Breaking News: Government Overhauls Economic Immigration, Announces New Program

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) announced today major changes that will amount to an overhaul of the system currently governing economic-based immigration to Canada. In a statement released today, CIC outlined planned changes to the Federal Skilled Worker and Canadian Experience Class programs, as well as the creation of a new immigration program called the Federal Skilled Trades Class.

The Federal Skilled Worker Program will undergo changes in the following areas:

Language Proficiency
Age
Foreign Work Experience
Foreign Credentials Assessment
Offers of Employment
Adaptability

The Canadian Experience Class will undergo changes in the areas of Work Experience and Language Proficiency.

The creation of the Federal Skilled Trades Class will target skilled tradespersons who had difficulty successfully applying for immigration through the Federal Skilled Worker program.

All planned changes are expected to take effect on January 1, 2013.

A detailed summary of the decision and the changes being made will be published shortly in CIC News. Stay tuned for further information on this important announcement.