New Visa Rules for Canada Favour Young Irish Workers
Language now a high ranking selection factor for those applying for Canadian Permanent Resident visas.
Irish welders, pipe fitters, steel fitters, iron workers, millwright and industrial mechanics, estimators, diesel mechanics, carpenters and various other trades are in big demand in Canada at the moment and new changes to visa acceptance criteria will make it significantly easier for Irish looking to apply for permanent residency in Canada. This is according to migration experts www.visafirst.com who say that the various upcoming changes in process for skilled migrant applications to Canada will make it easier for trades and certain skills to get visas.
Edwina Shanahan, Manager at www.visafirst.com commented, “These changes are due to come into force in early 2013 and will be welcomed by the thousands of Irish people who are currently preparing applications for 2013. Migration officials in Canada are introducing the changes so as to allow Canada to better select skilled workers who can hit the ground running and fill skill shortage that are evident throughout the country”.
According to www.visafirst.com one of the most significant changes is to make language the most important selection factor when processing visas by establishing new minimum official language thresholds and increasing points for language. There will also be an increased emphasis on younger immigrants, who are more likely to acquire valuable Canadian experience and remain in the workforce longer.
Edwina went on to say, “New developments in visa processing will definitely be regarded as a positive for those Irish looking to travel for work – particularly for the younger Irish workforce. Points will also be awarded for Canadian work experience giving added benefit to those who have entered Canada on a work permit and gained local experience. In 2011 alone 5340 Irish people went to Canada on working holiday visas while and additional 6,000 travelled there on work permits with job offers, which highlights the popularity of Canada as a destination for Irish students and postgraduates over the last decade”.
There have been suggestions of the introduction of the Educational Credential Assessment – a mandatory requirement to have your overseas education assessed against Canadian education standards. Points will be awarded- accordingly to how an applicant’s foreign educational credentials compare to completed educational credentials in Canada. It does not necessarily guarantee that they would become licensed to practice in a regulated occupation. This assessment process will only benefit trades that want to apply.
“This is an important step we are taking to address the problem of immigrants arriving and not being able to work in their field,” stated said Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney. Minister Kenney. “This new requirement will help potential newcomers make informed choices about immigration and Canadian career paths.”
Edwina continued, “The final publication for these upcoming changes is due out later this year and we will then be able to process migrant applications for Canada again. It is worth noting that there currently is a quota on occupations who can apply for a migrant visa without a job offer, these quotas are reached quickly so it is advisable to prepare you file now so that it is ready to submit when Immigration Canada are taking migrant application again early 2013”.
VisaFirst say they are currently trying to fill vacancies in Alberta, Canada for the following
– Construction project managers
– Concrete finishers
– Structural engineers
– Site supervisors
– Irish welders
– Pipe Fitters
– Steel Fitters
– Iron Works
– Millwright
– Industral Mechanics
– Estimators
– Diesel Mechanics
– Carpenters
Edwina concluded, “Currently there are number employment opportunities for Irish workers in Canada so this will make the process of securing a job & migrating to Canada much easier for our migrant workers”.