Whait is Skilled Workers Options?

A. The Ministerial Instruction Class: Category 1

Qualifying applicants must obtain 67 points on the Points Selection System and have at least one year of work experience (in the last 10 years) on the Occupation List. There is now an annual cap of 10,000 visas issued each year (Prorman is closed until January, 2013) in this category and a maximum of 1000 applications per occupation. Applicants must have Settlement Funds to support their family in Canada if do not have Arranged Employment.

B. The Ministerial Instruction Class: Category 2

Applicants must have Arranged Employment (AE) approved by Service Canada – this is the key to qualifying under this category!

C. Canadian Experience Class

Applicants must have at least one year skilled work experience (according to new rules) in Canada, or have graduated from a post-secondary institution with at least two years of study and have one year of Canadian work experience in Canada.

D. Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP)

There are a various PNP programs available. Most programs require applicants to have a job offer from a Canadian company or have studied in Canada.

A. The Ministerial Instruction Class: Category 1

Main requirements:  1 year of full-time (or equivalent part-time) paid work experience in the last 10 years in one of the 29 occupations listed below and obtain at least 67 points on the point grid.
Canada’s High Demand Occupation List:

0631 Restaurant and Food Service Managers
0811 Primary Production Managers (Except Agriculture)
1122 Professional Occupations in Business Services to Management
1233 Insurance Adjusters and Claims Examiners
2121 Biologists and Related Scientists
2151 Architects
3111 Specialist Physicians
3112 General Practitioners and Family Physicians
3113 Dentists
3131 Pharmacists
3142 Physiotherapists
3152 Registered Nurses
3215 Medical Radiation Technologists
3222 Dental Hygienists & Dental Therapists
3233 Licensed Practical Nurses
4151 Psychologists
4152 Social Workers
6241 Chefs
6242 Cooks
7215 Contractors and Supervisors, Carpentry Trades
7216 Contractors and Supervisors, Mechanic Trades
7241 Electricians (Except Industrial & Power System)
7242 Industrial Electricians
7251 Plumbers
7265 Welders & Related Machine Operators
7312 Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanics
7371 Crane Operators
7372 Drillers & Blasters — Surface Mining, Quarrying & Construction
8222 Supervisors, Oil and Gas Drilling and Service

There are various ways to qualify for Canadian Permanent Residence as a skilled worker. Generally, applicants must have 67 points on a point grid and at least one year of experience (out of the last 10) in an occupation listed below. Points are also awarded for age, education, work experience, language ability (English and/or French) – as well as other adaptability factors. You can review the following infomation to see if you qualify.If you think you qualify please contact us.

The Federal Skilled Worker Class Point Selection System

Applicants in the Ministerial Instruction Category must score at least 67 points on the selection grid which is based on the following sections:

1. Education
2. Language Ability in English and/or French
3. Work Experience
4. Age
5. Arranged Employment
6. Adaptability

Education Points

Officers assess programs of study and award points based on the standards that exist in the country of study. An “educational credential” is any diploma, degree or trade or apprenticeship credential issued upon the completion of a program of study or training at an educational or training institution. This credential must be recognized by the authorities responsible for registering, accrediting, supervising and regulating such institutions in the country of issue.
“Full-time Studies” means at least 15 hours of instruction per week during the academic year, including any period of training in the workplace that forms part of the course of study.  “Full-time equivalent” means (in respect of part-time or accelerated studies) the period of time that would have been required to complete those studies on a full-time basis.

1. EDUCATION:	25
PhD or Master’s Degree (minimum 17 years study)	25
2 (or more) Bachelor-level university degrees (minimum 15 yrs study)	22
2-year Bachelor-level university degree (minimum 14 years study)	20
1-year Bachelor-level university degree (minimum 13 years study)	15
3-year diploma, trade apprenticeship certificate (minimum 15 yrs study)	22
2-year diploma, trade apprenticeship certificate (minimum 14 yrs study)	20
1-year diploma, trade apprenticeship certificate (minimum 13 yrs study)	15
1-year diploma, trade apprenticeship certificate (minimum 12 yrs study)	12
Secondary School Credential / High School Diploma	5

Applicants that have educational credentials, but not the total number of years of study required, are awarded the number of points appropriate for the years of study completed.
Note regarding Master Degrees: Medical doctor degrees are generally first-level university credentials. A Bachelor of Law or a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacology is a first level and receives 20 points. Second-level degrees (i.e. Faculty of Graduate Studies) score 25 points. If a bachelor’s credential is a prerequisite to the credential, but the credential itself is still considered a first-level degree, then 22 points are awarded. Visa Officers should look at how the local authority responsible for educational institutions recognizes the credential (i.e. as a first-level or second-level or higher university credential).

Education completed after the application is made will be considered

Visa Officers should look at the years of study that the applicant has completed when the application is made. If further study is completed and documentation is submitted between application and assessment, officers must award points for the highest educational credential obtained at the time of assessment.
Correspondence (distance learning) education is eligible
A distance learning credential is eligible for points as long as it meets the definition of a credential.  It should also meet the number of years duration (i.e. three-year bachelor’s degree). Officers should apply the definition of full-time equivalent study and knowledge that the visa office has acquired on local education institutions and credentials. There is a high incidence of fraud in this area. That is why officers are encouraged to perform verification checks on issuing institutions to prevent fraud.

Language Points
A maximum of 24 points could be awarded for proficiency in English and French.
a)      A maximum of 16 points for proficiency in the “first” official language indicated.
b)      A maximum of 8 points for proficiency in the “second” official language.

First official language	Read	Write	Listen	Speak
High Proficiency	4	4	4	4
Moderate Proficiency	2	2	2	2
Basic Proficiency: Max 2 points	1	1	1	1
No ability	0	0	0	0
Second Language	Read	Write	Listen	Speak
High Proficiency	2	2	2	2
Moderate Proficiency	2	2	2	2
Basic proficiency: Max  2 points	1	1	1	1
No ability	0	0	0	0

Points are awarded for proficiency in English and/or French are based on:
a) Language tests (less than 1 yr old) from an approved organization or
b) Other evidence in writing, submitted at time of application.
Approved Testing Organizations for English
1. International English Language Testing System (IELTS): General test for reading and writing
2. Applied Research and Evaluation Services (ARES): The University of British Columbia administers the Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP).       >more
3. The University of Cambridge Local Examination Syndicate: Education Australia
Approved Testing Organizations for French
Test d’Évaluation de Français (TEF) given by (TEF) The Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry TEF modules: compréhension écrite (reading); compréhension orale (listening); expression écrite (writing); expression orale (speaking).

Work Experience

Number of years	Less than 1	1 year	2 years	3 year	More than 4
	0	15	17	19	21

• Only skilled level work experience (NOC O, A or B), in the 10 years before applying, count.
• Applicants must have one (1) year of full-time experience or the equivalent in part-time employment in one or more occupations.
• Officers calculate work by adding up hours worked in one or more skilled jobs.
• Points are awarded if the applicant has performed the actions described in the lead statement of the particular NOC description and has performed at least a substantial number of the duties described in the Main Duties summary–including all the essential duties.  Officers should not take into account whether the applicant meets the Employment Requirements description set forth in the NOC for the occupation(s) listed.

Calculating Points for Age
Up to 10 points are awarded to applicants who are 21 to 50 years old.  Two points are subtracted, to a maximum of 10 points, for each year the applicant is less than 21 or over 49.

Age (years)	Points
20 or 50	10
19 or 51	8
18 or 52	6
17 or 53	4
younger than 17 or older than 53	2
younger than 16 or older than 54	0

Calculating Points for Arranged Employment (Not low skilled jobs)
A total of 15 points may be awarded having approved Arranged Employment.
a. Ten points awarded for approved Arranged Employment
b. Five more points may be awarded under the adaptability section.
1. Applicant not working in Canada:  Job offer must be approved by HRSDC. Applicant must be able to perform, be likely to accept and carry out the job.
2. Applicants working in Canada on a HRSDC “confirmed” Work Permit
3. Applicant working in Canada pursuant to

• A confirmation-exempt category (i.e. NAFTA or GATS)
• A significant-benefit category (i.e intra-company transferee)
• Post-graduate work permit or spouse of a skilled worker/foreign student.

Calculating Points for Adaptability (Up to 10 points)
a) Educational credentials of the accompanying spouse or common-law partner:
Evaluate spouse’s education using the Education Chart above and covert score accordingly:

25 points = 5 points

20 or 22 points = 4

12 or 15 points = 3

b) Previous study in Canada: 5 points if the applicant (or an accompanying spouse) completed studied for at least 2 years at a post-secondary school in Canada
c) Previous work in Canada: 5 points for one year of full-time work in Canada (or spouse).
d) Relatives in Canada: 5 points if applicant or spouse has a Canadian (or permanent resident) parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, uncle, aunt, niece or nephew residing in Canada
e) Arranged Employment: 5 points for Arranged Employment in Canada.
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) For applications after Nov 28/08

Level	Points (per ability)	Test results for each ability
		Listening	Reading (general training)	Writing (general training)	Speaking
High (CLB/SLC 8-12)	First official language: 4	7.5-9.0	6.5-9.0	6.5-9.0	6.5-9.0
	Second official language: 2
Moderate (CLB/SLC 6-7)	First and second official language: 2	5.5-7.0	5.0-6.0	5.5-6.0	5.5-6.0
Basic (CLB/SLC 4-5)	First  and second official language: 1 (to a max. of 2)	4.5-5.0	5.5-4.5	4.0-5.0	4.0-5.0
No proficiency (CLB/SLC 1-3)	First and second official language: 0	less than 4.5	less than 3.5	less than 4.0	less than 4.0

French: Test d’évaluation de français (TEF) Point Score Equivalency Chart
(Applications received and test reports dated after Nov 28/08)

Level	Points (per ability)	Test results for each ability
		Listening	Reading (General Training)	Writing (General Training)	Speaking
High (CLB/SLC 8-12)	First official language: 4	Level 5 Level 6   (280–360 points)	Level 5 Level 6   (233-300 points)	Level 5 Level 6   (349-450 points)	Level 5 Level 6   (349-450 points)
	Second official language: 2
Moderate (CLB/SLC 6-7)	First and second official language: 2	Level 4 (217-279 points)	Level 4 (181-232 points)	Level 4 (271-348 points)	Level 4 (271-348 points)
Basic (CLB/SLC 4-5)	First  and second official language: 1 (to a max of 2)	Level 3 (145-216 points)	Level 3 (121-180 points)	Level 3 (181-270 points)	Level 3 (181-270 points)

Canadian English Language Proficiency Chart (CELPIP)

Level	Points (per ability)	Test results for each ability
		Listening	Reading	Writing	Speaking
High (CLB/SLC 8-12)	First official language: 4	4H 5   6	4H 5   6	4H 5   6	4H 5   6
	Second official language: 2
Moderate (CLB/SLC 6-7)	First and second official language: 2	3H 4L	3H 4L	3H 4L	3H 4L
Basic (CLB/SLC 4-5)	First  and second official language: 1 (to a max. of 2)	2H 3L	2H 3L	2H 3L	2H 3L
No proficiency (CLB/SLC 1-3)	First and second official language: 0	0 1   2L	0 1   2L	0 1   2L	0 1   2L

Required Settlement Funds

The government wants to make sure you and your family have enough funds to support yourselves for at least the first six (6) months in Canada.  (This does not apply if you have approved Arranged Employment.)  The funds must be available and transferable as well as unencumbered by debts or other obligations.

# of Family Members	1	2	3	4	5	6	7 or more
Funds Required (CDN)	$10,833	$13,486	$16,580	$20,130	$22,831	$25,749	$28,668

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