Study and Settle in Canada - S&SC

September 18, 2024—Ottawa
To ensure the temporary residents we welcome to Canada can be supported adequately, the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, today announced additional measures to manage the volume of temporary resident arrivals, uphold the integrity of our immigration system and protect vulnerable people.

1. announcing a further reduction in the intake cap on international student study permits for 2025 based on a 10% reduction from the 2024 target of 485,000 new study permits issued, and then stabilizing the intake cap for 2026 such that the number of study permits issued remains the same as 2025
For 2025, this means reducing study permits issued to 437,000.

2. Graduates from programs at public colleges will remain eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) of up to three years if they graduate from a field of study linked to occupations in long-term shortage.

3. As part of changes to the PGWP Program, all applicants will be required to demonstrate a minimum language proficiency in French or English. This will increase their ability to transition to permanent residence and adapt to changing economic conditions. A Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 for university graduates and CLB 5 for college graduates will be required for anyone applying for a post-graduation work permit on or after November 1, 2024.

4. The 2025–2026 study permit intake cap will include master’s and doctoral students, who will now have to submit a provincial or territorial attestation letter.

5. limiting work permit eligibility, later this year, to spouses of master’s degree students to only those whose program is at least 16 months in duration

6. limiting work permit eligibility later this year to spouses of foreign workers in management or professional occupations or in sectors with labour shortages—under Canada’s work permit programs (TFWP and IMP)

As of April 1, 2025, expired refugee protection claimant documents (RPCDs) will no longer be valid.

Asylum claimants can use our easy and accessible online process to renew this important document.

Once a request is processed, clients will receive their new RPCD by mail or be asked to pick it up at a local IRCC office.

To find out more and get step-by-step instructions on how to fill out the web form, visit: https://ow.ly/TXLp50Ta1gw

Great news for Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) Candidates!

Canada is introducing a new public policy to make it easier for eligible PNP candidates to get open work permits. This is to help more temporary residents transition to permanent residency.

Who is eligible:
- People from other countries who have a current job offer or a valid work permit, or had a valid work permit that expired on May 7th.
- They need a letter of support from the province or territory where they live.
- The letter must say the person is in an Expression of Interest pool or another application inventory process.

People who meet the criteria and provide the right documents can get an open work permit.

Keep in mind that this public policy will end on December 31, 2024, and could be canceled at any time without warning.

Link: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/mandate/policies-operational-instructions-agreements/public-policies/work-permits-prospective-pnp-candidats.html

No More Visitor to Work Permit Conversion from inside Canada !!

Ottawa, August 28, 2024— Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has ended a temporary public policy that allowed visitors to apply for a work permit from within Canada, effective immediately.

IRCC introduced the policy in August 2020 to help visitors who were unable to leave the country due to COVID-19 pandemic–related travel restrictions. Under the policy, visitors in Canada could apply for a work permit without having to leave the country. In addition, foreign nationals who had held a work permit in the previous 12 months but who changed their status in Canada to “visitor” could apply to work legally in Canada while waiting for a decision on their new work permit application.

While the temporary policy was set to expire on February 28, 2025, IRCC is ending the policy as part of our overall efforts to recalibrate the number of temporary residents in Canada and preserve the integrity of the immigration system. IRCC is also aware that some bad actors were using the policy to mislead foreign nationals into working in Canada without authorization.

Link: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/notices/ends-tpp-allowing-visitors-apply-work-permits-within-country.html

The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program will launch a new expression of interest system on September 30, 2024.

Employment and Workforce Development Minister Randy Boissonnault told business associations Tuesday that the federal government is considering refusing temporary foreign worker (TFW) applications under its low-wage stream, his office told CBC News.

The policy change would apply to jobs that pay below the median hourly wage in each province and territory. That median wage varies by jurisdiction, ranging from $24 per hour in Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia to $39.24 per hour in the Northwest Territories.

"I've been clear over the last year, abuse and misuse of the TFW program must end. The health and safety of temporary foreign workers in Canada is a responsibility I take very seriously," Boissonnault said in a media statement.

An amendment is being proposed to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations. The proposed amendments would include the introduction of a new permanent economic class for workers with experience in Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities occupations (TEER) 4 and 5.

A well-structured study plan can significantly increase your chances of approval. We have outlined essential points to consider when creating a study plan.

Reach out to us for any confusion and suggestion.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐚 𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧? (𝟐/𝟑)

You must answer the following questions depending on your situation.

(𝐚) 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐝𝐚 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐝?
Explain why you have chosen to pursue your program of study in Canada. Discuss the unique benefits and opportunities offered by Canadian education and society. Highlight factors such as the quality of education, multicultural environment, and potential for personal and professional growth.

(𝐛) 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐠𝐨𝐚𝐥?
Elaborate on your educational objectives and how they align with your long-term aspirations. Whether it is continuing your education after secondary school or pursuing advanced degrees, provide insights into your chosen field of study and its relevance to your career goals. Consider researching industry requirements to strengthen your argument.

Stay tuned for our next study plan-related tips.

Ontario Immigration Nominee Program (OINP) just had its third Masters and Ph.D. graduates stream draw for this year.

Congratulations to those who have got their ITA.

Reach out to us for any queries and help with your application.

https://www.ontario.ca/.../ontario-immigrant-nominee... for more.

New 35 NOC Code added to OINP's In-Demand Skills stream

The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD) made changes to the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program’s Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills stream.

To qualify, an applicant must have a job-offer from an Ontario employer in an eligible occupation. The changes expand the list of occupations eligible for the stream for positions located outside the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

Express Entry Draw Alert !!!

IRCC conducted back-to-back Express Entry in three different streams. No sign of the next Canadian Experience Class (CEC) yet.

Congratulations to those who got the invitations.

Please reach out to us for any questions or support.