printThe Canadian Experience Class - Recruiting from Within
November 17, 2008 By Embarkation Law Group
The Canadian Experience Class is simple and straight-forward, allowing visa officers to quickly render a pass/fail decision. The Canadian Experience Class has two streams; one for temporary foreign workers and the other for recent international graduates who have studied in Canada.
The Federal Skilled Worker class is based on a point system that was supposed to assess potential immigrants’ ability to become economically established in Canada based on language ability, education and work experience. In reality, however, Federal Skilled Worker applicants did not always find suitable work in Canada. In addition, the processing delay due to a serious backlog, means applicants’ whose job skills are needed today, may not be accepted for several years.
In response, there have been a number of immigration programs that have focused on foreign workers and international students are already in Canada as ideal candidates to become Permanent Residents. In September 2008, the federal government has also introduced the Canadian Experience Class that will also open a path for foreign works and international students to obtain permanent status in Canada.
The Canadian Experience Class is simple and straight-forward, allowing visa officers to quickly render a pass/fail decision. The Canadian Experience Class has two streams; one for temporary foreign workers and the other for recent international graduates who have studied in Canada. In either case, applicants can intend to live anywhere in Canada, except for the province of Quebec. Both streams require applicants to have fluency in English or French, which can be documented by the results of an authorized language test, or with other supporting documentation. With the exception of persons born, raised and educated in the USA, the United Kingdom, Australia, or New Zealand, it is strongly recommended to take one of the authorized tests rather than trying to rely on supporting documentation. Applicants must have proper status during any period of work or study.
(a) Temporary Foreign Worker Stream
To qualify for the Canadian Experience Class, temporary foreign workers must have a minimum of two years full-time equivalent skilled work experience in Canada. Skilled work experience would equate to the Canadian National Occupation Classification (NOC) Skill Type 0 (managerial occupations), Skill Level A (professional occupations), and Skill Level B (technical occupations and skilled trades).
(b) International Graduate Stream
Applicants applying under the International Graduate Stream must have completed two years full-time study at a private or public post-secondary educational institution such as a college or a university that is provincially recognized, or private CEGEPs.
Following graduation, the applicant must have completed one year full-time (or equivalent) work experience in Canada. This work experience must be gained within two years of applying for permanent resident status. Work experience gained during the program of study will not count toward the Canadian Experience Class. As in the Temporary Foreign Worker Stream, the Canadian work experience must be Skill Type 0 (managerial occupations), Skill Level A (professional occupations), and Skill Level B (technical occupations and skilled trades).
The benefit for Canada, is that these applicants have already acclimatized to Canada, gained local education and/or work experience that will better translate into becoming economically established as permanent residents. The Canadian Experience Class will also make it more attractive for foreign nationals to consider first coming to Canada on temporary work or study permits, understanding that this will could now more directly lead to permanent status.
Immigrate with Ease
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Joshua B. Sohn
Joshua B. Sohn is a partner at Embarkation Law Group, a team of Canadian immigration lawyers. Mr. Sohn has been practising immigration law since 1993. He has been appointed to various immigration advisory councils and regularly presents at immigration seminars. He represents successfully represents clients in a broad range of business and personal immigration matters, including provincial nominee applications, investors, skilled workers, family class sponsorships, work permits, labour market opinions, Criminal Rehabilitation, and citizenship applications. Mr. Sohn is a member of the Canadian Bar Association (CBA) and the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA).
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More information about Embarkation Law Group
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication, it is not intended to provide legal advice as individual situations will differ and should be discussed with an expert and/or lawyer. For specific technical or legal advice on the information provided and related topics, please contact the author.
In response, there have been a number of immigration programs that have focused on foreign workers and international students are already in Canada as ideal candidates to become Permanent Residents. In September 2008, the federal government has also introduced the Canadian Experience Class that will also open a path for foreign works and international students to obtain permanent status in Canada.
The Canadian Experience Class is simple and straight-forward, allowing visa officers to quickly render a pass/fail decision. The Canadian Experience Class has two streams; one for temporary foreign workers and the other for recent international graduates who have studied in Canada. In either case, applicants can intend to live anywhere in Canada, except for the province of Quebec. Both streams require applicants to have fluency in English or French, which can be documented by the results of an authorized language test, or with other supporting documentation. With the exception of persons born, raised and educated in the USA, the United Kingdom, Australia, or New Zealand, it is strongly recommended to take one of the authorized tests rather than trying to rely on supporting documentation. Applicants must have proper status during any period of work or study.
(a) Temporary Foreign Worker Stream
To qualify for the Canadian Experience Class, temporary foreign workers must have a minimum of two years full-time equivalent skilled work experience in Canada. Skilled work experience would equate to the Canadian National Occupation Classification (NOC) Skill Type 0 (managerial occupations), Skill Level A (professional occupations), and Skill Level B (technical occupations and skilled trades).
(b) International Graduate Stream
Applicants applying under the International Graduate Stream must have completed two years full-time study at a private or public post-secondary educational institution such as a college or a university that is provincially recognized, or private CEGEPs.
Following graduation, the applicant must have completed one year full-time (or equivalent) work experience in Canada. This work experience must be gained within two years of applying for permanent resident status. Work experience gained during the program of study will not count toward the Canadian Experience Class. As in the Temporary Foreign Worker Stream, the Canadian work experience must be Skill Type 0 (managerial occupations), Skill Level A (professional occupations), and Skill Level B (technical occupations and skilled trades).
The benefit for Canada, is that these applicants have already acclimatized to Canada, gained local education and/or work experience that will better translate into becoming economically established as permanent residents. The Canadian Experience Class will also make it more attractive for foreign nationals to consider first coming to Canada on temporary work or study permits, understanding that this will could now more directly lead to permanent status.
Immigrate with Ease
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Joshua B. Sohn
Joshua B. Sohn is a partner at Embarkation Law Group, a team of Canadian immigration lawyers. Mr. Sohn has been practising immigration law since 1993. He has been appointed to various immigration advisory councils and regularly presents at immigration seminars. He represents successfully represents clients in a broad range of business and personal immigration matters, including provincial nominee applications, investors, skilled workers, family class sponsorships, work permits, labour market opinions, Criminal Rehabilitation, and citizenship applications. Mr. Sohn is a member of the Canadian Bar Association (CBA) and the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA).
Copyright Embarkation Law Group
More information about Embarkation Law Group
View all articles published by Embarkation Law Group
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication, it is not intended to provide legal advice as individual situations will differ and should be discussed with an expert and/or lawyer. For specific technical or legal advice on the information provided and related topics, please contact the author.
