MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS

Applying as a skilled worker requesting permanent
resident status

The majority of applicants will fall into this category. This category applies to you if you are not:

• aiming for a temporary permit or
• intending to start a business in Canada.

There are three steps to finding out if you qualify in this category:

• You must meet the minimum work experience requirements.
• You will need to prove that you have sufficient funds for resettlement.
• You must gain sufficient points to pass six selection factors.

Take each step one by one – less daunting that way.

Assessing work experience

This is probably the most important step, as you will need to have relevant experience in an occupation on the National Occupations Classification (NOC) list. This is a minimum requirement, so if your occupation is not shown on the list you should probably leap straight to the last section of this chapter and consider engaging the services of an immigration consultant.

The CIC website has a user-friendly page (www.cic.gc.ca/english/skilled/qual-2.html) to help you determine if your occupation qualifies. You can get a fairly good idea if you qualify by checking out the NOC list in Appendix 1, but I would definitely recommend going to the website for the fullest and most up-to-date information. Note that there is also a list of restricted occupations. If your only work experience falls under any of these, your application will automatically be rejected. The good news is that, currently, there are no restricted occupations, but you should check this on the website too.

If you don’t find your occupation on the NOC list, it is worth thinking about checking for any other work experience you have, as you may qualify under another heading. For example, a plumber might quality as a pipe fitter. The relevant work experience must have taken place in the ten years before your application.

Once you’ve determined that you meet the minimum requirement, it’s time to move on to the next step.

Proving sufficient funds for resettlement

The Canadian government does not provide any financial support for newly immigrated skilled workers. You must prove that you have sufficient funds to support your family for the first six months you are in Canada. The following shows the minimum amounts required. However, it would be very wise to do a bit of research into the cost of living and wages in the area of Canada you are headed for.

Note that you do not have to prove you have these funds if you have pre-arranged employment in Canada.

Number in family	Minimum funds required (C$)
1	9, 897
2	12, 372
3	15, 387
4	18, 626
5	20, 821
6	23, 015
7 or more	25, 210

Passing the selection factors

In October 2003, the passing number of points for the selection grid was lowered from 75 to 67. The Canadian Immigration Minister, in response to warnings from the immigration industry, recognised that the higher mark was limiting the number of much-needed migrants to Canada.

There are six elements to the selection factor. These are education, proficiency in one or both of Canada’s official languages (English and French), work experience, age, arranged employment (where applicable) and adaptability. It’s a fairly long list, but not really complicated if you go through it point by point. The following shows the six factors and the points available in each. Read the detailed explanations and then go to Figure 9 for a simple worksheet on which you can tally your points. And do remember the CIC website listed above – it really is very helpful and easy to manoeuvre around.

Education

Note that the full-time or full-time equivalent study requirement refers to total number of years in full-time study (or equivalent). If you have completed less than the number of years stated you must decrease points accordingly. For example, if you have a PhD but only 15 years of study, you get 22, rather than 25 points.

Maximum points available 25
University degrees
PhD or Masters AND at least 17 years full-time or full-time equivalent study	25
Two or more university degrees at Bachelor level AND at least 15 years full-time or full-time equivalent study	22
Two-year university degree at Bachelor level AND at least 14 years full-time or full-time equivalent study	20
One-year university degree at Bachelor level AND at least 13 years full-time or full-time equivalent study	15
Trade or non-university certificate or diploma
Three-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship AND at least 15 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study	22
Two-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship AND at least 14 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study	20
One-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship AND at least 13 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study	15
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

Score separately for Speaking, Reading, Listening and Writing – e.g. high proficiency in all four categories for first language equals a maximum of 16 points. Note, however, that you can only claim a maximum of two points for basic level proficiency.

Maximum points available 24
Proficiency in First Language
High	4
Moderate	2
Basic	1
None	0
Proficiency in Second Language
If you are claiming proficiency in a language other than your native tongue you will be required to provide proof. A language test by an approved organisation is the preferred method.
High	2
Moderate	2
Basic	1 to 2
None	0

Work experience

Experience must have been gained during the ten years previous to your application. Consult the National Occupations Classification list (NOC) to find out if your occupation is eligible.

	Maximum points available 21
One year	15
Two years	17
Three years	19
Four years	21

Age

	Maximum points available 10
21–49	10
then deduct two points for every year below 21 and above 49

Arranged employment

This must be confirmed by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC).

Maximum points available 10
An HRSDC confirmed offer of permanent employment	10
Applicants from within Canada holding a temporary work permit that is validated by the HRSDC, or exempt from HRSDC validation under international agreements	10

Adaptability

Maximum points available 10
Spouse’s education (includes common law partners):
PhD or Masters degree AND at least 17 years of full-time equivalent studies	5
Two or three-year diploma, trade certificate, apprenticeship, or university degree AND at least 14 years of full-time or full-time equivalent studies	4
One-year diploma, trade certificate, apprenticeship, or university degree AND at least 12 years of full-time or full-time equivalent studies	3
Secondary School Educational Credential	0
Minimum one year full-time authorised work in Canada (applies to principal applicant or accompanying spouse/common law partner)	5
Minimum two years authorised full-time post-secondary study in Canada (applies to principal applicant or accompanying spouse/common law partner)	5
Points received under the Arranged Employer factor	5
Family relationship in Canada (applies to principal applicant or accompanying spouse/common law partner)	5

Your professional qualifications may not be acceptable as such in the Canadian labour market. You can visit a reference library and consult the Canadian Almanac & Directory. There you will find relevant professional organisations in Canada which will be able to advise you whether your qualifications are suitable. Alternatively you could contact:

The Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials

95 St. Clair West, Suite 1106

Toronto, ON M4V 1N6

Tel: (416) 962 9725

Fax: (416) 682 2800

website: www.cicic.ca/

Follow the website to www.cicic.ca/casinca.stm for more information on credential evaluation services. The web page contains details of the provincial evaluation services as well as three private services that are well regarded.

Additionally, there are Provincial assessment services who, for a fee, will assess academic credentials. (Contact details can be found in the Useful Addresses section at the back of the book.) They will advise how your education compares with educational standards in that particular province and this may help in your job search.

Assessing your score

What you are aiming for is a score of at least 67 points. If that is not achieved, the application is refused. There really is no point in applying if you do not come into that range. Bear in mind that the figure you have come up with is still only an estimate, but at least lets you know if you are in the ballpark.