Changes to the Federal Skilled Worker Program
Just last week the Minister of Immigration announced changes to the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) Program of Canadian Immigration.
It should come as no surprise to anyone who follows Canadian politics that the party in power, with a fresh majority of seats in the House of Commons, has reduced by half the number of applications to be accepted for processing, without a job offer, under the FSW Program. Effective July 1, 2011 and for the ensuing 12 months, a maximum of 10,000 of these applications will be accepted for processing. The 29 eligible occupations remain unchanged, but only 500 applications in each occupation will be considered for a permanent resident visa. No cap has been placed on the number of FSW applications that include a validated job offer from a Canadian employer.
The decrease in the FSW numbers fits the philosophy of the Conservative government. There has been a gradual but steady shift in Canadian Immigration policy since the Conservatives formed a minority government some five years ago. Before then, our national government assumed the role of chief selector of individuals who wanted to immigrate to Canada. Since 2006 much of immigrant selection has devolved to the provinces and territories and they all now administer their own Immigration departments and selection systems. The federal government seems more at ease in handling the health and security aspects of the Immigration process and leaving the selection of suitable candidates to the provinces/territories, employers and educational institutions. You can argue for or against the Conservatives’ way of doing things, it doesn’t really matter. It is what it is and the bottom line is that Canada still plans to hand out about 250,000 permanent resident visas and a more or less equal number of work permits and study permits in the next 12 months.
What it does mean is that individuals who wish to come to Canada will no longer be able to do one-stop shopping for a visa at the federal government store. There are currently more than 60 different paths that lead to a permanent resident visa and finding the “right” one has become a lot more complicated.
They dance good at our cost of application.
Good for well wishers to be immigrants
It’s a bold step taken by conservatives to reduce backlog in speed. I appreciate the way they are dealing with immigration as a whole.
i personally think the canada goervenment is trying so much for the inmegrants and i say well done.
Thanks Conservatives @ least thinking about reduce backlog, Hope it has to be implement please.
I dont know what to think … over three years after applying for Skilled Worker Programme no solid information is forthcoming. Lets see the results of the presumed efforts.
The backlog can be reduced by fast tracking applicants from countries that do not have the problem of fraudulent credentials and crime certificates. The narrowing of the professions list was also a knee jerk reaction it will not reduce the amount of fraudulent applicants coming from countries where backgrounds and history cannot be verified easily.
it is a goood news for us .. after waiting for 5 yrs
Why don’t they stop taking the new applications until the time they process all the applicants rotting in the backburner?Each year applicants wait to hear some sensible idea and CIC only disappoints them by coming up with a dumb-ass thought.What a pity?
Take cleaning jobs, not all Canadians like to do such job, but immigrants are willing and happy to. Not everybody is educated but they can contrubit and build the countey. The job quailifications are strick, should moreint a skilled cleaner, this is very important to any counrty. A good country is a clean one, skilled ceaners can contrubit just that. Thank you for looking into my suggestion.
Why not qualify hardworking low skilled contract workers? They pay taxes and contribute to the economy of Canada…
to become an immigrants is a good step here in canada but it sad to know that many contract workers who did best in the job but skilled are not qualify to apply for immigrants. they are contributed a lots in canada’s economic labour shortage… its pity.
Canada wants foreign contract workers..question? Some employers don’t want to sponsor their workers but they need them and like what’s on the news bulletin. Employers will not train their employees if they just sponsor them. Why not CIC give all the low skilled contract workers an automatic permanent residence. This is more effective than asking their employers specially employers do not have time to fill up forms. Make this regulations to all low skilled workers, after 3 years working here in Canada send them their Permanent Residence right away. They are helping this country on their economic prosperity. They pay their taxes, contribute to EI, et.
i will love to make a suggestion about some skilled workers under training. Take for example i am a nursing student and will love to migrate to canada if there is such an opportunity for one to furher hisher study in canada and then start a new life after. I think it will be a better idea since there are shortage of nurses all over the world.
Hi i think it will be a better idea since there are shortage of nurses all over the world…
Hi, The narrowing of the professions list was also a knee jerk reaction it will not reduce the amount of fraudulent applicants coming from countries where backgrounds and history cannot be verified easily.
Thanks.
donot keep waiting people in line just finish the process as quickly as possible whatever the result is so people can move and do their own work.
Take note that Immigration has a specific definition for each of these occupations, one which might not be in congruence with the definition as recognized in the applicant’s country of origin. If the applicant’s occupation or job title does not meet the definition specifically stated by Immigration, s/he might not qualify.
I am extremely disappointed in the canadian immigration processing system. I applied under the federal skilled workers program (business category). My application reached canada within 2 weeks of the categories opening up on june 30. The cap was reached on August 22, 2011, according to their website. I received a letter stating that my case is being returned because my application reached after the cap was full. I have proof that my application reached on July 14, a month before the cap reached. I am surprised at the Canadian immigration’s decision, and will fight my case.