Change in regulations make it tougher for migrants
NEW RULES END CANADA DREAMS
By Daniel James
CANADA HAS introduced tough new regulations making it harder for migrants to qualify.
The changes, which came into force on May 1, mean that applicants must demonstrate a link between their education, training and professional in order to be accepted.
For example, those who qualified in one area but have pursued a career in another may not score enough points to qualify as migrant.
The new system is largely based on the educational requirements that the government of Canada has determined to be necessary for particular occupations, rather than the applicant's actual skills based on their work experience and/or studies.
In order words, even if you're already doing the job, if you don't have a matching qualification you can't do it in Canada.
"This new system exclude applicants who would otherwise have been able to contribute to Canadian society and easily integrate and obtain employment in their fields," commented Mitchell Brownstein, of Canadian immigration consultants Brownstein, Brownstein & Associates.
"I believe that it is flawed in measuring the likelihood of success of an immigrant in their contribution to Canadian society. A selection process which is employability driven will fare better in determining the applicant's integration (potential)."
Another immigration consultant was equally critical.
"The changes cut out people with "life skills", said Catherine Keogan of M&M Consultants (Canada). "It is now necessary to have a combination of factors that must work together in order to have a realistic chance of getting in."
Previously applicants were awarded up to 15 points for their education even if it was completely irrelevant to their eventual career, added Ms. Keogan.
"If they additionally spoke French and had a relative in Canada they would score enough points to qualify for migration - even if they did not possess any real skills and have no contribution to make to the country.
"Now your occupation must comprise a level of education and training relevant to that you qualified in. It has certainly tightened up the procedure and now automatically takes out professions of a lower order."
This is bad news for people with good skills who had set their hearts on migrating to Canada and previously would have got in.
"Realistically, however, you have to realise that Canada receives thousands more applications than it can accept and can afford to pick and choose," said Ms. Keogan.
"This means that some good people are left by the wayside, but is a small price to pay in order to get the cream of the applicants."
It also makes it impossible for applicants to assess themselves. Previously the Canadian High Commission sent a self-assessment kit to all potential migrants. Now that the evaluation process is more complex it is no longer possible for would-be migrants to calculate their own points.
But Robert Orr, head of the immigration division at London's Canadian High Commission, maintains that the new system represents simply a technical administrative change.
"It has always been a requirement that an applicant's qualification matches their chosen occupation." he insisted. "This is not a new development at all.
"The selection criteria has not changed. Up-to-date assessment of occupation - using the National Occupation Classification system - brings immigration procedures into line with the assessment of occupations which is already used by many Canadian organisations and federal and provincial governments."
Mr. Orr also maintains that the new system provides a better tool with which to assess the education and training of applicants.
"At the moment we are still assessing applicants based on a system introduced in 1971. This new system will provide a better reflection of today's labour market."
