Canada proposes new "Canada Experience Class"
On August 9, 2008 the Canadian government published new proposed
regulations describing the new "Canada Experience Class." This is a
new immigration category that will make it easier for foreign
students studying in Canada and temporary foreign workers with jobs
in Canada to immigrate to Canada on a permanent basis. These are
PROPOSED regulations and they are NOT now in effect.
If adopted, the regulations would create two new "streams" of
immigrants, a student class and a temporary worker class. In either
class, the applicant must have work experience in Canada in a
NOC Level 0, A, or B occupation. This would include professional
positions as well as skilled workers, but not unskilled workers. All
applicants must have legal temporary residence in Canada at the time
of application. These cases would be processed through the Buffalo
consulate in the United States. If approved, applicants could
finalize the process at an immigration office in Canada without
having to leave Canada and re-enter. The requirements would be as
follows:
- Student Class: Must have 12 months of legal work
experience in Canada within the previous 24 months, a Canadian
degree or other credential based on two years of full-time study
in Canada, and must meet the language benchmark for their
occupation.
- Temporary Worker Class: Must have 24 months of legal
work experience in Canada within the previous 36 months, and must
meet the language benchmark for their occupation.
The language benchmark for Level 0 and A occupations will be
moderate proficiency in either French or English. For Level B
occupations, it is basic proficiency. The use of approved language
tests is strongly preferred for people who are from countries where
English or French is not the native language. However, written
evidence other than approved tests will be considered according to
the draft regulations.
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