SKILLED WORKER CLASS IMMIGRATION

Skilled workers are those who upon qualification obtain permanent resident status as they are able to become economically established in Canada based on their education and work experience.

In order to qualify as a Skilled Worker, applicants must the following requirements as established by Canadian Citizenship and Immigration:

• meet the minimum work experience requirements;
• prove that they have the funds required to settle in Canada; and
• earn enough points in the six selection factors to meet the required pass mark Skilled workers are assessed based on the following selection factors:
  

To qualify for Skilled Worker Class, you must score a minimum of 67 points. Each of the categories has detailed criteria, which is not listed above. Please note that for English, applicants are required to take an approved English assessment tests such as ILTES or others, and must meet the minimum scores.

For more detailed information, please contact our office.

BUSINESS CLASS IMMIGRATION

Business immigrants are people who can invest in, or start businesses in Canada and are expected to support the development of a strong and prosperous Canadian economy.

Business immigrants are selected based on their ability to become economically established in Canada.

There are three classes of business immigrants:

FAMILY CLASS (SPONSORSHIP)IMMIGRATION

Under the recent rules published in August 2008, the sponsorship of family class is no longer considered to be a class of priority in the immigration system. Preference is now being given to those visas that have economic value to the Canadian economy.

The family class immigration is available to Canadian citizens and permanent residents living in Canada, 18 years of age or older, who wish to sponsor a spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, dependent child (including adopted child) or other eligible relative (such as a parent or grandparent) to become a permanent resident.

Sponsors make an undertaking to support the relative or family member and their accompanying family members and ensure that they do not need to seek financial assistance from the government.

QUEBEC SELECTION

Quebec is responsible for selecting immigrants who wish to settle in Quebec. The Quebec government and the Government of Canada have an agreement that allows Quebec to select immigrants who best meet its immigration needs. Under the Canada-Quebec Accord on Immigration, Quebec is able to establish its own immigration requirements and select immigrants who will adapt well to living in Quebec. As Quebec is a French speaking province, the use of the French language would be considered an asset.

CANADIAN EXPERIENCE CLASS (NEW)

The Canadian Experience Class is a new immigration program recently introduced for temporary foreign worker or foreign students who graduated in Canada, and often have the qualities to make a successful transition from temporary to permanent residence.

The applicant should be familiar with Canadian society, contribute to the Canadian economy with knowledge of English or French and qualifying work experience.

The following are the minimum requirements to apply for permanent residence under the Canadian Experience Class:

Be either:

-a temporary foreign worker with at least two years of full-time (or equivalent) skilled work experience in Canada, or

-a foreign graduate from a Canadian post-secondary institution with at least one year of full-time (or equivalent) skilled work experience in Canada

-have gained your experience in Canada with the proper work or study authorization -apply while working in Canada or within one year of leaving your job in Canada.

All the above conditions must be met in order to qualify for this program.

PROVINCIAL NOMINEE PROGRAMS

The nominee programs are gaining popularity as they would eventually tend to phase out the skilled program over a period of time. Most provinces in Canada have an agreement with the Federal Government of Canada that allows them to nominate immigrants who wish to settle in that province. If you choose to immigrate to Canada as a provincial nominee, you must first apply to the province where you wish to settle and complete its provincial nomination process. The province will consider your application based on its immigration needs and your genuine intention to settle there.

Here is a list of the provinces and one territory currently participating in this program. Since the criteria vary among the provinces, please call or email our office for more information.

• Alberta
• Manitoba
• Newfoundland and Labrador
• Ontario
• Saskatchewan
• British Columbia
• New Brunswick
• Nova Scotia
• Prince Edward Island
• Yukon

Most of the nominee programs originate from the province based on their needs and industry demands. If you are interested please contact our office for information as the criteria varies from one province to another.