Gunness & Assocaites | Canadian Immigration specialists in Ontario

  How Express Entry draws have changed since the introduction of occupation-specific draws? Canada Express Entry draws have changed with the introduction of occupation-specific draws, which began with 500 invitations for healthcare workers on June 28.  Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued 10,100 invitations since then, with only 1,500 through all-program draws. The other invitations included 6,100 for Francophone candidates, 2,000 for healthcare workers, and 500 for candidates in STEM occupations.  Previously, most invitations were issued through all-program draws. IRCC conducted all-program draws every two weeks with the occasional program-specific draw. The CRS score has risen into the 500s with the reduced frequency of all-programs draws. Express Entry Category-Based selection Background  On May 31, 2023, the Government of Canada launched a new selection category under Express Entry, allowing IRCC to invite prospective permanent residents with specific skil

IRCC will continue to hold virtual citizenship ceremonies According to the Government of Canada’s response to the petition on citizenship ceremonies, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is considering an online tool for self- administered Oath of Citizenship . The analysis is underway, considering client experience, process integrity, and preserving the importance of citizenship ceremonies.  Video ceremonies introduced in 2020 due to COVID-19 have helped reduce processing times and increased monthly oath-taking. These allow participation from rural areas and accommodate larger groups. Between January and September 2023, 276,540 new citizens were made, exceeding pre-COVID levels. Ceremonies are scheduled considering operational demands, official availability, and venue suitability. IRCC is working towards a 12-month service standard for granting citizenship. If you are applying for citizenship, you must be a permanent resident (PR) in Canada, regardless of your age. This

Immigration drives Canada's largest population growth since 1957 As of October 1, 2023, Canada's population reached an estimated 40.5 million, marking a 1.1% increase since July 1, 2023 – the highest quarterly growth since 1957. Canada added over a million people for the first nine months of 2023, breaking 2022's record.  96% of the growth in the third quarter of 2023 was due to international migration, and the rest was from natural increase. Canada welcomed nearly 108,000 immigrants in the third quarter of 2023 and reached 80% of its annual immigration target by September. All provinces and territories except the Northwest Territories saw population growth, with Alberta, Prince Edward Island, and Ontario surpassing the national average. Except for Alberta, which continued to have the highest net gains (+17,094), and New Brunswick (+21), all provinces and territories recorded losses in interprovincial migration exchanges in the third quarter of 2023. For the first time sin