Quebec Conducts First Arrima Expression of Interest Draw Since January

Quebec immigration has released details of its first Arrima Expression of Interest draw since January.

In a June 18 draw, the French-speaking province issued 7 invitations.

The candidates invited met the following criteria:

• Their application to the Quebec Skilled Worker Program under the old system was terminated as part of the governing Coalition Avenir Quebec’s Bill 9.
• They filed an Arrima Expression of Interest before December 17, 2019.
• They were in one of the following situations:

• • Their terminated application was submitted pursuant to section 5.01 of the Regulation respecting the selection of foreign nationals, OR
  • They were in Quebec on June 16, 2019 while holding a study or work permit.

There has been no formal announcement from Quebec of the suspension of Arrima draws due to the coronavirus pandemic.

However, the lack of draws and invitations during 2020 would suggest the province is limiting its skilled worker immigration.

Candidates receiving an invitation have 60 days to submit a full application.

This was the second draw of 2020, with a total of 30 invitations issued. Quebec issued a total of 2,072 invitations in nine draws in 2019.

Quebec Expression Of Interest Draws 2020

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How Does Quebec Expression of Interest Work?

1. Candidates submit an online expression of interest profile to the MIDI.
2. Profiles enter into an Expression of Interest pool, where they are ranked against each other and are valid for 12-months.
3. Profiles will be classified into two categories: one for candidates who are living in Quebec or have a job offer and meet specific criteria, and the other for candidates living outside Quebec and meet specific criteria.
4. The highest-ranking candidates will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for a Quebec Certificate of Selection under the Quebec Skilled Worker Program.
5. Quebec will conduct periodic draws, inviting candidates to apply for a Quebec certificate of selection (CSQ).
6. Candidates receiving an invitation have 60 days to submit a full application.
7. Approved candidates who receive a nomination certificate (CSQ) may then apply for Canadian permanent residence.

What Are the Requirements for Quebec Expression of Interest?

Candidates are ranked under many factors including education, work experience, age, language ability and time spent in Quebec. A valid job offer is also an important factor.

The qualifications of a candidate’s spouse or partner are also considered.

According to the decision published on August 1^st, 2018, the first category refers to candidates who:

• Have a validated job offer outside the Metropolitan Community of Montreal;
• Have a validated job offer in the Metropolitan Community of Montreal;
• Are currently living in Quebec AND:
  • They have a post-graduate work permit, obtained following the graduation from an eligible study program in Quebec (diploma attesting at least 900 hours of instruction, diploma of collegial studies attesting at least 12 months of full-time studies, undergraduate degree of at least 12 months of full-time studies, or graduate degrees such as masters, specialized graduate diplomas or PhDs); or
  • They have a work permit with a validity of at least 12 months and they have worked in Quebec full-time for at least 6 months.

These candidates are ranked based on the following criteria:

1. Age
2. Level of education
3. Diploma obtained in Quebec
4. Proficiency in French
5. Proficiency in other languages
6. Work experience in Canada or in the United States
7. Spouse/common-law partner’s qualifications: level of education and proficiency in the French language.
8. Transferability skills:
   1. Level of education with French proficiency (either the main applicant’s or the spouse’s, depending on which score is highest)
   2. Level of education with French proficiency and work experience in Canada or US
   3. Foreign work experience with French proficiency
   4. Foreign work experience with French proficiency and work experience in Canada or US

The second category refers to candidates who are not residing in Quebec. They are ranked on the following criteria:

1. Age
2. Level of education
3. Are of training in-demand, as published by the government
4. Diploma obtained in Quebec
5. Proficiency in French
6. Proficiency in other languages
7. Work experience in Canada or in the United States
8. Spouse/common-law partner’s qualifications: level of education and proficiency in the French language.
9. Transferability skills:
   1. Level of education with French proficiency (either the main applicant’s or the spouse’s, depending on which score is highest)
   2. Level of education with French proficiency and work experience in Canada or US
   3. Foreign work experience with French proficiency
   4. Foreign work experience with French proficiency and work experience in Canada or US

What Points Are Available Under the Quebec Skilled Worker Program?

Candidates selected to apply for a CSQ under the Quebec Skilled worker program must pass the threshold for the selection factors, which is 50 points for a single candidate and 59 points for a married candidate.

Selection factors in the point grid