To reduce the federal skilled category backlog, Canada will accept only 20,000 applications with a maximum of 1,000 applications per occupation for those applying under the occupation list. However, this limit does not apply to applicants with a job offer. These changes are in line with other countries viz UK, Australia and New Zealand as these countries match the supply and demand needs of the local market. These criteria affect the applicants who have applied on or after June 26, 2010. If the application was received before June 26, 2010, it will be processed according to the rules that were in effect at that time. Canada is also proposing new eligibility criteria for the immigrant investor program. Instead of $800,000 the personal net worth of the investor required will be $1.6M so it makes an even greater contribution to the Canadian economy. The investor will be required to make an investment of $800,000 instead of from $400,000. Other countries have much higher criteria for investors; it should be noted that Canada has not changed its criterion since 1999 that makes it the most popular destination for investor category and draws a larger number of applicants than can be admitted every year under the immigration plan. Due to this processing times have been increasing. Canada has stopped accepting new investor applications until the new criteria are announced.

The 29 occupations for the Federal Skilled category are: 

0631 Restaurant and Food Service Managers
0811 Primary Production Managers (Except Agriculture)
1122 Professional Occupations in Business Services to Management
1233 Insurance Adjusters and Claims Examiners
2121 Biologists and Related Scientists
2151 Architects
3111 Specialist Physicians
3112 General Practitioners and Family Physicians
3113 Dentists
3131 Pharmacists
3142 Physiotherapists
3152 Registered Nurses
3215 Medical Radiation Technologists
3222 Dental Hygienists & Dental Therapists
3233 Licensed Practical Nurses 
4151 Psychologists
4152 Social Workers
6241 Chefs
6242 Cooks
7215 Contractors and Supervisors, Carpentry Trades
7216 Contractors and Supervisors, Mechanic Trades
7241 Electricians (Except Industrial & Power System)
7242 Industrial Electricians
7251 Plumbers
7265 Welders & Related Machine Operators
7312 Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanics
7371 Crane Operators
7372 Drillers & Blasters - Surface Mining, Quarrying & Construction 
8222 Supervisors, Oil and Gas Drilling and Service

Tejal Laul, Director Kampus Landing says “Canada continues to admit good number of students under Student Partnership Program popularly termed as SPP. There are 38 colleges under SPP. Minimum 6 bands IELTS is required to put the file under SPP; TOEFL is not accepted. The student with TOEFL score can file under but the file is not considered under Student Partnership Program SPP.  Under Student Partnership Program SPP, the students have to submit very few financial documents viz bank loan approval.”

Kampus Landing offices in Ahmedabad and New Delhi is flooded with enquiries from students who wish to apply under SPP. Tejal Laul, Director- Kampus Landing (Global Education Specialists cautions students to select the right study abroad consultant with proper knowledge of the country and visa filings. Tejal says “The new immigration rules by Canadian government will not affect the number of student visa applications under Student Partnership Program SPP from India.”