According to a report by the Canadian newspaper Ming Pao, the Quebec Ministry of Immigration announced on the 9th that it will accept 20,000 skilled worker applications for the new year, which will be processed in order of receipt. Applicants under the "Quebec Experience Program" are prioritized, followed by those with a valid job offer in Quebec, applicants with training in specific fields, and other foreign workers currently in Quebec. The Ministry of Immigration stated that the new quota of 20,000 skilled worker applications will be accepted from August 1, 2013, to March 31, 2014.
Since the Quebec Skilled Worker Program is primarily designed for international students and foreign workers already employed in Quebec, applicants must possess a certain level of French proficiency. Unlike the Investor Immigration program, it is not open to applicants who have never lived in Quebec and do not speak French. Therefore, the annual quota of 20,000 places is of extremely limited assistance to Chinese applicants, and as a result, this program does not experience the same immediate saturation upon opening as the Investor Immigration program.
The Quebec Ministry of Immigration has also raised the French language requirements for applicants. For applications accepted starting August 1, applicants must reach at least an Advanced Intermediate level of French, with 2 points allocated to written French. Applicants may provide proof through standardized French test scores; those without test scores must have completed at least three years of secondary or post-secondary education in a French-language environment.
Additionally, as of August 1, Quebec has opened 500 spots for "Business Immigration" and "Self-Employed" applications. The minimum French requirements for "Business Immigration" and "Self-Employed" applicants are the same as for the Skilled Worker Program, requiring an Advanced Intermediate level. For "Self-Employed" applicants, not only must the principal applicant meet the oral and written French requirements, but the spouse is also required to demonstrate an Advanced Intermediate level of oral French proficiency.
(Source: Chengdu Economic Daily)
