How long does it take for a skilled worker?
 

to immigrate to Canada? I heard that there is a terrible long backlog and most people have to wait years and years and years.

Re: How long does it take for a skilled worker?
 

You heard correctly. 3, 4 years for skilled worker now through London CHC. Longer throufh some other visa stations? Do you have any canadian relations who can sponsor you ;)

Re: How long does it take for a skilled worker?
 

80% of cases in the latest period were processed in 52 months, which is 4 years and 4 months.

The healthiest way to look at it is that Canada, like the USA, doesn't have a points-based system, but instead makes you go the "private enterprise" route and get a job through PNP.

PNP is the only realistic option for people hoping to improve theirlives the Canadian way before 2011. If the wait gets much longer Canada won't even exist by the time they get there and will have been entirely incorporated into the US economic and security periphery.

PNP. Really.

Re: How long does it take for a skilled worker?
 

Another healthy way to look at it is that you can apply now and then become skilled at whatever you think they may want before they get to considering you.

Re: How long does it take for a skilled worker?
 

Its not widely commented on here, but the number of PNP places is strictly limited, and at the end of the day, PNP is just a way round the CIC education requirements. Once you have your PNP certificate, you still have to apply through the federal system anyway to finaly become a PR.

I guess its a sort of compromise between a temporary work permit and regular skilled worker PR, and only good for some specific trades, and you would need to have relevant experience too.

Re: How long does it take for a skilled worker?
 

Sad but true. Something's wrong when it's easier and quicker to get into the US (even as a Brit with no family there) than it is to Canada. Anyone would think Canada had a population of 300 million and wasn't too fussed about growth. For the life of me, I cannot understand what the CIC thinks it's doing by pushing so many skilled workers into the US, Australia and NZ. They must have lost hundreds of thousands so far, and still see no reason to improve their service.

I read the other day that Alberta is petitioning the Federal Government to allow unskilled workers in because there are more jobs than workers there and they can't keep up. The CIC waiting list is causing real problems for their economy - and all they have to do to change things is hire more people to view the applications and alter the quotas to allow them in.

There is a theory that they would rather have them in the queues.

Re: How long does it take for a skilled worker?
 

AB already allows unskilled immigration...that how all the newfies get there ;)

Its a political knife edge. AB needs more skilled workers, but the Feds have to look long term and at Canada as a whole. What happens in 5 years when the boom is dead, and there are 100k extra immigrants to feed and provide welfare for. Someone will carry the political can.

I agree, the current situation is nuts, but opening the floodgates is not the answer and will create a lot of anti immigrant sentiment. It is high time that the system was overhauled. the curent focus is too much on degree education and formal apprenticeship to meet the skilled worker criterea, but what Canada needs is more blue collar tradespeople, who dont meet those requirements.

If it were up to me I would scrap the whole thing, refund those who withdraw their applicaions and go to the provinces to asses what workforce is really required. I cant believe ontario really needs any more degree educated ESL taxi drivers though.

Re: How long does it take for a skilled worker?
 

What they need is a system where the best candidates are scooped first, by whatever criteria that are important. The NZ system now does this: people with high points are scooped and processed first. People with low points, on the other hand, may never get scooped and processed. It's tough but better for the country concerned.

I can't see how Canada can go on like this: a surgeon has to wait 5 years in line behind burger-flippers (who get rejected eventually anyway). In reality, the surgeon goes to another country or else comes on a work permit (which is highly unsatisfactory - who wants to commit to a new life based on a sequence of temporary visas?).

The widely held perception in Canada is that "immigration is easy" and citizens are unable to understand the difference between family class, refugee class, skilled worker, and so on. We are all "dirty immigrants" in their eyes, which makes it politically difficult to reform.

K.

Re: How long does it take for a skilled worker?
 

Are these groups mutually exclusive ? It seems to me that you prefer experience over qualifications - what's wrong with experienced, qualified people ?

I used to be a carpenter (fully apprenticed) and what really got up my nose was having to "snag" the work that had been done by fly by night "chippies" that had worked on site as a labourer for a few months, decided that they could do the job of a skilled tradesman, and then market themselves as a carpenter. I'm sure I don't need to explain to you that there is more to being skilled than being able to do the bog standard jobs well. I am very happy that Canada only wants those that are able to document their abilities with reference to qualifications and experience (most would not qualify without at least 4 years experience) although I accept that some "qualified" workers are crap and some unqualified are good. :D

It seems to me that they have the process correct, maybe they have too many occupations listed on the NOC list (should limit them to those really required) or increase the quotas :confused:

Re: How long does it take for a skilled worker?
 

The reality though is that not too many jobs require high flyers with high points counts, and those that do can be easily filled through the work permit system. Its the more mundain jobs that need filling quickly, and that simply doesnt happen.

And your surgeon...the odds on him making it through the licensing requirements in canada, finding the necessary internship etc etc, are so long that the reality is he is more likely to be the one flipping burgers in the long run. And all that is outside the governments hands as they have no influence over the provincial licensing bodies. They would love to fill the shortfall in GPs or whatever with imported doctors, but the medical bodies wont license them. its a crazy situation.

Re: How long does it take for a skilled worker?
 

Mutually exclusive?, no, of course not, and there is nothing wrong with experienced qualified people except perhaps the shortage of them, and they are covered by the current points system.

On the other hand whats wrong with experienced tradespeople without a formal apprenticeship. Even with an apprenticeship you still need to meet provincial licensing (Red Seal) and I dont see how having the formal apprenticeship is any different if you still have to do the Red Seal thing. Either way if you dont cut it, you dont cut it.

There are already plenty of shoddy fly by night contractors in Canada (perhaps in part due to the shortgae of good ones?), so thats not really an immigration problem. Getting people here in good time is though, and thats where the current way if failing dismally.

Re: How long does it take for a skilled worker?
 

Wow I didnt know it was as bad as all that. I think that what it means for me is living in Canada permanently right now is a dream. I have relatives in the USA who can get me a greencard in less than a year (my mum lives in Houston). Do you think I should just move to America? Ive never been there but I heard its a lot like Canada. Does Canada give US permanent residents a break in terms of living and working there with the NAFTA rules or whatever?

Re: How long does it take for a skilled worker?
 

Yes.

Yes.


Yes.

Re: How long does it take for a skilled worker?
 

NAFTA applies to citizens only. PR in a country is irrelevent, so dbds wrong on that one.

Canada and the US are similar on the surface, but I think very different socially and politically, for example in terms of the sink or swim way the US works, and the social safety net that exist in Canada for say health care. The US is nice to visit, but I'm glad I live in Canada.

Re: How long does it take for a skilled worker?
 

Hair splitting, once he's in the US he'll forget all about Canada.

I don't see the countries as being very different but I know that's not a very popular view among Canadians (!)

Re: How long does it take for a skilled worker?
 

I just checked cos your post made me wonder.....

As far as I can see, PNP is a way for workers with provincially required skills to essentially bypass the federal skilled workers process in oredr to meet a shortfall in Canadian workers.

It is "supposed" to offer a substantially shorter processing time (because it is designed to meet the needs of the country, rather than the immigrant), and the normal skills criteria eg education and settlement funds are waived ..... ie you don't have to qualify on points once you have been accepted by a PNP program, but you DO still have to apply (as part of the PNP process) through CIC to become a permanent resident.

What I'm struggling to say is that if you enter the country as a PNP you do have PR status, it's not something you have to start after you get here.

Re: How long does it take for a skilled worker?
 

I guess I could have been clearer. My point was that PNP is just a subset of the whole PR thing, and that numbers are pretty limited. The way people carry on around here its like they are giving PNP certificates out like candy at halloween. Thanks for clearing that up.

Re: How long does it take for a skilled worker?
 

Probably very true. Maybe the aim of the ridiculous backlog is to pursuade all those only interested in canada as a back door to the US to go through the front door instead? Thats probably more than half anyway ;)

Re: How long does it take for a skilled worker?
 

Oh, only 52 months now is it?

It was 39 months last time i looked at putting an application in!!!

I think it's quite silly that good skilled people (me) have been banging on the door to get in to Canada, but how long do you want to put your life on hold in the UK for?
I don't mind making commitments, but 4 1/2 years is past a joke, so i passed on applying, Canada's loss i'm afraid, but atleast with the cheap flights, we can visit quite regular anyway.

Re: How long does it take for a skilled worker?
 

In whose opinion??????

Re: How long does it take for a skilled worker?
 

They are still issuing the number of visas they want to. The issue is the type/quality of immigrant, imposing a 4-5 year wait does not necessarily mean that Canada ends up with the immigrants it really wants. With a long waiting time there is also a much higher risk that people will decide not to use their immigrant visas, lives having moved on in meanwhile.

Canada's choice, however.

Re: How long does it take for a skilled worker?
 

The federal government could however refuse to grant skilled visas to persons in regulated professions who do not have an "in-principle" acceptance of their qualifications from a Canadian provincial regulatory body.

EG, they could refuse to issue skilled visas to engineers who do not have Washington or Sydney Accord accredited qualifications.

Re: How long does it take for a skilled worker?
 

This really hits the nail on the head. They still get the quantity they are after, but not necessarily the quality. Many will remain patient and wait (I suspect younger applicants) but a major factor in our decision was waiting so many years to start a family. For this reason firstly (then many others after more research), we switched to Australia.

And we are very happy with our choice and can't wait to get started - thankfully a little sooner than the date of 2011 (!) if we hadn't changed our minds.

Re: How long does it take for a skilled worker?
 

Oh I disagree.....as a clean, sophisticated, experienced Brit, I guess I'm not viewed as 'dirty' but really viewed with simmering bitterness because of my well travelled persona, high standards, work ethic, motivation, life experience, ability to slip seamlessly into a challenging position with responsibility, and make some sort of a decent hash of it all.

There's plenty of -isms here and they're not all racist or aimed at the dirty ESL taxi driving masses.

Some just come from small mindedness and insularity. What kind of -ism is that ?

Rich.

Re: How long does it take for a skilled worker?
 

Canada's a beautiful country with quite a few nice people in it, but like any country it has politicians and seem just as half assed as any other country in the western world, in the fact that they are unable to re-act to their countries need of professional people they keep crying out for.

why not sort the system out?

Life goes on for us all, but i'll be damned if i'm going to put 4 1/2 years of my life in the buffers for the sake of moving to a new country, a nice place to go on holiday...and thats the way it will stay for me.

Believe me, the wife and i were bitterly disappointed at the length of time for the application process, but you have to balance up the needs of now against the needs of the future and for us the price was too high.

Re: How long does it take for a skilled worker?
 

Hi

I disagree with your comment about Canadians viewing immigrants as 'dirty immigrants'. Our experience in Ontario is that they simply love the immigrant community which is adding not only diversity, but also cash to the Government coffers. In a world with a predominantly falling birth rate and an ageing population, countries are quick to realise that the middle age bracket workers with their ready made families, paying into the system will help them support their indigenous population. Canadians also seem to love the English accent. Only positive signs seen during our time in Canada. So I think your broad comment is not quite right.
Regards
Stef

Re: How long does it take for a skilled worker?
 

I'm not sure that all Canadians view all immigrants in the same light. One of my elderly clients was complaining about the quality of care support staff..... particularly "these immigrants"! :eek: I felt I should remind her that I was myself a very recent "immigrant".

I'm not surprised if they can't find "home grown" Canadians, or even anybody really with what they pay. Staff also have to make their own way between home visits, with no reimbursements. Many can't afford a car and take public transport. Many don't speak english very fluently, some barely, and many are very hit or miss as to whether they turn up at all, let alone the quality of the service they provide, under little or no supervision.

I had a client's daughter complain this week, as nobody had turned up to help her mum shower for ten days after I put the request in ... she had left for a trip expecting that her mum would be looked after, as I'd told her she would, and she was understandedly furious. I gave her the name and address she should write to with her complaint and encouraged her to go ahead! Unless the people higher up than myself are bombarded with letters of complaint they are never going to address the issue.

What it boils down to is that if you pay peanuts you shouldn't be surprised if you get monkeys, and it's only the most desperate, eg some recent immigrants who don't speak english and/or have no qualifications (that Canada recognises) who are going to accept working under these conditions!! :mad:

Sorry .... off topic!..... rant over.

Re: How long does it take for a skilled worker?
 

Well depends on the points, doesn't it? For example, 75 points = "Canada's loss" don't you think?

K.

Re: How long does it take for a skilled worker?
 

Well that's kind of my point. On Vancouver Island I met up with some friends of a relative, and they all said "oh, *you* should come - we need more white people".

It must be Hell being genetically Chinese but 7th generation Canadian (descended from Chinese workers who built the trans-Canada railway) and still get an unpleasant dose of prejudice from white Canadians who haven't even bothered to listen to your Canadian accent.

Well, it's pretty prevalent so it's worth coming up with a short "ism" word to describe it.

K.

Re: How long does it take for a skilled worker?
 

Congratulations on meeting up with educated middle class Canadians.

K.

Re: How long does it take for a skilled worker?
 

Hi,
Wow.........You really did need to get that off your chest....do you feel any better? I did a one year Access to Social Care at college, afterwhich I decided that working in the care sector was not the best place to be. Its not a great deal better here, although carers do turn up.
Good luck with the job....at least you are there.....we are still in a really long queue. Also once you have had one Canadian job, it will be easier to get another.
Stef

Re: How long does it take for a skilled worker?
 

Addy, I completely agree with you.

Our immigration to Canada was saved by the PNP program.

We applied S/W in late '04 and a year later the other half happened to notice the processing times had leaped to 39 months from 18.

Of course we had no idea where we were between those two timescales but from expecting there to be just another 6 months to suddenly looking like as much as 2 years not just beggared belief but was totally unacceptable.

We decided to go the business PNP route as we had being thinking of setting up this business when we arrived anyway.

I find the whole (apparent) attitude to qualified, experienced, affluent, law-abiding people inexplicable. No country is worth putting your life on hold for for over 4 years. I would imagine the only people that would be prepare to wait that long are either not that serious about emigrating, have an unrealistic view of Canada or some reason can't get in anywhere else!

Has I been faced with a 4 year wait I would have sold my house in Canada and gone to the US instead. Sadly, if anyone were to ask my opinion this is what I would suggest they do.

On the subject of attitude to immigrants, from what I have picked up on there is some resentment towards those without money and/or education SEEMING to sponge off the state and contribute little or nothing. I'm not in a position to say whether there is any truth in this perception but it does exist.

My Canadian friends and neighbours are astounded as to how hard the government seems to make it for the educated, skilled and affluent people to enter the country. There is a feeling that immigration is quick and easy! Yeah, right!

9 months since the 4 year bombshell landed I'm still pretty p*ssed off. This is subsiding now that we have the PNP go ahead and should be there in a couple of months. Also, I very much resent the costs and hassle involved; time and effort put in to the business plan, $3000 processing fee, trip to Vancouver for a 1 hour interview etc. and still with no guarantee that we will get our PR in 2 years time :mad:

Ho hum, rant over.....for now :scared:

Ian.

Re: How long does it take for a skilled worker?
 

I am not indignant on my own behalf, if I did not make myself clear. I am well-paid: in fact only today I got the recognition I've been trying to sort out regarding my pay scale and 6 months back-pay for the increase, so for myself I am well pleased! I am paid better than I was (physiotherapist) in the UK!

But they do seem to try to take advantage of these poor people who are willing, or rather compelled, to work for low wages ..... with a resultant shortfall in quality and/or quantity of service! Unfortunately, as "case coordinator" for my clients, I am at the pointy end when things go pear-shaped! As I say though, I am only too happy to pass their complaints along to the appropriate person, especially as I personally am unable to make things better. :(

Re: How long does it take for a skilled worker?
 

Glad to hear things have finally been sorted out re your pay!

Is it spent already?!

Hope you are all well and we can meet up again soon.

Take Care. :)

Re: How long does it take for a skilled worker?
 

oh yes it's spent and some!!!! :D still nice to have it sorted though! :beer:

Hurry up and get out here then!! :p

Re: How long does it take for a skilled worker?
 

We're tryin', we're tryin'!! Lol.

Hopefully it won't be too much longer!

:)

Re: How long does it take for a skilled worker?
 

3 to 5 months. CIC Vienna.

Re: How long does it take for a skilled worker?
 

1) Depends how the points were 'earned'.
2) Attitude is a big factor.

In my opinion too many Western Europeans come over thinking because they speak one (or both) of the official languages Canada owes them. I'm not big on the whole 'canadian experience' thing and sometimes the hoops we have to jump through are ridiculous to say the least BUT at the same time IF canada is able to fill its yearly quota AND have a four year (+) processing time then one anglo saxon male and his family isnt a great loss no.

Re: How long does it take for a skilled worker?
 

For skilled worker PR?

Re: How long does it take for a skilled worker?
 

Speaking to a guy when I was over on holiday ( he lives in Barrie, works in Vaughan and has been in Canada for 29 years ) and he said I would never get in as I was white and wanted to work.

Must admit, having visited TO for 10 days ( with a trip over to Niagara.... which was more like a visit to the Gangees than the Niagara river ) it seems I would not only be a minority as a PR in Canada but also a minority within that too.

And there is no racist intent there whatsoever, merely stating what appeared to be so, and shows on all the video footage I have taken. However, the ten days we spent in NB was fabulous ( even though again we were the minority as we were staying on reservation land with my Native Canadian cousins ).

Although there are plenty of I.T. jobs around GTA, I really don't think I would like to live there. The Maritimes are my preference, but there is the job problem there so we shall see.