Foreign Credential Referral Office

The Foreign Credentials Referral Office (FCRO) is part of Citizenship and Immigration Canada. It was created to help foreign-trained workers succeed in Canada. FCRO provides information, path-finding and referral services to help foreign-trained workers succeed and put their skills to work in Canada more quickly.

Remember that the approval of your permanent resident visa application and eventual entry in Canada does not guarantee you employment in your preferred profession or any other profession.

If you are planning to live and work in canada, gathering information about living and working in Canada will help you prepare for employment in your chosen profession. TheForeign Credential Referral Office created a workbook specifically for this purpose.

Planning to work in Canada? An essential workbook for newcomers was created by FCRO for internationally trained individuals who are considering moving to Canada. It will help you learn how to put your skills, education and experience to work. The workbook is composed of 5 sections:

Living in Canada
The more you learn about Canada, the faster you will be able to adapt to the Canadian work environment. Taking the time to ask questions, to read and research, to watch videos on the Web or elsewhere, can all greatly help your transition from new immigrant to an established and comfortable member of Canadian society. This section is designed to help you learn more about life in Canada, and to guide you in taking a few essential steps as an immigrant.

Canada's Official Languages
Language skills are extremely important to your professional future in Canada. This section will help you learn more about Canada’s two official languages – English and French – as well as assess your language skills and identify opportunities for language training.

Finding a job in Canada
This section is designed to help you understand all you need to do to obtain work in Canada. It provides you with a series of essential steps that will help you learn how to find and get a job in your preferred profession. This process will take time, but completing each task below as thoroughly as possible will give you and your family members the best possible chance to succeed professionally in Canada.

Work Related Documents
This section of the workbook is designed to help you identify and locate documents that may be of importance to you in Canada before you come to Canada. It will also help you to assess the value, in Canada, of documents in your chosen field.

Education Academic Credentials
Education is an asset when searching for work in Canada, but your education may not automatically be recognized in Canada. Demonstrating your education and academic credentials is, therefore, important. Understanding educational equivalencies between your country of origin and Canada will also help you to understand the kinds of jobs you will be likely to obtain in Canada.

For more information about Foreign Credentials Referral Office, visit the official website athttp://www.credentials.gc.ca.

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Proposed Changes on Pointing System-Canada

Last year Canada made a proposal on possible changes in the pointing system. This July 2012 it might be implemented. Here are some of general ideas on how the changes might happen.

What are the proposed changes to Canada's FSW Points System?

Requiring a minimum level of language proficiency
The maximum points awarded for proficiency in the first official language may be increased from 16 to 20, and a minimum language requirements, depending on the immigrant’s occupational skill level will be established. Simply put, it will give Tradespeople a better chance. The current points system is prohibitive against Filipino welders, who of course do not talk to welding rods in English.

If you want to get a better chance, try to get a better IELTS Score.

Placing greater emphasis on younger workers
Under the current points system, a maximum of 10 points is awarded to applicants within the 21-49 years old brachet. The proposal is to award a maximum of 12 points until age 35, with diminishing points awarded until age 49. No age points would be awarded after age 50.

Making the program more accessible to skilled tradespeople
The proposal is to reduce the number of years of education required to claim points for a trade or other non-university credential. This change would help improve access for skilled tradespeople, technicians and apprentices who have valid post-secondary qualifications but not the required number of years of study. There are many skilled and experienced Filipino welders but won't qualify under the current points system due to Education factor. Not many welders have a University Degree.

Redirecting points from work experience to other factors
The proposal is to reduce the total number of points that could be awarded for work experience from 21 to 15.

Reducing the potential for fraudulent job offers
The proposed changes would establish clearer criteria for assessing the genuineness of a job offer, and could require employers to sign a document attesting to their intention to hire the immigrant. They could also include restrictions for employers who don’t comply with this intention.

So there. Again, these are just the proposed changes and not necessarily the new points system to be implemented.

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