Apr 26, 2017 | Blog, Express Entry, In the News, Provincial Nominee Program
A part of the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP), Nova Scotia Demand allows candidates to apply through Express Entry for faster processing of their permanent residence applications. This particular stream has been closed since December of 2015 but is expected to reopen in the coming weeks.
As with any other Provincial Nominee Program, the Nova Scotia Demand stream grants applicants an additional 600 Comprehensive Ranking Score (CRS) points. These additional points make it very likely that candidates will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence in the next Express Entry draw seeing as how the most recent draw invited applicants with as low as 415 points.
High-skilled individuals looking to reside in the province of Nova Scotia may be interested in the Nova Scotia Demand stream. Interested applicants must meet the minimum eligibility requirements:
- Have at least one year of skilled work experience in a target occupation;
- Have a Canadian high school credential or equivalent;
- Prove language ability in either English or French at Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7;
- Score a minimum of 67 points on the stream’s six selection factors;
- Show enough financial resources to successfully settle in Nova Scotia; and
- Have a profile in the Express Entry pool.
Considering it takes time to prepare a complete application, we highly recommend that you get a start early. Individuals looking to settle in Nova Scotia should contact us or take our free online assessment to see if you qualify for this or one of the other provincial nominee programs.
Jul 1, 2013 | Featured
Today we celebrate Canada’s birthday, the anniversary of the day (July 1, 1867) in which Canada became a country. The beginning of Canada’s eventual complete independence from England, on this day four provinces joined together to form the great country we know and love, giving us some of the many freedoms we enjoy today. If this is your first Canada Day, we want to welcome you to our beautiful country and urge you to go out and explore the many events that you will certainly find happening in your area. Similar to the Fourth of July holiday celebrated in the United States, Canada Day is a day dedicated to outdoor celebrations like parades, carnivals, barbecues, fireworks, and many more fun activities to enjoy with your loved ones. Since it is a federal holiday, most offices and businesses will be closed today. This makes today a great day to forget about work, school, and other responsibilities and spend some quality time with your family doing… well… whatever you like, really. Much like the country itself, Canada Day is a mixed bag of fun things to do; there are no specific rules on how to celebrate the holiday, so everyone is free to celebrate as they wish. Children may enjoy a day at the park or the beach. Newcomers celebrating for the first time might take the opportunity to meet fellow Canadians, both young and old, by attending an organized celebration in your town. An evening spent partying at your local club may be the choice for the adults once the kids are in bed. Whatever you like to do, today is the day to do it!
For more information, ideas, and to find activities in your area, follow this link: http://www.canada-day.ca/ or simply do a Google search to find events happening near you. However you choose to celebrate our nation’s 146th birthday – whether it be partying like a rock star or relaxing in the sun – make sure to pack plenty of Canadian pride and your maple leaf flag!
On behalf of our team here at Can-Am Immigration, we wish you a very Happy Canada day, whether it be your first or your 50th.
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.
Dec 11, 2012 | Immigrate to Canada, Immigration, In the News, New Immigration Programs, Skilled Workers, Working In Canada
In an ongoing effort to improve Canada’s economic health and fill gaps in skilled trades, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has developed a new program for foreign workers wishing to immigrate and work in Canada. The Federal Skilled Trades Program, which will be launched at the start of the new year, will “help address serious labour shortages in some regions of the country, and support economic growth,” according to Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney. This new Federal Skilled Trades Program is designed to replace the outdated Federal Skilled Worker Program and make it easier for skilled workers to immigrate to Canada. Minister Kenney has added that “The Federal Skilled Trades Program will help transform Canada’s immigration system into a fast and flexible system focused on jobs, growth and long-term prosperity.”
While the specifics of the Federal Skilled Trades Program have not yet been released, we do know that there will be minimum requirements that one must meet in order to be eligible for immigration to Canada under this new program. Applicants for the Federal Skilled Trades Program must show that they have the skills and experience required to be successful in Canada.
You may be eligible to apply for the Federal Skilled Trades Program if you meet the following four requirements:
- You must have a job offer from a Canadian employer or a certificate of qualification from a province or territory which attests to the fact that you are qualified and available to work upon entry to Canada;
- You must meet the basic language requirements for Canada immigration;
- You must have a minimum of two years of work experience in your trade; and
- You must have the necessary skills and experience as set out in the National Occupational Classification (NOC B) system.
Applicants for the Federal Skilled Trades Program must be skilled in a trade which is in high demand and for which Canadian employers are unable to find Canadians to fill the gaps. Some of the occupations which will be included in the Federal Skilled Trades Program include electricians, welders, heavy-duty equipment mechanics, pipefitters, and others. More specific details regarding the Federal Skilled Trades Program – including a list of occupations that qualify for the program – will be made available at the launch of the program on January 2nd, 2013. We recommend that you contact our office after January 2nd to speak to an immigration consultant and get more information about the Federal Skilled Trades Program. Our consultants can assess your situation and tell you whether you qualify for this or any other Canada immigration program.
As always, we wish to hear from our readers about this new plan. Do you think the Federal Skilled Trades Program will benefit Canada’s economy? Are you a skilled tradesperson who is interested in immigration to Canada and would like to know if you qualify? We urge you to share your opinions on this new program and to share this news with your friends and family on Facebook, twitter, or any other social network. Comments posted on our blog are monitored closely but if you have specific questions, we recommend that you contact us directly or take our free assessment (after January 2nd) to see if you meet the eligibility requirements for the Federal Skilled Trades Program. We look forward to hearing from you!
Dec 4, 2012 | Immigration, In the News, Permanent Residency
All applicants who have applied or are planning to apply for immigration to Canada under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) are required to pass a language proficiency test. This is also true for individuals who wish to obtain permanent resident status in Canada under the Federal Skilled Workers Program or various Provincial Nominee Programs.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has amended the language requirements for Canada immigration which will now allow CEC applicants to take the CELPIP (Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program) instead of the previously required IELTS (International English Language Testing System). Applicants now have a choice between taking either the IELTS or the CELPIP General Tests. All applications for the Canadian Experience Class which are submitted with the CELPIP General Test results which were written on or after the starting date of November 23, 2012 will be considered for eligibility into the CEC program.
By allowing Canada immigration applicants a choice between the two tests, the CIC is making it easier to fulfill the language requirements of each immigration program. Often the waiting time for the IELTS can be a problem for applicants or they may have difficulty finding a location near their home where they may take this test. By opening up the option of taking the CELPIP exam instead, individuals who are applying for Permanent Residence may be able to complete and submit their application faster with more choices for when and where to complete the language requirement exam. With 17 locations across Canada, the CELPIP tests are readily available for those who may be unable to find a testing centre for the IELTS in their area. Finding a testing center close to you is easy, whether you choose to take the IELTS or the CELPIP. Our office can guide you in finding the right place to go and ensuring that you complete the proper test for the program under which you are applying.
If you are interested in applying for immigration to Canada under the Canadian Experience Class and would like more assistance in your application and/or need help locating a testing center to complete your IELTS or CELPIP exams, you may contact our office to speak with a licensed and knowledgeable immigration consultant. With the guidance of an immigration consultant, you will be able to make the choice of which test is best for you and we will provide you with the information you need to get started on your immigration application.
Can-Am Immigration is interested in hearing your opinions on every change made by the Canadian government. Tell us what you think about the addition of the CELPIP General Test to the CEC language proficiency test requirements. If you are currently in the process of immigration to Canada under one of the programs that require the test, we would love to hear from you. If you have already taken either the IELTS or the CELPIP, please share your thoughts on the test (was it difficult for you? do you believe one or the other of these two tests may be better? how do you feel about the language proficiency requirement for permanent residence?) You may also wish to share this new information with your friends and family who may be interested in applying for immigration to Canada. You may comment or share this story directly from this website to Facebook, Twitter, Google +, and/or any of your other social networks.
