Nigerians that have applied for Federal Skilled Workers 2013 program

[thebaft]

New caps for Federal Skilled Worker and Federal Skilled Trades Programs, and Canadian Experience Class
On April 26, 2014, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) will issue a new set of Ministerial Instructions to immigration officers regarding the processing of applications to the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and Canadian Experience Class (CEC).

Effective May 1, 2014, the following measures will be in place:

Federal Skilled Worker Program:
Federal Skilled Workers are chosen as permanent residents based on their ability to prosper in Canada. They are assessed according to a selection grid made up of six factors, including language, education, work experience, etc.

Overall cap of 25,000 applications in eligible occupations stream
Cap of 500 applications for PhD eligibility stream
No limit on applicants who have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer
Sub-caps of 1,000 applications for each of the 50 eligible occupations below (their 2011 National Occupational Classification (NOC) code is included in brackets):
Senior managers – financial, communications and other business services (0013)
Senior managers - trade, broadcasting and other services, n.e.c. (0015)
Financial managers (0111)
Human resources managers (0112)
Purchasing managers (0113)
Insurance, real estate and financial brokerage managers (0121)
Managers in health care (0311)
Construction managers (0711)
Home building and renovation managers (0712)
Managers in natural resources production and fishing (0811)
Manufacturing managers (0911)
Financial auditors and accountants (1111)
Financial and investment analysts (1112)
Securities agents, investment dealers and brokers (1113)
Other financial officers (1114)
Professional occupations in advertising, marketing and public relations (1123)
Supervisors, finance and insurance office workers (1212)
Property administrators (1224)
Geoscientists and oceanographers (2113)
Civil engineers (2131)
Mechanical engineers (2132)
Electrical and electronics engineers (2133)
Petroleum engineers (2145)
Information systems analysts and consultants (2171)
Database analysts and data administrators (2172)
Software engineers and designers (2173)
Computer programmers and interactive media developers (2174)
Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians (2232)
Construction estimators (2234)
Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians (2241)
Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics (2243)
Inspectors in public and environmental health and occupational health and safety (2263)
Computer network technicians (2281)
Nursing co-ordinators and supervisors (3011)
Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (3012)
Specialist physicians (3111)
General practitioners and family physicians (3112)
Dietitians and nutritionists (3132)
Audiologists and speech-language pathologists (3141)
Physiotherapists (3142)
Occupational therapists (3143)
Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists (3214)
Medical radiation technologists (3215)
Medical sonographers (3216)
Licensed practical nurses (3233)
Paramedical occupations (3234)
University professors and lecturers (4011)
Psychologists (4151)
Early childhood educators and assistants (4214)
Translators, terminologists and interpreters (5125)
Federal Skilled Trades Program:
This program is for people who want to become permanent residents based on being qualified in a skilled trade.

Overall cap of 5,000 applications
All 90 skilled trades from the following NOC Skill Level B groups are eligible (with sub-caps of 100 applications each):
Major Group 72: Industrial, electrical and construction trades;
Major Group 73: Maintenance and equipment operation trades;
Major Group 82: Supervisors and technical occupations in national resources, agriculture and related production;
Major Group 92: Processing, manufacturing and utilities supervisors and central control operators;
Minor Group 632: chefs and cooks;
Minor Group 633: butchers and bakers.
Canadian Experience Class:
This program is for people who already have skilled work experience in Canada and want to immigrate permanently.

Overall cap of 8,000 applications
Sub-caps of 200 applications each for any NOC B occupation
Six ineligible occupations: administrative officers (NOC code 1221), administrative assistants (1241), accounting technicians/bookkeepers (1311), cooks (6322), food service supervisors (6311), and retail sales supervisors (6211).
The new Ministerial Instructions will also re-confirm the existing pause of applications to the federal Immigrant Investor and Entrepreneur Programs.

Date Modified: 2014-04-23

http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=841339

 

[thebaft]

This people have strange ways of doing their things. All is well, may it favour us and them

It will surely favour us...

 

[petereshiett2K1]

New caps for Federal Skilled Worker and Federal Skilled Trades Programs, and Canadian Experience Class
On April 26, 2014, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) will issue a new set of Ministerial Instructions to immigration officers regarding the processing of applications to the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and Canadian Experience Class (CEC).

Effective May 1, 2014, the following measures will be in place:

Federal Skilled Worker Program:
Federal Skilled Workers are chosen as permanent residents based on their ability to prosper in Canada. They are assessed according to a selection grid made up of six factors, including language, education, work experience, etc.


this is a good one
Overall cap of 25,000 applications in eligible occupations stream
Cap of 500 applications for PhD eligibility stream
No limit on applicants who have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer
Sub-caps of 1,000 applications for each of the 50 eligible occupations below (their 2011 National Occupational Classification (NOC) code is included in brackets):
Senior managers – financial, communications and other business services (0013)
Senior managers - trade, broadcasting and other services, n.e.c. (0015)
Financial managers (0111)
Human resources managers (0112)
Purchasing managers (0113)
Insurance, real estate and financial brokerage managers (0121)
Managers in health care (0311)
Construction managers (0711)
Home building and renovation managers (0712)
Managers in natural resources production and fishing (0811)
Manufacturing managers (0911)
Financial auditors and accountants (1111)
Financial and investment analysts (1112)
Securities agents, investment dealers and brokers (1113)
Other financial officers (1114)
Professional occupations in advertising, marketing and public relations (1123)
Supervisors, finance and insurance office workers (1212)
Property administrators (1224)
Geoscientists and oceanographers (2113)
Civil engineers (2131)
Mechanical engineers (2132)
Electrical and electronics engineers (2133)
Petroleum engineers (2145)
Information systems analysts and consultants (2171)
Database analysts and data administrators (2172)
Software engineers and designers (2173)
Computer programmers and interactive media developers (2174)
Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians (2232)
Construction estimators (2234)
Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians (2241)
Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics (2243)
Inspectors in public and environmental health and occupational health and safety (2263)
Computer network technicians (2281)
Nursing co-ordinators and supervisors (3011)
Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (3012)
Specialist physicians (3111)
General practitioners and family physicians (3112)
Dietitians and nutritionists (3132)
Audiologists and speech-language pathologists (3141)
Physiotherapists (3142)
Occupational therapists (3143)
Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists (3214)
Medical radiation technologists (3215)
Medical sonographers (3216)
Licensed practical nurses (3233)
Paramedical occupations (3234)
University professors and lecturers (4011)
Psychologists (4151)
Early childhood educators and assistants (4214)
Translators, terminologists and interpreters (5125)
Federal Skilled Trades Program:
This program is for people who want to become permanent residents based on being qualified in a skilled trade.

Overall cap of 5,000 applications
All 90 skilled trades from the following NOC Skill Level B groups are eligible (with sub-caps of 100 applications each):
Major Group 72: Industrial, electrical and construction trades;
Major Group 73: Maintenance and equipment operation trades;
Major Group 82: Supervisors and technical occupations in national resources, agriculture and related production;
Major Group 92: Processing, manufacturing and utilities supervisors and central control operators;
Minor Group 632: chefs and cooks;
Minor Group 633: butchers and bakers.
Canadian Experience Class:
This program is for people who already have skilled work experience in Canada and want to immigrate permanently.

Overall cap of 8,000 applications
Sub-caps of 200 applications each for any NOC B occupation
Six ineligible occupations: administrative officers (NOC code 1221), administrative assistants (1241), accounting technicians/bookkeepers (1311), cooks (6322), food service supervisors (6311), and retail sales supervisors (6211).
The new Ministerial Instructions will also re-confirm the existing pause of applications to the federal Immigrant Investor and Entrepreneur Programs.

Date Modified: 2014-04-23

http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=841339

 

[Preferred]

New caps for Federal Skilled Worker and Federal Skilled Trades Programs, and Canadian Experience Class
On April 26, 2014, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) will issue a new set of Ministerial Instructions to immigration officers regarding the processing of applications to the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and Canadian Experience Class (CEC).

Effective May 1, 2014, the following measures will be in place:

Federal Skilled Worker Program:
Federal Skilled Workers are chosen as permanent residents based on their ability to prosper in Canada. They are assessed according to a selection grid made up of six factors, including language, education, work experience, etc.

Overall cap of 25,000 applications in eligible occupations stream
Cap of 500 applications for PhD eligibility stream
No limit on applicants who have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer
Sub-caps of 1,000 applications for each of the 50 eligible occupations below (their 2011 National Occupational Classification (NOC) code is included in brackets):
Senior managers – financial, communications and other business services (0013)
Senior managers - trade, broadcasting and other services, n.e.c. (0015)
Financial managers (0111)
Human resources managers (0112)
Purchasing managers (0113)
Insurance, real estate and financial brokerage managers (0121)
Managers in health care (0311)
Construction managers (0711)
Home building and renovation managers (0712)
Managers in natural resources production and fishing (0811)
Manufacturing managers (0911)
Financial auditors and accountants (1111)
Financial and investment analysts (1112)
Securities agents, investment dealers and brokers (1113)
Other financial officers (1114)
Professional occupations in advertising, marketing and public relations (1123)
Supervisors, finance and insurance office workers (1212)
Property administrators (1224)
Geoscientists and oceanographers (2113)
Civil engineers (2131)
Mechanical engineers (2132)
Electrical and electronics engineers (2133)
Petroleum engineers (2145)
Information systems analysts and consultants (2171)
Database analysts and data administrators (2172)
Software engineers and designers (2173)
Computer programmers and interactive media developers (2174)
Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians (2232)
Construction estimators (2234)
Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians (2241)
Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics (2243)
Inspectors in public and environmental health and occupational health and safety (2263)
Computer network technicians (2281)
Nursing co-ordinators and supervisors (3011)
Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (3012)
Specialist physicians (3111)
General practitioners and family physicians (3112)
Dietitians and nutritionists (3132)
Audiologists and speech-language pathologists (3141)
Physiotherapists (3142)
Occupational therapists (3143)
Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists (3214)
Medical radiation technologists (3215)
Medical sonographers (3216)
Licensed practical nurses (3233)
Paramedical occupations (3234)
University professors and lecturers (4011)
Psychologists (4151)
Early childhood educators and assistants (4214)
Translators, terminologists and interpreters (5125)
Federal Skilled Trades Program:
This program is for people who want to become permanent residents based on being qualified in a skilled trade.

Overall cap of 5,000 applications
All 90 skilled trades from the following NOC Skill Level B groups are eligible (with sub-caps of 100 applications each):
Major Group 72: Industrial, electrical and construction trades;
Major Group 73: Maintenance and equipment operation trades;
Major Group 82: Supervisors and technical occupations in national resources, agriculture and related production;
Major Group 92: Processing, manufacturing and utilities supervisors and central control operators;
Minor Group 632: chefs and cooks;
Minor Group 633: butchers and bakers.
Canadian Experience Class:
This program is for people who already have skilled work experience in Canada and want to immigrate permanently.

Overall cap of 8,000 applications
Sub-caps of 200 applications each for any NOC B occupation
Six ineligible occupations: administrative officers (NOC code 1221), administrative assistants (1241), accounting technicians/bookkeepers (1311), cooks (6322), food service supervisors (6311), and retail sales supervisors (6211).
The new Ministerial Instructions will also re-confirm the existing pause of applications to the federal Immigrant Investor and Entrepreneur Programs.

Date Modified: 2014-04-23

http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=841339

Yippeeeeeeeeeeee. Thanks

 

[GENTLEANDREW]

Yippeeeeeeeeeeee. Thanks

This is amazing you know.

 

[Preferred]

This is amazing you know.

That is putting it mildly

 

[Valentine667]

With the announcement of new FSW to commence on May 1st, 2014. AVO should fast track their processing on 2013 applicants cos treating 25,000 applications is not a small thing. But how long will this new FSW will last cos I heard about the introduction of express entry in 2015 January. Will it run side by side with dis new FSW or the FSW will close by December.

Guys in the house, i dnt know what will happen oh. lets see what AVO will come up with for 2013 applicants in May.


Happy waiting guys

 

[nanonye]

I really feel that this FSW 14 will mean they expedite the processing for we FSW 13 applicants. That 25000,figure is really frightening and visa offices really can't afford to to have backlogs with the flood of applications that are expected.

I also feel FSW 14 will hav a looooong waiting period for applicants right from the waiting period for the issuance of PER to the actual VO processing time. With FSW 13 and just 5000 applications, it took up to 90 days for some early applicants to receive PER.

I'm confident we will start hearing from Accra in June. Happy waiting guys. At least we no go be Jambites again from May 1. May God see us through.

 

[favbless]

That is putting it mildly

 

[much_mann]

While the announcement of the FSW and other route to PR effective May 1, 2014 is a good thing; I believe the crux of the matter will be in the details that will be contained in the OP that will be subsequently released on how it will be treated or processed.

If you follow the history of this process, you will realize it was like an open ticket, they release an occupation list and people apply, year after year and then the backlog grew. To eliminate this, they by law got rid of application running into hundreds of thousands. They raised the requirements and put some more obstacles (ECA, higher IELTS score and minimum to qualify etc)

They effectively took a 1yr leave from accepting any application from May 2012 to 2013. The process return from the hiatus to come up with a total application limit of 7,000 (FSW- 5,000 with 24 NOC and cap of 300/NOC, FSTC - 1,000 with 100 cap/NOC, Phd stream 1,000 etc) as been adequate to cover there needs for 1year (2013 to 2014)

Take a step forward to now - 50 NOC and 1,000 cap/NOC; 25,000 etc. as been adequate to cover for 2015 target. Then I asked myself some few questions:
1. If 5,000 was enough for 1year, why ask for 25,000 now? That is like for 5years need
2. If the whole idea was to eliminate backlog, what is the likelihood that this 25,000 (mind you no limit like last year's which was limited from May 1st 2013 to April 30th 2014) will not create another soon if they keep this rate up.
3. Note also that this is just 8months (May to Dec 2014) to when they hope to launch "express entry" in January 2015.


I could be wrong with my thoughts trend, but I get the feeling that they are going to lump all this into the express entry pot. Maybe review the document for completeness, possibly send a mail that you made the cap and not charge the processing fee until you have been selected to formally apply either as result of meeting the points required or been matched with a potential employer. This will be the logical course hence they are asking for 1,000 cap per NOC and hopefully be able to mine the 300 or so they need from the lot believing that should meet the 2015 targets.

Like I said this may just be a figment of my wild imagination. April 26th when the gazette will be published and the subsequent OP (operational procedure) will shed lights and will dispel a lot of the rumor or suspicion around this new intake and the take off of the express entry

 

[kit01]

I strongly feel that this new stream, FSW 2014 wont affect FSW 2013 processing. This is based on the statement released by the CIC minister yesterday as highlighted below:



Preparing for the launch of "Express Entry"






New caps for Federal Skilled Worker and Federal Skilled Trades Programs, and Canadian Experience Class

April 23, 2014 — Ottawa — Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander today announced new measures in key economic immigration programs to prepare for next year’s launch of Express Entry, Canada’s new active recruitment model. Express Entry will lead to a faster and more flexible economic immigration system that will address Canada’s economic and labour market needs.

To prepare for the launch of Express Entry in 2015, Citizenship and Immigration Canada will begin accepting applications under new caps for the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) and Canadian Experience Class (CEC), starting May 1, 2014. These measures will ensure a steady supply of skilled workers who are settling in Canada permanently and helping to supplement the Canadian workforce in areas where there are skills shortages.

With the FSWP backlog on track for elimination this year, a new cap of 25,000 applications will provide the appropriate number of applications to support expected admissions in 2015. The list of eligible occupations – reflecting the latest labour market needs – will be more than doubled, from 24 to 50 occupations.

To support Canada’s need for skilled trades people, the FSTP cap will be increased to 5,000 applications. All 90 skilled trades designated under the program regulations will now be eligible for consideration, although sub-caps remain in order to ensure appropriate representation of occupations.

The CEC cap will be re-set at 8,000 applications, as of May 1, 2014, to cover the transition period leading up to Express Entry.

The full set of Ministerial Instructions will be available in the Canada Gazette on April 26, 2014.

Quick facts
•These are the last FSWP, FSTP and CEC applications that will be accepted under the current system before Express Entry launches in January 2015.
•Application caps ensure that the immigration programs continue to address labour market needs and that backlogs are not created.
•The latest FSWP occupation list was developed based on recent labour market data from Employment and Social Development Canada and input from the provinces and territories on regional labour market needs.
•Canada’s Economic Action Plan 2014 will invest $14 million over two years and $4.7 million per year ongoing to ensure the successful implementation of Express Entry.

Quote


“With these measures in place for our key economic programs, our government is ensuring our immigration system is addressing Canada’s economic and labour market needs while reducing backlogs and improving processing times. We look forward to the launch of Express Entry next January, which will be a major step forward in attracting the skilled workers we need and have them working in Canada faster.”

Chris Alexander, Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration Minister


Going by these key words in bold, it is all in preparation towards express entry in January 2015. Abrams and krochak immigration law firm in Canada says it will run between may 1 2014 to Dec 31 2014. If CIC and its VOs can handle 5000 applications in a year as promised then it will be absolutely impossible to handle 25000 applications in just 8 months unless a miracle happens. What I think CIC is trying to do is to avoid pressure towards the start of the express entry by telling potential applicants to prepare well ahead of time, process their applications in readiness to feed it into the express entry in Jan 2015, hence the use of key words such as prepare as the heading of this news release and paragraph 2 and also to support expected admission in 2015 in paragraph 3. So my conclusion is dat though its FSW in a way but will change course to express entry. I think it wont even get to the VOs cos they are expected to clear all backlogs including fsw 2013 by dec 2014.
So cic will shortlist for fsw 2014 from this pool of applicant, create a portal where applicants that were successfully shortlisted meet employers, applicants get expression of interest and then move on with the formal processing to the VOs. From what I see this is going to take longer and harder for fsw 2014 going forward becos their fate will lie with employers as against the old process where the cic and to a large extent is determined by the VO. So you may b lucky to get offer and otherwise.
With this VOs now know they have to fast track and clear backlogs in readiness for this new applications that will be fed into the express entry unless cic minister and the government of Canada are only trying to be politically correct as they've always been by telling us processing year of a year without ever fulfilling it.

cheers

 

[canacit]

Can anyone tell me where to take the islets in Lagos. Thanks

 

[thebaft]

Please let us wait for the Ministerial Instructions (MI) for details on how FSW2014 will be handled. The MI report is due to be released tomorrow (26 April 2014).

While the announcement of the FSW and other route to PR effective May 1, 2014 is a good thing; I believe the crux of the matter will be in the details that will be contained in the OP that will be subsequently released on how it will be treated or processed.

If you follow the history of this process, you will realize it was like an open ticket, they release an occupation list and people apply, year after year and then the backlog grew. To eliminate this, they by law got rid of application running into hundreds of thousands. They raised the requirements and put some more obstacles (ECA, higher IELTS score and minimum to qualify etc)

They effectively took a 1yr leave from accepting any application from May 2012 to 2013. The process return from the hiatus to come up with a total application limit of 7,000 (FSW- 5,000 with 24 NOC and cap of 300/NOC, FSTC - 1,000 with 100 cap/NOC, Phd stream 1,000 etc) as been adequate to cover there needs for 1year (2013 to 2014)

Take a step forward to now - 50 NOC and 1,000 cap/NOC; 25,000 etc. as been adequate to cover for 2015 target. Then I asked myself some few questions:
1. If 5,000 was enough for 1year, why ask for 25,000 now? That is like for 5years need
2. If the whole idea was to eliminate backlog, what is the likelihood that this 25,000 (mind you no limit like last year's which was limited from May 1st 2013 to April 30th 2014) will not create another soon if they keep this rate up.
3. Note also that this is just 8months (May to Dec 2014) to when they hope to launch "express entry" in January 2015.


I could be wrong with my thoughts trend, but I get the feeling that they are going to lump all this into the express entry pot. Maybe review the document for completeness, possibly send a mail that you made the cap and not charge the processing fee until you have been selected to formally apply either as result of meeting the points required or been matched with a potential employer. This will be the logical course hence they are asking for 1,000 cap per NOC and hopefully be able to mine the 300 or so they need from the lot believing that should meet the 2015 targets.

Like I said this may just be a figment of my wild imagination. April 26th when the gazette will be published and the subsequent OP (operational procedure) will shed lights and will dispel a lot of the rumor or suspicion around this new intake and the take off of the express entry

 

[PORPHRY]

With the announcement of new FSW to commence on May 1st, 2014. AVO should fast track their processing on 2013 applicants cos treating 25,000 applications is not a small thing. But how long will this new FSW will last cos I heard about the introduction of express entry in 2015 January. Will it run side by side with dis new FSW or the FSW will close by December.

Guys in the house, i dnt know what will happen oh. lets see what AVO will come up with for 2013 applicants in May.
Please can you tell me how I will know when my application has been forward to AVO

Happy waiting guys

 

[Gofame]

I strongly feel that this new stream, FSW 2014 wont affect FSW 2013 processing. This is based on the statement released by the CIC minister yesterday as highlighted below:



Preparing for the launch of "Express Entry"






New caps for Federal Skilled Worker and Federal Skilled Trades Programs, and Canadian Experience Class

April 23, 2014 — Ottawa — Canada's Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander today announced new measures in key economic immigration programs to prepare for next year's launch of Express Entry, Canada's new active recruitment model. Express Entry will lead to a faster and more flexible economic immigration system that will address Canada's economic and labour market needs.

To prepare for the launch of Express Entry in 2015, Citizenship and Immigration Canada will begin accepting applications under new caps for the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) and Canadian Experience Class (CEC), starting May 1, 2014. These measures will ensure a steady supply of skilled workers who are settling in Canada permanently and helping to supplement the Canadian workforce in areas where there are skills shortages.

With the FSWP backlog on track for elimination this year, a new cap of 25,000 applications will provide the appropriate number of applications to support expected admissions in 2015. The list of eligible occupations – reflecting the latest labour market needs – will be more than doubled, from 24 to 50 occupations.

To support Canada's need for skilled trades people, the FSTP cap will be increased to 5,000 applications. All 90 skilled trades designated under the program regulations will now be eligible for consideration, although sub-caps remain in order to ensure appropriate representation of occupations.

The CEC cap will be re-set at 8,000 applications, as of May 1, 2014, to cover the transition period leading up to Express Entry.

The full set of Ministerial Instructions will be available in the Canada Gazette on April 26, 2014.

Quick facts
•These are the last FSWP, FSTP and CEC applications that will be accepted under the current system before Express Entry launches in January 2015.
•Application caps ensure that the immigration programs continue to address labour market needs and that backlogs are not created.
•The latest FSWP occupation list was developed based on recent labour market data from Employment and Social Development Canada and input from the provinces and territories on regional labour market needs.
•Canada's Economic Action Plan 2014 will invest $14 million over two years and $4.7 million per year ongoing to ensure the successful implementation of Express Entry.

Quote


“With these measures in place for our key economic programs, our government is ensuring our immigration system is addressing Canada's economic and labour market needs while reducing backlogs and improving processing times. We look forward to the launch of Express Entry next January, which will be a major step forward in attracting the skilled workers we need and have them working in Canada faster.”

Chris Alexander, Canada's Citizenship and Immigration Minister


Going by these key words in bold, it is all in preparation towards express entry in January 2015. Abrams and krochak immigration law firm in Canada says it will run between may 1 2014 to Dec 31 2014. If CIC and its VOs can handle 5000 applications in a year as promised then it will be absolutely impossible to handle 25000 applications in just 8 months unless a miracle happens. What I think CIC is trying to do is to avoid pressure towards the start of the express entry by telling potential applicants to prepare well ahead of time, process their applications in readiness to feed it into the express entry in Jan 2015, hence the use of key words such as prepare as the heading of this news release and paragraph 2 and also to support expected admission in 2015 in paragraph 3. So my conclusion is dat though its FSW in a way but will change course to express entry. I think it wont even get to the VOs cos they are expected to clear all backlogs including fsw 2013 by dec 2014.
So cic will shortlist for fsw 2014 from this pool of applicant, create a portal where applicants that were successfully shortlisted meet employers, applicants get expression of interest and then move on with the formal processing to the VOs. From what I see this is going to take longer and harder for fsw 2014 going forward becos their fate will lie with employers as against the old process where the cic and to a large extent is determined by the VO. So you may b lucky to get offer and otherwise.
With this VOs now know they have to fast track and clear backlogs in readiness for this new applications that will be fed into the express entry unless cic minister and the government of Canada are only trying to be politically correct as they've always been by telling us processing year of a year without ever fulfilling it.

cheers

You are absolutely right on point Kit01,they are preparing towards the EOI starting january 2015 to reduce pressure