Blog - Page 15 of 37 - Ese Umoh Immigration – Canada Immigration Consultant

April 8, 2024

IRCC announces Study Permit Allocation for all Provinces

Dear future neighbour,

The Immigration Minister, Marc Miller announced the allocation of study permit for all provinces. IRCC made an announcement on the 22nd of January, 2024 that there will be a cap on the the number of international students that will be let into Canada in the year, 2024. To achieve this, all provinces will be given an allocation on the total number of study permits that will be approved, this allocation will be based on the population of the province.

IRCC adjusted allocations for provinces that would receive a lower allocation of study permits to lessen any negative impact.

Provinces that were poised to receive more international students in 2024 than in 2023 had their allocations capped at 10% of their population.

IRCC also topped up the allocations for provinces with an approval rate lower than 60% believing that it will help these provinces reach their expected number of approved study permits.

See below study permit allocation according to province

Province/Territory	PT Allocations (A)	Projected Study Permits Approved (B)	Change from 2023 (%)	Top-Up (C)	Revised PT Allocations with Top-Up (A+C)	Projected Study Permits Approved (same as B)
Alberta	40,894	24,537	+10	N/A	40,894	24,537
British Columbia	83,000	49,800	-18	N/A	83,000	49,800
Manitoba	15,233	9,140	-10	3,420	18,652	9,140
New Brunswick	9,279	5,567	-10	5,372	14,651	5,567
Newfoundland and Labrador	2,365	1,419	+10	788	3,153	1,419
Northwest Territories	333	200	+4900	N/A	333	200
Nova Scotia	12,906	7,744	-10	7,472	20,378	7,744
Nunavut	333	200	+6567	N/A	333	200
Ontario	235,000	141,000	-41	N/A	235,000	141,000
Prince Edward Island	2,004	1,202	-10	308	2.312	1,202
Quebec	72,716	43,629	+10	45,202	117,917	43,629
Saskatchewan	12,043	7,226	+10	3,011	15,054	7,226
Yukon	417	250	+205	N/A	417	250
Total	486,523	291,914	-28	65,572	552,095	291,914

IRCC does not have the authority to cap the number of approved study permits but the department can cap the number of study permit applications that are processed.

However, basing the cap for study permits on a national approval rate of 60%, IRCC says that the estimated cap of study permits issued is derived from the number of study permit applications it will process. In this situation, the department hopes to process 606,000 applications.

Need help putting in a study visa application, work permit application, Expression of Interest, creating an express entry or provincial nomination profile, preparing your application after receiving an invitation to apply or even just reviewing an application you prepared yourself? Book a consultation or send us an email on info@eseumohimmigration.com

April 8, 2024

IRCC Increases Ontario Immigration Quota for 2024

By EUIC Admin Provincial nomination

Dear future neighbour,

The 2024 quota for the Ontario Immigration Nominee Program increases to 21,500. This increment is a step in the right direction as OINP has asked the federal government for an increase in the PNP quota since 2021.

In 2023, the first major increase in OINP allotment was effected from a total of 9,750 to 16,500. Now in 2024, an additional 5,000 has been added to the number in 2023 bringing it to a total of 21,500.

The new OINP allocation in 2024 is nearly 20% of the immigration levels plan for provincial nomination this year.

See below Ontario Immigration Quota Year-on-Year Comparison

Year	OINP Quota
2024	21,500
2023	16,500
2022	9,750
2021	9,000

See below most Recent OINP Express Entry Draws

Human Capital Priorities stream

Date NOIs issued	Number of NOIs issued	CRS score range	Profiles created in IRCC Express Entry system	Notes
March 21, 2024	2,281	468-480	March 21, 2023 – March 21, 2024	Targeted draw Please refer to the OINP Program Update page for a list of targeted occupations
March 7, 2024	2,104	352-421	March 7, 2023 – March 7, 2024	Targeted draw Please refer to the OINP Program Update page for a list of targeted occupations
February 8, 2024	2,118	471–480	February 8, 2023 – February 8, 2024	Targeted draw Please refer to the OINP Program Update page for a list of targeted occupations
February 6, 2024	2,086	379-430	February 6, 2023 – February 6, 2024	Targeted draw Please refer to the OINP Program Update page for a list of targeted occupations

See below French-Speaking Skilled Worker stream

Date/time NOIs issued	Number of NOIs issued	CRS score range	Profiles created in IRCCs Express Entry system	Notes
January 18, 2024	984	317-469	January 18, 2023 – January 18, 2024	General Draw

See below Skilled Trades stream

Date/time NOIs issued	Number of NOIs issued	CRS score range	Profiles created in IRCC’s Express Entry system	Notes
March 1, 2024	2,583	350-424	March 1, 2023 – March 1, 2024	Targeted draw Please refer to the OINP Program Update page for a list of targeted occupations
January 11, 2024	2,552	350-424	January 11, 2023 – January 11, 2024	Targeted draw Please refer to the OINP Program Update page for a list of targeted occupations

See below the total of invitations to apply sent by Ontario in 2024 apart from the NOI sent to Express Entry candidates listed above:

Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream – 3,128
Employer Job Offer: International Student stream – 5,073
Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills stream – 0
Masters Graduate stream – 2,714
PhD Graduate stream – 229
Entrepreneur stream – 0

IRCC allots an annual provincial nominee quota to all provinces each year which allows them to choose immigrants according to the needs of the province.

Need help obtaining a visitor visa to visit Canada, or professional help putting in a study visa application, work permit application, Expression of Interest, creating an express entry or provincial nomination profile, preparing your application after receiving an invitation to apply or even just reviewing an application you prepared yourself? Book a consultation or send us an email on info@eseumohimmigration.com

April 4, 2024

British Columbia invites 83 Candidates for PR in latest BC PNP Draw

By EUIC Admin Express Entry, Provincial nomination

Dear future neighbour,

On Wednesday, April 3, 2024, British Columbia sent out invitations to apply for permanent residency to 83 candidates in a general and targeted draw.

30 profiles under the BC PNP Skills Immigration, Entry Level and Semi-Skilled Streams and Express Entry profiles were considered in this round of invitation.

25 Profiles experienced in healthcare-related occupations, 10 profiles experienced in any of the 25-construction related occupations and 18 profiles with experience as early child educators, assistants or instructors were also invited in the latest BC PNP Draw.

See below details of latest BC PNP Draw

Date	Draw type	Stream	Minimum Score	Number of invitations
April 3, 2024	General	Skilled Worker	130	30
		Skilled Worker – EEBC option	130
		International Graduate	130
		International Graduate – EEBC option	125
		Entry Level and Semi-Skilled	107
	Childcare: Early childhood educators and assistants (NOC 42202)	Skilled Worker, International Graduate (includes EEBC option)	90	18
	Targeting 25 Construction occupations		95	10
	Targeting 39 Healthcare occupations		90	25

See below full list of Construction Occupations:

22114 Landscape and horticulture technicians and specialists
72102 Sheet metal workers
72103 Boilermakers
72104: Structural metal and platework fabricators and fitters
72105 Ironworkers
72106: Welders and related machine operators
72200 Electricians (except industrial and power system)
72201: Industrial electricians
72300 Plumbers
72301: Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers
72302 Gas fitters
72310 Carpenters
72311 Cabinetmakers
72320 Bricklayers
72400: Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics
72401: Heavy-duty equipment mechanics
72402: Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics
72,500 Crane operators
73100 Concrete finishers
73101 Tilesetters
73102: Plasterers, drywall installers, finishers and lathers
73110 Roofers and shinglers
73111 Glaziers
73112: Painters and decorators (except interior decorators)
73113 Floor covering installers

See below full list of eligible Healthcare-related Occupations

30010 Managers in health care
31100 Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine
31101 Specialists in surgery
31102 General practitioners and family physicians
31110 Dentists
31112 Audiologists and speech-language pathologists
31120 Pharmacists
31121 Dietitians and nutritionists
31200 Psychologists
31201 Chiropractors
31202 Physiotherapists
31203: Occupational therapists
31204 Kinesiologists and other professional occupations in therapy and assessment
31209 Other professional occupations in health: diagnosing and treating
31300 Nursing coordinators and supervisors
31301 Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
31302 Nurse practitioners
31303 Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals
32101: Licensed practical nurses
32102 Paramedical occupations
32103 Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists
32109 Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment
32110 Denturists
32111 Dental hygienists and dental therapists
32112: Dental technologists and technicians
32120 Medical laboratory technologists
32121 Medical radiation technologists
32122 Medical sonographers
32123 Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists
32124 Pharmacy technicians
32129 Other medical technologists and technicians
32200 Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists
33100 Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants
33101 Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations
33102 Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates
33103 Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants
41300 Social workers
41301 Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies
42201: Social and community service workers

The processing timeframe for BC PNP Skills Immigration and Post-nomination requests remain 3 months respectively. Processing only commences when completed applications are submitted and received by BC PNP.

March 28, 2024

Can you guess the most expensive and the most affordable cities in Alberta to rent a 3-bedroom apartment in the city centre?

By EUIC Admin News

Dear future neighbour,

In the city of Calgary, Alberta, you can rent a three bedroom apartment for an average of $2,837 in the city centre. This is according to statistics available on Numbeo.com which are gathered from residents in the city.

Unfortunately, accommodation affordability cannot be the only factor you consider when moving to a new city. We will be reviewing these factors and recommend cities based on statistics to help you make an informed decision.

See below in descending order the list of the cost of renting a similar apartment in the city centre in the province of Alberta:

1. Calgary – $2,837

2. Airdrie – $2,500

3. Edmonton – $2,115

4. Cold lake – $2,000

5. Fort Saskatchewan – $2,000

6. St. Albert – $1,639

7. Medicine Hat – $1,500

8. Grande Prairie – $1,450

9. Lethbridge – $1,125

Did we leave out any? Would you like to ask some questions? Are you interested in studying in Canada? Need help obtaining a visitor visa to visit Canada, work permit application, Expression of Interest, creating an express entry or provincial nomination profile or even just reviewing an application you prepared yourself? Start the journey by sending an email on info@eseumohimmigration.com

March 28, 2024

Ontario announces International Study Permit Allocation

By EUIC Admin Study Visa

Dear future neighbour,

The province of Ontario announced on Wednesday, March 27, 2024 that they will be giving 96% of study permit applications to public funded universities and 4% to private universities, language schools, and other institutions in the province. Career colleges will not receive any applications.

Institutions offering skilled programs such as STEM, Skilled Trades, Health Human Resources, Childcare and Hospitality will be prioritized. French-language enrollment will also be prioritized as employers compete for employees with French-language skills.

This measure is taken by the Ontario government to provide graduate with in-demand jobs and also meet with the demand of the province’s labour market.

See below criteria that will be used to issue applications to the institutions

Institution must prioritize programs in the high-demand fields: skilled trades, human resources in health, STEM, hospitality, and child care.
an institution cannot exceed the 2023 permission levels.
as a last safety measure, the proportion of foreign permits cannot go above 55% of the institution’s first-year domestic enrollment in 2023 (except in high-demand sectors).

IRCC announced putting a cap on study permit applications for international students January of 2024, this cap does not include those enrolled in master’s and doctoral degree programs and those in kindergarten through grade 12.

The allocation of study permits to an individual institution for 2024 and 2025 cannot exceed the number of permits Ontario issued in 2023 and the ratio of international permits cannot exceed 55% (exclusive of high-demand areas) of the institution’s 2023 first-year domestic enrollment.

Applications for 22 out of 23 universities will remain at the 2023 level. Algoma university is the only university to witness a decrease in 2023 applications.

A total of 11 of Ontario’s 24 public colleges will also maintain applications at the 2023 level. Conestoga College and other public-private college partnerships will see a huge decline in application.

March 27, 2024

British Columbia invites 126+ Candidates for PR in Targeted Draw

By EUIC Admin Express Entry, Provincial nomination

Dear future neighbour,

In a targeted round of invitation announced on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, British Columbia invited over 126 candidates for permanent residency under both Express Entry and BC PNP Skills Immigration Stream.

Profiles under the 35 Tech Occupations, early child educators, 39 healthcare-related occupations and 25 construction-related occupations,

See below details of the latest BC PNP Draw

Date	Draw type	Stream	Minimum Score	Number of invitations
March 26, 2024	Childcare: Early childhood educators and assistants (NOC 42202)	Skilled Worker, International Graduate (includes EEBC option)	85	28
	Targeting 25 Construction occupations		90	21
	Targeting 39 Healthcare occupations		85	30
	Targeting 35 tech occupations		114	47
	Veterinary care		85

See below full list of Construction Occupations:

22114 Landscape and horticulture technicians and specialists
72102 Sheet metal workers
72103 Boilermakers
72104: Structural metal and platework fabricators and fitters
72105 Ironworkers
72106: Welders and related machine operators
72200 Electricians (except industrial and power system)
72201: Industrial electricians
72300 Plumbers
72301: Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers
72302 Gas fitters
72310 Carpenters
72311 Cabinetmakers
72320 Bricklayers
72400: Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics
72401: Heavy-duty equipment mechanics
72402: Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics
72,500 Crane operators
73100 Concrete finishers
73101 Tilesetters
73102: Plasterers, drywall installers, finishers and lathers
73110 Roofers and shinglers
73111 Glaziers
73112: Painters and decorators (except interior decorators)
73113 Floor covering installers

See below full list of eligible Healthcare-related Occupations

30010 Managers in health care
31100 Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine
31101 Specialists in surgery
31102 General practitioners and family physicians
31110 Dentists
31112 Audiologists and speech-language pathologists
31120 Pharmacists
31121 Dietitians and nutritionists
31200 Psychologists
31201 Chiropractors
31202 Physiotherapists
31203: Occupational therapists
31204 Kinesiologists and other professional occupations in therapy and assessment
31209 Other professional occupations in health: diagnosing and treating
31300 Nursing coordinators and supervisors
31301 Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
31302 Nurse practitioners
31303 Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals
32101: Licensed practical nurses
32102 Paramedical occupations
32103 Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists
32109 Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment
32110 Denturists
32111 Dental hygienists and dental therapists
32112: Dental technologists and technicians
32120 Medical laboratory technologists
32121 Medical radiation technologists
32122 Medical sonographers
32123 Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists
32124 Pharmacy technicians
32129 Other medical technologists and technicians
32200 Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists
33100 Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants
33101 Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations
33102 Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates
33103 Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants
41300 Social workers
41301 Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies
42201: Social and community service workers

See below full list of eligible Tech Occupations

10030 Telecommunication carriers managers
20012 Computer and information systems managers
21100: Physicists and astronomers
21210 Mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries
21211 Data scientists
21220 Cybersecurity specialists
21221 Business systems specialists
21222 Information systems specialists
21223 Database analysts and data administrators
21230 Computer systems developers and programmers
21231: Software engineers and designers
21232: Software developers and programmers
21233 Web designers
21234 Web developers and programmers
21300 Civil engineers
21301 Mechanical engineers
21310: Electrical and electronics engineers
21311 Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)
21320 Chemical engineers
21399 Other professional engineers
22110: Biological technologists and technicians
22220 Computer network and web technicians
22221: User support technicians
22222 Information systems testing technicians
22310 Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians
22312: Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics
50011 Managers: publishing, motion pictures, broadcasting and performing arts
51111 Authors and writers (except technical)
51112 Technical writers
51120 Producers, directors, choreographers and related occupations
52119 Other technical and coordinating occupations in motion pictures, broadcasting and the performing arts
52112 Broadcast technicians
52113: Audio and video recording technicians
52120: Graphic designers and illustrators
53111 Motion pictures, broadcasting, photography and performing arts assistants and operators

The processing time frame for BC PNP Skills Immigration and Post-nomination request remains three months respectively. Applications are only processed when completed applications are submitted by applicants and received by BC PNP.

March 27, 2024

IRCC invites 1,500 Candidates in latest Express Entry Draw

By EUIC Admin Express Entry

Dear future neighbour,

In the second Express Entry Draw announced this week on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, IRCC sent 1,500 invitations to apply for PR in a category-based selection draw for French language proficiency.

Profiles with minimum CRS score of 388 were invited in this round of invitation.

See below summary of Express Entry Draws in 2024

Date	Draw Type	Number of ITAs	Minimum CRS
March 26	French language proficiency	1,500	388
March 25	General	1,980	524
March 13	Transport occupations	975	430
March 12	General	2,850	525
February 29	French language proficiency	2,500	336
February 28	General	1,470	534
February 16	Agriculture and agri-food occupations	150	437
February 14	Healthcare occupations	3,500	422
February 13	General	1,490	535
February 1	French language proficiency	7,000	365
January 31	General	730	541
January 23	General	1,040	543
January 10	General	1,510	546

March 26, 2024

New Brunswick, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador commence issuance of Provincial Attestation Letters

By EUIC Admin News, Study Visa

Dear future neighbour,

As announced by IRCC on the 22nd of January, 2024, all provinces are required to issue Provincial Attestation Letters (PALs) based on the allocation of study permits they receive within the newly implemented cap on study permits for 2024.

All provinces were given until March 31, 2024 to begin issuing the letters to international students. New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador have joined British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec on the list of provinces that have carried out this task.

Details on getting a PAL in New Brunswick

IRCC states that New Brunswick has had a PAL process in place since March 18. International students are required to contact their Designated Learning Institution (DLI) to find out how to apply.

After application, the DLI will then request for PAL from the province which would take a duration of two weeks to get a response.

On receipt of the PAL document, students can now submit their final study permit application alongside the completed PAL document.

Details on getting a PAL in Saskatchewan

According to IRCC, the PAL process for Saskatchewan has been in place since March 13, 2024. International students are advised to contact their DLI to get their PAL.

No additional details on getting a PAL yet from any of the province’s most prominent post-secondary institutions.

Details on getting a PAL in Newfoundland and Labrador

As of March 19, 2024, Newfoundland and Labrador’s PAL system has been put in place. International students are advised to contact their DLI to apply for their PAL.

Memorial University in St. John’s has the largest number of international students of any DLI in the province. The institution says it will contact admitted students via email to collect any additional information required for the attestation letter process, this will begin with students who intend to start in the May 2024 semester.

Need professional help putting in a study visa application, work permit application, Expression of Interest, creating an express entry or provincial nomination profile, preparing your application after receiving an invitation to apply or even just reviewing an application you prepared yourself? Book a consultation or send us an email on info@eseumohimmigration.com

March 26, 2024

Canada invites 1,980 Candidates in New Express Entry Draw

By EUIC Admin Express Entry

Dear future neighbour,

In the latest Express Entry Draw announced on Monday, March 25, 2024, a total of 1,980 invitations to apply were sent in a general round of invitation.

Profiles with CRS score of 524 and above were considered in this round of invitation.

See below summary of Express Entry Draws in March

Description	March 25, 2024	March 13, 2024	March 12, 2024
Draw type	General or all program draws	Targeted draw for 10 transport occupations	General or all program draws
Invitations	1,980	975	2,850
CRS Cutoff	524	430	525
Tie-breaking rule	February 25, 2024	July 31, 2023	March 12, 2024

See below Express Entry CRS Score distribution

CRS score range	Number of candidates
601-1200	987
501-600	10,573
451-500	60,108
491-500	8,065
481-490	10,499
471-480	17,083
461-470	13,275
451-460	11,186
401-450	50,569
441-450	10,174
431-440	10,410
421-430	9,186
411-420	10,414
401-410	10,385
351-400	55,099
301-350	28,536
0-300	5,348
Total	211,220

March 25, 2024

Canada announces New PGWP Requirements

By EUIC Admin News

Dear future neighbour,

IRCC updated Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility for international students on Friday, March 22, 2024.

Prior to this announcement, the IRCC had earlier announced on January 22, 2024 that international graduates of college programs offered through a public-private curriculum licensing partnership will no longer be eligible for PGWP effective September 1, 2024. However, this recent update from IRCC has moved the date up to May 15, 2024.

What the above information entails is that foreign students enrolled in public-private curriculum licensing partnership programs beginning May 15, 2024, or later will not be qualified for a post-graduation work permit.

According to new IRCC rules, these programs are NOT eligible for PGWP, with two exceptions listed below:

Exception 1: Curriculum licensing agreements made inside the same province

International students might qualify for a PGWP if they were enrolled in a program of study at a private college that was administered on behalf of a public institution in the same province before May 15, 2024.

Students won’t qualify for a PGWP if they start one of these programs on or after May 15, 2024.

Exception 2: Curriculum licensing agreements between province

International students might qualify for a PGWP if, on or before January 31, 2023, they started a program of study at a private college that is offering instruction on behalf of a public college in a different province.

However, students cannot apply for a PGWP if they started one of these programs after February 1, 2023.

See below eligibility scenarios for PGWPs

Type of Institution	Required length of Program	Program Outcome
Public post-secondary school DLI, such as a college, a trade/technical institution or a university	8 months or longer	Student’s program must lead to one of the following: – A degree (associate degree, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or doctorate) – A diploma or certificate
Quebec Public Secondary School DLI offering vocational training programs	900 hours or longer	Student’s program must lead to one of the following: – A Diploma of Vocational Studies (DVS) – An Attestation of Vocational Specialization(AVS)
Quebec collège d’enseignement général et professionnel (CEGEP)	900 hours or longer	Student’s program must lead to one of the following: -an attestation of college studies (ACS) -a diploma of college studies – a Diploma of College Studies(DCS)
Quebec provincially subsidized private post-secondary DLI Or Quebec provincially subsidized private secondary DLI offering provincially subsidized vocational training programs	900 hours or longer	Student’s program must lead to one of the following: – An Attestation of College Studies (ACS) – A Diploma of College Studies(DCS) You must be enrolled in one of the provincially subsidized study programs. This may not include all study programs offered at the DLI.
Canadian private designated learning institution authorized by the province to confer degrees.	N/A	Your DLI must be authorized by the province to confer degrees including – an associate degree – a bachelor’s degree – a master’s degree or – a doctorate You must be enrolled in one of the study programs leading to a degree, as authorized by the province. This may not include all study programs offered by the private DLI.

See below ineligibility scenarios for PGWPs

International students cannot obtain a PGWP if any one of the below-listed scenarios applies:

possess a research permit that ended more than 180 days prior to your application.
previously obtained a PGWP.
studied a second language, either French or English.
completed courses in self-improvement or general interest.
took part in the Global Affairs Canada-funded Government of Canada Awards Program (GAC).
have obtained financial support from GAC
received the Equal Opportunity Scholarship, Canada–Chile
took part in the Organization of American States Fellowships
participated in the Canada-Chile Scholars’ Exchanges Program
completed the majority of the study program through correspondence, e-learning, or online courses.
finished a study program at a Canadian non-Canadian institution.
You completed a course or study program at a DLI for which you are not eligible for the PGWP.
- This also includes a curriculum licensing agreement (also known as a P3 or public-private partnership) that runs courses taught on behalf of a DLI that qualify for the PGWP.

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