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HKFP
a day ago
- Politics
- HKFP
Canada confirms Hongkongers applying for permanent residence via ‘lifeboat' scheme can await results abroad
Canada's immigration office has confirmed that Hongkongers applying for permanent residence via a 'lifeboat' scheme created in response to Beijing's national security law may await the result of their application abroad. In response to HKFP's enquiries, a spokesperson for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said in an email that applicants must be physically present when applying for the Hong Kong Pathway Programme, and when their application is approved. The spokesperson added: 'They do not have to remain in Canada while the application is being processed.' The applicants, however, must 'intend to live in Canada, in any province or territory other than the province of Quebec,' according to the IRCC website. Amid an exodus of Hong Kong residents often attributed to strict Covid-19 rules and the political developments since the protests and unrest in 2019, Canada has emerged as one of the most popular destinations for emigrants. But in recent months, there have been complaints from applicants saying the wait was longer than expected. When asked by HKFP whether Hongkongers may return to Hong Kong for an extended period -such as the estimated 17-month processing time – a spokesperson reiterated that applicants do not have to remain in Canada while their application is being processed. Lifeboat scheme As of April 30, close to 34,000 people have applied for permanent residence under the Hong Kong scheme, according to IRCC statistics. Over 12,200 applications have been processed and close to 11,750 have been approved. The lifeboat scheme offers two pathways. Stream A allows Hongkongers who recently graduated from Canadian post-secondary institutions to seek permanent residence. Stream B targets Hongkongers who have worked full-time in Canada for at least one year, or spent at least 1,560 hours in total undertaking part-time work. IRCC told HKFP that the processing time for PR applications submitted under the scheme was seventeen months as of the end of April. This includes both Stream A and Stream B, and indicates the time frame within which 80 per cent of complete applications were processed. In March, the IRCC announced there would be a years-long delay in processing permanent residence applications from Hongkongers. It said that as of October 31, 80 per cent of permanent residence applications were processed within a year. But a backlog has emerged due to a high volume of applications received, and most applications are expected to be processed after 2027. To accommodate the processing time, Canada offered a new work permit for Hongkongers in May last year to allow them to stay in the country while awaiting their application results. HKFP reported earlier this month that Hongkongers in Canada have taken to social media to express their confusion and frustration at the lack of updates on their permanent residence applications. Advocacy groups and politicians in Canada have called on the government to tackle the backlog and maintain its pledge to grant permanent residence to Hongkongers. The lifeboat scheme is set to expire on August 31, 2026, after which Canada will no longer accept applicants. June 30, next Monday, marks five years since Beijing inserted national security legislation directly into Hong Kong's mini-constitution in 2020 following a year of pro-democracy protests and unrest. It criminalised subversion, secession, collusion with foreign forces and terrorist acts – broadly defined to include disruption to transport and other infrastructure. The move gave police sweeping new powers and led to hundreds of arrests amid new legal precedents, while dozens of civil society groups disappeared. The authorities say it restored stability and peace to the city, rejecting criticism from trade partners, the UN and NGOs.
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Canada tightens student work rules: 178 programs no longer eligible for Post-Graduation Work Permit
Canada is overhauling its post-graduate work permit (PGWP) program for international students. Canada changes a significant requirement for a post-graduation work permit . The modifications take effect on June 25 and are a part of larger reforms aimed at bringing education into line with the demands of the labor market. Why were certain programs removed from eligibility? Canada has removed 178 non-degree programs from the PGWP list, citing a lack of alignment with long-term labor market requirements. The government claims that the decision aligns study fields with long-term job shortages. However, new sectors, such as healthcare and education, are gaining prominence. What are the new in-demand fields for work permits? 119 new study fields have been added, primarily in healthcare, trades, and education. Students who applied prior to June 25, 2025, are exempt from the changes under transitional rules. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Mollaj: Unsold Furniture Liquidation 2024 (Prices May Surprise You) Unsold Furniture | Search Ads Learn More Undo The modifications take effect on June 25 and are a part of larger reforms aimed at bringing education into line with the demands of the labor market, as per a report. With a renewed emphasis on long-term labor shortages, the updated list now reflects Canada's Express Entry priorities for 2025. In order to be eligible for a PGWP, international students enrolled in non-degree programs, apart from those pursuing bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees, must now have completed coursework in a field closely related to these shortages, as per a report by the Daily Hive. Live Events Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced that these areas of study were eliminated because they are no longer associated with positions in chronic labor shortages. ALSO READ: Canadian outrage erupts after citizen dies in ICE custody - Carney vs Trump tensions boil over 920 areas of study are now eligible for a PGWP as a result of this update. On the post-graduation work permit website, you can see if your field of study is still acceptable in Canada. Even if their field of study was not on the list when they applied for their study permit, students who applied before June 25, 2025, will still be eligible for a PGWP if it was. How does this tie into Canada's Express Entry plans for 2025? The IRCC announced modifications to the PGWP eligibility requirements last year. Students who graduate from a list of approved programs will be the only ones eligible to apply for a work permit in Canada as of November 1, 2024. The most recent information comes after Ottawa earlier this year announced the new 2025 Express Entry categories. According to the IRCC, it will hold category-based invitation rounds for workers under new categories, such as education, trades, and healthcare and social services. The Canadian Experience Class, which invites applicants with work experience in Canada to apply for permanent residence, will be the main focus of the federal economic class draws in 2025, Ottawa added. FAQs Who still qualifies for a PGWP under the new rules? Students who applied for their study permit before June 25, 2025 are still eligible, even if their program was later removed from the PGWP list. Why did Canada exclude 178 programs from PGWP eligibility? These programs were cut because they no longer correspond to jobs in Canada that are experiencing long-term labor shortages.
BBC News
a day ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Canada update fields of study wey qualify for post-graduation work permits
Canada goment don change di kain education programmes wey fit give you work permit afta you graduate. On 25 June, di Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) make some important change to di field of study wey qualify for Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWP), so e go fit reflect dia updated labour market demands for 2025. Dis na part of IRCC plans and priorities for Canada immigration for 2025 -2026. Canada Minister of Immigration Refugees and Citizenship, Lena Metlege Diab, say immigration dey bring economic advantage for di kontri, but dem go work to reduce di kontri population. "Many newcomers dey come here to build beta lives and to be part of Canada. Immigration don become economic advantage to Canada, and dat one dey come wit responsibility to maintain sustainable immigration level wey dey consistent wit our kontri community and service capacity." For many wey wan japa go Canada through di student visa way, dis new changes go determine weda di field wey dem dey go study go fit qualify dem for PGWP. Students for 119 new fields of study go dey eligible for PGWP, while IRCC don comot 178 fields of study from di eligibility list. Dis new changes go affect all international students wey wan apply for non-degree programmes. Dis na programmes wey no go give you bachelor, master, or doctoral degree certificate. E go also affect all di students go apply for study permit on or afta 1 November 2024. If you don submit your study permit application before June 25, 2025, you go remain eligible for PGWP as long as your field of study dey di approved PGWP-eligible list during di time wey you apply, even if dem remove. Changes to eligible fields of study For di year 2025, na 920 fields of study dey eligible for di Post Graduate Work Permit. Di IRCC completely remove educational programs in Transport from di current list of PGWP-eligible programmes, but dem leave only one educational programme in Agriculture, dat na Agri-food field. Di latest eligible educational programs dey directly related to work for some key sectors wey di govment say dem experience ogbonge labour market shortage. On di oda hand, di 178 fields of study wey no eligible again na sake of di kain work wey demd ey linked to, wey no dey experience labour shortages again. Di 119 education programmes wey dem newly add na for fields like healthcare and social services, education and trades. Dis na di first time wey dem dey add programmes for di education field of study to di PGWP-eligible fields of study. Fields wey no elegible Inside dis new change, if you wan do programmes for Agriculture, unless na for Agri-food field, you no go dey eligible for PGWP. Education programmes wey eligible for 2025 na French language plus teacher education, biology and chemistry teacher education, computer teacher education, and drama and dance education. Some STEM programmes sef no dey PGWP eligible again, including fields like environment, water, and natural resources, among odas. Although di PGWP-eligible fields of study dey help immigration department give priority to students wey dey non-degree level, wey meet labour market demands for work permits, Express Entry categories dey allow IRCC to give priority to immigration candidates wey meet labour market demands for permanent residence (PR) selection. Still, no mata which field of study pesin wan apply for, all students wey wish to get PGWP afta dem graduate, must to meet di kontri language proficiency requirements, according to di level of study. Inside all of dis, graduates of PGWP-eligible flight schools no need to meet di field of study requirements.
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Business Standard
a day ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Canada Express Entry: 3,000 with Canadian work experience invited for PR
Canada on Thursday invited 3,000 foreign nationals to apply for permanent residency through its Express Entry system, with the latest draw focusing on those with Canadian work experience. The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 3,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in a draw held on June 26, 2025, targeting Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates who scored at least 521 points in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). This was eight points lower than the previous CEC draw on June 12. According to the IRCC's 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan, the government is looking to admit 124,680 new permanent residents through Express Entry pathways this year. To be eligible for this round, candidates had to: Have submitted their Express Entry profile before 3:56 p.m. UTC on November 21, 2024. Sixth Express Entry draw this month This is the sixth Express Entry draw in June. It follows: A Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw on June 23 A CEC draw on June 12 A smaller PNP draw on June 10 So far this year, the IRCC has issued 41,845 ITAs under Express Entry. Most draws in 2025 have targeted provincial nominees, followed by CEC candidates and those in priority categories such as French-language speakers and health or education-related occupations. Number of Express Entry draws in 2025 by category: PNP: 11 CEC: 6 French-language proficiency: 3 Healthcare and social services: 2 Education: 1 The June 26 draw is the first time since February that CEC draws have occurred in two consecutive weeks. Who qualifies for the Canadian Experience Class The Canadian Experience Class is one of three federal immigration programmes under Express Entry. It is meant for skilled workers with Canadian work experience. To be eligible, applicants must: • Have completed at least one year of full-time (or equivalent part-time) skilled work in Canada in the last three years, in occupations listed under TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 • Meet language requirements: CLB 7 for TEER 0 or 1 jobs, and CLB 5 for TEER 2 or 3 jobs, in either English or French • Be admissible to Canada (with no major medical or criminal concerns) • Create an Express Entry profile Unlike other federal programmes, the CEC does not require proof of settlement funds, making it a more accessible route for candidates already living and working in Canada. 'Higher language scores and Canadian education can help push up your CRS score, which directly affects your chances of selection,' said Sonia Dhillon, a regulated immigration consultant based in Toronto. What happens after receiving an ITA Those who received an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in the June 26 draw now have 60 days to submit a complete application. Steps after receiving an ITA: Log into the IRCC account and accept the ITA within the deadline Gather required documents, including: Passport Language test results (IELTS, CELPIP, or TEF) Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for foreign degrees Canadian work experience proof (T4s, reference letters, pay slips) Police certificates and medical examination results Submit the final application online via the IRCC portal The application fee for adults is around CAD 1,365 in 2025. IRCC typically processes CEC applications in about six months. Once approved, candidates receive a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR). Those already in Canada may complete a virtual landing, while others must travel to the country to activate their PR status.
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Study the right course, or miss out: Canada revises post-study work permit courses for international students
Canada revises post study work permit rules International students in Canada will now face stricter scrutiny over which academic programs make them eligible for post-graduation work rights. On June 25, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued a revised list of educational programmes that qualify for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), a move that redefines the country's approach to student migration. The updated list adds 119 new programmes and removes 178 existing ones, effectively reordering the educational landscape in line with Canada's current labour market needs. The changes, however, will not apply retroactively. Only international students applying for study permits on or after November 1, 2024, will be subject to the new list. Those who applied before June 25, 2025, remain eligible under the previous rules. For many, the PGWP serves as a vital bridge to permanent residency. Its reform signals a growing trend: Canada is fine-tuning its international education strategy to serve not only academic goals, but economic ones. Shifting priorities: What made the cut The restructured list now comprises 920 programmes, but the additions and deletions clearly reflect a pivot toward sectors with proven workforce shortages. Programmes related to healthcare, education, architecture, and skilled trades dominate the newly eligible fields. Among the key additions: Veterinary medicine, dentistry, and allied dental sciences Teacher education in biology, chemistry, French language, drama, and computer science Architecture and landscape design, including advanced architectural studies Skilled trades, such as cabinetmaking, millwork, and CNC machinist training Construction project and site management These changes are anything but arbitrary. According to IRCC, all new inclusions map onto jobs identified as in-demand by federal labour market forecasts. In a statement quoted by CIC News, the department noted that programs were removed from the list because 'the occupations they are linked to are no longer experiencing labour shortages.' What's out: Green skills and transport professions Several academic disciplines previously eligible for PGWP have been cut, raising questions about how Canada is reprioritising within its sustainability and infrastructure narratives. Notable removals include: Environmental studies and marine resources management Trades tied to renewable energy, such as solar panel installation Drywall installation and construction-related trades The entire category of transport-related programs Agriculture has also seen a sharp rollback, with just one programme retained under the agri-food category. The exclusions appear to reflect either a current oversupply of graduates in these sectors or a temporary de-emphasis on green economy transitions in labour strategy. The language standard and flight school exemption Despite the reshuffling of eligible programs, baseline requirements for obtaining the PGWP remain unchanged: Non-university credential holders must meet Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) or NCLC Level 5 University-level graduates are expected to meet CLB/NCLC Level 7 Graduates from flight schools, however, retain their exemption from field-specific eligibility, an exception that continues to distinguish aviation training from other non-degree programs. A coordinated policy strategy: Echoes of express entry The timing and structure of this reform mirror recent revisions to the Express Entry system, Canada's flagship immigration pathway for skilled workers. Earlier this year, Express Entry introduced category-based invitations, targeting applicants from sectors such as health care, STEM, and the skilled trades, precisely those favoured in the new PGWP list. Together, these developments suggest a coordinated policy blueprint that treats international students as more than temporary residents. They are being positioned as strategic entrants into Canada's long-term workforce, with programme selection now directly influencing their post-study options. Institutional and global impact For postsecondary institutions, particularly those offering non-degree or niche programs, the pressure is now twofold: To ensure academic rigour and to demonstrate employability outcomes. Programmes excluded from PGWP eligibility may face declining international enrollment, as prospective students gravitate toward fields that offer a clearer immigration pathway. On the global front, Canada's reforms may reverberate across student-sending countries. For many, the ability to work after graduation is a decisive factor in choosing Canada over competitors such as the UK, Australia, or the US. This policy could alter that equation, encouraging a more selective, career-conscious cohort of applicants. A tactical redesign of the education-to-immigration pipeline What this overhaul represents is not a retreat from international education, but a recalibration of its purpose. Canada is no longer content to be a passive host; it is actively sculpting its future workforce through tightly regulated immigration mechanisms. For international students, the message is clear: Choose a program with economic relevance, or risk being sidelined from post-study opportunities. The PGWP has long been a symbol of Canada's openness. With this shift, it becomes a gatekeeper, one that will reward alignment with national priorities over academic ambition alone. Is your child ready for the careers of tomorrow? Enroll now and take advantage of our early bird offer! Spaces are limited.
