Vianos Immigration

10/13/2025

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Vianos! 🧡

Grateful for our amazing clients, partners, and community who make life special.

Thank you for your continued support — we wouldn’t be here without you.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! 🍁🦃

09/01/2025

Express Entry Draws Expected from September to December 2025

IRCC has shared its plan for Express Entry draws for the rest of 2025 — and it’s big news for candidates in Education, Healthcare, and Skilled Trades!

👉 The majority of Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in the second half of 2025 will support Canada’s 2026 immigration targets.

📅 The ITA calendar will be shared with provinces and territories outlin the following:
- Expected weeks for draws
- Types of rounds
- Projected minimum CRS scores
This helps provinces plan their nominations more effectively.

💼 Here’s what’s expected for category-based ITAs in 2025:
Education: 3,000 total | 1,000 issued | 2,000 to go
Healthcare: 8,000 total | 7,500 issued | 500 to go
Trades: 3,300 total | 0 issued | 3,300 still coming!

✅ This means more category-based draws are planned in the coming months — especially for trades and education candidates!

Stay tuned and get your profiles ready!
Should you get an invitation, we'd be glad to support you in ensuring a strong permanent residency application.

08/31/2025

📢 Saskatchewan Receives Additional SINP Slots for 2025!

Saskatchewan has received an additional 1,136 nominations under the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP), bringing its total for 2025 to 4,761. 🙌

🔸 75% will continue to be utilized on these priority sectors:
Healthcare
Agriculture
Skilled trades

🔸 25% of these new nominations will go to high-demand sectors like:
Trucking
Accommodation
Food service
Retail trade
These sectors had hit their cap earlier this year, but with the new spots, application processing will resume!

🚨 SINP Changes in 2025
Nomination allocation was cut by 50% at the start of the year
75% of nominees must already be in Canada
Entrepreneur & Farm Owner streams closed
Restrictions added for Open Work Permit holders and student applicants
Certain service sectors such as spas, salons, and pet care services removed from eligibility for recruitment

📍Saskatchewan joins Newfoundland & Labrador, New Brunswick, and Yukon in receiving allocation increases—while provinces like Ontario and B.C. have faced cuts and program changes.

Nominated through SINP? Contact our team for help and support.

08/30/2025

Canada's recent immigration reforms are having a major impact. According to new IRCC data:

🧑‍🎓 New Student Arrivals ↓ 70%
👷 New Foreign Worker Arrivals ↓ 50%
(Jan–June 2025 vs. same period in 2024)

📊 Monthly Average Arrivals (Jan–June)
Study Permits:
2024: 20,839; 2025: 6,070

Work Permits:
2024: 40,865; 2025: 19,872

👥 Current Population Shifts (Jan 2024 → June 2025):
Study Permit Holders: ↓ 133,000
Work Permit Holders: ↑ 262,000
The above shift is to be expected since a large number of new work permit holders are foreign students who transitioned to Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs).

📌 These trends reflect Canada's efforts to manage temporary resident numbers more tightly.

08/29/2025

🚨 IRCC Backlog Update – July 2025 🚨

Canada’s immigration backlog continues to grow. As of July 31, there were 901,700 applications in IRCC’s backlog — that’s the third month in a row of increases. 📈

📊 Backlog Growth Over the Past 6 Months:
Feb: 821,200 (▼ -7.95%)
Mar: 779,900 (▼ -5.03%)
Apr: 760,200 (▼ -2.53%)
May: 802,000 (▲ +5.5%)
Jun: 842,800 (▲ +5.02%)
Jul: 901,700 (▲ +6.98%)

❗ What’s a backlog?
IRCC considers an application backlogged if it isn’t processed within its standard processing time. The department aims to process 80% of applications within these timelines.

📦 Total applications in IRCC system: 2.2 million
✅ Processed within service standards: 1.32 million
⏳ In the backlog: 901,700

🔍 Breakdown by Category:

🔹 Permanent Residence:
Total applications: 892,400
In backlog: 443,500 (▲ from 415,800 in June)
- Express Entry backlog: 21% (▲ from 20%)
- PNP backlog: 49% (steady from 48%)
- Family sponsorship backlog: 15% (▲ from 14%)

🔹 Temporary Residence (work, study, visitor visas):
Total applications: 1,079,300
In backlog: 409,400
- Work permits: 46% (▲ from 40%)
- Study permits: 23% (▲ from 18%)
- Visitor visas: 56% (▲ from 53%)

🔗 Planning to apply? Be prepared for possible delays and consult an immigration expert if needed.

🇨🇦

07/09/2025

🚨 New Immigration Opportunity for Agriculture & Fish Processing Workers! 🇨🇦🌾🐟

Canada is taking steps to address ongoing labour shortages in key sectors by developing a new foreign labour stream focused on agriculture and fish processing.

✅ Announced in IRCC’s 2025–2026 Departmental Plan
✅ Will include a sector-specific work permit
✅ May expand partner country agreements
✅ Designed to support Canada’s economy and labour market
✅ Could fill gaps left by the recent closure of the Agri-Food Pilot

Plus, agriculture and agri-food jobs continue to be a priority under Express Entry category-based selection.

📌 Thinking of migrating to Canada?
💬 Message us or book a meeting through our website to get expert guidance on your immigration options.

07/06/2025

🎓 Applying for a Canadian Study Permit? Here's What You Need to Show as Proof of Funds! 💰✈️

To get your study permit approved, you must prove that you can cover your tuition, living expenses, and travel costs. Here's how:

✅ 1. Proof of Tuition & Housing Payments
📌 Receipts showing you’ve paid tuition and/or housing fees.
📌 For multi-year programs: show proof of payment for at least the first year’s tuition.

✅ 2. Proof of Funds for Living & Travel Expenses
You can submit one or more of the following:
🏦 A Canadian bank account in your name (with transferred funds)
💼 A GIC from a participating Canadian bank
🏫 A student or education loan from a recognized bank
📄 Your bank statements for the past 4 months
💸 A bank draft convertible to Canadian dollars
✉️ A letter from a sponsor (person or institution)
🎓 Proof of Canadian-based funding (e.g., scholarships or government programs)

⚠️ From a country with foreign exchange controls?
You must show proof you’re allowed to transfer funds out of your country.

📌 How much money do you need?
👉 Check the current financial requirements here:
🔗 https://www.canada.ca/.../get.../financial-support.html
🔺 Reminder: Requirements will increase starting September 1, 2025. (See our earlier post for updated amounts.)

💬 Need help with your application or advice on immigration pathways?
Message us or visit our website to book a consultation today!

07/04/2025

💡 Important Update for International Students Applying for a Canadian Study Permit! 🇨🇦🎓

Starting September 1, 2025, you’ll need to show over $2,000 more in financial support than before.

📢 Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced on June 2, 2025, that the minimum proof of funds for a single applicant will increase from $20,635 to $22,895. This is in addition to your first year’s tuition and travel costs.

This new requirement applies to all provinces and territories outside Quebec for study permit applications submitted on or after the effective date.

International students must prove they have enough funds to cover living expenses for themselves and any accompanying family members throughout their stay.

Here’s the updated minimum amount you’ll need to show starting September 1, 2025:

Funds Required (CAD)
1 person $22,895
2 people (including applicant) $28,502
3 people (including applicant) $35,040
4 people (including applicant) $42,543
5 people (including applicant) $48,252

💰 IRCC updates these amounts annually to keep pace with the rising cost of living.

👉 Have questions or need help with your application? Message us anytime!

04/04/2025

If you have a close family relative in Saskatchewan, there may be an opportunity for you to immigrate to Canada!... Residents of Saskatchewan may also be able to help family members immigrate to Canada!... Contact us for more details.

Learn how Saskatchewan residents can support the immigration of family members by connecting them to job opportunities and providing settlement support.

03/25/2025

Effective March 25, 2025, Express Entry candidates will no longer receive additional CRS points for having a valid job offer, including those supported by an LMIA. This change reduces the chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence for candidates with arranged employment.

Previously, candidates could earn 50 or 200 extra CRS points for arranged employment, making them more likely to receive an ITA. However, this will no longer apply, affecting candidates who were awarded these extra points.

Candidates with existing ITAs or in-progress PR applications are not impacted. The removal of points is a temporary measure, but no end date has been provided.

Though job offers will no longer impact CRS scores, they remain important for eligibility in programs like the Federal Skilled Worker and Provincial Nominee Programs.

Candidates who had points for a job offer will see their CRS scores drop, reducing their chance of an ITA. Conversely, those without one such as holders of a Post-Graduate Work permit or an Open Work Permit may have better chances.

02/15/2025

If you would like to bring your parent or grandparent to Canada, we'll be happy to share the options including the supervisa.

02/11/2025

IRCC has launched the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP), a pathway to permanent residence for foreign nationals who can fill labor shortages in designated rural communities outside Quebec.

PARTICIPATING COMMUNITIES
Fourteen (14) communities across various provinces in Canada have been selected to participate:
Nova Scotia: Pictou Count
Ontario: North Bay, Sudbury, Timmins, Sault Ste. Marie, Thunder Bay
Manitoba: Steinbach, Altona/Rhineland, Brandon
Saskatchewan: Moose Jaw
Alberta: Claresholm
British Columbia: West Kootenay, North Okanagan Shuswap, Peace Liard

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Candidates must meet have a valid job offer from a designated employer in the community, have at least 1 year of related work experience (with certain exceptions for some healthcare workers or IS who graduated from the community),
language proficiency, education, proof of funds, and other requirements such as an intent to reside in the community and a certificate of recommendation from an economic development organization.

Once an applicant has a valid job offer from a designated employer, they will send the application to the community's economic development organization for review. The community will check that:
- the job is in a priority sector and the offer is genuine, and
- the applicant meets all the pilot program requirements
If these are met, the certificate is issued; this is then used to apply for permanent residence.

The RCIP replaces the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot Program (RNIP), which stopped accepting applications in August 2024. Immigration pilots are specific pathways to permanent residence, typically running up to five (5) years. They address specific regional or occupational labor shortages and support growth in certain areas or labor sectors.

If you're eyeing permanent residency in Canada, connect with us to know your options.