Manitoba Offers Exploratory Visits to Foreign Workers
In January 2016, the Canadian province of Manitoba announced that it will be inviting skilled foreign workers to conduct “exploratory visits” to the province as part of its Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP). The exploratory visit is “by invitation only” and is one way for skilled foreign workers to establish a “connection” to Manitoba, which is a key eligibility requirement for immigration to Canada through the MPNP.
Other key criteria for the points-based MPNP include being between the ages of 21 and 45; having at least two years of full-time paid work experience within the past five years in an eligible occupation; possessing valid results from an authorized English or French evaluation test (such as the IELTS or TEF) taken within the past two years in which a score equivalent to at least CLB-6 was received; possessing a post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree that took at least one year to obtain; and meeting other criteria.
Skilled foreign workers who would like to receive an invitation for an exploratory visit to Manitoba must send an email with their CV and IELTS or TEF test results to the MPNP while the 2016 exploratory visit intake period is still open. After reviewing the skilled foreign worker’s details, the Manitoba provincial government may then extend an invitation to travel to Manitoba for an exploratory visit and provide the applicant with more details about the MPNP procedure.
During the MPNP exploratory visit, the skilled foreign worker will have an opportunity to visit cities like Winnipeg and other communities in Manitoba to look for potential places to live and work in Canada as a permanent resident, plus they will have a scheduled interview to meet personally with MPNP officials. In short, the exploratory visit gives the skilled foreign worker a chance to assess if they think they will want to live and work in Manitoba and it also helps the MPNP officials to evaluate whether they believe the skilled foreign worker will be able to contribute to the province’s booming economy.
If officials in Manitoba consider the skilled foreign worker to be a good candidate for the MPNP, they may issue a provincial nomination which can allow them to apply to the Canadian national government for a permanent resident visa to Canada.
Why does Manitoba’s provincial government want skilled foreign workers to immigrate to Canada and settle in Manitoba? The same major reason that thousands of skilled foreign workers and Canadian citizens also want to move to Manitoba – jobs!
Manitoba has one of the strongest economies of any Canadian province or territory, plus it has boasted one of the lowest unemployment rates in Canada month after month for the past several years. Thus, many people who are looking for jobs in Canada want to move to Manitoba where there are excellent employment opportunities. Manitoba’s provincial government and businesses are also seeking qualified workers to help keep the economy growing. In other words, there is a “win-win situation” in Manitoba that has many benefits for skilled foreign workers and their families, for companies in Manitoba, and for the province as a whole.
If you would like to find out if you are likely to qualify for the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) or one of several other Canadian immigration programs, click here!
