2023 is destined to be a pivotal year for Canada immigration, and it can even be said to be a turning point. As 2023 draws to a close, we have compiled the major events of this year's Canadian immigration so that you can better understand the reform dynamics of this year and grasp the upcoming 2024!
EE Reform: A New Chapter for Canadian Immigration
The EE reform in 2023 can definitely be called an important bellwether for Canadian immigration. On May 31, the Canadian immigration agency IRCC publicly announced that Express Entry EE officially launched a category-based invitation6 new categories have been introduced. One of these categories is French language proficiency, while the remaining five are for people with work experience in these industries where Canadian talent is in short supply. 
As of December 27, the Federal EE has conducted a total of 42 draws, including:
19 invitations to all categories.
5 Provincial Nominee PNP invitations.
6 invitations to the French class.
3 targeted invitations to medical and health occupations.
2 STEM career orientation invitations.
2 invitations to skilled occupations.
2 invitations to transportation occupations.
2 targeted invitations in the agri-food category.
1 Federal Skilled Worker FSW Invitation.
This year, the Express Entry EE system has issued 110266 invitations due to the addition of targeted invitations, so the invitation scores show a big difference in 2023The invitation score of all categories is not lower than 480, and there are many times with high scores of more than 500 pointsThe scores for targeted invitations are basically the same.
3 or 4 percent, especially in the agri-food category. In addition,It has only been half a year since the targeted invitation was launched, and there have been 6 invitations in the French categoryThis also fully demonstrates the importance that Canada attaches to the French language, in fact, as one of the official languages of Canada, it not only plays an irreplaceable role in maintaining and promoting cultural and social cohesion in places such as Quebec. It can also be seen in Canada's recently published "Canada Future Immigration System":French-speaking and highly skilled personnel will be the focus of development in the future.
Under the new policy plan, Canada will increase** to coordinate the development of regional agricultural and health industry talent and the Francophone community. This means,In 2024, Canada is likely to further strengthen its attractiveness to French-speaking talents and programs, while agriculture and health will also become new focus tracks. It can be said that this EE reform is an important signal and foreshadowingCanada's immigration policy is gradually changing from extensive to precise, from recruiting talents to giving priority to talents. This change will make Canada's immigration system more efficient, accurate and competitive, and also provide a broader development platform for global talents.
Agricultural Pilot Project Postponed!Continued positive!
The Confederation has launched an Agri-Food Immigration Pilot (AFIP). It is a 3-year pilot immigration program designed to address the labor needs of Canada's agri-food industry, particularly meat processing and mushroom production, which was launched in 2019 and announced in May 2023 with a number of adjustments, as well as the removal of the annual occupation cap for participants. The annual quota is 2,750, and there is no limit to positions. Provide application opportunities for more eligible candidates.
The agricultural pilot project is a first-class support projectThe threshold is low, the approval is fast, and the spouse will have the opportunity to get an open work permit after the policy adjustmentTherefore, it has also become the preferred immigration choice for many applicants, and sometimes it is even full as soon as it is opened. On January 1, 2024, the federal agricultural pilot will usher in the restart, so everyone should seize the opportunity!
Science and technology talent strategy, help science and technology talents!
In June 2023, with the aftermath of the Collision 2023 summit still lingeringCanada's Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Sean Fraser, has launched Canada's first tech talent strategy. New measures will be introduced to allow global digital information workers to work and live in Canada.
This includes the opening of Canadian work visas for H1B holders in the United States. And the work permit is valid for up to 3 years. The program lasts for one year and has a total of 10,000 places. The applicant's spouse and children can also come to Canada to apply for a work permit or study permit, and it does not occupy a place. This project has attracted wide attention and support from applicants from all over the world, and has been open for less than 44 hours, and all the places have been snapped up!It can be seen how attractive Canadian identity is!Moreover, this strategy has not only injected new vitality into Canada's technology ecosystemIt has also increased the size of the entrepreneurial immigration (SUV) program, bringing entrepreneurial opportunities!For many applicants who are looking to immigrate and want to start a business in Canada, this reform of the SUV program is undoubtedly a big plus: the target for the number of permanent residents in the SUV program in 2023 will be three times that of 2022The targets for 2024 and 2025 are expected to continue to growThis provides more entrepreneurs with the opportunity to realize their dreams. Although the processing time has been extended from one year to 37 months due to the increase in the number of applicants, it is still relatively reasonable considering the more relaxed application conditions and the number of places available. The term of the work permit for entrepreneurs has been extended from 1 year to 3 yearsIt provides a more stable environment for his initial start-up in Canada. Unlike in the past, where you could only work for your own startup, applicants can now get an open work permit, giving them more choice and freedom. This three-year open work permit is not limited to the core members of the startup, but is extended to the entire startup team, which undoubtedly enhances the stability and attractiveness of the team. Incubator projects that are part of Canada's Tech Network will be prioritizedThis provides an added advantage to entrepreneurs who work closely with Canadian tech networks. It can be said that in the future, SUV incubators and technology tracks will be more supported and concerned, which can be seen from Canada's quota for SUV projects, which is 3,500 in 2023, 5,000 in 2024, and 6,000 in 2026For suitable people + reliable resources, the SUV project is definitely a real fragrance project. It is very flexible, the threshold is not high, except for the language needs to reach CLB5, there are basically no other hard requirements, you can choose a work visa to land, you can also wait for a maple leaf card in China, so it is now more and more concerned,However, the more people who choose, it will also involve competition, and the higher the requirements for resources, applicants who want to grasp the dividends of the science and technology track must evaluate carefully, choose carefully, and be fully prepared!
Trudeau reshuffled his cabinet, and Miller became immigration minister
At the end of July, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a major cabinet reshuffle. New Minister of Immigration: Mark. Miller, take office.
Former immigration minister Sean has moved to the post of Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, and Trudeau needs to do more in the area of housing by 2025** in the face of a rapidly increasing population amid the wave of immigration.
The introduction of the new LIMA policy has ushered in the era of immigrants and employers
In August, Labour Canada (ESDC) launched a 3-year Temporary Foreign Worker Program: the Approved Employer Pilot Program (REP), which aims to reduce the administrative burden on employers who repeatedly hire temporary foreign workers (TFWs) and streamline the recruitment process. Typically, Canadian employers who want to hire overseas workers need to undergo a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) to confirm the authenticity of the job, the need to recruit such workers, and the fact that the hiring will not impact the employment of Canadian citizens or permanent residents. The LMIA is usually valid for 1 year, and employers need to reapply every year, which is a cumbersome and time-consuming process. WhileThe Accredited Employer Pilot Program REP will allow eligible and reputable employers to streamline the process of applying for LMIAThe new policy, supported by Canada's Federal Minister of Employment Randy Boisson, and Federal Minister of Immigration, Mark Miller, began the first phase of applications in September this year: applications from employers in the agricultural sector. The second phase will begin in January 2024 and will be open for applications from all other industry sectors. This also means that in 2024, excellent and reliable employer resources will be the key to the success of the project.
Canada and India are in a diplomatic dispute
India announced on September 21 that it had suspended visa operations for Canadian citizens due to "security threats" to staff of the Indian embassy and consulates in Canada. The controversy was sparked by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's accusation that India had orchestrated an assassination of an exiled Sikh leader, which India refuted as a pretext for Canada's connivance with the Christians. This diplomatic crisis has had a considerable impact on the relations and interests of both countries. India is the largest country for immigrants and students in Canada, and the two countries have close economic and investment ties. However, due to the impact of the diplomatic dispute, the personnel exchanges and exchanges between the two countries will be seriously disrupted. This is undoubtedly a huge blow to the people of India who immigrate to Canada.
New rules for Canada Super Visa
In October, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced that it had made adjustments to the minimum required income criteria for the Canada Super Visa. Compared to the previous income requirements, the new criteria have been significantly raised, making the application for the Canada Super Visa more stringent in terms of economy. One of the big advantages of the Canada Super Visa is that the holder can stay in Canada for up to 5 years per entry, compared to the usual 10-year multiple-entry tourist visa, which only allows for six months at a time. This significant difference makes the super visa the preferred choice for many family reunifications. However, the implementation of the new regulations has increased the financial requirements of applicants, creating a higher threshold for applicants. According to the latest data,The minimum income requirement for the Canada Super Visa has increased by more than 333%。It is important to note that these income requirements vary based on the number of family members to ensure that the sponsor has sufficient financial resources to support the family members applying for the super visa. In addition, these requirements do not necessarily mean that a visa will be granted if all financial requirements are met, and the visa officer will also consider other factors such as the purpose of the applicant's visit, the length of stay in Canada, the applicant's health status, etc. Also, the processing time for the Canada Super Visa varies depending on the applicant's country of citizenship. In addition, in order to ensure the credibility of the immigration system, all applicants applying for temporary or permanent residence visas may be required to undergo a background check. This is a necessary step to maintain the integrity of the IRCC program. Applicants are advised to prepare as early as possible.
Canada officially announced its 2024-2026 immigration plan
Canada's new Minister of Immigration, Mark Miller, unveiled the Immigration Levels Plan 2024-2026, which sets a goal of attracting at least 500,000 new permanent residents each year for the next three years. Economic migration is still the mainstream, accounting for 60%. Specifically, by 2024, it is planned to admit 48Of the 50,000 new immigrants, 281135 are economic migrants, 114,000 are family reunification migrants, 76,115 are refugees, and 13,750 are humanitarian migrants. Compared with the previous plan, although the total amount has not changed, the specific proportion has been adjusted. The quota for economic migrants is gradually increasing, while the target proportion for refugees will gradually decrease. For CEC, FSW and FST applicants, they should improve their requirements in terms of language, academic qualifications and work experience to meet the invitation criteria faster. At the same time, the improvement of French language proficiency has become a new highlight, and the number and proportion of French-speaking permanent residents outside Quebec will gradually increase. This plan reflects that Canada** has not lowered its immigration goals in response to the housing crisis, but it also shows a cautious approach to immigration policy. Overall,PlusThe 2024-2026 immigration plan shows that while maintaining the number of immigrants, it also focuses on balancing the proportion of different categories of immigrants. Economic immigration is still the mainstream, and the encouragement of French-speaking immigration has become a new policy direction.
The Department of Immigration has made a comprehensive adjustment to the policy for international students
On December 7, 2024 local time, the Federal Immigration Department of Canada issued a series of major adjustments to revise the international student policy. This adjustment is in response to the increase in the cost of living in Canada**, especially the increase in housing and food costs, which has led to a large number of international students facing a tight living cost. The Federal Ministry of Immigration has made a comprehensive adjustment to the international student policy by raising the threshold for proof of study permit funds, extending the policy of working off-campus for an unlimited period of time, adjusting the future adjustment of the work policy for international students, restricting the work permit policy for online course applications, and limiting the number of study permits issued.
Of course, the most important thing is that the immigration department said that it will limit the number of study permits issued in 2024. ThisOne measure is to respond to criticism of the international student market from all walks of life in Canada, including the impact of the surge in international students on the quality of Canadian higher education and the intensification of competition in the job market. The Department of Immigration will take a range of measures to ensure that designated learning institutions are able to provide adequate student support as part of the academic experience. This includes limiting the number of study permits issued to ensure that the growth of international students matches Canada's capacity to admit students.
The 2024 work visa policy will be further tightened!
On Christmas Eve, Canada's immigration minister publicly announced that the number of temporary foreign workers will be strictly controlled in the new yearThe latest data shows that Canada's population growth in the third quarter of this year hit a 66-year high, with non-permanent residents growing particularly significantly, increasing by about 31 percent between July and September alone30,000 people. Many temporary foreign residents come to Canada through international study, work permits, etc. In order to control population growth, Canada** has carried out a study permit reformMinister Miller said he plans to announce reforms in early 2024 to deal with the influx. And it is also emphasized: if necessary, the federal ** will take a tougher position to ensure that the interests of the entire country are protected. This may include further restrictions on international student programs, as well as a rigorous review of temporary foreign worker programs.
Of course, in addition to the policy adjustments at the federal level, the immigration situation in each province also has its own merits.
BC immigration scores are high, basically around 105, it is difficult for ordinary people to achieve such a score, and even if it is reached, the strict review of BC makes many people fearful. Not to mention Ontario. Alberta's immigration application pool has accumulated nearly 3,000 applications, and the competition is extremely fierce. Recently, the official website of the Immigration Bureau has also publicized the phenomenon of over-application for some positionsIncluding: Food Service Supervisors, Chefs, Retail Executives, Administrative Assistants, Cooks, Truck Drivers, Accounting Cashiers, Information Systems, Software Engineers, and moreThis type of profession requires close attention. Moreover, Alberta's provincial nomination processing time is also increasing, causing more confusion for applicants. JAL in Saskatchewan has become more precious, and many JALs were rejected in the first half of 2023 due to some internal issues, making regular 0AB employer sponsorship applications more cautious. The four maritime provinces, especially NS, have become more stringent in the review of immigration applications. The traditional study and immigration track in Manitoba is also becoming more and more difficult, and the visa refusal rate of travel and transfer has soared. In 2023, Canada's immigration landscape is undergoing unprecedented changes, with various policy adjustments and application thresholds raising making the immigration road more and more difficult. For applicants who want to immigrate to Canada, they need to pay close attention to policy changes, evaluate their own conditions and advantages, and choose the immigration path that suits them more carefully and wisely. And constantly improve its own conditions to meet higher economic requirements and stricter audit standards. withPaying attention to the dynamics of the immigrant community, obtaining professional immigration advice, and strengthening language skills are also important factors to improve the success rate of the application.