Quebec Experience Class

Immigration Consultants in Montreal, Quebec, Canada

The Canadian Immigration Council is one of the oldest, and most reputable Canadian immigration consulting firms, specializing in Canadian immigration law, and is based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Our practice specializes in all areas of immigration law, including the Quebec Experience Class Program, work permit applications, permanent resident applications, student visa applications, landed immigrant applications and Canadian citizenship applications. We also provide a full range of immigration litigation services via our network of immigration professionals which include regulated immigration consultants, accountants, lawyers, paralegals, business advisors and other specialists in a variety of fields.

The Canadian Immigration Council, has been voted #1 immigration Consulting firm by the prestigious Leger & Leger group for three successive years, for providing exceptional immigration services, and for helping potential immigrants worldwide to realize their dreams of immigrating to Canada.

Quebec Experience Class Immigration Program

The Quebec Experience Class Program, or PEQ for “Programme de l’expérience québécoise” is an accelerated immigration program that allows international students, or temporary foreign workers, to apply for Immigration to Canada and to establish themselves permanently in Quebec. The process for the PEQ is even more simplified than the CEC (Canadian Experience Class), and applicants will be able to qualify sooner under the PEQ than under the CEC, thereby enabling them to come to Canada quicker. Under the Quebec Experience Class Program, a foreign student, or temporary foreign worker, can apply for a Quebec Selection Certificate, or CSQ for “Certificat de Sélection du Québec”, which is a document that allows the holder to immigrate to Quebec, and to take advantage of the social benefits associated with immigrating to Quebec.

Quebec Experience Class requirements

If you have studied or worked in the province of Quebec, you may be eligible to immigrate under this fast-track Canadian immigration program.

Under the Quebec Experience Class (Programme de l’expérience Québécoise, or PEQ), there are two categories: one for foreign students, and another for Temporary Foreign Workers.

Applying to immigrate to Quebec under any category is a two-step process in which an applicant first applies for Certificat de Sélection du Quebec(Quebec Selection Certificate, a document that allows the holder to immigrate to Quebec, commonly known as a CSQ). Once the applicant obtains a CSQ, he or she must then submit their application to Citizenship and Immigration Canada for federal approval before their Canadian Immigration (Permanent Resident) Visa can be issued. Federal immigration authorities are responsible for processing criminal and medical checks.

Foreign students will be eligible to apply under this program if they:

• Have obtained a degree or diploma from an educational institution recognized by the Quebec Ministry of Education;
• Have studied in Quebec for at least 1,800 hours (two years); and
• Show that have successfully completed an intermediate level French course at a Quebec educational institution, if their studies were not completed in French.

Temporary Foreign Workers in Quebec will be eligible to apply under this program if they:

• Have 12 months of Quebec work experience in a skilled, managerial or professional occupation in the 24 months prior to their application:
• Are employed and show legal status in Quebec at the time of their application; and
• Show that have successfully completed an intermediate level French course at a Quebec educational institution, or provide results of a standardized French proficiency test. Alternatively, they can show that they have satisfied the French language requirements of the professional order governing their occupation in Quebec.

Quebec immigration authorities expect the assessment of applications under the PEQ to be completed on a fast-track basis. 

It is important to note that all applications from individuals who have obtained a CSQ are processed in their own priority queue at the federal level.

Advantages of immigrating to Quebec

Immigrating to Quebec is one of the best options for those looking to immigrate to Canada. Below are some of the advantages for immigrating to Quebec:

• The immigration program of Quebec is more flexible because it allows applicants with either a college or university education to immigrate;
• Quebec has the second largest immigration quota following the federal immigration quota;
• The processing time is shorter than that of the Canada federal program;
• Immigrating to Quebec allows permanent residents to live in Quebec, or to relocate anywhere else in Canada.
• The amount of settlement funds required is lower.

Once an applicant successfully passes the Quebec immigration interview, they will receive a CSQ, thus confirming successful completion of the Quebec selection process. Recent changes in the federal immigration law in Canada did not affect the immigration legislation of Quebec and applicants who have received an immigration visa through the program of Quebec can live anywhere in Canada.