Canadian Experience Class scheme open for business

Canada has introduced a new immigration scheme called the Canadian Experience Class, which grants permanent residence to certain temporary foreign workers and foreign graduates of Canadian universities. Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) began accepting applications under the new program on 17 September 2008.

The Canadian Experience Class visa allows certain temporary foreign workers and foreign graduates of Canadian colleges and universities to gain permanent residence based upon their professional, managerial, and skilled work experience. Past work exprience is a key factor in the selection process for applicants under the Canadian Experience Class immigration scheme.

There are certain requirements for those applying for permanent residence under the Canadian Experience Class. Applicants must:

• plan to live outside the province of Quebec
• be either a temporary foreign worker with two years of full-time skilled work experience within Canada or a foreign graduate of a Canadian post-secondary educational institution with at least one year of full-time skilled work experience within Canada
• have a certain level of proficiency in English or French, depending on their occupation

Applicants can apply from within Canada under the Canadian Experience Class. People who have left Canada can also apply as long as they do so within 1 year of leaving their job in Canada.

Those who are successful in their application under the Canadian Experience Class are granted permanent immigration visas for Canada. They are then able to remain in Canada indefinitely, and work for any employer in Canada.