PROVINCIAL NOMINEE PROGRAM Presentation for International Students and Graduates January 26, 2008

1. PROVINCIAL NOMINEE PROGRAM Presentation for International Students and Graduates January 26, 2008

2. IMMIGRATION STRATEGY • Provincial immigration strategy released March 2007. • Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism (OIM) now established. • International students seen as a pool of potential immigrants for Newfoundland and Labrador.

3. LMDA PROJECT (Dec. 2007 – Nov. 2008) • Goal is to assist international students and recent graduates enter the local labour market. • Seminars to local employers on the benefits of hiring international students and graduates. • Two job fairs in fall 2008 (St. John’s, Corner Brook).

4. INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AND GRADUATES • As of fall 2007, over 1,200 international students enrolled in provincial educational institutions. • International Graduates: • Possess recognized credentials, and possible local work experience. • Have ties to the local community. • Growing economy provides opportunities for employment.

5. PROVINCIAL NOMINEE PROGRAM • The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is an agreement between the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and Citizenship and Immigration Canada. • The PNP enables the Province to nominate individuals for immigration. • To be nominated, individuals need to demonstrate a strong commitment to live and work in the Province.

6. PNP OBJECTIVES • To enhance the provincial economy through the immigration of skilled workers and entrepreneurs. • To address particular skill shortages/gaps in identified sectors and regions of the Province. • To attract entrepreneurs with the appropriate skills and capital to create new jobs.

7. PNP CATEGORIES • Skilled Worker: must have guaranteed job offer from a local employer or be currently employed on a work permit with a local employer. • Entrepreneur: must plan to establish a new business or purchase an existing business, intend to be self-employed in a business and reside in the Province. • Immigrant Partner: must invest in a local company.

8. SKILLED WORKER CATEGORY • Eligible applicants are required to have: • specialized skills that are deemed as having critical impact on the operations of the employer; • bona fide offer of paid employment. • The employer will have to ensure that the applicant’s skills could not have been met locally and/or that the position was difficult to fill.

9. SKILLED WORKER CATEGORY • Provincial credentials standards and/or professional licensing requirements must be successfully completed prior to nomination. • In some cases, OIM will cooperate with the employer to obtain a work permit from Citizenship and Immigration Canada. • OIM may require applicants to work for at least 6 months before they are eligible to apply.

10. THE APPLICATION PROCESS • The Applicant: • completes the Self-Assessment Form - score of 50 points is required, • completes Skilled Worker forms and attaches supporting documents, • ensures Employment Offer Form is completed by employer, • submits processing fee of $150 (reduced from $1,000)

11. THE APPLICATION PROCESS • Additional information may be requested at any time. • Applicants may be required to attend an interview. • Average processing time – 3 to 6 weeks.

12. NEXT STEPS • Successful applicants will be issued a Certificate of Nomination. • Certificate is forwarded to a Canadian Embassy/High Commission/Consulate. • Applicants submit “Application for Permanent Residence” to the same visa office. • Application is processed as a Provincial Nominee category and receives priority processing over regular applicants.

13. WHY CHOOSE THE PNP? • Nomination = NL sponsorship of federal immigration application. • Applicants will have direct access to visa office via the OIM. • Processing of the permanent residence application will be expedited.

14. OFFICE OF IMMIGRATION AND MULTICULTURALISM’S RESPONSIBILITIES • Conduct due diligence to validate information submitted on applications. • Confirm employment offer. • Make a determination on commitment to reside in the Province.

15. CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION CANADA’S RESPONSIBILITIES • CIC will conduct security, admissibility, and medical screening, and interviews when necessary. • CIC will consider the issuance of work permits at the request of OIM. • CIC has sole responsibility for issuing permanent residence visa.

16. NEW CATEGORIES OF PNPUNDER DEVELOPMENT INTERNATIONAL GRADUATE Targeted to international graduates of provincial post secondary institutions who have established strong ties to the Province and intend to live, work, and establish their careers here.

17. NEW CATEGORIES OF PNPUNDER DEVELOPMENT FAMILY CONNECTION For immigrant families currently living in Newfoundland and Labrador who would like to sponsor a family member to come live and work in the Province. THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM THE FEDERAL CATEGORY

18. STATUS OF NEW CATEGORIES • Ministerial approval obtained. • Forms and related documents under development. • Available to clients in the near future.

19. CAN PNP WORK FOR YOU? YES IT CAN! • You can apply for nomination if: • you have a job offer or are employed in a field of study or related field. • Make an appointment with a Program Officer to discuss your eligibility. WE ARE HERE TO HELP

20. CONTACT INFORMATION • PNP website www.nlpnp.ca • E-mail: pnp@gov.nl.ca • Phone: 709-729-6607 • Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism http://www.hrle.gov.nl.ca/hrle/immigration/english/index.htm • Citizenship and Immigration Canada www.cic.gc.ca