10 PHILIPPINE ASIAN NEWS TODAY June 1 - 15 , 2017
The Notary Corner
By Editha Corrales Nelson Immigration Consultant , Notary Public , Mediation / Arbitrator
Learn about credential assessment in Canada
Ottawa ,— The Honourable Ahmed Hussen , Minister of Immigration , Refugees and Citizenship , issued the following statement :
“ The Government of Canada tabled a motion to move forward with Bill C-6 so that we may amend the Citizenship Act to make it easier for eligible immigrants to meet the requirements for citizenship and build successful lives in Canada .
“ I ’ d like to thank the Senate for their hard work and dedication in reviewing Bill C-6 to make it even stronger and for providing an example of productive collaboration on strengthening important legislation . The Government remains deeply committed to the timely passage of this significant Bill .
“ On May 3rd , the Senate returned Bill C-6 to the House of
You will need to have the education , work experience or professional credentials you received outside Canada assessed if you are :
• immigrating to Canada as a Federal Skilled Worker
• coming to Canada to work in specific professions or trades , or
• coming to Canada to study , Credential assessment will help you :
• see whether your credentials are equal to the standards set for Canadian workers
• find out whether you need more training , education or Canadian work experience
• understand the types of jobs for which you might be qualified
• help employers understand your qualifications
You can start the credential assessment and recognition process before you arrive in Canada . This takes time and costs money .
1 . To immigrate as a Federal Skilled Worker ( FSW )
To apply to the Federal Skilled Worker Program ( FSWP ), you must get an Educational Credential Assessment ( ECA ) of your completed foreign educational credentials .
An ECA is used to verify whether your :
• foreign degree ,
• diploma ,
• certificate , or
• other proof of your credential . is valid and equal to a completed credential in Canada for the purpose of immigrating to Canada .
Remember that you will also have to have your skills and training assessed to work in particular jobs in Canada .
2 . To work in some jobs in Canada , including certain trades
Reminder : No matter which type of job you are looking for , make sure you have the language skills needed . Even if you have the language skills needed to immigrate to Canada , those skills may not be strong enough to work in your preferred profession .
There are two types of occupations in Canada : regulated ( including trades ) and non-regulated .
Regulated occupations , including trades
A regulated occupation ( for example , architect , engineer or plumber ) is controlled by provincial and territorial ( and sometimes federal ) law and governed by a regulatory body or apprenticeship authority . They are also called professions , skilled trades or apprenticeable trades . These jobs are regulated to protect public health and safety , and to make sure that people working in those jobs are qualified . About 20 percent of jobs in Canada are regulated .
A regulatory body usually assesses credential recognition . Check with the regulatory body or other organization for your occupation to find out whether you need an assessment . They can tell you which credential assessment agency you should use . You can find contact information for your regulatory body on Job Bank . You can also check their website to find information about :
• licensing ,
• eligibility ,
• the recognition process , and
• fees .
To work in a regulated occupation and use a regulated title , you must :
• have a licence or
• a certificate or
• be registered with the regulatory body for your occupation in the province or territory where you want to work .
Each regulated occupation has its own requirements for getting a licence or certificate . Requirements can be different between provinces and territories . Requirements for entry usually include :
• An assessment of your training and skills against the profession ’ s standards by comparing your original academic transcripts and other related documents , such as university course descriptions , with the training provided by Canadian colleges and universities
• Written examinations , an interview or both
• An evaluation of your language and communication skills
• A specified period of supervised work experience
You will be evaluated as an individual . Do not compare your experience directly with that of someone else . You must understand the requirements as they apply to your own situation in the province or territory where you intend to work .
If you want to work in a trade ( carpenter , electrician , bakers ), visit Red Seal for more details about the training , skills and experience you will need to meet . As a tradesperson , you may be eligible to immigrate through the Federal Skilled Trades Program .
In Canada , some provinces and territories regulate certain professions and trades while others do not . If you have a licence to work in one province or territory , it may not be accepted in others . Non-regulated occupations Some employers require that job applicants be registered or certified by the relevant professional association . Credential assessment and recognition helps Canadian employers understand your qualifications .
Job requirements can vary greatly between employers . Be prepared to prove that you have the education or experience to do the job . You may have to :
• demonstrate a certain level of skill and competence ,
• have a specific amount of education , and
• have personal characteristics suitable for the job .
A credential assessment agency can assess your educational credentials for a fee . You may include this information in your résumé or curriculum vitæ ( CV ). 3 . To study If you plan to study in Canada , you will need to have your educational credentials assessed . Some post-secondary schools can do the assessment . In other cases you will need to go to an assessment agency . Contact the post-secondary school you want to attend in
WWW . PHILIPPINEASIANNEWSTODAY . COM
Canada to find out what kind of assessment they require and accept . Then , contact the assessment agency recommended by the school you want to attend , if required .
Assessment agencies can compare your academic credentials with similar ones in Canada ’ s post-secondary educational system . Assessments done by assessment agencies help employers , post-secondary institutions , and professional bodies understand your academic background . They do not guarantee recognition of your qualifications for employment or certification / licensing purposes in Canada or further study in a Canadian post secondary institution . These agencies charge a fee for their services .
Note : Having your educational credentials recognized to immigrate to Canada as a Federal Skilled Worker , to qualify to work in a particular occupation ( including getting a license ), and to find a job are each separate processes .
Be aware that the words credentials , competencies and qualifications may often appear to have the same meaning , but in Canada have specific definitions . ** Strictly taken from www . cic . gc . ca
A Canadian Certified Immigration Consultant , Certified Senior Advisor and a Notary Public in the City of Burnaby , Editha Corrales Nelson ’ s preferred areas of practice are Powers of Attorney , Wills Preparation , International Legal Documents , Name Changes , Affidavits , Letters of Invitation , Statutory Declarations , Drafting of Business Contracts and other notarial services . For an appointment , please call : 604-777-2757 .
The following should not be construed as providing legal advice and information in this column is intended only as a general guide and should not be applied to specific circumstances without further consultation . For more information on the subject , contact Editha Corrales Nelson at 604-777-2757 or email : corrales @ shaw . ca . ●
Statement by Minister Hussen on advancing Bill amend the Citizenship Act
The Honourable Ahmed Hussen
Commons for further consideration after adopting three amendments .
“ The Government supports the Senate amendment , with modifications , to improve the current citizenship revocation decision-making process so that the Federal Court becomes the decision-maker in most cases . This amendment recognizes the Government ’ s commitment to enhancing the citizenship revocation process to strengthen procedural fairness , while ensuring that the integrity of our citizenship program is maintained .
“ The Government also supports the amendment to make it easier for children to obtain citizenship without a Canadian parent and has made changes to clarify who can apply for citizenship on behalf of the child .
“ The Government does not support the amendment to increase the upper age for citizenship language and knowledge requirements from 54 years to 59 years , as this is not in line with Bill C-6 ’ s intent to make it easier for eligible immigrants , including both younger and older eligible immigrants , to obtain citizenship .
“ The Government is also rejecting the amendment that would have all individuals who committed fraud retain permanent resident status as an outcome , regardless of what stage in the citizenship process the fraud was committed at , thereby not rewarding the fraud with status that should not have been received in the first place .” ●