Immigration Canada: April 2014

Temporary Foreign Worker Program - Moratorium

The Centre Block on Parliament Hill, containing the houses of the Canadian parliament (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Temporary Foreign Worker Program is a program of last and limited resort, to be accessed by employers facing genuine, acute labour shortages, and only after Canadians are not available to fill the job. In support of this Program mandate, on December 31, 2013 , the Minister of ESDC issued three Ministerial Instructions, one of which is the Refusal to Process Labour Market Opinions (LMO) if there is new information indicating that the employment of the foreign national in any portion, sector, region or occupational group of the labour market in Canada may or will have a significant negative effect on the Canadian labour market.

After careful analysis of significant new information, including from Canadians through Service Canada’s Confidential Tip Line, the Minister of ESDC has directed officials to establish a moratorium on the Food Services Sector’s access to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.

Effective immediately, ESDC will no longer process LMOs for occupations in the Food Services Sector.

LMOs will not be processed for occupations classified by the 2002 North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS 2002) in Food Services and Drinking Places (NAICS subsector 722). Specifically, certain occupations related to sales and service and sales and service management as set out in the National Occupational Classification (NOC 2006). Please see this list for further detail.

Employers that have submitted applications and paid the processing fee, but have not yet received an LMO, will be refunded the full processing fee.

Any unused positions on positive LMOs that have been issued to employers for these sectors will be suspended and therefore will no longer be able to be used to obtain a worker permit.

ESDC will continue to ensure that Canadians have first access to available jobs. Abuse of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program will not be tolerated. To report misuse or abuse, contact:

Service Canada Confidential Tip Line

1-866-602-9448

integrity@servicecanada.gc.ca

Anonymous tips can also be provided to the Employer Contact Centre: 1-800-367-5693

**List of all Sales and Services Occupations (Skill type 6 based on NOC-2006)**
NOC Code	NOC4 Title
6641	Food Counter Attendants, Kitchen Helpers and Related Occupations
0631	Restaurant and Food Service Managers
6212	Food Service Supervisors
6453	Food and Beverage Servers
6611	Cashiers
6241	Chefs
6242	Cooks
6252	Bakers
0611	Sales, Marketing and Advertising Managers
0621	Retail Trade Manager
0632	Accommodation Service Managers
0651	Other Services Managers
6211	Retail Trade Supervisors
6213	Executive Housekeepers
6214	Dry Cleaning and Laundry Supervisors
6215	Cleaning Supervisors
6216	Other Service Supervisors
6221	Technical Sales Specialists - Wholesale Trade
6251	Butchers, Meat Cutters and Fishmongers - Retail and Wholesale
6411	Sales Representatives - Wholesale Trade (Non-Technical)
6421	Retail Salespersons and Sales Clerks
6451	Maîtres d'hôtel and Hosts/Hostesses
6452	Bartenders
6484	Other Personal Service Occupations
6622	Grocery Clerks and Store Shelf Stockers
6623	Other Elemental Sales Occupations
6651	Security Guards and Related Occupations
6661	Light Duty Cleaners
6662	Specialized Cleaners
6663	Janitors, Caretakers and Building Superintendents
6681	Dry Cleaning and Laundry Occupations
6682	Ironing, Pressing and Finishing Occupations
6683	Other Elemental Service Occupations

Breaking News: Re-Opening of Federal Skilled Worker Program

English: The recreation of the immigration hall at Pier 21, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

On Wednesday, April 23, 2014, the Government of Canadaannounced new occupations and caps for the popular Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program. Additional important information has been announced for the Federal Skilled Trades (FST) and Canadian Experience Class (CEC) programs.

The new changes go into effect for all three programs on May 1, 2014.

“This is a long-awaited and exciting announcement for applicants all over the world,” said Attorney David Cohen. “I am certain that in the coming days we will see an incredible amount of excitement generated for the FSW program in particular, which has historically been the most popular path to Canadian Permanent Residency.”

Federal Skilled Worker Announcements

Effective May 1, 2014, the FSW will be accepting an overall total of 25,000 new applications. Applicants must have at least one year of work experience in one of 50 eligible occupations. A maximum of 1,000 applications will be accepted per eligible occupation.

The eligible occupations include many widely practiced professions. They are as follows:

Senior managers – financial, communications and other business services (NOC 0013)
Senior managers – trade, broadcasting and other services, n.e.c. (0015)
Financial managers (0111)
Human resources managers (0112)
Purchasing managers (0113)
Insurance, real estate and financial brokerage managers (0121)
Managers in health care (0311)
Construction managers (0711)
Home building and renovation managers (0712)
Managers in natural resources production and fishing (0811)
Manufacturing managers (0911)
Financial auditors and accountants (1111)
Financial and investment analysts (1112)
Securities agents, investment dealers and brokers (1113)
Other financial officers (1114)
Professional occupations in advertising, marketing and public relations (1123)
Supervisors, finance and insurance office workers (1212)
Property administrators (1224)
Geoscientists and oceanographers (2113)
Civil engineers (2131)
Mechanical engineers (2132)
Electrical and electronics engineers (2133)
Petroleum engineers (2145)
Information systems analysts and consultants (2171)
Database analysts and data administrators (2172)
Software engineers and designers (2173)
Computer programmers and interactive media developers (2174)
Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians (2232)
Construction estimators (2234)
Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians (2241)
Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics (2243)
Inspectors in public and environmental health and occupational health and safety (2263)
Computer network technicians (2281)
Nursing co-ordinators and supervisors (3011)
Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (3012)
Specialist physicians (3111)
General practitioners and family physicians (3112)
Dietitians and nutritionists (3132)
Audiologists and speech-language pathologists (3141)
Physiotherapists (3142)
Occupational therapists (3143)
Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists (3214)
Medical radiation technologists (3215)
Medical sonographers (3216)
Licensed practical nurses (3233)
Paramedical occupations (3234)
University professors and lecturers (4011)
Psychologists (4151)
Early childhood educators and assistants (4214)
Translators, terminologists and interpreters (5125)

Applicants under the FSW program will be assessed according to the same criteria as 2013. Applicants are assessed on a points grid that takes into account important factors such as education, language skills, work experience, age, and adaptability to Canada. All applicants must meet minimum language requirements in either English or French.

In addition to skilled workers, the FSW program includes streams for PhD holders and individuals who have received eligible job offers from Canadian employers. A maximum of 500 PhD applicants will be accepted under the upcoming program. Applicants who hold valid job offers are not subject to any intake caps.

“While it is exciting to see so many occupations on this list, the most popular are likely to fill very quickly,” said Attorney David Cohen. “I strongly encourage anybody interested in this program to seize the moment and prepare to submit their application much sooner rather than later.”

Federal Skilled Trades Announcements

The FST program is for applicants with experience in a skilled trade. As of May 1, the FST program will be accepting a maximum of 5,000 applications for review. All NOC B level trades will be eligible for this program. This amounts to a total of 90 different occupations.

A maximum of 100 applications will be accepted under any single occupation. The 90 eligible occupations fall into the following general categories:

Major Group 72: Industrial, electrical and construction trades;
Major Group 73: Maintenance and equipment operation trades;
Major Group 82: Supervisors and technical occupations in national resources, agriculture and related production;
Major Group 92: Processing, manufacturing and utilities supervisors and central control operators;
Minor Group 632: chefs and cooks;
Minor Group 633: butchers and bakers

Canadian Experience Class Announcements

The CEC program was created for individuals who have already gained skilled work experience in Canada. As of May 1, the program will accept a maximum of 8,000 new applications. Any skilled occupation is eligible*, however for NOC B level occupations a maximum of 100 applications will be accepted per occupation.

*The following six occupations are not eligible to apply under the CEC:

Administrative officers (NOC 1221)
Administrative assistants (1241)
Accounting technicians/bookkeepers (1311)
Cooks (6322)
Food service supervisors (6311)
Retail sales supervisors (6211)

What This Means for Applicants

Many prospective immigrants have been eagerly waiting for these changes to be announced. This new information confirms that all three programs are open for business once again.

The FSW program is more open to applicants than it has been in the past few years. The cap has increased more than five times over, from just 5,000 last year to 25,000 this year. In addition, the number of eligible occupations has more than doubled, from just 24 last year to 50 as of May 1. This means that skilled workers who were not eligible for the program in previous years because of their professional experience may now be eligible to apply.

“I am excited to hear that Canada is opening up its doors to so many talented professionals,” said Attorney David Cohen. “This is the last time applicants can apply under the FSW program in its current format. Starting in 2015, the Government of Canada has announced that it will be transitioning to a new immigration selection system known as ‘Express Entry’. This is just one more reason for interested applicants to act now, and take steps toward achieving their immigration goals.”

To find out if you are eligible for the FSW, FST, CEC or any of Canada’s over 60 immigration programs, please fill out an online assessment today.

Source: http://www.cicnews.com/2014/04/breaking-news-reopening-federal-skilled-worker-program-043382.html

Jobs in Canada

English: Water tower in , , Canada (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Position: COOKS

NOC: 7642

Number of Positions 5

Years of Experience: 3+ years

English Level: Good

Preferred Countries: No Preference

Needed by: May 2014

Length of Contract: 2 years

Location: North Battleford, SK

Starting Wage: 13/hour to start

Type of Immigration: LMO and Work Permit

Perm. Residence: Possible

Employer pays for: N/A

Employee pays for: Should be retained for PR, $150 for WP Fee, flight, accommodation, day-to-day expenses

Duties and Responsibilities

- Sets up station according to restaurant guidelines

- Prepares all food items as directed in a sanitary and timely manner.

- Follows recipes, portion controls, and presentation specifications as set by the restaurant.

- Restocks all items as needed throughout shift.

- Cleans and maintains station in practising good safety, sanitation, organizational skills.

Position: Servers (Females only)

NOC: 6453

Number of Positions 6

Years of Experience: Previous experience in hospitality/restaurants is preferred

English Level: Fluent

Preferred Countries: Latin american countries.

Needed by: May 2014

Length of Contract: 2 years

Location: North Battleford, SK

Starting Wage: 10/hour plus tips

Type of Immigration: LMO and Work Permit

Perm. Residence: Possible

Employer pays for: Flight to Canada

Employee pays for: Should be retained for PR, $150 for WP Fee, flight, accommodation, day-to-day expenses

Duties and Responsibilities

- Sets up station according to restaurant guidelines

- Prepares all food items as directed in a sanitary and timely manner.

- Follows recipes, portion controls, and presentation specifications as set by the restaurant.

- Restocks all items as needed throughout shift.

- Cleans and maintains station in practising good safety, sanitation, organizational skills.

Position: Grader Operator/Road Construction Foreman

NOC: 7214

Number of Positions 3

Years of Experience: 3+ years

English Level: Fluent

Preferred Countries: No Preference

Needed by: April 2014

Length of Contract: 2 years

Location: Saskatoon, SK (Various locations in Saskatchewan)

Starting Wage: 28/hour plus benefits

Type of Immigration: LMO and Work Permit

Perm. Residence: Possible

Employer pays for: Immigration Assistance with WP, Relocation & Settlement

Employee pays for: $155 for WP Fee, flight, accommodation, day-to-day expenses

Youtube hint: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdm3jznl5JQ

Main Characteristic: Prepares all tasks of road construction before asphalt is laid

RESPONSIBILITIES

- Operates Grader and Skidsteer

- Work as a team member and leader to carry out sub-grade preparation, which may include the use of cement powder to stabilize clay

- Use survey equipment to ensure proper grading

- Ensure subgrade materials and base gravels are laid to contract specifications

- Plan work in an efficient and effective order, maximizing progress in a safe and timely manner; along with sufficient deployment and productivity of work crews

- Ensure company equipment is lawfully operated, cared for, maintained and used effectively

- Read and interpret project plans and specifications

- Operate heavy equipment and other construction duties as necessary

- Runs project of size from 2,000-10,000m2

REQUIREMENTS

- Ability to meet safety requirements including pre-employment drug and alcohol testing

- A successful candidate will be a Finish Grader and Finish Operator

- Must have practical experience with operation of a grader and skidsteer

- High School Diploma or G.E.D. preferred

- Valid driver’s license

- Knowledge of base construction methods, road construction materials, heavy equipment operation and industry requirements

- Be willing to work out of town/province for extended period of time

- Willing to work overtime, as required

Please send your resume to nexuscanadavisa@gmail.com

Immigration to Canada: Quebec opens doors for skilled workers

Flag of Quebec on the Quebec Government Office in Paris. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Three popular immigration streams, including investors and entrepreneurs, open for applicants

Majorie van Leijen

Published Thursday, April 03, 2014

Positive news was announced for all who are interested in migrating to the French-speaking province of Quebec, Canada. Three of its popular immigration programmes will accept new applications this year.

The three programmes are the Quebec Skilled Worker Programme (QSWP), The Investor Programme (IP)and the Entrepreneur Programme (EP).

Quebec Skilled Workers Programme

With immediate effect, the QSWP programme has been extended to laud in another application year starting from April 1st, 2014. From this date to March 31st, 2015, 6500 applications will be accepted for review, committed the Government of Quebec.

Although the extension is good news for potential applicants, the new application year has a downside, as the intake cap has been reduced considerably; only last year the Quebec Government reserved space for a maximum number of 20,000 applicants through the same programme.

The high intake cap may have been an unrealistic one judging by the actual number of applicants. According to the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) 10,000 applicants were accepted for review over the past ten months.

At the same time, the numbers prove that applicants will have to speed up their application process to be eligible for this years’ programme. As the number of applicants usually surges by the year, the 6500 intake cap may be reached before the end of the programme year.

Investor Programme

Although the QSWP officially opens for application one year round, application rounds are different for the much contested investor opportunity into the province. While thousands of applications are received throughout the year, the Quebec Government only accepts a limited number of applications in short interval periods. The nest such period is from September 8-19 this year.

Within these two weeks, 1750 applications will be accepted by the Quebec Government, with an intake cap of 1200 applicants per country. The intake cap does not apply to applicants who speak a high-intermediate level of French.

The intake cap of 1750 is the same as the last round of intake, which took place in August last year. However, over 5000 applications were submitted for the programme, which makes the programme highly competitive.

For both programmes applicants are advised to be well prepared and anticipative to submit their application as soon as they are permitted to do this. About the IP, Canadian attorney and author of the CIC newsletter Davic Cohen says: “It goes without saying that, with such a short timeframe for submission, only those individuals who are completely prepared in advance will be successful.

“The Province of Quebec has always been a popular destination for immigrants, and the QSW program has been its most popular immigration program. In the past, there were relatively few restrictions in terms of how many applications would be accepted for review. The new cap means that prospective applicants must compete against the clock and against each other to make sure they secure a place in the queue,” he added.

A third route – the Entrepreneur Route or Self-Employment Route- has been opened for applications, although little is known about the opportunity at this point. The Government of Quebec has said to accept a maximum of 500 applications from entrepreneurs and self-employed persons, without mention of a time frame.

What are the criteria?

The QSWP is the most general immigration stream and comparable to the Federal Skilled Worker Programme. However, more lenient criteria are applied in the province.

Quebec applies a point-based system, in which considerable emphasis is placed on language. An applicant can receive a maximum of 22 points for language. Up to 16 points can be awarded for French proficiency, and up to 6 for English.

Furthermore, the applicant must have qualifications in one of the 114 professions on the Areas of Training List, which was last updated in August 2013. On the new list 146 occupations are mentioned, with emphasis on occupations in the field of nursing and engineering.

When the province highly requires work force in one field, more points will be awarded for relating qualifications. Area of training can be allocated 6-16 points.

Investors are eligible to apply for he IP if they are able to invest CAD800,000 (Dh2800,000) for 5 years, or make a one-time payment of CAD220,000 (Dh760,000) with a financing option.

In return for the investment the province will provide a Quebec Selection Certificate and that will be transferred into a permanent residency for the investor and his/her family on the federal level.

Other than the investment and language proficiency, the investor will need to demonstrate a net worth of at least CAD1.6 million (Dh5.53 million) and managerial experience. Further, per August 2013 a new fee structure applies, requiring an initial fee of CAD10,000 (Dh34,600).

When the application is accepted the applicant may be invited for a selection interview, in which the applicant will be asked about his intention to settle in Quebec, his management experience, his assets and their lawful aquisition.

Quebec applies its own rules and regulations relating to immigration, although the decision to grant residency is made on the federal level. It has historically been a popular alternative to the competitive federal immigration programmes, and more recently the overall intake of applications in Quebec outpaced the intake on the federal.

Source: http://www.emirates247.com/news/immigration-to-canada-quebec-opens-doors-for-skilled-workers-2014-04-03-1.544101