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Category Archives: TFWP

Tips for newcomers immigrating to Canada

Canadian immigrants have a plethora of life and career choices. To counterbalance the ageing population, the federal government has implemented a number of immigration programs, including Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs, the Atlantic Immigration Pilot, and others. These programs have resulted in an increase in the number of well-educated, experienced, and skilled people in Canada.

New immigrants experience difficulties settling in and adjusting to life in Canada. Adapting to a new culture, time zone and climate may take a couple of weeks. Here are some tips you can follow to ease up this transition in Canada:

Apply for a SIN number

To work in Canada, you will need your Social Insurance Number, which is a nine-digit number. Your SIN will start with a ‘9’ if you are in Canada on a temporary work permit.

You may get a SIN at any Service Canada office and assuming that there is no rush, you will be able to get your SIN in about half an hour. You should not forget to bring your employment or study permit to your Service Canada appointment.

Purchase a local cell phone plan

The sooner you buy a local phone plan, the more you would be able to avoid your home provider’s expensive roaming charges. There are several options for Postpaid and Prepaid plans. The most popular phone carriers in Canada are Fido, Rogers, Bell, Telus, Virgin Mobile and Freedom.

Build your Network

Use networking tools like LinkedIn to meet people who were born and raised in Canada or have lived there for a long time to gain a better grasp of local culture and market trends. Consult with experts in your field to determine whether any certifications or licenses are required for your job.

To expand your understanding of local best practices, attend conferences, networking events, and workshops near your workplace or residence.

Open a Canadian bank account

It is very important to open up a bank account in Canada so you can manage your bills, debit card payments, and avoid possibly costly withdrawals from your existing account of your home country. Keep in mind that each bank checking accounts also known as ‘current accounts’ frequently come with monthly fees. This will also help you build a good credit history in Canada and facilitate your daily activities. Some of the most popular Banks in Canada include RBC, Scotiabank, TD Canada Trust, CIBC and BMO.

Apply for Canadian healthcare

Citizens, permanent residents, and temporary residents of Canada may be eligible for public medical care, which varies by province and covers medical expenses. Each family member will receive a provincial or territory government-issued health card only if qualified.

Newcomers to several provinces and territories may be required to wait for a certain period before becoming eligible for public health insurance. You must apply for temporary private health insurance until you are eligible.

Be aware about your rights and duties

One of the most important things for you to learn is about your rights, obligations, advantages, and privileges, even before you arrive in Canada. Permanent Residents (PRs) of Canada have many of the same rights and advantages as citizens of Canada, while temporary residents have different rights.

These rights are defined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which provides legal protection for the people of Canada’s fundamental rights and freedoms.

Get help from organizations for newcomers

Local Newcomers organizations can help you to find a place to live or help you get settled in Canada. You can also reach out to them if you have questions about things like administrative procedures, transportation, the school system or finding a job. 

Moving to a new country is hard. There’s a lot to think about both before and after your arrival in Canada. To ensure your new adventure sail smoothly in Canada, take advantage of all the support available to you.

If you need any immigration help, feel free to contact us.

Canadian Workforce Plan 2022

In response to robust demand for workers, employers across Canada are looking to bump up salaries as a part of their 2022 workforce plan. Many employers are losing business and productivity due to labor shortage. To attract talent and to address labor constraints, employers are incentivizing local population and raising salaries of existing workforce.

LifeWorks survey report revealed that average salary in Canada would climb 2.7 percent in 2022, excluding firms that plan to freeze wages.

Base salaries are anticipated to rise in 2022, with an average yearly pay increase of 2.5 percent. Due to the tight labor market, employers are being compelled to make the most significant compensation adjustments in the last five years.

Employers preparing to scale up wages to attract and retain workers

In this competitive labor market, Canadian firms are using bonuses to attract and retain workers. As per the survey carried out by Mercer Talent, about 50% of respondents are ready to pay higher salaries than market rates. In response to the challenges in attracting and/or retaining talent, 41.67% of companies are revisiting their strategic workforce planning while 50.93% are reevaluating compensation and benefits offerings.

The Canadian economy is slowly recovering, and companies are being compelled to loosen their purse strings because of labor shortage. Employees are seeking both more income and persuasive jobs because of the flourishing labour market and rising inflation.

Increase in salary based on specific sectors

According to the LifeWorks survey report, the highest projected average salary increase for 2022 will be on wholesale trade with a planned hike of 3.1 per cent followed by construction (2.9 per cent) and professional, scientific and technical services (2.9 per cent). The lowest salary increase is projected in healthcare and social assistance (1.8 per cent) and information and cultural industries (1.5 per cent).

Salaries are expected to increase while wage freezes decline, which is good news for most Canadian workers, even though they must keep in mind the looming inflation rate.

Opportunities for immigration as a measure to resolve labor shortage

There are immense opportunities for skilled workers in Canada, due to labor shortage in various industries. Atlantic Immigration Pilot, Canadian Experience Class, Caregiver Pilot and Federal Skilled Trade Class are just a handful of skilled worker immigration program for skilled and talented workers willing to immigrate to Canada.

In addition, workers interested in immigrating to Canada can opt the Global Talent Stream pathway of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), which expedites the processing of Canadian work permits and visa applications in order to meet or resolve labor shortages.

Organizations and business leaders across Canada are hopeful that immigration will resolve the prevalent labor crunch and enable businesses to access talent they need to recover and grow.

Canadian business leaders want government to speed up the overall process of immigration with an emphasis on streamlining and accelerating pathways for temporary foreign workers.

We at Can X offer the following solutions to address labor constraints in Canadian business:

Give us an opportunity to discuss your requirements and let our experts find a solution tailored to your needs.

Skilled Immigration: A necessity for Canada to fill vacant jobs

As the world strives to put Covid-19 in its rearview mirror, however difficult it might be. The post-COVID era for Canada looks bleak, especially in the labor market. There are already 550,000 unfulfilled skilled jobs, and reports are suggesting that this number will only rise as 125,000 more workers are expected to quit or retire by the end of this year.

It doesn’t sound as promising especially for a developed country like Canada, but it presents itself as a silver lining for skilled people around the globe who are planning to migrate from their home country. Canada is in a dire need for skilled people and is planning to fill those positions by inviting immigrants. Just in the month of July 2021 Canada welcomes 40,000 immigrants, 4000 more than the previous month and the number will only go up as the Canadian Economy tries to recover from the hit it took during the past year.

There are multiple ways for skilled workers to immigrate to Canada.

Express Entry

Express Entry is a points-based system that manages immigration applications for the three Federal High Skilled programs, which include the: Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker Program, and Federal Skilled Trades Program. IRCC regularly invites skilled workers from both inside and outside Canada through this program.

The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is for skilled workers who have Canadian work experience and want to become permanent residents. Having obtained work experience in Canada, these individuals have already settled into Canadian society and established important networks in their communities and their careers.

Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) applications are assessed based on an applicant’s ability to become economically established upon immigration to Canada. This is Canada’s flagship immigration program for workers, allowing the country to welcome tens of thousands of newcomers every year. This is a key category of the Express Entry (EE) program.

The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) is for skilled workers who want to become permanent residents based on being qualified in a skilled trade. This economic immigration program was developed at the request of Canadian businesses and employers who were struggling to find enough skilled trade workers to help them complete their work on time.

Provincial Nominee Programs

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) regularly invites a number of skilled workers to apply for provincial nomination for permanent residence. This is through the Skilled Worker and International Graduate category.

The BC PNP also offers a priority pathway to certain tech workers called the BC Tech stream. This Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) targets candidates who have job offers in one of 29 eligible tech occupations.

Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program targets prospective immigrants with the desired skills and experience for immigration nomination. The In-Demand Skills Stream in Ontario provides some workers in high-need occupations a pathway to permanent residence.

The Atlantic Immigration Pilot is yet another option for skilled workers who wish to make their new home in any one of Canada’s Atlantic provinces – New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

Work Permits

Skilled workers can temporarily come to Canada under one of two paths, Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and International Mobility Program. This stream allows foreign workers to work in Canada for Canadian companies.

8687 LMIA’s were approved in the first quarter of 2021, despite the adverse effects of COVID-19. This demonstrates shortage of skilled workers in Canada, which has now become a perennial problem with plummeting interest from new generations to enter trades and more veteran tradespeople retiring.

It can be predicted that job vacancy rates will continue to rise in the short term, particularly in service-oriented jobs. This gap in the labor market has created a golden opportunity for foreign skilled workers to apply for jobs in Canadian companies facing labor shortage.

To attract immigrants, Canada is introducing new policies that help protect foreign domestic workers from a drop in wages. Canada is also investing in settlement services for temporary foreign workers who are eligible to transition to permanent residence.

Canada has over 100 economic class streams, which assess candidates on their human capital factors including age, education, language skills and work experience. While having a valid job offer can help you in the immigration process, most economic class immigrants arrive in Canada without pre-arranged employment.

Canada with its abundant natural resources, scenic beauty, jobs, and countless opportunities sounds like a perfect country to come to. If you decide to come to Canada contact Can X for a free consultation and let us help, to make your Canadian dream a reality. 

Canadian immigration pathways for tech workers

Canada’s tech sector has been booming in the recent years. Technology is evolving rapidly, and Canada has quickly established itself as a leader in the emerging IT sector. More and more tech workers are immigrating to Canada in search of new employment opportunities and there is no secret why?

Canada offers various ways to immigrate as a tech talent, including programs which offer Canadian permanent residency. Even with the advent of coronavirus pandemic, this sector remains strong with companies actively recruiting talent around the globe.

Canada is helping to make it easier for businesses in the technology sector to recruit top talent. Whether candidates wish to move to Canada on a permanent or temporary basis, the following are key options are to consider:

Express Entry

Express Entry is a system used by the Canadian Government to manage Canadian permanent residence applications for filling labor gaps through certain economic immigration programs. It is an extremely popular option for global tech talent looking to immigrate to Canada. Tech workers are the main occupational group of immigrants who move to Canada through Express Entry.

If you are a tech worker who has not lived in Canada before, the best option for being eligible for Express Entry is through the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP). The FSWP accounts for nearly half of all individuals who obtain an Invitation to Apply (ITA).

Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) applications are assessed based on an applicant’s ability to become economically established upon immigration to Canada. This is a key category in Canada’s Express Entry (EE) immigration system.

Minimum program requirements: To qualify under this program, the applicant must:

  • Have at least one year of continuous full-time or equivalent paid work experience in the past 10 years in a skilled occupation (National Occupational Classification skill lever 0, A or B); or Qualify for an  Arranged Employment in Canada (AEO) with a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) for a full-time, permanent job offer from a Canadian employer;
  • Get a minimum level of CLB 7 or NCLC 7 for first official language in all 4 language areas (Reading, Writing, Speaking & Listening). To get points for the second official language, you must meet the minimum level of CLB 5 or NCLC 5 in all 4 language areas;
  • Have a Canadian educational or Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)for a foreign education.
  • In addition to fulfilling eligibility and points requirements, applicants must show that they have sufficient settlement funds to support themselves and their dependents after arrival in Canada

Important Points

  • The applicant(s) must obtain at least 67 points based on Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) immigration selection factors. The selection factors are as follows:

Education: 25 points | Language: 28 points | Work Experience: 15 points | Age: 12 points | Arrange Employment: 10 points | Adaptability: 10 points

  • The applicants must plan to reside outside the province of Quebec. The province of Quebec selects its own skilled workers through a unique immigration system.

Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)

Furthermore, the next best option for tech talent to immigrate to Canada is PNP. The Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) allow Canadian provinces and territories to nominate individuals who wish to immigrate to Canada and are interested in settling in a particular province.

Provinces and territories (PTs) that operate a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) can nominate candidates through the Express Entry pool, in addition to nominating foreign nationals to the existing paper-based process. PT nominations made via Express Entry are called “enhanced nominations” and enable each PT to increase its annual nomination space. Enhanced nominations are processed online and are subject to the six-month or less processing standard (in 80% of cases).

 Minimum program requirements: To qualify under this program, the applicant must:

Important Points

  • Candidates who have a PT nomination receive an additional 600 points in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which is usually sufficient to trigger an invitation to apply (ITA) at the next round of invitations.
  • PTs have direct access to the Express Entry pool through a dedicated portal that allows them to view and nominate candidates in the pool.
  • Once a nomination has been issued by a PT and accepted by a candidate, it cannot be cancelled in the candidate’s Express Entry profile. Should the candidate change their mind, or the PT withdraw the nomination after acceptance of the nomination, the candidate must cancel their Express Entry profile and submit a new profile in their online account.

Tech is a significant area of need, which is why some provinces operate tech worker streams, the most notable programs are offered by the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia.

The Ontario Tech Pilot is for workers who have experience in one of six tech occupations and have crated their Express Entry profile. In 2020 Ontario has held two Tech Pilot draws, including one during the pandemic, in May, under which over 700 candidates received invitations for a provincial nomination.

The demand for talent in B.C.’s tech sector is increasing faster than supply. British Columbia Tech Pilot invites immigration candidates to apply for a provincial nomination on an almost weekly basis if the candidates have a job offer in one of 29 tech occupations. In 2020, the province has held 14 tech draws, including earlier this month, with over 1,500 people receiving provincial nominations so far this year.

Start-Up Visa

The Canadian government also operates the Start-up Visa program. This program grants permanent residence to immigrant entrepreneurs while assisting them to become established in Canada. It is a popular option for tech talent and has significantly different selection criteria from other skilled worker programs.

The program encourages immigrant entrepreneurs to grow their companies in Canada. Under this program successful candidates need to be endorsed by a Canadian government designated entity such as an angel investor, venture capital firm, or business incubator, who are in turn responsible for supporting the entrepreneur’s success once they come to Canada.

Eligibility requirements of the program: To be eligible for the Start-up Visa Program, the applicant must:

  • Have a qualifying business
  • Get a letter of support from a designated organization
  • Meet the language requirements
  • Bring enough money to settle
  • Pass Canadian security and medical clearances
  • Plan to settle in a province other than the Province of Quebec 

Qualifying Business: A qualifying business means you created a business that meets the following conditions:

  • At the time you get a commitment from a designated organization:
    • Each applicant holds 10% or more of the voting rights attached to all shares of the corporation outstanding at that time (up to 5 people can apply as owners)

and 

  • Applicants and the designated organization jointly hold more than 50% of the total voting rights attached to all shares of the corporation outstanding at that time
  • At the time you receive your permanent residence:
    • You provide active and ongoing management of this business from within Canada
    • An essential part of the operations of the business happens in Canada
    • This business is incorporated in Canada 

Designated Organization

The applicant must get a letter of support from a designated organization. Designated organizations are business groups (venture capital funds, angel investor groups, and business incubator organizations) that are approved to invest in or support possible start-ups through the Start-up Visa Program. Successful applicants are required to secure a minimum investment for their Canadian start-up. If coming from a designated Canadian venture capital fund, the investment must be at least $200,000 CAD. If coming from an angel investor group, it should be at least $75,000 CAD. Applicants do not need to secure any investment from a business incubator. However, applicants must be accepted into a Canadian business incubator program.

Applicants are not required to invest any of their own money. If their Canadian start-up is unsuccessful, individuals granted permanent residence through this program will retain their permanent resident status. 

Language Requirements

The applicant must meet the minimum level of the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 in either English or French in all four areas (speaking, reading, listening & writing). 

Enough money to settle in Canada

The Government of Canada does not give financial support to new start-up visa immigrants. An applicant is required to give proof that he/she has the sufficient money to support themselves and dependents after their arrival in Canada. 

Global Talent Stream 

Apart from permanent residency programs, Canada offers many temporary resident pathways for tech workers who are looking for a faster pathway to migrate before submitting a permanent residence application or do not wish to settle permanently in Canada. Immigration programs such as the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) are meant to support the process of temporary residents seeking permanent residency in the country.

One of the more notable temporary visa options is the Global Talent Stream. It enables Canadian employers to hire tech talent and bring them to Canada in about a month. The Global Talent Stream is one component of Canada’s Global Skills Strategy which has facilitated the arrival of over 40,000 tech workers to the country since 2017. 

IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON CANADIAN IMMIGRATION

The COVID-19 pandemic is having a major impact on travel to Canada, but the country is still enabling temporary visa holders to enter the country for work. Invitations to successful immigration candidates are also progressing since Canada is planning to welcome them into the country once the pandemic has subsided. As a holistic view, Canada remains open to global tech talent who wish to call this country their new home.

With so many tech jobs and immigration opportunities, you may be unsure of where to start? Contact us and book a consultation!

Work permit levels in Canada remain steady post COVID-19 outbreak

The number of work permits issued to TFWs in Canada appears to have been affected by coronavirus closures. The year started off strong where a total of 32,995 work permits were issued in January 2020 but, after the novel coronavirus pandemic in March total number of work permit went down to 19,650.

The work permit number increased to 29,900 in April which again dropped to 25,125 in May, 2020. The drop in May work permits is typically in part due to less Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) permits.

These new permits issued to TFWs post COVID-19 outbreak include permits issued to people who were eligible to work in Canada through the

  • Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) or
  • International Mobility Program (IMP)

The TFWP allows Canadian employers to hire foreign talent when no Canadian worker could fill the job vacancy. It is mainly used to admit seasonal agricultural workers to Canada, but also covers other sectors while IMP, which meets Canada’s broad economic and social needs, includes the Global Talent Stream (GTS), and the Post Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).

Tech workers who either work for designated companies or are being hired in highly skilled occupations can apply under GTS.

International students can use the PGWP to gain up to three years of Canadian work experience, which is highly valued in an application for permanent residence.

General eligibility requirements for Work permit. No matter where you apply, you must

  • Prove to an officer that you will leave Canada when your work permit expires. You can include many supporting documents to support this claim. For example: your family ties, employment etc.
  • Show that you have enough money to take care of yourself and your family members during your stay in Canada and to return home. You can include your financial documents.
  • Obey the law and have no record of criminal activity (IRCC may ask you to provide a police clearance certificate)
  • Not be a danger to Canada’s security,
  • Be in good health and have a medical exam, if needed,
  • Not plan to work for an employer listed with the status “ineligible” on the list of employers.
  • Not plan to work for an employer who, on a regular basis, offers striptease, erotic dance, escort services or erotic massages, and
  • Give the officer any other documents they ask for to prove you can enter the country. 

Work Permit from outside Canada

To come to Canada as a temporary foreign worker, you must get a work permit. In general, you need to apply for a work permit from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) before you come to Canada. You must apply to a visa office outside Canada if you need a visa to enter Canada or if you need to have a medical exam before you come to Canada. You need to get a job offer and some other documents from a Canadian employer before you apply.

Work Permit from inside Canada

You can apply for a work permit from inside Canada if you are currently in Canada and

  • Have a valid study or work permit, or your spouse or parents have a study or work permit
  • Have graduated from a program at a Canadian university, community college, CÉGEP, publicly funded trade/technical school, or other eligible school.
  • Have a temporary resident permit that is valid for six months or more,
  • Have applied or been included in an application for permanent residence from inside Canada (you will have to pass certain stages in the main application process to be eligible for a work permit)

Work Permit at the port of entry

You may apply for a work permit on arrival at a port of entry (POE) in Canada if the following applies

  • You are exempt from the requirement for a temporary resident visa and your job falls within the International Mobility Program (i.e., you are not required to obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment [LMIA]);
  • You are exempt from the requirement for a temporary resident visa and your job falls within the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (i.e., you are required to obtain an LMIA) and a positive or neutral LMIA has been issued by the time you arrive, and your employer has completed all of the steps for your type of work permit
  • You are a national or permanent resident of the U.S., Greenland or Saint-Pierre and Miquelon regardless of whether your job falls with the Temporary Foreign Worker Program or the International Mobility Program.
  • You will not be working as a live-in caregiver or as a seasonal agricultural worker

In addition to the above, you must have completed your immigration medical examination, if required, before your arrival. If you’re a citizen of an eTA-required country, you’ll need to get an eTA if you plan to fly into Canada. IRCC recommends that you apply for your work permit before you travel to Canada.

Work permits based on skill types

High Skilled Work Permits

High skilled work permits are obtained in an occupation under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill level 0, A or B.  Generally, for skilled work permits, applicant need to have 1-3 years of experience depending upon the occupation and in certain cases only relevant education can fulfill the job requirements. Applicants also need to prove their English or French language skills to meet the job requirements.

Low skilled work permits

Low skilled work permits are obtained in an occupation under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill level C & D. Low skilled work permits require maximum of high school education or job specific training. Applicants also need to prove their English or French language skills to meet the job requirements.

Low skilled work permits under agriculture stream

Low skilled work permits under agriculture stream generally do not require any specific language skills, education and experience. You still need to meet all general eligibility requirements for work permit.

Under low skilled work permits, generally employers pay return airfare, ensure that affordable and suitable accommodation is available, provide temporary medical insurance coverage, register workers with provincial workplace safety insurance plans, sign an employer-employee contract.

How Can-X can help?

  • We can help foreign nationals and foreign workers to apply for Canadian Work Permit which authorizes them to legally work in Canada.
  • We can apply for approval of Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) to Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) on behalf of employers.

Contact us for assessment and more information!