Dear Mr Brown:

I recently saw an advertisement about recruitment for Canadian permanent residence based on candidates having experience in a number of different stated occupations. I am a little suspicious of that because it gives the impression that having sufficient work experience will lead to permanent residence. Can you shed some light?

— KT

Dear KT:

Experience in a skilled job is relevant to the Express Entry process. However, most candidates outside of Canada will not obtain a job offer. Merely having experience in a profession is insufficient to be successful under the Express Entry programme, as age, level of education, language proficiency scores, and Canadian experience are also relevant.

The new rules for the Express Entry immigration process put international students in a better position to become permanent residents. The changes, which took effect November 19, 2016, are intended to attract highly skilled and educated candidates to the country, and that includes foreign students.

Less emphasis on jobs

Less emphasis on jobs

There is less emphasis on applicants having a qualifying job offer, and the process will give more weight to applicants with a high level of education, language skills and Canadian work experience. Due to the additional points for Canadian experience, most successful applicants under Express Entry get through from within Canada.

Previously, applicants could earn 600 points for having a qualifying job offer that was backed by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). However, an LMIA is no longer needed to receive points for job offers in certain professions. In addition, job offers no longer need to be permanent but need to span at least one year.

It is important to note that due to qualifying job offers, earning fewer points now (from 50 to 200), international students with a work permit and perhaps an entry level job, but no qualifying job offer, have improved chances of getting permanent residence through the Express Entry. Moreover, international students will now also receive 15 to 30 points, depending on the length and level of Canadian education.

The Provincial Nominee Programme, a fast track to permanent residence under the jurisdiction of provincial governments that feeds into Express Entry, has had overwhelming interest from international students and graduates in several provinces. In fact, the number of international students has doubled between 2008 and 2015.

Humber College

As the local agent of Humber, I will be hosting a seminar next week in Kingston and Montego Bay. We are having a free information session and on-the-spot applications at the Knutsford Court Hotel on Monday, March 27, 2017 at 7:00 pm and at the Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort on Tuesday, March 28, 2017 at 7:00 pm. The recruitment manager from Humber and I will be discussing the prospects of studying and working in Canada, scholarships, study permit, work permits, and permanent residence.

Please visit jamaica2canada.com for additional information on Canadian Permanent Residence programmes, including Express Entry, the Study and Work programme, visitor’s visas or appeals, etc.

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

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