The new Federal Skilled Worker Program is based on similar systems in place in New Zealand and Australia.
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22 January 2013
New Canada visa criteria announced
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The qualifying criteria for the largest Canada visa stream - the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) - have been detailed for the first time.
Canadian Immigration Minister Jason Kenney announced in December that the FSWP would reopen in May, 2013. The minister has repeatedly stated his intention to create a new, faster and more efficient immigration system aimed at bringing young capable migrants to Canada.
However, details on the criteria have been sketchy at best, with reservations that the criteria could change at any time.
Yet the minister, during a recent visit to India - one of the countries which will be most affected by the changes - said the system would use a selection grid to prioritise its criteria.
The criteria to be used will include language proficiency, professional qualifications and education, age, experience and whether an applicant has an offer of employment already within Canada. Each applicant will receive a point score for each criterion and the selection grid will be used to rank applications.
"The new Federal Skilled Worker Program will ensure Canada is selecting the skilled immigrants our economy needs, who are most likely to succeed in Canada," said Mr Kenney.
The minister said the new system was based on equivalent programs already in place in Australia and New Zealand, a factor Mr Kenney acknowledged in his speech in India.
"We don't want skilled people...getting to Canada and then finding themselves unemployed or underemployed. The changes to FSWP, which are in line with similar programs in Australia and New Zealand, will ensure that we can select immigrants based on labour shortages that the Canadian economy is facing."
The new system will also include an 'Expression of Interest' format similar to that in Australia which will allow Canada visa applicants to be selected or contacted by employers and add weight to their applications.
While the changes are expected to accomplish the minister's goal of a more responsive system, Mr Kenney admitted that what effect they could have on immigration levels was difficult to predict, but that skilled migrants would still be able to move to Canada.
"Since we have not set any quotas for the number of permanent residents that we admit each year, skilled migrants will still have an edge."
The Canadian Visa Bureau is an independent migration consultancy specialising in helping people make their application to the Canadian Embassy.
