QUEBEC IMMIGRATION IS AN UMBRELLA TERM FOR THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS:

  • The Quebec Skilled Worker (QSW) program

  • The Quebec Experience Class program

  • The Quebec Business/Entrepreneur Program

Although Quebec determines the requirements for their Immigration programs, at the successful completion of any Quebec Immigration program the end result is the same, Canadian Permanent Residence. Since a Canadian Permanent Resident can live anywhere in Canada, the federal government still has to determine if you are medically or criminally inadmissible to Canada.

As a primarily French speaking region of Canada, some of the programs for Quebec require an intermediate level of French proficiency like the Quebec Experience Class program. In contrast, the Quebec Skilled Worker program does not specifically require French proficiency, but it can be an asset to your case.

WHY QUEBEC?

As the largest province of Canada, Quebec has a lot to offer potential newcomers. Quebec has invested resources to ensure that when new families move to Quebec, they have the tools and resources they need to succeed. Newcomers to Quebec will find excellent integration services like free language training, employment counselling/training, free healthcare, heavily subsidized post-secondary educational institutions and free access to public schools.

Quebec also has its' problems. The major one being a declining population and a shortage of skilled workers. Quebec has made significant efforts to offset it's declining population and skilled worker shortage by successfully integrating prospective newcomers into all levels of Quebec society.

WHY APPLY FOR QUEBEC NOW?

Why now? It could be your last chance to apply under a first-come first-served type of immigration program. This first-come first-served way of processing applications is the type of system that most of you are familiar with. It was the hallmark of all Canadian Immigration programs until the federal government implemented the Express Entry program earlier this year, which irrevocably changed all that.

WHAT IS FIRST-COME FIRST-SERVED?

First-come first-served is an expression in English that means people will receive something or be dealt with in the order in which they ask or arrive. What first-come first-served means in an immigration sense is that you do not have to compete with other applicants to get your visa. In other words, the government tells you the requirements and if you meet them, you are clear to apply and you should be granted your visa.

This is in direct contrast to the Express Entry system, which puts all prospective newcomers into a pool, ranks them according to their skills and credentials and then selects only the best and brightest from the pool. Only applicants who scored high enough in the ranking system are invited to apply for Canadian Permanent Residence.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOU?

First-come first-served is how Immigration Quebec currently accepts applicants. They will continue to accept applicants under a first-come first-served basis for 2015 but for 2016, things are not looking great. Based on comments from Quebec's Immigration Minister Kathleen Weil, come 2016, Immigration Quebec will likely abandon the first-come first-served model of accepting applicants and replace it with a system similar to the Express Entry model. Therefore, in all likelihood come 2016-2017, prospective newcomers applying to Quebec will have to compete with other applicants for their visa.

WHY APPLY NOW?

If you are eligible to apply now, you should do so and do it soon. This could be the end of the golden age of Canadian Immigration. Do not assume that if you are qualified to submit an application now, you will be forever. Demand for Canadian Immigration is high, application quotas fill quickly, and programs can change their requirements or selection criteria.

LIFE IN QUEBEC:

The mixing of both English and French Canadian culture in Quebec creates a vibrant and diverse atmosphere. This fusion of cultures is best exemplified in Montreal, the city where our office is located.

Only a couple hours away from Quebec City, Ottawa and Toronto, Montreal truly is geographically and culturally, the heart of Eastern Canada.

Are you more interested in other parts of Canada? Well as a Canadian Permanent Resident your ability to live and work ANYWHERE in Canada is protected under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.