The Ministerial Instructions prescribe a maximum cap of 5,000 new and complete FST applications. Thus, officers of the CIC would only process a maximum of 5,000 new and complete FST applications. This cap is currently valid for the period from May 01, 2014 to April 30, 2015. This cap would remain valid unless indicated otherwise in a future Ministerial Instruction.
This maximum overall cap of 5,000 new and complete applications includes:
- A maximum cap of 100 complete FST applications for each eligible skilled trade occupation i.e. occupations belonging to the following categories
- Major Group 72: Industrial, Electrical and Construction Trades
- Major Group 73: Maintenance and Equipment Operation Trades
- Major Group 82: Supervisors and Technical Occupations in:
- Natural Resources
- Agriculture and,
- Agriculture-related production
- Major Group 92: Processing, Manufacturing and Utilities Supervisors and Central Control Operators
- Minor Group 632: Chefs and Cooks and,
- Minor Group 633: Butchers and Bakers
This is in accordance with Subsection 87.2(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR). The authorities restrict eligible skilled trade occupations to the categories listed above based on Skill Level B. This is in accordance with the National Occupational Classification (NOC) version 2011.
The Ministerial Instructions specify that the maximum caps prescribed in this category apply regardless of:
- Whether the application comes along with a qualifying offer of employment or,
- Whether the application comes along with a certificate of qualification issued by a provincial or a territorial apprenticeship authority
Source: Citizenship and Immigration