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Please be aware that the following information are still on the developing stage and only be confirmed on its official release of this Permanent Resident Class on or about August 2008
CANADIAN EXPERIENCE CLASS (CEC)
Program Parameters:
· CEC is a new Class of Economic Immigration introduced in 2008.
· Selection will be based on a pass/fail system.
· CEC targets those who came to Canada to work or study(those pursuing other avenues to permanent residence, i.e. Refugee claimants, would be excluded).
The CEC is limited to occupations at the NOC levels 0, A and B (management, professionals and skilled and technical occupations) at the beginning but may extend in the future.
· The selection criteria to qualify for the class will be tied to determinants of successful labour market integration: possession of a Canadian credential (for the international student recently graduated in Canada stream), Canadian skilled work experience, and official language proficiency.
Selection criteria:
For all applicants
Status
· Have legally come to Canada to work or study, and have valid temporary status in Canada at the time of application. Foreign nationals such as refugee claimants in Canada and workers without status (undocumented) will not qualify.
Language proficiency
· Applicants require moderate proficiency for the ability to speak, listen, read and write (benchmark of 6 or higher on Canadian Language Benchmarks) in French or English.
· Applicants must submit results of tests provided by a designated institution – International English Language Testing System or Test d’évaluation de français.
For International Students Recently Graduated in Canada:
Education
· A Canadian post secondary educational credential which requires at least 2 years of study.
· The credential must be granted by a Canadian public post-secondary institution or a Canadian private institution authorized by provincial statute to confer degrees.
· Credential requirements are consistent with those for a Post-Graduation work permit.
Experience
· One year of recent full-time Canadian skilled work experience at NOC 0, A or B (management, professionals and skilled and technical occupations) acquired in Canada (within the two years preceding the application for CEC).
- The applicant does not have to be in employment at time of application.
- The experience has to be acquired after the student has completed the required study and obtained a Canadian credential (Off-Campus Work Permit Program does not count).
For Temporary Foreign Workers:
Education
· A secondary school diploma, or trade certificate or apprenticeship.
Experience
· Two years of recent full-time Canadian skilled work experience at NOC 0, A or B acquired in Canada (within the three years preceding the application for CEC).
- The applicant does not have to be in employment at time of application.
Processing:
· CEC applications (principal applicants and dependants) will be processed in CIC’s Buffalo mission using the procedures currently applied to the Federal Skilled Workers.
· Existing health, security and criminality screenings will continue to be carried out before permanent residence is granted.
· Prioritized processing within economic classes, but not superseding PNPs or Quebec economic cases.
· CEC applicants will be able to apply for the Class and be admitted as permanent residents without leaving the country. Applicants will have the choice to receive their Permanent residence at either a port of entry or a CIC local office. They will have to go to Buffalo only if there is a need for an interview (currently under 1% of cases).
Considerations:
· Needed to ensure that the target pools can qualify, especially the international students graduating in Canada.
o CEC relies on changes being made to the Post-Graduation work permit program (these are still under review but could involve easier access and a longer validity period) to ensure a smooth transition for international students graduating in Canada.
· CEC will complement PNPs rather than competing with them.
o CEC will respect provincial jurisdiction, including the Canada-Quebec Accord – CEC will not apply in theProvince of Quebec.
o Quebec and PNP’s competitive advantages will be preserved (i.e. priority processing).
o CEC selection criteria will ensure that PTs will be in a position to nominate temporary foreign workers and international students graduating in Canadabefore they would become eligible to apply under the new stream.
o PNPs will continue to be the method for P/Ts to access the immigrants needed to meet specific regional labour market needs.
· Financial requirements (available funds) of Federal Skilled Workers should not apply to CEC as the program is limited to ready-to-work skilled persons who will have been in Canada for at least two to three years.
· Lower skilled workers (NOC C and D) will not qualify. PNPs will remain viable -avenues for these applicants.
Regulatory Amendments:
· A two-step approach has been adopted to introduce the necessary regulations for CEC.
· Phase 1: To ensure fairness and consistency, introducing to other classes conditions which will apply to the CEC (anticipated implementation in Spring 2008).
- Allowing admission (or landing) from within Canada for persons with temporary status in Canada (eliminating the need to go around the flagpole).
- The in-land admissions for CEC applicants will be extended to all members of Economic Class, including Provincial Nominees and Quebec Skilled Workers (to respond to PT’s needs), as well as Family Class.
- Requiring universal third party testing as proof of language proficiency for Federal Skilled Workers.
· Phase 2: To create the new Class (anticipated implementation of CEC by late Summer 2008).
Defining the selection criteria.
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