06 Sep Ontario is finalizing updates of the Entrepreneur Stream
Ontario is finalizing updates of the Entrepreneur Stream
Following the recent regulatory amendments in the Ontario Immigration Act (2015), on September 3, 3019, the official page of the Entrepreneur Stream under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) published a minor update. Due to Entrepreneur Stream changes, the online Expression of Interest system is currently unavailable, as updates are being made to the system. In the interim, the EOI process will take place outside of the OINP e-Filing Portal.
#Ontario, #OINP, #Entrepreneurs
Changes in the Visa Application Centres overseas
On September 2, 2019, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) published an update regarding the work of Canadian Visa application centres (VACs). The Government of Canada renewed the contracts with the VACs in Europe, Africa and the Middle East (effective November 2, 2019). Foreign nationals can get various immigration services in VACs such as submitting a paper application, sending and returning passports, submitting biometrics, etc. New VAC websites will be launching soon. IRCC promised to provide more updates in October. In addition, on November 29, 2019, Canada will permanently close VACs in Sofia, Bulgaria, and Podgorica, Montenegro.
#IRCC, #VAC, #biometrics
Senegal and Morocco students will be added to SDS
On September 9, 2019, Canada is going to add Senegal and Morocco to the Student Direct Stream (SDS). Students from the countries participating in the SDS can get their Study Permit applications processed within three weeks. The SDS was launched in 2018 and was available for students from China, India, Vietnam, and the Philippines. On July 26, 2019, IRCC added Pakistan to this program. Expanding SDS to the students from Senegal and Morocco also supports Canada’s Francophone Immigration Strategy aimed at the development of French-speaking communities outside Quebec by attracting Francophone students. In 2018, about 54,000 former international students became permanent residents of Canada. Since the beginning of 2019, almost 570,000 foreign students have come to Canada. International students constitute an important part of the Canadian economy. They contributed over $21 billion since the start of 2019. More than 50% of Canada’s international students come from China and India.
#IRCC, #SDS, #international_students, #Senegal, #Morocco, #Francophones