OM INTERNATIONAL'S BEST NEWS FOR STUDENT VISAS IN THE UK.

As India and the United Kingdom negotiate their Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the Home Secretary of the UK Suella Braverman is mulling over the idea to cut the period of stay allowed for an overseas student under a post-study visa route. Braverman is planning to reform the Graduate Visa route which will require overseas students to obtain a work visa after getting a skilled job or leave the UK in 6 months.

The new Graduate Visa route allowed overseas students to stay in the UK and look for jobs and gain experience even without the requirement of a specific job offer. According to reports from UK media, the Department of Education of the UK is trying to block such changes as they feel the move might reduce the attractiveness of the country as a study destination.

The supporters of Braverman's plan argue that the Graduate Visa route was misused by students who take admissions in short courses at "less respectable universities". According to local media, government sources said that it was used as a backdoor immigration route.

According to the Department of Education, the UK's two-year post-study offer is comparable to that of most of the UK's rivals, and the duration is shorter only in the United States, where a one-year post-study visa is available.

The development occurred at the conclusion of six rounds of negotiations for the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the UK and India. The British trade minister in charge of negotiations confirmed that Indians will not receive more free movement visas as a result of the FTA.

Indians will not receive the same deal in the FTA as Australians, according to Kemi Badenoch, who also went to India in December for the sixth round of FTA talks. Under the terms of the UK-Australia FTA, Australians under 35 can live and work in the UK for three years.

In its most recent release, the UK's Office for National Statistics (ONS) stated that India would surpass China as the largest cohort of foreign students in 2022. Indians received 41% of all Graduate Visas, making them the most common applicant group.

A government spokesperson stated, "Our points-based system is designed to be flexible according to the needs of the UK, including attracting top-notch talent from around the world to contribute to the excellent academic reputation of the UK and to help keep our universities competitive on the global stage."

For more information please feel free to contact me on :

VISHAL SHAH 

CEO - OM Group of Companies

OM INTERNATIONAL

An ISO 9001: 2008 Certified Company & CRISIL AAA Rated Company  Head Office: 2nd floor, Indraprasth Avenue, Next to Urjita Hospital, V.I.P. Road, Karelibaug,  Vadodara-390018, Gujarat, INDIA Phone:+91-265-2480840 / 2464464 /164 Mobile+91-999 8157 999 / 9601051799 Office: +91-922 765 6606 / 08 / 09  Email: omvishal.shah@gmail.com W -  www.ominternational.net / www.omvisas.in

"Arise; Awake & Stop NOT till your GOAL is reached." -- Swami Vivekananda

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IN THE SECOND DRAW OF 2023, 5,500 EXPRESS ENTRY APPLICANTS ARE INVITED BY IRCC.

IRCC held a surprise draw today marking Express Entry draws in two consecutive weeks. IRCC has now already invited 11,000 Express Entry candidates in 2023, which is the quickest start to Express Entry ever.

Canada held the second Express Entry draw of the year today.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued invitations to 5,500 candidates with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 490. No program was specified, meaning eligible candidates were invited from the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). All are programs that operate under the Express Entry system.

The draw was a surprise as it marked the second Express Entry round of invitations in consecutive weeks. IRCC just held a draw last Wednesday, January 11 in which it also invited 5,500 candidates. The CRS cut-off for last week’s draw was 507, meaning the CRS cut-off score has dropped 17 points between draws. IRCC initially reported the score as 507 for this draw as well but it has since been updated to the correct score of 490. Last week’s draw marked the first since the November 23, 2022 draw. Express Entry draws tend to occur approximately every two weeks, usually on Wednesday. IRCC has not provided an explanation on why there was a pause in draws over this period.

Nonetheless, the fact that draws have taken place in successive weeks to start 2023 indicates IRCC’s desire to land more skilled immigrants in Canada this year. The 11,000 ITAs already issued mark the fastest start to Express Entry since it was launched in 2015, eclipsing the previous record of 10,000 ITAs that were issued in January 2021.

Express Entry has a service standard of providing permanent residence to the most successful candidates in just six months, which is the fastest service standard among all of Canada’s over 100 different skilled immigration pathways.

The fast start to the year for Express Entry is part of what is likely to be an eventful year for IRCC’s main skilled immigration pathway.

IRCC developing categories for targeted Express Entry draws

Since Bill C-19 received royal assent last June, IRCC has been working to create new draw categories for candidates in Express Entry programs. This is a major departure from the current method of inviting candidates based solely on a high score within the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).

In its most recent step, IRCC completed a round of consultations with the public and stakeholders to better understand Canada’s most acute shortages of skilled workers.

Regardless of the category, all candidates must be eligible to apply under the existing Express Entry application management system.

Once categories are decided on by the Minister, they will be announced before invitations are issued.

Possible categories for targeted draws

The categories will be based on candidate’s attributes such as their occupation, work experience, education, and language abilities. The immigration minister says this will support Canada’s economic priorities by inviting candidates who are better placed to fill urgent gaps in Canada’s labour force.

Draws may take place to target Express Entry candidates who have specific work experience that is relevant to an in-demand sector of the workforce.

There is also the possibility that IRCC will create categories to help international students in Canada become permanent residents through Express Entry, particularly if the student has obtained a degree or diploma for an in-demand field from a Designated Learning Institution.

Temporary residents are being considered as a category for similar reasons. Those who have previous temporary Canadian work experience have been found to have better labour market integration and are well-equipped to transfer their skills when needed.

Skilled, French-speaking immigrants may also have an advantage in receiving an ITA as the government seeks to deliver on its mandate to strengthen Canada’s bilingual character, as well as fill labour gaps in communities where speaking French is necessary for an occupation.

For more information please feel free to contact me on :

VISHAL SHAH 

CEO - OM Group of Companies

OM INTERNATIONAL

An ISO 9001: 2008 Certified Company & CRISIL AAA Rated Company  Head Office: 2nd floor, Indraprasth Avenue, Next to Urjita Hospital, V.I.P. Road, Karelibaug,  Vadodara-390018, Gujarat, INDIA Phone:+91-265-2480840 / 2464464 /164 Mobile+91-999 8157 999 / 9601051799 Office: +91-922 765 6606 / 08 / 09  Email: omvishal.shah@gmail.com W -  www.ominternational.net / www.omvisas.in

"Arise; Awake & Stop NOT till your GOAL is reached." -- Swami Vivekananda

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GREATEST NEWS OF 2023 BY OM INTERNATIONAL IS THAT CANADA HOLDS FIRST EXPRESS ENTRY DRAW OF 2023

Today we find that all-program round of invitations is the first since the November 23 Express Entry draw.

Canada held its first Express Entry draw of the year today, and the first since November 23.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued invitations to 5,500 candidates with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 507. Eligible candidates were invited from the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). All are programs that operate under the Express Entry system.

This draw marks an increase in the number of ITAs issued, and is the largest all-program Express Entry draw since they resumed last July. There were 750 additional invitations over the November 23 draw, which invited 4,750 candidates, as well as a higher CRS score than has been seen since the draw on September 28.

Express Entry getting ready for changes

In the second half of 2022, IRCC set the stage for changes to be expected in Express Entry in 2023. For example, in November, IRCC implemented NOC 2021, an updated take on NOC 2016.  The National Occupation Classification (NOC) system is used to determine an Express Entry candidate’s profession and skill level. 

IRCC moved from categorizing skills as 0-D level to a system based on training, education, experience and responsibilities (TEER). The new TEER system has revised NOC 2016’s skill levels 0-E and created an equivalent five TEERS. Under NOC 2021, 16 new occupations are now eligible to apply for economic immigration programs managed by Express Entry, such as the FSWP or CEC.  

Candidates who have a profile already submitted to the IRCC Express Entry pool were invited to switch their NOCs to the new NOC 2021 independently. The update must be done for each position (job) included in their IRCC profile. Failure to do so will disqualify candidates from receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA).

Canada will also increase the number of candidates invited through Express Entry programs, based on the Immigration Levels Plan 2023-2025 released on November 1. In 2023, 82,880 immigrants will be admitted to Canada as permanent residents through Express Entry. This will increase to 109,020 in 2024 and 114,000 in 2025, or approximately one-fifth of Canada’s total permanent resident admissions goals. These higher targets emphasize the importance Canada places on economic immigration in the face of an ongoing labour shortage. Immigration accounts for as much as 90% of labour force growth in Canada and approximately 75% of population growth. 

What is Express Entry?

Express Entry is the application management system for three Canadian immigration programs: the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates in the Express Entry pool are already eligible for at least one of these programs.

Express Entry uses a points-based system, the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), to rank candidates’ profiles. The top-scoring candidates receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) and can then apply for permanent residency.

After the candidate applies, an IRCC officer reviews the application and decides if they are approved. Once this is complete, if approved, the candidate is now a permanent resident of Canada and one step closer to becoming a Canadian citizen.

For more information please feel free to contact me on :

VISHAL SHAH 

CEO - OM Group of Companies

OM INTERNATIONAL

An ISO 9001: 2008 Certified Company & CRISIL AAA Rated Company  Head Office: 2nd floor, Indraprasth Avenue, Next to Urjita Hospital, V.I.P. Road, Karelibaug,  Vadodara-390018, Gujarat, INDIA Phone:+91-265-2480840 / 2464464 /164 Mobile+91-999 8157 999 / 9601051799 Office: +91-922 765 6606 / 08 / 09  Email: omvishal.shah@gmail.com W -  www.ominternational.net / www.omvisas.in

"Arise; Awake & Stop NOT till your GOAL is reached." -- Swami Vivekananda

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OM INTERNATIONAL FOUND THAT THE UK PM ANNOUNCES NEW MEASURES TO CURB 'ILLEGAL' IMMIGRATION

Om international saw that UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s strategy for reducing illegal immigration by preventing Albanian migrants from crossing the English Channel in small boats is unlikely to succeed because there is “almost infinite” demand for the hazardous crossings among people of other nationalities, according to a Home Office source.

We have the great point that If you enter the UK illegally you should not be able to remain here, Sunak told parliament. Instead, you will be detained and swiftly returned either to your home country or to a safe country where your asylum claim will be considered.

The number of migrants and refugees arriving in England across the Channel has more than doubled in the last two years, with government figures showing Albanians account for the highest number of those arriving by this route.

Sunak announced a new five-point strategy for dealing with illegal immigration, including plans to fast-track the return of Albanian asylum seekers and clear the initial backlog of almost 150,000 asylum cases by the end of next year by doubling the number of caseworkers.

Migrants and refugees arriving on small boats have become a major political issue for the Conservative government, particularly in working-class areas in the north and central England, where they are blamed for making it harder to find work and stretching public services.

Sunak said a new unit would be created to tackle crossings and that in the future, asylum seekers would be housed in disused holiday parks, former student accommodation, and surplus military sites rather than hotels.

UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman recently called the wave of arrivals an “invasion” and described many of them as “criminals”, leading to an angry response from Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama. Concerns over the level of immigration were a driving force in the vote for Brexit in a 2016 referendum, with supporters calling for the UK to “take back control” of its borders.

Sunak said the public is the “right to be angry” and said the current system was unfair to those with a genuine case for asylum. “It is not cruel or unkind to want to break the stranglehold of criminal gangs who trade in human misery,” he said. “Enough is enough.”

The announcement was strongly welcomed by most Conservative members of parliament, who fear they will face defeat at the next election if the government fails to resolve the issue. Opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer said the last time the government changed the immigration system they made it worse, while some charities said the problem would continue until the government allowed asylum claims outside the UK.

Sunak’s remarks drew criticism from the UN refugee agency, which said in a statement the plans would undermine the global refugee system at large and violate international refugee law. Sunak’s approach would close down access to asylum in the UK for all but a few, the UNHCR’s assistant high commissioner for protection, Gillian Triggs. This would likely result in refugees having no means to establish their status and place them at risk of forced return to unsafe countries, in breach of the Refugee Convention.

For more information please feel free to contact me on :

VISHAL SHAH 

CEO - OM Group of Companies

OM INTERNATIONAL

An ISO 9001: 2008 Certified Company & CRISIL AAA Rated Company  Head Office: 2nd floor, Indraprasth Avenue, Next to Urjita Hospital, V.I.P. Road, Karelibaug,  Vadodara-390018, Gujarat, INDIA Phone:+91-265-2480840 / 2464464 /164 Mobile+91-999 8157 999 / 9601051799 Office: +91-922 765 6606 / 08 / 09  Email: omvishal.shah@gmail.com W -  www.ominternational.net / www.omvisas.in

"Arise; Awake & Stop NOT till your GOAL is reached." -- Swami Vivekananda

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OM GROUP OF VISAS FOUND THAT THE UK IMMIGRATION NEWS ABOUT STUDENTS THAT THEY SWITCHED THE SKILLED WORKER VISA ON ARRIVAL

Om International found that the UK sector is reporting increasing numbers of international students dropping out soon after enrolment in order to accept employment offers in the care sector.

Well, Om group sees the changes to the skilled worker visa system mean that applicants are no longer required to hold a degree-level qualification to apply.

Students who can secure a job offer from an employer approved by the Home Office they can apply to switch from the student route visa to the skilled worker visa immediately, without any need to complete their degree.

Om International has discovered a growing trend of overseas immigration consultants using universities as a stepping stone to help clients enter the UK and then switch to care jobs before they are required to pay full tuition fees.

This route offers a cheaper and faster pathway to full-time employment in the UK compared to the graduate route – which requires students to pay expensive course fees and maintenance for the duration of their course, before entering the jobs market.

While this is a completely legitimate immigration pathway, it will play havoc with university finances as it cannibalizes the international student population before they graduate.

Non-continuation costs the UK higher education sector more than £300 million per year, and more than 100 universities are each losing more than £1m annually in undergraduate tuition fees alone from students who drop out, according to pre-pandemic HESA data.

By CEO of Om International, “Attention all international students! New vacancies for care workers and health professionals in the UK with instant job placement. The only thing needed is for you to switch your visa with the skilled worker visa.”

We recently celebrated the success of a student switching study visa to a tier 2 worker permit successfully in just a very short time.

The skilled worker visa, previously known as the Tier 2 visa, was redesigned to make applications smoother including a lowering of the salary threshold and the removal of the resident labour market test. If approved, candidates can work in the UK for up to five years before applying to extend their visa or apply for permanent residency.

It is something that is on our radar, and subsequently, we’re putting more steps in place to try and mitigate this within our credibility interviews and also our compliance policies.

We do try and ask students what their plans are if they decide to leave UCB, but often they become very disengaged by this stage [so it is hard to track]. We keep an eye on the early indicators, such as their location, and also attend to intercept students who are not active as early as possible.

While the latest immigration statistics do not state how many people switched visa routes, they do show a 179% increase in skilled worker visas granted in human health and social care activities in Q3 year-on-year. Successful recipients grew from 7,711 in Q3 2021 to 21,543 in Q3 2022.

This period correlates to the main autumn university intake in the UK and shows the biggest spike of skilled worker visas granted in the year. There is also a correlation to the next intakes with a +67% increase year on year in Q1 with 11,139 visas granted in 2022. These numbers exclude applicants who have applied to extend an existing visa.

The Home Office currently advises an 11-week average wait time to get a decision on skilled worker visas due to high demand.

For essential service sectors such as healthcare, that have been hit with labour shortages since Brexit, employing international students already in the UK is a way to fill the gap.

Om international guide you on how to switch to the skilled worker visa state, 

• you might be able to apply to change (‘switch’) to a skilled worker visa if you’re already in the UK on a different type of visa.

• You must meet the following requirements – your job meets the eligibility requirements; [and] you can speak, read, write and understand English.

• You’ll usually need to be paid at least £25,600 per year or £10.10 per hour, whichever is higher. There are different salary rules if you work in some healthcare jobs, where the going rate is based on national pay scales, the instructions added.

For more information please feel free to contact me on :

VISHAL SHAH 

CEO - OM Group of Companies

OM INTERNATIONAL

An ISO 9001: 2008 Certified Company & CRISIL AAA Rated Company  Head Office: 2nd floor, Indraprasth Avenue, Next to Urjita Hospital, V.I.P. Road, Karelibaug,  Vadodara-390018, Gujarat, INDIA Phone:+91-265-2480840 / 2464464 /164 Mobile+91-999 8157 999 / 9601051799 Office: +91-922 765 6606 / 08 / 09  Email: omvishal.shah@gmail.com W -  www.ominternational.net / www.omvisas.in

"Arise; Awake & Stop NOT till your GOAL is reached." -- Swami Vivekananda

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BOUNDLESS IMMIGRATION NEWS BY OM INTERNATIONAL-THIS IS THE WEEKLY RECAP OF US IMMIGRATION

Green Card Fees to Soar Under New Proposal

The cost to apply for a green card could increase by as much as 130% under a new proposal announced Tuesday. Green card applicants applying to adjust their status from within the United States could pay more than $3,500 in government fees, a drastic increase from the current fee of $1,760, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

President Biden unveiled a new policy that allows migrants from Nicaragua, Cuba, and Haiti to enter the U.S. and legally remain for up to two years.

To qualify, migrants from those countries will need to prove they have someone in the U.S. who can financially support them. The Biden administration will allow up to 30,000 migrants to enter the country under the new program.

U.S. Embassy in Cuba Reopens for First Time Since 2017. The U.S. Embassy in Cuba resumed full immigrant visa processing and consular services on Wednesday for the first time since 2017. The embassy on the island closed after the diplomatic staff was struck by a series of unexplained health incidents, which came to be known as “Havana Syndrome.” The resumption of services comes amid a record flow of illegal migrants from Cuba to the U.S.

U.S. Extends Temporary Protected Status for Yemen. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has extended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Yemen for 18 months, from March 4, 2023, to September 3, 2024. The extension allows existing TPS holders to remain in the U.S. until next year. The government also redesignated Yemen for TPS, allowing Yemeni nationals who have been living in the U.S. since December 29, 2022, to apply for protected status for the first time.

For more information please feel free to contact me on :

VISHAL SHAH 

CEO - OM Group of Companies

OM INTERNATIONAL

An ISO 9001: 2008 Certified Company & CRISIL AAA Rated Company  Head Office: 2nd floor, Indraprasth Avenue, Next to Urjita Hospital, V.I.P. Road, Karelibaug,  Vadodara-390018, Gujarat, INDIA Phone:+91-265-2480840 / 2464464 /164 Mobile+91-999 8157 999 / 9601051799 Office: +91-922 765 6606 / 08 / 09  Email: omvishal.shah@gmail.com W -  www.ominternational.net / www.omvisas.in

"Arise; Awake & Stop NOT till your GOAL is reached." -- Swami Vivekananda

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BEST PLACES FOR IMMIGRANTS TO BUY A HOUSE IN THE US-BY OM INTERNATIONAL

It’s difficult to pinpoint the greatest areas to buy a property in the United States since there are so many factors to consider apart from return on investment. Job prospects, facilities, and crime rates are all significant factors to consider before relocating. It can be especially difficult if you are searching for a home in the US when you aren’t even in the US yet!

Many immigrants are searching for where to live in the US before they move here so we have compiled the best places to buy a house depending on the job market, real estate, crime rates, good schools for families, and more.

Houses sold at a record-breaking rate and for a record-high price in 2021. According to Zillow, the housing market will have another robust year next year, with a national house value rise expected to continue through 2023.

Top 5 Places to Buy a House in 2023

*The following locations are compiled by Homes And Gardens.

The analysis was based on expected home value appreciation, the amount of for-sale inventory, and job opportunities. 

Tampa, Florida

This is absolutely no surprise to students! We are helping thousands of Canadians move to the US every year. Find out why so many Canadians are moving to Florida.

‘Tampa’s home values are projected to grow 24.6% this year, a strong forecasted growth that helped land it at the top of this list. Additionally, a thriving job market, relatively scarce and fast-moving inventory, year-round sunny weather, and demographics that indicate a good number of potential buyers all contributed to Tampa taking the number one spot.’

Average House Price in Tampa: $359,019

Jacksonville, Florida

In terms of the local economy, Jacksonville is growing. Annual earnings are second-highest among Florida’s 12 metropolitan regions, and the region’s total GDP has more than quadrupled in the last 20 years. High incomes and economic growth aid in the expansion of the housing business, which is beneficial to real estate investors.

First-time homeowners are frequently searching for investment possibilities or getting into a community when it is still in its early phases of development to get the most out of it. These places are often less expensive to purchase than the city’s more established, popular sections.

Average Houe Price in Jacksonville: $269,570

Raleigh, North Carolina

As more individuals came to the metro region, Raleigh-Durham has named the #1 big market for house-building growth last year. Based on important characteristics such as housing market activity and economic vigor, Raleigh is also regarded as the fourth best-emerging home market for investors.

Based on critical parameters including economic strength, the housing market, and quality of life, joint research from the Wall Street Journal and Realtor.com rates Raleigh as one of the top 20 developing housing markets for investors and homeowners alike. Investing in Raleigh real estate (and other places of the nation) is a big store of wealth that is held more broadly than equities, according to the survey.

Average House Price in Raleigh: $402,952

San Antonio, Texas

The Zillow analysis follows a string of reports on San Antonio’s booming housing market. Among those, the National Association of Realtors named San Antonio one of the most undervalued markets, and Redfin listed three neighborhoods here among its hottest for 2023.

“San Antonio has been one of these places where when the economy is popping, it’s off the charts,” Trinity University Political Science Professor Juan Sepulveda said. “But when things tank in the economy, we’re not as bad either.”

This was the first year that San Antonio beat out Austin for having a better real estate market which indicates growth!

Average House Price in San Antonio: $248,346

Charlotte, North Carolina

Charlotte is one of the hottest real estate markets in the United States, following a multi-year pattern of developers and investors focused on Sun Belt towns for economic development potential. Charlotte, according to the Charlotte Observer, is an 18-hour magnet city, with its growing population and employment market making it a popular destination for individuals and businesses.

Charlotte, North Carolina is the state’s most populous city and one of the country’s fastest-growing metro regions. Charlotte’s broad industry and high quality of life contribute to the city’s burgeoning housing market. The Charlotte metro area is the second-largest financial center in the U.S., home to popular pro sports teams, and has one of the best year-round climates in the country.

Average House Price in Charlotte: $349,176

Interested in Moving to the US?

All our cases are handled by competent and experienced immigration professionals who are affiliated with VisaPlace. These professionals consist of lawyers, licensed paralegals, and consultants who work for VisaPlace Legal, an award-winning immigration firm that adheres to the highest standards of client service.

For more information please feel free to contact me on :

VISHAL SHAH 

CEO - OM Group of Companies

OM INTERNATIONAL

An ISO 9001: 2008 Certified Company & CRISIL AAA Rated Company  Head Office: 2nd floor, Indraprasth Avenue, Next to Urjita Hospital, V.I.P. Road, Karelibaug,  Vadodara-390018, Gujarat, INDIA Phone:+91-265-2480840 / 2464464 /164 Mobile+91-999 8157 999 / 9601051799 Office: +91-922 765 6606 / 08 / 09  Email: omvishal.shah@gmail.com W -  www.ominternational.net / www.omvisas.in

"Arise; Awake & Stop NOT till your GOAL is reached." -- Swami Vivekananda

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CANADA IMMIGRATION CRUCIAL UPDATES BY OM INTERNATIONAL, HERE'S EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

The Immigration system in Canada underwent several updates and changes in the year 2022 when in July, the country opened its Express Entry draws, welcoming several immigrants in various sectors to address their severe labour shortage. 

Here is a look back at the trends in 2022, and the emerging ones in 2023

The Immigration Levels Plan

IRCC in November 2022, announced its plan to welcome newcomers over the next three years. According to the official statement, Canada will welcome over 1.45 million new immigrants between 2023 and 2025.

In 2025, it is estimated that the annual number of new immigrants will rise to 500,000. The Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) are also set to overtake Express Entry as Canada’s main economic immigration pathway.

Express Entry all-program drew resume in 2022

All-program Express Entry draws returned for the first time since December 2020. The Express Entry system encompasses the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). 

International students can work more than 20 hrs a week

From 15 November 2022, international students have been allowed to temporarily work more than 20 hours a week during school sessions. The authorities further informed that international students can work an unlimited number of hours during academic semesters in part-time work off-campus, until 31 December 2023. 

NOC 2021 changes and added Express Entry eligibility

Canada implemented changes to the 2021 National Occupation Classification (NOC) which is used to classify and describe occupations.

The change included an updated shift to Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities (TEER) codes, and the addition of 16 new eligible occupations for Express Entry eligibility. 

New Brunswick announces new immigration pilot

In November 2022, Immigration and Opportunities New Brunswick announced a new policy to welcome critical workers to the province including six select employers in manufacturing, food production, farming, and aquaculture industries. The New Brunswick Critical Worker Pilot (NBCWP) is noted for its focus on helping immigrants settle in the province.

Families of LIMA-based work permit holders are now eligible to apply for Open Work Permits

To maximize the workforce in Canada, families of LMIA-based work permit holders are now eligible to apply for Open Work Permits (OWP). OWPs allow holders to work for any employer in most industries as opposed to an LMIA work permit. This provision will roll out in phases starting in January 2023. 

Express Entry to target occupations in 2023

On 23 June Bill C-19 was passed in both houses of parliament. The bill allows the immigration minister to create groups within the Express Entry pool, based on policy aims (like in-demand occupations), and issue invitations to apply (ITAs) to these groups.

Trends in 2023

-IRCC will seek to welcome newcomers to less populated provinces through the expansion of the Provincial Nominee Program, the NBCWP, and the strength of the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) 

-IRCC has already expressed its intent to pursue specific professions for immigration in 2023, amid record job vacancies. This includes physicians, wherein the people involved in the profession can get permanent residence

-In the midst of persistent labour shortages, and continued qualification of immigrants, IRCC has already made changes to this end. Among these are the new OWP eligibility for families of LMIA-based work permit holders, and new financial investment in immigrant accreditation for healthcare workers. 

For more information please feel free to contact me on :

VISHAL SHAH 

CEO - OM Group of Companies

OM INTERNATIONAL

An ISO 9001: 2008 Certified Company & CRISIL AAA Rated Company  Head Office: 2nd floor, Indraprasth Avenue, Next to Urjita Hospital, V.I.P. Road, Karelibaug,  Vadodara-390018, Gujarat, INDIA Phone:+91-265-2480840 / 2464464 /164 Mobile+91-999 8157 999 / 9601051799 Office: +91-922 765 6606 / 08 / 09  Email: omvishal.shah@gmail.com W -  www.ominternational.net / www.omvisas.in

"Arise; Awake & Stop NOT till your GOAL is reached." -- Swami Vivekananda

Like us at - https://www.facebook.com/omvisas