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Highlights: 3000 healthcare professionals invited via the latest Express Entry Draw

• IRCC conducted the latest Express Entry draw on November 20, 2024.
• The department invited 3000 candidates to apply for Canada PR.
• The latest draw was a healthcare category-based selection draw.
• The minimum CRS score requirement for the draw was 463 points.

*Want to check your eligibility to Canada? Use the Y-Axis Canada CRS score calculator to get instant results for FREE!!

Details of the latest Express Entry Draw #327

On November 20, 2024, IRCC conducted a category-based Express Entry draw for healthcare professionals. 3000 healthcare workers were invited to apply for Canada PR via the latest draw. The lowest CRS score required to qualify for the draw was 463 points.

 

Also read…

When is the next Canada Express Entry Draw?

 

The table below lists the details of the Express Entry draws held in November 2024 to date:

Date	Draw Type	Number of ITAs	Minimum CRS
November 20, 2024	Healthcare occupations	3,000	463
November 19, 2024	Canadian Experience Class	400	539
November 18, 2024	Provincial Nominee Program	174	816
November 15, 2024	French language proficiency	800	478
November 13, 2024	Canadian Experience Class	400	547
November 12, 2024	Provincial Nominee Program	733	812

 

 

*Are you looking for step-by-step assistance with Canadian immigration? Contact Y-Axis, the world’s No. 1 overseas immigration consultancy!

 

 For recent immigration updates on Canada, check out Y-Axis Canada Immigration Updates!

 

Highlights: Canada visa application fee is to be increased from December 01, 2024

• IRCC is planning to increase the application and processing fees for certain Canadian visas.
• The application and processing fee will increase for visitor, worker, and student visa applications.
• The updated visa fees will be applicable from December 01, 2024 onwards.
• Visa fees will also be increased for temporary residents in Canada willing to extend their status.

*Want to check your eligibility to Canada? Use the Y-Axis Canada CRS Score Calculator to get instant results for FREE!

 

Canada visa fee application to be increased

According to recent news, the application and processing fees for certain Canada visas including Canada visitor visa, Canada work permit and Canada student permit is to be increased from December 01, 2024.

IRCC is also planning to increase fees for Canadian temporary residents seeking a status extension or seeking entrance in Canada, which include the following category of temporary residents:

• Temporary visitors, workers, and international students
• Applicants who are Authorised to return to Canada
• Temporary Resident Permit applicants
• Applicants charged with serious criminality

The updated fee is soon to be released by the department.

 

*Want to apply for Canada visas? Y-Axis is here to provide complete assistance!

 

Current Fees for various Canadian Visas

The table below lists the current fee details of certain Canadian visas:

Application type	Current application fees (CAD)
Restoration of visitor status	$ 229.00
Restoration of student status	$ 379.00
Restoration of worker status	$ 384.00
Authorization to return to Canada	$ 459.55
Inadmissible on grounds of criminality	$ 229.77
Inadmissible on grounds of serious criminality	$ 1,148.87
Temporary Resident Permit (TRP)	$ 229.77

 

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What happens if you pay the old application fee?

Candidates applying for a Canada visa online need not worry about the fee if they receive a confirmation after their submission. Applications sent via mail might face a delay between the times IRCC receives them.

Your application will not be rejected if:

• The old fee payment is completed
• The submitted application is complete
• The application is mailed before the fee change comes into effect

IRCC will guide you with adjusting the application fee in case you are required to make an additional payment.

 

How to pay the difference on an IRCC application after an application fee change?

Candidates making a paper-based application might have to pay the difference amount if they have paid the old fee after the fee requirements are updated.  The steps to be followed to pay the difference amount to IRCC are listed below:

Step 1: Calculate the difference amount to be paid

Step 2: Use the “Make an Additional Payment” option in IRCC online payment portal

Step 3: Enter the difference amount to be paid

Step 4: Collect the fee payment receipt

Step 5: Sign in to your account or create a new one to complete the fee payment

Step 6: Submit the receipt as instructed by IRCC

 

*Are you looking for step-by-step assistance with Canadian immigration? Contact Y-Axis, the world’s No. 1 overseas immigration consultancy!

 

For recent immigration updates on Canada, check out Y-Axis Canada Immigration Updates!

 

Highlights: Germany to invite over 22,000 migrant workers in 2024

• Germany announced plans to invite 22,000+ migrant workers in 2024.
• Under Germany’s Skilled Immigration Act, the country will issue 10% more visas to skilled foreign workers.
• The total number of visas issued to skilled workers is expected to reach around 200,000.
• The German Minister for Foreign Affairs also announced to streamline the immigration process for highly skilled foreign nationals.

*Looking to work in Germany? Let Y-Axis guide you with the process.

 

Foreigners now have Improved chances at work visas under the New Germany Skilled Immigration Act

New changes have been announced to Germany’s Skilled Immigration Act. According to the latest updates, the country will issue around 200,000 visas to skilled foreign workers in 2024. The overall number of German visas granted this year is expected to be 10% more than the previous year. The total number of German national visas issued in 2023 was registered at 177,000.  Third-country nationals also expressed interest in learning the German language, pursuing vocational training, and even having their foreign degrees recognized in Germany.  

 

The country also introduced the German Opportunity Card, which highly benefits skilled foreign workers. The Chancenkarte Visa allows you to work in the country without knowing the German language.  The German Government is trying to facilitate the migration of more skilled workers to the country and has also announced several changes to the EU Blue Card for Indian Techies.

 

*To know more about the German work visas issued to Indians in 2024, also read…

Germany will issue 350% more work visas to Indians from 2024. Apply now!

 

Germany to Streamline the Visa Application Process

Annalena Baerbock, the German Minister for Foreign Affairs, announced plans to digitalize the visa application process. The immigration process for highly skilled foreign nationals will now be streamlined to make up for the labor shortages in the country.  There are currently around 400,000 jobs in Germany for workers across different fields. Between 2018 and 2023, social insurance contributions through employment increased by 1.6%, with 89% coming from foreigners.

 

*Are you looking for step-by-step assistance with German immigration?  Contact Y-Axis, the leading overseas immigration consultancy in UAE!

For recent immigration updates on Germany, check out Y-Axis Schengen Immigration Updates! 

 

Highlights: US releases new updates to the Green Card and Employment-Based Visas from December 2024

• The US Department of State has released the December visa bulletin with updates on the availability of EB-visa categories.
• The new visa policies are focused on employment-based visa categories, mainly for Indians.
• The updated cut-off deadline will be applicable for Green Card applicants and adjustment of status applicants.
• The cap count for the US family-sponsored visa application for FY 2024 is 226,000.

 

*Want to work in the US? Y-Axis is here to provide complete assistance!

 

Cut-off dates for US Employment-based visas

The Dates for Filing remains unchanged from November. The Final Action Date functions as queue on the basis of the visa category and nationality of the applicant. These dates estimate the waiting time for application approval, leading to US Green Card.

The table below lists the cut-off dates of Employment-Based visas for December:

Type of Visa	Change in Final Action Date
EB-1( Priority workers)	February 01, 2022 (Unchanged)
EB-2 (Advanced Degree Professionals)	Advanced by two weeks to August 01, 2012
EB-3 (Professionals and Skilled Workers)	Advanced by one week to November 08, 2012
EB-3 (Other workers)	Advanced by one week to November 08, 2012
EB-5 (Immigrants investors)	January 01, 2022 (Unchanged)

 

 

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Changes to the US family-sponsored visa applications

The December 2024 visa bulletin also highlights the preference categories for family-sponsored visas in the US. The categories are:

• First Preference (F1): Unmarried children of US citizens
• Second Preference (F2): Spouses (F2A) and unmarried children (F2B) of permanent residents.
• Third Preference (F3): Married children of US citizens
• Fourth Preference (F4): Siblings of adult US citizens

The cap count for family-sponsored category visas is 226,000 for the fiscal year 2024. Each country has a limit of 7% of the total annual family-sponsored and EB visa preference limits.

 

*Are you looking for step-by-step assistance for U.S. Immigration? Contact Y-Axis, the world’s No.1 overseas immigration consultancy, for end-to-end support!

For recent immigration updates on the U.S., check out Y-Axis U.S. Immigration News!

 

Highlights: Canada extends working hours for international students up to 24 hours!

• IRCC’s Minister, Marc Miller, announced that the number of off-campus working hours for international students will be increased.
• International students studying in Canada can work for up to 24 hours of off-campus work.
• The new changes have been effective starting November 15, 2024.
• Students can now work on-campus while also being able to work off-campus during academic breaks.

 

*Want to apply for a Canada student visa? Let Y-Axis help you with the process.

 

IRCC Announces Uncapped working hours for International students  

Marc Miller announced an increase in the total number of working hours for foreign nationals with study permits. International students in Canada can now seek off-campus employment for up to 24 hours a week, compared to the previous 20-hour limit. The new rules came into effect on November 15, 2024.

The 24-hour working cap applies only to the total hours that students can work off-campus while academic classes are not in session.

Students in Canada can still work:

• On campus
• Off-campus during academic term breaks while the classes are not in progress

 

*Looking to work in Canada? Get in touch with experts at Y-Axis to help you with the process.

 

New Canada Student Visa Requirements

As per the new guidelines, international students must apply for a new study visa to change schools. Students are now required to apply for a new study permit and get approval to change DLIs (Designated learning institutes). Previously, students could switch to different schools on the same study permit as long as their online IRCC account was up-to-date. The new study permit changes are being introduced to promote the International Student Program.

 

*Are you looking for step-by-step assistance with Canadian immigration? Contact Y-Axis, the world’s No. 1 overseas immigration consultancy! 

For recent immigration updates on Canada, check out Y-Axis Canada Immigration Updates!