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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4 Requirements of Skilled Trades Program for Canadian Immigration

March 6, 2014 by Jessica

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

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Guide to Saskatchewan Immigration Program for International Skilled Workers

March 14, 2014 by Jessica

Canada immigration under the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program for International Skilled worker category is designed for foreign nationals  with post-secondary education and high skilled work experience to help them to successfully establish and integrate into Saskatchewan’s labor market and communities.You must meet the education, experience , language skills and other eligibly factors to qualify to be nominated by Saskatchewan for Canada immigration. The program is additional opportunity for foreign skilled workers who many not be able to immigrate to Canada under the Federal Skilled Program for Canada permanent residence. There are limited number of immigrant visas available for foreign skilled workers without job offer and majority of the quota require job from an employer in Saskatchewan.

Eligibility:

SINP International Skilled Worker Category applicants who are either living in Canada with legal status or residing abroad and meet the following eligibility criteria:

• You must score a minimum of 60 points out of 100 on the point assessment grid.
• You must have a minimum of one-year work experience in the past ten years in your intended occupation. If you are not providing a skilled job offer from an approved Saskatchewan employer you must have a minimum of one-year work experience in the past ten years related to your field of education or training in a skilled position.
• You must have a minimum language score of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4 in order to meet the minimum requirement, however, it can be higher depending on the employer or the provincial regulatory bod.
• The applicants with work experience in a proffession that is regulated must provide evidence that they have obtained the appropriate Saskatchewan licensure to be able to work in that profession before submitting their application.

• An offer of permanent, full-time employment in Saskatchewan either in an occupation in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) A, B or 0, or in a designatedtrade in Saskatchewan.   OR
• If you are not providing a skilled job offer from an approved Saskatchewan Employer you mustmeet all of the following requirements:
  • Your field of education or training must be in a high skilled occupation NOC A, B or 0 that is considered to be an in-demand in Saskatchewan.
  • You must have completed post-secondary education, training or apprenticeship equivalent that is comparable to the Canadian education system of at least one year in length that has resulted in a diploma, a certificate or degree.
  • You must have proof of a minimum of one year work experience in the past ten years related to your filed of education or training in a skilled position
  • If your occupational education and work experience is in a regulated profession or compulsory apprenticeship trade, you will be required to obtain the appropriate Saskatchewan licensure to be able to work in that profession before you apply.
  • You must demonstrate that you have required settlement funds and a settlement plan.

5 Selection Factors:

You must score 60 out of 100 points in following five factors:

1. Education and Training
2. Skilled Work Experience
3. Language Skills
4. Age
5. Saskatchewan Labour Market and Adaptability

Factor 1. Education and Training:

Master’s or Doctorate degree	23
University Degree that required at least three years of full-time study	20
Trade certification equivalent to journey person status in Saskatchewan	20
Degree, diploma or certificate that required at least two years of full-time post-secondary study, or apprenticeship equivalent	15
Degree, diploma or certificate that required at least one year of full-time post-secondary study or apprenticeship equivalent	12

Factor 2. Skilled Work Experience:

Under the skilled work experience factor, applicant can score maximum 15 points based on work experience during the last ten years. The applicant must have at least one year full time or equivalent work experience in the intend profession in Saskatchewan.

Work Experience during Most Recent 5 years prior to lodging application
5 years	10
4 years	8
3 years	6
2 years	4
1 year	2
Work Experience form 6 to 10 year time period prior to lodging application
5 years	5
4 years	4
3 years	3
2 years	2
1 year	1

If you submitted your application on January 1, 2014, then the most recent 5 year experience will be 2009-2013 and skilled experience form 6 to 10 year time period will be 2004-2008

Factor 3. Language Skills:

Maximum 20 points are awarded under the official language ability factor. You must submit language test result with your application as proof of language proficiency. Even if English or French is your native language, you must provide results of language test. The points are awarded according to the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) and you must have at least CLB 4.

First Language
CLB 8 or higher	20
CLB 7	18
CLB 6	16
CLB 5	14
CLB 4 (Minimum requirement)	12
Native speakers of English or French without Test Results	0

Factor 4. Age:

Maximum 12 points are awarded for age of the principal applicant.

< 18	0
18-21	8
22-34	12
35-45	10
46-50	8
>50	0

Factor 5. Saskatchewan Labour Market and Adaptability:

Maximum 30 points are awarded under this factor for the international skilled worker category. The applicant must have a full time job offer from an approved Saskatchewan employer in a skilled occupation NOC A, B or O or a strong connection to Saskatchewan with intention and ability to settle successfully and economically establish in the province as a permanent resident.

High skilled employment offer, OR	30
Close relative in Saskatchewan, OR	20
Previous work experience in Saskatchewan OR	5
Previous Student experience in Saskatchewan	5

You must submit all the supporting documents when you submit your application online.

Source: http://www.visato.com/canada/guide-saskatchewan-immigration-program-international-skilled-workers-20140314

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4 Year Maximum Working Rule for Temporary Workers in Canada

 by Jessica

He came to Canada from India on a work permit in May 2011 and has been working as assistance managercustomer care. While trying to extend his work permitlast year, he found that he can stay in Canada for only four years as temporary foreign workers and he will have to leave once he has completed four years work in Canada. The most worrying aspect of this 4 years working rule was that he can return to Canada only after waiting for four years.

Many temporary foreign workers may not know about this new 4 year working rule that restricts their stay in Canada to a maximum period of four years.

Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations:

Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations R200(3)(g) under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations establishes the maximum period of 4 years for foreign temporary workers which states:

(3) An officer shall not issue a work permit to a foreign national if

(g) the foreign national has worked in Canada for one or more periods totalling four years, unless

• (i) a period of forty-eight months has elapsed since the day on which the foreign national accumulated four years of work in Canada,
• (ii) the foreign national intends to perform work that would create or maintain significant social, cultural or economic benefits or opportunities for Canadian citizens or permanent residents, or
• (iii) the foreign national intends to perform work pursuant to an international agreement between Canada and one or more countries, including an agreement concerning seasonal agricultural workers

All Work Counts:

The work performed by a foreign temporary worker since April 1, 2011 is counted towards the accumulated four year work. The work regardless of whether or not it was permitted by a work permit or exempt from work permit counts towards a temporary foreign worker’s 4-year total. Temporary foreign worker must include all the following work:

• volunteer work,
• a self-employed individual,
• work in all occupations falling under all categories in the National Occupation Code (NOC) list,
• work done while under implied status
• work done while on an open work permit.

Exclusions:

International students can exclude any work performed during a period in which they were authorized to study on a full-time basis in Canada.

Some situations in which there was a gap between employment such as time spent outside Canada, or maternity/paternity leave spent in Canada can be excluded from total work.

The restriction of 4-year accumulated work in Canada was introduced to encourage temporary foreign workers to explore options of Canadian permanent residency if they want to reside in Canada for prolonged periods.

Foreign temporary workers after living some time in Canada may have good English/French language skills, skilled work experience and ability to integrate in the Canadian society. They may take advantage of Canadian Experience Class for Canadian permanent residence after gaining 12 months of work experience and meeting other selection criteria.

Source: http://www.visato.com/canada/4-year-maximum-working-rule-temporary-workers-canada-20140105

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