Recent 101 about Canada Immigration in 2022 – Aptech Visa
As a result of regulatory adjustments in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, Canada's immigration services in 2021 encountered significant difficulties and delays. Many candidates within Canada were given new immigration programmes and rules in 2021 to make it easier for them to stay, while many applicants from outside the nation were barred from consideration owing to COVID-19 laws. With 2021 coming to an end in a few weeks, it's time to consider what to expect in terms of Canadian immigration in 2022.
Canada expects to welcome 411,000 additional immigrants by 2022. While this would not normally be a problem for Canada, the government has been slow to process applications in the previous year, resulting in a backlog of 1.8 million applications waiting processing.
If Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) can reduce its backlog, 2022 might be a watershed year for Canadian immigration.
Let's take a look at all of the factors that will impact immigration to Canada in 2022.
The immigration system is experiencing a backlog.
Applicants whose applications are now being handled by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) should be notified that, beginning of March 2020, processing periods will be much longer. In 2019, the IRCC takes an average of eight months to process an Express Entry application. Several applications received in 2019 and 2020 are just now being assessed due to the pandemic's effects.
As of July 31, 2021, IRCC has backlogs of more than 561,700 permanent residence applications, 748,381 temporary residency applications, and 376,458 citizenship applications, according to a research released in August by the Toronto Star. There are around 100,000 permanent residence applications waiting in the Express Entry system that must be completed before processing times for Express Entry may return to previous levels.
Despite the backlogs, Canada's Immigration Minister, Sean Fraser, has argued that the country's immigration numbers should be increased since immigration is a critical component of the country's long-term economic strategy. Minister Fraser has until February 2022 to revise his Immigration Levels Plan, therefore new immigration goals should be revealed shortly.
What to expect from the Express Entry draws in 2022
While Express Entry draws continued during the pandemic, they were significantly different in 2021 from pre-pandemic norms. Prior to the outbreak, an Express Entry lottery was held every two weeks, with candidates from all Express Entry programmes eligible. In 2021, all Express Entry lotteries were closed to candidates in the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) or Provincial Nominee Programs. (PNPs).
When the borders were closed and certain immigration objectives had to be fulfilled, the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRCC) intentionally favoured applicants who had previously resided in Canada. As a consequence, the Express Entry lottery welcomed about 27,000 CEC candidates to Canada in February 2021.
Only provincial nominees have been requested to express submission drawings since September 15, 2021. This is because of the existing backlog of immigration requests. The IRCC is unable to send out a large quantity of Invitations to Apply. IRCC claimed in a recent message that all-program Express Entry drawings will resume after the backlog is reduced, but they did not define how long this will take or how much of the backlog needs be cleared.
The IRCC has been hard at work clearing the backlog. The department spent more than CAD$15 million on overtime for its workers to work on the backlog between April and October 2021.
In 2022, how will Express Entry applicants be chosen?
Earlier this year, Canada released its Budget 2021: A Recovery Plan for Jobs, Growth, and Resilience. Canada's budget for 2021 provided specific details on proposed reforms to the country's immigration and immigration procedures. Among the specifics, there were explicit references to the Express Entry system. Changes to immigration are promised in Budget 2021, including:
• A contemporary platform for immigration processing
• Assistance for women of colour who are newcomers
• Enhance the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program;
• Expedite paths to permanent residency (TR to PR pathway);
• Simplify Express Entry; and
• Expand the capacity and service standards of the IRCC Client Support Centre.
The Canadian government seeks to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) to emphasise the selection of Express Entry candidates who are better suited to Canada's labour market needs.
According to statements made in the Budget 2021, these changes might include revisions to the current Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score method or changes to which NOC codes are eligible to use the Express Entry system. The Federal Skilled Worker Program only accepted applications from 50 NOC codes that were in high demand across Canada prior to 2015. In 2022, if immigration officials consider they are not attracting the best candidates at this time, NOC codes may be restricted. (At the time of writing, there is no proof that this is being considered.)
The pandemic has shown us that immigration policies are quite adaptive. There are several choices for the future of Express Entry now that a new Immigration Minister is in control and the country is recovering from the pandemic's crisis phase. If this is true, only time will tell
A new National Occupational Classification (NOC) system is in the works.
The Canadian government will implement new NOC Codes in 2022. Henceforth, it will be referred to as the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021. It won't take effect until late 2022, despite the fact that it states 2021.
The new National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 will have an impact on a number of Canadian government organisations, including IRCC. The new NOC codes will have five digits instead of four. They'll also abandon the NOC Skill levels, which are currently in use (level 0, level A, level B, level C and level D). They will be replaced by TEER levels, which stand for Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibility.
The TEER levels will be 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. The original NOC skill levels 0 and A will largely stay unchanged, becoming TEER Levels 0 and 1. The remaining NOC B jobs will be transferred to TEER Level 2, while 47 NOC Skill Level B occupations will be moved to TEER Level 2.
Canada has not yet revealed how the TEER Levels will be included into the Express Entry system. Because only TEER Levels 0-2 are eligible for Express Entry, some NOC Skill Level B jobs may be denied. However, it's likely that TEER Levels 0-3 will be accepted, broadening the spectrum of Express Entry-qualified occupations. In 2022, more details will be available, but candidates in the 47 NOC Skill Level B occupations that will be moved to TEER Level 3 should be aware of this.
The full report on the new NOC Codes for 2021 may be found here.
Canadian immigrants now have access to new online application portals
Two new online application sites were launched by the IRCC in 2021, which are critical resources for tourists planning to visit Canada in 2022.
Visa applicants may be required to reapply for a TRV if they applied before September 7, 2021. Those who applied for TRVs before September 7, 2021, should go to the first portal. New IRCC applications need to be submitted through the new IRCC portal.
In order to ensure that people who meet all conditions to come to Canada under the COVID-19 travel restrictions would have their applications processed, it was imperative to move to the new TRV application system.
The new site allows applicants to state that they meet the existing travel exemptions and are currently eligible for entry into Canada. When applicants state this on their applications, IRCC may focus on applications for TRVs that can be used once they are issued, instead of TRVs that are inactive right now.
A study permit application is now available through the TRV portal. This is different from the prior IRCC Secure Account, which was often called a GCKey.
The Permanent Residence Portal was the second new portal created by IRCC. This is a significant shift for individuals applying in 2022 under one of the following streams, as they will no longer be required to submit a paper-based application:
• Start-Up Visa
• Self-Employed People (Federal and Quebec)
• Quebec-selected skilled workers, entrepreneurs, and investors
• Spouse or common-law partner sponsorship
• Child sponsorship
• Parent & Grandparent sponsorship
• Pilot programs for home child care providers and home support workers.
· A child can be adopted through the immigration process
· Protected people and convention refugees in Canada
· Temporary resident visa holders asking for permanent residence
New vaccine requirements for travel to Canada starting in 2022
In the year 2021, several groups of unvaccinated visitors will be allowed to enter Canada for specific reasons if they are not vaccinated. Exemptions will drastically decrease from January 15, 2022, making vaccination necessary for many formerly exempt travellers. In September 2021, fully vaccinated travellers will be permitted to travel into and out of Canada despite additional regulations.
Visitors who are not vaccinated can presently enter Canada if they meet one of the exemptions to Canada's travel requirements and follow the country's specific travel conditions (including COVID-19 testing and mandatory 14-day quarantine).
• Canadian citizens and permanent residents;
· Family members of Canadian citizens or permanent residents who travel to Canada for a non-discretionary purpose;
· IRCC may authorise the travel of extended family and long-term partners of Canadian citizens or permanent residents (or their partners);
• Immediate family members of temporary residents in Canada who have received written authorization from IRCC;
• Temporary workers with valid work permits or those whose work permit applications have been approved but who have not yet been issued a work permit;
· COPR holders with valid COPRs;
For IEC participants without an activated work permit, a valid job offer is required;
The government will no longer grant entry to international students, work permit holders (except for that in agriculture and food processing), professional and amateur athletes, and those reuniting with family in Canada unless they are fully vaccinated by January 15, 2022. Unvaccinated youngsters under the age of 18 who seek to reconcile with family members or attend specific post-secondary institutions will continue to be exempt.
Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated travellers will only be allowed to enter Canada after January 15, 2022 if they meet one of the few exceptions, which include:
· Agricultural and food processing workers;
· Foreign marine crew members;
· Those entering on compassionate grounds;
· New permanent residents;
· Newly resettled refugees;
· Students studying at designated learning institutions with a COVID-19 readiness plan under the age of 18 are also exempt from the travel restrictions: a full-vaccinated parent, step-parent, tutor, or guardian, a Canadian citizen, permanent resident of Canada, or a Native American registered under the Indian Act; and a parent or step-parent who has accompanied the kid to Canada to meet the child's immediate or extended relatives.
· National interest exemptions
You must have obtained the whole series of one of the COVID-19 vaccinations allowed for admission into Canada to be deemed "completely vaccinated" (or a combination of accepted vaccines). You must wait at least 14 days after your previous dosage before travelling. Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca/Covishield, Johnson & Johnson, Sinopharm, Sinovac, and Covaxin are the seven vaccines that Canada will accept as of November 30, 2021. Canada does not consider you completely immunised at this time if you were vaccinated with a different vaccine.
Children under the age of 12 who travel with fully vaccinated parents/guardians are allowed to enter Canada and are not subject to quarantine, but must adhere to specific restrictions, such as avoiding schools, camps, and day-cares. Details regarding the criteria for children under the age of 12 may be found here. COVID-19 travel restrictions in Canada are subject to change at any time
A new immigration regulating body has been established in Canada.
After November 23, 2021, the former Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC) becomes The College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants. The process of helping Canadians with their immigration applications will undergo a significant change by 2022.
There will be a significant shift in offering assistance and guidance on Canadian immigration applications in 2022.
The Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) and the Citizenship Act require individuals who provide compensated immigration or citizenship advice or representation to be approved. These Acts make it illegal for anybody who is not a member in good standing of one of the following organisations to represent or advise for a fee at any stage of an application or proceeding.
• The Chambre des notaires du Québec
• CICC (College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants)
• A law society of a province or territory (for attorneys or, in Ontario, paralegals)
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