IRCC has launched a series of online portals

Following the general trend of digitalization of the government services, enhanced by the COVID-19, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has launched a series of online portals to improve the services to the public. One of them is the Permanent Residence Portal. It allows applying for permanent residence, PR cards, as well as to confirming your permanent resident status. Additionally, IRCC developed a separate portal to apply for TRV, Super Visa, and Study Permit. Another portal is dedicated to online citizenship applications. Finally, IRCC established an online fee payment portal, where clients can pay for ATIP requests, passports, citizenship or immigration applications. #E_government, #IRCC, #digital_services, #immigration, #citizenship, #TRV, #PR

Ontario opened registration in the two streams of the OINP

On April 27, the government of Ontario opened the registration of candidates in the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream (EJO FW) and the Employer Job Offer: International Student (EJO IS) streams of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). The intake in those streams will email open permanently as Ontario has launched the new Expression of Interest (EOI) system to process the draws. According to Ontario Regulation 421/17 (Approvals under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program and Other Matters), OINP will now hold targeted draws under those streams and issue invitations to apply to the candidates with the highest scores. OINP announced it would launch the registration for the Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills, Masters Graduate Stream and Ph.D. Graduate Stream in the coming weeks. #Ontario, #OINP, #nominations, #PNP, #International_students, #Masters_graduates, #Employer_Job_Offer, #PhD_graduates

IRCC released a recommendation for international students

On April 27, 2021, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), advised study permit applicants to submit their study permit applications by May 15, 2021, should they plan to begin their study programs in the fall term. IRCC promises to process such applications by August 6, 2021. If the student submits the application after May 15, 2021, the Immigration Department will try to make a decision as soon as possible, however, it does not guarantee the decision to be issued before the study begins. #IRCC, #international_students, #study_in_Canada, #study_permit

The impact of the Federal budget on immigration policies

The 2021 budget references the new immigration programs launched by IRCC, providing accelerated PR pathways to essential workers and international graduates this year. Also, the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) will be enhanced, since the budget calls for some $110 million in additional spending over the next three years on TFWP, supporting vulnerable foreign workers, increasing inspections of employers, and providing open work permits to workers abused by their employers. Moreover, with the investment of nearly $430 million in IT infrastructure modernization, the government will improve application processing. The budget proposes as well $15 million in spending over the next two years to support racialized newcomer women, to develop their language skills, help them to gain Canadian experience, and afford childcare. #IRCC, #TFWP, #budget, #immigration