Immigration Canada

High Demand Professions for Canada Skilled Trades Immigration Program

March 6, 2014 by Jessica

Canada Skilled Trades program is for those foreign skilled persons who wish to immigrate to Canada to live a better and healthy life. These trades persons have skills and experience but may not have higher educational qualifications. Foreign nationals can apply for the Canadian immigration under Skilled Trades program if they experience in any of the 43 high demand jobs which are divided into two groups.

Group A includes 17 jobs which are in moderate demand whereas group B includes 26 in-demand jobs. 43 jobs are eligible to apply under the Federal Skilled Trades program in the first year of the program.

There is a total cap of 3000 applications for the first year of the program starting from May 4, 2013 to April 30, 2014. There is a sub cap of 100 applications for the occupations in the group A.

Applicants having a qualifying offer of employment or a certificate of qualification from a provincial or territorial apprenticeship authority will not fall under the annual cap.

Group A – Jobs with sub-caps of 100 applications each (and their corresponding 2011 NOC code)

7202 Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations
7204 Contractors and supervisors, carpentry trades
7205 Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicers
7271 Carpenters
7301 Contractors and supervisors, mechanic trades
7302 Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews
8211 Supervisors, logging and forestry
8221 Supervisors, mining and quarrying
8222 Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling services
8241 Logging machinery operators
8252 Agricultural service contractors, farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers
9211 Supervisors, mineral and metal processing
9212 Supervisors, petroleum, gas and chemical processing and utilities
9214 Supervisors, plastic and rubber products manufacturing
9231 Central control and process operators, mineral and metal processing
9241 Power engineers and power systems operators
9243 Water and waste treatment plant operators

Group B – no sub-caps (2011 NOC code)

7231 Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors
7233 Sheet metal workers
7235 Structural metal and plate work fabricators and fitters
7236 Ironworkers
7237 Welders and related machine operators
7241 Electricians (except industrial and power system)
7242 Industrial electricians
7243 Power system electricians
7244 Electrical power line and cable workers
7245 Telecommunications line and cable workers
7246 Telecommunications installation and repair workers
7251 Plumbers
7252 Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers
7253 Gas fitters
7311 Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics
7312 Heavy-duty equipment mechanics
7313 Refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics
7314 Railway carmen/women
7315 Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors
7318 Elevator constructors and mechanics
7371 Crane operators
7372 Drillers and blasters – surface, mining, quarrying and construction
7373 Water well drillers
8231 Underground production and development miners
8232 Oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers
9232 Petroleum, gas and chemical process operators

Citizenship and Immigration Canada will process the applications in the order in which the applications are received.

Source: http://www.visato.com/canada/high-demand-professions-canada-skilled-trades-immigration-program-20140306

International Experience Canada for Spanish Youth

March 2, 2014 by Jessica

International Experience Canada Visa Program for Spanish young people is an excellent opportunity to gain valuable experience in Canada through travel and work. The program is designed to provide Spanish youth the experience of Canadian life by living and working in Canada on a work permit valid for up to 24 months. The good thing about the International Experience Canada is that applicants many not even need an employment offer before leaving Spain in some cases. It is a good way of having fun while traveling across Canada, adding some international experience to professional resume, or doing co-op internship in Canada.

Assessment Process:

The applicants are assessed in following two stages:

IEC Assessment: Stage 1 is conducted completely online through an IEC Kompass account to determine whether you meet the IEC eligibility criteria. All supporting documents must be submitted electronically through your IEC Kompass account.
If your application is accepted at stage 1, an IEC conditional acceptance letter will be sent to you. In order to begin step 2, you will then be directed to submit an application for a work permit to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) and your application will be assessed in accordance with Canadian immigration law and regulations.

International Experience Canada Categories and Quota:

There are three categories under the International Experience Canada:

Working Holiday: The working holiday visa allows young Spanish citizens of ages from 18 to 30 years to travel to Canada and work in areas of tourism and hospitality, retail, trades, engineering, administration, business and all other professions. Prior job offer is not required and applicant is allowed to work for any employer for a maximum period of 24 months. The annual quota for this category is 800.

Young Professionals: It provides an opportunity to the Spanish Youth to add international work experience to their resume. They can work in the areas of science, law, education, commerce, finance, communications, administration and business, and others. However, they must obtain a job offer and work for the same employer in Canada. There are usually120 places for Young Professionals each year.

International Co-Op: Students enrolled in Spain seeking to gain international co-op experience can avail this option. The students can work in the areas including science, law, education, commerce, finance, communications, administration and business, and others. They must obtainjob offer before applying for International Experience Canada. There are 70 places for International Co-op every year.

Source: http://www.visato.com/canada/international-experience-canada-spanish-youth-20140302

What is Canadian Bridging Work Permit?

Canada Place (Photo credit: quinet)

January 30, 2014 by Jessica

Imagine you are in Canada on a work permit as temporary foreign worker from Pakistan and have applied for Canadian permanent residence under the Canadian Experience class. You are waiting for the final decision on your permanent residence application and your work permit will expire in a couple of months. If your case is not decided within the validity period of your work permit, you may have to leave the country and return only once you have the permanent residence.Immigration Canada has a remedy for such cases in the form of bridging work permit that allows you to stay in Canada while your application is being processed.

Bridging Work Permit:

Bridging Work Permit allows the foreign nationals currently in Canada who have received a positive eligibility decision under one of the Economic Class programs and whose work permits are due to expire to maintain their legal status and continue residing in Canada. Prior to the arrangement of Bridging work permit, the applicants had the option to apply for visitor visa and stay as visitor without being able to work or find an employer who will file an application for LMO and then work permit.

Eligibility:

The foreign nationals must meet the eligibility criteria before applying for bridging work permit.

The foreign national is currently in Canada;
They have valid status on a Work Permit that is due to expire within 4 months;
They are the principal applicant on an application for permanent residence under the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Canadian Experience Class, Provincial Nominee Program or Federal Skilled Trades Program;
They have received a positive eligibility assessment on their Permanent Residence application under one of the Economic Class programs above; and
They have made application for an open Work Permit.

Validity:

The Bridging Work Permit is valid for the period of one year from the date it is issued. The foreign nationals may request to extend their stay on an open Work Permit, however, it will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Employment Location:

The open work permit is valid for employment at any location if it has been issued to the applicants of Federal Skilled Worker Program, Canadian Experience Class, or Federal Skilled Trades Program.

However, if the applicant had applied for Provincial Nominee Program and was issued bridging work permit, then the work permit holder can only work in the nominating province.

Source: http://www.visato.com/canada/what-is-canadian-bridging-work-permit-20140130

4 Requirements of Skilled Trades Program for Canadian Immigration

March 6, 2014 by Jessica

Canada Skilled Trades program requirements

Skilled Trades Program for Canadian permanent residence is for qualified skilled trades persons who meet the 4 basic requirements of the program. The applicants must also meet the other criteria for admissibility under the Canadian immigration and refugee protection act and regulations such as health condition and security clearance. They must also have sufficient funds to support them self and their family members when they arrive in Canada.

Following are the 4 requirements of the skilled trades program:

1. Language Proficiency:

As an applicant of Skilled Trades program, you must demonstrate that you meet the minimum requirements of language proficiency and provide evidence of your abilities in English or French (speaking, reading, listening and writing). The results of one of the following language tests from a testing agency designated by Citizenship and Immigration Canada must be submitted with the application:

English:
CELPIP: Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (General test only)
IELTS: International English Language Testing System (General Training test only)

French
TEF: Test d’évaluation de français (both modules must be submitted in order to demonstrate results for all four language abilities)

2. Work experience in a skilled trade occupation

You must meet the following work experience requirements:

You must have at least two years of full-time, paid work experience or the equivalent in part-time employment in the skilled trade occupation you specify in your application.
Your work experience must be in the skilled trade occupation eligible for the program.
Your work experience must have been obtained after becoming qualified to independently practice that occupation. Time spent in an apprenticeship position will not be counted.
You must have acquired this experience within the last 5 years.

You do not need to be employed at the time you submit your application.

3. Employment requirements in a skilled trade occupation

You must meet the relevant employment requirements of the skilled trade occupation you specify in your application.

Relevant employment requirements include education, training or other qualifications as set out in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) description of your occupation.

4. Offer of employment OR certificate of qualification in a skilled trade occupation

You must have either a qualifying offer of employment OR a certificate of qualification from a Canadian province or territory in the skilled trade occupation you specify in your application.

You can apply for the Skilled Trades Program for Canada permanent residence if you meet the above 4 requirements.

Source: http://www.visato.com/canada/4-requirements-skilled-trades-program-canadian-immigration-20140306

Immigration Canada

High Demand Professions for Canada Skilled Trades Immigration Program