Set of new criteria for skilled immigrants.

If you are planning to move to Canada first thing you should do is check the list.

Thirty-eight in-demand occupations were unveiled by the Harper government last week, thus setting out a new selection criteria for skilled immigrants. This would allow those with relevant skills to be fast-tracked into the country.

The occupations include jobs in the health sector, skilled trades, and the finance sector. Details of the much awaited ‘ministerial instructions’ were posted on the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website www.cic.gc.ca and will come into effect immediately.

Skilled workers whose occupations are mentioned on the list will be fast-tracked for acceptance as permanent residents under the skilled worker immigration class. There will be no processing of the new applications that do not meet the eligibility criteria and their application fee will be refunded.

Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, Jason Kenney said that applicants who aren’t eligible for the federal skilled worker category may qualify under some other category and that there are many ways to immigrate to Canada.

The controversial plan was first introduced in the month of March by then immigration minister Diane Finley, as a measure to reduce the backlog of 900,000 immigration applications and bring in the right skilled immigrants.

Previously, applicants had to face wait times of up to six years, but under the new rules, applicants should receive a decision within sex to twelve months.

Olivia Chow, New Democrat MP for Trinity-Spadina said that the government solution is throwing out application and this is something absurd. She said that it took the government all these months to come up with these professions, and things have changed very much in the last few months. She believes that the list has already become outdated.

However, despite the softening economy, Kenney is confident that the occupation list is current.