CanadaVisa News Briefs for March, 2017

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, Instagram, Google+ and LinkedIn. Follow us across these channels to get the latest news as it occurs.

• Latest Express Entry Draw sees CRS Requirement Drop to 434

March 1, 2017

On March 1, 2017, 3,884 Invitations to Apply (ITA) were issued to candidates in the pool for the Express Entry immigration selection system with a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) point score of 434 or above. For the third time in a row, the number of CRS points a candidate requires to receive an ITA has dropped to a level never before seen since the introduction of the Express Entry immigration selection system in January, 2015. >>Read More

• Ontario Extends Deadline for Online Immigration Applications

February 28, 2017

The government of Ontario has extended the deadline for candidates to submit an online application to the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), for seven calendar days to 14 calendar days. The move affects the following OINP streams: the Human Capital Priorities Stream, the International Masters Graduate Stream, and the International PhD Graduate Stream. >>Read More

• 324 Skilled Workers Invited to Apply to Immigrate to Manitoba in February 27 Draw

February 28, 2017

The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) continues to invite skilled workers to immigrate to the province. In the latest draw for skilled workers, which took place on February 27, a total of 324 skilled workers who had made an Expression of Interest (EOI) in settling in Manitoba were issued a Letter of Advice to Apply (LAA), also known less formally as an invitation. >>Read More

• Governments Invest in Higher Education in Prince Edward Island

February 27, 2017

The government of Canada and the government of Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.) are each investing $2.3 million to develop infrastructure at Holland College, Prince Edward Island. The investment forms part of Canada's Innovation Agenda, which aims to develop the country's capacity for innovation, job creation, and industry growth. >>Read More

• Quebec Expands List of Occupations for Facilitated LMIA Process

February 24, 2017

Employers in Quebec can enjoy a simplified, or facilitated, hiring process of foreign workers in certain occupations after the government of Quebec expanded the list of occupations that are exempt from the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) advertising requirement in the province. >>Read More

• Ontario's International Masters Graduate Stream Reaches Intake Limit

February 24, 2017

The International Masters Graduate Stream of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) has reached its intake limit for the time being, just days after reopening. No registrations will be accepted through this stream until registration reopens. The OINP has alerted stakeholders that an update on when the stream will reopen once again is scheduled to be provided on May 1, 2017. The OINP will resume accepting applications for this stream within the next three months. >>Read More

• BC Conducts Second PNP Draw in Less Than a Week

February 23, 2017

British Columbia (BC) has invited another 343 candidates to immigrate to the province through the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) in draws that took place on February 23. This is the second batch of Invitations to Apply (ITAs) that have been issued in the past week, with the previous draws — which saw 459 ITAs issued — having taken place on February 17. >>Read More

• CRS Requirement Dips to 441 in February 22 Express Entry Draw

February 22, 2017

The number of Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points required by candidates in Canada's Express Entry immigration selection system to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) continues to decrease. On February 22, a total of 3,611 candidates with 441 or more CRS points received an ITA. This is comfortably the lowest points threshold of any draw since Express Entry was first launched more than two years ago. >>Read More