Hard-to-Fill Skills Pilot

This applies to low-skilled workers who; have a job offer for an approved intermediate or low-skilled occupation in Saskatchewan and meet the requirements for the category.

ELIGIBILITY

• Minimum of one-year full-time work experience in the last three years (in your intended occupation); or six months (780 hours) of full-time (30+ hours per week) work experience in the job with the employer that has provided you the “Job Approval Letter”.

Note- The work experience may not be consecutive work experience in either case. In other words, it is not compulsory that the work experience be consecutive.

• Minimum language score of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4. Note, however, that some employers/regulators may demand scores higher than CLB 4.
• Minimum of the equivalent of Canadian secondary school (high school), or higher education. You will need an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA).
• Nominations issued for Occupation “NOC 7511 – Transport Truck Drivers” will require that you provide ‘proof of the necessary licensing and endorsements from Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI)’ to maintain your nomination.

Note:

. The type of vehicle you drive on the job will determine the license and endorsements you will need.

. You must provide proof that you’ve completed the ‘Mandatory Entry-Level Training (MELT)’, and that you have a ‘valid Class 1A license issued by SGI’ to drive; power units and semi-trucks, trucks with trailer(s) or vehicle(s) in tow – where the gross vehicle weight of the towed unit(s) is more than 4,600 kg. A valid Class 2A license issued by the SGI is required for all other types of transport trucks.

• An offer for a permanent, full-time job in Saskatchewan, that is approved by the SINP. The proof of this, is a valid SINP “Job Approval Letter” from your employer.

Eligible Occupations

The job offer must be in one of the following occupations:

. NOC 9619 – Other labourers in processing, manufacturing and utilities.

. NOC 9617          – Labourers in food, beverage and associated Products processing.

. NOC 9612          – Labourers in Metal fabrication.

. NOC 9536 – Industrial painters, coaters, and Metal finishing process operators.

.  NOC 9526 – Mechanical assemblers and inspectors.

. NOC 9461 – Process control and machine operators, food, beverage, and associated processing.

. NOC 9431 – Sawmill machine operators.

. NOC 7611 – Construction trades helpers and laborers.

. NOC 7521          – Heavy Equipment operators (except crane).

. NOC 7511 – Transport truck drivers.

. NOC 7452 – Material handlers.

. NOC 6733 – Janitors, caretakers and building superintendents.

. NOC 6731 – Light duty cleaners.

. NOC 6711 – Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers, and related support occupations.

. NOC 6525 – Hotel front desk clerks.

. NOC 6513 – Food and beverage servers.

. NOC 3414 – Other assisting occupations in support of health services.

. NOC 3413 – Nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates.

. NOC 1525 – Dispatchers.

. NOC 1521 – Shippers and receivers.

. NOC 4412 – Home support workers, housekeepers and related occupations. Please note that under this occupation(NOC 4412), employers hiring Home Support Workers, Housekeepers and Related Occupations who reside in the client’s residence or their place of work do not qualify for this program (Hard-to-Fill Skills Pilot). For applicants whose employers want workers to reside in the client’s residence or their place of work, they are to use the “Canada’s Caregiver Programs”.

Note also that:

– The criteria may change at any time, but your application will be treated on the terms and conditions that apply when your application was received.

– The number of SINP nominations per year is determined by the Canadian federal government, and there’s no guarantee that your application will be accepted.

– Your employer must satisfy the requirements to support your application and immigration.

– Your application may be denied if you and/or your representative intentionally misrepresent yourselves in the application.

– Refugee claimants, claiming refugee status from the Government of Canada are not eligible for this program.

TRANSLATION AND TRANSLATOR

Your documents must be clear and easy to read. If any documents are not in English or French, you must provide;

1. Copy of the original.
2. Copy of English or French translation. Translations must satisfy all federal requirements.
3. A Translator Affidavit, which proves the translator’s capacity to act as a translator.

You must, however, note that there are conditions to be fulfilled by translators, including;

. The translator must be certified by a regulatory body approved by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

. The translator must not be a family member of the applicant,

. The translator must not be a spouse of the applicant, and

. The translator must not be anyone who works for the applicant or who is a paid consultant or representative handling your application.

DOCUMENTATION

You must provide all necessary documents in order to prove;

. Your identity,

. Work experience,

. Academic credentials, and

. Language ability.

Required Documents

1. Generic Application Form for Canada (must be filled by the main applicant only).
2. Additional Family Information Form (must be filled by both the main applicant and the spouse).
3. Schedule A – Background/Declaration (must be filled by both the main applicant and spouse).
4. Additional Dependents/Declaration (if you have more than five dependants/children).
5. Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union (if you have a common-law partner).
6. Use of a Representative form (if you are using an Immigration Representative).
7. Authority to Release Personal Information to a Designated Individual (if you are designating someone to contact SINP on your behalf).
8. Translation- If any documents are not in English or French, you must provide;
9. Copy of the original.
10. Copy of English or French translation. Translations must satisfy all federal requirements.
11. A Translator Affidavit, which proofs the translator’s capacity to act as translator.

Very Important Documents

9. Job Offer Document

You must include proof of a full-time job offer by a Saskatchewan employer in your application.

Note:

. This proof is a ‘valid Job Approval Letter’ that must be provided to you by your Saskatchewan employer.

. The Job Approval Letter must be approved by the SINP.

. Your employer will register online to have the job that you are applying for assessed.

. A Job Approval Letter that includes your position, name, and NOC code will be issued to your employer, who will forward it to you.

. The job offer must be one of the approved occupations in this program. Please check the list of approved Occupations under this program.

. The wages and working conditions of the job offer must match Canadian standards in that occupation and meet SINP requirements.

. The job offer letter must reflect the following:

x be addressed to the main applicant,

x reflects the job title, duties and responsibilities, wage, benefits, and company/employer contact information.

x reflects the location of your job in Saskatchewan,

x must be printed on the company’s letterhead, and

x must be signed by the employer.

10. Language Requirements

You must prove that your language proficiency matches the required level. You proof this by providing a valid language test result. Language Test Results must;

. Be from an approved testing agency.

. Have English and/or French language ability score of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4 or higher.

. Be less than two years old at the time of your application.

• Approved Testing Agencies and Score:

ENGLISH

1. The International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

Score:

Listening- 4.5, Reading- 3.5, Writing- 4, Speaking- 4.

1. The Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP-General)

Score:

Listening- 4, Reading- 4, Writing- 4, Speaking- 4.

FRENCH

1. The Test d’évaluation de français (for French language)

Score:

Listening- 145, Reading- 121, Writing- 181, Speaking- 181.

1. The Test de connaissance du français pour le Canada (TCF Canada)

Score:

Listening- 331, Reading- 342, Writing- 4, Speaking- 4.

11. Education/Training Requirements

Proof of secondary education (high school) or higher education, which must be comparable to its Canadian equivalent. Proof may be a degree, diploma, or certificate equivalent to a trade certificate. Applicants must provide any of the following as proof:

. Education or trade certificates, degrees, or diplomas. Must include copies of your official transcripts(if applicable), which should reflect your institution(s) attended and courses taken;

. For education/training obtained outside Canada, you must submit an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) from a designated organization (check the IRCC’s list of approved organizations).

Your ECA report must not be more than five years old on the date your application is received.

. If applicable, Professional designations, professional licenses, and/or professional association memberships.

12. Work Experience Requirements

Minimum of one-year of full-time work experience in the last three years (in your intended occupation); or six months (780 hours) of full-time (30+ hours per week) work experience in the job with the employer that has provided you the “Job Approval Letter”.

Note- The work experience may not be consecutive work experience in either case. In other words, it is not compulsory that the work experience be consecutive.

– Proof of work experience include;

. Letters of reference from past employers, for each job position listed.

. Letter of reference from your Supervisor or Human Resources Officer, which must be printed on the company’s letterhead.

Note- Each reference letter must reflect the following information:

x job position held and dates of employment;

x main duties and responsibilities;

x Number of hours worked each week (if not full-time);

x Name and contact details of your supervisor or manager.

13. Licensing (if applicable)

Nominations issued for Occupation “NOC 7511 – Transport Truck Drivers” will require that you provide ‘proof of the necessary licensing and endorsements from Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI)’ to maintain your nomination.

Note:

. The type of vehicle you drive on the job will determine the license and endorsements you will need.

. You must provide proof that you’ve completed the ‘Mandatory Entry-Level Training (MELT)’, and that you have a ‘valid Class 1A license issued by SGI’ to drive; power units and semi-trucks, trucks with trailer(s) or vehicle(s) in tow – where the gross vehicle weight of the towed unit(s) is more than 4,600 kg. A valid Class 2A licence issued by the SGI is required for all other types of transport trucks.

If your intended job is a designated trade in Saskatchewan, you can obtain apprenticeship training. For a list of designated trades in Saskatchewan, please visit the “Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission (SATCC)” website.

14. Identity and Civil Status Documents

. Birth Certificate that reflects both parents (for the main applicant).

. Birth Certificate that reflects both parents (for your spouse or common-law partner).

. Birth Certificate that reflects both parents (for each dependent child).

. Applicant’s marriage certificate (if married), and

. A death certificate of your former spouse (if widowed).

. If you are in a common-law relationship you must provide:

1. IMM 5409 Declaration of Common-Law Union.
2. Proof of at least one year of common-law relationship, which may include; bank statement showing a joint account, trust, credit union or charge card account; copy of your signed joint lease or mortgage; copy of jointly-owned property (different from your residence); copy of bills made to both of you; or copy of life insurance that lists the other partner as the beneficiary.

. If you or your spouse is divorced, you must provide:

1. Final documents for all divorces.
2. Documents for Custody and child support (if applicable).

. Adoption papers for all dependent children who were adopted.

. If you have dependent children, you must include:

1. A letter from the other parent indicating that they know of your intention to immigrate to Canada (with or without the child/children), and that there are no pending custody or child support issues.
2. Proof of custody for each child and proof that you are legally allowed to travel with the child/children from your home country.

. If you have dependent children that are not traveling with you to Canada, you must include:

1. Their name, age and contact details (mailing address, email address, and phone number).
2. A document stating the reason why each dependent child is not traveling with you.

15. Passport(s)

. Your passport must be valid through the entire application process, from submission of application to obtaining permanent residency.

. You must include copies of pages in your passport that reflect the passport number, date of issue, expiry date, photo, name and place of birth for:

1. You (the main applicant).
2. Your spouse or common-law partner.
3. All dependent children traveling with you to Saskatchewan.

If you are living in a country that is not your nationality, you must include a copy of your visa for that country.