Canada’s Immigration Minister Sean Fraser has announced that individuals who have a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) expiring in 2023 or expired in 2022 and applied for an Open Work Permit extension last year will be able to apply for an extension starting from April 6, 2023. The extension will be available on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website, and successful applicants will receive an interim work permit authorization via email, which they can present to their employers to continue working legally in Canada. Those whose legal status in Canada has expired will also be able to apply for the Open Work Permit extension and restore their status, even if their status expired outside of the 90-day grace period that the IRCC provides. This means that as early as April 6, 2023, such individuals can restore their status and receive an interim Open Work Permit authorization simultaneously.
PNP Draws in Four Provinces with CRS Scores as Low as 250!
The Canadian government’s Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws were held recently in four provinces – Ontario, British Columbia, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. The PNP is the main pathway for economic immigrants to enter Canada, and it aids provinces in addressing specific labor and demographic challenges they face. The PNP also has Express Entry aligned streams that accept candidates in the federal Express Entry pool. Recently, the fifth and sixth Express Entry draws of 2023 were exclusive to candidates in enhanced PNP streams, issuing a total of 1,366 ITAs.
In Ontario, the draw was held for their Skilled Trades stream, issuing 746 NOIs to candidates with CRS scores ranging from 250-489. The British Columbia PNP (BCPNP) held a draw on March 21st, issuing at least 254 NOIs to candidates across 6 streams. Manitoba PNP (MPNP) held a draw on March 23rd, issuing a total of 566 NOIs across various streams. Finally, the Saskatchewan PNP (SINP) held two draws, inviting candidates from both the Express Entry and Occupations in-demand streams.
Moreover, the Provincial Nominee Program is anticipated to play a larger role in Canadian immigration in coming years. A recent meeting between the Forum of Ministers Responsible for Immigration (FMRI) further emphasized the importance of these provincial programs. Following the meeting, it was announced that provincial immigration would now receive its own multi-year levels plan, allowing provinces to understand their immigration allocation years in advance, and being able to plan accordingly.
If you are interested in applying for Canadian immigration, send your resume to eicnepal.evaluation@gmail.com today and take the first step towards your future in Canada.