Skilled Worker Immigration through Manitoba Nomination Program

by Jessica

Canadian province of Manitoba has its own nomination program that permits foreign skilled workers with strong connection to the province to obtain Canadian  permanent residence. The program is designed to facilitate foreign nationals who have work experience or graduated from Manitoba post-secondary educational institutions.

1. Manitoba Provincial Nomination Program:

Manitoba Provincial Nomination Program (MPNP) is divided into two streams depending on the labor market and foreign national’s ties to the Manitoba community.

1. Currently working in Manitoba: Applications are accepted from temporary foreign workers and international student graduates who have been working full-time for at least six months and whose employer has offered a full-time, long-term job.
2. Skilled workers overseas: Applications are accepted from skilled workers who score sufficient points for employability and adaptability based on five factors. The eligibility factors include  age, English proficiency, work experience, education and Connection to Manitoba.

2. Connection to Manitoba Community:

The connection to the Manitoba community can be demonstrated through the following:

• Applicant has completed an eligible Manitoba education or training program of at least one year for which he/she received a diploma or degree,
• Applicant has a valid post-graduation work permit issued by Citizenship and ImmigrationCanada (CIC),
• Applicant has a job-offer letter from the Manitoba employer for whom he/she has been working at least six months.

If you have friends and family members in Canadian provinces other than Manitoba then you maynot be eligible for Manitoba Nomination program.

Similarly, if you are in Canada and have completed your education from another province and worked there, you may not qualify for the program as Manitoba wants to determine if the applicant has a sincere desire to settle in Manitoba or not.

The Province of Manitoba has the sole authority to approve the nomination of individuals for permanent residence. The MPNP nomination decision will be based on  assessment of your  potential for successful economic settlement as an independent skilled worker. Your genuine intention and ability to settle in Manitoba with permanent residency will also play a key role in your eligibility assessment.

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What are Rules for Canada Study Visa under Student Partner Program?

 by Jessica

Increasing number of students from India are choosing Canada as a preferred designation for higher studies abroad. Over 20,000 India students entered Canada to embark on their journey to the better foreign educational credentials.

Canada provides the opportunity to work during studies, obtain post-graduation work permit and become permanent resident under the Canadian Experience Class. Canadian colleges anduniversities also offer exceptionally top quality education at relatively lower costs compared to United Kingdom, Australia and the United States.

Indian students can benefit from the student partner program (SPP) which is only open for the Indian students. SPP is an administrative collaboration between Canadian visa offices in India and the Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC).

Students do not apply to the SPP, they apply to a participating Canadian college and may be considered under the program if they meet the eligibility criteria. Following is the checklist for Canadian study visa:

• Payment of Tuition Fee: Copy of receipts for tuition payment (one Semester/one Year – as asked by the SPP institution)
• Proof of Available Funds: You MUST demonstrate the purchase of a special GuaranteedInvestment Certificate (GIC) from a participating Canadian financial institution, in the amount of $10,000 CAD to cover living expenses for your first year in Canada.
• Language Proficiency: IELTS test results taken within last 24 months with overall band not less than 6.0, with no individual band lower than 5.5 bands in any module.
• Minimum Education: Passed out from 12th Grade in the last two years or completed their Bachelor’s Degree in the last five years with atleast 50% score in their latest qualification.
• Graduated with not more than two accumulations per year.

The Canadian High Commission in India recommends that Indian students must submit their applications for Canadian study visa by 01 August for September entry and by 01 December for January entry. The visa office will not be able to process the study visa applications in time and most likely be refused if submitted after the above mentioned deadlines.

http://www.visato.com/canada/what-are-rules-for-canada-study-visa-under-student-partner-program-20131228

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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

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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

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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

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