*** NOTE: We assist with Canadian Immigration to ALL provinces in Canada, except Quebec. Hence, the information provided here is a guide to assist you with your Quebec immigration application, which you will have to handle yourself. Therefore, DO NOT contact us to ask questions about Quebec immigration program. But feel free to post your questions in the comment section of this post ***

OVERVIEW OF QUEBEC IMMIGRATION PROGRAM

Quebec is predominantly a French-speaking province in eastern Canada. The province of Quebec has a special agreement with the Government of Canada on immigration. The province has its own rules for choosing immigrants who will adapt well to living there. To apply as a skilled worker in Quebec, you must apply in two stages:
First: Apply to the Quebec government for a Certificat de sélection du Québec - CSQ (Québec selection certificate). This shows that Quebec has accepted you as an immigrant. Quebec will assess you using its own rules
Second: If Quebec chooses you, you must then apply to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) to become a permanent resident of Canada

In this blog post, we will be covering the process for the First step stated above. Hence, to submit an application for a selection certificate under Quebec’s Regular Skilled Worker Program, follow these procedures below:

EVALUATE YOUR CHANCES OF BEING SELECTED TO IMMIGRATE TO CANADA THROUGH QUEBEC, BY USING A FREE ONLINE TOOL

There is an online tool that enables you to evaluate your chances of being selected by Quebec. By filing out a Preliminary Evaluation for Immigration (PEI), you will get an immediate response FREE of charge! Keep in mind that the response received based on this evaluation is for your information only, and does not guarantee that the Quebec government will select you. Check out the Preliminary Evaluation for Immigration (PEI) tool.

* It should be noted that considerable emphasis is placed on language. An applicant can receive a maximum of 22 points for language. Up to 16 points can be awarded for French proficiency, and up to 6 for English. However, French language proficiency is NOT a requirement.

NOTE THE APPLICATION INTAKE PERIOD

At regular intervals, the Ministère sets the intake period for a maximum number of applications. The Ministère has adapted the current application intake period for immigration to Quebec under the ‘Permanent workers’ Category. With the goal of giving candidates the opportunity to create their Mon projet Québec account and then complete the application for a Québec selection certificate.

Therefore:
• candidates will have until January 25, 2016, to create their account in the Mon projet Québec secure space. After this date, it will no longer be possible to create a new account for the current application intake period;
• from January 26 to February 15, 2016, candidates who have a Mon projet Québec account will be able to access it to complete the form Application for Selection Certificate online;
• starting February 16, 2016, it will be possible to submit the application and pay the related fees (online only). The application intake period will end on March 31, 2016

During this period, the Ministère will accept a maximum of 2800 applications submitted under the Regular Skilled Worker Program. Note that applications must be submitted online, through the Mon projet Québec secure space.

KNOW THE CONDITIONS/SELECTION PROCESS OF THE REGULAR SKILLED WORKER PROGRAM

Selection is made on the basis of a point grid for various factors. Points will be awarded for each selection factors in the point grid. The following factors will be taken into account:
• your schooling (your level of education and area of training)
• your work experience
• your age
• your knowledge of French and English: To prove knowledge of French and English, candidates must provide the results of a recognized test, even if their mother tongue is French or English. IELT result (minimum of CLB 5) is required for evaluation of English knowledge.
• your stays in Québec and family relationship with a Canadian citizen or a permanent Québec resident
• having a valid employment offer (this applies only if you have received a job offer that meets certain conditions from a Québec employer.)
• characteristics regarding your accompanying spouse or common-law spouse, if applicable
• other factors that will be taken into account: the number of children under the age of 19 who will be accompanying you to Québec
• your capacity for financial self-sufficiency (you must sign a contract confirming your commitment to provide for your needs and your family’s needs for at least the first three months following your arrival in Québec)

SUBMIT AN OFFICIAL IMMIGRATION APPLICATION

Use the Mon projet Québec online portal to submit an immigration application under the Regular Skilled Worker Program.

Provide the required documents: The Ministère will inform you of its requirements by sending a message to your electronic mailbox.

Good luck!!!

* It should be noted that “since the launch of the Mon projet Québec online service, it has had a very high level of traffic from candidates wishing to submit an application for a Certificat de sélection du Québec (Québec selection certificate) under the Regular Skilled Worker Program. To date, almost 15,000 accounts have been created, demonstrating the high level of interest in immigrating to Québec. This situation may make it difficult to access Mon projet Québec, since only a limited number of users can connect to the platform at the same time.” - Source: www.immigration-quebec.gouv.qc.ca, 18 January 2016