Skilled Worker applicants will generally be required to prove that they have CAD$10,000, plus CAD$2,000 per accompanying dependent. They are expected to be able to support the landed family (the principal applicant and all accompanying dependents) until employment is obtained. New immigration bill will change the minimum amount required.

If you have a family living in Canada or US a notarized offer of support may be adequate. This however is at the discretion of the Visa officer.

Skilled Worker applicants will be awarded bonus points if the close relative is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and over the age of 19 years. The applicant is then referred to as an "assisted relative". To qualify as a close relative, the Canadian citizen or permanent resident must be the applicant's uncle, aunt, brother, sister, parent, nephew or niece.

Note: The chances of immigration increase if you have a close relation other than the one listed above in Canada.

Work experience is a critical requirement for a Skilled Worker immigrant. Applicants must be able to demonstrate more than one year's work experience in an occupation appearing on the General occupation list (See excel spread sheet). Work experience should be accumulated after the completion of a formal education or apprenticeship in the field of occupation, or in a related field of occupation.

Applicants with arranged employment in Canada are exempt from the work experience requirement. Arranged employment is not an easy process and should be avoided as far as possible.

Part-time is acceptable. It is assessed in proportion to a standard full-time working week. For example, a two-year part-time position requiring approximately 20 hours of work each week, will be counted as one year of full-time experience.

Non-consecutive work experience in positions involving the same duties may also be counted, if the total work experience meets the minimum experience requirements.

Under the "transferability of experience" rules, experience gained in another profession counts toward the assessment of experience in the intended occupation in Canada, only if the duties performed in the former profession are consistent with those associated with the intended occupation.

Experience gained as part of post-graduate studies may be credited towards the occupational experience in some cases.

Teaching occupations do not appear on the General Occupations List, so teaching experience, even at a post-graduate level, is not credited.

The assessment of experience gained, as part of post-graduate studies is highly discretionary, and should therefore be presented in a manner strictly consistent with the advice of a Bridge2Canada delegate.

NO.