What you need to know about the Hard-to-Fill Skills Pilot

Ever since SINP launched the Hard to Fill skills pilot (HFS) demand and interest in SINP immigration has gone up greatly. What started as something promising for many immigrants is slowly becoming much more restrictive and difficult. 

The program is presented as one stream but really it can be broken down into 4 possible scenarios: 

– Current employer work experience applicants 

– Overseas work experience applicants

– In-Canada work experience applicants 

– Long Haul Trucking

Depending on your situation the requirements vary greatly for these different programs. Unlike other SINP programs which are fairly simple and straightforward, this program requires much more attention and care. 

The HFS program has a number of surprise challenges. The HFS program is used by employers often as supplemental to their workforce rather than a source for their main workforce because many of the eligible positions are low-wage and even the median wage is low-paying. So these HFS workers are more affordable for employers to keep. Some workers may expect their employer to help with SINP with a supervisor position but instead end up in the Hard to Fill program. What can they expect? 

For in-Saskatchewan applicants HFS has a number of additional requirements. The newest is to provide a Saskatchewan health card and Saskatchewan ID card or Saskatchewan drivers license. Obtaining a health card or renewing a health card can take up to 3 months. In some cases a lease agreement and utility bills are also needed. The long-haul trucking licensing requirements that have been transplanted into the HFS pilot are also quite detailed making it a very document heavy application. 

After submitting your SINP application you may end up waiting 2 weeks to 3 months. This is one of the slowest SINP programs. The trade-off and justification is due to the lower NOCs offered a path to permanent residence, the documentation required is lengthier and processing slower. 

You will likely need help with your SINP Hard-to-Fill skill application and we would be glad to help.