Large Number of Immigrants Applying under New Permanent Residence Paths

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada began accepting applications for its six new paths or streams to Permanent Residence beginning at noon Eastern time on Thursday, May 6, 2021. The six new streams to immigration and Permanent Residence in Canada include:

• Temporary health care workers (20,000 applications)

• Temporary essential workers (30,000 applications)

• International graduates from Canadian schools (40,000 applications)

• Temporary health care workers – French or bilingual (no cap)

• Temporary essential workers – French or bilingual (no cap)

• International graduates from Canadian schools – French or bilingual (no cap)

Within 25 hours of the new streams being open, the International Graduate – English-speaking stream had filled its quota for immigration applications. There may have been several reasons some may not have been able to apply under this stream including the large number of international graduates in Canada, not having an English language proficiency test, not being employed at the time, or a technical glitch in submitting a payment receipt.

So, what does this mean for potential immigrants, and what should immigrants do now?

• Some applications will likely be rejected, which may lead to new applications being accepted

• Some people may have applied to two streams, which again may lead to new applications being accepted

• More immigrants may be needed within Canada to fill immigration quotas given the pandemic

• Immigration numbers and plans are flexible

• Get documentation and English language proficiency test results ready

• Look at other immigration paths or streams such as Express Entry and Provincial Nominee Programs

There are multiple paths to Permanent Residence in Canada.