The Independent Immigrant (The Canadian points system)

• Introduction
• Overview of Changes
• Factor 1: Education
• Factor 2: English and French Ability
• Factor 3: Work Experience
• Factor 4: Age
• Factor 5: Arranged Employment
• Factor 6: Adaptability

Points requirement goes down to 67 points! If you are living in the UK get your FREE assessment now!

Introduction

The 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 Changes

The 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

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:

Calculating your language points:

Total points achieved for speak + listen + read + write for both languages.

Factor 3: Work experience - maximum 21 points

You 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.

2. You then put in the four digit code in quick search on the left of the National Occupational Classification (NOC) web site.

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.

Factor 4: Age - maximum 10 points

Your points score is calculated based on your age on submission of the application:

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.

Factor 6: Adaptability (maximum 10 points)

You can receive a maximum of 10 points based on any combination of the elements listed below:

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.

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.