An Immigration System that Works for Canada: New Federal Skilled Worker Program to Accept Applications Beginning May 4, 2013
- Minimum official language thresholds and increased points for official language proficiency, making language the most important factor in the selection process;
- Increased emphasis on younger immigrants, who are more likely to acquire valuable Canadian experience, are better positioned to adapt to changing labour market conditions, and who will spend a greater number of years contributing to Canada’s economy;
- Introduction of the Educational Credential Assessment (ECA), so that education points awarded reflect the foreign credential’s true value in Canada;
- Changes to the arranged employment process, allowing employers to hire applicants quickly, if there is a demonstrated need in the Canadian labour market; and
- Additional adaptability points for spousal language ability and Canadian work experience.
US and Canada sign information sharing agreement
Photo of a sign in the Canada-United States border. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
CBC skilled worker quiz surprising readers
Expected changes to Canada’s Federal Skilled Worker Program inspired us to create a quiz based on the proposed points grid. New weightings under the six selection factors – education, official languages, work experience, age, arranged employment, and adaptability – will give some applicants a boost while making it tougher for others to have their applications considered.
For instance, the government plans to increase the number of points one can score for being young, as well as the number of points one can get for proficiency in Canada’s official languages.
For the sake of simplicity, the CBC test assumed that all quiz-takers met the minimum requirements for eligibility and work experience, and had a relevant occupation — all deal breakers for real applicants who can’t say the same.
Still, despite that short cut, many readers were shocked to discover that Canada might not look at their application if they were on the outside looking in.
- “Wow – three degrees, work experience and the highest level of English proficiency and I got barely enough points to apply. So now I really am mystified regarding how many people get here with those things. There are an awful lot without language skills and education.” – Kathena
- “73 and born/raised/educated in Canada. I failed.” – ROZENCRANTZ_7
- “Yikes, just in under the wire. 67 it is. And it was only my Canadian spouse that got me in. Hmmmm.” – JohnMichaelKane
- “378 years our family has been in Canada, I failed too. Bring in my replacement! I guess my last employment task will be to train them. Where’s the soup kitchen?” – dogleg
- Does this mean I have to leave?” – HammerheadHirum
Others fared better, and their reactions ranged from delight and pride to bemusement.
- “Why should bilingual people get priority? I’m an old fart and I would be welcome. 87 points.” – NQuick
- “We moved to Canada back in 1975 with my wife and 6 month old son, the requirements are the same as back then, my score now if I applied today: 97. I still needed a job that my employer could not fill with a Canadian, so what has changed since then: nothing. I’ve never been unemployed and have worked all my 64 years, retired for 4.” – Kingstonrocks
- “I Took the test twice, First time thinking as a Canadian, second time thinking like an immigrant, I got 78 both times, seems that the most important thing is having at least one year of University education under your belt.” – JohnnyTempest
One user in particular stood out by posting two comments reflecting on the bigger picture and proposing a series of questions.
“Canadians generally do not realize how difficult it is to immigrate. We are not doing anyone any favours if we set the bar too low and cause people to waste huge amounts of time and money becoming failures in a foreign land … It is emotionally and intellectually more difficult to be a foreigner working in Canada than to be a native born Canadian working in Canada. Immigration is also more expensive financially and emotionally than immigrants think it will be.” – GoodN1GHT
“We need to examine why Canada is unable to produce enough of its own skilled trades people when other countries with fewer resources successfully do. Are employers failing to provide apprenticeships or on-the-job training? Do foreign governments fund training in more effective ways? Are we paying people in these trades and professions too little? Is there a social stigma with these jobs? Are these dead-end jobs in Canada where in other countries they are career paths?” – GoodN1GHT
TAKE THE QUIZ HERE
How did you do on the quiz? Do you think the grid seems fair?
New immigration points system will favour younger workers, language skills
We want the engineers who we select to actually be able to work as engineers
BREAKING NEWS: Federal Skilled Worker Program Will Reopen in May 2013
- Minimum official language thresholds and increased points for official language proficiency, making language the most important factor in the selection process;
- Increased emphasis on younger immigrants, who are more likely to acquire valuable Canadian experience, are better positioned to adapt to changing labour market conditions, and who will spend a greater number of years contributing to Canada’s economy;
- Introduction of the Educational Credential Assessment (ECA), so that education points awarded reflect the foreign credential’s true value in Canada;
- Changes to the arranged employment process, allowing employers to hire applicants quickly, if there is a demonstrated need in the Canadian labour market; and
- Additional adaptability points for spousal language ability and Canadian work experience
- A list of organizations designated by the government to perform educational credential authentication and assessment will be made available in the new year;
- A limit will be placed on the number of skilled worker applications the FSWP will accept for review each year. The specific number for this limit has not yet been announced; and
- New applications to the FSWP will be processed in a matter of months, as opposed to a year or more.
Canada To Speed Up Entry Of Skilled Immigrants Into Country
International students easy prey for immigration recruiters
Château Frontenac, Quebec City, Canada (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Government trying to crack down on ‘ghost consultants’
By Fabiola Carletti and Janet Davison, CBC News
Posted: Dec 11, 2012 5:02 AM ET
Vipul Patel thought that coming from India to study in Canada would be a good way to gain a foothold in a country he hopes will become his permanent home.
But nearly a year after making the move, the 23-year-old is frustrated, confused and not sure who to believe in the sometimes murky — and costly — world where ghost consultants mingle with legitimate agents wanting to help foreign students come to Canada.
“It’s very hard for me to trust anyone,” says Patel.
Patel’s suspicions developed after he turned to Edu Edge, a Toronto-based consulting firm that, with the help of a sub-agent, was promoting “study and immigrate” packages to students in India.
Edu Edge isn’t licensed to provide immigration consulting services, but its president, Naveen Kolan, says the firm hires such services as needed by seeking out Quebec lawyers who can offer them.
The company also hires subagents and in this case, the agent may have overstated what it was able to deliver, Kolan says. Edu Edge has told the subagent to take down the online ads in question.
Complained to regulator
Open letter
Fast-tracking students
Come for an education
Not a packaged deal
New Federal Skilled Trades Stream to Begin Accepting Applications on January 2, 2013
- have an offer of employment in Canada or a certificate of qualification from a province or territory to ensure that applicants are “job ready” upon arrival;
- meet a basic language requirement;
- have a minimum of two years of work experience as a skilled tradesperson, to ensure that the applicant has recent and relevant practice as a qualified journeyman; and
- have the skills and experience that match those set out in the National Occupational Classification (NOC B) system, showing that they have performed the essential duties of the occupation.
Canada opens immigration to skilled trades workers
Construction Work (Photo credit: gullevek) |