{"id":173171,"date":"2018-07-25T03:35:09","date_gmt":"2018-07-25T07:35:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/?p=173171"},"modified":"2018-07-25T03:35:09","modified_gmt":"2018-07-25T07:35:09","slug":"quebec-skilled-worker-expression-interest-system-new-details-published","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/2018\/07\/25\/quebec-skilled-worker-expression-interest-system-new-details-published\/","title":{"rendered":"Quebec skilled worker Expression of Interest system: New details published"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
(Photo:CIC News<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Quebec has published more details about its new Expression of Interest system, which will manage the profiles of eligible Quebec Skilled Worker Program candidates.<\/span><\/p>\n

The new\u00a0Expression of Interest (EOI) system<\/a>\u00a0will replace Quebec\u2019s current first-come, first-served application process for its\u00a0Quebec Skilled Worker Program<\/a>\u00a0(QSWP).<\/p>\n

Under the newly published regulations, which come into force August 2, anyone interested in the QSWP will have to first submit an online Expression of Interest profile to Quebec\u2019s Immigration Ministry (MIDI).<\/p>\n

Determining eligibility<\/h3>\n

In a first step, anyone 18-years-old or older can submit a profile to QSWP\u2019s Expression of Interest Bank. Profiles in the bank will receive a score based on factors including\u00a0skilled work experience, education and training, proficiency in French or English, financial self-sufficiency, and others. In order to be considered, all profiles will have to meet the minimum required score of two points in education (secondary school general diploma) and receive the one point that is awarded for financial self-sufficiency.<\/p>\n

The points awarded for most QSWP selection factors are the same as those awarded under the current QSWP points grid, with the exception of a Validated Employment Offer, which increases from a maximum of 10 to 14 points. Some variables under the \u201cStay and Family in Quebec\u201d factor are also weighted differently, though the maximum points available under the factor remains 8.<\/p>\n

Quebec Skilled Worker Program selection factors<\/h3>\n


\nTo find out if you are eligible for any Canadian immigration programs, fill out a free assessment form.<\/a>Click to see a detailed breakdown of points assigned under the QSWP selection grid.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

In a second step, profiles that meet the initial requirements for education and financial self-sufficiency must then meet the required cut-off score of 43 points for a grouping of factors called Employability, which is based on a candidate\u2019s score in education and training, work experience, age, language proficiency, time spent in Quebec and family in Quebec and a validated employment offer. A job offer is an added bonus but is not required in order to be eligible for the QSWP.<\/p>\n

The Employability cut-off score for candidates with a spouse or common-law partner is 52. In addition to the six factors above, the additional factor of a spouse\u2019s education and training, work experience and language proficiency is also considered.<\/p>\n

In the third step, candidates who meet the Employability cut-off score must then meet the minimum threshold under a grouping of factors called Selection, which is a passing score of 50 points (59 with a spouse or common-law partner). This step takes into account the points awarded under the six factors considered for Employability, with the addition of children and the financial self-sufficiency. A spouse or common-law partner\u2019s\u00a0education and training, work experience and language proficiency is also applied in such cases.<\/p>\n

Invitations not necessarily based on score<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s important to note that meeting the minimum threshold of 50 points under the Selection does not necessarily mean a candidate will be invited to apply for a\u00a0Quebec Selection Certificate<\/a>\u00a0(Certificate de s\u00e9lection du Qu\u00e9bec, or CSQ).<\/p>\n

Invitations may be issued to the highest scoring candidates, but incoming changes to Quebec\u2019s Immigration Act state that other selection criteria or conditions may apply. Section 44 of the updated Act\u00a0states that \u201ccriterion relating to a foreign national\u2019s ability to successfully stay or settle in Quebec, such as training or a trade or occupation\u201d may determine invitations. Other criteria may include \u201ca region of destination in Qu\u00e9bec, a country or region affected by a humanitarian crisis or the existence of an international commitment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Quebec\u2019s Immigration Minister, David Heurtel, has said in media interviews that candidates with work experience in occupations for which shortages have been identified in Quebec\u2019s outlying regions could be moved to the front of the line for selection under the new system.<\/p>\n

Quebec\u2019s Liberal government has touted a reformed immigration system as key to addressing labour shortages that it says could leave as many as one million jobs unfilled over the next 10 years.<\/p>\n

Candidates who are invited to apply for a CSQ will have 90 days to submit their application.<\/p>\n

Heurtel has said processing times for CSQ applications from QSWP candidates will be reduced to less than 12 months under the new system,\u00a0a welcome change from the 32-month processing time that applications filed in 2017 faced earlier this year.<\/p>\n

Anyone who receives a CSQ can then apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence.<\/p>\n

To find out if you are eligible for any Canadian immigration programs, fill out a free assessment form.<\/a><\/p>\n

The EOI advantage, and disadvantage<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Under the outgoing first-come, first-served model, candidates who did not qualify for cap-exempt status under the QSWP could only submit an application at specified times of the year \u2014 and only until a fixed quota was met.<\/p>\n

Now, anyone 18 or older can submit an EOI profile at any time.<\/p>\n

The possibility of Quebec favouring certain applications over others is one potential drawback of the move away from a first-come, first-served system, which ensured that all accepted applications were given a fair shake.<\/p>\n

David Heurtel\u00a0recently said on Twitter<\/a>\u00a0that the new system will help Quebec\u2019s immigration process perform better, all with an eye on the province\u2019s economy.<\/p>\n

\u201cQuebec\u2019s government is putting in place an immigration system that is cutting edge, effective and performance-driven; a system that\u2019s more in line with the actual needs of Quebec society and its labour market,\u201d Heurtel tweeted in French.<\/p>\n

Quebec\u2019s Liberal government has touted a reformed immigration system as key to addressing labour shortages that it says could leave as many as one million jobs unfilled over the next 10 years.<\/p>\n

Whereas immigration to other Canadian provinces and territories is managed jointly with Canada\u2019s federal government, Quebec\u2019s immigration system is largely independent and only relies on the Government of Canada to approve the candidates it selects for temporary or permanent residence.<\/p>\n

Changes to Quebec Experience Class also coming<\/h3>\n

Quebec also unveiled two significant changes to another of its economic immigration programs, the\u00a0Quebec Experience Program, or PEQ<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The PEQ is open to eligible candidates who recently obtained an eligible diploma from a recognized Quebec school or have 12 months of skilled work experience in the province in the last 24 months and are currently employed full-time in Quebec.<\/p>\n

Under the existing PEQ requirements, candidates were required to have work experience in occupations designated Skill Type O, Skill Level A or Skill Level B under Canada\u2019s National Occupational Classification (NOC).<\/p>\n

This requirement has now been removed, meaning candidates in occupations designated Skill Level C and Skill Level D may also be eligible to apply for CSQ through the Quebec Experience Program.<\/p>\n

In another key change to the PEQ, Quebec will now allow accompanying spouses and common-law partners of eligible candidates who are working in Quebec on open work permits to present themselves as the principal applicants on CSQ applications.<\/p>\n

The Quebec Skilled Worker Points Calculator<\/h4>\n

Obtain your potential Quebec Skilled Worker passing score with CanadaVisa\u2019s new\u00a0Quebec Skilled Worker Points Calculator<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Quebec has published more details about its new Expression of Interest system, which will manage the profiles of eligible Quebec …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":173172,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-173171","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-immigration","mauthors-stephen-smith-and-eman-katem","mauthors-cic-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/173171","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/33"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=173171"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/173171\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/173172"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=173171"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=173171"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=173171"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}