Dear Mr Brown:

 I am a mechanic and I want to learn more about the Federal Skilled Trades programme. I hear that I can migrate to Canada under this programme. What are my chances?

 — DC

 Dear DC: The Federal Skilled Trades Class is a class of immigration under which tradespeople may be eligible to apply for permanent residence on the basis of their ability to become economically established in Canada as workers in a skilled trade occupation.

 Skilled trade occupations Skilled trade occupations include:

• Machinists, metal forming, shaping and erecting occupations

• Mechanics

• Plumbers, pipefitters and gas fitters

• Carpenters and cabinetmakers

• Masonry and plastering trades

• Stationary engineers, power station operators and electrical trades and t e l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s occupations

• Crane operators, drillers and blasters

Criteria

Successful candidate for the Skilled Trades Class, among other things, must have:

• At least two years of fulltime work experience in a skilled trade occupation during the five year preceding the application.

 However, the work experience does not need to have been obtained over a continuous period.

 • Sufficient funds available for settlement in Canada, unless the applicant has arranged employment.

 • The intention to reside in a province other than Quebec.

 • The minimum language proficiency threshold in English or French.

 • Either an offer of employment for at least one year or hold a certificate of qualification in that skilled trade from a Canadian provincial or territorial authority.

 Certificate of qualification Most interested individuals are not going to be able to obtain a valid job offer or arranged employment in Canada.

However, there are other options. An apprenticeship is a formal agreement between an apprentice, who wants to learn certain occupational skills and an employer, who needs a skilled worker.

 Apprenticeship programmes are administered at the provincial level and combine technical, in-school training and on-the-job learning supervised by a certified journeyman.

A journeyman is a formally certified worker whose experience and training meet the requirements of their trade.

 Following this training period and the passing of an examination, apprentices receive a Certificate of Apprenticeship and a Certificate of Qualification, which allow them to be a certified journeyperson.

Red Seal designated trades have training and certification based on national standards, indicating interprovincial qualifications for journeymen to work anywhere in Canada without having to write further exams.

Apprenticeship programmes A p p r e n t i c e s h i p programmes are normally unavailable for international students.

 However, I do represent a few programmes in Canada that can lead to permanent residence that are available for international students from Jamaica, in the following areas:

 • Heavy-duty equipment mechanic

 • Automotive technician

 • Precision metal machining

 • Manufacturing technician

 • Collision repair and refinishing If you are interested in an apprenticeship programme, then I can assist you. For further information, please visit jamaica2canada.com.

 Antonn Brown, BA, (Hons), LLB, MSc, RCIC, is an immigration counsel, education agent and managing director of JAMAICA2CANADA.COM — a Canadian immigration & education firm in Kingston. Send questions/comments to jamaica2canada@gmail.com