15 May Requirements for foreign workers in Canada have been temporarily reduced
Requirements for foreign workers in Canada have been temporarily reduced
On May 12, 2020, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) released an update of the regulation for the temporary workers who change employment. Effective today, temporary workers with employer-specific work permits who have lost their jobs due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic don’t need to wait for a new work permit to be issued before starting to work for a new employer but must get a confirmation to start working from the IRCC. Nevertheless, the new employer still must obtain a positive LMIA. The processing time of the new work permit for such workers is significantly reduced to ten days. IRCC issued about 190,000 employer-specific work permits in 2019. Besides that, IRCC may waive the biometrics requirement if the Service Canada office in the given location is closed.
#foreign_workers, #IRCC, #work_permit, #work_in_Canada, #LMIA, #COVID_19
British Columbia has released a BC PNP COVID-19 update
On May 12, 2020, British Columbia has released the new Addendum to the BC PNP Skills Immigration and Express Entry BC Program Guide and the BC PNP COVID-19 information update. The new regulations clarified some aspects regarding invitations to apply, changes to employment of the candidates, document deadlines, etc. BC PNP applications may be placed on hold for up to 16 weeks in the case of temporary termination of employment. Entry Level and Semi-Skilled (ELSS) candidates must complete 9 months of continuous permanent full-time employment before registering to the BC PNP. BC PNP may count employment before and after a temporary layoff as continuous towards the 9 months if the layoff does not exceed 16 weeks while working for the same employer. International Graduate candidates must register in the BC PNP within three years of the completion of their study.
#British_Columbia, #BCPNP, #EEBC, #Skills_Immigration, #PNP, #COVID_19
Lack of international students may shake the Canadian economy
While the COVID-19 pandemic has brought every sector to a temporary halt, the international students’ sector is also not untouched. Although Canadian Universities have issued admissions for the next academic semester starting in September, international students are in dismay because of delays in visa processing and restrictions on international travel. Last year, more than 642,000 students were studying in Canadian Colleges and Universities and a large number of them were from India. Economists believe that a sharp drop in the arrival of new International students may create problems for the Canadian economy. Government figures indicate that international students contribute up to $21 Billion to the Canadian economy annually.
#international_students, #COVID_19
Will Canada accept fewer immigrants and refugees?
The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting severe unemployment situation may lead to a reduction in the number of Canadian immigrants for the first time in ten years. According to Blacklock’s Reporter, federal immigration minister Marco Mendicino hinted this when he testified before the House Human Resources Committee. He said the cabinet will “study the number of immigrants we receive and our processing capacity.” The outbreak has caused Canada’s unemployment rate to rise to 13%. The government critics voice doubts that Canada will be able to accept the declared level immigrants and refugees in the foreseeable future. At the same time, IRCC said the federal government will continue to review the situation and may provide an immigration level plan update with this fall.
#immigration_levels, #IRCC