Quebec continues invitation rounds with second draw from Arrima

Since the launch of the Arrima system, Quebec has held two draws and invited 950 candidates to apply for a Quebec Selection Certificate (Certificat de sélection du Québec, or CSQ).

Information was updated on the Ministry of Immigration, Diversity and Inclusion (MIDI) webpage on August 19. New information includes the number of candidates drawn as well as the type of profiles selected.

The most recent draw, which took place on July 17, issued 259 invitations to candidates with an Expression of Interest profile and a valid job offer, as well as foreign nationals who had to carry out duties in Quebec working as diplomats, consular officers, or representatives of an intergovernmental organization such as the United Nations.

The first draw, which took place on July 4, yielded 691 invitations and was addressed to candidates who:

had their application for a Quebec Selection Certificate terminated on June 16, 2019, and were a temporary resident of Quebec when they had applied; or
had their application for a Quebec Selection Certificate terminated on June 16, 2019, and were working or studying in Quebec at that time;
had an Arrima profile and filed an Expression of Interest with the Ministère before Dec. 17, 2019.

Reforms to Quebec’s immigration laws which were passed on June 16, 2019, resulted in the cancellation of roughly 16,000 pending applications to the Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP).

The cancelled applications had all been filed before Arrima was introduced in September 2018.

Candidates wishing to immigrate to Quebec under the Regular Skilled Worker Program must first submit an Expression of Interest through Arrima. The Ministère then reviews the bank of expressions of interest and issues invitations to candidates who meet specific criteria based on the labour market needs of the province.

The MIDI said there will be several invitation rounds between now and January 16, 2020.

“This is great news for skilled workers who want to settle in Quebec,” said David Cohen, senior partner with the Campbell, Cohen Canadian immigration law firm in Montreal. “The Arrima system appears to be picking up momentum and we hope that the Ministère will continue to issue invitations more regularly.”