The Skilled Worker Program is a points based system used to grant Permanent Resident status to applicants who are able to demonstrate an ability to become economically established in Canada. The point system is composed of six (6) factors, in which an applicant needs to score at least 67 points in order to be eligible.

The most important factors in the Skilled Worker program tend to be an applicant's level of education, their previous work experience, and their ability to communicate in either English or French. If the applicant has worked or studied in Canada, or have a confirmed job offer in Canada, they may receive additional points. However, as the following examples will demonstrate, there is no single determinant to an applications success.

Canada's 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 Canada visa requirement for the Canadian 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 Changes

The overall Canada visa requirement has been reduced to 67 points. This will greatly increase the number of people who can come under the skilled worker immigration category. Moving to Canada has become easier.

This is the most popular visa category for an 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 meet the Canadian visa requirement in order to immigrate to Canada under this Scheme.

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.

Before you apply                                          After you apply                                        Coming to Canada?

Please note that the information I have gathered here is based on my own personal experience, you should use this information as reference only. It is not an official information. However, I am here to help you as much as I can.

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