The recently opened Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) Program grants you the Visa which entitles you to live and work lawfully anywhere in the country because of your Permanent Resident status which is granted on the basis of your education, work experience and various other factors. FSW applications are assessed based on an applicant’s ability to become economically established upon immigration to Canada. FSWP will start accepting applications from 1st May 2014.

The 50 eligible occupations, which are enumerated in the new Priority Occupation List, in general, relate to professions which fall in the fields of

•Senior Managers

• Managers

• Finance Professionals

• Professionals in advertising, marketing and public relations

• Engineers

• Healthcare Professionals

• IT Professionals

• Technologists & Technicians

• University Professors

• Lecturers

• Psychologists

• Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters.

The category will have an overall cap of 25,000 new applications and sub-caps of 1,000 applications for each of the 50 occupations mentioned in the list.

In order to qualify for a Permanent Resident Visa, Canadian Federal Skilled Worker (Professional) applicants must:

• Have at least one year of continuous full-time or equivalent paid work experience in the past 10 years in one of the 50 eligible occupations  mentioned in the list or
• Have completed a PhD in Canada, or have completed two years of study in Canada towards a PhD, in both cases at a recognized institution; and
• Score at least 6.0 on the IELTS General Training test in each of the four skills to meet the minimum language threshold of CLB 7.
• Prospective applicants will have to get their educational credentials assessed by the 4 organisations designated by the CIC.

The 4 organisations designated for Educational Credentials Assessment are:

• Comparative Education Service: University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies;
• International Credential Assessment Service of Canada;
• World Education Services;
• Medical Council of Canada

In addition to the above mentioned requirements, the applicants filing their cases under this category must attain at least 67 points based upon CIC’s immigration selection factors.

The selection factors prescribed by CIC are summarized below. The maximum points for each factor are also detailed:

• Education: 25 points.
• Language Skills: 28 total points (24-first official language, 4-second official language).
• Work Experience: 15 points for paid skilled work experience acquired in the last 10 years. A minimum of 9 points is required.
• Age: 12 points.
• Education: 25 points.
• Adaptability: 10 points.

The applicant must also furnish enough proofs that they have sufficient settlement funds to support themselves and their dependents after arrival in Canada. Applicants and their dependents must also undergo medical examinations and security clearance as parts of the Canadian immigration application process.

The processing time of an application under the FSWP vary from one Canadian Immigration Visa office to another and the processing fee varies with the exchange rates.

Benefits of Federal Skilled Worker Visa

Once your visa has been approved:

• ​You and your family are able to live and work in Canada permanently
• ​You can study in Canada
• ​You receive subsidized healthcare benefits through Medicare
• ​You can sponsor other family members for permanent residency
• ​You can apply for Canadian citizenship