Dear Mr Brown: I have heard about local firms actively recruiting applicants in the health care, financial services and construction industries for the Express Entry programme in January 2015. Can I participate in the recruitment if I am not in one of these industries? Do you have any tips you can give me?

 — AH

Dear AH:

 In response to your query, please be advised that potential jobs do not have to be in those particular areas to be eligible under the Express Entry Programme.

Express Entry stages

The first stage of the Express Entry entails prospective immigrants submitting a form to indicate their interest in migrating to Canada. Individuals who meet certain eligibility criteria will have their expressions of interest placed in a pool and ranked against others in the pool, based on official language proficiency, level of education, occupation, work experience, age and other measures of adaptability.

The second stage entails the issue of an invitation to apply for permanent residence.

 The invitation would be based on either direct selection by a Canadian employer, achieving a certain rank or a combination thereof. Job bank A modernised job bank will be launched in late 2014 for Canadian citizens and permanent residents. As the Express Entry system will be launched in January 2015, the job bank will subsequently be accessible to Express Entry candidates. The job bank will:

 • Connect Canadian employers with a comprehensive pool of candidates, if they cannot find Canadian or permanent residents to do the job.

• Make it easier to find the candidates to fill available positions.

 • Link with the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) process to simplify employer’s LMIA advertising requirements. Job offers An individual who receives a bona fide job offer or nomination under the Provincial Nominee Programme will be invited to apply for permanent residency. Therefore, the government would be able to select the best candidates who are most likely to succeed in Canada, rather than those who happen to be first in line.

Tip #1: Local recruitment unnecessary

It is imperative to understand that candidates who meet the criteria are entered into the Express Entry pool. The candidates in the pool will be prompted to promote themselves to employers through the job bank. In fact, candidates will be required to promote themselves through registration with the job bank,

private job boards, etc. As such, although one may wish to have assistance with the Express Entry programme in general, there is no need to participate in ˆnd pay for any local recruitment activities for the Express Entry process. Too often jobs do not materialise after paying the fee of thousands of Canadian or US dollars. The job bank is designed for the process to work without having to do this. The Express Entry is an immigration programme, which has an employment component for which the job bank is readily and transparently accessible to all stakeholders. As such, you should take advantage of it.

Tip #2: Advantage of international students

Candidates with a valid job offer will be quickly invited to apply for permanent residence. It is important to note that international students who study in Canada with open work permits during and after their studies will also have an ostensible advantage in this process.

Tip #3: The dilemma of temporary foreign workers (and employment recruiters)

Temporary Foreign Workers in Canada have a similar advantage. However, Canada made fundamental reforms to the Temporary Foreign Worker Programme earlier this year to ensure that it is used as a last and limited resort. The goal is to ensure that Canadians always come first in the workforce.

New rules for hiring temporary foreign workers introduced in June make it more difficult for employers to hire internationally, and requires them to meet strict criteria to ensure Canadians are first in line for jobs.

It is imperative that you realise that Applications for Temporary Foreign Workers plummeted by 74 per cent in August 2014, compared to August 2012.

As such, many licensed foreign worker recruiters are scrambling to change their business models. Correspondingly, as previously mentioned, international students in Canada have an advantage.

Tip #4: Authorised legal representatives

Please note that a representative is someone who has provided advice or guidance to you prior to submitting an application on your behalf and following the submission of your application. This person is able to obtain your permission to conduct business on your behalf with Citizenship and immigration Canada (CIC) and the Canada Border Services Agency.

Tip #5: Unauthorised representatives (ghost consultants)

An unauthorised representative is an individual or company who receives a fee for advising or representing a client on immigration matters, who is NOT a member of the ICCRC or a Law Society. As mentioned, unauthorised immigration representatives not only contravene the laws of Canada,

but they are not even recognised by the High Commission of Canada.

For further information 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