From Far and Wide Immigration Consultancy

Canada has long been recognized for its inclusive and robust immigration policies, attracting individuals from around the world seeking new opportunities and a better quality of life. To further enhance the efficiency and transparency of its immigration system, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has implemented significant updates, including improvements to online processing time tools. These changes aim to provide applicants with clearer expectations and timelines throughout their immigration journey. Understanding Forward-Looking Processing Times One of the key enhancements introduced by IRCC is the implementation of forward-looking processing times for various immigration applications. This new approach offers applicants applying today a more accurate estimate of how long they can expect to wait before a final decision is made on their application. Specifically, forward-looking processing times are now available for the following pathways to permanent residence : Ca...

Excited about the chance to settle in Alberta, Canada through the Tourism and Hospitality Stream? This newly introduced stream under the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) provides exciting opportunities for individuals with work experience in Alberta's tourism and hospitality sector.  Eligibility Requirements Explained The Tourism and Hospitality Stream is a new option under Alberta's Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) , which allows nominees to apply for permanent residence in Canada. As with any immigration program, understanding the eligibility requirements is crucial before applying.  Approved Employer Requirements: To qualify under the Tourism and Hospitality Stream, candidates need a job offer from an eligible Tourism and Hospitality employer in Alberta. Employers' primary business activities must belong to an eligible industry as defined by the Worker’s Compensation Board (WCB) – Alberta industry code or exempt activities: Museums/Art Galleries: WCB indust...

Are you ready to embrace the freedom of being a digital nomad while enjoying the stunning landscapes and vibrant cities of Canada? Thanks to Canada's Tech Talent Strategy, the process of relocating as a digital nomad has never been more accessible. Here is how to make it happen seamlessly. What is a Digital Nomad? Before we dive into the Canadian adventure, let's understand who a digital nomad is. A digital nomad is someone with the flexibility to perform their job remotely from anywhere in the world. Digital nomads can be self-employed or working for a foreign employer. Important: as a digital nomad, you must be remunerated from outside of Canada! Wise is a great option to receive and spend money in various currencies. If you are working in Canada for a Canadian employer or Canadian clients, you need a valid work permit or work authorization. The Canadian Advantage Canada's immigration policies have embraced the digital nomad lifestyle, allowing individuals to...

In a recent news release, the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced pivotal changes to Canada's international student immigration system. The measures aim to address challenges posed by unsustainable growth, revenue-driven intakes by some institutions, and the resulting pressure on housing, healthcare, and other services.  International Student Permit Cap One of the key announcements is the introduction of an intake cap on international student permit applications for a two-year period. For 2025, the intake cap on study permits issued to international students was reducedc to 437,000 - down from 485,000 in 2024. The cap will then be stabilized for 2026 such that the number of study permits issued remains the same as 2025. Provinces and territories will have individual caps based on their population, leading to more significant reductions in areas experiencing unsustainable growth. However, study permit renewals, master's and doctor...

Background To finance its programs, the Government of Canada follows an approach where most of the costs are the responsibility of those who receive the services and benefit directly from them. To account for inflation, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced in 2017 that fees would be adjusted by the cumulative Consumer Price Index (CPI) annually. In accordance with the Service Fees Act (SFA), the application fees for foreign nationals applying to regain their status or return to Canada after being inadmissible will be adjusted for inflation on December 1, 2023.  This ensures that fees remain current and reflect the costs of delivering services, while the SFA improves the transparency, accountability and predictability of government service fees. These fees have been adjusted to account for the yearly rate of inflation since April 2018. Following the regular schedule, the next annual increase of inadmissibility fees is expected on December 1, 2024. What's the...

Canada has long been recognized as a welcoming destination for international students, offering world-class education and diverse cultural experiences. If you're considering studying in the True North, you'll need to obtain a study permit, a crucial document that allows you to pursue your educational dreams in Canada.  Applying for a Study Permit A study permit is a legal document issued by the Canadian government that authorizes foreign nationals to study at designated learning institutions (DLIs) in Canada. It's essential to note that not all foreign students need a study permit. Some exceptions apply, such as short-term courses or family members of foreign representatives to Canada.  The general steps of applying for a study permit are as follows: Obtain a letter of acceptance from a  DLI  in Canada. Create an account on the  Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website . Complete the study permit application and pay the required fee. Submit y...

Who, Where, When, What, Why - Understanding Immigration Medical Exams in Canada Immigrating to Canada involves both eligibility requirements for the respective program for temporary or permanent residence (PR) as well as admissibility to Canada. Undergoing a medical examination is required to determine if an applicant is medically admissible. Immigration medical exams are an essential part of the Canadian immigration process, ensuring the health and safety of both applicants and the Canadian public.  Who Needs a Medical Exam? Generally, individuals applying for permanent residence in Canada are required to undergo a medical examination. Some temporary residents, such as international students or workers , may also need a medical exam depending on their length of stay, type of application and work in Canada, and travel history. Medical exams can be required for temporary residents if they travelled in designated countries for a certain amount of time, if they are applying for a par...

Canada's Express Entry system is undergoing a significant update with the introduction of category-based selection. This new approach aims to enhance the immigration process by providing more tailored pathways for skilled workers to become permanent residents. Express Entry is Canada's flagship program for managing the intake of skilled workers who wish to immigrate and become permanent residents. It operates through a comprehensive ranking system, where eligible candidates are awarded points based on factors such as age, education, language proficiency, and work experience. These points are used to determine an individual's Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, which ultimately influences their chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency. Under the new category-based selection system, candidates in the Express Entry pool will be grouped into different categories based on their skills and attributes. These categories are designed to align...

International Experience Canada (IEC) is a reciprocal program that gives youth the opportunity to travel and work in Canada for up to 3 years. Young adults aged 18 to 35 can participate in the program under the following categories: Working Holiday ( open work permit ) Young Professional (employer-specific "closed" work permit for jobs contributing to professional development) International co-op (employer-specific work permit for student internship terms) Who Can Apply Citizens of partner countries may be able to apply to one or more of these three categories. Citizens of other countries may still be able to apply to the IEC program through a Recognized Organization  (RO).  The number of participations and length of work permit depend on the applicant's country of citizenship. While some countries allow repeat participations in the same or a different category, others are limited to one participation. The length of work permit under the IEC program can vary from 6 mont...

Immigration minister Marc Miller has announced new restrictions for open work permits (OWP) in order to address labour shortages in Canada. Family members of foreign workers and international students in Canada are only eligible to apply for their own work permits in specific situations. Time to look at these options in more detail! Terminology Foreign nationals, who are neither citizens nor permanent residents of Canada, require a valid work permit to legally work in Canada. There are generally two options to obtain a work permit: the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), wherein the Canadian employer applies for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) in order to hire a foreign worker, and the International Mobility Program (IMP), which covers various exemptions that let employers hire a foreign worker without an LMIA. LMIA-based work permits and most LMIA-exempt work permits are employer specific. This means that the foreign national can only work for the employer named on thei...

Transition to online applications for most PR pathways Over the coming weeks, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will gradually move most permanent immigration programs to a completely digital application process in an effort to improve client service and modernize the Canadian immigration system. The new Permanent Residence Portal  has been online since March 2021, allowing some clients to apply online for certain immigration programs and confirming their permanent resident (PR) status through virtual landings once their application has been approved. IRCC has been expanding the portal over the past months and it is currently open to most PR applicants. Following the schedule below, IRCC will begin the transition to 100% online applications on September 23, 2022 . While there will be an alternative submission process for applicants who are unable to apply online and require accommodations, such as for a disability, all other applications received after the stated...

Rounds of invitations resume for all Express Entry programs The month of July saw the first two all-program draws under Express Entry since the beginning of the pandemic. For 18 months, no candidates under the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) and Federal Skilled Trades (FST) programs were invited, and since September 2021, Express Entry rounds of invitations were exclusively held for provincial nominees. On July 6, a total of 1,500 Express Entry candidates with a minimum CRS score of 557 were invited to apply for permanent residence (PR). This was the highest score since 2015 when the Express Entry system was implemented. The second draw on July 20 saw a slight increase in invitations for a total of 1,750 invitations which dropped the required score to 542.  Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has since confirmed that both rounds of invitations included candidates under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and Federal Skilled Worker (F...

For over a decade, the Parents and Grandparents Super Visa program has allowed Canadian citizens and permanent residents to bring their parents and grandparents to Canada for extended periods of time. It is a multiple-entry visa, valid for up to 10 years in total. While the length of stay under a regular multiple-entry visitor visa is limited to 6 months or less, the Super Visa currently allows parents and grandparents to remain in Canada for 2 years at a time. Minimum income requirements must be met by the host child or grandchild to support super visa holders. Applicants must undergo a medical exam and obtain private health insurance from an approved provider. With approximately 17,000 super visas issued per year, it remains a popular option for Canadian citizens and permanent residents to reunite with their parents and grandparents in Canada. As of July 4, 2022, super visa holders will be able to stay in Canada for up to 5 years per entry. They will also have the option to request...

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) currently refers to occupational codes under the National Occupation Classification of 2016 (NOC 2016) to determine eligibility for temporary and permanent residence programs. The revised NOC 2021 and its TEER structure was implemented in November 2022. The new TEER structure replaced the previous skill type/level classification as follows: NOC 2016 NOC 2021    Skill Type 0      TEER 0 Skill Level A     TEER 1 Skill Level B TEER 2 TEER 3 Skill Level C TEER 4 Skill Level D       TEER 5 This resulted in minor changes for most programs (e.g., the use of new terminology), but more substantive changes are needed for programs with narrower occupational criteria where the current Skill Type/Level groupings are used, including those managed under Express Entry (i.e., Federal Skilled...

The National Occupational Classification (NOC) is Canada’s national system for describing and classifying occupations. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) uses the NOC to determine eligibility in several programs for temporary and permanent residency. The NOC is updated every five years, with major revisions every ten years to ensure it remains reflective of the occupations in the Canadian labour market. The current revision, NOC 2021, involved extensive structural changes which were implemented on November 16, 2022. These adjustments are crucial to IRCC's mandate to support the selection of immigrants. The NOC 2021 Version 1.0 overhauled the "Skill Level" structure by introducing a new categorization representing the degree of Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) required for an occupation. These changes significantly improved how the NOC classification takes into account the distinctions in formal training and educational requireme...

In response to the crucial need for more healthcare workers and early childhood educators (ECEs), BC has implemented changes to their Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) to prioritize these occupations, effective March 10, 2022. Priority Access for Care Occupations Targeted invitations to apply will give priority access to select occupations in the care economy, specifically registrants whose occupation is on a pre-determined list of in-demand health occupations as well as early childhood educators. The Health Care Professional category has been renamed Health Authority category and is open to all occupations employed by a health authority. Targeted invitations to apply (priority access) replaces the registration points awarded for high demand occupations in the Labour Market Outlook. The total registration points and total points for economic factors have been adjusted accordingly. Periodic general draws will be conducted for other skilled and semi-skilled workers who meet program cri...

New immigration streams were introduced under the Alberta PNP, now renamed the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP). Existing entrepreneur streams were also renamed. Eligibility criteria did not change for existing programs.  The two new streams, the Rural Renewal Stream and the Rural Entrepreneur Stream, are intended to settle skilled and talented professionals and entrepreneurs in rural Alberta. To be eligible, rural communities with populations under 100,000 must be located outside the Calgary and Edmonton metropolitan areas. The Rural Renewal Stream targets candidates inside or outside of Canada with a job offer from an Alberta employer to work in a designated rural community. Communities with the capacity to attract, recruit and welcome newcomers have to apply to the Government of Alberta for designation. A limited number of communities will be initially selected to participate in this program. A candidate must be endorsed by a designated community and meet all cr...