New rules of immigration to Canada. 2009 - a year of global change.

On November 28, 2008, the Government of Canada introduced substantive changes to the Federal Skilled Worker Class. The new rules will affect all new applications as well as all applications submitted on or after February 27, 2008. The Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, provides assurances that new federal skilled worker applications, should receive a selection decision within 6 to 12 months.

Federal Skilled Workers are persons with suitable education, work experience, age and language abilities under one of Canada’s official languages and who are selected as permanent residents under six selection factors which demonstrate their likelihood to become economically settled in Canada.

To qualify for admission to Canada as a federal skilled worker, applicants must meet the following conditions:

1. Eliminatory conditions:
   1. Possess at least one year of applicable experience in one of 38 major high demand occupations (health, skilled trades and finance) listed here; OR
   2. Possess an approved offer of employment “Arranged Employment”; OR
   3. Legally living in Canada for a minimum of one year either as a temporary foreign worker or an international student.

   Applicants who meet one of the above eliminatory conditions will be eligible for continued processing as a federal skilled worker and must also meet each of the following essential selection conditions:

2. Essential selection conditions:
   1. Possess one-year, within the previous 10 years, of suitable continuous full-time paid work experience or the equivalent in part-time continuous employment; AND
   2. The work experience must be classified within Skill Type 0 (Managerial Occupations), Skill Level A (Professional Occupations), or Skill Level B (Technical Occupations and Skilled Trades) within the meaning of the National Occupational Classification system; AND
   3. Score sufficient points under the skilled worker point grid comprising of six selection factors. The current pass mark is 67 points; AND
   4. Possess suitable settlement funding; AND
   5. Undergo a successful security background and medical examination.

Under the new rules the Minister of Citizenship Immigration and Multiculturalism will have greater flexibility in processing Economic Class applications by giving priority to applicants legally working or studying in Canada (Canada Experience Class); applicants approved under Quebec or Provincial nominee programs as well as applications submitted with an offer of arranged employment under the Federal Skilled worker program.

It is expected that the majority of new federal skilled worker applications will require employer sponsorship to qualify for admission to Canada.

ImmigrateCentral.com
12 January, 2009