As we approach the end of the year, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued a few updates in the world of immigration. Today, we’ll highlight some of the most notable changes and provide you with a summary of the Express Entry results for the month of November.
Express Entry Results
Two Express Entry draws were held in November, inviting foreign nationals from all streams of the Express Entry system to apply for Permanent Residency. On November 13th, 2019, 3,600 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) were issued to candidates with Comprehensive Ranking System scores of 472 or higher. On November 27th, an additional 3,600 ITAs were issued to candidates with CRS scores 471 points and higher.
The CRS cut-off scores for Express Entry draws in the second half of 2019 have been higher than usual. At the start of 2019, candidates with scores ranging in the 450s to 460s were invited to apply. As the year comes to an end, we expect to see either an increase in the number of Express Entry draws, with more applicants invited to apply or a decrease in the CRS score. The Government of Canada has specific quotas they must reach in terms of the number of applicants they invite to apply for Permanent Residency. With such high cut-off scores, we suspect more applicants will be admitted in the month of December to help them meet their immigration quotas.
High-Risk Pregnancies
The Government of Canada recently announced that they would remove the excessive demand considerations for high-risk pregnancies. Previously, high-risk pregnancies were identified as meeting the “excessive demand threshold”. In other words, the costs for prenatal care and delivery were considered too high for the Government of Canada to cover. Those who wish to come to Canada for the purpose of giving birth will be allowed entry even if their pregnancy is high-risk and poses increased healthcare costs.
OINP Updates
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) announced that the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) will place a temporary pause on its assessment of educational credentials for immigration purposes. The IQAS currently has a backlog of assessments to complete and so applications submitted after November 21st 2019 will be held.
New Minister of Immigration
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appointed a new Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Marco Mendicino is a descendant of Italian immigrants and he represents the riding of Eglinton-Lawrence in Toronto, Ontario. Mendicino will be responsible for implementing promised increases to immigration projects directed at bringing more immigrants to rural and Atlantic Canada.
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Our Services
Calver and Associates is a leading provider of Canadian Immigration services in Durham Region. We serve clients in Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax, and beyond. Our Registered Canadian Immigration Consultant has over 10 years of experience in Canadian Immigration law and over four years of experience serving those in the Oshawa area.
We can provide assistance with applications for both temporary and permanent residency in Canada. We handle applications for study permits, permanent residency, family class sponsorship, visitor visas, work permits, and Canadian citizenship. We also handle criminal inadmissibility cases by developing remedies for refusal.
