Immigration Corner: I Want To Move To Canada

Dear Miss Powell,

I am a professional and I would like my family to move to Canada. The problem is that I don't have a job offer. I have paid two companies to help me find a job and nothing. I feel like I'm wasting time and money now that the system has changed. Some of my friends did self-sponsorship under the old system and they are gone. I spoke to a consultant who said the only way I can get through is through a job offer or go to school.

I have a master's degree, my husband has a bachelor's degree and we have two children and we are already qualified so school is not an option. Can you help us? Life in Jamaica has become unbearable and I want the best for my children.

F.M.

 Dear F.M.,

There are a number of ways you can immigrate to Canada without a job offer. Some of the ways may not apply to you, but I'm mentioning them for the benefit of other readers. You can immigrate to Canada under family sponsorship class, refugee and humanitarian programme. There are also the federal skilled worker programme, federal skilled trades programme, Canadian experience class via the express entry system and the Provincial Nominee Programme (PNP). I will however focus on the Express Entry System and the PNP.

Do not pay employment agencies. 

Before I elaborate about the various options, I want to caution you about hiring employment agencies. A legitimate employment agency will not ask you, the prospective employee, to pay them for sourcing a job for you. Usually the agencies are paid by the prospective employer to find personnel.

In any event, there are numerous free job posting websites such as Workopolis, Kijiji, LinkedIn, Indeed, Job Bank. Once you have submitted an express entry profile, you will be required to establish a job bank account, through the government of Canada and to apply for jobs posted.

You may continue with your job search after you have entered the express entry pool. The key thing to note is that anyone who is offering you a job should have a valid Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) Report and be in a position to share this with you. Once you have this report you can upload that information to your Express Entry profile. If a perspective employer cannot produce this report, then chances the offer is not valid; unless the position fall within the very limited scope of a jobs that are exempted from LMIA.

 Skilled Worker And Trades Programme

The Federal Skilled Worker Programme (FSWP), the Federal Trades Programme(FSTP) and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) are still operational and applications are being accepted under the Express Entry Programmes. Many individuals call these the self-sponsorship programmes, as you do not need a relative or a company to vouch for you. You can use your credentials and financial ability to show that you can successfully integrate into the Canadian society.

The qualifying process has not changed. It is still a points-based system. Through the above programmes applicants without a job offer can apply to become permanent residents via the express entry portal. You will still need to score a minimum of 67 points out of 100 on the points grid. The points are awarded based on your age, work experience, education, language and adaptability. A job offer is a bonus, but not a requirement. Once you are able to score the minimum of 67 points, then you will be admitted into the express entry pool and given a Comprehensive Ranking Score based on similar criteria. You will be selected based on the minimum CRS that is drawn while you are in the pool.

 Provincial Nominee Programme (PNP)

Many provinces have implemented their own immigration programmes, known as the PNP. Each province evaluate their economic and social needs; set their own rules and guidelines for selecting individuals and nominate them to become permanent residents.

The most popular PNP are from Quebec, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, British Columbia and Ontario. You must have an intention to settle in the province with your family and committed to economically establish yourself in the particular province. There is usually a cap on the number of applications that will be accepted by any one province each period. So if this is a programme that you are interested in, you should be prepared to submit your application promptly, once the opportunity presence itself. Quebec will be accepting new applications in January and so now is the time to get your ducks in a row.

How do you prepare?

You will need to get all the documents required to substantiate your application. For PNP some provinces require proof of tax compliance in your country, while others only require letters from your present and past employers.

Spouses should maximise their potential points by obtaining an Educational Credential Assessment Report (ECA), if your degree/ diploma/ certificate is from a post secondary school outside of Canada. You should submit a sealed transcript to one of the designated organisations for ECA in order to get an official report.

Every potential immigrant must prove their language ability in at least one of Canada's official languages. For English, your results in the IELTS, General Training Exam or the CELPIP examination is required. For proof of your French language skills, you will need to sit the TEF examination. These examinations cannot be done online. You must contact the relevant centres to sit the exam. You will be tested on your ability to write, speak, listen and read. You should strive to get a minimum of 7 in each category, so that you can be competitive.

Your aim is to get as many points as possible, so that you can receive an invitation to apply. Many individuals and their family have received an invitation to apply for permanent residence without a job offer under these programmes. Hopefully, over the next few months the minimum score under express entry will continue to fall to under 400, so that many more of the qualified individuals, without a job offer, can be selected.

Deidre S. Powell is a lawyer, mediator and notary public. Contact her by sending your questions or comments to: info@deidrepowell.com. Please put in the subject line: Immigration or fax: 613.695.8778  Find out if you qualify complete our online form.

Published: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20151124/immigration-corner-i-want-move-canada