Immigration Canada

Quebec Immigration High Demand Occupation List

Château Frontenac, Quebec City, Canada (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Quebec Minister of Immigration and Cultural Communities published in 2015, a revised areas of training list under its popular Skilled Worker Program. The revised list enumerates a wider range of studies awarding points to applicants and a spouse or de facto spouse for diplomas acquired outside Quebec or obtained in Quebec or recognized as Quebec equivalent.

The Quebec Skilled Worker program aims to select candidates with the highest probability of successful economic settlement potential.

The following is a partial reference to the Quebec Immigration High Demand Occupation List. The list of occupations provides applicants from outside Canada, who do not have intermediate french abilities, the best chances to qualify under Quebec rules.

Source:http://www.immigration.ca/en/quebec-skilled-worker/112-canada-immigration/quebec-skilled-worker-immigration/quebec-skilled-worker/576-quebec-immigration-high-demand-occupation-list-august-1st-2013.html

Hoping to study in Canada? Read these inspiring testimonials from overseas students

English: The new terminal 1 building check-in hall at Toronto Pearson International Airport in July 2007. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Hamilton Spectator

If you’re a foreign student who’s looking for the experience of a lifetime by studying in Canada, Instec International Homestay of Hamilton, Ontario offers the following inspiring testimonials from international students.

Living and studying in Canada allows you to immerse yourself in a rich, diverse culture and, if you don’t already speak English, learn English as a Second Language (ESL). To study inCanada, you’ll need to meet the necessary criteria put forth by the Government of Canada for overseas students. Many have made the journey successfully. Read the praise other students have had for studying in Canada:

“When I first arrived at Toronto Pearson International Airport, a Canadian immigration officer asked me what school I would be attending. My English wasn’t good at the time; all I knew is that it was a public high school in a city west of Toronto. But after one year studying in Glendale Secondary School, I passed my ESL (English as a Second Language) and was very confident with my English. In my second year in Highland Secondary School, I scored an average of 97 percent on my four courses! I was also champion of the Fermat Contest and Euclid Contest. For this, I say, Thank you!” – Philip Song

“I learned a lot since I came to Hamilton. I learned not only the language and knowledge, but also about the lifestyle in Canada. You have to ask, what hurts more, the pain of hard work or the pain of regret?” – Jerry Luo

“When I first came to Canada, I only ordered those foods that were easy to pronounce, even though I didn’t like them. After two years of study in Hamilton public high school, I got an offer from the Accounting and Financial Management Co-op Program, University of Waterloo.” – Zhang

“Overseas study helped me to grow up faster and be responsible for myself.” – Victoria Huang

“I am lucky that I live with my host family. They are so nice! I cannot imagine how I could live in Canada without their help! … I chose to stay with my host family when I got my offer letter from McMaster University.” – Jiaqi Hu

“My mom accompanied me when I first landed in Toronto three years ago. Sir John A. Macdonald Secondary School offered me so many opportunities that I really appreciate. I practiced my English and joined different group tours in my three years of study… Get out of the comfort zone!” – Holly Ren

To learn more about studying in Canada as an International student, contact Instec International Homestay by calling 905-515-7281.

Instec International is located in Hamilton, a major city in the province of Ontario. Hamilton has plenty of modern amenities and is situated between Niagara Falls, Ontario and Toronto – Canada’s largest metropolitan centre.

Instec International Student is located at Unit RC7, 12 Walnut St South, Hamilton, ON , L8N 2K7

7 top countries of origin of new Canadians

Between 2004 and 2013, based on records available from Citizenship and Immigration Canada, more than a million people came to Canada to seek a new life. But where did they come from? This question can offer insight into cultural understanding of the origins of several new Canadians as well how communities can connect. Here is a list of the top countries people emigrated to establish their home in Canada.

1. PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

People’s Republic of China

The most populous country in the world has also given Canada the largest chunk of our new citizens. In the last decade measured 2004 to 2013, 326,067 Chinese people became permanent residents and/or citizens of Canada.

2. INDIA

The second most populous country in the world also takes the second place for the source of new Canadians. Between 2004 to 2013, 310,513 Indians became Canadians.

3. PHILIPPINES

From the tropical island nation that is the Philippines to second-largest – mostly frigid – country that is Canada, 263,076 took the leap across the Pacific to find better opportunities for themselves and their families. Goes to show weather isn’t a vital aspect when choosing to build a new life.

4. PAKISTAN

Suffering from overpopulation, corruption, poverty, illiteracy and terrorism, many Pakistanis have fled the country seeking safety and security. In the past decade, 105,283 Pakistanis made Canada their home.

5. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Some of our neighbours down south don’t mind the cold weather as 85,848 Americans settled in Canada in the last decade. The two North American countries share the longest land border in the world as well as similar economic and cultural elements so it’s difficult to pinpoint immigration motives. Must be the free health care!

6. UNITED KINGDOM

It seems the British are still crossing the pond to settle in the colonies. In the last decade, 74,951 British nationals settled in Canada. With a common heritage and common language, Canada seems like a comfortable choice.

7. IRAN

The Islamic Republic of Iran doesn’t quite offer the most individual freedoms in the world and recent sanctions have forced a lot of economic hardship on citizens. Between 2004 to 2013, 73,474 Iranians settled in Canada, while in 2012 the federal government closed its Canadian embassy in Tehran.

Source: http://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/5597423-7-top-countries-of-origin-of-new-canadians/

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.

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

Latest news

09 January 2015 Express Entry visa system launches in Canada
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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

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

Maximum points 1,200

Spouses or Common-Law Partners of Candidates

Skills & experience (Maximum 460 points)
Spouse of common-law partner factors (Maximum 40 points)
Skill transferability (Maximum 100 points)
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

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.”

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

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.

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.

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