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.

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.

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. 

Canada Immigration: Possible ways

Canada is a nice place to live. It offers the opportunity of immigration to people throughout the world. But one have to understand, they will prefer the people who will be useful to them. That is why they have developed a system for immigration which gives only certain options to qualified persons for Canada immigration.

Canada Immigration: Possible ways

According to Citizenship and Immigration Canada website, there are five ways one can migrate to Canada. These are:

1. Skilled workers and professionals: For people who want to settle and work in Canada (outside of Quebec). Only 29 classified occupations are acceptable. In current year 2011-2012, 10000 applications will be accepted in this category. A maximum of 500 application will be accepted per occupation.

2. Quebec selected skilled workers: For people selected by the Quebec government to settle and work in Quebec. French is the official language of Quebec. If you are thinking of picking up this option, you should know that french is the official language of Quebec.

3. Canadian Experience Class: For people who have recent Canadian work experience or have graduated and recently worked in Canada. This option is targeted to the person who have temporary permit to work or study in Canada. With this option they can convert their temporary permit to permanent one.

4. Investors, entrepreneurs and self-employed people: For people who want to start a business in Canada. Business immigrants are expected to make a C$800,000 investment or to own and manage businesses in Canada, and must meet certain experience and/or net worth criteria.

5. Provincial nominees: One of Canada's provinces or territories can nominate you to settle and work there. Each province has their own requirement and thus their program varies. At this moment Alberta, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Yukon are Northwest Territories offering the scope. Their requirements are available in the respective website.

To bring non-immigrant family of a permanent resident (for example, newly married spouse) to Canada, the permanent resident can sponsor his/ her spouse. This could be considered as another way to migrate to Canada.

Each program has separate requirements and paperworks. If you are planning for Canada Immigration, you'll have to follow one of the above mentioned possible ways and prepare accordingly.

Canada immigration: Language test is valid for two years

I have seen the following notice in the CIC website (maybe I have missed it previously) which says that language test is valid for two years for the applicants of Canada immigration. I think they should keep extending the time with their ever extending processing time.

"EFFECTIVE December 23, 2010: If you are submitting a language test with your application, the results are now valid for 2 years from the time you took the test, instead of 1 year. This change applies to Federal skilled worker, Canadian Experience Class and Business Class Immigrants (investors, entrepreneurs and self-employed people)."

As per the notice results of language test is valid for two years which means IELTS or TOEFL or French Language tests needs not to be retaken within the defined period. 

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.

Form fill up for Canada Immigration - Schedule 1, Background declaration

This post is about filling the old forms. 

Click here to get the information about new forms.

Here I discuss the way of form fill up for Canada Immigration - Schedule 1, Background declaration.

Be aware that form fill up for Canada Immigration - Schedule 1, Background declaration should be done for every 18+ persons accompanying the applicant. For example if there are parents with one child, then two forms of Schedule 1, Background declaration should be filled up. One for the applicant and the other for the spouse of the applicant.

First of all, make sure, you have checked the box indicating for whom the for is being filled up.

I am describing the procedure of form fill up according to the number of the 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)
3. Other name you are or have been using: Give your nick name here (if you have any). Other wise write "Not applicable"
4. Your date of birth: Put it in the box following the given format i.e. first year of birth followed by month and date.
5. Current country of residence: Give the name of the country where you are living right now.
6. Your status in that country: If you are a citizen of the above mentioned country, write citizen.
7. Personal details of your father:
   Fill up the spaces as you did in the previous sections
8. Personal details of your mother:
   Fill up as before
9. 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 box also applies to all of your family members above 18 years.
10. Education:
    Fill up the boxes and table according to your educational achievements.
    
11. Personal history:
    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.
12. 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.
13. Government positions:
    Fill it you ever have served the government. Put "None" as before if you haven't done before.
14. Military services:
    Again do it as previous two. Put "None" on the first box if you don't have served any.
15. Addresses:
    Put all the addresses where you have lived since your 18th birthday.

This is very important: Don't forget to sign at the box in the last page and write down the date.

Leave the remaining last portion of the form empty.

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

Application form for Canada Immigration- Tips for IMM008

Application for Permanent Residence in Canada [IMM 0008]is the first form to be filled up. Remember, you can not save the PDF format of Application for Permanent Residence in Canada [IMM 0008]after filling the spaces. You need to take print out before you close the file after filling up. No changes can be saved in Application for Permanent Residence in Canada [IMM 0008]. So be careful when you fill up this form and take a print out. If there is a mistake you see after closing the PDF file, you'll have fill it again from the starting.

1. Check mark the under which category under you are applying (most likely Skilled worker if you are an IMG).
2. Then put the number of you family member in the allocated space.
3. Now choose the language you are going to communicate or if there is an interview, you would like to use for conversation. Check both for correspondence and interview.
4. Now fill the space asking for "Visa office requested for the process of your application" (it is the space next to the words).
You will have to go to
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/offices/apply-where.asp
and find out your country and its corresponding visa office from the chart. For example, from Afganistan the visa office for processing Applications for Permanent Resident Visas would be Islamabad.
5. Now fill up the areas for "Your full name", "Your sex" , "Date of birth" , "Your country of citizenship" , "Your country of residence" , "Your native language" , "Your height" , "Color of your eyes" , "Your current marital status" , "Have you been previously married or in a common-law relationship?" and "Your knowledge of English and French"
Don't forget to follow your passport to fill up the above mentioned areas, where applicable.
6. Now comes some tricky parts of the Application for Permanent Residence in Canada [IMM 0008] . That is the "years of education" is Education area. Put the years that are mentioned in your papers - certificate or syllabus or course description. Do not put the years that you have used, only the years that your papers say the course have. For example in our country a B.Sc. usually requires 4 years of study. Some person may not be able to complete by 4 years. He may need 5 years. But still he,ll count it as 4 years.
7. Put your current occupation and mailing address in the respective areas (number 13 & 14 of Application for Permanent Residence in Canada [IMM 0008])
8. Put your residential address only if it is something else than your mailing address (number 15 of Application for Permanent Residence in Canada [IMM 0008]). Otherwise, write "Not applicable" in the area.
9. Now fill up the remaining areas of Application for Permanent Residence in Canada [IMM 0008].

If you have provided an ID card number (no 19 of the Application for Permanent Residence in Canada [IMM 0008] form), you'll have to send a photocopy of it with the application papers.

According to CIC.ca, a new form is in place. Please click here to know more about the form.
If you want to know how to fill the form, click here.

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.