The Quebec Skilled Worker Program versus The Federal Skilled Worker Class

The two most popular economic immigration programs in Canada are Federal Skilled Worker Class (FSWC) and the Quebec Skilled Worker (QSW) program. Neither program requires a Canadian job offer to be eligible to apply. The government of Canada recently announced significant changes to the FSWC,

It is important that prospective applicants choose the program that best suits their professional strengths and their immigration goals. To help future applicants in the important decision of choosing an immigration program, We presents the pros and cons of each program:

The Quebec Skilled Worker Program

Current Status: Open and Accepting Applications

Approximate Processing Time: 24 months (varies by country of application)

Visa Received: Canadian Permanent Resident Visa

General Information:

§  Selection System?

§  Points-based. Must receive 49 points to be eligible to submit as a single applicant, and 57 points as a couple or family.

§  Intake Quota?

§  No. There is currently no limit to the number of applications this program may receive.

§  Eligibility?

§  Yes; applicants must have a degree or diploma in one of 110 targeted areas of training/fields of study

§  Language Requirements?

§  In theory no, but a certain level of French may be needed to make sufficient points.

§  Process?

§  Two-step process. First a Quebec Selection Certificate is obtained. Next, the entire application is reviewed on a Federal level for health and security issues.

§   

This may be a good program for you if:

§  You want to become a Canadian Permanent Resident

§  You intend to initially settle in the Province of Quebec

§  You want to begin your application process today

§  You speak French and understand French or are interested in learning

§  You want to enter a strong labour market for your specific field of study

If you have experience in a targeted field of study, the QSW program will help you come to Canada with strong job prospects. Quebec is a beautiful province with a stable economy, and I encourage eligible applicants to consider this option whenever possible.

The Federal Skilled Worker Class

Current Status: Only accepting applications with arranged employment in Canada or PhD students in Canada; new regulations are scheduled to come into force January 2013

Approximate Processing Time: Unknown (last FSWC advertised processing within 12 months)

Visa Received: Canadian Permanent Resident Visa

General Information:

§  Selection System

§  Points-based. Must receive a minimum of 67 out of 100 points

§  Intake Quota?

§  Maybe. No announcement has yet been made regarding a limit on application intake. However, the previous FSWC was capped at 10,000 applications.

§  Eligibility?

§  Yes; applicants must have a minimum of 1 year of skilled work experience in the preceding 10 years.

§  Language Requirements?

§  Yes. Applicants must pass a minimum language threshold in either English or French.

§  Process?

§  Direct application to a Central Intake Office in Canada.

§   

This may be a good program for you if:

§  You want to become a Canadian Permanent Resident

§  You intend to initially settle anywhere in Canada outside of the Province of Quebec

§  You want to prepare your application before the new regulations take effect

§  You are a skilled worker whose field of study is not included in the QSW list

Recent changes were made to many aspects of the FSWC. This means that immigrants who are accepted through this program will come to Canada better prepared to find good jobs and start a new life in the country. There is likely to be a cap on application intake, so if you are eligible to apply, it is a good idea to start building your application now and submit when the program opens.

Successful applicants to the FSWC and QSW programs will arrive in Canada with Permanent Resident status. The path they travel to get to Canada should be chosen with care to reflect the best interests of themselves and their families.

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List Of Qualified Canada Skill Trades for 2013

Citizenship and Immigration Canada have just announced that it will accept applications under the new Federal Skilled Trades Program accepts applications starting January 2, 2013.

There will be 43 jobs eligible to apply under the Federal Skilled Trades program in the first year of the program, from January 2, 2013 to January 1, 2014.  A maximum of 3,000 applications will be accepted this year.  The list of 43 jobs eligible are divided into 2 groups. A sub cap of 100 applications per classfication will be imposed for those included in Group A. No sub cap will be imposed for those included in Group B.

43 jobs will be eligible to apply under the Federal Skilled Trades

Group A – Jobs with sub-caps of 100 applications each (and their corresponding 2011 NOC code)

• 7202 Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations
• 7204 Contractors and supervisors, carpentry trades
• 7205 Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicers
• 7271 Carpenters
• 7301 Contractors and supervisors, mechanic trades
• 7302 Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews
• 8211 Supervisors, logging and forestry
• 8221 Supervisors, mining and quarrying
• 8222 Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling services
• 8241 Logging machinery operators
• 8252 Agricultural service contractors, farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers
• 9211 Supervisors, mineral and metal processing
• 9212 Supervisors, petroleum, gas and chemical processing and utilities
• 9214 Supervisors, plastic and rubber products manufacturing
• 9231 Central control and process operators, mineral and metal processing
• 9241 Power engineers and power systems operators
• 9243 Water and waste treatment plant operators

Group B – no sub-caps (2011 NOC code)

• 7231 Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors
• 7233 Sheet metal workers
• 7235 Structural metal and plate work fabricators and fitters
• 7236 Ironworkers
• 7237 Welders and related machine operators
• 7241 Electricians (except industrial and power system)
• 7242 Industrial electricians
• 7243 Power system electricians
• 7244 Electrical power line and cable workers
• 7245 Telecommunications line and cable workers
• 7246 Telecommunications installation and repair workers
• 7251 Plumbers
• 7252 Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers
• 7253 Gas fitters
• 7311 Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics
• 7312 Heavy-duty equipment mechanics
• 7313 Refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics
• 7314 Railway carmen/women
• 7315 Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors
• 7318 Elevator constructors and mechanics
• 7371 Crane operators
• 7372 Drillers and blasters - surface, mining, quarrying and construction
• 7373 Water well drillers
• 8231 Underground production and development miners
• 8232 Oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers
• 9232 Petroleum, gas and chemical process operators

Send your resume to rgomez@go2canada.com.  With the subject "Skill Trade"

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Canada Immigration Application this Coming May 4, 2013

Our wait is finally over, Citizenship Immigration Canada has finally announced when the Federal Skilled Worker program will start accepting applications which will be in May 4, 2013, superseding their previous plan of opening on January 1, 2013 as published in the Canada Gazette.   


As discussed in my previous post CIC has confirmed the final changes in the Federal Skilled worker applications: 

- Minimum official language thresholds (CLB 7) and increased points for official language proficiency making language the most important factor in the selection process

Ref: 


CLB 7 (IELTS score 6 in all areas) = 4 points per area

CLB 8  (IELTS score 6.5 for Reading, Writing and Speaking. Listening 7.5) = 5 points per test

CLB 9  (This is not yet disclosed speculating on it it might be IELTS score of 7 for Reading, Writing and Speaking. Listening 8) = 6 points per test;

-Increased emphasis on younger immigrants, who are more likely to acquire valuable Canadian experience, are better positioned to adapt to changing labor markets conditions, and who will spend a greater number of years contributing to Canada’s economy, full points for the age criteria will be given to applicants who are 18 to 35 years old, older applicants will still have a chance to qualify as long as they reach the 67 points passmark;

Introduction of the Educational Credential Assessment (ECA), so that education points awarded reflect the foreign credential’s true value in Canada;
 
-Changes to the arranged employment process, allowing employers to hire applicants quickly, if there is a demonstrated need in the Canadian labour market; and

-Additional adaptability points for spousal language ability and Canadian work experience.

A list of assessment organizations designated by the Minister to do the Education Credential Assessment will be made available early 2013. 

Moreover, Minister Kenney's said that in next regulation of the Federal Skilled Workers Class will be open to all O-Managerial, A-Professional and B-Trade and Skilled occupations and will not have any limit in the number of applicants per occupation.

Although there may still be an overall quota on the total number of applicants they will accept in a year. Which means those who are the first to file will benefit from this fast and east PR Visa application!

This was published in his twitter page

For reference to the changes in the points system you may click on the following link to read the previous publication of the Canada Gazette.

How will this affect you?

If you are one of the many who wants to Immigrate to Canada the Federal Skilled Worker application is a good option for you, it is designed to be processed in a matter of months and is one of the few programs where your Education and Work Experience alone are enough to qualify you for the program.

Most programs in Canada require a third party, whether a relative or an employer to allow you process your application.

Since the regulation requires complete requirements when you apply, only those who plan ahead will qualify for the the program. If you want to have the chance get a slot and be given an immigrants visa for Canada under the Federal skilled worker program you have to start being involved in making yourself eligible and qualify for the program by acting right now!   

Moreover, since there is a quota for the number of applicants they will accept, there is an urgency to start readying your application right away.  

This goes the same with those who are planning to reapply their applications. If you already have most of the documents ready, please be reminded  that the FSW guidelines has preferred validity's for certain documents like NBI (3 months), Bank Draft (1 month), Pictures(recent photo), IELTS 2 years. 

So it will be best to renew said documents within April or March of next year.

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Canadian Immigration Consultancy SM Megamall Office Finally Opens

In continuing commitment to our client to be more accessible. Canadian Immigration Consultancy finally open an office at SM Megamall. Officially Candian Immigration Consultancy has three offices here in Metro Manila.

Canadian Immigration Consultancy 

SM North Edsa

Unit 301 3rd floor Northlink Building

SM North Edsa Quezon City

Canadian Immigration Consultancy 

SM Mall of Asia

Unit 160 G/F (north wing parking bldg)

Pasay City

and our Recently opened SM MEGAMALL BRANCH

Canadian Immigration Consultancy

SM Megamall 549 Unit B Edsa Corner J. Vargas Avenue

Mandaluyong City

Here is the  facade of our office:

In addition to this, Canada will start processing new Immigration Applicant this coming May 4, 2013. If you are planning to go to canada. This is the right time to push for it, and Canadian Immigration Consultancy Megamall Branch is one of the offices that would gladly accomodate you.

Have your Qualifications Assess Online

Arrange an appointment thru: 

*assessment and evaluation fee: 500 php

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Breaking News: Canada Visa Federal Skilled Worker Program

The new selection system for the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) will take effect on May 4, 2013 at which time the program will re-open for applications, Citizenship, Immigration, and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced today.

“The government’s number one priority remains jobs, economic growth, and long-term prosperity,” said Minister Kenney. “The new Federal Skilled Worker Program criteria will ensure Canada is selecting the skilled immigrants our economy needs, who are the most likely to succeed and fully realize their potential in Canada.”
The improvements to the FSWP points grid are based on a large body of research which has consistently shown that language proficiency and youth are two of the most important factors in the economic success of immigrants.
The final changes to the FSWP selection criteria include:

• Minimum official language thresholds and increased points for official language proficiency, making language the most important factor in the selection process;
• Increased emphasis on younger immigrants, who are more likely to acquire valuable Canadian experience, are better positioned to adapt to changing labour market conditions, and who will spend a greater number of years contributing to Canada’s economy;
• Introduction of the Educational Credential Assessment (ECA), so that education points awarded reflect the foreign credential’s true value in Canada;
• Changes to the arranged employment process, allowing employers to hire applicants quickly, if there is a demonstrated need in the Canadian labour market; and
• Additional adaptability points for spousal language ability and Canadian work experience.

 Backgrounder — Overview of the New Federal Skilled Worker Program

The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) selects immigrants based on their ability to succeed economically in Canada. It measures applicants using a selection grid worth up to 100 points. The current pass mark is 67. Each applicant is awarded points for official language ability, age, education, work experience, employment already arranged in Canada, and adaptability (such as previous work experience or education acquired in Canada).
Following a thorough review of relevant research, an extensive program evaluation, stakeholder and public consultations, research and study of best practices in other immigrant receiving countries, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is introducing a suite of improvements to the FSWP.

What has changed and why:

LANGUAGE: Requiring a minimum level of language proficiency (28 points max.)
Canadian and international research has consistently shown that language proficiency is the single most important factor in gaining better rates of employment, appropriate employment and higher earnings.
In light of this, CIC is establishing minimum language requirements and is significantly increasing the maximum points awarded for the applicant’s proficiency in English or French. Language ability is now the most important factor on the grid, representing a total of up to 28 points in recognition of its critical importance in ensuring successful outcomes.

AGE: More emphasis on younger workers (12 points max.)
Studies show that younger immigrants integrate more rapidly into the labour market and spend a greater number of years contributing to Canada’s economy. The revised selection grid benefits younger immigrants by awarding a maximum of 12 points up to age 35, with diminishing points awarded from 35 to age 46. There will be no points given after age 46; however, workers aged 47 or older will continue to be eligible for the Program.

EDUCATION: New Educational Credential Assessment (25 points max.)
Previously, points were awarded based on the applicant’s educational credentials in their home country and the years of education required to obtain the credential. This did not take into account its comparative value when assessed against Canadian educational credentials.
The new regulations require a mandatory assessment of foreign educational credentials to determine their equivalency to a completed educational credential in Canada. This also helps to screen out fraudulent credentials, as CIC will not accept those that are not equivalent to a completed Canadian educational credential. In summary, education points will be awarded based on the value of the educational credentials in Canada.
The Minister of CIC will designate credential assessment organizations and regulatory bodies to conduct the assessments as part of the immigration selection process. These agencies will be announced in early 2013.

WORK EXPERIENCE: Redirecting points to other factors (15 points max.)
Foreign work experience is a weak predictor of success in the Canadian labour market. As a result, CIC is reducing the total number of points for work experience from 21 to 15, and increasing the years of experience required to get full points. These changes better reflect the relative value that Canadian employers place on foreign work experience, and allow extra points to be redirected to the language and age factors, which are better indicators of success in the Canadian labour market.

ARRANGED EMPLOYMENT: Streamlining the process and reducing the potential for fraudulent job offers (10 points max.)
The FSWP evaluation showed that people who immigrate with a valid job offer do very well in Canada, earning 79% more in the first three years after arrival than people without arranged employment. However, a more rigorous up-front assessment of the employer and job offer is needed to curb the potential for fraud.
This will be achieved by requiring employers to get a Labour Market Opinion (LMO), issued by Human Resources Development Canada. This will verify that there is a need in the Canadian labour market for this type of worker and that the employer has tried to hire a Canadian or permanent resident first. A benefit for employers is that once they have established this labour market need, they can use the LMO to bring the worker in quickly on a work permit while the worker’s application to immigrate permanently is being processed.

ADAPTABILITY: Changes to reflect factors that help promote integration (10 points max.)
CIC is proposing changes to the adaptability criteria to emphasize factors that are shown to have a positive impact on an immigrant and their family’s integration. As employers have shown a preference for workers with Canadian study and work experience, points for previous work experience in Canada will be increased for the principal applicant. Points for previous study in Canada will remain the same.
Feedback from the consultations strongly recommended replacing the points factor for a spouse’s education with points for a spouse’s language proficiency to improve the likelihood of a family’s successful integration. The points for previous spousal study and/or work in Canada, and having relatives in Canada will remain unchanged. Applicants will have more opportunities overall to earn adaptability points, although the total points will remain the same.
Overall, the new and revised FSWP will enable CIC to select younger skilled workers, proficient in English or French, who can integrate more rapidly and successfully into the Canadian labour market and be active members of the work force for a longer period of time. These changes will also assist the government in meeting the goals stated in Canada’s Economic Action Plan 2012 by building a fast and flexible immigration system whose primary focus is meeting Canada’s economic and labour market needs.
SUPPORTING RESEARCH:

• A 2005 Statistics Canada study found that employment rates of immigrants increased with their ability to speak English and that language proficiency had the biggest impact on their ability to find employment in a high-skilled job or in their intended field.
• In a 2009 Compas Research survey on strategies for integrating internationally educated professionals into the Canadian work force, 87% of employers cited inadequate language skills as the top barrier preventing the foreign-educated from finding suitable employment.
• A 2008 Statistics Canada study found that literacy skills play a role in the wage gap between Canadian-born workers and newcomers to Canada.
• A 2001 academic study ^{Footnote 1} on immigrant earnings in Canada found that on average, the greatest economic gains are realized from immigrants who arrive in Canada between 20 and 30 years old.
• A 2004 academic study ^{Footnote 2} on elderly immigrants in Canada found that migrants aged 45 years and over experience unemployment rates almost double those aged 25 to 34 years.

Send your resume to rgomez@go2canada.com for Free Assessment. Please use "FSW Applicant" as your email subject.

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New Federal Skilled Trades Stream to Begin Accepting Applications on January 2, 2013

Canada has announced its new stream in Canadian Immigrant Visa Application. And It will start this coming Jan 2, 2013.

Mississauga, December 10, 2012 — To address Canada’s growing demand for skilled tradespersons, a new Federal Skilled Trades Program is being launched on January 2, 2013, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced today.
“The new Skilled Trades Stream will help address serious labour shortages in some regions of the country, and support economic growth,” Minister Kenney said. “For too long, Canada’s immigration system has not been open to these in-demand skilled workers. These changes are long overdue and will help us move to a fast and flexible immigration system that works for Canada’s economy.”
The program criteria are built around four requirements that ensure applicants will have the right skills and experience needed to succeed here in Canada. In order to qualify, applicants will need to:

1. have an offer of employment in Canada or a certificate of qualification from a province or territory to ensure that applicants are “job ready” upon arrival;
2. meet a basic language requirement;
3. have a minimum of two years of work experience as a skilled tradesperson, to ensure that the applicant has recent and relevant practice as a qualified journeyman; and
4. have the skills and experience that match those set out in the National Occupational Classification (NOC B) system, showing that they have performed the essential duties of the occupation.

In order to manage intake, avoid backlogs and ensure fast processing times, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) will accept up to a maximum of 3,000 applications in the first year of the Federal Skilled Trades Program.

Please note that Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) will accept up to a maximum of 3,000 applications only in the first year of the Federal Skilled Trades Program.  Start preparing now!

The first step is to get a Certificate of Qualification. The processing period, requirements, and application fee varies depending on which province you want to settle. Quite complicated but with Canadian Immigration Consultancy we will make it easy for you.

Interested?

If you have at least two years work experience and related training in the following areas, you may be eligible to file an application under the proposed Federal Skilled Trades Class (FSTC):

• Industrial, Electrical and Construction Trades;
• Maintenance and Equipment Operation Trades;
• Supervisors and Technical Occupations in Natural Resources, Agriculture and Related Production;
• Processing, Manufacturing and Utilities Supervisors and Central Control Operators;
• Chefs and Cooks
• Bakers and Butchers.

Send your resume to rgomez@go2canada.com for Free Assessment. Please use "Skilled Worker" as your email subject.

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Breaking News: Canada Will Accept 55.300 New Immigration Applicants

From cic.gc.ca:

Toronto, November 2, 2012 — Today, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced that by the end of 2013, Canada’s immigration system will be transformed from one that was plagued by backlogs into one that is fast, flexible, and responsive to the labour market.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) announced today it will admit up to 55,300 persons in the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) category in 2013. Combined with previous actions taken to manage the backlog, this means by the end of 2013 we will be able to process new applications as they are received – a “just in time” system – and aim to process them in less than a year, instead of up to eight years under the old FSWprogram. In addition, CIC expects to clear the FSW applications received to date by the end of 2014, three years earlier than originally expected.
This will allow for the introduction of an Expression of Interest (EOI) system to be put in place for FSW and possibly other economic immigration streams. CIC is moving to a just-in-time system that recruits people with the right skills to meet Canada’s labour market needs, fast tracks their applications, and gets them working in a period of months, instead of years.
“The Government’s number one priority remains the economy and job growth,” said Minister Kenney. “Immigration backlogs are detrimental to our ability to attract the world’s top talent. With the decisive actions we’ve taken to tackle the backlog, we will finally be able to select immigrants who better meet the needs of the Canadian labour market. We will aim to process their applications in less than 12 months.”
The volume of FSW applications has been a longstanding dilemma, since the number of applications received inevitably exceeded the space available within the Immigration Levels Plan each year. As a result, wait times in the FSW program were as high as eight years.
Over the past few years, CIC has taken concrete measures to tackle this problem, including the following:

• Under the 2008 Action Plan for Faster Immigration, CIC began to limit FSWapplication intake to priority occupations.

• In 2010, the Department added caps to the number of new applications.

• In June 2012, the Jobs, Growth and Long-Term Prosperity Act eliminated most of the remaining FSW applications received before February 27, 2008.

• In July 2012, CIC issued a temporary pause on new FSW applications, excluding candidates with a qualifying job offer or those applying under the PhD stream.

Taken together, these efforts have dramatically reduced the total number of people waiting in the FSW backlog from a height of 640,000 people in 2008 to approximately 100,000 today, even with new applications received since the 2008 Action Plan.
“By tackling the backlog to make way for a faster, more flexible just-in-time immigration system, newcomers to Canada will be able to fully participate in the economy more quickly,” said Minister Kenney. “Immigration plays a vital role in our country’s long-term prosperity. By improving our economic immigration system, we can ensure that Canada is competitive on the world stage.”
In 2013, CIC plans to admit between 53,500 to 55,300 Federal Skilled Workers, including their spouses and dependants. CIC intends to lift the current pause on FSW applications in 2013, when the new selection criteria are expected to take effect. The final regulatory changes will be available in the Canada Gazette later this year.

What does this mean?

-the new pointing system will take effect by January 2013 and will be highly favorable to young applicants.
-due to "just in time" system of processing, you still can recieve your immigrant visa within a years time.
-backlog will be reduced.
-the biggest news is Canada Will accept big numbers of applicants compare to the past years where from 20,000 new applicants last 2010 then 10,000 new applicants last 2011 to 55,000 this 2013.


Are you already prepared for this?

Start your applications now!

If you think you can qualify for an Immigrant Application its Best to ACT NOW!

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