Total complete FSW Applications received as of July 27, 2011 | MI-3

As of July 27, 2011, Centralized Intake Office (CIO) have already received 413 applications toward the overall cap of of 10,000. Under Ministerial Instruction 3 (MI-3), there's a cap of 500 applications per occupation.

Eligible Occupation	Approximate Number of Complete Applications Received
0631 Restaurant and Food Service Managers	15
0811 Primary Production Managers (except Agriculture)	3
1122 Professional Occupations in Business Services to Management	187
1233 Insurance Adjusters and Claims Examiners	6
2121 Biologists and Related Scientists	12
2151 Architects	11
3111 Specialist Physicians	6
3112 General Practitioners and Family Physicians	4
3113 Dentists	7
3131 Pharmacists	13
3142 Physiotherapists	3
3152 Registered Nurses	78
3215 Medical Radiation Technologists	2
3222 Dental Hygienists and Dental Therapists	1
3233 Licensed Practical Nurses	3
4151 Psychologists	1
4152 Social Workers	14
6241 Chefs	6
6242 Cooks	7
7215 Contractors and Supervisors, Carpentry Trades	8
7216 Contractors and Supervisors, Mechanic Trades	8
7241 Electricians (except Industrial and Power System)	2
7242 Industrial Electricians	4
7251 Plumbers	1
7265 Welders and Related Machine Operators	2
7312 Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanics	4
7371 Crane Operators	0
7372 Drillers and Blasters – Surface Mining, Quarrying and Construction	0
8222 Supervisors, Oil and Gas Drilling and Service	5

Professional Occupations in Business Services to Management is still leading with 187 applications, followed by Registered Nurses with 78 applications.

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Pinoys in Manitoba, Canada Want Philippine Consulate in Winnipeg

There used to be a Philippine Consulate in Winnipeg, Manitoba. But due to Philippine Government's cost-cutting measure, and that there wasn't enough number of Filipino immigrants in the province to justify its existence, the consulate office was closed.

But there is an increasing demand for a Philippine Consulate in Manitoba.

Frustration levels were high as more than a thousand Filipinos waited in line to avail of the recent outreach services provided by the Toronto Philippine Consulate at the Canad Inns Garden City in Winnipeg.

Despite lining up as early as dawn on Saturday, July 9, some people wait many hours to renew Philippine passports or to process Special Power of Attorney (SPA) documents. Some were processed within five hours while some who arrived around 9:00 a.m. were still waiting at 10:30 that night. [Source: Filipino Express News Magazine]

Pilipino Express News Magazine is published by The Pilipino Express Inc., a Manitoba-based company that was incorporated in 2005. It is catering to the communication needs of the growing Filipino-Canadian community, not only in Manitoba, but also in other Canadian provinces.

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Temporary NBI Clearance Processing Centers

For those asking, here's the list of Temporary NBI Clearance Processing Centers where you may process your NBI Clearance as part of the requirements for Canada Visa Application.

Mega Data Corp. (MDC), the company that ran the clearance processing system at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for the longest time withdraw its systems after its contract ended on June 30, 2011. Unfortunately, the NBI was not prepared for this. Talk about foresight, not.

Expect long lines of people applying for NBI clearance so it is best if you go there really early.

Temporary NBI Clearance Processing Centers

NBI MAIN OFFICE, TAFT AVENUE MANILA
MONDAY TO FRIDAY - 7:00AM TO 5:00PM
SATURDAY - 10:00AM TO 7:00PM
No. of applicants that can be accommodated: 2,000 persons


ROBINSONS PLACE ERMITA (BASEMENT 1)
M. ADRIATICO COR. PEDRO GIL ST. ERMITA, MANILA
MONDAY TO FRIDAY - 8:00AM TO 5:00PM
SATURDAY - 10:00AM TO 7:00PM
No. of applicants that can be accommodated: 500 persons

ROBINSONS OTIS (LEVEL 2)
DR. PAZ MENDOZA GUANZON ST., PACO, MANILA
MONDAY TO FRIDAY - 8:00AM TO 5:00PM
SATURDAY - 10:00AM TO 7:00PM
No. of applicants that can be accommodated: 500 persons

ROBINSONS GALLERIA (EAST LANE, BASEMENT 1)
EDSA COR. ORTIGAS AVENUE, QUEZON CITY
MONDAY TO FRIDAY - 8:00AM TO 5:00PM
SATURDAY - 10:00AM TO 7:00PM
No. of applicants that can be accommodated: 500 persons


ROBINSONS METRO EAST PASIG (LEVEL 4)
MARCOS HIGHWAY, BRGY. DELA PAZ, PASIG CITY
MONDAY TO FRIDAY - 8:00AM TO 5:00PM
SATURDAY - 10:00AM TO 7:00PM
No. of applicants that can be accommodated: 500 persons

ROBINSONS CAINTA (LEVEL 2)
ORTIGAS AVENUE EXTENSION, JUNCTION CAINTA, RIZAL
MONDAY TO FRIDAY - 8:00AM TO 5:00PM
SATURDAY - 10:00AM TO 7:00PM
No. of applicants that can be accommodated: 500 persons

Ever Gotesco Grand Central (3rd floor, Cinema 5)
Rizal Avenue Extension (Monumento), Caloocan City
MONDAY TO FRIDAY - 8:00AM TO 5:00PM
SATURDAY - 10:00AM TO 7:00PM
No. of applicants that can be accommodated: 500 persons

Ever Gotesco Manila Plaza (3rd floor, Cinema 3)
C.M. Recto Avenue, Manila
MONDAY TO FRIDAY - 8:00AM TO 5:00PM
SATURDAY - 10:00AM TO 7:00PM
No. of applicants that can be accommodated: 500 persons

Please check the official National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) website for updates.

For those planning to send application to Centralized Intake Office (CIO), please note that police clearance may be submitted to Canadian Visa Office once you received a positive assessment from CIO.

Although highly recommended that you submit your application togther with the police clearance, you shouldn't let it delay the filing of your application. It now takes longer to get NBI clearance. Remember that there is a cap in the number of applications to be received by CIO. It's 500 per occupation. The longer you delay, the more you are risking your eligibility.

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Designated Medical Practitioners in Singapore | Medical Examination

So you filed your PR Visa application at the Canadian Visa Office Manila and you are now being required to undergo medical examination? There is no need to travel back to the Philippines just for the medical examination.

You can visit one of the following Designated Medical Practitioners in Singapore:

City	Address
Singapore	Name: Joel L. Da Costa No. 1 Grange Road, #10-11 Orchard Building, Singapore, 239693. Telephone: (65) 67378853
Singapore	Name: Michael T. S. Chua #17-01 Shaw Centre, 1 Scotts Road, Singapore, 228208. Telephone: (65) 67371377
Singapore	Name: Benoy K. Sen #06-24 Tanglin Shopping Centre, 19 Tanglin Road, Singapore, 247909. Telephone: (65) 62358253
Singapore	Name: Tian-Cho Tan #09-02 Robinson Towers, 30 Robinson Road, Singapore, 048546. Telephone: (65) 62249911

This list may not be updated so please contact them first. Or better yet, visit the Canadian Visa Office in Singapore's official website for the updated list.

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Ten-year multiple-entry visa | Visiting Canada

Citizneship and Immigration Canada will now be issuing a ten-year multiple-entry visa. This is good news for parents and grandparents with sponsorship applications in process. Businessmen visting canada will benefit from this too.

“More applications and higher expectations mean that Citizenship and Immigration Canada needs a more responsive and flexible processing system,” said Minister Kenney. “To achieve that, the Department is providing applicants and staff with the right tools to deliver on those expectations.”

Citizens of certain countries require a visa to come to Canada temporarily. Currently, the maximum validity period of a multiple-entry visa is five years. However, increasingly, countries are issuing passports which are valid for ten years. In light of this, CIC is changing its policy for visa issuance. Where applicants apply for multiple-entry visas, they may now be issued to the maximum validity according to the length of the passport validity (up to ten years, minus one month). [Source]

Will Filipino applicants be given 10-year multiple-entry visa too? Unlikely. The Visa Office in Manila normally gives only 2-year multiple entry visa during the time that the maximum allowed is 5 years. Another reason why it is impossible is because our passports are valid only for 5 years.

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Total Number of FSW Applications Received as of July 21, 2011 | MI-3

Here's the total numebrs of FSW applications received under MI-3 as of July 21, 2011, It's the first update since the Centralized Intake Office stared to accept MI-3 applications on July 1, 2011.

Eligible Occupation	Approximate Number of Complete Applications Received
0631 Restaurant and Food Service Managers	5
0811 Primary Production Managers (except Agriculture)	2
1122 Professional Occupations in Business Services to Management	52
1233 Insurance Adjusters and Claims Examiners	3
2121 Biologists and Related Scientists	5
2151 Architects	7
3111 Specialist Physicians	3
3112 General Practitioners and Family Physicians	3
3113 Dentists	3
3131 Pharmacists	4
3142 Physiotherapists	2
3152 Registered Nurses	26
3215 Medical Radiation Technologists	1
3222 Dental Hygienists and Dental Therapists	1
3233 Licensed Practical Nurses	3
4151 Psychologists	1
4152 Social Workers	10
6241 Chefs	3
6242 Cooks	4
7215 Contractors and Supervisors, Carpentry Trades	4
7216 Contractors and Supervisors, Mechanic Trades	3
7241 Electricians (except Industrial and Power System)	0
7242 Industrial Electricians	2
7251 Plumbers	0
7265 Welders and Related Machine Operators	2
7312 Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanics	3
7371 Crane Operators	0
7372 Drillers and Blasters – Surface Mining, Quarrying and Construction	0
8222 Supervisors, Oil and Gas Drilling and Service	3

Just like last year, it looks like Professional Occupations in Business Services to Management will be the first to reach the cap and followed by Registered Nurses.

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Canadian Language Benchmarks | FSW Language Points System

Most applicants were expecting changes to be introduced through Ministerial Instruction 3 (MI-3) but there wasn't any. Well, except for the reduction in numbers of applications to be received and just recently the new applications forms and guidlines. But the proposed changes in FSW Points System was not implemented. Not yet.

Last week, there's this client who thinks he know better and insisted that there were changes in the Language criteria, specifically in calculating your points using your IELTS score. According to him, to get 4 points for Listening, Writing, Reading and Speaking, one must have at least scored 8.

His reference is the Canadian Language Benchmark 8.

After explaining to him what Benchmark 8 means, he then realized his mistake.

Then yesterday night, another client came to the office and was also insisting that there were changes in the IELTS score points system. She was so confident and was telling me she would no longer file her application because she can't get the IELTS Benchmark 8.

I am also receiving several emails asking about this Language Benchmark 8. It appears that some applicants are being confused with what they read from the official Citizneship ang Immigration Canada website.

I hope this post will help clarify the confusion.

First, what are the Canadian Language Benchmarks?

The Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) are the national standard used in Canada for describing, measuring and recognizing the English language proficiency of adult immigrants and prospective immigrants for living and working in Canada.

The Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks (CCLB) promotes and supports the recognition and use of the CLB as a practical, fair and reliable national standard of second language proficiency in educational, training, community and workplace settings.

The CLB provide a descriptive scale of communicative proficiency in English as a Second Language, expressed as benchmarks or reference points. They cover four skill areas: reading, writing, speaking and listening, and use real life language tasks to measure language skills.

The CLB provide a framework of reference for learning, teaching, programming and assessing adult English as a Second Language in Canada, a national standard for planning second language curricula for a variety of contexts, and a common "yardstick" for assessing the outcomes. [Source]

The CLB's 12 benchmarks are divided into 3 parts:

Stage I: Basic Proficiency (Levels 1-4)
Stage II: Intermediate Proficiency (Levels 5-8)
Sage III: Advanced Proficiency (Levels 9-12)

Canadian Language Benchmark 8 is not equal to IELTS Score of 8. There are no changes in the IELTS Score Points System.

To get 4 points for Listening, your score must be at least 7.5. To get 4 points each for Writing, Reading and Speaking, you need to get at least 6.5. And it should be General Training module.

The problem with CIC official website is that the page where they explain the language factor is that they provided a link to explain the Canadian Language Benchmark and its description but there's no link to the page where they explain how to compute your points using your IELTS Score.

I'm providing the link here for your reference: http://www.cic.gc.ca/English/information/applications/guides/EG72.asp#results.

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Immigration Entry Assessment Fee | Cascadia Hotel and Suites Scam

From Canadian Immigration Consultancy Facebook Page, somebody posted a question on how to pay the Immigration Entry Assessment Fee. According to him, he is a direct hire and is being required to pay the £380 assessment fee to continue the process. I suspected right away that it's just a scam. So I asked him what's the name of the employer and he said it's Cascadia Hotel and Suites Vancouver in British Columbia.

I then asked him to forward at least one of the email messages he received from the employer, including the email address used for me to be certain. Here's the one of the emails he received:

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC)
Vancouver Citizenship and Immigration Centre
1148 Hornby Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2C3
1-888-242-2100

From: cic canada cic_immigration.ca@lawyer.com

Attention Applicant,

Canada immigration lawyers provide information on Canadian immigration and employment services and Canada visa (s). Information on Canada job search, Canada immigration for skilled and unskilled worker, and economic class migrants including investment visa, temporary residence permit, study in Canada visa permit (Study Canada)

Our mandate is to protect the consumers of immigration consulting services and ensure the competent and professional conduct of her members, assessment for migration to Canada, US, UK and HSMP in program. We have our administrative offices around the globe. We have been Chosen to handle group/participant from around the globe as regard entry into Canada and the UK.

We the members and board of the Canada Immigration Lawyers, are inspired to take charge of all Candidates for re-allocating, and working abroad or subject to the Cascadia Hotel & Resort in accord with your file as regard your entering into Canada. Candidates are therefore expected to reach us with the following requirement for your approval letter which you will take to the Embassy for your visa procurement.

Please be inform that your Embassy Appointment date will be scheduled With the Canadian Embassy as soon as your file is approved for entry. We therefore advice that you endeavor to reach us with your entry requirements so we can proceed with your approval entry authorization and all necessary arrangements with the Embassy. Important Note: Without your file approval, contact cannot be made with the Embassy for your appointment date with the Embassy.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

A) Contract Agreement Letter from the Cascadia Hotel and Resort RECEIVED
B) A passport photograph attach to this form that will be placed in your file which will be send to the Labor Department for an official approval for your entry permit (those far from Canada).
C) Immigration Entry Assessment Fee £380 GBPounds only see attachment. In word (Three Hundred and Eighty Great British Pounds Only).


However you are expected to download the payment form to open, print-out, fill and return same to us along with an official immigration consultant fee of £380 Great British Pounds. Meanwhile, if you are applying from a distance place-you should endeavor to reach us with the above mentioned requirements via email as these will enable us speed up your screening process.

Applicant should have it in-mind that all process from this office will proceed and end within 29hrs of receiving. Any CSIC screening forms received, without the official assessment fees of £380 Great British Pounds will not be given further attention. Our mode of payment is as follows: -

All applicants applying from outside Canada, USA, and Europe except South America are expected to send their immigration clearance fee to the Zonal Coordinators department office in United Kingdom, as inline to Protocol. Payment should be made to the Accounts Officer, through Western Union or Money Gram Money

See Below

B) PAYMENT DIRECTIVE
Western Union Money Transfer
Name of Account Clerk;
Address Money Send to:

Name of Cashier : Mr. Philip West
Address Money Send to : Lunar House 40 Wellesley Road,
Croydon, Surrey CR9 2BY
United Kingdom.
E-mail :office_coordinator@infobritish.co.uk

You should endeavor to send your immigration assessment fee with all instruction on or before 20TH July 2011. Payment transfer slip should be forwarded to us immediately payment is made and a copy to your Zonal Coordinator.

Endeavor to reach your Zonal Coordinator with your assessment fee on or before the 20 -07- 2011. Finally Candidates who could not send the entry requirements should write a letter of withdrawal so we can terminate your visa application process as inline to the Canadian immigration entry regulation.


Refundable Policy;
Note that refundable policy is made available to all applicants that has paid and could no longer continue due to unexpected or ill health.


Your compliance is our Watch Word,
ADRIAN D. HUZEL
Canadian Immigration Lawyers Services,
Canadian Society of Immigration Consultant (CSIC)

It is no doubt one of those online scam. Most of the time they use names of a legitimate companies and lawyers but with a fake free email account.

If you received a similar offer Cascadia Hotel and Suites Vancouver, you may contact the real Cascadia Hotel from their official website: www.cascadiahotelvancouver.com

To legally work in Canada, you don't to get in touch with a Zonal Coordinator for the Immigration Entry Assessment Fee.

Be informed. Don't be a victim. Spread the word. Let's fight online scam!

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New Forms and Information Guide Effective July 18, 2011 | PR Visa applicants

As of July 18, 2011, applicants for Permanent Residence are asked by Citizenship ang Immigration Canada to complete the new Generic Application Form for Canada (IMM 0008).

The new form can be completed electronically and must be validated to generate 2D barcodes before printing. For Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program applicants planning to submit application to Centralized Intake Office (CIO), you MAY still use the old forms until November 14, 2011.

New forms and an updated Instruction Guide and Document Checklist (IMM 5612) are now available. Applicants should follow the new Instruction Guide when preparing to submit an application

Applications that are received by the Centralized Intake Office (CIO) on or after November 14, 2011 that have not been prepared using the updated Instruction Guide and the Document Checklist (IMM 5612), will be returned as incomplete. [Source]

If your documents and application forms are now ready for filing, it is technically ok to submit your application ASAP, considering the limit on the number of applications to be received for MI-3.

However, if it will not cause much delay to complete the forms and checklist under the new Instruction Guide, it would be best to use the new forms. Considering the inconsistencies and apparent disregard of Citizenship and Immigration Canada for its own rules we've seen in the past, one shouldn't take that risk.

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MI-3 Total Number of Applications Received | Federal Skilled Worker program

As of this writing, the total number of applications received since July 1, 2011 is not yet released by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). It's interesting to know how many applications were already received for the past two weeks.

I will be posting a regular update on the number of applications received by CIC as it becomes available. You may subscribe via email to receive an update delivered in your email inbox.

Or simply click here to check the updates from the official Citizenship and Immigration Canada website.

UPDATE:
Total number of applications received as of July 21, 2011

Received as July 29, 2011

Received as August 2, 2011

Received as of August 3, 2011

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MPNP Family Support Stream | Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program

Immigrating to Manitoba, Canada through MPNP Family Support Stream?

Whirlpool Lake, Manitoba (Image Ceredit: www.canada.travel)

Here are the basic qualifications for Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) Family Support Stream:

Age. Must be between the ages of 21 and 49

Education. You have completed minimum of one year post secondary educational or training program and received a diploma, certificate or degree

Work Experience. You have minimum of 2 years of full time work experience within the past 5 years. There is currently no restricted occupations.

Language Ability. IELTS General Training Exam Result not lower than 5 or proof of English language proficiency from school and employer. Best to take the IELTS.

Adaptability. You must be able to establish your intention and ability to successfully establish in Manitoba based on your connection in the province (i.e. support from qualified family/relatives in Manitoba). You must also be able to convince the visa officer that you are employable in Manitoba.

Close family/relative in Manitoba is defined as mother/father, son/daughter/, sister/brother, aunt/uncle, niece/nephew, grandparent or first cousin (your aunt/uncle's son/daughter).

Other streams under Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program are the General Stream, Employer Stream and Strategic Initiative.

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DOLE Approval for Canada-bound Filipino Caregivers | New OEC Requirements

After the new POLO Requirements for Filipino Caregivers bound for Canada which disappointed many applicants and employers, here comes another requirement before an Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) would be issued- Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) approval.

According to some members of this online forum, a new rule, requiring DOLE Approval, was suddenly implemented that caused delay in issuance of their OEC. In some cases, some applicants had to rebook their flight as a result.

To be honest, I'm not sure if it's official. I can't see the circular from DOLE and POEA websites. But if some applicants actually experienced this, then it must be official. And this could mean additional fees to be paid by the applicants. Amazing, really. If this is the daang matuwid that PNoy promised, good luck to us!

Will post more details once I got the official reference.

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Canada's Live-in Caregiver Program Put On Hold?

Recently, I've been receiving some emails from my blog readers asking if Citizenship and Immigration Canada actually stopped accepting Live-in Caregiver applications. Some others were asking if Live-in Caregivers can no longer apply for Permanent Residence even after completing the 2 years experience in Canada. And then this morning, I received this message from twitter.


It appears that even those with visas already are being held. Is Canada's Live-in Caregiver Program On Hold?

First, I am not aware of official policy that stops acceptance of Live-in Caregiver Program applications. In fact, just last week, we received an acknowledgement letter(File No)from the Canadian Visa Office in Manila for one of our LCP clients.

These are some of the possible reasons why a Filipino Live-in Caregiver bound for Canada may be barred from leaving:

Overeseas Employment Certificate Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) serves as the Overseas Filipino Worker's travel exit clearance at the airport and immigration counters. Without OEC, a caregiver bound for Canada or any other country will be allowed to leave the Philippines.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

POLO's New Condition for Live-in Caregivers Even if you already have the Temporary Resident Visa, you won't be allowed to leave the Philippines without the clearance from Philippine Overseas Labour Office (POLO). Your employment contract must be validated by POLO before you will be issued an OEC.

I'm still waiting for additional information regarding those cases that were held. Will update this post later.

UPDATE: DOLE Approval required before OEC issuance

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July 2011 Visa Bulletin

Image Credit: http://inkedbydw.wordpress.com

Opportunity knocks only once, they say. But opportunity knocks twice, sometimes.

July 2011 Visa Bulletin is now out!

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Live and Work in Canada Information Seminar | July 16, 2011 Angeles City

This coming Saturday, July 16, 2011, I will be going to Angeles City to personally deliver the visa of two clients who live there. One is a dentist and the other is a nurse. They both filed under Ministerial Instruction 2 (MI-2) and both of their applications were processed in less than a year!

Do you want to live and work in Canada, too?

Click Here to Reserve a Seat and attend the Live and Work in Canada Information Seminar I will do this coming Saturday, July 16, 2011, 4pm in Angles City. Registration fee is P500/head.

Venue will be at:

CIC Satellite Office - Angeles City
3rd Floor GM Building
Carlota de Leon St
Sta. Teresita, Angeles City

Reserve a Seat NOW!

Processing period for Federal Skilled Worker is still 6-12 months. If you are seriously planning to live and work in Canada, you must not waste time. Citizenship and Immigration Canada will only accept a limited number of applications for the next twelve months. The longer you delay your decision, the more you are risking your eligibility.

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MI-1 Applications Now Moving | Medical Notice and RPRF Payment Request

Yesterday, we received medical examination notices and Right of Permanent Resident Fee payment instructions for 52 clients, some of which were filed filed under Ministerial Instruction 1 (MI-1). Apparently, Canadian Visa Office in Manila has started to process applications filed under MI-1 again.

These MI-1 applicants that recently received notices submitted application package to Canadian Visa Office Manila between the period July and August 2010. Interestingly, most of them are nurses.

This is just a quick post for the information of MI-1 applicants out there. They are those whose applications were received by Centralized Intake Office (CIO) between February 27, 2008 and June 25, 2010.

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MI-3 Federal Skilled Worker Program | New Procedures and Requirements

When Citizenship and Immigration Canada announced few days ago that the 29 in-demand occupations would be extended for another year, it also stated that they will release the new procedures and requirements for Federal Skilled Worker Program. Today, Citizenship and Immigration Canada published on its official website the procedures and requirements for the said program.

It turned out that the only change in the program is the number of applications to be received from 20,000 down to 10,000 and the cap set for each occupations from 1,000 to 500. These limits do not apply to applications with an offer of arranged employment.

The proposed changes changes to FWS Points System was not implemented. The 6 selection criteria remained the same.

The application forms and checklist remains the same. Application must still be sent to Centralized Intake Office (CIO) and will be processed within 6-12 months.

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