Q. I did an assessment of my points under the Skilled Worker Category and I do not think I score the required 67 Points? Can I still qualify?
______________
A.
Yes in certain cases you can. Canada accepts Skilled Workers based upon their ability to become economically established in Canada. If the Canadian Immigration Visa Officer believes that your point total, even if low, does not accurately reflect your ability to become economically established in Canada, the Canadian Immigration Visa Officer may use his or her positive discretion (referred to as substitute evaluation) and approve your application even though you score less than 67 points. There are certain restrictions however in terms of how such discretion can be used.
However, at a minimum, you must have worked continuously for a period of at least one year, within the last ten years, in a full-time (or part-time equivalent) paid position at a skill level recognized by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
Additionally, you must meet CIC requirements to have either one continuous paid full-time year of work experience in the 29 qualified occupations in the past 10 years; OR Arranged Employment.
President & CEO
Michael Niren
Mr. Niren is CEO of VisaPlace LLC and the President and Managing Partner of VisaPlace Legal Canada, an immigration law firm based in Toronto, and VisaPlace Legal US a law firm registered in The District of Columbia, USA. Mr. Niren is a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Canadian Bar Association’s Citizenship and Immigration Section, American Lawyers Association, and an Associate Member of the American Bar Association.
