Canada Introduces Fast Track to Permanent Residence
The Canadian Experience Class, a new proposed avenue for immigration for certain temporary foreign workers and foreign student graduates with Canadian work experience, would allow an applicant’s Canadian experience to be considered a key selection factor when immigrating to Canada, according to Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
The Canadian Experience Class would allow certain temporary foreign workers and certain foreign student graduates with managerial, professional, or technical or trade work experience to apply to become permanent residents, and eventually Canadian citizens. All applicants, depending on their occupational skill level, would be required to demonstrate either basic or moderate language skills.
“The Canadian Experience Class is one more measure this government is proposing to make our immigration system more attractive and accessible to individuals with diverse skills from around the world, and more responsive to Canada’s labour market needs,” said Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Diane Finley. “This new proposed avenue for immigration would also go further to spread the benefits of immigration into smaller centres across Canada.” Temporary foreign workers and foreign students are generally spread out across Canada and contribute to the growth of smaller communities as well as metropolitan areas. Individuals applying for permanent residence through this new avenue could apply from within Canada while continuing to work and to contribute to their local communities.
The Canadian Experience Class comes after a number of recent initiatives the Canadian government has undertaken to help newcomers succeed and to help make Canada a more attractive destination for skilled individuals from around the world, the agency said. These initiatives include changes to the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program; the establishment of the Foreign Credentials Referral Office; increased investments in language training and other programs and services aimed at helping newcomers settle and integrate into their new communities successfully; and, most recently, changes to the immigration system that would allow for priority processing of certain skilled applicants and reduced wait times for those wanting to immigrate to Canada.
“Choosing newcomers based on knowledge of our labour market and experience within Canadian society would make Canada a more attractive destination for skilled individuals from around the world,” noted Minister Finley. “International students and skilled workers would be more likely to choose Canada if they knew their time in Canada and contribution to Canadian society would assist in their eligibility to apply to stay permanently.”
