CANADIAN IMMIGRATION NEWS

Canadian government to help temporary workers and student graduates become permanent residents

Wednesday, 13 August 2008

On Tuesday, August 12th, The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, announced the details of the Canadian Experience Class, a new proposition for certain temporary foreign workers and graduate students with Canadian work experience.

Unlike other programs, this proposal will allow an applicant’s Canadian work or study experience to be considered a key selection factor when immigrating to Canada.

The Canadian Experience Class will allow certain temporary foreign workers and certain foreign student graduates with managerial, professional, or technical or trade work experience to apply to become permanent residents, and eventually Canadian citizens.

In order to qualify under the proposed changes, graduates of a Canadian post-secondary educational institution with Canadian work experience would need to meet the following minimum requirements:

• temporary resident status in Canada at the time of their application;
• successful completion of a program of study of at least two academic years (an academic year means eight months of study);
• one year of skilled, professional or technical work experience; and
• moderate or basic language skills, depending on occupational skill level.

Furthermore, under the proposed changes, temporary foreign workers would need to demonstrate the following minimum requirements in order to qualify:

• temporary resident status in Canada at the time of their application;
• two years of skilled, professional or technical work experience;
• moderate or basic language skills, depending on occupational skill level.

Unlike the points system with the Federal Skilled Worker Program, these requirements would be based on a pass or fail model.

“The Canadian Experience Class is one more measure this government is proposing to make our immigration system more attractive and accessible to individuals with diverse skills from around the world, and more responsive to Canada’s labour market needs,” said Minister Finley. “This new proposed avenue for immigration would also go further to spread the benefits of immigration into smaller centres across Canada.”

Individuals applying for permanent residence through this new avenue could apply from within Canada while continuing to work and continuing to contribute to their local communities.

The Canadian Experience Class is part of recent initiatives the government has undertaken to help newcomers succeed and to help make Canada a more attractive destination for skilled individuals from around the world.

“Choosing newcomers based on knowledge of our labour market and experience within Canadian society would make Canada a more attractive destination for skilled individuals from around the world,” added Minister Finley. “International students and skilled workers would be more likely to choose Canada if they knew their time in Canada and contribution to Canadian society would assist in their eligibility to apply to stay permanently.”

If you are interested in Visas to Canada, contact Migration Expert for information and advice on which visa is best suited to you. You can also try our visa eligibility assessment to see if you are eligible to apply for a visa to Canada.

Coming soon, a free visa eligibility assessment for the newly proposed Canadian Experience Class!