CANADIAN IMMIGRATION SYSTEM AMENDED
Regulations Amending the Canadian Immigration System Announced
Vol. 146, No. 33 — August 18, 2012
Ref: http://gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2012/2012-08-18/html/reg2-eng.html
HIGHLIGHTS:
1. Creation of an additional class -- the FSTC (Federal Skilled Trades Class);
2. FSTC applicants must have LMO, Trade Cert., minimum IELTS score and 2-yrs experience;
3. CEC (Canadian Experience Class) qualifying requirements reduced to 1-yr (from current 2-yrs.);
4. All applicants will now have to get their Foreign Educational Credential assessed before applying;
5. Education points rearranged;
6. Work experience points reduced;
7. Work experience raised from 4-yrs. to 6-yrs to get maximum score (15-points)
8. Consideration for AEO (Arranged Employment Offer) removed & replaced with LMO (Labour Market Opinion);
9. Minimum score of 67 continues -- but the criterion (per sub-category) is rebalanced;
10. A minimum IELTS score (4-points per ability) is required to be qualified to apply;
11. Favouring younger applicants (Age score revised: Maximum 12-points for ages between 18-35. No points beyond age 46);
12. Adaptability points rearranged. Now previous Canadian employment history fetches maximum score (10-points);
13. Spousal education points replaced with spousal language points;
14. Introduces a Minimum Age criteria for relatives (minimum 18-yrs.) in Canada (adaptability points);
15. Discontinuance of adaptability points from spouses who are Canadian citizen or PR;
BOTTOMLINE:
These changes come from the various consultations CIC had been doing with stakeholders since the last year. Which is aimed towards a faster immigration process for the applicants, as well as considering their ease of settlement in Canada. Basically the economic class (FSW & CEC) gets FSW being split into two -- FSWC & FSTC, with CEC being continued with more gusto. And more significance being given to the applicants Age & Language skills (which we had been expecting since last year). The main idea being to have new immigrants who are "ready for work" immediately upon their 'landing' - rather than 'draining' the various welfare schemes.