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.

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.

Score from language tests: Canada Immigration

Using your language test results to calculate achievable points:

For Immigration to Canada a point system persists which requires scoring of certain points to be eligible for further processing. That is why it is important to calculate ones score prior to submitting the documents for Canada immigration process.
Language skills occupies a handsome amount of points. It is important for the person who have shortage of points and willing to immigrate to Canada. They can target a score which will allow them to achieve the required pass mark.
Canadian immigration system recommends  International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) for English language and  Test d’évaluation de français (TEF) for French language.
I have put the test scoring and calculation of scored number for IELTS, CELPIP and TEF in the following sections (as in CIC website).


To Calculate your score, add your points as follows: 
Total of speaking + listening + reading + writing = Score (both languages)

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

Use the following table to determine how many points you will be awarded for your test scores with the International English Language Testing System (IELTS):

Level	Points (per ability)	Test results for each ability
		Speaking	Listening	Reading (General Training)	Writing (General Training)
High	First official language: 4	6.5 - 9.0	7.5 - 9.0	6.5 - 9.0	6.5 - 9.0
	Second official language: 2
Moderate	Either official language: 2	5.5 - 6.0	5.5 - 7.0	5.0 - 6.0	5.5 - 6.0
Basic	Either official language: 1 (maximum of 2)	4.0 - 5.0	4.5 - 5.0	3.5 - 4.5	4.0 - 5.0
No	0	Less than 4.0	Less than 4.5	Less than 3.5	Less than 4.0

Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP)

Use the following table to determine how many points you will be awarded for your test scores with the Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP):

Level	Points (per ability)	Test results for each ability
		Speaking	Listening	Reading	Writing
High	First official language: 4	4H 5 6	4H 5 6	4H 5 6	4H 5 6
	Second official language: 2
Moderate	Either official language: 2	3H 4L	3H 4L	3H 4L	3H 4L
Basic	Either official language: 1(maximum of 2)	2H 3L	2H 3L	2H 3L	2H 3L
No	0	0 1 2L	0 1 2L	0 1 2L	0 1 2L

Test d’évaluation de français (TEF)

Use the following table to determine how many points you will be awarded for your test scores with the Test d’évaluation de français (TEF):

Level	Points (per ability)	Test results for each ability
		Speaking (expression orale)	Listening (compré- hension orale)	Reading (compré- hension écrite)	Writing (expression écrite)
High	First official language: 4	Level 5 Level 6 (349-450 pts)	Level 5 Level 6 (280-360 pts)	Level 5 Level 6 (233-300 pts)	Level 5 Level 6 (349-450 pts)
	Second official language: 2
Moderate	Either official language: 2	Level 4 (271-348 pts)	Level 4 (217-279 pts)	Level 4 (181-232 pts)	Level 4 (271-348 pts)
Basic	Either official language: 1 (maximum of 2)	Level 3 (181-270 pts)	Level 3 (145-216 pts)	Level 3 (121-180 pts)	Level 3 (181-270 pts)
No	0	Level 0 Level 1 Level 2 (0-180 pts)	Level 0 Level 1 Level 2 (0-144 pts)	Level 0 Level 1 Level 2 (0-120 pts)	Level 0 Level 1 Level 2 (0-180 pts)

Add your points: Total of speaking + listening + reading + writing = Score (both languages)

July 2011 update for Canada immigration, skilled worker category

Here is July 2011 update for Canada immigration for skilled worker category:
The eligibility criteria for Federal Skilled Worker applicants has changed according to July 2011 update for Canada immigration.
According to July 2011 update for Canada immigration, Canada will process only 10000 visas for skilled worker till July 2012. They will take only skilled persons from 29 areas. To see the list, click here.
They will process only 10000 visas and not more than 500 in specific area.
Details, including the status of your desired skill are also present in the above link.
So, I must say, according to July 2011 update for Canada immigration they are squeezing the scope of immigration for skilled worker.

With July, 2011 update, it seems like new rule is on the way and Canada is not appreciating immigrants anymore.

Know status of application of Canada immigration

You may be worried about your status of application of Canada immigration.

There are at least two ways to know the status of application of Canada immigration.

The first one to know the status of application of Canada immigration is through website (ECAS).  

This explores the database which is updated usually on Tuesday (as they claimed). 

At first go to Canadian Immigration website at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/index.asp.

There you’ll find a link at right menu bar as shown in the picture. 

Click on the link, follow the instructions and you'll get the information about your status of application of Canada immigration.

You may not find this method to be very much helpful, but there is no reason that this will cause a delay in your processing time.

Second method: Case specific inquiry - knowing status of application of Canada immigration is by email. 
I would not recommend it to use it untill it is necessary. It may slow down the file processing.
Go to your specific visa office site (the visa office which does the correspondence).

If you don't know which one is your visa office, then go to CIC website (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/index.asp). Again in the right menu bar there is a link to find specific visa office (below the marked area of above picture is a link "Find CIC offices").

Clicking the link will take you to a page where there is another link "Where to send your application (listed by country)".

Clicking it will take you to a page containing a table of visa offices and the specific purpose they will serve. For example, for immigration visas of people from Indonesia, the specific visa office is Singapore. Now click on Singapore and it will take you to a page as below:

To know your status of application of Canada immigration click on the link underlined red and it will guide you to get an email response. 

There is another way to know your application status and that is through CAIP note. To know more please click here.

New rules for Canada immigration of skilled workers; 2010

Please click here go to my post on July 2011 update to see the recent information.

Canada has set new rules for Canada immigration of skilled workers.The new rules for Canada immigration of skilled workers are applicable from 26th June 2010. That means the people who has applied before 26th June 2010, their application will be processed as the immigration law of that time. People who have appliied from 26th June 2010 and onwords, will have to follow new rules for Canada immigration of skilled workers.

• Canada will consider only 29 occupational categories.
• In the following 12 months Canada will consider only 20000 applications.
• Only a maximum of 1000 applications will be considered in each of the job categories.

To see if your occupation is in the list, click here.

If your occupation is in the list according to new rules for Canada immigration of skilled workers, you must see if there is still space to apply (quota is not full) click here.

If your quota is full, then you must have a job offer from Canada to apply according to new rules for Canada immigration of skilled workers of 2010.

July, 2011 update of new rules for Canada immigration of skilled workers are here.
You can also click here to see the July, 2011 update.