Quebec Skill Worker Program

Despite the temporary pause on Federal Skilled Workers program, Canadian immigrationprogram continues.  There are other program available depending on your circumstances.  One of alternative is the Quebec Immigration Program.

If your education is listed below and that you have at least one year related experience, you may have a chance to immigrate to Quebec!

Quebec Skilled Worker Program Priority List we will process for the year 2012-2013  GROUP 1 : ( 16 points) 

Technical college 

• Avionics (3 years)
• Aircraft Construction Techniques (3 years)

Secondary professional 

• Retail Butchery (1 year)
• Installation of cables and circuits (1 year)
• Structural Assembly (975 hours / 1 year)
• Mechanical Assembly (1185 hours / 1.5 years)
• Precision Machining (1800 hours / 2 years)

GROUP 1 : (12 points) 

University 

• Biochemistry (Bach. - 3 years) Chemistry (Bach. - 3 years)
• Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautics Engineering (Bach. - 4 years)
• Probability and Statistics (Bach. - 3 years)  
• Nursing (Bach. - 3 years)

 Technical college 

• Council Insurance and Financial Services (3 years)
• Business Management (3 years)  
• Nursing (3 years)
• Chemical Engineering Technology (3 years)
• Laboratory Techniques (3 years)
• Chemical Process Technology (3 years)
• Processing techniques for composite materials (3 years)
• Techniques of Plastics Processing (3 years)
• Pharmaceutical Production Technology (3 years)
• Nuclear Medicine Technology (3 years)
• Radio diagnostic technology (3 years)  
• Radiation Oncology Technology (3 years)
• Process Technology and Food Quality (3 years)
• Civil Engineering Technology (3 years)

Vocational secondary school  

• Dental Assistance (2 years)
• Pharmacy Technical Assistance (1.5 years)
• Masonry: Bricklaying (1 year)
• Manufacture of metal structures and fabricated metals (1.5 years)
• Sheet metal work (2 years)
• Implementation of composite materials (1 year)
• Plumbing and Heating (2 years)
• Welding and Fitting (2 years)
• Precision Sheet Metal (1.5 years)

*GROUP 2: (6 points)  

University 

• Actuarial (Bach. - 3 years)  
• Business Administration (Bach. - 3 years)
• Accounting and Accounting Science (Bach. - 3 years)  
• Diet and Nutrition (Bach. - 3.5 years)
• Training of Special Education Teachers (remedial education) (Bach. - 4 years)
• Food Engineering (Bach. - 4 years)
• Biological and Biomedical Engineering (Bach. - 4 years)
• Chemical Engineering (Bach. - 4 years)
• Civil engineering, construction and transport (Bach. - 4 years)
• Computer Engineering and construction of computers (Bach. - 4 years)
• Mechanical Engineering (Bach. - 4 years)
• Geodesy (surveying) (Bach. - 4 years)
• Personnel Management (Bach. - 3 years)
• Management and Business Administration (Bach. - 3 years)
• Mathematics (Bach. - 3 years)
• Microbiology (Bach. - 3 years)
• Computer science (Bach. - 3 years)
• Science and Food Technology (Bach. - 4 years)
• Social Service (Bach. - 3 years)
• Translation (Bach. - 3 years)

Technical College 

• Exploitation (3 years)
• Applied geology (3 years)
• Management of a catering establishment (3 years)
• Mineralogy (3 years)
• 3D Animation and Computer Graphics (3 years)
• Office System Technology (3 years)
• Technical accounting and management (3 years)
• Mechanical Engineering Technology (3 years)
• Techniques transport logistics (3 years)
• Computer Science Technology (3 years)
• Technical Aircraft Maintenance (3 years)
• Physical Rehabilitation Techniques (3 years)
• Animal Health Techniques (3 years)
• Social Service Worker (3 years)
• Techniques for Early Childhood Education (3 years)
• Special Education techniques (3 years)
• Respiratory Therapy Techniques (3 years)
• Multimedia Integration Techniques(3 years)
• Technical and Adult Correctional Intervention (3 years)
• Orthotic and Orthopedic Prosthesis Techniques(3 years)
• Techniques of Furniture and Cabinetmaking (3 years)
• Biomedical Laboratory Techniques (3 years)
• Geomatics Technology (3 years)
• Technology Building Systems (3 years)
• Architectural Technology (3 years)
• Technology assessment and evaluation in building (3 years)
• Industrial Maintenance Technology (3 years)

Vocational secondary school 

• Surveying and Topography (1800 hours / 2 years)
• Home Care support ( 975 hours / 1 year)
• Insulation (900 hours / 1 year)
• Bodywork ( 1590 hours / 2 years)
• Carpentry (1350 hours / 1.5 years)  
• Accounting (1350 hours / 1.5 years)
• Conduct construction equipment (1095 hours / 1.5 years)
• Set-up and molding machines (1350 hours / 1.5 years)
• Cooking (1350 hours / 1.5 years)
• Commercial Drafting (1800 hours / 2 years)
• Drafting (1800 hours / 2 years)  
• Cabinetmaking (1650 hours / 2 years)
• Ore Extraction (930 hours / 1 year)
• Installation and maintenance of security systems (1485 hours / 2 years)
• Installation and repair of telecommunication equipment ( 1800 hours / 2 years)
• Agricultural Mechanics (1800 hours / 2 years)
• Mechanical Service (1800 hours / 2 years)
• Stationary Machine Mechanics (1800 hours / 2 years)
• Mechanical protection against fire (900 hours / 1 year)
• Mechanical Heavy Road (1800 hours / 2 years)
• Mechanical construction equipment (1800 hours / 2 years)
• Industrial Construction and Maintenance (1800 hours / 2 years)
• Modeling (1500 hours / 2 years)
• Assembly and installation of glass products (1350 hours / 1.5 years)
• Operation of production equipment (900 hours / 1 year)
• Pastry (1350 hours / 1.5 years)
• Residential Painting (900 hours / 1 year)
• Flexible Pavement Installation (900 hours / 1 year)
• Preparing and Finishing Concrete (900 hours / 1 year)
• Refrigeration (1800 hours / 2 years)
• Upholstering (1350 hours / 1.5 years)
• Health, Assistance and Nursing (1800 hours / 2 years)
• Food and Beverage Services (960 hours / 1 year)
• Computer Support (1800 hours / 2 years)
• Sale of Fishery Products (900 hours / 1 year) 

* For those listed under Group 2, you need to take French Language Test and get a high score to be eligible.  

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Registered Nurses as an Immigrant Wanted In Quebec

The Province of Quebec is wide open for Registered Nurses who wish to live and work in Canada.  If you are a Registered Nurse and do not want to wait until January 2013 to start your application, Quebec Skilled Worker Program is an alternative.


The common problem that Filipino Nurses think if they opted for Quebec Immigrant Program is the French Language barrier.  In fact, there are some of those who think that aFrench Language Test is mandatory and without which, they can't be eligible.  This is of course not true.  French Language factor is just one of so many factors being considered in assessing your qualification.  However, you must consider that Quebec is predominantly French-speaking Canadian Province and if you don't even have the intention to learn the language, do not apply for this program in the first place.

www.fnaq.ca

Now, do you think you will not survive in Quebec as a Filipino Nurse?  Guess what, there's aFilipino Nurses Association of Quebec!  Some Filipino Nurses actually made it. Why can't you?

But of course, you would also need to pass the regulatory exam to practice your profession in Quebec.  And this is no different when you decide to settle in other Canadian Province.

Interested?

Send your resume to rgomez@go2canada.com or give me a call at 09279856617/09226961942 and a Qualified Quebec Immigration Consultant will assess your qualifications for free!  This will be your first step in becoming a member of Filipino Nurses Association of Quebec. 

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Ministerial Instruction 5-- A teaser

A lot of people are just waiting for their application to be lodge in Canada this coming July 1 2012 for the new Ministerial Instruction. We are all anxious on what are the possible Priority List will be publish. As Minister Kenney said, that Priority list will be based on the upcoming labor shortages in Canada. But What are those jobs that are in dire need in Canada? Thats the question! Here is an outlook of what possible Proffesions would qualify for Canada Immigration Program.


An occupation is considered to be in a shortage situation if i) it has shown signs of shortage in recent years as well as an excess demand (job openings exceeding job seekers) over the next ten years or if ii) job openings substantially exceed job seekers over the next ten years even if this occupation has not shown signs of shortage in recent years. The size of the imbalance must also be significant compared with the size of the occupation.

The following table lists the three- and four-digit NOC occupations47 (with at least 10,000 workers) showing signs of shortage. These occupations represented 9.3% of total employment in 2007.


Occupational Group   Occupations Showing Signs of Shortages   Non-student Employment 2007 (000s)
Business, finance and administration   Legislators and senior management (NOC 001)   83.2
Human resources managers (NOC 0112)   30.8
Human resources and business service professionals (NOC 112)   154.2
Natural and applied sciences and related occupations   Managers in engineering, architecture, science and information systems (NOC 021)   69.5
Inspectors in public and environmental health and occupational health and safety (NOC 2263)   22.7
Health   Managers in health care (NOC 0311)   23.7
Physicians, dentists and veterinarians (NOC 311)   97.8
Optometrists, chiropractors and other health diagnosing and treating professionals (NOC 312)   14.8
Pharmacists (NOC 3131)   25.0
Therapy and assessment professionals (NOC 314) such as Physiotherapists and Occupational therapists   48.9
Nurse supervisors and registered nurses (NOC 315)   262.1
Medical radiation technologists (NOC 3215)   18.0
Technical occupations in dental health care (NOC 322)   31.2
Other technical occupations in health care (except dental) (NOC 323), such as Registered nursing assistants and Ambulance attendants   122.9
Social science, education, government service and religion   Managers in public administration (NOC 041)   29.5
Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations   Facility operation and maintenance managers (NOC 072)   38.6
Contractors and supervisors, trades and related workers (NOC 721) such as in Electrical trades and in Mechanic trades   217.9
Industrial electricians (NOC 7242)   28.3
Heavy-duty equipment mechanics (NOC 7312)   53.8
Occupations specific to primary industry   Supervisors, mining, oil and gas (NOC 822)   26.7
Underground miners, oil and gas drillers and related workers (NOC 823)   42.7
    Total   1,442.3
It is important to highlight two points. First, the list only includes occupations usually requiring postsecondary education or management occupations. Secondly, data on unemployment and wages from recent years suggest that all occupations on this list are already in a shortage situation. What our projection indicates is that these shortage conditions will continue over the next ten years.

Not surprisingly, a large number of occupations showing signs of shortage at the national level are found in the health sector. Pressures are particularly acute for physicians, pharmacists, nursing sciences professionals and health care directors. Other health occupations are also showing signs of shortage, such as therapy and assessment professionals, and medical radiation technologists. Growth in demand for those occupations has been strong, due to the rising needs associated with population aging and increases in government funding for health care. On the other hand, supply growth in many of these occupations has been relatively weak. In some areas, the lack of supply may reflect the effects of earlier deficit control decisions (including accelerated retirements) and foreign-credential recognition issues, limiting supply from immigration.

Management occupations (e.g. senior management, human resources managers and public service directors) are considered in shortage largely as a result of the demand associated with the high levels of retirement among workers who are usually at a more advanced stage in their career. For those occupations, supply comes mainly from career advancement (vertical mobility) ? since school leavers and recent immigrants do not have enough experience in the Canadian labour market to fill these positions. Furthermore, employers are placing greater emphasis on recruiting and retaining quality employees to handle increasingly complex jobs in our economy, resulting in an excess demand for human resources professionals.

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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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Caregivers New Requirements

TORONTO--Employers hiring caregivers from the Philippines are now strictly required to have their employment contracts verified with the Philippine Overseas Labour Office (POLO) before the documents are processed by the Philippines Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) in Manila and the workers allowed to leave for Canada.

The new requirement was in response to reports of bogus employers, workers being released upon arrival, and distressed workers being terminated or abandoned by their employers.

To have the documents verified, the employment contract should include the condition that the employer, shall among others, be responsible for the cost of two-way transportation to and from the place of origin, and for health coverage of the worker, where applicable, from the time of arrival until the provincial health insurance applies.

Employers are also required to terminate employment only for just cause, and in case of work-related deaths, to be responsible for the repatriation of remains.

The standard employment contract submitted by employers to Service Canada for issuance of the Labour Market Opinion (LMO), usually does not contain those requirements. A positive LMO is required for the employer to recruit workers outside Canada.

The additional contract requirements have been part of the regulations by the Philippine government for workers being deployed overseas. In addition, beginning December, 2006, agencies and recruiters are prohibited from collecting placement fees from this household service workers.

This was disclosed by Frank Luna, consular officer in charge of the POLO in Toronto. Asked on the basis of the additional conditions after the LMO, Luna, a former practising lawyer in Toronto, explained that “the contract, while approved for LMO purposes, is still a private contract between the employer and the worker. That being the case, such contract is still subject to the laws and policies of the Philippines, which can prescribe additional conditions to protect the interests of its nationals going abroad.”

Luna added that terms and conditions in the contract that are submitted to Service Canada provide only the minimum labour standard requirements, and may not cover or address fully the foreign workers' special needs. In this regard, he said “contracting parties to a private agreement can stipulate on additional conditions, provided such terms and conditions are not contrary to law, morals, public policy, or customs and traditions of both Canada and the Philippines.”

“There is nothing contrary to law or policy of both countries in the additional provisions that we require, Luna clarified, adding that, “Canadian legal precedents, in fact, lean towards interpreting contracts in favour of enhancing workers' benefits and rights.”

At the same time, the labour official also said that laws and regulations in the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba prohibit the collection of recruitment or placement fees from workers.

He asked that those violating the “no-placement fee” policy in those provinces and victimizing Filipino workers, be reported to the POLO and to the provincial officials concerned for appropriate action. Labour accords signed by the Philippines with Saskatchewan, British Columbia, and Manitoba, and the forthcoming memorandum of understanding with Alberta, expressly provide against the collection of recruitment fees from the workers, with such costs to be charged to the employer.

“At this time that we are looking forward to more Filipino workers coming to Canada, those unscrupulous individuals should now be identified and prevented from taking advantage of the more vulnerable sectors of our society in order that the goals of ethical and orderly deployment of our workers as contemplated in our bilateral agreements are achieved,” Luna said.

The POLO has outlined the new procedure and requirements as follows:

1. The additional provisions in the contract that the employer has to conform by her/his signature (to be attached as an additional page to the contract):

“ ADDENDUM TO EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT

The Employer undertakes to be responsible for:

1. cost of 2-way transportation to and from Canada;

2. health coverage for the employee before the provincial health insurance applies;

3. termination of employment shall only be for cause;

4. in case of work-related death, cost of repatriation of remains to the Philippines;

Employer Employee

Date ______________”

2. With the signed addendum, the Employer shall forward to the Philippine Overseas Labour Office (POLO) the signed employment contract and copy of the Labour Market Opinion for our verification by POLO and authentication by the Philippine Consulate, enclosing a pre-paid return envelope. The original signatures of the Employer on the documents (even if faxed or scanned) are required for verification.

The mailing address is: Philippine Overseas Labour Office, 801-161 Eglinton Ave. East, Toronto, ON, M4p 1J5.

3. Verification fee is US10.00, payable to the Philippines Overseas Labour Office and consular authentication fee of CAD$28.75 payable to the Philippine Consulate General, preferably in money order (which costs less than bank drafts or certified cheques). Official receipts will be issued.

4. We shall be sending back the verified and authenticated documents to the Employer in the return envelope provided, who shall in turn send the documents over to the worker for submission to POEA for his/her exit clearance.

5. In urgent cases, i.e. when flights have already been booked, the POLO may on request, and after having already verified the documents, advise the POEA to release the exit clearance ahead of the original verified documents.

PRESS RELEASE
Philippine Overseas Labor Office

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Canada's 3rd Priority List - Ministerial Instruction 3

CANADA is now OPEN again for IMMIGRANTS!

We now have an idea what the 3rd Ministerial Instruction (MI-3) would be like. The list of 29 in-demand occupations would be retained. However, details on new application requirements and procedures would be made available only on July 1, 2011.

So far, here's what's certain:

1. Citizenship and Immigration Canada will limit the intake of new applications to 10,000 between July 1, 2011 and June 30, 2012.

2. Only maximum of 500 applications per occupation would be considered.

Eligibility criteria for federal skilled worker applications as of July 1, 2011

Under changes to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, federal skilled worker applications are assessed for eligibility according to the criteria listed below. Note: This does not apply to applicants intending to live in the province of Quebec.

These criteria affect you only if you applied on or after July 1, 2011. If your application was received before July 1, 2011, it will be processed according to the rules that were in effect at that time.

Note: If you are applying under one of the 29 eligible occupations, as of July 1, 2011, a maximum of 10,000 Federal Skilled Worker applications will be considered for processing in the following 12 months. Within the 10,000 cap, a maximum of 500 federal skilled worker applications per eligible occupation will be considered for processing each year.

Is my application eligible for processing?

CURRENT PRIORITY LIST:

• • 0631 Restaurant and Food Service Managers
  • 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
  • 3111 Specialist Physicians
  • 3112 General Practitioners and Family Physicians
  • 3113 Dentists
  • 3131 Pharmacists
  • 3142 Physiotherapists
  • 3152 Registered Nurses
  • 3215 Medical Radiation Technologists
  • 3222 Dental Hygienists & Dental Therapists
  • 3233 Licensed Practical Nurses
  • 4151 Psychologists
  • 4152 Social Workers
  • 6241 Chefs
  • 6242 Cooks
  • 7215 Contractors and Supervisors, Carpentry Trades
  • 7216 Contractors and Supervisors, Mechanic 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

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