Immigration Process

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), a department of the Government of Canada, decides who can immigrate to Canada. There are several categories for immigrants including:

• Skilled workers and professionals
• Entrepreneurs and self-employed persons
• Family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents

www.goingtocanada.gc.ca and www.cic.gc.ca are Citizenship and Immigration Canada websites with detailed information about immigration. You can also get information about Canada's immigration laws and regulations at the Canadian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate in your country of residence.

Starting December 1, 2011, applications for Permanent Residence have to be submitted to the Centralized Intake Office (CIO) in Sydney, Nova Scotia. Nominees must submit their application for Permanent Residence within three month after they arrived in Yukon.

Changes:

September 5, 2008
Canadian Experience Class

This application is for temporary workers and recent graduates with Canadian credentials who are already in Canada and wish to apply for permanent residence.

All applicants must have:

• work or studies in occupations that meet the minimum requirements,
• evidence of proficiency in the English or French language (reading, writing, listening and speaking);
  and
• work experience as a temporary foreign worker, or
• work experience following graduation from a Canadian post-secondary institution, and post-graduation education requirement.

For more information, please visit:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/ information/applications/cec.asp

November 28, 2008
Action Plan for Faster Immigration

The Action Plan for Faster Immigration includes issuing instructions to visa officers reviewing new federal skilled worker applications to process those from candidates who:

• are in 38 high-demand occupations such as health, skilled trades, finance and resource extraction; or
• have an offer of arranged employment or have already been living legally in Canada for one year as a temporary foreign worker or international student.

Also, applicants to the Federal Skilled Worker Program whose applications were received on or after February 27, 2008, and which do not meet the assessment criteria described above shall be informed, in as short a time as possible, that their applications will not proceed for processing and shall be returned their processing fees.

For the complete Ministerial instructions including a list of high-demand occupations please see:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/
media/backgrounders/2008/2008-11-28a.asp

Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials
Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials assists individuals, employers, professionals and organizations regarding foreign credential recognition and the assessment of diplomas and qualifications in Canada.

Entry Requirements Tool

The Entry Requirements Tool at goingtocanada.gc.ca will help you determine if you meet the requirements to enter Canada.

There is more information about the different categories for immigrants on the Immigrating to Canada page of the CIC site. This site also offers online tools to help you calculate your application fees and check on the status of your application.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada's A Newcomer’s Introduction to Canada provides useful information about such topics as: Getting Ready — Before You Leave For Canada; Your First Few Days In Canada; Finding A Job, Building A Future; General Information About Canada And The Canadian Way Of Life. It is also available here and Welcome to Canada - What you should know.

Yukon Nominee Program

Under the Yukon Nominee Program (YNP), the Government of Yukon can nominate potential immigrants in these categories:

• Skilled workers with approved Yukon job offers
• Semi-skilled critical impact workers with approved Yukon job offers
• Entrepeneurs who would like to start, partake in, or buy an existing business in Yukon

Please visit the Yukon Nominee Program (YNP) section of this site for more information.