Entry permission for Working Holiday applicants extended for a year
As Canada extends travel restrictions on incoming foreign travellers, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will implement special measures for Working Holiday visa holders under the International Experience Canada. IRCC announced that the Port of Entry Letter (POE) of the Working Holiday applicants who got approved for the program would be valid for one more year at maximum. IRCC earlier extended POE in April and June for 90 days in case the visa holders apply for the extension. The final decision whether to approve it or not will depend on the border officer. The IEC had suffered the most from the COVID-19. The last invitation round occurred on March 13, 2020. Since then, Canada postponed further invitations.
#IEC, #IRCC, #Working_holiday, #COVID_19, #International_Experience_Canada
Express Entry PR admissions in the first half of 2020
According to the recent figures by IRCC, for the first time in the history of Express Entry, the number of permanent residents in the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) overcame the number of immigrants in the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW). In the first half of 2020, Canada welcomed 43,240 immigrants through the Express Entry. 41.3% of them or 17,840 were CEC immigrants while 37.1% or 16,030 – FSW immigrants. Another 20.5% or 8,875 newcomers got their PR through the Express Entry-aligned streams of the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). Finally, 1.1% or 495 immigrants were processed through the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FST). Having in mind the trends of invitations rounds caused by the COVID-19, we can assume that CEC immigrants will outnumber by far all other programs this year.
#Express_Entry, #PR, #FSW, #FST, #PNP, #CEC, #skilled_workers, #skilled_trades, #Canadian_experience, #PR_admission
International students are concerned about fee increases and future in Canada
The fall term in Canadian colleges and universities will start in a few away. Many international students voice concerns about the influence of the COVID-19 on their tuition. For instance, a group of international students from the University of Toronto established the International Student Advocacy Network (ISAN) to advocate their rights in communication with university officials. ISAN representatives stated the toll COVID-19 is taking on them, as their fees, is disproportionately higher than on domestic students. For instance, Sheridan College reduced tuition fees by 10% for domestic students, but increased fees for international students by 3%. The disproportionally high fees for international students in the long term may damage the attractiveness of study in Canada for foreign students.
#international_students, #study_in_Canada, #COVID_1