Provincial nomination continues to be the route for Canada PR in 2020

Despite COVID-19 special measures in place in Canada, it is business as usual in Canadian immigration. Regular draws – both federal as well as provincial – continue to be held.

Provinces in Canada continue to hold draws issuing invitations to immigration candidates to apply for being provincially nominated for Canada PR. A provincial nomination gives an additional 600 points towards the CRS score.

By CRS is meant the Comprehensive Ranking System through which the profiles in the Express Entry pool are ranked against each other. It is the highest-ranked profiles that are issued invitations in the draws that are held.

Ontario

Three draws were held by the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program [OINP] in the last ten days of April. A total of 523 immigration candidates were invited by the OINP in April 2020. Candidates were invited in the streams of Express Entry French-Speaking Skilled Worker [307 invited on April 30], Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream [190 invited on April 29], and Entrepreneur Stream [26 invited on April 22].

So far in 2020, Ontario has invited 1,440 through the Human Capital Priorities Stream. While another 549 have been invited through the French-Speaking Skilled Worker [FSSW] Stream, 190 have been invited through the Skilled Trades Stream.

Alberta

The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program [AINP] has held 8 draws in 2020 so far. Three of the AINP draws have been held after the introduction of coronavirus special measures.

The AINP’s Express Entry Stream holds draws from the federal Express Entry pool. Immigration candidates with a Comprehensive Ranking System [CRS] score as low as 300 have been issued notifications to apply.

In addition to the COVID-19 special measures by the federal government in Canada, Alberta has put in place certain measures of its own, giving more flexibility for candidates for submitting their Canada PR applications.

While the AINP continues to hold draws despite COVID-19 special measures, only the candidates currently living and working in Alberta will be considered for a provincial nomination as of now.

British Columbia

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program [BC PNP] continues to hold regular draws. Immigration candidates with job offers in the province, especially those working in 29 eligible occupations in the tech sector, are sent invitations by the BC PNP.

The latest Tech Pilot draw was held by the BC PNP on April 21, inviting 91 immigration candidates.

British Columbia holds a Tech Pilot draw every week. While there are 29 occupations considered eligible for the Tech Pilot draw, recent draws have left out certain occupations in view of COVID-19 special measures.

Manitoba

The latest draw held by Manitoba – EOI #88 – was on April 23.

Manitoba has held a total of nine draws in 2020 so far, inviting 1,808 immigration candidates. Three draws have been held since March 18, that is, when the travel restrictions in view of COVID-19 went into place.

Draws held by the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program [MPNP] regularly invite candidates in the Canada immigration provincial pathways of Skilled Worker Overseas, Skilled Worker Manitoba, and International Education. A few Express Entry candidates are also invited in each invitation round by the MPNP.

Nova Scotia

The province of Nova Scotia in Canada invites immigration candidates through the Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program [NS PNP]. The first NS PNP draw of 2020 was held on April 27, inviting French-speaking Express Entry candidates.

The immigration candidates invited needed a Canadian Language Benchmark [CLB] of 8 in each of the French language abilities – Speaking, Reading, Writing, and Listening. A CLB of at least 6 was also required in all four of the English language abilities. 

Saskatchewan

The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program [SINP] has held five draws in 2020 so far. Candidates from the Occupations In-Demand and Express Entry streams have been invited.

The draw held after March 18 has targeted Occupation In-Demand candidates only, inviting 205 immigration candidates from 71 occupations to apply for being provincially nominated by Saskatchewan for Canada PR.

As part of COVID-19 special measures, SINP nominees can now ask for an extension of six months to apply for Canada PR with the federal government.

Regular draws continue to be held by the federal government of Canada as well. Recently, Express Entry Draw #146 was held on May 1. A total of 13 federal Express Entry draws have been held so far in 2020, eight of them after COVID-19 special measures were announced on March 18.

While federal draws continue to be held, the focus has been on provincial nominees and those with Canadian experience.

Even with the COVID-19 special measures, now is the best time to apply for Canadian PR.

If you are looking to Work, Study, Invest, Visit, or Migrate to Canada, talk to Y-Axis, the World’s No. 1 Immigration & Visa Company.

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