Canadian Experience Class Enacted

Following the recent announcement of plans to create a new class of Canadian Immigration application, Citizenship and Immigration Canada has announced the formal enacting of the Canadian Experience Class effective September 17 2008. This class of application allows candidates with past and present Canadian education or work experience to seek fast-tracked immigration to Canada, and which does not necessitate that the candidate leave Canada during the process.

“With the Canadian Experience Class fully in place, Canada will be more competitive in attracting and retaining individuals with the skills we need,” said the Minister of Immigration. “It, along with other recent improvements to modernize the immigration system, will go a long way in bringing Canada in line with its global competitors while further spreading the benefits of immigration into smaller centres across Canada.”

An important improvement has been announced since the original plan was described: eligible applicants who have departed Canada will remain qualified to apply in the Canadian Experience Class withing one year of such departure. The intention of this change is to enable qualified candidates to apply, even if they do not any longer possess valid Canadian temporary resident status.