Canada announces measures to improve immigration processing times

Canada wants to use $85 million budget to return to normal processing standards for various immigration programs by the end of the year.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) made decisions on over 500,000 permanent resident applications in 2021. Fraser announced that Canada is planning to make 147,000 permanent residence final decisions in the first quarter of 2022—doubling that from the same period in 2021. Canada will also introduce a new Permanent Residence Application Tracker in February 2022 for spouses and dependents, to allow applicants to see their application information and status online.

According to a November 24 memo, at the time, IRCC was expecting Foreign Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) application processing to take 20 months, well beyond the processing standard of six months for Express Entry-managed programs. The same memo said processing was expected to be nearly eight months for Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates.

The memo also suggested Express Entry draws would not invite FSWP and CEC candidates for the first half of 2022. Fraser did not give a date for when these draws would resume but said the measures introduced today were intended to speed up immigration processing. He said pausing these draws to process the Express Entry inventory will allow IRCC to eventually hold draws without further exasperating the backlog.

Immigration Canada is currently facing a backlog of more than 1.8 million people waiting on decisions. This includes citizenship applicants, temporary foreign workers, families, students, refugees, and visitors. The Express Entry backlog alone stands at about 119,000 applicants as of December 2021.

For Express Entry candidates in Canada who may have to leave their jobs or leave Canada while IRCC holds off on draws for certain candidates, Fraser said they are looking at options to keep workers in Canada, but they have not yet come up with a “perfect solution.”

“I know that processing delays have been incredibly frustrating for many individuals. Helping clients come to Canada quickly, with predictable processing times and efficient communication with IRCC, remains a top priority for me,” Fraser said in a media release. “Immigration benefits all Canadians—it helps grow our economy and strengthens our communities across the country. Many people are choosing Canada as the place to visit and build their future, and to ensure that we stay competitive, we have introduced concrete measures to make sure those who want to come to Canada have the client experience they deserve.”

How IRCC has started to reduce processing times

The pandemic highlighted the need for IRCC operations to modernize. In response to pandemic-related challenges, IRCC has hired about 500 new processing staff, digitized applications, and reallocated work among IRCC offices around the world.

Since public health measures reduced in-person services, IRCC has brought some paper-based immigration programs online. IRCC previously told it expects the online application portal to be fully implemented in the spring or summer of 2022. IRCC says so far these efforts have allowed average processing times for spousal sponsorship applicants to return to the service standard of 12 months for new applications.

IRCC has also developed a portal to allow permanent residence applicants in Canada to finalize their process and receive their permanent residency cards without any in-person interaction. From June 2021 to December 2021, 225,000 permanent residents have used this portal.

IRCC recently issued a media release saying it is using advanced data analytics to speed up Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) applications. The system does not refuse or recommend refusals of applications, IRCC says only immigration officers can do that. It was first implemented in 2018, and allows applications to be assessed 87% faster.

For citizenship applicants, IRCC has introduced online testing, created an online application tracker, and launched virtual citizenship ceremonies. Canada has sworn in 170,000 new Canadians since April 1, 2020. Canada is continuing to expand the use of virtual ceremonies.

In the future, Canada is looking to allow people to self-administer their Oath by signed attestation, and celebrate their citizenship at a later date. This would shorten the waiting time for those at the final stage of their citizenship process.

 

Finding genuine job offers: network and apply

When you receive a real job offer, it is from a company that you know. Either you applied to it, or you were introduced to them through networking.

Linked-In estimates about 85% of jobs are found through networking. So if you know people in Canada, ask them for leads.

If you are in Canada, you can also search for employment services offered by your municipality, or province. If you are an international student, your university will have resources to help you find jobs.

When you are applying online, try sending your application to the company website directly.

You can also find resources that are specifically for helping newcomers find jobs. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) offers free settlement and employment services on their website, which can be used whether you are in Canada or abroad. Canada also has a job bank website where Canadian employers can search for local and international talent.

You can also check the provincial websites that are participating in the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) to find designated employers who are seeking foreign workers. Also, communities participating in the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) may have opportunities on their municipal webpages.

Make sure when you apply that you have a cover letter and a Canadian-style resume, which usually includes less personal information than what is required in other countries. Tailor your application to the job you are applying for. Read the job description thoroughly. Explain to the hiring manager why you are a good fit and how you can benefit the company. Do a quick background check on the company too, see if it is a good place to work?

Finally, just apply. Employers hire for a number of reasons beyond what is written on the page. Even if you do not think you are qualified, apply anyway

Saskatchewan leads Canadian provinces in job growth

Saskatchewan recorded the highest job growth rate in all of Canada in December 2021.

The latest figures show that job growth is up across the country with Saskatchewan faring particularly well among Canadian provinces.
Saskatchewan recorded the highest month-over-month job growth rate among Canadian provinces, according to the December Labour Force Survey.

Saskatchewan gained 6,000 jobs in December 2021, marking a 1.1% increase from November 2021.

The professional, scientific, and technical services sectors experienced the most notable increases and gains were recorded in full-time employment, primarily among men aged 25 to 54.

According to provincial data, the largest year-over-year gains were in health care and social assistance, with 8,000 more jobs, in trade, with 7,400 more jobs, and in construction, with 4,700 more jobs. The figures also show that over the same period, the private sector added 10,800 jobs, female employment increased by 10,600 jobs, and youth employment increased by 7,700 jobs.

“Even with the global economic volatility in 2021, Saskatchewan continued to create jobs and consistently had among the lowest unemployment rates in Canada. Our province is in an enviable position for economic growth in 2022,” said Jeremy Harrison, Minister of Immigration and Career Training, in a press release.

“Our success is due to the incredible work ethic and resiliency of Saskatchewan job creators who despite unprecedented challenges have continued to create jobs and opportunity.”

The Canadian economy, meanwhile, added 55,000 jobs in December, while the unemployment rate fell to a 22-month low of 5.9% from 6.0 % in November.

After declining due to international travel restrictions, the number of very recent immigrants to Canada has returned to pre-pandemic levels in recent months, according to the survey. In December, the total number of very recent working-age immigrants (25 to 54 years old) increased by 0.6%, or 5,000 more, than two years earlier.

In 2021, Canada reached its goal of 401,000 new permanent residents, and the current government wants to increase that goal to 411,000 for next year.

Saskatchewan immigration programs

There are a number of immigration programs for people who want to immigrate to Saskatchewan.

Canada’s main immigration pathway, Express Entry, is open to anyone who wants to live in any Canadian province other than Quebec. To immigrate through Express Entry, you need to be eligible for one of the three Federal High Skilled immigration programs: Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker Program, or the Federal Skilled Trades Program. The Express Entry system gives a candidate a point score based on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The highest-ranking candidates are invited to apply for permanent residence during regularly held Express Entry draws.

Saskatchewan also has its own Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), called the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP). One of the streams offered under the SINP is linked to the Express Entry system, Saskatchewan Express Entry, which means that a nomination from the province gives a candidate an extra 600 CRS points, practically guaranteeing them to get an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence.

Under the SINP, Saskatchewan also offers the following streams that are not aligned with the Express Entry system that require candidates who receive a provincial nomination to apply directly to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC):

• The International Skilled Worker Category for skilled workers who wish to live and work in Saskatchewan includes subcategories for those with and without a job offer.
• The Saskatchewan Experience Category for foreign workers who are already living in Saskatchewan, including holders of a current work permit and international graduates.
• The Entrepreneur and Farm Category for individuals who wish to own and actively operate a business or a farming operation in Saskatchewan.
• The International Graduate Entrepreneur Category is for international students graduating from an eligible post-secondary institution in Saskatchewan and who are planning to start a business in the province.

In November of last year, Saskatchewan also announced a new immigration pilot project. The Hard-To-Fill Skills Pilot will allow Saskatchewan employers to recruit international talent for certain in-demand occupations. Eligible jobs under this pilot include entry-level positions that may require on-the-job training. The sectors with the highest labour demands in Saskatchewan include health, manufacturing, agriculture, ag-tech, construction, hospitality, and retail.

More recently, Saskatchewan also launched a new International Healthcare Worker Expression of Interest (EOI) pool under SINP, allowing candidates to submit an online form indicating they are interested in working in a selected health care occupation in Saskatchewan.

How Canadian employers can hire immigrants permanently

An article for Canadian employers who want to hire a foreign worker through the Express Entry system.

Canada’s Express Entry system is the main immigration pathway for foreign workers, but it is only open to “skilled” occupations. In this article, we will help you understand what is considered to be a “skilled” occupation, what makes a “valid job offer,” and how to help your new employees to become permanent residents.

Before hiring immigrants, is important to know the National Occupational Classification (NOC) code and NOC skill level of the job you are hiring for. For now, NOC skill levels are divided into 0, A, B, C, and D.

Occupations are classified into these skill levels based on how much education, experience, and job-specific training is required for the worker to carry out the necessary duties. Once you know this, it will help you figure out your employee’s immigration options.

Express Entry only recognizes occupations in three of these skill levels: 0, which are management positions; A, jobs that require a university degree; and B, technical jobs and skilled trades that may require college or apprenticeship training. If you are hiring for an NOC C or D occupation you will have to use a different immigration program.

Keep in mind, NOC skill level classifications will change in late 2022. There have been no official details released on which occupations will become eligible for Express Entry, and which ones will become ineligible. The changes will not affect the immigrant-hiring process.

Most employers need an LMIA

Oftentimes, the first step to hiring an immigrant is to demonstrate to the federal government that there is no Canadian available to fill the open position.

To do this, you need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). There is usually an advertising requirement for the LMIA, which means you have to post your job on the Government of Canada’s Job Bank and advertise in two other places.

Once you have done the advertising requirement, you can apply for the LMIA. If ESDC agrees you need to hire a foreign worker because no Canadian is available, you will get a positive LMIA.

If you want to help your employee get Express Entry points

You can use the positive LMIA to help your employee get more points in the Express Entry system. While the LMIA helps your employee get points for their job offer, it is not necessarily a requirement. The more points they have, the more likely they are to be invited to apply for Canadian immigration. It is possible for employees to apply on their own without their employer’s backing.

If your employee is not an Express Entry candidate yet, they need to see if they are eligible for one of three immigration programs: the Canadian Experience Class, the Federal Skilled Worker Program, or the Federal Skilled Trades Program.

If they are eligible, they can create an Express Entry profile. Once all their documents are uploaded, they will get a score based on their credentials, age, and other factors. After that, they may be invited to apply for permanent residence in an Express Entry draw.

They do not need a job offer to create an Express Entry profile, but having a valid job offer can score them some extra points. They can get 50 points for having a valid job offer in an NOC 0, A, or B occupation. It is rare, but if their NOC code starts with 00 they can get 200 points for that job offer.

A valid job offer has to be full-time at 30 hours per week, and good for at least one year after the employee gets their permanent residency visa.

The only way they can get the points for the job offer without an LMIA is if they have an employer-specific, LMIA-exempt work permit. That means, if you hired them and did not do the LMIA process because they had an open work permit (Post-Graduation Work Permit, for example), you will need to get an LMIA so that they can receive the points.

To recap, to hire an Express Entry candidate with a valid job offer, employers need to:

• get a positive LMIA, if you need one, and;
• Offer a full-time, LMIA-supported job to the candidate in writing that is ongoing for at least one year after they get permanent residency.

 

Who does not need an LMIA?

You do not need an LMIA if:

• you already did it when you originally hired the foreign worker and you want to extend their job offer for at least one more year so they can get a permanent residency visa;
• your employee has worked for you for full-time for one year (or the equivalent part-time) in Canada and they have a valid work permit that was exempt from an LMIA under an international agreement like CUSMA, or the work permit falls under the International Mobility Program, such as a federal-provincial trade agreement, or is considered a significant benefit to Canadian interests.

In other words, you do not need an LMIA if one of the Canadian government’s LMIA exemption codes or work permit exemption codes applies to your situation.

If you are still unsure, and hiring a foreign worker from a visa-exempt country who is not already in Canada, you can contact the International Mobility Workers Unit.

What to tell your employee

Once your employee has an Express Entry profile, they will need to update it with:

• employer name and address;
• start date;
• LMIA number; and
• NOC code.

Most foreign workers can keep working in Canada while their application is processing. If their temporary status is set to expire between the times they apply for permanent residence and when they get a decision, they can apply for a Bridging Open Work Permit, which allows them to stay in Canada.

The time it takes to process an Express Entry application varies. Although IRCC’s processing standard is six months or less for Express Entry, in 2020 it actually took the average Express Entry applicant nine months to get permanent residency status.