Editors Pick

Highlights: Canada LMAI work visas by western provinces increased

• There has been a 39 percent nationwide increase in LMIA applications created.  
• Canada saw an increase of 83 percent, and Yukon, on the other hand, decreased this year. 
• The LMIA application in Nunavut was highest in Northwest Territories, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan.
• Alberta leads to the longest LMIA in Canada 

*Want to know your Canada eligibility score in a min? Check it with Y-Axis Canada CRS score calculator.

Details of LMAI: 

There is an increase in the number of Western employers who want to hire overseas employees. The average year-to-date processing time for LMIA after Alberta is highest in Manitoba (53 days), NWT (50.3 days), and Saskatchewan (46.7 days).

40% of Albertan LMIA is agriculture and seasonal agriculture worker program streams, whereas in Ontario, it is 11%, and in Quebec, it is 18%.  

The table below demonstrate the rate of employment:

The Recognized Employer Pilot (REP)

REP (The Recognized Employer Pilot) is the service conducted by Canada that will conduct an assessment for LMIA applications to determine eligibility for the REP. REP is a three-year pilot wherein the following employers are offered:

• Employers can regularly access TFWP to fill in-demand positions from the REP occupation list.
• Employers who meet the highest standard for working and living conditions and worker protection
• REP employees can benefit from the validity period lasting up to 36 months for LMIA applications.

REP maintains existing workers' protection by providing them with the following:

• More straightforward and more predictable access to labor for employers
• More flexibility for the Canadian labor market

The Eligibility Criteria of REP:  

• If they have received at least three years of favorable LMIA decisions in the past five years to hire TFWs for positions on the REP occupations list.
• Employers should meet the highest working and living conditions and workers' protection as needed by TFWP.
• Employers must follow the regular TFWP requirements.   

*Want to migrate to Canada? Talk to Y- Axis experts for further guidance

REP Work Phases:

REP provides two phases for those who wish to work in Canada:

• Phase 1: For them to be looking to fill up a position on the Phase 1 occupation list, they can apply in September 2024.
• Phase 2: Those aiming for the next phase can apply from January 2024.

Canada will cease the entire application acceptance in September 2024. The employers of REP applicants can continue submitting requests for positions on the REP occupation list suing LMIA.

*Looking for step-by-step assistance to apply for Canada PR visa? Talk to Y-Axis, the leading Overseas Immigration Company in Australia.

Read More…

Canada PNP Round Up of November 2023

Canada increases visa application fees for returning migrants from 1st Dec 2023

For recent Immigration updates do check out: Y-Axis Canada Immigration new

Web Story:  83% increase in LMIA work visas by western provinces in Canada

Highlights: Canada PNP draws in November

• Seven provinces of Canada issued held 14 PNP draws in November 2023.
• The PNP draws invited 4,272 qualifying candidates to migrate to Canada.
• Alberta, British Columbia, PEI, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba were the provinces to conduct the PNP draws.
• Quebec gave out the most number of invitations to 1,210 candidates.

Check your Canadian Eligibility

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*Note: The minimum points required to migrate to Canada is 67 points.

List of Canadian provinces

Seven provinces of Canada conducted 14 PNP draws in November 2023. The list of provinces that held the PNP draws in November are:

• Alberta
• Manitoba
• Saskatchewan
• Prince Edward Island
• Ontario
• British Columbia
• Quebec

November PNP Outlook 2023

Below are the details of the PNP draws held in November 2023:

Also Read…

Canada increases visa application fees for returning migrants from 1st Dec 2023

When is the next Express Entry draw? How will IRCC decide?

*Are you looking for step-by-step assistance to migrate to Canada? Talk to Y-Axis, the leading Overseas Immigration Company in Australia.

For recent Immigration updates, do check out: Y-Axis Canada Immigration news

Why apply for Schengen Visa?

• Passport-free zone
• Travel to every Schengen area with one visa
• Five years of multiple entry
• Stay up to 90 days 

Five most common problems faced by Schengen visa applicants

• Limited Number of Visa Applications: 

Though a Schengen visa is a great way to visit 26 other countries for visiting purposes, the Schengen visa is facing problems now. They decided to limit appointments and visa duration. 

There are also delays and documentation hurdles. Here are the listed reasons: Many Schengen visa applicants are waiting as slots are quickly filled up, and only limited numbers of applicants are allowed for appointments. 

The region's limited number of appointment slots became severe, with high demand pushing many to alter or cancel their travel plans. 

*Want to migrate overseas? Talk to Y-Axis experts for further guidance.

• Limited Visa Duration :

Most Schengen visa applicants reported instances where their visa wasn't approved within the exact duration of their stay in the Schengen area. This puts the applicants in a Dilemma of whether to adjust or cancel their plans. 

Currently, the application time for a Schengen visa is for a limited period for which a visa gets granted, which could be more flexible, stressing the plans can change very quickly. The Schengen visa also mentions that the holder of a short-term visa can stay in the Schengen area for 90 days in 180 days. Applicants who intend to stay longer must apply for a national visa, which is not issued for travel purposes. 

Applicants are complaining about investing time in a short-term visa permit for Schengen that will allow them to stay in specific areas within a limited period. 

• Number Of Required Documents and Delay In Processing Documents: 

The list of documents required for a short-term Schengen visa is extensive. Gathering all the necessary documents is a complex process. Even after submitting all the documents, applicants have faced discrepancies with their submission. 

Common discrepancies were missing signatures, incomplete financial documentation, and out dated travel insurance.  

The processing time of the Schengen visa has eventually increased this year. The delay ranking too few weeks to several months has become a common headache. 

Applicants are waiting for their visa to be approved for over a month. Most cases are being rejected by mentioning it as an adverse decision. 

The authorities explained that the waiting time has increased due to a surge in application volumes. Embassies have claimed to take measures to process the applications as soon as possible. 

• Need For Better Geographical Coverage to Improve Accessibility: 

The Swedish government needs better geographical coverage to strive for better facilities for applicants for the Schengen visa procedure. Better Geographical coverage can make it easy for applicants to get their visa on time without any delay. 

It will also improve the streamlined process of traveling to Schengen without the misuse of the visa and without deviating from the code. 

• Releasing more Appointments: 

The delay of applications is a significant problem for the visitor. Mostly the delays have been encountered more during holidays. 

As per the recent rules of change introduced in Visa processing, the period to lodge an application has been extended from three to six months before the intended visit. They have also started issuing multiple entry visas with extended validity when the applicants meet the applicable requirements.

There is a need for digitalization of the visa procedure that would be easy for the visa consultancy as well as for the applicants. If there is a digital visa application, applicants will not have to leave their documents to the consultant, add stickers, or be charged extra for receiving the documents back. 

The Schengen area has some countries with lower visa rejection rates: Iceland, Lithuania, and Latvia. 

Want to visit Schengen? Talk to Y-Axis for further assistance.

HOW CAN Y-AXIS HELP YOU?

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• Free eligibility check through Immigration Points Calculator
• Expert guidance/counseling for Immigration
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• Free career counselling; book your slot today
• Complete guidance for PR visa
• Job search services to find related jobs

Highlights: Canada increases visa application fees

• IRCC declared the increase of visa application fees for foreign nationals starting December 1, 2023. 
• The Service Fees Act (SFA) will adjust the visa application fees. 
• The partial funds will be issued to applicants if IRCC receives their application on or after December 1, 2023. 
• The remission will typically be given by July 1 of the following year.  

*Want to know your eligibility score? Check it with Y-Axis Canada CRS score calculator.

Fees Surge:

The increase fees apply to the following:

Ways to avoid inadmissibility: 

Canada's admissibility requirements ensure that a foreign national must meet specific requirements to migrate to Canada. IRCC and the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) have secured the border from anyone who is a risk to the country. So, a criminal background check is necessary. 

There are three ways to overcome inadmissibility:

• A Temporary Resident Permit application:

A TRP or A Temporary Resident Permit grants permission to an applicant for a certain period. A TRP is used when an applicant has a valid reason to enter the country for a short period. A TRP is granted for three years, depending on the reason for entering the country.

• A Criminal Rehabilitation application: 

A Criminal Rehabilitation application is a mandatory document that an applicant must submit. This document would state that they don't have any past criminal record. A Criminal Rehabilitation application is a one-time application that doesn't need a renewal. This report will make the applicant's process for receiving the TRP to enter the country. 

To be eligible for A Criminal Rehabilitation application: 

• Must not have committed a crime that is equivalent to an offense under the Canadian Criminal Code. 
• Must not be convicted. 
• Before applying for the Canadian Criminal Code, five years should pass if there is any crime, including jail, fines, community service, or probation. 
• A Legal opinion letter: 

If an applicant has committed any crime or been convicted, then they can opt for a legal opinion letter. This legal opinion letter addresses the judicial authority to hear the case that the applicant is charged with. 

Canadian immigration lawyer drafts a legal opinion letter and explains the consequences of the conviction for the Canadian immigration process. 

If the applicant can perform these criteria, they can migrate to Canada  hassle-free.

*Looking for step-by-step assistance to apply for Canada PR visa? Talk to Y-Axis, the leading Overseas Immigration Company in Australia.

Read More…

When is the next Express Entry draw? How will IRCC decide?

Canada PNP draws invited 932 candidates in 1st week of July 2023

For recent Immigration updates do check out: Y-Axis Canada Immigration news

Web Story: Canada increases visa application fees for returning migrants from 1st Dec 2023

Highlights: The Next Express Entry draw

• IRCC holds draws every two weeks on Wednesday. 
• IRCC draw would issue over 3,000 ITAs for Canada PR. 
• The CRS cut-out is around 470 points. 
• IRCC achieved a goal of processing 80% Express Entry permanent residence within six months. 

*Want to know your eligibility score? Check it with Y-Axis Canada CRS score calculator.

Details about this year's Express Entry Draw:

Express Entry was established in 2015 to respond to Canada's changing labor and economic needs. This year, IRCC Express Entry draws occurred regularly in the weeks leading up to June. IRCC introduced category-based selections as they planned for a broader array of policy goals, labor shortage, etc. The categories were: 

• healthcare
• science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions
• Trades, such as carpenters, plumbers, and contractors
• transport
• agriculture and agri-food 

Between June 12 and August 15, IRCC held a total of 12 Express Entry draws for Canada Permanent Residency. IRCC held off issuing nine more draws between September 19 and October 26. Since October 26, there has been no draw, and neither IRCC has explained the reason for the pause. 

Points that can affect Express Entry Draw:

There are specific points that affect the express entry draw, such as: 

• Immigration Level Plans: 

Every year, Canada releases an Immigration level plan for a number of Permanent residents who will migrate to Canada annually for the upcoming three years. 

The targets are divided into categories. IRCC plans to land 110,770 immigrants via Express Entry in 2024 and 117,550 in both 2025 and 2026, including Express Entry ITAs and their eligible partners and dependents. 

If IRCC cannot meet its desired count of ITA invitations, IRCC may issue a higher number of ITAs. 

As the IRCC issues target both the current year and the upcoming year, it will take up to six months to process an Express Entry candidate. The ITAs issued for the latter half of 2023 will be in 2024. 

• IRRC policy objectives: 

The department must ensure the draws that are being held should abide by the IRRC policy objectives.

• Changes affecting CRS and Express Entry Profile: 

Changes in CRS and Express Entry Profile may impact Express Entry draws. IRCC rarely allocates CRS points to a specific attribute that can also influence the frequency of Express Entry draws.

When this happens, IRCC must ensure that all the existing profiles are current with CRS scores. 

• IT issues: 

IT issues, including glitches, are another factor that can influence Express Entry. These glitches can result in the applicant's further procedure. For, e.g., Applicants who have received ITAs may not be able to upload their final application for permanent residency within 60 days. 

So until the issue is resolved, IRCC might hold further draws. 

• Staff changes at IRCC

A change in staff can also influence Express Entry draws. That can be anyone: a new Immigration Minister, Deputy Minister, or other officials responsible for Express Entry. It takes time for staff to get up to speed in their new position. 

IRCC must have a proper setup before any new draw to avoid any discrepancy. 

*Looking for step-by-step assistance to apply for Canada PR visa? Talk to Y-Axis, the leading Overseas Immigration Company in Australia.

Read More…

Canada PNP draws invited 932 candidates in 1st week of July 2023

Canada to hold its first STEM round of invitations under the category-based Express Entry Draw

Latest Canada Express Entry draw invites 1,500 healthcare professionals

For recent Immigration updates do check out: Y-Axis Canada Immigration new

Web Story:  When is the next Express Entry draw? How will IRCC decide?