CanadaVisa News Briefs for August, 2016

The following is a summary of developments concerning Canadian immigration and citizenship that have taken place over the past couple of weeks.

Our Canadian immigration news briefs bring you the latest news as it happens. When published, these articles are posted across our social media channels, including Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn.

• Quebec Skilled Worker Program to Begin Accepting New Applications as of August 16

Today, July 19, Quebec’s Ministry of Immigration, Diversity, and Inclusion (MIDI) announced that the next intake period for the popular Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP) will open on August 16, 2016 at 8:30 a.m. Montreal time, and will receive up to 5,000 applications. The intake period may remain open until August 22, or until the intake cap of 5,000 applicants is reached, whichever occurs soonest. >>Read More

• Saskatchewan International Skilled Worker - Express Entry Sub-Category Reopens

The International Skilled Worker - Express Entry sub-category of the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) has reopened. The government of Saskatchewan updated its website the morning of Wednesday, July 20 to announce that this Canadian immigration option was now open to new applications. >>Read More

• IRCC Issues Guidelines for Haitian and Zimbabwean Nationals Applying for Permanent Residence in Canada

The federal department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has published an operational bulletin covering the temporary public policy for applications for permanent residence on humanitarian and compassionate (H&C) grounds as a result of lifting the temporary suspension of removals (TSR) on Haiti and Zimbabwe. >>Read More

• Pokémon Go-Getters Got More than they Bargained for Crossing U.S.-Canada Border Illegally

Two Canadian teenagers found unexpected trouble over the weekend while playing Pokémon Go, the augmented-reality mobile-based video game that is taking the world by storm. While immersed in the virtual world, they were apprehended illegally crossing the border into the United States. >>Read More

• B.C. to tax Foreign Buyers of Property in Metro Vancouver

As of August 2, 2016, foreign buyers of residential property in the Vancouver area will have to pay an extra 15 percent tax. The new tax, which was unveiled this week by the government of British Columbia (B.C.), is part of provincial plan to slow the foreign speculation that many blame for making the region’s homes the most unaffordable in Canada. >>Read More

• IRCC Invites 755 Candidates to Apply for Immigration to Canada in Latest Express Entry Draw

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has invited 755 candidates to apply for Canadian permanent residence in the latest draw from the Express Entry pool, which took place on July 27, 2016. The minimum number of Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points required in order for a candidate to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) was 488. >>Read More

• Manitoba Invites 609 Candidates to Apply to Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program

Manitoba has conducted the nineteenth draw under its Expression of Interest (EOI) immigration system, with a total of 609 candidates issued a Letter of Advice to Apply (LAA) on July 29, 2016. This province, located in central Canada, issues LAAs through two sub-categories of the Skilled Workers category of the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP); 155 Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) were issued to candidates through the Skilled Workers in Manitoba sub-category, while 454 LAAs were issued through the Skilled Workers Overseas sub-category. >>Read More