More On Canadian Immigration

Enlarge Image Image Gallery

Article Tools

Image Gallery

Print

E-mail

Comments

RSS

In MOTHER NO. 31, Sharon Woolley described her family's troubles in emigrating to Canada. I have some further information to offer, obtained at great cost in money and time (because of the Canadian Immigration Service's bureaucratic methods, and because of changes in the standards to be met by would-be immigrants).

First, a rough outline of the application procedure for those who desire permanent residence in Canada:

[1] You must apply for immigrant status from outside Canada, through the nearest Canadian consulate. (If you're granted an interview later on—after you've entered Canada—you'll have the added hassle of traveling back to the U.S. city in which the consulate is located.)

[2] You must hold a valid passport or equivalent document.

[3] After receiving the forms, filling them out in triplicate, and returning them, you're required to take a physical. If you fail to meet the health requirements, that's the end of the road.

[4] Last comes the interview and final assessment . . . but only if you make at least 50 points out of the 100 on which the evaluation system is based, and that's no easy task.

The following is a breakdown of the point system, as explained to me by Canadian authorities:

[1] AGE. 10 points maximum. One point is removed for each year over 35.

[2] EDUCATION. 20 points maximum. A Ph.D. scores the full 20, and one point is deducted for every year short of that level.

[3] RELATIVES IN CANADA. 3 points maximum.

[4] SKILL. 6 points maximum.

[5] LANGUAGE. 5 points for English, 5 for French . . . a total of 10 maximum. If you don't speak either, your score is zero.

[6] PERSONAL ASSESSMENT. 1 to 15 points. The bases for this rating are restricted information (not revealed to the applicant or to the public). The interviewer's impressions are in any case quite subjective.

[7] DEMAND FOR OCCUPATION. 0 to 15 points. The criteria here are also restricted information . . . and if your skill isn't in demand, you've had it. (You'll recall that the Woolleys were told, "We don't need teachers.")

[8] PREARRANGED EMPLOYMENT. 10 points. This is a very important item and—I strongly suspect—influences personal assessment

Perhaps my experience in job-hunting north of the border will give you an idea of the difficulties involved. I spent a lot of money and time on trips to Canada, and discovered that there were indeed positions open in my field. Not, however, for an American. The immigration authorities had told me that it was possible for a non-Canadian to get employment . . . but when I mentioned this statement to the company officials I talked with, I learned that it's technically true but false in reality.

Here's what would happen, I was told, if a Canadian firm hired me and gave me the necessary proof of employment: As soon as I showed that document to the immigration authorities, the Canadian Manpower Commission would be contacted and informed of the job opening. The commission would then jump on my employers with a demand that a Canadian be given preference . . . and the members of management who were nice enough to offer me a position would find themselves committed to hiring a citizen of their own country instead.

RSS | Comments | E-mail | Print