Federal Skilled Worker (FSW)

(Also see “Express Entry” for the steps required to enter the Express Entry pool)   Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) invites foreign nationals to apply for Permanent Residence (PR) as a Federal Skilled Worker. Do you qualify? Are you able to become economically established in Canada?  

Federal Skilled Worker Class (IRPA/Regulations)

  • 75(1) For the purposes of subsection 12(2) of the Act, the federal skilled worker class is hereby prescribed as a class of persons who are skilled workers and who may become permanent residents on the basis of their ability to become economically established in Canada and who intend to reside in a province other than the Province of Quebec.
 (2) A foreign national is a skilled worker if
  • (a)within the 10 years before the date on which their application for a permanent resident visa is made, they have accumulated, over a continuous period, at least one year of full-time work experience, or the equivalent in part-time work, in the occupation identified by the foreign national in their application as their primary occupation, other than a restricted occupation, that is listed in Skill Type 0 Management Occupations or Skill Level A or B of the National Occupational Classification matrix;
  • (b)during that period of employment, they performed the actions described in the lead statement for the occupation as set out in the occupational descriptions of the National Occupational Classification;
  • (c)during that period of employment, they performed a substantial number of the main duties of the occupation as set out in the occupational descriptions of the National Occupational Classification, including all of the essential duties;
  • (d)they have submitted the results of a language test that is approved under subsection 74(3), which results must be provided by an organization or institution that is designated under that subsection, must be less than two years old on the date on which their application for a permanent resident visa is made and must indicate that they have met or exceeded the applicable language proficiency threshold in either English or French that is fixed by the Minister under subsection 74(1) for each of the four language skill areas; and
  • (e)they have submitted one of the following:
    • (i)their Canadian educational credential, or
    • (ii)their foreign diploma, certificate or credential and the equivalency assessment, which assessment must be less than five years old on the date on which their application is made.
Note:  As you can see from the above excerpts of Canadian Immigration laws, Canadian immigration laws and policies are complicated. An application for Permanent Residence, together with all the necessary documents, must be prepared correctly. Ask our knowledgeable Ottawa, Ontario based Immigration Consultant to assist you. A complete, correct and timely submission of your application to IRCC is a key to obtaining a positive decision.   You must complete an Express Entry (EE) profile and be invited to apply for Permanent Residence.  

Qualification:

 

Skilled Work Experience Defined

  • Your work experience is defined as a job type which is explained in your primary NOC
  • The experience must have been obtained within the past 10 years of the date of your application for Permanent Resident as a Federal Skilled Worker
  • The work experience must have been a paid job (volunteer work and unpaid internships don’t count)
  • National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill type O, A or B is required
  • Details for minimum of Hours Worked – minimum of 1 year (1,500 hours total/30 hours per week) continuously
  • Full time at 1 job: 30 hours/week for 12 months = 1-year full time (1,560 hours)
  • Equal amount in part-time – 15 hours/week for 24 months = 1-year full time (1,560 hours)
  • Full-time at more than 1 job: 30 hours/week for 12 months at more than 1 job = 1-year full time (1,560 hours)
Note: If you can’t prove that your work experience meets the description in the National Occupational Classification, you aren’t eligible under this program

National Occupation Code (NOC)

The National Occupation Classification (NOC) is a list of all the occupations in the Canadian labor market. It describes each job according to skill type and skill level. For immigration purposes, these are the main job groups:
  • Skill Type 0 (zero): management jobs
  • Skill Level A: professional jobs that usually call for a degree from a university
  • Skill Level B: technical jobs and skilled trades that usually call for a college diploma or training as an apprentice
  • Skill Level C: intermediate jobs that usually call for high school and/or job-specific training
  • Skill Level D: labour jobs that usually give on-the-job training
Note: The duties that you performed in the occupational description of your job per NOC must include a substantial number of main duties and all essential ones.   - Proof of your work experience which meets the description of the NOC is required: official letters from employers, which define the duties of your work experience, will be accepted.  Unless you can verify that your past employment meets the requirement for the Federal Worker Class, your application will be denied.

Language Ability:

  • Take an approved language test in English (CELPIP or IELTS-G) or in French (TEF) that shows you meet the level in writing, reading, listening, speaking
  • A minimum Canadian Language Benchmark- CLB 7 is required in all four abilities ca ; Ieefes.org
  • Your test results must not be more than two years old on the day you apply for Permanent Residence
 

Education:

  • For Canadian education you require a certificate, diploma or degree from a secondary (high school) or post-secondary school
  • In terms of Foreign Education you must have an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report from an approved agency, showing that your foreign education equates to a completed certificate, diploma or degree from a Canadian secondary or post-secondary school, such as a college or university
 

Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)

As part of the Federal Skilled Workers program (FSWP) details of your education credentials must be submitted. The minimum requirement is a completed secondary program i.e. a high school diploma. For foreign nationals who have obtained their education in a foreign country, an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) of a degree, diploma or certificate applies.

An Educational Credential Assessment is necessary to determine:

  • Whether the credentials are valid; and
  • If they are equal to a completed Canadian one; and
  • If they meet the minimum requirements of the Federal Skilled Workers Program
With an approved Educational Credential Assessment, you may submit your educational credentials into the EE Selection Grid and your Express Entry profile. The objective is to gain as many points in each in order to be selected as a Federal Skilled Worker applicant. In the past applicants who have had around 500 points have been issued an Invitation to Apply for Permanent Residence. The maximum points available are 1200. For your additional benefit we have included a link to the “EE Year-End Report 2016” Click Here   Note: It may be advisable to have both your secondary and post-secondary credentials assessed and not just your highest completed foreign credentials.   Even with an approved Educational Credential Assessment there is no guarantee:
  • That employment will be available in your profession or at a certain level
  • That your work experience together with your foreign degree or diploma will be automatically recognized in Canada or
  • That you will obtain a license in a regulated profession

Selection Factors

To receive an Invitation to Apply for Permanent Residence depends on the number of CRS points you receive in the Express Entry system. Other factors that will be considered include:
  • Age
  • Valid Job Offer
  • Adaptability
  • How well you’re likely to settle here
  • Are you a Provincial Nominee (have you applied to a Province for Permanent Residence?)
 

Proof of Funds

You must show that you have enough money to support yourself and your family unless you already have a Valid Job Offer and a Work Permit.  The amount of money you need depends on the size of your family. For 2 people $15,500 is sufficient, for three it is $19,100. For more information see: “Proof of funds – skilled immigrants (Express Entry).” Click here.  

Determine the Amount of Money You Need to Bring

 

First check your list of who is coming to Canada:

  • Yourself
  • Your spouse or common-in-law partner
  • Dependent children (according to ministerial definition)
  • Also, your spouse or partner’s dependent children
  Note:   You will also need to include members of your family who are already Permanent Residents or Canadian citizen. You will need to prove that you have enough money to support yourself and your accompanying family members  

Minimum Amount of Money Required - Settlement Funds

Number of Family Members  Funds Required in Canadian Dollars
1  $ 12,475.00
2  $ 15,531.00
3  $ 19,093.00
4  $ 23,181.00
5  $ 26,292.00
6  $ 29,652.00
7  $ 33,014.00
For each additional family member  $   3,361.00
  The above chart indicates an approximate amount of money needed as Settlement Funds for a 6-month period.  

Proof of Settlement Funds Required

  You must be able to prove that your Settlement Funds, which you need to live in Canada for 6 months, are readily available. Proof is continuously required from the time you submit your applications for Permanent Residence to the time when you will receive your Permanent Resident Visa.  

Official Letters from Banks or other Financial Institutions

  These letters are important as evidence of funds available and should include:  
  • Contact information of the bank or financial institution
  • You, the legitimate account holder, needs to be identified
  • Debt such as credit card and outstanding loans must be indicated
  • Dates- with respect to when accounts were opened
  • The current balance of such account
  • The average balance for each account for the past 6 months
 

Amount of Money to Bring

  Review the Settlement Fund Chart in order to determine an approximate amount needed for settling in a new home in Canada – of course you will have to allow for the actual moving costs too. Be aware that the Canadian customs regulations require you to declare any amount beyond CAN$10,000.00.  According to Canadian law you could be fined or your funds seized if you fail this declaration.  

The Declaration of Funds you carry with you must include:

  • All cash (Canadian dollars or other currency)
  • Documents that show property or capital payable to you such as: stocks, bonds, debentures or treasury bills
  • Other documents that indicate you as the receiver of the funds such as: banks drafts, cheques, money orders
  Note:  Canadian immigration laws and policies are complicated. An application for Permanent Residence, together with all the necessary documents, must be prepared correctly. Allow our knowledgeable Ottawa, Ontario based Immigration Consultant to assist you. A complete, correct and timely submission of your application to IRCC is a key to obtaining a positive decision.