Immigration.ca - Canada Immigration News - August 2012
Starting in January of 2013, the point system for Canada�s Federal Skilled Worker Immigration Program will use a new schema to award points to applicants.
The retooling, announced by the federal government this week, is the first major change to the points system in a decade. Applicants will still need to obtain a minimum 67 points in order to qualify, but the points will be weighted differently to place more emphasis on language and credentials.
The changes would also favour youth, narrowing the age range applicable for the maximum number of points. Now only applicants 18-35 would receive the maximum 12 points. Applicants over the age of 46 would get zero points.
Furthermore, the most points are now allocated to language (maximum 28) and less points awarded for work experience abroad, as Canadian employers rarely consider it to be the equivalent of having experience within the country.
�These changes will reflect the relative value Canadian employers place on foreign work experience, and redirect points to language and age factors, which are better indicators of success,� argues the government.
Applicants whose occupations are regulated, such as doctors and accountants, would have to include foreign credential assessments with their applications.
Sources: Toronto Star
Canada Gazette
