Citizenship and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney announced yesterday a temporary freeze on accepting new applications to the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) and Immigrant Investor programs. This “temporary pause”, as Minister Kenney described it, will be effective starting July 1, 2012.
Mr. Kenney explained that by not accepting new applications, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) will be able to better address those applications that have already been submitted, thus eliminating the programs’ current backlogs. These currently stand at approximately 110,000 applications for the FSW program, and 25,000 for the Investor program. In addition, the pause will give CIC the opportunity to make important changes to the programs before accepting new applicants. In this way, CIC believes that Canada will transition to a “faster, more flexible immigration system”.
The FSW program was expected to re-open its application quotas for the following year on July 1. Mr. Kenney was quick to add that despite the freeze, immigration levels to Canada will not be decreasing during this time period. Current applications will continue to be processed, meaning that “current immigration remains at historic levels”. Last year, Canada welcomed approximately 250,000 new temporary and permanent residents through its borders.
It is important to note that certain streams within the FSW program will remain open during this time. Individuals with offers of arranged employment, as well as those applying under the PhD stream, are still welcome to apply.
Intake of all FSW application types is currently expected to resume in January 2013, when a number of proposed changes to immigration programs are expected to become operational. Some of these proposed changes include:
- Restructuring the FSW points grid
- The creation of a Skilled Trades stream within the FSW program
- The introduction of new FSW language requirements
Mr. Kenney acknowledged that many prospective immigrants to Canada may be disappointed to hear of the temporary pause. However, he explained why he believed such a pause to be necessary. “This is a way to ensure that improvements to the program have time to be put in place, which will give new applicants the opportunity to be even more positioned to succeed in Canada”.
He further explained that this was the last step in a long process to modernize the country’s immigration system. Another big step occurred earlier this year, when the government announced plans to legislate away approximately 280,000 FSW applications that had been submitted before 2008, under antiquated rules and regulations. This decision is currently being challenged in court.
People should not read into this decision that the door to Canada is closed. “The fact is that over the past few years the Federal Skilled Worker category has been taking in fewer and fewer applications,” says Immigration Attorney David Cohen. “In the last 12 months, only 10,000 FSW applications were accepted for processing.”
Attorney Cohen urged prospective immigrants to remember that they may have other options to come to Canada during that time. “People considering an application for Canadian Permanent Residency should know that in addition to the Federal Skilled Worker program, there are more than 60 other Canadian immigration programs for which they may be eligible.”
Individuals whose applications are submitted before July 1 should expect processing of their cases to continue normally. In the meantime, further information regarding changes to the FSW and other programs is forthcoming.
To find out if you are eligible for one of the over 60 Canadian immigration programs, please fill out a free online assessment.
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{ 42 comments… read them below or add one }
great news to here …
together in God family,i hope in God
i really love to be in canada
ya.its too nice and wise decision to finalize the cases which are in pipe line from the last 6 years.due to slow processing specially for Asia region the peoples/inverters were discourage.i think the honourable minister this decision will give high popularities to the minister not only in Canada but also through out the world.
Canadian government must understand that how many people’s lives change dramatically when the government decides to legislate away approximately 280,000 FSW applications that had been submitted before 2008, under antiquated rules and regulations. These are not merely 280,000 FSW applications but these are “280,000 DREAMS”- Dreams of 280,000 people to lead a more meaningful life. If the government has given a temporary pause to the FSW Program, let this time be utilized to expedite the processing of applications of these 280, 000 people who have worked hard to arrange for their own and their family’s visa processing fee, and for other funds required for immigration and who waited patiently for around 6-7 years in the hope that their lives are going to change for good once they immigrate to Canada – a country of opportunities.
i would to be canadian if a posible becouse i am realy somalian and i always i like to be canadian thank you Mr. Kenney how you help all the people of the world
30th June, 2012
Dear mr. Cohen,
Thank you for the imformation you sent to me via my email regarding the pause on the intake of the Federal Skilled Worker(FSW) programme by the Citizenship and Immigration minister, mr. Jason Kenny. By now, my application form should have got to the CIC office in Sydney, Canada. I also appreciate the monthly bulleting you always send to me via my email. This has enabled me to follow up events in the immigration arena.
Meshileya E.T.
Thank you for this update. The best will come out of it. There is gain in patience!
Res. sir.i was making plan to submit my file for Canadian PR.Can i now submit my file for PR after new announcement that is made by Mr.Jason Kenney?
I am a bit not happy hearing the above news and changes for FSW as I know lots of workers that are already here for more than 4 yrs under the program and looking forward to
file their applications hoping someday they will succeed to achieved their Canadian dreams and contribute to Canada’s economy. I thought it would have been better if the ” pause ” plan is for people that just arrived here let say 1 yr ago but not to the FSW that spent their time here in Canada for more than 3 yrs. I’m
hoping that this change will soon be over to eliminate worries of the people that are just wanting to have a better future and be closer to their families. Thank you for giving us a change to express our thoughts and concerns.
May I commend Mr Jason Kenney and his team for this most necessary pause. Reason? It has always been difficult for me to understand that a country inviting immigrants in, have no structured system to assist these immigrants to settle in their new environment, more so for those who move accross with kids. Currently, these families who have decided to migrate to Canada are left on their own to navigate through a very complicated and competitive system.
In my humble view, if immigrants are invited, there must be some level of support to ensure that these families are settling in relatively well without any major issues or discomfort.
What I have noted in a number of cases where families decide to move to Canada, they live back a decent or good enough life, with the thinking that they will be given an opportunity for a much better life in Canada, and to their disappointment upon arrival and after settling in with much difficulty, they realize it really isn’t a better or easier life.
One is mindful that in this current time, life is not easy anywhere, consequently, one must mentally tell themselves that it is hard work and sacrifices ahead of them, conversely, no one lives their current state of living to get into one that is worse off, hence, much more information should be given to interested persons wishing to migrate to Canada so that they can deal with the inevitable with a more positive attitude.
I believe, like many St Lucians think, many other Caribbean natives would welcome the news after this pause that a carefully structured support system is effected to assist immigrants with their lives after arrival; and if that structure is present, you may find many more valuable skilled workers and professionals deciding to migrate and contribute to the Canadian economy.
All the best Canada in your quest towards an improved immigration system, where I truly hope that life after landing in Canada would be a consideration to the powers that be.
I want to immigration to Canada.
i am a recipient of file number during 2004. my service consultant, viz, Vibgyor immigration consultancy, Chandigarh, India, assured at the outset that every thing would be settled within a maximum period of four years. but nothing happened. Now, they spread a news which is not yet confirmed, that the processing of application prior to 2010 will not be proceeded and the visa processing fee and the consultation fee will be refunded to the applicants. Dear sir, what is the exact position? applicants like me had a plan regarding our family. now all of them are spoiled. I was a fingerprint expert in the state police now retired after serving for more than 25 years. is there any possibility to get a work permit to work as finger print expert? thanks
Fk! I was to apply in the end of August!! Are they going to extend temporary residency on this circumstances or send unlucky ones home? So many CIC programs was updated with ‘caps’ how else can you change SWP? If I were Kenney I would devote a page on CIC website related to upcoming changes. NOT like just today we changed it all – so be it.
Am disappointing because I had prepared everything to put in my application for the FSW program starting today July 1, 2012. What other immigration programs are available for me as a skilled worker that can at the same time cover my family?
If the FSW program will be re-opened in January 2013 then the new changes will have to be available to prospective applicants before January 2012.
This is such a good news for those who applied from 2006 as FSW. At least there is still hope for them. Like in the Philippines, there are a lot of FSW applicants they borne all the waiting for more than 60 months. I hope these applicants will realize their dream of living in a place they long to live.
Thanks for the information.
we are very much upset about this
what are the expected changes in counting qualification points for the skilled worker immigration
thanks
very much dia appointed with the latest news on fsw.want to know wha t other option i’ve got.
thanks for your info.
I was really ready to file my case under FSWS by this July 2012, but now my IELTS result will expire in Sep 2012. So it is a bit disappointing news for me as my dreams scattered.
thank you for the information sent by healy over a year ago and I would go to Canada as soon as possible signed your direction and thank you
Osama Salah from egypt
Many thanks to Mr David Cohen for always being the first amongst all equals to inform and to carry yr clients along. We truly appreciate and I personally am still hopeful that whenever the door opens again I shall be successful through yr help.
My great and kindest regards to yr team that have been working on my file talking about Max, Matthew and all.
Cheers and I bid you God’s speed
Thanks alot it was great.
GOOD NEWS!!!!!!!. A patience dog eats the fattest bone. My trust and hope is in God, who can do everything.
Thanks Mr. David Cohen for the good news.
I just want to show my appreciation to Mr. Kenney for his wise decisions. I’m confident he is leading the immigration system in Canada in the right direction.
Thank you Mr.Kenney and thanks to all the team involved in the development and improvement of the immigration system in Canada.
Canada is great country and everybody live on this land should be proud of being here and thankful, the country need people with poserive attitude who smile, search for job, apply to the right places in the right cities and provences that require their experience and work to build better future.
The goverment is spending millions of dollars on improving the English language skills, bridging to profession programs, Enhanc language skills, wage incentive programs and many development programs offered to newcomers every year to qualify them for the Canadian job market!!
great
Many Thanks
Thank you for the imformation you sent to me via my email regarding the pause on the intake of the Federal Skilled Worker(FSW) programme by the Citizenship and Immigration minister, mr. Jason Kenny,I also appreciate the monthly bulleting you always send to me via my email. This has enabled me to follow up events in the immigration arena.
Really i was pleased by the “Pause” hope it will be better & more easier for us ..who knows….my self I am still waiting for my ILETS test result and processing last document …so I felt it s ahelp from GOD ….
Second to have a time to plan for better tomorrow ….Give Time Time
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR INFORMATION.
It is very disappointing me that Temporary pause in Fedral Skilled Worker .I kept ready to file my Application on July 2012 because I Wrote Ielts in Aug 2011 and I hav e score which I can qualify .if they will increse score more in language .it will be more difficult for us to meet points .kindly keep everything as a same score . candidate who applied und FSW after 2008.they may happy with this decison .but who waiting from last year to apply for this .it is very unfair decision .we waisted our money as well as years.
Dear sir,
This is extremely disappointing.I was ready to file my case with complete documentation on the 1st of july when suddenly this news scaterred all my plans and all the efforts made till date seemed to have gone down the drain.
The worst part is that no one knows what’s going to happen on 1st january,2013.I only hope the same would not be repeated.Since nothing is made public well in advance,it becomes extremely difficult for someone to plan his/her life and future.
Also apeearing again and again for IELTS costs a lot of money, time and effort.
Thank you for the imformation you sent to me via my emai ………………….GOOD NEWS
it is very unfair decision for who were wating to apply under FSW .plz keep kindly everything as same score in Language & other selection crieteria.
God will listen our voice.
IT IS A WISE DECISION .
I APPRECIATE TO MR.KENNEY
THANK YOU
je serai avec succès grâce à l’aide par an.
Je veux juste montrer mon appréciation à M. Kenney pour ses sages décisions. Je suis persuadé qu’il est à la tête du système d’immigration au Canada dans la bonne direction.
Merci Mr.Kenney
Je vous remercie pour l’imformation que vous m’avez envoyée via mon email au sujet de la pause sur l’apport de la catégorie fédérale des travailleurs (FSW) qualifiés par le programme de la Citoyenneté et de ministre de l’Immigration, mr. Jason Kenny, j’apprécie également le bulletin mensuel que vous avez toujours de me l’envoyer via mon email
Well, it seems that australian government take a wise move (unlike canadian).
I planned to apply for canadian visa, but …
————————————-
The Australian Government has introduced major regulation changes to the Australian Skilled Visa Program − effective on the 1st of July, 2012.
The changes are substantial and your previous Skilled Visa Online Assessment points score will not be valid.
Some of the major changes: •New Occupation lists
•Reduced pass mark of 60 points (previously 65 points)
———————————————————–
I just want to show my appreciation to Mr. Kenney for his wise decisions. I’m confident he is leading the immigration system in Canada in the right direction.
The Solution to this backlog problem is simple. Canada ON AVERAGE welcomes 250,000 new applicants. This is the approx number of applications in the backlog pre-2008. Stop accepting new applications for 1 year for federal skilled worker program and rather than wasting time in legal battles, they should focus to process the backlog cases. I am sure, in 1 yr, canada can have real time immigration system as what they want without the need to return the applications. Unless, the government has different intentions.
Hi,
Cic can not impose its negligence on us.
They were making the people fool around the globe.
Can they refund our time and mental tourcher.
We have reduce our age points for other immigration programme
around the world. They should follow the law and process our
applications now. They have demolish their credibility.
I have no words to express my feelings.
We have done many thing to follow their immigration laws now this is Canadas
Turn.
Very unfair decision.
Shame on Canada’s immigration system .
Laws are only for individuals not for government in Canada.
This comments section proves why there needs to be changes. Some of the language ability here is atrocious and quite frankly laughable from so-called prospective applicants, who seem to think they have some divine right to wander anywhere as they please.
Hey ho, I score 20 above the current pass mark.
Bye!