전문인력이민 제도 변경 – 2008년 11월 28일

캐나다 연방 이민성 장관 Jason Kennedy 가 드디어 전문인력이민 제도 변경 시행을 발표하였습니다. 이번 발표한 변경안 ‘Action Plan for Faster Immigration’ 은 2008년 2월 27일 이후 신청한 분들 모두 해당이 되며, 그 이전에 신청하신 분들의 경우에는 기존 제도대로 심사가 진행됩니다. 다행스러운 것은 향후 전문인력이민 신청을 위해 현재 취업비자를 소지하여 근무하고 계시는 분들의 경우 우선처리대상 직종의 여부에 관계없이 1년 이상 취업비자 소지 근무 경력이 있다면 Faster Immigration 대상이 된다는 점입니다.

Action Plan for Faster Immigration 신청 대상자는,

* 의료보건, 기술직, 금융 및 자원추출 생산 업계에 해당되는 38개 직종에 해당되거나, 혹은 (who are in 38 high-demand occupations such as health, skilled trades, finance and resource extraction; or)

*Arranged employment 를 받았거나 캐나다 내에서 취업비자 소지 근로자 혹은 유학생(temporary foreign worker or international student)로서의 합법적인 신분으로 1년 이상 거주하고 있는 경우 (who have an offer of arranged employment or have already been living legally in Canada for one year as a temporary foreign worker or international student)

금번 변경안을 통해 연방 이민성은 전문인력이민의 수속기간이 6개월~1년으로 단축될 것을 기대하고 있습니다. 이외 최근 시행되기 시작한 CEC(Canadian Experience Case), 퀘백 전문인력이민, Live-in Caregiver 항목도 우선적으로 처리할 것이라고 합니다.

저희 베스트웨이 컨설팅에서는 전문인력이민의 우선처리대상 직종 발표 및 제도 변경 이전까지 신청을 유보시켰던 고객분들께 순차적으로 연락드리고 있습니다. 그리고, 2008년 2월 27일 이후 전문인력이민을 신청하셨던 분들 중에서 변경된 자격 요건에 해당이 되지 않는 분들께서는 연방 이민성으로부터 납입하셨던 접수비를 돌려 받으시게 될 것입니다. 이 분들께도 주정부 이민 혹은 취업비자 취득 등 다른 항목을 통한 신청 방법을 안내 상담 드리도록 하겠습니다.

새롭게 변경된 전문인력이민에 대해 자세한 상담을 원하시는 분들께서는 저희 1:1 상담실 혹은 전화상담을 이용하여 주시기 바랍니다.

아래는 Action Plan for Faster Immigration 발표 내용의 원문입니다. 참고 바랍니다.

Minister Kenney announces immigration levels for 2009; Issues instructions on processing federal skilled workers

Ottawa, November 28, 2008 — Canada will stay the course on immigration in 2009, welcoming between 240,000 and 265,000 new permanent residents, Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, announced today.

“While countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia are talking about taking fewer immigrants, our planned numbers for 2009 are on par with last year and are among the highest for this country over the past 15 years,” Minister Kenney said. “The numbers reflect a continued commitment to an immigration program that balances Canada’s economic, humanitarian and family reunification goals.”

The 2009 plan includes up to 156,600 immigrants in the economic category; 71,000 in the family category; and 37,400 in the humanitarian category.

Minister Kenney also announced another step in measures to improve the immigration program’s responsiveness to Canada’s labour market. Retroactive to February 27, 2008, the date specified by the Federal Budget, the Action Plan for Faster Immigration includes issuing instructions to visa officers reviewing new federal skilled worker applications to process those from candidates who:
·        are in 38 high-demand occupations such as health, skilled trades, finance and resource extraction; or ·         have an offer of arranged employment or have already been living legally in Canada for one year as a temporary foreign worker or international student.

The list of 38 occupations was developed after consultations with the provinces and territories, business, labour and other stakeholders. New federal skilled worker applications that do not meet the eligibility criteria outlined above will not be processed, and the application fee will be fully refunded. This, along with funds set aside in the 2008 Budget to improve the immigration system, will stop the backlog from growing and will start to draw it down.

“The eligibility criteria apply only to new federal skilled worker applicants and will not affect Canada’s family reunification or refugee protection goals,” said Minister Kenney. “Applicants who aren’t eligible for the federal skilled worker category may qualify under another category, such as the Provincial Nominee Program, or as temporary foreign workers, which could then put them on a path to permanent residency through the new Canadian Experience Class. There are many ways to immigrate to Canada.”

The Department has expanded its website in an effort to make it easier for people to navigate the range of immigration options open to them. The site now includes a specific section for employers (www.cic.gc.ca/employers) and a new interactive tool (www.cic.gc.ca/cometocanada) that matches information provided by potential applicants with immigration programs that best suit their circumstances.

“We expect new federal skilled worker applicants, including those with arranged employment, to receive a decision within six to 12 months compared with up to six years under the old system,” said Minister Kenney. “All other economic class applications—including applicants chosen by Quebec, provincial nominees, the Canadian Experience Class, and live-in caregivers—will continue to be given priority.”

These improvements, coupled with a number of recent initiatives that include the introduction of the Canadian Experience Class, bring Canada in line with two of its main competitors for highly skilled labour: Australia and New Zealand. Both of these countries have eliminated their backlogs and have systems that deliver final decisions for economic applicants within a year.

“The recent steps this Government has taken to improve our immigration system will help ensure that Canada remains competitive internationally and responsive to labour market needs domestically,” said Minister Kenney.