Canada Federal Skilled Workers Program
Skilled Workers are selected as permanent residents based on their ability to become economically established in Canada. The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) re-opened and began accepting applications on May 4, 2013. On July 1st, 2012 CIC placed a temporary pause on new applications to the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and Federal Immigrant Investor Program (IIP).
New caps for Federal Skilled Worker and Federal Skilled Trades Programs, and Canadian Experience Class
As announced in July 2012, Canada began accepting applications under new caps for the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) and Canadian Experience Class (CEC), starting May 1, 2014. New caps are announced regularly. The list of eligible occupations doubled, from 24 to 50 occupations. Regarding skilled trades
people, the FSTP cap increased to 5,000 applications. All 90 skilled trades designated under the program regulations will now be eligible for consideration, although sub-caps remain in order to ensure appropriate representation of occupations. The CEC cap will be re-set at 8,000 applications, as of May 1, 2014, to cover the transition period leading up to Express Entry.
The new government has promised to raise the cap to 10,000 applications.
people, the FSTP cap increased to 5,000 applications. All 90 skilled trades designated under the program regulations will now be eligible for consideration, although sub-caps remain in order to ensure appropriate representation of occupations. The CEC cap will be re-set at 8,000 applications, as of May 1, 2014, to cover the transition period leading up to Express Entry.
The new government has promised to raise the cap to 10,000 applications.
Points Grid
The Government has changed the point system and the selection criteria, also known as the “points grid.” There are 100 points
available to applicants, with points awarded for official language abilities, age, education, work experience, employment already arranged in Canada, and adaptability. The current pass mark is 67.
Government changes to the FSWP were announced in December 2012. These changes came into force on May 4, 2013. A pause on the intake of most new FSWP applications had been in place since July 1, 2012, except for those with a qualifying job offer and those who applying under the PhD stream. This pause was lifted and an eligible occupations stream was re-established on May 4, 2013.
available to applicants, with points awarded for official language abilities, age, education, work experience, employment already arranged in Canada, and adaptability. The current pass mark is 67.
Government changes to the FSWP were announced in December 2012. These changes came into force on May 4, 2013. A pause on the intake of most new FSWP applications had been in place since July 1, 2012, except for those with a qualifying job offer and those who applying under the PhD stream. This pause was lifted and an eligible occupations stream was re-established on May 4, 2013.
Eligible Occupations - Federal Skilled Workers
Applicants must:
Applicants must:
1. Eligible occupations as of May 1, 2014:
Skill Type 0 (management occupations) or Skill Level A (professional occupations) or Skill Level B (technical occupations and skilled trades) on the Canadian National Occupational Classification list.
About the application cap
There is an application cap per year: As of May 1, 2014, there is an overall cap of 25,500 for new federal skilled worker applications. This includes a cap of 500 applications from PhD students. There are also sub-caps of 1,000 for each
of the 50 eligible occupations. The caps do not affect people with a valid job offer. These are the last applications
that will be accepted under the current system before Express Entry launches in January 2015.
- have one year of continuous full-time (or an equal amount of continuous part-time) paid work experience in one of the eligible occupations within the last ten years,
OR - have a valid offer of arranged employment, OR
- are an international student who is enrolled in a PhD program in Canada (or who graduated from a Canadian PhD program within the past 12 months) and meet the factors below.
Applicants must:
- include the results of an official language test showing with the minimum language threshold (Canadian Language Benchmark 7) in all four language skill areas (speaking, listening, reading and writing) when you apply, and
- include either a completed Canadian educational credential or a completed foreign educational credential with an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) from an approved organization, and
- have at least one year of continuous full-time (or an equal amount in continuous part-time) paid work experience within the last ten years in the primary occupation you state in your application.
1. Eligible occupations as of May 1, 2014:
- 0013 Senior managers – financial, communications and other business services
- 0015 Senior managers - trade, broadcasting and other services, n.e.c.
- 0111 Financial managers
- 0112 Human resources managers
- 0113 Purchasing managers
- 0121 Insurance, real estate and financial brokerage managers
- 0311 Managers in health care
- 0711 Construction managers
- 0712 Home building and renovation managers
- 0811 Managers in natural resources production and fishing
- 0911 Manufacturing managers
- 1111 Financial auditors and accountants
- 1112 Financial and investment analysts
- 1113 Securities agents, investment dealers and brokers
- 1114 Other financial officers
- 1123 Professional occupations in advertising, marketing and public relations
- 1212 Supervisors, finance and insurance office workers
- 1224 Property administrators
- 2113 Geoscientists and oceanographers
- 2131 Civil engineers
- 2132 Mechanical engineers
- 2133 Electrical and electronics engineers
- 2145 Petroleum engineers
- 2171 Information systems analysts and consultants
- 2172 Database analysts and data administrators
- 2173 Software engineers and designers
- 2174 Computer programmers and interactive media developers
- 2232 Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
- 2234 Construction estimators
- 2241 Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians
- 2243 Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics
- 2263 Inspectors in public and environmental health and occupational health and safety
- 2281 Computer network technicians
- 3011 Nursing co-ordinators and supervisors
- 3012 Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
- 3111 Specialist physicians
- 3112 General practitioners and family physicians
- 3132 Dietitians and nutritionists
- 3141 Audiologists and speech-language pathologists
- 3142 Physiotherapists
- 3143 Occupational Therapists
- 3214 Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary
technologists - 3215 Medical Radiation Technologists
- 3216 Medical Sonographers
- 3233 Licensed practical nurses
- 3234 Paramedical occupations
- 4011 University professors and lecturers
- 4151 Psychologists
- 4214 Early childhood educators and assistants
- 5125 Translators, terminologists and interpreters
Skill Type 0 (management occupations) or Skill Level A (professional occupations) or Skill Level B (technical occupations and skilled trades) on the Canadian National Occupational Classification list.
About the application cap
There is an application cap per year: As of May 1, 2014, there is an overall cap of 25,500 for new federal skilled worker applications. This includes a cap of 500 applications from PhD students. There are also sub-caps of 1,000 for each
of the 50 eligible occupations. The caps do not affect people with a valid job offer. These are the last applications
that will be accepted under the current system before Express Entry launches in January 2015.
New Minimum Language Requirements
Applicants to the FSWP should first determine whether they meet the new minimum language threshold. This can be complicated: We can help you sort through these issues in a one hour consultation.
Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)
Another important change that takes effect on May 4, 2013, is the introduction of the educational credential assessment (ECA).
Contact Ms. Chotalia, Q.C., An Experienced Canadian Immigration Lawyer.
PHONE HER: 780-421-0861 EMAIL HER AT: [email protected]
