight were added with this update. These include sheriffs and bailiffs, correctional services officers, code enforcement officers, cosmetologists and related occupations, freight truck drivers, bus drivers and other transit operators, pest controllers and fumigators, and heavy equipment operators. On the other hand, veterinarians and veterinary technicians, who were previously on the exclusion list, have been removed from the list with this update, making them eligible to apply for the program again. In addition, NOC TEER 4 and 5 occupations are also not eligible to apply through this route. However, if you are in an occupation on the exclusion list, you can still apply for the program through other SINPs outside of the SINP Express Entry category.
Updated criteria for proof of settlement funds for Express Entry in Canada. Some Canadian Express Entry programs require proof of settlement funds as part of the process of obtaining permanent residency. This is an important factor in helping immigrants settle and stabilize in Canada, and the government updates this figure annually based on 50% of the low-income total. This year, Citizenship and Immigration Canada has released the new updated settlement funding amounts on their website. The new thresholds will be effective May 28, 2024. Applicants to Express Entry's Skilled Worker (FSW) and Skilled Trades (FST) programs who require proof of settlement funds will need to update their settlement funds in their Express Entry profile if their previously submitted proof of funds does not meet the changed funding amounts.
Rural and Francophone Community Immigration Pilot Program Opens for Community Applications Community applications for the new Rural and Francophone Community Immigration Pilot will open on May 21, 2024 and run until July 2, 2024. Community economic development organizations across Canada that want to attract new immigrants and skilled workers through this program can apply for one or both pilots. To be approved to apply, these organizations must submit an application on behalf of their community and demonstrate how the new immigration program will strengthen the local economy. From the communities that apply, Citizenship and Immigration Canada will select up to 15 communities for the pilot based on economic need, the availability of services and programs to help newcomers, and the capacity of economic development organizations to work with Citizenship and Immigration Canada. The selected communities will be announced in the coming months, and training will begin this fall.
In other news, as of May 30, Flagpoles will be able to obtain visas inside the border without the hassle of crossing the border into the U.S. and then re-entering the country. With the exception of British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec, flagpoles will no longer be available at the borders of other provinces and territories. In addition, each border will have designated hours and numbers of applicants, so you will only be able to apply for a visa during the designated hours and within the designated number of applicants, so you will need to check the hours at each border to make sure you arrive on time.
May continued the trend in immigration programs of announcing additional details or periodic updates to previously announced policies. Although there are relatively few new reforms added, it can be interpreted that the reforms of the immigration program that have been ongoing for the past period are continuing in a certain direction. Also, as the pilot program has begun accepting applications, we are curious to know which regions will be designated as the pilot program operating regions, so we look forward to the follow-up news.