In order to address the growing backlog of skilled worker immigration applications and labour market shortages,  Immigration Minister Kenney announced an Action Plan for Faster Immigration today.

High-demand Skilled Worker Immigration Categories

The plan includes issuing instructions to visa officers reviewing new federal skilled worker immigration applications to limit their processing to candidates who:

• are in 38 high-demand occupations such as health, skilled trades, finance and resource extraction (see below) ; 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.

The list of 38 occupations was developed after consultations with the provinces and territories, business, labour and other stakeholders.  Retroactive to February 27, 2008, new federal skilled worker applications that do not meet the eligibility criteria outlined above will not be processed, and the application fee will be fully refunded. “The eligibility criteria apply only to new federal skilled worker applicants and will not affect Canada’s family reunification or refugee protection goals,” said Minister Kenney. Applicants who are now no longer eligible for the federal skilled worker immigration category (because of the restriction of occupations) may qualify under another category, such as the Provincial Nominee Program, or as temporary foreign workers, which could then put them on a path to permanent residency through the new Canadian Experience Class. Minister Kenny says that new federal skilled worker applicants, including those with arranged employment, should now receive a decision within six to 12 months compared with up to six years under the old system.

The 38 Qualifying Occupations, or Skilled Worker Immigration Categories are listed below:

1. 0111: Financial Managers
2. 0213: Computer and Information Systems Managers
3. 0311: Managers in Health Care
4. 0631: Restaurant and Food Service Managers
5. 0632: Accommodation Service Managers
6. 0711: Construction Managers
7. 1111: Financial Auditors and Accountants
8. 2113: Geologists, Geochemists and Geophysicists
9. 2143: Mining Engineers
10. 2144: Geological Engineers
11. 2145: Petroleum Engineers
12. 3111: Specialist Physicians
13. 3112: General Practitioners and Family Physicians
14. 3141: Audiologists and Speech Language Pathologists
15. 3143: Occupational Therapists
16. 3142: Physiotherapists
17. 3151: Head Nurses and Supervisors
18. 3152: Registered Nurses
19. 3215: Medical Radiation Technologists
20. 3233: Licensed Practical Nurses
21. 4121: University Professors
22. 4131: College and Other Vocational Instructors
23. 6241: Chefs
24. 6242: Cooks
25. 7213: Contractors and Supervisors, Pipefitting Trades
26. 7215: Contractors and Supervisors, Carpentry Trades
27. 7217: Contractors and Supervisors, Heavy Construction Equipment Crews
28. 7241: Electricians (Except Industrial and Power System)
29. 7242: Industrial Electricians
30. 7251: Plumbers
31. 7252: Steamfitters, Pipe fitters and Sprinkler System Installers
32. 7265: Welders and Related Machine Operators
33. 7312: Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanics
34. 7371: Crane Operators
35. 7372: Drillers and Blasters – Surface Mining, Quarrying and Construction
36. 8221: Supervisors, Mining and Quarrying
37. 8222: Supervisors, Oil and Gas Drilling and Service
38. 9212: Supervisors, Petroleum, Gas and Chemical Processing and Utilities

NOTE: the occupations above are all Skill Type 0 (managerial occupations) or Skill Level A (professional occupations) or B (technical occupations and skilled trades) on the Canadian National Occupational Classification list.

How to Qualify as Skilled Worker Immigration in Canada

These changes can be quite difficult to understand. If you or somebody you know are planning to immigrate to Canada under the skilled worker immigration program, you should consult an immigration lawyer to help.  Fill out our Free Online Assessment Form and one of our experienced immigration professionals will review information to determine your eligibility for the skilled worker immigration program.