Brunswick is one of the thirteen provinces in Canada. New Brunswick is the only Canadian official province that is bilingual which means English and French both the language are the official languages there. Like other provinces in Canada, New Brunswick initiated the provincial nominee program (PNP) when were facing labor shortage issues but the situation has changed.
As of November 15, New Brunswick has temporarily suspended several of its immigration pathways after meeting the candidate allocations for the year.
Understanding New Brunswick’s Pause on PR Pathways
This happens only when the province has received the application more than it demands. The suspension is the result when demand is more than the supply which means the requirement is less but applicants are more. This is generally been seen and experienced that suspension is very much normal. This reflects both the attractiveness of the province as a destination for skilled immigrants and the effectiveness of its immigration strategies in addressing labor market needs.
The paused programs include:
- The New Brunswick Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)
- The New Brunswick Private Career College Graduate Pilot
- The Exploratory Visit Connection under the New Brunswick Strategic Initiative
1. New Brunswick Atlantic Immigration Program Paused Until the End of the Year
New Brunswick is not active now which means they have stopped accepting new applications for the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP). However, the province will not stop processing the applications that have already been submitted with the required documents including the Employer Designation application continue processing applications. Here, is good news for the candidates who have already processed their files and Candidates with an employer Invitation to Apply (ITA) can still proceed with their Employer Designation application.
The Atlantic Immigration Program’s (AIP) main motive is to help skilled workers who want to migrate to Atlantic Canada. To see the eligibility criteria, aspirants need to have a official employment offer letter from the authorized employer of Atlantic Canada. Apart from this, New Brunswick has advised applicants that they should regularly check the website for any updates.
If you are interested, consider exploring options in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, or Prince Edward Island, where the AIP (Atlantic Immigration Process) is still active.
The AIP offers the opportunity for skilled workers to settle in Atlantic Canada with a job offer from a designated employer in the region.
2. New Brunswick Private Career College Graduate Pilot Paused until the end of the Year
Other than PNP immigration, the new Brunswick has also stopped issuing new nomination certificates under the Private Career College Graduate. Candidates who receive an ITA can still submit their nomination application, but new candidates can not apply until the next circulation or notice from the province.
Next, if the 90-day eligibility time expires before the nominations which is going to reopen in January, you will need to apply for other immigration pathways or need to change your plans. This program is for international graduates of select one-year and two-year programs in fields like IT, education, cyber security, and healthcare.
However, New Brunswick has advised the aspirants that they should check the website on a regular basis so that they would not miss an opportunity in case they post any new updates about the candidates to regularly check their website for updates on any changes. While the AIP is paused in New Brunswick, other Atlantic provinces like Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island will positively continue to accept applications under the program.
The AIP offers skilled workers the opportunity to settle in Atlantic Canada with a job offer from a designated employer in the region.
3. Exploratory Visit Connection under New Brunswick Strategic Initiative Paused until: Further Notice
The New Brunswick has been paused the Exploratory Visit Connection under the New Brunswick Strategic Initiative, and no new ITAs Invitation to Apply will be issued at this time. Further, the Current Expressions of Interest (EOIs) in the system will remain valid for up to 365 days from their submission date and will be considered if the stream reopens during that time.
This is the pathway that is specifically for French-speaking candidates and they are from outside Canada. It requires candidates to make an in-person exploratory visit to New Brunswick for at least five full business days within 12 months of submitting an EOI. The visit is intended to help with job research, and candidates must submit a detailed Exploratory Visit Report with their application.
Other Opportunities in New Brunswick
There are multifarious opportunities for those who are interested in settling in New Brunswick, there are still many options available or aspirants can avail. You may qualify if you meet one of the following conditions:
1. First and foremost a candidate should have a job or a genuine job offer from a New Brunswick employer.
2. Meet one of the province’s priority criteria:
- Candidates need to complete a study program at Université de Moncton or Collège Communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick (CCNB) within the past six months.
- Aspirants must have lived in New Brunswick for 12 months and worked in a remote area for a Canadian company which should be located outside Quebec for the same time period.
- They must have received a letter of interest from a New Brunswick Immigration Officer.
It is generally seen and observed that provincial immigration programs to close once they get the desired no of applications. Make sure to check back in early 2025 to see if these pathways have reopened.
Conclusion:
In the end, we can conclude saying that while these programs are on hold for new applications, the government will be committed to processing all previously submitted applications. This ensures that individuals already in the system will not face unnecessary delays.
For the applicants who are planning to apply to the above-mentioned programs in the future through these pathways in the future, it is really essential to have a check for updates on when these programs may open in the future, so that they would not miss an opportunity.