Second time working with Visaplace, and was successful again with a visa application for parents (2 out of 2). Worked with Felicita and Mansi, strong guidance, very detailed approach to putting together a very thorough and comprehensive application. Good feedback and support throughout the full process. Highly recommend Visaplace!
India Visa Processing Times Predicted to Slow
According to a press conference with Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller on October 19th, 2023, the current conflict between Canada and India will result in processing time delays for Indian visa applications. Nevertheless, Miller emphasized the vital role played by newcomers from India in Canada, assuring that Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will maintain […]
Israeli Citizens and Nationals Can Now Apply for US Visa Waiver Program
Following Israel’s admittance to the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the start of visa-free travel for short-term visits to the United States for qualified Israeli residents and nationals. Beginning October 19, 2023, eligible Israeli citizens and nationalities can begin applying for travel authorization to the United States via the U.S. […]
Canada Begins Parent and Grandparent Lottery 2023
Important Update: Between October 10 and 23, 2023, IRCC sent 24,200 invitations to apply for the Parent and Grandparent Lottery 2023. The deadline to submit your application has now passed. Canada’s Parent and Grandparent lottery began on October 10, 2023, and will remain open until October 23, 2023. In this time, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship […]
US Will Allow Roughly 500,000 Venezuelan Immigrants to Work in the US
The Biden administration is announcing the provision of temporary legal status to hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans currently residing in the United States. This move promptly allows them to seek employment opportunities. This decision comes as the administration faces an increasing influx of individuals escaping Venezuela and other regions, with their sights set on reaching […]
What Is an ESTA Visa: Apply for ESTA Visa to the USA
The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is an automated system that assists in determining eligibility to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) and whether such travel poses any law enforcement or security risk. Upon completion of an ESTA application, a traveler is notified of his or her eligibility to […]
IRCC Confirms Express Entry Draws Resume
Update: IRCC held their first-ever Transport Occupations Express Entry Draw on September 20, 2023. On September 19, 2023, the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of IRCC, announced that the initial set of invitations for occupations in the transportation sector using a category-based selection in the Express Entry system will take place this week. This targeted strategy […]
How Do I Check My Canada Entry Status: Canada GCKey Login
Sept 2023 Update: Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has introduced a new requirement mandating clients to enable multi-factor authentication and verify their identity each time they access their IRCC secure accounts using GCKey login, whether they are logging in for the first time or accessing existing accounts. What Is GCKey? A GCKey user ID […]
New Updates to Canada’s Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship Program
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has recently unveiled an update to the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP). This year, IRCC is set to accept a maximum of 15,000 complete sponsorship applications under the PGP. Starting on October 10, IRCC will initiate the process of extending invitations to apply to 24,200 prospective sponsors who have […]
United States on Course to Issue the Most Student Visas Since 2016
According to U.S. State Department officials, it appears that the United States is poised to grant the highest number of student visas in a single year since fiscal 2016. The count of visas issued in fiscal 2023 has now surpassed 392,000. To provide context, in fiscal 2016, a total of 471,728 F1 visas were issued. […]
Canada Introduces New Recognized Employer Pilot
January 2024 Update: Phase 2 of this program has started. See below for more details on phase 2 of this program. Canada has unveiled a fresh initiative designed to tackle labor shortages and streamline the hiring process for repeat users of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). This new pilot project, set to launch in […]
Canada’s Program to Attract Tech Workers from the US Hits Capacity
A Canadian government initiative aimed at attracting highly skilled technology professionals from the United States had to close its application process on the day following its launch due to reaching the maximum limit of applicants. The application process of these work permits commenced on July 16, 2023, and by July 17, 2023, the program had […]
Express Entry Category-Based Selection: Transportation Occupations
Employment and Social Development Canada reported that the number of professions facing shortages doubled between 2019 and 2021. In the data released by Statistics Canada for the fourth quarter of 2022, job vacancies were divided into the Trades category, which included both wholesale trades and retail trades. The total number of job vacancies in wholesale […]
Express Entry Category-Based Selection: Agriculture and Agri-Food
For recent Express Entry lotteries, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has devised category-based selection criteria. One of the categories includes occupations in agriculture and agri-food such as contractors, farm supervisors, and butchers. The selection criteria were developed in conjunction with IRCC partners and stakeholders, as well as conversations with provincial and territorial governments Following […]
Express Entry Category-Based Selection: Trades Occupations
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has developed category-based selection criteria for Express Entry lotteries. One of the categories includes occupations in trades such as carpenters, plumbers, and contractors. The selection criteria were determined based on labor market projections, consultations with IRCC partners and stakeholders, and discussions with provincial and territorial governments. The implementation […]
Express Entry Category-Based Selection: STEM Occupations
On May 31, Canada’s Immigration Minister, Sean Fraser, stated that IRCC had completed category-based selection criteria for Express Entry lotteries, one of which includes STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) occupations. The categories were determined using labor market projections and conversations with IRCC partners and stakeholders, as well as provincial and territorial governments. Anticipated since June […]