Mar 31, 2017 | Canadian Experience Class, Express Entry, Immigrate to Canada, In the News, Permanent Residency, Skilled Workers
Canada’s Express Entry system allows for faster processing of permanent resident applications for qualified applicants of key economic immigration programs. Foreign workers in high-skilled positions may be eligible to apply under the Express Entry system if they meet the minimum requirements of one of the economic immigration programs. These programs include the Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Skilled Trades, and some of the Provincial Nominee Programs.
Improvements to the Express Entry system will go into effect on June 6, 2017 and will award more Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points to candidates with strong French language skills and those who have siblings in Canada. The current Express Entry system awards points for either English or French, with a maximum of 136 points for first language and 24 points for second language. From June 6 on, additional points will be rewarded to French speakers, up to 30 extra points for those who also have English language skills.
Currently, no CRS points are awarded to applicants for having siblings in Canada. With this update, having a sibling who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident age 18 or older could earn you 15 additional points. Siblings must share at least one parent – mother or father – with the principal applicant or their spouse / common-law partner.
In addition to the addition of extra CRS points for language and siblings, applicants to the Express Entry system will no longer be required to register for Job Bank. Currently, applicants who do not have either a job offer or a provincial nomination are required to create a Job Bank account before they are placed in the Express Entry pool. This will no longer be the case as qualified applicants will now be automatically placed into the pool upon submission of their Express Entry profile. Those candidates without a job in Canada will have the option of registering for Job Bank to start their job search after submitting their online profile to Express Entry. Canadian employers will still be able to use the Job Bank – and other Express Entry recruiting methods – to search for potential candidates.
These updates to the Express Entry system will benefit qualified applicants, employers, and Canada as a whole. Allowing high-skilled workers to earn more CRS points means a higher chance of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence. Candidates with high French language ability are an asset to Canadian communities, especially for those who test high in both of Canada’s official languages. Having a sibling in Canada increases overall well-being and health of an individual as well as their adaptability. Allowing candidates to enter the pool without first having to register for Job Bank will increase their opportunity for receiving an ITA. Thus, these changes will be beneficial for everyone involved.
Our immigration consultants can assess your eligibility and determine how many CRS points you have. We will also guide you in increasing the number of points you have in order to obtain an ITA. Take our free online assessment to see if you meet the requirements for Express Entry and contact us to discuss your options for immigrating to Canada.
Mar 27, 2017 | Canadian Experience Class, Express Entry, Immigrate to Canada, Permanent Residency, Provincial Nominee Program, Skilled Workers
On March 24, Immigration, Refugees & Citizenship Canada (IRCC) made an Express Entry draw and invited 3,749 candidates to apply for immigration to Canada. Candidates in the Express Entry pool with 441 or more Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points received an Invitation to Apply (ITA). This is the second draw to occur this month, continuing the trend of two draws a month by IRCC. We see a slight increase in points from the last draw on March 1st, which had a lowest score of 434 and invited 3,884 candidates.
If you received an ITA, you are now able to submit an application for Canadian permanent residence for yourself and your family. Applicants who received an invitation are able to bring their spouses or common-law partners and any dependent children. Keep in mind that you must submit your complete application with all required documents within 90 days of receiving your ITA. To prevent delays or refusal of your application, it is important that you prepare your application accurately. Our immigration consultants can help you to determine what information is required and what documents you need to provide. If you need help preparing and submitting your permanent residence application or if you are interested in entering the Express Entry pool before the next draw, contact us to speak with a licensed immigration consultant.
How to apply for Express Entry
Individuals who wish to enter the Express Entry pool to possibly receive an ITA in the next draw will need to first determine that they are eligible for one of the three current economic programs. The first step to determine your eligibility is to complete our free online assessment. Our team of consultants will review and assess your qualifications to determine if you meet the requirements for an Express Entry application. If you are eligible you will be able to proceed with the next step towards making an application. This assessment will rank your minimum language requirement, skilled work experience and education level.
Candidates who meet the minimum requirements of the following economic programs may make an application to the Express Entry pool:
Certain Provincial Nominee Programs allow candidates to apply through the Express Entry pool. You may be required to enter the pool before or after receiving a nomination, depending on the requirements of the provincial program. If you meet the requirements of a Provincial Nominee Program, we can assist you in the process of entering the Express Entry pool and submitting an application to the province of your choice.
May 1, 2014 | Skilled Workers
Today marks an important day for Canada’s immigration system. As of May 1st, 2014 Canada’s Federal Skilled Worker program re-opens with a new list of eligible occupations. If you did not qualify in the past, it is possible that you may qualify now.
The Federal Skilled Worker program is a very popular program, and for this reason, Citizenship and Immigration Canada has limited the overall number of applications they will accept to 25,000 between May 1, 2014 and April 30, 2015. Within the overall cap, a maximum of 1000 applications will be accepted per eligible occupation.
Eligibility Requirements
- Have one (1) year of continuous full-time (or an equal amount of continuous part-time) paid work experience in one of the 50 eligible occupations, OR
- Have a valid job offer or arranged employment from a Canadian employer, OR
- Be an international student who is enrolled in a PhD program in Canada (or who graduated from a Canadian PhD program within the past 12 months)
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- 0013 Senior managers – financial, communications and other business services
- 0015 Senior managers – trade, broadcasting and other services, n.e.c.
- 0111 Financial managers
- 0112 Human resources managers
- 0113 Purchasing managers
- 0121 Insurance, real estate and financial brokerage managers
- 0311 Managers in health care
- 0711 Construction managers
- 0712 Home building and renovation managers
- 0811 Managers in natural resources production and fishing
- 0911 Manufacturing managers
- 1111 Financial auditors and accountants
- 1112 Financial and investment analysts
- 1113 Securities agents, investment dealers and brokers
- 1114 Other financial officers
- 1123 Professional occupations in advertising, marketing and public relations
- 1212 Supervisors, finance and insurance office workers
- 1224 Property administrators
- 2113 Geoscientists and oceanographers
- 2131 Civil engineers
- 2132 Mechanical engineers
- 2133 Electrical and electronics engineers
- 2145 Petroleum engineers
- 2171 Information systems analysts and consultants
- 2172 Database analysts and data administrators
- 2173 Software engineers and designers
- 2174 Computer programmers and interactive media developers
- 2232 Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
- 2234 Construction estimators
- 2241 Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians
- 2243 Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics
- 2263 Inspectors in public and environmental health and occupational health and safety
- 2281 Computer network technicians
- 3011 Nursing co-ordinators and supervisors
- 3012 Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
- 3111 Specialist physicians
- 3112 General practitioners and family physicians
- 3132 Dietitians and nutritionists
- 3141 Audiologists and speech-language pathologists
- 3142 Physiotherapists
- 3143 Occupational Therapists
- 3214 Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists
- 3215 Medical Radiation Technologists
- 3216 Medical Sonographers
- 3233 Licensed practical nurses
- 3234 Paramedical occupations
- 4011 University professors and lecturers
- 4151 Psychologists
- 4214 Early childhood educators and assistants
- 5125 Translators, terminologists and interpreters
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There are other requirements such as age (the younger the better) and providing evidence of your work and education history (the more the better).
Remember that there Canadian government will only accept a limited number of applications, so it would be in your best interest to apply as soon as possible.
If you are interested in a free, preliminary assessment to determine your eligibility for this program contact Nir Rozenberg by calling our offices at 416-665-3939 or toll-free 1-888-808-7338.
May 3, 2013 | In the News, New Laws, Skilled Workers, Why you need an immigration specialist, Work Permits, Working In Canada
In an attempt to prevent foreign workers from displacing Canadian workers, the government is making some big changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. These changes will give Canadian citizens and permanent residents first shot at filling a position once it becomes available. Additionally, “these reforms will require that greater efforts be made to recruit and train Canadians to fill available jobs.” (Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism).
The main purpose of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program is to fill positions which Canadian employers are unable to fill due to lack of education, training, or experience on the part of the Canadian workers; or perhaps the lack of Canadians interested in working in certain fields. Temporary foreign workers are brought in to do the jobs that Canadians are unable or unwilling to do. There are major shortages in some of Canada’s necessary occupations and temporary foreign workers are needed to fill these gaps. However, in order to prevent misuse of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, the government has decided to implement changes to the program which may make it more difficult for Canadian employers to hire temporary foreign workers from here on out.
Following is a list of updates to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. Some of these changes have already been put into effect, while a few of them will be put into effect soon:
- Employers must pay temporary foreign workers the prevailing wage. There will no longer be any flexibility in the wages of temporary foreign workers. This will prevent employers from seeking temporary foreign workers as a way to cut costs.
- The Accelerated Labour Market Opinion (A-LMO) process has been put on hold indefinitely. Further review will assess whether the A-LMO process is beneficial to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and to the Canadian economy. The A-LMO allowed Canada employers who received a positive LMO in the past to apply for expedited processing of any additional LMOs, thus allowing them to hire more temporary foreign workers in a shorter period of time. With the suspension of the A-LMO process, employers must now wait months instead of days to receive an LMO each and every time they apply for one.
- The government will now have more authority to suspend and revoke work permits and LMOs if they believe that the employers and/or temporary foreign workers are misusing the program.
- Employers will now be required to pay a fee for processing an LMO; in the past, employers did not pay for LMO processing. Additionally, the fees for work permits will increase, making it more difficult for temporary foreign workers to find employment and obtain a work permit. Employers may be less likely to seek temporary foreign workers now that they will have to pay for the LMO and in many cases, employers who were willing to cover the costs for the temporary foreign worker to obtain a work permit may not want to pay the increased work permit fees on top of the LMO fee. This will ensure employers will try harder to find Canadians to fill the positions in their company instead of rushing into hiring temporary foreign workers.
- LMO applications will be updated to include more questions that will help prevent the misuse of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program by Canadian employers and their workers.
- English and French will be the only languages allowed to be used as a job requirement for temporary foreign workers.
The government asserts that these new regulations will strengthen and improve the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and prevent its misuse. As stated, the Temporary Foreign Worker Program was designed to temporarily fill the gaps in positions which could not be filled by Canadians and to help Canadian businesses train and eventually hire Canadians for these positions. By design, this program is only meant to employ temporary foreign workers for a finite period of time (as is implied by the name of the program). So temporary foreign workers who come to work in Canada must be willing to return to their home country once they have finished doing the temporary job that they came here to do. At the end of the day, what this all boils down to is preventing temporary foreign workers taking jobs away from Canadians.
Some Canadian workers may be thrilled by this news, but it could mean disaster for Canadian employers as well as temporary foreign workers who are in Canada or wishing to enter Canada on a work permit.
Canadian employers will need to make stronger efforts to hire Canadians before being allowed to hire temporary foreign workers, making the decision to hire temporary foreign workers much more difficult. And they must prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that they have made the utmost efforts to recruit Canadian workers, that the temporary foreign worker is absolutely necessary for the success of the company, and that these temporary foreign workers will eventually lead to more jobs opening up for Canadians. Additionally, they must show that the temporary foreign worker is really being brought in to fill a temporary position and that they will leave Canada once this task has been completed. The decision to hire a temporary foreign worker is intended to be a last resort for employers. The changes made to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program should prevent Canadian employers from choosing a temporary foreign worker when there are Canadians willing and qualified to do the job.
Further changes will continue to be made to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program based on ongoing reviews by the government and the input provided by Canadians regarding this program. The changes being made are intended to strengthen the economy and help Canadian workers and businesses be successful.
If you are a temporary foreign worker or someone who wishes to apply for the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, this news may be frightening to you. We urge you to share your thoughts and concerns with us here on our blog or by calling our office at 416-665-3939 (toll free at 1-888-808-7338).
Additionally, if you are wondering whether you are at risk of losing your work permit; or if you are waiting to get a response on an LMO application; or even if you just have questions about the changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker program, please contact our office to speak with an immigration consultant. Canadian businesses who rely on foreign workers should also contact us to discuss these changes and how they may affect your business.
Whether you are a Canadian citizen, a temporary foreign worker, a Canadian employer, or any person interested in Canada immigration laws; we would love to hear your opinions on the Temporary Foreign Worker Program changes. If you have questions, your answers are just a mouse click or phone call away. We look forward to speaking with you soon.
May 3, 2013 | Immigrate to Canada, Immigration, New Immigration Programs, New Laws, Permanent Residency, Policies and Problems, Skilled Workers
The Federal Skilled Worker Program, one of Canada’s most sought-after immigration options, is now being re-opened to allow foreign workers, in 24 qualifying applications, to apply for immigration to Canada. This program, which allows immigrants to apply for permanent residence based on a points system, was closed to anyone that did not have a job offer or meet the criteria of the Ph.D. stream since July 1, 2012. New applications for the Federal Skilled Worker Program will be accepted by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) beginning on May 4, 2013.
With the re-opening of the Federal Skilled Worker Program comes a new set of rules and requirements. Professionals who wish to apply for Canada immigration through the new Federal Skilled Worker Program must be sure that they meet the new criteria. Do not assume that you qualify now just because you may have qualified in the past. The points system that was previously in place has been amended to put more emphasis on language and age. But before you can assess your points, you must be sure that you fit into one of the following categories of the new Federal Skilled Worker Program:
- You are working in one of the 24 eligible occupations for a minimum of one (1) year;
- You have a job offer from a Canadian Employer;
- You are eligible to apply under the Ph.D. stream.
If you meet the criteria for one of these three options, you will then be required to meet the minimum eligibility requirements of the Federal Skilled Worker Program. Your eligibility will be assessed based on your language abilities, age, education, work experience, arranged employment, and adaptability. Points are awarded in each category with a maximum of 100 points available and a minimum of 67 points required in order to qualify for the program.
Another major update of the Federal Skilled Worker Program is in the way the points are assessed. With the new emphasis being on language and age, some people who qualified under the old Federal Skilled Worker Program may not qualify for the new program.
Research has shown that individuals adapt better in Canada if they are proficient in at least one of the country’s two official languages – English and French. As such, more points are now being awarded for language (the same is true for age as younger people have shown better adaptability as well as having more years to be in the workforce). In order to qualify for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, you must be able to prove your proficiency in one of the two languages. To do this, you must take and pass one of the following language tests:
- Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP)
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
- Test d’évaluation de français (TEF)
Each test will assess your language skills in reading, listening, speaking, and writing. You must obtain the required score for one of these tests in order to apply for immigration through the Federal Skilled Worker Program.
In addition to language skills, your education will be assessed using the new Educational Credential Assessment (ECA). If you wish to apply for the Federal Skilled Worker Program using educational credentials from an institution outside of Canada, you will be required to get an ECA. This process will assess that the foreign education you have is equivalent to the required education in Canada for your field of work. For example; if you are an engineer with an engineering degree from a foreign institution, your foreign engineering degree would have to be equivalent to the Canadian engineering degree in order for you to work as an engineer in Canada. In some countries, less education may be required for certain occupations. Therefore, you may be ineligible based on your education if you do not meet the minimum requirement for your occupation in Canada. Confused? You don’t have to be. Contact our office to speak to a qualified immigration consultant who can help you to understand the new system and determine whether you qualify to apply for the new Federal Skilled Worker Program.
For those applicants who are eager to get started, you may get a jump-start on your Federal Skilled Worker application by starting the process of getting an ECA now, as long as you meet all of the other requirements of the Federal Skilled Worker Program. CIC has designated organizations which can provide ECA reports for immigration purposes. If you would like to get started on this process and/or just get an idea of how your foreign credentials will be recognized in Canada, contact us today to get started. Our immigration consultants can assist you in obtaining an ECA and preparing your file early so that your application is ready to submit when the program opens. It is important to note that application forms for the Federal Skilled Worker Program will be updated upon the opening of the program so having an immigration consultant working on your case will prevent you from submitting outdated or incorrect forms.
Applicants for the Federal Skilled Worker Program should also note the cap of 5,000 applications – including a maximum of 300 applications for each of the 24 eligible occupations. With this cap in place, you do not want to risk having your application returned over a small clerical error as you may not have another chance to submit your application. With the CIC cracking down on even the tiniest of errors (not to mention large errors or missing information), it is always a good idea to have more than one pair of eyes reviewing your application. More than just another pair of eyes, our immigration consultants have a trained eye for even the most minute details. We have years of experience in dealing with these types of applications and the constant changes of the immigration system. With an immigration consultant by your side, you can rest assured that your application will be completed accurately and efficiently so that your time and money do not go to waste on a returned or refused application.
Don’t miss this opportunity to obtain your permanent residence in Canada. Applications are already being submitted and the doors may close on you if you do not act quickly. Contact us to get started right away and be ready when the new Federal Skilled Worker Program opens.
Mar 22, 2013 | In the News, New Immigration Programs, Permanent Residency, Skilled Workers, Working In Canada
A new immigration program, the Skilled Trades Immigration program, for skilled workers interested in immigration to Canada, has been added this year, opening up the door for candidates in specific occupations which do not require university education (e.g. carpenters, electricians). The previous immigration program for skilled workers was the Federal Skilled Worker Program. This program requires work experience in an occupation which is of a higher level (usually requiring university-level education). With the Skilled Trades Program in place, workers who are certified in a specific trade may qualify to immigrate to Canada without the need for a university education. Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has come up with a list of 43 skilled trades which are eligible for the Skilled Trades Immigration program.
While this new immigration program may provide an opportunity for those who previously had no options, there is a limit on how many applications will be accepted for the Skilled Trades program and only applications which are put together properly will be considered. If you qualify for the Skilled Trades Program, you must submit your application quickly and accurately as you may not get a second chance. Applications submitted with errors or missing information will be returned and will not be processed. Additionally, there is a cap of 3,000 applications for the Skilled Trades Program as a whole and in some trades, only 100 applications will be considered. So if you apply too late, you may miss your chance for this year. The Skilled Trades Program will be available again next year but we do not know which jobs will be on the list. Your job may be on the list for this year and not be on the list next year. So those who do not get their applications in on time may not have another opportunity to do so.
We recommend that you contact a licensed immigration consultant to discuss the qualifications and requirements of the Skilled Trades Program. If you have experience and training in one of the 43 listed occupations for the Skilled Trades Program, you should start the application process as soon as possible so as to not miss your chance to immigrate to Canada. Our knowledgeable immigration consultants can assess your situation and get the ball rolling quickly for your skilled trades immigration application. We can help you prepare your application properly so there is no risk of errors causing your application to be returned to you. Give us a call today to get started.
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