Changes to Skilled Worker Immigration Categories Announced

In order to address the growing backlog of skilled worker immigration applications and labour market shortages,  Immigration Minister Kenney announced an Action Plan for Faster Immigration today.

High-demand Skilled Worker Immigration Categories

The plan includes issuing instructions to visa officers reviewing new federal skilled worker immigration applications to limit their processing to candidates who:

• are in 38 high-demand occupations such as health, skilled trades, finance and resource extraction (see below) ; or
• have an offer of arranged employment; or
• have already been living legally in Canada for one year as a temporary foreign worker or international student.

The list of 38 occupations was developed after consultations with the provinces and territories, business, labour and other stakeholders.  Retroactive to February 27, 2008, new federal skilled worker applications that do not meet the eligibility criteria outlined above will not be processed, and the application fee will be fully refunded. “The eligibility criteria apply only to new federal skilled worker applicants and will not affect Canada’s family reunification or refugee protection goals,” said Minister Kenney. Applicants who are now no longer eligible for the federal skilled worker immigration category (because of the restriction of occupations) may qualify under another category, such as the Provincial Nominee Program, or as temporary foreign workers, which could then put them on a path to permanent residency through the new Canadian Experience Class. Minister Kenny says that new federal skilled worker applicants, including those with arranged employment, should now receive a decision within six to 12 months compared with up to six years under the old system.

The 38 Qualifying Occupations, or Skilled Worker Immigration Categories are listed below:

1. 0111: Financial Managers

2. 0213: Computer and Information Systems Managers

3. 0311: Managers in Health Care

4. 0631: Restaurant and Food Service Managers

5. 0632: Accommodation Service Managers

6. 0711: Construction Managers

7. 1111: Financial Auditors and Accountants

8. 2113: Geologists, Geochemists and Geophysicists

9. 2143: Mining Engineers

10. 2144: Geological Engineers

11. 2145: Petroleum Engineers

12. 3111: Specialist Physicians

13. 3112: General Practitioners and Family Physicians

14. 3141: Audiologists and Speech Language Pathologists

15. 3143: Occupational Therapists

16. 3142: Physiotherapists

17. 3151: Head Nurses and Supervisors

18. 3152: Registered Nurses

19. 3215: Medical Radiation Technologists

20. 3233: Licensed Practical Nurses

21. 4121: University Professors

22. 4131: College and Other Vocational Instructors

23. 6241: Chefs

24. 6242: Cooks

25. 7213: Contractors and Supervisors, Pipefitting Trades

26. 7215: Contractors and Supervisors, Carpentry Trades

27. 7217: Contractors and Supervisors, Heavy Construction Equipment Crews

28. 7241: Electricians (Except Industrial and Power System)

29. 7242: Industrial Electricians

30. 7251: Plumbers

31. 7252: Steamfitters, Pipe fitters and Sprinkler System Installers

32. 7265: Welders and Related Machine Operators

33. 7312: Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanics

34. 7371: Crane Operators

35. 7372: Drillers and Blasters – Surface Mining, Quarrying and Construction

36. 8221: Supervisors, Mining and Quarrying

37. 8222: Supervisors, Oil and Gas Drilling and Service

38. 9212: Supervisors, Petroleum, Gas and Chemical Processing and Utilities

NOTE: the occupations above are all Skill Type 0 (managerial occupations) or Skill Level A (professional occupations) or B (technical occupations and skilled trades) on the Canadian National Occupational Classification list.

How to Qualify as Skilled Worker Immigration in Canada

These changes can be quite difficult to understand. If you or somebody you know are planning to immigrate to Canada under the skilled worker immigration program, you should consult an immigration lawyer to help.  Fill out our Free Online Assessment Form and one of our experienced immigration professionals will review information to determine your eligibility for the skilled worker immigration program.

President & CEO

Michael Niren

Mr. Niren is CEO of VisaPlace LLC and the President and Managing Partner of VisaPlace Legal Canada, an immigration law firm based in Toronto, and VisaPlace Legal US a law firm registered in The District of Columbia, USA. Mr. Niren is a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Canadian Bar Association’s Citizenship and Immigration Section, American Lawyers Association, and an Associate Member of the American Bar Association.