Foreign Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) required for Skilled Worker Immigration to Canada

As per the new rules for Skilled Immigration to Canada, Educational Credential is a must. This new rules are in place from May, 2013.

These Educational Credentials must be done by one of the four designated organizations.

If you want to apply for Immigration to Canada as a Skilled worker, you must complete the process. Below I have added the organizations along with there links. Just click on them to go to their website.

Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) organizations and their links

1. Comparative Education Service: University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies
2. International Credential Assessment Service of Canada
3. World Education Services
4. Medical Council of Canada

Go to the corresponding website and follow their instructions.

The last one is for International medical graduates (IMGs). Though they are not in the occupation list, it is provided for the ones who are already in Canada.

Hope you find your Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) done within a very short time and may submit your application for Skilled Worker Immigration Visa in your occupation before reaching the CAP.


 

Canada Immigration as Skilled Worker, May 2013 update: New Occupation list

Skilled Worker Immigration is just about to start from May, 2013. According to CIC website, there is significant change in the procedure, which includes a new eligible occupation list.

There is a cap for each occupation which is 300 and a grand cap of 5000 application. That means they will accept a total of 5000 application adding application of all the occupation. In the same time there will be no more than 300 application in a single occupation. 

No doubt, there is major change in the list. The medicine men are removed from the list. Instead technical hands in the area such as medical technologist, sonologist are included in the list. The list is as follows (number in the left hand side is the NOC code of 2011 for that occupation):

New eligible occupation list for Skilled Worker Immigration to Canada:

    0211 Engineering managers
    1112 Financial and investment analysts
    2113 Geoscientists and oceanographers
    2131 Civil engineers
    2132 Mechanical engineers
    2134 Chemical engineers
    2143 Mining engineers
    2144 Geological engineers
    2145 Petroleum engineers
    2146 Aerospace engineers
    2147 Computer engineers (except software engineers/designers)
    2154 Land surveyors
    2174 Computer programmers and interactive media developers
    2243 Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics
    2263 Inspectors in public and environmental health and occupational health and safety
    3141 Audiologists and speech-language pathologists
    3142 Physiotherapists
    3143 Occupational Therapists
    3211 Medical laboratory technologists
    3212 Medical laboratory technicians and pathologists' assistants
    3214 Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists
    3215 Medical radiation technologists
    3216 Medical sonographers
    3217 Cardiology technicians and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists, n.e.c. (not elsewhere classified)

New rule for Canada Skilled Worker immigration, May 2013: Bad news for doctors (medical graduates)

Canada Skilled Worker immigration is just about to start at 4th May, 2013.

However, those doctors/ physicians all around the world, who were waiting for the moment, it is a big disappointment. Canada is not going to take Physicians as Skilled Worker Immigrants to their country.

Canada Immigration has published the list of occupations who will get the chance to submit their application, starting from 4 May, 2013. Unfortunately both General Practitioner are Specialist Physicians has lost their space in the list.

To see the list click here.

Canada skilled worker program about to restart on May, 2013

According to CIC, they are going to restart immigration process for skilled worker on May, 2013.

Some changes of rule are expected in the requirements in the new Canada skilled worker program which is about to be employed from May, 2013.

New list of occupation list for immigration will be in place for restarted process for skilled worker. 

For expected changes in rule please click here.

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.

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. 

Form fill up for Skilled Worker category: Generic Application Form for Canada (IMM 0008) - Part 4

This is the continuity of the part - 3. To go to the previous part, click here.

DEPENDENT (S)

Note: 
You must include all your family members details here whether they will accompany you to Canada or not.
If you have put family member in the first section more than one, then you will already get required places to fill up here for one dependent. Then you will have to click on the button "Add Dependent" to add additional dependents.
You shall be able to fill it up for up to five dependents. If you have more than five (5) family members, you must complete the Additional Dependants/Declaration (IMM 0008DEP) form for each additional family member in order to include everyone in your application.


DEPENDANT’S PERSONAL DETAILS

1 to 9 are identical to the questions you answered for yourself and fill it up as you did for yourself.

10. Relationship to principal applicant:
10- a) From the list, select your dependant‘s relationship to you. If the list does not cover your relationship, then fill up the "10- b) Other" section.

11. Will accompany the principal applicant to Canada:
    a) Check the box for Yes/No.
    b) If you have selected "No" then fill it mentioning the cause

12. Select the type of dependent from the drop down menu following the rule:
                Type A = Child with age below 22 years and single
                Type B = The child has been continuously enrolled in and in attendance as a full-time student at a post-secondary institution accredited by the relevant government authority and has depended substantially on the financial support of a parent either:since before the age of 22, or since marrying or entering into a common-law relationship
                Type C = The child is 22 years of age or older, has depended substantially on the financial support of a parent since before the age of 22, and is unable to provide for himself or herself because of a medical condition.


13. to 17.
  Fill the areas with the information of your dependents as you did for yourself.



PASSPORT:

Fill it up as you did for yourself in previous sections.


NATIONAL IDENTITY DOCUMENT
Fill it up as you did for yourself in previous sections.

EDUCATION/OCCUPATION DETAIL
Fill it up as you did for yourself in previous sections.




LANGUAGE DETAIL

Fill it up as you did for yourself in previous sections.



CONSENT AND DECLARATION OF APPLICANT
In the last page there is a space for sign and below is a Yes/No check box. After checking the box, please validate the form by pressing the "Validate" button. It will help you see in you have left are of the spaces.

And Don't forget to 
1. Get your name written in the specified area in the last page
2. Sign 
3. Write the date
You can get your name handwritten in the area.

And that is it. Form fill up for Skilled Worker category: Generic Application Form for Canada (IMM 0008) is finished.

If I can I'll post a demo video sometimes. Till then, good luck with the immigration process.

Form fill up for Skilled Worker category: Generic Application Form for Canada (IMM 0008) - Part 3

This post is a continuation of Form fill up for Skilled Worker category: Generic Application Form for Canada (IMM 0008) - Part 2. Click here to go to that post.

CONTACT INFORMATION

1. Current mailing address: Full up all the spaces under the heading for P.O.box; Apt./Unit; Street no; City/Town; Country;  Province/ State; Postal code; District.
  Note - Mail from the immigration office will be sent to this address. So be very careful while filling the section.
           - If your country has no province/state, the option will be automatically disabled after selecting the
              country from drop down list.

2. Residential address: First click on the checkbox confirming that whether it is same as your mailing address or not. If it is different, then check "No" and fill up the remaining accordingly.

3. Telephone no: First check the box for "Canada/US" or "Other". Then from the list in the type heading, select the type of telephone : Residence (home)/Cellular (cell/mobile)/Business (work).
Note- If you have an extension number, indicate it after your phone number under "Ext."

4. Alternate Telephone no: If you have alternate number then fill this.

5. Fax no: Check the appropriate box to indicate if the facsimile (fax) number is from Canada and United States or Other (any other country). If applicable, indicate your facsimile (fax) number, including country code, area/regional codes, etc.

6. Email address: Write your email address here if you have any. Remember if you have put email address here, CIC will send mail to this address. So give the mail address you are using or will be using.

PASSPORT

You should be able to fill this part without any problem.

NATIONAL IDENTITY DOCUMENT

Fill up this part as you have done for PASSPORT part

EDUCATION/OCCUPATION DETAIL

1. From the drop down list, select your highest level of education.

2. Write down the total number of years of formal education that you have completed.

3. Put your current occupation here.

4. Write down your intended occupation in Canada here.

LANGUAGE DETAIL

1. 

a) From the drop down list, select your first (native) language.

b) If your native language is not English or French, select from the drop down list which one you would most likely use.

2. Select the language you are able to communicate. As you are reading this post, you are at least able to communicate in English. 

Please click here to go to the last part. 

Form fill up for Skilled Worker category: Generic Application Form for Canada (IMM 0008) - Part 2

This is the continuity of the post Form fill up for Skilled Worker category: Generic Application Form for Canada (IMM 0008) - Part 1. Please click here if you want to go back (and I recommend if you are here in first visit) to the previous post (Part-1)


PERSONAL DETAILS
1. Full Name: In the first part put your family name and in the second part given names. If you have middle names put all of them here.
2. Have you ever used any other name (e.g. Nickname, maiden name alias, etc): This part is self explanatory. Check the Yes/No check box first.
Then if you changed your maiden name and included the family name of yout spuce, put your previous family name in the first part. If your were given any other names like nickname, put it in the second part.
3. UCI: If this is your first application, then leave this place blank. If it is not, then put your Universal Client Identification number (UCI) or Client Identification number (Client ID), if known (8-digit number).
4. Sex: Choose your sex from the drop down menu.
5. Height: Put you height here in centimeter in the place marked as "cm" of write in the next area for feet and inch.
6. Eye color: Choose the one from the drop down menu.
7. Date of birth: Write down your date of birth following the indicated pattern (i.e. birth year in four digits in the first part).
8. Place of birth: Write the name of the city/town of your birth at the given place. Remember, it should correlate your birth certificate.
9. Citizenships: 1) From the list, select your country of citizenship.
                          2) If you are a citizen of more than one country, select your other country of citizenship, otherwise leave it blank.
10. Current country of residence:
    From the list, select the appropriate information to indicate:
       - The name of your current country of residence. Your country of residence is the country in which you are residing, provided that you have been lawfully admitted to that country.
       - Your immigration status in that country - Choose it from the drop down menu.
11. You should not be able to fill this part
12. Previous countries of residence: Check the box to indicate whether you have lived in any country other than your country of citizenship or your current country of residence for more than six (6) months in the past five (5) years.
If you checked "Yes", from the list select the appropriate information to indicate the following:
 - The name of the country you lived in
 - Your immigration status for the time you were in that country: Choose it from the drop down menu
 - Other: This section must be completed if you selected ―Other‖ as a status
 - The dates (From – To) you were living in that country.
13. Your current marital status:
      a) Choose it from the drop down menu.
      b) If you have choose "yes", then you must put your marriage date here in the recommended format.
      c) Put the name of your spouse in the first part and given name in the second part.
14. Have you previously married or in a common-law relationship? :
      Check the box No/Yes accordingly
      If you had one, then fill up the following areas accordingly.

Please click here to continue to part - 3.

Form fill up for Skilled Worker category: Generic Application Form for Canada (IMM 0008) - Part 1

 CIC Canada has introduced a new generic application form for immigration purpose (IMM 0008). All immigration applicants including Skilled Worker category can fill the form from 18th July 2011. Older version of the form will still be accepted till 31st March, 2012. However, it is better to use the new one for the persons who are going to apply from now on.
The good thing about the new generic application form (IMM 0008) is that many of the fields have drop down lists that will prevent silly mistakes and reduce undue delay.

Now let us start reviewing the form. How a person would Fill up/ Complete the form to apply as Skilled Worker
First of all you'll have to download the form. Click here to download it.
First notice there are two buttons at top labeled as "Validate" and "Clear form". I am sure that you are not going to click the later one till you are completely messed up. But click on the first one after completing the form. It will bring notice of any blank fields.

Note that the form is divided into sections with heading (blue marking in the above picture). Each of the divisions are again subdivided, each subdivision having a number (red marking in the above picture). I shall discuss the form using these headings and their numbers. Before that I need to beg pardon for awful marking on the form above. You know, I am not a very good trainer of a mouse (just kidding).

Remember I am helping out only the Skilled Workers to complete the generic form (IMM 0008).




APPLICATION DETAILS
1. Program under which you are applying - Choose "Economic" from the drop down menu.
2. Category under which you are applying - Choose "Skilled Worker" from the drop down menu.
3. How many family members, including you, are in this application (see instruction guide)? - Put the number of your family member whether they are accompanying you or not. The family will include a spouse, a common-law partner, dependent children, and dependent child of a dependent child.
4. Immigration Office requested for the processing of your application - Indicate the name of tThe Immigration Office which serves your country of nationality/ the country in which you are residing, provided that you have been lawfully admitted to that country for at least one year.
You'll get the visa office that serves you form here.
For example applicants of people of Afghanistan as Skilled Worker, they'll have to put Islamabad at the place.
5. Language preference - From the drop down menu select the desired language for the parts

                                                      a) correspondence
                                                      b) interview and
                                                      c) interpreter requested (if applicable)
6. Where do you intend to live in Canada? - From the drop down list first select the Province/Territory (a) and then, City/Town (b).
Example: For Toronto  select as follows:
               a) Province/Territory - select "ON" from drop down menu
               b) City/Town - select "Toronto" from drop down menu

7. Have you received your Certificat de Sélection du Québec (CSQ)? -
This area should be inaccessible to you.

To continue, please click here.

Canada Immigration new form (IMM 0008) for permanent resident applications as Skilled worker

As of July 18, 2011, applicants for Permanent Residence are requested to use the new Generic Application Form for Canada (IMM 0008). 
The older form will also be accepted, but only till March 31, 2012. 
You can get the new form from here. Remember you will need to have Adobe Reader 8.1 or higher to see the new application form (IMM 0008). 
This new application form is a generic one and should be used by everybody applying as Skilled Worker.
The main feature of the new application form for Canada is many of the fields have drop down list that minimize the chance of error and undue delay of procession of immigration as skilled worker.   
From now on everybody should use the new application form to apply for Canadian Immigration. 


If you want to know how to fill the new form, click here.

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.

Visa processing time for Skilled worker application to Canada

If you are planning to submit your application for immigration to Canada as skilled worker, you might want to know visa processing time for Skilled worker application to Canada. Knowing the visa processing time for Skilled worker application to Canada will help you plan ahead.
To know visa processing time for Skilled worker application to Canada, click here. In the table click on "View by country" under the heading of "Federal (other than Quebec)". In the next page find out your visa specific office and you'll see the visa processing time for Skilled worker application to Canada for your visa office.
One thing I must add, visa processing time for Skilled worker application to Canada, which is available in the above link is actually the average time required for processing in last few months.

Steps for Immigration to Canada as Skilled worker

If somebody wants to Immigration to Canada as Skilled worker, he needs to follow some steps. Actually I think, you do not need a lawyer for the processing for Immigration to Canada as Skilled worker. The things that one needs to follow to be immigrated to Canada as Skilled worker are as follows:

1. First go to "http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/tool/index.asp" and follow the instructions to see if you are eligible to apply for immigration to Canada as skilled worker. If it says that you are not eligible, stop here. If you are eligible, then proceed.

2. If you are eligible to apply for immigration to Canada as skilled worker, then go to "http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/assess/index.asp" and take the test to see if you can get enough number to qualify. Right now the pass mark is 67. Remember, be honest while you take the test.

3. So if you have qualified also, then you can start filling up the forms. Follow these steps to apply to immigrate to Canada as a federal skilled worker:

a) Obtain and print the correct application package
Go to http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/skilled.asp and download the package. Don't forget to download and read instruction guide.
b) Complete your application
Do it as is instructed in the guide. Don't forget to fill for everyone above age 18 years for the forms- "Schedule 1: Background/Declaration [IMM 0008 SCHEDULE 1]" and "Additional Family Information [IMM 5406]"
c) Calculate your fees
Follow the instruction guide
d) Check your application
e) Submit your application
Send it to the address mentioned in the guide. Be careful, address for courier and regular mail are different.


These are the basic steps for Immigration to Canada as Skilled worker. There are few tips about each form fill up. I'll come with them later on.

Remember while filling out the forms, try not to leave blank spaces. Write something like "Not applicable" if that is not applicable to you.