Canada Further Strengthens Temporary Residence Programs to Respond to the Country’s Needs
Post by : Admin on Oct 02,2024
The goal of any immigration is to respond to the country’s needs. Canada is no exception. The Canadian Government launched a wide slew of programs to let candidates who are eligible to contribute to the economy settle in the country. As of 2024, the economy has evolved in Canada and so has the need for newcomers from across the world. Thus, Canada is all set to strengthen temporary residence programs to support the current economic needs and labour market shortages.
IRCC Reduces Temporary Resident Arrivals
Canada announced that they would reduce the number of temporary residents arriving to 5% from 6.5% of their total population in the next three years. The announcement was made in March 2024.
Some measures to manage an optimum number of temporary residents:
Reforms on the International Student Program
- The government set an intake cap on international student permit applications.
- A letter of acceptance verification system has been introduced.
- The financial requirements for applicants have also increased.
Stricter Eligibility Requirements for Temporary Foreign Workers
LMIAs for low-wage occupation categories will be valid for one year and confined to specific regions in Canada with high unemployment rates. Employers cannot hire more than 10% of their total workforce through the Temporary Work Permit Programs.
More Thorough LMIA Processing
The processing of LMIA applications got more rigorous from 26th September 2024. For instance, the Government will no longer approve LMIAs in the low-wage categories from specific regions. It is applicable in census metropolitan areas where the unemployment rate is 6% or higher.
This plan to reduce the number of temporary residents in 2024 is an informed response to the labour and economic needs of the country. This is applicable to temporary foreign workers and international students.
How Canada Plans to Manage the Number of Temporary Resident Arrivals?
Canada has always been keen on welcoming newcomers from all around the world. But, it needs to change its immigration policies according to the ongoing labour market needs.
- The government has announced a further reduction in the intake cap on international study permit applications for 2025. They would reduce 10% of the 485,000 permits issued in 2024 and stabilize the intake cap for 2026. So, the number of study permits to be issued in 2025 would be 437,000.
- The Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) will be updated to align with the current labour market needs and economic goals of the country.
- Canada may restrict work permit eligibility for spouses of master's degree students whose academic programs are at least 16 months long.
- Canada may also restrict work permit eligibility for spouses of foreign workers who belong to management occupations or in sectors with labour gaps.
The government wants to make sure the arrival of temporary residents does not affect the ones already living in the country. They made some additional changes to the temporary resident programs to ensure that the temporary residents eligible are supported adequately in the country.
How Does The Government Improve In-Canada Asylum System?
The number of asylum claims has increased with the increase in the number of displaced people all over the world. The displaced individuals may want to seek asylum in Canada for a specific period and hence contribute to the temporary resident volumes.
The Canadian Government is working on measures as mentioned below to improve the asylum system inside the country and help those in need.
- Partial visa requirements for Mexican nationals
- Exploring stringent measures to strengthen visa integrity
- Making the system of processing asylum claims better
- Reducing the number of non-genuine or ineligible visitors
The United States and Canada introduced an Additional Protocol to the Safe Third Country Agreement in March 2023. This ensured that only the most eligible individuals could be allowed to enter and live in the country.
Final Thoughts,
The refurbished immigration system confuses newcomers. But, it is also necessary for the country to keep upgrading its immigration policies and realign with the current economic and labour gaps. The significant reduction in temporary resident arrivals and restrictions on international student permit applications are all measures to streamline the Canadian immigration system and respond to the changing needs of the country better. You can get help from licensed immigration firms such as Onkar Immigration to keep yourself up-to-date with all norms and immigrate successfully.
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