Canada admitted more than two hundred thousand migrants for permanent residency in 2007, where over one hundred thousand were economy class migrants, and 100,000 of them qualified under the federal skilled worker visa programme. The federal skilled worker visa programme consists of the greatest single flow of migrants to Canada, with the family class a near second. The point based system of assessment is used in the federal skilled worker visa programme where categories such as language ability, adaptability, work skills, age, education and arranged employment are used in evaluating the likelihood of an applicant settling in Canada. 67 points must be attained for an applicant to be considered to meet the standard for entrance.

For candidates who reach the federal skilled worker visa criteria, the increasing list of requests for permanent residency results in long processing and delays. Canada offers a quantity of alternative programmes to the federal skilled worker programme. There is migrating to Canada under the entrepreneur class, which offers permanent residency to those who demonstrate abilities of becoming financially successful in Canada through their business and entrepreneurial experience.

Immigrating to Canada under the federal investment class offers entry to applicants who are willing to invest 400,000 Canadian dollars. After becoming a full time occupant for approximately five years, the Canadian government gives back the money invested without any interest to the candidate.

In the temporary foreign worker programme, applications are made for permanent residency under Canada’s economic class including the federal skilled worker visa programme. With the demand for labour exceeding that of supply in certain trade’s and other occupations and many regions of Canada, some immigrants come in readily employable even before the permanent residence visas are issued.

The Federal Skilled Worker Visa Programme is a one of the popular ways of emigrating to Canada. The processing time, as compared to the provincial nominations programme, is very much increased. It offers skilled workers the opportunity to obtain permanent residence in Canada without an offer of employment.

To be categorised as a skilled worker one needs to have work experience, sufficient funds to sustain oneself in Canada and should have a score of 67 in the points assessment. One will also be assessed according to education, language, age, work experience, arranged employment and adaptability. Also good communication skills in English or French are needed. These six aspects are intended to specify which candidates are likely to become financially sound upon emigrating to Canada. Each Canada Federal Skilled Worker Visa is awarded the highest number of points and candidates must at least attain sixty seven points to qualify for a Canada Immigration Visa.

In education the skilled workers are given a maximum of twenty five points; in language skills candidates are given up to twenty four points; in experience candidates are given up to twenty one points; in age candidates are given up to ten points; in arranged employment candidates are given up to ten points and in adaptability candidates are given up to ten points. All of these total up to one hundred points. So applicants are supposed to attain above 67% of the whole assessment.

The Canadian Immigration Visa Officers have the right to accept or refuse an application. Even with the pass mark of 67 points, applicants must also prove that they have enough money to sustain themselves and their families after arriving in Canada. Also they must take a medical assessment and have security approvals as part of the Canadian immigration application procedure.