The Ministerial Instructions 1 (MI1) for Federal Skilled Workers (FSW)
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) issued the first set of Ministerial Instructions (MIs) i.e. MI1 on November 29, 2008. These Ministerial Instructions (MIs) helped Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) to limit the type of Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) applications it received to the following categories:
- Applicants with an arranged employment offer
- Applicants having work experience in one of 38 in-demand occupations and,
- Applicants in Canada as students or temporary foreign workers
Subsequently, the authorities applied the provisions of MI1 retroactively to Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) applications that Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) received on or after February 27, 2008.
Readers would need to visit the website of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) for obtaining the full text of MI1. However, it is worth highlighting that by issuing MI2, the authorities superseded the provisions specified in MI1.
The Ministerial Instructions 2 (MI2) for Federal Skilled Workers (FSW), Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and the Immigrant Investor Program (IIP)
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) issued the second set of Ministerial Instructions (MIs) i.e. MI2 on June 26, 2010. These Ministerial Instructions (MIs) enabled Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) to place a cap on the maximum number of new Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) applications the authorities would process. Based on these instructions, the authorities placed a cap of 20,000 on the maximum number of new Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) applications that the officers would process. This number would not include applications having offers of arranged employment.
The Department responded to evolving labour market trends as well. Hence, it issued an updated Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) eligibility list of 29 occupations. In addition, it placed a cap of 1,000 applications in each of these occupations. Moreover, it also made Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) and Canadian Experience Class (CEC) principal applicants subject to mandatory language testing. Lastly, MI2 placed a temporary pause on new federal Immigrant Investor Program (IIP) applications.
Readers would need to visit the website of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) for obtaining the full text of MI2. However, it is worth highlighting that by issuing MI3, the authorities superseded the provisions concerning Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) Program and Immigrant Investor Program (IIP) provisions specified in MI2.
The Ministerial Instructions 3 (MI3) for Federal Skilled Workers (FSW), Immigrant Investor Program (IIP) and Entrepreneurs
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) issued the third set of Ministerial Instructions (MIs) i.e. MI3 on July 01, 2011. These Ministerial Instructions (MIs) enabled Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) to further limit the intake of new Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) applications. The instructions permitted the authorities to lower the global cap to 10,000. In addition, the new instructions also placed sub-caps of 500 for each of the 29 priority occupations. In addition, the instructions specified the introduction of an annual cap of 700 for new applications made under the federal Immigrant Investor Program (IIP). Lastly, the instructions also placed a temporary moratorium on Entrepreneur applications while the authorities carried out a review of that program.
Readers would need to visit the website of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) for obtaining the full text of MI3. However, it is worth highlighting that the issuance of MI4 does not hinder the implementation of the provisions specified in MI3.
The Ministerial Instructions 4 (MI4) for Parents and Grandparents and Federal Skilled Workers (FSW)
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) issued the fourth set of Ministerial Instructions (MIs) i.e. MI4 on November 05, 2011. These Ministerial Instructions (MIs) enabled Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) to introduce a temporary pause on new sponsorship applications for parents and grandparents. This pause was applicable for a duration of 24 months. The instructions created a new eligibility stream for international PhD students under the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program as well. The authorities placed a maximum cap of 1,000 annual applications on this new eligibility stream.
Readers would need to visit the website of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) for obtaining the full text of MI4.
Ministerial Instructions (MIs) Regarding the Parent and Grandparent Super Visa
The authorities issued an additional Ministerial Instruction (MI) on December 01, 2011. This additional Ministerial Instruction (MI) introduced the Parent and Grandparent Super Visa. The Super Visa is a temporary resident multiple entry visa. It has a duration of up to 10 years. It enables applicants to remain in Canada for up to 24 months, without requiring them to renew their status.
Readers would need to visit the website of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) for obtaining the full text of the Super Visa Ministerial Instruction (MI).
The Ministerial Instructions 5 (MI5) for Federal Skilled Workers (FSW) and Immigrant Investor Program (IIP)
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) issued the fifth set of Ministerial Instructions (MIs) i.e. MI5 on July 01, 2012. These Ministerial Instructions (MIs) enabled Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) to introduce temporary pauses on accepting new applications to:
- The Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) Program (with some exceptions) and,
- The federal Immigrant Investor Program (IIP)
It is worth mentioning that these pauses have no effect on Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and Immigrant Investor Program (IIP) admissions. This is because the authorities have specified these in the Annual Immigration Levels Plan. In addition, there are more than sufficient applications in the inventory of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) for meeting current and future admission targets for both these programs.
Readers would need to visit the website of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) for obtaining the full text of MI5. However, it is worth highlighting that by issuing MI5, the authorities superseded the provisions concerning Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) Program and Immigrant Investor Program (IIP) provisions specified in MI3. But, the issuance of MI4 does not hinder the implementation of the provisions specified in MI4.
The Ministerial Instructions (MIs) Protecting Vulnerable Foreign Workers from the Risk of Abuse and Exploitation in Sex Trade Related Businesses
These Ministerial Instructions (MIs) came into effect on July 14, 2012. They directed immigration officers not to process any work permit applications from foreign nationals if the applicants sought employment in businesses in certain sectors. This is because these sectors could provide reasonable grounds for suspecting a risk of sexual exploitation such as strip clubs, escort services and massage parlours.
In addition, the authorities placed a restriction on foreign nationals issued with new work permits from working in these sex trade related businesses. The authorities placed this restriction through a condition specified in the work permits of these individuals. This restriction came into force with effect from July 28, 2012.
Readers would need to visit the website of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) for obtaining the full text of the Protecting Vulnerable Foreign Workers Ministerial Instruction (MI).
The Ministerial Instructions 6 (MI6) for the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)