The province of Quebec announced yesterday (Wednesday, July 18, 2018) new rules for its QSWP Qualified Candidates selection system, including a commitment to reduce order processing time to less than 12 months.

The new program will follow similar rules with provinces that have recently announced that they will work based on Expression of Interest (EOI) and manage the profiles of eligible applicants. The EOI will replace Québec’s current qualified application processing system, which previously operated on the first-come-first-served system (date of paperwork submission).

Under the new rules, which will come into effect on August 2, 2018, any interested candidate will have to submit an online profile, such as the Federal Express Entry, and apply through the EOI to the Quebec Immigration (independent of the Federal Government of Canada). This is the first phase of the process.

In its second phase, the submitted profiles that are within the prerequisites of the Provincial Government, financial resources and education, will be analyzed by a next screen, called the Factor of Employability. At this stage of the process, eligible candidates must score at least 43 ranking points on all other factors. The government of Quebec has already said that the job offer of an employer of the province is an additional, but it is not mandatory.

The third phase, called Selection, will count the approval score of 50 points (59 in the case of couples). This last selection takes into account all the requirements together, including employability, addition of children and financial sufficiency. Applicants with professional experience in occupations in identified demand in some more peripheral region of the territory may be placed at the top of the selection list in the new system.

The Québec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP), developed by the Government of Quebec and the Federal Government of Canada, allows highly skilled and skilled foreigners to immigrate to Québec as skilled workers. Potential immigrants applying for the QSWP are evaluated according to a factor selection grid, and candidates who score enough receive a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) that they can use to apply for the Canadian Permanent Residence.

UPDATE: A new registration and enrollment period in 2018 for the Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP) is expected to be announced shortly, with a call for a maximum of 5,000 applicants who may be selected by the Province.

Eligibility for the Qualified Quebec Immigration Worker Program is determined by 9 (nine) selection factors. The QSWP points are awarded in accordance with these selection criteria of the Quebec Immigration Agency in order to identify which possible immigrants are most likely to prosper economically once in Quebec.

To qualify for immigration to Canada as a qualified worker selected by Quebec, a single candidate must score at least 50 points. Potential immigrants applying for a spouse or a common law partner must score at least 59 points to qualify for the QSWP Program.

1) Training and Education: The points in this category are awarded under the Applicant’s Academic and Educational Profile and Training.

2) Work experience: The points in this category are based on the applicant’s eligible work experience, which must have been gathered within the five years prior to the submission of the QSWP application. Eligible work experience includes paid and unpaid employment. However, unpaid employment and internships must have been conducted according to a training or educational program.

3) Age: The economic immigration program is designed to attract young skilled workers to Quebec who will have long and prosperous careers in the province. Consequently, the age selection factor of the QSWP rewards young immigrants.

4) Language Proficiency: The QSWP has as one of the central pillars of attracting qualified professionals, those who master the French language, and, consequently, French proficiency is more weighted than English proficiency in the selection and classification process.

5) Connection with Quebec: Qualified immigration candidates to Quebec who have spent time in Quebec or have family in the province may receive points in this selection factor. Please note that family members residing in Canada, but not Quebec, do not count in this category. Points are awarded only to relatives who reside actively in Montreal, Quebec, Gatineau, Sherbrooke, Trois-Rivières, Saguenay, Drummondville or any other city, town or region of the Province of Quebec.

6) Characteristics of spouse / common law partner: The criterion of spouse’s characteristics is one of Quebec’s qualified immigration selection factors, and points are awarded in this category. A spouse’s level of education, his area of ​​training / education, his age, and his proficiency in French-speaking oral interaction tell several points. The minimum required score of an applicant with a spouse or stable union is higher than that of a single applicant.

7) Validated job offer: QSWP candidates who have received a validated permanent job offer can receive points according to this selection factor, depending on the location of the job.

8) Accompanying children: Applicants for immigration of skilled workers to Québec, who will be bringing their children to Canada, are eligible under this selection criteria.

9) Financial Self-Sufficiency: Applicants to the QSWP are eligible to receive a point under this category of “Financial Autonomy” qualification if they meet the minimum net immigration requirements for Quebec. The Government of Québec requires that potential immigrants have a minimum amount of money that is determined by the number of family members they immigrate and their ages. Applicants who sign the QSWP financial agreement, stating that they have the necessary funds, will receive a point for this selection factor. A score of 1 in this category is required to qualify for the Program. Potential immigrants who do not sign the statement that they meet the minimum requirements for the Quebec Skilled Worker Program will not be eligible to participate in the program.

What is the highest possible score of the skilled worker interested in immigrating to Quebec?

Although extremely unlikely, it is possible for a candidate to get a QSWP immigration score of 116 points. For this, he or she would need to have a PhD in a Section A training area, have more than 4 years of professional experience, be 35 years of age or less, be exceptional in French and English, have upcoming family live in Quebec, have previously worked or studied in the province, have a validated job offer in Quebec, have two or more children also moving to Canada, be financially self-sufficient and have a spouse or partner who is also young and highly qualified.

 

The minimum court score to participate in the Québec Qualified Canadian Immigration Professional Program (QSWP) is 50 points for single candidates and 59 points for couples.

Source: Quebec Provincial Government website (http://www.immigration-quebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/)

We highly recommend that candidates make an Online Consultation with one of our Immigration Consultants to get to know your score or how to reach the minimum score to compete for one of the next 5,000 vacancies that will be announced in the near future by the Province of Quebec.

Go to: http://immiservices.com/consulta-on-line/