Which Canada PNP Program is Right for You?

Provinces and territories in Canada, with the exception of Quebec and Nunavut, run Provincial Nominee Programs, through which they nominate eligible foreign workers for permanent residence under various categories or ‘streams’ – provided they have the skills and qualifications required to meet local labor market requirements. Each Canada PNP program stream has different eligibility criteria and procedure for nomination.

Broadly, foreign workers are nominated either through base nomination streams or enhanced nomination streams. In case of base nomination streams, the candidate first verifies eligibility for the stream, then submits an application to the province, and receives a nomination certification if the application is approved. Once nominated, the candidate applies for permanent residence to the federal government.

Enhanced nomination streams are connected to the federal Express Entry System. These streams are meant for people who have filed an Express Entry profile. The provincial government searches through the Express Entry pool of candidates to select eligible foreign workers, and invites them to apply for provincial nomination. If nominated, 600 points are added to the candidate’s Express Entry point score, which practically guarantees an invitation to apply for PR to the federal government.

Some provinces have special requirements for different categories. For instance, the Alberta PNP nominates Express Entry candidates who have 300 or more points, as well as foreign workers who have a valid job offer from an employer in the province. Saskatchewan has its own point-based selection system, through which it determines the eligibility of candidates. 

Similarly, the ManitobaPNP also has its own point system and nominates foreign workers who have a connection to Manitoba through the support of relatives or friends in the province, prior work experience or education in Manitoba, or are invited through strategic recruitment initiatives. Some provinces like British Columbia and Ontario also have specific programs for in-demand occupations, such as tech-sector workers.

Before proceeding with the application process, it is important to select an ideal province or territory, and an eligible stream. To understand the detailed nomination requirements for your desired province and territory, and identify the most ideal Canada PNP program category for your unique profile, seek the trusted guidance of India’s most experienced consultants at Visa Experts, who offer authorized representation for lawful migration to Canada.

Now is the Best Time for Canada Immigration – Here’s Why!

 In recent years, Canada has remained the most popular choice among people seeking a higher quality of life overseas – owing to its multiculturalism, rewarding job opportunities, social security and welcoming immigration policy. While migration levels fell during the pandemic, experts predict a boom in Canadaimmigration over the coming years.

Firstly, the Canadian government has already set a very high target of welcoming more than 400,000 new permanent residents every year from 2021 to 2023, which has provided hope to a lot of prospective immigrants, especially since many applicants have been granted PR throughout the pandemic. Canada is already on track to meet the target for 2021, and is focusing on immigration as a crucial tool for post-pandemic economic recovery. So, the future is bright for immigrants in Canada!

Second, there are a plethora of immigration pathways for skilled workers, entrepreneurs, investors, and so on. There are more than 104 immigration programs for those who can contribute to the Canadian economy by participating in the workforce, managing local businesses, etc. Each of these has different Canada PR requirements, and aspirants simply need to identify the correct pathway for their unique profile.

Finally, the pandemic has highlighted the benefits of access to safety and healthcare in developed economies. Since Canada is one of the few countries that regularly welcomes foreign workers, there is bound to be an increase in the number of applications from developing countries post-pandemic. To gain the first movers advantage, it is wise to start planning for a Canada PR Visa before the applications pile up and competition increases.

The process involves several stages – choosing an appropriate visa pathway, meeting the detailed eligibility criteria, collecting the required documents, preparing a complete application package, paying the fees and adding accompanying family members (if any) to the application. It is in a candidate’s best interest to seek authentic guidance from a legitimate source. The consultants at Visa Experts provide strong support at every step, with the services of an authorized representative – to help aspirants lawfully pursue Canada immigration.

How to Get Permanent Residence through the Australia 491 Visa

 

Australia’s two most popular visa categories – Subclass 189 and 190 – receive an overwhelming amount of interest from foreign workers, since these are direct pathways to permanent residence. However, these are highly selective pathways that only select the most highly qualified workers. In this case, the Australia491  i.e. the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa, offers a perfect alternative for those who are willing to be more patient for permanent residence.

Candidates under all three visas are assigned points based on various eligibility criteria including age, work experience, education, English skills, adaptability, single status or accompanying partner’s skills, and nomination or sponsorship (if applicable). While 65 points are enough to qualify, the number of points required to receive an invitation is higher.

The 491 visa is suitable for low-scoring candidates, as they can instantly gain 15 additional points for being nominated by an Australian state or territory, or sponsored by an eligible relative. States and territories nominate candidates who have submitted an Expression of Interest for the visa, and can meet local labor market requirements in designated regional areas. Those who meet the point cut-off, which changes with each invitation round, are invited to apply for the visa.

If the visa application is approved, the applicant (and accompanying family members, if any) can live, work and study in a designated regional area of Australia for up to five years. After three years of living and working in the regional area, the visa holder can apply for permanent residence through the Subclass 191 visa. So, while the Subclass 491 visa initially allows for temporary residence, it eventually opens the door to permanently Migrate to Australia.

This is a very viable option for people who have a low point score, or whose occupations are not in-demand across Australia or in specific states and territories. If you cannot qualify for the 189 or 190 visas, you must explore the possibility of attaining permanent residence through the Australia 491 Visa. It is important to understand the detailed requirements for nomination or sponsorship, and prepare a strong application for the state authorities as well as the federal immigration department. For guidance and support at every step of this process, trust India’s most legitimate and reliable immigration consultants – at Visa Experts.

Eligibility Requirements for the Federal Skilled Worker Program

 Foreign workers can apply for Canadian permanent residence through any of the three categories or ‘streams’ of the Express Entry System, provided they have the required skills and qualifications. The most popular stream is the Federal Skilled Worker Program, which is meant for those who do not have any prior work experience in Canada, but wish to permanently live and work in the country.

To be eligible for this stream, candidates must meet certain minimum requirements:

 Have at least one year of continuous paid full-time (or equivalent part-time) work experience, within the past 10 years, in an occupation listed as Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A or B under the National Occupational Classification. The experience must be in the same type of job that the candidate wishes to pursue in Canada and has mentioned as a primary occupation in the immigration application.

 Score at least Canadian Language Benchmark 7 in each test component (listening, reading, writing, speaking) of an approved English or French language examination. This is an essential requirement to migrate to Canada from India. The language test is valid for two years after the test result date.

 Have an Educational Credential Assessment from a designated authority, to prove that the candidate’s academic qualifications earned outside Canada are comparable to Canadian standards.

 Have sufficient funds to settle in Canada (with family, if any) – the exact amount required depends on the number of people who are included in the immigration application.

Those who meet these Canada PR requirements must then score at least 67 points based on the following points:

 English and/or French language skills (Maximum 28 points)

 Academic qualifications (Maximum 25 points)

 Work experience (Maximum 15 points)

 Age (Maximum 12 points)

 Valid job offer from a Canadian employer (Maximum 10 points) – it is not mandatory to have a Canadian job offer, but it increases your chances of selection.

 Adaptability (Maximum 10 points)

To check eligibility, prepare documents and submit a complete application for the Federal Skilled Worker Program – or explore other federal and provincial immigration pathways – seek reliable guidance, step-by-step support and authorized representation from India’s most experienced immigration consultants at Visa Experts.

NOC: The First Step of the Canada PR Process

 The National Occupational Classification (NOC) divides all occupations practiced in Canada based on the work duties and skill level required to perform that job. Each occupation has a corresponding numerical code. For those who are pursuing the Canada PR process, identifying this code is the first step in the journey of determining their eligibility for a suitable immigration pathway.

Occupations are divided into the following groups:

• Skill Type 0: Management jobs

• Skill Level A: Professional jobs that typically require a university degree

• Skill Level B: Skilled trades and technical jobs that typically require apprenticeship training or college diploma

• Skill Level C: Intermediate jobs that typically require job-specific training and/or a high school diploma

• Skill Level D: Labor jobs that typically provide on-the-job training

Contrary to what many believe, the Canada NOC list does not enumerate the occupations that are in-demand across Canada. It simply lists all the occupations that can be practiced in Canada. Further, the various immigration programs run by federal and provincial governments in Canada select candidates based on which occupation group they belong to.

This is also why the best immigration consultants in Delhi at Visa Experts first identify the NOC code of the candidate and then suggest suitable immigration pathways, based on the occupation eligibility. Identifying the NOC is thus the first step of the process of moving to Canada. 

• Those whose occupations fall under NOC Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A or B (considered as ‘skilled’ occupations) can apply for PR through the Express Entry System.

• Those whose occupations fall under NOC 0, A, B or C can also pursue the Atlantic Immigration Pilot.

• Those whose occupations fall under NOC Skill Level C or D can apply for a Provincial Nominee Program, the Atlantic Immigration Pilot or a temporary work permit.

Identifying the NOC code correctly can prove tricky, as several job designations are grouped together under one occupation group. Even if the NOC code is identified correctly, aspirants may not know which Canada PR process and pathway they are most eligible for. To eliminate these complications, seek the guidance of India’s most seasoned immigration consultants – at Visa Experts.