International Students Living in Canada Can Work Off-Campus for At Least 20 Hours A Week

According to Statistics Canada, the unemployment rate in Canada dropped from 5.4% in August to 5.2% in September. That means Canada needs to do whatever is necessary to fix its labour shortages and unemployment issues. Thus, the Immigration Minister, Sean Fraser, announced that international students could work over 20 hours per week off-campus from 15th November 2022 to 31st December 2023.

Currently, international students can work off-campus for up to 20 hours every week. They are, however, exempted from the limit during scheduled breaks. Canada had to ease the limit for the time being to manage almost a million job vacancies.

How Does This Temporary Measure Help International Students?

According to the current norms, international students living in Canada can work up to 20 hours a week. This policy helps them support themselves financially and get their studies done simultaneously. It is, however, going to change temporarily from 15th November 2022 to 31st December 2023.

The new policy would allow the students to work over 20 hours per week. This temporary measure will allow the students to work more hours. It could be their opportunity to integrate into the Canadian labour market quickly and contribute to the economy as well. They can also boost their Canadian work experience and land better prospects in the future.

What are the Eligibility Requirements for International Students to Work Off-Campus?

The international students must live in Canada. They should have an off-campus work authorization on their study permits in Edmonton, Alberta or any other province.

The new policy also applies to foreign nationals who have recently submitted their study permit. You can work for over 20 hours once the IRCC approves your applications.

Canada Welcomes International Students From All Over The World

Despite the labour shortages and unemployment issues, Canada is still one of the most sought-after study destinations for international students. And why wouldn't it be?

The high-quality education system, work opportunities, multiculturalism and the affordability of the Canadian dollar make this country quite desirable among students.

The temporary measure to let international students work more than 20 hours a week shows Canada wants to welcome more students from all parts of the world. Also, the country welcomed over 620 000 international students in 2021 and issued almost 450 000 study permits.

Sean Fraser also pointed out that Canada has already processed at least 452,000 study permits between January and August 2022. In the last year, however, the country processed 367,000 applications only for the same period. According to the CBIE, most international students are interested in acquiring PR status after completing their studies. So, that brings us to the next section.

International Students are Key Sources of Permanent Residents in Canada

International students in Canada play a great role in strengthening its economy. Thus, Canada wants more international students to acquire permanent residences here. In 2021, for instance, Canada relied on international students to achieve over 405,000 new immigrants through the Canadian Experience Class.  

IRCC also disclosed a TR2PR program in 2021, allowing almost 90,000 temporary residents to apply for PR. Fraser already created a five-pillar strategy for the Government to help temporary residents acquire PR status. Express Entry is one of the most convenient ways for temporary foreign workers and international students to acquire permanent residency here. We can expect to understand the strategy better once the Immigration Levels Plan 2023-2025 is out by 1st November.

What’s All The Hype About Post-Graduation Work Permits?

Before you learn about PGWP, let’s understand an open work permit. The open work permit lets foreign nationals work for any preferred employer in Canada. So, the PGWP allows eligible international students to acquire an open work permit. The validity period (three years) corresponds with the length of their educational program in Canada.

Once you have the PGWP, you can also be eligible for economic class immigration programs through Canadian work experience. The majority of PGWP holders opt for the Canadian Experience Class program to acquire permanent residence here.

You can also get the PR through Quebec and PNP streams. This is expected to encourage students to stay in that province and continue contributing to the labour market.

Achieve your Canadian Immigration Goals With Onkar Immigration

Are you an international student planning to acquire a work permit in Canada? Do you need  a study permit to fulfill your study goals in this country? Are you struggling to get hold of the PGWP? Leave all your immigration concerns at Onkar Immigration. Our immigration consultants in Edmonton and Alberta guide you through all the application processes and help you get the permit you need.

Most and Least Favourable Canadian Provinces for Immigrants to Start With

“Should I apply for permanent residency in Edmonton?” “Is it wise to get a work permit in Alberta?” Can you relate to these queries? Well, you are not alone. There are tons of immigrants struggling to pick the best province to get started in Canada.  After all, Canada is the second-largest country in the world, with ten provinces and three territories. 

So, how to identify the right province for immigration?

The answer is in interprovincial migration. interprovincial migration is the change in the usual place of residence. It is the movement from one province to another for better lifestyle options. The interprovincial migration data reflects the most and least favoured Canadian provinces. Thus, you will get an idea of what people already living in Canada think about different provinces. It will hence be easier to make a decision. 

Which Canadian Provinces are Most and Least Preferred Respectively? 

Statistics Canada disclosed the Q2 data 2022 for Canadian interprovincial migration. The data ranges from April to June 2022. The data shows which provinces people already living in Canada highly prefer and which they avoid. Canadians change their provinces to get access to better lifestyle options. 

According to the data, about 38 022 Canadian residents moved to another province. Most people preferred to migrate to Alberta. About 9857 people migrated to the province. Ontario, on the other hand, was the least preferred since about 21008 people left the province. 

Besides Ontario, provinces such as Saskatchewan and Manitoba are also considered least preferred. Both provinces have 4-digit negative interprovincial migration. 

Interprovincial Migration Data From Q2 2022

No matter which province you decide to start with, Onkar Immigration has got your back. Our experienced immigration consultants equip you with all the updated information necessary for successful interprovincial migration or Canadian immigration.

Doctors Will Have Easier Access to Permanent Residency in Canada

The doctors currently living in Canada are rendered self-employed because of the fee-for-service model involved in the federal Express Entry System. The problem, however, was that this model made the doctors ineligible for Canadian PR. 

Things are changing now. 

The Canadian Immigration Minister, Sean Fraser, announced that IRCC exempts doctors/physicians from current requirements or the fee-for-service model. That means they can now apply for permanent residency in Canada and continue working here hassle-free. 

PR Transitions Made Easier for Doctors in Canada 

Canada wants eminent doctors and physicians to come from all over the world and contribute to the Canadian economy. Also, the Canadian Government wants its people to be able to access a qualified physician without any difficulties. Thus, the IRCC improved the immigration system to address the skill shortage issues present in the healthcare industry to achieve both purposes. 

The honourable Sean Fraser conducted a meeting with family physicians and Healthy Pictou County at the Aberdeen Hospital regarding this matter. After the meeting, he announced changes that will make it easier for foreign-national doctors to remain in Canada and continue practising and contributing to our healthcare system. 

Doctors have faced enough barriers when it came to accessing permanent residency. Thus, the IRCC has freed the current doctors living in Canada from the fee-for-service model. This would help the doctors apply for permanent residence and work in Canada efficiently. 

The CMA or Canadian Medical Association has asked the federal government to stabilize and rebuild the health care system here. Thus, 13 provinces and territories are currently prioritizing health care with a 4.4% increase in the budget of health spending. 

Some Facts to Remember 

• IRCC prioritizes applications for a temporary resident work permit from essential healthcare workers. 
• More than 8600 temporary and permanent resident applicants were accepted to work in the health sector in 2022. 
• In 2021, the IRCC accepted work permit applications from over 2500 specialized physicians and 620 nurses. 
• More than 3600 physicians and 8600 nurses received their PR status since 2015 through PNP and Express Entry System. 
• Doctors can apply for permanent residence in economic programs under the Express Entry System, which includes the CEC and FSWP. 

Whether you want to immigrate to Canada as a doctor or want to extend your stay here as a physician, Onkar Immigration has got you covered. Our immigration consultants guide you through the updated programs to ensure you get your permanent residency in Edmonton, Alberta or anywhere you like in Canada.

Undocumented Workers in Canada Soon Shall Be Able to Acquire Permanent Residency

Canada welcomes immigrants from all over the world and various backgrounds through some of its most effective immigration programs. Yet, there are about 1.7 million in Canada without a secure status. Thus, in December 2021, the Liberal Government tasked the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship to come up with ways to regularise the status of undocumented workers living and contributing to Canadian communities.

The IRCC has since been working on developing a pathway for undocumented workers to acquire permanent residence in Canada. Once the program is developed and implemented, undocumented residents can live and work in Canada hassle-free.

Benefits of the New Canadian PR Program for Undocumented Workers

Undocumented workers are the ones who immigrated to Canada through a temporary work permit. But, they lost their resident status once the permit expired.

It is needless to say how the Canadian immigration system benefitted millions of immigrants from all parts of the world. But, nothing is perfect. Canada isn’t an exception. The immigration system here is more focused on conditional and temporary work permits. A clear pathway for PR and citizenship isn’t available. Thus, workers tend to immigrate to Canada with temporary permits rather than permanent ones. The new immigration program that is soon to be developed could enable undocumented workers to acquire PR status even if they had entered Canada with a temporary permit.

Undocumented workers in Canada suffer from social isolation and abusive working conditions. They end up working exploitative jobs in caregiving, cleaning and agriculture. The new PR program can help them get access to quality living, healthcare and other essential privileges.

What is the role of regularisation programs?

Regularisation programs help undocumented workers or residents gain access to basic rights in Canada. They can get access to quality healthcare, education, and working opportunities more easily. In short, they can live a quality lifestyle in Canada once the PR program is implemented.

The new program is also expected to help out the Canadian government in several ways. The government needn’t have to worry about the population living without status in Canada. Also, they don’t have to fear losing that population from Canada either since it contributes to Canada’s growing economy.

All we can do now is wait and watch when the IRCC launches the new PR program for undocumented workers. If you have any other queries regarding immigration, feel free to consult with our professionals at Onkar Immigration.

Provincial Nominee Program Draw Results Uncovered in Ontario and British Columbia

Are you planning to acquire a permanent resident visa in Canada? Then the Provincial Nominee Programs might be what you need to achieve your Canadian goals. There are ten provinces in Canada. Each province has its own provincial nominee program and eligibility criteria for federal skilled workers. The PNP sends interested candidates an invitation to apply for Canadian provincial nomination.

Ontario and British Columbia disclosed PNP draw results last week. The PNP is one of the most efficient immigration pathways in Canada. It enables skilled individuals to apply for a Canadian PR visa and also helps Canada boosts its labour and economic workforce.

PNP Draw Results in Ontario and British Columbia from 12th to 18th August

British Columbia

PNP in BC sent invitations to at least 223 candidates on 16th August. 177 of them were invited through a general draw consisting of tech occupations. It also included semi-skilled and entry-level candidates. Candidates in the Skilled Worker and International Graduates categories were most likely to receive the invitations to apply from PNP.

The following occupations were also included in the invitation rounds:

• 5 healthcare assistants (at least 60 points)
• 26 early childhood assistants and educators (at least 60 points)
• 15 healthcare workers (at least 60 points)

Ontario

Ontario sent invitations to 30 candidates under the Entrepreneur Stream. The scores of these candidates ranged from 138-160. They were required to sign a performance agreement and attend an interview to apply for the visa.

Once you get through the visa application process, you will get a temporary work permit to immigrate to Canada. After 20 months of arrival, you need to submit a final review after implementing your business plan.

The eligibility criteria for this stream:

• Business experience of 24 months in the last 60 months
• The purpose should be the motive of investing.
• Control over at least one-third of the equity in the business
• Active involvement in business management
• Should create a minimum of two permanent full-time jobs for permanent residents and citizens in Canada

What’s the Connection between Express and PNP?

PNP is an immigration program, while Express Entry is an application management system used for the ranking of candidates in multiple immigration programs. It covers the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program and the Canadian Experience Class. Once candidates enter the Express Entry pool, they are ranked and given scores that determine their eligibility.

Onkar Immigration is here to resolve all your queries related to Express Entry draws and immigration programs. Consult with our professionals and get a step closer to your Canadian dream.