Quebec
Quebec is the largest province of Canada; Quebec has a lot to offer potential newcomers. Quebec has invested resources to ensure that when new families move to Quebec, they have the tools and resources they need to succeed. Newcomers to Quebec will find excellent integration services like free language training, employment counselling/training, free healthcare, heavily subsidized post-secondary educational institutions and free access to public schools.
Why Quebec?
Although Quebec determines the requirements for their Immigration programs, at the successful completion of any Quebec Immigration program the end result is the same, Canadian Permanent Residence. Since a Canadian Permanent Resident can live anywhere in Canada, the federal government still has to determine if you are medically or criminally inadmissible to Canada.
As a primarily French speaking region of Canada, some of the programs for Quebec require an intermediate level of French proficiency like the Quebec Experience Class program. In contrast, the Quebec Skilled Worker program does not specifically require French proficiency, but it can be an asset to your case.
QUEBEC IMMIGRATION HAS FOLLOWING PROGRAMS:
- The Quebec Skilled Worker (QSW) program
- The Quebec Experience Class program
- The Quebec Business/Entrepreneur Program
Quebec is First come First Served
First-come first-served is how Immigration Quebec currently accepts applicants. They will continue to accept applicants under a first-come first-served basis for 2015 but for 2016, things are not looking great. Immigration Quebec will likely abandon the first-come first-served model of accepting applicants and replace it with a system similar to the Express Entry model. Therefore, in all likelihood come 2016-2017, prospective newcomers applying to Quebec will have to compete with other applicants for their visa.
Developed by the Government of Quebec and the Canadian Federal Government, the Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP) enables highly educated and trained foreign nationals to immigrate to Quebec as skilled workers. Prospective immigrants who apply to the Skilled Worker Quebec Program are evaluated according to a selection grid of factors, and applicants who score enough points are given a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) which they can then use to apply for Canadian permanent residency.
UPDATE: A new 2018 Quebec Skilled Worker Program intake period (maximum 5,000 applications) should be announced shortly.
Quebec Skilled Worker Eligibility
Eligibility for the Immigration Skilled Worker Program is determined by nine selection factors as below:
- Education
- Work Experience
- Age
- Language Proficiency
- Characteristics of Spouse
- Financial Self-sufficiency
Quebec Skilled Worker Processing Fees: There is a mandatory Government processing fee for applying to the 2018 Quebec Skilled Worker Immigration Program.
- Main applicant – CAD $773
- Spouse or common-law partner – CAD $166
- Dependent children – CAD $166 each
Example: a family consisting of a husband and wife and two children would need to pay a Government of Quebec Skilled Worker Program fee of $1,271 ($773 + $166 + $166 + $166).
The minimum cutoff score for participating in the Quebec Canada Immigration Skilled Worker Program is 50 points for single applicants and 59 points for couples.
Quebec Immigration French Requirements
Immigration to Quebec without speaking French is possible through the QSW Program provided an applicant is awarded enough points from other categories of the selection grid to attain a passing score. French language proficiency is worth up to 16 points, so even if you are excellent at English, you will need to be very competitive in other categories to exceed the pass mark if you do not understand or speak French.
Immigrate to Other Canadian Provinces via the QSWP:
Under Canadian immigration rules, skilled immigrants who wish to reside in Montreal or other areas of Quebec are selected based on different criteria than those who wish to settle in the rest of Canada. This is why the Province of Quebec has its own skilled immigration program, officially called the “Regular Skilled Worker Program Quebec.” All Quebec Skilled Worker Program applicants should intend to reside in Quebec. Although the Quebec immigration program gives successful participants unconditional permanent residency in Canada, enabling them to live, work, and study in any Canadian city, it is specifically designed to attract skilled workers to the Province of Quebec. Individuals and families that do not genuinely wish to live in Quebec should not apply for the QSW Program. Instead, skilled workers who wish to reside outside of Quebec can consider applying to the Federal Skilled Worker Program Canada (FSW).
Quebec Skilled Worker Program Required Documents:
Individuals and families applying for the Quebec Canada Immigration Skilled Worker Program must support their application with supplementary documentation. In addition to the Quebec Skilled Worker application form (Immigration Quebec form A-0520-AA “Application for Selection Certificate – SKILLED WORKER”), the following supporting documents should also be included with a QSWP application.
- Photocopy of valid passport (showing issue date and expiry date)
- Photocopy of birth certificate
- Photocopy of marriage certificate, judgment of divorce, and/or certificate of death of spouse (if applicable)
- Photocopy of 2+ civil status documents attesting to de facto spouse status such as utility bill, shared bank account statements, mortgage or lease, etc. Documents must contain both names. (if applicable)
- Photocopy of valid residence permit if residing in country in which you are not a citizen (if applicable)
- Photocopy of proof of enrollment as a foreign student (if applicable)
- Original declaration of parental consent if child under 18 years of age will be accompanying you to Canada without the other parent. Consent must be made before a judge, magistrate, officer of the court, notary, Government employee or diplomatic representative from your country of citizenship. A certificate of death of the other parent, or a court judgment granting sole custody of the child to the accompanying parent will also suffice. (if applicable)
- Photocopy of adoption papers for accompanying child (if applicable)
- Original medical certificate indicating physical or mental incapacity of accompanying adult child (if applicable)
- Original passport-sized photos of all family members immigrating to Quebec
- Certified true copy of all degrees and diplomas, as well as all corresponding transcripts (if applicable)
- Photocopy of official work attestation for each job declared in your Quebec Skilled Worker application. Must be printed on company letterhead and contain detailed information about job duration, positions held, tasks performed, and hours worked per week. (if applicable)
- Photocopy of internship attestation on company letterhead and containing company contact information (if applicable)
- Certified true copy of all internship agreements completed as part of a study program
- Photocopy of documentation supporting your work as a self-employed person or contractor
- Photocopy of certificate of company registration (if applicable)
- Photocopy of documents demonstrating membership in a professional order (if applicable)
- Original or certified true copy of income tax return to prove legality of work experience
- Photocopy of professional practice permit in Quebec as well as authorization to practice a regulated trade in Quebec by local regulatory body (if applicable)
- Photocopy of certificate of competence or qualification by regulatory body in Quebec (if applicable)
- Photocopy of mutual recognition arrangement (ARM) eligibility for residents of France (if applicable)
- Photocopy of French language testing: TEF, TEFAQ, TEF Canada, TCF, TCFQ, DELF or DALF (if applicable)
- Photocopy of English language testing: IELTS (if applicable)
- Photocopy of proof of relationship with Quebec. Either a Quebec work permit or study permit, or proof of exemption for one, or passport stamps demonstrating a visit to Quebec. (if applicable)
- Photocopy of proof of family in Quebec. Birth certificate of family member domiciled in the province, as well as their valid Quebec healthcare card and Canadian passport or residency card. (if applicable)
If you have further queries, please contact us, our experts are here to guide at all levels. Send the following details now to info@worldoverseasimmigration.com and get Free of Charge Assessment from experts with years of experience in managing applications under the Quebec skilled worker program:
- Your updated resume
- If married, also resume of your spouse with clear mention of her age and qualifications
- If applicable, information on children and their age
- Have you at any time during qualification or work, learned French language? Follow us