Canadian Government to Legislate Elimination of 280,000 Immigration Applications
The Conservative government proposed to eliminate 280,000 applications filed before February 27th 2008 for the Federal Skilled Worker Program in last Thursday’s federal budget.
If this proposal is approved, as it is expected to be, the hundreds of thousands of applicants affected will either have to give up on their hopes of immigrating to Canada or re-apply under new immigration rules.
For the last few years, the Canadian Citizenship and Immigration Ministry has been searching for a way to solve the massive backlog in the Federal Skilled Worker Program. Immigration Minister Jason Kenney has previously suggested that Canada adopt New Zealand’s approach and legislate an end to the backlog. With Thursday’s announcment, that option has officially been selected.
The wipe-out will cost the Canadian government $130 million in the refunding of application fees paid by those who applied under the Federal Skilled Worker Program before the February 27th 2008 cut-off date and whose files are being closed.
Mr. Kenney says the new immigration system that will replace the current one after the backlog has been eliminated will create a pool of immigration applicants and allow provinces to nominate those who they believe are most promising to have their application fast-tracked.
The Canadian government believes this will create an immigration system that is more responsive to the needs of Canadian employers and select applicants that have skills more greatly demanded by the Canadian economy.
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Hi, our applications was included in back log we filed the applications dated way back 2005 and we got our file no. from Canada Embassy in Manila Philippines . we want to refund our application fee but I don’t know where we can speak the right person or web site to talk about this issue .. our agency in Manila , Canadian Immigration Consultancy Philippines has no any idea as well ,. when to get the refund.. that’s why I personally wanted to reach your office and tell this problem the money has been sleeping for so many years in your office are you still going to give back our hard earned money .? if you are going to refund it? is that with an interest? I think you should give us additional payment from this caused too much troubled not only from us but to all applicants whose expecting a good future in Canada, but what did you gave us in return ,? please I want an immediate reply from you soon.. I hope this issue will resolve . thank you.