A Canadian Immigration Lawyer Provides an Overview of this Provincial Immigration Program
After the program launch—originally scheduled for January 2016—was extended due to several issues with the new application system, the Quebec government officially began accepting online applications under its skilled worker program on February 16, 2016. Applicants were given until January 25, 2016 to create online user accounts, after which they were able to complete an online application for a Quebec Certificat de Selection (CSQ) until February 15, 2016. As of February 16, 2016, these applications, along with the required fees, are being accepted. The application reception period ends on March 31, 2016, and Canada’s immigration lawyers expect that the quota of 2800 applications will fill quickly.
The province of Quebec has a special agreement with the federal government, and therefore administers its own Canadian immigration programs, and has its own rules for choosing immigrants who will adapt well to living there. The goal of the skilled worker program is to select candidates for which successful economic settlement is highly likely. Immigration lawyers in Canada are quick to point out that this program is the only one in Canada where applicants can predict their chances of admission based on their qualifications. The program’s point system evaluates candidates based on a number of criteria including their area of training, level of education, level of experience, age, language, and the qualifications of their partner.
All those wishing to settle permanently in Quebec must:
1. Apply to the Quebec government for a CSQ;
2. Apply to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) for permanent residency. At this point, a medical exam and police check will be administered.
There are more than 75 eligible occupations and areas of training that enable applicants to qualify for a CSQ without a job offer, but Canada’s immigration lawyers note that applicants in management and financial services, engineering, information technology, and health care currently have the best chances of success. It should also be noted that applicants with a valid job offer, previous work experience in Quebec, or who have completed a valid period of study in Quebec may also qualify under the Quebec Experience Class and would therefore not be subject to the skilled worker program quota.
In Canada, Quebec is a popular immigration destination, and immigration lawyers across Canada agree that the province’s program offers distinct advantages over the federal Express Entry system and other provincial immigration programs. If you require assistance with the submission of your skilled worker application, contact a Canadian immigration lawyer today.
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Arghavan Gerami
Arghavan Gerami is the Founder and Senior Counsel at Gerami Law Professional Corporation ('PC'), a full-service immigration law firm in Ottawa, Ontario. Since 2011, Ms. Gerami has focused her practice on immigration and refugee litigation. Prior to that, Ms. Gerami worked at the Ministry of Attorney General and the Department of Justice and had the privilege of serving the Honourable Mr. Justice M. Evans at the Federal Court of Appeal on immigration and administrative law appeals. Ms. Gerami contributes to the Immigration Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association, the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Ms. Gerami has also published numerous journal articles and presented at various immigration and refugee law conferences and events across Canada.