Immigration

If you are considering becoming a permanent resident in New Brunswick or elsewhere in Canada, there are many potential immigration classes that may be suitable to international graduates in Canada with the right combination of language skills, education, and experience.

Express Entry

In early 2015, Canada launched an active recruitment model for its immigration process called Express Entry.  Express Entry is not a category of Canadian immigration but a selection system that adjudicates both federal and provincial immigration classes. The system now selects immigrants from the following programs:

  1. Canadian Experience Class
  2. Federal Skilled Worker Class
  3. Federal Skilled Trades Class
  4. Certain Provincial Nominee programs

Under the Express Entry system, candidates are ranked against each other in a selection pool, using a points-based system. Only candidates with the highest scores in the pool are issued an Invitation to Apply for Canadian permanent residence.

Canadian Experience Class

The Canadian Experience Class is a program designed to retain eligible workers and students with a specific combination of education, language skills, and in-Canada work experience.  If you have graduated from NBCC and obtained enough postgraduate work experience from within the country, you may want to consider this program. The Canadian Experience Class is now adjudicated by the federal Express Entry selection system.

At the end of your studies, you must have earned a diploma, trade, or an apprenticeship credential that is recognized by Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada. You must also have:

  1. Finished a minimum of 12 months full-time work experience in the 36 months after graduation. The work experience must be categorized in the National Occupation Classification (NOC) under codes O, A, or B.
  2. Obtained the relevant work experience on a work permit that is valid, such as the post-graduation work permit.
  3. Taken a qualifying language test and achieved the mandatory minimum score.
  4. Not let more than one year pass between your last job in Canada and the time of your application.
  5. You must also intend to live outside Québec, as that province administers its own immigration programs and has its own experience class.

Please note, only experience gathered with postgraduate authorization (i.e. a valid work permit, not a study permit) can count towards this application. Work Experience, Apprenticeships, and Co-Op Terms That Are Completed during Your Time at NBCC Will Not Count in Support of an Application for the Canadian Experience Class.

Skilled Trades Class

This class of Canadian Immigration recognizes a combination of work experience and licensing in the skilled trades. In order to qualify for this program, students must:

  1. declare their intention to live outside Québec
  2. meet the mandatory minimum requirements for English or French
  3. have completed at least 2 years of full-time work experience in a skilled trade in the last 5 years before making an application
  4. meet all the job requirements for that skilled trade according to the National Occupation Classification, and
  5. possess a full-time employment offer which is valid for at least one year, or be in possession of a certificate of qualification in the skilled trade the applicant is applying under. That certificate of qualification must be issued by provincial or territorial body

This permanent residency class also has a list of eligible groups. Please note this information may change from time to time.

Currently eligible groups:

  1. Industrial, electrical and construction trades,
  2. Maintenance and equipment operation trades,
  3. Supervisor and technical jobs in natural resources, agriculture and related production,
  4. Processing, manufacturing and utilities supervisors and central control operators,
  5. Chefs, cooks, butchers and bakers.

Provincial Nominee Programs

The New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program has recently developed a program that will work in concert with the federal express entry selection system. Students with the right combination of skills, education, and language proficiency are encouraged to read more at the New Brunswick provincial website.