CANADA: Expansion of the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)

On November 3, 2011, Canada's immigration and citizenship authority, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), announced its plans to expand its Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP).  In 2012, the CIC will grant permanent residency up to 57,000 federally skilled workers under the FSWP.  This is a significant increase from the 47,000 figure reported in 2011.

Under Canada's FSWP, skilled foreign workers can become permanent residents by demonstrating their ability to become economically stable in Canada. Specifically, applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements.

• The applicant must have a valid offer of permanent employment from a current or prospective Canadian employer.

OR

• The applicant must have one (1) year of continuous full-time paid work experience in at least one of the eligible occupations.

OR

• The applicant must be an international student enrolled in a PhD program in Canada (or graduated from a Canadian PhD program within the past 12 months).

By granting permanent residence to 57,000 federal skilled foreign workers in 2012, the Canadian government is acting on its belief that the contributions of a larger, skilled foreign workforce will not only enrich the economy but also further establish Canada's competitiveness within the international marketplace.