Saskatchewan Reopens ‘Occupations In-Demand’ Immigration Sub-Category for Skilled Workers
The Canadian province of Saskatchewan will welcome up to 1,200 new applications under the International Skilled Worker - Occupations In-Demand sub-category of the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) during an intake period that began on August 9.
(Edit: Since this article was published, Saskatchewan has updated the status of this sub-category. To learn more, read this article.)
Applications to this 'base' sub-category, which is not aligned with the federal Express Entry immigration selection system, are received on a first-come, first-served basis. No job offer is required in order for an eligible person to submit an application.
A successful application will result in a provincial nomination certificate being issued; with this nomination, the applicant (as well as an accompanying spouse/common-law partner and any dependent children, if applicable) may then apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent resident status.
The current intake period is the third intake of 2017.
Eligibility criteria
In order to be eligible under the Occupations In-Demand sub-category, applicants must:
- Have proof of legal status, if currently residing in Canada;
- Have a minimum language score of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4;
- Have completed at least one year of post-secondary education or training comparable to the Canadian education system (the program of study must have resulted in a degree, diploma, certificate, or a certificate equivalent to a trade certificate);
- Have at least one-year of paid work experience in the past ten years related to their field of education or training, in a skilled occupation (NOC 0, A, or B) that is considered to be in-demand in Saskatchewan (See in-demand occupations list, below);
- Obtain proof of eligibility for Saskatchewan licensure if their profession is regulated in Saskatchewan and requires mandatory (compulsory) certification or licensing;
- Have proof of settlement funds and a settlement plan; and
- Score a minimum of 60 points out of 100 on the point assessment grid.
In-Demand Occupations
Saskatchewan has made a slight revision to the list. Facility operation and maintenance managers (National Occupational Classification code 0714) are no longer included, while Geological and mineral technologists and technicians (NOC 2212) have been added.
No licensure required
Of the 42 occupations on the new list, 19 do not require any professional licensure. An eligible individual with work experience in one of these occupations may apply to the SINP and receive a nomination certificate without ever applying for or obtaining any professional licensure.
| NOC | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 0124 | Advertising, marketing and public relations managers |
| 0423 | Managers in social, community and correctional services |
| 1112 | Financial and investment analysts |
| 1122 | Managers in Professional occupations in business management consulting |
| 1123 | Professional occupations in advertising, marketing and public relations |
| 2211 | Chemical technologists and technicians |
| 2212 | Geological and mineral technologists and technicians |
| 2121 | Biologists and related scientists |
| 2123 | Agricultural representatives, consultants and specialists |
| 2225 | Landscape and horticulture technicians and specialists |
| 2231 | Civil engineering technologists and technicians |
| 2241 | Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians |
| 2242 | Electronic service technicians (household and business equipment) |
| 2243 | Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics |
| 2253 | Drafting technologists and technicians |
| 0811 | Managers in natural resources production and fishing |
| 0821 | Managers in agriculture |
| 0911 | Manufacturing managers |
| 0912 | Utilities managers |
Professional licensure required
Saskatchewan requires certain applicants to apply for professional licensure in order for the immigration application to be processed successfully. This process may be completed from outside Canada.
An application submitted by an applicant in one of these occupations that does not include the appropriate proof of licensure may be held for processing until this proof is provided. All other required documentation must be included, otherwise the application will be returned to the applicant and the CAD $300 government processing fee may not be refunded.
The process of obtaining licensure depends on the occupation in question, as well as other potential factors, such as the applicant’s professional and/or academic background. The processing times listed in the table below represent best case scenario outcomes. Delays may occur if the organization in question has to wait for a third party, such an educational institution, to send additional required documentation, such as transcripts. To gather this information the organizations' websites were consulted; in situations where the site did not display an estimated processing time, the organizations in question were contacted by CICNews.
"We have seen intake periods for this sub-category last a matter of days, or even a shorter length of time. Taking into account that it operates on a first-come, first-served basis, potential applicants would be well advised to prepare documentation and have it reviewed in advance, even if they do not manage to submit their application this time around," says Attorney David Cohen.
To find out if you are eligible to immigrate to Canada, fill out a free online assessment form.
If you have a valid Express Entry profile and work experience in an opportunity occupation listed above, please contact sinp@canadavisa.com to learn more about the next steps.
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