Point System

Canadian Government uses a point system to assess all Skilled Worker applicants. To be eligible for permanent residence in Canada, you must obtain at least 67 points in the point assessment. The most important point assessment criteria is related to your occupation that is, what you intend to do for a living in Canada and how are you qualified to do it. Immigration officials will look at your education and training, present and past employment duties, and skills and experience to assess whether you are qualified for Canadian immigration. You will earn significantly more points if you have Arranged Employment in Canada. Arranged employment means a job offer in Canada that has been approved by Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) or that is exempt from HRDC approval. The way the points are determined There are six factors to consider in determining how many points you should receive: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Education Languages (English and/or French) Work Experience Age Arranged Employment in Canada Adaptability (including previous studies or work in Canada, arranged employment, relative in Canada and partners education)

Below please find an explanation of how the points for each factor are assessed and determined: EDUCATION FACTOR (maximum 25 points) : The Education Factor is an assessment of your completed education. A specific number of points correspond to each level of completed education. For each educational credential, there is a specific number of full-time (or full-time equivalent) years that you must have completed in order to obtain the points that correspond to that education credential* (*consult with Fast Canada Immigration if you did not complete the number of years required). If you have more than one educational credential, you are assessed by whichever credential results in you being awarded the highest number of points for this factor. (Example: if an applicant has a 3-year college diploma and a 2-year university bachelors degree, this applicant should receive 22 points for the diploma instead of 20 points for the degree.) Use the following chart to determine how many points you should receive for the Education Factor: MAXIMUM 25 POINTS 25

EDUCATIONAL CREDENTIALS Masters Degree or Ph.D. AND at least 17 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study. Two or more university degrees at the bachelors level AND at least 15 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study. Three-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship AND at least 15 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study. Two-year university degree at the bachelors level AND at least 14 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study. Two-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship AND at least 14 years of

22

22

20

full-time or full-time equivalent study. One-year university degree at the bachelors level AND at least 13 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study. One-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship AND at least 13 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study. One-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship AND at least 12 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study. Completed high school.

20 15

15

12 5

LANGUAGE FACTOR (maximum 24 points): Points for the Language Factor are awarded for high, moderate or basic proficiency in speaking, listening, reading and writing in English and French, Canadas two official languages. Your first official language should be whichever of these languages you have the best ability in. Your second official language should be whichever of these languages you have the lesser ability, or no ability, in. Once you have determined your level of proficiency in each skill, use the following chart to determine how many points you can claim for the Language Factor: First Official Language (English or French) Proficiency Level High Moderate Basic No Ability Speaking 4 2 1 0 Listening 4 2 1 0 Reading 4 2 1 0 Writing 4 2 1 0

Second Official Language (English or French) Proficiency Level High Moderate Basic No Ability Speaking 2 2 1 0 Listening 2 2 1 0 Reading 2 2 1 0 Writing 2 2 1 0

If claiming points for first official language, you will have to submit proof of your abilities in that language. If claiming points for second official language, you will also have to provide proof of your abilities in that language. You can prove your language abilities by: 1. taking an official language test administered by an approved organization; or 2. providing other written documentation to support your claim of abilities in the language. If neither English nor French is your native language, take an official language test to prove any abilities you claim to have in these languages. If you dont take an official language test, the alternative written documentation you provide must clearly show that you meet the level of ability you are claiming (high, moderate or basic proficiency) for speaking, listening,

reading and writing in English and/or French. Fast Canada Immigration can advise you of the written documentation you should provide. WORK EXPERIENCE FACTOR (maximum 21 points) To be eligible for Canadian permanent residence and to obtain points for the Experience Factor, you must have at least one year of work experience in at least one occupation listed in the National Occupations List (NOC) under the categories of Skill Type 0 Management, Skill Level A or Skill Level B. Fast Canada Immigration can advise you whether your work experience falls under Skill Type 0 Management, Skill Level A or Skill Level B and what the NOC lists as duties and responsibilities for that occupation. You will be awarded a set number of points depending on how many years of work experience you have: Years of Experience* One year Two years Three years Four or more years POINTS 15 17 19 21

*The number of years of work experience are cumulative, must be in the last ten years, and do not have to be in the same occupation. For instance, if you have three years of work experience, you will get 19 points for the Experience Factor even if your three years of work experience is divided between 2 or 3 occupations. AGE FACTOR (maximum 10 points) The age you are (or will be) at the time your application is submitted to the consulate is the age that should be used in determining your points for the Age Factor. Use the following chart to determine how many points you should receive for the Age Factor: AGE 16 and younger 17 18 19 20 21-49 years old 50 51 52 53 POINTS 0 points (minimum) 2 points 4 points 6 points 8 points 10 points (maximum) 8 points 6 points 4 points 2 points

54 and older

0 points (minimum)

ARRANGED EMPLOYMENT IN CANADA FACTOR (maximum 10 points) You will receive 10 points if you have a job offer in Canada, or if you are currently working in Canada on a valid work permit. Job offer in Canada

you are outside Canada and do not intend to work in Canada before being issued a permanent resident visa you do not presently hold a work permit for Canada an employer in Canada has made a job offer to you for ongoing fulltime work to begin after you obtain a permanent resident visa and enter Canada the job offer must be approved by Human Resources Development Canada

Presently working in Canada on a valid work permit (HRDC approved work)

you are working in Canada on a temporary work permit obtained pursuant to a job offer that was approved by HRDC the work permit is valid for at least 12 months from the date you submit your application for permanent residence the employer has made an offer to continue employing you indefinitely after your permanent residence visa is issued

Presently working in Canada on a valid work permit (exempt from HRDC approval)

you are working in Canada on a temporary work permit that is exempt from HRDC approval according to international agreements (eg, NAFTA) or significant benefits (eg, intra-company transferee) the work permit is valid for at least 12 months from the date you submit your application for permanent residence the employer has made an offer to continue employing you indefinitely after your permanent residence visa is issued

ADAPTABILITY FACTOR (maximum 10 points) The Adaptability Factor is intended to give you points for things that may enhance your ability to become successfully established in Canada. You may receive points for one or a combination of the following (up to a maximum of 10 points overall): 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. partners education previous work in Canada previous study in Canada arranged employment relative in Canada

a) Partners Education (3, 4 or 5 points) If your spouse or common-law partner is accompanying you to Canada, you may receive points for your partners education. Look at the table provided above in the description of the Education Factor. Determine the number of points that your partners education corresponds to in that table: if it corresponds to 12 or 15 points, you may receive 3 points for it under the Adaptability Factor; if it corresponds to 20 or 22 points, you may receive 4 points for it under the Adaptability Factor; if it corresponds to 25 points, you may receive 5 points for it under the Adaptability Factor; b) Previous Work Experience in Canada (5 points) If you or your accompanying spouse or common-law partner completed a minimum of 1 year of full-time (or

full-time equivalent) authorized work in Canada, you may receive 5 points for it under the Adaptability Factor. c) Previous Study in Canada (5 points) If you or your accompanying spouse or common-law partner completed a minimum of 2 years of full-time (or full-time equivalent) authorized post-secondary study in Canada, you may receive 5 points for it under the Adaptability Factor. d) Arranged Employment (5 points) If you receive points for the Arranged Employment Factor (see above), or if your accompanying spouse or common-law partner has arranged employment in Canada, you may also receive 5 points for it under the Adaptability Factor. (*Note: if it is your spouse or common-law partner who has the job offer, it must meet the criteria of one of the categories listed above in the description of the Arranged Employment Factor). e) Relative in Canada (5 points) If you or your accompanying spouse or common-law partner has a close relative who is a citizen or permanent resident of Canada, you may receive 5 points for it under the Adaptability Factor. Close Relative refers to the following familial relationships: father, mother, grandparent, son, daughter, grandchild, sister, brother, niece, nephew, aunt or uncle. (*Note: only 5 points may be awarded, even if there is more than one close relative in Canada). *PLEASE NOTE: You may receive no more than 10 points overall for the Adaptability Factor, regardless of how many of the above items you can claim. SETTLEMENT FUNDS (2009) Pursuant to R76(1)(b) a visa office will determine if an applicant has sufficient funds available for settlement in Canada. The amount of funds are determined by the number of family members (including both accompanying and non-accompanying dependants). The funds must be available, transferable and unencumbered by debts or other obligations. Applicants that have Arranged Employment (as defined by R82) do not need to meet these financial requirements. Number of Family Members 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 or more

Funds Required $10,833 $13,486 $16,580 $20,130 $22,831 $25,749 $28,668