GENERAL INFORMATIONS REGARDING IMMIGRATION TO CANADA

A foreign national could qualify if he possesses a minimum of one year work experience in a trade, profession or skill required to meet Canada's changing labour market. The work experience cannot be part of a school curriculum or an apprenticeship program.

The following criteria (updated on the 28 of June 2002) will decide if a foreign national can qualify for permanent resident status: education, work experience and the possibility to successfully complete any required professional licensing or trade exams, arranged employment , age, languages, and personal suitability.

The immigration selection process is divided in two steps.

The first step is the paper screening. To successfully complete the paper screening, the foreign national must obtain a minimum number of points based on the above mentioned criteria. Our office will take charge of completing your file according to Canadian Rules as I mention above.

The second step is the interview. The immigration official must decide if the foreign nationals possesses the personal suitability to immigrate to Canada. It is possible for the foreign national to obtain bonus points also if members of his family are residents of Canada. However, he must satisfy the definition of assisted relative stipulated in the immigration regulations. Finally, he must also prove that he has sufficient funds to successfully establish himself in Canada.
We will prepare your for the interview in writing and by teleconferences.

Any false or misleading information on your part might result in your application being refused by the Canadian Immigration Authorities. Our office needs your complete co-operation in the above mentioned matter to be able to successfully complete the first step in your quest to immigrate to Canada.

Finally, all immigrants must successfully complete a medical and/or security clearance before receiving their permanent resident visa.

INDEPENDENT WORKERS DESTINED TO SETTLE IN Quèbec CANADA

The Quèbec independent workers’ category is applied differently. The Quèbec immigration authorities have established four classes of independent workers.

It is important to understand that the Quèbec Immigration authorities prefer and favour French speaking immigrants.

The first class of independent workers are those who have a validated job offer. This class receives a job offer from a Quèbec employer. In order for the job offer to be validated, the employer must prove that effort to recruit or train prospective local candidates for the position were unsuccessful. Moreover, the onus is on the employer to prove that the business is viable and in a financial position to hire the foreign candidate.

The second class of independent workers are those who are in possession of a job offer and who work in a profession that the Quèbec immigration authorities have determined to be in scarce supply. The Quèbec immigration authorities publish a list of these professions. The employer does not have to prove that attempts have been made to hire or train locally. However, the employer must prove that the business is viable and in a financial position to hire the foreign candidate.

The third class of independent workers is immigrants whose professions are in demand in the Province of Quèbec. In other words, the Quèbec Immigration authorities have determined that in certain professions, occupations and/or trades, there exists a shortage of qualified individuals to fulfil current and future provincial employment targets. Individuals possessing work experience in those fields may apply as immigrants.

The fourth class of independent workers fall into a special category entitled “L’Employabilité et Mobilité Professionelle” ( EMP ). This class of immigrants must posses a minimum of work experience in a profession, occupation or trade that commands a skill ranking which exceeds level "‘D" as prescribed in the National Occupation Code. Unlike the other three classes of immigrants, members of this class must first pass a pre-selection assessment based on the required qualifications for the EMP.

All the above-mentioned categories are assessed according to a point system which measures, the level education, language skills, age, etc. Please note that under certain circumstances the Quèbec Immigration authorities will accept work experience that was obtained through apprenticeship, training or while studying to earn a diploma.

Once the immigrant, (and when applicable his or her dependants) receive(s) the CSQ(s), the Canadian Immigration authorities must make an assessment for admissibility purposes, i.e.: criminal/security and medical exams.