Tag Archives: Canada Immigration Consultants

Financial Planning is crucial for freshers in Canada! Find out how?

Canada is acknowledged for its excellent affordable life and is recognized as a happy country. It has an amazing healthcare system, tremendous natural resources, outstanding education system, peaceful environment, growing economy, and friendly people. All these qualities make Canada the sought for immigration destination. Well, most of the good things are for free in Canada, still making a transition from home country to Canada needs a lot of planning, especially from a financial perspective. 

Now that you have received an invitation from the Canadian Government to settle in Canada, it’s time for you to plan your finances, as taking a transition from one country to another is quite taxing. It would help if you catered to travel expenses while searching for accommodation or job, hotel stay, food, etc. The visa and associated fees also need money. The other unavoidable expenses may include nursery or schools for the kids, money for food and sightseeing, car hire, a mobile phone, and internet coverage. 

So, before you make a move to Canada, the best thing for you to do is to take out a pen and a paper and note down all the expenses that you will have to incur during the initial phase of your settlement in Canada. 

Mandatory steps for fresh immigrants to manage finances well in Canada 

  • Opening a bank account

Though opening a bank account for freshers in Canada is tough, particularly when someone is not lawfully admitted into a Canadian college or institute, or if an employer does not legally hire someone in the country. Whatever is the mode of someone’s transition to Canada, like student visa, permanent residency, work permit, or business visa, one must explore Scotiabank StartRight Progam1. 

The documents required to apply include Permanent Resident Card, Passport, Citizenship and Immigration Canada Form, and more. 

  • Establish a good credit score

A good credit score is helpful for approval of loans and in making significant purchases like Home. The credit score is also estimated in Canada through apartment rental agreements. The wisest way to develop credit for newcomers is by opening a credit card account with bank help. 

For more details on financial planning before landing in Canada, consult Options Abroad, offering multiple immigration solutions under one roof.   

Relaxed travel restrictions to boost immigration in Canada

In May 2021, Canada welcomed 17000 new immigrants, the lowest number recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The IRCC has been observing a slow immigration rate straight from the past four months, whereas the year started extremely well.

The number of new immigrants welcomed to Canada start declining gradually as per the following table:

MonthNumber of Immigrants Welcomed
January24,680
February23,395
March22,425
April21,155

Until May 2021, Canada has welcomed 108,000 immigrants, which is a low number as per the set targets under Immigration Levels Plan 2021-2023.

Canada set the target of inviting 401,000 new immigrants each year starting from 2021. This is the most striving target ever set by IRCC for welcoming aspiring migrators in Canada to support economic recovery after COVID 19 pandemic.

Canada was targeting to welcome 341,000 new immigrants in 2020, but only 184,000 immigrants entered the country due to travel constraints and other coronavirus-related troubles since March 2020.

Before the pandemic hit the country, between 25,000 and 35,000 immigrants used to enter Canada every month. During the spring and summer months, the number of immigrants used to be high. These are the months with favourable weather conditions, and the academic and business calendar starts in September in Canada.

However, only 4,100 new arrivals were registered in April 2020 and continued to be under 20,000 each month for the rest of 2020.

Currently, IRCC is focusing on processing the permanent residence applications for those who are already living in Canada and have applied through Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), and other programs. Through the Express Entry draws, candidates falling under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) are invited. Total 93,842 candidates are already invited to apply for PR in 2021 which is double the figure in 2020. IRCC also brought up new PR streams for up to 90,000 international graduates and workers, and it is expected that about 40,000 of these applications will be processed by the end of 2021.

As the immigration target is high, in the coming years more and more applications will be accepted. To apply for one of the programs leading to Canadian Permanent Residency, contact Options Abroad powered by a board of experienced IRCC members, immigration lawyers, and leading visa and immigration experts.

Largest Expression of Interest draws ever held by Ontario

Three major PNP draws inviting international workers, students, and applicants with a job offer in rural communities on July 13, 2012, were held by the Ontario province.

The OINP invited 1,685 candidates who submitted their profiles in the new Expression of Interest (EOI) pool.  Invited candidates might be qualified for one of two Employer Job Offer streams. In this year so far, this is the largest Expression of Interest draws held by Ontario.

Under the general draw, 1,211 candidates are invited who are eligible for the Foreign Worker Stream. The score requirement for such candidates is at least 33, and no targeted occupations and location requirements were applicable under this draw.

Another 431 applicants were sent invitations through the International Student Stream, and the score requirement for these candidates was at least 62.

43 candidates are invited under the Regional Immigration Pilot program.

About the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream

Any candidate who has an eligible job offer from an employer in Ontario can apply under Ontario Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream. The candidates who meet the eligibility requirements do not necessarily need to be in Canada. They are required to have:

•          Two years work experience in a skilled occupation,

•          An eligible Job Offer from Ontario, and

•          An intention to immigrate to Ontario

About the Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream

Any candidate who has an eligible job offer from an employer in Ontario can apply under Ontario Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream. The candidates who meet the eligibility requirements do not necessarily need to be in Canada. They are required to have

•      A recognized qualification from Canadian Designated Learning Institution,

•          An eligible Job Offer from Ontario, and

•          An intention to immigrate to Ontario

To apply for the PNP, an EOI profile has to be registered on the website of Ontario. Post-registration, the profile is entered in the EOI pool. Based on the profile, a score is given. Factors on which the score is based include skill level of job offer, professional experience, wage, qualification, language ability, the region in which education or experience is gained, etc. Ontario uses the National Occupational Classification (NOC) system to calculate points for the candidates.

All the PNPs are focused on filling skill shortages in the labor market by bringing skilled immigrants to various provinces. The OINP systematically explores the Express Entry pool to invite candidates meeting Ontario’s stream eligibility criteria.

What is the Regional Immigration Pilot?

The Regional Immigration Pilot helps address labour shortages in various communities. Three rural locations, namely Chatham-Kent, Cornwall, and Quinte West/Belleville are allocated with 150 nominations in 2021. The program will stay here for two years before review. Depending on the performance, it will be extended or discontinued.

To apply for one of the programs leading to Canadian Permanent Residency, contact Options Abroad powered by a board of experienced IRCC members, immigration lawyers, and leading visa and immigration experts. https://www.optionsabroad.ca/

The biggest PNP-only draw ever

Canada invited 940 candidates through Express Entry draw on June 9, 2021. These candidates can now apply for Permanent Residence as they received a provincial nomination through respective PNP. This is the reason the score cut off was as high as 711.

When receiving a nomination from one of the Provinces, aspiring migrators who have submitted their profiles in the Express Entry Pool are awarded 600 additional points. As candidates having 111 points or above, have been receiving Invitation to Apply (ITA), a nomination which adds 600 points under PNP ensures that the nominated candidate will be receiving Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence in the succeeding express entry draw. 

BC PNP Tech Pilot Program to be continued as a Permanent Program

As British Columbia’s Tech pilot project was set to run until June, the province announced that it will be extended indefinitely.

The Program was introduced in May 2017, and last year it was extended for 1 year. Its extension will expire on June 30, 2021. The Program will then be renamed BC PNP Tech, and it is set to be continued as a permanent, fast-track immigration pathway for international workers and students.