Foreign Credential Recognition (FCR) Loans Pilot Project

North Lake harbour in eastern Prince Edward Island looking north onto the Gulf of St. Lawrence. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The FCR Loans Pilot Project assists with the credential recognition process and sourcing suitable employment for new immigrants. The programme was a pilot project, which will become permanent. The project addresses the unfortunate situation that many new immigrants experience in not having the financial ability for training or taking licensing examinations for regulated professions, as they lack the requisite credit history to obtain bank loans in Canada.

A regulated profession or trade is one that is governed by a provincial, territorial or sometimes federal authority, in which certain entry requirements and standards of practice are used to assess the qualifications and certify, register or license an individual as a qualified applicant. Examples of regulated occupations include engineers, as well as nurses, doctors, teachers, accountants and electricians.

The loans are provided by nine organisations across Canada, including:

* WIL Employment Connections, in Ontario;

* Association Communautaire d'emprunt de Montréal (ACEM), in Quebec;

* Immigrant Access Fund, in Alberta;

* Immigrant Access Fund, in Saskatchewan;

* SEED Winnipeg Inc., in Manitoba;

* S.U.C.C.E.S.S in British Columbia;

* New Brunswick Multicultural Council Inc;

* Canada Microcredit Educators Group, in Prince Edward Island; and

* Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia.

Eligibility

Eligible Candidates are:

* Canadian citizens or permanent residents, residing in the applicable province;

* In possession of

a professional credential/designation or trades-related certificate obtained in a country other than Canada;

* Credit-worthy for credentialing purposes; and

* Limited with regards to Canadian experience in the related field due to a lack of foreign credentials.

Eligible costs of the project include tuition for short-term (two years or less) training; exam fees with a professional governing association; travel expenses to write an exam; qualification assessments fees; professional association fees; books and course materials; and living allowance during study time.

Benefits

The benefits of the programme include:

* Loans ranging from $1,500 to $15,000 for successful candidates.

* The loan application process can take approximately two weeks.

* There are no fees to apply for the FCR Loan.

* Security is not required for the loan.

* Repayment terms from one year to two years.

* A six-month interest-free grace period.

* Low interest rates (prime rate, plus one per cent).

* Options to save interest by making payments more frequently and within the grace period.

* Flexible monthly payment schedule.

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Canadian Immigration's new Express Entry system a slow starter

Homage to the Immigrant, in Rosario, Argentina. Dedicated to the immigrant community from around the world that helped build the Argentine nation. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) says that less than 50 percent of immigrants coming into the country this year will be selected through its much-anticipated Express Entry system. The new system, introduced by Canada's Conservative government, promised to match skilled economic migrants with the needs of employers.

Since the launch of the Express Entry on January 1, 2015, just over 6,850 prospective or approximately 2,300 immigrants per month, have been invited to lodge an application for permanent residency. It won't be until 2017 that a majority of immigrants are processed through the new system. 

Immigration levels plan

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As part of its 2015 immigration levels plan, CIC had committed to accepting between 260,000 and 285,000 new permanent residents, around two-thirds of which would be economic migrants.

In order for the government to get anywhere near this target they would need to be admitting close to 22,500 immigrants per month. The majority of new immigrant arrivals this year will have to be chosen through the old system, which has faced criticism because of slow processing times.

CIC spokeswoman, Johanne Nadeau said: "CIC is in a period of transition with recent implementation of Express Entry that will span approximately two years. A majority of economic immigrants arriving in 2015 will be drawn from the pool of people who applied to enter Canada in the years before Express Entry was introduced."

It is expected that the number of permanent residents coming through the system will rise in 2016 to around 50% of admissions. By 2017, CIC expects that the majority, if not all economic immigrant based entry will be via the Express Entry system.

Express Entry immigration requirements

Under the new system, candidates in the economic streams are pooled with other applicants for initial assessment. Each candidate is graded on factors such as age, education and work skills and then given a score out of 1,200 according to Canada's Ranking System formula. The ranking formula scores single candidates and candidates with spouses in the following ways:

Single Candidates

1. Skills & experience (Maximum 500 points).
2. Skill transferability (Maximum 100 points).
3. Additional points (Maximum 600 points).

Maximum points 1,200

Spouses or Common-Law Partners of Candidates

1. Skills & experience (Maximum 460 points)
2. Spouse of common-law partner factors (Maximum 40 points)
3. Skill transferability (Maximum 100 points)
4. Additional points (Maximum 600 points)

Maximum points 1,200

Every three weeks, a cut-off score is chosen by the CIC and those who are above that score are invited to become permanent residents in Canada.

CIC anticipates that there will be between 15 and 25 of these rounds this year. Candidates with a Canadian employment offer, or those nominated by a provincial government, have a distinct advantage due to the way the criteria is weighted.

The number of points needed for admission has dropped by almost half from 900 in early January to 453 by late March. As the number of points required has decreased the number of invitations issued has increased.

Until recently, all of the applicants chosen for Express Entry had job offers or were nominated by a provincial government. However, the last two rounds have seen candidates selected with neither a job offer nor nomination, which has made it easier for applicants.

Written by Daniel Waldron and Sanwar Ali

Edited by Sanwar Ali

Source: http://www.workpermit.com/news/2015-04-23/canadian-immigrations-new-express-entry-system-a-slow-starter

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Key Canadian Immigrant Concerns Addressed In Federal Budget

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

Two long-standing concerns among newcomers to Canada were addressed in the government of Canada’s annual budget, details of which were announced this week. The budget addresses how immigrants might do better once they settle in Canada, as well as how they can better help their families back home.

Pilot loan program made permanent

A pilot program launched three years ago to help internationally-trained individuals get their skills up to Canadian standards by providing small loans will become permanent, it was announced. Earlier this month, a panel appointed by the Canadian government to examine the success of Canadian immigration settlement cited the issue of foreign credential recognition as one of the most persistent and prominent barriers to the economic success of skilled immigrants to Canada.

The Foreign Credential Recognition (FCR) Loans Pilot Project has made it easier for individuals trained internationally to complete the credential recognition process and find jobs that best suit their skills and experience. This initiative aimed to address the underemployment of internationally-trained skilled immigrants to Canada, as a number of immigrants may not have the financial means to take the exams or courses required by Canadian regulations and lack credit history to get bank loans to cover the costs.

The government said that in the first two years, nearly 1,500 loans, worth a total of CAD $9 million, were approved. Less than one per cent of loanees defaulted on repaying the sum. The initiative has been made permanent, with an additional $35 million set aside for future loans over the next five years.

Because accreditation is typically overseen by provincial organisations, funding for this loans program is provided to nine community-based organizations in selected communities across Canada, including:

• S.U.C.C.E.S.S., in British Columbia;
• Immigrant Access Fund, in Alberta;
• Immigrant Access Fund, in Saskatchewan;
• SEED Winnipeg Inc., in Manitoba;
• WIL Employment Connections, in London, Ontario;
• Association Communautaire d’emprunt de Montréal (ACEM), in Quebec;
• New Brunswick Multicultural Council Inc.;
• Canada Microcredit Educators Group, in Prince Edward Island; and
• Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia.

Loans can be used for anything from covering tuition for training to the price for licensing exams to child care costs, if it means a person can go back to school to upgrade his or her skills to match Canadian standards.

Remittance services to be improved

The Canadian government has set aside $6 million over five years to improve remittance services for people who want to send money abroad. The budget provides funding to establish a website to help people compare the fees that are charged by different service providers, among other initiatives.

Once new immigrants arrive in Canada, they send more than $24 billion a year back to their home countries, according to World Bank estimates from 2012. At this moment, no Canadian agency tracks this data, though the government has said that this will change in the near future.

However, the costs of sending remittances can vary widely, depending on the financial institutions and countries involved. Banks and remittance agencies make money on both the flat-rate fees and exchange-rate premiums they charge. Canada signed an international pledge to help reduce these costs at the 2011 G20 meeting, and numbers have come down since.

“Remittances represent an important source of income for families in the development world and can help pay for essential needs such as nutrition, education and health care,” stated the budget.

The budget and Canadian immigration

“While it remains to be seen how these projects will work out in reality, newcomers to Canada — including skilled immigrants who arrived recently as well as those who may arrive over the next few years — can take heart that they may experience a softer landing once they enter the labour market. The government of Canada has finally recognised that underemployment of skilled professionals means that the economy does not benefit from their expertise and experience,” says Attorney David Cohen.

“With regard to helping immigrants send money with a greater degree of security, this budget goes some way towards giving immigrants the tools they need in order to make informed decisions. Hopefully, it will allow them and their families to make those decisions with more peace of mind.”

©2015 CICnews All Rights Reserved

Source: http://www.cicnews.com/2015/04/key-canadian-immigrant-concerns-addressed-federal-budget-045087.html

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Canada welcomes first permanent residents under Express Entry

English: Canadian Horseshoe Falls with city of Buffalo, US in background. Clicked from Skylon Tower, Niagara Falls, Canada. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Express Entry working to make top international talent permanent residents

April 10, 2015 — Toronto — Changes to Canada’s economic immigration system are proving successful in selecting people needed in Canada’s economy and giving them permanent resident status quickly. Just three months after the launch of Express Entry, Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander welcomed three of the first Express Entry candidates to become Canadian permanent residents—Emma Hughes, Yaoyao (Anita) Zheng and Xin (Frank) Zhao.

Hughes is a successful candidate from Ireland who applied under the Federal Skilled Worker stream. She now works as an application scientist for EcoSynthetix in Burlington, Ontario.

Zheng and Zhao were both international students who applied under the Canadian Experience Class. Zheng came to Canada from China and in 2012 she graduated in Supply Chain Management from Humber College. Today, she works as a dispatch logistician at DMA Logistics in Mississauga, Ontario.

Zhao also came to Canada from China as an international student and graduated in 2003 from Mohawk College in business accounting. Zhao is currently employed at Wing on New Group Canada, in Markham, Ontario.

Launched in January, Express Entry is a new way of managing applications for Canada’s key economic immigration programs. Candidates create an online profile and express their interest in coming to Canada permanently. Candidates who meet the minimum criteria are accepted into the pool and ranked according to various factors, including language proficiency, education and work experience. Each is a leading indicator of one’s likelihood of integrating fully and quickly into Canadian society and making an optimal contribution to the economy.

Quick facts

• 6,851 Express Entry candidates have received an invitation to apply for permanent residence. Most complete electronic applications under Express Entry will be processed in six months or less.
• International students are well placed for success under the Express Entry system because of their high education, Canadian work experience, strong official language skills and youth. They can transition to permanent residence through any of the programs under Express Entry for which they meet the requirements, including the Canadian Experience Class, the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program or the Provincial Nominee Programs.

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Groundbreaking Fifth Express Entry Draw For Canadian Immigration.

CIC issues invitations to apply for permanent residence to candidates without a job offer or provincial nomination

For the first time since launching its much-anticipated Express Entry selection system for immigration to Canada, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has issued invitations to apply for Canadian permanent residence to candidates who do not have a qualifying job offer from a Canadian employer or a provincial nomination.

The latest draw from the Express Entry pool, the fifth so far, was performed on March 20. It resulted in 1,620 invitations to apply being issued to candidates with 481 or more Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points.

Prior to this draw, every candidate selected to apply for permanent residence through Express Entry had either a qualifying job offer supported by a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment(LMIA) or nomination from a Canadian province.

“This landmark draw from the Express Entry pool was what many candidates had been wishing for,” says Attorney David Cohen. “Earlier this month, I said that the overall trend across the first few draws offered real hope to candidates who did not yet have a job offer or provincial nomination. The latest draw will provide relief to those individuals who were selected, while giving candidates who were not selected this time more reason to be optimistic.”

(The dotted line at 600 represents the maximum number of points a candidate can be awarded without obtaining a qualifying job offer from a Canadian employer or a provincial nomination)

“While the sharp decrease in minimum points required, as compared to previous draws, represents good news for all eligible candidates, it should be remembered that obtaining a qualifying job offer or provincial nomination remains the surest way of being issued an invitation to apply. Express Entry is a system that rewards proactive candidates,” added Attorney Cohen.

“What this fifth draw brings into play in a very real way, however, is that improving one’s human capital factors can make a big difference. For example, candidates who make efforts to improve their language skills and re-take a language test may find that this will get them over the line, as may those who increase their level of education or add work experience to their profiles.”

Important information for all candidates and applicants

Once an invitation to apply has been issued to a candidate, he or she has 60 days to file a complete application and all supporting documents. No extensions will be granted. Candidates who have been issued an invitation to apply are encouraged to submit their complete applications in good time to avoid disappointment, while those who have not yet been selected from the Express Entry pool are encouraged to gather these documents in advance.

Moreover, when taking the penalties for misrepresentation into account, it is important that the information provided and documents submitted are completely accurate in order to avoid misrepresentation. Penalties for misrepresentation may include a five-year ban on applying to immigrate to, or even visit, Canada.

Express Entry is not an immigration program in itself, but rather a system used by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) to select candidates for immigration to Canada using the following economic immigration programs:

• Federal Skilled Worker Program
• Federal Skilled Trades Program
• Canadian Experience Class
• a portion of the Provincial Nominee Programs

To find out if you are eligible for any of over 60 Canadian immigration programs, including the federal economic programs that are processed under Express Entry, please fill out a free online assessment today.

© 2015 CICnews All Rights Reserved

Source: http://www.cicnews.com/2015/03/groundbreaking-express-entry-draw-canadian-immigration-034727.html

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What's the catch to Canada's new Express Entry System?

English: The main entrance of in , , Canada, featuring Canadian provincial flags. Nederlands: Hoofdingang van Canada's Wonderland met de Canadese provinciale vlaggen, gefotografeerd in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Marieton Pacheco, ABS-CBN North America Bureau

Posted at 02/24/2015 12:29 PM

VANCOUVER, Canada - Canada recently implemented an online Express Entry System for those wanting to migrate to the country.

The Express Entry System allows an applicant to create an online profile, type in his best qualifications to be invited for permanent residency.

But immigration experts say there is a catch

Since its launch in January, more than 1,500 have already been invited to apply for permanent residency under the Express Entry System. But their invitation did not come from creating an online profile alone.

"It is very important to note that under this system, while you may qualify as a Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Trades Worker or under the Canadian Experience Class, you need to be able to show them that you have the offer of employment or the provincial nominations," said Arelene Tungohan, certified immigration consultant.

The Express Entry System is supposedly a faster route for entering Canada through its economic migration streams like the Federal Skilled workers, Provincial Nominations, and Experienced Class Programs.

Creating an online profile gives points for one's skills, education, work experience, and other relevant information. It is also supposed to allow one to register with Canada's job bank.

"Employers would be able to supposedly to go to job bank and handpick candidates who will be employed by them. Ang hindi alam ng marami na yung job bank portion hindi pa gumagana," she said.

Job offers and provincial nominations are not essential, but they give significant points, about half of the total 1200 points one can get under the new system.

This, Tungohan said, is where the challenge lies.

"If you don't have like a provincial nomination or an arranged employment LMIA-Based (Labor Market Impact Assessment) arranged employment, then anong laban mo sa mayroong ganun? Kasi the arranged employment and the PNP (Provincial Nominee Program) will give you 600 points. So this is really employer-driven. Ang hinahanap ng Canada at first right now is for those who already have work," she said.

This early, government claims the initial results are impressive as the new system is working to fill Canada's labor market needs.

Most of those invited were applicants from the sciences, electrical and construction industries.

Upon receiving an invitation, applicants have 60 days to complete and submit requirements with Immigration Canada guaranteeing a 6-month processing time.

Read more from Balitang America.

Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/global-filipino/02/24/15/whats-catch-canadas-new-express-entry-system

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Regina launches website directed at welcoming immigrants

The Kramer Imax Theatre located at the Saskatchewan Science Centre in the renovated former Regina powerhouse on the north shore of east Wascana Lake (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The City of Regina has received $30,000 from the federal and provincial governments to launch welcometoregina.ca, which aims to help new immigrants settle in the city.

"It's very important," Jeremy Harrison, Saskatchewan's Minister responsible for immigration, said. "Newcomers often have some very, very real challenges being brand new in Canada, brand new in Saskatchewan, and brand new in Regina."

Harrison added the site contains information that many people who have always lived here may take for granted, such as where to shop for groceries. He said the site was created with help from newcomer groups like the Regina Open Door Society, who provided further insight on what new immigrants to Regina often want and need to know.

'Newcomers often have some very, very real challenges.'- Jeremy Harrison

Regina city councillor Shawn Fraser was also on hand for the website's launch. He said it's a good step toward helping people fit in to the city, but citizens can always do more to make people feel welcome. 

"That means going out of our way, if you can, to introduce yourself to your neighbours, to help people out," Fraser said. "Open Door Society is a great way to get involved. There's lots of opportunities around the city to welcome new Canadians." 

The money for the website is administered through Citizenship and Immigration Canada, through an agreement between the federal and provincial governments. It allows for grants toward cities and municipalities that want to provide online information for immigrants. 

Harrison said Saskatoon, Yorkton, and Moose Jaw have also received help for websites similar to the one created for people arriving in Regina.

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/regina-launches-website-directed-at-welcoming-immigrants-1.2950632

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Inviting In-Demand, Skilled Immigrants to Canada

The lock between Chateau Laurier and Parliament Hill in Canada's capital city, Ottawa, Canada, situated on the Ottawa River. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

First round of Express Entry candidates invited to fill labour market needs and contribute to Canada's economic growth

February 2, 2015 - Ottawa -Canada's Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander today announced that the first round of top-ranked candidates from Canada's Express Entry system is already helping to fill demonstrated and verifiable gaps in Canada's labour market.

On Saturday, January 31, 779 skilled workers, including professionals in natural and applied sciences, and industrial, electrical and construction trades, were invited to apply for permanent residency in Canada. Each of these candidates declared that they already have a valid job offer or provincial nomination.

Under Express Entry, skilled workers who want to apply to Canada's key economic immigration programs are able to create an online profile and express their interest in coming to Canada permanently.

Candidates who are accepted into the pool are ranked according to various factors, including language proficiency, education and work experience. Each is a leading indicator of one's likelihood of integrating fully and quickly into Canadian society and making an optimal contribution to the economy.

Canada will regularly invite the highest-ranking candidates from the pool to apply to immigrate. With most applications being processed in six months or less, candidates will be able to contribute to Canada's economy and job market more quickly than ever before.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada

www.canada.ca/ExpressEntry

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Saskatchewan Introduces Express Entry Sub-Category

A "Welcome to Saskatchewan" sign greets drivers on the highway as they leave the province of Alberta and enter the province of Saskatchewan in Canada. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Canadian province—Saskatchewan, has introduced a new Express Entry category entitled as Saskatchewan Express Entry Sub-category, under its PNP (Provincial Nominee Program). This new sub-category is committed to skilled employees who would like to reside and work in Saskatchewan.

The SINP (Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program) nominates people who are in the federal Express Entry pool with proper skills, work experience as well as language abilities required to effectively settle and assimilate into province’s labor market and societies.

Under this stream, the province has allotted 775 spaces and the good thing is applicants don’t require an employment offer to apply. Successfully selected applicants will have the right to reside and work in the province with rewarding standard of living, rising economy and the low unemployment rate in Canada.

However, in order to apply for Saskatchewan Express Entry Sub-Category, applicants must meet certain prerequisites such as; they must be accepted into federal Express Entry pool and posses Express Entry Profile Number along with Job Seeker Validation Code. Applicants should secure at least 60 points out of 100 in the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program point assessment grid and language proficiency is needed either in French or English language.

Applicants must have completed at least one year of training or post-secondary education which is equivalent to Canada’s education system and has resulted in a diploma, degree, credential, or a certificate comparable to a trade credential.

Applicants should also show their minimum work experience level pertinent to their education or training field. The minimum work experience can be either one year during the past 10 years in skilled profession (non-trades), or two years in the skilled trade during the past five years or one year of skilled work experience in Canada during the past three years in trades or non-trades. The work experience should be in high skilled occupations listed on NOC “0”, “A” or “B” occupations, which are considered to be in-demand occupations in Saskatchewan.

Source: http://www.migrationideas.com/news/saskatchewan-introduces-express-entry-sub-category/407/

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