Three immigration pilot programs have been restarted in Quebec, providing skilled professionals in computer technology, visual effects, and artificial intelligence with a path to permanent residency in Canada.
The Immigration Service of Quebec reports that the programs, which were initially introduced in 2021 with the goal of addressing persistent labour shortages in the industries, are currently taking new applications and are aimed at industries that are vital to the province’s labour force.
Candidates must be 18 years of age or older, show that they are financially independent, want to reside in Quebec and work in an appropriate industry, and not be employed by a business that they directly or indirectly manage in order to be eligible.
Foreign workers must have at least two years of full-time experience in artificial intelligence (AI) or a similar field that falls under one of the National Occupational Classification’s (NOC) FÉER 0, 1, or 2 categories.
Recent AI master’s or PhD degree holders from Quebec are eligible to apply.
All candidates must find full-time work in the AI industry in Quebec, with a minimum salary of $100,000 in Montreal or $75,000 outside of it.
Additionally, they need to submit an expert committee’s judgement attesting to the fact that they are qualified for the role.
Candidates must have a technical college degree or above and at least two years of relevant work experience in order to be considered for the Information Technology and Visual Effects component.
Additionally, candidates must not work for a company they own or in an ineligible industry, and they must meet pay standards based on the ninth decile of their profession’s wage scale.
Two application tracks based on language proficiency are provided by both components.
According to the Quebec Scale of Competency Levels, the Francophone profile needs a minimum level 7 proficiency in French, which can be proven by a recognised language exam or academic records.
As an alternative, the Francization profile calls for a dedication to learning French through integration services following selection.
Candidates are encouraged to visit the Quebec Immigration website or get in touch with the Ministry of Immigration, Francisation, and Integration during regular business hours in order to apply or obtain additional eligibility information.