Navratri 2019: Nine-day long festival begins with great fervor on the first day

Navratri 2019: Nine-day long festival begins with great fervor on the first day

The festival is popularly and prominently celebrated in Gujarat, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Karnataka.

Navratri in Sanskrit means nine nights in which nine forms of Goddess Durga are worshipped in a particular order. Alongside observing fast and performing various rituals, preparing a special offering for each day holds symbolic significance.

The occasion is believed to mark Goddess Durga's victory over demon Mahishasura, which signifies the victory of good over evil.

This year, Navratri is being observed from September 29 to October 7.

Happy Navratri to you and your family!

Happy Onam 2019

May the colours and lights of Onam fill your home with happiness and joy. Happy Onam 2019.

IRCC launches Agri-Food Immigration Pilot

IRCC is launching a new 3-year economic immigration pilot that will fill labour shortages mainly in meat processing and mushroom production, within the agri-food sector.

The agriculture and agri-food industry are an important contributor to Canada’s economic growth and supports 1 in 8 jobs in Canada.
Meat processing and mushroom production industries have experienced constant difficulty in finding and keeping new employees over the past several years.
This new pilot aims to attract and retain workers by providing them with an opportunity to become permanent residents.
Temporary foreign workers with more than 12 months of Canadian work experience in some occupations be able to apply under this pilot program as of 2020.
The Agri-Food Immigration Pilot complements the Atlantic Immigration Pilot, the Provincial Nominee Program and the recently launched Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot.

Independence Day - India

Wishing all Indians a Happy Independence Day 2019! – May you always have the freedom to choose, freedom to dream and freedom to live.

Canadian Citizenship Test

The Canadian citizenship test is a written test, you may request for an interview. You will be tested on two basic conditions for citizenship: 1) knowledge of Canada and of the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, and 2) adequate knowledge of English or French, the economy and Canada today.

If you are taking the citizenship test, click here to see how you would score

Pakistan Independence Day

Wishing all Pakistanis a Happy Independence Day. On this special day I wish you peace and happiness.

Eid Mubarak

On the Holy occasion of Eid al-Adha, may you be filled with happiness and may every step of your journey through life be blessed by Allah. Eid Mubarak!

New Brunswick - 10-year strategy to fix nurse shortage in province

New Brunswick has a bold new vision to add 130 nurses a year over the next 10 years to resolve the nursing shortage currently facing the province.

The province has 8,000 nurses; however, the acute shortage has led to the closure of hospitals in Bathurst, Perth-Andover, Saint John and Dr. Georges L-Dumount University Hospital centre.

The main focus is to give better education incentives for students to make it affordable in the province and on attracting internationally trained nurses.

The province is looking into having a bridging program for students to enable licensed practical nurses to obtain a nursing degree and thus help them become a registered nursed in 2 years.

The province is also planning to identify countries which have similar nursing programs and grant them accreditation. The province is looking at all options to streamline the accreditation process.

Also, being considered is giving nurses bonuses to work in rural areas for areas for a few years.

Alberta: Candidates with CRS score of 303 invited to apply through PNP program

Alberta is a landlocked province bordered by the Northwest Territories to the north, Saskatchewan to the east, the US state of Montana to the south and British Columbia across the western border of the Rocky Mountains.

Alberta has had two quick PNP draws; one on July 17th, and issued 251 NOIs to candidates with a CRS score of 400, and another on July 24th, and issued NOI to 220 candidates who had a CRS score of 303.

The AINP has had 26 draws since it first started issuing NOIs in 2018 and has issued 5,063 notification of interest to date.

You may receive a NOI if you intend to live in Alberta permanently, are working in a job that is geared towards the provinces economic development or have a job offer. Also, having graduated from Canadian post-secondary institution as well as having family relatives increases your chances of being accepted.

Canada: Temporary resident permits to out-of-status victims of family violence now being issued

Foreign nationals (FN) who are out of status and are experiencing family violence can now apply for a fee-exempt temporary resident permit (TRP) that will enable them to live legally in Canada.

This measure also covers access to an initial fee-exempt work permit and Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) coverage for these individuals if the conditions deem necessary. Also, these cases will be assessed quickly and the officers will consider the following criterion for TRP eligibility:

• physically located in Canada and experiencing abuse, including physical, sexual, psychological or financial abuse or neglect, from their spouse or common-law partner while in Canada

• seeking permanent residence that is contingent on remaining in a genuine relationship in which there is abuse and if the relationship with the abusive spouse or common-law partner is critical for the continuation of the individual’s status in Canada

Examples of individuals who may be eligible include foreign nationals who:

• are applicants of the family class or spouse or common-law partner in Canada class (SCLPC class) who have either already left their sponsor, due to abuse, or not yet left their sponsor, due to fear of losing their immigration status

• cannot be assessed for permanent residence because their sponsor (abusive spouse or common law partner) has withdrawn their family class or SCLPC class sponsorship application

• have been misled and made to believe by an abusive spouse or common-law partner that their family class or SCLPC class permanent residence application has been submitted and is in process when, in fact, no application has been submitted

• are temporary residents intending to apply for permanent residence through a genuine relationship that has become abusive, but who may not yet have an application in process

Cases outside the Family Class will be given due consideration; however, IRCC stated that the bulk of the cases are expected to come from within the Family Class.

Ontario Immigration Nominee Program (OINP) Tech Draw: August 1, 2019

The Ontario Immigration Nominee Program (OINP) invited 1,773 Express Entry candidates on August 1, 2019, who have tech experience, the CRS score was 435.

The candidates invited were in Ontario’s Express Entry Human Capital Priorities Stream, and had experience in one of the six tech occupations listed below:

• Software engineers and designers (NOC 2173)

• Computer programmers and interactive media developers (NOC 2174)

• Computer engineers (NOC 2147)

• Web designers and developers (NOC 2175)

• Database analysts and data administrators (NOC 2172)

• Computer and information systems managers (NOC 0213)

This was OINPs second Tech Draw in less than a month, the first was on July 12, 2019, and 623 invitations were issued.

The Ontario Immigration Nominee Program (OINP) regularly searches Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) Express Entry pool to find candidates who may meet the criteria of one of Ontario’s Express Entry immigration streams.

You must have a valid profile in Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC’s) Express Entry system and receive a Notification of Interest from Ontario before you can apply online to be nominated by the Ontario government for permanent residence.

If you are identified in the pool, you will receive a Notification of Interest (NOI) in your IRCC online account.

After you receive an NOI, you may submit an online application to the OINP if you qualify under one of Ontario’s Express Entry streams. You must submit your application within 45 calendar days of receiving your NOI.

Your application will be processed and a decision to grant or refuse your application will be made in accordance with the Ontario Immigration Act, 2015 and its regulations.

Student Direct Stream – Pakistan

Students from Pakistan now have the options of applying through the Student Direct Stream (SDS) and can obtain their study permit in approximately 20 days.

The SDS was introduced in 2018 and students from India, Philippines, Vietnam and China currently have this option.

Ahmed Hussen, Minister for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship said “By expanding the Student Direct Stream to a more diverse range of prospective students, we’re enhancing the tremendous cultural, social and economic benefits that international students provide.”

Usually the processing time for study permits applications is eight weeks for students from Pakistan. The SDS route will reduce the processing time to within 20 days.

The only difference by using the SDS route students will have to provide their language (English/French) results, and provide proof that they have paid the tuition fees for the first year.

Global Talent Stream Occupations List Updated

Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) updated the occupations in the Global Talent Steam (GTS) to emphasize the needs of the labour market.

Position added: Computer network technicians (NOC 2281)

Positions removed: Managers (Engineering, NOC 0211)

Managers (Science and Architecture, NOC 0212)

Employers in high growth industries or those who need to hire IT professionals can apply for work permits under the GTS. Applications (LMIAs) are processed within two weeks. This program was introduced to assist companies bring foreign workers to Canada as soon as possible to meet the needs of their business.

Global Talent Stream Occupation List: ​

• Computer and information systems managers (NOC 0213)

• Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) (NOC 2147)

• Mathematicians and statisticians (*see NOC 2161)

• Information systems analysts and consultants (NOC 2171)

• Database analysts and data administrators (NOC 2172)

• Software engineers and designers (NOC 2173)

• Computer programmers and interactive media developers (NOC 2174)

• Web designers and developers (NOC 2175)

• Computer Network technicians (NOC 2281)

• Information systems testing technicians (2283)

• Producer, technical, creative and artistic director and project manager – Visual effects and video game (*see NOC 5131 and specific rules apply)

• Digital Media and Design (*see of NOC 5241 and specific rules apply)

Applications of occupation that have been removed from the list will be accepted until August 4, 2019.

​Contact JM Immigration to help you meet the timelines for submitting your applications.

Interim Pathway for Caregivers Reopens Again

The interim pathway for caregivers is a pathway to permanent residence for temporary foreign worker caregivers and their family members. Applications are currently being accepted until October 8, 2019.

This pathway is for caregivers who have:

• language skills of at least a CLB 5 in English or French; and

• 12 months of full-time work experience in Canada since November 30, 2014 in a relevant occupation; and

• a minimum of a Canadian high school diploma or non-Canadian educational diploma, certificate or credential that’s equal to a Canadian high school diploma.

You must have Canadian work experience as a:

• home child care provide

• home support worker

• or a mix of both

Also, your work experience must have been gained while working in the TFWP.

If you are unsure if the Interim Pathway for Caregivers is the right pathway for you, call/text/email JM Immigration Consultancy to help you determine which pathway you may be eligible to apply for.

Canada-bound visitors barred from flights on advice of Canada border agents on the increase

Twice as many visitors in 2018, 7,208 travelers, as compared to 2017, 2,873 travelers, visiting Canada were not allowed to board a flight to Canada.

The reason was ‘improper documents’, however, many were from countries where visas were not required.

Read the complete article here

BC: Licensing recruiters to protect foreign workers

Recruiters who help provide employment in B.C. for foreign workers will have until October 1, 2019, to get a license.

The licensing requirement will give better protection to workers new to Canada, including people who enter under the Temporary Foreign Workers Program (TFWP) and are more vulnerable to abuse in the workplace.

Recruiters who operate without a license could face a penalty of up to $50,000, be imprisoned for up to one year or face both.

FACTS:

• In 2017, the federal government issued approximately 47,620 work permits for foreign nationals destined for B.C., of which 16,865 were issued under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.

• In 2019, Statistics Canada estimated that there were 101,945 unfilled positions in B.C. during 2019’s first quarter, up 10% from the same quarter in 2018.

• Manitoba and Saskatchewan have similar licensing requirements for recruiters of foreign workers.

Read the complete article here

Farm workers now have a pathway to permanent residence

The agriculture sector has been facing continual labour shortages and to mitigate this problem the federal government has launched a pilot program to enable farm workers obtain permanent residency.

Emphasizing the importance of the agriculture sector, Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen stated that one out of eight jobs was sustained by the agriculture sector.

Read the article here

Stricter driving fines come into effect in August

Stricter laws imposing harsher penalties and fines are being introduced to crack down on the distracted driving problem. Statistics shows that distracted driving claims more lives than impaired driving in provinces like Ontario and British Columbia.

Read the article here

EXPRESS ENTRY DRAW: June 26, 2019

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 3,350 invitations to apply (ITAs) to applicants in the Federal Skilled Workers Program to apply for Permanent Residence (PR). The cut off score was 467, which was 3 points less than the cut-off score of May 29th, of 470.

Candidates in the pool are ranked by using a points-based system called the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The highest-ranking candidates are selected from the pool and are invited to apply for permanent residence (PR).

Each invitation round have instructions that are:

• posted online at the time of the invitation round

• used by the Express Entry system to invite candidates from the pool

The instructions specify:

• the date and time of the invitation round

• the number of candidates that will get an invitation to apply

• the immigration program(s) which are included in the round, e.g., Federal Skilled Workers, Federal Skilled Trades.

If more than one candidate has the lowest score, the cut-off is based on the date and time they submitted their Express Entry profiles.

Contact JM Immigration (www.onecanadavisa.com) to find out if you are eligible to enter the Express Entry pool of qualified candidates.

Employers’ monopoly on temporary foreign workers to end

In today’s communique in The Canada Gazette, the federal government stated that it will give temporary foreign workers flexibility and the freedom to work for any employer with-in a specific sector, e.g., agriculture. As abuse has been rampant in low-wage jobs, the open work permits would prevent temporary foreign workers from being exploited.

Read the complete article here