For the Seniors in this post,
Before anything else, I am one of the backlog applicants affected by changes in the Canadian immigration law. I applied for permanent residency directly with the Canadian Embassy in Manila under the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) category way back in September 2005. When the Citizenship & Immigration Canada (CIC) announced the changes to eliminate backlog applicants last year through the Immigration Minister Jason Kenney, all 280,000 pre 2008 applicants (2004 - 2008) including their dependents will be refunded on their paid application fees. According to CIC, they can no longer process the pre 2008 backlog and will just concentrate on processing the in demand professions and skills released last May 4, 2013 (24 FSW professions and skills). The process will now be faster, it will only take less than a year to get permanent residency under the FSW, that is if the applicant's profession falls under the 24 in demand NOC professions / skills.
Upon hearing the news about refund, my hopes and dreams to live in Canada collapsed. I wasted or I should say all pre 2008 applicants wasted our youth (I was 38 when I applied, now I am 45 turning 46 this year), also wasted investment opportunities (did not buy anything or invest on anything) and overseas job opportunities from Macau and Saudi Arabia which I both turned down during the waiting period because I was very optimistic that my application will be approved especially waiting for so many years.
I am a Licensed Medical Laboratory Technologist but is currently working in the hotel / service industry. Although my profession as a Medical Laboratory Technologist is included in the May 4, 2013 FSW NOC in demand profession list, I will not qualify because I am not practicing my profession as a MLT. The last time I worked in a hospital (Philippine General Hospital) was way back in 1990 to 1993. The FSW category would require applicants to work in their profession at least one full year within the ten year period.
Because of my strong desire to pursue my dreams and goals to live and work in Canada, I recently applied with the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program under the General Stream (friend endorsement) in Winnipeg last June 11, 2013.
As I was reading the Canada visa immigration forum, I found out that the General Stream category is taking a much longer time to process as compared to the Family Stream (close relative endorsement), and those with an ongoing job in Manitoba and those with approved LMO.
I am a simple person and would like to live a simple life preferably in a small city / town, that is why when I came across this post, it immediately caught my attention.
Before I apply, I have a few questions that needs clarification:
1. Will I still qualify even if I already applied under the General Stream last June 11, 2013. If no, can I withdraw my application and re-apply with the Morden's Community Driven Immigration Initiative.
2. Is my profession as a Medical Laboratory Technologist in demand in Morden?
3. Is it required for all applicants to do an exploratory visit even if I am very much confident that I will be able to blend and settle successfully in Morden.
Above are just a few questions I have in mind right now.
Any ideas or answers to the above will be highly appreciated.
Thank you.