08/11/2013
Today the Canadian Immigration Minister, Chris Alexander, announced changes to the popular Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
The CEC is a program that allows eligible applicants with Canadian work experience to apply for Canadian Permanent Residency. The CEC is currently open to applicants who have gained 1 year of skilled, paid work experience in Canada within the three years before applying. Applicants must also meet minimum language requirements and have the intention of residing in any Canadian Province other than Quebec. Under the current CEC, which ends tomorrow, there are not caps or limits.
In order to prevent processing backlogs and maintain fast processing times, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) will only be accepted a maximum of 12,000 applications for processing between November 9th, 2013 and Oct 31, 2014.
Along with receiving a high volume of applications, CIC is also receiving a high volume of applications from certain occupations.
As of November 9th, within the maximum of 12,000 applications that will be accepted for processing, CIC will try to obtain a more diverse skill set and prevent too much overrepresentation in certain occupations. In order to achieve this goal, only 200 applications will be accepted for each B level occupation.
A B level occupation is an occupation with the number 2 as the second number on the National Occupation Classification (NOC) . B level occupations usually require college education or apprenticeship training. For example, only a maximum of 200 plumbers, NOC code 7251, will be able to apply under the revised CEC program.
CEC will no longer accept applications for occupations for which there is currently overrepresentation. The following 6 occupations will no longer be eligible for CEC:
• accounting technicians and bookkeepers (National Occupation Classification 1311); and
• administrative assistants (National Occupation Classification 1241)
• administrative officers (National Occupation Classification 1221)
• cooks (National Occupation Classification 6322)
• food service supervisors (National Occupation Classification 6311)
• retail sales supervisors (National Occupation Classification 6211)
Canadian immigration Attorney Marisa Feil believes the announcement is bitter sweet : “Applicants applying under the CEC have a track record of contributing and adapting in Canada.” Attorney Feil went on to explain that while she was “pleased to hear that measures are taken to keep the program fast and efficient” she also expressed “sympathy for the applicants that must deal with additional pressure to submit an application before a cap is reached as well as to the workers from the 6 NOC’s that are no longer eligible for this program.” Attorney Feil went on to explain that many people with work experience in Canada may have “other immigration options as well, including Provincial Nominee Programs or the Federal Skilled Trades Class”.
To learn more on the changes click here.
FWCanada is a Montreal-based immigration law firm that provides professional legal services on Canadian immigration. For more tips and updates on Canadian immigration, follow FWCanada on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.
