10 Aug British Columbia held the largest draw in 2020
British Columbia held the largest draw in 2020
On August 7, 2020, British Columbia conducted a new round of invitations in the Skills Immigration (SI) and Express Entry British Columbia (EEBC) categories of the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP). This draw was the largest in BCPNP in 2020 as 437 candidates received an invitation to apply for a nomination. The lowest scores in this draw reduced by one point for Skilled Workers streams of SI and EEBC:
Skills Immigration – Skilled Worker 97 (-1 point)
Skills Immigration – International Graduate 98
Skills Immigration – Entry Level and Semi-Skilled 76
Express Entry British Columbia – Skilled Worker 97 (-1 point)
Express Entry British Columbia – International Graduate 98
BC continues to exclude 31 NOCs from participation in the invitation rounds (0621, 0631, 0632, 0651, 3236, 6211, 6311, 6313, 6321, 6322, 6341, 6421, 6511, 6512, 6513, 6521, 6522, 6523, 6524, 6525, 6531, 6532, 6533, 6562, 6564, 6611, 6621, 6711, 6721, 6722, and 6731.). In total, 5,137 candidates were already invited in BCPNP in 2020 under all streams.
#British_Columbia, #BCPNP, #EEBC, #Skills_Immigration, #PNP
80% of Chinese international students return to China to study online
Affected by the pandemic and related policies, some Chinese students who originally planned to study in Canada have changed or delayed their plans. Study abroad organization representatives pointed out that this has caused a decline in the number of international students. Although most universities have stated that after the semester starts in September, international students can stay at home and take online classes, but there are still some courses that cannot be replaced by distance learning, such as the use of laboratories. Some students have changed their plans and cancelled or delayed enrollment because their parents were worried about the pandemic or were unable to obtain valid permits. Some international students who have already studied in Canada may return to their home country during the summer vacation. However, because of the pandemic this year, there is a lot of uncertainty. About 80% of international students from China have returned to China, and they may be able to take online courses in China. If the university they are studying at has a partner institution in China, they can also take credits at a Chinese university. However, students in China may face restrictions on internet usage and may not be able to attend classes normally. As for the students who choose to stay in Canada, most of them have adapted to life during the pandemic.
#international_students, #China, #Study_in_Canada, #distance_learning, #COVID_19
Many Canadian universities have announced their quarantine plans for the fall semester
The University of Toronto formulated a detailed plan on how to retain international students. International students who arrive in Canada will be placed in school dorms and hundreds of hotel rooms to quarantine for 14 days. Also, staff will conduct health checks for students and provide special quarantine kits. The University of Calgary announced details of its dorm settlement plan. Susan Barker, the University of Calgary’s vice-provost, said that considering how the pandemic is more serious in some countries and how travel restrictions may prevent students from coming, many international students have been placed in school dorms where they will spend the entire summer. In the upcoming fall semester, new international students will be quarantined in the school dorm for 14 days, and other students who aren’t able to take care of themselves will be placed in local hotels. With the new September semester approaching, many international students who are going back to their home countries need to come up with a reasonable plan – should they stay in their home countries and take online classes, or should they return to Canada for their studies? If they want to enter Canada, then they must come up with a practical quarantine plan and communicate with their schools in time!
#international_students, #Toronto, #Calgary, #Study_in_Canada
Canadians who filed family immigration applications are left in months-long limbo
Many Canadian citizens and permanent residents complain about no news regarding their applications to sponsor their relatives from abroad since the outbreak of the COVID-19. In addition, there were now updates from the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on the matter. Under normal conditions, family class applicants receive an acknowledgement of the application receipt within two to three months. At the same time, with the progress of combating the coronavirus many applications that were submitted before the quarantine, started to be processed. In case of refusal, those with applications submitted outside Canada have a right to appeal. The Immigration Appeal Division was closed for the last few months and there were no immigration appeals for spousal sponsorship and parental sponsorship refusals scheduled during these months. However, the IAD has started scheduling appeals now.
#IRCC, #IAD, family_immigration, #spousal_sponsorship, #parents_sponsorship, #PGP