11,000 immigrants invited in August for Canada PR Visa

Canada invited a total of 11,315 new PR in August 2020 according to the latest data from the IRCC.

This was lower than the 13,645 immigrants received by Canada in July. In addition to welcoming fewer immigrants in August than the month before, Canada’s total in August 2020 was well below the nearly 31,600 immigrants it welcomed in August 2019.

The coronavirus pandemic is of course to blame, with Canada imposing travel restrictions since March of this year to help contain the spread of COVID-19. Before coronavirus, Canada was targeting the arrival of 341,000 new immigrants in 2020, which is the same level it reached last year.

Between January and August 2020, Canada welcomed 128,400 immigrants. Based on current trends, it appears that the number of permanent residents in Canada will be below 200,000 immigrants this year for the first time since 1999.

This decline in the admission rate for skilled immigrants is temporary and a function of travel restrictions and other disruptions related to the pandemic. Canada remains committed to increasing the admission rate of skilled immigrants.

The first sign of commitment to immigration is Express Entry and the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) which continues throughout the pandemic. The bimonthly Express Entry draws continue and Canada just issued a record total of invitations to permanent residence to successful skilled worker applicants in the third quarter of 2020.

PNP is also very active with people like Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia, with each PNP hosting raffles during the pandemic. Quebec, which operates its immigration system, made its biggest draw in over a year last week.

At the end of September, the Canadian government made immigration a key priority to support Canada’s economic recovery from the pandemic.

Earlier this week, Canada announced the reopening of its Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP).

In the announcement, IRCC said it would accept 30,000 PGP applications in 2021. Given that PGP typically accounts for about 6 percent of all new immigrants to Canada each year, the 2021 PGP target is more of an indication that Canada remains committed to welcoming more than 300,000 immigrants next year and beyond.

Canada is poised to announce its 2021-2023 immigration levels plan later this month.

While the number of permanent residents in Canada in August 2020 was much lower than usual and the pandemic is likely to keep newcomer levels low in the near term, we can expect a significant rebound in immigration levels. in Canada starting next year.

Reference is taken from CIC News