FEDERAL SKILLED WORKER VISA

Canadian Immigration encourages skilled worker applications for Permanent Residence from people with skills, education and work experience that will contribute to the Canadian economy.

Applications for Permanent Residence under the Federal Skilled Worker Class can be submitted by foreign nationals who are skilled workers and professionals.

ELIGIBILITY FOR FSW CANADA

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has set specific basic requirements that all applicants must meet in order to apply for a Federal Skilled Worker visa.

To meet the basic visa requirements, applicants must pass a points-based assessment. Points can be claimed in areas related to an applicant's age, English or French language ability, work experience, qualifications and ability to adapt to life in Canada. The current pass mark for the Federal Skilled Worker visa is 67 points.

To qualify for a Federal Skilled Worker visa, applicants must meet at least one of the following requirements:

• Possess an offer of arranged employment in Canada; OR
• Have at least 1 year's work experience in a designated high-demand occupation. Applications based on a designated high-demand occupation will be restricted to 10,000 until June 30, 2012, with a limit of 500 applications per occupation, processed on first-come, first-served basis.

You must show that you have enough money to support yourself and your family members after you arrive in Canada. The money must be available to support the costs of living for yourself and your family. You cannot borrow this money.

The applicant is also required to satisfy certain health and character requirements to meet the FSW visa criteria.

WHAT CAN I DO WITH THIS VISA ?

If your application for Federal Skilled Worker Visa is successful, you and your family members will receive permanent resident visas. You will become permanent residents of Canada when you move to Canada.

As permanent residents, you and your family members will have the right to:

• live, study and work in Canada for as long as you remain permanent residents
• access most social benefits accorded to Canadian citizens.
• apply for Canadian citizenship, and if granted, apply for a Canadian passport once you have been a legal permanent resident for three of the four previous years.

Important Note: 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.

Categories: CA immigration