Dear Ms Powell,
I keep hearing about the Federal Skilled Worker Program and I would like to apply, but I'm not sure if I qualify. Can you tell me more about the programme and how I can qualify? What is the deadline for submitting the application? Is there anything that can disqualify me?
- R.T.
Dear R.T.,
The Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) Program is the most popular immigration programme. Most professionals have utilised this as an option to emigrate to Canada. Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is constantly changing the programme, based on the Canadian economy. There was a temporary pause on the programme in 2012, and was reopened in May 2013 with new rules and with a cap on the total number of applications that they would accept under each category.
In the latest information received from CIC, the total number of applications that they have received is 3,831 of the potential 5,000 applications. Of the 24 eligible occupations listed by CIC, nine of these categories have already reached the cap, however there are 15 categories that are still open as of today and CIC will continue to accept applications until April 30.
You did not state your profession; however, you should note that engineers and persons in the medical profession are the most eligible candidates at this time.
CIC is still accepting applications under the following categories:
Chemical engineers
Mining engineers
Geological engineers
Petroleum engineers
Aerospace engineers
Geoscientists and oceanographers
Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics
Land surveyors
Audiologists and speech-language pathologists
Occupational therapists
Medical laboratory technicians and pathologists' assistance
Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologist
Medical radiation technologists
Medical sonographers
Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists.
If you are in any of the above professions and you are serious about relocating through this programme, you need to act now. Once CIC has closed this category, we are uncertain when or if that door will reopen in the near future. The Government of Canada has not announced what will happen after April 30. No one knows if the same categories will reopen, or if there will be a temporary pause, or a revamping of the programme.
How to qualify?
In order to meet the FSW requirement, all the applicants must meet at least 67 out of 100 points threshold, based on factors such as education, age, language skills, work experience and adaptability.
Candidates must have at least one year of continuous full-time paid work experience in one of the eligible occupation within the last 10 years.
Further, if your degree is from a non Canadian university, you will need to have an Educational Credential Assessment report from one of the designated organisations. There are currently four organisations permitted to provide accreditation, they are the World Education Services, Comparative Education Services, International Credentials Assessment Services of Canada and for medical applicants, the Medical Council of Canada.
You will also need to provide proof of settlement funds, and pass the medical and security tests.
Many persons find the immigration application procedure to be stressful and time-consuming and so many times, miss the opportunity. Therefore, if you are serious about submitting an application, do not procrastinate, act now.
If you have concerns about inadmissibility or need to seek pardon for past criminal offences, then I suggest that you contact an immigration lawyer to deal with that issue, before submitting an application to CIC.
Deidre S. Powell is a lawyer, mediator, and notary public who is a member of the Jamaican and Ontario, Canada bars, with main office located in Ottawa, Ontario. Her areas of practice are in immigration, real estate, personal injury, family and administration of estates. Email: info@deidrepowell.com. Subject line: Immigration, or Tel: 613-695-8777.
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