Australia, Canada & NZ Immigration News - February 2021 Issue #14

Australia, Canada & NZ Immigration News

10 February 2021 - Issue #14

In this issue:

• Australia to inquire into improving its migration programs
• 283 Ontario PNP applicants invited to apply for Canadian PR
• Canada overtakes USA as top destination for student migration
• Alberta doubles invitations and lowers CRS score for PNP draw
• Slow NZ migration sees population growth fall by 90 per cent
• Special feature: Did You Know? – Canada!
• Other global news

Australian Immigration

Australia to inquire into improving its migration programs

Australia will examine its business and skilled migration programs to improve the country’s migration system.

According to the Joint Standing Committee on Migration Chair Julian Leeser MP, Australia will inquire into the wider settings behind its existing business and skilled migration programs and consider how migration is serving Australia and its needs at present and for the future.

The Committee will also attempt to make Australia the first-choice destination for entrepreneurs, investors, venture capitalists and highly skilled migrants and allow them to invest in and establish businesses in the country, create new jobs and boost the local workforce.

Click here to read more on how Australia plans to improve its migration programs for immigrants.

Canadian Immigration

283 Ontario PNP applicants invited to apply for Canadian PR

Ontario invited 283 immigration candidates to apply for skilled migration to Canada in the latest round of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP).

The draw, held on February 2, 2021, had a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cutoff score between 466 and 467 points, meaning that candidates with a CRS score in this range were invited to apply for migration to Ontario with a provincial nomination.

Skilled individuals who were invited to apply for permanent skilled migration to Canada in this round of the draw included applicants having experience in one of ten eligible occupations.

Read more on the eligible occupations for skilled migration to Canada in this round of the OINP draw here.

Canada overtakes USA as top destination for student migration

Canada has moved ahead of the United States as the destination of choice among international students, a series of surveys conducted by educations.com has found.

According to the surveys, enrolment applications for Canadian universities and student visa applications to Canada increased by 3 per cent among prospective international students between January 2018 and October 2020.

Many Canadian universities are now encouraging international students to apply, with Ontario being the most notable example.

Read more about Canada replacing the US as the top student migration destination here.

Alberta doubles invitations and lowers CRS score for PNP draw

Alberta doubled the number of invitations to apply (ITAs) issued to skilled migration candidates to Canada and lowered the CRS threshold score for Canadian migration in the latest round of its Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw.

In the draw held on January 28, 100 skilled migration candidates to Canada were invited to apply for a provincial nomination to Alberta under the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP).

The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score – which usually has a cutoff at 400 points – dropped to 360 points in this round of the draw.

Click here to read more on the latest round of Alberta’s PNP draw and inviting applicants for Canadian PR.

New Zealand Immigration

Slow NZ migration sees population growth fall by 90 per cent

Slower migration to New Zealand because of the pandemic has resulted in the Pacific country seeing its population growth fall by more than 90 per cent.

According to Statistics NZ, New Zealand’s population growth from migration is at less than 1,000 people a month – a figure significantly lower compared to a year ago.

In October 2019, NZ had 17,121 new arrivals and 6,897 departures, resulting in a net migration gain of 10,224 people.

However, in October 2020 there were 2,618 arrivals and 1,733 departures – a net migration gain of just 885 people.

You can click here to read more on New Zealand’s net migration statistics in 2020 compared to 2019.

Did You Know? - Canada!

• Despite being the second largest country in the world, Canada has a population of only 38 million people, which makes it one of the least densely populated countries in the world! In fact, 90 per cent of Canada is void of people!
   
• Canada is the land of lakes, with the country being home to approximately 2 million lakes! These lakes hold enough water to engulf the entire country!
   
• Yellowknife in Canada is arguably the best spot in the world to watch the Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights from! Tourists gather at this spot from all over the world between November and April to witness the enchanting green lights fill up the northern sky!
   
• Canada is the largest manufacturer of the most popular pancake topping – Maple Syrup! In fact, Canada supplies 71% of the world’s maple syrup!
   
• Manitoba’s Churchill is home to around 15,500 polar bears and is widely known as the polar bear capital of the world!

Other Global News

United States

Joe Biden’s immigration reform to help international students

US President Joe Biden has promised an immigration reform that will help international students in science and engineering fields to stay in the country after graduation.

The legislation has been backed by higher-education groups, as extended residence and work permits for international graduates can help American employers to recruit new talent.

During his successful presidential campaign, Biden also pledged to exempt international graduates of doctoral programs in science and engineering disciplines from a cap on green cards.

US extends deportation relief for Syrian immigrants

The Biden administration has extended deportation relief for thousands of Syrian immigrants living in the United States.

David Pekoske, acting Secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security, announced that the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) of 6,700 eligible Syrians would be extended through September 2022.

The TPS grants immigrants who cannot return to their country safely due to natural disasters or armed conflict extended stay and work permit in the United States legally for a predefined period.

eduaid’s word of the week: Professional

At eduaid Immigration Services, professionalism has been a core value philosophy ever since our inception at the beginning of the millennium. Over the period of the past 21 glorious years, we have enriched our professionalism to a new industrial benchmark assuring the best service that no other company in our industry can assemble, administer and exert, to ensure the best professional services for our clients who come from many avenues of business and skilled workforce communities.

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