Canadian immigration stream launch could be unexpected answer to Trump

Canadian immigration stream launch could be unexpected answer to Trump

 

Before U.S. President Donald Trump took office, Canada’s federal government began work on a new immigration stream program to attract highly skilled labour.

The latest news on immigration comes from Trump as he has ordered federal agencies to consider tightening visa regulations for foreign workers; therefore adding more uncertainty to the future of U.S. immigration policy. He argued that this was a long overdue reform on H-1B visas.

The H-1B program allows American companies to hire foreign workers in certain occupations, including industries like information technology, science and engineering. A large amount of the approximately 85,000 H-1B workers who come to the United States each year are employed in these fields since their expertise may not be available locally.

The contrast between U.S. and Canadian immigration systems

Less than three weeks ago, Canada reaffirmed its goal to make the process easier for Canadian companies to hire and bring in global talent in two weeks’ time. The new immigration stream is called the Global Talent Stream, which is part of the federal government’s Global Skills Strategy, is scheduled to launch as of June 12, 2017.

On the other side of the border, H-1B visas usually take three to six months to process. The premium processing option that ensured an answer in less time has already been cancelled by Trump’s administration.

Another noted difference between the two systems is how visas are allocated. In Canada, applications are assessed on merit in accordance with the program requirement, while the U.S. applications are allocated by lottery. The annual cap on applications and the winners chosen by lottery has always made the H-1B visa a problematic program.

Over five years, starting in 2017-2018, the government of Canada has stated that it will provide $279.8 million to support the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TWFP) and the International Mobility Program (IMP).

Welcome benefit to Canadian tech companies

The technology sector in Canada is currently experiencing rapid growth. The professional, scientific, and technical services sector employs more than 1.3 million people across the country and is the fifth-largest employer in Canada.

International workers may now start to look to Canada rather than to the U.S. in order to grow their careers in the technology sector. There are also a number of large tech companies currently located in the U.S. that are looking to set up satellite offices in Canada as a result of the current U.S. administration policies.

For foreign workers, a major plus to working in Canada is the opportunity to transition to permanent resident status. Workers who may have been interested in working in the U.S., or who have worked there but don’t see a future for themselves in the country, have usually developed or mastered their English ability and are typically well educated. These are important factors that are rewarded in numerous permanent immigration programs in Canada, including the federal economic programs managed under the Express Entry system.

If you are interested in applying for immigration under the Express Entry system, or any other methods, contact us today.

 

 

Ontario Government Resumes Delivering Express Entry Notification of Interest

Ontario Government Resumes Delivering Express Entry Notification of Interest  

The Ontario government has resumed delivering Notification of Interest (NOIs). They are being delivered to applicants who meet the Human Capital Priorities (HCP) Stream in the Express Entry program within the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP).

The issuing may begin the week of April 10-14, 2017. According to the government, NOIs will continue to be issued regularly throughout the year until they reach their annual allocation.

The HCP stream allows the candidates, who are invited by the OINP through the federal Express Entry pool, to make an application for a provincial nomination certificate. When obtained and added to the candidate’s Express Entry profile, the candidate will receive an additional 600 points in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which would place him or her at the front of the line for selection in the subsequent draw from the pool.

The Ontario government advises that potential applicants should consider creating a new profile within the Express Entry system to make it easier for the province to identify their profile when it searches the federal government’s Express Entry pool. If candidates decide to create a new one, they are required to delete their old Express Entry profile.  This requires the candidates to re-register in the Canada Job Bank, which is still a mandatory step for those who don’t have a job offer when entering the pool.

Select Trades Also Targeted

In relation to the NOI issuance, the OINP announced that candidates in the construction sector of the skilled trades will be targeted, as these jobs are in demand in Ontario. Nevertheless, the NOI issuance is not restricted to candidates with this type of work experience — those in other occupations may also reach their NOIs.

The Express Entry occupation list for this round of NOIs includes:

• Carpenters
• Bricklayers
• Painters and decorators (except interior decorators)
• Industrial electricians
• Plumbers
• Sheet metal workers
• Roofers and shinglers
• Electricians (except industrial and power system)
• Welders
• Tilesetters
• Boilermakers
• Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics
• Plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers

An annual survey of construction contractors, administered by the Ontario Construction Secretariat, for 2017 indicated that the economic outlook for the construction industry in Ontario is positive and that this confidence is held across the province.

Requirements for Eligibility

Candidates may be identified by the province and receive an NOI, if:

• They have a minimum CRS score of 400 or more CRS points; and
• They possess the required language ability, skilled work experience, education, and other characteristics to help them successfully establish and integrate into Ontario’s labour market and communities.

The candidates who are in the Express Entry pool cannot apply to HCP within the OINP until they receive an NOI. Only those who receive an NOI can submit an application for a provincial nomination certificate.

For the HCP stream the OINP only selects candidates who are eligible under the Canadian Experience Class or the Federal Skilled Worker Class.

The OINP allocation for 2017 is 6,000 new permanent residents. But the overall number of newcomers to Ontario will be higher than this number since many newcomers arrive through federal programs.

If you have received your NOI and need help submitting your application, contact the Immigration Law Office of Ronen Kurzfeld today!

 

Temporary Foreign Worker Program Receives Additional Funding from Federal Budget

Temporary Foreign Worker Program Receives Additional Funding from Federal Budget

Over five years, starting in 2017-2018, the government of Canada has stated that it will provide $279.8 million to support the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TWFP) and the International Mobility Program (IMP).

An additional $49.8 million per year will be provided afterwards.

Both the TFWP and the IMP aid the entry of foreign workers to Canada. The TFWP is designed to grant workers to fill labour shortages in job markets where permanent residents or Canadian citizens are not available. The IMP, on the other hand, improves Canada’s cultural and economic interests. Categories in the IMP include workers under open work permits, Intra-Company Transfers and the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Finance Minister Bill Morneau announced this funding as part of the federal government’s 2017 budget.

The budget also aims to ease newly-arrived immigrants’ settlement to Canada. The government will allocate funds to initiatives that will help new immigrants to Canada have their credentials acknowledged in the Canadian labour market.

In order to support a Targeted Employment Strategy for Newcomers, the 2017 budget proposed to allot $27.5 million over five years, starting in 2017-2018. After those five years, the budget will allot $5.5 million per year.  This employment strategy will have three components:

• Improved pre-arrival supports in order for new immigrants to begin the foreign credential recognition process before entering Canada;
• A loan program that will assist new immigrants with the cost of their foreign credentials recognized; and
• Targeted measure in order to test innovative approaches to aid skilled new immigrants get Canadian work experience in their field.

A Foreign Credential Recognition Loans pilot was introduced by the previous Conservative government in 2011. In its 2015 budget, they had allocated $35 million over five years to make this program permanent. This was never implemented because of the election that was held later that year. Nevertheless, government data showed that loans sped up the credential recognition process, which ultimately led to a 47% increase in full-time employment and eased reliance on income assistance from the government. The loan program has been restored by Trudeau’s Liberal government.

According to the federal government, these strategies will assist to reduce barriers and to support new immigrants as they put their skills and experience to work in the Canadian economy.

If you are looking to obtain a work permit in Canada, contact us today!