Autumn and the approach to the Christmas season often witness increased activity and top Canadian immigration updates for the rest of 2023.
The year comes to a close with a few significant changes in Canada’s immigration system despite its complexity.
Canada could adjust its immigration priorities and permanent residence levels, as well as modify its parent and grandparent programs, international student programs, and work permits.
Top Canadian immigration updates for the rest of 2023 – Revised Ministerial Mandate Directive
Justin Trudeau may publish a new Ministerial Mandate letter in the upcoming months. By mandate letters from the prime minister, ministers receive instructions on the government’s goals.
As another way of putting it, the letter to Canada’s Minister of Immigration influences immigration policy and the manner in which IRCC behaves moving forward.
A new mandate letter may be issued by the prime minister following a cabinet reshuffle, such as when Marc Miller was appointed Canada’s new immigration minister in the summer. Even so, the prime minister does not have any obligation to do so, and Minister Miller may choose to continue where Sean Fraser left off.
To facilitate family reunions and support Canada’s economic recovery following the pandemic, the minister was recommended to continue to welcome immigrants under the Immigration Levels Plan.
The Immigration Levels Plan for 2024-2026
The IRCC is required by law to release its Immigration Levels Plan by November 1st in non-election years. This plan outlines the goals for the number of admissions of permanent residents, classifying them according to immigration status (economic, family, or refugee and humanitarian), as well as specific initiatives. For instance, the 2023-2025 plan states that Canada plans to accept 500,000 new permanent residents per year by the end of 2025. 301,250 of them will belong to the economic class, and 114,000 of them will be Express Entry applicants.
It is unclear whether the goals of the upcoming 2024–2026 levels plan will increase, diminish, or stay the same. Marc Miller, the minister of immigration, has stated that he is reluctant to cut immigration goals due to the urgent need. He signaled a commitment to meeting the ongoing immigration demands by suggesting that revising them upwards is a possibility.
Report from the Auditor General’s Office on the Processing of Immigration Applications
In addition to identifying areas in which the Canadian government needs to improve, the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) also identifies achievements.
As part of its audit of IRCC, the OAG is expected to conclude its assessment of the efficiency and effectiveness in handling permanent resident applications by the end of the year. It is important to ensure that the department is supporting the Canadian economy, reuniting families, and helping humanitarian applicants.
During the audit, we do not anticipate covering non-permanent resident applications.
Express Entry updates
This year, Express Entry saw considerable changes. In May, the IRCC added six new categories for draws that took into account particular characteristics as well as a candidate’s CRS score. One of these categories places an emphasis on high French proficiency, while the other five provide preference to individuals with experience in the following fields:
- Agriculture and agri-food
- Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions
- Trades, such as carpenters, plumbers, and contractors
- Healthcare
- Transport
The IRCC plans to give candidates with STEM work experience a high priority, according to a recent Globe and Mail story. According to the research, between 28 and 31 percent of the invites sent out for Express Entry this year will be for people with credentials in STEM, including jobs like software developers and data scientists.
All-program draws, which include applicants from the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class, have, however, consistently made up the majority of ITA during the summer, and there is no indication that this pattern will change.
Top Canadian immigration updates for the rest of 2023 – Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP)
Each year, Canadian citizens and permanent residents invite families to submit applications for family class sponsorships. IRCC has traditionally revealed the details of the Parents and Grandparents Program during the fall.
It was only possible for sponsors to submit an application in 2022 if they won a draw. For the purposes of reducing the massive backlog of applications caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, IRCC only considered sponsors who submitted their applications during the period October 13, 2020, to November 3, 2020.
23100 PGP participants were invited by the IRCC in 2022. A new permanent resident is expected to be admitted under the PGP in 2023, and a total of 36,000 by 2025, according to the Immigration Levels Plan. IRCC has not yet announced what process it will use for PGP 2023.
International Students
According to Minister Miller, Canada is on track to receive 900,000 overseas students this academic year. IRCC and Global Affairs Canada are currently conducting a thorough assessment of Canada’s international student program (ISP) in an effort to adequately serve these students.
More information on the Trusted Institutions Framework, which suggests a two-tier mechanism for the issue of study permits with the goal of enhancing the ISP’s integrity, will become available as the year progresses. ICEF notes that Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) that meet the IRCC’s Trusted Institution requirements may profit from accelerated study permit processing for their admissions of overseas students.
In the approaching autumn season, expect more details on this framework’s specifics, including new IRCC steps meant to strengthen the integrity of the International Student program. Also, it’s important to note that the IRCC’s policy, allowing some students to work full-time with no hourly restrictions, will expire on December 31. According to IRCC, they will reevaluate the policy and make decisions on how to proceed.
Tech Talent Strategy update
The IRCC presented a new Tech Talent Strategy on June 27 in an effort to attract more people to careers in technology. The launch of an Innovation Stream under the International Mobility Program later this year, which will allow Canadian firms to hire foreign workers without the need for a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), is one element of this approach.
For up to five years, the Innovation Stream will issue work permits that are particular to the company to applicants who have job offers from organizations that the government has selected as supporting Canada’s economic goals. It will also issue open work permits to individuals employed in certain high-demand professions.
Additionally, IRCC is making a concerted effort to improve its appeal to digital nomads—foreign nationals who work remotely for non-Canadian businesses. They will make more details available about a special pathway for these people in due course. A temporary residence (visitor) visa is currently available for entry into Canada, allowing digital nomads a stay of up to six months. Further information regarding the transfer to Canadian work permits for digital nomads who find jobs in Canada may be forthcoming.
