Employers and LMIA

Canadian Business Association requires solutions to address labour shortages through immigration programs

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Only in the second quarter of 2019, 429,000 jobs went unfulfilled in Canada. Racer Immigration, a Canadian Immigration Consultants in Vancouver, has learned that these vacancy work opportunities hold the country’s development and businesses to strive with the skilled labour shortage.

British Columbia and Quebec are the provinces with the highest vacancy rates in the private sector corresponding to 3.9 percent. To get a better understanding, Quebec had 116,000 jobs positions unfilled and British Columbia 74,700, according to the report of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB).

When it comes to industry, the shortages are higher in the personal services industry, construction industry, hospitality sector, followed by agriculture, enterprise management, professional services, and health services around the country.

To tackle this issue, the Canadian government holds several immigration programs to help connect employers and businesses with highly skilled workers looking to immigrate to Canada. As a team of Immigration Consultants in Vancouver, the team at Racer Immigration is well prepared to advise those people who wish to work and stay in Canada through one of the immigration programs supported by Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) such as:

  • Federal Skilled Worker Program
  • Canadian Federal Skilled Trades Class
  • Canadian Experience Class

There are also different provincial nominee programs developed for each province to support employers to find skilled workers to join their businesses and grow the economy.

Another part of the process of hiring international talents required is the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). This is a document that employers in Canada need to provide in order to demonstrate that the business has a need for a foreign worker to fill the job position that no qualified Canadians were passed up in favor of a foreign worker.

It might be daunting the process to find a program that supports your pathway as a worker to a permanent residence. The team at Racer Immigration Consultants in Vancouver know the difficult and is more than happy to advise you about the best possibilities. To learn more, visit our website https://racerimmigration.com or contact our team to book a meeting at (778) 688-4848.

How Regional Immigration Pilot Programs Support Labour Needs of Employer

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Canada is a country in full expansion, looking for ways to bring skilled workers to support different industries and boost the country development. For example, now the government is promoting community consultations to propose regional immigration pilot to bring skilled foreign workers to rural and smaller communities. By now, these studies are being developed in communities in Ontario. 

As an Immigration Advisor in Vancouver, the team members at Racer Immigration knows that immigration is an essential factor to support Canada growth. This proposal that is being conducted in Ontario is already a possibility for workers in the federal government’s new Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot. 

Regions such as Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia are part of the federal pilot program which aims to work with smaller rural and remote communities in these provinces, attracting foreign workers with different skills levels. In addition to filling work positions with a qualified workforce, this program also provides to workers with permanent residence. 

Another example of program aligned with the main objective of allowing skilled workers to come to Canada and go to a pathway to their permanent residence is the BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigration Regional Pilot. The two-year pilot is designed to be a new immigration pathway for foreign nationals looking to start and run a new business in smaller communities in BC. In addition, it is an attempt to distribute the economic benefits of immigration to British Columbia more evenly across the province. 

As a team of immigration consultants in Vancouver, Racer Immigration has highly skilled consultants to advise those who are looking to immigrate to Canada and understand the possibilities. For example, it is important to understand the eligibility for these models of pilot programs in order to explore the best ways and connections between employees and employers. 

In the BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigration Regional Pilot, the applicant after running the business successfully in agreement with all requirements may submit a final report to be allowed to apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada for permanent residence. 

The Vancouver Immigration Consultants at Racer Immigration are pleased to work with entrepreneurs interested in coming to Canada. To learn more about business immigration programs, visit https://racerimmigration.com, or give us a call (778) 688-4848 to book an appointment. 

Vancouver Immigration Consultants: Tech workers increase chances to Canadian permanent residence

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As a group of Canadian Immigration Consultants in Vancouver, the team at Racer Immigration understands that many of people who come to Canada pursuing a better life are also looking for a better future, being interested in pathways to permanent residence. We’re more than happy to help you to build this future.

At the beginning of June, we receive great news to support workers in Canada. The province of British Columbia extended Tech Pilot Program until June 2020, accordingly to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). Tech Pilot is the province’s immigrant nominee program which provides a fast track to Canadian permanent residence for international tech workers in 29 eligible tech occupations.

For this program, the tech worker must receive the job offer for at least one year in duration and have at least 120 days remaining on it at the time of application. The BC PNP explained that they extended the pilot program in order to provide BC tech employers with the continued ability to recruit and retain international talent.

Therefore, eligible candidates in the Skilled Workers and International Graduates categories of the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP)’s Skill Immigration and Express Entry streams can expect invitations to apply in weekly draws.

Moreover, candidates who apply to Express Entry program and receive a provincial nomination from British Columbia, receive an additional 600 points toward their ranking score, making a great difference in the pool and increasing the chances to receive an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residence.

It seems that all this information is quite difficult to digest and understand. That’s the reason why Canadian Immigration Consultants in Vancouver are here to support you. In order to not miss this opportunity that might perfectly suit your profile, you can count on Racer Immigration to help you to understand all the requirements and submit an assertive and correct application. Visit our team at https://racerimmigration.com/ or schedule a consultation at (778) 688-4848.

Immigrants Creating Jobs in Canada, according to Statistics Canada

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As a group of Vancouver Immigration Consultants, the team at Racer Immigration knows that many people immigrate to Canada with the hope of creating better lives for themselves and their families. While popular rhetoric among certain groups likes to frame immigrants as people who put a burden on the system, new information from Statistics Canada says that immigrant-owned firms actually create more net jobs and have higher growth than those with Canadian-born owners.

During the period of the study (2003 to 2013) it was found that companies owned by immigrant entrepreneurs accounted for a quarter of all new jobs created in the private sector, even though they just represented 17% of firms.

“Based on the raw data, immigrant-owned firms had a higher level of net job creation per firm, and were more likely to be high-growth firms than those with Canadian-born owners,” the study reports.

It also noted, however, that much of this was due to the fact that immigrant-owned companies were younger (three quarters of immigrant-owned companies were less than ten years old, as opposed to half that were run by someone Canadian born), and younger companies grow faster and create jobs at a higher rate than older firms.

After several years in Canada, immigrants had a higher propensity to be business owners than the Canadian-born population.

“In 2012, 90 percent of firms owned by immigrants who had lived in Canada for five years were young firms,” the report reads. “Only among immigrant owners who had lived in Canada for over 30 years did the proportion of young firms in 2012 approach that of Canadian-born owners, at roughly 29 percent.”

Although the data from this study ends in 2013, the information still provides a useful tool in understanding the role of immigrant entrepreneurs in the Canadian economy.

The Vancouver Immigration Consultants at Racer Immigration are proud to work with entrepreneurs interested in coming to Canada. Learn more about business immigration by visiting https://racerimmigration.com or call (778) 688-4848 to learn more.

Vancouver Immigration Consultants: Pilot Will Provide Foreign Agri-Food Workers with Pathway to Canadian Permanent Residence

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As a firm of Canadian immigration consultants in Vancouver, the team at Racer Immigration knows that many of the people who come to Canada looking for work are also interested in pathways to permanent residence. This month, we’re happy to share news about a new three-year immigration pilot program, designed to support the growth of Canada’s agri-food sector.

In its 2019 budget, the Government of Canada stated: “To help the agri-food sector meet Canada’s ambitious export targets and attract and retain needed labour, the federal government will launch a three-year immigration pilot to bring in full time, non-seasonal agricultural workers that will include a pathway to permanent residency.”

This ambitious pilot program is supported by the Canadian Meat Council (CMC), which has been requesting 2,750 immigration spots to fill meat packers, meat processors and equipment supplier positions. Many of these positions have been long overlooked by Canadian workers, although these jobs are part of an important process to meet a growing demand for food made and manufactured in Canada.

According to Industry Canada’s Agri-Food Economic Strategy Table 2018 report, there is a great need to address in terms of labour shortages in the agriculture sector, and utilizing Canada’s permanent immigration and temporary foreign worker programs will help attract skilled workers across various skill levels.

Although details of the pilot program have yet to be fleshed out and delivered by the federal government’s immigration division, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), this program could represent an excellent opportunity for people who want to work and live in Canada.

Racer Immigration Consultants in Vancouver can provide advice about permanent residency and other possible options. Visit the Canadian Immigration Consultants of Racer Immigration at https://racerimmigration.com/ or schedule a consultation at  (778) 688-4848 to learn more.

Securing Credible Reference Letters for Economic Immigration

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As an Immigration Consultant in Vancouver, Racer Immigration knows that most economic immigration programs require applicants to have qualifying work experience. As proof, applicants are required to provide references letters from employers. But how immigration officers view such letters and determine eligibility requirements is an important step that requires serious consideration.

When determining if the experience listed on a reference letter qualifies, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada uses the National Occupational Classification system (NOC).

For example, federal skilled workers need to have at least one year of full-time experience in their primary occupation (or the equivalent of part-time) in the last ten years before they apply. In the Canadian experience class, they need to have at least one year of full-time experience in one or more occupations listed on the NOC website in the three years before they applied for permanent residence.

According to the Federal Court of Canada, Canadian immigration law “does not mandate a microscopic analysis of an applicant’s experience according to the exact terminology of the titles or duties listed in the NOC.”

When compiling reference letters from employers, it’s important to remember the following:

  • Reference letters should clearly state all duties, as this is how occupations are assessed.
  • Applicants should provide a copy of the NOC to their employers since the website contains duties/tasks/skiils some employers might not think to mention.
  • It is important that employers should not copy/paste from the NOC website, as this leads to credibility concerns.

No one should fail their immigration application because of an insufficient reference letter. As an Immigration Consultant in Vancouver, Racer Immigration is happy to advise those undertaking the process.

To learn more about different  economic immigration programs and their requirements, contact Racer Immigration at (778) 688-4848 or visit https://racerimmigration.com/.

Nova Scotia Welcomes Record Number of Immigrants 

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As  Canadian immigration consultants in Vancouver, the team at Racer Immigration is pleased to report that Nova Scotia approved a record number of immigration applications in 2018, and is on track to welcome more new permanent residents than ever before.

Nova Scotia’s Office of Immigration reported that a total of 5,225 newcomers settled in the province between January 1 and October 31, 2018, and that has most likely surpassed 2016’s record of 5,485 landings by the end of the year. In addition, the province accepted 2,272 applications through its immigration programs this year.

“These numbers reflect the work we have done to attract international talent to our province,” Nova Scotia’s Immigration Minister said. “The success we are seeing will help increase access to important services, grow our population and strengthen our economy.”

The streams from which these candidates were chosen included those tied to Canada’s federal Express Entry system. Nova Scotia’s three Express Entry-linked streams—Nova Scotia Demand, Nova Scotia Experience and Labour Market Priorities—allow the province to invite eligible candidates to apply for permanent residence.

Immigration has been instrumental to Nova Scotia’s growth, which has been on an upward trend for the last three years

For those hoping to move to Nova Scotia, or elsewhere in Canada, Racer Immigration can provide advice about options and programs designed to bring different immigrants to Canada. Visit the Canadian Immigration Consultants of Racer Immigration at https://racerimmigration.com/ or contact (778) 688-4848 to learn more.

Manitoba Opens New Immigration Pathway

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As a firm of registered immigration consultants in Vancouver, the team at Racer Immigration has exciting news for prospective Canadians. A new immigration pathway, the Career Employment Pathway, is now open to those who graduate from post-secondary institutions in Manitoba.

Candidates have to be living in Manitoba at the time they submit their Expression of Interest (EOI) and have graduated from a full-time program of at least one year or two semesters in length. In addition,they must have a full-time job offer in a field that’s considered in demand in the province and is consistent with their education, or complete a bridging program and pass the initial stage of certification as determined by the regulatory body.

The Expression of Intent is not in itself an application, but a way for prospective immigrants to let the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) know they wish to be considered for permanent residence under one of the various immigration pathways. Other pathways include the International Student Entrepreneur Pathway and Graduate Internship Pathway, which were announced last November.

Candidates have to answer questions online regarding, among other things, their education, work experience, and language proficiency. These are then scored, and a number of the highest-scoring candidates are issued with Letters of Advice to Apply.

The MPNP says it may impose program or occupation-specific limits when issuing LAAs for the Career Employment Pathway, but by adding this new pathway, new options and opportunities have been provided to prospective immigrants.

As a group of Immigration Consultants in Vancouver, the team at Racer Immigration is happy to advise those who wish to work and stay in Canada after finishing their education. Contact Racer Immigration at (778) 688-4848 to learn more, or visit https://racerimmigration.com/.

Navigating Refusals—Advice from Canadian Immigration Consultants

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As a firm that provides Immigration Consulting Services in Vancouver, the team at Racer Immigration warns that one of the biggest mistakes prospective Canadians can make is waiting until their application has been refused to seek out professional help.

Navigating a refusal is always more work as it requires understanding the reason for refusal and answering these concerns when reapplying. Moreover, it’s important to realize that multiple attempts made in a short period can reduce the chances of getting to yes.

While it’s always best to work with a skilled Canadian immigration consultant or lawyer from the start, steps can be taken if an application is refused.

When someone receives a general refusal, and they do not understand the concerns of the visa officer, they should hold off on submitting another application. It’s vital to obtain the notes of the officer who refused the application and prepare a thoughtful answer in subsequent forms. To get these notes, an applicant must request the Global Case Management System or “GCMS” notes in their file. These will provide insight into the immigration officer’s concerns.

Reapplying is an opportunity to provide more information and strengthen your application. The new application should be consistent with the old one, but remember that the case will likely be looked at by a different officer—and it should stand on its own.

A reputable Canadian immigration consultant can investigate a rejection and explain your case in detail. To learn more about working with Racer Immigration, please call (778) 688-4848.

The History of Express Entry to Canada

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The Canadian government recently announced the 100th Express Entry draw, inviting 400 candidates from the Federal Skilled Trades program to immigrate to Canada with their families. As a Vancouver-based immigration firm, the team at  Racer Immigration is always on the lookout for exciting opportunities for people hoping to immigrate to Canada.

Express Entry isn’t a program, but a system meant to manage the intake and processing of applications within three existing programs: Federal Skilled Worker (FSW), Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and Federal Skilled Trades (FST). Since Canadian immigration prioritizes skilled workers, the vast majority of skilled worker immigrants come through the Express Entry system.

Canada once used a first-come-first-served basis for processing applications. This resulted in slow processing times and huge backlogs. It could take some applicants years of waiting for their status to be processed. Express Entry was meant to fix these problems and streamline the process.

Express Entry uses an electronic system to manage applications, and a points-based system to accept applications, allowing applications to be processed in a matter of months. An applicant creates an Express Entry profile and is assigned a Comprehensive Ranking System score (CRS). Every two weeks, an Express Entry draw is held, giving a number of people with the highest CRS scores an Invitation to Apply (ITA). The number of ITAs has increased from 31,000 in 2015 to 86,000 in 2017, and that number will most likely be topped in 2018. It should be noted that an ITA is issued to the principal applicant, but also applies to their spouse and dependent children.

Today, Express Entry is an incredibly effective system. The process was a bit slower in its first two years of operation due to the previous backlog, but in recent years 80% of the applications are processed within 4-6 months.

For those who want to learn more about Express Entry immigration to Canada, Racer Immigration is ready to help. Call (778) 688-4848 to learn more.