Andrew Miller

We (CSIC members) have received some details about CEC and invitation to participate in the discussion and survey about it, together with some basics about proposed program. CIC wants our input by the end of January and plans to implement CEC by late Summer 2008.

So, all who are hoping to fit into CEC and use it or are trying to figure out which route to take (SW with arranged employment, PNP or CEC) should take into account fact that CEC won't be in place for at least next 8 or so months.

Now preliminary info about CEC (subject to discussion, input and of course changes as it is being developed):

- only those who came to Canada legally to work or study may be eligible

- limited to NOC Skills Level 0, A and B

- selection criteria to be based on determination about successful labor market integration, which include Canadian educational credential, work experience in Canada and language proficiency

- valid status in Canada will be required at the time of application

- at least moderate language proficiency documented by IELTS and/or TEF will be required

- no proof of funds needed

- for recent Canadian graduates - must have completed at least 2 years of post-secondary study program at the institution qualifying for post-graduate work permit and at least 12 months of work experience in Canada acquired after graduation (but within 2 years prior to CEC application) and exclusively in Skills Level 0, A or B. Subject to coming new changes to post-graduate program currently under development.

- for work permit holders - at least secondary school diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship required plus 2 years of full time work experience in Canada in skills level 0, A or B acquired within 3 years prior to CEC application.


Now something very important that was not disclosed earlier - all CEC applications will be processed in Buffalo with higher priority than SW class but not superseding Quebec and PNP cases. Many, including myself, anticipated CEC cases to be processed in Canada (just like in-Canada spouse/common-law partner class), but it seems not to be the case.

Thus, if interview is required then of course it will be conducted in Buffalo or one of it's 4 satellite posts in US (Detroit, LA, NY or Seattle).

Landing (becoming a PR) for CEC applicants either at the port of entry by going around the flagpole or in local CIC office


The good news for other applicants already in Canada - CIC wants to extend by Spring 2008 the same "landing inside Canada" provision to all with valid temporary status in Canada

It is all what I know so far, thus please don't ask me any questions going beyond the above as I won't be able to answer.

Now my comment - IMO what is being proposed is quite a washout of what we were hoping for, in quite few areas - implementation time, processing place (Buffalo instead of in Canada), processing priorities and quite tough criteria to be met by graduates. As a result, if no positive changes will be made, many work permit holders and Canadian graduates may be better off (at least for now) taking PNP or federal SW with arranged employment route through visa post abroad. This will of course change when more visa quotas will be shifted from federal SW class to CEC in coming years.

ScottDrummer

If you were to apply for this whilst in Canada on a 1 year bunac visa, would you have an implied status and therefore legal ability to continue working?
Also, do you have to have arranged employment for this application?
8 months is the amount of time left on my visa im not sure it would come in before then but if it does it could be a good option for me.

JAJ

I think some of the key questions are:

1. Will a CEC applicant be permitted to remain in Canada during processing of the case?

2. Will those living or working in Quebec be allowed to apply for CEC?

3. Will a CEC application be points tested?

Andrew Miller

Applying for PR doesn't make your status in Canada "implied" in any way. It is only when you apply for extension of existing permit (not to change it in any way) when you are in implied status.

Discussion paper states that you don't need to be employed in Canada at the time of application.

Andrew Miller

Unknown at this stage. Remember that it won't be an in-Canada process like it is with inland process for spouses/common-law partners. It will be, as we know now, entirely out of Canada application processed in Buffalo. Discussion paper only states that applicant must have legally come to Canada to work or study, and have valid temporary status in Canada at the time of application. Foreign nationals such as refugee claimants in Canada and workers without status (undocumented) will not qualify.


CEC will not apply in the Province of Quebec. Whatever it may mean.

CEC applications (principal applicants and dependants) will be processed in CIC’s Buffalo mission using the procedures currently applied to the Federal Skilled Workers. Whatever it will finally mean when implemented. I assume (I may be wrong though) based on what Discussion paper is saying that selection criteria for CEC will be different and Regulations will be amended.

christmasoompa

Sorry to have to ask but could somebody please tell me what CEC and SW stand for? Spot the newbie!! Many thanks.

Judy in Calgary

Canadian Abbreviations

dingbat

Why are you up at 3.30 in the morning??
I'm going to bed. Too late for brain function.

christmasoompa

Thanks Judy but neither are listed in there! I did look at that originally but it didn't give me the answer.

Edited to add that I've now found CEC on the list (thanks for adding it Judy!) but SW definitely isn't on it. Can anyone enlighten me? Thank you.

Beebop

Skilled worker

christmasoompa

DOH!! I thought it would be something obscure, never crossed my mind it would be so obvious! Thank you.

Judy in Calgary

Doh! I automatically assumed that SW was on the list of abbreviations. Thank you for pointing out that it's not there. I'll go and add it now. And when you feel a little more comfortable with using this website, feel free to edit Wiki articles yourself. There are instructions in the Wiki article on how to create a Wiki article. I know that does have a bit of a Monty Python ring to it, but needs must.

Zoe Bell

Andrew I would be interested to hear your opinion on these comments that i found on another website. Although nowhere near in depth as your comments I'm not sure about the accuracy...

"It allows students to apply in Canada and others already on work permits. The staff are already hired and that is why H&C application processing times at Vegreville, AB dropped from 18 months to 1-2 months."

I'm curious as to the statement " the staff have already been hired" and what impact the new class if any would have on H&C applications?

Thanks for your time

Ben W Bell

This seems particularly daft. It means for most applicants it's adding a third country into the mix. You're applying to Canada but if we interview you you'll have to travel to the US? What if you're inadmissible to the US for some reason, but that reason has no bearing on your Canadian application? What if people simply refuse to travel to the US (a growing number of people in the world). I can just hear the conversation at immigration.

"Reason for coming to the United States?"

"I'm attending an immigration interview."

"Oh yes? How so?"

"I've having to come here to have an interview for immigration to Canada."

"Okay. That makes no sense to me, why would you come to the US from XXXX for an interview for admission to Canada? Back on the next plane you chancer unless you can come up with a different story."

Seems like a daft idea to me. Process it in Buffalo sure, but interviews should be held either in the applicants local office, or in a Canadian office surely.

Judy in Calgary

I agree. Unfortunately, my participation on this forum has revealed information that has lowered my opinion of CIC. In some ways, they seem to be a law unto themselves. But I suppose one can say that, on balance, Canada is one of the world's most generous countries when it comes to the number of immigrants whom it admits.