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News Alert: Important Information

Do you want to immigrate to Canada as a skilled worker?

The Minister announced major changes to the skilled immigrant selection process. Effective Thursday Sept 18, 2003 the pass mark for selected workers has been reduced from 75 to 67 points. For all individuals who have requested an assessment of their eligibility to apply and were informed that they could not qualify, I would strongly recommend filing a request for a new assessment.

Many potential skilled workers unable to meet the new standard of 67 points are utilizing the Provincial Nominee Programs particularly the programs in Manitoba, New Brunswick and Saskatchewan. For information about your to ability to qualify under any of these programs contact our office directly.

Category

Maximum Points

Education

25

Language

24

Work experience

21

Age

10

Arranged employment in Canada

10

Adaptability

10

TOTAL

100

Immigration Selection Standards

What is the point system?

In order to be accepted for immigration to Canada as an economic immigrant, an applicant must achieve a total of 67 points based on the following selection criteria: All applicants must meet standards of good health and good character and have at least one year of work experience in the past 10 years in any approved occupation.

Officer Discretion, given the high passing mark of 67 in the Skilled Worker Points Grid, some applicants will have to rely upon the positive discretion of the visa officer in order to succeed. Positive discretion may be used when the visa officer believes that the total points awarded do not properly reflect the applicant’s ability to establish in Canada from an economic perspective. In such circumstances the visa officer may approve an application that scores less than 67 points.

After June 28, 2002 an application for a Permanent Resident Visa or a Temporary Resident Visa must be made at the visa office outside Canada that serve the applicant’s place of habitual residence.

Skilled worker applicants will have to show sufficient funds to support themselves during their period of initial establishment. The applicant’s funds will be assessed against the most current annual "Low Income Cut-Off" published by Statistics Canada established for the size of the applicants accompanying family. At present, a single applicant will need to demonstrate funds of one-half the Low Income Cut-Off for their family size.

EDUCATION	Maximum 25
University Degrees:
PhD, or Master's, AND at least 17 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study	25
Two or more university degrees at the Bachelor's level AND at least 15 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study	22
A two-year university degree at the Bachelor's level AND at least 14 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study	20
A one-year university degree at the Bachelor's level AND at least 13 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study	15
Trade or Non-university Certificate or Diploma:
A three-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship AND at least 15 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study	22
A two-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship AND at least 14 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study	20
A one-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship AND at least 13 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study	15
A one-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship AND at least 12 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study	12
Secondary School Educational Credential	5

LANGUAGE	Maximum 24
First language:
High proficiency (per ability¹)	4
Moderate proficiency (per ability)	2
Basic proficiency (per ability)	1 to max. of 2
No proficiency	no points
Possible maximum (all four abilities)	16
Second language:
High proficiency (per ability)	2
Moderate proficiency (per ability)	2
Basic proficiency (per ability)	1 to max. of 2
No proficiency	no points
Possible maximum (all four abilities)	8

WORK EXPERIENCE	Maximum 21
One year	15
Two years	17
Three years	19
Four years	21

AGE	Maximum 10
Maximum 10 points for:	21-49
Less two points for each year:	over 49 or under 21

ARRANGED EMPLOYMENT IN CANADA	Maximum 10
HRDC-confirmed permanent offer of employment	10
Applicants from within Canada holding a temporary work permit that is:
Validated by HRDC, including sectoral confirmations	10
Exempt from HRDC validation under international agreements (e.g., NAFTA) or significant benefit (i.e., intra-company transferee)	10

ADAPTABILITY	Maximum 10
Spouse's or common-law partner's education	3-5
Minimum one year of full-time authorized work in Canada²	5
Minimum two years of full-time authorized post-secondary study in Canada²	5
Informal job offer in Canada	no points
Points received under the Arranged Employment factor	5
Family relationship in Canada²	5

Total Maximum 100 Points

Notes:

Applicants are rated on the ability to speak, listen, read or write Canada's two official languages.
Applies to either principal applicant or accompanying spouse or common-law partner.

Contents excerpted from "Canada's New Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations Finalized", CIC Canada news release 2002-18

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