International Skilled Worker: Procedures and Guidelines

To be eligible for nomination you must meet the criteria of the SINP and provide all of the required documents listed below. Please note that the application fee, if applicable to the category you are applying, is non-refundable.

Applications in each category will be processed in the order that they are received. The SINP reserves the right to prioritize applications to meet the Government of Saskatchewan's strategic priorities. To check current application processing times please visit Application Processing Times.

Before you apply to the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP), please review the eligibility criteria and required documents needed to apply in one of the International Skilled Worker (ISW) sub-categories below.

The International Skilled Worker (ISW) category is for skilled workers living abroad who want to work and live in Saskatchewan. There are three sub-categories that international skilled workers may apply for under the SINP.

1. International Skilled Worker: Employment Offer

This sub-category is for skilled workers who:

• Have a job offer for a skilled occupation in Saskatchewan;
• Who are living abroad or in Canada; and
• Meet the criteria of the sub-category.

Learn what you need to apply to the SINP as an international skilled worker with an employment offer from Saskatchewan by reviewing the eligibility criteria and required documents.

2. International Skilled Worker: Occupation In-Demand

This sub-category is for skilled workers who:

• Do not have a job offer in Saskatchewan but are highly skilled in an in-demand occupation;
• Who are living abroad or in Canada; and
• Meet the criteria of the sub-category.

Learn what you need to apply the SINP as an international skilled worker in an occupation in-demand in Saskatchewan by reviewing the eligibility criteria and required documents.

3. International Skilled Worker: Saskatchewan Express Entry

This sub-category is for skilled workers who:

• Do not have a job offer in Saskatchewan;
• Who are living abroad or in Canada;
• Are in the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Express Entry Pool; and
• Meet the criteria of the sub-category.

Learn what you need to apply to the SINP as an international skilled worker through the Saskatchewan Express Entry sub-category by reviewing the eligibility criteria and required documents.

To simplify the application process, please ensure that you have obtained the required documents and have the information below in hand. Applications submitted without the required documents below will be closed and returned to you. A closed application cannot be re-opened or be considered for second review. If your application is closed, then you will have to start the application process again if you choose to re-apply.

More detailed information about the required documents below can be found at:

• International Skilled Worker: Employment Offer
• International Skilled Worker: Occupation In-Demand
• International Skilled Worker: Saskatchewan Express Entry

• Note #1: If applicant is claiming points for education.
• Note #2: If applicant is claiming points for education and if degree or diploma was obtained outside of Canada.
• Note #3:
  • If the applicant is a native speaker from an English or French speaking country where they are a citizen or permanent resident, they are not required to provide the language test results; however, they will not receive any points on the points assessment for language.
  • If the applicant's intended occupation is a designated trade that falls under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 'C' they must submit valid language test results even if English or French is their native language.
  • If the applicant is not a native speaker from an English or French speaking country, they are required to provide the language test results.

Before moving on to the next step, review and organize your completed forms and supporting documents make sure that you have a complete application package.

Applicants can only have one active application with the SINP at any one time. Multiple applications will not be accepted.

Applicants can only have one active application with the SINP at any one time. If you are found to have more than one application in process, then you will be given 10 days to withdraw all but one application. If no response is received within the deadline provided, then the SINP will process your most recent application and all other applications will be closed. A closed application cannot be re-opened or be considered for Second Review.

• Apply at SINP Apply Online.
  • Note: if you received an Invitation to Apply (ITA) as an Expression of Interest (EOI) candidate then you must login using the same account that you created for your EOI profile. If you are applying with a job offer, then you will need to create an account.

• Complete the different sections of your online application. Scan and upload all of your completed forms and required documents in PDF format onto your online application. Keep the originals for your records.

• Save the application, pay the fee (Saskatchewan Express Entry and Occupation In-Demand sub-categories only) and submit your application online.

• After you have submitted your application you will receive a letter by email confirming that we have received your application.

Pre-screening

• The first step in processing your application is called the pre-screen. During a pre-screen your application will be checked for completeness. Your application will be considered complete if all of the documents listed in OASIS have been submitted.
• If your application is complete then it will be moved on for further assessment.
• If your application is incomplete, then your application will be closed and you will receive a letter by email listing the documents missing from your application. An application is considered incomplete when there are missing or invalid supporting documents (e.g. blank, partially completed, unidentifiable or irrelevant documents)
• A closed application cannot be re-opened or be considered for second review.  If your application is closed, then you will have to start the application process again if you choose to re-apply.

Criteria Assessment and Recommendation

• The second step in processing your complete application is called the assessment. During the assessment your complete application will be reviewed to determine if you provided the information required to meet the criteria of the category that you applied under.
• If we require more information from you to process your application, then we will send you a letter by email requesting you to submit the information and/or documents directly on the OASIS system. You have 10 days from the date of the email request to submit the information and/or documents on the OASIS system. If we do not receive the information and/or documents within 10 days, then we will continue to assess your application. The absence of the information that was requested may mean that the SINP cannot verify that you meet requirements which may result in your application being deemed ineligible.
• Note that by submitting an application to the SINP, you have given us permission to verify the information that you have provided without additional approval.

Decision

• The final step in processing your application is called the decision. Based on the assessment we will determine whether you are eligible for nomination under the SINP.

Withdrawing an Application

• You may withdraw your application at any time unless a Program Integrity Review is underway.
• Your request to withdraw your application must be sent to immigration@gov.sk.ca and include the reason(s) for the request.
• If a Program Integrity Review of your application is underway when we receive your request to withdraw your application, then the SINP may deny your request until the investigation of your application has concluded.

Nominated Applications (Employment Offer & Occupations In-Demand)

• If your application has been approved then we will send you and/or your representative a nomination package by email that will include:
  • A SINP Nomination Approval Letter;
  • A SINP Work Permit Support Letter (if applicable); and
  • Information on how to proceed with an application for Permanent Residency (PR) with the Government of Canada.
• We will notify the Centralized Intake Office (CIO), Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), of your nomination. You must submit your application for PR to IRCC within six months of being nominated by the SINP.
• IRCC will also conduct an assessment of your application including health, security and criminal record reviews before issuing visas to you and your accompanying family members.
• IRCC may request any additional information from you at any time during the application process.

Nominated Applications (Express Entry)

What Happens After You Are Approved for Nomination

1. The SINP will enter the details of your nomination in the Express Entry system.
2. IRCC will ask you to confirm that you accept the SINP's nomination. You have 30 days to accept the SINP nomination in the Express Entry system.
3. After you accept your SINP nomination, IRCC will invite you to apply for permanent residence. You have 60 days to submit this application. Be sure to follow the instructions from IRCC on how to submit your application. See Invitations to apply – Skilled immigrants (Express Entry) for more information.
4. IRCC will send you steps on medical examinations. They may also ask for more documents. You may have to attend an interview.
5. If you meet all the requirements, IRCC will issue permanent residence visas for you and your accompanying family members.

Ineligible Applications

• If your application has not been approved, then we will send you and/or your representative a letter by email notifying you that you are not eligible for nomination by the SINP.
• An application will be considered ineligible if any of the following occurs:
  • You do not meet the program criteria;
  • You do not submit documentation that we requested within the timeframe set by the SINP;
  • You do not submit documentation with information that is verifiable; and
  • You do not establish that your intent to live and work in Saskatchewan is genuine and true.
• If your application was deemed ineligible and you'd like to reapply, please note that:
  • You may reapply to the SINP only after the reasons for the ineligible decision have been addressed;
  • Applicants who have been suspended by either IRCC or the SINP cannot reapply to the SINP until the suspension has been lifted;
  • The resubmitted application will be subject to the same processing times and procedures as all incoming applications; and
  • Applicants who were refused by the SINP may still apply to IRCC under a federal immigration class, if they feel they meet the criteria.

A Nomination Certificate is valid for six months. An amendment to a Nomination Certificate includes a time extension and/or a revision.

If you'd like to amend your Nomination Certificate you must submit a Request for Revision and/or Extension Form to the SINP. The request must come from you or your authorized representative.

We may consult with IRCC to determine what stage of assessment your application is in, and whether a change may be made at that time. Any changes to the conditions of a nomination will be communicated to IRCC.

Revisions and/or extensions of a nomination certificate will be valid for six months:

• One extension may be given for Saskatchewan Experience or International Skilled Worker Employment Offer nominees that are having difficulty accumulating the funds needed to pay IRCC processing fees.
• A maximum of two extensions may be given for reasons not related to the accumulation of funds (e.g. if IRCC requests an extension or requires re-application, if there are delays in obtaining a police certificate, a change to employment status, technical delivery errors on the SINP's part, etc.).
• A revision may be made to information provided to IRCC on your Nomination Certificate. This could happen if there's a change in employment or passports, or if there's a request made by IRCC or the SINP.
• Revisions will not be made to the Nomination Certificate to add or remove a spouse (if married or divorced) or dependent children (if born after nomination).
  • A revised Certificate of Nomination is not required in order for the nominee to proceed with his or her application for permanent residence as long as the pregnancy and/or birth has been disclosed directly to the processing IRCC visa post.

If your application was deemed ineligible by the SINP and you believe that an error was made during application processing or in the assessment of the application based on the criteria at the time of application then you may request a second review.

Second reviews are based on the information contained in the original application. As a result, you may not submit new supporting documents unless a processing or procedural error was made by the SINP that resulted in the information not being considered in the original assessment.

Please note that you can only have one application in process at any time which means that if you have submitted a new application to the SINP while a second review is underway, you will need to cancel your application for second review in order to have the new application accepted for assessment.

To request a second review, you must submit the Request for a Second Review Form by email to immigration.programintegrity@gov.sk.ca within 30 days of the date that the SINP issued the ineligible letter. Your signed form must clearly state your reason for a second review.

• A request for a second review will not be considered if your request is made and received after 30 days of the day the SINP issued your ineligible letter.
• A request for a second review may be denied if you cannot justify your reason for the review. If your request is accepted, a second review case will be created and you will be notified by email that your application has been placed under second review.
• Applications under second review will be subject to second review procedures and processing times that are calculated from when the request is received. Second review processing times vary depending on the volume of the requests received and the inventory level of applications under review. Once the review is complete then you will be notified of the second review decision by email.

If the ineligible decision is overturned through a second review, your application may be approved for a nomination, or additional or updated information may be required from you in order to conclude the review.

If the ineligible decision is upheld after the second review, then the file will be closed. There is no further appeal or review of this application.

Immigration representatives can represent active applications, which include applications in process and applications with a valid nomination, and applications which have been rejected or refused prior to the deadline for a second review request.

If there are grounds to believe that an applicant and/or their representative have provided false information on an application, then our Program Integrity Unit (PIU) will undertake an investigation for misrepresentation.

Reasons leading to this review may include, but are not limited to:

• false declaration;
• fraudulent document(s);
• information that is misleading;
• important information that is required but was not disclosed;
• abuse and inappropriate use of the program; and/or
• contraventions of federal and provincial laws and policies related to immigration.

An investigation for misrepresentation can take place at any stage of the SINP process and it may include reviewing all of the information that was provided in an applicant's current and/or previous applications.

If misrepresentation is suspected, then we will place the processing of the application on hold pending an investigation. The applicant or their representative, if applicable, will be sent a Letter of Procedural Fairness by email outlining the grounds that we have to believe that misrepresentation has occurred.

• Upon receipt of the letter, the applicant will have an opportunity to submit evidence within ten (10) days to prove that they did not commit misrepresentation.
• A decision will be made after the PIU considers the information provided by the applicant in response to the Letter of Procedural Fairness.
• PIU decisions may include making the application PIU ineligible with or without a suspension.
• If misrepresentation is found to have taken place then the applicant may be suspended from using the SINP for two to five years.
• If misrepresentation is found to not have taken place, then the application will be returned to processing.
• Representatives and employers may also be subject to investigation or court ordered penalties under The Foreign Worker Recruitment and Immigration Services Act if we have grounds to believe there has been misrepresentation associated with them.
• SINP does not have an appeal process for applications that have been found PIU ineligible. Applications that have been made PIU ineligible are not considered for a second review.

A Nomination Certificate may be withdrawn under the following circumstances:

• If we receive information from IRCC or other sources that fraud or misrepresentation has taken place in your application;
• If circumstances have changed after your nomination and you are no longer meeting the conditions of your nomination;
• If you or your representative, if applicable, have voluntarily requested to withdraw your nomination or you have been approved for PR through an immigration program other than the SINP; and/or
• If SINP has been notified that you have been approved for permanent residency (PR) through an immigration program other than the SINP.
• We will examine each individual case to determine whether we must conduct a Program Integrity Review related to the nomination certificate withdrawal. If an investigation is undertaken, then we may request information from the nominee.

If, following an investigation, we find that a nomination withdrawal is warranted based on the circumstances above then we will withdraw the nomination certificate or support IRCC's refusal of the nominee's application for PR. The individual will then be notified in a letter sent by email from SINP or the IRCC. If misrepresentation is found to have taken place then the applicant may be suspended from using the SINP for two to five years in addition to the withdrawal of the nomination certificate.

• If following an investigation, we find that a nomination withdrawal is not warranted then we will maintain the nomination.
• IRCC has final authority to refuse a nominee's application for PR.

SINP may support IRCC's decision to refuse your application for PR by withdrawing your nomination certificate if we are in agreement with the reasons of refusal. You will be notified of the decision by email from the SINP.

When conducting a review of a nomination certificate, IRCC will be contacted and the application for PR (on the basis of the certificate) will be placed on hold. We will inform IRCC of our decision to maintain or withdraw the nomination.