International Skilled Worker: Saskatchewan Express Entry

This stream applies to skilled workers who do not have a job offer in Saskatchewan but are in the Express Entry pool, and meet the criteria of this category.

Eligibility Requirement
One of the first eligibility criteria of this stream is for an applicant to be approved into the Express Entry pool and payment of a $350 non-refundable application fee with a Visa or Mastercard in order. In addition to this, an applicant must fulfill the following conditions;

• Have a current Job Seeker Code and Express Entry Profile Number.
• Have at least 60 points on the SINP point assessment grid.
• Possess a language proficiency result that satisfies the federal Express Entry language standards.
• Have obtained post-secondary education or training equivalent to at least one year of formal education in Canada. A diploma, certificate, or degree linked to your desired employment must have been earned with submission of educational credential assessment (ECA) for all schooling received outside of Canada. To confirm if your education is related to your intended occupation, you may review the “Employment Requirements” section of your National Occupation Code profile. Applicants who completed training as part of high school are exempt from submitting an ECA, but must instead apply for Saskatchewan licensure.
• Have experience in a job that is not on the “Excluded Occupation List”. Check “Occupations In-Demand and Express Entry Occupation Requirements” for eligible occupations. Please note the following for work experience:
  • One year of work experience in the last ten years, for skilled professionals;
  • Two years of work experience in a skilled trade in the last five years, for skilled tradespeople.
  • One year’s employment in Canada over the previous three years, for the Canadian Experience Class (skilled tradespeople and skilled professionals).
  • Job and work experience must be in the industry or related to the field of previous employment and the post-secondary education or training that was successfully completed.

You might need to provide documentation of your professional status or your eligibility for a license. Take a look at Occupations In-Demand and Express Entry Occupation Requirements for these requirements. You may not need to provide licensure documents unless asked. But if you are asked to provide it, your application will be held until you do so.

All relevant/required documents must be attached to your application. Otherwise, your application may be closed if it is missing documents, and the application fee may not be refunded.

• Provide proof of settlement funds and a settlement plan.

Finally, the program’s requirements may change at any time. The chances of getting an Invitation to Apply (ITA) depend on the points claimed in your Expression of Interest (EOI). High scorers in the applicant pool will have a better probability of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA). You will have to present evidence to back up your claimed EOI points once you’ve received Invitation to Apply (ITA) and equally meet the minimal requirements of the EOI Selection through which you obtained your invitation to apply in order to continue to be eligible for a nomination.

An applicant may not be able to apply to this category of the international skilled worker SINP program if:

• a Refugee claimant in Canada
• not accepted into the Federal Express Entry pool.

Consequences For Falsifying Information

SINP and Canada Immigration frowns at falsification of information even if it was done ignorantly. If there are grounds to suspect that an applicant and/or their representative provided false information on the EOI profile or application to increase their points score, the SINP Program Integrity Unity (PIU) will undertake an investigation for misrepresentation. If misrepresentation is established to have taken place, the applicant may be suspended from using the SINP for two years (or more, in the case of a repeat offence).

Expression of Interest (EOI)

The International Skilled Worker Expression of Interest (EOI) is not an application to the SINP. The EOI is a pre-application process through which candidates indicate their interest in applying to the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP). While there is no limit to the number of candidates who can submit an EOI, not all candidates who submit an EOI will be invited to apply to the SINP and candidates can only have one EOI profile at a time.

Documentation

Applicants must provide all necessary documents in order to prove;

• Identity,
• Work experience,
• Academic credentials, and
• Language ability.

Documents Needed:

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 dependents/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. Translators

All documents must be clear and easy-to-read copies of the original. 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 proofs the translator’s capacity to act as translator.

A Translator must fulfill the following conditions to qualify:

• Must be certified by a regulatory body approved by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
• Must not be a family member of the applicant.
• Must not be a spouse of the applicant.
• Must not be anyone who works for or who is a paid consultant or representative handling your application

Necessary Documents

Express Entry Profile Number and Job Seeker Validation Code

Applicants must have been accepted into the “IRCC’s Express Entry pool” before they can apply to the SINP. For confirmation of this, applicants must provide their “Express Entry Profile Number” and “Job Seeker Validation Code” to the SINP authority when submitting their application. If you obtain a new Express Entry Profile Number and Job Seeker Validation Code when your SINP application is in process, you must notify the SINP authority.

Language Requirements

Your language proficiency level/score must match that of your Express Entry profile. Regardless of your native language, applicants must satisfy the language requirements of the federal Express Entry program. The proof of this is the provision of a valid language test result. The followings are the conditions attached to language test results.

• test result 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 application.

Approved Testing Agencies and Score:

English
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

If you speak both English and French, and choose to claim additional points for bi-lingual language ability, you must:

• provide valid language test results from approved testing agencies,
• have a second language ability score of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4 or higher.
• the test results must be less than two years old at the time of application.

Education/Training Credentials

Proof of a minimum of one year of post-secondary education or training, which must be comparable to its Canadian equivalent. It may be a degree, diploma, or a certificate equivalent to a trade certificate. Applicants must provide any of the following as proof:

• education or trade certificates, degrees or diplomas. It must include copies of official transcripts(if applicable), which should reflect the institution(s) attended and courses taken;
• for education/training obtained outside Canada, you must submit an educational credential assessment (ECA) from a designated organization (from the IRCC’s list of approved organizations).
• professional designations, professional licenses and/or professional association memberships; and
• certificate of apprenticeship (that is verifiable and comparable to its equivalent in the Canadian education system programs). It should contain details of program structure, courses, length and its administering authority.

You may decide to apply to the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission.

Work Experience Credentials

Proof of at least one year of full-time paid work experience in a skilled occupation over the last ten years, that is related to your intended occupation (full-time here is minimum 30 hours per week). Your work experience must be in a high skilled occupation (NOC “0”, “A” or “B”) that is considered to be in-demand in Saskatchewan at the time of your application. The proof of employment (work experience) must meet the following conditions:

• Letters of reference and proof of employment for each job position listed.
• Letter of reference from your Supervisor or Human Resources Officer, which must be printed on the company’s letterhead.

Each reference letter must reflect the following information:

•  job position held and dates of employment;
• main duties and responsibilities;
• Number of hours worked each week;
• A summarized company description (nature of the business, industry and operations);
• Name, signature, and direct contact details of your supervisor or manager (including email address matching the company domain and telephone number); and
• Physical address of the company.

In addition to the reference letters, applicants must provide at least 3 of the following documents as support:

• Pension fund/Provident funds;
• Medical Insurance and/or social security record;
• Work permits/work visas/labour cards for any foreign work experience;
• Employment contracts;
• Specific examples of work completed with your employer(s); and/or
• Any other information that assists in verifying work experience.

If claiming work experience as a self-employed, you must provide the following documents:

• Business License,
• Proof of income, and
• Letters of reference from clients.

Professional Status or Licensure (if applicable)

You must provide proof of your professional status or Licensure (if applicable). Your application will be held for processing until proof of Professional Status or Licensure is provided. For more information about the SINP’s occupation-specific professional status and licensing requirements, please check the Occupations In-Demand and Express Entry Occupation Requirements.

Proof of Settlement Funds and Settlement Plan

Proof that you have enough funds to support your household during your employment search after you arrive in Saskatchewan. The amount required as proof is dependent on the size of your family. You must have the “minimum funds required” for at least three months post-arrival, before submitting your application, meet the minimum funds required when you apply for permanent residency after nomination by the SINP and throughout the permanent residency process.

Proof of funds must:

• be official letters, official statements, and/or certificates from one or more financial institutions.
• have been operated for at least 3 months before submitting your application, and be operated throughout the entire immigration process.
• be in the name of the main applicant and/or spouse only
• Proof of Fund’s statement must reflect a transaction history of at least 3 months before the date you submit your application. It must clearly show: type of currency, fund holder’s name, contact information of the financial institution, account numbers, transactions, and balance.
• In the transaction history, account must show that when the account was at its lowest balance, it met the settlement requirement for the size of the household.

Accepted Proof of funds includes:

• Personal chequing or savings accounts,
• Bonds,
• Cash value life insurance,
• Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GICs) or Certificates of Deposit,
• Mutual Funds,
• Provident Funds (a letter from the provident fund organization indicating the amount of funds that are accessible is required),
• Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs),
• Stocks,
• Tax Free Savings Accounts (TFSAs),
• Term deposits and time deposits (must be valid at the time of application and remain valid throughout the entire application process), and/or
• Treasury Bills.

Please note that credit cards, lines of credit, gold, cash, debentures, property or businesses are not acceptable proofs of settlement funds.

The “Living In Canada” tool

Applicants must include a settlement plan in their application. The Living in Canada tool is meant to provide general guidance and reference only. The answers provided will be used to provide resources and services that can help applicants plan for residency in Saskatchewan. If you are applying from outside of Canada and want to use the Living in Canada tool to create a settlement plan, you must select “No, I applied but am still waiting” when asked “Has IRCC approved your application to come to Canada?”

After you answer the questions, the Living in Canada Tool will create “Your settlement plan.” You can print or email the plan to yourself from that page in order to attach it to your application.

Close Relative in Saskatchewan

The following persons are considered as close relatives:

• A parent;
• A sister or brother;
• An aunt or uncle;
• A niece or nephew;
• A first cousin;
• A grandparent; or
• A step-family member/in- law of the same relationship.

To be eligible for having close relative in Saskatchewan points, you must provide the following documents from the relative:

• a birth certificate, marriage certificate and/or any other official government, education or religious documents, which proves your relationship to the relative. In case you don’t have the original, please note that the SINP does not accept affidavits.
• A copy of the relative’s Canadian permanent resident or citizenship card, or Canadian passport.
• Proof that the close relative has been resident in Saskatchewan for at least the last one year and is financially independent. To prove financial independence, applicant’s relative must provide the following:
• Utility bills from the last one year from SaskPower, SaskEnergy or a city or town office. (telephone, cellular or cable bills are not acceptable);
• Saskatchewan Health Card or Saskatchewan driver’s license;
• Proof that the close relative is a registered tenant of a Saskatchewan address (a lease agreement and rental receipts or a proof of ownership). It should include the names of other occupants at this address and applicants relationship to them; and
• Proof of receipt of income for at least the last three months.

Should the close relative have children between the ages of 5 and 17, you may be asked for copies of their enrolment in the Saskatchewan education system, be prepared just in case.

It is important to note the following;

• Close relatives can support only one application at a time.
• one household can support only one application at a time. If your close relative is already supporting an SINP application, they can’t support your application until the nominee they are supporting has lived and worked in Saskatchewan for at least six months.
• must include documents from your close relative regarding their previously supported applicant. Documents must show that previously supported applicants have settled in Saskatchewan. Your close relative must provide:
  • Proof of Permanent Resident status,
  • Canadian Citizenship,
  • Canadian permanent resident card,
  • Canadian citizenship card, or
  • Canadian passport.
• close relative must be living and working in Saskatchewan for at least the last six months. To prove this, you may provide;
  • Utility bills from the last six months from either SaskPower; SaskEnergy; a city or town office (the SINP will not accept telephone, cellular or cable bills);
  • Saskatchewan Health Card or Saskatchewan driver’s license;
  • Proof of registered tenancy in a Saskatchewan address (a lease agreement and rental receipts or proof of ownership) and names of other occupants at this address and their relationship to them.
  • Proof of employment during the last six months (with copies of pay slips or a letter with company’s letterhead from their employer confirming employment).

Previous Work Experience in Saskatchewan

If you want to receive points for previously working in Saskatchewan, you must provide documentation demonstrating that you spent at least a year working there in the previous five years.

Reference letters, written on the official letterhead of your former employer(s), are required. The letter(s) must be signed by an official company representative identified by name and title, with details about the following:

• applicant’s job position,
• dates of employment, and
• applicant’s main duties/responsibilities.

Previous Study Experience in Saskatchewan (if applicable)

If you want to receive points for your time spent studying in Saskatchewan, you must complete and submit the following:

• Education/trade certificates, degrees or diplomas, with official transcripts (if applicable), with details of institution(s) attended and courses taken;
• A letter from the registrar stating that you studied at a Saskatchewan institutio

Applicants with remotely completed studies are not eligible for these extra points.

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
• death certificate of  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).
3. 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.

Passport(s)

Your passport must be valid through the entire application process, from submission of application to obtaining permanent residency. It must include copies of pages in the 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.

Tags: Express Entryinternational skilled workerpermanent residencyworking in saskatchewan