Last Updated On 21 February 2023, 9:50 AM EST (Toronto Time)
Immigration Options For Express Entry profiles waiting For CEC-Only Draw. So far, there has been no program specified, PNP only, and FSW only Express Entry draws in 2023.
As cut-offs continue to stay high for Express Entry, several international students and work permit holders are hoping for Canadian Experience Class-only draws.
Although, it remains uncertain whether there will be a CEC-only draw. Or there will be options for international students and work permit holders, as emphasized by Immigration Minister Sean Fraser in his recent report.
Recently, minister Fraser said he is looking for options to give more points to Canadian experience in the Express Entry, but actual details are not finalized yet.
Hopefully, we see a CEC dedicated draw soon, but cut off is expected to stay high in first CEC draws.
So, if you are someone hoping for CEC-only draws, this article will help you understand your options and plan.
Other options for international students and work permit holders
If you are waiting for CRS score cut-offs to lower, you may want to consider some other options. It may be best to wait for the CRS score to reduce, but if you are at risk of becoming out of status, here are 3 options you can consider.
1. Applying for PNP
Most often, PNP requires you to have a connection to the province. However, you could consider the following programs that do not require you to have a specific connection to the province, but you may need a job offer. New Immigration levels plan clearly states that provincial nominee programs have target of inviting 105,500 candidates in 2023.
Newfoundland and Labrador International Graduate
You could be qualified to apply for a provincial nomination under this program if you’ve completed a post-secondary program of at least two years’ duration anywhere in Canada. Still, you’re now employed in Newfoundland and Labrador. Graduates employed in Newfoundland and Labrador for at least a year on a post-graduate work permit are eligible for the program.
B.C International Graduate
This program can be possible if you have completed a post-secondary degree anywhere in Canada and presently hold a job offer from a company in British Columbia. To be eligible, you also need two years of full-time work experience in a similar role to the job offer.
Ontario ONIP Job Offer-International Students stream
You may qualify for this PNP if you have a valid job offer from an Ontario employer and have completed a post-secondary program in Canada. Your Canadian education must have been for a study program that lasted at least two years or a one-year course with a prior necessary degree requirement.
2. Getting an LMIA Work Permit
If you have worked for a specific employer for a long time, you may ask them to support you with a LIMA.
Although the process may be complex, with a valid job offer, you can get more points under the Comprehensive Ranking System.
3. Returning to School
Lastly, you may consider returning to school if you are running out of all options and only need to extend your stay until CRS score cut-offs drop.
It is an expensive option, but it can definitely prevent you from leaving Canada. It may help you maintain your status and extend your stay in Canada.
Latest Canada Immigration News & Articles
New Canada Pension Plan Deduction Changes To Affect Paycheques
The Canada Pension Plan deduction change that millions of workers have been waiting for is now officially law. Starting January 1, 2027, the base CPP contribution rate will drop from 9.9% to 9.5% for the first time in more than two decades. The federal government confirmed this reduction through Bill C-30, which received Royal Assent on June 18, 2026. Every working Canadian outside of Quebec who earns above $3,500 per year will see smaller CPP deductions on their paycheque beginning in January 2027. The change applies to employees, employers, and self-employed individuals contributing to the federal government pension plan across…
Latest Express Entry Draw On July 9 Sent 5000 PR Invitations
IRCC issued 5,000 invitations to apply for permanent residence through a French language proficiency category draw on July 9, 2026. The Comprehensive Ranking System cutoff for this round was 420, the highest threshold for any French-language draw in 2026. This is the third Express Entry draw in four days after IRCC issued PNP invitations on July 6 and CEC invitations on July 7. IRCC increased the invitation count to 5,000 from 4,500 in the previous French draw, continuing a gradual upward trend since March. The July draw cluster has now delivered 7,534 invitations across three categories in the first nine…
Alberta’s Digital Entertainment Platform Launches in July: What You Need to Know
If you are new to Canada as an immigrant, it’s worth noting that legislative powers are divided between the federal government and the provinces, meaning that some laws – criminal, immigration & citizenship, banking – are uniform from coast to coast, whereas others, such as property law and employment law, will take their cues from provincial legislation. Online casino gaming and sports betting fall into the latter category, with a disparate set of regulations across the provinces and territories. For years, the biggest and most liberal market has been Ontario, but in a few weeks, Alberta will see a sweeping…
Top PGWP To PR Pathways For International Students In Canada 2026
Explore PGWP to PR pathways for international students in Canada, including Express Entry, CEC, PNPs, French draws, BOWP options, and common mistakes to avoid.
New Ontario Trillium Benefit Payment Coming On July 10
The first Ontario Trillium Benefit payment of the 2026–27 benefit year is arriving on Friday, July 10, 2026, marking the start of a new 12 month cycle with higher indexed amounts calculated from your 2025 income tax return. This payment is part of a broader wave of federal and provincial benefit increases taking effect in July, and for many Ontario households the OTB is one of the most valuable tax credits available because it combines three separate provincial credits into a single monthly deposit. The Ontario Sales Tax Credit maximum has increased to $378 per person for the new benefit…
Latest IRCC Processing Times As Of July 2026
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) released its latest processing time data on July 7, 2026, and this update is dominated by a continuing surge in citizenship certificate backlogs alongside meaningful improvement in several permanent residency streams. Citizenship certificate processing has now reached 19 months, with an additional 17,500 applicants joining the queue since the last reporting cycle. That makes it the third consecutive month of sharp increases in this category after the figure sat at just three months as recently as March 2026. On the positive side, citizenship grant timelines improved for the first time in several months, dropping…
New Canada Workers Benefit Payments Coming This Week
The first Advanced Canada Workers Benefit deposit of the 2026–27 payment cycle is arriving this Friday, July 10, putting higher advance payments into the bank accounts of hundreds of thousands of low-income Canadian workers. This Friday’s deposit is the first of three advance installments calculated using 2025 tax year amounts indexed 2.7% higher than the rates that determined the previous round of payments, meaning every eligible recipient will see a larger deposit than what landed in January. A single worker qualifying for the full maximum will receive approximately $272 on Friday, up from $265 in the previous cycle. A family…
New Express Entry Draw On July 7 Sent 2,000 PR Invitations
IRCC issued 2,000 invitations to apply for permanent residence through a Canadian Experience Class draw on July 7, 2026. The Comprehensive Ranking System cutoff for this round was 517, marking a one-point increase from the previous CEC draw. This is the second Express Entry draw in two days after IRCC sent 534 Provincial Nominee Program invitations on July 6. The one point CRS increase stems directly from IRCC reducing invitations from 4,000 in the last CEC round to 2,000 in this one. IRCC appears to be running its monthly draw cluster model by stacking multiple category rounds in the first…
Top 10 Canada Immigration Refusal Reasons Applicants Should Know
Receiving an Invitation to Apply for Canada’s permanent residence through Express Entry is a major milestone for any immigration candidate. However, an ITA is not an approval, and it does not guarantee that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada will grant you permanent residence. Thousands of applicants receive ITAs every year and then have their applications either returned as incomplete or refused outright after a full officer assessment. Understanding the specific reasons behind these negative outcomes is the most important step any candidate can take to protect their application. This article breaks down the 10 most common Canada PR refusal reasons…
7 New Canada Rules To Protect Against Banking Fraud
The federal government has moved to overhaul how Canadian banks handle electronic transfers, account security features, and fraud data reporting in one of the most significant consumer protection actions in years. Finance Canada published proposed regulations on June 27, 2026 that would require all banks operating under the Bank Act to obtain express consent from customers before activating electronic funds transfer capabilities on personal deposit accounts. The proposed changes target wire transfers, global money transfers, and Interac e-Transfers, which are the three primary channels that fraudsters use to drain accounts after gaining unauthorized access. These account capabilities are currently enabled…
First Express Entry Draw Of July 2026 Sent 534 PR Invitations
Canada opened July 2026 with a targeted Provincial Nominee Program draw through the Express Entry system. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada issued 534 invitations to apply for permanent residence on July 6, 2026. The Comprehensive Ranking System cutoff for this round was 708, a drop of 22 points compared to the previous PNP draw in June 2026. This round is the first invitation round of the month as IRCC continues its draw cluster scheduling model. July 6, 2026 Express Entry Draw Details The table below summarizes the official details released by IRCC for this draw round. Draw Detail Information Program…
Understanding Provincial Online Rules in Canada: A Guide for New Residents
Newcomers to Canada learn quickly that many everyday systems work differently from one province to the next, from health cards to driver’s licences. Gambling belongs on that list too. It is legal across the country, but the rules a new resident actually faces depend almost entirely on where they settle. A guide that makes sense in Toronto can be wrong in Montreal or Vancouver. For anyone arriving with the idea that a single national rulebook governs online casinos or sports betting, the reality is more layered. Understanding the structure early helps avoid both legal confusion and, more importantly, unsafe websites.…
Fastest Canada Citizenship Pathway In 2026 Starting From Scratch
Canada remains one of the few Western nations where a foreigner with no prior connection to the country can go from zero to full citizenship in roughly 5 years. The pathway runs through the Express Entry system, which is the fastest permanent residency route Canada offers, followed by a 3-year physical presence period and a citizenship application that currently processes in about 12 months. That timeline covers everything from language preparation and skilled work experience to permanent residency processing, the physical presence requirement, the citizenship test, and the final passport application. This article breaks down every stage with realistic durations…
4 New CRA Benefit Payments For Ontario Residents In July 2026
July 2026 marks the start of a new year for most CRA benefit payments, and virtually every income-tested payment Ontario residents rely on is increasing this month. The Canada Revenue Agency has applied a confirmed 2% inflation indexation to family and provincial credits, while advance payments for lower-income workers arrive with higher amounts reflecting 2.7% indexation over the previous cycle. All income-tested benefits are now recalculated using your 2025 tax return rather than 2024, which means your July payment could be higher or lower than your June deposit depending on changes in your household income between those two years. This…
New Ontario Laws And Rules In July 2026
Ontario has entered July 2026 with the largest single-month package of provincial and municipal changes this year, covering everything from a fundamental restructuring of auto insurance to expanded healthcare access, stronger consumer credit protections, and dozens of regulatory updates that touch daily life across the province. This follows a year of aggressive Ontario rulemaking that delivered new alcohol sales and healthcare billing rules in April, provincial park alcohol rules in May, and cooling bylaws and auto insurance preparation in June. Several of these Ontario changes also intersect with federal laws that took effect on July 1, meaning residents are navigating…
New Alberta Energy Rebate Payment Of Up To $100 Applications Open Now
The Government of Alberta officially launched the Alberta Energy Rebate on July 1, 2026, providing eligible residents with a direct $100 payment to offset rising costs of fuel, groceries, and everyday household expenses. Nearly 3.4 million Albertans qualify for this one-time payment, making it one of the largest provincial affordability measures in the province’s recent history. For eligible two-adult households where both partners apply separately, the combined relief reaches $200 in immediate financial support. The rebate replaces the Fuel Tax Relief Program that was originally scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2026, under Alberta’s quarterly fuel tax adjustment mechanism.…
Top 10 Most Dangerous Cities In Canada 2026: New Updated List
New List of Most Dangerous Cities In Canada: Canada remains one of the safest countries in the world by any global measure, but that national reputation masks sharp local differences. The newly updated mid-2026 Numbeo Crime Index dataset, with fresh user-contributed survey responses, reveals that a handful of cities still sit firmly in the high-crime perception band. Surrey holds the top spot for the third consecutive Numbeo update, and the broader extortion crisis affecting British Columbia and Ontario has only deepened since the early 2026 ranking. Meanwhile, the most recent Statistics Canada data shows that the national Crime Severity Index…
New CRA Disability Tax Credit Changes In 2026
The Disability Tax Credit is undergoing its most significant overhaul in years, with the federal government delivering a combination of indexed amount increases, procedural changes, and policy reforms that together reshape how Canadians apply for and receive this critical benefit. Some of these changes are already in effect, others take effect within weeks, and the biggest structural reforms will roll out over the remainder of 2026 and into 2027. A valid DTC certificate is the gateway to several other federal programs, including the Canada Disability Benefit, the Child Disability Benefit, and the Registered Disability Savings Plan. Statistics Canada’s Canadian Survey…
New Express Entry Draw Predictions and CRS Score Trends for July 2026
June 2026 rewrote the Express Entry playbook one more time, and July candidates need to understand exactly what changed. For 21 consecutive days in June, IRCC did not conduct a single Express Entry draw of any kind. Then from June 22 to June 25, IRCC fired off four draws in four consecutive days, issuing 9,226 invitations across PNP, CEC, Physicians, and Healthcare categories. That burst-and-silence model is now the clearest operating pattern in Express Entry for 2026. PNP draws abandoned their biweekly rhythm for the first time this year, shifting to the same approximately four-week cycle that CEC and category-based…
New Canada Immigration Changes In July 2026 You Should Know
July 2026 brings several Canada immigration updates, including new consultant regulations, an asylum reform deadline, provincial nominee program changes, and important reminders of existing work permit measures applicants should know. Some of these changes are now in effect, some are active deadlines, and others are applicant-facing rules that carry real consequences for anyone navigating the Canadian immigration system this month. This article covers every major federal and provincial immigration change that matters in July 2026, from new regulations to program redesigns to critical filing windows. July continues the pace of federal rulemaking in 2026 that has already delivered banking fee…
New Canada Groceries And Essentials Benefit Payment Coming On July 3
The CRA will deposit the new Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit payment into bank accounts across the country on Friday, July 3, 2026. This deposit replaces the quarterly GST/HST credit with permanently higher amounts that are 25% above the old program, locked in for five consecutive years through 2031 as part of several new laws taking effect in July. Your July 3 payment amount is already calculated and cannot be changed because it is based on the 2025 income tax return you already submitted to the CRA. The CRA published the official CGEB payments chart on June 8, 2026, showing…
Best Household Budgeting Apps in Canada (2026)
Compare the best household budgeting apps in Canada for 2026. See which one fits your household based on bank support, pricing, and how you manage money.
6 New CRA Benefit Payments Coming In July 2026
July 2026 marks the beginning of a new benefit year in Canada, bringing higher CRA benefit payments across nearly every federal support program. The Canada Revenue Agency and Service Canada are rolling out increased amounts for families, seniors, workers, and people with disabilities starting this month. A confirmed 2% CRA indexation adjustment raises maximum amounts for most of these benefit payments Canadians rely on. The newly renamed Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit officially replaces the GST/HST credit with quarterly payments that are 25% higher than the amounts they replace. Old Age Security benefits will increase by 1.2% for the July…
10 New Canada Laws and Rules Taking Effect In July 2026
July 2026 marks one of the busiest months for federal policy changes in recent Canadian history, with new criminal justice laws, a major affordability benefit launch, increased government payments, and tighter professional regulation all coming into force within the same 31-day window. These changes follow a year of aggressive federal rulemaking that delivered banking fee caps and firearm deadlines in March, healthcare expansion in April, and telecom fee bans in June. Every change covered in this article applies at the national level across all provinces and territories, affecting tens of millions of Canadians simultaneously. Below is a complete breakdown of…
3 New Ontario OINP Pathways For Permanent Residence
Ontario has officially eliminated all eight existing Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program streams and replaced them with the new Ontario Workforce Priority stream effective June 26, 2026. The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development made the changes through amendments to Ontario Regulation 422/17 under the Ontario Immigration Act, 2015. This is the single largest structural overhaul in the history of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program. The OINP redesign consolidates every former pathway into one unified stream with three distinct tracks for skilled workers, essential workers, and self-employed physicians. The Expression of Interest system is now closed to new registrations,…
New CRA Payroll Changes Effective July 1 Could Affect Paycheques
The Canada Revenue Agency (cra) has posted updated payroll deduction formulas and tables that take effect on July 1, 2026, and the changes could show up on your next paycheque. Every year, the CRA publishes the T4127 Payroll Deductions Formulas guide twice, with editions effective January 1 and July 1, to reflect mid-year legislative and regulatory updates that affect how much tax, Canada Pension Plan contributions, and Employment Insurance premiums are withheld from employee earnings. The July 1, 2026 edition is now available, and employers, payroll providers, and in-house payroll systems are expected to load the updated values before processing…
Latest Express Entry Draw On June 25 Sent 4,000 PR Invitations
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada issued 4,000 invitations to apply for permanent residence in a Healthcare and Social Services Occupations Express Entry draw on June 25, 2026.
Canada Trucking Jobs Fraud Concerns Revealed In Internal Report
An internal Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) trend report has outlined serious concerns about fraud, worker exploitation, and misrepresentation in Canada’s trucking sector. The report, dated May 21, 2020, was authored by IRCC’s Case Management Branch and later made public through a federal Access to Information request. It was originally shared by Vancouver-based immigration lawyer Steven Meurrens, who regularly publishes internal IRCC documents obtained through Access to Information requests. This is not a new IRCC policy update or enforcement announcement. The document is an internal trend report that identified patterns and red flags across work permit applications linked to…
New Canada Immigration Processing Times As Of June 2026
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has published its latest processing time data as of June 24, 2026, and the update is headlined by two dramatic moves in opposite directions. Citizenship certificate processing has spiked to 15 months with a queue that added over 11,600 applicants in a single cycle. Meanwhile, the Atlantic Immigration Program plunged by 12 months, work permits inside Canada fell to 144 days, and super visa timelines hit their lowest levels of the year across nearly every country. IRCC bases these estimates on actual applicant outcomes, reporting the window within which 80% of applicants received a…
Canada World Cup 2026 Team’s Powerful Backstory Many Don’t Know
Canada faces Switzerland today at BC Place in Vancouver at 3 p.m. Eastern in a match that will decide who finishes first in Group B at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. A draw is all Canada needs to claim the top spot after demolishing Qatar 6–0 on June 18, a result that delivered the first match victory in Canadian men’s World Cup history and the most emphatic scoreline by any non-European or non-South American nation in tournament history. Jonathan David scored a hat trick in that match, Cyle Larin opened the scoring in the 17th minute, and the entire country…
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.