An explanation on changes in Federal skilled worker program

The Immigration Department has been introducing changes in the criteria of selection and also in the process of immigration in the last few weeks.

There changes made in “Skilled Worker Category” too. The changes incorporate better scores for the applicants fluent in English or French, preference to Canadian Work Experience, the degree obtained by an applicant from any other university would be verified against Canadian Standard and last but not the least young immigrants would be given preference to the older ones.

Recently, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has given an explanation on the changes made in the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP).

The Explanation

• CIC informs that more than 35% of the immigrants had entered Canada in the year 2011 under the program of FSWP. In 2010, almost 20% of the immigrants had entered under the same category. However the Department identified a few grey areas of this program. A survey was conducted in which immigrants staying under this category were reviewed and it was concluded that immigrants were “discontent” with their own settlement.
• Apart from this, the department had also studied that almost half a million application backlogs were piled up which was considered to be too big a number to be handled in given time. Hence Immigration Minister Jason Kenny had announced sometime back that the applications made prior to March 2008 will be returned back along with the processing fee. He had also informed that FSWP applications will not be accepted at least till January 2013.
• The Department is keen to enforce faster and healthier immigration system which is flexible yet provides security to the immigrants coming here in Canada. The Department gives value to the economic needs of the nation yet the humanitarian commitments are to be kept up.

Reasons for making the changes

• Immigrants less fluent in English were found to be facing problems in settling down. They had difficulties in making adjustments.
• Those with substandard education or degree did not find a good employer and hence had to settle down with any job coming their way.
• Older immigrants would retire or return back to their countries sooner after they would arrive which was a loss to the country. Young immigrants can stay for a longer period of time and contribute largely to the country’s economic growth.
Looking at these points one can’t deny the efforts made by the Immigration Department are for the betterment of the country and the immigrants too.