Kwantlen Polytechnic
University
February 14, 2012
Overview of today’s presentation
• Temporary Resident Visa aka “Visa”
• Study Permit extensions
• Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP)
• Permanent Residence (PR)
• National Occupation Classification “NOC”
• These two PR categories:
– Federal Skilled Workers (SW)
– Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
Temporary Resident Visa TRV
 Required by citizens of certain countries
 Must be obtained at a Canadian visa office
 Allows a person to travel to Canada
 May be for single or
multiple entries
 Must be used before
expiry date
 Does not determine
length of stay in Canada
 Travelling to the U.S.?
Study Permit Extensions
• May apply by mail
or online
• Application and fee ($125)
• Copy of valid passport
• Transcripts
• Proof of current registration
from institution
Postmark or date of upload
• Proof of funds available
important for status!
Implied Status - Restoration
• If you apply to extend your status before it expires, then
you will have “implied status”
• You may legally remain in Canada until your application
is processed
• You may be able to continue studying or working**
If you do not apply before the expiry of your status, you
cannot continue to study or work until your status has been
restored – and you must apply for restoration within 90
days after your status was lost. $200 extra fee
Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP)
•
•
•
•
Available to graduates of a:
Canadian university
Community college,
Publicly funded
trade/technical school,
Private institution authorized
by provincial statute to grant
degrees
Post-Graduate Employment Criteria
• Students must have engaged in
full-time studies.
• Studies must have taken place at
the institution.
• Students must graduate with a
degree, diploma or certificate.
• The minimum program length is
eight months – “two semesters”.
Post-Graduate Work Permit Application
• Students must apply within exactly 90 days of
notification that they have met requirements of their
program.
• Students must include dated evidence that they have
met requirements of their program, such as a:
– Final transcript
– Letter from the institution
– Formal notification of graduation
• You must still be in possession of a valid study permit
the date you apply
Post-Graduate Work Permit Length
• Depends on the length of your completed program.
• Eight months up to two years  same length
• Two years or more  a three year work permit
A two year program is two academic years of at
least eight months per year, excluding scheduled
breaks such as summer holidays.
PGWP – Combining Programs
If you complete a one-year degree, diploma or
certificate program* no more than two years after
having completed a first certificate, a diploma or
Stu
degree program*, you may qualify for a three-year
work permit.
Two years or less between completion dates is
the key point
*Always from a participating institution in Canada
More on the PGWP
You may study part-time only in the final semester
of your program.
If you hold a valid Off-Campus Work Permit
on the date you apply for your Post-Graduate
Work Permit, you may begin to work FULL TIME
as soon as you submit your application.
There is a one time eligibility for the PGWP.
Interested in Permanent Residence?
www.gc.ca  search NOC
www.hrsdc.gc.ca/NOC
NOC 4 DIGIT CODE
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
“XXXX”
When the second digit is 0 or 1 …the skill level is
Skill Level A (Professional Occupations)
When the second digit is 2 or 3 …the skill level is
Skill Level B (Technical, Paraprofessional and Skilled
Occupations
When the second digit is 4 or 5 …the skill level is
Skill Level C (Intermediate Occupations)
When the second digit is 6 …the skill level is
Skill Level D (Labouring and Elemental Occupations)
First Digit is the number 0  Management
PR: Skilled Workers – Can I apply now?
Your application is eligible for processing IF:
1 - You have an offer of arranged employment “AEO”
(what is this?)
2 - You are a SW who has at least one year of
experience* in one or more of the 29 occupations listed
on our website
Skilled Workers – Can I apply now?
Also eligible to apply as of November 5*:
3 – Currently enrolled PhD students in good standing who
have completed at least two years of their PhD program in
Canada
4 – Successful PhD graduates from a Canadian school
who apply no later than one year after completion of their
program
*1000 applications per year, ending Oct 31 each year
1 - Arranged Employment Opinion AEO
• An “arranged offer of employment” aka “Arranged
Employment Opinion” is based on these factors :
• The job offer is permanent;
• The job offer is genuine;
• The wages and working conditions offered for the job
are comparable to those offered to Canadians working
in the occupation;
• The employment is full-time, not seasonal.
• Assessed by HRSDC and is obtained by your
employer, not you
500 / 10,000 MAX; July 1 to June 30
SW Minimum Requirements Work Experience
ALL applicants must possess at least one year of
work experience within the 10 years
prior to the date of application,
At one or more of these NOC skill levels:
“O” Management and/or
“A” Professional and/or
“B” Technical/Skilled Trades
SW Minimum Requirements Work Experience
The work experience must be continuous full-time
or equivalent part-time, obtained anywhere in the world
F/T = 37.5 hrs per week x 52 weeks

1950 hours per year
Skilled Worker Selection Factors
Skilled Workers – Self-assessment
Canadian Experience Class CEC
Two streams:
(1) Temporary foreign workers and
(2) Recent graduates from Canadian post-secondary
institutions who plan to live outside the province of
Quebec.
Assessed on 3 factors (not point system):
 education (depending on selected stream)
 work experience
 ability to communicate in English or French
CEC Requirements
(1) Temporary Foreign Workers Stream
 2 years full time work experience (1950 x 2)
 within the 3 years prior to the date of application
(2) Graduates Stream (Student Stream)
 graduated from a recognized Canadian post-secondary
educational institution, then obtained
 1 year full time (or equivalent) work experience within
the 2 years prior to the date of application (two year
window)
CEC Education Requirements – Student Stream
A full time qualifying educational program of at least
two years  two academic years of at least eight
months each excluding scheduled breaks, such as
summer holidays


A one-year qualifying credential (e.g., college
diploma), followed by a one-year graduate credential
(e.g., Master’s, MBA or Post-baccalaureate), no more
than two years after graduating with the first
credential.
In Canada only
CEC Work Experience Requirements
For both streams, your work experience must be:
 full-time or equivalent (remember 1950)
 acquired in Canada and only in Canada
 at the NOC 0, A or B level only; no C or D
 Self-employment or unauthorised work doesn’t count
 Graduates: work experience must be acquired after
completion of studies in Canada (not co-op, not R/A
or T/A)
CEC Work Experience Requirements
Student Stream
• Two year « window » to obtain one year of full time or
equivalent experience
Temporary Foreign Worker Stream
• Three year « window » to obtain two years full time or
equivalent experience (no educational requirement)
Remember – it is always two years back in time from
the date you sign and submit your application
Language Requirements
English or French test results must be submitted with
your application – results valid for two years




Designated testing agencies :
IELTS: International English Language Testing System
CELPIP: Canadian English Language Proficiency
Index Program
TOEFL is not accepted
TEF: Test d’Evaluation de Francais
Language Requirements
Skilled Workers - points awarded for each official
language
 up to 16 points for 1st official language
 up to 8 points for 2nd official language
CEC assesses proficiency of only one official language
 minimum requirements vary by work experience
 NOC 0 or A: level 7 of Canadian Language Bench.
 NOC B:
level 5 of CLB
Language Benchmarks
www.language.ca
www.ielts.org
Other Requirements for PR
Processing Fee
 Principal applicant
 Spouse/partner
 Child
Interview?
$550
$550
$150
Right of Permanent Residence Fee
 Principal applicant $490
 Spouse/partner
$490
•
•
•
Medical
Criminal
Security
Applying with a spouse or C/L partner?
What do I do next???
How to Apply
 YOU determine which program suits you best
 Obtain application package
 Ensure you meet all the requirements of the class
 Do an online self-assessment to see if you qualify
under the Skilled Workers Program
 Read the instruction guide and gather supporting
documents
 Fill out the application forms and pay appropriate fees
 Mail application to the Intake Office
 Maintain your TR status if you remain in Canada!
The Application Process
SW and CEC
First to the Centralized Intake Office in Sydney, NS.
If you qualify for processing, you will be instructed
to submit application to Buffalo or to your home
visa office.
No “shopping around”
BUFFALO (RPC)
Receives all immigrant applications
DETROIT
LOS ANGELES
NEW YORK
SEATTLE
Interview
Interview
Interview
Interview
Immigration Consultants – Do you need one?
USEFUL LINKS
www.gc.ca  search NOC
www.hrsdc.gc.ca/NOC
www.workingincanada.gc.ca
www.seattle.gc.ca
Thank you for coming today!
www.cic.gc.ca
1-888-242-2100