Changes to Immigration under Skilled Worker Category

On June 26, 2010, our Immigration Minister announced the latest changes to the skilled worker class. These changes are in response to the increasing labour market shortages in certain sectors and occupations.

According to the most recent changes, the visa officers are restricted in the processing of new applications to 29 high-demand occupations such as professional occupations in business services to management, specialist physicians and family doctors etc. To be eligible for processing under the new system, you must have (1) taken the language test and include the test result with your application (even if you are coming from a country in which English is the official language; i.e., you are an American citizen born and raised in US); AND (2) have a valid offer of arranged employment; or (3) have one year of continuous full-time paid work experience in at least one of the 29 occupations.

The work experience must be for at least one year, continuous and paid (full-time or the equivalent in part-time) AND be Skill Type 0 (management occupations) or Skill Level A (professional occupations) or B (technical occupations and skilled trades) on the Canadian National Occupation Classification List AND must have been within the last 10 years.

The 29 listed occupations are as follows:

0631: Restaurant and Food Service Managers
0811: Primary Production Managers (Except Agriculture)
1122: Professional Occupations in Business Services to Management
1233: Insurance Adjusters and Claims Examiners
2121: Biologists and Related Scientists
2151: Architects
3111: Specialist Physicians
3112: General Practitioners and Family Physicians
3113: Dentists
3131: Pharmacists
3142: Physiotherapists
3152: Registered Nurses
3215: Medical Radiation Technologists
3222: Dental Hygienists & Dental Therapists
3233: Licensed Practical Nurses
4151: Psychologists
4152: Social Workers
6241: Chefs
6242: Cooks
7215: Contractors and Supervisors, Carpentry Trades
7216: Contractors and Supervisors, Mechanic Trades
7241: Electricians (Except Industrial & Power System)
7242: Industrial Electricians
7251: Plumbers
7265: Welders & Related Machine Operators
7312: Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanics
7371: Crane Operators
7372: Drillers & Blasters - Surface Mining, Quarrying & Construction
8222: Supervisors, Oil and Gas Drilling and Service

If you qualify under the above minimum requirements, your application will then be evaluated under the point system grid as explained in the Skilled Workers Class section of our website.

To obtain further information and to take advantage of our free half hour initial consultation, please contact our office at (416) 365-9473.