By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Canada says immigrants with valid confirmation of permanent residence (COPR) can now travel to the country as the pandemic peters out after lockdowns in nearly all countries across the world.
Canada plans to receive over 1.2 million immigrants by 2023, more than 400,000 of them in 2021 alone.
In its programme draw in November 2020, the country invited 5,000 immigration candidates to apply for permanent residency, a total 102,350 invitations issued between 2019 and 2020.
Applicants need a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of at least 469 to be invited.
The number of Invitations to Apply (ITAs) issued by November 2020 was the highest ever. Canada surpassed its ITA target on November 18, with a record 5,000 issued. ITAs issued have not surpassed 100,000 in any year.
The large number of invitations is in line with Canada’s commitment to welcome over 400,000 new immigrants in 2021, most of them through the Express Entry system which many nationals, including Nigerians, have benefited from.
As the programme articulates it,
· Express Entry is Canada’s immigration application management system for three federal economic-class programs: Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and Canadian Experience Class.
· The highest-ranked candidates are invited to apply for permanent residence through regular draws from the pool.
· Invitation rounds take place every two weeks and the vast majority involve candidates from all three Express Entry-managed categories.
· Candidates are ranked based on a score awarded under the CRS, which considers factors such as age, education, skilled work experience, and proficiency in English or French.
· While a job offer is not required in order to be eligible under the Express Entry system, the CRS does award additional points to candidates who have one.
Nigeria ranked eighth highest receiver of Canadian study permits in 2019 and was the only African country in the top 15.
The permanent residence programme is another opportunity for Nigerians desiring to go abroad to legally live and work in Canada.
Revalidation of COPR
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is working to revalidate expired COPR to applicants, Ottawa said in a statement.
It explained that applicants were denied travelling to Canada before their COPRs expired, due to the restrictions imposed to curb the spread of coronavirus pandemic.
A COPR is valid for a year and is issued to those who have been approved by IRCC to immigrate to Canada after meeting its criteria.
“Under the previous rules, foreign nationals who held a valid COPR issued on or before March 18, 2020 were exempt from Canada’s travel restrictions,” the statement adds.
“Those who held a valid COPR issued after March 18, 2020 could only come to Canada if they met another exemption or were coming from the US to settle permanently in Canada.
“A COPR’s validity, which can last for up to one year, is tied to the applicant’s passport and their immigration medical examination.
“However, many applicants were not able to travel to Canada before their COPRs expired due to the travel restrictions or other COVID-19 related considerations.
“Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has been working with applicants who were already exempt from the travel restrictions to reissue them a COPR.”
The government said more information will be provided on the IRCC website on how to obtain a new COPR for those whose documents have expired.
Individuals whose documents have expired are not to “book flights or attempt to travel to Canada until they receive a new COPR from IRCC” and those eligible to travel must adhere to COVID-19 protocol before and after arrival.
“All people travelling to Canada, including those approved for permanent residence, must comply with the COVID-19 health measures and requirements upon arriving in Canada. All travellers must follow the flying to Canada requirements checklist or driving to Canada requirements checklist.
“By allowing more time for reasonable numbers of new immigrants to settle in Canada and begin their integration, we can better prepare for Canada’s economic future.
“Permanent residents are also likely to have supports in place once they arrive here – family members, supportive employers and resettlement agencies for refugees.”
Why Nigerians prefer to emigrate to Canada
Nairametrics writes that relocating from Nigeria is a dominant topic of discussion among many citizens. They ponder why Nigerians are constantly moving to other countries, especially Canada.
The article below, published by Nairametrics, highlights reasons why Nigerians prefer to emigrate to Canada and guidelines for prospective emigrees.
1. Welcoming nature
Canada is one of the most diverse countries in the world. It accepts immigrants from different cultural and religious backgrounds and has one of the highest immigration rates. This makes it an attractive destination for Nigerians.
2. Employment
Canada offers job opportunities in multiple fields open to skilled immigrants as Ottawa plans to use immigrants to bridge the labour gap in the economy.
This plan creates opportunities for skilled and semi-skilled individuals ready to settle down, a dream come true for Nigerians who seek work outside the country.
3. Education System
Canada has a subsidised and high-quality education system. It offers graduate visa programmes with a diverse range of education options for Nigerians and other nationals wishing to purse higher education.
4. Accessible immigration system
Various immigration offers provide foreigners opportunities to relocate to the country. The open and well-regulated immigration system is part of the reasons why Canada is a viable option for Nigerians.
Immigration process
Relocating to Canada requires obtaining permanent residency (PR) which process involves eligibility assessment, meeting requirements, and submission of application for a permanent resident card.
The requirements and steps depend on the path you take in two main categories:
1. Provincial Nominee Program
Most Provinces and territories in Canada offer programs that address skills lacking in the local economy. Provincial Nominee Program focuses on individuals who have the education, skill, and work experience to contribute to the economy of a Province.
The program centres on graduates, semi-skilled and skilled workers. Each Province has streams designated to meet the needs of its labour market that targets particular categories of people.
It allows different Provinces to nominate individuals interested in settling in a particular Province, to enhance broader and even distribution of immigrants across the country.
The following steps are required to qualify for the Provincial Nominee Program:
a) Immigrants are to apply for nomination to the Province they want to live in
b) Immigrants must possess the skills, qualifications, and work experience for the Province to nominate them
c) When approved by the Province, applicants are to submit another application to the government for Canadian permanent resident status
2. Express Entry System
Express Entry System addresses labour market shortages in the overall economy. It consists of immigration programs that enable skilled individuals to emigrate to Canada as residents.
The system offers federal programs for skilled or experienced workers under the following categories:
· Federal Skilled Trades Program for candidates certified and skilled in particular trades
· Federal Skilled Worker Program for skilled workers who have qualifications with a minimum of one year of work experience
· Canada Experience Class for candidates who have worked in certain occupations in Canada for at least one year
The steps to take in the Express Entry Program include:
Create an Express Entry Profile
Candidates are to apply through the Express Entry System by creating an online profile. Applicants are ranked or scored in the CRS which awards points to profiles created according to specified criteria that include:
· Age
· Skills
· Canadian language benchmark – proficiency in English and French
· Work Experience
· Level of Education
· Provincial Nomination
· Relative residing in Canada
Submitting documents
A document checklist states documents to be submitted with the online application. The documents include:
· Birth certificate
· Marriage certificate if married
· Language test results got from approved English tests like the International English language Testing System (IELTS)
· Work experience documents which include reference letters and employment letters
· Medical reports
· Education Credential Assessment report for foreign credentials and copies of certificates
· Travel document or valid passport
Candidates ranked with high profiles following the CRS are given Invitations to Apply for permanent residency in Canada.