| c) Provincial Nomination | | | | Workers are not assessed on the six selection |
| This scheme is appropriate for persons that are | | | | factors of the Federal Skilled Workers Program. The |
| interested in one province in particular to immigrate | | | | six selection factors will be explain in the following |
| and achieve their personal and professional | | | | sections. |
| objectives. In this case, provinces play a more direct | | | | As mentioned previously, this guide focuses mainly in |
| role in selecting immigrants that wish to settle in that | | | | Skilled Worker Class Immigration, which is the most |
| province in particular. | | | | popular of most categories. In my opinion, it is also |
| The application has to be nominated by a province, | | | | the most convenient way to immigrate to Canada. |
| and then a separate application has to be submitted | | | | However, it is important to analyze the other |
| to Citizenship and Immigration Canada to apply for | | | | alternatives in order to decide which option suits best |
| Permanent Residence.d) Family Class Immigration | | | | for your personal needs. |
| This category applies for immigrants who already | | | | Meet the Pass - Mark |
| have the Permanent Residence status and live in | | | | As mentioned previously, for immigration purposes, |
| Canada, who wish to sponsor close relatives or family | | | | Skilled Workers are people who are able to become |
| members to become permanent residents. The main | | | | economically established in Canada. Basically, applicants |
| requirement is to commit to support the person they | | | | must meet work experience requirements, prove |
| are sponsoring and their accompanying family | | | | that they have enough funds to settle and earn |
| members for a period of three to ten years. | | | | enough points to meet the Pass - Mark based on the |
| In order to qualify under the Family Class scheme, | | | | six selection factors. |
| the applicant must be related to the Canadian | | | | In the Skilled Worker Class, a skilled worker is |
| sponsor in one of the following ways: | | | | someone who has at least one year of full time work |
| - Sponsor's spouse; common-law or conjugal partner; | | | | experience within the past ten years in one of the |
| - Parent; | | | | occupations listed in Skill Level A or B of the National |
| - Orphaned brother, sister, nephew, niece, or | | | | Occupational Classification (NOC). In order to be |
| grandchild --under 19 and unmarried; | | | | considered full time work experience, the relevant |
| - A child under 19 who is either orphaned or placed | | | | job has to be of 37.5 hours per week or more. |
| with a child welfare authority for adoption and who | | | | Work experience is only considered for this purpose |
| the sponsor intends to adopt; the sponsor's | | | | if it is included in |
| dependent child; | | | | Skill Type 0 or Skill Levels A and B of the NOC. |
| - If the sponsor has no relative as listed above and | | | | Assuming that these prerequisites are met, then in |
| no relatives who are Canadian citizens or Canadian | | | | order to immigrate to Canada as a Skilled Worker, |
| permanent residents, one other relative. | | | | the applicant needs to earn enough points to meet |
| For immigration purposes, a spouse should be married | | | | the Pass Mark. Fortunately for applicants, the pass |
| to the sponsor and the marriage should be legally | | | | mark was recently modified. On September 18, 2003 |
| valid. | | | | Citizenship and Immigration Canada announced that |
| If married in Canada, a Certificate of Marriage should | | | | the pass mark for applicants applying for Permanent |
| be issued by the province or territory where the | | | | Residence as Skilled Workers (expect to |
| marriage took place. If the marriage was performed | | | | Quebec) would change from 75 to 67 points. |
| outside Canada, the marriage must be valid under the | | | | The Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada |
| law of the country where it took place and under | | | | constantly amends the Pass Mark, and these changes |
| Canadian law. If the marriage is performed in an | | | | reflect changes in the labor market in Canada and |
| embassy or consulate, it must comply with the law | | | | also in the economy and society. |
| of the country where it took place (not the country | | | | The following tables show the points earned for |
| of nationality of the embassy or consulate).e) | | | | different circumstances under each factor. As |
| International Adoption | | | | mentioned, the 6 factors are Education, Official |
| A Canadian citizen or permanent resident is allowed | | | | Languages, Experience, Age, Arranged Employment in |
| to adopt a child from another country. The child must | | | | Canada and Adaptability. The total points to meet |
| be sponsored, and the sponsorship process can start, | | | | the pass mark are 67. |
| either when the decision is made to adopt the child, | | | | In order to asses your situation and decide whether |
| or after the adoption process has been started. | | | | you will qualify for the Permanent Residence visa |
| There are two necessary processes to adopt a child | | | | under the Skilled Worker scheme, you have to add |
| from another country: the adoption process and the | | | | up the points that reflect your own situation in each |
| immigration sponsorship process.f) Quebec Selected | | | | factor. For instance, if you have completed a Master |
| Immigration | | | | of Business Administration and 17 years of full time |
| Under Canadian law, Quebec can establish its own | | | | study, you will earn 25 points (which is the maximum |
| immigration requirements in order to select | | | | in this factor) for Education. However, if you have |
| immigrants who will most likely adapt to Quebec. In | | | | only completed a three-year diploma and at least 15 |
| order to immigrate to Canada as a Quebec Skilled | | | | years of full time study, you will only earn 22 points |
| Worker, an application must be submitted to the local | | | | for Education. If the total sum of your points in all 6 |
| government in Quebec to obtain a Certificate de | | | | factors is equal to or greater than 67, then you are |
| selection du Québec. After the application has | | | | eligible to apply for the Permanent Residence Visa |
| been approved by Quebec, a separate application to | | | | under this particular scheme. |
| Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) for | | | | Now, it is time to evaluate your situation! Read the |
| permanent residence has to be done. One of the | | | | following tables carefully and add up your points! |
| advantages of this scheme is that Quebec Skilled | | | | Good luck! |