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Skilled Worker Applications


Skilled Worker Applications: A path for Permanent Residence in Canada

If you are a skilled worker, you may be able to qualify for Immigration to Canada.A Skilled Worker application is one of the main paths for immigration to Canada. Canada accepts thousands of Skilled Worker Applications each year. However. the process is not easy and is very time consuming. Applying for Canadian Permanent residence requires knowledge of the requirements, procedures, Canadian Embassies as well as how to respond to inquires from Canada immigration during the application process.

Our law firm has over 15 years of experience in handling Skilled Worker cases from virtually every country. Applying for Canadian immigration will be one your the most important life decisions. Make sure your case is in good hands!

Contact our immigration office for a comprehensive assessment of your Skilled Worker Application.

Applying for Canadian immigration as a Skilled Worker

The Skilled Worker Category is for individuals who immigrate to Canada on the basis of their own personal credentials. To qualify for this category, applicants are assessed on a number of different “factors” about their personal circumstances and are awarded “points” for each factor. How many points do you need to qualify? The answer is 67. What are the factors that give you these points?

New Skilled Worker Occupation List

There are 24 eligible occupations for the Skilled Worker List. There is a cap on these occupation streams of  5000 and sub-caps of 300 applications in each of the 24 occupations on the list..

Eligible occupations (with their corresponding 2011 National Occupation Classification code):

  • 0211 Engineering managers
  • 1112 Financial and investment analysts
  • 2113 Geoscientists and oceanographers
  • 2131 Civil engineers
  • 2132 Mechanical engineers
  • 2134 Chemical engineers
  • 2143 Mining engineers
  • 2144 Geological engineers
  • 2145 Petroleum engineers
  • 2146 Aerospace engineers
  • 2147 Computer engineers (except software engineers/designers)
  • 2154 Land surveyors
  • 2174 Computer programmers and interactive media developers
  • 2243 Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics
  • 2263 Inspectors in public and environmental health and occupational health and safety
  • 3141 Audiologists and speech-language pathologists
  • 3142 Physiotherapists
  • 3143 Occupational Therapists
  • 3211 Medical laboratory technologists
  • 3212 Medical laboratory technicians and pathologists’ assistants
  • 3214 Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists
  • 3215 Medical radiation technologists
  • 3216 Medical sonographers
  • 3217 Cardiology technicians and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists, n.e.c. (not elsewhere classified)

What are the language requirements?

According to CIC:

All applicants to the FSWP should first determine whether they meet the new minimum language threshold: Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) 7 in all four skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing). To prove language proficiency, a prospective applicant must take a third-party language test from an organization designated by the Minister and submit their test report along with their application to CIC.

Language test results will be accepted by CIC for two years from the date that they were issued by the designated organization.

CIC-designated language testing organizations include: Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP),International English Language Testing System (IELTS), and Test d’évaluation de français (TEF).

Third-party language tests are scored differently by each of the three organizations. Here are the scores on each of the tests that correspond to Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) 7 or higher:

English

Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP)

An FSWP applicant must score at least 4L on the CELPIP-General test in each of the four skills to meet the minimum language threshold.

A score of 4L on the CELPIP-General test corresponds to CLB 7. A score of 4H corresponds to CLB 8, and a score of 5 or higher corresponds to CLB 9 or higher.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

An FSWP applicant must score at least 6.0 on the IELTS General Training test in each of the four skills to meet the minimum language threshold of CLB 7.

French

Test d’évaluation de français (TEF)

An FSWP applicant must score at least 206 in reading, 248 in listening, and 309 in both speaking and writing on the TEF to meet the minimum language threshold of NCLC 7.

 

Skilled Worker Application Tips

Here are some tips to get you started to give you a just an idea of what score you are likely to get.

Note that to qualify under the Skilled Worker Class, you will have to have at least one (1) year of full-time (37.5 hours per week or more) work experience within the past ten (10) years in one of the occupations listed in either Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A or B of the National Occupational Classification (NOC). The NOC was developed by Human Resources Development Canada to be a systematic cataloging of occupations in the Canadian labour market. The NOC is divided into five (5) bands:

  • Skill Type 0 Management Occupations
  • Skill Level A Professional and Related occupations
  • Skill Level B Technical, skilled trades and paraprofessional occupations
  • Skill Level C Occupations of intermediate level, clerical or supportive functions
  • Skill Level D Elemental sales or service and primary labour occupations

Subject to certain limited exceptions, only experience in Skill Type 0 or Skill Levels A and B are considered relevant for applicants in the Independent/Skilled Worker Class.

If you have at least one year of work experience within the last ten years in occupations listed under Skill Type O, A or B, you then have to be assessed according to various selection criteria by Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Applicants must attain a minimum score of sixty-seven (67) points overall in order to be eligible to become permanent residents of Canada.

These selection criteria are as follows:

Education Maximum 25 Points
Official Languages Maximum 24 Points
Experience Maximum 21 Points
Arranged Employment Maximum 10 Points
Age Maximum 10 Points
Adaptability Maximum 10 Points
TOTAL POINTS                   100 Points
Points to Pass                        67 Points

How Many Points Do YOU Get?

Calculating your points can be somewhat complicated. It is more than just a matter of adding up the scores. It is NOT recommended that you rely on your own assessment. There are many legal issues involved in the proper calculation of immigration points that must be taken into consideration when adding up your score. A thorough understanding of Canadian immigration law is required to accurately assess whether you have enough points to immigrate. It is recommended that you get a professional assessment to accurately calculate your score.

IMPORTANT:  Changes to Skilled Worker Program Announced June 26, 2010.

In order to expedite backlog processing, some restrictions have been placed on Skilled Worker program applications. Some applications will not be processed.

Unless you have an offer of arranged employment; or you have already been living legally in Canada for one year as a temporary foreign worker or international student, you must have at least one year of continuous full-time or equivalent paid work experience in the past 10 years in one of 24 specific high-demand occupations.

What if I don’t get enough points to qualify as a Skilled Worker?

It is important to note that if an applicant scores below sixty-seven (67) points, he/she may still be approved in cases where the immigration officer assessing the case exercises positive discretion in the applicant’s favour. The Immigration Regulations permit an immigration officer to exercise positive discretion in such a case, if the officer is of the opinion that it is likely that the applicant will economically establish himself/herself in Canada. Beware however, that the Immigration Regulations gives an immigration officer the power to exercise negative discretion in cases where the applicant scores 67 points or above if the officer forms the opinion that the applicant will unlikely economically establish himself/herself in Canada.

How can we help with your Skilled Worker Application?

Like all immigration applications, getting it right the first time is essential. Our firm makes sure that your Skilled Worker Application is prepared properly which means ALL the documentation and information necessary is assembled and organized for review by the Visa officer. We also prepare a detailed legal submission letter explaining why you are a qualified candidate for Canadian immigration. Finally, we make sure your application is submitted to the correct Visa office. Once your application is submitted we also monitor it as its being processed. We are there for you every step of the way!

Changes to Skilled Worker Program

Do you need help with your Skilled Worker Application?

Give us a call at 1 866 929 0991 or email us at info@visaplace.com

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