Paralegal Sara Adel explains the Federal Skilled Worker Program
Sara Adel, paralegal with the Canadian immigration law firm Maynard Kischer Stojicevic, has recently become a featured columnist in the BC Paralegal Association newsletter. With over two years experience in both American and Canadian immigration law and as an active membership in the BCPA, Sara is the perfect candidate to write the Immigration Law column featured in the organization’s seasonal newsletter.
The BC Paralegal Association (BCPA) is a not-for-profit organization with over 700 members ranging from paralegals, paralegal students to industry related organizations. Formed in 1979, the BCPA promotes professional development, continuing education and social networking for paralegals working in B.C. and strives to create a professional community with their members.
In the most recent issue of the BCPA, Sara wrote an informative article about the controversial Federal Skilled Worker Program. This program, which was temporarily put on hold by Immigration Minister Jason Kenney in the summer of 2010 has opened it’s doors once again to immigrants seeking work experience in Canada. Sara explains that the program shut-down was in part to do with the incredible backlog of applications the Federal Skilled Worker Program had received prior to 2008 — about 280,000.
Now the program, which was reopened on May 4, 2013, has been reworked to ensure Canadian immigrants are given the tools they need to succeed as well as making sure they are the best fit for Canada’s economy. As always, applicants will be required to meet a set of criteria and will be allotted points based on their language skills, education, work experience and adaptability. Sara explains that the new Federal Skilled Workers Program seems to be aimed at attracting younger immigrants who will be most able to adapt to the changing labour market and will spend more of their time contributing to Canada’s workforce.
Sara Adel has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from UBC and a Paralegal diploma from Capilano University. Prior to working in Canadian immigration law at MKS Lawyers, she worked at another large Vancouver law firm.