1 lakh skilled workers to get Canadian visas this year

The year 2007 would be advantageous for India and several countries of the Asia-Pacific region as the Canadian immigration authorities have thrown open their doors to over a lakh skilled workers.

According to immigration and resettlement solutions provider, World Wide Immigration and Consultancy Services (WWICS), it has received over 1,000 applications for processing.

"This year looks to be promising for many a skilled worker in India as truck drivers, hospitality, construction and mechanical trade workers, carpenters and general labourers are going to get more visas in a remarkably short span of processing time ranging from few days to a month," BS Sandhu, chairman and managing director of WWICS, said here on Sunday.

Stating that since November 2006, the norms for issuing visas to skilled workers have been relaxed and the processing has been expedited by the Canadian immigration authorities, he said the skilled workers would now get a right to work for around 40 hours a week.

"The work permits may last up to two years, which will further strengthen chances of not only extension but also bolster the possibility of workers to achieve permanent residency status," he added.