Canada recognizes the importance skilled worker immigrants to their economy and is planning to admit more federal skilled workers in 2012. In 2012, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) plans to welcome 55,000–57,000 federal skilled workers, up from 47,000–47,400 in the 2011 Immigration Levels Plan. The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) is currently the main avenue for permanent immigration to Canada.

The Canadian Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism announced that Canada will maintain its immigration level in 2009, welcoming between 240,000 to 265,000 new permanent residents. The 2009 plan includes up to 156,600 immigrants in the economic category; 71,000 in the family category; and 37,400 in the humanitarian category.

Quebec Skilled Worker / Professional applicants intending to reside in Montreal or another city in the Province of Quebec are selected based upon a different set of criteria than applicants who wish to settle elsewhere in Canada. If you want to imigrate to Quebec as a skilled worker, you must first follow a separate selection process before your application is finalised by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

As of May 19th 2009, the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) has removed certain occupations from its list of qualifying occupations for the popular U.S. Visa Holder category. Eight Information Technology (IT) occupations are no longer listed as "occupations under pressure" in Alberta. Applicants with work experience in these occupations are no longer qualified for the program.

Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) Minister Diane Finley and Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism (CIMC) Minister Jason Kenney recently announced an investment of $50 million over the next two years to help newcomers have their internationally-obtained education and work experience assessed and recognized more quickly..

Controversial changes to Canada's Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) have passed final reading in the House of Commons. If made law, the amendments will give the Immigration Minister more power to decide which applications will be fast-tracked, which will remain in the queue, and which will be refused outright. These changes are needed to reduce processing times so that badly needed skilled workers can get to Canada quickly

Under the expanded Alberta Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), the province will now be making Canadian Permanent Residency nominations for individuals in manufacturing, food and beverage, transportation, and hospitality occupations. Alberta employers have been suffering from chronic labour shortages in these industries; the new PNP is designed to alleviate them.

In response to the demands of faith communities across the country, Citizenship and Immigration Canada is examining ways to make it easier for religious leaders to obtain landed immigrant status. Many of these clergy arrive to serve communities on temporary resident visas but are unable to meet the requirements for permanent residents..

If you receive a job offer from a Canadian company, your visa application process will be much easier! I strongly recommend obtaining a job offer from a Canadian company before submitting your visa application. If you can get this document, it will not only help you settle easier in Canada , but it will also increase your Pass Mark assessment.

With England expecting a surplus of talent in the medical profession in the coming years, Canada is eager to attract doctors to fill shortages being faced throughout the country. .