IMMIGRATION


CEO, said, “The new Liberal government is on the record in recognisng that, with Canada’s ageing population, having a robust, effective, and efficient immigration system is critical to our long-term economic growth. “We are optimistic that some of the


findings of our survey will prompt the new government to address these issues quickly.”


International Mobility Program: new Employer Portal Since 21 November, companies submitting offers


of employment for Canada’s


International Mobility Program (IMP) have had to use the new Employer Portal. The IMP, explains a spokesman for


global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright and Holthe Tilleman Immigration Law, allows employers to hire or bring in foreign workers without needing a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). Exemptions from the LMIA process


are available for people authorised to work in Canada temporarily under free-trade agreements such as NAFTA, intra-company transferees,


International Experience


Canada participants, spouses of highly skilled foreign workers, and some other categories. Submissions via the portal have been


compulsory since 26 October for all employers under the IMP, apart from those exempt from the employer compliance fee. An employer wishing to submit an offer


of employment must now register with the Employer Portal. A representative may be added by the company as a secondary user, and can then submit offers of employment on the employer’s behalf. The employer compliance fee (currently


CAD230) must also be paid via the portal. On successful submission of the offer of


employment, an ID number is assigned to the information submitted. The employer should provide this ID number to the foreign national for inclusion on his or her work- permit application form.


Update on Canadian Express Entry Introduced in 2015, the Canadian Express Entry programme continues to expand. This expansion is bringing positive changes for foreign nationals (with or without a valid job offer from a Canadian employer) seeking to obtain permanent residence in Canada, says corporate immigration specialist Pro-Link GLOBAL. Applicants are selected during ‘draws’


from the Express Entry ‘pool’, based on the number of points earned through the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which measures candidates based on factors


such as education level, language ability, work experience, and age. Selected candidates receive an Invitation


to Apply (ITA) for Canadian Permanent Residence under one of the many immigration streams. The most recent draw from the Express


Entry pool took place on 13 January and saw 1,518 ITAs issued, with an eight-point decrease in the minimum CRS points required to qualify. Those who received an ITA have 60 days in which to complete an electronic application for permanent residence. The government expects the application


process to be completed within six months, though many applicants have received decisions in less than half that time. Pro-Link GLOBAL anticipates that the


number of draws from the Express Entry Pool will continue to increase under the new government, while the minimum CRS score may continue to decrease. For more on immigration to Canada, tune


in to Pro-Link GLOBAL’s webinar Canadian Immigration: Regulatory Requirements in a New World at


relocatemagazine.com/


news/editorial-8340-8474-canadian- immigration-regulatory-requirements-in- a-new-world


New Electronic Travel Authorisation This spring, the Canadian government will start to enforce the new Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) programme, Peregrine Immigration Management is reminding employers. The eTA is an online registration


system. It took effect in August 2015, but will not be mandatory until 15 March, and is valid for five years, or until the expiry


date of a passport, whichever comes first. The eTA requirement applies to


travellers who do not need a visa to enter Canada and are planning to arrive by air. Visa-exempt countries include the UK, Japan, Australia, Korea, and members of the European Union. The eTA requirement does not apply


to citizens of the US or those accessing the country via a land or sea port of entry. Nationals of certain visa-required


countries (Brazil, Bulgaria, Mexico and Romania) who hold a current US non- immigrant visa or have held a Canadian visa in the past ten years, will be allowed to enter Canada with an eTA instead of a visa. This special visa exemption may not be in place by 15 March, however. The eTA process involves entering a


traveller’s personal details and passport information into an online portal and paying a fee of CAD7. All travellers, including children, must obtain an eTA. In most cases, Citizenship and


Immigration Canada (CIC), the government body that deals with immigration matters, will approve the eTA within minutes of an application being made. In situations where an immediate


decision is not given, CIC will follow up by requesting more information from the candidate.


For the latest Canada


immigration updates and alerts, visit relocatemagazine.com/ immigration or relocatemagazine. com/americas/canada


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