Hi guys,

I've started looking into applying for the Canadian Skilled Worker Program. I done a but of research on the CIC website and I think I would qualify under Skill level B.

Do I really have to take and pay for (£160!) an English test before I can even begin to apply?

Is is worth going through an immigration lawyer? I've been emailing a company this week who specialise in this and they have very good reviews online but obviously they cost (£1,000 + Fees any to Canadian govt). I could do with saving the money but I'm tempted to go with them for peace of mind.

Can anyone familiar with the process tell me how long it will take?

Cheers for any help.

Hi, and welcome to BE.

Yes, IELTS is mandatory and you can't apply without it (ditto the ECA). So you need to make sure you're eligible before you do apply, and are scoring enough on the CRS to be in with a chance of being invited to apply for PR. No point in spending £400 or so if you're not.

No need to use a consultant unless you have complicated circumstances, most on the forum do it themselves and it's fairly straightforward really. But £1000 is incredibly cheap, are you sure they're a licensed consultant?

As for timings, it depends on how long it takes you to get an invite once you're in the pool of applicants and actually apply (it usually takes a couple of months to get all the paperwork together and have your medical etc), but from the point of applying it'll be about 6 months. So probably about a year in total if you get cracking with getting your ECA and IELTS now, assuming you get an ITA quite quickly.

HTH, good luck.

having to pay 160GBP for a language test is a mere drop in the ocean, believe me! First thing to establish is which visa route you might be eligible under. Have you checked out the CRS points ranking tool?

Thanks both, I've just booked in a EILTS test for the end of the month and I will look into getting an ECA for my degree now.

I haven't actually seen the CRS ranking system but I've done the test online and got a score of 438 out of 1200. I can't seem to see anywhere where a good or a bad number is implied? I annoyingly scored zero on the spousal question as I'm actually going to Canada to be with my girlfriend who is a Canadian citizen. However from what I've read it seems if she isn't my wife then she is irrelevant to the application.

Final point regarding cost, I was under the impression that the fees I would pay the Canadian government would be around 1100CAD. Any lawyer fees would be on top of this (should I use them). Is that correct?

Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) tool - Skilled immigrants (Express Entry)

Express Entry rounds of invitations

Fee list

Processing fee ($550) and right of permanent residence fee ($490) 1,040

plus medical, IELTS, ECA, shipping, flights, relocation expenses... the list can go on for a while! Don't forget you will also require proof of funds..

The latest round was around 413 I believe, so you stand a good chance of receiving an invitation to apply (ITA).

Just a note in case you're unaware, if you've been living together for a year continuously anywhere in the world, then you're considered a common law couple for Canada, so she could sponsor you, which would avoid the need for English tests, degree equivalencies, job assessments etc.

Thank you all, again. The information from just a few replies has been so helpful. I've just got a couple more follow up questions below:

Unfortunately as we met whilst she was on a two year working VISA in the UK we never actually moved in together, so I don't think this would apply.



Regarding the proof of funds, I just about have the correct amount required for 1 person (12300 dollars) but it is spread across a few bank accounts / investment funds in the UK. Will I need to actually withdraw it all and deposit it into a Canadian bank account? Or do I just need to show that I have access to it if required?

Is there any restrictions with me visiting Canada on a tourist VISA whilst I am applying for the Skilled worker program? (I'd like to visit my GF if possible).

Finally, with this process likely to take at least a year from now, I may apply for the EIC VISA as well (temporary, under 30 VISA) later in the year when applications re-open. Is it feasible I could get to Canada on the EIC but be granted a skilled worker visa from within Canada?

Thanks,

The POF doesn't need to be in a Canadian account, or even in one account. It just must be instantly accessible - you mention 'investment funds', as long as you can get that cash instantly then it will count.

You can visit as many times as you like during the process (no visa required assuming you're a UK citizen).

The IEC will probably take about the same amount of time anyway. If it follows the same timings as usual then the earliest you could be selected in the lottery will be about March, then it's an 8 weeks processing time as a very rough guide. So you may find you have PR by then anyway, but if not then it's not an issue to complete the PR process from Canada whilst on an IEC.

HTH.