From Wiki

• There frequently are new threads on the Canada forum in which new posters ask questions about the points they've scored on Citizenship and Immigration Canada's self-assessment test.

• In fact points have limited application.

• They are relevant only when you apply for a permanent residence visa via the skilled worker route.

• During 2006 and 2007, the waiting times for skilled worker visas without pre-arranged employment had grown to 5 - 8 years (depending on the visa posts to which applications had been submitted).

• The Canadian government addressed this unwieldy situation by passing new legislation on June 18th, 2008.

• The gist of the legislation, however, is that much greater emphasis will be placed on the applicant's occupation and how much demand there is for people in that occupation.

• This means that there essentially will be a pre-screening process for permanent residence applications that have been submitted via the skilled worker route.

• It is expected that applicants who do not have pre-arranged employment but who are in high demand occupations will have their applications processed more quickly than before.

• On the other hand, applications from people who do not have pre-arranged employment and who are in low demand occupations that are not on the list of occupations in high demand will be rejected out of hand.

• If you want to get into Canada relatively quickly, say within a year or so, in most cases it would help if you got a temporary work permit, applied to one of the Provincial Nominee Programs, started a business, or found some other creative avenue.