Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)

 What is the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)?

Canada’s first PNP now nominates over 5,000 applicants a year.

Manitoba was the first province to launch the Provincial Nominee Program in 1998. Since its launch, Manitoba has tremendously benefitted from immigration to the province through the PNP, which has played a major role in the province’s population, labour force, and economic growth.

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Manitoba is a very popular option for newcomers to Canada. Over 90 percent of provincial nominees get a job in their first year, and the province’s retention rate is very high, with almost 90 percent of nominees choosing to stay in the province.

Manitoba has enhanced and base immigration streams. The enhanced immigration stream means that the stream is affiliated with the Express Entry system, which the federal government uses to manage permanent residence applications. Express Entry gives immigration candidates a score based on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The candidates with the highest scores are invited to apply for permanent residence.

If you get a nomination from an enhanced provincial program, you get an extra 600 CRS points, which essentially guarantees the immigration candidate an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence.

Base streams require candidates who get a provincial nomination to apply directly to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Manitoba Immigration Streams

There are five options if you wish to immigrate to Manitoba through the PNP:

• Skilled Worker in Manitoba Stream
• Skilled Worker Overseas Stream
• Manitoba Business Investor Stream
• International Education Stream
• Morden Community Driven Initiative

Skilled Worker in Manitoba Stream

The Skilled Worker in Manitoba Stream is for temporary foreign workers and international student graduates who are employed in Manitoba currently and have been offered full-time, permanent employment in Manitoba. The stream consists of two pathways: the Manitoba Work Experience Pathway and the Employer Direct Recruitment Pathway.

The Manitoba Work Experience Pathway is for people currently working in Manitoba with a temporary work permit. The Employer Direct Recruitment Pathway eligibility requires an interview by a representative of the Manitoba PNP and a Manitoba employer, which is carried out outside Canada. You must receive an Invitation to Apply before applying through this pathway.

Skilled Worker Overseas Stream

The Skilled Worker Overseas Stream is for qualified skilled workers who may be outside Canada but can demonstrate a strong tie or connection to the province. You may also be eligible if you are already in Canada.

The stream consists of two pathways: the Manitoba Express Entry Pathway and the Human Capital Pathway.

The Manitoba Express Entry Pathway is for candidates with an Express Entry profile and candidates who are eligible for the Manitoba PNP. The candidate must also have experience in an occupation that is listed in the provinces ‘In-demand Occupations list and have a strong connection to Manitoba.

The Human Capital Pathway is for foreign skilled workers with experience working in the provinces ‘In-Demand Occupations list.

Manitoba Business Investor Stream

The Manitoba Business Investor Stream is for people wishing to establish a business in Manitoba.

The stream consists of two pathways: the Farm Investor Pathway and the Entrepreneur Pathway.

The Farm Investor Pathway is for candidates with experience in farm business who wish to come to Manitoba to establish and operate a farm.

The Entrepreneur Pathway is a way for the province to recruit eligible foreign business owners to come to Manitoba. In order to be chosen, business owners must have the intent and ability to establish or purchase a new business or co-own an existing business. They must do so in their first two years in Manitoba.

International Education Stream

The International Education Stream is for international graduates from Manitoba who wish to stay in the province permanently. It provides graduates who meet the needs of the labor market with faster pathways to permanent residency.

The stream has three pathways: Career Employment Pathway, Graduate Internship Pathway, and Student Entrepreneur Pathway.

The Career Employment Pathway is for post-secondary graduates who have long term employment in an in-demand occupation in Manitoba.

The Graduate Internship Pathway is for international master and doctoral graduates who have completed an Accelerate or Elevate internship with Mitacs, which is an organization that works with the Manitoba government to provide internships to international graduates.

The International Student Entrepreneur Pathway provides international graduates of a learning institution in Manitoba the opportunity to become entrepreneurs in Manitoba.

Morden Community-Driven Immigration Initiative

Morden is a town southwest of Winnipeg that is actively looking for immigrants to work in certain occupations to meet the town’s labor market needs and become permanent residents of Canada.

In order to be eligible for the Morden Community-Driven Immigration Initiative, you must meet certain age, education, language, and work experience requirements. In addition, you must not have a connection to any other part of Canada and have enough money to settle in Morden.

How does the Manitoba PNP work?

If you wish to immigrate to Canada through the Manitoba PNP, you must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI). Once you complete the questions online, you will receive a score. The highest-scoring candidates will be invited to submit a Manitoba PNP application.

If you are successful in your application, you will receive a provincial nomination from Manitoba. You would then use this nomination to apply directly to the Canadian federal government for a permanent residence visa. If you are an Express Entry candidate, you would do this through the Express Entry system.

The processing time for the Manitoba PNP is usually around 6 months, in addition to the time, it takes IRCC to then process permanent residence applications.

United Kingdom is back to processing visa applications within 15 days

The United Kingdom is back to processing visa applications within the standard of 15 days, with priority visas being processed within five days.

With an unprecedented surge in travel demand post-pandemic, the UK, like many other countries, has been grappling with immigration backlogs- forcing thousands of students, workers, and tourists to reschedule their travel.

"Good news for those traveling from India to the UK- visit visas now within the standard time of 15 working days (with a small number of trickier cases taking longer)," British High Commissioner Alex Ellis said in a tweet.

Extra slots for student visas have also been opened, to keep up with the January 2023 intake, Ellis added, "Please apply as quickly as you can because there is a lot of demand."

"Make sure you provide the right information. Check what information we are asking for, and make sure you provide it."

Ellis said that Indian student numbers are up by 89 percent since last year and skilled workers' visas bring processed faster with a focus on improving visitor visa processing times.

The latest UK Immigration Statistics published in August show that nearly 118,000 Indian students received a Student visa in the year ending June 2022 - an 89 percent increase from the previous year.

India has now overtaken China as the largest nationality being issued sponsored study visas in the UK.

The UK continues to be a popular destination for Indian holidaymakers too. Indian nationals accounted for the highest proportion (28per cent) of Visitor visas granted.

More than 258,000 Indian nationals received visit visas in the year ending June 2022 - a 630 percent increase compared to the previous year (when travel restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic were still in place).

In the year ending June 2022, Indian nationals also received nearly 103,000 Work visas (which includes skilled and seasonal workers) - a 148 percent increase over the previous year. Indian nationals continue to be the top nationality granted Skilled Worker visas, accounting for 46 percent of all skilled work visas granted globally.

 

Student Direct Stream- Canada

 What is the Student Direct Stream?

Canada has made it even easier for international students from certain countries to enter, study, and potentially immigrate to Canada.

Canada’s Student Direct Stream (SDS) is a program designed to expedite applications for study permits for international students from 14 countries. Immigration Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will aim to process applications of individuals applying through this program within 20 days. The eligible countries are:

• Antigua and Barbuda;
• Brazil;
• China;
• Colombia;
• Costa Rica;
• India;
• Morocco;
• Pakistan;
• Peru;
• Philippines;
• Senegal;
• Trinidad and Tobago;
• St. Vincent and the Grenadines; and
• Vietnam.

Note, however, that citizens of any of the countries listed cannot be residents of another country at the time of their application through the SDS program. Citizens of the above countries who currently reside in another country will not be able to avail of SDS program benefits when applying for their study permit. Additionally, incomplete applications will be refused per IRCC regulations.

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Applying through the SDS

The process of availing of a study permit through the SDS is similar to the process of applying for a non-SDS study permit. Candidates must:

• Provide a copy of a letter of acceptance to a Canadian Designated Learning Institution (DLI). A DLI is a school approved by the provincial or territorial government to host international students;
• Proof of valid language test results completed within 2 years of the date of application, showing either: an IELTS score of 6 or higher in each language skill; or a TEF score equivalent to a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score of at least 7 for each language ability.
• Present proof of completion of the applicant’s upfront medical exam;
• Prove that they have a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) of $ 10,000. The GIC is a document issued by a bank or financial institution to prove the investment of money into an asset or purchase. Eligible GICs are issued from financial institutions listed on the Canadian Deposit Insurance Company website;
• Prove that the tuition fees for the first year of study have already been paid;
• Most recent secondary or post-secondary educational transcript.
• Submit the application at a Visa Application Centre (VAC).

In addition to these, there are additional documents that candidates will need to send with their application, including (but not limited to):

• Application for Study Permit made outside of Canada form; and
• Schedule 1 – Application for a Temporary Resident Visa form.

Successful applicants under the program will receive a Port of Entry letter of introduction, and a Canadian study permit (temporary resident visa) to enter and study in Canada. With a valid study permit, students enrolled full-time, in an eligible program (at least 6 months in duration and leading to a degree, diploma, or certificate) from a DLI can work in Canada.

Students are permitted to work on-campus, full-time throughout the year; or off-campus on a part-time basis during regular semesters, with the option of working full-time during scheduled breaks (i.e.: winter/summer holidays). If the program requires that students must work to complete their degree, students may also work in a co-op or internship placement. Note that to work students will need to obtain a Social Insurance Number (SIN). The SIN number is a unique 9-digit number that the Canadian government uses to identify and categorize all residents—international students are eligible for a temporary SIN.

Why study in Canada?

Canada has become a hotbed for international students in recent decades, with hundreds of thousands moving to study at Canadian institutions every year. Among other benefits, the quality of education, safety and stability of Canada, the competitive rate of the Canadian dollar, and the multicultural society of the country have all proven key reasons for many students choosing to study, and even settle in Canada long-term.

Canadian students also have a number of immigration programs and pathways open to them after completing their studies and obtaining their Post Graduation Work Permit(PGWP), including Express Entry, the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), Quebec-specific programs, and more.

Exploring immigration options to Atlantic Canada

 Exploring immigration options to Atlantic Canada

Canada’s easternmost provinces are becoming increasingly popular destinations for newcomers to Canada.

Atlantic Canada is made up of four provinces: Nova Scotia (NS), New Brunswick (NB), Prince Edward Island (PEI), and Newfoundland and Labrador (NL).

According to Canada’s most recent census, “the share of immigrants settling in Atlantic Canada has [nearly] tripled” in the last decade and a half. In fact, the percentage of Canadian immigrants that have chosen to call Atlantic Canada home has risen from 1.2% (2006) to 3.5% (2021) over the last 15 or so years.

If you are interested in immigrating to Atlantic Canada, the following will outline a few possible immigration paths:

Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)

The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) was officially introduced on January 1, 2022.

The AIP is an immigration program where foreign nationals with an existing job offer in Atlantic Canada are exempt from obtaining a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).

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“Once the candidate has accepted the job, the employer will connect the candidate with a designated settlement service provider organization for a needs assessment and the development of a settlement plan.”

Beyond providing a starting point for the immigrant’s career in Canada, employers will also “support the long-term integration” of the newcomer and their family in Atlantic Canada. This will help ensure that immigrants through the AIP can reach their settlement upon arriving in their new home.

Further details on how to apply for immigration to Canada through the AIP are available here.

Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)

Eleven of Canada’s thirteen provinces and territories, excluding Quebec and Nunavut, operate a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) that allows the province/territory to select foreign nationals who may best help address provincial or territorial labour market needs.

Among the four provinces that make up ‘Atlantic Canada’, these programs are:

New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) 

The NBPNP contains the following four streams:

Express Entry Stream: For foreign nationals who are best suited to help the province meet its specific demographic and labour market needs/goals;

Skilled Workers Stream: Candidates must hold a full-time, permanent job offer;

Business Immigration Stream: Applicants to this stream must have plans for owning and actively managing a business;

Strategic initiative Stream: Specific to francophone immigrants, this stream welcomes those who have the skills, education, and work experience to contribute to the province and want to reside/work permanently in NB.

Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) 

The NLPNP has five streams:

Newfoundland and Labrador Express Entry Skilled Worker: For foreign skilled workers who have an Express Entry profile active in the Federal Pool of eligible candidates and hold an existing job offer;

Skilled Worker Category: For skilled workers with a job offer, including individuals already in NL who have a valid work permit;

International Graduate Category: A stream for recent graduates who hold a job offer as well as a Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP);

International Entrepreneur Category: Applicants through this stream want to start, co-manage, or purchase a business in NL after having operated a business for at least one year on a work permit in the province;

International Graduate Entrepreneur Category: This stream is reserved for graduates of a post-secondary institution in NL that want to establish, co-own, or run a business.

Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) 

There are nine different pathways contained within the NSNP:

Nova Scotia Experience (Express Entry): This stream does not require a job offer but is reserved for those with an Express Entry profile active in the Federal Pool of eligible candidates;

Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities: For those with an active and valid Express Entry profile. In this case, applicants must also have received a Letter of Interest from the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration (NSOI) on their Express Entry profile;

Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities for Physicians: In addition to having both an active and valid Express Entry profile and a Letter of Interest from NSOI, applicants in this stream are required to first obtain “a job offer from the Nova Scotia Health Authority or IWK Health Centre as a general practitioner, family physician or a specialist physician.”

There are also separate NSNP streams designated for the following six groups of people:

• Skilled workers aged 21-55 with a valid, full-time, and permanent job offer from a provincial employer 
• People working in occupations deemed to be in high demand throughout the province of Nova Scotia (list of occupations currently eligible for this stream)
• International Graduates working in occupations deemed to be in high demand throughout Nova Scotia (list of occupations currently eligible for this stream)
• Entrepreneurs that are at least 21 years old and “have a minimum of CAD $600,000 in Net Business and Personal Assets”
• International Graduate Entrepreneurs: To qualify under this stream, immigrants must have a full-time Nova Scotia post-secondary diploma or degree that is at least two years long and they must have lived in NS full-time during their studies
• Physicians who are either general practitioners, family physicians, or specialist physicians. To apply through this stream, applicants must meet the requirements to be licensed in NS and have a signed approved opportunity with the Nova Scotia Health Authority or the IWK Health Centre.

Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP)

The PEI PNP contains the following three streams:

PEI PNP Express Entry: For foreign nationals that have a valid Express Entry profile with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC);

Labour Impact Category: Contains a separate stream for Skilled Workers, ‘Critical’ Workers, and International Graduates;

Business Impact Category: A stream for foreign nationals who wish to invest in a business situated in PEI.