Knowing the Federal Skilled Worker Program
Express Entry is one of the ways by which you may obtain a permanent residence status in Canada. However, Express Entry is a broad concept in the field of immigration, as there are many programs under it. There are three major programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class. Having to figure out the Express Entry or the programs can be a hassle for many foreign nationals. In order to prepare you for your application, it is important for you to recognize and understand the eligibility requirements prior to applying. In this blog, you will learn about the Federal Skilled Worker Program, as well as other important information one should know before applying under this economic immigration program.
Skilled work experience Requirement for the FSW
Individuals can be recruited for positions which qualify as Skill Type 0 (managerial jobs) or Skill Level A (professional jobs) or Skill Level B (technical jobs and skilled trades) on the Canadian National Occupational Classification (NOC) list.
Apart from having worked in one of the NOC job groups, you prove you performed the duties set out in the lead statement of the occupational description in the NOC. You need to also make sure you have worked in the same type of job as the job you want to use for your immigration application within the last ten years. Please note, the job needs to be a paid work, meaning that volunteer work or unpaid internships are not applicable. Last but not least, your full-time job needs to be at least 1 year of continuous work or 1,560 hours total (30 hours per week). For part-time work, you can work more or less than 15 hours per week, as long as it adds up to 1,560 hours.
Arranged Employment
Under the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) Program, an arranged employment means you have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer. You may be wondering about the advantage of having a valid job offer. The advantage is that the arranged employment will give you 15 points on the Federal Skilled Worker selection factors. Furthermore, under Express Entry, if you have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer, you can earn between 50 and 200 points under the Comprehensive Ranking System. The points will depend on the type of job you have. It will give you a better chance of being invited to apply at the next round of invitation.
On your job offer letter, it must show the company’s letterhead and your employer’s signature. The letter also contains details of the job, such as:
- expected start date
- commitment that the applicant will be employed on a continuous, paid, full-time work
- for work that is for at least one year after issuance of a permanent resident visa
- job title
- duties and responsibilities
- current job status (if current job)
- working conditions (number of work hours per week)
- annual salary
- benefits (if applicable)
Please note, you will receive no points if the employer making the offer is an embassy, high commission or consulate in Canada.
Who is Eligible to Receive the Points
Applicants will be awarded up to a maximum of 10 points for an arranged employment. This is especially if the officers find that the applicants are:
- Able to perform the duties and responsibilities listed on the job offer
- Likely to carry out the employment
- Meeting the requirements for a valid offer of employment
However, simply having a valid job offer does not mean you will automatically receive the points. The officers will also consider other circumstances, such as whether or not you hold a work permit, whether or not you intend to work in Canada before receiving a permanent resident visa, or whether or not you are currently working in Canada.
More specifically, if you are currently working in Canada with a valid temporary work permit (CIC issued it based on a positive LMIA), you may be awarded 10 points. If your job is exempt from the LMIA requirement, your work permit is valid both when you apply and when the visa is issued, you may also be eligible for the 10 points.
Apart from the points you receive for the FSW, having an arranged employment can also give you points on the Comprehensive Ranking System. The Comprehensive Ranking System is a points-based system that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada uses to assess and score the applicant’s profile and rank it in the Express Entry pool. The major components of the CRS include:
- skills
- education
- language ability
- work experience
- other factors
Contact Akrami & Associates
The Federal Skilled Worker application may have many different requirements which may make this type of application confusing, or sometimes, overwhelming. Moreover, the application for Federal Skilled Worker can be difficult when you are doing it on your own. As a result, it is highly recommended that you seek out professional and experienced help before attempting to apply for Federal Skilled Worker. Akrami & Associates work and have experience with many different immigration issues. We have helped many of our clients to obtain their permanent residency with the Federal Skilled Worker Program. Please feel free to contact Akrami & Associates at 416-477-2545 for more information, or if you would like to book a consultation with an immigration professional for more advise.
With Akrami & Associates, there is always a way!