Canada To Prioritize PNP In 2014 And Initiate EOI In 2015

29 Nov 2013

Provinces nominate applicants for PR

Provinces can nominate foreign workers for PR Visas under the PNP. The Process will be started after an applicant applies to his preferred province or territory under the PNP.

Most of the applicants need to have an offer of work to apply for PR under the PNP. That province or territory then determines if the applicant fulfills its requirements. If (s)he does, the province or territory will nominate the applicant for PR.

The application is then sent to CIC (Citizenship and Immigration Canada), the immigration department of Canada which is headed by Chris Alexander, where, provided the applicant meets the admissibility criteria of Canada, the Visa may be accepted.

Each province, territory has its own criteria

Each territory and province has its own list of criteria that need to be fulfilled by the applicants. Many seek graduates, particularly people with higher degrees. Work experience in your chosen province or territory is also extremely useful. British Columbia (B.C.) requires almost all the applicants to be working in B.C. at the time of submitting an Expression Of Interest (EOI). Other provinces and territories do not require the same.

Trades-people and skilled workers with valid Canadian trades certificates are also in much demand.

The Provincial Nominee Program has had major success in disseminating people arriving in Canada more evenly around the country. 80% of new Canadian PRs settled in Vancouver, Toronto or Montreal in the year 2000. However, by 2012, it has reduced to 58%.

Expression of Interest

The minister also announced that Canada intends to move to an 'Expression Of Interest' (EOI) System for choosing applicants for Canadian PR and hopes to introduce it in 2015. Australia has used an EOI system since 2012.

Priority cases

Priority will be given to applicants from the following circumstances:

• Particularly strong candidates,
• Candidates with a Canadian permanent job offer,
• Applicants with skills that are particularly in demand.

Chosen candidates will be invited to apply for a PR Visa. Then, they will provide work experience, qualifications, evidence of employment, etc. Applicants who did not receive an invitation to apply will be taken out of the pool after a certain period of time.