Getting Admission to a Canadian School

English: KIS International School Students (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

With an international reputation for top-quality education, it is no wonder that tens of thousands of students come from abroad each year to study in Canada.

The path to studying in Canada begins with admission to a Canadian educational institution. The admission application process can sometimes take over a year. Therefore, it is important to set clear educational goals and deadlines. If you are interested in coming to Canada to pursue any type of study, follow our steps below for admission success.

Choose Your Program and School

There is a wide range of educational opportunities throughout Canada. Generally speaking, schools fall into one of four categories:

University/College
Trade/Vocational
Language Schools
Primary/Secondary

Firstly, you should decide what sort of program you would like to enroll in. You should ask yourself questions like:

Do I want to obtain a degree?
How will my studies enhance or change my career?
Do I want to use my education as a stepping stone for Canadian Permanent Residency?
How much time and money can I commit to my education?

It is important to choose a program that connects your short- and long-term goals. You may wish to speak with school representatives, current students or alumni to get a better idea of the pros and cons of a program or school. You may also wish to attend school informational sessions online or at a location near you.

Once you have decided on your course of study, you will want to make a list of schools that teach your program and appeal to you. Some factors to take into account are:

Tuition costs
Location
Cost of living while at school
Teacher-student ratio
Student organizations
School support for international students

Some prospective students choose to apply to several schools, while others focus on just one institution. Decide where you want to go, and move on to beginning the application process.

Review Admissions Requirements

Once you have chosen the schools you wish to apply to, you should research each school’s admissions requirements to find out if you are a good candidate for the school and program. Some institutions accept all students, while others are highly competitive. Application procedures can vary greatly, even amongst similar institutions.

Prepare Your Admission Application

School applications vary as much as schools themselves. Some institutions require only the bare essentials in terms of personal and financial information. Others, especially colleges and universities, may have in-depth applications that require submission of transcripts, essays, and standardized test scores.

It is important to keep track of deadlines. The Canadian school year generally runs from September to April for universities, and to June for primary and secondary school. Many schools require that applications be submitted up to a year prior to the date of intended enrollment.

Even if your chosen school does not have a strict application deadline, you will want to take into account the time it will take you to apply for any necessary visas and/or permits and prepare yourself for an extended stay in Canada.

NOTE: International applicants may be required to gather additional documentation such as proof of English or French language ability, proof of independent health insurance, proof of financial ability or educational equivalency results. It may take you longer to prepare an application than a Canadian applicant.

Submit Your Application and Receive Acceptance Letter

Once you have prepared your application, you must submit it in a timely manner, preferably well before the application deadline. This can often be done online.

If you are accepted to a Canadian school, congratulations! You are closer than ever to coming to Canada. You will have to accept the offer of admission extended to you by your school of choice, and may be asked to make a financial deposit at that time.

Your next step will be acquiring a Canadian study permit and/or temporary resident visa, if applicable. Stay tuned to the next edition of CIC News, where we will explore this process in-depth.

To find out if you are eligible for a study permit, please fill out a free online assessment today.

Skilled Work Experience for Immigration

English: A Canadian Customs and Immigration service sign (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Skilled Work Experience for Immigration

JULY, 2013

Skilled work experience lies at the heart of many of Canada’s immigration programs. Some, like the Federal and Quebec Skilled Worker programs, even have ‘skilled work’ right in their name.

Many potential immigrants may be unclear as to what constitutes ‘skilled work’ for the purposes of immigration. Moreover, some may not know if their own experience is considered ‘skilled’ by immigration authorities. This article provides a background on skilled work experience and the importance it plays in many immigration processes.

What is ‘Skilled Work’?

The Government of Canada maintains a database of every field of work conducted in the country. It is known as the National Occupation Classification (NOC) database. Within the NOC database, jobs are broken down into the following levels:

0 level – Managerial jobs
A level – Professional jobs (usually requiring a university degree)
B level – Technical jobs (usually requiring post-secondary education, apprenticeship or 2+ years of on-the-job training)
C level – Semi-skilled jobs (usually requiring completion of secondary school and limited training)
D level – Unskilled jobs (no formal educational requirements, possible limited training)

When immigration officials refer to skilled workers, they are usually speaking of individuals with experience in an NOC 0, A or B level job. To browse the NOC database, please click here.

Who needs to be Skilled?

Many immigration programs were created to specifically target skilled workers. Immigrants arriving through a skilled worker program make up the largest percentage of new Canadian Permanent Residents each year. The following programs have skilled worker streams:

Federal Skilled Worker Program: This program includes three streams (Skilled Worker, Arranged Employment, PhD). Applicants to the Skilled Worker program must, at this time, have work experience in one of 24 eligible professions, all of which fall under NOC 0, A or B levels.

Quebec Skilled Worker Program: Applicants to this program must have education and experience in one of 146 areas of training/fields of study. These fields mostly fall into NOCs 0, A and B.

Canadian and Quebec Experience Class Programs: These programs require 1 year of skilled (0, A, or B level) work experience in Canada.

Provincial Nomination Programs (PNPs): PNPs vary from province to province. However, all programs have a stream that was designed to facilitate immigration for skilled workers living in the respective province. In addition, many PNPs have streams dedicated to bringing in targeted workers in certain professions, including those considered semi-skilled.

How to Prove Skills?

It is not enough to simply claim experience in a skilled profession; immigration authorities ask that applicants provide proof of their education and work experience. While programs vary slightly, applicants should expect to provide some or all of the following information:

Resume/CV
Educational diplomas (with Canadian equivalency documents)
Reference letters from current and former employers
Any professional certifications
Pay stubs and other proof of employment

Of course, the documents required to prove skilled work experience will vary depending on the applicant and their profession.

“Skilled worker immigration has for years been at the core of Canada’s immigration system,” said Attorney David Cohen. “It is part of what makes Canada the successful economy it is today. Recent changes, such as requiring applicants to provide Canadian educational equivalency results, help newcomers arrive prepared than ever before to quickly find a good job and transition to life in Canada.”

For individuals whose jobs are considered semi- or unskilled, there are still many ways to come to Canada. One is by finding a job as a temporary foreign worker. Another is to come to Canada as a student, building skills and preparing for a possible permanent residency application. Regardless of the path taken to Canadian Permanent Residency, successful applicants are able to become members of one of the most diverse, open, and economically prosperous societies on earth.

To find out if you are eligible for one of over 60 Canadian immigration programs, please fill out our free online assessment today.

Source: http://www.cicnews.com/2013/07/skilled-work-experience-immigration-072731.html

Changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program Now in Effect

Earlier today, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) announced important changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. These changes are effective beginning July 31, 2013.

In general, when a Canadian employer wants to hire a foreign worker, they must first apply for and receive a positive Labour Market Opinion (LMO) from Service Canada. The following changes that were announced today will affect how Canadian employers apply for an LMO:

Processing Fee

Prior to today, Canadian employers were able to apply for an LMO without having to pay a processing fee. Beginning today, employers will be required to submit a $275 processing fee for each position requested for the LMO. For example, if a Canadian employer wants to hire three foreign workers to work as chefs at their restaurant, they will be required to pay a total of $875 in processing fees. It is important to note that the processing fees are not refundable in the event that the LMO is refused.

Language Restriction

When applying for an LMO, Canadian employers can only require that an applicant be proficient in English and/or French. If they indicate that another language is required, the employer must be able to demonstrate that the foreign language is essential for the position. If a Service Canada officer determines that the foreign language is not essential for the position, they can refuse the LMO application.

Advertising

One of the essential parts of an LMO application is the advertising process. In general, Canadian employers are required to conduct advertising withinCanadabefore they are able to hire a foreign worker. The employer must demonstrate to a Service Canada officer that they have actively tried to hire Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents before offering the position to a foreign worker.

In the past, employers were required to advertise the position inCanadafor a period of 2 weeks. Starting August 28, 2013, employers will be required to advertise the position for 4 weeks. The advertising must be done in the three months preceding the LMO application. Employers will also be required to use more methods when advertising for the position.

Employers who want to hire a worker for a high-skilled position (NOC Skill Level A or B) will be required to advertise on the National Job Bank website or an equivalent provincial website, such as Emploi Quebec. They will also be required to use two or more additional sources for advertising; one that is national in scope and one that is consistent within the practice (eg. Workopolis.com, Monster.ca). Advertisements for high-skilled positions must now include the salary being offered, whereas employers were previously exempt from advertising the salary for high-skilled positions.

Employers looking to hire a worker for a low-skilled position (NOC Skill Level C or D) will be required to advertise on the National Job Bank website or an equivalent provincial website and use two or more additional sources for advertising. Unlike the high-skilled positions, employers looking to hire for a low-skilled position must also target underrepresented groups, such as Aboriginals, people with disabilities, and new immigrants.

Questions regarding the impact on Canadian job market

New questions have been added to the LMO application form. Employers will now be required to explain whether hiring a foreign worker for a position will positively or negatively impact the labour market. For example, certain questions are focused on whether hiring a foreign worker will lead to job losses for Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents through outsourcing or offshoring practices.

As part of the new form, employers will also have to explain what efforts were made in the past two years to hire and/or train Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents for the position.

The above changes in processing fees, language restrictions, and advertising requirements do not impact employers hiring foreign workers in certain agricultural positions under the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program or the Agricultural Stream.

“These new changes mean it’s becoming more difficult for Canadian employers to hire foreign workers,” says Attorney David Cohen. “Especially considering the addition of processing fees, it’s important for employers to get the LMO application right the first time.”

Source: http://www.cicnews.com/2013/07/temporary-foreign-worker-program-effect-072762.html