Points requirement goes down to 67 points! If you are living in the UK get your FREE assessment now! IntroductionThe points score requirement was reduced from 75 to 67 points on 18 September 2003. This means a considerable increase in the number of people who meet the requirements for the skilled worker category. The previous requirement of 75 points from 28 June 2002 meant that even most highly qualified people did not gain enough points. Overview of ChangesThe overall passmark has been reduced to sixty seven points. This will greatly increase the number of people who can come under the skilled worker immigration category.
This is the most popular category for immigration to Canada. If you gain at least sixty-seven points, and can show that you can successfully establish yourself in Canada, it is usually possible to gain entry to Canada under this Scheme. You will see further details of the changes in our news report.
The Canadian Government had tried to apply the previous immigration regulations introduced in June 2002 retrospectively. The intention was to refuse up to 100,000 pending immigration cases. There have been various claims against the Canadian Government in the Courts and since 18 September 2003 the retrospective provisions of the previous immigration regulations have effectively been abolished:
1. If you applied before 1 January 2002 and a decision is yet to be made your application will be assessed under the scoring criteria in force at that time. If you do not score enough points under the former immigration regulations you will be assessed under the current immigration regulations with a pass mark of 67 points.
2. If you applied before 1 January 2002 and your application was refused between 31 March 2003 and 30 June 2003 you may apply to the Visa Office that dealt with the application to have your file re-opened and considered again under the former immigration regulations in force before 1 January 2002. If you still do not gain enough points you will be considered under the current immigration regulations in force since 18 September 2003 with a passmark of 67 points.
3. If you have applied after 1 January 2002 and a decision is yet to be made on your application you will be considered under the current immigration act and regulations in force since 18 September 2003 with a pass mark of 67 points.
If you are in the UK call 020 7842 0800 for a free assessment now.Factor 1: Education - maximum 25 points
| University Degrees |
| PhD, or Master's, AND at least 17 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study | 25 |
| Two or more university degrees at the Bachelor's level AND at least 15 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study | 22 |
| A two-year university degree at the Bachelor's level AND at least 14 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study | 20 |
| A one-year university degree at the Bachelor's level AND at least 13 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study | 15 |
| Trade or Non-university Certificate or Diploma |
| A three-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship AND at least 15 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study | 22 |
| A two-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship AND at least 14 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study | 20 |
| A one-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship AND at least 13 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study | 15 |
| A one-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship AND at least 12 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study | 12 |
| Secondary School Educational Credential | 5 |
Factor 2: English and French language ability - maximum 24 If you are fluent in both official languages English and French you will be awarded 24 points. If not, you must firstly decide which language you are more fluent in. This will be your "first official language". You can gain up to 16 points for the first official language, and up to 8 points for the second official language. Your points score will be based on your ability to read, write, listen to, and speak English and French. The definition and table are below:
| Skill Level | Criteria |
| High-proficiency | You can communicate effectively in most community and workplace situations. You are fluent and can speak, listen, read and write the language very well. |
| Moderate proficiency | You can communicate in this language and can make yourself understood in most situations. You speak, listen, read and write the language well. |
| Basic or no proficiency | You have little ability in the language and have difficulty communicating in this language. |
Calculating your language points:
| First Language (Maximum 16) | Speak | Listen | Read | Write |
| High-proficiency | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Moderate proficiency | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Basic proficiency | 1 to 2 | 1 to 2 | 1 to 2 | 1 to 2 |
| No proficiency | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Second Language (Maximum 8) | Speak | Listen | Read | Write |
| High-proficiency | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Moderate proficiency | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Basic proficiency | 1 to 2 | 1 to 2 | 1 to 2 | 1 to 2 |
| No proficiency | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Total points achieved for speak + listen + read + write for both languages.
Factor 3: Work experience - maximum 21 pointsYou must have at least one year of full time experience in the last ten years in a management or professional or highly skilled occupation. These are listed as Skill Type O, Skill Type A or Skill Type B. You can check that you meet the requirements by doing the following: 1. Look at the list of occupations (noc) that meet the requirements of the skilled worker category. Then make a note of the four digit code next to your occupation. You must make sure that your work experience matches that stated in the NOC. You do not have to meet the "employment requirements" section of the particular job listed on NOC. You may need to look at a number of different occupations to find one that matches your work experience. If your occupation does not come under skill level O, A or B or your experience did not occur in the last ten years your application will be refused. Once you have confirmed that you meet the above requirements, you can now estimate your points score. You are granted 15 points for one year of work experience and two points for each further year up to a maximum of 21 points.
| Years of experience | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4+ |
| Points | 15 | 17 | 19 | 21 |
Factor 4: Age - maximum 10 pointsYour points score is calculated based on your age on submission of the application:
| Age | Points Score |
| 16 or under | 0 |
| 17 | 2 |
| 18 | 4 |
| 19 | 6 |
| 20 | 8 |
| 21-49 | 10 |
| 50 | 8 |
| 51 | 6 |
| 52 | 4 |
| 53 | 2 |
| 54 and over | 0 |
Factor 5: Arranged employment (maximum 10 points)You will gain 10 points if you have a job offer approved by Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) as a job where it will be difficult to find someone to fill the vacancy from the resident labour market. You must be able to do the job, and meet the educational and, where relevant, licensing and regulatory requirements for the job. You should note that it is the employer who applies to HRDC and not yourself. You may also gain the ten points in some circumstances if you are already in employment in Canada.
| HRDC-confirmed permanent offer of employment | 10 |
| You are in Canada holding a temporary work permit and can show the following: |
| Your employment is validated by HRDC, including sectoral confirmations | 10 |
| Your employment is exempt from HRDC validation under international agreements (e.g., NAFTA) or is of significant benefit to Canada (i.e., intra-company transferee) | 10 |
Factor 6: Adaptability (maximum 10 points)You can receive a maximum of 10 points based on any combination of the elements listed below:
| 1 | Your accompanying spouse or common-law partner�s level of education |
| Secondary school (high school) diploma or less | 0 |
| Completed a one or two-year post-secondary program and has at least 13 years of education | 3 |
| Completed a three-year post secondary program and has at least 15 years of education | 4 |
| Completed a three-year university degree and has at least 15 years of education | 4 |
| Completed a Master�s or Ph.D. and has at least 17 years of education | 5 |
| 2 | You or your accompanying spouse or common-law partner has studied in Canada |
| No, or less than two years post-secondary education in Canada | 0 |
| Completed a post-secondary program of at least two years in Canada since the age of 17 | 5 |
| 3 | You or your accompanying spouse or common-law partner has worked in Canada |
| No, or less than one year full-time work in Canada | 0 |
| Worked full-time in Canada for at least one year | 5 |
| 4 | You or your accompanying spouse or common-law partner has family in Canada |
| No | 0 |
| Have a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, sister, brother, nephew, niece, child or grandchild who is a Canadian Citizen or permanent resident living in Canada | 5 |
| 5 | Arranged Employment |
| No | 0 |
| You have already received points under the Arranged Employment Factor | 5 |
You will either need to show the following levels of funds to come under the skilled worker category or have "arranged employment".You can look up the relevant exchange rate at Currency Convertor.
- For a single person $9,420
For a family unit consisting of the following:
- 2 persons $11,775
- 3 persons $14,645
- 4 persons $17,727
- 5 persons $19,816
- 6 persons $21,905
- 7 persons or more$23,994
You do not have to show that you have these funds if you have arranged employment in Canada.
Please note that to be able to successfully emigrate to Canada you will have to show that you are in good health and do not have any criminal convictions.
You can add up your points score below:
You will need to gain sixty-seven points under the new selection criteria.
| Factor | Maximum Points | Your Score |
| 1 Age | 10 | |
| 2 Education | 25 | |
| 3 Language Ability | 24 | |
| 4 Work experience | 21 | |
| 5 Arranged employment | 10 | |
| 6 Adaptability | 10 | |
| Total: | 100 |
If you are in the UK Call 020 7842 0800 for a FREE assessment of the Canadian Skilled worker immigration category or complete our assessment form.
What about my Family & Dependants ?The Canadian Government does understand that families wish to be together and immigration is permitted for many members of the family. Outlined below are the requirements for various members of the family: Spouse: Your spouse can normally be included in your own application for immigration. The form needs to be completed and similar information needs to be provided as for the "Principal Applicant". This is normally a straightforward application to make. If you are already in Canada the procedure is slightly different and application is made to the Case Processing Centre in Ontario, Canada. Children: Your unmarried children under 19 can be included in your own application for immigration to Canada.
Children over 19 can be included if they are in full-time education and still financially dependent on you.
Children who are married may be included if they are in full-time education, and are still financially dependent on you. Parents: Your parents can normally be accepted for immigration to Canada, but you can not apply for their visas until you have settled in Canada. Further, the requirements are somewhat more onerous, than is the case for applications relating to a spouse or a child; there are strict financial requirements that must be met before a parent can gain entry to Canada on the strength of their children's presence there. These financial requirements vary depending on the number of dependants already living with the sponsor, and the part of Canada in which they reside. In rare cases where the parents are living in some hardship, and there are compelling humanitarian and compassionate reasons to do so, an application may be made at the same time that the sponsor is applying for immigration to Canada. Grandparents: Your grandparents can be admitted under requirements similar to those for parents (outlined above). Others: Sponsorship applications can be made for orphaned relatives under 19 years of age such as brother, sister, nephew, niece or grandchild. Further, you can normally sponsor a child under 19 years of age that you plan to adopt (subject to the relevant adoption laws).
Living and Working in the US and CanadaFrom visits you can see which part of North America you prefer. There's a difference, however, between visiting and making a permanent home in Canada or the United States. Even after a few trips, you may still wonder what living there is actually like. One factor to consider is the severity of the climate in much of the continent. Summers can be boiling hot and winters deadly cold, but be reassured that everything is set up to deal with these extremes: well-insulated housing, climate-controlled shopping malls, appropriate clothing, lots of facilities for year-round indoor sports and season-specific outdoor activities, and transport systems that don't grind to a halt at a hint of snow or a heat-wave that melts asphalt. Americans and Canadians tend to welcome newcomers and immigrants. People move around a lot as they change jobs and so transience is accepted, certainly in the big cities, as one sort of norm. Clubs catering to any interest - archery, bingo, chess, embroidery, speaking French, racing motorcycles, wine tasting - have a strong base of people new to any given city. North Americans also realise that most of them are fairly recent immigrants too, a generation or two back, and so are willing to accept fresh blood. The children of immigrants are expected to assimilate and most do so with startling quickness. Parents may want to consider this option themselves, as there are benefits to fitting in. Having said that, any British accent retains its prestige, and North Americans are fascinated by all things European, which, from that side of the Atlantic, Britain certainly is. LIVING IN THE UNITED STATESThe opportunities are enormous, but not much of a safety net exists, so prepare well, buy health insurance, and be ready to bounce back if your first venture fails. America in many respects remains strongly regional; the traditional South, Europe-looking New England, and the frontier states of the Pacific North West lead different lives. The history and climate of each region produces its economy and character, so it pays to research before you choose where to settle. State legislatures add a third level of government to national and local bureaucracies. Nowhere is the cult of the car stronger. Acquiring an automobile becomes a pressing need when it comes to looking for housing and jobs. Americans drive great distances as a matter of course; a 45 mile, one hour journey to work is common. They also tend to judge you by your vehicle. Living in CanadaCanada defines itself largely in opposition to the United States and Britain. Quebec forms a distinct society, but links itself strongly to the US economy. Canada is less centralised than, for example, London-focused Britain, so each province runs many of the activities that in Europe are usually co-ordinated at a national level, most notably health-care and education. In other ways Canada seems more similar throughout than Britain; with the exception of Newfoundland, the English-Canadian accent sounds the same from Halifax to Victoria. Canada is proud to see itself as a bilingual, multi-ethnic country. Looking for WorkUK qualifications are generally well respected, although check the details for your particular trade or profession. Collect written testimonials to your good character and work efficiency; these will get you to the first interview, after which prospective employers will usually telephone for references. Volunteer work counts in your favour, particularly as you are settling in. British charm is one route to jobs; English accents remain a source of fascination. It is illegal to ask on application forms or in interviews such personal details as age, nationality, marital status, number of dependants, religion, race and so on, so it is not customary to include these on the CV (better known as resume). The North American resume differs in other details from its British equivalent; consider having yours tailored by a specialist firm that will present your experience in the best possible light . Assume your skills are transferable, but recognise that North American companies may not understand this; argue your merits and prove your own case. In the covering letter you send with every resume, mention any link you may have with North America such as previous travel or relatives currently living there, and explain that you are in the process of applying for a visa. The key to finding a job is research. Write to the association that represents your trade or profession in your country of choice and ask for contacts. Read their national and, if possible, local press for general information, as well as trade publications for more specific details. Send letters on spec, by all means, but also scour the job ads and reply, even if your application will miss the deadline. Fax or phone as well; it impresses. Investment possibilitiesIf you have business skills, you may choose to embody the entrepreneurial spirit of North America and run your own business. There are several ways that the small investor can profit by being British. Pubs, teashops, and fish and chip shops are novelties over there, and unknown still in many towns. The bed and breakfast inns have succeeded well, and import shops are an old favourite. Merely possessing a British accent can help enough to get you interviews with the people you need to see. Self-employment is a big jump from working for someone else, and to attempt this at the same time as switching countries may prove too much. If you are prepared to run a business, there are four routes. You can buy up an existing concern (e.g. a bar, and turn it into a pub), set up a branch office (especially useful for a trading firm), go into a joint venture (but you have to find a trustworthy local partner), or start from scratch. Whichever you choose, good luck!
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Standard US and Canadian R�SUM� Format<YOUR NAME> <YOUR ADDRESS> <IT IS USEFUL TO PUT DOWN A TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBER (try and include the telephone code from North America which for the UK is 011 44 and then missing the first zero of the area code and leaving the rest the same)> < IT IS USEFUL TO PUT DOWN AN E-MAIL ADDRESS.> <MISS OUT NATIONALITY, SEX, MARITAL STATUS AND DATE OF BIRTH. TRY AND KEEP RESUME BRIEF; PERHAPS TO ONE PAGE IF POSSIBLE.>
Education<LAST DATES> <QUALIFICATIONS RECEIVED AT LAST UNIVERSITY, COLLEGE, OR SCHOOL (keep brief and to the point and be careful to explain qualifications not likely to be understood in North America> <PREVIOUS DATES>
<PREVIOUS EDUCATION RECEIVED INCLUDING QUALIFICATIONS (if there are any other places you have attended, please continue in reverse date order below) Career<DATE STARTED-PRESENT> <PRESENT EMPLOYMENT INCLUDING BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF JOB DUTIES> <PREVIOUS DATES OF EMPLOYMENT> <PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT INCLUDING BRIEF JOB DESCRIPTION (if there has been any previous employment to this please include details below)> Achievements<BRIEFLY PUT SKILLS, ANY AWARDS OR NOTEWORTHY ACHIEVEMENTS> Interests<PUT DOWN ANY HOBBIES, INTERESTS, SPORTS AND POSSIBLY SKILLS NOT ELSEWHERE COVERED> References available on request<DO NOT NORMALLY INCLUDE REFERENCES>
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