Saskatchewan halts job offer-based PR pathway applications. The SINP announced this temporary pause on all new Job Approval Forms (JAF), effective February 18, 2025.
Foreign nationals as well as employers who have not yet submitted Job Approval Forms to the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) can no longer pursue provincial nominations via the SINP’s job offer-based streams as of the time of writing.
The province has not declared when they will resume the intake of the JAFs. They said that the pause is anticipated to last ‘several weeks’.
JAF applications that have been obtained before February 18 will continue to be reviewed.
The declaration also hints at transitions coming to SINP by stating that the pause offers the team time to ‘implement required program changes.’
The province stated that the pause is the outcome of the federal government’s decision to cut SINP nomination allocations by over 50% in 2025.
The reduced allocations of nominations given to the provinces in 2025 is in line with the federal government’s reduced landings targets for the Provincial Nominee Programs in 2025, as stated in the Immigration Levels Plan 2025-2027.
What Is A Job Approval Form?
SINP is Saskatchewan’s Provincial Nominee Program, offering pathways for permanent residence. Many foreign/ international workers can apply to be nominated by the province for PR if they have an employment offer from an eligible employer.
The Job Approval Letter (JAL) is a pre-approved authorization for an employer so that they can recruit a foreign/ international worker.
For an employer to get a JAL, they are required to submit a Job Approval Form (JAF) by accessing their online OASIS account.
Saskatchewan halts job offer-based PR pathway applications. This implies that employers will not be able to submit the Job Approval Forms. This will consequently delay the issuance of new JALs, which are important for foreign workers to apply for provincial nomination under SINP’s job offer-based streams.
Which Streams Are Impacted?
This pause will affect all streams that require a JAL, i.e., Job Approval Letter.
This includes:
The International Skilled Worker Category
- Agriculture Talent Pathway
- Employment Offer
- Tech Talent Pathway
- Health Talent Pathway
Saskatchewan Work Experience Category
- Skilled Worker With Existing Work Permit
- Agriculture Talent Pathway
- Tech Talent Pathway
- Health Talent Pathway
- Students
A number of business types are not eligible to get JALs through the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program. Likewise, a number of occupations are also ineligible for SINP pathways that need an employment offer as well as a JAL unless certain requirements are met.
What Are The Options If One Still Wishes To Immigrate To Saskatchewan?
Saskatchewan halts job offer-based PR pathway applications. However, there are some pathways that do not need an employment offer in Saskatchewan. These include:
International Skilled Worker: Occupation In-Demand
This is a pathway for foreign/ international workers, both within as well as outside Canada, who meet specific criteria, including having a minimum of one year of full-time experience in a high-skilled occupation that is in-demand in Saskatchewan at the time of application.
In order to apply for this sub-category, you should submit an Expression of Interest (EOI). You will further enter into a pool of eligible applicants. The SINP periodically selects applicants from the pool and invites them to apply to the province for nomination. Not all applicants who submit an International Skilled Worker EOI will be invited to apply to the SINP.
After receiving a provincial nomination, a successful nominee can apply to the Canadian federal government for permanent residence.
Express Entry
Another way to obtain an ITA, i.e., invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residence is by creating an online profile in the federal government’s Express Entry system.
Express Entry invites top-ranking applicants to apply for PR based on their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, which is determined by factors like their age, educational qualifications, work experience, as well as language proficiency.
In order to be eligible, applicants should meet the requirements of one of Canada’s three federally managed immigration programs:
- The Federal Skilled Worker Program
- The Canadian Experience Class
- The Federal Skilled Trades Program
Applicants with high CRS scores and/ or who qualify for category-based draws have the highest chances of receiving an ITA via Express Entry.
Rural Community Immigration Pilot
Applicants might also be eligible for the new Rural Community Immigration Pilot. This is an employer-focused pathway for applicants who obtain employment offers from designated employers in specific communities.
Of the 14 communities listed by the pilot, one is in Saskatchewan: Moose Jaw.
While the website for the community hasn’t been launched yet, foreign/ international skilled workers who meet certain criteria and obtain an employment offer from a designated employer in Moose Jaw might be eligible to apply for Canadian permanent residence.
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