Canada Continues to Process Applications for Permanent Residence

While border closures due to the coronavirus have temporarily affected travel, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada continues to accept and process applications for permanent residence in Canada. In the last week, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada held two new draws inviting candidates to apply for permanent residence under the Express Entry system.

On March 19th 2020, Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued a round of invitations to apply for permanent residence under the Express Entry system. This draw was limited to candidates who have received a nomination from a province or territory. 668 candidates were invited to apply, and the minimum score selected was 720. The maximum possible score for candidates without a provincial or territorial nomination is 600 points.

On March 23rd 2020, Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued another round of invitations to apply. This draw was limited to candidates who meet the eligibility criteria under the Canadian Experience Class, that is who have completed at least one year of skilled work experience in Canada within the last three years. 3,232 candidates were invited to apply, and the minimum score selected was 467.

In addition to the federal Express Entry program, the government continues to accept applications for permanent residence under the family class, including spousal and common-law partner sponsorship. The government has announced that further details regarding intake for the 2020 parent sponsorship program will be released by April 2020. Many communities are now accepting applications under the new Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot, and the Atlantic Immigration Pilot remains a desirable option for applicants intending to live in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick or Prince Edward Island. For self-employed applicants, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada continues to accept applications under the federal self-employed program and the start-up visa program. Finally, Canada continues to process applications made through the over 60 different provincial nominee program streams across Canada.

Processing times for permanent residence can range from approximately 6 to 24 months depending on the program category. We recommend that applicants begin planning their permanent residence strategy well in advance. For temporary workers or students who want to stay in Canada long-term, planning for permanent residence early on will reduce the need for work permit renewals and help to ensure a smooth transition from temporary to permanent status.