IRCC moved all economic immigration application to online

On April 8, 2021, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced a major change in permanent residence application submissions. All paper-based economic immigration applications can now be submitted online via the IRCC portal. This update includes PR applications in the Non-Express Entry Provincial Nominee Program streams, Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot, Agri-Food Immigration Pilot, Atlantic Immigration Pilot, and all Quebec economic programs such as Quebec Selected Investor Program, Quebec Entrepreneur Program, and Quebec Self-Employed Persons Program. In addition, IRCC updated the terminology used in the departmental documents and guides removing the term “paper-based” applications under the Provincial Nominee Program to “non-Express Entry” applications under the Provincial Nominee Program. Those applications will now be called base nominations, while Express Entry PNPs will be called enhanced nominations. This means that almost all economic immigration applications have been digitalized. #IRCC, #PR, #permanent_residence, #PNP, #AIPP, #RNIP, #AFIP, #Quebec, #Self_Employed, #Investors, #Entrepreneurs

Quebec started to accept applications from refugees

On April 6, 2021, the Quebec Ministry of Immigration (MIFI) announced the beginning of the applications intake under the Program for Refugees Abroad (Collective sponsorship) for the 2020-2021 period. The intake period will continue until May 5, 2021. The application process is completely online via the Arrima portal. MIFI allocated the quota of 750 spots for Collective sponsorship for this intake period. MIFI also emphasized that in the case of overcoming the limit, the province will hold a random draw among all applicants overseen by the designated third party to ensure the integrity of the draw. Only groups of 2 to 5 individuals can submit applications during this period. #Quebec, #MIFI, #refugees

ESDC released new processing times for LMIA applications

On Friday April 2nd, Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) has updated the processing times for the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) applications under various streams. Based on statistics from different processing centres, the current average LMIA processing times are: • Global Talent Stream - 13 business days • Agricultural stream - 21 business days • Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program - 14 business days • Permanent residence stream - 21 business days • In-home caregivers – 15 business days • High-wage stream - 32 business days • Low-wage stream - 33 business days #ESDC, #Service_Canada, #LMIA #TFWP, #Work_permit, #agricultural_workers, #caregivers

Quebec announced changes to its business immigration programs

Quebec announced changes to its business immigration programs On March 31, 2021, the Government of Quebec announced changes to its business immigration programs. In the Entrepreneur Program (Stream 2), Quebec removed the requirement for start-up and security deposits. This regulation will be applied to applications received before November 1, 2020. Nevertheless, the Entrepreneur program is postponed until November 1, 2021. In addition, the Quebec Ministry of Immigration (MIFI) announced the Quebec Immigrant Investor Program (QIIP) will remain on hold until March 31, 2023. This step is implemented to finalize the planned modification of this program in order to better meet the needs of the province. #Quebec, #MIFI, #Entrepreneurs, #Investors, #business_immigration