Quebec invited 322 skilled workers to apply for permanent selection on January 27.

The Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) invited these immigration candidates to apply under the Quebec Regular Skilled Worker Program (QSWP).

Candidates had to have profiles in the Arrima Expression of Interest system with scores of at least 647 points and a valid job offer outside the Montreal metropolitan area.

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This latest draw is the second of the year for Quebec and it brings the number of invitations issued to 834 in 2022. Last year, a total of 3,564 candidates were invited to apply for permanent selection by the province through Arrima.

What is the Quebec Regular Skilled Worker Program?

The Quebec Regular Skilled Worker Program is for skilled workers who are more likely to establish themselves economically in the province. The program is popular among skilled workers and international graduates who wish to immigrate permanently to Quebec to work.

Candidates who are invited to apply for permanent selection have a maximum of 60 days to submit their application and pay processing fees. Quebec aims to process complete applications within six months, starting on the date all the required information has been received. This includes all forms and documents.

If successful, candidates will get a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ or Quebec Selection Certificate). They can then use this document to apply for permanent residence to the Canadian federal government.

Those who wish to settle in Quebec, are assessed under a different system than applicants who want to settle somewhere else in Canada. Quebec’s immigration programs are managed by the province and are distinct from Canada’s federal programs.

Quebec admission targets for 2022

In October 2021, Quebec released its immigration admission targets for 2022.  Most newcomers are expected to come through the province’s economic immigration programs, including the Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP) and the Québec experience program (PEQ).

The plan calls for the admission of 49,500 to 52,500 immigrants in 2022 across all immigration categories, as well as an additional 18,000 admissions to reach the admission levels that were not met by the federal government in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This means that more than 70,000 newcomers could be admitted to the province of Quebec in 2022.

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As of August 31, 2021, temporary foreign workers who reside in Quebec and have been selected by Quebec as skilled workers, are eligible, under certain conditions, to apply for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP).

Holders of a BOWP are able to work for any employer of their choice while they wait for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to process their permanent residence application.

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To be eligible for the Bridging Open Work Permit, temporary foreign workers must have:

• submitted to IRCC a Quebec skilled worker application for permanent residence as the principal applicant
• received an acknowledgment of receipt (AOR) from IRCC that confirms the permanent residence application has been received by IRCC and passes the completeness check

Among its features, a completeness check entails an IRCC officer ensuring that the applicant has submitted all necessary forms, information, evidence, signatures, and fees that are required under a given program.

The principal applicant’s spouse or common law partner is also eligible to obtain an open work permit if they are included on the permanent residence application.

The purpose of the policy is to give skilled workers selected by Quebec the support they need to remain employed in the province while they await permanent residence.

IRCC notes on its website that it can take 24 months or more for it to process Quebec skilled worker applications. As such, the initial duration of approved BOWP applications will be 24 months or the length of the applicant’s passport validity. This is to minimize the need for applicants to submit multiple BOWP applications while waiting for IRCC to finalize their permanent residence. IRCC also says any needed BOWP extensions will be for 12 months, however IRCC’s officers have discretion to adjust the length of BOWP extensions based on how long it is taking the department on average to process permanent residence applications.

Getting a BOWP serves multiple benefits. It enables permanent residence applicants to remain in Canada, contribute to the labour market, pay taxes, and to integrate economically and socially. It is also beneficial for Canadian and provincial governments such as Quebec since applicants can contribute to the economy as opposed to remaining in the country as visitors or leaving Canada altogether during the permanent residence application process.

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Quebec invited 517 immigration candidates to apply for permanent selection on September 2.

This is the fourth round of invitations held over the past four weeks under the Quebec Regular Skilled Worker Program (QSWP).

Candidates who received invitations to apply for permanent selection by the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) in the September 2 draw needed a score of at least 499 in the Arrima pool.

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The latest invitations sent out through Arrima also targeted candidates with a valid job offer outside the Montréal Metropolitan area and who work in occupations that are currently in high demand in Quebec. The list of targeted occupations provided by the government is as follows:

• Computer and information systems managers (NOC 0213);
• Electrical and electronics engineers (NOC 2133);
• Industrial and manufacturing engineers (NOC 2141);
• Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) (NOC 2147);
• Information systems analysts and consultants (NOC 2171);
• Database analysts and data administrators (NOC 2172);
• Software engineers and designers (NOC 2173)
• Computer programmers and interactive media developers (NOC 2174);
• Web designers and developers (NOC 2175);
• Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians (NOC 2241);
• Computer network technicians (NOC 2281);
• User support technicians (NOC 2282);
• Information systems testing technicians (NOC 2283);
• Producers, directors, choreographers, and related occupations (NOC 5131);
• Graphic arts technicians (NOC 5223);
• Graphic designers and illustrators (NOC 5241);
• Technical sales specialists – wholesale trade (NOC 6221).

Following several months of invitations being sent out monthly, Quebec seems to be stepping up the pace by issuing record numbers of invitations via Arrima every week. Since August 12, Quebec had been conducting Arrima draws every week, in which the number of invited candidates exceeded 500—significantly more than any of the other draws conducted this year.

This draw is Quebec’s ninth of the year. A total of 2,664 candidates have now been invited to apply for permanent selection by the province.

What is the Quebec Regular Skilled Worker Program?

The Quebec Regular Skilled Worker Program is for skilled workers who are more likely to establish themselves economically in the province. The program is popular among skilled workers and international graduates who wish to immigrate permanently to Quebec to work.

Candidates who are invited to apply for permanent selection must do so within six months, starting on the date they submitted all the required information to process their application. This includes all forms and documents.

If successful, candidates will get a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ or Quebec Selection Certificate). They can then use this document to apply for permanent residence to the Canadian federal government.

Those who wish to settle in Quebec, are assessed under a different system than applicants who want to settle somewhere else in Canada. Quebec’s immigration programs are managed by the province and are distinct from Canada’s federal programs.

The post Quebec invites 517 candidates in Arrima draw appeared first on CIC REPORT.

Quebec released the results of a third draw that took place last month on August 26.

This third round of invitations held via the Arrima expression of interest system over the past month was the largest of the year under the Quebec Regular Skilled Worker Program (QSWP).

A total of 585 immigration candidates with a score of at least 517 in the Arrima pool were invited to apply for permanent selection by the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI).

Quebec had already conducted two other rounds of invitations through Arrima last month, on August 12 and August 19, in which the number of invited candidates exceeded 500—significantly more than any of the other draws conducted this year.

Find Out if You’re Eligible for Canadian Immigration

The latest invitations sent out through Arrima also targeted candidates with a valid job offer outside the Montréal Metropolitan area and who work in occupations that are currently in high demand in Quebec. The list of targeted occupations provided by the government is as follows:

• Computer and information systems managers (NOC 0213);
• Electrical and electronics engineers (NOC 2133);
• Industrial and manufacturing engineers (NOC 2141);
• Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) (NOC 2147);
• Information systems analysts and consultants (NOC 2171);
• Database analysts and data administrators (NOC 2172);
• Software engineers and designers (NOC 2173)
• Computer programmers and interactive media developers (NOC 2174);
• Web designers and developers (NOC 2175);
• Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians (NOC 2241);
• Computer network technicians (NOC 2281);
• User support technicians (NOC 2282);
• Information systems testing technicians (NOC 2283);
• Producers, directors, choreographers and related occupations (NOC 5131);
• Graphic arts technicians (NOC 5223);
• Graphic designers and illustrators (NOC 5241);
• Technical sales specialists – wholesale trade (NOC 6221).

Following several months of invitations being sent out monthly, Quebec seems to be stepping up the pace by issuing record numbers of invitations via Arrima every week. This draw is Quebec’s eighth of the year. A total of 2,145 candidates have now been invited to apply for permanent selection by the province.

What is the Quebec Regular Skilled Worker Program (QSWP)?

The Quebec Regular Skilled Worker Program is for skilled workers who are more likely to establish themselves economically in the province. The program is popular among skilled workers and international graduates who wish to immigrate permanently to Quebec to work.

Candidates who are invited to apply for permanent selection must do so within six months, starting on the date you submitted all the required information to process your application. This includes all forms and documents.

If successful, candidates will get a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ or Quebec Selection Certificate). They can then use this document to apply for permanent residence to the Canadian federal government.

Those who wish to settle in Quebec, are assessed under a different system than applicants who want to settle somewhere else in Canada. Quebec’s immigration programs are managed by the province and are distinct from Canada’s federal programs.

The post Quebec holds third immigration draw in a month appeared first on CIC REPORT.