Apparently time flies when you’re practicing immigration law! We were in Guadeloupe then I blinked and now it’s Halloween.
Nova Scotia continues to chart new territory with new immigration streams such as:
- Occupations in Demand: truck drivers and nurse’s aides– these are NOC C jobs which normally require 6-months experience with the NS employer before being eligible for the Skilled Worker Stream, which usually meant a LMIA. Now you can apply on the strength of the job offer, no need for the 6 months of work.
- NS Physician Stream 2.0: You can get PR in about 6 months in the new stream (versus 2 years in the other one) but to qualify for the new program, physicians need 3 extra things: Educational Credential Assessment, Language Test and a Return of Service Agreement with the provincial health authority (basically saying you’ll stay and practice in NS for a number of years after you become a PR)*
- What the AIPP? in all this brouhaha about the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program, no one is saying anything about why it is so unbelievably slow right now? 4-5 months to get endorsed is commonplace. And the published list of designated employers is probably a real curse to many of them who would rather not be fielding email inquiries every morning to the effect of:
But everyone around here loves AIPP and thinks it’s the greatest thing since the Halifax Wanderers came to town. So far be it for me to whine about it. Ya, it’s awesome, love the 19 simple steps.
Now that the election dust has settled, it’s back to business as usual with the federal immigration programs. A couple of interesting new developments:
- The new public policy to get around 117(9)(d) for certain individuals is in place until September 2021. This is an excellent idea to counter the brutality of that section of the Regs, where undisclosed (sometimes unknown) family members are subject to a sponsorship bar. We are just starting to prepare applications using this pilot, so are not sure how it will impact ordinary processing times.
- The new caregiver pilot looks interesting too. This is a recruitment-exempt temporary-to-permanent residence program for in-home caregivers (of children or adults). The less-than-ambitious goal of issuing the work permit within 12 months is a bit concerning, since work permits can be processed within days under other streams.
Over here at North Star, I have these observations:
- Covered Bridge Salt and Vinegar chips are the official snack of North Star Immigration Law (no, we are not getting paid to say that);
- Immigration uncertainty can be stressful and difficult even for the most resilient people. To those clients who are struggling with these additional stressors in their lives, know that we are rooting for you;
- A lot of people find love in Hubbards, NS.
*Hello, Charter, is that you knocking on the Return of Service Agreement door, with a sign saying “um, what about section 6 mobility rights”?
