March and April 2023 have been eventful months for Canada’s immigration system. The government has announced several new initiatives and policies that aim to attract more immigrants and support their integration into Canadian society. Here are some of the highlights of the recent immigration news:
– On March 27, 2023, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Sean Fraser, launched a public survey to gather views from anyone with an interest in immigration. The survey is part of an engagement initiative called An Immigration System for Canada’s Future, which will help inform a vision for how the immigration system can strengthen communities across the country. The survey will run until April 27, 2023, and can be accessed online at Canada.ca/immigration-future.
– On March 31, 2023, Fraser announced a new immigration pathway for essential workers and international graduates who are currently in Canada. The pathway will open on May 6, 2023, and will accept up to 90,000 applications from eligible candidates who have contributed to Canada’s pandemic response or economic recovery. The pathway will also include streams for French-speaking or bilingual candidates, as well as those who are applying from outside Canada.
– In March 2023, Express Entry hit four major milestones, including setting a record for the most Invitations to Apply (ITAs) issued in a single all-program draw since the application management system began operating in 2015. On March 18, 2023, IRCC issued 5,000 ITAs to candidates with a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of at least 449. In total, IRCC issued 21,667 ITAs in March 2023, making it the second-largest Express Entry month since the program’s inception eight years ago.
– In April 2023, several provinces announced their latest Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) results, inviting candidates who meet their local labour market needs. For example, Ontario invited 528 Express Entry candidates with work experience in one of six tech occupations on April 13, 2023. British Columbia invited 362 candidates across five PNP streams on April 6, 2023. Alberta invited 200 Express Entry candidates with CRS scores as low as 301 on April 6, 2023.
These are some of the exciting developments that have taken place in Canada’s immigration system in March and April 2023. If you are interested in immigrating to Canada or learning more about your options, please visit our website or contact us for a consultation.