Wood Consulting Canadian Immigration Services
21 Duke Street L2R 5W1 Saint Catharines, ON, Canada

Happy New Year! The policy to grant an extension on the 90-day window to apply for restoration of status has been renewed until August 31, 2021. Foreign Nationals in Canada that have fallen out of status between January 30, 2020 and May 31, 2021 will be able to access this provision when making an application.... https://www.canada.ca//public-policy-extended-restore-stat

On the issue of misrepresentation in immigration, this is an accessible and quick read from Lawyer Catherine Sas. Great pieces of advice to avoid immediate and future complications on immigration applications.

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) is officially closed for 2020. Applications currently in the queue or to be added in 2020 will be processed under the OINP's 2021 allocation. Next year, the OINP is anticipated to move to an Expression of Interest program for its Employer Job Offer Streams (International Student Stream, Foreign Worker Stream, and In-Demand Skills Stream) and Education-Based Streams (Masters Graduate and PhD Graduate). Stay tuned for more information about the implementation of that program by looking for the 2021 update links at https://www.ontario.ca//ontario-immigrant-nominee-program-.

Effective immediately, the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot Project will accept accumulated qualifying work experience of 1 year over a 3-year period that was obtained in a non-continuous manner. In other words, breaks between qualifying work periods will not disqualify a candidate. For more information, see: https://www.canada.ca//rural-northern/pr-eligibility.html

Notifications of Interest are coming today for candidates with a certain Express Entry CRS Score (updated: 460 to 468) and experience in the following "Tech" NOC Unit Groups: 0213 Computer and information systems managers 2147 Computer engineers 2172 Database analysts and data administrators... 2173 Software engineers and designers 2174 Computer programmer and interactive media developers 2175 Web designers and developers See more

The very popular OINP Foreign Worker Stream opened this morning and it closed before noon. Congratulations to all who are able to obtain the opportunity to apply for this nomination stream!

Small but helpful updates to the C41 LMIA Exempt Work Permit instructions (Spouses of Skilled Workers in Canada). The instructions recognize that part-time work by the foreign national worker does indeed qualify, provided that the worker can support their family members (including the spouse, who is the work permit applicant) while in Canada. In the past, the language did not make indications about full-time or part-time status on this point. "The principal foreign worker m...ay be employed part-time for the spouse or common-law partner to qualify for this LMIA exemption. Although there is not a standard minimum of hours required, officers have to be satisfied the foreign worker’s employment will be sufficient to financially support themselves and their family members while they are in Canada." https://www.canada.ca//public-policy-competitiveness-econo

The Parent and Grandparent Program will open for expression of interest effective 12 p.m. EDT on October 13, 2020 and close on 12 p.m. EST on November 3, 2020. Selection will be random, and applicants will have 60 days to make an application from the time of selection.

--IMPORTANT NEWS RE: EASING OF TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS FOR FOREIGN NATIONALS -- Announced earlier today, there will be new measures allowing international students and other foreign nationals access to travel to Canada. Here is the relevant information from that press release: "These processes will provide for the entry of... certain extended family members of Canadian citizens and Canadian permanent residents, including those in an exclusive dating relationship of at least 1 year and their dependent children, as well as adult children, grandchildren, siblings and grandparents foreign nationals for compassionate reasons in specific circumstances, such as life-threatening illness, critical injury or death, with potential limited release from quarantine international students, starting October 20, 2020, if they will be attending a designated learning institution that has been identified by their provincial or territorial government as having a COVID19 readiness plan in place Detailed information on who may qualify as an extended family member and the process and requirements to be eligible to travel to and enter Canada will be available on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada website on October 8, 2020. There will be a robust process in place for extended family members, and each traveller will need to apply for and be issued an authorization before they can travel to Canada. Information on eligibility and the process for travel and entry to Canada for compassionate reasons will be available on October 8, 2020, on the Public Health Agency of Canada’s website, canada.ca/coronavirus." More information can be found here: https://www.canada.ca//government-introduces-new-border-me

The Master's Graduate Stream opened today for intake. The system was open for under 1 hour. Congratulations to those who were able to register! https://www.ontario.ca//2020-ontario-immigrant-nominee-pro