Seniors Please Help - Applying for Skilled Category from Singapore

[AlohaMora]

Hello Friends,

I am Indian national working in Singapore, I am an IT Consultant (Software Engineer), I Have almost 4 years of experience in Software Development, During my 2nd-3rd year I worked as Project Manager in an IT Firm in INDIA for around 15 Months, Now a days I am in Singapore and working as a Programmer Analyst (IT Consultant). I am Microsoft Certified as MCSD.net, MCSE and MCTS.

I have two Queries:
1. Can I apply for Canadian Immigration under these 38 categories according to new rules.
2. Can I apply from Singapore, I have one year Employment Pass, of which I have already lived here for almost 5 months, or I have to apply from my birth country i.e. India.

Thanks

 

[AlohaMora]

I am just wondering if no one is having any clue of my queries, Seniors plz say something

 

[New Horison]

Please read this new instruction of Federal Skilled Worker at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/releases/2008/2008-11-28.asp.

You should check here to know processing times of Singapore and New Delhi at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/international/02a-skilled-fed.asp

I belong to CHC Singapore as well

 

[AlohaMora]

Thanks Horison fior your reply,

As I have seen on the link processing time at Singapore is less, But my question is Am I eligible to apply as FSW from Singapore, as i am indian national, on work permit in singapore, my work permit is for one year of which i have lived here for almost 5 months.

If you see this link http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/offices/apply-where.asp

and para "Applicants for Permanent Residence
You must apply in your country of residence, your country of nationality or the country where you have been legally admitted for at least one year."

Also if i can apply from here in Singapore, in that case can I add my wife into this application as I have plans to get married in next year in india.

Please clerify
Looking forward to hear

 

[New Horison]

They say at least for one year of residency so I think you should wait for 7 more months, I THINK. You should contact the CHC in Singapore to ask them about your case. They will make you clear, I am sure.

Cheers

 

[Leon]

Somebody asked Buffalo about that one year thing because the wording isn't really clear if you can apply as soon as they let you in with a 1 year visa or only if you have already stayed in that country for one year. Buffalo said that you can apply in that country as soon as they have admitted you with a 1 year visa.

 

[AlohaMora]

Horison, Leon

Thanks for the information, I will call or email CHC Singapore to confirm the same.

Thanks once again

 

[AlohaMora]

Thanks,

So you mean admitted for one year means, you have legal visa for atleast one year for that country and you are currently/presently living there. rite?

 

[Leon]

Yes. If you were let into the US as a student or foreign worker with a one year visa or more, you can apply through Buffalo. That's what Buffalo says anyway. Singapore might have a different take on it for all I know.

However, processing times on the CIC website right now are only for the old system. For the new rules, nobody knows yet because they haven't completed any files yet since the new rules were only posted a couple of weeks ago. Their goal is that processing from any country will take only 6 to 12 months. Maybe they will not reach this goal right away but it's too early to tell what the processing times will be until they start moving files.

 

[AlohaMora]

Thanks Leon, Its a great help.

 

[AlohaMora]

Thanks for the information provided by you, I have some more queries, I hope you will be able to help me with these as well. just to recall, I am Indian national working in Singapore as IT Professional, have almost 4 years of experience.

1. As I live in Singapore and I'm admitted to live here for One Year (My Employment Pass is for one year), Can I apply for myself from here and include my wife later in the same application. (I am going to get married next year)

2. I have not yet completed my IELTS test, Can I put my application in life without it and at later time give the IELTS score to them.

3. How much I will have to score in IELTS. I have Master's Degree in Computers, Almost 4 Yeards of Experience, relatives in Canada.

4. What is the Cost of Application, Is it around CAD $500.

5. My Last Job in India is Listed in 38 categories (Software Project Manager). I hope I will be eligible for the application under this 38 category System. I have all my Appointment Letters, Job Responsibilities etc.

6. During my Full Time Studies I have Gaps between my Gradugation & Masters degrees (one year) will that have anything to do with the pplication process, Do I need to prove what I was doing during that time. (Was preparing for the enterence test and staying home)

7. For this new 38 category System, I have heard that they will take only a limited number of application for one year, after receiving a targent number (for that year) they will not entertain more applications (for that year), Is it true?

Well too many questions but Its important for me to know these things before I proceed further. I hope I will get some advise from Seniors soon.

Looking forward to hear soon.

 

[Leon]

1. Yes, maybe double check with the Singapore visa office just in case, but since applicaitons are supposed to move pretty fast in the new system, you might be better off waiting to apply until you get married rather than add your wife later. Have you lived with your wife for 12 months? If so, you could include her right now as a common law. Whatever you do, if you apply for PR right now as a single and get your PR visa before you get married, make sure you update with CIC as soon as you get married and add her to your file or tell them you are planning to get married because otherwise they may think you are cheating somehow and bar you from sponsoring wife later. They may even give you problems if you marry "too soon" after getting PR saying that you should have informed them of your plans.

2. If you care to read your application guide at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/guides/EG7.pdf you will find on page 9 that as one of the 38, category 1, you do not need to submit IELTS right away but if you take it right away, you will know exactly how many points to award yourself. Same as with your marriage, if you include your wife on your application from the start, you may get points for her.

3. Calculate your total points according to the application guide and see how many you will need for English and then you see how much you have to score.

4. Application guide again, page 37 this time, $550 per person. If you are granted PR, you need to pay another $490 per person.

6. If you were preparing for test and staying home, then state that you were preparing for test and staying home.

7. That is news to me. Ask the person who told you this to tell you where that says on the CIC website. If it's not on the CIC website, it's a rumour. There are always a lot of rumours going around. Most of them are not true.

 

[AlohaMora]

Thanks Leon for your Quick reply.

1. Sure I will check with the CHC Singapore. About the Filing Application, I have plans to get married in May 2009, No I have never lived with her till now as we are not married, She is in India. What If I file my case in few days from now (without the IELTS), and start preparing for the IELTS in the mean time. get the result in next 1-2 months and give it to them, in the mean time they will start processing on my case, later after getting married I will add my wife to the application. is It the right way?

My Score using CIC website tool:
1 Education 25 25
2 Language Ability 24 8
3 Work Experience 21 19
4 Age 10 10
5 Arranged Employment 10 0
6 Adaptability 10 5
Total Score 100 67

If you see above with 8 points out of 24 in language I just achieved the required score, But I hope I can get more then 8 in language. So I hope It will be sufficient to achieve the good points to be eligible for Skilled Worker category without including my wife in the application at this stage.

My concern here is as with this current recession, I don't want to even waste few months. If I inform then about my plans to get married in next year (i have photos etc. of engagement ceremony) Will that be Okay for me?

Also an other question, most of people use services of agents like world wide services (sorry i didn't know we can't use exact company names here) and other Migration Experts, is it required or one can simply file their own application with some research and help from internet/forums etc?

7. I will ask the person about the source of this information and will try to get the reference of his informarion if any.

Thanks in advance Leon

 

[AlohaMora]

Leon, other seniors plz give your comments

 

[Leon]

If you tell them when you apply that you are planning on getting married soon, they might just put your file on the shelf until you do so in that case you might as well wait to apply.