Spinnaker Immigration Services Inc., 901, 38 Front Street, Nanaimo, BC (2026)

11/21/2025

Guys I don’t know who is using my former corporate logo but it is not me! Beware of fraud!

09/23/2021

𝐁𝐢𝐠 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚 – 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐝𝐚 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠!

The Canadian government, as of one minute past midnight on September 27th, 2021, will begin allowing direct flights from India to Canada, under the following conditions:

A) You can only fly from Indira Gandhi Airport in New Delhi.

B) You have to have either an PR PCR COVID test, or a rapid PCR COVID test, “molecular test” no longer than 18 hours before your flight;

C) You can ONLY get this test at the Genestrings Testing Centre across from Terminal 3 and Indira Gandhi airport.

When you board the plane, your airline will be checking your test results, as well as whether you have uploaded your history of being fully vaccinated on the ArriveCAN app. There are “test flights” beginning on September 22, 2021, but travellers on these flights will be tested for COVID on arrival.

Canada, which held a federal election on September 20th, has returned the Liberal Government of Justin Trudeau to Parliament, so the immigration policies of the
Liberal Party can be expected to continue. It is expected that more Indian airports will be opened to direct flights in the future.

This announcement is of importance to students and other travellers from India, who have had to fly by way of a third country and be tested for COVID in that country. Travellers who are coming through third countries will still need a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of their departure before coming to Canada.

Here is the link to the news release: https://www.canada.ca/en/transport-canada/news/2021/09/canada-announces-extension-of-flight-ban-from-india-as-
it-prepares-for-the-return-of-direct-flights.html

09/04/2021

𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬: 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲-𝐯𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐝𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟕, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟏.

-You need a valid-pre-arrival PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before your flight.

-You need to use the ArriveCan app.

-𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒎𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒃𝒆 𝒗𝒂𝒄𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝒂 𝒗𝒂𝒄𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝑪𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒅𝒂:
• Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty, tozinameran, BNT162b2)
• Moderna (mRNA-1273)
• AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD (ChAdOx1-S, Vaxzevria, AZD1222)
• Janssen/Johnson & Johnson (Ad26.COV2.S)

This applies to all travellers, including Indian travellers, and applies to both non-discretionary and discretionary travel.

07/13/2021

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐚?

Manitoba’s immigration programs are one of those that strongly reward candidates who have an existing connection to Manitoba, and, in general, discourage those who do not. Be prepared to show close family ties, work experience or education in the province,

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦?

1. If your skills and foreign work experience match up with the demand for labour in Manitoba, you can make an application under this program. You can do this through an Expression of Interest, but only the most competitive profiles will be chosen to receive an application. Although you did not previously need an Express Entry profile, recent EOI’s have only been considered if they had an IRCC Express Entry ID and a job seeker validation code, OR if they were invited directly by the PNP under a Strategic Recruitment Initiative.

2. Keep in mind that you will have to show a connection to Manitoba, through a relative or close friend, who is willing to be your “Manitoba Supporter”, or your education or work experience, or your recruitment through a Strategic Recruitment Initiative.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞?

There are various initiatives within the Manitoba PNP to directly recruit workers for possible PNP nomination. Prior to COVID, this included travel overseas by employers who wished to recruit workers and list those workers for possible PNP nomination directly by Manitoba. Obviously the pandemic has affected these trips.. Likewise, there was a provision for “Exploratory Visits” which allowed potential applicants to make a trip to Manitoba to research its employment opportunities and living conditions, and to make a more informed decision on
their intent and ability to find employment and settle in the province.

However, there are some Strategic Recruitment Initiatives still operating. The most recent draws in Manitoba have invited candidates through Express Entry or through Strategic Recruit Initiatives.

Once you have submitted your EOI to Manitoba, they will assign points on their grid, and the most competitive candidates will receive an LAA (Letter of Advice to Apply). After receiving an LAA, a candidate has 60 days to submit a complete
application to MPNP.

The most recent date on which LAA’s were issued was July 9, 2021. 53 applicants received LAA’s as the result of a Strategic Recruitment Initiative.

You can see from the above that Manitoba takes seriously whether people applying are truly willing and able to stay there. The province is making a significant investment in its immigrants, and requires serious intent in return.

07/13/2021

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐚?

British Columbia has continued to invite skilled immigrants in its own PNP program, which is conducted separately from the federal Express Entry, which has not invited any applicants under the Federal Skilled Worker program since 2020.

British Columbia held two “draws” (selections) on July 6, 2021.

1. The first was directed to general applicants from the Skilled Worker, International Graduate, and Semi-skilled categories, and a total of 342 applicants were invited.

2. The second draw was specific to “managers” – retail, wholesale trade, restaurant, and food service managers. The province has said that this second draw was due to the high number of people registered in BC’s PNP with these occupations. 45 people were invited under NOC 0621 or 0631.

If you receive an invitation under the BC PNP, you have 30 days from the date of your invitation to submit a complete application. The province will then consider your application and give you a decision within two to three months. If you succeed, you will be given a nomination certificate, and you can apply to IRCC (which is the federal government) for PR status.

British Columbia continues, through its PNP, to try to attract foreign workers with skills that are in high demand in the province.

07/13/2021

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐥𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐚?

As we reported on our Spinnaker page, Alberta paused its PNP (AINP) in the last part of 2020. The province had been granted 6,250 certificates for 2020 by Immigration, but reduced the number of certificates they would issue to 4,000.
They also restricted the program during this period to individuals who were already in Alberta. However, once the quota was full, the PNP continued processing into 2021, when they received another 6,250 certificates. Selections of candidates resumed at the start of this year, with the most recent selections occurring on June 29. On that date 148 applicants were invited under the Alberta Express Entry Stream.

Under this stream, Alberta searches the federal Express Entry pool for eligible applicants, so you must have a federal express entry profile in the pool, under one of three federal programs: Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker,
and Federal Skilled Trades. Alberta looks for candidates that are in demand, although, like Saskatchewan, Alberta no longer maintains a specific list of these occupations, but rather has a list of excluded occupations.

Alberta has now used this system to invite 2,432 Express Entry applicants to apply for permanent residence in the Alberta Express Entry Stream.

Like many other provinces, Alberta looks for candidates who are committed to settling there. You should consider this when you fill out your Express Entry profile. Alberta gives points for a job offer or work experience in Alberta, education in Canada, and for having a close family resident who is a citizen or permanent resident there.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐥𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐚 𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦

The federal Express Entry is not used to administer this program, although, once again, successful candidates with an Express Entry profile can use the extra 600 points to apply under Express Entry for permanent residency.

However, to apply under the stream, you must have work experience in Alberta, be currently working in Alberta, or be an international graduate who completed your studies at a DLI in Alberta.

07/11/2021

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐧?

Saskatchewan has been operating its Provincial Nomination Program (SINP) regularly in 2021. On July 8th, 295 invitations were issued. These invitations were sent to a mix of candidates.

Firstly, there is a group of candidates who might use their invitation to add 600 points to their Express Entry application, using that federally-administered program as a way to apply for permanent residency.

But, like many provinces, Saskatchewan also has a “stand alone” PNP stream which does not use the federal Express Entry system.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 “𝐎𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝” 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦?

You do not need an Express Entry profile to qualify for the Occupations in Demand Stream. These occupations
are all within NOC skill levels A, B, and O. You will need an ECA to show that your foreign education equates to the necessary credential (of at least one year) in Canada, and you must have work experience in that occupation. You can apply
for this stream without a job offer.

The stream is similar to Express Entry in the sense that you create an “Expression of Interest” profile to the SINP online. Your application is then assessed by provincial officials who determine your likely success in that province. Your
likelihood of success is assessed by factors such as your education, experience, whether you have ties to Saskatchewan, your language ability, (you will need at least a CLB 4, and higher if your employer requires it.)

Despite the name of this stream, in 2019 Saskatchewan moved away from a specific list of in-demand occupations and instead replaced it with a list of occupations which are excluded. This opens up the ability to apply, if you qualify, under one of more than 200 skilled occupations.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 “𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲” 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦

This stream is linked to the federally-administered Express Entry system. If you have a profile in the pool, you must also create a profile for Saskatchewan under their EOI system. Once you receive a provincial nomination, you will get an additional 600 points towards your CRS.

07/11/2021

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗱𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲-𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮?

There will be at two different rules for travellers to Canada, depending on whether your travel is “essential” or “non-essential”. Prime Minister Trudeau has said that non-vaccinated travellers, such as tourists or temporary visitors, will not be able to come here for a quite some time.

If your purpose in coming to Canada is “essential”, however, the situation is quite different. Essential travel includes immigration under one of the economic programs, or travel carried out for reunification purposes with a family member
that is here.

The next dates to watch will be July 21 and August 21. As you probably know, the current travel ban was lifted for Pakistan on June 21st, but extended for India until July 21. That was because the number of COVID cases in India is still high, and
there is still a lot of concern about the “Delta variant” which has been so devastating in India.

How about students? If a student is attending a designated learning institution (a “DLI”) and that DLI has a COVID readiness plan, that student is allowed to come to Canada for study.

There are also certain workers in temporary occupations who are exempt and can travel here for that purpose.

For others, the Canadian government will be watching both the situation in India and the rate to which Canadians are becoming fully vaccinated. They are monitoring hospitalizations and the spread of variants of concern, such as the Delta variant.

The Canadian government has said that their goal is to have 75% of Canadians fully vaccinated before they consider a phased reopening of Canada’s border. There is a fairly good chance that this will be accomplished by July 21st. However,
no final decision is likely to be made unless the government concludes that the risk in India is also on a downward trend.

Since the border closures tend to be extended monthly, the 21st of the month in the next few months will hopefully see an improvement for our clients in India.

04/23/2021

April 22nd – Canada has banned all commercial and passenger flights from India and Pakistan for 30 days. The announcement, which was made about 2:00 pm Pacific (Vancouver) time, goes into effect 11:30 p.m. Eastern time today. It was made as a result of rising concern over COVID cases, and a new virus mutation.

Canada’s Health Minister, Patty Hajdu, said that the elimination of direct travel from India and Pakistan for a period of time was intended to give health officials time to study and understand the variant first detected in India, B.1.617, also called the “double mutant” variant.

04/17/2021

Should I plan for “culture shock”?

Listen, we are all human, and the change from India to Canada is profound. Except for the aboriginal peoples, Canada is a nation of immigration. All individuals are different, and, although most newcomers will suffer culture shock after arriving in Canada, people are affected in different ways.

Culture shock is so common for newcomers that experts can plot it on a graph. Here are the different phases:

1. The “Honeymoon” phase: you did it! You are moving and starting a new life in Canada! This phase is marked by excitement, a sense of triumph, and a hope for new beginnings.

2. Suddenly, depending on the area of Canada where you settle, you realize how cold the winter is, and how different the country is from home. You might be struggling with language, with employment, with problems in the family as everyone settles in. You hear nothing but English every day, except when you are with family and friends.

3. Almost everyone will feel some depression and homesickness.

4. You slowly adapt to your new life and new culture.

5. You are settled into Canada and see it is your new home.

Sometimes your family and the people back home are not that helpful. Many countries who provide immigrants to Canada have an idealistic picture of what it is like. “Door dey dhol suhanay”. Students feel pressure due to the expectations of family back home. Even married couples, who have received money gifts from family to assist in their immigration, can feel a crushing pressure to succeed.

And if immigrants return to India, either to visit or to stay, they can again become frustrated because their family and friends do not understand the experience of the person who is returned, and do not understand that the Canadian culture has changed them.

What should you do?

Family and friends in India, your son or daughter is undergoing an experience that you cannot understand unless you live it yourself. Be gentle; they are doing their best.

Newcomers, make a plan to get you out of the house. The ideal is to make new relationships both within your culture and outside it. Keep busy. Go the Gurdwara. Become involved in a settlement group. Take courses. The challenge is to 𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞, just like your work life. In India, you did not have to plan any social life, but you do in Canada.

The Canadian government has an entire webpage with advice on where to find settlement groups, and tips for culture shock. Make it another part of your plan for Canada.

“𝗦𝗮𝗷𝗷𝗮𝗻 𝘂𝗵𝗼 𝗷𝗲𝗵𝗿𝗮 𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝗵 𝘀𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝗮𝗸𝗵𝗲.”

Spinnaker Immigration Services Inc.

11/21/2025

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