A validated job offer can be worth up to 14 points in the Quebec Regular Skilled Worker selection grid and can make a big difference to your eligibility.
Not only can a validated job offer make or break a candidate’s eligibility, but it can also increase one’s chances of being invited to apply for permanent selection. Many of Quebec’s recent Arrima draws have targeted candidates with a valid job offer outside of the Montreal metropolitan area.
A validated job offer is an offer of employment from a Quebec employer. The employer must have applied to have the job offer validated by the Quebec Ministère d’immigration, francisation et intégration (MIFI).
The number of points you can receive for a validated job offer depends on the location of the job. If it is located inside the Région métropolitaine de Montréal (RMM), which includes the island of Montreal and surrounding regions like Laval and Longueuil, a validated job offer grants the candidate 8 additional points. If it is located outside the RMM, a validated job offer grants the candidate 14 additional points.
Similar to applying for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) at the federal level, employers who apply to validate their job offer have to prove that they tried to hire a Canadian citizen or permanent resident to fill the position. This condition is waived if the candidate is already working for the employer on a valid temporary work permit.
If the candidate is not in Canada or is in Canada but is not already working for the employer making the job offer, the employer must meet the minimum recruitment effort requirements described below.
In order to apply for a validated job offer, the position being offered to the foreign worker must:
If an employer wants to offer a position to a foreign worker that meets the requirements in step 1, the employer must submit an application for a validated job offer, accompanied by supporting documents.
Unless the candidate is already working for the employer on a valid work permit, the employer has to prove that they tried to hire a Canadian citizen or permanent resident to fill the position. MIFI has some specific recruitment efforts that the employer must undertake:
To meet the recruitment requirements, the job advertisement must include:
If the candidate is already working for the employer on a valid work permit, the employer does not need to meet recruitment requirements.
Once a candidate secures a validated job offer from an employer, they can submit an expression of interest for a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ) through the Arrima portal as part of the Quebec Regular Skilled Worker (QSW) program.
Quebec then holds regular Arrima draws, in which they invite candidates to apply for permanent selection.
As Quebec’s immigration system is being flooded with applications every day, your best chance of securing a Quebec Selection Certificate is by holding a validated job offer. This can open the door for you to attain residency in Quebec and eventually permanent residency at the federal level.
Candidates who secure a CSQ through QSW must apply for permanent residence as a skilled worker selected by Quebec. They cannot apply through the federal Express Entry system.
The federal government will do a medical and police background check on the main applicant and all accompanying family members. If they are not found to be inadmissible, they will all be granted Canadian permanent residence.
NOTE: Although candidates applying through a Quebec immigration program must have the intention to reside in Quebec, once they became Canadian permanent residents, they are granted mobility rights under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This guarantees a permanent resident’s right to work and live anywhere in Canada.
If you would like more information about Arrima and your Quebec immigration options, please contact us.
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