CANADIAN IMMIGRATION NEWS

Fast Track Immigration Service Announced for Skilled Workers in High-Demand Jobs

Tuesday, 2 December 2008

The Canadian Government has announced that skilled migrant applicants whose skills are in high demand will be eligible to fast-track their visa applications.

In response to over nearly a million backlogged immigration files and immigration applications often taking up to six years for a decision, this past Friday the Canadian government announced that skilled workers wishing to move to Canada for high-demand jobs would now receive a fast-track immigration service. The reform plan was initially laid out in March 2008 by Diane Farley, who was the immigration minister at the time.

Under the new reform, so long as applicants have at least one year of continuous paid work experience in any one of 38 work permit categories, their applications should be processed within six to twelve months. The categories cover a range of professions and include finance, health, resource extraction, chefs and plumbers.

If their applications are in order, they should become accepted under the skilled worker immigration class as permanent residents.

Jason Kenney, the new minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, said that Canada will be maintaining its immigration levels while other countries start to cut back. He added, "applicants who aren't eligible for the federal skilled worker category may qualify under another category."

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.