Federal Skilled Worker – RainCity Immigration Ltd

Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)

The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) in Canada is designed for skilled and specialized workers to immigrate. This program is one of the three main Express Entry programs.

You don’t need to have studied or worked in Canada or have a job offer from Canada. You can live in any province of Canada (except Quebec). It costs less compared to provincial programs and investment and business programs. The whole process is completely online, with no need to send paper documents.

Eligibility and scoring for the Federal Skilled Worker in Canada:

Minimum score: 67 out of 100.

You must meet the initial requirements (one year of work experience, language proficiency, educational credential assessment).

You need to score at least 67 out of 100 in the Federal Skilled Worker points system across six factors.

You must achieve the minimum CRS score in the Express Entry draws.

1. Work Experience

In the work experience factor, you can earn a maximum of 15 points for full-time work (30 hours per week) for which you were paid. You need to have at least 12 months of full-time work experience.

A minimum of 12 months is equivalent to 1,560 hours. This work experience must have been gained within the 10 years prior to your application. The work should be full-time or an equivalent amount of part-time work.

This job must fall under the TEER 0, 1, 2, 3 categories in the Canadian job classification system for the Federal Skilled Worker Program.

The work experience must be within the last 12 months.

Your work experience must indeed be within the last 12 months. If your work experience reached 1,560 hours in less than 12 months, at least 12 months must have passed since your work to be able to submit your application. This means Canada doesn’t count more than 30 hours of work per week. Note that 30 hours of work per week is considered full-time in Canada.

For example, if you worked 15 hours a week, it would take 24 months to accumulate the required 1,560 hours for this program.

Does work experience during studies count towards the Federal Skilled Worker Program?

Yes, work experience combined with education may be considered as work experience for this program. The job must have been paid or compensated based on commission, must have been continuous, and there should not have been any gaps in it.

Score table based on work experience:

According to the Canadian Immigration Department, specific conditions are required for working in any job. For example, if a bachelor's degree in the same field is required for a specific job, then if you gained your work experience while studying for your bachelor's degree, this experience might not be counted. This is because you hadn't yet obtained your bachelor's degree to qualify for that specific job.

Work Experience	Score
1 year	9
2 to 3 years	11
4 to 5 years	13
6 years and above	15

2. Language Level

In this section, you can earn up to 28 points for your first and second languages. A first language certificate (English or French) at CLB 7 level or higher can earn you up to 24 points. Below this level, there are no points.

Each test has its own scoring system that can be converted to CLB levels. For instance, in English, you need to score at least 6 in all skills on the IELTS – General test. A score of 6 in all skills on the IELTS General test is equivalent to CLB 7.

Accepted English language tests:

– CELPIP General test (CELPIP: Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program)

Note that the CELPIP General-LS test is not accepted.

– IELTS General test (IELTS: International English Language Testing System)

– PTE Core test

Accepted French language tests:

– TEF Canada (TEF Canada: Test d’évaluation de français)

– TCF Canada (TCF Canada: Test de connaissance du français)

Score table based on language level:

First Language Skill Level	Speaking Skill Score	Listening Skill Score	Reading Skill Score	Writing Skill Score
CLB 9 or higher	6	6	6	6
CLB 8	5	5	5	5
CLB 7	4	4	4	4

Also, if you have a second language certificate (in English or French), you can earn extra points in addition to the points for your first language. The second language certificate must be at CLB 5 or higher in all skills. In that case, you’ll earn a total of 4 additional points.

For example, Fariba, with a General IELTS score of 6 in all areas, earned the language certificate points at CLB 7, which is equivalent to 16 points (4 points for each skill). She also had a TEF Canada French certificate at CLB 5, allowing her to add another 4 points to her score, ultimately reaching 20 points.

3. Education

To get points for education, you need to have a Canadian degree or have had your educational credentials assessed. The minimum required education is equivalent to a high school diploma. The maximum score in this category is 25 points.

Points table based on educational qualifications:

What is an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)?

Organizations exist that evaluate foreign educational credentials and state which Canadian credential they are equivalent to. One of the best evaluating organizations is World Education Services (WES). For example, Farzaneh studied environmental sciences for 3 years and received her degree. The credential assessment organization reviewed it and stated in their certification that Farzaneh's degree is equivalent to a bachelor's degree in Canada, and she received the corresponding points for a bachelor's.

Education	Points
Doctorate or equivalent	25
Master’s, professional doctorate, or equivalent	$150
Two or more diplomas beyond high school, with a maximum of one taking over 3 years (e.g., two bachelor’s degrees)	22
Post-secondary program lasting three years or more (like a bachelor’s	21
Diploma or two-year degree	19
One-year post-secondary program	15
High school diploma	5

4. Age

Applicants between 18 and 35 years old earn the maximum score in this section, which is 12 points. As age increases, the points awarded decrease, to the point where individuals over 47 years old receive no points at all.

The time you receive the invitation is the key for calculating your age. If your age is under 35 at the time you receive the invitation, and by the time of visa processing and issuance your age reaches 35 or older, you will still be awarded the age score for being 35. In other words, your age is locked in at the time of receiving the invitation.

Age	Points
Under 18	–
18-35	12
36	11
37	10
38	9
39	8
40	7
41	6
42	5
43	4
44	3
45	2
46	1
47 or more	–

5. Job Offer in Canada

The score for this section is 10 points. The job offer in Canada must be full-time, non-seasonal, with salary, and for a minimum duration of one year. It must also fall under TEER categories 0, 1, 2, or 3 in Canada’s job classification system. Keep in mind that, in most cases, the employer who makes the job offer must obtain an LMIA.

6. Adaptability

If you are married and your spouse intends to accompany you to Canada, you can also earn points in the following areas for both you and your spouse. The maximum score in this section is 10 points. Therefore, if you earn more than ten points based on the table below, only ten points will be counted.

Adaptability Scoring Conditions Table

Adaptability	Score
Spouse's language proficiency (CLB 4 or higher in all skills)	5
Main applicant's education in Canada (at least a full-time program of a minimum of two years at the high school level or higher)	5
Spouse's education in Canada (at least a full-time program of a minimum of two years at the high school level or higher)	5
Main applicant’s legal work experience in Canada (minimum of one year full-time in TEER 0 1 2 3 jobs)	10
Spouse's legal work experience in Canada (minimum of one year full-time)	5
Having a job offer from Canada	5
The applicant or their spouse has close relatives (including parents grandparents siblings children grandchildren nephews or nieces uncles aunts) who are over 18 and are Canadian citizens or permanent residents.	5

If you are married, you can get an additional 5 points based on your spouse’s language score.

Example: Farzad, who has a master’s degree, an IELTS General score at CLB7, three years of specialized work experience, and is under 35, scored 62 in the Federal Skilled Worker points system and was unable to create an Express Entry profile. However, when his spouse successfully obtained an English language certificate at CLB4, 5 points were added to his file, raising his score to 67, allowing him to create his profile.

Costs of Working Immigration through the Federal Skilled Worker Program

Case	Review
Applicant:	$950
Spouse:	$950
Child:	$260

Permanent Residency	Issuance Fee
Applicant:	$575
Spouse:	$575
Child:	$260

Fingerprinting	Fee
Applicant:	$85
With spouse and child:	$170

Steps to Apply for the Federal Skilled Worker Program in Canada

1. Create a Profile

To apply for Canada’s Federal Skilled Worker program, you first need to create an Express Entry profile. To set up the profile, you must have a language test result and an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) certificate to enter that information.

You need to create the profile on the Canada immigration website using the GCKey system. When creating the profile, you have to enter basic information regarding work experience and NOC (National Occupational Classification), educational background and ECA information, personal details, and financial means.

Your case will be scored based on various factors like age, work experience, language proficiency, education, etc. This scoring system specific to the Express Entry system is called the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Your score ranges from 0 to 1200.

2. Receive an Invitation

In the eligibility review process, all documents are examined to confirm whether you qualify or not. This process can take a long time because your file and its documents are assessed for validity, accuracy, and alignment with the program requirements.

Usually, this step takes up to five months after the previous stage. Various documents are reviewed in this process, including proof of funds, employment history letters, job offer letters, visa refusal history, and so on.

If the officer feels that further investigation is necessary, they may request additional documents from you.

For example, Frank’s CRS score was 475. He entered the pool of applicants. In the draw a few weeks later, it was announced that the minimum score was 469. Therefore, everyone like Frank, whose score was above 469, received an invitation.

Note: If your score is equal to someone else’s, the one who entered the pool of applicants first and created their profile will get the invitation. So it’s better to open your profile and enter the pool of applicants right after obtaining your language certificate and educational credential assessment. Then you can increase your score if you want by getting a better language score or more work experience, higher education degrees, etc., and update your profile.

3. Submitting the Application

After you receive the invitation, you can upload the required documents to your profile and complete the requested information within 60 days. Then, at the end, you need to pay the fees and submit your application.

Within 24 hours after submitting your application, you will receive a letter called Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR). This receipt indicates that your documents have been received by the immigration department and your application has been successfully registered.

4. Fingerprinting

At this stage, your file review begins. Throughout the entire process, you can refer to your profile and check the status of your application.

The officer will check that all documents are complete and align with the program checklist. If the documents are incomplete, the officer will return the application fee and the request as well.

This stage usually takes between 1 to 2 months. At the end of this stage, a letter for medical examinations is usually approved, along with the issuance of the biometric letter.

Individuals who, according to Canadian regulations, need to get their fingerprints taken must go to visa offices in other countries after receiving the biometric letter and complete the fingerprinting.

5. Eligibility Assessment

The minimum wage in Canada is $14 an hour, and students can work up to 20 hours a week while studying. During university breaks, full-time work is permitted. Single students can earn enough to cover living expenses, but married students without children can both work to support their living and education costs. If you are married and have children, likely only one parent can work, so you should be prepared for the expenses.

6. Background Check

The background check stage consists of three parts: criminality, security, and information sharing. All sections of this stage are conducted by Immigration Canada, the Canada Border Services Agency, and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service.

This stage typically lasts between one to two months. However, in some rare cases where the individual’s background raises concerns for the relevant authorities, it might take up to a year.

This stage is the last step before the final decision is announced.

7. Confirmation of Permanent Residence

Finally, after your application is approved, you will receive the Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) for Canada. At this stage, you will get the Passport Request (PPR) message and you’ll need to send your passport to the nearest Canadian visa office for the visa to be issued. The time frame you have to enter Canada is until the passport expires or until the validity of your medical examinations expires (whichever comes first).

Required Documents for the Federal Skilled Worker Program in Canada

All original documents required for the Federal Skilled Worker Program in Canada must be uploaded online, and no paper copies are needed. Keep in mind that if the documents are in a language other than English or French, they must be translated, and along with the translation, a certificate or authorization from the translator and a certified true copy of the original document must also be provided.

Identification documents of the applicant

The main applicant’s and their spouse's and children’s passports, marriage or divorce certificate, or death certificate of one of the spouses (if the main applicant is married, divorced, or one of the spouses has passed away). Additionally, if there are children, their birth certificates must also be provided. Furthermore, recent photos for all family members should be included.

Family identification documents

If you obtained points through a relative in Canada, you need to provide documents proving your relationship with them, documents proving their citizenship or permanent residency, and documents confirming the relative’s residence in Canada.

Educational documents

The educational qualification and transcripts, along with the educational credential assessment certificate of the applicant and their spouse.

Language documents

The language certificate approved by the Immigration Office for the main applicant and spouse (if you have gained points through your spouse's language score).

Financial documents

You must demonstrate financial capacity for this program. The financial requirement for one person is $13,757, with an additional amount of about $3,700 for each family member. This letter must be on bank letterhead and include the account number, account holder's name, account opening date, a list of all debts and installments related to the account, the current balance, and the average balance over the past six months, as well as the bank's contact information.

Medical examinations

The applicant, their spouse, and children must undergo medical tests known as Medical Exams. These tests check whether you or your family have any contagious diseases or illnesses that could lead to high costs for Canada's healthcare system. These tests are valid for one year. You must go to doctors designated by the Canadian Immigration Office for these examinations.

Police clearance certificate

A police clearance certificate for the applicant, their spouse, and children over 18 years old. This clearance certificate must be obtained from any country where you have lived for more than six months. The police clearance letter is valid for one month, but if you get it translated officially after obtaining it, it remains valid for up to six months.

Employment documents

The applicant and their spouse’s work experience letter. This work experience letter should include the job title, name, address, and phone number of the workplace, total work hours, annual salary, and also a summary of the duties performed at that company. If you have a job offer letter from a Canadian employer, you must upload that as well.

Frequently asked questions

What score is suitable for receiving an invitation to the Canadian Federal Skilled Worker program?

Scores in each lottery round change. Therefore, it can’t be said exactly what score is suitable for this program. However, based on the trends from past draws, it seems that individuals with a score of 480 and above are likely to receive an invitation.

What is accepted as proof of financial means for the Canadian Federal Skilled Worker program?

Only a bank statement from a bank that belongs to the applicant or their spouse is accepted. However, the spouse’s bank account will only be accepted if it is a joint account or if the applicant can prove they have access to the funds in that account.

Therefore, properties, stocks in the stock market, cryptocurrency, etc., are not acceptable.

Does work experience in the Canadian Federal Skilled Worker program require insurance?

No. There is no need to provide insurance for work experience for this program.

What’s the difference between Express Entry and the Federal Skilled Worker program?

The Federal Skilled Worker program is conducted through the Express Entry system. In fact, one way to apply for permanent residency through Express Entry is via the Federal Skilled Worker program.

What should I do to increase my score for the Canadian federal visa?

To increase your points for this, you can enhance your language skills, acquire more work experience, learn a second language, or provide a higher education degree.

Can I apply for the Canadian Federal Skilled Worker program without a language certificate?

No. For this program, you must have an English or French language certificate with at least a CLB7 level. This level is equivalent to a score of 6 in all skills in the general IELTS test.

If I apply for the Federal Skilled Worker program, will my family also get permanent residency?

Yes. The spouse and children of the applicant also receive permanent residency with the applicant under this program.

Should I apply for the Federal Skilled Worker program as a single person or as married?

Married individuals lose 40 points. However, if the applicant’s spouse has qualifications such as a language certificate, a university degree, or Canadian work experience, they can regain up to 40 points.

How long is the processing time for the Canadian Federal Skilled Worker program?

As of January 2024, the processing time for the Canadian embassy for the Federal Skilled Worker program is about 6 months, and many applications are processed during this time. However, for some applications, this period may extend to 9 months or even a year.

Is the field of study important in the Federal Skilled Worker program?

No. All individuals from any field can participate in this program.

Do education and work experience need to be related in the Federal Skilled Worker program?

There is no specific law regarding this, but you should note that this program is for individuals considered skilled and specialized. Therefore, a person should ideally obtain education and work experience in the same field to gain skills and expertise.

Which jobs are in higher demand in the Federal Skilled Worker program?

In this program, it doesn’t matter what job a person has held. The jobs must only fall under the TEER 0, 1, 2, 3 categories in the Canadian job classification system and be considered specialized. However, the job title does not matter in which field it is.

When should I do the medical exams for the Federal Skilled Worker program?

Medical exams are valid for one year, and it’s better to take them after receiving the invitation and during the time you are preparing your documents to maximize their validity.

Is university education required in the Federal Skilled Worker program in Canada?

University education is not one of the primary requirements for this program, and individuals with a high school diploma also meet the basic eligibility criteria. However, it should be noted that in most cases, individuals without a university education cannot score the necessary points in the next stage.

0 0 Votes

Article Rating

Subscribe to

Name*

Email*

Website

Name*

Email*

Website

0 Comments

Oldest

Newest The most votes

Inline feedback

View all comments

710743

Study visa and study permit of Canada

Student life in Canada

Canadian scholarship application

Accredited DLI Learning institutions

Temporary job visas

Permanent job residence

Pilot immigration programs

Job immigration programs of the provinces

Investment programs of the provinces

Immigration programs of the provinces

Study in other countries

Canadian scholarship application

Accredited DLI Learning institutions

Study visa and study permit of Canada

Student life in Canada

Temporary job visas