Immigration Canada

January 2015, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has a new electronic system called Express Entry to manage applications for permanent residence under certain economic immigration programs.

The Express Entry system is the first step to immigrate to Canada under these programs. Potential candidates can complete an Express Entry profile at any time. Note that there is no deadline to complete a profile and there are no caps on the number of candidates that will be accepted to the pool.

Anyone who is accepted into the Express Entry pool could get an Invitation to Apply for permanent residence. Draws to invite candidates to apply will take place regularly over the course of each year. We will only pick the top ranking candidates no matter when they were accepted into the pool.

If you are invited to apply, you will have 60 days to submit a completed Application for Permanent Residence online.

The first draw for an invitation to apply is planned for the last week of January 2015.

Features of the Express Entry program include the fact that Canada would be able to select the best candidates, who would be able to achieve success in Canada, rather than just the next person in the queue. Immigration authorities would also have access to an improved Job Bank for matching Canadian employers with the most suitable Express Entry Candidates.

The Government plans to invest $14 million over two years and $4.7 million thereafter, to ensure that Express Entry is a success.

Getting to know Canada

If you are one of those who seek a high quality of life above anything else, Canada is the place for you. It has been consistently ranked by the UN as the number one country in the world to live in.

Canada is an immense country. It is very diverse in its people, its landscape, its climate and its way of life. However, Canadians do share the same important values. These values of pride, a belief in equality and diversity, and respect for all individuals in society. Women, men, children and seniors are all equally respected in Canada. Canadians may be different from each other but it is these shared values that make Canada a friendly, caring, peace-loving and secure society in which to live.

Fairness, tolerance and respect. Canadians want fairness and justice for themselves, their children and their families. And most are fair and just to others, no matter who they are or where they come from.

Diversity and cooperation. Canadians understand the value of cooperation. In a country as large and diverse as Canada, people must be able to learn to resolve or ignore small conflicts in order to live happily and peacefully.

Equal opportunity. Canadians believe in equality. Each person is equal before the law and is treated equally by the law. Women and men have the same opportunity for success. Canadians let people live as the wish, as long as they do not limit how others live.

Civil responsibility. Canadians appreciate their rights and freedoms, which are the same without regard to gender, race or ethnicity. Most also want to contribute to our society. As a newcomer, you should be aware of your rights and responsibilities. The right to participate in Canadian society implies an obligation to help it succeed. Canadian citizenship is about caring enough to want to get involved and make Canada even better.

Environmental responsibility. Canadians are especially conscious of their natural environment and the need to both respect and protect it for the future. Canadians believe that economic growth should not come at the expense of a healthy environment and social well-being. There are some simple things we all can do to work toward sustainable development, such as participating in recycling programs that help convert garbage into usable materials; keeping parks and streets clean by putting garbage into garbage cans; cleaning up after out pets; not smoking in public places where it is banned; using public transportation, riding a bicycle or walking rather than using a car, and volunteering with community groups.

THE LAND

Canada is a vast and diverse nation. Its 10 million square kilometres of territory embrace great fertile prairies, immense lakes surrounded by boreal forests, rugged mountain ranges and expanses of wind-swept tundra.

Canada’s first inhabitants were Aboriginal peoples. They established distinct cultures, reflecting a complex interaction between humans and all other living things. Later, immigrants arrived and the land supplied them with the raw materials needed for economic progress.

While Canadians continue to draw resourced and energy from the environment, many Canadians are also working closely with government to protect.

The Weather

Beyond question, Canada is a cold country. During the winter, no place within its boundaries escapes the bite of frost. On the other hand, its southern regions have hot or even scorching summers. In fact, this vast country is home to several climates; an arctic climate in the Far North, a relatively cold and wet climate in the east, a continental climate in the centre, and a mild, wet climate on the West Coast. Latitude, reflecting the
distance from the equator, the proximity of a large body of water, location in relation to high mountain chains; altitude; and the flow of air masses- these are all factors that influence temperatures and precipitation.

The farther south, the less severe the winter chill. Thus, while in January the inhabitants of Yellowknife cope with an average temperature of -28oC, Torontonians experience -7oC. But it is in Canada’s far west, more specifically in Victoria, British Columbia, that the winters are the mildest, with an average temperature of 3oC in January. The entire coast of British Columbia enjoys a clement winter climate, since it is swept by westerly winds warmed over the Pacific. Since the Cordillera stops these air masses from moving east, the Prairie provinces are subject to bitterly cold blizzards that sweep down onto the plains from the Arctic.

Only a small region in southern Alberta enjoys a few episodes of respite during the winter, thanks to a warm, dry wind from the Pacific that sometimes manages to find its way there. This wind is called the Chinook, meaning ‘he who eats snow,’ because it can make the temperature jump 25oC in an hour. The moderating effect of the ocean is also felt on the East Coast, but to a lesser extent because of the west-to-east flow of air masses and the frigid Labrador Current along the Atlantic coast.

During the summer, air masses from the American southwest and the Gulf of Mexico exhale their hot breath onto the southern part of Canada. They bring especially hot summers to the Prairies, where nothing intervenes to temper their effects. Summer temperatures are lower on the coasts, which are cooled by ocean air. In Canada’s North, there’s a nip in the air all summer, since warm winds seldom visit such high latitudes.

The number of frost-free days, which provides a good idea of the growing season, is of prime importance for agriculture. Southwestern British Columbia, which has from 200 to 250 frost-free days, is definitely the most favoured region of Canada in this regard, but its arable land is limited. Thus the St. Lawrence and Great Lakes lowlands, whose southern part enjoys a frost-free period of 125 to 175 days, are known as the farming centre of Canada. Farmers in valleys on the Atlantic coast must cope with a somewhat shorter season, while those on the Prairies are clearly limited in their choice of crops, with a frost-free season of only 90 to 120 days.

The Economy

The Canadian economy of the 21st century is diversified. Although Canada sells goods and services around the world, more than 80% of exports and 70 of imports are with the United States. Canada is evolving into a knowledge- based economy. Service industries now employ three out of four Canadians. More and more, Canadians work in offices, stores or warehouses rather than famrs, mines, or factories. Canada’s economic well-being is tied to many factors: the wealth of natural resources; the strength of its manufacturing and construction industries; the health of the financial and service sectors; the ability to span distances using communications and transportation technologies; dynamic trade relationships with other nations; and the ability to compete in a global marketplace. Canada has come a long way from the economic revolution sparked by the railway and the telegraph in the early 1800s. Over the years, a steady tide of technological progress has profoundly reshaped our economy, making possible the combustion engine, the assembly line, computer networks and professional consultants. Today, economic progress rides an electronic expressway of automation, information and instant communication. Advances in technology, the increased globalization of markets and the emergence of liberal trading regimes are fundamentally changing the way we conduct our business. Long removed from an economy based almost exclusively on natural resources, Canada is rapidly moving toward a knowledge-based economy built on innovation and technology. Canada’s knowledge-intensive industries are generating advances in our ability to produce high-tech machinery and equipment, and encouraging industrial innovation as a result.

Canadian businesses are ‘getting connected’ more than ever before, exploiting advances in communications technology to reach out into the global marketplace in search of buyers for their products. Indeed, with a small domestic market, the steady expansion of multilateral trade is critical to the structure of our economy and the continued prosperity of our nation.

Express Entry

CANADA EXPRESS ENTRY

January 2015, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has a new electronic system called Express Entry to manage applications for permanent residence under certain economic immigration programs.

If you are invited to apply, you will have 60 days to submit a complete Application for Permanent Residence online.

The first draw for an invitation to apply is planned for the last week of January 2015.

The Government plans to invest $14 million over two years and $4.7 million thereafter, to ensure that Express Entry is a success.

Worker Class

Canada Federal Skilled Worker Class

OverviewThe Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) is one of the Government of Canada’s main avenues to permanent immigration. Applicants are selected based on criteria that assess the candidate’s overall capacity to adapt to Canada’s labour market. This includes factors such as knowledge of English or French, education, work experience and other criteria that have been shown to help FSWs become economically established in Canada.

Advantages to EmployersEmployers can significantly improve the chances of having an FSW application approved by making a qualifying job offer to a foreign national in a skilled occupation. For more information, see the fact sheet on Arranged Employment. Priority processing is given to applicants with a qualifying job offer, allowing employers to staff positions quickly. In addition, there is no limit on the number of FSW applications with arranged employment that CIC will accept each year.

How It Works FSWP processing is open to applicants who have one of the following:

at least one year of continuous work experience in one NOC O, A and B groups
at least two years of study in a PhD program in Canada or graduation from a Canadian doctoral program no more than 12 months before the date their application is received; OR
a qualifying offer of permanent, full-time employment in Canada.

All applicants must:

have at least one year of full-time (or equivalent part-time) experience in a skilled occupation (managerial, professional or technical and skilled trades);
meet the minimum language threshold (Canadian Language Benchmark 7) in speaking, reading, writing and listening; and
have either a Canadian educational credential OR provide an Educational Credential Assessment from a CIC-designated organization to prove that their foreign credential is equivalent to a completed Canadian one.

Applicants are then assessed against the factors in the FSW selection grid and must meet the pass mark of 67 out of 100 points. Successful applicants must also meet admissibility requirements, including health, safety and security assessments.

But as on January 1, 2015, completing an Express Entry profile will be the first step in Immigrating to Canada permanently as a skilled worker under the :

Federal Skilled Worker Program,
Federal Skilled Trades Program, and
Canadian Experience class

Under the Express Entry system, Citizenship and Immigration Canada(CIC) will invite people to apply for permanent residence based on the information they enter in an online profile. You cannot apply directly to any of these programs unless CIC sends you an Invitation to Apply(ITA).

Experience Class

Canada Federal Experience Class

Immigrate to Canada permanently! If you have been working or studying in Canada, you already know why, year after year, Canada is consistently ranked as one of the best countries in the world in which to live. From a strong, stable economy to the beauty of its natural environment, Canada offers an exceptionally high quality of life. With the knowledge, skills and experience you have gained in Canada, you could qualify to make Canada your permanent home.

Who can apply To apply for permanent resident status through the Canadian Experience Class (CEC):

you must have the required 12 months of work experience in Canada and it must have been acquired while you had the proper work permits or authorizations.
you must also be able to communicate in one of Canada’s two official languages.

Requirements for applicants

To apply for permanent resident status through the CEC, you need at least one year of full-time experience (or the equivalent in part-time work) as a skilled worker in Canada. Full-time work means at least 30 hours per week, and you need to have worked at least 1,560 hours in a year. The one-year of work experience must have been obtained within the three years preceding the date your CEC application is received.

To work in Canada after graduating, your best option is to apply for a post graduation work permit. Information on obtaining a work permit is available on CIC’s website at cic.gc.ca/study. These permits may be valid for up to three years. To qualify for the CEC, remember that at least one year of your work experience must be in a skilled occupation (see skilled work experience).

It is also important to note that work experience you may have acquired as part of your academic program, such as an internship or a co-op placement, does not qualify under the CEC. Part-time work you may have performed during your studies does not qualify either.

If you have made an application for permanent residence and your existing work permit is about to expire, you may be eligible for a bridging open work permit. Bridging open work permits allow qualified applicants to keep working while they await a final decision on their permanent residence application. For more information about bridging open work permits including eligibility, visit cic.gc.ca/bridging.

Skilled work experience

Your work experience in Canada must be in a job or an occupation that requires a specific level of skill, education or training. To qualify, your experience must be in one of the following categories of Canada’s National Occupational Classification.

Skill Type 0

This includes senior management occupations, middle and other management positions.

Skill Level A

Occupations at this level usually require university education at the bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate level.

Skill Level B

Occupations at this level usually require education obtained at a college or vocational institute, apprenticeship training or three to four years of secondary school followed by more than two years of on-the-job training, specialized training courses or specific work experience.

Language requirements

To qualify for the CEC, you must prove your proficiency in one of Canada’s two official languages, which are English and French. The four linguistic abilities are speaking, reading, listening and writing. The required level of ability in English or French will vary according to your occupation. For example, the language requirements for managerial and professional positions are higher than the requirements for positions in technical occupations or skilled trades. To prove your language skills, you will need to take a language test approved by CIC and include those results with your application. You will find more information about specific language requirements on CIC’s website at cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/ cec/language.asp. These language requirements are subject to change.

Fees

The application processing fee for a single person is $550 in Canadian funds. There are additional fees if another member of your family is applying at the same time. The processing fees for you and your dependants must be paid when you submit your application. Be sure to note that processing fees cannot be refunded, so it is very important to understand the requirements of the CEC before you submit your application. Details are available on CIC’s website at immigration.gc.ca/cec. You must also pay the following for yourself and your family members (if applicable): • medical examinations • police certificates • language assessments

But as on January 1, 2015, completing an Express Entry profile will be the first step in Immigrating to Canada permanently as a skilled worker under the :

Federal Skilled Worker Program,
Federal Skilled Trades Program, and
Canadian Experience class

Trade Class

Canada Federal Skilled Trade Class

Overview

Launched in January 2013, the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) helps to facilitate the immigration of skilled trades people to Canada. Applicants are selected according to criteria geared towards their reality, placing more emphasis on practical training and work experience rather than on formal education.

Advantages to Employers

Given Canada’s aging workforce and the continued demand for certain skilled trades in the natural resource, agriculture and construction sectors, immigration is considered to be part of the solution for trades’ renewal.

Employers can help qualified temporary foreign workers transition into permanent residence through the program by making them a qualifying job offer. For more information, see the fact sheet on Arranged Employment.

How It Works Applicants to the FSTP must:

Have EITHER a one-year qualifying job offer OR a Provincial/Territorial certificate of qualification in a qualifying skilled trade to demonstrate that the individual can be employed in Canada;
Meet minimum language proficiency thresholds in either English or French: Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 in speaking and listening (i.e. the applicant can effectively participate in and understand routine conversations); and CLB 4 (fluent basic proficiency) in reading and writing;
Have at least two years of work experience (within the last five years) in one of 43 eligible skilled trades (www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/trades/applications.asp); and
Satisfy the employment requirements set out in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) system, with the exception of licensing requirements, which are addressed separately.

But as on January 1, 2015, completing an Express Entry profile will be the first step in Immigrating to Canada permanently as a skilled worker under the :

Federal Skilled Worker Program,
Federal Skilled Trades Program, and
Canadian Experience class

FAQ’s Related to Express Entry

IN MY EXPRESS ENTRY PROFILE/APPLICATION I AM GETTING VALIDATION ERRORS OR IT TELLS ME THAT FIELDS ARE INCOMPLETE WHEN THEY ARE NOT. WHAT DO I DO?

You may want to try using a different Web browser such as Firefox or Google Chrome. You should also check your browser’s language settings and make sure it is set to English or French as special characters can cause errors. If you are still having the problem try clearing your browser cache. Your browser’s Help section can tell you how to do this. If the problem continues you may have to contact us.

DO I NEED AN EDUCATIONAL CREDENTIAL ASSESSMENT TO APPLY UNDER EXPRESS ENTRY?

Not necessarily. But, to get points for your education under the Comprehensive Ranking System, you must either:

have been educated in Canada, or
have a valid Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for your completed foreign education.

You may also need an ECA to meet the requirements of one of the programs included in Express Entry. For example, the Federal Skilled Worker Program requires you to have an ECA.

I HAVE TWO DEGREES FROM OUTSIDE CANADA. DO I NEED AN EDUCATIONAL CREDENTIAL ASSESSMENT FOR BOTH?

To get the most points possible for your education under the Comprehensive Ranking System, you should get your highest degree, diploma or certificate assessed (PhD, MA, BA). If you have more than one credential, you may want to get both assessed if it would give you more points.

THE ONLINE TOOL SAID I WAS ELIGIBLE FOR EXPRESS ENTRY, BUT MY COMPLETED PROFILE SAYS I’M NOT. WHICH ONE IS RIGHT?

The online tool asks general questions to see if you may be eligible for one of the programs under Express Entry. The Express Entry profile asks more specific and detailed questions about your qualifications. It is possible that after you gave more detailed information in your Express Entry profile that you are, in fact, not eligible. Only a complete Express Entry profile can be used to fully assess if you are eligible.

CAN I USE MY EXISTING JOB BANK ACCOUNT FOR EXPRESS ENTRY?

No. You will have to create a new one using your Express Entry profile number and Job Seeker Validation Code. Once you complete your Express Entry profile, if you are found to meet most of the requirements to enter the pool, you should get a message in your MyCIC account with this information.

WHAT IS A PERSONAL REFERENCE CODE? WHERE CAN I GET A ONE?

Your personal reference code is created when you have finished answering the questions in the Come to Canada tool. It is used to transfer the information from your answers over to the Express Entry profile builder in your MyCIC account. It looks like this: JM1234567890. If you access Express Entry directly through your MyCIC account, you will not get a personal reference code. Note: The personal reference code is not the same as the Express Entry profile number. The profile number is given to each completed Express Entry profile.

MY PERSONAL REFERENCE CODE IS NOT WORKING. WHAT SHOULD I DO?

If you have already started to create an Express Entry profile in your MyCIC account, the reference code will not work. To continue your profile, scroll to the bottom of your MyCIC account and:

under the “Continue my profile / application, not yet submitted” section
choose the line with your Express Entry profile
click the “Continue Profile” button.

If you have not started creating your profile, you will have to go through the Come to Canada tool again for a new reference code.

WHAT DO I NEED TO CREATE AN EXPRESS ENTRY PROFILE?

You can find everything you need to complete an Express Entry profile on our website.

I AM A NATIVE ENGLISH OR FRENCH SPEAKER. WHY DO I NEED TO TAKE A LANGUAGE TEST FOR EXPRESS ENTRY?

Canada assesses everyone using the same standards, no matter their language of origin, nationality or ethnicity. Even someone from an English-speaking country, who speaks English as a first language, needs to take a test. Likewise, someone from a French-speaking country, who speaks French as a first language, needs to take a test. You need to submit third-party language results for all programs under Express Entry. You will have to include the results of your test(s) in your Express Entry profile. Language tests have been required for our skilled immigration programs for many years. Find out more about language testing.

WHAT KIND OF LANGUAGE TEST CAN I USE FOR EXPRESS ENTRY?

We only accept these tests for Express Entry: For English

CELPIP: Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program – CELPIP-General 2014
- (If you took the test before April 1, 2014, you would have had to take the “CELPIP-General (CELPIP-G)” test.)
IELTS: International English Language Testing System – General Training

For French

TEF: Test d’évaluation de français

Find out more about language testing.

A MESSAGE IN MYCIC SAYS MY PROFILE WAS UPDATED. I DIDN’T UPDATE IT TODAY (OR DON’T SEE AN UPDATE). WHAT HAPPENED?

It may take up to 24 hours for the system to send a message saying that your profile has been updated. For example, if you made a change on Monday, you may only receive a message from your MyCIC account on Tuesday.

I ACCIDENTLY WITHDREW MY EXPRESS ENTRY PROFILE. HOW CAN I FIX THIS?

If you withdrew your profile, you will need to create a new one if you want to enter the pool. You will have to meet the Express Entry requirements in place at that time.

I WAS FOUND NOT ELIGIBLE FOR EXPRESS ENTRY AND I CAN’T CHANGE MY PROFILE. WHAT DO I DO?

If you’ve been found not eligible, you will need to create a new profile. You will have to meet the Express Entry requirements that are in place, so unless you made a mistake in your first profile or your circumstances have changed (i.e. you have received new language test results, you now have additional work experience, etc.), there is a good chance you will be found ineligible again.

HOW DO I UPDATE MY EXPRESS ENTRY PROFILE BEFORE SUBMITTING IT?

To update your profile, follow these steps:

Go to the main page of your MyCIC account (the one that says Welcome to MyCIC at the top)
Scroll down to “Continue my profile / application, not yet submitted”
Choose the line with your Express Entry Profile
Click “Continue Profile” button

Once you’re on the “Express Entry profile” page:

Click the “Update form” button for the “Form Name” you want to update
Make the changes you want to the fields
Click the “Save and exit” button at the bottom of page to go back to “Express Entry Profile” page.

SOME FIELDS IN MY EXPRESS ENTRY PROFILE ARE GREYED OUT AND I CAN’T CHANGE THEM. HOW DO I UPDATE THEM?

This is an example of greyed out fields in your Express Entry profile: In some places, the fields will be coloured gray, and you will not be able to update them. (A red circle with a diagonal line will also appear when you mouse over the field.) This is because the information was brought forward from the first tool (Come to Canada) you completed. To update them, you will have to update them in the previous step. To do this:

From the “Express Entry Profile” page:
Click on the “Modify Family Information” button at the top of the page:
Change the fields as needed.
Click the “Update Information” button to save any changes:

Note: Clicking the “Update Information” button will also bring you to the next section if the change you want to make is not in the first screen. On the following screens: You have a few options. You can click:

the “Next” button to save your answers and go back to the “Express Entry Profile” page,
the “Save and exit questionnaire” button to return to the main page of your MyCIC account, or
the “Modify my Answers” button to see all the eligibility questions.

Click the “pencil” button to access the fields related to that question.

HOW DO I CONFIRM THAT MY EXPRESS ENTRY PROFILE IS COMPLETE?

To confirm that you profile is complete:

Go to the “Express Entry profile” page
Click the “Continue form” button for the section with the status “in progress”
Verify that all circles to the right have a green check mark in them.

If one section displays a progress bar instead of a green check mark, open the section and complete the missing information.

Click the “save and exit” button to save your changes and return to the “Express Entry profile” page.

I ALREADY SUBMITTED MY EXPRESS ENTRY PROFILE. CAN I STILL UPDATE IT?

Yes, you can still update your profile after you’ve submitted it. Follow these steps:

On the main page of your MyCIC account (the one that says Welcome to MyCIC at the top), go to the section “What would you like to do today?”
Scroll down to “View my submitted applications or profiles”
Click on the “Check status and messages” button:
On the “Application/profile details” page, click on the “view submitted application” button (near the bottom):
On the “Express Entry profile” page, click on the “Update form” button for the section you want to change.
Make any changes you need to, and then click the “Save and Exit” button at the bottom of the page.
Once you have finished updating your profile, click on the “Continue” button at the bottom of the page and follow the directions provided to submit your updated profile.

Note: The “Revert changes” button will appear each time you enter a form and click on the “Save and exit” button, even if you didn’t make any changes. If you did not make any changes, click on the “Revert changes” button to confirm this.

WHERE CAN I FIND MY EXPRESS ENTRY PROFILE NUMBER AND/OR JOB SEEKER VALIDATION CODE?

You can find these numbers in a message on your MyCIC account. To find it:

Log into your MyCIC account,
Go to the heading called “View my submitted applications or profiles,”
Click on “Check status and messages,”
Scroll down to the table called “Correspondence,”
Click on the arrow in front of the message – it will open a drop-down menu with a link,
Click on the link to open the PDF message.

HOW DO I WITHDRAW MY EXPRESS ENTRY PROFILE?

To withdraw your profile:

On the main page of your MyCIC account, go to the section “What would you like to do today?”
Scroll down to “View my submitted applications or profiles”
Click on the orange “Withdraw profile” button
Under the heading “What would you like to do today?” below the “Warning!” text, click on the orange “Continue” button.

IN AN EXPRESS ENTRY PROFILE, SHOULD I ONLY INCLUDE THE MINIMUM WORK EXPERIENCE NEEDED TO QUALIFY FOR ONE OF THE PROGRAMS, OR SHOULD I INCLUDE MORE?

To qualify for the broadest range of programs, including the Federal Skilled Worker Program, you should include work experience for the last 10 years. We also need this information for an application for permanent residence, no matter which program you are applying under.

I APPLIED BEFORE EXPRESS ENTRY WAS LAUNCHED, BUT MY APPLICATION WAS RETURNED BECAUSE IT WAS INCOMPLETE (OR THE CAP WAS REACHED). DO I ANSWER “YES” OR “NO” TO THE “HAVE YOU PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION” QUESTION?

If you got a letter from us that confirms your previous application is being processed, you should answer “yes.” If you did not get this letter, you should answer “no.” If the application was never formally accepted for processing, we don’t count it as an application.

IN AN EXPRESS ENTRY PROFILE, WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THE “DATE THE APPLICANT FIRST BECAME QUALIFIED TO PRACTICE THIS OCCUPATION.”?

If you are listing a skilled trade (jobs with a four-digit NOC code that begins with 632, 633, 72, 73, 82, 92) as your primary occupation: This is the date when you first became qualified to practice on your own in that trade (for example, when you moved from apprentice to fully qualified tradesperson). Note: If you are being assessed for the Federal Skilled Trades program, work experience in a trade will only count if you are qualified to practice in that region. If you are listing any other primary occupation: This is the date when you finished the minimum level of education needed for the occupation according to the National Occupational Classification code. (Note: if the NOC only states high school, this is the date you graduated from high school.)

HOW DO I FILL OUT MY EXPRESS ENTRY PROFILE WHEN I HAVE IMPLIED STATUS?

If you are working in Canada with implied status and are authorized to work in Canada at the time you complete your Express Entry profile: Answer “yes” to the “Does X have a valid work permit for the current job in Canada?” question. If you are working in Canada with implied status, are authorized to work in Canada, and the original work permit was issued on the basis of a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA): Answer “yes” to the “Was a positive LMIA issued for the current work permit?” question. Where it asks for the LMIA number, you should enter the number of the expired LMIA. If the above is true, and:

you are still working for the employer specified on the original work permit, and
you have a permanent job offer from your current employer,

a new LMIA would not be needed to support your job offer. You should answer “no” to the “Was a positive LMIA issued for the job offer in Canada?” question.

HOW DO I ANSWER THE QUESTION IN EXPRESS ENTRY ABOUT MY EDUCATION IF I HAVE TWO OR MORE DEGREES OR DIPLOMAS?

To get the correct number of points, make sure you choose the answer that best reflects your case. For example: For each entry, if you have two Bachelor degrees, or one Bachelor and a two-year college diploma, choose “Two or more certificates, diplomas, or degrees. One must be for a program of three or more years.” If you have more than two degrees or diplomas, you will not get any extra points. You should choose the same option as above, unless you have:

a master’s degree, or
a doctoral level degree (PhD).

You will get more points for a master’s or a doctorate, so if you have one, choose it from the drop-down menu.

IF MY EXPRESS ENTRY PROFILE EXPIRES, WILL THE SYSTEM KEEP MY INFORMATION?

No, the system will not keep your information. We had planned to allow the system to save profile information, so it would be easier to complete a new profile when the first one expired. We have found that this option is not possible at this time. Should the option become available in the future, we will update this information online. If your profile is about to expire, you must complete and submit a new one if you want to stay in the Express Entry pool. You can save screen shots of your profile to make it easier to re-enter your data. Do not create a new profile until your existing one expires. If you decide to create and submit a new profile before your existing one expires, you will need towithdraw your existing profile first. Find more information.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY PRIMARY OCCUPATION?

Your primary occupation means the job you have experience in (within the last five years) and want to base your immigration application on, if you are invited to apply.

HOW DO I FIND MY NATIONAL OCCUPATION CLASSIFICATION (NOC) CODE?

Your National Occupation Classification (NOC) code is the number the job is listed under in Canada’s official job classification system. Find the NOC code and title for a job.

WHY DIDN’T I GET POINTS FOR MY JOB OFFER?

To get points from the Comprehensive Ranking System for a job offer under Express Entry, your employer will need to get a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). You should only answer “Yes” to the question “Does [your name] have a job offer in Canada?” if a Canadian employer has offered you a full-time, non-seasonal job, and that job offer is supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment. (Note – in most cases, the job offer must be for a permanent job. For some types of jobs, it has to be for at least one year.) If you are currently working in Canada but have not been offered a job that is supported by a LMIA, you should answer “No” and create a Job Seeker account in Job Bank. Find out more about what makes a job offer valid.

I HAVE A JOB OFFER BUT THE SYSTEM SAYS I NEED TO REGISTER IN JOB BANK. WHY?

You have to register with Job Bank unless your job offer is supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment. If you have a job offer that meets the requirements, be sure to answer “Yes” to the question “Does [your name] have a job offer in Canada?” This is found under the Work Experience form of your Express Entry profile. If your job offer does not meet the requirements, you should answer “No” and you must register in Job Bank to become a candidate in the Express Entry pool.

I AM WORKING IN CANADA ON A VALID WORK PERMIT. DOES THIS COUNT AS A JOB OFFER?

Your job offer is only valid, whether you are working in Canada or not, if your current or prospective employer:

has made an offer to give you a full-time, non-seasonal job if you are accepted as a permanent resident, and
has a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada.

(Note – in most cases, the job offer must be for a permanent job. For some types of jobs, it has to be for at least one year.) The only time that an employer making you a job offer does not need to get a new LMIA is when you are already working for them with a work permit that is based on that LMIA. Find out more about what makes a job offer valid.

THERE IS NO NATIONAL OCCUPATION CLASSIFICATION (NOC) CODE ON MY WORK PERMIT. WHAT SHOULD I PUT IN MY EXPRESS ENTRY PROFILE?

If there is no National Occupational Classification (NOC) code on your work permit, you should find and use the NOC code of the job you are currently doing in Canada. Find the NOC code and title for your job.

IF I AM ON IMPLIED STATUS AND WAITING FOR A NEW WORK PERMIT, DO I KEEP THE 600 JOB OFFER POINTS OR DO I NEED TO UPDATE MY EXPRESS ENTRY PROFILE AND REMOVE THE JOB OFFER?

If you have implied status, and have applied to renew your work permit, you can keep working for the same employer under the same conditions. You are still eligible for the 600 points for a job offer during this time. If you are invited to apply, your Express Entry profile answers will be carried forward to your electronic application for permanent residence (showing that you have a valid work permit supported by an LMIA in a NOC 0, A or B occupation). You will not need to change the answers, but you must submit a copy of your LMIA with the application.

WHAT WORK EXPERIENCE CAN I COUNT TOWARDS THE FEDERAL SKILLED TRADES PROGRAM’S TWO-YEAR REQUIREMENT?

In the Federal Skilled Trades program, work experience in a trade can only count if you are qualified to independently practice that trade in the region where you got your work experience. If you are qualified in one country, you might work in another country that has different rules for practicing your trade. In that case, the work experience from the second country will only count towards the two-year work experience requirement if you also met the requirements to practice there independently. For example, if you are a plumber from Germany and worked for one year in Poland, you need to prove that you were certified to be a plumber in Germany, and that you were qualified to work in Poland according to Polish regulations at the time for this work experience to count.

I HAVE BEEN WORKING IN CANADA FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS BUT DIDN’T GET POINTS FOR WORK EXPERIENCE. WHY NOT?

Under the Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), to be awarded points for skilled work experience, you must have been:

legally allowed to work in Canada in one or more jobs listed in Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A or B of the National Occupational Classification;
working full-time (or an equal amount in part-time), meaning 30 hours of work per week, and
working for at least one year in the 10-year period before the day we assign you points.

We do not count work experience if you were:

studying full-time while you were working,
self-employed, or
not legally allowed to work in Canada.

Please note: Work experience does not need to be continuous to get points under the CRS. But, to qualify under the Federal Skilled Worker Program, you must have at least one year of continuous full-time paid work experience, either in Canada or abroad.

IF I AM UNDER IMPLIED STATUS WHILE IN THE EXPRESS ENTRY POOL, WILL I STILL GET THE 600 ADDITIONAL POINTS FOR HAVING A JOB OFFER?

If you show in your Express Entry profile that you have a valid job offer, you will automatically be awarded an additional 600 points towards your Comprehensive Ranking System score. If your job offer is from your current employer, and you are under implied status, you must keep working for the same employer under the same conditions in order to keep those 600 points.

I INCLUDED MY JOB OFFER FROM MY CURRENT EMPLOYER IN MY EXPRESS ENTRY PROFILE. WHAT IF I AM INVITED TO APPLY WHILE I AM WAITING FOR A NEW WORK PERMIT FROM THIS EMPLOYER?

If you applied for a new work permit before your old one expired, you are under “implied status” until we make a decision on your application. If you are invited to apply for permanent residence while having implied status, your Express Entry profile answers will be carried forward to your application for permanent residence in MyCIC. If you are not sure you answered correctly: in the “work history” screen, under the “Intended work in Canada” section, scroll down to the section about Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIA). Make sure you answered “yes” to the question “Was a positive LMIA issued for the job offer in Canada?” Where it asks for the LMIA number, the number you enter should be the one from the expired LMIA. To support the claim that you are under implied status, include a copy of your new LMIA and work permit applications when you apply. When you get to the document checklist in MyCIC, upload it into the “Optional documents” section, by selecting “add letter of explanation.” As long as you still have implied status at the time you apply, you do not need to wait for your new work permit to be approved. If you are issued a new work permit before you submit your application, you need to update this information before you submit it. If you are refused a new work permit before you submit your application, you may want to decline the invitation to apply. You will be put back in the pool, and should update your Express Entry profile to show the change in your work status. If you submit the application for permanent residence anyway, we will likely refuse it, as you will lose the 600 points for the job offer. This will probably put you below the lowest score for that round. If we refuse your application, we will not refund your processing fees.

I WAS INVITED TO APPLY FOR PERMANENT RESIDENCE UNDER EXPRESS ENTRY WHILE WORKING IN CANADA. MY WORK PERMIT EXPIRED BEFORE I COULD APPLY FOR ANOTHER. WHAT DO I DO?

If you did not maintain implied status (in other words, you did not apply for a new work permit before your original one expired), you may want to decline the invitation to apply. You will be put back in the pool, and should update your Express Entry profile to show the change in your work status. If you submit your application anyway, we will likely refuse it, as you will lose the 600 points for the job offer. This will probably put you below the lowest score for that round. If we refuse your application, we will not refund your fees. Â You may be able to restore your status. If your status is restored and you still have an eligible Express Entry profile, you may be invited to again apply for permanent residence in the future.

I DID NOT GET A JOB SEEKER VALIDATION CODE IN THE MESSAGE YOU SENT ME IN MY MYCIC ACCOUNT. WHY NOT?

If you got an Express Entry profile number but not a Job Seeker Validation Code, this could mean one of two things:

you had a valid job offer or a provincial nomination when you submitted your profile, or
you are not eligible for Express Entry.

To be eligible for Express Entry, you need to meet the minimum requirements and complete a profile. Part of your profile is to create a Job Seeker account if this applies to you. The only time this does not apply is if you have a valid job offer or a provincial nomination. If you are not sure, check the message in your MyCIC account again. It should tell you which of these applies to your case.

HOW DO I UPLOAD MORE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS AFTER I HAVE ALREADY SUBMITTED MY ONLINE APPLICATION FOR PERMANENT RESIDENCE THROUGH EXPRESS ENTRY?

Once you have submitted your online application for permanent residence, you cannot send more documents through MyCIC unless CIC asks for them. If CIC asks for a document, you will get a message in your MyCIC account. To upload a document:

Sign in to your MyCIC account.
Under “View my submitted applications” click on “Check status and messages.”
Under “Application Details” click on “View submitted application” at the bottom of the page.
On this page, you can upload the additional document the same way you uploaded the others when you first applied.

If you need to send documents that we did not ask for (for example, an updated Travel History form), go to our Web form and follow the instructions.

Quebec Skilled Worker

The Quebec Immigration selection system for Quebec Skilled Workers is designed to indicate which applicants are likely to become economically established upon immigration to Quebec.

Quebec Skilled Worker applicants intending to reside in the province of Quebec are selected based upon a different set of criteria than applicants who wish to settle elsewhere in Canada.
The government of Quebec has announced the 2016 application cycle. Mon project Québec account may submit their application between June 13 and 20, 2016. The maximum number of applications to be received during this period will be raised to 5,000 will process applications online.
Applicants who are successful under the Quebec Immigration selection system are issued a Quebec Selection Certificate, at which point they may apply for a Canadian permanent resident visa.

To qualify for a Quebec Selection Certificate, Skilled Worker applicants must score enough points under the Quebec Immigration selection system below. A single applicant must score at least 49 points based on the criteria below. An applicant with a spouse or common-law partner must score at least 57 points.

The Quebec Immigration selection factors may be summarized as follows:

Education	Up to 14 points (Cutoff Score = 2 points)
Area of Training	Up to 16 points
Validated Employment Offer	Up to 10 points
Work Experience	Up to 8 points
Age	Up to 16 points
Language Proficiency	Up to 22 points
Stay and Family in Quebec	Up to 8 points
Spouse/Common-law partner Characteristics	Up to 17 points
Children	Up to 8 points
Financial Self-Sufficiency	1 point

Many of the documents required in order to apply for the Quebec Skilled Worker Program must be certified true copies.

Processing Fees
processing fees for the Quebec Skilled Worker Program are as follows:

Applicant	Fees
Principal Applicant	$765
Spouse, de facto spouse	$164
Each dependent child	$164

Quebec Immigration – Level of education

The education criterion is one of the ten criteria for which points are awarded under the Quebec Skilled Worker Program.

Up to 14 points are awarded under the education criterion of Quebec immigration on the basis of the following three subcategories:

Schooling
Level of Education	Points
Secondary school general diploma	2 points
Secondary school vocational diploma	6 points
Postsecondary school general diploma attesting to 2 years of full-time studies	4 points
Postsecondary school technical diploma attesting to 1–2 years of full-time studies	6 points
Postsecondary school technical diploma attesting to 1 or 2 years of full-time studies in addition to an ‘Area of Training’ worth 12 or 16 points	10 points
Postsecondary school technical diploma attesting to 3 years of full-time studies	8 points
Postsecondary school technical diploma attesting to 3 years of full-time studies in addition to an ‘Area of Training’ worth 12 or 16 points	10 points
Undergraduate diploma attesting to 1 or more years of full-time studies	4
Undergraduate diploma attesting to 2 or more years of full-time studies	6
Undergraduate diploma attesting to 3 or more years of full-time studies	10 points
Master’s Degree	12 points
Doctorate	14 points
Maximum	14 points

Quebec Immigration – Work Experience

The work experience criterion is one of the ten criteria for which points are awarded under the Quebec Skilled Worker Program.

Up to 8 points are awarded under the experience criterion of Quebec immigration.

Experience	Points
Less than 6 months	0 point
6 to 11 months	4 points
12 to 23 months	4 points
24 to 35 months	6 points
36 to 47 months	6 points
48 months and over	8 points
Maximum	8 points

Quebec Immigration – Areas of Training

In order to accumulate points for the area of training criterion under the Skilled Workers category, the applicant must have earned a diploma, degree or certificate in an area of training that meet Quebec labour market needs.

The applicant must have worked for at least one year out of the five years in a field directly related to the diploma, degree or certificate obtained, unless the diploma, degree or certificate was obtained in the five years prior to applying for Quebec immigration. This criteria is scheduled to be modified when new regulations are announced later in 2015.

Applicants with backgrounds in some of the areas of training may receive priority processing.

List of Areas of Training

Go back to: Education
Go back to: Spouse’s Characteristics
Go back to: Employability and Occupational Mobility Program
Go back to: Quebec Immigration Selection Criteria

Areas of Training	Points
Section A of the areas	16 points
Section B of the areas	12 points
Section C of the areas	6 points
Section D of the areas	2 points
Section E, F, or G of the areas	0 points
Maximum	16 points

Quebec Immigration – Validated Employment Offer

The validated employment offer criterion is one of the ten criteria for which points are awarded under the Quebec Skilled Worker Program.

Up to 10 points are awarded under the validated employment offer criterion, according to the Quebec immigration program the applicant is applying under.

Validated Employment Offer
Criteria	Points
Validated employment offer in the metropolitan area of Montreal	8 points
Validated employment offer outside the metropolitan area of Montreal	10 points
Maximum	10 points

Quebec Immigration – Language Proficiency

The Language Proficiency criterion for English and French is one of the ten criteria for which points are awarded under the Quebec Skilled Worker Program.

In order for points to be awarded for language proficiency, language test results must be submitted along with immigration application:

For more information on approved French tests, see Proving French Language Ability (Quebec Skilled Worker Program).
For more information on the approved English test, see Proving English Language Ability – International English Language Testing System (IELTS).Up to 22 points are awarded under the language proficiency criterion of Quebec immigration on the following basis:

French Language
French Proficiency	Low Beginner (A1)	High Beginner (A2)	Low Intermediate (B1)	High Intermediate (B2)	Advanced (C1)	Advanced (C2)
Listening	0 points	0 points	0 points	5 points	6 points	7 points
Speaking	0 points	0 points	0 points	5 points	6 points	7 points
Reading	0 points	0 points	0 points	1 point	1 point	1 point
Writing	0 points	0 points	0 points	1 point	1 point	1 point
Maximum	16 points

English Language
English Proficiency	Beginner (CLB 1-4)	Intermediate (CLB 5-8)	Advanced (CLB 9-12)
Listening	0 points	1 point	2 points
Speaking	0 points	1 point	2 points
Reading	0 points	1 point	1 point
Writing	0 points	1 point	1 point
Maximum	6 points

Quebec Immigration – Age

The age criterion is one of the ten criteria for which points are awarded under the Quebec Skilled Worker Program.

Up to 16 points are awarded under the age criterion of Quebec immigration on the following basis:

Age	Points
18 to 35 years of age	16 points
36 years of age	14 points
37 years of age	12 points
38 years of age	10 points
39 years of age	8 points
40 years of age	6 points
41 years of age	4 points
42 years of age	2 points
43 years of age or older	0 points
Maximum	16 points

Quebec Immigration – Stay and Family in Quebec

The Stay and Family in Quebec criterion is one of the ten criteria for which points are awarded under the Quebec Skilled Worker Program.

Up to 8 points are awarded under the Stay and Family in Quebec criterion of Quebec immigration on the following basis:

Age	Points
18 to 35 years of age	16 points
36 years of age	14 points
37 years of age	12 points
38 years of age	10 points
39 years of age	8 points
40 years of age	6 points
41 years of age	4 points
42 years of age	2 points
43 years of age or older	0 points
Maximum	16 points

Family in Quebec
Nature of Relationship	Points
Spouse	3 points
Son or daughter, father or mother, brother or sister	3 points
Grandfather or grandmother	3 points
Uncle or aunt, nephew or niece, cousin	0 points
Maximum	3 points

Quebec Immigration – Spouse’s Characteristics

Spouse’s Education
Education Level	Points
Secondary school general diploma	1 point
Secondary school vocational diploma	2 points
Postsecondary school general diploma attesting to 2 years of full-time studies	1 points
Postsecondary technical diploma attesting to 1 or 2 years of full-time studies	2 points
Postsecondary technical diploma attesting to 3 years of full-time studies	3 points
Undergraduate diploma attesting to 1 year of full-time studies	1 point
Undergraduate diploma attesting to 2 years of full-time studies	2 points
Undergraduate diploma attesting to 3 years of full-time studies	3 points
Master’s degree attesting to 1 or more years of full-time studies	4 points
Doctorate	4 points
Maximum	4 points

Spouse’s Area of Training
Area of Training	Points
Section A of the areas	4 points
Section B of the areas	3 points
Section C of the areas	2 points
Section D of the areas	1 points
Section E, F or G of the areas	0 points
Maximum	4 points

Spouse’s Age
Age	Points
18 to 35 years of age	3 points
36 years of age	2 points
37 years of age	2 points
38 years of age	2 points
39 years of age	2 point
40 years of age	1 point
41 years of age	1 point
42 years of age	1 point
43 years of age or older	0
Maximum	3 points

Spouse’s Language Proficiency
French Proficiency	Points
Oral interaction	0 – 6 points
Written comprehension	0 points
Maximum	6 points

Quebec Immigration – Presence of Accompanying Children

The accompanying children criterion is one of the ten criteria for which points are awarded under the Quebec Skilled Worker Program.

Up to 8 points are awarded under the accompanying children criterion of Quebec immigration on the following basis:

Accompanying Children
Age of Children	Points
For each child 12 years of age or younger	4 points
For each child 13 to 19 years of age	2 point
Maximum	8 points

Quebec Immigration – Financial Self-Sufficiency

The financial self-sufficiency criterion is one of the ten criteria for which points are awarded under the Quebec Skilled Worker Program.

One point is awarded under the financial self-sufficiency criterion of Quebec immigration. This essential criterion stipulates a minimum funds requirement.

Financial Self-sufficiency
Criteria	Points
Making of a contract	1 point
Maximum	1 point

Skilled Worker

Skilled worker immigrants are chosen for their ability to become successfully established in Canada. The Immigration and Refugee Protection Act introduces new selection criteria with more emphasis on applicant’s education and such flexible skills as language rather than on their intended occupation.

Since the implementation of the the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) and until September 18,2003, the pass mark was 75. The minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Denis Coderre, has adjusted the pass mark in response to Canada’s need for skilled workers. Effective immediately, all new skilled worker applicants and those currently in the system who have not yet received a selection decision will be assessed with a pass mark of 67.

REQUIREMENTS

There are two stages in the determination of whether a person qualifies as a skilled worker. The first stage is an evaluation of whether the applicant meets the “minimum requirements” to be considered a skilled worker. The second stage involves an evaluation of whether the applicant will be able to economically establish in Canada based on an award of units of assessment under the six selection criteria. If the applicant does not meet the minimum requirements in the first stage of assessment, the application is refused and no further assessment is required.

Stage One: Minimum Requirements

According to Regulation 75, which sets out the minimum requirements skilled Workers must :

have at least one year of skilled work experience within the past 10 years in a management occupation or in an occupation normally requiring university, college or technical training as set out under Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A or B of the National Occupational Classification (NOC). Click here for the NOC Chart. The skilled worker must both be in an occupation that is designated a “restricted occupation”. At the present time there are no occupations listed as restricted.

have enough money to support themselves and their dependents as they settle in Canada. This is known as Settlement Funds. This is known as Settlement Funds.

Stage Two: Selection Grid

In addition to the above requirements, applicants are assessed on a variety of selection criteria which evaluate their ability to adapt to the Canadian economy.

Selection Criteria	Maximum Points
Education	25
Official Language (English / French)	24
Employment Experience	21
Age	10
Arranged employment in Canada	10
Adaptability	10
Total	100

To be considered under the Federal Skilled Worker category, applicants must score a minimum of 67 out of the possible 100 points.Click here for detail information.

The pass mark may be amended by the Minister to reflect changes in the Canadian labour market, economy and society as well as the changing demands of prospective immigrants to Canada.

Provincial Nominee

The Provincial Nominee Program allows each province to nominate or select immigrants who will contribute to the particular labour and economic needs of that province. Each province is allowed to establish its own selection criterions and procedures to choose immigrants according to their ability to integrate and successfully settle in that province.

Similar to the Skilled Worker Immigration Program, applicants are selected on the basis of a point system designed to target individuals who will for fill the labour and economic needs of that province. Points are attributed on various grounds, such as education, work experience, age, etc. Each province sets the number of points to be attributed to each category.

Applicants must intend to reside in the province in which they apply. Once an applicant has been nominated under the program, the province of choice will issue the applicant a Provincial Nominee Certificate.

The applicant is then required to apply for Canadian Permanent Residency at the nearest Canadian Embassy, High Commission, or Case Processing Center.

Once must keep in mind that Citizenship and Immigration Canada has the final decision making authority on admissibility. The applicant must be admissible on the basis of security, criminal and medical grounds.

At present the following provinces are participating in this program:

Alberta
British Columbia
Newfoundland and Labrador
New Brunswick
Manitoba
Saskatchewan
The Province of Quebec selects its own Skilled Worker Immigrants. Similar to the Provincial Nominee Program, if you wish to live in Quebec, you are required to obtain Certificate de selection de Quebec (CSQ). Applicants must be submitted to the nearest Quebec Immigration Office in which you currently reside.

Business Immigration

MBC: Empowering Your Future

$125,000 – NEW BRUNSWICK – BUSINESS APPLICANT

111

– invest a minimum of CDN $125,000;
– have a minimum verifiable personal net worth of CDN $300,000;
– you are between 22 and 55 years of age;
– have transferable management skills and past employment of minimum three (3) years;
– have scored a minimum band score of 5.0 on the IELTS within the last 2 years;
– score a minimum of 50 points in the Adaptability Assessment Matrix

$150,000 – Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program – Business

222

– invest a minimum of CDN $150,000;
– have a minimum verifiable personal net worth of CDN $350,000;
– have transferable management skills and past employment of minimum three (3) years;
– have scored a minimum band score of 4.0 on the IELTS within the last 2 years;
– score a minimum of 60 points in the Adaptability Assessment Matrix
– may have to conduct an Exploratory Visit to Manitoba

$150,000 – Prince Edward Island – 100% Ownership

333
– invest a minimum of CDN $150,000;
– have a minimum verifiable personal net worth of CDN $600,000;
– be within 21-59 years of age at the time of application;
– possess a minimum education of high-school equivalent;
– have scored a minimum band score of 4.0 on the IELTS within the last 2 years;
– have transferable management skills and past employment

$200,000 – Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee – Entrepreneur

444
– invest a minimum of CDN $200,000;
– have a minimum verifiable personal net worth of CDN $500,000;
– be within 21-54 years of age at the time of application;
– *** NO language score required;
– have transferable management skills and past employment of minimum three (3) years;
– match the points assigned in the Entrepreneur Category Points Grid

$200,000 – British Columbia Nominee – Regional Entrepreneur

555

– invest a minimum of CDN $200,000;
– have a minimum verifiable personal net worth of CDN $400,000;
– *** NO maximum age limit;
– *** NO language score required;
– have transferable management skills and past employment of minimum two (2) years;
– must be outside the metropolitan cities of Vancouver/Abbotsford

Make your strategic move towards Canadian citizenship by applying for permanent residency via the some of the unique pathways offered by the provinces for investors and entrepreneurs.

Family Sponsorships

Family reunification is a key objective of Canada’s immigration policy.

Family Class immigrants are people sponsored to come to Canada or to remain in Canada.

Requirements

Family Class immigrants are people sponsored to come to, or remain in Canada by a relative who is a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada.

You can sponsor relatives or family members from abroad if they are:

spouses, common-law or conjugal partners 16 years of age or older
parents and grandparents
dependent children, including adopted children
children under 18 years of age whom you intend to adopt
children under guardianship
brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces or grandchildren who are orphans; under the age of 18 and not married or in a common-law relationship
you may also sponsor one relative of any age if you do not have an aunt, uncle or family member from the list above who you could sponsor or who is already a Canadian citizen, Indian or permanent resident.
Dependent children of a sponsored immigrant may be included in that person’s application.

In addition, spouses or common-law partners who are 16 years of age or older, and have legal temporary status in Canada as visitors, students, or temporary workers or Temporary Resident Permit holders may apply under the In-Canada Class.

Applicants and their family members are subject to medical, criminal and background checks.

Procedure

The sponsor starts the immigration process by obtaining an application from CIC. The type of application and submission procedure differs depending on the relationship between the sponsor and the applicant, and whether the applicant is abroad or already in Canada.

If the applicant is the sponsor’s spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner or dependent child

CIC has introduced a Joint Application Guide that is simpler and easier to use for both sponsors and applicants. The new guide is designed to promote quicker processing by streamlining the receipt of applications.

The sponsor will receive a joint application and guide, including the sponsorship and immigrant applications. It is then up to the sponsor to obtain the necessary documents and information from the applicant, whether abroad or in Canada, and submit both the sponsorship and immigrant applications and all supporting documents to the Case Processing Centre in Mississauga, Ontario.

If the applicant is outside of Canada, the Case Processing Centre will complete the sponsorship assessment and then send the immigrant portion to a visa office that serves the area where the immigrant applicant lives. The visa office assesses the immigrant’s application, interviews the applicant, if necessary, and conducts medical, security and criminality checks.

An application by a spouse or common-law partner under the In-Canada Class — including interviews, and medical, security and criminality checks — will be assessed by CIC staff in Canada.

Other Family Class applicants

The sponsor starts the immigration process by obtaining a Sponsorship Application from CIC. The sponsor fills out the application and submits it to CIC.

Once the application has been processed, the Case Processing Centre forwards a copy of the sponsorship to the responsible visa office and sends the Application Guide for Family Class to the sponsor. The sponsor must then forward this guide to the applicant abroad.

The applicant must complete the application and submit it to the responsible visa office. The name of the office will be indicated on the correspondence included with the guide. The visa office will take no action until it receives the completed application.

Undertakings for Support

Sponsors are responsible for providing for permanent residents after arrival in Canada, and for ensuring that they do not become dependent on the Canadian social assistance system. However, permanent residents must make every reasonable effort to provide for their own essential needs and those of their family members.

Live In Canada

Refugees and persons needing protection are people in or outside Canada who fear returning to their country of nationality or habitual residence. In keeping with its humanitarian tradition and international obligations, Canada provides protection to thousands of people every year.

Through its refugee protection system, Canada offers safe haven to persons with a well-founded fear of persecution, as well as those at risk of torture or cruel and unusual treatment or punishment. Canada’s refugee protection system consists of two main components:

The Refugee and Humanitarian Resettlement Program, for people seeking protection from outside Canada; and
The In-Canada Refugee Protection Process, for persons making refugee protection claims from within Canada.

Canada has signed the United Nations 1951 Geneva Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol. This Convention protects refugees from being returned to a country where they would face persecution

Refugee Visa

The Refugee and Humanitarian Resettlement Program, for people seeking protection from outside Canada; and
The In-Canada Refugee Protection Process, for persons making refugee protection claims from within Canada.

Humanitarian Compassionate Visa

Canada as a sovereign nation has the right to control the entry of foreigners at its borders. The general rule is that, every foreigner must make an application for Canadian permanent residency, and obtain a visa before that person is permitted entry into Canada. However, an exception to this rule is that Immigration officers are given a general discretion to allow immigrants to apply for permanent residency within Canada on the basis of humanitarian and compassionate grounds.

Humanitarian and compassionate grounds exist when unusual, undeserved or disproportionate hardship would result if the applicant had to leave Canada.

The courts have stated that immigration officers are under a duty to consider requests for consideration for humanitarian and compassionate grounds. See Minister of Employment and Immigration v. Jiminez-Perez, [1984] 2 S.C.R. 565. A written application must be considered.

Applicants are entitled to a full and fair review in the determination of humanitarian and compassionate grounds. See Ken Yhap v. Canada (Minister of Employment & Immigration) (1990), 9 Imm.L.R. (2d) 243 (Fed. T.D.). Immigration officers are expected to consider carefully all aspects of a case, and make an informed recommendation. Decisions are expected to be reasonable. Wholly irrelevant factors can not be considered.

The following are examples of typical cases that have been recognized by Citizenship and Immigration Canada as humanitarian and compassionate cases, but are by no means exhaustive:

Spouses Applying at Port of Entry

Usually, a spouse applying for admission as an immigrant at a port of entry without an immigrant visa would be reportable under the Immigration Act for intending to reside in Canada permanently without an immigrant visa. However, Senior Immigration Officers, at the port of entry, are instructed to assess the bona fides of the Marriage relationship. If it is found to be a genuine relationship, a Minister’s Permit will be issued pending finalization of the immigrant’s inland application for landing.

Marriage Breakdown

There are situations in which a Canadian sponsor withdraws the sponsorship prior to the spouse being granted landing because of the breakdown of the relationship. The Immigration officer will taken into consideration the spouse’s ability to become successfully settled in Canada, and whether humanitarian and compassionate grounds exist. The following factors will be considered:

education, training, and employment;
whether there are relatives in Canada willing to assist;
whether the marriage was originally bona fide;
whether there are elements of fraud, misrepresentation, or bad faith
whether there was physical, sexual or mental cruelty in the relationship;
whether the applicant is pregnate;
whether there is a Canadian child who would suffer if the applicant leaves Canada
De Facto Family Members

Parents, children, or persons unrelated by blood, who are de facto family members of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and who are financially or emotionally dependent could experience undue hardship if required to apply abroad for an immigrant visa.

Ilegal Residents

An illegal resident is a person who has no legal status in Canada. This may be someone who entered Canada as a visitor and has remained in Canada beyond the expiration of his or her temporary status. The illegal resident has been in Canada for such a long time, and is so established that he or she has in fact, if not in law, established residence in Canada and not abroad. These individuals are self-supporting, and have severed ties with their home country, and would suffer hardship if required to leave Canada.

Facing a Life Threatening Situation in Country of Origin

Where there exists a special situation in the applicant’s home country that prevents the applicant from applying at a visa office, the applicant may request that an inland application be considered on the basis of humanitarian and compassionate grounds. The applicant has a strong belief that s/he will face a life-threatening situation in his or her homeland as a direct result of the political or social situation in that country.

Individuals in this type of situation should also consider applying as a Conventional Refugee.

Long Term Foreign Workers

Foreign workers who have been in Canada for years, with continual employment, may warrant inland landing if hardship would result in applying for landing at a visa office. Such persons may have homes in Canada, children who were born and educated in Canada, with no real residence abroad.

Procedure

Applications for inland processing must be submitted to the Case Processing Centre in Vegreville, Alberta.

Applicants will be notified by Citizenship and Immigration Canada if an interview is necessary. The applicant may be required to undergo a medical examination, to obtain police reports of good character.

The standard time for processing an application for landing is 90 days from the date of mailing to approval in principle. When applicants are interviewed the process may taken an additional six months. After being approved in principle, the applicant may have to wait an additional 12 to 18 months to be landed. Applicants may obtain employment or student authorizations once the application has been approved in principle.

Province of Quebec

The Quebec immigration system is based on a “certificate system”. Applicants are required to submit an application. If successful, the government of Quebec will issue a Certificate of Selection. A holder of a Quebec Certificate of Selection does not exempt the applicant from federal immigration requirements and procedures, such as a medical and security checks. Applicants must pay the Quebec processing fees in addition to the federal processing fees.

There are three categories under the Quebec Immigration System:

Independent (worker)
Investor
Entrepreneur
Self-Employed
All applicants, intended to immigrate to Québec must submit an application either to a Service d’immigration du Québec (SIQ) outside Québec, or to a Canadian embassy, which will forward the application to Québec.

Procedure

Applicants must first complete a Preliminary Immigration Questionnaire and submits is to a Service d’immigration du Québec or a Canadian embassy.

If the evaluation is positive, the Service d’immigration du Québec will forward the applicant a Selection Certificate Application form.

The applicant then fills out the Selection Certificate Application form and submits it to the Service d’immigration du Québec .

If the result is positive, the Service d’immigration du Québec invites the applicant to come in for a selection interview; if the result is negative, the Service d’immigration du Québec will send a refusal letter.

If the applicant will receive a Selection Certificate from the Service d’immigration du Québec which will be forwarded to the Canadian embassy.

The Canadian embassy performs the health and national security checks. If the results of these checks are position, the Visa officer will issue an immigrant visa. If the results are negative a letter of refusal will be forwarded to the applicant.

Application procedures can take 6 to 12 months.

Cost

To process an application for a Certificat de sélection du Québec, application fees vary according to the immigration category:

Category	Fees Payable to Quebec
“Independant” (Worker)	$300 CAN (Applicant) $100 CAN (each dependant accompanying the applicant)
“Investor”	$850 CAN (applicant) $100 CAN (each dependant accompanying the applicant)
“Enterpreneur” or “Self Emplyed”	$700 CAN (applicant) $100 CAN (each dependant accompanying the applicant)

Similarly, the Canadian government (Citizenship and Immigration Canada) requires additional payment of fees to process permanent residency applications. Once immigrant visas are issued, the Canadian government also requires a right of landing fee. For information on Canadian government fees click here.

Nothing prohibits the federal immigration authorities from admitting to Canada an applicant who has been refused a Quebec Certificate of Selection or who otherwise is not in possession of a Quebec Certificate of Selection.

Discretionary Powers of Quebec Immigration Officials

Quebec Immigration Officials are afforded broad discretion by law. This discretion is exercised in such a manner to satisfy public policy objectives to favour Francophone immigrants.

A Quebec Certificate of Selection may be issued where the selection criteria do not reflect the possibilities of the applicant to establish successfully in Quebec.

Conversely, Quebec immigration authorities are entitled to prevent immigration by refusing to issue a Certificate of Selection to an applicant where there are reasonable grounds to believe that:

the applicant does not have the intention to establish residency in the province of Quebec;
the applicant has little possibility of establishing successfully in Quebec;
the establishment of the applicant in Quebec would be contrary to the public interest.
The “public interest” provision is undefined and permits the Quebec immigration authorities to refuse the issuance of any Certificate of Selection. The applicant will be provided written reasons for the refusal.
Without Notice Changes

Quebec immigration law allows regulatory changes of the selection criteria without notice and with retroactive effect. The Minister may also decree without notice that certain occupations are no longer eligible for selection purposes, with immediate retroactive effect upon the inventory of Quebec-destined immigration applications.

Express Entry To Canada

Starting January 2015, skilled foreign workers will have access to Express Entry – a new electronic application management system – which will apply to Canada’s key economic immigration programs:

Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
A portion of the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP)
Express Entry is not a new immigration program; it is a new way for Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) to manage economic immigration applications online.
For prospective skilled foreign workers, Express Entry will result in faster processing times.
Express Entry will also make it easier for candidates to secure a job before they arrive, by facilitating matches with Canadian employers

MOVING AWAY FROM THE OLD SYSTEM

First applicant in, first to be processed
Average of 12-14 months or longer to process a permanent residence application

MOVING FORWARD

Candidates who are most likely to succeed in Canada, rather than the first in line, will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence.
Express Entry candidates will benefit from processing times of six months or less

WITH EXPRESS ENTRY…

Provinces/Territories will be able to use the Express Entry pool to find candidates for their Provincial Nominee Programs.
Canadian employers will have a greater and more direct role in economic immigration. Candidates in the Express Entry pool will have the opportunity to increase their chances of being invited to apply by promoting themselves directly to employers.
The Government of Canada’s new and improved Job Bank will help connect Express Entry candidates with Canadian employers, making economic integration faster once immigrants arrive in Canada.

THE NEW TWO-STEP APPLICATION PROCESS

Text version: The New Two-Step Application Process

STEP 1: ONLINE EXPRESS ENTRY PROFILE

- Potential candidates express their interest in coming to Canada by creating an Express Entry profile and providing information about their skills, work experience, language ability, education and other details.
- To qualify for the Express Entry pool, potential candidates must meet the criteria of at least ONE of three federal economic immigration programs:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
- Canadian Experience Class CEC)

JOB BANK & SELF-PROMOTION

Candidates will need to register with Job Bank if they do not already have a Canadian job offer or a Provincial/Territorial nomination.
Candidates should also promote themselves and signal their presence in the Express Entry pool to employers, recruiters, private sector job boards, etc.

EXPRESS ENTRY POOL

Candidates will be given a score to determine their place in the pool using a Comprehensive Ranking System, which will consider skills, work experience, language ability, education and other factors that we know contribute to economic success for immigrants once in Canada.
While in the pool, candidates will be required to update their profile to reflect changes in status, e.g. language, education, family composition, etc.

STEP 2: INVITATION TO APPLY (ITA)

An Express Entry candidate can receive an Invitation to Apply if they:

Have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer (subject to the Labour Market Impact Assessment in place at that time)
Are nominated by a province or territory or
Are among the top ranked in the Express Entry pool based on their skills, education and experience.

Candidates who receive an Invitation to Apply will have 60 days to submit an online application for permanent residence in one of the following programs:

Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
Canadian Experience Class (CEC) or
A portion of the Provincial Nominee Program PNP).

CIC will process the majority of complete applications received within six months or less.

PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES = KEY PARTNERS

Potential candidates may qualify for a provincial or territorial nomination as part of Express Entry.
Provinces and Territories will be able to nominate candidates who meet their regional labour market needs.
When an Express Entry candidate is nominated through a Provincial Nominee Program, they will be invited to apply for permanent residence.

A FEW THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND

Potential candidates are not required to hire an immigration representative to participate in Express Entry.
As part of their Express Entry profile, candidates must submit valid language test results and Educational Credential Assessments (if their education was completed outside of Canada and they wish to receive points towards their Express Entry score).
Express Entry profiles will be valid for one year. Candidates who do not receive an Invitation to Apply for permanent residence after 12 months can resubmit their profile and re-enter the pool if they still meet the criteria.

Immigration Points Calculation For Canada

Points Calulator

Migrate To Canada

Getting to know Canada

Getting to know Canada

THE LAND

Express Entry

Canada Federal Skilled Worker Class

Experience Class

Canada Federal Experience Class

Canada Federal Skilled Trade Class

IN MY EXPRESS ENTRY PROFILE/APPLICATION I AM GETTING VALIDATION ERRORS OR IT TELLS ME THAT FIELDS ARE INCOMPLETE WHEN THEY ARE NOT. WHAT DO I DO?

DO I NEED AN EDUCATIONAL CREDENTIAL ASSESSMENT TO APPLY UNDER EXPRESS ENTRY?

I HAVE TWO DEGREES FROM OUTSIDE CANADA. DO I NEED AN EDUCATIONAL CREDENTIAL ASSESSMENT FOR BOTH?

THE ONLINE TOOL SAID I WAS ELIGIBLE FOR EXPRESS ENTRY, BUT MY COMPLETED PROFILE SAYS I’M NOT. WHICH ONE IS RIGHT?

CAN I USE MY EXISTING JOB BANK ACCOUNT FOR EXPRESS ENTRY?

WHAT IS A PERSONAL REFERENCE CODE? WHERE CAN I GET A ONE?

MY PERSONAL REFERENCE CODE IS NOT WORKING. WHAT SHOULD I DO?

WHAT DO I NEED TO CREATE AN EXPRESS ENTRY PROFILE?

I AM A NATIVE ENGLISH OR FRENCH SPEAKER. WHY DO I NEED TO TAKE A LANGUAGE TEST FOR EXPRESS ENTRY?

WHAT KIND OF LANGUAGE TEST CAN I USE FOR EXPRESS ENTRY?

A MESSAGE IN MYCIC SAYS MY PROFILE WAS UPDATED. I DIDN’T UPDATE IT TODAY (OR DON’T SEE AN UPDATE). WHAT HAPPENED?

I ACCIDENTLY WITHDREW MY EXPRESS ENTRY PROFILE. HOW CAN I FIX THIS?

I WAS FOUND NOT ELIGIBLE FOR EXPRESS ENTRY AND I CAN’T CHANGE MY PROFILE. WHAT DO I DO?

HOW DO I UPDATE MY EXPRESS ENTRY PROFILE BEFORE SUBMITTING IT?

SOME FIELDS IN MY EXPRESS ENTRY PROFILE ARE GREYED OUT AND I CAN’T CHANGE THEM. HOW DO I UPDATE THEM?

HOW DO I CONFIRM THAT MY EXPRESS ENTRY PROFILE IS COMPLETE?

I ALREADY SUBMITTED MY EXPRESS ENTRY PROFILE. CAN I STILL UPDATE IT?

WHERE CAN I FIND MY EXPRESS ENTRY PROFILE NUMBER AND/OR JOB SEEKER VALIDATION CODE?

HOW DO I WITHDRAW MY EXPRESS ENTRY PROFILE?

IN AN EXPRESS ENTRY PROFILE, SHOULD I ONLY INCLUDE THE MINIMUM WORK EXPERIENCE NEEDED TO QUALIFY FOR ONE OF THE PROGRAMS, OR SHOULD I INCLUDE MORE?

I APPLIED BEFORE EXPRESS ENTRY WAS LAUNCHED, BUT MY APPLICATION WAS RETURNED BECAUSE IT WAS INCOMPLETE (OR THE CAP WAS REACHED). DO I ANSWER “YES” OR “NO” TO THE “HAVE YOU PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION” QUESTION?

IN AN EXPRESS ENTRY PROFILE, WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THE “DATE THE APPLICANT FIRST BECAME QUALIFIED TO PRACTICE THIS OCCUPATION.”?

HOW DO I FILL OUT MY EXPRESS ENTRY PROFILE WHEN I HAVE IMPLIED STATUS?

HOW DO I ANSWER THE QUESTION IN EXPRESS ENTRY ABOUT MY EDUCATION IF I HAVE TWO OR MORE DEGREES OR DIPLOMAS?

IF MY EXPRESS ENTRY PROFILE EXPIRES, WILL THE SYSTEM KEEP MY INFORMATION?

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY PRIMARY OCCUPATION?

HOW DO I FIND MY NATIONAL OCCUPATION CLASSIFICATION (NOC) CODE?

WHY DIDN’T I GET POINTS FOR MY JOB OFFER?

I HAVE A JOB OFFER BUT THE SYSTEM SAYS I NEED TO REGISTER IN JOB BANK. WHY?

I AM WORKING IN CANADA ON A VALID WORK PERMIT. DOES THIS COUNT AS A JOB OFFER?

THERE IS NO NATIONAL OCCUPATION CLASSIFICATION (NOC) CODE ON MY WORK PERMIT. WHAT SHOULD I PUT IN MY EXPRESS ENTRY PROFILE?

IF I AM ON IMPLIED STATUS AND WAITING FOR A NEW WORK PERMIT, DO I KEEP THE 600 JOB OFFER POINTS OR DO I NEED TO UPDATE MY EXPRESS ENTRY PROFILE AND REMOVE THE JOB OFFER?

WHAT WORK EXPERIENCE CAN I COUNT TOWARDS THE FEDERAL SKILLED TRADES PROGRAM’S TWO-YEAR REQUIREMENT?

I HAVE BEEN WORKING IN CANADA FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS BUT DIDN’T GET POINTS FOR WORK EXPERIENCE. WHY NOT?

IF I AM UNDER IMPLIED STATUS WHILE IN THE EXPRESS ENTRY POOL, WILL I STILL GET THE 600 ADDITIONAL POINTS FOR HAVING A JOB OFFER?

I INCLUDED MY JOB OFFER FROM MY CURRENT EMPLOYER IN MY EXPRESS ENTRY PROFILE. WHAT IF I AM INVITED TO APPLY WHILE I AM WAITING FOR A NEW WORK PERMIT FROM THIS EMPLOYER?

I WAS INVITED TO APPLY FOR PERMANENT RESIDENCE UNDER EXPRESS ENTRY WHILE WORKING IN CANADA. MY WORK PERMIT EXPIRED BEFORE I COULD APPLY FOR ANOTHER. WHAT DO I DO?

I DID NOT GET A JOB SEEKER VALIDATION CODE IN THE MESSAGE YOU SENT ME IN MY MYCIC ACCOUNT. WHY NOT?

HOW DO I UPLOAD MORE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS AFTER I HAVE ALREADY SUBMITTED MY ONLINE APPLICATION FOR PERMANENT RESIDENCE THROUGH EXPRESS ENTRY?

Quebec Skilled Worker

Skilled Worker

Provincial Nominee

Business Immigration

MBC: Empowering Your Future

$125,000 – NEW BRUNSWICK – BUSINESS APPLICANT

$150,000 – Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program – Business

$150,000 – Prince Edward Island – 100% Ownership

$200,000 – Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee – Entrepreneur

$200,000 – British Columbia Nominee – Regional Entrepreneur

Family Sponsorships

Live In Canada

Refugee Visa

Humanitarian Compassionate Visa

Province of Quebec

Express Entry To Canada

MOVING AWAY FROM THE OLD SYSTEM

MOVING FORWARD

WITH EXPRESS ENTRY…

THE NEW TWO-STEP APPLICATION PROCESS

PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES = KEY PARTNERS

A FEW THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND

Immigration Points Calculation For Canada

Other Country

Migrate To New Zealand

Migrate To USA

Migrate To UK