Canadian Immigration Hopefuls Gearing Up For Launch of Federal Skilled Worker Program

Citizenship and Immigration Canada will be accepting applications for the Federal Skilled Worker Program starting May 4th

The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the mainstay of the Canadian government’s economic class immigration stream, last accepted applications on May 8th 2012, when the program’s 20,000 application cap for the July 1st 2011 to June 30th 2012 period was reached.

On July 1st 2012, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) announced that the program would be put on moratorium to give the immigration department time to process FSWP applications in its backlog and to design new rules and put in place new processes for a revamped skilled worker program that better meets Canada’s economic needs.

Now, after a nearly one year wait, the program is set to begin accepting applications on May 4th 2013, providing skilled foreign workers who lack the financial means to qualify for Canada’s investor and business class programs and without a job offer from a Canadian employer, with an immigration program they can potentially qualify under.

Alex Khadempour, a licensed immigration consultant for CICS Immigration Consulting Inc., says that the majority of people who have contacted his firm over the last several months have been enquiring about the FSWP.

“There just aren’t any options through existing Canadian immigration programs for the vast majority of people who are interested in immigrating. Many who contact us are pinning their hopes on the return of the Federal Skilled Worker Class,” said Mr. Khadempour in an interview with CICS News.

One of the major new requirements of the revamped skilled worker program is the Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) said Mr. Khadempour: “we recommend to every one who contacts us to get their academic documents ready so that they can get their ECA as soon as CIC designates the Credential Assessment Organizations. All Federal Skilled Worker applications will require an ECA under the new rules.”

15 thoughts on “Canadian Immigration Hopefuls Gearing Up For Launch of Federal Skilled Worker Program

  1. Hi,
    Can you please let me know if there will be any cap (e.g. max 10,000) under new FSW program starting from May-4, 2013?
    Also, will there be any cap as per NOC category?
    Thanks.

  2. Hi,

    I am a Qualified Chartered Accountant from India, and “The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India” and “Canada Institute of Chartered Accountants” have a receiprocal agreement to recognise qualifications.
    Do i still need to go for “Education Credential Assessment”, if yes, appeciate if you can advise the relevant organization for ECA.
    Can you also confirm the “Accountants/Finance Managers” are covered in NOC List and will there be any cap for number of application?

    Thanks!

    • Yes you will still need an ECA. Regarding the occupation list, one has not been released, and there’s a good possibility there will be no occupation list. The cap for number of applications has also not yet been announced.

  3. Thanks for your reply!!

    Can you advise which organisation/agency should i approach for my “Education Credential Assessment”?

  4. I am ready to apply FSWP in May. I am hydraulic Engineer degree. Please send me the list of designated Education Assessment places in Canada that i can apply for Education Credential Assessment at soonest. Thanks.

  5. Hello
    I’m an architect from Egypt. . The CACB ( the Canadian architecture certification board ) have adviced me to upgrad my education by taking specific course in architecture. Finally they have granted me a certificate That my forign educational credentials meets the Canadian standard. Now I can immediately apply for license and unroll myself in the internship program.
    My question is do I need to apply for ECA reports noting that my educational are assessed more in depth for license purpose and a certificate is granted?

  6. Hello
    I’m an architect from Egypt. . The CACB ( the Canadian architecture certification board ) have adviced me to upgrad my education by taking specific course in architecture. Finally they have granted me a certificate That my forign educational credentials meets the Canadian standard. Now I can immediately apply for license and inroll myself in the internship program.
    My question is do I need to apply for ECA reports noting that my educational credentials are assessed more in depth for license purpose and a certificate is granted?

  7. I plan to apply as Financial Analyst (NOC1112) under the new FSW rules. My highest qualification MBA Finance was earned entirely in Canada (University of Alberta). My Bachelor of Engineering was earned in Pakistan. Do I need to have my Bachelor’s degree assessed?

    Thanks

  8. Hi,

    I am qualified chartered accountant from India and want to apply for express entry 2015.
    But on going through Comparative Education Service (CES) for qualification evaluation I am seeing that they only evaluate the academic degrees not professional one.

    Any help on this

    Thanks in advance.

  9. i have bsc in local government management from the university of Benin,Benin city Nigeria.im presently working with Nigeria customs service with eight years experience and four years experience from groundmovement oil and gas Nigeria limited any help on this thanks and God bless.

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