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Canadian
Immigration Numbers May Soon Change
Earlier this month, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister
Jason Kenney launched a series of consultations with stakeholders and the
public to discuss the issue of Canadian immigration levels.
The purpose of the consultations is to seek feedback on how many
immigrants should be accepted into Canada each year and to determine a
reasonable mix between economic, family class and protected persons
(refugees). When determining the levels of immigration, Citizenship and
Immigration Canada (CIC) takes into account input from provinces and
territories, the capacity of the economy and communities to welcome
newcomers, and current and future economic conditions.
CIC also considers its ability to process applications in a timely manner,
which has increasingly become a problem as many Canadian immigration
offices are experiencing large backlogs. There is currently a backlog of
nearly 165,000 parental and grandparent sponsorship applications alone.
The Montreal Gazette recently hinted in an article that the Government of
Canada may stop accepting immigration applications altogether in an
attempt to clear the massive backlogs.
“There’s an unlimited number of people who want to come to Canada,” said
Mr. Kenney in the Gazette article. “We used to have hundreds of thousands
of applications more than we could process, and it’s stupid and unfair to
make people wait seven, eight, nine years for their application to be even
looked at. That’s the rationale for limiting the number of new
applications.”
In the last few years, Canada has limited the number of immigration
applications being accepted. On June 24, 2011, CIC announced that a total
of 10,000 applications would be accepted for the Federal Skilled Worker
Program with a limit of 500 applications being accepted per eligible
occupation. This is a 50% reduction from the number of applications
accepted in the Federal Skilled Worker Program last year. It is important
to note that new applications are being processed more quickly than those
submitted prior to the first Ministerial changes in 2008. Applicants who
submitted their Federal Skilled Worker applications prior to February 2008
may submit a new application if they qualify under the new instructions.
With so many applicants wanting to enter Canada as economic immigrants,
CIC has suggested that this would be a good opportunity to set higher
standards for their Federal Skilled Worker Program. Earlier this year, CIC
also held consultations regarding the Federal Skilled Worker Program and
suggested that the selection criteria should be changed, including raising
the level of language proficiency needed to qualify for the program and
favouring younger applicants.
The consultation period is expected to last until fall. While CIC has not
yet announced when any changes will be made, Canadavisa.com and
CICNews.com will report on any changes to immigration programs as soon as
they are revealed. (www.cicnews.com)
RECENT Changes Announced for the Temporary Foreign
Worker Program
New rules to strengthen Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program came
into effect on April 1, 2011. Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) and
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) will be making
significant changes to the current procedures impacting both foreign workers and Canadian employers.
As a general rule, the Temporary Foreign Worker Program allows employers
to hire foreign workers when sufficient numbers of Canadian workers are
not readily available. A Canadian employer who wants to hire a foreign
worker may be required to apply to HRSDC for a Labour Market Opinion (LMO).
An LMO is a document that HRSDC issues to employers confirming that hiring
a foreign worker for a particular job will have a positive or neutral
impact on Canadian workers. Employers must usually prove that they made
reasonable efforts to hire a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident before
they offer the job to the foreign worker. In addition, Canadian employers
must offer wages and working conditions to foreign workers that are
consistent with standards for Canadian workers in their region.
With a genuine job offer and a positive LMO, the temporary foreign worker
can apply for a work permit. It is important to note that some work
permits do not require an LMO, such as Intra-Company work permits and work
permits obtained under international agreements (eg. NAFTA).
To ensure that temporary foreign workers are protected while they are in
Canada, CIC and HRSDC will be making the following changes to the
Temporary Foreign Worker Program, which will affect those applying for LMO-based
work permits and LMO-exempt work permits:
Genuineness of the Job Offer
To protect foreign workers and prospective immigrants from fraudulent job
offers, CIC and HRSDC will be establishing additional criteria for
determining whether a job offer is genuine, including job offers extended
to Live-In Caregivers. They will be assessing:
1. The terms of the job offer (including the wages offered) and if
the employer can reasonably fulfill those terms;
2. If the job offer is consistent with the employer’s labour needs;
3. If the employer previously complied with provincial and federal
laws regulating employment or recruiting of workers.
Ban for Non-Compliant Employers
If a Canadian employer is found to be in violation of the regulations, the
employer will be banned from hiring any foreign workers for two years.
Employers can also receive the two year ban if they fail to fulfill the
conditions given in the LMO and in the job offer. These non-compliant
employers will have their name and address published on a list available
to the public.
According to Immigration Attorney David Cohen, “Employers will want to get
this right as the government has indicated that the consequences of
non-compliance will be severe. Misinterpreting the new regulations may
result in the employer being banned from hiring foreign workers for two
years which can negatively impact a company’s brand and ability to meet
staffing needs. The risks inherent in these consequences underscore the
need for companies to secure professional legal representation to make
sure that they comply with the new regulations.”
Maximum of Four Years for Canadian Work Permits
CIC will be limiting the number of years a foreign worker is permitted to
hold a Canadian temporary work permit. A foreign worker will only be
permitted to work in Canada for a total of four years. Once the four years
has ended, the foreign worker will be required to wait at least four years
before reapplying for a work permit. Certain workers will be exempt from
this new rule:
1. Foreign workers who are working in Canada on a study permit;
2. Foreign workers who are working under an international agreement
with Canada (eg. NAFTA, GATS, etc.); and
3. Foreign workers who are working in a Canadian job that creates
or maintains significant cultural, economic, or social benefits for
Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
Foreign workers also have the option of applying for Canadian Permanent
Residency before or after their four years of Canadian employment have
ended.
cicnews.com
The Bridge Training program TO
HELP SKILLED IMMIGRANTS
Ottawa, March 25, 2011 — The Government of Canada is providing
$22 million to help skilled immigrants in Ontario find jobs, Citizenship,
Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced today.
The Bridge Training program helps skilled immigrants enter the Canadian
labour market and find employment that matches their education and skills.
The program funds regional projects in Ontario that help skilled
immigrants get a Canadian license in a regulated profession, or the
training they need to get work in regulated and non-regulated careers. The
program also funds initiatives that reduce barriers to the integration of
foreign-trained workers.
“This program helps skilled immigrants in Ontario enter and integrate
into the Canadian labour market,” said Minister Kenney. “It is absolutely
critical to engage employers in this process, and this program does just
that.”
The Bridge Training program has been co-funded since 2007-08 by the
Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario. Given the success of
this program, the Government of Canada is continuing its contribution with
$12M in 2011-2012 and $10 million in 2012-2013.
To date, over 200 projects have been funded and over 35,000 immigrants
in Ontario have benefited from the program.
The Government of Canada is committed to attracting, retaining and
integrating immigrants into Ontario communities. Federally funded
settlement services have enabled significant expansion and enhancement of
both language training and settlement services. Since 2006, the Government
of Canada has tripled funding for settlement services in Ontario.
(Source:
Immigration Canada)
IMPORTANT CHANGES EXPECTED TO THE FEDERAL
SKILLED WORKER PROGRAM
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) recently announced they are
consulting with relevant stakeholders about changing various aspects of
the Federal Skilled Worker Program. CIC is considering changing the number
of points awarded in three of the six selection factors. CIC is also
proposing changes to educational requirements and stricter rules for
assessing the validity of Canadian job offers. According to CIC, these
suggested changes are meant to reflect the current needs of the Canadian
economy and enable immigrants to better integrate into the Canadian
economy.
Points Changes in Selection Factors
Applicants will still be required to attain at least 67 points out of 100,
in addition to meeting eligibility requirements, in order to qualify for
the Federal Skilled Worker Program. CIC is proposing to change the maximum
number of points applicants can receive in the following three selection
factors: language, age, and work experience. Currently, applicants can
receive a maximum of 24 points for their first and second official
Canadian language, a maximum of 10 points for age if an applicant is
between the ages of 21 and 49, and a maximum of 21 points for paid skilled
work experience within the past 10 years.
1. Language
One proposed change would increase the number of points applicants can
receive for a first official Canadian language (English or French) to 20
points, rather than the current 16. CIC is also considering establishing
minimum language requirements for certain occupational skill levels. A
higher minimum language requirement would be required for applicants with
work experience in professional occupations, such as doctors, nurses, and
engineers. Applicants with work experience in skilled trades would have a
lower minimum language requirement.
2. Age
CIC is proposing to increase the number of points in the age factor from
10 to a maximum of 12 points. Rather than maximum points being awarded
until age 49, the suggested change will only allow applicants to gain
maximum age points until the age of 35.
3. Work Experience
CIC is proposing to lower the maximum points for work experience from 21
to 15 points and increase the years of experience required to obtain
maximum points. CIC has noted that foreign work experience is not a strong
indicator of success in the Canadian labour market and the additional
points would be more beneficial in the language and age factor.
Other proposed changes
In order to make the Federal Skilled Worker Program more accessible to
applicants with trade skills, CIC is proposing to reduce the number of
years associated with education for those with a trade or non-university
certificate. Currently, applicants who have a one year trade diploma must
have also completed 13 years of full-time education in order to claim
maximum points for that diploma under the education factor. Applicants who
have a two year trade diploma must have completed 14 years and those with
a three year trade diploma must have completed 15 years of education. If
the proposed change is accepted, applicants with trade diplomas would be
able to claim maximum points for their education with fewer years of
full-time education.
CIC is also considering requiring applicants to prove their credentials
are recognized by the appropriate Canadian authorities if their profession
is regulated in Canada. For example, engineering is a regulated profession
in Canada. Under the proposed change, any applicant who has work
experience as an engineer would be required to have their credentials
recognized by a Canadian professional licensing body before they submit
their application for Canadian permanent residency.
Finally, CIC is proposing to establish clearer regulations for assessing
employers and assessing whether a job offer is genuine. The Arranged
Employment factor is an important aspect of the Federal Skilled Worker
Program and CIC has noted that applicants who have Arranged Employment
fare better upon arrival in Canada compared to those who do not have
Arranged Employment. There have been numerous cases of fraudulent job
offers from employers looking to exploit immigrants for money. With
clearer guidelines for assessing job offers and employers, CIC is hoping
to deter potential fraud.
Attorney David Cohen warns of a potential challenge with the proposed
changes, “CIC will not be giving advanced warning of when these proposed
changes will come into effect. If these changes are made to the program,
applicants who are over the age of 35 and have lower language proficiency
levels could have difficulties qualifying for the Federal Skilled Worker
Program. If you qualify now for immigration under the current Federal
Skilled Worker Program, you should submit your application as soon as
possible as you may not qualify once the changes have been implemented.”
While CIC has not announced when they expect to change the Federal Skilled
worker Program, EasyGoCANADA.com and CICNews.com will report on any
information as soon as it is revealed.
NEW
Temporary Resident Visa application form
On October 14, 2010, Citizenship and Immigration Canada launched a new
electronic form for Temporary Resident Visa applications. The form can now
be completed on the computer and saved. A unique two-dimension bar code is
generated for each electronic application form submitted. This bar code
contains the data provided by the applicant, and can be quickly scanned by
Canadian visa offices that process applications. These changes are
intended to make the application process faster and easier and reduce
errors. Other Citizen and Immigration forms will be updated with these
features in the months and years ahead.
Canada’s
2011 immigration quota is 240,000 to 265,000
An immigration quota for 2011 has been finalized. In the wake of the
continuing economic downturn countries are looking to reduce their
immigration quotas for 2011. Canada on the other hand has been fortunate
not to be in a severe economic downturn is looking at immigration to
continue to sustain its economic recovery and boost up its workforce.
Canada’s 2011 immigration quota is 240,000 to 265,000 and 60% of these
immigrants are expected to come from the economic stream (federal skilled
worker program and provincial immigration programs). In 2011, government
of Canada wants to balance the number of immigrants between Federal and
provincial programs to fulfill the work force needs of both national and
regional markets.
Changes to
Provincial Nominee Programs in 2010
In the year 2010 significant changes were brought to various Canadian
immigration laws, regulations, and policies. These changes were made in
order to allow more people to immigrate to Canada. Some notable changes
that were made to immigration programs this year are mentioned here.
Alberta
Two streams in the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program were put on hold this
year. Prior to August 23rd, people who were working in the United States
on temporary work visas and people who had a close family member living in
Alberta were able to apply through Alberta PNP. As of August 23rd, Alberta
stopped accepting applications submitted through the Family Stream and the
U.S. Visa Holder category. Alberta has not yet announced when the two
streams will re-open.
British Columbia
This past May, British Columbia announced changes to its category for
international graduates. According to the new changes, students who
recently obtained a Master’s and/or Doctorate degree in natural, applied,
or health sciences from a British Columbia post-secondary school, were no
longer required to have a job offer to qualify for nomination under this
program. In addition, students who did have a job offer from an employer
in British Columbia could qualify for this program with a degree from any
province.
Manitoba
Manitoba announced that changes will be made to their programs in early
2011. Currently, international graduates who wish to apply through
Manitoba must have at least 6 months of work experience for a Manitoba
employer. Starting in 2011, applicants who graduate from a Manitoba
post-secondary educational program of at least two academic years will be
able to apply immediately to the Provincial Nominee Program in advance of
receiving an offer of employment.
New Brunswick
In February, the province of New Brunswick announced that family members
of current New Brunswick residents were eligible to apply under the
Skilled Worker with Family Support stream if they possessed work skills
that are in demand in that province. New Brunswick receives several
hundred immigrants each year, and the new changes will allow families to
reunite.
Ontario
Changes were made to the International Student Category in Ontario.
Previously, only Ph.D. students were allowed to apply for permanent
residency without a job offer. In September, Ontario changed its program
to allow graduates from Ontario Master’s programs to also apply for
permanent residency without requiring a job offer. This was good news for
Ontario students as there are currently 4,600 students in Master’s degree
programs in the province.
Prince Edward Island
In April, Minister Allan Campbell had announced that the Prince Edward
Island Nominee Program was currently under review. New streams are being
assessed and changes to the programs are expected to be announced in 2011.
Quebec
The province of Quebec introduced a fast-track immigration program for
students and temporary workers living in Quebec. Under the Quebec
Experience Class, students who had graduated from a recognized,
participating Quebec education institution and individuals who had worked
in the province for at least 12 months out of the last 24 are now able to
qualify in this program.
Applicants who wish to reside in Quebec may also qualify for the Quebec
Skilled Worker Program. Applicants must meet certain selection factors,
such as training, experience, language proficiency, and more. A job offer
or study in Quebec is not required for this program, but may add
additional points in the various selection factors.
(Source:
http://www.cicnews.com)
Government of Canada to facilitate the immigration
of Tibetan refugees living in Arunachal Pradesh in India
Ottawa, December 18, 2010 — The Government of Canada intends to facilitate
the immigration of up to 1,000 Tibetan refugees living in the state of
Arunachal Pradesh in India over a five-year period, Citizenship,
Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced today.
“Our government’s openness to Tibetan refugees is in keeping with Canada’s
best humanitarian traditions,” said Minister Kenney. “We look forward to
working with the Government of India and the Tibetan-Canadian community on
the implementation of this program, and on welcoming these individuals to
Canada.”
Special immigration measures will be developed in response to a request by
the Tibetan community and will focus on individuals who meet specific
criteria. These measures aim to maximize the involvement of communities in
Canada by focusing on individuals who have secured the support of the
Canadian-Tibetan community or other interested supporters.
Persons entering Canada under these special measures would be required to
meet Canada’s requirements for immigration, including security, criminal,
medical and background checks.
(Source:
Citizenship and Immigration
Canada)
Canada re-opens Immigrant
Investor Program effective
December 1, 2010 Citizenship and Immigration Canada will
once again accept applications under the federal Immigrant Investor
Program.
Under the new program criteria, investor applicants will need to have a
personal net worth of $1.6 million, up from $800,000 under the old
criteria, and make an investment of $800,000, up from the previous
requirement of $400,000.
“These changes were necessary,” said Minister Kenney. “The requirements
had not been increased in more than a decade and we need to keep pace with
the changing economy.”
Canada’s old immigrant investor criteria were the lowest when compared to
other countries with similar programs. The new criteria now align it more
closely with other immigrant-receiving countries.
The investor program was suspended in June, in part because the high
volume of applications was leading to wait times that were too long.
Raising the requirements will help reduce the flow of applications while
ensuring we attract experienced businesspeople who can make a more
substantial contribution to the economy. Higher personal net worth
criteria mean the program is now better positioned to attract investors
with valuable business links and the resources to make secondary
investments in the Canadian economy.
“Higher investment amounts mean provinces and territories will receive
more investment capital to put toward job creation and economic
development projects,” added the Minister.
Canada’s Immigrant Investor Program offers several benefits to
international investors, including permanent resident status up front and
guaranteed repayment of the investment.
Under Canada’s old criteria, the volume of applications submitted under
the Program had grown exponentially and processing times had increased. By
stopping applications between June 26, 2010, and December of this year,
the government prevented further delays. Applications received on or after
December 1 will be subject to the new criteria and will be processed
alongside the old ones. In this way, Canada can begin to realize the
benefits of the changes as soon as possible.
Canadian
Immigration: The 20,000 Limit, Federal Skilled Workers applications
updates
On June 26, 2010, the Government of Canada placed a limit on the number of
Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) applications it will process before June 30,
2011. Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) will process applications
up to a maximum of 20,000. The limit does not apply to those applications
with a job offer from a Canadian employer. To qualify for the Federal
Skilled Worker category of immigration without a Canadian job offer, the
principal applicant must have worked for at least one year in the past 10
years in one of the 29 listed occupations. Moreover, a maximum of 1,000
applications will be considered under any one of these eligible
occupations.
For the first time last week, CIC released an update on the number of
complete applications received for processing under the FSW category.
Total applications received toward to overall cap of 20,000:
2,785 as of October 27, 2010
(Source:
http://www.cicnews.com)
doors are open
to Chinese to come to Canada - Canada’s Immigration Minister
Beijing, September 15, 2010 — China is, and will continue to be, one of
the most important source countries for immigrants to Canada, Citizenship,
Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney said today in
Beijing, the second-to-last stop on his trip to Asia.
“Canada has benefited enormously from immigration from China,” said
Minister Kenney.
China remains the number one source country for immigrants to Canada.
Minister Kenney notes that more visitors are coming to Canada from China
as well. In the first quarter of this year, China ranked first in visas
and extensions issued to visitors. Canada saw 14% more visitors from China
than in the first quarter of 2009, or 46% more than in the first quarter
of 2005.
“That means more Chinese nationals are visiting their family here in
Canada than ever before. With the implementation of the Approved
Destination Status, which allows Chinese travel agents to advertise and
organize tour groups to Canada, that number will only rise,” said the
Minister.
And the number of Chinese students studying in Canada is also on the rise.
Almost 50,000 students from China resided in Canada last year. The number
of Chinese students living in Canada has grown by more than 300% in the
past decade.
“We are committed to increasing the number of Chinese students attending
Canadian colleges and universities,” said the Minister, “and in the course
of my visit to Beijing, I made an important announcement about how our
government will encourage even more students to study in Canada.”
But he also warns that while the door is open to Chinese students,
visitors and immigrants, the Government of Canada is serious about
cracking down on immigration fraud. This includes drawing attention to
fraudulent immigration consultants.
“While many consultants do good work, we want people to know that it’s not
necessary to hire a consultant to come to Canada,” said Minister Kenney.
“And with the help of the Chinese government, we want to put a stop to the
ones who are engaging in fraud.”
Minister Kenney will travel to Manila tomorrow. He will then go on to
Canberra and Sydney, the final two stops on this trip.
(Source: cic.gc.ca)
Canada increases
the number of visas available through
PNP
The Government of Canada has approved requests by the provinces to
increase the number of visas to be given out this year for Canadian
permanent residence under the provincial nomination programs.
Alberta and other western provinces had been lobbying the federal
government to increase rather than reduce the number of immigrants
eligible for permanent residency under the provincial nomination programs.
A spokesperson for Citizenship and Immigration Canada said the federal
government heard the provinces' concerns and has decided to increase the
numbers beyond what was originally promised earlier this year.
Notably, over the next year, Alberta will receive 5,000 immigrants under
the Alberta Immigrant Nomination Program (AINP) which is a significant
increase from the 4,200 allocated last year and the 2,800 allocated two
years ago. British Columbia’s provincial nomination program will receive
3,500 (an increased from the original 3,200), Saskatchewan will receive
4,000 (up from 3,700) and Manitoba will receive 5,000 (increased from
4,600).
The provincial nominees are important to help sustain the short-term
economic turnaround as well as long-term growth, said Alberta Immigration
Minister Thomas Lukaszuk. The provincial nominee programs are a good
solution to labour shortage problems because immigrants are eligible to
apply only if they have a guaranteed job that employers have shown cannot
be filled by workers already in the province. Especially in the case of
Alberta, the province’s preference is not to attract only temporary
foreign workers, but permanent residents through the provincial nomination
programs.
Despite the higher unemployment rates in Canada over the past two years,
there are still not enough workers to fill job positions in many different
sectors.
"We're looking at a problem that is long term," said Enayat Aminzadah,
director of operations and resource development with Immigrant Services
Calgary. "It's a great way to strengthen our workforce."
Citizenship and Immigration Canada initially set a target of allowing
between 240,000 and 265,000 immigrants into Canada this year, and is
balancing the number of Federal Skilled Worker applicants with the
provincial nominee targets as well as working to drastically reduce the
wait times for processing applications.
(Source:
CICNews)
Canada Temporary
Work Visas requirements to become tougher FROM APRIL 2011
There will be new tougher requirements to come under the Canada temporary
worker scheme from 1 April 2011. Canadian work visas are used by employers
who are unable to find suitably qualified employees locally and so need to
employ overseas nationals on a temporary basis. Canadian Immigration
Minister Jason Kenney had the following to say:
"The government is taking action to protect temporary foreign workers,
including live-in caregivers, from potential abuse and exploitation."
"We owe it to them, their employers and all Canadians to ensure that the
program is fair and equitable. After all, they are an essential element of
Canada's economic success."
Human Resources Minister Diane Finley also had some comments to make:
"These changes represent an important step. Temporary foreign workers help
the Canadian economy by filling labour needs in sectors where Canadians or
permanent residents are not readily available."
"Our government is taking action to improve the integrity of the program
while ensuring that these people are afforded the necessary protections."
The changes from 1 April 2011 include the following:
▪ A limit on
how long an overseas worker may remain on a Canadian temporary work visa.
▪ Tougher
requirements to show that a job offer is genuine.
▪ If the
employer has not met agreed requirements with respect to wages, working
conditions and occupation there will be a two year prohibition on the
employer hiring overseas workers.
The Canadian Government also specifically mentioned the Live-in Caregiver
Program in their recent news report. This is a work visa that is also used
if there are no suitable Canadians or permanent residents who can fill the
vacancies. After you come under the Live-in Caregiver Program you can then
apply for Canadian permanent residence.
IMPORTANT CHANGES FOR
FEDERAL SKILLED WORKERS PROGRAM
On June 26, 2010, Government of Canada has amended its’ current immigration
procedures to put even greater emphasis on economic recovery and further
reduce the Federal Skilled Worker application backlog. The changes,
effective immediately, concern the Federal Skilled Worker program,
including:
1) a change in the occupations that are currently ‘open’ under this
program,
2) the creation of a limit on the number of applications which will be
considered by Canadian Immigration Visa Offices, and
3) a change in the documentation required for an application under this
program.
These changes do not affect any applications received at the Central
Intake Office before June 26, 2010.
Under these updated instructions, an application is eligible for
processing if the applicant:
• has at least one year of continuous, full-time (or equivalent) paid work
experience in the past decade in a qualifying occupation, which have been
identified as the most in-demand occupations in Canada at this time; or
• qualifies for Arranged Employment with a full-time permanent job offer
from a Canadian employer.
Applicants who formerly qualified because they had been living in Canada
with legal status as a Temporary Foreign Worker or an international
student will no longer be eligible under the Federal Skilled Worker
program, but may still meet the eligibility criteria of the Canadian
Experience Class program.
The former list of 38 qualifying occupations has been amended to include
11 new occupations with 20 previously listed occupations having been
removed.
Effective immediately, the following
occupations have been added to the list:
0811 Primary Production Managers (Except Agriculture)
1122 Professional Occupations in Business Services to Management
1233 Insurance Adjusters and Claims Examiners
2121 Biologists and Related Scientists
2151 Architects
3113 Dentists
3131 Pharmacists
3222 Dental Hygienists & Dental Therapists
4151 Psychologists
4152 Social Workers
7216 Contractors and Supervisors, Mechanic Trades
The following occupations remain on the list:
0631 Restaurant and Food Service Managers
3111 Specialists in clinical medicine
3112 General practitioners and family physicians
3142 Physiotherapists
3152 General duty registered nurses
3215 Radiological technologists
3233 Licensed practical nurses
6241 Chefs
6242 Cooks
7215 Contractors and Supervisors, Carpentry Trades
7241 Electricians (Except Industrial & Power System)
7242 Industrial Electricians
7251 Plumbers
7265 Welders & Related Machine Operators
7312 Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanics
7371 Crane Operators
7372 Drillers & Blasters - Surface Mining, Quarrying & Construction
8222 Supervisors, Oil and Gas Drilling and Service
For those skilled workers applying under the occupation list, the
government will limit the number of applications considered for processing
to 20,000 total per year. Within the 20,000 limit, a maximum of 1,000
applications per occupation will be considered. This limit does not apply
to applicants with a job offer.
Candidates for the Federal Skilled Worker program and for the Canadian
Experience Class Program will now be required to submit the results of a
language proficiency assessment exam, along with a complete set of
supporting documents (such as copies of passports, evidence of educational
history, documentation of marital status, proof of settlement funds,
police clearances, etc.) with their application forms. As such, the
language proficiency results and additional documentation must be gathered
to create an initial application.
The authority for the changes, known as ministerial instructions, comes
from amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act approved by
Parliament in 2008 as part of the Action Plan for Faster Immigration.
The instructions are meant as a flexible tool to allow the government to
keep the intake of applications for economic immigration in line with the
number and types of jobs available in Canada, as well as reduce
application backlogs and processing times.
Since the first instructions were issued in November 2008, the backlog of
federal skilled worker applicants in process prior to the legislation has
dropped from 640,000 to 380,000. The majority of decisions on new
applications are being made in six to 12 months, compared with up to six
years prior to the changes. But in the first quarter of 2010, the number
of new applications rose significantly beyond the department’s ability to
process them in a timely way, leading to the recognition that a more
refined approach is necessary.
“These changes bring Canada in line with the practices of the United
Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, our main competitors for skilled
immigrants,” said Immigration Minister Kenney. “They help match the supply
of applicants to our processing capacity and today’s post-recession job
market needs. This is the only responsible way to manage our immigration
system.”
“This completely changes the nature of an application for a Federal
Skilled Worker permanent resident visa,” commented Canadian immigration
Attorney David Cohen. “Under these new rules, there are between 680 and
1000 visas to be issued for each occupation on the list and those spots
will fill up very quickly. As the expression goes, ‘the early birds are
going to get those worms’,” said Cohen.
Attorney Cohen went on to explain that these new rules favour the fastest
and most organized applicants. “The reality of these new rules is that an
applicant has only one try to get his or her application accepted. If an
application has even a tiny error, it risks being returned without
processing, and by the time that error is corrected, the odds of the
occupation category being closed are that much greater.”
The new rules and the closure of some of the Federal Skilled Worker
occupations should not discourage potential immigrations from considering
Canada as a destination. Attorney Cohen encourages potential immigrants:
“Remember that there are 60 immigration programs across Canada from which
to choose. If the Federal Skilled Worker program is no longer an option,
I’ll advise my clients to explore other alternatives.”
One such alternative is the Quebec Skilled Worker program, which uses
completely different criteria for selecting applicants. The Quebec
selection model relies on the concept of “human capital”, and tries to
select candidates based on the likelihood of successful economic and
social integration.
Business
immigration has a positive impact on British Columbia
Business immigration programs are being praised for their success in the
beautiful province of British Columbia (BC), as more and more new
Canadians are making an impact on BC’s economy while enjoying the
province’s high quality of life.
Since 2002, business immigration programs have been responsible for more
than $603-million in investment in the province, as well as the creation
of more than 2500 new jobs. However, it is not only the province that is
benefitting from business immigration. Business immigrants extol the
virtues of living in Canada’s gateway to the Pacific.
Business immigrants choose to settle in BC for a number of reasons. The
province and its most well-know cities, Vancouver and Victoria,
consistently appear at or near the top of the rankings in studies or
surveys of the best places to live in the world. In addition, the province
is home to the University of British Columbia, a respected university that
the children of business immigrants frequently attend.
“The economy has some influence, but in the [business] class, quality of
life is a consideration that’s equally important,” said Moira Stilwell,
BC’s Advanced Education and Labour Development Minister.
There are numerous ways to immigrate to British Columbia as a
businessperson:
▪ The Immigrant Investor
Program is a federal immigration program for individuals who have a high
net worth and business experience.
▪ The Immigrant
Entrepreneur Program allows individuals who plan to start or purchase a
business in Canada to immigrate and implement their business plan.
▪ The British Columbia
Nominee Program also has a business component with a number of
requirements applicants must fulfill.
Criminality
Issues for Visitors, Temporary Foreign Workers & Permanent Residents
Any person currently charged with or previously convicted of any criminal
offence inside or outside of Canada may be prohibited from visiting,
working, studying or applying for permanent residence in Canada. Even
offences as seemingly minor as some moving traffic violations may render
an individual inadmissible to Canada. Examples of convictions that could
make a person inadmissible to Canada include: Driving Under the Influence
(DUI), Driving With Ability Impaired (DWAI), Theft, Petty Theft/Larceny
(Shoplifting), Assault, Disorderly Conduct, Obstruction of Justice.
CIC EXTENDS THE
CANADA-ONTARIO IMMIGRATION AGREEMENT
Thursday, 20 May 2010
Earlier this month Minister Jason Kenny and Dr. Eric Hoskins, Ontario
Minster of Citizenship and Immigration, agreed to a one-year extension of
the Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement (COIA).
In addition to the annual settlement funding of $108 million, $320 million
was allotted to the 2010-2011 agreement for Ontario.
Minister Hoskins stated that, "Ontario is pleased to sign this one-year
extension as we negotiate a successor agreement, so that newcomers to the
province can continue to receive the services they need to settle and
succeed."
Furthermore, Minister Hoskins said that, "In extending the Canada-Ontario
Immigration Agreement, we signal our commitment to continue to collaborate
to attract, retain and integrate immigrants into communities in Ontario
while exploring new ways to improve immigrant outcomes... The extension of
this agreement prolongs our support for immigrant settlement programs,
including language training and programs for newcomer youth."
Under this agreement in welcoming newcomers, the Government of Canada and
Ontario will strive to build on its existing relationship as well as
recognize the contribution of community stakeholders, including service
providers and municipalities.
CANADIAN IMMIGRATION
REMAINED AT HIGH LEVELS IN 2009
The rate of immigration remains high with more than 500,000 new permanent
and temporary residents in 2009. Immigration Minister Jason Kenney had the
following to say:
"Momentum toward a full economic recovery continued throughout 2009, and
immigration will continue to support that momentum." Immigration Minister
Kenney went onto say that "The Government of Canada is maintaining
immigration levels to meet Canada's short-, medium- and long-term economic
needs, help offset our aging population and low birthrate, and sustain our
workforce."
Canadian immigration released the following immigration statistics:
● There were 252,124 new immigrants in 2009. Canadian immigration had a
target of between 240,000 and 265,000 new permanent residents.
● The immigration levels are 30,000 higher than the average annual intake
of permanent residents in the 1990s.
● Sixty percent of new Canadian immigrants were economic migrants bringing
must needed skills and experience to Canada.
● There were 178,640 temporary foreign workers and 85,131 foreign students
who came to Canada in 2009.
Ontario
modifies its Provincial Nominee Program to attract more qualified
applicants
This month, the Ontario provincial government updated
its Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), known as Opportunities Ontario, in
order to welcome more skilled immigrants to the province. International
students who obtain their PhDs at publicly funded Ontario universities
will no longer need a job offer to be eligible for an Ontario Provincial
Nomination Certificate.
Opportunities Ontario is a largely employer-driven
PNP, which means that applicants generally need job offers from Ontario
employers in order to be eligible for the program. There are two
categories under the program:
Under the General category, eligible Ontario
employers and investors can recruit qualified foreign workers to fill
permanent, full-time positions in their organizations. The positions must
be in a skilled, managerial or professional occupation, identified as
Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A or B in the National Occupation
Classification. Those foreign workers would then be eligible to apply to
immigrate to Canada under the Opportunities Ontario PNP.
The International Students category now has two
streams: the With Job Offer stream and the PhD Graduate stream:
■Under
the With Job Offer stream, Ontario employers can extend permanent,
full-time job offers (also in skilled, managerial or professional
positions) to international students who have completed their
post-secondary education at publicly-funded Canadian institutions. Those
students would then be eligible to apply for an Ontario Provincial
Nomination Certificate.
■Under
the PhD Graduate stream, candidates must have obtained their PhDs from an
Ontario publicly-funded university. Applicants who meet this requirement
do not need job offers to be eligible for the Opportunities Ontario
Program.
Under all PNPs, including Opportunities Ontario,
applicants who receive nomination certificates must then submit their
applications to Citizenship and Immigration Canada for federal approval
(medical and security checks are done at this stage) and issuance of
Canadian permanent resident visas.
In February, a report predicting a drastic shortage
of skilled workers in Canada as a whole and Ontario in particular was
released by Rick Miner, past president of Seneca College and a former
management professor. The report described an upcoming discrepancy between
the increase in knowledge-based jobs in Ontario and the number of
available skilled, experienced workers to fill those positions.
In this regard, the above update in the Ontario PNP
is good news both for international students who have obtained their PhDs
in Ontario and the economy of Ontario.
Balanced
reforms planned for Canada’s asylum system
Legislation to improve Canada’s asylum system, deliver quicker decisions
on asylum claims and provide faster protection to those in need was
introduced on 30 March, 2010 by Citizenship, Immigration and
Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney.
“This balanced reform would both increase support for refugees in need
of protection and discourage many of the unfounded asylum claims that
burden our system,” said Minister Kenney. “These changes would result in
faster protection for those who need our help and quicker removals of
those who do not.”
CANADIAN ECONOMY DOING EVEN BETTER THAN EXPECTED
The Canadian economy is faring better than expected, as Canada’s Gross
Domestic Product grew at an annual rate of more than 6 per cent in
January. In addition, the Canadian economy added 100,000 more jobs in
February of this year compared to February 2009. The Canadian
manufacturing and industrial sectors have driven this growth.
The federal government sees this growth as a sign that the economic
stimulus programs they have introduced as a response to the global
recession are working.
"It shows our plans for the economy are working. We're seeing strength
across a number of sectors including retail and manufacturing," said
Industry Minister Tony Clement. (Source:
canadavisa)
CANADIAN IMMIGRATION IMPROVED ONLINE RESOURCES
Immigration Minister Jason Kenney recently announced a new online resource
to make it easier for immigrants to settle in when they move to Canada.
The new website provides information on Government and local services for
new migrants to Canada. Immigration Minister Kenney had the following to
say:
"The Services for Newcomers resource has been put in place to help
newcomers find the private sector and government services they need to
succeed. With this resource, newcomers will easily find the many services
available to them, such as how to buy their first home," said Minister
Kenney. "This can only increase their chance of successful integration
within their new communities, and this is an important goal for Canada."
The Canadian Government has tripled immigrant settlement funding since
2006. The range of services for migrants include the following:
▪ Language Training.
▪ Employment related
assistance.
▪ Community service
referrals to help immigrants settle, adapt and integrate into Canadian
society.
Applicants can access the new immigration resource at
www.servicesfornewcomers.cic.gc.ca
VISA BACKLOG EMERGING AGAIN
It is reported that despite
controversial measures introduced two years ago to speed up Canada's
immigration process, a backlog of skilled immigrant applications is
re-emerging.
Analysis of Citizenship and Immigration Canada's latest data shows that
the average processing time from all visa posts is 7 1/2 years, with
600,000 people in the queue for the 80,055 skilled immigrant visas granted
in 2010.
New IELTS Requirements for
Applicants in Skilled Workers Class.
Every year Canada welcomes immigrants from all over
the world. Canadian government knows about the difficulties of immigrants
which they are facing due to a high IELTS band requirement for additional
points of Canadian Immigration.
Keeping in view these difficulties faced by the potential immigrants,
Canadian government has decided to reduced the IELTS score requirement for
Canadian Immigration Points system. Immigration Canada has now decreased
the IELTS band requirement criteria for Canada Skilled worker Immigration
points. Minimum IELTS score requirement for 4 points of Immigration has
now been reduced.
The minimum IELTS band score has been reduced from 7 band to 6.5 band to
obtain four points for Immigrate to Canada in Skilled Worker class. Now
applicants have to obtain 4 points for one module of IELTS if he/she score
6.5 band as compared to old system which required at lease 7 Band in IELTS
to obtain four points in a specific module of IELTS. However, listening
module gained the IELST score instead of reduction. i.e. 7.5, which was 7
previously. Now an applicant can get 16 points for immigration by having
the following minimum band in IELTS
Writing:
6.5 Band
Reading:
6.5 Band
Speaking:
6.5 Band
Listening:
7.5 Band
NEW IMMIGRATION RULES
New
rules to fast-track skilled worker immigrants
Skilled
workers
are people who are selected as permanent residents based on their ability
to become economically established in Canada.
Federal
skilled worker applications received on or after February 27, 2008 are now
assessed for eligibility according to a set of instructions issued by the
Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism.
If you
are eligible your application will be reviewed in three steps.
1.
According to the Minister’s instructions, your application is eligible for
processing if:
You have an
offer of arranged employment, OR
You are a foreign national who has been living legally in Canada for one
year as a temporary foreign worker or an international student, OR
You are a skilled worker who has at least one year of experience in one or
more of the occupations listed
here.
2.
If your application is eligible for processing, you must also meet the
following minimum requirements to qualify as a skilled worker:
You have
at least one year of continuous full-time paid work experience or the
equivalent in part-time continuous employment, AND
Your work experience must be Skill Type 0 (managerial occupations) or
Skill Level A (professional occupations) or B (technical occupations and
skilled trades) on the
Canadian National Occupational Classification list, AND
You must have had this experience within the last 10 years.
3.
If you
meet these minimum requirements, your application will then be processed
according to the six selection factors in the skilled worker points grid.
The six selection factors are:
Your
education
Your abilities in English and/or French, Canada’s two official languages
Your work experience
Your age
Whether you have arranged employment in Canada, and
Your adaptability.
You must
also show that you have enough money to support yourself and your
dependants after you arrive in Canada, and pass a medical examination and
security and criminal checks.
Canada and Hong Kong sign agreement on Youth Mobility
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced on Sunday that Canada had
signed an agreement regarding Youth Mobility with Hong Kong, which will
allow qualified young people (aged 18 to 30) from both countries to travel
and work in each other’s territory for up to one year.
As a result of this agreement, young people will gain an understanding of
other cultures by living, working and traveling abroad. This experience
will also help them develop personally and professionally, giving them a
competitive edge in the job market,” Harper said. The agreement is
expected to come into effect in March of 2010.
Monday, 07 December 2009 00:00 (Source:
http://www.canadavisa.com)
Canadian Economy creates more than 79,000 jobs in November
This week, Statistics Canada (StatsCan) reported that the Canadian economy
added more than five times the expected number of jobs in November, a sign
that the country's economic recovery is well underway.
"It was across many sectors, many full-time jobs, which are regarded as
good-quality jobs because it means steady income and a steady flow of
money back into the economy," said Michael Kane, a Business News Network
analyst. The national unemployment rate dropped 0.1 per cent in December
as a result of the 79,000 new jobs. The most populated provinces of
Ontario and Quebec, in particular, saw a substantial increase in the
number of jobs created. Those two provinces are common destinations for
immigrants to Canada.
Friday, 04 December 2009 00:00 (Source:
http://www.canadavisa.com)
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