COVID-19 is expected to continue to have a significant impact on Canadian immigration in 2022.

As a result of the pandemic, Canada’s travel restrictions are being updated on a regular basis. It has also resulted in longer application queues and a shift in Canadian regulations to favor applicants from within the country. Despite the pandemic, Canada’s government has remained committed to its three-pronged immigration policy goals of growing the economy, reuniting families, and supporting those in need. During the pandemic, immigration targets have been raised, and application processing has continued. As the epidemic enters its third calendar year, COVID will continue to be the most important factor driving Canadian immigration. With that in mind, here’s a rundown of the most important Canadian immigration developments to watch in the coming year.

2022-2024 and 2023-2025 Immigration Levels Plans

In 2022, Canada is projected to get two immigration-level plan announcements. The plans will detail Canada’s goals for new permanent residents and the services that will be used to welcome them. According to the present plan, Canada will welcome 411,000 new immigrants in 2022 and 421,000 in 2023, but these estimates may change once the federal government releases its updated immigration levels plans.

The first will be presented on February 10th, when Minister Fraser will present Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan 2022-2024. This is the announcement that usually happens in the autumn but has been postponed due to the Canadian election in September 2021.

The second announcement will be routine and will take place by November 1st unless Canada holds another election, which is quite improbable.

Due to several variables such as growing labor shortages in Canada, application backlogs, and the federal government’s vow to resettle 40,000 Afghan refugees, even greater levels are possible. Minister Fraser has stated that the government is open to higher levels of employers and communities in Canada are supportive of the proposal.

Express Entry Process

Following what has been arguably the best year for Express Entry since its inception in 2015, the following year is set to see even more significant Express Entry advances.

In 2021, Express Entry will only accept candidates from the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). This is noteworthy since, prior to the pandemic, FSWP candidates were the primary source of Express Entry immigrants, but they have been completely barred from Express Entry invites in the last year. They make up about 85% of the candidates in the Express Entry pool right now. Because CEC candidates are mainly based in Canada and hence less likely to encounter COVID-related disruptions during the permanent residence landing process, IRCC believes that admitting more CEC candidates will help it meet its objective of landing 401,000 new immigrants by 2021.

Because FSWP candidates are typically based abroad, IRCC has barred them from receiving invites, citing worries that they will be less likely to arrive by 2021, jeopardizing the immigration department’s ability to meet its 401,000 immigrant targets. The IRCC’s justification for continuing to invite PNP candidates is to assist provinces in achieving their labor market objectives through immigration.

When will the Express Entry FSWP drawings in Canada resume?

No one knows when IRCC will resume sending invites to FSWP candidates because the agency hasn’t said anything about its Express Entry intentions. The best guidance at this time comes from an IRCC memo from September 2021, which states that the department wants to reduce its Express Entry backlogs by more than half in order to return to its service standard of processing Express Entry permanent residence applications within six months before inviting FSWP candidates again. Express Entry backlogs are expected to be decreased in half by early 2022 if IRCC can keep processing applications at its current pace.

Reforms to Express Entry

The federal administration has made various statements hinting that Express Entry improvements are on the way. They proposed a proposal in Budget 2021 to offer the minister additional freedom in inviting Express Entry candidates who fulfill Canada’s labor market needs, but no specifics were provided.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau requests in Minister Fraser’s new mandate letter that he use Express Entry to extend permanent residency pathways for international students and temporary foreign employees.

What else is there to look forward to?

Backlogs: The pandemic has resulted in an increase in IRCC’s inventory to 1.8 million immigration applications. Trudeau has asked Fraser to reduce processing times across the board, especially for pandemic-affected applications.

NOC Skill Levels to be Replaced by the TEER System: The new Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities (TEER) system will be used by IRCC and Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) to define occupations by autumn 2022. This change will influence the immigration and foreign worker eligibility of some persons, thus all immigration applicants should be aware of it. Prior to the amendments taking effect, IRCC and ESDC will provide stakeholders with guidance.

Applications for citizenship: The mandate letter reaffirms the government’s pledge to make Canadian citizenship applications free, a promise made in 2019 before the epidemic prompted Canada to refocus its immigration priorities. IRCC has also committed to letting all citizenship applicants, including families, submit their applications online.

Employer-of-choice system: The Canadian government has been considering creating a Trusted Employer system for the Temporary Foreign Worker Program for several years (TFWP). This would allow trusted employers to use the TFWP to fill job vacancies more swiftly. Fraser’s mandate letter lists the launch of this system as a top priority.

Afghan refugees: Canada has committed to resettling 40,000 Afghan refugees, and this has been a high priority for the International Rescue Committee since August.

PGP 2022: Information about the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) 2022 has yet to be released by IRCC. The most important piece of information we know right now is that Canada will continue to seek 23,500 immigrants under the PGP in the coming year.

Travel regulations: In reaction to the epidemic, Canada’s travel regulations are still evolving. Beginning January 15, 2022, more travelers seeking entry to Canada, including family members, international students over the age of 18, and temporary foreign employees, will be required to be completely vaccinated upon arrival.