New Brunswick Offers Permanent Residence Route For International Graduates In Lower Skilled Jobs

International graduates in lower skilled jobs who are already working in New Brunswick province are being given a break during the COVID-19 pandemic, in the form of an opportunity to apply for Canadian permanent residence through the Atlantic Canadian Skilled Workers Program.

Usually, that immigration stream of the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) doesn’t allow international graduates on a federal Post-Graduation Work Permit to apply for the program when their occupation fall under National Occupational Classifications (NOC) skill-level D.

But the immigration department is making an exception during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The New Brunswick province is now accepting applications under the NB Skilled Workers stream from international graduates working in the province in a National Occupational Classification (NOC) D position.

These lower skilled jobs are those labor jobs that usually give on-the-job training, such as:

• fruit pickers;
• cleaning staffs, and;
• oil field worker.

Those international graduates who want to apply to the Skilled Workers stream have to do so before the end of April and must:

• meet the eligibility requirement of the NB Skilled Worker stream;
• be a grads of any New Brunswick designated post-secondary institution, and;
• hold a federal post-graduation work permit that was given upon graduation from that New Brunswick post-secondary institution.

The New Brunswick Skilled Workers Stream is targeting candidates who have gotten a permanent, full-time job offer from a New Brunswick employer.

Eligibility Requirements For New Brunswick Skilled Worker Stream: 

1) Genuine Job Offer

Offer of employment for a full-time permanent position in an eligible occupation.

• High-skilled worker: NOC 0, A, B.
• Semi-skilled worker: NOC C.
• Low-skilled worker: NOC D skill type 7, 8, and 9.

2) Qualifications

Candidates must show they are eligible for the position being offered.

3) Be offered a competitive wage

The wages/salaries offered must:

• Exceed or Surpass the median wage level for the occupation in the specific province of New Brunswick.
• Be comparable to the rate paid to skilled workers with a similar level of experience and trainings for equivalent jobs in New Brunswick.
• Be consistent with the wage structure of the Canadian employer.

4) Intend to stay in New Brunswick

Candidates must demonstrate a genuine intention to stay in New Brunswick province. Examples of ways intent can be understood include:

• Description of actions taken to permanently reside in New Brunswick.
• Current employment details in New Brunswick.
• Employment search details.
• Length of any current and/or precious period of residence in New Brunswick.
• Community involvement.
• Ability to cater for yourself in New Brunswick.
• Connections to New Brunswick through study, work or family.
• Professional networks and affiliation.
• Residency including household lease agreement and/or property ownerships.
• Family ties and other social relationships and other connections.
• Details of prior visits to Canada.

5) Regulated Occupations in New Brunswick Province 

• Immigration candidates must have the required license or certificate in the job offer is for a regulated occupation.

Once the eligibility requirements are met, candidates are scored based on certain factors, age, education, language skills, work experience, a priority of their sector of employment, and adaptability. Candidates must score at least sixty (60) points out of a possible 100 to be eligible.