Fee Returns for Federal Skilled Worker applicants

Previously there was a declaration from CIC that it will not process the applications that were submitted prior to 27th February, 2008 and CIC has not made and decision regarding the selection criteria- meaning they have not started the processing.

If you are one of those unfortunate person, then you must know that they are going to return the fee that you paid then with the Federal Skilled Worker application.

Fee Return procedure for Federal Skilled Worker applicants

First of all CIC needs to be confirmed about your current address.
To inform them about your current address, you must fill up the form 'IMM5741E'. You can download it from here.
Fill up the form and save it. Then attach it with email and send it to FSWFeeReturn@cic.gc.ca.
Issuance of fee return cheque may take some time due to the large volume of applicants.

Proposed upcoming changes in Skilled worker category of Canada immigration: January 2013

It is known that immigration of skilled worker to Canada is paused till January 2013.
In January 2013, a reviewed version of immigration rule will be deployed for skilled worker category. Few of the hints of the proposed changes were published last month. Canada will pay much attention to language, age and work experience in Canada.

Proposed upcoming changes in skilled worker category in January 2013:

The proposed changes that are likely to be in place in federal skilled worker category of immigration to Canada in January, 2013 are as follows:  

• Language: This will be the most important factor. A minimum thresh hold will be applied and points for language will be increased.
• Age: Emphasis will be given to younger immigrants. As a skilled worker they will serve Canada longer. 
• Experience: It is proposed that points will be increased for work experience in Canada while it will be reduced for work experience overseas. 
• Spouse: In proposed upcoming rules for January 2013, more points will be awarded if the spouse has good language capability and work experience in Canada. 
• Arranged employment: Simplifying arranged employment process to prevent fraud and abuse.
• Educational Credential: Another proposed change is the introduction of the Educational Credential Assessment. It requires the applicants to have their education abroad assessed against Canadian education standards by designated organizations.
• Limited application: As updated on March, 13, there will be a cap for application as it used to be and acceptance of application for federal skilled worker will be closed when the cap is reached.

More may be added in the list in future. Till now this are all the information they have provided for federal skilled worker immigration program to Canada.

Validity of medical examination for Canada immigration

It is the time when many of the people are getting medical requests forms for Canada immigration. A question may arise about the validity of the medical examination for Canada immigration. You may want to complete all the businesses in your homeland before you start a new life in Canada, and the process may take months.
The maximum valid time for medical examination for Canada immigration is one year. You will have to land in Canada within this twelve months.
As far as I have understood, after medical examination, there is a security check. This may cause a delay, specially, if the applicants been to a lot of places (countries) before. This may take more than one year. If it takes that long, chances are more that CIC will ask for another medical.
If you have failed to land in Canada within one year of medical examination, I am not sure what they will do. You can mail them in the case specific inquiry explaining cause of your delay (click here to know how to place a case specific inquiry). If CIC finds the reason to be valid probably they will send you new Medical Request forms, or at least show you the way. 

Add newborn child to application of Canada immigration for skilled workers

The processing of application of immigration to Canada as skilled worker takes some time. However, it does not stop flow of life, specially birth of child will never stop. I guess adding newborn child is the most common update the Canada immigration has to face.

Now the question is how will you add your newborn child to your application.

One thing you must know that, you need to inform the visa office about your newborn child within 60 days of birth. Best way to do that sending updated forms with supportive documents. If you can not send the papers, at least you can inform them using your case specific inquiry option and letting them know the cause of your failure to submit the documents in time. I hope they will understand.

To inform them you may use the "Case specific inquiry" option listed on your visa office website. For details about case specific inquiry, click here. Follow their instruction, if they give you some.

The procedure as far I have understood from the web is different at different visa offices. But the core theme is the same. You need to submit the fee and relevant documents.

You need to fill up the following forms:

1. Generic Application Form for Canada (IMM 0008), including the details of your newborn in the dependent section.

2. Schedule A: Background / Declaration (IMM 5669), for you and your spouse with updated information.
3. Fee Payment Form – Application for Permanent Residence (IMM 5620), completeonly for the amount you are paying,
4. Documents providing proof of your settlement fund. Your required fund is now higher as your family size has increased. If you need to know your required amount of settlement fund for Canada immigration click here.
5. Photograph of your baby: give as many copies as required by your visa office (the number of photos that you submitted of your own during submission of application).
6. Attested photocopies of your child's  birth certificate and passport.

And do not forget to put a cover letter explaining the relevance of each of the documents.

If you still face problems to add your newborn child to your application of Canada skilled worker immigration, do not, I repeat, do not hesitate to contact you visa office (prefer to use case specific inquiry as I have mentioned).

Good luck, hope the information helps you.

Update July 2012: Temporary pause in Canada Immigration system for Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and federal Immigrant Investor Program (IIP)

According to the latest update, Canada immigration system will be paused for Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and federal Immigrant Investor Program (IIP).

This pause will be effective from 1st July, 2012 and continue for next six months.

In this time Canada Immigration will not accept any application for Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and federal Immigrant Investor Program (IIP).

It is expected that they will resume accepting applications for Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and federal Immigrant Investor Program (IIP) from 1st January 2013.

UPDATE:
Skilled worker immigration is about to be started one again on May, 2013. Click here to learn more.

Form fill up for Canada Immigration as Skilled worker: SCHEDULE A BACKGROUND/ DECLARATION (IMM5669E)

Form fill up: SCHEDULE A BACKGROUND/ DECLARATION (IMM5669E) 

If you are applying in Skilled Worker category for immigration to Canada, you, your spouse and your dependant over the age of 18 years must fill it up.
To get the SCHEDULE A - BACKGROUND/ DECLARATION (IMM5669E) form click here.
Now let us discuss how to fill the background/ declaration form. Number corresponds to the field number in the form ( for example discussion under no 1 here will correspond to forms number one field: 1. Your full name).

First thing is first, check the box for whom the form is being filled. If you, the principal applicant is filling the form, then check the first box. For others check the other box.


1. Your full name:
At first box write down your family name. Put the given name in the next box. If you have more than one given name, put all of them in this box.
2. Your full name in your native language:
Write down it in your native language (for example, if your native language is Arabic, you'll have to write your name is Arabic). Probably this will not be supported by the PDF form. In that case you'll have to write it manually (with a pen after taking the print out)
Other name you are or have been using: Give your nick name here (if you have any). Other wise write "Not applicable"
3. Your date of birth:
Put it in the box following the given format i.e. first year of birth followed by month and date.
4. Personal details of your father:
Fill up the spaces for "Name" and "Date of birth" as you did in the previous sections.
Provide the information in the specified area about "Town/ city of birth" and "Country of birth." Please be cautious not to put your town of birth or country of birth in this fields, which are specified for your father.
Last field is only meant to be filled up if your father has died. Keep it clean if he is alive.
5. Personal details of your mother:
Fill up the spaces as you did for you father.
6. There are several questions and corresponding check boxes for Yes and No. Now read every parts and check the corresponding boxes. Don't forget to provide details in the subsequent area if any of the boxes are checked for "Yes".
This applies to all of your family members above 18 years.
7. Education:
Fill up the boxes and table according to your educational achievements.
If no diploma was issued, write “N/A”. If you need more space, attach a separate sheet of paper.
8. Personal history:
Here you need to give your personal information since 18 year or last ten years, whichever comes first.
Fill the table starting the latest work you are doing. Be cautious not to leave any space time not mentioned. If you did nothing for the time put unemployed against the time space.
9. Membership or association with organization.
If you are member of any organization, write it in the table with the specified time in the specified area of the table.
If you do not have any membership of association just write "None" at the first row.
10. Government positions:
Fill it you ever have served the government. Put "None" as before if you haven't done before.
11. Military services:
Again do it as previous two. Put "None" on the first box if you don't have served any.
12. Addresses:
Put all the addresses where you have lived since your 18th birthday. Put the actual address, not the P.O box address.

There are two big issues. 
First one is very important: Don't forget to sign at the box in the last page and write down the date. Everybody filling the form (applicant, spouse, dependant) must sign in their respective form.
Second one, leave the remaining last portion of the form empty.

To remind again, form fill up for Canada Immigration - Schedule 1, Background declaration (IMM5669E) is mandatory for everybody above 18 years accompanying the principal applicant.

Canada Immigration: Bad news update for applicants applying before 2008

Here is a new update of Canada Immigration for "Economic Class" on 30th March, 2012.
According to this update, CIC will refund all the application prior to 27th February, 2008, which are yet to be reviewed by immigration officer.
The intention is to reduce processing time to months instead of years and provide immigration to the specific person Canada economy require.

For details click here.

New forms for Canada Skilled Worker immigration

A whole new set of forms are in place.
I have already discussed about how to fill up the "Generic application form." This is the one that have major changes. Click here to learn about filling up the form.
The other have also some changes. I shall try to bring them up shortly.

All the form are available at CIC website. Click here to go to download area.