Proposed changes to Federal Skilled Worker Program as published in Gazette on Saturday, August 18, 2012

11/12/2012

Summary:

 

Citizenship and Immigration Canada is proposing a three-pronged approach through amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR) to improve economic immigration outcomes:

  • (a) Update the FSWC by rebalancing the points among existing criteria, introducing mandatory language thresholds, requiring an educational credential assessment at the time of application if the educational credential submitted is from a foreign jurisdiction, streamlining the arranged employment process, and reducing the potential for fraudulent job offers under the Arranged Employment factor;  
  • (b) Introduce a new Federal Skilled Trades Class (FSTC) to facilitate the immigration of certain skilled tradespersons in Canada, in response to labour market needs; and 
  • (c) Reduce the CEC work experience requirement to ease the transition to permanent residence of temporary skilled foreign workers who have demonstrated an ability to integrate into the Canadian labour market.

More details:

  • Minimum language skills, different for NOC level 0 and A, and different for level B
  • Increasing number of points for the first language (24 for IELTS level 9), decreasing number of point for the second language
  • Change in points for age (18 to 35 = 12 points, each year over, 1 point less)
  • Change in points for experience - maximum 15 points for 6 years experience
  • Mandatory foreign educational credential assessment with the application
  • Change in points for education: 25 points for PhD only, 23 for Master's level of professional degree, 22 for two or more post-secondary credentials if one is a 3-year long credential, 21 for one 3-year post-secondary credential; 19 for a 2-year post-secondary credential; 15 for a 1-year post-secondary credential; 5 points for secondary school. 
  • No AEO anymore - everybody has to get LMO; for permanent residence application, additional indeterminate job offer will be required.
  • No points for spouse's education but 5 points for spouse's language skills at level CLB 4), 5 points for relative in Canada 18 years and older

Gazette