Additional 5,000 Canadian visa applications to be accepted by Quebec in June

Ms. Kathleen Weil, Minister for Immigration, Diversity and Inclusion (MIDI) of Quebec, has said that beginning 13 June, 2016, about 5,000 visa applications for skilled workers will be accepted under QSWP (Quebec Skilled Worker Program). Another round in the later part of the year will see 5,000 more visa applications being accepted.

This announcement was necessitated as over 42,000 visa applications for skilled workers available since 26 February, 2016, were not filed through the visa gateway available online. It is opined that in future, Quebec would implement an economic immigration system, which is akin to the immigration system applicable in the rest of Canada. This system requires applicants initially to announce a 'Declaration of Interest,' on the basis of which they may be chosen for further process with immigration applications.

MIDI, meanwhile, has released some more information for the applicants with regard to QSWP. Applicants can submit applications for their CSQ, also known as Quebec Certificate of Selection, following creation of their online user accounts from 13 June to 20 June, 2016, and pay the necessary fees. During this period, only up to 5,000 applications will be accepted on a first-come-first-served basis.

The next period for receiving applications has been tentatively set between 20 June to 31 March, 2016. Here too, applicants with online user accounts can submit their application for a CSQ by paying the requisite fee. The cap for applications has been set at 5,000 on a first-come-first-served basis during this period too.

QSWP applications not sent during the above-mentioned periods will not be considered eligible, but those having eligibility as per the Quebec Experience Program, or having an authentic employment offer, are not bound by these time periods for applying. In addition, those having an official work permit or a valid study authorisation are also not subject to these time restrictions.

Under the QSWP visa programme, there are more than 75 occupations for which applications can be sent in for, in addition to training areas that offer eligibility to applicants under CSQ without a valid job offer.

The mission of QSWP is to select candidates who are most likely to have the potential to be successfully eligible for economic settlement.

It is an exciting opportunity for skilled workers from India wishing to migrate to Canada, as it gets ready to welcome more immigrants into its fold.